Source: Book Whisperer:
Title: Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom #5)
Author: Devon Monk
Release Date:  November 2, 2010
Artist:  Larry Rostant
Author Comments:
I'd like to thank the amazing Larry Rostant, for doing such incredible art for my books.  I feel so lucky to have him bringing Allie to life.
What do you think? Gorgeous, yes?
My Thoughts:
I love these covers.  This one is especially gorgeous with the purple background.  And who doesn’t love a girl with a sword?

Book Description:

N/A

Previous Books in Series:

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Source: Meljean Brook
Title: The Iron Duke (The Iron Seas #2)
Author: Meljean Brook
Release Date:  October 5, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments:
So, this is the almost-final cover to THE IRON DUKE. If you saw the prelim version in the Berkley fall catalog, you’ll notice the changes are basically that he’s bigger and dirtier…just the way I like him :) The background will be changed a little (they are adding an airship) but since it’s a small alteration and may be a while before we see the final version, I’ve been given the go-ahead to post this. 
My Thoughts: 
I know this is more steampunk than urban fantasy, but did you read in the description about zombies?  That’ll do it for me.

Book Description:

Seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas, where nanotech is fused with Victorian sensibilities—and steam.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power — and fear — of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

Mina can’t afford his interest, however. Horde blood runs through her veins, and despite the nanotech enhancing her body, she barely scratches out a living in London society. Becoming Rhys’s lover would destroy both her career and her family, yet the investigation prevents her from avoiding him…and the Iron Duke’s ruthless pursuit makes him difficult to resist.

But when Mina uncovers the victim’s identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans — and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

Previous Books in Series:

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Source: Tez Says
Title: Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles
Author: Merrie Destefano
Release Date:  September 28, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments: N/A
My Thoughts:
Is it me or does the wolf look like “The Nothing”?  The main character is a guy, not the leggy blonde on the cover …unless he’s the wolf? 

Book Description:

WELCOME TO YOUR NEXT CHANCE.

Chaz Domingue works as a professional Babysitter in New Orleans. His job is to integrate and protect the recently deceased into their new and improved lives—a position he reluctantly accepted after his father was murdered. Though Fresh Start has always been the only game in town, resurrection isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Nine lives are all a person can get—and a powerful group of desperate, high-level Nine-Timers will stop at nothing to possess the keys to true immortality. Unfortunately, this places Chaz at the lethal center of a maelstrom.

Now the only hope for Chaz and his family—and the ultimate fate of the human race—is secretly locked away in the mind of Angelique, the beautiful, mysterious Newbie who’s been entrusted to Chaz’s care…

Previous Books in Series: N/A

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Source: Tez Says
Title: Bone Gods (Black London #3)
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Release Date:  November 30, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments: N/A
My Thoughts:
Stunning again.  I don’t know who the artist is (it looks like Chris McGrath), but I love how gritty the color and texture is. I wonder if Jack’s black tee is significant. 

Book Description:

N/A

Previous Books in Series:

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Source: Tez Says
Title: The Iron Thorn (The Iron Codex #1)
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Release Date:  February 22, 2011
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments: N/A
My Thoughts:
No description yet, so details are scant, but the cover is beautiful.  Sort of like a oil painting.

Book Description: (unofficial)

The Lovecraftian Steampunk YA Faerie Adventure novel formerly know as The Witch’s Alphabet has a brand new shiny sparkling-like-a-vampire-in-Miami title!  That title is: The Iron Thorn…Honestly, I love it.  I loved Witch’s Alphabet too, but this is a fantastic title and it’s honestly more evocative of what the book is about as a whole, rather than a single plot element.  Because this book is, after all, a Lovecraftian Steampunk YA Adventure.  With bonus! evil faeries and sinister conspiracies, dirigibles and forbidding mansions and fantastical machines. –Caitlin Kittredge

Previous Books in Series:

N/A

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Source: Mad Hatter's Bookshelf & Book Review
Title: Kill The Dead (Sandman Slim #2)
Author: Richard Kadrey
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments: N/A
My Thoughts: I love the muted color palette with the punch of orange.  Dark and desolate.

