Stacking The Shelves [109]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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Only one book for me this week. Truthfully, that's alright because I have so many books to catch up on. This week I received an eARC of Legally Undead by Margo Bond Collins, that was release earlier this week. You can catch my review of the book and a guest post from the author later this week.

eARC

Legally Undead by Margo Bond Collins

What did you add to your shelves this week?

[inlinkz_linkup id=410878]

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Posted by Tynga at 00:00

 Meme, Stacking The Shelves  46 People left their mark

Daughter of the Spellcaster by Maggie Shayne

Lena ran away after Ryan, her Prince, broke her heart. He has nothing of a prince in this life, but once upon a time, in another time and place, he was her Prince. Now she's pregnant, and when he learns 8 months later that he is the father he wants to help her raise their child, but can she really trust him?

Daughter of the Spellcaster, book two in The Portal series, was a fine read, but it wasn't extraordinary. The main flaw is its predictability. Honestly, there was no suspense whatsoever, I just knew everything that would happen right from the start, so it was kind of a let down. It wasn't a bad story, but the 'hints' were so obvious, Shayne left nothing to the imagination.

Lena and Ryan were two lovable characters and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. It was nice to witness their coming together once more and the doubts and insecurity they felt made their story that much more believable. I particularly liked how Ryan took to fatherhood so easily, investing himself in the room decoration and what not. It was just really sweet.

I often found myself wishing this novel was more in continuity with the first book, Mark of the Witch. Indira made an appearance, but it would've been nice for her to play a bigger role in the story, and I hope both 'sisters' will be more present in the third novel, Blood of the Sorceress.

Despite its misgiving, I enjoyed this novel and plan to read the next installment. It's a simple, no-brainer, romance and it feels good in read one such book from time to time :)

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Posted by Tynga at 01:50

 Adult, Harlequin, Maggie Shayne, Magic, Mira, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, The Oracle, Witch  Leave your mark

Angel Kin blog tour: Guest post by Tricia Skinner + giveaway

Tricia Skinner is back with us today as part of her blog tour for ANGEL KIN, her latest Angel Assassins novel. She's written a great guest post for us, about the character types she'd like to see retired. There's also a tour-wide giveaway at the end of the post so I hope you'll stick around.

Welcome, Tricia!

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Tricia Skinner's Four Least Favorite Character Types in Stories

I'm not sure when I became annoyed with certain character types in stories, but let me tell you, annoyed I was. You see, I can read anything as long as I dig the story and can feel something for the characters. When certain traits happen, my first reaction is to rage against the writing gods, "Why doth thou torture me?"

Melodramatic? Yep, but still annoyed. (wink) Here's what tends to set me off.

Too Stupid To Live

Usually it's the heroine who gets this trait. She's the woman who has a drug cartel on her trail, but she decides to go to her best friend's house for a pizza party. Or she sneaks away from the hero's protection because she left her favorite sweater at her house.

You want to kill her. I want to kill her. She should die for her stupidity. We suffer through her temper tantrums and pouting. She nags the hero ceaselessly, ignores every survival instinct she has, and then she gets in trouble.

Please let her die, fellow authors.

Timid Friend Who Becomes A Killing Machine

I read a book where the heroine's best pal was the kind of guy who'd get stuffed in a locker in school. Stereotypical nerd with a secret crush on the heroine. When she gets in trouble (see Too Stupid To Live), this guy turns into Rambo Nerd. He grabs a weapon and follows the hero to rescue the girl.

Did you roll your eyes? I did. Nothing is wrong with a weaker guy finding courage to help, but there's no damn way he's a weapons expert and can disable bombs with zero training. Did he Google that knowledge on his smartphone?

Crybaby Villains

Another book I read had a villain who wanted the heroine so he could take over her wealthy father's properties. She refused to marry him. What did he do? He sulked like a child. Sulked! His whole storyline was him whining about why she would refuse him and how he'd make her pay.

Come on. I need a villain who doesn't need diapers.

