In My Mailbox (89)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

Chosen At Nightfall (Shadow Falls, #5) by C.C. Hunter (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

Kate Vaughan is no stranger to tough choices.

She’s made them before. Now it’s time to do it again.

Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she’s getting on with her life.  Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the perfect on paperrelationship; she wants a real and imperfect love. That's why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics.

It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she’s filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?

When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it’s time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won’t fully love until she confronts those from her past. It’s time to act.

Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?

And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase “inspired by a true story.” By travelling back to a painful time in her own family’s history, the author explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.

Incarceron (Incarceron, #1) by Catherine Fisher 

A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer. 

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know. 

In My Mailbox (88)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

Saved At Sunrise (Shadow Falls, #4.5) by C.C. Hunter (Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin)

Nestled deep in the woods, Shadow Falls is a secret camp where teens with supernatural powers learn to harness their abilities and live in the normal world.  But Shadow Falls is facing a problem that could finally expose them to the rest of the world.  Humans are showing up dead, and rogue vampires may be to blame. 

Camp resident Della Tsang, who’s still coming into her own vampire powers, is assigned to help find those responsible. If she succeeds, maybe she’ll even land her dream job: working for the F.R.U., the enforcers of the supernatural world.  But when she sees that her new partner is a hunky shapeshifter, things get complicated.  Steve, too gorgeous to be trusted and capable of seeing through her tough-as-nails exterior, knows just how to get under her skin.  And only hours into the mission, Della realizes rogue vampires aren’t the only threat she’s facing. If she’s ever going to complete her assignment, she’ll need his help…but learning to trust him will be her hardest challenge yet.

The Collector (Dante Walker, #1) by Victoria Scott (Thanks to Entangled Teen)

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

Where to begin?  Just kidding.  But I think we can all agree that from time to time we wish we could knock some sense into a character here or there, or at least be able to give them some of our opinions and advice.  Most of my frustration admittedly seems to revolve around female characters not going straight for the male characters I think they belong with, but not all.  Here are a few of mine.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #1:  Celaena - Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

It burns me up when female characters don't go for the male characters (see I told you) I think are perfect for them.  I know best right?  Just kidding, but the frustration is there no matter what, and Celaena was one of those female leads.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #2:  Drew - The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff

In Drew's case she not only gravitated towards the "wrong" guys in my opinion, but she ignored the sound advice given to her by trusted friends.  She's impulsive, aggressive and brave; all things I both love about her and what frustrates me to no end.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #3:  Trella - Insider series by Maria V. Snyder

No trust!  I get that her character doesn't live in Utopia and is without a lot of friends, but come on.   I realize her character adapted over time and will continue to do so (or at least I hope she will) but at times I wanted to rush the process along a bit faster for my benefit.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #4:  Four - Divergent series by Veronica Roth

Too passive aggressive for my nerves.  Watching and observing and a heck of a lot of waiting and the suspense was killing me.  I think it's because Roth made his character so unique.  He was mysterious, surprisingly kind at unexpected moments, complex at others, readers couldn't help but want him to break out of his concealing shell so that we could figure him out for ourselves.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #5:  Kylie - Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter

Pick Derek!  Please pick Derek!  I don't always go towards the "nice guys" but in Derek's case I do.  He's literature romantic perfection and I'm on his team all the way.  If C.C. Hunter wants to make me happy (because I'm sure that's her goal) than she'll have Kylie and Derek getting their happily ever after.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #6:  Clio - Solid series by Shelley Workinger

Big mistake made...almost cost her big time.  Without throwing spoilers into the mix all I can say is that when characters have a good thing going for them, why must they do something they know will screw things up  I realize I'm talking as if the characters are make the decisions for themselves and not the authors, but it's the same concept.  Workinger had me very sad a time or two with the decisions she had Clio making.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #7:  King Tohon - Healer series by Maria V. Snyder

Leave Avry alone!  This guy is no good and while that makes him a perfect villain, it frustrates me by leaps and bounds.  He's relentless, smart and cunning, tenacious and out for blood and domination.  He's not going to settle for less than everything so I'm waiting for someone to stop him...hopefully very soon.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #8:  Artemis - Artemis Lupine series by Catherine Banks

Each book in the series gave me new frustrations revolving around her character.  Her lack of acceptance, her stubborn streak, and her indecision, you name it and it bugged me at one point or another.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #9:  Lacey - The Crescent series by Jordan Deen