Book Description:

What do you do after you’ve crawled out of Hell to wreak bloody revenge? If you’re Stark you turn to bounty hunting, tracking and decimating whatever rogue monsters you’re paid to kill. Stark hates the work, but he needs the money, especially the big bucks Lucifer is offering. In town as an advisor on a biopic of his life, Lucifer needs protection, and he wants Stark as his bodyguard. But the gig isn’t all bad; there is the very sexy, very hot French porn star Brigitte Bardo, a friend of Lucifer’s in LA to remake her reputation as a legit actress. While it isn’t love, it’s pretty damn good, and after 11 years of demonic chastity, it’s enough for now.

Stark has enough trouble juggling a diva devil and a scorching French bombshell without a zombie plague to complicate matters. And just what happens when a human-angel half-breed is bitten by the living dead? His human side begins to die, transforming him into an unstoppable angel of death—a killing machine devoid of emotion or thought, with no regrets or future to worry about. Not a bad way to be when you’re choices are limited. Now, Stark has to decide...if he does finds a cure for the zombie infection, will he take it?

Previous Books in Series:

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Source: Paranormal Romance & many others
Title: Shadowfever (Fever #5)
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments: N/A
My Thoughts: Beautiful, opulent color and design.  And I love the angel wings tattoo.

 

Book Description:

“Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh — a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More importantly, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse, to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and make a choice that will either save the world … or destroy it.

Previous Books in Series:

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Source: Lisa Desrochers
Title: Personal Demons
Author: Lisa Desrochers
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Artist:  N/A
Author Comments:
Keep in mind that this isn’t the “official” cover, but it’s the one you’ll see out there for the next few months, until Personal Demons releases in September…Did I mention that I think it’s clever? I really like it, actually.
My Thoughts: Simple but playful.  I love the halo and demon tail.

Book Description:

If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?
Are you sure about that...?

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.
But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

Previous Books in Series:

N/A

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Book Description

Sabina Kane doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she’s some kind of ‘Chosen’ who’ll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn’t care who chose her, she’s not into destiny.

But the mages aren’t Sabina’s only problem. In New York’s Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she’d take a bite out of the Big Apple – but it looks like it wants to bite back.

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Book 2 in The Sabina Kane Series

Review:
THE MAGE IN BLACK picks up almost immediately after the events in Red Headed Step-child.  Sabina and Adam (and Giguhl the demon/cat) are on their way to New York to embrace her paternal mage heritage after being betrayed by her maternal vampire side. Once there, she ruffles more then a few feathers including the local werewolf pack, a demon fight club, and the mage council itself. 

The Kum-N-Go’s roadside-chic interior was bathed in a sickly fluorescent glow. The aroma of stale smoke, urinal cakes, and rotgut coffee had me breathing through my mouth on the way back to the ATM. It was my turn to pay for gas, so getting cash took priority over raiding the snack aisle for the moment. –Opening of THE MAGE IN BLACK

The world building that I fell in love with in Red Headed Step-child is back portraying the Dark races (vamps, weres, mages, and the fae) as the children of Lilith and Cane.  Keeping with biblical apocryphal, Vampires are vulnerable to the forbidden fruit (Sabina loads her gun with apple wood bullets). Very cool.  And there are references to prophecies of Lilith’s return which finger Sabina as the Chosen one. 

In THE MAGE IN BLACK Mages and Vampires are, to quote Buffy, really unmixey things.  Millennia of distrust and jealousy have brought them to the brink of war.  As a half-blood, Sabina Kane is the embodiment of that animosity which makes her a hard character in every sense of the word.  She’s physically formidable, emotionally jaded, and self-destructive when it comes to personal relationships.  Wrap that all up into one person and she can be hard to take. Without fail, you can expect her to be brash, sarcastic, and aggressive regardless of the situation.  Sometimes I liked her behavior, other times I found her off-putting.

