Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Night Huntress Book 4
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 385
Book Source: Own book

Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger...

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Review:

Can I just say Bones sooo does it for me and leave it at that :)

No?? you want more convincing ... ok.

This would have to be one of my favourite urban fantasy series, the perfect combination of high-octane action, passion, hilarious dialogue, suspense, Bones, Bones, and did I mention Bones.

While Cat & Bones don't quite set the sheets on fire in Destined For An Early Grave, passion is definitely back and I was ... most satisfied :)  I guess we've been spoilt, it would take a lot to surpass the infamous hot and dirty chapter 32 in book 2 but anything with Bones and Cat doing the horizontal mambo or the vertical mambo for that matter is a winner! Obviously there's more to the story than the aforementioned postitions but when it comes to Bones I seem to have trouble maintaining a coherent train of thought. 

Now where was I? Cat and Bones' relationship issues escalate in this installment, due in part to obstinancy and lack of communication on both sides but the introduction of new villian Gregor also contributes to sparks flying. Fortunately the snarky one-liners had me laughing out loud overriding my desire to smack the couple's heads together on the odd occasion. Once again old friends provide a great supporting cast and I love Fabian's (the ghost) role in this book.

There are so many great quotes I could tease you with but I'll leave you with this one between Cat's mother, Justina and Ian.

"Don't you have somewhere else you could be?" she asked him in a withering voice.
Ian's smile just broadened. "Certainly. Pull up your skirt, and I'll show you."

I can't squeal enough about this series and I'm seriously going to suffer waiting for my next Cat & Bones fix in This Side Of The Grave coming 22nd Feb 2011

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

See my reviews for the first three books in the Night Huntress series  - Halfway to the Grave  & One Foot In The Grave  (both 5 stars) and At Graves End  4.5 stars.

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

WINNER

The winner of Daily Guideposts 2011 is

stacybuckeye

Congratulations!!

an email has been sent to the winner

Don't forget to check out the other contests on my blog :)

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

This week I'll be playing catch up with reviews, blogging and hopefully some reading. I had a lovely weekend away with my sister for her 40th, it's Alaine's birthday on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to spending the day with her and my eldest son turns 19 on the 31st (he's the one on the right in photo.) It's been a big week of celebrations and another one to come :)

It's super challenging to get a photo of my boys together, if they stand still long enough they're usually whinging about my annoying photo obsession so I thought I'd share this nice photo. And a layout I finally completed from my baby girl's memorial day.

** Don't forget I have a number of competitions running, all international; check out the sidebar for details. **

I did manage to post a couple of reviews in the last week, click on the title to check them out.

A DOG NAMED SLUGGER by Leigh Brill

THE LIES WE TOLD by Diane Chamberlain

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Finished last week:

A DOG NAMED SLUGGER by Leigh Brill

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

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This Week's Reading List:

THE RED QUEEN by Philippa Gregory ~ page 25

GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry

and something on audio but not sure what I feel like.

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Reviews still to do:

THE SCARLET LION by Elizabeth Chadwick

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost

FALLEN by Lauren Kate

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

The Fun Of Dying by Roberta Grimes - Giveaway

The Fun Of Dying: Find Out What Really Happens Next
Author: Roberta Grimes
Genre: Non Fiction
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 145

Synopsis:
If you wonder whether death ends life, how it feels to die, or what heaven might be like, this book is for you. If you worry about a lost loved one, or fret about the death of a pet, all the answers to your questions are here. And if you are afraid of death, if you worry that your life has no meaning, or if you have given up on religions, then let this book ease some of your fears while it brings new meaning to your life.

Nothing written here is based on the teachings of any religion. Instead, this book draws on more than a century’s worth of evidence to explain in detail how death feels, how it happens and—most importantly—what comes next. Accounts of near-death experiences are just a small part of the afterlife evidence! A lot of the best death-related evidence was produced in the first half of the 20th century, and it has been ignored ever since by mainstream science and mainstream religions. When it is put together with more recent discoveries, it tells a consistent and amazing story.

The Fun of Dying is a complete account of how dying feels and what comes next. Read it, learn the truth, and apply its lessons so you can enjoy your best life forevermore!


INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY:

2 Copies of The Fun Of Dying: Find Out What Really Happens Next.

The wonderful people at Phenix & Phenix have generously offered a copy of The Fun Of Dying to TWO of my readers.

