September 30, 2010

Book Blogger Hop and the Weekly Overview

Book Blogger Hop
Just click on the image above to join in the fun.

How do you spread the word about your blog?


Oooh, so a good question.  I have to be honest I'm a little shy about spreading the word, I just don't want people to feel like they're getting spammed.  I comment regularly on other blogs, which gives me surprising results.  Memes are a huge thing. This one probably is what has worked the best for me. The Story Sirens, In My Mail Box, and Book Chicks City My Wishlist are also some others I join in.

I post over at Book Blogs when ever I have a new review and for certain posts.

Weekly Overview:
  • Just want to thank everyone who commented and viewed Lips Don't Lie, it really makes me feel good that you like all of the author gossip.
  • Books and Babbles is dedicated to the Teen Reads Awards, I had so many questions about it I decided to give you what you wanted.
  • Found a lot of good books this week, and I started checking out what I missed in the Epic Fantasy genre. Wednesday Wishes.
  • Posted Octobers monthly releases.  I'm playing around with the format so it looks a little different from previous posts.  I don't think that's the final look.
  • Lips Don't Lie: Author Gossip will posted as usual tomorrow.
 Huge thanks to Jennifer at Book Noise, who bequeathed me with this awesome blogger award.  I've received it before so I have to take the lazy way out and not do the 7 post thing. 

Thank you so much Jennifer!! If you haven't checked out Book Noise take a look, it really is a unique blog.

I'm off to the hope!

October Releases

I'm not sure about you guys, but I am so happy October here.  It's not just because there are some great releases this month, no really. This is my favorite month, the perfect fall weather and all the things that go bump in the dark are eagerly excepted this time of year.  I love seeing someone walking down the street with fake blood and fangs, even if that might be their normal dress.  It's the month of terror and para being normal!

I've changed the design for this from the previous monthly releases.  Just click on the images, which are linked over to goodreads.  This is probably not the final format.

October 1st

Alpha by Rachel Vincent
Mass Market Paperback
Add to Goodreads

October 5th

Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1) by Jackie Morse Kessler
Crave (Fallen Angels, Book 2) by J.R. Ward
Mass Market Paperback
Add to goodreads
(INTRIGUES) BOOK TWO OF THE COLLEGIUM CHRONICLES by Mercedes Lackey Intrigues (The Collegium Chronicles, #2)








Hardcover
 
Kill the Dead (Sandman Slim #2) by Richard Kadrey Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel
Memories of Envy (Vampire Memories #3) by Barb Hendee Memories of Envy (Vampire Memories, #3)








Paperback
Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods, #5) Hardcover Slayed by Amanda Marrone Slayed
The Eternal Dawn (Thirst #3) by Christopher Pike Thirst: Volume 3 (The Eternal Dawn)








Paperback
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2








Paperback

October 12th

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles, #2)








Hardcover
The Curse of the Wendigo (Monstrumologist #2) by Richard Yancey The Curse of the Wendigo (The Monstrumologist, #2)








Hardcover
Banished by Sophie Littlefield Banished








Hardcover
Elixir by Hilary Duff Elixir (Elixir, #1)








Hardcover
Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst Enchanted Ivy








Hardcover
Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1) by Kalayna Price Grave Witch (Alex Craft, #1)








Paperback
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride Hold Me Closer, Necromancer








Hardcover
 

October 18th

Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1) by Jackie Morse Kessler Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #1)

 

 

 

 

Paperback

October 19th

Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick Crescendo









Hardcover
Vampire Uprising (Skinners #3) by Marcus Pelegrimas Vampire Uprising (Skinners, #4) Mass Market Paperback
Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer Nightshade (Nightshade, #1) Hardcover  

October 26th

Ghost Town (The Morganville Vampires #9) by Rachel Caine Ghost Town (The Morganville Vampires, #9)

 

 

 

 

Hardcover

Blood Heat (Blood Lines #4) by Maria Lima Blood Heat (Blood Lines, #4) Mass Market

 

 

 

 

Paperback

Daughter of Darkness by VC Andrews Daughter of Darkness

 

 

 

 

Mass Market Paperback

Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite (Anthology) by PC Cast Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite

 

 

 

 

Paperback

Harvest Hunting (Sisters of the Moon #8) by Yasmine Galenorn Harvest Hunting (Sisters of the Moon, #8)

 

 

 

 

Mass Market Paperback

The Road to Bedlam (Courts of the Feyre #2) by Mike Shevdon The Road to Bedlam (Courts of the Feyre, #2)

 

 

 

 

Mass Market Paperback

Side Jobs (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher Side Jobs

Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey Trio of Sorcery

 

 

 

 

Hardcover

When Wicked Craves (Shadow Keepers #3) by JK Beck When Wicked Craves (The Shadow Keepers, #3) Mass Market Paperback

Geist (Book of the Order) by Philippa Ballantine Geist (Book of the Order)

 

 

 

 

Paperback

Haunted by Your Touch by Jeaniene Frost, Shayla Black, Sharie Kohler Haunted by Your Touch Mass Market

 

 

 

 

Paperback

Highborn (Dark Redemption, #1) by Yvonne Navarro Highborn (Dark Redemption, #1) Mass Market

 

 

 

 

Paperback

Shotgun Sorceress (Jessie Shimmer #2) by Lucy Snyder Shotgun Sorceress (Jessie Shimmer, #2)

 

 

 

 

Mass Market Paperback

October 27th

Heaven's Spite (Jill Kismet #5) by Lilith Saintcrow Heaven's Spite (Jill Kismet, #5)

 

 

 

 

Mass Market Paperback

September 29, 2010

Wednesday Wishes

Hunting for books is one of my favorite things. Finding a new title is my equivalent of "getting rich." Whether the titles been around for a while, brand spanking new, or just not that common Wednesday Wishes is here for me to share them with you.

I’m going to list the UF titles first and then the Epic Fantasy ones last.  I’ve been out of the EF loop for a bit, but I found some great new titles.  Well at least new titles to me.

This post also follows Book Chick City's Saturday meme, My Wishlist.

Bad Taste in Boys Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Someone’s been a very bad zombie.
Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be thisclose to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except . . . the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating . . . zombies.
Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend . . . not even Kate . . .

It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.
Zombies are still taking the series by storm.  This cover is really what catches my eye.  Sugar coated lips anyone?
 Sea Witch (Children of the Sea, #1)
Sea Witch (Children of the Sea #1) by Virginia Kantra
First in the new The Children of the Sea series from the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
For years, Margred has gone without the touch of another. Now, her need has driven her beyond her world to sate her desire. For she is a Selkie-a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. Finally, she has found the one man she wants…
From the land… A burned out veteran of big city streets, Caleb Hunter was only too happy to take a job as police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World's End. Nothing ever happens in this tiny community bounded by the sea. Until he meets a woman who's everything he's ever dreamed of. And more…
To each other… Their passion is undeniable. Irresistible. But when a murderer begins targeting women in World's End, Caleb must face the terrible possibility that the killings are somehow connected to the mysterious Margred - and that the power of their love may change the fate of human kind.
It’s so rare to find PNR about sirens. I think this is the first one I’ve seen.
Shadows (Dark Touch, #1)Shadows (Dark Touch #1) by Amy Meredith
Fifteen-year-old Eve Evergold is cute, sassy and enjoying a busy social life. What she doesn't know yet is that someone close to her is an evil demon that only she has the supernatural power to defeat. She needs to work out who it is - and fast! Because although there's something very attractive about the dark side...dating a demon? Pure hell!
Got to love the cover, the birds on her cheek are stunning.  Plus the book doesn’t sound half bad.
Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires,#10)Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires #10) by Rachel Caine
No details. But I really like the cover for this book.


 Born at Midnight
Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter
Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap. Her parents are getting a divorce. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn’t put out. Her grandmother died and now Kylie’s acquired a stalker. Unfortunately, she’s the only one who seems to be able to see the stalker. And that gets her sent to a psychologist’s sofa.
The kooky psychologist gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it’s a camp for troubled teens.
They thought wrong.
It’s a camp of supernaturals: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shape shifters. And if she believes the camp leader, Kylie is one of them, too.
Just because she’s seeing ghosts, just because she was born at midnight, does that really mean she’s not human? And if so, what is she? Not even the other supernaturals can tell her.
As Kylie attempts to cope with the realization that these creatures actually exist, and that she might even be one of them, the ever present stalker/ghost appears to have secrets that could unravel the mystery of Kylie’s identity and her destiny.
But getting a ghost to open up is as hard as getting a guy to talk about his feelings.
As Kylie struggles to find answers, two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vie for her attention. However, Kylie’s determined that before she lets her heart discover a new love, she needs to solve her indentify crisis and unearth the truth of her destiny.
The cover is stunning.
Visions of Magic (Awakening, #1)Visions of Magic (Awakening #1) by Regan Hastings
In the ten years since magic has reemerged in the world, witches have become feared and hunted. For weeks Shea Jameson has been haunted by visions of fire. When she unintentionally performs a spell in public, she becomes one of the hunted. Her only hope is Torin, a dangerously sensual man who claims to be her eternal mate.
This cover is down right awesome, this book can’t come out fast enough!!
Red Wolf ConspiracyRed Wolf Conspiracy (Chathrand Voyages #1) by Robert V.S. Redick
Told with infectious joy and enthusiasm by an immensely talented new writer this is a landmark fantasy debut. The Chathrand - The Great Ship, The Wind-Palace, His Supremacy's First Fancy - is the last of her kind - built 600 years ago she dwarves all the ships around her. The secrets of her construction are long lost. She was the pride of the Empire. The natural choice for the great diplomatic voyage to seal the peace with the last of the Emperor's last enemies. 700 souls boarded her. Her sadistic Captain Nilus Rose, the Emperor's Ambassador and Thasha, the daughter he plans to marry off to seal the treaty, a spy master and six assassins, one hunderd imperial marines, Pazel the tarboy gifted and cursed by his mother's spell and a small band of Ixchel. The Ixchel sneaked aboard and now hide below decks amongst the rats. Intent on their own mission. But there is treachery afoot. Behind the plans for peace lies the shadow of war and the fear that a dead king might live again. And now the Chathrand, having survived countless battles and centuries of typhoons has gone missing. This is her story.
This has some pretty awesome reviews.
 The Poison Throne (The Moorehawke Trilogy, #1)
The Poison Throne (Moorehawke Trilogy #1) by Celine Kiernan Young Wynter Moorehaw returns to court with her dying father - but she finds her old home shadowed with fear. The king has become a violent despot, terrorizing those he once loved. His son and heir Alberon has fled into exile and now there are whispers everywhere of rebellion. Meanwhile, Alberon's half-brother Razi has been elevated to his throne. He struggles to meet his King's demands while remaining loyal to his beloved brother and to his friend-Wynter. And at the heart of matters is a secret that no one dares speak of. A secret so large it could tear the kingdom in two and Wynter is the key. Her father lies dying. Her king is mad. Her friends are divided. She must choose- her father or her dreams, her friend or her king, her duty... or her love.
This sounds really good, and the cover is gorgeous.  I love the green tone and the leafy border.
 The Immortal Prince (Tide Lords, #1)
The Immortal Prince (Tide Lords #1) by Jennifer Fallon
When a routine hanging goes wrong and a murderer somehow survives the noose, the man announces he is an immortal. And not just any immortal, but Cayal, the Immortal Prince, hero of legend, thought to be only a fictional character. To most he is a figure out of the Tide Lord Tarot, the only record left on Amyrantha of the mythical beings whom fable tells created the race of half-human, half-animal Crasii, a race of slaves. Arkady Desean is an expert on the legends of the Tide Lords so at the request of the King's Spymaster, she is sent to interrogate this would-be immortal, hoping to prove he is a spy, or at the very least, a madman.Though she is set the task of proving Cayal a liar, Arkady finds herself believing him, against her own good sense. And as she begins to truly believe in the Tide Lords, her own web of lies begins to unravel...
How could I have possibly missed that Fallon had a new series coming out!?
WarbreakerWarbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.
That’s right the author of the Mistborn series, really excited for this one.  I’m not sure if you know but Sanderson is now helping to finish The Wheel of Time series. 
 Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul, #1)
Lord of the Fading Lands (Tairen Soul #1) by C.L. Wilson
Once he had scorched the world. Once he had driven back overwhelming darkness.
Once he had loved with such passion, his name was legend...
Tairen Soul
Now a thousand years later, a new threat calls him from the Fading Lands, back into the world that had cost him so dearly. Now an ancient, familiar evil is regaining its strength, and a new voice beckons him - more compelling, more seductive, more maddening than any before. As the power of his most bitter enemy grows and ancient alliances crumble, the wildness in his blood will not be denied. The tairen must claim his truemate and embrace the destiny woven for him in the mists of time.
Friends over at goodreads recommended this series with glowing pride.  They classified this as a romantic fantasy instead of a epic fantasy.
Well that’s all for me kiddies!  May your wish list grow!

September 26, 2010

The Final Results are in Teens Read Awards!

Books and Babbles is a fun post where I can share anything about books, and just babble on. Or, even babble about movies, hot topics, whatever strikes my fancy.

I’m not sure about you but I’ve seen the Teen Read Awards on some of the hottest author blogs. As of the 25th the votes are in and word is out who’s one the final spots.  Since I had so many questions about the event. I’ve decided to dedicate this Books and Babbles to it! This is just a general cap up to what the event is.

Apparently it’s a live event, and a huge deal.  Personally I would have never heard about it if some of the authors being featured wouldn’t have posted. So here’s the scoop.

10 CATEGORIES. 50 BOOKS. YOUR VOTE.

Here's the deal.

There are a lot of amazing teen books out there. But we want you to tell us which ones are the best. So here's your chance to tell the whole country who the hottest character is or what the sweetest smooch was – and most of all, what was the best book you've read all year. You not only get to make your voice heard, but you could win some sweet prizes too. Bonus!

How to vote.

There are 10 categories to vote in. Just click on Cast Your Vote and pick the book you think should win. Don't see the book you want? Each category will have the opportunity for you to pick your own nominee until July 25th, so be sure to nominate the one you want. After July 25th we'll flip the switch, tallying all of your nominations in each category, so each of our 10 categories has a nominee that you've help choose! You can vote in each category once a day so make sure you keep coming back and vote for the ones you want. You can also comment on the books you love and share your faves with your friends.

How to win.

There are three ways to win. First, every day we're giving away cool prizes. Second, on August 31st we will draw for the Grand Prize winner and third, on September 13th we will draw for other fabulous runner up prizes. All you need to do is vote and you're automatically entered to win. All the more reason to come back and vote every day!.

Sadly I’ve missed the chance to vote, but I’m aware of it now!  Next year though I hope to be able to vote, and I’ll try and notify readers so you can get a chance too. So here’s the winners!

BEST READ NOMINEES

These are the best books of the year. End of story. They’re the ones that kept you reading until all hours, late for work, late for dinner. You couldn’t put these books down because you just had to know how they were going to end. But there can be only one Best Read of 2010 – and you get to help pick it.

Winner:

Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)

Runners-up in order:

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
Shadowland (The Immortals, #3) Along for the Ride

BEST ALL-TIME FAVE NOMINEES

These books hold a special place in your heart. They’re the ones that make you look at your friends in shock if they haven’t read them. And you probably get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about the fond memories you’ve had reading them. Sadly, only one of these classics can be the warmest, fuzziest of 2010. But don’t worry, there’s always next year.

 

Winner:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) Runners-up in order:
The Book Thief The Catcher in the Rye
Twilight (Twilight, #1) The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1)

From here I’m just going to do the winners. You can check out all the nominees and other details at the official site of Teens Read Awards.

BEST TEEN SERIES

One thing’s for sure: it’s not difficult to find a good series these days, is it? Just take your pick – there are tons of series that are still going strong after three, four, seven books. These are the best series that had a new book this year. With so much to choose from, the only problem is finding time to read them all!

Winner:

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, #5)

BEST BOOK-TO-FLICK

It’s not easy turning something that’s a couple hundred pages long into a two-hour movie. It takes interesting characters, imaginative descriptions, and exciting plots to make a story that’s just as awesome on screen as it is on the page. Fortunately these books had all that. And they made pretty good movies too.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)

BEST NEW WRITER

Every year a whole new generation of writers puts pen to paper or fingers to keyboard (does anyone still use pens?) to come up with a fresh new way to keep you riveted. Some writers take years to make a great book – these writers nailed it on their first try. That’s pretty epic. But only one can be the most epic this year, so get voting.

Fallen (Fallen, #1)

BEST HERO

The protagonist. The perpetual do-gooder. The one you root for. Sometimes they’re tough, sometimes they’re noble, sometimes they’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But no matter what the situation is, they fight to come out on top and try to do the right thing along the way. Who’s more heroic than all the rest? We’ll let you decide.

 The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5)

BEST VILLAIN

The guy you love to hate. The girl that’s just plain evil. The one who breaks your heart. Oh sure, maybe they have issues, and maybe you even feel a teensy bit sorry for them. But they’re still jerks and chances are you wouldn’t want to meet them in a back alley. But what’s a good story without a wicked villain? And you get to help choose the wickedest of all.

 Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters, #1)

BEST HOTTIE

Some characters are just hot. It’s not their fault, they were written that way. And you can’t help that your heart beats a little faster when you read about them – it’s all part of their hotness. But since hotness is in the eye of the reader, we think it’s safer to let you decide which one is the hottest of them City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)

BEST LIP LOCK

Time slows down. You read every word very, very carefully, soaking up every juicy detail. A great kiss is something to be savoured and these are some of the dreamiest kisses anyone’s read all year. But now it’s time for you to step up and plant your vote square on the set of lips that made your arms the rubberiest this year.

 Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)

BEST CANADIAN READ

This is Canada. And we take pride in our home-grown heroes – including literary ones. So take a look at the best books the greatest country in the world (according to us) has put out this year. And don’t worry if you feel a sudden burst of pride – that’s entirely normal.

 The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)

Personally some of the picks made me groan a little, while others had me cheering.  What do you think? Like who won? Or are you determined to make your favs win next year?  Check out the official site for vid and pics of the events.