Overall, THE MAGE IN BLACK is a fun, gritty urban fantasy with a brutally tough heroine who never seems to catch a break.  The tone never gets too dark with the addition of the mischief demon Giguhl.  And there is an interesting romantic conflict for Sabina with the mage Adam and the vampire Slade. The ending is less of a conclusion, and more of a set up for the next Sabina Kane novel, Green-Eyed Demon which is due out March 2011. Despite some minor flaws, I’m looking forward to it.

Sexual Content: References to sex. A graphic sex scene.

My Rating (out of 5):
Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

Click HERE to read an excerpt of THE MAGE IN BLACK

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031603780X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316037808
• Cover Art: Craig White

*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of Orbit books

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Disagree with my review?  Contact me your review for this or any other book I’ve reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review

I always keep a running list of urban fantasy giveaways on my left sidebar (updated daily), but here is my weekly Win on Wednesday post to help you find all the current contests and giveaways to enter.  All the giveaways are listed in order of the End Date. To enter a giveaway click on the name of the website linked in purple.
NEW indicates that the giveaway was added this week.

Don’t want to miss a giveaway?  Subscribe to my newsletter and get all the Win on Wednesday posts delivered directly to your email

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1. NEW Casablanca Authors: To Tempt the Wolf and Destiny of the Wolf. Ends ?
2. NEW Border’s Blog trueromance: 3 randomly chosen readers will receive some of Gena Showalter’s books. Ends ?
3. NEW Musings: A Signed Copy of Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog. Ends ?
4. NEW Hanging with Bells: a signed copy of The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. Ends May 26th
5. NEW Rayment's Readings, Rants and Ramblings: Raffle for the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario: Book 1-4 in Kate Daniels Series, Shiver, Hush Hush, 5 Books by MJ Davidson, Book 1 and 2 of Succubus Diaries, First Drop of Crimson (SIGNED)...and lots more! Ends June 26th
6. NEW That's What I'm Talking About...: a signed copy of The Darkest Pleasure. Ends May 26th
7. NEW Kelly Gay: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black. Ends May 26th
8. Crazy Cat Lady's Library:  Win One of 5 Books - 5 Chances to Win! Ends May 26th
9. Patricia's Vampire Notes: a signed copy of Master of None by Sonya Bateman. Ends May 26th
10. The Story Siren: five copies of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Ends May 26th
11. NEW Odd Shots: THE DEMON IN ME by Michelle Rowen. Ends May 26th
12. NEW Blog with Bite: Assasin's Honor by Monica Burns. Ends by May 26th
13. NEW Paperback Dolls: a signed copy of Magic Bleeds. Ends May 27th
14. The Bookologist: 5 lucky winners will get a finished copy of Gone by Lisa McMann. Ends May 27th
15. Reading Angel:  two winners receiving their choice of Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton or The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer. Ends May 28th
16. The Book Scout: 5 copies of Shade by Jeri Smith- Ready. Ends May 28th
17. NEW Reading with Tequila: Robin Becker’s Brains: A Zombie Memoir. Ends May 28th
18. NEW BABBLING ABOUT BOOKS, AND MORE!: Jennifer Estep's Web of Lies. Ends May 28th
19. NEW Wayfaring Writer: Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas. Ends May 28th
20. NEW The Book Smugglers TEN AUTOGRAPHED copies of Spider’s Bite and Web of Lie by Jennifer Estep. Ends May 29th
21. NEW Book Crazy: a signed copy of BOTH Rising Shadow AND Merger (book one and two of The Soterians adventure) and have a character named after them in Jacquelyn's upcoming novel! Ends May 29th
22. NEW Wastepaper Prose: Prom Nights from Hell, signed by Kim Harrison. Ends May 29th
23. NEW The Geeky Bookworm: a book from her past reviews. Ends May 29th
24. The Bookologist: 5 lucky winners will each get a finished copy of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Ends May 29th

