What Are You Reading On Monday

A weekly event hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

Don't forget today is your last chance to throw your hat in the ring in my Nov book giveaway - Enter here (it's international)

Yay me ~ I got reviews posted for  -

THE HUNGER GAMES  by Suzanne Collins - 5 stars

BED OF ROSES by Nora Roberts - 4 stars

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Books Completed Last Week:

DEFENDERS OF THE SCROLL by Shiraz - review coming soon

JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen - review to come


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This Week's Reading List:

FIRE by Kristen Cashore - page 65

LIFE AFTER 187 by Wade J. Halverson

MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs - (audiobook) - for review for Shifter Week @ Royal Reviews next week. (almost finished)

KITTY & THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn - for review for Shifter Week @ Royal Reviews next week




This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Series: Hunger Games Book 1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Copyright: October 2008
Pages: 374
Book Source: Own Purchase

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

I bought this book not long after it was released based on a zillion rave reviews then left it sitting on my bookshelf, every week making promises to read it (sad I know.) Well, I can now say I'm sorry I waited so long, the rave reviews were spot on. The Hunger Games is amazing! Exciting, fast-paced, unusual, violent, suspenceful, sad, unputdownable - I read it overnight!

A 'last man standing' fight to the death, for 24 tributes (competitors), and if that's not brutal enough, the tributes are children aged from 12 to 18 and the event is broadcast to all districts for compulsory viewing. Survival depends not only on the physical and mental skill of the tribute but on their audience appeal. Likeability equals life-saving gifts from sponsors. Sound unbelievable? Well, Collins' writing is masterful making this a riveting read, completely believable and absolutely addictive.

District 12's tributes for The Hunger Games are Katniss and Peeta. Katniss makes a compelling narrator, she's spirited, courageous, smart, compassionate and formidable with a bow and arrow. Peeta, the baker's son has some unusual skills that are completely under-rated, his relationship with Katniss is complex and I loved the way it evolved. Collins does a brilliant job developing characters you truly care about and wrapping them carefully in this gripping story.

But it's not all kill or be killed, the fight to survive is tempered with humanity & compassion. Subtle attempts are made to thwart the system. Bravery, sacrifice, helplessness, and hope are all rolled together with some touching moments, the scene with 12 year old Rue and the gift from District 11 had me all teary.

The Hunger Games earns its place as a "keeper" on my bookshelf, it's one of the best YA books I've read and one of my favourite reads of 2009. If you're one of the last people on the planet to read The Hunger Games ... HURRY!!

One of the bonuses of waiting so long to read The Hunger Games is that I had the sequel, Catching Fire to continue immediately on with and I have to tell you I was not disappointed (review up soon.) Now I just have to wait for the last installment in this fantastic trilogy. Visit Suzanne Collins' website to find out more.

To celebrate my 1st Blogoversary two lucky readers can take their pick from a choice of 6 books in this month's spookalicious competition. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

Series: Bride Quartet Book 2
Genre: Romance
Copyright: Oct 2009
Pages: 358
Book Source: Own Purchase

As little girls Mackensie, Emma, Laurel, and Parker spent hours acting out their perfect make believe "I do" moments. Years later their fantasies become reality when they start their own wedding planning company to make every woman's dream day come true. With perfect flowers, delicious desserts, and joyful moments captured on film, Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet shares each woman's emotionally magical journey to romance.

The 2nd book in the Bride Quartet is another enjoyable, feel-good, escapist read but for me it didnt reach the 'cloud 9' feel of Vision in White. A little predictable on the romance side of things but once again I got caught up in the wedding planning details & the hilarious dialogue between the friends from Vows.

Bed of Roses is Emma's story, she runs Centrepiece, the wedding florist division of Vows. I really enjoyed the beautiful, detailed descriptions of the flowers and arrangements but I guess some may find that amount of detail a little tedious. Emma is a sweetie, she's always wanted the happy-ever-after romance that her parents have but her love interest, Jack, is a long-time friend of their tight knit group and a cliched committment phobe. On the plus side Emma and Jack are a fun couple to read about and a lot hotter than Mackensie and Carter LOL.

"I think," Parker said carefully, "love is never wrong. Whether it's for the moment, or it's forever."

"We all know Emma's always wanted forever," Mac pointed out.

"But you can't have forever unless you take the moment."

"And if it doesn't work?" Laurel looked at her two friends.

"That's what we're here for."