Stupid Alpha Heroes

In a historical I recently finished, the alpha hero fell in love with a true beauty. She had been through hell, but she gave her love to a man so scared of emotions that the whole story actually worked because it was a struggle to get them together. Imagine my dismay, after almost 600 pages, when one out of the blue rumor about the now-wife of the alpha hero sent that idiot into a jealous tirade. He left her, defenseless and out in the cold, because someone said they thought she had feelings for another guy.

Insert hair pulling now. That is not a plot device. That is a weak as hell excuse to add one more nugget of conflict. I was exhausted after reading 600 pages only to get kicked in my girly parts with the old "You betrayed me!" action of the alpha. No. Just no.

So, do you have any character types that make you claw at your eyes, screaming at the injustice?

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For more Tricia, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tour Schedule

Here's the scoop on ANGEL KIN:

Tagline: The thief will steal his heart...

While channeling Robin Hood’s “steal from the rich and give to the poor” attitude at a local politician’s house, ex-con Katie Logan witnesses a forced suicide. Dirty or not, supernatural or not, he didn’t deserve to die, especially not by his own hand. But with her record, stepping forward as a witness isn’t an option. On the run from the police and the murderer, she turns to The Bound Ones for help.

When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when she fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. The twin he thought was dead is very much alive…and trying to send him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.”

It’s a race against time as Cain fights to save the woman he’s falling in love with before his brother Abel destroys them both.

Purchase: Amazon

Tricia is giving away one (1) $25 gift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes to a lucky US tour follower!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 04:29

 Crimson Romance, giveaway, Guest Post, Tricia Skinner  15 People left their mark

Giveaway: Divided by Elsie Chapman

To celebrate the release of Divided by Elsie Chapman, sequel to Dualed, I am happy to have one copy of the book to offer to one lucky winner! The copy is graciously offered by Random House!

Here's a bit more about the book:

The hunter becomes the hunted. . . .

West Grayer is done killing. She defeated her Alternate, a twin raised by another family, and proved she’s worthy of a future. She’s ready to move on with her life.

The Board has other plans. They want her to kill one last time, and offer her a deal worth killing for. But when West recognizes her target as a ghost from her past, she realizes she’s in over her head. The Board is lying, and West will have to uncover the truth of the past to secure her future.

How far will the Board go to keep their secrets safe? And how far will West go to save those she loves? With nonstop action and surprising twists, Elsie Chapman’s intoxicating sequel to Dualed reveals everything.

Where it all began:

Fill the rafflecopter below to win 1 copy of Divided by Elsie Chapman!

Open to US/Canada only

Ends June 12th, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 02:13

 giveaway  7 People left their mark

"When I'm not writing" with Paula Altenburg + giveaway

Our guest this week is Paula Altenburg, author of the Demon Outlaws series from Entangled. Today's the release date for DEMON CREED, the end of the trilogy, so it seemed like a great time to invite Paula to visit Team Tynga's Reviews.

Paula is also graciously running a giveaway so be sure to stick around until the end of the post!

Welcome, Paula!

 

Five Things I’ll Someday Add Back to my Life When I’m not Writing

My fifth release under my own name happens today. Demon Creed (Entangled Publishing) is the third and final book in my Demon Outlaws series, which starts off with The Demon’s Daughter (March 2013). Creed’s a half-demon assassin who fights demons in a post-apocalyptic Wild West.

It works.

When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about it. I’m plotting new stories and doing research. It’s amazing how much you have to know in order to make stuff up and make it sound believable. There’s also a lot of administrative and promotional work involved, because it’s a business, and I love that, too.

The last few years have been a writing blur. I’ve written 5 books, two novellas, and I have three more that I’m working on at the moment. And trust me. I’m not a fast writer.

So I’m not going to lie. Because of all the writing, in my spare time I do nothing. I’m not really a television watcher. It’s too much of a commitment. I love movies, but getting myself out of the house to go see one is too much of a chore. Reading is part of my writing life, and I’m a terrible cook.