25. All Things Urban Fantasy: Ten (10) signed copies of ENEMY LOVER by Karin Harlow and one (1) L.O.S.T mug. Ends May 29th
    

26. NEW The Book Smugglers: 15 books, three batches, all brand new copies. Ends May 29th
27. NEW Amberkatze's Book Blog: A surprise pack from Lori Devoti. Ends May 30th
28. NEW Bite Club: Blood Oath. Ends May 30th
29. NEW Anna's Book Blog: Unholy Ghost. Ends May 30th
30. NEW Paperback Dolls: a signed ARC galley of Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow & a LOST mug. Ends May 30th
31. The Bibliophilic Book Blog: Lots of books and swag. Ends May 30th
32. NEW Kiersten Writes: ARC of Paranormalcy & Lips Touch by Laini Taylor. Ends May 30th
33. blkosiner: The named by Marianne Curley. Ends May 30th
34. Anna’s Book Blog: Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris plus another book. Ends May 30th
35. Katie's Book Blog: hardcover copy of Beautiful Creatures. Ends May 30th
36. Katie's Book Blog: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Ends May 30th
37. Lovin' & Livin' Life in the 808: Stormwalker by Allyson James + Chocolates & a backlist title from the author. 2 winners. Ends May 30th
38. NEW Katie's Book Blog: ARC of White Cat along with a pair of Curse Workers gloves, a patch, and some postcards. Ends May 30th
39. NEW Stacy's Place on Earth: Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between! Ends May 30th
40. NEW Vampire Wire: Jennifer Estep’s WEB OF LIES. Ends May 31st
41. NEW Wondrous Reads: 4 copies of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick! (UK only). Ends May 31st
42. NEW allyson condie: ARC of Matched by Ally Condie. Ends May 31st
43. NEW Vampire Wire: Stacia Kane’s UNHOLY GHOSTS. Ends May 31st
44. Pop Culture Junkie: Autographed copy of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Ends May 31st
45. SFF Chat: Hell Fire by Anne Aguirre, Heart of Stone by C.E Murphy, A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton, and Blood Lines Trilogy (Matters of the Blood, Blood Kin & Blood Bargain) by Maria Lima. Ends May 31st
46. Library Lounge Lizard: a whole bunch of books to give away plus a bunch of other fun stuff like bookmarks, stickers and a giftcard! There will be two winners. Ends May 31st
47. The Romance Dish: a signed copy of Bound by Darknes by Annette McLeave. Ends May 31st
48. A Book-lovers' Review: A signed copy of Mona Lisa Awakening. Ends May 31st
49. A Fanatic's Book Blog: two copies of Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton! Ends May 31st
50. The Page Flipper: Whoever wins this prize pack wins $40 worth of books of their choosing. Ends May 31st
51. Simon & Schuster: advance copy of Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. Ends May 31st
52. Library Girl Reads: 10 books to select from including Fragile Eternity (uncorrected proof) by Melissa Marr. Ends May 31st
53. Midnight Moon Cafe: author bookmarks and more packet, and the paperback, The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter! Ends May 31st
54. Cynsations: Morpheus Road: The Light by by D. J. MacHale. Ends May 31st
55. Kristie Cook:  Gift baskets of urban fantasy books, including a signed copy of Kristie Cook's PROMISE releasing in July, and writer and reader swag. 3+ winners. Ends May 31st or 100 followers.
56. Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick: A giveaway a day. Ends May 31st
57. Queen of Happy Ending: 4 wonderful new books. Ends May 31st
58. The Book Resort: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. Ends May 31st
59. Annette McCleave: One signed copy of Bound by Darkness, One set of Drawn into Darkness and Bound by Darkness, One $50 gift certificate to B&N, Borders, or Chapters. Ends May 31st
60. The Book Vault: 5 copies of The Light (Morpheus Road) by D.J. MacHale. Ends May 31st
61. Cookies, Books and Bikes: Sex, Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis and The Devil You Know by Mike Carey (Urban Fantasy) to two US readers and a book for an international entry too. Ends May 31st.
