The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for my blog.  THANK YOU SO MUCH to all my readers and commenters! You have made my first year blogging an epic success!!!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 31,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

From Goodreads: When Officer David Zellner is called in to investigate a burglary at a jewelry store, he soon discovers that although the employees and owner seem happy on the outside, each of them has their own motive for the crime. Zellner soon discovers that in the jewelry business, not all that glitters is gold. A work of super-short crime from our Fingerprints line.

_______________________________________________

This is a very, very short story; it’ll take about 10 minutes to read, so it’s great for those times when you need something to read, but don’t have time for a whole novel, like when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store.  As this is such a short story, there isn’t much room for characterization and the like, but Ambardar has created a quick mystery novel that the police officers swiftly figure out; it’s a nice little read worth the time. Three stars.

I received a copy of this story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Krista’s world crumbled when her soul mate and Protector, Mark, walked away from her, severing the sacred link they had shared their entire lives. Faced with uncertainty, Krista questions her role as a Guide while struggling with the ramifications of life without him. Her only desire now is to seek the truth behind Mark’s heartbreaking betrayal, no matter what the consequences. With the help of her friends, Krista risks everything, including her soul, to march into the den of the Dark Angel, Victor. Their only chance for survival is for Krista to find the courage to accept the new role fate has bestowed upon her, even if it means losing Mark, forever.

_________________________________________

This book concludes the awesome Saving Angels series by Tiffany King, and I must say I am absolutely impressed.  King is a fantastic writer, and this final novel is just as compelling and mind-blowing as the first two.  Whereas the first novel, Meant To Be, stole my heart, and the second novel, Forgotten Souls, broke it, this final novel has made amends and my heart is whole again.  I love this series, and I love this novel.  The ending really made me smile because I never saw it coming, especially as King sent me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as events unfolded, truths were realized, and Krista was forced to make impossible choices.  In all honesty, I’m extremely sad to see the series come to an end; King is a very gifted writer with a vivid imagination, and I have fallen in love with this series.  However, I am excitedly awaiting King’s reveal of her next writing endeavor, which I am certain will be just as amazing as her past three novels.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: As Potter leaves Kiera and his friends to go in search of Luke, he makes a lonely journey across the snow-capped mountains of Cumbria. Haunted by the death of Murphy, the capture of Luke and the love that he feels for Kiera, Potter reflects on his past life and the disturbing events that took place at the Wolf House.

He remembers his first encounter with the werewolves, how he had to save Murphy and Luke, and capture the serial killer who was murdering the children from the town of Little Hope.

__________________________________________________

Wolf House is an in-between novella that gives us a glimpse into Potter’s past while also connecting it to events within Vampire Breed.  Told from Potter’s point of view, readers are swept away into Potter’s mind as he broods over the past, giving us an in-depth look into his personality and how he came to be the way he is today.  This story was a real treat, and the many twists and turns within the novella kept me turning the pages from start to finish.  O’Rourke is a master storyteller, gripping the reader through his masterful prose and intense storyline.  I was highly impressed with the ending of this novella, and was reminded of O’Rourke’s psychological Black Hill Farm series.  O’Rourke certainly knows how to deliver twists that the reader never sees coming and that will leave him/her reeling for days on end.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Gemma thought she was trapped—that Stephan had finally won. But then time resets and she’s given another chance.

The clock is ticking as Gemma tries to figure out how to change the vision that ends the world in ice. If she can, then maybe she can save the world from Stephan and give her and Alex a chance at a real future. But changing visions can be dangerous, and sometimes one small mistake can lead to disastrous results.

_________________________________________

This is a great third installment in the Fallen Star series, and what makes it even better is that it’s not the last book!  I was under the impression that this series was a trilogy, but this novel ended up shocking me at the end as it left off on another cliffhanger.  Yes!  There is nothing more exciting than realizing that a series I love is going to be continuing, and I’m really excited that there will be at least another installment in this great series.

Sorensen is back with Gemma, Alex, and the rest of the characters that stole my heart as I began this epic journey into their world, and Sorensen’s novels just keep getting better and better, in my opinion, as this epic journey continues.  I was actually extremely happy to note that Gemma takes on some no-nonsense, kick-butt qualities in this novel, and she begins to act for herself, which has made my opinion of her skyrocket.  In the first novel, Fallen Star, she was a bit weak, quite literally, and while she became a bit stronger in terms of decisiveness and the like in the second novel, The Underworld, she still wasn’t where I wanted her to be.  However, Sorensen has really made Gemma a dynamic character as, looking back, I can see how she has morphed and changed into the strong willed young woman that every heroine should be.  I am very pleased with this development and can’t wait to see where it leads us in book four! 

So, the love triangle I was talking about in The Underworld?  Remnants of it are still there, but I’ve changed allegiances again, and now I’m on Alex’s side.  Although I still don’t think he makes the best decisions and is always nice to Gemma, I do see his softer-side emerging with each novel and I think he will make Gemma extremely happy… if they can survive the changing of the visions… four stars!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Identical twins can cause all kinds of difficulty when someone is attempting to decide who is who, not only when both are alive but also when one has died. Which one has died? How do you prove it? It gets even worse when somebody is charged with murdering the one who died. Did he kill the one that everyone thought he killed? What if he didn’t murder either one? Sometimes “is” just plain isn’t!

___________________________________________________

This is a very interesting novelette dwelling on a case of mistaken identity.  It takes place in a courtroom, opening right up into the action and pushing all background information aside, which the reader later gleans from the story as it unfolds.  It’s one of those stories where the reader can’t help but root for the defendant and feel triumphant as the defense lawyer wipes the floor with the prosecutor and, in this case, the sheriff as well.  It’s hard to pinpoint the time in which the story takes place, leaving it all up to the readers’ imagination.  For me, though, I’m thinking it’s the mid 1950s based on some of the evidence, but I could be wrong.  Read it and find out. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novelette from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: It’s been a busy month for Lucy Leary. The new year has barely begun, and she’s a) become a vampire, b) fought and defeated one of the most dangerous vamps on the planet, and c) been forced to leave the city she was born and raised in so her family and friends won’t find out what’s become of her.

But those might be the least of her worries.

It turns out her new friend Emma and her sire Wash neglected to tell her just how much danger they’re in for the crime of nearly revealing their existence to humans. Worse, Emma must repay a favor to an old friend that will put them into public eye, when they should be laying low.

__________________________________________

I think the hardest thing to do as an author is to write a sequel to a novel, especially if the first novel is exceptionally good.  But Patterson has taken on this challenge, creating a riveting sequel to his vampire novel, Blood Calling, as he continues the story of Lucy, Wash, and Emma.  Once again, Patterson introduces us to some interesting characters along the way, creating a roller coaster ride as the trio undertakes a mission to defeat an evil vampire intent on imprisoning and draining an innocent.

I really enjoyed this novel and the characterization that Patterson provides through the many different characters he employs.  The fact that he adds depth to all the characters, and there are multiple, makes it all the more engaging for the reader.  This is a completely unique sequel and I loved where Patterson chose to take it, providing the reader with a fantastic ride, but also leaving it open for more books in the series, which I am excited about. 

I especially enjoyed how Patterson smoothly aligns his story, explaining the background of each of the vampires, as well as connecting their story to his short prequel Baby Teeth which is actually the first portion of the Blood Calling series that Patterson ever wrote.  It takes a special author to be able to write a piece, months prior to the actual novel, and then intertwine them so seamlessly.  Hence, it’s easy to see why I have always been impressed with Patterson’s writing; he is exceptionally talented and the fact that he can publish one novel right after another is a feat within itself.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You can pick up all of Patterson’s awesome novels here:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobel

Smashwords

From Goodreads: Khantara is a Haanta conqueror, meant to wage war and rule over the enemy nation of Thellis, but after vanquishing Thellis and occupying a construction of a Haanta outpost, he meets Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people bearing a brand of servitude on her neck. Khantara contrives to save her from a cruel home and bring her to the refuge his people can provide, but how can he do so successfully when the eyes of Thellis are upon him. 

_______________________________________________

Ever wonder how the Den Asaan Rautu came to be who he is today?  Who his family was, where he originated from…? Khantara is another very well written novel by Michelle Franklin.  And again, she takes us deeper into the world of Frewyn, but this time the characters are different.  This time, we meet the Den Asaan’s parents before the Den Asaan was ever thought of, before even the slightest notion of him was even conceived. 

I really enjoyed getting to know more about the giants and their people, and I especially liked Khantara’s personality.  He is a much calmer version of The Den Asaan, yet still a leader of his people.  Khantara strives to bring peace to Thellis after stopping their advances and attempts to overtake Haanta; his anger does not overflow and he genuinely cares for others.  Attempting to understand the people of Thellis, Khantara takes to the streets to see his new town, and in the process, stumbles upon Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people, a notion Khantara cannot understand in the least.

I love the world that Franklin has created, whisking the reader away with extremely vivid characters and plot twists.  I also love stories in which the good triumph and the bad fall hard—this stand-alone novel is like its own little Cinderella story, but for adults, and with a wicked twist.  I highly recommend it. Four stars.

I receieved a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

_______________________________________________________

This is an amazing sequel to Unearthly and, although it’s over a year away, I am already dying to read the third book in the series.  In my opinion, 2013 can’t come fast enough, because I need to know what happens next, much like I needed to know what happened next the minute I completed Unearthly.  Hand is a fabulous writer, transporting the reader into her world of half-angels, Black Wings, and divine purposes, leaving the reader astounded upon the conclusion of each novel.

Of course, I am still a huge fan of Tucker.  He is a dreamy character; I want him to step out of the pages and join me in the real world.  Everything about him is amazing, and his persona continued to draw me in throughout this sequel, even though Christian was ever-present and vying for Clara’s attention.  I really enjoyed how Hand presented all of her characters throughout this novel, but especially these two male suitors.  Although my heart is steadfastly with Tucker, Christian is a very close second.  Yet, I think the main reason why Tucker wins over Christian is that, destiny or not, free will is a key concept for me, and Hand presents it beautifully in this fantastic sequel.

But, reader beware, Hallowed is sad as it deals with Clara’s knowledge that someone close to her will die.  I was highly surprised to find out exactly who that person was, and the events leading up to, and surrounding, the death were extremely difficult for me, especially as Hand has created such real characters; it’s impossible not to feel for each and every one of them.  Hand is a master storyteller, writing this portion of the story with much precision and detail, yet it will break the reader’s heart, much as it did mine.

Sadness aside, this novel gives the reader more answers concerning angels, the Dark Wings, and purposes, yet it creates even more questions as well.  Once again, the reader is left with some big questions that will leave him/her desperate for more.  Four stars.      

HarperCollins has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 17, 2012.

From Goodreads: In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

________________________________________________________

I put this book off for sometime because of the cover.  I know, I’m shallow.  I’d heard the novel was good, but it has sat on my shelf for the better part of a year, mainly because I have many books to review, but also because the cover didn’t call to me. But the writing?  The writing did.  This story is amazing, and though I feel like angels and fallen angels aren’t a unique topic anymore, this story is.  It’s riveting.  Beautiful… I LOVE IT! And I’m kicking myself in the butt for not reading it as soon as I bought it… But, on the plus side, the sequel comes out in just under a month, so I guess my timing is okay after all.

Hand blew me away from the very beginning of this novel.  I honestly don’t know what I was expecting, but Hand delivers a masterpiece of a story, full of mystery and intrigue.  I spent a majority of the novel trying to figure out Clara’s purpose.  I concocted all types of bizarre endings for the book, including making Christian out to be a murderer, based on the visions Clara has throughout the novel.  Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending; I never even came close to figuring out Clara’s purpose, and I think that’s half the fun of a great read like this: trying to figure out what’s going to happen based on past events and foreshadowing.  Hand proves that she is a master storyteller, keeping the reader guessing as the story unfolds, while enticing them on with the exceptional characterization that will capture the reader’s heart.    

Tucker is my favorite.  And this a different, because I’m almost always a “first” girl, meaning the first person the main character falls for is the person I’m automatically routing for.  However, Hand made me fall in love with Tucker and not Christian, though they both have charm and are well written characters.  But, there’s just something about Tucker, about the forbidden, and I fell hard for him.  Very hard.  Thus, I am dying to read the sequel because I must know what happens next for Clara and her suitors.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Every other day, Kali D’Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She’s human.

And then every day in between . . .She’s something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she’ll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

__________________________________________

This was a very interesting story, especially as Kali changes forms between human and super demon killer throughout the novel.  The story opens with her running about the countryside killing off demons, automatically drawing the reader in as the tone is set for the novel, one of fast paced action.  Kali is an interesting character, full of sarcasm and wit, and she’s a lot of fun to shadow as she attempts to figure out what she is and how to save others as the world she knows begins to crumble.  I enjoyed this story, to a point, though I really do dislike novels that kill off important characters, and that is exactly what Barnes does in this novel.  No, this is not a spoiler… there are many important characters within this novel, and I’m not saying who, how, or where, but I think it’s something the reader needs to be aware of.  I was shocked and appalled when it happened, mainly because I couldn’t fathom that Barnes really did it!  Of course, where demons and creepy predators abound, there must be death.  I just wasn’t prepared, and I wasn’t too happy to see this character die, though I think that’s a personal problem on my behalf, and a testament to Barnes’ ability to create loveable characters. 

Overall, I like that this novel is unique; I haven’t come across anything like it before.  While I do think there was a little too much action at some points, making it a little difficult to keep up, I enjoyed Every Other Day and think Barnes does a great job keeping the reader captivated. Three stars.

Egmont USA has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 27th, 2011.

From Goodreads: I gasped . . . or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. . . . His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked in my breath and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

_______________________________________________

Sometimes I get a little carried away with myself and become so wrapped up in a book cover that I only skim the synopsis, seeing what I want to see, and I miss the bigger picture.  That, my dear readers, is what happened here.  I completely missed that this is not a YA book, not even close, as it’s full of erotica and adult situations.  Now, upon reading the synopsis carefully, one would note that in a heartbeat.  I have no idea why I did not, especially as I try my hardest to refrain from any books with detailed sexual situations.  But, alas, I was apparently blinded and went on to request this book from Netgalley.  So, in reality, it’s all my fault… and since I always finish a novel once I’ve started it, well…

But, all that aside, I think Dark has written a very intriguing tale in which all supernatural creatures exist.  There are witches, vampires, succubae, incubuses, faeries… you name it, and this book has it.  Truth be told, it’s a little overwhelming at times, but I think Dark does a superb job explaining them into the story.  However, I did find this novel a bit long.  There were many situations in the novel that I think could have been cut out all together (like three-fourths of the sexual encounters), or at least shortened a bit because, in the end, they didn’t have much impact on the story at heart.  Upon finishing the novel, I felt that there were a few too many side stories going on within the text, and at one point I remember thinking to myself, “isn’t this supposed to be about an incubus?”  While I understand why many of these side scenes were included, I felt they were unnecessary to enhance the plotline and I really would have liked the novel to be about a hundred pages less. 

Yet, at the same time, Dark is a wonderful writer and it is evident that she took much care with her prose.  She does add suspense and intrigue to her story, and I think I would highly enjoy her work if it didn’t focus so much on the sexual aspects of the characters.  That being said, I’m going to look into her other works and, reading the synopsis carefully, pick out something a little more up my alley, because I like Dark as a writer, I just didn’t care for this novel too much.  Two stars.

Random House Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 27th.

From Goodreads: “The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.  And Death would be my willing teacher.”

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

____________________________________________

This was a completely unique story, and I highly enjoyed the narrative style as it takes the reader from scene to scene, allowing him/her to see events as they transpire.  Being able to live the story alongside each character, seeing it through their point of view, makes On a Dark Wing a very strong, well written piece, in my opinion.  My favorite types of novels are those that have a strong first person narrative, and though Abbey is the main character, Dane doesn’t shortchange Tanner or Nate as their stories unfold as well.  The transition between characters was very well done, especially as the narratives usually left off during a climax in the story, which further spurs the reader on as he/she is anxious to find out what happens next.  I think Dane has done a superb job putting all the pieces of this story together in a way that allows for mystery and intrigue while setting the scene for the ultimate ending.

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel.  Tanner is my absolute favorite, and I’m glad that he and Abbey have such a strong connection throughout the novel.  While Nate is a second favorite, I see him as a young man on a pedestal, someone to admire, but he’s not really my type, though Abbey is obsessed with him.  Abbey, herself, was a very well-rounded character and while her decisions and attitude weren’t always the best, she was very real.  Though I think the story started out a bit slow, Dane quickly puts the story into perspective and ties up all loose ends, answering all questions, including ones I had forgotten about along the way.  Four stars.

Harlequin publishers has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow.

From Goodreads: In Toonopolis: Gemini, Anchihiiroo (aka Han’Eiyuu) is the former hero of Animetown who turns Rogue after meeting the devious Shadowy Figure, forcing his creator to change him into a villain instead of the anti-hero he once was. Yuki, the albino inventor of Wan-Wan, described Anchihiiroo’s background:

“He had a terrible childhood. He was orphaned at an early age when his parents were killed in a war. Then his orphanage burned down, and then a flood wiped out the town his orphanage was in. He was the only survivor.”

Learn the full origin of Anchihiiroo, from his tragic childhood as Yoshi of Higeki to the warrior training that allowed him to put a stop to the Ninja-Pirate War that plagued Animetown. Witness his relationship with the phoenix Suzaku and his inevitable Rogue turn after meeting the mysterious Shadowy Figure. It is a story about destiny and a young man’s desire to make his own path in the world.

_________________________________________

This is a very well written novella dedicated to fleshing out Yoshi, turned Anchihiiroo, turned Han’Eiyuu, the rogue character we met in Toonopolis: Gemini.  I highly enjoyed learning his background story; it made me much more sympathetic toward him as his upbringing really was one full of tragedy.  Having never felt in control of his own life and having suffered at the hands of others for much too long, Yoshi must choose between good and evil.  Though he unintentionally sets himself down the wrong path, becoming Anchihiiroo, the arrival of the Shadowy Figure with promises of freedom and greatness causes Anchihiiroo to take the final plunge into darkness, becoming the rogue antihero Han’Eiyuu.

Though this is a much more serious tale than that of Toonopolis: Gemini, it is still a great story that all will enjoy.  This novella not only gives the reader a more in-depth look at the world of Toonopolis, but also sets the stage for events to come within the full length novel.  One could read this story before or after Toonopolis: Gemini, though I recommend reading it after as it explains some things that may be easier to understand having read the main novel.  Four stars.    

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.