So I thought I’d make a list of five things I plan to add back to my life someday:

1. Personal hygiene. Writers really do sit around in their pajamas all day drinking coffee. (Before lunch. After that, anything goes.) We’re disgusting. The reason we write about other people’s lives is because no one wants to interact with us in our own. Since we’re also introverts, this works out well. My husband, however, has put in a request that I at least make the time to take regular showers.

2. Running. This one is hit and miss with me. It’s the one activity other than writing that I really love. I haven’t given it up entirely. It’s more as if I’ve made it increasingly challenging. I used to run 10 kilometres 3 or 4 times a week. Now I puff my way through 3k whenever I think of it. I plan to think of it more often, but only when the sun is shining.

3. Friends and Family. I’m sure they’ve forgotten what I look like. Possibly even my existence. I really hope I never had a pet. If I did, that’s not going to end well.

4. School. I actually enjoy taking classes. I like to learn. I have an addiction to reference books and Dummies guides, and research is probably the part of writing I love the most. Then I take what I’ve learned and twist it until no one recognizes it as the truth. Professors are oddly intolerant of that. I say it’s a talent.

5. Cooking. Okay, I’m lying about this one. I hate it, never liked it, and I use writing as an excuse to avoid it. I’ll eat a bag of Oreos instead of making toast for breakfast. So that one’s never going back in my schedule.

There you have it. Five things I’ll add back to my life now that The Demon Outlaws are finished.

First, however, I have a new series to write.

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Paula! For more Paula, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Here's the scoop on DEMON CREED:

As a highly skilled assassin, Creed is used to being called upon by the Godseekers for help. But in a world just recently rid of demons, the task to now track down half-demons isn’t as easy as it seems. Not only is Creed himself a secret half-demon now going against his own kin, but when he discovers numerous innocent children are being kidnapped in the mountains, he second guesses his mission. Justice should be for all, not just for demon spawn. Living in a world of cruel men, Nieve has no memory of her life before her enslavement. But when Creed comes around asking questions about missing children, the memories of her half-demon son – and the demon who tricked her – come flooding back. Now, Nieve will do anything to get her son back…even if it means putting her trust in Creed. Together they set out to find the Demon Slayer who can help them. Little do they know the demon who fathered Nieve’s son is also searching for Nieve, and he’s teamed up with the kidnapper to draw her out.  Creed and Nieve must race against the clock to save the children, their hearts, and the world.

Purchase: Amazon

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Paula is giving away a $5 Amazon gift card. Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favourite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit  us? Please email me at jenn (at) tyngasreviews (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 giveaway, Paula Altenburg, When I'm not writing  30 People left their mark

Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron

I was really intrigued by the idea of a werewolf who's also an archaeologist.  I was hoping for a supernatural Lara Croft but SEVEN KINDS OF HELL's protagonist is more of an everyday girl who just happens to be an archaeologist. It's not necessarily a bad thing but it was a bit different from my expectations.

Zoe Miller has been in hiding her whole life. She's a werewolf but she hides her Beast because her mother has taught her to stay low and avoid her supernatural family, the Fangborn. After Zoe's mother dies and Zoe is getting ready to run again when she gets drawn into an international hunt for Fangborn artifacts. Zoe is thoroughly unqualified for this in some ways but eminently suitable in others, given her undergraduate studies in archaeology and her innate Fangborn abilities. I can't say too much about them without giving away some major plot points but I will say that it's an important quest, the implications of which will likely be felt throughout the series. To Cameron's credit, the stakes are quite high and quite real: not everyone survives the many confrontations between Zoe and her team and the groups that oppose them.

My favourite part of SEVEN KINDS OF HELL is the world building. The Fangborn mythology has some unique takes on some supernatural species. The werewolves are pretty standard but Cameron's vampires are more like snakes, which is quite interesting, especially since these vampires have multiple physical forms. These vampires still have the ability to get into people's minds but they thrive in sunlight. It's a really neat spin and I'm curious to see how Cameron will depict other supernatural groups.

