Review: Sanctum Angels by Edenmary Black

Edenmary will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments on her stop (excluding the author's and the host's). So leave me a comment for your chance to win!

Hi again guys. Today I'm hosting Edenmary Black as part of her tour with Goddess Fish! Sanctum Angels is Book 1 in the Shadow Havens series.

Title: Sanctum Angels

Author: Edenmary Black

Publisher: eBookIt.com

Release Date: 3rd January 2012

Series: Shadow Havens, Book 1

Source: I received a e-copy of this book as part of the Goddess Fish tour in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Warning: The following work contains descriptive material and scenes of explicit sexual encounters between consenting male and female adults. It is intended for adult readers only. 

When Priana Grey walks into a bank, she isn’t expecting to be taken hostage by a violent thief; nor, is she expecting Detective Joe Cafaris to offer his life for hers. The stepdaughter of fallen angels of the Sanctum, she has concealed her true nature to move among humans for years, but Joe’s courage astounds her. Although she knows that falling in love with a human is a disaster, she just can’t ignore what she feels.

Joe is a tough loner, cool in the most dangerous situations, but he’s not ready for the scorching desire he feels for Priana. He has a million logical reasons to walk away, but his heart wants something else. 

Priana’s stepbrother, Keirc, warns that she’ll find only misery with Joe, yet he guards a perilous secret of his own. His lover, Iridea, is the daughter of Sebastien Galaurus, a ruthless vampire who leads the Demesne, a powerful supernatural haven quite unlike the Sanctum. 

When a stunning crisis forces Priana into the heart of the Demesne, a maelstrom explodes in the shadow of supernatural havens on the brink of war, where fallen angels, vampires, weres and daemons call the shots and humans are viewed as critically frail - a place where men and supernaturals can die.

Review:

First Line: 'Priana Grey’s hands and feet were freezing. Her arms felt like wood and a thin trail of blood was snaking its way down her palm from the fine wire binding her wrists. She wiggled her fingertips but couldn't risk moving more. The man with his fist in her hair would only yank her backward again and the gun at the end of his other hand looked as long as a bowling alley.' 

Sanctum Angels certainly gets off to a fast paced start. We meet Pria when she's been taken hostage by a psychotic bank robber who has a personal grudge against one of the Detectives on the local Police Force. Him taking Pria and 3 others hostage is the way he draws the Detective out into the open with the intent of shooting him. Pria can't let that happen. She can't let harm come to an innocent human so despite her hands being tied with wire and a gun to her head Pria kills the armed robber. How you ask? Well Pria isn't exactly human...she is the daughter of a fallen angel and a pureblood vampire, giving her certain gifts. Gifts she uses to save Detective Joe Cafaris. 

From the moment they lay eyes on each other both Pria and Joe feel an attraction. Heck, Joe even thinks Pria looks pretty in her hospital gown and I'm telling you...you have to work damn hard to make one of those ugly things look good! From there their relationship progresses in a believable manner...they have their hurdles but this couple seem set to overcome anything thrown their way! 

I loved Joe as a character, he's really sweet fumbling his words because he can't quite believe that Pria is talking to him. Joe is one of those steady, reliable guys who is loyal and honest to a fault. A man who also puts his life on the line in Pria's defence. She'd be blind to not notice what's right in front of her. Pria is also a very well written character...at no point did I hate her and I found her independence by living among the humans added to her character. She has the power of life and death in her hands but will only use it when she absolutely has to. Don't get me wrong she can be tough...and you don't want to be in her way if she's angry with you...But I don't think I could ever hate anyone who owns a bakery :)

Pria could easily bet that he’d never known anyone like her and by all the laws of sense, she should run from this, yet she couldn't. She just freaking wouldn’t. It had been years since she’d felt this way about a male, supernatural or not. Still, she needed him to know that she didn't consider relationships lightly. “I’m not casual with men,” she said quietly, hoping he’d get it. “I didn't think you would be,” he said quickly.
“I haven’t been with anyone in a long while, Joe, because sometimes men…look at me and think they see something that’s not there. Or they want to have some kind of relationship without heart and that’s not me.”
“No,” he assured her, seeing that Pria had probably looked like a fantasy to many men. “I don’t find sexual relationships like that easy. “Well, I mean I like sex, but that’s not what I had in mind.”
Fucking idiot…“Well,” Joe said, starting to backpedal. “What I meant to say was that I am not 

looking for a sexually casual relationship with you even though you are one of the 

most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”

As we journey through the world of Sanctum Angels we also meet a pair of lovers who seem doomed from the very start. Kierc and Iridea are one of the other couples in this novella and their relationship has a very Romeo and Juliet feel to it. Kierc is Pria's stepbrother and son of the founders of Sanctum whereas Iridea is the daughter of the leader of Demesne and his Mate. Sanctum and Demesne are two opposing supernatural havens and it is often referenced as to the undoubtedly negative reactions from their respective parents this relationship would receive...see what I mean? You know how that story ended...well you'll just have to read Sanctum Angels if you want to know more :)

I enjoyed Sanctum Angels from start to finish, Edenmary Black has created a new world full of angels, vampires and daemons that thrilled me from start to finish. Sanctum Angels is crammed full of goodies including a blossoming romance, a political war and naturally a all out battle between the forces of good and evil...all in only 178 pages! I would recommend Sanctum Angels to all lovers of Paranormal Romance who are looking to get stuck into a new authors work!

My Rating 4/5

Excerpt:

Ilea picked up the skirting of her gown and rushed through the richly carpeted halls of the elaborate underground Demesne haven she’d shared with her Mate for centuries. By the time she reached Sebastien’s study, her flaming hair had come undone from its tight chignon and her face had grown hot. Saan was dying and a tiny thought she’d kept buried for the past two nights would find Sebastien’s ear whether he wished to hear or not. Drawing breath, Ilea whipped the black double doors nearly from their hinges to stride to the dark, massive desk in front of her Mate. A small group of the Demesne’s vampire warriors were with him but they stepped swiftly from her path.

“Leave us,” she ordered.

The warriors of the Demesne were unused to taking orders from their leader’s Mate, whom they rarely saw, but left after Sebastien gave them a fast nod. Hearing his Mate’s pounding heart, Sebastien sat quickly, as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. “Has our son passed?” he asked quietly.

“He lives but he may well pass before the morning unless something is done,” Ilea gripped the edge of the desk and leaned over it, into her husband’s perfectly sculpted face.

“Call your brother at the Sanctum and seek his advice,” she commanded. “Ask him to send one of the angelic healers. It is the only thing that can save our son.”

Sebastien had thought this might be requested of him, but he had also expected Saan to recover, having his mother’s daemon blood and his own vampiric blood.

“Andrieu is not my brother. I cannot contact anyone at the Sanctum,” he said.

Ilea pulled her hand back and brought it forward in a mind-numbingly fast arc to connect with Sebastien’s jaw. Her Mate’s head bounced backward against the high back of his carved chair, yet he didn’t lift a hand. “You could not have heard what I asked,” Ilea said. “Call Andrieu and ask…no, Sebastien …beg him to send an angelic healer. Tonight.” Ilea’s eyes were changing to the silver swirls associated with strong emotion among daemons. “Do it,” she hissed.

(From the Prologue) 

About the author:

Edenmary Black has been writing since she could clutch a pencil. She has always been fascinated with the mysteries of the paranormal and loves the question all writers answer when they pen fiction. For her, it's all about that magical, "What if?” When not working her keyboard, she enjoys long walks with her golden retriever, reading and spending time with her family, all of whom are male. She spends far too much on lingerie and is very, very weak for chocolate. Visit her at www.edenmaryblack.com. 

Review: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

During this tour Emlyn will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter, clicking here will take you to a list of all the blog stops...the more you comment, the more chance you have to win. So leave me a comment for your chance to win :)

Hey guys, today I'm hosting a Goddessfish Promtional tour for Farsighted by Emlyn Chand. Get ready to enter Alex's extraordinary world.

Title: Farsighted
Author: Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Release Date: 17th October 2011

Series: Farsighted Series
Source: I recieved this book as part of a Goddessfish promotional tour in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he’s blind. Just when he thinks he’ll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Review:

First Line: 'Today is the last day of summer, but I’m not doing anything even remotely close to fun. I’m just lying here in Mom’s garden, running my hands over the spiky blades of grass—back and forth, back and forth until my fingertips go numb. Until everything goes numb. I sigh, but no one’s around to hear.'

To be honest this first line doesn't tell you an awful lot about what the book is going to be like other than the fact that it is written from Alex's perspective. Alex is like any normal teenage boy, he goes to school, has problems talking to girls and is sullen and moody at least 50% of the time. There is one big difference though...Alex was born blind. Not only that but Alex has begun seeing visions of the future and these visions aren't always pleasant. Death and destruction haunt his dreams, his visions repeatedly show the death of Simmi, a girl Alex has come to care deeply for. With a little help from his gifted friends, Alex tries to change the outcome of these awful visions. But there are two types of prophecy, those that can be changed...and those which destiny has set in stone.

When I first realised the book was written from Alex's perspective I was a little apprehensive, I mean how would a person with sight be able to write in a realistic way for someone who is blind. These fears were not justified, Emlyn Chand has made what we experience through Alex believable. He relies on his other senses and had to memorise where things like his classes are way in advance. He has Braille textbooks and computers to help during school and Alex uses a cane to help him navigate obstacles but this is not always enough to stop him bumping into things or stubbing his toes. He assigns everyone a scent and has to rely on this and remembering voices to be able to identify people. He also gets frustrated because people constantly ask him how he became blind (he was born that way)...it kind of reminds me of when someone asked a blind friend of mind if he dreamt in colour...to which he replied 'Yes, but you can't even imagine the colours I see'. Though the story doesn't weigh heavily on Alex's blindness...if it had I would have enjoyed it less.

Alex has visions where a boy called Dex is wreaking havoc on the world with his telekinetic powers. Several of these visions show Dex killing Simmi...something Alex cannot allow and so with empathic Simmi and Medium Shapri in tow (as well as a few grown-ups since these psychic abilities are genetic) the gang become determined to find Dex and stop him before his awesome telekinetic powers rip their lives apart for good.

Alex is an everyday kid who just happens to be blind...and seeing the future. His interactions when he is being bullied reflect on this, though he does end up in a fight it's portrayed as a kid who can't take the abuse any more rather than Alex going out looking for a fight. Also the bashful way he tries to strike up conversation with Simmi is quite cute and when he makes a mess of it he gets angry and embarrassed so lashes out with words...again like any teen would. I think that the normality of Alex's everyday life despite the visions is refreshing, and one of the reasons this book works. Alex does have a tendency to sulk a lot and sometimes comes off as irrational, he's moody and won't do something if he doesn't feel like it. However he is very protective of his mother and throws all his energy into saving Simmi... and does eventually show some level of maturity. 

I will admit it was a lot of fun watching Alex's interactions with the two girls who feature heavily in his life, Simmi and Shapri. Basically Alex sucks at trying to woo girls and resorts to what must be some of the cheesiest lines and gestures in the 'How not to chat up a girl' textbook. I mean seriously Facepalm, head in hands going 'noo what on earth possessed you to think that was good???' I mean take this point for example:

'One arm continues to hold her body the other reaches across to hold her hand. “And how are you going to eat your lunch, lover boy?” Shapri asks with an unnaturally slow tempo. She’s not a very good actress, if even this small performance is giving her stage fright. “I don’t need lunch,” I answer, deepening my voice to sound manly. “I’m full of love.” 

WHAT WAS THAT!!! Uber cringe...though totally accurate haha. Got to give praise because this took me right back to secondary school when my Chemistry partner was trying to ask me out...the result was about as elegant as Alex's effort was. I love these parts...childhood memories here we come :)

Farsighted gives you everything you could possibly want from a novel, humour, great writing, creativity and a fabulous ending leaving you with a desire for more (though I must say that I am not a big fan of the cover). I enjoyed Farsighted so much I demolished it in one sitting! It's a completely unique story and I loved every minute of this Young Adult adventure. I certainly can't wait until book 2 Open Heart is released!

My Rating 4/5

About the Author:
Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

Author Website: www.emlynchand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emlynchand
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emlynchand
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/emlynchand

In My Mailbox {4}

Hey guys, I've been slacking on this meme recently so this post is some of the last 3 weeks worth of IMM! I've been up to my ears with work and university assignments so I apologise for my lack of posts, but I'm back on track for the moment *jumps around with happiness* so here goes...

Books received for review:

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep - Mythos Academy #3 (Received via NetGalley)
I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.
Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?
It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Shadow's Edge by Jami Gray - Kyn Chronicles #1 (ARC Received via GoddessFish Tours)
It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.
When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

Books I've Bought:

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk - Allie Beckstrom #1

Using magic means it uses you back - and every spell exacts a price from the user. Some people, however, get out of it by Offloading the cost of magic onto an innocent, then Allison Beckstrom's job is to identify the spell-caster. Allie would rather live a hand-to-mouth existence than accept the family fortune and the strings that come with it, but when she finds a boy dying from a magical Offload that has her father's signature all over it she is thrown back into the world of his black magic. And the forces she calls on in her quest for the truth will make her capable of things that some will do anything to control





Magic Graves Anthology by Jeaniene Frost and Ilona Andrews (Night Huntress and Kate Daniels Series)

Jeaniene Frost's story, One for the Money, features vampires Cat and Bones trying to protect a spoiled heiress with a price on her head and an undead hitman on her trail.
Ilona Andrews' story, A Questionable Client, is a prequel to her award-winning Kate Daniels series. In a world beset by magic waves, Kate Daniels works as a mercenary. She is tired, hungry, and there is foul-smelling blood on her boots. All she wants to do is to go home, but when Mercenary Guild offers her a job she can't refuse, she finds herself protecting a man against Russian wizards.

Very much looking forward to reading this one - especially A Questionable Client since it's the story of how Kate met Saiman!

Books I've Won:

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers - Personal Demons Series #2 (I won a SIGNED copy of this book as well as SIGNED bookmarks and Personal Demons tattoos!! Thank you so much to Lisa Desrochers for hosting the contest.

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.
Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.
And not everyone will get out of it alive. 

Well that's all for now - though I haven't included the books I downloaded for free from amazon, there were about 5 that I liked the sound of. 

What's in your mailbox?

Early Review: Queen of Swords by Katee Roberts

Hi guys, a new review for you all today! Queen of Swords by Katee Robert is book 2 in the Sanctify Series...Meet Ophelia and Boone.

Title: Queen of Swords
Author: Katee Robert
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: 12th June 2012
Series: Sanctify, Book 2
Source: I received a e copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Blurb from NetGalley:
When the cards tell Ophelia Leoni she’s supposed to marry the Prince of Hansarda, the gunrunner grits her teeth and boards the starship that comes for her. It doesn’t matter if the ship’s commander is the gorgeous stranger she just spent a wild, drunken night with. As a Diviner, she’s painfully aware the cards don’t lie. Ever.
Boone O’Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the deadly little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince’s emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can’t be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock–or into bed.
Even as they fight each other–and their explosive attraction–Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them…and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

Review:

First Line - 'Ophelia couldn’t find her underwear. They had to have been around there somewhere. She’d been wearing them last night, after all, but she was hard pressed to find that small piece of silk amongst the other clothing scattered about the room.'

I like this opening, Ophelia seems like a fun person - though she isn't quite as promiscuous as she sounded to me initially. Though the guy she is in the process of sneaking away from is the very man who will change her life forever. Who knew a drunken one night stand could cause so many problems for a girl? Ophelia does eventually find her underwear but from there her day goes from bad to worse. Ophelia returns home to find that the prince of Hansarda wants her for his bride, not only that but her mother practically pushes her out the door when the emissary arrives to take her to her future husband. Only the emissary is an imposter, a man desperate to keep her from her future husband and Boone will do anything to keep Ophelia from his sadistic half brother - the prince of Hansarda. 

Boone (aka the one night stand guy and imposter) wakes to find Ophelia gone - he'd only meant to follow her to find out why his half brother (and heir to the throne) wanted Ophelia so badly but he couldn't resist her fire and fell for her instead. Now he has the urge to protect this little hellcat, though I did laugh when Boone's ego was severely dented because Ophelia didn't remember him from the night before...and again when she proves she's no meek woman to be kidnapped without a fight, man she kicks ass.

This wasn’t supposed to be a battle. This was just one woman. Before he could talk himself out of it, Boone slapped the palm lock and strode through the door. The only warning he received was an exhale, almost perfectly silent. He dove to the floor, the box flying from his hand as he rolled. A knife embedded itself in the floor where his head had been. A very large knife. Where in the seven hells had she hidden that?
He kicked but Ophelia was ready for him, diving over his outstretched legs in a ridiculously graceful move. She punched him in the ribs and then she was on top of him, straddling his chest and holding her knife dangerously close to his left eye. “Don’t move.”

Queen of Swords is more a Science Fiction/ Romance but thankfully the Sci-Fi isn't too hardcore, as I've said before I can't handle hardcore Sci-Fi. I liked the world that Katee Robert has created, full of different species like Ophelia - who is known as a Diviner, one who has their Goddess whispering in her ear. Diviners are able to read the past, present and future of anyone they come across and become stronger once they become mothers. The Diviners had been hunted to the brink of extinction by a radical hate group known as Sanctify. They detest anything human and Ophelia's 'punishment' should she ever be caught involves dismemberment and burning alive. The obvious genocide committed by Sanctify is handled supremely by Katee Roberts and I hope they radical group are brought to justice for the crimes against humanity they are guilty of. Thankfully the tortures aren't over described...just the thought is enough to make me shiver. Strangely Ophelia's mother is a Diviner but her father is a former Sanctify member...I am extremely curious as to how these two got together *makes mental note to read their book*.

Boone and Ophelia are great characters...Boone has the coiled strength that would have you backing him if he ever challenged his brother for the throne but he is also haunted by nightmares of a trauma that happened when he was young. A horrific incident that left him scarred at the hands of his brother. He is loyal to a fault and will protect those he loves with his life. Just the kind of character I love *smiles with happiness*. Ophelia is a smart, strong woman who will not be told what to do. The only things that have influence over her is her Goddess and sometimes her mother. No man will ever rule over her. Despite her intelligence there was one thing I understood and saw well before she did, every time Ophelia thought her stomach problems were from food poisoning I wanted to hit her over the head...but other than that she is a very likeable character. I personally love Jenny - she's a female version of Boone, its no wonder that her and Ophelia get along like a house on fire...though God help Boone if those two ever team up against him...he hasn't got a chance.

I really enjoyed Queen of Swords as a whole. I loved Katee Robert's writing style, the way she mixes the humour with the dark and scarred past of both Boone and the Diviner race as a whole is brilliant. If done wrong the humour can come across as inappropriate but this is the perfect mix to show that there is still a glimmer of light in the darkness of the Sanctify regime. I think fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon's The League Series will enjoy Queen of Swords and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author!

My Rating 4/5 

Feature and Follow {6}

Hi guys, it's Feature and Follow time again - it comes around quickly! It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Hello to those new to V's Book Life - run by me (Vikki) a tea junkie and book obsessed student from England. Hi to my lovely loyal followers. I had some distressing news this week...my favourite tea place has closed down *cries*. I'm going to miss it...now where can I get my fruit tea and book combination...Anyway I'm getting distracted, this weeks Feature and Follow question comes from bloggers at Sarah's Books & Life and Short and Sweet;

Q: What is the longest book you’ve read? What are your favorite 600+ page reads?

I know this! The longest book I've ever read was probably Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton standing at I think 700 ish pages (it's one of the better Anita Blake novels - considering my mini rant last week that's saying something). However Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon must be a similar length, possibly longer...not entirely sure.
Either way Acheron wins hands down in the favourite category I mean seriously...the Dark Hunter Series is one of my all time favourites and this is the main man's book. We all knew it had to be long to do the mysterious Acheron justice...but wow...Acheron remains in my top 3 favourite books of all time...and I think it's going to stay there. I'm very jealous of Tory, I wanted Acheron... tall, gorgeous and haunted by his traumatic past he is the son of two Atlantean Gods and holds the final fate of the world in his large hands. Not even the age difference could bother me... I mean what difference does 11,000 years make?!

Anyway, leave me your comments and I always follow back :)
Catch you later!

Feature and Follow {5}

Hi everyone, now most of you will have heard of the weekly meme hoted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read called Follow Friday. Its purpose? To connect bloggers all over the world. Sooo, I'd like to say thanks for hopping by and I hope you'll drop me a comment. I always follow back :)

This weeks question comes from JoAnne at The Fairytale Nerd...

Q: What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?

Hmmm....ok. Toughy again. Oh I know!!!

Best - Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #2). It's about the 3rd time I've read Archangel's Kiss and I'm still blown away by the writing. I love Elena and Raphael as a couple...they just fit so well, I can't wait for more from them. PLUS we are introduced to all members of Raphael's Seven - including the mysterious Aodhan (though my heart will always belong to Illium *sigh*). Cannot fault it one bit.

Worst - The Harlequin by Laurell K Hamilton (Anita Blake #15). To be honest I'm getting rather tired of this series. What started out as a very promising series has been grossly stretched out so much that I no longer see the elements that made me fall in love with Guilty Pleasures. I mean, who exactly is Anita in a relationship with?? She just seems to sleep with anything that moves! I am seriously contemplating giving up completely!

What are your best and worst?

Talk soon!

Interview: KaSonndra Leigh

The lovely KaSonndra Leigh

I've got a treat in store for you all today. Earlier in the week I reviewed When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh and today the lady herself KaSonndra Leigh has kindly answered some of my questions. Enjoy!

Hi, KaSonndra and welcome to V’s Book Life. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m a little nervous as it’s my first interview but we should do alright. I’ve just finished When Copper Suns Fall and really enjoyed it (read my review here). Here’s the blurb for those who haven’t read it yet!
'In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected. Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories? With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.'

Vikki: This is a great storyline. I found Chela’s world and the people that inhabit it fascinating. Where did you get you inspiration from?
KaSonndra: When I sat down and began writing When Copper Suns Fall, the story was a standard in your face, super-high fantasy. It came complete with blue creatures, unicorns, princes, and all that. Chela’s name was Cara and Faris had a name that has been overused lately. I wasn’t trying to be fad girl or the Lady Gaga of the writing world. But rather, I was trying to write the story I always wanted to read. One that came to life when my oldest son asked me: “what if angels that looked like people lived in a dystopian society?” The seeds were planted, the lights in my muse’s apartment lit up. The challenge was on. I asked myself: “how do I stick to an urban setting with fantastical elements, but bring my love of dystopia into play?”

Vikki: Why the urban fantasy/dystopian genre? Have you always been drawn it?
KaSonndra: I love both of these genres. I have certain books I can devour in one sitting, and others well, it just takes a little longer. Doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not good or anything at all. I tend to love dystopian novels and urban fantasy. They’re magical and intriguing and everything I enjoy in a story.

Vikki: Chela has an awful lot to take in over the course of this book and makes a few tough decisions. She is a very strong person, as is Faris. Did you base her or any of your characters on real people?
KaSonndra: Of course, our writing always is based on the events, people, and places that most shaped our lives. I’d say the characters, themes, and overall tone of Copper Suns’ message is based on the way I feel about losing my grandmother. She was the one who told me to learn how to talk to the flowers. They hold the secrets hidden by the angels. So that’s what I did.

Vikki: I noticed that When Copper Suns Fall is book 1 of a trilogy, can you give us a hint as to where you’ll take Chela next?
KaSonndra: Sure can. You can expect to hear more from Faris’s voice in the next novels. You’ll also get more insight into the world where the Great War began. This time, Chela will dive deeper into Seth and Faris’s mysterious world on the other side of the river.

Vikki: If When Copper Suns Fall were to be made into a film or T.V. show, who would you have play Chela?
KaSonndra: I actually did a character mock up of the main characters in WCSF. And for Chela, I picked Jessica Szhor who plays Vanessa on Gossip Girl.

Vikki: Have you got any novels being released in 2012? Can you tell us a bit about them?
KaSonndra: Yes! Yes! I’d love to tell you about them. The expanded edition of When Copper Suns Fall will be released on March 31st. I have a short story being published by Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly in May. My Gothic paranormal novel Hacienda Moon will be pubbed in June. I’m really excited about that one because there’s a new type of supernatural creature being used in this one. And finally, in late fall of this year, we’ll be releasing the sequel to Copper Suns. It’s called When Silver Moons Rise. As you can see I’ve been VERY very busy! :-D

Vikki: Wow, you have been busy! Where is your favourite place to write? 

KaSonndra: I have a swing in my backyard where I sit and listen to nature all around me as my inspiration. Even though I only get to write outside like that for a few select months out of the year, I still enjoy connecting with life around me. Nothing is more inspirational.

Vikki: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
KaSonndra: I have tons of hobbies. When I’m not writing, I enjoy hanging out with my X-men. In case you haven’t read up on who they are, I’ll tell you they’re my two boys. And yes, both their names start with an X. That being said, another of my favourites is gardening. It’s meditative and offers a cure for writer’s block like you wouldn't believe.

Vikki: If you could meet any author (dead or alive) who would it be? (For me it’s the Bronte sisters…they started my love of the written word!)
KaSonndra: This is a loaded question. Why? Because I can’t really decide on one person. I mean, I’m stressing out over here as I try to decide who I’d want to meet first. I’d say Ann Radcliffe or Bram Stoker. I might be a dystopian fantasy author, but at the end of the day, I’m scouting out the latest in Gothic lit. Nothing beats the classics and those two set a very high bar for us authors to reach.

Vikki: And finally, what book are you reading right now?
KaSonndra: I have six books I’m reading right now. LOL I’m finishing up Graveminder by Melissa Marr first and then moving on to the Hunger Games trilogy...again! :-D

Vikki : Thank you so much for your time. I’ll be looking forward to book 2 in the Copper Suns trilogy!
KaSonndra: And thank you for taking the time to host me and review my novel When Copper Suns Fall. I heart you dearly. :-D

KaSonndra's début novel When Copper Suns Fall is available to buy on Amazon here!

Review: When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh

Hey all, my newest review is When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh. This dystopian fantasy is book 1 in the Copper Suns Trilogy.

Title: When Copper Suns Fall
Author: KaSonndra Leigh
Publisher: TriGate Press
Release Date: 6th December 2011 (Kindle Edition)
Series: Copper Suns Trilogy, Book 1
Source: I recieved a copy of this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from the KaSonndra Leigh's website:
In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected. Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories?
With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

Review:
First Line: 'My brothers hand twitched. It was the first time he'd moved in almost a year. Micah was in a coma. He lay in his bed, sightless eyes staring upward. Tubes attached to his arms, legs, and head led to a life-support system. My chest ached, stomach rolled, and grief was a bomb waiting to explode inside me.'
This first few lines drew me right in, how did Chela's brother end up in a coma? This is the question that eventually draws Chela into a world most believe had been left in the past. The official story is that he was in an accident, (Micah fell from the top of a ride) but Chela is convinced that it was no accident. She believes the mythical Tainteds were somehow involved and being twins...Chela will not stop until she discovers the truth.

Unfortunately the incurable Glutovirus is rampaging through Micah's system and his Doctor wishes to use Micah's body for research purposes...because Micah and Chela share a secret. They have celestial blood running through their veins. With her celestial blood Chela could have thrown off the men who took her from her brothers room or done some serious damage to the doctor who threatens to tell the world what she is...but Chela knows she has to keep her blood hidden...otherwise she risks being arrested or shot like the others of her kind. Since the Great War the humans have been forbidden, by the governing tribuneral, to have any association with the Caduceans and Tainteds who where the beings at the centre of the war which changed mankind forever. Chela's journey to discover the truth about Micah takes her further than she had ever imagined and drags her in to a place where the Caduceans and Tainteds are anything but myths. Chela makes some life changing discoveries about her home and her celestial heritage. Lies will be uncovered and cracks begin to show in the perfect society, for those in power have been anything but honest. Chela's celestial blood brings her new discoveries about her heritage and the role she will play in a hidden war. With the help of her friends Chela will change the world and her future...forever.

As far as the characters go, I liked Chela, she's strong and protective of those she loves and will do all she can to make things right. She is human and makes mistakes...I find a flawed heroine more believable than a perfect one so this is a definite plus for me. However, I didn't always connect with Chela. In some places I can picture exactly what she sees and feels...but in a couple of other places I feel more like someone sat on the sidelines. The love intrest in the form of Faris certainly has some promise...and I love the scene where they first meet, my word Faris is certainly intriguing...my mind kept wandering back to him. However, 2 more love interests are inrtoduced in the form of Seth and Jalen. The love triangle...or maybe it's a square...I don't know that ensues is hard on Chela (though I was always rooting for Faris) and she loses herself briefly.

“They’ll call me, now, and make me a witness against you. I’m sorry, but I already have too many problems. So I—I have to tell the truth,” I said.
“That won’t be a problem.” Faris smiled, a catchy one that lit his face up. I couldn’t decide whether it was angelic or downright wicked. Just like I couldn’t remember where I’d ever heard an accent like his. What kind was it? Old southern? Old English? Irish? It sounded like a mix of all three, but with a deep timbre, making him sound god like. “In a few minutes, you won’t remember me or any of this.”
“Really? How do you figure that?” I asked, heart racing.
“Because my gift to you…” He moved his face closer to mine, pulling me into whatever was happening in his head. “My gift is to remove memories that cause you pain.”
“Okay, um, right.” Had I lost my mind? It probably wouldn’t have hurt to scream.
He held my gaze, locking me into something I couldn’t explain. A tear puckered up in his left eye, and slid down his cheek where it stopped on his top lip. Then he blinked, snapping us out of whatever place he’d taken us to, and glanced behind my head. “Here comes your dark knight,” he said, easing his arms away from me.

Seth, unlike Faris, creeped me out from the very beginning. He is just one of those characters you are always suspicious of, and for that I think he is absolutely great. He is the guy in this love triangle who whenever Chela spent time with him I was going 'NOO! FARIS, PICK FARIS, GIRL ARE YOU BLIND!?' I always enjoy trying to get characters to see what they, in my opinion, are doing wrong...though my housemates get creeped out when I start shouting at books haha.

When Copper Suns Fall certainly keeps you on your toes while you're reading it. KaSonndra Leigh has created a new world full of many types of people. It reads well and I rarely had to struggle through it. There is a lot of action and when you think you see where the story is going, KaSonndra Leigh throws a curve ball and you suddenly have no idea what will happen next! I loved that about it, predictable is no fun. The unique spin on angel myhtology was absolutely fascinating and the dystopian theme was woven really well into the mythology. The Seraphim, Cherubim, the Caduceans and the Tainted will keep you enthralled throughout.

The one fault I could find with When Copper Suns Fall was the lack of background information in one or two areas. Some area's are not fully explained and left me a tiny bit lost at times. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the read but I don't think I got as into it as I feel I should have done, I mean the story showed so much promise. I had to flick back occasionally to try and find explanations that weren't always there which spoilt it for me a little bit. An example is that we don't get an awful lot of information about the Great War, it is mentioned yes, but not to the level of detail that I would have personally liked.
BUT, and this is a big but, this series certainly has a lot of promise and I certainly will be keeping an eye out as the trilogy progresses.

My Rating 3.5/5

Feature and Follow {4}

Time for the weekly feature and follow meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. For you new folks my name is Vikki and I'm the paranormal/urban fantasy junkie responsible for what you see here. Hi again to my loyal followers. It's been a long week this week, everything seems to be going wrong. The toilet blocked, then the boiler broke and to top it all off I misplaced my keys (though I did eventually find them in my boot but that's not the point).
Anyway, this weeks question comes from Hesperia Loves Books.

Q: Have you ever looked at book’s cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

I'm generally attracted to covers that are eye catching, big bold colours...something that isn't boring basically. Anything with a lot of blue is a big bonus as well...I love blue! Either way I wasn't particularly grabbed by the cover of I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore but since my friend kept pushing it under my nose I had to give it a read. You know what? I did really enjoy the book, and subsequently the film. It's more of a science fiction novel, but it's not so complicated that I had trouble following. Some science fictions completely lose me which is why I'm careful about which ones I pick up.

Here's the blurb:
There were nine. Three are dead. I Am Number Four.
Nine teenagers and their guardians are hiding on Earth... protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four. And his mortal enemies, the Mogadorian, are hunting him down.
The only way to keep off radar is to keep moving, never staying in one place for long. Finally in the firing line, all he can do is adopt the guise of a student and pray his unusual gifts—his legacies home; Planet Lorien—stay hidden long enough for him to settle into this new community.
But others seem to sense his otherness and when small-town life sucks him into its intrigues, it’s only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed. And that means there’s no space for love, friendship or a future if it means protecting not only himself, but the other five...

