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*This title will be released on March 1, 2011*

Title: Late Eclipses Author: Seanan McGuire Series: October Daye #4 Cover Art: Chris McGrath Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: No Source: Publisher Reviewed by:Julia Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: DAW (March 1, 2011) ISBN-10: 0756406668 ISBN-13: 978-0756406660 Sexual Content: Kissing, mention of prostitution and sexual relationships. My Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.

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Description

Two years ago, October "Toby" Daye believed she could leave the world of Faerie behind. She was wrong. Now she finds herself in the service of Duke Sylvester Torquill, sharing an apartment with her Fetch, and maintaining an odd truce with Tybalt, the local King of Cats. It's a delicate balance—one that's shattered when she learns that an old friend is in dire trouble. Lily, Lady of the Tea Gardens, has been struck down by a mysterious, seemingly impossible illness, leaving her fiefdom undefended.

Struggling to find a way to save Lily and her subjects, Toby must confront her own past as an enemy she thought was gone forever raises her head once more: Oleander de Merelands, one of the two people responsible for her fourteen-year exile. But if Oleander's back, what's her game? Where is she hiding? And what part does Toby's mother, Amandine, have to play?

Time is growing short and the stakes are getting higher. For the Queen of the Mists has her own agenda, and there are more players in this game than Toby can guess. With everything on the line, she will have to take the ultimate risk to save herself and the people she loves most—because if she can't find the missing pieces of the puzzle in time, Toby will be forced to make the one choice she thought she'd never have to face again...

Review

From the first book, ROSEMARY AND RUE, it has felt like I jumped into the October Daye series “in media res.”  Quickly swept away by action and character development, I had for the most part forgotten Toby’s mysterious past. LATE ECLIPSES not only brings it all back, but also explodes Toby’s own preconceived ideas about herself and her heritage.  While not a cliff hanger, this book ends poised at the top of an arc, and I can’t wait to read where all of this forward momentum is going to take the series.

If book #3, AN ARTIFICIAL NIGHT, took us out of Toby’s daily life and deep into the mythos of fairy, LATE ECLIPSES stays very much on her home turf.  Unfortunately for Toby, that doesn’t mean there isn’t danger and intrigue, it just means her friends and family are in the line of fire.  Flitting about Toby’s consciousness, amidst mysterious sicknesses and political attacks, hints of Oleander de Merelands are appearing.  One of the people responsible for Toby’s fourteen year stint as a gold fish, the loss of her husband and child, and the twisted madness of her beloved liege lord's daughter, Oleander is one of the boogeymen of fairy, an evil individual and twisted assassin.  No one wants to believe that Oleander is back, and even Toby is unsure of her own sanity at the suggestion, adding a psychological twist to a story that I already found compelling.

While the action is certainly non-stop, it was the characters that held my undivided attention.  The book starts with glimpses of the home life Toby and May have built for themselves, and in the deadly cascade of events that follows, the possibility that they could lose that relationship was the one thought that really tugged at my heartstrings.  In addition to May, Tybalt and Connor both share significant page time.  I felt like I learned more about Tybalt and Toby’s past relationship, as well as saw hints of it’s future.  However, McGuire isn’t committing Toby to any one romantic path.  Connor has always been the one that got away, and despite being married, the sexual tension (and his criminally insane wife) keep things interesting.  Tybalt and Connor are two very different men, it may prove to be a Peeta and Gale moment when this tension is resolved.

Overall, Seanan McGuire has done a stellar job of developing her characters while interweaving action and suspense.  As much as I enjoyed the romantic tension in LATE ECLIPSES, it was the details about Toby’s family, both blood relation and adopted, that truly touched me.  The story as a whole has me on the edge of my seat for ONE SALT SEA in September, I am eager to find out how all this will play out.

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
Rosemary and Rue A Local Habitation An Artificial Night	Moonfox at Foxipher Jones

Title: Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls Author: Victoria Laurie Series: Ghost Hunter Mystery #5 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Mystery Excerpt: No Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Signet; December 28, 2010 ISBN-10: 045123197X ISBN-13: 978-0451231970 Sexual Content: Flirtation, references to sex. My Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Description

M.J. Holliday has the unusual ability to talk to the dead. Problem is, some ghosts just won't listen...