62. Paranormal Haven: Darkest Whisper and Fade Out. Ends May 31st 
63. NEW Book Whore: A signed copy of Vampire Academy Ends May 31st
64. NEW Vampire Wire: Shana Abé's The Time Weaver. Ends June 1st
65. NEW Confessions of a Bookaholic: My Soul to Keep (signed) and swag by Rachel Vincent 2 prize packs. Ends June 1st
66. Smexy Books: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa AND a $25 Visa Gift Card. Ends June 1st
67. NEW All-Consuming Books: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane. Ends June 1st.
68. NEW Alyxandra Harvey: Blood Feud. Ends June 1st
69. NEW Literary Escapism: two signed copies of Cheat the Grave, plus two copies of City of Souls by Vicki Pettersson. Ends June 1st
70. The Book Scout: One winner will win the following prize pack: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller (ARC), The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway (ARC), Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (ARC) A variety of swag (some signed). Ends June 1st
71. Goodreads: Angel in the Shadows Book One by Lisa Grace. Ends June 1st
72. Melissa Marr: 40 books, 20 winners will get 2 books each. They range from middle-grade to adult, romance to SFF to paranormal romance, signed and unsigned, ARCs and finished copies.  Ends June 1st
73. La Femme Readers: -There will be 3 winners : First winner picks whatever three prizes they want, second winner picks two and third winner picks one. Ends June 1st
74. NEW Darkly Reading: Signed copy of Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready. Ends June 2nd
75. Fantasy/Sci-Fi Lovin' Giveaways!: "Bullet" by Laurell K. Hamilton. Ends June 2nd
76. Dark Faerie Tales: an autographed copy of Embers. Ends June 2nd
77. Babbling Flow: SIGNED TWILIGHT!! Plus all SIGNED: Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, and Christopher Moore. Ends June 2nd
78. Read My Mind: Melissa Marr Faerie Court Bracelets. Ends June 3rd
79. Bitten by Paranormal Romance: 5 books off the blog giveaway bookshelf. Ends July 4th 
80. Dark Faerie Tales A Perfect Darkness, Out of the Darkness, and Touching Darkness by Jaime Rush. Ends June 4th
81. thehidingspot: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (arc),How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford (arc), Fat Cat by Robin Brande (arc), Night World Vol. 1 by L.J. Smith. Ends June 4th
82. NEW The Book Smugglers: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Ends June 4th
83. NEW Leilani Loves Books: a signed copy of Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey. Ends July 4th
84. NEW That's QUEEN Bitch To You: a signed set of the Kate Daniels series including Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. Ends June 4th
85. NEW Teens Read and Write: WEREling by Steve Feasey. Ends June 4th
86. NEW FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW: Angel Star ARC & Prize Pack by Jennifer Murgia! Ends June 4th
87. NEW Wondrous Reads: Captivate by Carrie Jones! (UK only). June 4th
88. NEW Fiction Vixen Book Reviews: Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur. Ends June 4th
89. NEW All Things Urban Fantasy: Ten (10) signed copies of MASKED BY MOONLIGHT by Nancy Gideon. Ends June 5th
90. NEW Anna's Book Blog: a Signed copy of The Iron King. Ends June 5th
91. The Book Vault: 5 copies of Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson. Ends June 5th
92. Extreme Reader Book Reviews: a signed copy of The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos and a signed bookmark!  Ends June 5th
93. NEW FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW: 5 copies of Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson. Ends June 6th
94. NEW Vampire Wire: Keri Arthur's MOON SWORN. Ends June 6th
95. NEW Wayfaring Writer: Amazon Queen by Lori Devoti. Ends June 6th
96. NEW Lovin' & Livin' Life: Bengal's Heart & Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh. Ends June 6th.
97. NEW Lovin' & Livin' Life: The Sword by Jean Johnson. Ends June 6th.