The weakest part of the book for me is the character development (or lack thereof, in some cases). I liked the characters in the book but I didn't really connect with them, not even Zoe. Cameron introduces some potentially great characters in SEVEN KINDS OF HELL but we don't get to know any of them very well, perhaps because there are so many of them. I do like a lot of them: Danny and Sean were particularly endearing, and I was very curious about Adam Nichols. But, on the whole, I felt like a lot of the characters were fairly one-dimensional.

Despite this issue, I'm going to try the next book in the series. I'm hoping that PACK OF STRAYS will give us some more character development, so that I can really get into the Fangborn series.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Amazon Publishing, Dana Cameron, Fangborn, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, werewolf  3 People left their mark

Red Planet Blues by Robert J. Sawyer

I'm really happy I stumbled across this book. Since I don't read as much science fiction as I would like to, when I do, I feel like it's a major disappointment if  the story isn't amazing. RED PLANET BLUES is one of those science-fiction books that reach out to more than just the science geeks or or the science fiction aficionados. It's in fact a mystery/suspense novel that just happens to be set on Mars. The idea of combining the two genre is very original and clever.

The main character Alex Lomax is your typical private investigator that you love to hate. He is the typical private eye that seduces the ladies, drinks a little bit too much, and is great at what he does because he's willing to bend the rules. A lot. Although I say he's typical, that doesn't mean he isn't original. He has many traits that remind me of other private investigators in mystery novels, but it's the circumstances and the setting that brings out the originality of this character. He does have a mysterious past we don't know much about and that adds another air of mystery to the story. Obviously, he does what he does for the money because he isn't a selfless investigator, and if he has the opportunity to make an additional profit off his clients, he doesn't hesitate to do just that. I kept waiting for him to double cross his latest client and I'm not going to reveal if he does or not, but just the fact that he has the intention of double dipping in order to make extra money adds depth to his character.

The novel is set on a futuristic Mars. People living on Earth's neighboring planet live in city in a dome-like structure that allows them to survive on a planet that would be otherwise lethal to human beings. The below 50 degrees temperatures and the fact the air only has 1% of Earth's oxygen really isn't optimal for human life, let alone any other martian life. In fact, the only proof of life on Mars is preserved in the fossils that have become quite the collectibles and are worth quite a lot of money to people back on Earth. Most people that move to Mars are attracted to the idea of making money off selling fossils and the flood of immigrants is similar to that of the North American gold rush. I think what makes this book so great is the actual science in the novel. You can tell the author has a scientific background because a lot of the details are realistic and science based. The science geek in me was really happy the genre was literally that of science fiction. With all the fossils and archaeological findings in the book, it comes to no surprise that the author's background is archaeology and although I don't know much about that branch of science, the way things are described is easily understandable and detailed. At first I was confused by the unconventional combination of archaeology and science-fiction because when you think about it, one is the study of the past while the other is a theoretical future. The polar opposites work, however, because what better way to understand a new world than to understand and investigate its past and evolution?

Despite all the awards and distinctions the author has, I'm surprised that this is the first Robert J. Sawyer book I've come across. I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be checking out his other novels. His approach to science-fiction is brilliant because it's believable and his characters are easily accessible. Personally, I find science-fiction novels, especially stand-alones like this one, can either be a hit or miss for me. RED PLANET BLUES is definitely not a miss and can undoubtedly be enjoyed by readers of either science-fiction and/or  mystery novels. A distinguishable take on life on Mars that is believable and tangible.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:39

 archaeology, fossils, Library, mars, Penguin, Review, Robert J. Sawyer, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction  2 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [108]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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Hello Guys!

It's been a while since I last did a STS and the reason is I only got 1 book in the past 5 weeks. It is an awesome one though, so I'm really happy!

I got Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead, graciously offered by Penguin!

Thank you!

So what did you add to your shelves?