GHOST HUNTERS TURNED TREASURE HUNTERS

When M.J. Holliday and the crew of her cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, venture to the haunted ruins of Dunlow Castle in Ireland, they hope that the road will rise up to meet them, that the wind will always be at their backs, that the sun will shine warm upon their faces...and that the resident phantom won't push them off a cliff.

That is what has befallen others drawn to the castle by the legend of hidden treasure. Dunlow Castle has more spooks than turrets--including the long-dead lord in all his ghostly greediness--but ghost busters treasure their lives, they need to get the drop on the menacing phantom--before they plunge headfirst into one cliffhanger of an ending....

Review

A grown-up mix of Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew, GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS was a light, quick read that blends a realistic present day with a dash of the spirit world.  An entertaining ghost story to fill a few hours, the characters of GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS didn’t leave enough of an impression for me to hurry out and pick up the rest of the series.

The ghostly aspects of the story were my favorite parts of the book, dusting a classic mystery procedural with ectoplasm.  Victoria Laurie definitely wrote this installment in the Ghost Hunter Mysteries to work as a stand alone, providing a good amount of back story and world building from the outset.  Unfortunately, as I felt that the world and the plot received a lot more attention than the characters.  M. J. and her ghost-hunting cronies never deepened beyond bickering and flirting (not enough of the flirtation for my taste), and these shallow interactions weren’t enough to interest me in their well being. 

For any reader who isn’t as character obsessed as I am, GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS is worth a look (especially mystery buffs who read a little fantasy on the side).  For those who crave more drama, depth, and development, this series is probably worth a pass.

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
What’s a Ghoul to Do? Demons are a Ghoul’s Best Friend Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun Ghouls Gone Wild	Vickie at Vixen’s Daily Reads Jessica at a GREAT read

*This title will be released on March 1, 2011*

Title: Falling Under Author: Gwen Hayes Series: Falling Under #1 Cover Art: Oceania Gottieb  Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: NAL Trade (March 1, 2011) ISBN-10: 0451232682 ISBN-13: 978-0451232687 Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.  Some coarse sexual dialog   My Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.

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Description

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Review

 

When I think of the BIG titles that broke out a specific trend in Paranormal YA, I think of TWILIGHT and vampires, SHIVER and werewolves, HUSH HUSH and angels, WICKED LOVELY and faeries, and now I think we’re about to add FALLING UNDER to that list. You’ll have to read the book to find out what new trend it’s breaking.

 

In the tradition of those aforementioned titles, FALLING UNDER is part gothic romance, part paranormal mystery, and part coming of age story.  It’s breathtakingly written in a way that I think will elevate it above most of it’s peers (excepting maybe SHIVER).  The characters, even the secondary ones, are all given dimension and distinct motivations.  I didn’t necessarily like every character, but I believed they were real. 

 

Specifically, FALLING UNDER is like a mash-up of HUSH HUSH and WICKED LOVEY.  Like, Patch, the romantic lead is dark and dangerous and his motives are rarely pure.  You’ll hate and love him a dozen times before the book is over.  And like the unseen Faerie realm, Theia’s ‘visits’ to Under are fractured and macabre.  It frighteningly easy to lose herself there and revel in the dance even while knowing it’s destroying her. 

 

The entire book is surprisingly dark and delightful.  Even readers who are growing jaded by this genre should find something to enjoy here.  The ending is less of an ending and more of a setup for the next book, but it’s so provocative that I don’t even care that it’s a cliffhanger. All I care about is finding out when I can tumble back down this rabbit hole and fall back Under. 

 

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
N/A	The Book Scoop Genre Go Round Reviews Errant Dreams Reviews

*Cover art may not be final*

 

     Possess by Gretchen McNeil 

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Description: Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her overprotective mom, by the hunky son of the police officer who got her father killed, and by the eerie voices which she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Turns out the voices are demons--the Biblical kind, not the Buffy kind--and Bridget possesses the rare ability to banish them. San Francisco's senior exorcist and his newly assigned partner from the Vatican enlist Bridget's help with increasingly bizarre and dangerous cases of demonic possession. But when one of Bridget's oldest friends turns up dead in a ritualistic sacrifice that mirrors her father's murder, Bridget realizes she can't trust anyone.   An interview with her father's murderer reveals a link between Bridget and the Emim: a race of part-demons intent on raising their forefathers to the earth in human form. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the Emim's plan before someone else close to her winds up dead, or worse--the human vessel for a Demon King.   Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Balzer + Bray Release Date: August 23rd 201 Source: Seanchai      “I couldn't be more in love with my cover. It perfectly captures both how I pictured Bridget and the dark, creepy tone of the book. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing design team at Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins. Guys, I owe you one!” – Gretchen McNeil

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
Not available for pre-order yet	Creepy cool.  It reminds me a little of SALTWATER VAMPIRES by Kirsty Eagar.	A dead-on comparison, Abigail, but I think I like SALTWATER VAMPIRES just a little bit more.