To enter leave a comment below with an email address.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 tweet about the contest and leave a link

+2 comment on any review in October & let me know.

Competition closes 5th November and winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck :)





This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill

Genre: Memoir/Non-Fiction
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 220
Book Source: Review copy courtesy of Deb @ Bell Bridge Books

The true life story of a dog who changed everything for one woman. For the first time in my life, I didn't need to pretend, I didn't need to be tough: I only needed to be honest. "I have cerebral palsy. I walk funny and my balance is bad. I fall a lot. My hands shake, too. That means I'm not so good at carrying things. And if I drop stuff, sometimes it's hard to just bend down and get it." I waited anxiously for the interviewer's response. She smiled. "It sounds like a service dog could be great for you." So began Leigh Brill's journey toward independence and confidence, all thanks to a trained companion dog named Slugger. The struggling college student and the Labrador with a "a coat like sunshine" and a tail that never stopped wagging became an instant team. Together, they transformed a challenge into a triumph. Together, they inspired and educated everyone they met. Now, Leigh honors her friend with the story of their life, together.

Review:

This is one of those heart-warming stories that reaffirms the intelligence and loving capacity of our furry friends. I'm a sucker for 'dog stories' and A Dog Named Slugger details one woman's experience of living with a disability and the difference a labrador service dog makes to her life. Leigh Brill has congenital Cerebal Palsy and Slugger is the service dog that not only makes Leigh's physical limitations less challenging but more importantly brings unconditional love, friendship and acceptance to her life.

The physical independence Leigh experiences with Slugger is just the beginning. The door opens on a whole lot of personal growth and her new found confidence and growing sense of self are a tribute to Slugger's devotion. A Dog Named Slugger reminded me of my own family's recent experience; the life-changing difference a puppy can make bringing much needed joy to a home full of heartache.

The writing isn't as refined as other memoirs I've read but it's an enjoyable, informative read that I'm sure dog lovers will warm to. It's also an inspirational account for anyone with a disability or those caring for or working with people with disabilities. I loved the included photos and the interesting readers guide would make this a great book club read.

In the company of her 2nd service dog, Kenda, Leigh is working on her next book: Miranda and Charlie and the Great Cupcake Caper. It's the first in a series of fictional juvenile stories featuring an energetic kid-detective and her service dog.

To find out more about Leigh Brill visit her website and check out the wonderful video.   

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

Genre: General Fiction
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 400
Book Source: Borrowed from Alaine

Maya and Rebecca Ward are both accomplished physicians, but that's where the sisters' similarities end. As teenagers, they witnessed their parents' murder, but it was Rebecca who saved Maya from becoming another of the gunman's victims. The tragedy left Maya cautious and timid, settling for a sedate medical practice with her husband, Adam, while Rebecca became the risk taker.

After a devastating hurricane hits the coast of North Carolina, Rebecca and Adam urge Maya to join them in the relief effort. To please her husband, Maya finally agrees. She loses herself in the care and transport of victims, but when her helicopter crashes into raging floodwaters, there appear to be no survivors.

Forced to accept Maya is gone, Rebecca and Adam turn to one another—first for comfort, then in passion—unaware that, miles from civilization, Maya is injured and trapped with strangers she's not certain she can trust. Away from the sister who has always been there to save her, now Maya must find the courage to save herself—unaware that the life she knew has changed forever.

Review:

My intial reaction when I finished The Lies We Told - love the story, but the ending ... as if! Writing this review with the benefit of distance, I still think, what a fantastic story and the ending, hmm still disappointing but I understand what the author was getting at - "Now the triangle has become a circle, and a circle can encompass so much more."

This was quite an emotional page-turner, suspenseful with fabulous character development but maybe that in itself contributed to my disappointment in the ending. When the author does such a believable job portraying the complex dynamics between sisters Maya and Rebecca I just didn't buy the "too pat" epilogue.

I identified with Maya; the heartache of infertility, the multifaceted relationship with her sister and her journey of self discovery; it all rang true. While I admired Rebecca's career success and committment I think her moral compass needed some adjustment, I didn't like her much, but that's ok.

I'd still recommend The Lies We Told, I love Diane Chamberlain's writing style and this really was an intriguing blend of suspense, family drama,secrets and forgiveness. Who knows, maybe the ending won't bother you, if you've read this one I'd love to know what you thought.

Want to know more about Diane Chamberlain and her work? - visit her website

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Daily Guideposts 2011 - Giveaway

Genre: Devotional/Spiritual Growth

Editor: Andrew Attaway

Publication Date: Oct 2010

Pages: 432

This is the 35th year of publication for Daily Guideposts, a daily devotional that has sold more than 20 million copies since it debuted in 1975. That first book was written by one individual, Fred Bauer, as a collection of daily prayers and stories for year-round spiritual growth. The most recent edition, Daily Guideposts: 2011 has contributions from more than 50 writers.

Daily Guideposts: 2011 celebrates growing in God's love and wisdom,  bringing readers simple yet profound devotions to connect with God in  new ways - even on the most hectic of days. Daily entries open with a scripture reading for meditative reflection, followed by a true, first-person story, and close with a short prayer.

Monthly "seeds of love" sections encourage readers to write down their blessings so they will become more mindful of all they have to be thankful for in their lives.

More than 50 writers contribute to this new spiritual companion, sharing stories of how God has transformed their relationships, jobs, families and faith. With stories from bestselling authors such as Debbie Macomber to veteran "Daily Guideposts" devotional contributors Marion Bond West and Carol Kuykendall, "Daily Guideposts" readers will recognize their favorite writers while discovering new voices along the way.

For more information you can visit the Daily Guideposts website.

INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY:

The wonderful people at Phenix & Phenix have generously offered a copy of Daily Guideposts: 2011 to one of my readers.

To enter leave a comment below with an email address.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 tweet about the contest and leave a link

Competition closes 26th October and winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck :)

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Well this week is short and sweet on news and reading. I did receive the all clear on the abnormal moles I had removed last Thursday ... no melanoma so that was a huge relief. We've had awful weather over the last week or two and torrential rain in the last 24 hrs, has dropped another 150mm of rain (6 ") on our normally sunny city.  You'd think it would be perfect weather for reading and blogging and we do need the rain but I find it difficult to motivate myself when it's so dreary! Like everything around me I feel a bit damp and mouldy LOL

This week I'm hoping to catch up on some blog visiting while I watch the Commonwealth Games ... go the Aussies!!

So same reads as last week but I did catch up on a couple of reviews. Click on the titles if you'd like to check them out.

STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens ~ 5 stars

SAVING MAX by Antoinette van Heugten ~ 4.5 stars

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This Week's Reading List:

A DOG NAMED SLUGGER by Leigh Brill ~ page 188

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver (audiobook) ~ chapter 3

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Reviews still to do:

THE SCARLET LION by Elizabeth Chadwick

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost

FALLEN by Lauren Kate

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

THE LIES WE TOLD by Diane Chamberlain

SPIRIT BOUND by Richelle Mead

BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 340
Book Source: Own audio

On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a thirty-two year old Realtor, had three goals—sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever- patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor of the day pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.

Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive of a sadistic psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape—her struggle to piece her shattered spirit back together and the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor.

The truth doesn’t always set you free.

Review:

What an incredible debut novel, a brilliantly written story that was gripping, raw and intense. The intensity doesn't come from suspense as you know immediately that Annie survives, it comes from the horror of her ordeal, the heart-stopping sense of fear, it comes from the shocking intimate details and the constant wondering ... when will it be over, for Annie and for me.

In sessions with her therapist Annie reveals not only the specifics of her year in captivity but the aftermath of her escape, the gruelling details you don't often hear about. When the person you used to be no longer exists how do you learn to live again?? I really liked the character of Annie, her intelligence, her dark sarcasm; a protective mechanism devolped as a result of the trauma she suffered, her unflagging determination, her honesty and courage.

I think people can be so crushed, so broken, that they'll never be anything more than a fragment of a whole person.

Apart from the obvious traumatic and heartbreaking details tears rolled down my face when Annie described the dog pound where she used to help out. This got to me almost as much as the psychological abuse and physical torture that Annie endured.

This one dog, Bubbles, an ugly little thing with a skin condition was there for ages but as soon as anyone new came in he pranced up to the front of the cage like he was the most beautiful creature in the world ... always hopeful.

 ... I hoped they put Bubbles to sleep before he finally figured out no one was coming for him.

This won't be a story for everyone but it's superbly written and one of my favourites this year; kudos to Chevy Stevens for making it terrifyingly real without being gratuitious. I guess some may find the twist a little far-fetched, but it worked for me; not much surprises me in regards to human disloyalty. And it's worthwhile having a box of tissues handy for the last sentence of the book ... *sob, sob.* I'll be one of the first in line to buy Chevy Stevens' next novel, Never Knowing due for release mid 2011.

Visit Chevy Stevens' website to find out more.

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Breathless Books

5 Months ~ 5 books - every page will leave you breathless. 

Visit the Penguin Five (Breathless Books) website where you can subscribe to all the Breathless news and download a sample chapter from each of the breathless books.

I'm hanging out to read most of these especially Matched & Nightshade. Anyone read the August & September Breathless Reads?? Let me know what you thought!

AUGUST

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.


SEPTEMBER

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world.
Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with an oddly intriguing girl named Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.


OCTOBER

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Nightshade 1

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything - including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


NOVEMBER
Matched by Ally Condie

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one … until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.


DECEMBER

Sapphique (Incarceron, #2) by Catherine Fisher

Finn has escaped from the terrible living Prison of Incarceron, but its memory torments him, because his brother Keiro is still inside. Outside, Claudia insists he must be king, but Finn doubts even his own identity. Is he the lost prince Giles? Or are his memories no more than another construct of his imprisonment? And can you be free if your friends are still captive? Can you be free if your world is frozen in time? Can you be free if you don't even know who you are? Inside Incarceron, has the crazy sorcerer Rix really found the Glove of Sapphique, the only man the Prison ever loved. Sapphique, whose image fires Incarceron with the desire to escape its own nature. If Keiro steals the glove, will he bring destruction to the world? Inside. Outside. All seeking freedom. Like Sapphique.


This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Copyright: September 2010
Pages: 400
Book Source: Phenix & Phenix Publicity

Single mother Danielle Parkman is at the end of her rope and she knows it. A successful attorney, Danielle works grueling hours for her clients, yet devotes every spare moment to her teenage son, Max, who has Asperger’s – high-functioning autism. Alarmingly, Max has become violent and suicidal. Danielle is frantic. None of the professionals have helped him. Desperate for guidance, Danielle brings Max to a psychiatric hospital in the hope that the best and the brightest will bring the son she loves back to her. The bizarre twists and turns that take place in the hospital force Danielle to consider the unimaginable -- that Max’s problems may be greater than anyone could have imagined.

And then the true horror begins. Danielle finds Max lying bloody and unconscious next to the bed of a murdered patient – a boy his own age. When Max becomes the prime suspect, Danielle is determined to find the killer and absolve her son. She risks everything in a race against time to find out the truth. Is her son a murderer?

Review:
Saving Max was a real page turner, it kept me enthralled from page one and while it wasn't quite what I expected I was thrilled to have enjoyed it to the extent that I did. It's not a novel about Aspergers as such, but a suspense novel in which the protagonist has Asperger's Syndrome, a compelling combination of medical and legal detail, mystery and tension. It's obvious the author writes with honesty from a place of personal experience giving believability to both the emotions and actions of the characters.

I really identified with Danielle, being an advocate for a son with special needs, I imagined myself making many of the same decisions and feeling the same emotions. The unconditional love we have for our children can often colour our judgement but I thought Saving Max highlighted the little appreciated point that mothers often know their children better than specialists give them credit for. Character development is sometimes sacrificed to achieve heightened levels of suspense and a cracking pace but I have to say that is definitely not the case in Saving Max.

I was of two minds whether to mention the portrayal of the committal hearing process in my review; my censure may not even be valid not knowing the US court system, but I didn't find the process believable which pulled my attention from the story. Maybe the process is different from that in Australia?? Fortunately it didn't hamper my overall enjoyment.

I will definitely be reading more from this author and I look forward to her new psychological thriller; hopefully not too far away.

About the author:

Antoinette van Heugten is familiar with the challenges that come with raising autistic children. A mother and step-parent of three boys, two with autism, van Heugten has always been an advocate for her children in a world where few people understood their disorder. A former trial lawyer, she makes her home in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she lives with her husband.
Visit the author's website to find out more.

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Spooktacular October Competition - 3 Winners

October's competition is in celebration of my 2nd Blogoversary and a huge birthday month for our family. My 2nd blogoversary is a bit of a milestone in itself, I normally lose movitation when things get stressful on the home front but 2 years on I'm still blogging ... amazing. In part thanks to wonderful friends across the world, friends who share a love of reading and who've sent love and support across the miles when our family has been doing it tough.

 

To thank friends, old and new (I'm sure you peeps know who you are) who always comment on my blog there will be a third draw on my Halloween baby's birthday - Ant turns 19 on the 31st. I have a list of people who regularly comment on my blog and this draw will be done from the dozen pals who always pop in and leave some comment love.

So this month three lucky readers will win the book of their choice from above. All choices are books I'm dying to read so good luck choosing!

All books are brand new and the winner's choice will be purchased by me from The Book Depository in the UK or the US specifically for the winner. If the winner is not in a Book Depository delivery area then they will receive a $20 Amazon book voucher.

Please read the full post carefully and follow the instructions.

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

Married to a king incompetent both on the throne and in bed, Emma does not love her husband. But she does love England. Even as her husband fails, Emma vows to protect her people-no matter what. For five decades, through love and loss, prosperity and exile, Emma fights for England, becoming the only woman to have been anointed, crowned, and reigning queen to two different kings, the mother of two more, and the great aunt of William the Conqueror.


Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hush Hush Book 2

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Paranormalcy by  Kiersten White
Paranormalcy Book 1

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

Dracula In Love by Karen Essex

From the shadowy banks of the River Thames to the wild and windswept coast of Yorkshire, the quintessential Victorian virgin Mina Murray vividly recounts in the pages of her private diary the intimate details of what transpired between her and Count Dracula—the joys and terrors of a pas­sionate affair and her rebellion against a force of evil that has pursued her through time.

Mina’s version of this timeless gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into the dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and locked asylum chambers where she led a secret life, far from the chaste and polite lifestyle the defenders of her purity, and even her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, expected of her.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel was only one side of the story. Now, for the first time, Dracula’s eternal muse reveals all. What she has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than ever imagined. The result is a scintillating gothic novel that reinvents the tragic heroine Mina as a modern woman tor­tured by desire.

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
The Edge Book 2

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life. William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.

When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed ... and survive.


HOW TO ENTER:

Competition is only open to followers of my blog (so if you're not a follower & you'd like to enter just click on the follow button on the right hand side of my blog - easy peasy)

**IMPORTANT** this month please leave one comment only! Your extra entries will be counted in the draw but please put them in one comment. Leave an email address telling me which book you'd like to win!

As per usual spread the word and you'll receive more entries.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 post about this give-away on your blog & leave a link

+2 post the comp on Twitter & leave a link

+1 post the comp on sidebar of your blog

Competition is International. Ends October 31st and the winner will be announced on this blog. Good luck everyone!

I hope you like this month's give-away on The Eclectic Reader. I purchase books to give away as a way of supporting my favourite authors, highlighting books I'd love to read and also to give a little something back to readers of my blog!

WINNER of September Competition:
Michelle @ The True Book Addict

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Apologies for being MIA but I was in holiday mode and while I had good intentions of posting while we were away ... it didn't happen :) Cal's soccer team made it thru to quarter finals but unfortunately were on the losing side when it came down to a penalty shoot out. Very disappointed boys but the team parents still found plenty of reasons to celebrate. I've come home for a holiday LOL 

So this week I have a lot of catching up to do. My September competition will be drawn and the competition for October posted and I'm determined to get reviews scheduled. Thursday I'll probably be a little sore and sorry as I'm having some moles removed from my back which is always a scary time considering my mum's death from melanoma. On the up side, October is an awesome month with lots of birthdays. My sister turns 40 this year, Alaine and her eldest son celebrate birthdays and my eldest turns 19 on 31st October which is also Halloween. Anthony has quite a bit of work away this month so I've got my fingers crossed that he'll be home for his birthday. 

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Now on to books: two books finished, one was a bit of a chunkster @ 570 pages and one was an audio book 

THE SCARLET LION by Elizabeth Chadwick ~ thoroughly enjoyed this follow-on from The Greatest Knight.

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson ~ this one has been on my reading pile since listening to Wintergirls and with all the hoo hah of the last few  months, I pushed it to the top of my priority list ... glad I did! 

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This Week's Reading List:

A DOG NAMED SLUGGER by Leigh Brill

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver (audiobook)

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Reviews scheduled this week:

SAVING MAX by Antoinette van Heugten

STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens


Reviews still to do:

FALLEN by Lauren Kate

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost

THE LIES WE TOLD by Diane Chamberlain

SPIRIT BOUND by Richelle Mead

BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead

FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White