[inlinkz_linkup id=407764]

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Posted by Tynga at 01:29

 Stacking The Shelves  20 People left their mark

The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy

Andi has always been invisible in court and it was perfectly fine that way. Everything changed though after she met a strange man in the Wilds. Her father accuses her of treason and shows a side of him she had never seen before. Her invisibility is now a thing of the past because Rayfe (the strange man) will stop at nothing, not even war, to have her, and bring her back to be Queen of his magical land.

The Mark of the Tala was the first book I read by Jeffe Kennedy and I really liked it. The fantasy fan that I am was pleased with the set up, the story, the magic and the original lore! I liked that Kennedy introduced the Princesses but jumped right onto the action with a violent encounter between Andi and Rayfe. It really set the tone for the rest of the book and showed Andi's strong personality. The author managed to keep me riveted the the page despite the long distance rides and siege, which isn't easy. The tension got my blood running despite the fact that there wasn't that much action.

I really liked the characters and how different the sisters were, but I have to confess I wished Andi  didn't compare herself to her sisters so much. It was a bit redundant at times, but on the other hand, it showed how self-conscious and vulnerable Andi feels, so I understand why Kennedy did it. Andi is determined to do the right thing, and so much changes are going on within herself that she questions her sanity and I think the author portrayed it well. I have to say I fell in love with Rayfe right away and I have to command his courage and determination, even if his methods are sometimes questionable.

Rayfe's people were a very original type of shape-shifter and their land is simply amazing. I really love the world Jeffe created and I truly hope we see more from it in the following novels, it felt so rich and magical!

I loved every page and the conclusion simply left me stunned. I'm really anxious for the next novel, but I have to say I wished it still featured Andi. I feel like there is much more to learn about her - and her mother - and I hope that the next book will accomplish that even if Amelia (the youngest princess) is the main character. I would definitely recommend this series, and I am glad that The Tears of the Rose releases in November! I won't have to wait long.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:22

 Fables, Fantasy, Fantasy amp; Magic, High Fantasy, Jeffe Kennedy, Kensington, Legends, Magic, Myths, Publisher, Review, shapeshifters, The Twelve Kingdoms  Leave your mark

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Hexed is one of the most disappointing books of the year and I really expected to enjoy this one so much more. This book has an extremely irritating heroine, an illogical and unhealthy romance (that could possibly lead to a future love triangle), dialogue that tries too hard to be funny and a lack of plausibility. Paranormal books are usually my guilty pleasure, but Hexed was way too shallow and is a poor opening to The Witch Hunter series.

Hexed is the tale of Indigo Blackwood, a teenage cheerleader who lives a very normal life until a guy dies right in front of her. Soon her family's bible heirloom is stolen and she's being stalked by Bishop (an obnoxious love interest who is way too cocky). Supposedly, according to Bishop that if Indigo doesn't get the bible all of the witches in the world will die; to make things even worse, Indigo is a witch.

Hexed includes so many of my bookish pet peeves and it seems like nearly everything that I hate in YA novels makes an appearance in Hexed. We have a main character who's self-centered, rude, idiotic and who thinks the world revolves around her. Indigo constantly wants everyone to cater to her needs and most of the time, she acts painfully stupid to the point where she constantly needs to be saved by Bishop. It's a miracle that Indigo didn't die in Hexed because she's always make illogical, rash decisions and is constantly doing the opposite of what a rational, normal person would do.

The plot in Hexed is a bit of a mess and this book lacked plausibility and was a bit inconsistent with the plot's details. In one section of the book, during the football game the cheerleaders flash the crowd their panties and their bums even though there are parents and other adults in the crowd. No one ever finds this strange throughout the novel and what kind of a community finds this normal? I don't care if they live in LA, there's no where that kind of behaviour is tolerated and I didn't believe that not one parent said anything. Several times in this novel, Indigo references her biology class, but she claims that she took it last year one time and then a few pages later, she claims she taking it this year. The way biology is utilized to explain how witch abilities are transferred was ridiculous and made zero sense, as is most of the background info on witches.