I adore the Vows family, the 4 friends remind me of a tamer version of The Sex and the City girls. The close friendship, fun banter, girl talk, solidarity, closing ranks and protectiveness is just a delight to read. I'm looking forward to Laurel and Parker getting their HEA, and I'm guessing it will be Laurel & Del and Parker & Malcolm (the mechanic). But we'll find out soon enough, Laurel's story Savour the Moment is out May 2010.

See my review of the 1st book in the Bride Quartet ~ Vision in White.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

What Are You Reading On Monday

A weekly event hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

Posted review last night for Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Thanks to Jenny from Jenny Loves To Read for sending me this one.

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Books Completed Last Week:

BED OF ROSES by Nora Roberts - 4 stars (review coming)

THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen - 4.5 stars - (review coming)

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This Week's Reading List:

FIRE by Kristen Cashore - page 65

DEFENDERS OF THE SCROLL by Shiraz

MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs - (audiobook)  - for review for Shifter Week @ Royal Reviews in a few weeks.

JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen




This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Genre: YA
Copyright: June 2009
Pages: 290
Book Source: ARC copy passed on by Jenny @ Jenny Loves to Read

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer. www.sarahockler.com

Twenty Boy Summer is a beautifully written debut novel with a lot more to the story than the fun title suggests, it's a moving tale of love and loss, of friendship and forgiveness.

Anna & Frankie & Frankie's brother Matt have been neighbours and friends for as long as they can all remember. Anna has been in love with Matt for almost as long and all her dreams come true on her 15th birthday when her feelings are reciprocated. Matt's sudden death before he tells his sister about their relationship leaves Anna holding their secret with an empty space in her heart. One year on, the novel focuses on Anna & Frankie's friendship, the highs, the lows and their plan to have the Absolute Best Summer Ever (ABSE.)

While my teen years are long gone and my own memories are of far less permissive and relaxed parents, I found Anna & Frankie entirely relatable. My teenage sons are a constant reminder of all that is real and believable in this story; the excuses, sneaking out, parties, under-age drinking, and the sarcasm and humour characteristic of teen years certainly gave me a few laughs but what I found most moving was the ease with which Ockler captures so many unspoken aspects of grief.

When someone you love dies, people ask how you're doing, but they don't really want to know. They seek affirmation that you're ok, that you appreciate their concern, that life goes on and so can they. Secretly they wonder when the statute of limitations on asking expires (it's three months, by the way. Written or unwritten, that's about all the time it takes for people to forget the one thing that you never will. (page 73)

Once Frankie's asleep, my best friend superstrength disappears. My breathing shatters, tears blur the stars in the overhead skylight, and all the old ghosts I tried to leave home float like dandelion seed wishes into our room. (page 85)

This was an emotional story about friendship and the journey over, around & through grief, knowing when to hold on tight and when to let go, creating new memories while not being afraid to remember and treasure old ones and while my eyes brimmed with tears a few times and there were quite a few tugs on the heartstrings, the ABSE storyline kept it far from depressing. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

Sarah's next book Fixing Delilah Hannaford is coming out mid 2010. Visit Sarah Ockler's website and blog to find out more about this author.

To celebrate my 1st Blogoversary two lucky readers can take their pick from a choice of 6 books in this month's spookalicious competition. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

2010 Read Your Own Books Challenge

I'm joining this challenge hosted by MizB's Reading Challenges so I can read some of the hundreds of unread books waiting patiently on my book shelves. The great thing about this challenge is you can nominate how many books you want to read without having to list them before the year starts.  Perfect, you can read to suit your mood rather than having to stick to a pre-decided list.

 I would like to read 20 of my own books in 2010

The rules are simple:

•Pick a number of books you’d like to read in one year

•Choose those books from your OWN collection

•Read them between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010

And, that’s it!

Some other guidelines for this challenge:

•Re-Reads are NOT allowed (the challenge is to get more of your own books read that have been sitting there waiting!)

•Audiobooks & e-books ARE allowed

•You do NOT need a blog to participate.

Check out MizB's Reading Challenge Blog for her other challenges.

1. Witch Fire by Anya Bast
2. A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
3. The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan
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7.
8.
9.
10.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

2010 100 + Reading Challenge

I did the 100 + Challenge this year and will have it completed it by the end of November. I loved participating in this one, so there was no question about signing up again in 2010. The 100 + Challenge (if you don't already know) is  run by the wonderful J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog from January 1st - December 31st 2010. Head on over to J. Kaye's Blog to sign up for this challenge! 

Challenge Guidelines:

- Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

- Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

- No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

- Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

- Challenge begins January 1st thru December 31st, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

This year I started borrowing books from the library, after a 2 year hiatus so I thought this would be a great challenge to participate in, in 2010. Borrowing from the library will be a little kinder on my bank balance and my already double stacked bookshelves. Sign up for this challenge at J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Challenge runs January 1 - December 31, 2010.

