YzhaBella's BookShelf: January 2011

1/31/11

Review & Giveaway - Immortalis: Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas

Wow!...Intense!
The strength of
Alyssa’s control
and the
depth of her rage will
reel you in!

Katie Salidas has done it again! In Hunters & Prey, book 2 of her Immortalis Series, Salidas has continued Alyssa’s adventures with an “insiders” look on the trials and tribulations of a newly turned vampire.

As we learned in book one of the series, Immortalis: Carpe Noctem, getting used to the ins and outs of being a newly turned vampire is most definitely not all “candy & glamour”. As with any drastic life change, one must accept there are certain things that must be left behind. For Alyssa, leaving behind her best friend was one “rule” she absolutely would not abide by.

When vampire’s most vicious enemy decides to pay a visit, Alyssa does the only thing she can think of in a pinch…run to a populated area and hide in plain site until help arrives. Can she help it if she finds herself outside of an old hangout from her human days? Well maybe, but it’s too late to change her mind once she opens the door and comes face to face with her dearest friend, Fallon. Imagine the surprise when Fallon sees the face of her best friend for the first time since Alyssa disappeared months before! Needless to say, Fallon is unwillingly dragged into the mess that is now Alyssa’s life and Alyssa is stubbornly determined to do whatever it takes to make sure Fallon comes out of this chaos in one piece!

Now, there have been some who’ve mentioned that while Immortalis: Hunters & Prey is a nice change in that it explores the darker side of what it is to be a new vampire; some also mention that there just wasn’t enough to catch a “gold star”…Well, I disagree. Salidas’ provides a unique look at the darker side of the vampire with a conscience. Yes, Alyssa’s kills to feed. Yes, she feeds from humans, and yes she chooses to justify her actions by hunting only those dredges of society of whom the world is better off without. Does this make Alyssa a self-imposed judge and jury? …Maybe, I guess it depends on your perception of right and wrong. But at the end of the day, the truth is that vampires feed on human blood to survive and, as with any species, it all boils down to survival of the fittest. And, let’s face it! Vampires are undoubtedly bigger, badder, and stronger than any human!

As with Carpe Noctem (see my review here), Salidas has knocked my socks of with Hunters & Prey. With talent apparent, Katie Salidas will take readers on a dark and violent adventure that just might keep you up all night, turning the pages…or quivering in your PJ’s…or turning the pages AND quivering in your PJ’s!

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Katie has generously offered up an Interactive CD containing the first two books in the series, Immortalis: Carpe Noctem and Immortalis: Hunters & Prey!!!
To enter, please a comment, complete with your email addy.

ALSO!!! For Canadian readers, I currently have in my possession, 1 SIGNED copy of Immortalis: Hunters & Prey! You want it????? Enter Away! Enter Plenty and Spread the word!!!

Winners drawn February 7th, using Radom.org

Looking for an extra entry? Here's a few ideas!
(Don't forget to come back here and add your extra entries in a sperate comment for each!)
Share the link on FaceBook, Twitter, Etc.
Add this event to your sidebar
Create a Blog Post
Etc., Etc., Etc.!

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Immortalis: Hunters & Prey
By Katie Salidas
Publisher: Rising Sign Books
ISBN-10: 0984419659
ISBN-13: 978-0984419654

Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.

Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.

If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she’ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan’s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum’s new threat.

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To learn more about Katie Salidas, please visit her on the web!
Author Blog
Publisher - Rising Sign Books
GoodReads
FaceBook
MySpace

Reviews are written on a volunteer basis and are only the opinions of the individual review author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and/or views of the author, publisher, or public readers in general Copyright © YzhaBella's BookShelf 2010-11

1/23/11

Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden

I admit, because of my love for reading and the escape if offers, there are very few books I don’t enjoy. On the other hand, there are every few that make me want to yell from the rooftops and say “WOW I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!” Moonlight Bleu by Renee Reardon is one of those “blow your socks off”, totally awesome, amazingly entertaining and, completely wonderful stories that make you want to yell about it, at the top of your lungs, from every roof top you can get to!

With a wonderful array of paranormal characters, Rearden has woven a tantalizing tale, sure to appeal to wide variety of readers. Moonlight Bleu brings to the table a strong and wonderfully brave woman, Saari Mitchell, as its main character. Oh, there are many, many stories with a strong female lead which have also been an immense joy to read, but there is just something about Saari that has made Moonlight Bleu stand out.

The detail and emotions shared with the reader are completely tangible. Rearden’s talent is fresh and brings a new face to the world of the paranormal genre. With a love triangle so tastefully written, readers will “know” the feeling and struggles associated with the consensual ménage between Saari and her two soul mates…..Wait a minute, TWO soul mates? TWO spiritually designed soul mates, defined by destiny? Connected by fate at the will of the Gods….Pfft, so not fair! *Sigh, some gals have all the luck!

Anywho, while my experience with erotica of any kind is quite limited, I found the portrayal of this love triangle quite tastefully written and portrayed in such an intensely sensual manner that it gave me goose bumps. With absolutely zero sexual encounters, Rearden has managed to so eloquently portray the intellectual connection between Saari and her mates that my own heart actually did the ‘ol pitter patter. This depiction sent such a thrill of expectation that I was almost disappointed there was no physical relationship…almost. I think readers will find this aspect of the story line so perfect that nothing, not even a physical encounter, could make its impact any more appealing.

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Moonlight Bleu
by Renee Rearden
Crescent Moon Press: August 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-0982306567
Cover art by Ash Arceneaux

Saari Mitchell sees a psychologist in order to understand why-500 years later-she's still dreaming of her dead lover. Her shrink isn't helping, the nightmares come every time she closes her eyes, and the lack of sleep is interfering with her job at Sacred Heart Hospital. With her psychic ability to heal the human spirit on the fritz, her auric radar becomes as reliable as her spotty cell phone service.

By day, Dhelis Guidry works as a detective for the New Angeles Police Department investigating the missing or murdered women in the Full-Moon Killer case. In his spare time he hunts rogue vampires as a Tueri executioner.

Brogan Vincent is a Tueri healer. Though he could offer his miraculous talents to the rich and powerful, he has chosen anonymity and peace by only using his psychic abilities among the Tueri.

One look into Saari's tri-colored eyes and both men realize she is Tueri. One touch tells them each she's their soul mate. But can either of them protect her from the Full-Moon Killer?

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Find Renee Rearden on the Web:

Website

FaceBook

GoodReads

1/20/11

2.7 Million+ Books Purchased or Borrowed in Canada Last WEEK!...WOW!

This "Article of Interest" has been shared courtesy of Media Release by Jamie Broadhurst @ Raincoast Books, distributed via Simon & Schuster Canada

More than 2.7 million books

purchased or borrowed last week in Canada

Montreal, January 19, 2011: The numbers are in for the first National Book Count: more than two and a half million books were purchased or borrowed in Canada from January 10-16:
2,714, 946 books to be exact. The Book Count is organized by the National Reading Campaign as part of an ongoing effort to promote a passion for reading in Canada.

1,110,568 books were sold by retailers including Indigo Books & Music, Amazon.ca and other national chains as well as over 260 independent bookstores across the country. 1,604,378 books were borrowed from 22 participating public library systems.*

2,714, 946 books in seven days means that in a typical week in January, Canadians bought or borrowed as many books as they purchased tickets to the top box office film. In fact, it is likely that more people picked a book than watched a game on Hockey Night in Canada. We do so much to promote film and to encourage youth to play hockey. Do we do as much to advance reading? The NRC believes our nation can do much more.

The National Book Count provides us with a figure against which we can measure the success of our campaign in future years. While the number of books bought and borrowed is encouraging we are also concerned by the number of young people who in recent surveys report a declining enjoyment in reading. The economic focus of much of our education system and existing programs for New Canadians and Aboriginal Canadians does little to encourage a love of reading and passionate civic engagement.

What books were tracked?
This is the first time that combined sales and library circulation for books has been tabulated in Canada. Book sales were collected by three book sale aggregators: BookNet Canada, BookManager, and la Société de gestion de la Banque de titres de langue française (BTLF) and book circulation was tracked by the Canadian Urban Libraries Council.

The numbers were collected and combined by the National Reading Campaign and cover 22 public library systems, 80 percent of the English language book retail market and 40 percent of the French language retail market across Canada. No individual consumer information was collected. Online print book sales were captured from major online retailers including Amazon.ca and Indigo.ca. Digital downloads from public libraries were included but not from retailers.

*The Canadian Urban Libraries Council tracked circulation figures for the public libraries in Brampton, Burlington, Burnaby, Calgary, Edmonton, Gatineau, Greater Victoria, Halifax, Hamilton, Kitchener, Markham, Ottawa, Regina, Richmond, Saskatoon, Surrey, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Whitby, and Winnipeg. The circulation figure covers over 11.2 million Canadians.

About the National Reading Campaign
In 2008 a group of concerned librarians, parent activists, authors, booksellers, teachers, publishers and corporate leaders came together with a common goal -- developing a national reading strategy for Canada and Quebec. Out of this initiative the TD National Reading Summits were born. Summit I was held in Toronto in 2009, Summit II will be in Montreal On January 2oth and 21st and Summit III is planned for Vancouver in 2012. For more information on the program, speakers or information on last year’s summit visit www.nationalreadingcampaign.ca

The Book Count is being released on the eve of the second TD National Reading Summit in Montreal where more work will be presented on reading as it pertains to babies, school children, youth, Aboriginal people, and new Canadians, with a look at the very effective reading promotion practices currently being pioneered in Shenzen, China. Working groups across Canada have spent the last year assessing existing reading programs, or the lack thereof, in a number of different constituencies across Canada. This information will be reported and discussed as we move forward to developing a national reading strategy.

For media inquiries please contact:
Jamie Broadhurst
jamie@raincoast.com
604-323-3330

1/17/11

Shameless Promo: The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

(GoodReads)
To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

Visit Brenda on the Web: Blog, FaceBook, GoodReads, Twitter

1/12/11

Paranormal Reading Challenge 2011

I've decided to add another challenge to my roster! I LOVE Paranormal Romance, so this should be an easy one for me!

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The Deets...

Hosted by Bitten By Paranormal Romance
This is a challenge to read 20 paranormal romance book between Jan 1st through Dec 31st. Any books read before January will not count.

You can pick any *adult paranormal romance book as you go, new release or old release it doesn't matter. But remember this is only for paranormal romance. NO urban fantasy, YA or paranormal erotica. If you have any questions please email me or leave a comment.

*It doesn't matter if the book is vampire, witch, any shape-shifting, Greek gods, zombies or faeries just as long as it adult paranormal romance. Most book will tell you on the side cover if its paranormal romance, that's what you want to get to read. If you have a book you don't know if it would work or not just email me and ask, its no bother.

Here are some examples
Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunters
Lynsay Sands An Argeneau series
Nina Bangs Gods of Night series

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My Goal: 50 Paranormal Romance Titles!

Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha

Stefan Petrucha tells an extraordinary tale of fierce determination, tightly reined control and an unwavering need for truth all wrapped up in utter self-loathing. With descriptions so vivid they will totally creep you out; Blood Prophecy is a new twist on the story of the vampire.

The seemingly endless imagination of an author never ceases to amaze me! While I am certain most every author needs to do some measure of research to effectively tell even a fictional tale, it appears to this reader that Stefan Petrucha must have done some pretty extensive “digging”. With references to Puritan times in the mid 1600’s through to Napoleon’s brutal trek across the Middle East in the late 1700’s, Blood Prophecy tells of one man’s transformation from human to something “horrifically other” and his quest to learn the truth and, ultimately, find a cure…that is, if a cure is even possible.

Petrucha’s talent for story-telling will keep readers so totally involved in the tale that one’s skin will crawl, hearts will race, angers will peak, and the thirst for more will keep each and every one of you reading well into the night!!

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Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hatchette Book Group); (November 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446555991
ISBN-13: 978-0446555999

From The Publisher
Man and monster are in his blood. . .

His name is Jeremiah Fall. A soldier of fortune, he has been fighting his own war for 150 years--ever since the beast in him was born.

Desperate to restore his lost humanity, Fall crosses the sands of Egypt, discovers a lost city off the coast of France, and finally arrives at the birthplace of all mankind. Shunning daylight and feeding only when he must, he battles the monster who transformed him forever. He can share his deepest secret with no one . . . not even the beautiful woman he starts to love, the only human who grasps the mysteries of an ebony stone as old as creation itself.

Across the world, across time, Fall seeks the stone's secret. But has he found a cure for himself or unleashed a final curse on all mankind?

Find Stefan Petrucha on the Web
Website
FaceBook
Twitter
GoodReads
Shelfari

1/11/11

Mini-View: The Naughty List by Kauffman, Eden & Fox

What a wonderful collection of stories! A perfect combination of laughs, thrills, and "erotic shivers" to cheer you up even on the gloomiest of days!

A smooth & easy read, The Naughty List will make you giggle, make you sigh, and, at the end of a long day at the office, provides the perfect escape!

Kauffman, Eden, and Fox have created three wonderfully entertaining stories that will be sure to brighten anyone's day!

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The Naughty List
Brava Trade Paperback (Kensington Books); October 2010
ISBN 9780758253101

Naughty But Nice by Donna Kauffman
Businessman Griffin’s never believed in luck…until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there’s a catch: There’s no way he’ll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new “lucky charm” could destroy all his dreams…or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible…

All I Want for Christmas by Cynthia Eden
Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa—actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new “bad girl” persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known’ “love ’em and leave ’em” ladies man…

Tattoos and Mistletoe by Susan Fox
Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt’s B&B, but she doesn’t count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he’s grown into the town’s hottest bachelor. Charlie’s been burned before and won’t let him get close. But LJ’s determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.