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        Angelina’s Secret by Lisa Rogers 

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Description: As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn’t real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn’t imaginary after all. As if trying to lead her cheerleading squad to a state championship, breaking up with a boyfriend, and watching her brother move away to college isn’t enough to deal with, now Angelina has to accept she’s either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong. When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn’t, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home. Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Release Date: 2012 Source: Ramblings and What Not     No Author Comments

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
Not available for pre-order	I don’t like anything about this cover apart from the colors.  The font, the hair, the concept are all wrong.	I like the concept, but the execution is just off.  The details that jump out about the cover model (posture, hair products, What’s with those bangs?!) aren’t a good tone for this book.

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        Hit List by Laurel K. Hamilton 

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Description: The #1 New York Times bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series continues! Word has leaked to Anita Blake that hit men are headed for St. Louis- and that she, Jean-Claude, and Richard are the targets. Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter #20  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Berkley Release Date: June 7th 2011 Source: A Great Book Is The Cheapest Vacation       No Author Comments

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	What am I even looking at?  I see the woman, but what is the gold stuff?  The series has no continuity between covers and I always hate that. What a mess.	Wow, I physically don’t like looking at this cover.  I’m going to leave it at that and scroll away as fast as my little mouse can carry me.

Previous Covers in This Series

        Dark Angel by Eden Maguire 

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Description: Dare to believe in a fallen angel. His mission? To tear young lovers from each others' arms ...   Tania's heart belongs to Orlando. Nothing can rip them apart. Until the seduction begins in a flurry of glamour and magic, music and parties all orchestrated by the mysterious and mesmerising Zoran, an iconic rock star who has retired to a remote ranch in the nearby mountains. And there Tania meets the dark side. Can she resist temptation?   Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Hachette Children's Books Release Date: August 4, 2011 Source: Love Fantasy Sci-Fi Novels       No Author Comments

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	My first though was: very pretty.  But then I realized it’s the exact same image as on the cover of THE VESPERTINE!  It looks better on THE VESPERTINE.	Good eye!  I think THE VESPERTINE did it better.  The cartoony splash and hard scarlet of DARK ANGEL don’t fit the romantic dress and dramatic posture at all.  They could do better.

Previous Covers in This Series

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        My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland 

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Description: Angel Crawford is a loser Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken. That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue--and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse. Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey--just when she's hungriest! Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat. Literally. Series: White Trash Zombie #1 Artist: Dan Dos Santos  Goodreads: Link Publisher: DAW Release Date: July 5th 2011 Source: Diana Rowland     “It is SO AWESOME I WANT TO CURL UP AND DIE OF THE SQUEE!…The artist is Dan Dos Santos, who also did the cover for Secrets of the Demon. I am seriously one lucky author!! I'm incredibly excited about this book and I'm really hoping that the anti-zombie folks out there will give this a chance. Trust me, it's not your typical zombie story!” – Diana Rowland

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	Finally the finished version & this might be my favorite UF ever.  I love the art, the author, and the artist.  Seriously stoked to read this one.	I would love to hang a poster of this cover, but for the life of me can’t imagine what reading this book will be like.

Previous Covers in This Series

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        Supernaturally by Kiersten White 

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Description: Life's never fair when faeries are involved. The sequel to Paranormalcy. Series: Paranormalcy #2 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: August 30th 2011 Source: Kiersten White     “So much pretty. The red! And the flowers! AND THE DRESS! And that line above Evie's head that I am very, very fond of! And can I just say again how much I love the model they picked for Evie? I especially love that you can see her eyes better in this one. They are exactly how I always pictured Evie's eyes "like streams of melting snow….But just when you thought you couldn't love this amazing red cover any more, I have EVEN MORE TO LOVE!  One of my favorite design aspects of my covers (aside from, well, everything) is that they wrap around so the image continues onto the back. THIS TIME WITH LIGHTNING.” – Kiersten White

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	The earth tones are really beautiful here.  Everything is similar yet distinct enough from the first cover to feel fresh but still part of the series.  Excellent.	This cover model is so striking, I love it.  SUPERNATURALLY is even better than PARANORMALCY below, I prefer the wine colored dress.