There are four levels:

--The Mini – Check out and read 25 library books.

--Just My Size – Check out and read 50 library books.

--Stepping It Up – Check out and read 75 library books.

--Super Size Me – Check out and read 100 library books.

I'm choosing  'The Mini' level as I don't want to deprive myself of purchases completely :-)

 

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

After doing J.Kaye's YA challenge this year and reading some fantastic YA fiction, many being favourite reads of 2009, I couldn't resist joining the 2010 Young Adult Challenge @ J. Kaye's Book Blog.

I'm tossing up between Just My Size & the Stepping It Up level, but I'll leave that open til the start of next year and see how big my challenge list is :-)

There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

Click on this link to take you to J.Kaye's blog to sign up for the challenge.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Teaser Tuesday

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts this cool weekly event. Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share (2) “teaser” sentences from that page. Share the title & author of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. Please avoid spoilers!

"If you tell me he didn't plant a big yummy one on you back there, I'm going to call you a liar."

"I don't understand why you ..." Stupid, Emma told herself, and reached for the flower foam. "How do you know?"

page 134 Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
Book two of the Bride Quartet

  

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Mailbox Monday

Thank you to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday every week. It's been a couple of weeks since I participated in this meme as my mailbox has been empty. Last week 2 books came, how about you?

Life After 187 by Wade J. Halverson

(from the author for review)

Sentenced to life in prison when he executes the men who murdered his wife, Kane Silver is singled out by the warden for his fighting ability. Along with inmates Valentino Lopez and Si’Ling Lee, Kane is drafted into service and forced to fight for money in high-stakes tournaments. But when the three friends escape during a New Year’s Eve match in Lake Tahoe—saving the warden’s life in the process—their situation becomes more complicated.

Their status undetermined, they vanish underground and sign on to help a young woman whose parents are being held by an Argentinean drug kingpin. Follow Kane and his friends as they compete and grow closer while rediscovering what it means to be free. From Lake Tahoe and the western United States to Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, and Thailand, Life After 187 takes readers on an exhilarating ride filled with big money, intense action, justice, and the pursuit of honor.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

I've wanted this book for a while, ever since seeing a wonderful review at Staci's blog Life In The Thumb, so after winning an amazon voucher at True Crime Book Reviews, thanks so much Yvette ...  I am now the pleased owner of North of Beautiful.

Born with a port-wine stain birthmark covering her entire right cheek, Terra Rose Cooper is ready to leave her stifling, small Washington town where everyone knows her for her face. With her critical, reproachful father and an obese mother who turns to food to deflect her father's verbal attacks, home life for Terra isn't so great either. Fueled by her artistic desires, she plans to escape to an East Coast college, thinking this is her true path. When her father intercepts her acceptance letter, Terra is pushed off-course, and she is forced to confront her deepest insecurities.

After an ironically fortuitous car accident, Terra meets Jacob, a handsome but odd goth Chinese boy who was adopted from China as a toddler. Jacob immediately understands Terra's battle with feeling different. When Terra's older brother invites her and her mother to visit him in Shanghai, Jacob and his mother also join them on their journey, where they all not only confront the truth about themselves, but also realize their own true beauty. North of Beautiful is the engaging third YA novel by Justina Chen Headley. This is a gorgeously-written, compelling book featuring universal themes of defining true beauty, family bonds, personal strength, and love



This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

What Are You Reading On Monday

A weekly event hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

I was so lucky to read two absolutely brilliant YA novels this week, Catching Fire, the 2nd novel in the Hunger Games trilogy and Graceling. Ahh does it get any better? Thank you to all my wonderful bloggy friends for the comments, emails, support, hugs, love and prayers over the week, I can't tell you how much it means. Our family is still under quite a bit of stress while we wait for specialist appointments and test results, it will be another two weeks before we have any real answers. Reading is such a wonderful escape but everything else is still a bit of a challenge so apologies for my  lack of reply comments on my blog.

I got two reviews done during the week - YAY me!!

Click on the titles if you missed them this week.

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost

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Books Completed Last Week:

CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins - 5 stars (review to come)

GRACELING by Kristen Cashore - 5 stars (review to come)

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This Week's Reading List:

FIRE by Kristen Cashore - page 150

BED OF ROSES by Nora Roberts - page 119

THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen

DEFENDERS OF THE SCROLL by Shiraz

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And here's my list of reviews to do :-)

Catching Fire

Graceling

The Hunger Games

Twenty Boy Summer

Evermore

The Painted Veil

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

Genre: General Fiction
Copyright: September 2009
Pages: 260
Book Source: Library borrow

Elizabeth Berg weaves a beautifully written and richly resonant story of a mother and daughter in emotional transit. Helen Ames–recently widowed, coping with grief, unable to do the work that has always sustained her–is beginning to depend too much on her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Tessa, meddling in her life and offering unsolicited advice. Then Helen is shocked to discover that her mild-mannered and seemingly loyal husband was apparently leading a double life. When a phone call from a stranger sets Helen on a surprising path of discovery, both mother and daughter reassess what they thought they knew about each other, themselves, and what really makes a home and a family.

This was my first Elizabeth Berg novel and while I enjoyed much of it, I can't say I was captivated. I'd heard such good things about the author's work, that I can only assume Home Safe wasn't her best?

When Helen's husband suddenly dies, the 59 year old writer finds herself ill-equipped to cope with day-to-day life; she has been completely dependent on Dan for everything from paying bills to changing a lightbulb and her writing has ground to a halt while she deals with her grief. Helen's relationship with her daughter Tessa is not one I can identify with but it was nice to see the growth and change in both these characters by the end of the novel. The character I  liked the most was actually Helen's best friend Midge, her insight and honesty with Helen was a refreshing and necessary inclusion, providing some comic relief.

When Helen takes a job teaching a writing class to a diverse group of people, her sense of helplessness begins to subside (making her a little more likeable) and via her students the reader experiences the interesting stories within this story. This is actually the part of the book I enjoyed the most. My observations here may seem a little harsh, I certainly understand grief on a personal level and how incapacitating it can be, but when the 'successful writer' calls police for a leak in her ceiling, empathy for the character dissolved along with plausability.

This was certainly a quick, easy read and I'm not adverse to trying another book by this author, any suggestions? There were some lovely quotes about books, like this one "Books don't take time away from us, ... they give it back" and a particularly beautiful paragraph that will stay with me. I might leave you with it:

She sits down and puts her hand to her chest and rocks. Thinks of all she has lost and will lose. All she has had and will have. It seems to her that life is like gathering berries into an apron with a hole. Why do we keep on? Because the berries are beautiful, and we must eat to survive. We catch what we can. We walk past what we lose for the promise of more, just ahead.

Visit Elizabeth Berg's website to find out more about the author and her work.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Hanging Out For: Cold Justice & Linger

Just thought I'd share a couple of books I'm hanging out for in 2010.

Cold Justice by Katherine Howell
Release Date: 1st February 2010

A teenage girl stumbles across the body of her classmate, Tim Pieters, hidden amongst the bushes. His family is devastated, the killer is never found.

Eighteen years later, political pressure sees the murder investigation reopened. Detective Ella Marconi tracks down Georgie Riley, the student who found the body, and who is now a paramedic. Georgie seems to be telling the truth, so then why does Ella receive an anonymous phone call insisting that Georgie knows more? And is it mere coincidence that her ambulance partner, Freya, also went to the same high school?

Ella's confusion increases when Tim's mother, once so willing to get the police involved, suddenly turns her back on the investigation. Meanwhile, Tim's cousin, the MP whose influence reopened the case, can't seem to do enough to help.

The more Ella digs into the past, the more the buried secrets and lies are brought to light. Can she track down the killer before more people are hurt?

Cold Justice has received some wonderful author quotes from Michael Robotham & Tess Gerritsen which is pretty darn awesome -

"A MURDER, A SECRET AND A DETECTIVE WHO WON'T LET GO . . . THIS IS KATHERINE HOWELL'S BEST BOOK TO DATE"

"COLD JUSTICE RACES LIKE A SPEEDING AMBULANCE . . . THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR!"

Katherine Howell is a former ambulance officer, she is currently working on her fourth novel featuring Detective Ella Marconi. Visit Katherine's website to find out more about this Aussie author.

If you want to check out more of Katherine's work click on the titles to see my reviews of her nail-biting first two novels, Frantic and The Darkest Hour.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 2

Release Date: 20th July 2010

Summary:

Continues the story of the wolves of Mercy Falls. . .

It's about after. What happens after you discover there are werewolves in the wood, after you've fallen in love for the first time, after you've lost what you think you can't live without, after you've become someone you can't live with.

Excerpt: (just a  little teaser)

...Grace...

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin.

Isn't the cover beautiful!! Having just finished and loved Shiver, July seems such a long way away *sigh*.

You can check out my review of Shiver here and stay up to date with all Maggie's news by visiting her website or blog.

 

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

We Have A Winner

The lucky winner of Once Upon A Nightmare by Lee Moylan is:

Razlover's Book Blog

Thanks to everyone who entered, with over 60 entries

it looks like a lot of us love to be scared half to death by a great story.

Notification email has been sent to the winner,

please email your address details ASAP.

Your copy of Once Upon A Nightmare will be posted to you

directly from the author.

Hope you're ready for a "poop your pants" scary read!!

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost

Series: Night Huntress Book 3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 342
Book Source: Own purchase

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself - and Bones - from a fate worse than the grave.

Just let me catch my breath ... WOW, this one was an adrenaline rush, a heart-stopping action packed, electrifying read; it was Cat & Bones on speed! But this aside, I actually had a little tantrum and removed a star rating for the lack of "set the sheets on fire horizontal action", then I relented and replaced half a star for the surprise emotional twist that started a tear-fest. Seriously though I did miss the sizzling passion and the opportunity to add some new Bones & Cat sexcapades to my mental library *grin*

Jeaniene Frost takes the vamp/ghoul world to a whole new level in At Grave's End. Powerful enemies come out of the woodwork, Bones forms an alliance with his grandsire Mencheres and a full scale war keeps the whole team a little on the busy side. Bones is, as always, 'smokin' hot, Cat is put through the wringer in this installment, Tate is an emotional wreck, Justina (Cat's mum) and Rodney had me snorting with laughter, Vlad aka Dracula is a cool addition to the cast of characters and there's enough gore, havoc, magic and mayhem to satisfy the biggest action junkie. 

I don't want to give any spoilers away for those of you who haven't started the series so this review is short and sweet but I do want to say ... What are you waiting for??? Hooked from book 1, this fan is here to stay. Destined For An Early Grave (book 4) is calling me and I can't wait to get my next Cat & Bones fix!


Visit Jeaniene Frost's terrific website & blog to find out more about this author and her work.

See my reviews for the first two books in the Night Huntress series  - Halfway to the Grave  & One Foot In The Grave - both 5 stars.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Teaser Tuesday

MizB of Should Be Reading hosts this cool weekly event. Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share (2) “teaser” sentences from that page. Share the title & author of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. Please avoid spoilers!

Something tender caught in her breath at the sight of him. And then he raised his eyes and looked at her, and she saw what she had not seen before. She gasped.

Page 229 Graceling by Kristen Cashore

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

What Are You Reading On Monday

A weekly event hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

Well you know what they say about best laid plans ... I am now adopting a new mantra ... don't make any :-)

Talk about a hideous week! Sadly Alaine and I missed out on scrapbook camp, after 2 days of Doctor & hospital visits and an urgent MRI for my best friend and then a trip to the hospital on Friday for my son, we were both too emotionally and physically exhausted to go on camp. Alaine is still waiting on test results for possible MS so its a very stressful time for her and her family but I keep thinking if enough people think good thoughts then of course everything will be ok. Callum (my 15yr old) had a bleed in his bicep muscle requiring an infusion, an unusual bleed to have with his type of bleeding disorder, so the specialist did some more testing and it looks like he also has a platelet functioning disorder. They just don't know which one so more blood tests are required. Not to mention coming from the high of my eldest son's 18th (was it really only last weekend) to the worrying news of his girlfriend needing an appointment with a cardiac specialist.

You're kidding me, right?? At this point I'm alternating from shaking my head in disbelief, making terribly inappropriate jokes & laughing at the total insaneness of this week.  I'm in serious talks with my mum, (in heaven) asking her to put a in a good word for us and keep all my loved ones safe. Love you Mum xx

I'm actually quite proud of myself that I managed to do a review considering the week that was. I know it might not seem like much but for me it was a huge achievement. The need to share my love of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, outweighed my lack of motivation to produce a review :-) check out my review here if you missed it during the week.

Don't forget today is the last day to enter the competition to win ONCE UPON A NIGHTMARE by Lee Moylan. Click here to enter. Open to Everyone!!

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Books Completed Last Week:

HOME SAFE by Elizabeth Berg - 3.5 stars (review coming)

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This Week's Reading List:

GRACELING by Kristen Cashore - page 146

DEFINITELY DEAD by Charlaine Harris (audiobook) - chapter 2

CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins

BLUE MOON by Alyson Noel

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And once again this is my reminder for reviews still to do :-)

Home Safe

The Hunger Games

Twenty Boy Summer

At Graves End

Evermore

The Painted Veil

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.