98. THE BOOK BUTTERFLY: SIGNED copy of Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey. Ends June 6th
99. A Good Addiction: ARC of Linger. Ends June 6th
100. NEW Steph Su Reads: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. June 7th
101. NEW Writings Of A Wicked Book Addict: The Iron King & a $25 dollar Visa Gift Card. Ends June 7th
102. NEW Patricia's Vampire Notes: Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas. Ends June 7th
103. Goodreads: Deception (Haunting Emma, #1) by Lee Nichols. Ends June 8th
104. I Should Be Writing: There are two grand prize packs, one for writers, one for readers, two more writer and reader prize packs, plus weekly giveaways and bonuses if she get enough followers. Ends June 10th
105. NEW Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews: "Roadkill" by Rob Thurman. Enter by June 11th
106. NEW THE BOOK BUTTERFLY: a Bookcase from CSN Furniture. Ends June 12th
107. Good Golly Miss Holly: The May Day Contest Spree featuring YA book giveaways every day. Ends June 12th
108. Sophistikatied Reviews: Random ARC Giveaway! Ends June 14th 
109. NEW Black and Blue Ink: 3 winners pick up to 4 books each. Ends June 14th
110. NEW The First Novels Club: FOUR signed books from NYT Bestselling Authors! Ends June 15th
111. NEW A Journey of Books:Play Dead by Ryan Brown. Ends June 15th
112. J.K. Beck's Shadow Keepers: an ARC of WHEN BLOOD CALLS by J.K. Beck aka Julie Kenner, and a free KINDLE, onto which the ARC will be loaded. Enter by Summer 2010
113. Rex Robot Reviews: Play Dead by Ryan Brown. Ends June 15th
114. Mrs. Magoo Reads: THE CLEARING by Heather Davis. Ends June 15th
115. I Heart Monster: HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD by Tate Hallaway. Ends June 15th
116. I Heart Monster: Arson by Estevan Vega. Ends June 15th
117. Lost in Ink: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, White Cat by Holly Black, Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healy, Mistwood by Leah Cypess. Ends June 17th
118. NEW Confessions of A Book Addict: 3 signed books. Ends June 18th
119. An Addicted Book Reader: 2 winners! The first winner can pick two books from the list, and the second winner can pick one book from the list! Each winner will also receive some swag. Ends June 18th
120. NEW Wayward Muses and Shiny Objects: 1 BLOOD LAW advance reader copy (ARC), autographed, 2 BLOOD LAW bookmarks, autographed, 1 BLOOD LAW cover flat, autographed, 2 "Suck on This" shot glasses from Crimson Swan, the vampire bar featured in BLOOD LAW, 2 ink pens -- one from Crimson Swan vampire bar and one for BLOOD LAW, 6 pack of Vlad's Tears, "The World's Finest Synthetic Blood -- The Choice of Vampires Since 1984" (Actually it's candy, but it's still cool.) Ends June 22nd
121. The Book Resort: Win A Copy of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephanie Meyer. June 30th
122. NEW Shut Up! I'm Reading: 3 winners pick from - An ARC of The Ghost And The Goth by Stacey Kade, A boxed set of Crank and Glass by Ellen Hopkins, A paperback of The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, A paperback of Feed by M.T. Anderson, An ARC of Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson, An ARC of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, A paperback of Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer, An ARC of The Naughty List by Suzanne Young, A hardcover of Fade by Lisa McMann, A hardcover of Shadowland by Alyson Noel. Ends June 30th
123. A Great Book Is The Cheapest Vacation: Web Of Lies by Jennifer Estep Ends July 1st
124. SciFi Chick: The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff. Ends July 4th
125. NEW I Heart Monster: a gift wrapped, signed, paperback copy of FIRESPELL by Chloe Neill. Ends July 11th
126. NEW Suzanne McLeod: The Sweet Scent of Blood or The Cold Kiss of Death, or your choice of book. Ends July 31st
127. A Book-lovers Review: Guess Who? giveaway with 3 prize packs and weekly contests. Ends October 27th
128. Bitten by Books:  new contests almost everyday.