Stay away from Alex and go with Brandon.  it's very simple...in fact Deen made it her character's actual destiny by making them mates and she still dug in her heels!  It drove me up the wall and made me want to shake her repeatedly.  I'll admit that she finally came around but it sure seemed like she took her good old time getting there.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #10:  Katsa - Graceling series by Kristin Cashore

I get it, I really do.  She had it more than tough growing up, but when it takes characters too long to take down their emotional walls it makes me anxious.  readers end up wanting to help these characters and obviously that's not possible due to the fact that they're fictional of course.  This is where the anxiety turns into frustration.

Countdown: April 2013 (4)

The saying might be that April showers bring May flowers, but apparently it also brings a heck of a lot of good books.  You guys are very familiar with my love of countdowns here on the blog and there's no way that's going to change anytime soon, certainly not in 2013!  So now that the new year is here, my excitement level for 2013 new releases has gone through the roof.  I've got my January list, and I'm trying to stick to my plan.  I'll keep reading at lease one or two of the books that are already on my shelf that haven't been read yet before I purchase a new book.  So two older ones for everyone new one I buy is the way this game is played.  So far so good!  If you guys don't see a book you're looking forward to on one of my countdowns you know what to do...post a comment, send me an email, you name it, it works as long as you don't hold back and keep the great future releases a secret!  Let us know, I'm always on the lookout for a few more titles to add to my TBR list!

Countdown Pick #1:  Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2) by Jamie McGuire (04/16/2013)

Walking Disaster is Travis' POV.

How much is too much to love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

Oh my gosh you guys I cannot even begin to express how excited I am for this one...it might just be my most anticipated 2013 read!  McGuire has quickly become one of my all time favorite authors and her first installment in this series will always be one of my all time favorites.  But today I saw that a cover was paired with this hotly anticipated future release and my anticipation just went up another notch....which I didn't even think was possible but there ya go.  I cannot wait to have a copy of this book in my hands and I'm sure I'll be reading this one more than once!

Countdown Pick #2:  Echo by Alicia Wright Brewster (04/25/2013)

The countdown clock reads ten days until the end of the world. The citizens are organized. Everyone's been notified and assigned a duty. The problem is . . . no one knows for sure how it will end.

Energy-hungry Mages are the most likely culprit. They travel toward a single location from every corner of the continent. Fueled by the two suns, each Mage holds the power of an element: air, earth, fire, metal, water, or ether. They harness their powers to draw energy from the most readily available resource: humans.

Ashara has been assigned to the Ethereal task group, made up of human ether manipulators and directed by Loken, a young man with whom she has a complicated past. Loken and Ashara bond over a common goal: to stop the Mages from occupying their home and gaining more energy than they can contain. But soon, they begin to suspect that the future of the world may depend on Ashara's death.

While this might not be a title by Jamie McGuire, I'm just as excited about this April 2013 release.  Echo sounds quite different than a lot of the other 2013 releases and it sounds like it might be a great combination of a lot of interesting elements.  Potential romance, heartache, death and destruction, action and suspense....you get the picture.  So get excited!

Countdown Pick #3:  Chosen At Nightfall (Shadow Falls, #5) by C.C. Hunter (04/30/2013)

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

Please choose Derek, please choose Derek!  I'm repeating this mantra in my head each and every time I come across anything about this book.  I hope you can tell that I really want Kylie to make the RIGHT decision and choose Derek and not Lucas.  I've been crossing my fingers and yelling at each new installment in the hopes that by sheer will power alone Hunter will have the two of these characters end up together....pretty please!

Countdown Pick #4:  Moonset (Legacy of Moonset, #1) by Scott Tracey (04/08/2013)

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.

When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.

I haven't read a title about witches and hunts for their "crimes" in a while and this adventure sounds like it would be a great read to change all that.  I like the idea surrounding the read as well as the mystery and intrigue that's been woven into this teaser of a description and can already see myself becoming engrossed in these pages so that I can figure out this mystery for myself.

Countdown Pick #5:  In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters (04/02/2013)

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

To be honest, even this book's description if freaking me out.  It's going to take some serious bravery on my part to finally crack open this book's cover.  I'm such a wimp about stuff like this, but at the same time it does sound romantic and like a read that I could enjoy if I could get past the spooky stuff.  I'm going to do my best and add it to my TBR just in case I can work up the courage and nerve to check this one out.  There's a contest for this title over at Goodreads that ends February 2nd if anyone's interested.  And if any of you readers do check this one out and don't think it would end up scaring me too bad, let me know so I'll have that extra added confidence that I need when I hit the bookstores in April.

ARC Review: Whispers At Moonrise (Shadow Falls, #4) by C.C. Hunter

At a camp filled with vampires, werewolves, and fairies, Kylie Galen has always struggled to figure out what she is. Now she finally knows the truth—but she's left with more questions than answers. She doesn’t have a clue what her heritage means or how to harness her new found powers. All she knows is that she needs to sort out her feelings for Derek, the sexy half-Fae who just confessed his love, and Lucas, her werewolf boyfriend who seems more committed to his pack than to their relationship. All the while, Kylie's dealing with a group of underground rogues who want her dead and a mysterious grandfather who makes it clear he doesn’t trust the FRU . . . or Shadow Falls. Soon Kylie will have to choose: Will she stay with the new family she’s formed at Shadow Falls, or will she leave with her grandfather and embrace her destiny?

Hunter brought another great installment to her Shadow Falls series for sure!  I think it's safe to say that if an author can keep a reader's attention, and keep them at the edge of their seats, wanting more out of the series than they're on the right track.  This series is without a doubt one that I'm coming to consider a favorite.  It's chalk full of great characters, just the right amount of excitement and suspense to keep a reader wanting more, but not overwhelming the other elements at the story as a side effect.

Kylie and her roommates along with her other camp friends and advisers came back with more drama and obstacles to overcome.  They've stuck together like always, but when it came to Kylie and her current love triangle....without giving spoilers away I can only say that there were plenty of ups and downs all over the place.  And of course Hunter wrapped things up at the end in a way that only had me wanting to know more.  I'm curious to see what she'll bring to the table for her fifth and final installment in the series.  I can't believe there won't be any others in the series, and that all the readers will have to say goodbye to these wonderful characters and this extremely creative world that Hunter has brought to life.

So I can tell readers this much; there is yet again more heartache within these pages, more drama going on between not only Kylie and her love interests, but her growing and changing powers as well.  Her fellow campers as well as their advisers aren't exempt from all the craziness going on either.  If you've enjoyed any of the other installments in Hunter's series, it's safe to say you'll love this one just as much, if not more.  And if you're unfamiliar with Hunter and her Shadow Falls series, do yourself a favor and pick yourself up a copy of the series opener.  It's fun, exciting, and filled with non-stop action that will have readers turning the pages late into the night because they just can't bare to go to sleep without finding out what will happen next.  This latest installment hits stores tomorrow and it's a hit!

I gave Whispers At Moonrise (Shadow Falls, #4) 4 shamrocks!!!!

ARC Review: Taken At Dusk (Shadow Falls, #3) by C.C. Hunter

Step into author C.C. Hunter's spectacular Shadow Falls series with Taken at Dusk, and enter into the camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

Hunter has done it yet again! This is an author after my own heart. Shadow Falls really is a series that's jammed packed with just about every paranormal element and romantic triangle twist that readers could ever hope for. Our main character Kylie is going to catch a break anytime soon if Hunter has anything to say about it. Readers will once again be thrust right into the thick of all the problems and chaos reigning down around Kylie and her friends. Mario and Red are still out to get her, Lucas and Derek are still fighting over her, and she's no closer to finding out who or what she is exactly.

I thought after leaving off at the end of the last book, that maybe things would slow down coming into the third installment, but Hunter proved me wrong. She maintained the same fast pace, action packed plot that readers and fans of this series have come to expect. While a lot of the same problems still surround Kylie, new ones have popped up too, like an ex-girlfriend of one of her love interests, and boy did my heart go out to her over that whole situation. Yikes! All I can say is that she's a lot tougher than I think I would be, and handled things a lot better than I would have been able to. Hunter writes fun and endearing characters, but they're also strong and formidable at the same time. They're characters that readers can relate to while also looking up to them and their high moral codes.

While Kylie still has her hands full in this third installment, she certainly has enough good friends and family to support her and be there for her the whole way through. If you're a fan of this series, your excitement and love for this series can only grow with this latest installment. Now all that's left is to yet again start the countdown to the release of Hunter's fourth installment in the Shadow Falls series...here we go again!

I gave Taken At Dusk (Shadow Falls, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!

In My Mailbox (46)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London (Thanks to HarperTeen)

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols (Thanks to Jennifer)

The wildly popular author of Going Too Far, Forget You, and Love Story returns with a sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever. But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly. Engrossing and intense, Such a Rush is a captivating story from an author with a rising star.

Elemental by Emily White (Thanks to Spencer Hill Press)

Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should.

But she wants to.

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers.

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed?

Taken At Dusk (Shadow Falls, #3) by C.C. Hunter (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

Step into author C.C. Hunter's spectacular Shadow Falls series with Taken at Dusk, and enter into the camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

Review: Awake At Dawn (Shadow Falls, #2) by C.C. Hunter

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

Hunter you are killing me! Just like with the series opener, this second installment kept me on my toes and loving every minute of this series. Kylie and her friends experience a little more problematic issues this time around, and while Kylie is still trying to narrow down what exactly she "is" there's also more that's been put on her plate. For starters, Lucas is back and Derek is being kind of a jerk if you ask me. I'm still rooting for him but I just wish Kylie would be a little more assertive/aggressive when it concerns him and that he would get his head on straight and realize that they have a good thing going now, don't let Lucas get in the way of that. But for all of you team Lucas fans, well I'm sorry. I still really like him and can totally see the two of them together, but today I'm leaning a little more on the Team Derek side. It could totally change with the next book of course.

So Fredericka is back and causing all sorts of havoc, Daniel's big reveal was huge in book one, and unfortunately he isn't around as much this time, which I was sad about, but she's got some investigating to do where he's concerned so I'm hoping he's not gone for good. I enjoyed the further detail into Kylie and her parents' relationships, although when you guys get into this one and you see what happens at one of the parents visitation days, if you react like I did, you won't know whether to laugh out loud, or cringe for Kylie...I did a bit of both admittedly.

But like I said, this book veered away from introductions and focused more on the new dangers and stressful situations Kylie and her fellow campers have gotten themselves involved with. Burnett and Holiday were part of some of my favorites scenes and I'm really hoping the two of them can work something out, or that we'll at least get to see more of them in the future. They're adorable and Burnett really grew on me, I was surprised to realize.

So my main point is that I'm still thinking this series is super cute, super fun and I'm super excited to get the chance to read more about Kylie and her friends in the third installment, Taken At Dusk, which hits the shelves April, 04, 2012. I can't wait!

I gave Awake At Dawn 4 shamrocks!!!!

Review: Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C. Hunter

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

I've really become a fan of this series. The opener was fun, creative and just a really easy, enjoyable read. There was suspense, plenty of questions constantly buzzing around as the readers watches our main character Kylie go through this transition period in her life. What she thought she was turned out to be a fantasy and what she really is a very large mystery. The camp had plenty of mystique and mystery surrounding the grounds and fellow campers, and it was tempting to flip to the end to see how it all turned out.

Hunter has created and introduced her readers to a wonderful and very eclectic group of characters and I'm looking forward to getting to know them much better in her future installments. But let's face it...the love/crush triangle she concocted was what had me reeling. Kylie is immediately thrown in between two very different but equally tempting guys that she's met at camp. While she originally met one of the boys (Lucas) when she was younger, it's not until she gets to know him all over again that she really understands who he is and what was really going on when they were younger as far as their deeper connection goes. And Derek, my gosh what a sweetheart! He's your average all American guy, super sweet and nice, and right away he places himself as Kylie's protector and all around good influence. But the bad boys are hard to resist and Lucas fills out those shoes quite nicely.

I've of course got my favorite but it's changed a little here and there I'll admit. While I might favor one over the other for Kylie's perfect match, I must say that Hunter has done an excellent job at making that conclusion as hard as possible. Hunter claims on her website that she loves both guys equally and since they both care for Kylie a great deal, she says she's not sure who she'll end up with in the conclusion of the series. I've got my fingers crossed, but who knows what my opinions will be once I get into the other installments. I've already got my copy of the second installment, Awake At Dawn, and I can't wait to see what happens next for Kylie and her friends.

I gave Born At Midnight 4 shamrocks!!!!

New Finds (4)

Rather than a countdown post today I decided to go with another addition of new finds. There are always going to be fabulous books that are slated to come out in the future, but as I'm sure I'm not alone, readers are also always going to miss books as they come out because they're either too overloaded with other books on their TBR lists, or just overloaded with life in general.

So regardless of the reason, you're not alone and I'm going to do my part to make sure these great reads aren't missed just because life keeps readers too busy to catch every detail. So whenever I come across titles that I've somehow missed the release date of, I make a note and get excited about them all over again. Sometimes it's even better than counting down to a title that will be released in the next year or so because when I get worked up over these titles I can go right to the store to pick up my own copy or download one to my kindle. No waiting or pining for the book to hit the shelves.

New Find #1: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier Trilogy, #1) by Leigh Fallon (10/04/2011)

From the moment she sets foot at her new school in Ireland, Megan is inexplicably drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRis. But Megan soon discovers that her feelings for Adam are tied to a supernatural fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that unites them could be their ultimate destruction.


This electrifying debut novel was first discovered on inkpop.com. the online community for aspiring writers. THE CARRIER OF THE MARK sizzles with unbridled romance, a unique supernatural hook, and a breathtaking Irish setting, and will entice fans of the Need series by Carrie Jones and the House of Night series by P. C. and Kristin Cast.

The cover caught my eye and the Irish setting took care of the rest. I love all things Irish and Ireland related and until I get there myself I will read anything and everything that has anything to do with either. So if Megan is going to school in Ireland, I'm already intrigued. And as you know I'm a sucker for a good romance and can't stay away from one that may in fact be resisted by the characters themselves. Sign me up Fallon, let's see what you've got for us!

New Find #2: Ashfall (Ashfall, #1) by Mike Mullin (10/11/2011)


Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.
Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
Hello new adventures! This one reminds me a little bit of the movie, Dante's Peak with the volcano and attempts to reach loved ones that are a far distance away. Not to mention that with a guy's point of view not being very common, I try to jump at every chance I get to read them whenever I can. I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the guy's POV in certain books and have even ended up craving more just like them in the past. So here's hoping that my track record holds true this time around and Mullin wins his readers over.

New Find #3: Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C. Hunter (03/29/2011)

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…


One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.


Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.


Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…


I'm not sure how I missed this one but I'm angry that I did. This book sounds like it has everything I love; romance, paranormal creatures ranging from witches to werewolves, and the Fae as well. I'm not familiar with Hunter's writing, but I can't wait to check it out. And the only reason I found this read was because of my next pick...

New Find #4: Awake At Dawn (Shadow Falls, #2) by C.C. Hunter (10/11/2011)

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.


To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...


So like I said above, I saw this book and began looking into it only to realize it's the second installment in a series I'd never heard about before. So I instantly stopped reading the synopsis and tried desperately to forget what I had already read so that nothing of the first would be ruined for me before I'd had the chance to read it for myself. So now that I've found them I'm excited to get started. I guess it's a plus that now both books are out on the shelves and I don't have to wait for their releases...but I'm sure after I'd gotten through these two that the third in the series, will have me counting down it's release as well.

New Find #5: The Glass Man (Lila Gray, #1) by Jocelyn Adams (10/15/2011)

Lila Gray is just a human—at least that’s her mantra when she accidentally topples a building or bends a paranoid local's gun into modern art. That she can sense and control the minds around her doesn’t prove anything, either. Unwilling to put others at risk, she hides in the wilderness from the beautiful creature who hunts her, one who sees her as his ultimate prize.

Alone, the egocentric Glass Man can kill with a thought. Mated with Lila, he's a supernatural weapon prepared to annihilate the humans he loathes.

Caught in the Glass Man’s latest scheme, Lila is plunged into a hidden Fae realm, faced with a secret birthright and a forbidden romance.

With the Glass Man threatening everyone she loves, can Lila accept who she is in time to end his bloody reign? Or will she succumb to his dark power and become the vehicle of destruction for the human race?

As ridiculous as it sounds, I'm kind of already hooked. The synopsis sucked me in and I'm wishing that I had this book in my hands right now. Adams sounds like she's laid out a stressful and highly intense plot filled with unexplainable powers, mythical creatures and forbidden romance! You see what I mean? The draws don't get much better than this in my opinion. I'm getting my copy immediately!