Previous Covers in This Series

        So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev 

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Description: Things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Something's happened to the Théâtre Illuminata, putting the only home she's ever known in limbo. Her mother's sanity is fraying under the strain, her father has vanished and an angry goddess is out for revenge. Bertie is caught between her duties and her dreams, just as her heart is torn between Ariel and Nate. But hope glimmers in a Distant Castle, and if Bertie can put on the performance of her life, maybe she can win the magical boon that may save them all. Series: Théâtre Illuminata #3 Artist: Jason Chan  Goodreads: Link Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Release Date: Sept 13th 2011 Source: Lisa Mantchev      “Once again, Jason Chan has created something incredibly beautiful and magical that wholly captures the essence of the book. Heapings of glitter and cupcakes upon his head, as well as Jean Feiwel and the art department at Feiwel & Friends for this:” – Lisa Mantchev

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	Ethereal.  Jason is a new favorite artist of mine after his work on GEIST, and this series has such a cool anime like quality.	Love it!  Different, sweet, and fun.  I would add this series to my TBR pile on the strength of this cover alone.

Previous Covers in This Series

        Jessica’s Rules The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey 

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Description: When Jessica Packwood found out she was a Romanian vampire princess, she had the shock of her teenage life. Turns out that was the easy part. Now, married to Prince Lucius Vladescu, she has to claim her throne and convince a vampire nation she’s fit to be their queen. But Jess can’t even order a decent meal from her castle’s Romanian staff, let alone deal with devious undead subjects who would love to see her fail.   And when Lucius is accused of murdering a vampire Elder and imprisoned without the blood he needs, Jessica finds herself alone, fighting for both their survivals.   Desperate to clear her husband’s name and win his release, Jess enlists the help of her best friend Mindy Stankowicz and Lucius’s mysterious Italian cousin, Raniero Lovatu. But both of them are keeping some dark secrets. Can Jess figure out who to trust – and how to rise to power – before she loses everything, including the vampire she loves? Series: Jessica #2  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Harcourt Release Date: January 9th 2012 Source: Beth Fantaskey's Facebook        “For those of you who've been patiently waiting, here's the cover of Jessica Rules the Dark Side! Have a great weekend, everybody!” – Beth Fantaskey

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	This looks like a little girl playing dress up.  You wouldn’t even now it was a paranormal story except for the (I think) stake in her hand.	With a title that sassy, this book needs something better than a rather generic cover.

Previous Covers in This Series

        Green-Eyed Envy by Kasey MacKenzie 

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Description: N/A Series: Shade of Fury #2  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: Ace Release Date: June 28th 2011 Source: Kasey Mackenzie       “I am thrilled to share the finalized cover for Green-Eyed Envy and couldn’t be more pleased.  Both Judy York and the Ace Art Department have done a fabulous job once more.  They have done a fabulous job of blending artistic license with my vision of Riss and brought her to kick-ass life.  I am truly blessed by the cover art gods.  =)” – Kasey MacKenzie

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	Smoking hot!  I like this one even better than the previous cover.  I usually find glowing eyes to be a little creepy, but this just works.	As someone who struggles with finding a well-fitted bra, my eye is instantly drawn to the potential “double boob” just waiting to happen in this picture.  Not a fan.

Previous Covers in This Series

        Dragon’s Oath by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 

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Description: Before Zoey is Marked and arrives at the House of Night… before she rises in power to confront utter darkness, and the House of Night is divided… there’s Dragon’s Oath, the thrilling story behind the House of Night's formidable fencing instructor and warrior – the love that will transform him, and the mercy that will come back to haunt him… Series: House of Night prequel  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link Publisher: St. Martin's Press Release Date: July 12th 2011 Source: PC's Blog       “Ooooh! Check out the cover of DRAGON'S OATH! Its release date is July 12th of this year. It's the first of the House of Night back story novellas.” – P.C. Cast

Pre-Order From:	Abigail’s Thoughts:	Julia’s Thoughts:
	So what if it’s a little She-Ra: Princess of Power?  I loved that show as a kid.	I was thinking this reminds me of Jennifer Roberson’s Tiger and Del books, but I love She-Ra even more!

Previous Covers in This Series

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