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Please use this form to add your paranormal contest/giveaway to my sidebar & future Win on Wednesday posts.

 

*FORGIVE MY FINS will be released on June 1, 2010*

 

Book Description

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Review:

I may fantasize about falling in love with a vampire or werewolf, but I dream about being a mermaid. A mermaid princess would be even better, and Lily Sanderson gets to be both.

In the tradition of Disney's The Little Mermaid and more recently Aquamarine, FORGIVE MY FINS is about a mermaid princess torn between two worlds and the problems that accompany each, like having to find a mate before her eighteenth birthday or lose her claim to the throne, putting up with a irritating yet suddenly attractive neighbor who delights in tormenting her, and finding the courage to reveal her true identity to the guy she's secretly loved for years.

The mermaid world in FORGIVE MY FINS is a fully flushed out sea kingdom. Mermaids have their own distinct culture, rituals, magic, and even slang. Tera Lynn deftly weaves in elements from mythology and antiquity in creating the merkingdom of Thalassinian. And the underwater world contrasts nicely with the out of water world of Seaview high.

I did get a little annoyed with Lily's attitude especially as it was constantly directed at the too-good-to-be-true Quince. He gives new meaning to the word long suffering. I never understood why he fell for her. To borrow some of Lily's sea slang, she was a complete seawitch to him. He does one romantic and selfless thing after another for her and she treats him deplorably.

Lily’s behavior aside, there are several scenes that will make the hearts of teenage girls everywhere race, and while not a teenager myself anymore, I got swept up the the romance between Lily and Quince too.

What's a better summer read than a mermaid story about first love? FORGIVE MY FINS is a sparkling splash of a story full of crush worthy guys, adolescent teen angst, and magical romance. Lily tends to transform her attitude almost as often as she does her scales, but I really enjoyed this story. The epilogue hints that we'll be seeing more from Lily and Quince in the near future. I'll post the details when they are available.

Sexual Content: kissing.

My Rating (out of 5):
Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061914657
• ISBN-13: 978-0061914652 

*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of Harper Collins

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Disagree with my review?  Contact me your review for this or any other book I’ve reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Today is the launch of INFINITY, the first of Sherrilyn Kenyon's vampirific young adult series 'Chronicles of Nick'.

**Note to Dark-Hunter fans

The Chronicles of Nick *is* Nick’s real and true past. There is a huge surprise (several actually) in the book that I don’t want to spoil, but when you read the book, everything you think is an inconsistency will make perfect sense to you. More than that, you will understand exactly why Nick is the way he is and why he continues to hate Acheron the way he does. But you have to be patient. All will be clear on May 25, 2010.

Nick’s series will run until it intersects with Night Pleasures and then Nick will have his own novel in the Dark-Hunter world.

Book one, Infinity, begins when Nick meets Kyrian.
Book two will pick up the next day after Infinity ends and will be out Feb 2011.

Remember the one promise that I try to keep in every book: Just when you think you know the truth about a character or event, you find out that things are seldom what they seem. Nick is one of those characters. There’s a lot more to our little Cajun than what you’ve seen to date. That’s why it takes 12 books to tell his story.

There are many, many secrets you’ll learn about a lot of characters, including Cherise and especially Jaden and Jared. Just hold on… you ain’t seen nothing yet :) –Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

Book Description

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn’t hard enough…now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312599072
• ISBN-13: 978-0312599072

Click HERE to read an excerpt of INFINITY & Interview with Sherrilyn

Click the picture below to download the FREE song from Sherrilyn’s website.

TO DOWNLOAD SONG: