YzhaBella's BookShelf: March 2011

3/26/11

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Finally! One of UF’s most loved couples has wed! Woot Woot! Way to go Mercy & Adam!

Of all the trials and tribulations Mercy has faced, it’s quite endearing that the one thing that utterly terrifies her is her mother’s garish wedding plans! Lol, I can totally understand why! Seriously! Can you picture Mercy’s wedding complete with 100’s of Butterflies and Golden Balloons?...Tee hee…No way! Never fear, Mercy’s angst is for not and it all turns out perfectly, in the end. Well, that is except for the honeymoon!

Having already faced many a dangerous foe, Mercy now confronts the terrifying reality that she may not come out of this adventure alive. In a coup to place Mercy once again in the position to “save the day”, Uncle Mike has loaned the newlyweds his luxurious trailer and they camp in a, yet un-opened to the public, trailer park owned by another Fae named Edythe (aka Yo Yo Girl)…And we all know that nothing is ever freely offered by the Fae! Oh Dear! Looks like Mercy is into “it” but good once again! As it turns out, there is something very suspicious and extremely dangerous going on in the Columbia River and, of course, it seems it’s up to Mercy to take care of business!

In book 6 of the series, the information shared about Mercy’s heritage is spectacular. While in previous installments we were treated to just a glimpse, this time ‘round Briggs delves deeper, shedding much more insight into Mercy’s past and the history of her people.

Complete with lots of laughs, plenty of “Mercy & Adam” time, and the ever present “trouble” that seems to follow Mercy like a lost puppy, River Marked is yet another example of Briggs mastery of the genre. With plenty of nail-biting excitement, fast-paced action and all sorts of new friends and foes, River Marked culminates perfectly in what appears to be a significant turning point promising much more excitement in Mercy’s adventures to come!

While there are plenty of laughs and just as many dangerous endeavors within River Marked, Patricia Briggs included a treat for readers, within the final pages of the book. Now, I can't spoil the surprise because I really don't want to ruin the effect. Suffice it to say, readers will see a new side of Mercy and may even be grabbing for the nearest tissue box! Way to go Ms. Briggs! You always seem to find an amazing way to blind-side your readers! One way or another, you always have something totally unexpected up your sleeve!

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River Marked, A Mercy Thompson Novel
by Patricia Briggs
ACE (Berkly, Penguin Group USA)
March 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0441019730
ISBN-13: 978-0441019731

From the Publisher
Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

The Mercy Thompson series:

Find Patricia Briggs on the Web!

Website

Forum

Author page at Penguin

GoodReads

FaceBook

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

3/25/11

Rock Bottom by Erin Brockovich w/ CJ Lyons

I admit, (*gasp, hangs head in shame*) the extent of my familiarity with the amazing Erin Brockovich is that which I learned from the movie released in May 2000, “Erin Brockovich”, starring Julia Roberts. While from the movie alone, I have a great respect and admiration for Erin, up until now I have never endeavored to learn more and for that, I have regrets.

Additionally, CJ Lyons is a “new to me” author and with Rock Bottom, I have but glimpsed her magnificent talent. With a writing style that is near flawless, Lyons is a master at creating a fast-paced and seamless read that makes it almost impossible to put down. Flipping page after page, this particular reader found it very hard not to finish Rock Bottom in one sitting.

An empowering tale complete with triumph and tragedy.

AJ Palledino is my kind of hero! Life may have stacked the odds against AJ, but when it comes to defending something she believes is, there ain’t no mountain high enough to stop her!

With a heroine that will steel your heart, the magnificent writing duo of Brockovich and Lyons will treat readers to an amazing tale of one woman’s fierce determination to overcome the odds and fight for what’s right. In a fast paced, wonderfully suspenseful adventure, readers are treated to an intriguing tale of environmental activism, murder, mystery, love, forgiveness, triumph and sadly, tragedy.

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Rock Bottom
by Erin Brockovich with CJ Lyons
Vanguard Press
March 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1593156251
ISBN-13: 9781593156251

From the Publisher
From New York Times bestselling author and internationally renowned environmental and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich comes Rock Bottom, a debut thriller and first in a series of novels that introduces one of the most fascinating and memorable characters in suspense fiction.

Ten years ago, a pregnant seventeen-year-old, Angela Joy Palladino, fled her hometown, Scotia, West Virginia, as a pariah. Over time, AJ succeeded in establishing herself as an environmental activist, dubbed "The People’s Champion," only to be forced to retreat from the spotlight in the wake of a crushing media disaster.

When AJ is offered a job with a lawyer who is crusading against mountaintop removal mining, she is torn. As a single mother of a special needs nine-year-old boy, AJ can use any work she can get. But doing so will mean returning to the West Virginia hometown she left in disgrace so long ago.

Upon arriving in Scotia, AJ learns of the sudden death of the lawyer who hired her. Soon after joining forces with his daughter, Elizabeth, threats begin to surface, bodies begin to pile up, and AJ discovers that her own secrets aren’t the only ones her mountain hometown has kept buried. Hitting rock bottom, AJ must face the betrayal of those once closest to her and confront the harrowing past she thought she had left behind.

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Find Erin Brockovich on the Web

Website

Blog - The Brockovich Report

Find CJ Lyons on the Web

Website

FaceBook

Twitter

Review copy provided by FBS Media in return for an honest review.

3/22/11

New Release News! Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Today is the day! Congratulations to Lauren DeStefano on your success!

And for all you readers who missed it, Wither was reviewed here on the BookShelf last month!

Take a peak!

Wither: The Chemical Garden Trilogy, Book 1
by Lauren DeStefano
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
March 2011
ISBN-10: 1442409053
ISBN-13: 9781442409057

From the Publisher
By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Find Lauren on the Web

3/21/11

Giveaway WINNER!!!

What a wonderful group of friends I have 'round the blogosphere! My "Reviewing The Reviews" International Giveaway was a great success and I thank you all for stopping by to chat!

Most popular reviews commented on were:
Bone Crossed by Patricial Briggs
Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill
Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs (On The Prowl Anthology)

"Pay It Forward" (review links shared for bonus entry)
Our friend "Fox" over at "Wag The Fox: Rabid Reads" shared a review link for "Sandman Slim" by Richard Kadrey. Take a peek and see for yourself!

Without further ado, our winner of the 2011 New Release (max $15) of your choice from Book Depository is comment #41!....

Llehn! (email starting with lesly7ch....)

Please look for my email! You will have only 48 hours to respond or I will have to pick a new winner!

3/19/11

Red Glove by Holly Black

Hmm. I am not real sure how to best convey my impression of this particular story. I received this ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada and while I had not yet had the chance to read White Cat, I thought why not? I’ve heard many a rave review and wanted to experience Holly Black’s mastery for myself. Unfortunately, Red Glove was not my “Cup of Tea”.

Now, just because I didn’t enjoy the story, doesn’t mean it’s not a good one! Black is most definitely an extremely talented author who has created an epic dark fantasy with very intriguing characters, mysterious foes and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right until the end.

Cassel is an adorable character. He takes so much crap from those around him, it’s a wonder he hasn’t gone spastic! While he may just be a teen, Black manages to make Cassel an entirely believable protagonist who some how manages to keep it together and face each new situation with a surprisingly mature and level head. The trials that he must face are at times infuriating and at others heartbreaking.

I would advise readers to take a boo at White Cat first as Red Glove is definitely a continuation in which new readers could find themselves quite unprepared.

Red Glove, The Curse Workers Book Two
by Holly Black
Margaret K. McElderry Books

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
April 5, 2011
ISBN-10: 144240339X
ISBN-13: 9781442403390

From the Publisher
Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he's the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

The Curse Workers Trilogy
Book One: White Cat

Book Two: Red Glove

Book Three: Black Heart

Find Holly on the Web:

Simon & Schuster Author Page

The Curse Workers Trilogy Website

**ARC Received courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, free of charge.

3/18/11

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Ruh Roh! Mercy has done it again! Gotten her self in one heck of a pickle! “Trouble” should be Mercy’s middle name because it sure seems to follow her wherever she goes!

In this, the 5th installment of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, Mercy becomes knee deep in Fae craziness when she unwittingly becomes the possessor of Silver Borne. Silver Borne is a Fae artifact said to be able to consume the fae magic of one’s enemies and give it back to whomever holds it. Unfortunately for Mercy, an evil Fairy Queen is hell bent on taking Silver Borne for her own and she’s willing to do anything and attack anyone to get it.

As with all installments of the Mercy Thompson series, Briggs has once again created an excellent urban fantasy, full of action packed excitement and one kick ass heroine that readers are sure to fall in love with. Easy to read with effortless flow and an entirely logical resolution, Silver Borne made it really hard for this particular reader to set it aside to get some sleep or go to work!

Patricia Briggs is a master of the genre repeatedly delivering Urban Fantasy at it’s finest!

More Mercy Goodness! Check out my review of Bone Crossed ! And! Woot Woot!, stay tuned for m upcoming review of River Marked! I can't wait to delve into the pages of Mercy's next adventure!

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Silver Borne, A Mercy Thompson Novel
by Patricia Briggs
ACE (Berkly, Penguin Group USA)
March 30, 2010
ISBN 9780441018192

From the Publisher
When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

The Mercy Thompson series:

Find Patricia Briggs on the Web!
Website
Forum
Author page at Penguin
GoodReads
FaceBook

3/10/11

I've got some questions...Do you have the answers?

Join us for a Chat!
Book Talk: The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Also, please stay tuned for a wonderful interview with none other than the loverly and talented Brenda Pandos!