It's great, fast paced with enough action to keep me interested, a touch of romance is involved. The Power of Six (book #2) is on my TBR list.

Ok, that's what I thought, what about you guys? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.
Catch you later!

In My Mailbox {3}

Hi everyone! It's Sunday so time for my weekly round up of what's In My Mailbox! IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and is a fabulous way of showcasing the books that you've added to your collection this week. 

Books I've Bought:

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep (Elemental Assassin #2)
Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.
I'm Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox.
Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man... dead or alive.

Venom by Jennifer Estep (Elemental Assassin #3)

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.
To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.
At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life

Books I've Won!

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton (The Forever Girl Series #1)

Sophia Parsons’ family has skeletons, but they aren’t in their graves...
Solving the mystery of an ancestor’s hanging might silence the clashing whispers in Sophia's mind, but the cult in her town and the supernaturals who secretly reside there are determined to silence her first.
As Sophia unknowingly crosses the line into an elemental world full of vampire-like creatures, shapeshifters, and supernatural grim reapers, she meets Charles, a man who becomes both lover and ally.
But can she trust him?
It’s not until someone nearly kills Sophia that she realizes the only way to unveil the source of her family's curse: abandon her faith or abandon her humanity. If she wants to survive, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

Thanks to the author Rebecca Hamilton for the Giveaway that allowed me to win this amazing book!

That's all for this week. Leave me a comment to tell me what's in your mailbox this week.

Born of Silence: New Excerpt

The lovely Sherrilyn Kenyon has released an excerpt to Born of Silence (The League #5) for all her Facebook followers. So I suggest you head on over there and join the group if you haven't already and you'll be rewarded with the rest of this delicious excerpt!

Inside the hangar, Darling glanced over at a small group of six men dressed as college engineers, but he paid them no heed as he led his sister toward his ship on the left.

Not until he overheard one of them speaking to the others in Caronese- a language that wasn’t common here in the Garvon sector. Fearing assassins were after him, he listened to their conversation intently. “Hey, isn’t that the princess we’re after?”

Those words registered at the same time he saw the group rushing toward them, reaching for weapons.

What the hell? They weren’t Caronese soldiers or guards his uncle might have sent. They were dressed as civs.

But their weapons were military grade…

Shit. It was an attack.

When their leader ducked out from the corner in front of them, Darling’s blood ran cold.

It was Clarion Lubomir. Zarya’s right hand…and his ally.

No, not Darling’s ally.

Kere’s.

Double shit. Clarion would never believe that Kere was also the Caronese heir they fought against and hated. None of them would. All they saw was a royal-blooded enemy who stood for everything that had ever repressed them. Every failure in their lives. Every disappointment from not having a better job to being saddled with a spouse who nagged them to distraction.

It was all his family’s fault.

Not one of those men knew how many shots he’d taken to protect their backs. How many times he’d fought by their side against his uncle’s soldiers.

How many times he’d carried them to safety when they were wounded or under fire. And right now, even if they did, they most likely wouldn’t care anyway. You wear the uniform, you’re judged by the banner on the sleeve- the same banner we’ll wrap around your body for your burial.

Screw me…

They opened fire.

This has blown my mind and now I'm even more excited to get my hands on Born of Silence! Just head here you can find the rest of the excerpt!

P.s. there's a second, different excerpt here on Sherrilyn Kenyon's Website

Feature and Follow {3}

Hi everyone! For those who don't know my name is Vikki and I'm the book obsessed lunatic in charge of V's Book Life...scary prospect I know. Anyway Hello to those who are new and Welcome Back to those who have visited before. Today's post is my 3rd feature and follow. Feature and follow is a great way for bloggers like myself to connect with everyone out there in the blogosphere! It's a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read!

This weeks question has had me thinking all day.
Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

A tough one alright! Brilliant question though. I'm always really aprehensive about books that I adore being made into films because I have a certain image in my head, each character has their own personality and if they don't get that right then it completely spoils it for me.

Take the Twilight Saga for example. I enjoyed the books but the films spoilt them for me, I don't like Kirsten Stewart playing Bella...I can't quite put my finger on it but she just doesn't fit somehow.

As for the book I would most like to be turned into a film...well right now I'm halfway through the Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep and I think that it would make a pretty awesome movie!

As for the cast if I had to pick it'd be....

Also I would have Nicole Kidman playing Jo-Jo Deveraux (Sophia's older sister) who is the sophisticated air elemental who owns a salon.

All right, those are my thoughts BUT I dread my favourite books being made into movies...I'd rather just stay on the page and in my head!