Aside from two or three scenes, the rest of Hexed moves at a impossibly slow pace and it managed to annoy me in each and every chapter. The humor and dialogue in this book didn't help matters and they help underscore how unorganized and silly this book's plot was. Krys tried way too hard to be funny and as a result, so many of the jokes fell flat and were extremely unfunny to the point where I felt like cringing. There are only so many terrible, cheesy jokes one can handle before they lose their sanity.

The romance in this book was poorly executed and the fact that Indigo found Bishop attractive was unfathomable. Bishop is a creepy stalker who wears leather clothing in the middle of the LA heat and he falls in love with Indigo almost instantaneously. He shows his "love" by calling her a bimbo and he fits so neatly into the bad boy archetype--his character lacked originality. Truthfully, Bishop sucked at being bad and he came across as more annoying than bad. For some odd reason, Bishop also has a tattoo of a naked Betty Boop, something I never really understood the point of because all it did was make Bishop even more repulsive and perverted.

I wouldn't dare to continue reading this series and I can't believe that this novel is the beginning of an entire series. Hexed ends on a cliffhanger, even though this book has few plot events and I think the cliffhanger was a bit gimmicky. If all of the ridiculous attempts at humor had been deleted, Krys probably could have integrated the 2nd book into Hexed. So far, I've seen so much praise for this book and I feel as if there's something I'm missing.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Delacorte, Magic, Michelle Krys, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Random House, Review, witches, young adult  1 Person left their mark

"When I'm not writing" with Isabo Kelly + giveaway!

Surprise, my lovelies! We're reviving "When I'm not writing" and our very first guest is Isabo Kelly, the author of the Fire and Tears series from Samhain. The second book in this series, THE DARKNESS OF GLENGOWYN, came out last month and I'm so pleased that Isabo was able to visit us as part of her blog tour. She's written a lovely post about her life outside of writing and there's a tour-wide giveaway for you to enter at the end of the post.

Welcome, Isabo!

Just like most of the other authors in these posts (which I’ve really enjoyed reading!) I don’t really have a lot of time outside of writing, writing related work, and family. Mostly, when I’m not writing, I’m looking after my boys (5 years old and 16 months old). The boys keep me pretty busy. In fact, my idea of an excellent holiday is a weekend in a hotel room with just my laptop and nothing to do but write. And sleep. I don’t get a lot of that anymore so sleep would be nice, too.

Outside of writing and looking after the boys, I do manage to squeeze in a few other things. Of course I love to read! When I can, in between writing projects, I try to take a whole week off to do nothing but read (and look after the boys, and do laundry, and…well, actually, not much house cleaning gets done. I’m a terrible house keeper!).

For family adventures, we all regularly go to sporting events. Mostly baseball at the moment because it’s baseball season *g*, but also the stadiums are very friendly to small children who can’t sit still for long periods of time. My not yet 6 year old is on his seventh season with the NY Mets. 

We love to travel when we can manage it around the school schedule, and often those trips are tied in with some sort of sporting event. (As an aside, I get to go to some pretty awesome places in the name of my husband’s beloved sports, so I’m a huge sports travel fan. I highly recommend it.)

On those days when there’s no sports and no travel and I absolutely have to do something that isn’t writing or being mommy, I play a lot of Sudoku and Mahjong on my phone. *hangs head* I’m an addict. I actually play Sudoku to wind down before bed—my brain doesn’t always like to turn off. I used to do cross-stitch and crewel a lot, but that particular hobby had to be set aside (for now) due to lack of time. I do still tend to hoard cross-stitch projects though. I can’t resist the autumn themed stuff!

Oh and I watch a lot of The Big Bang Theory—maybe too much because I pretty much have most episodes memorized. What can I say, it’s easy on my brain and the lads are hilarious.

So that’s about it. My life at the moment is all writing, and kids, and family, (and no cleaning) and the occasional baseball game. And way too much Sudoku and Mahjong. And not a single thing about it that I’d change! *g* 

Except maybe hiring someone to come in and clean for me because, really, I am not good at it.

Thanks for having me here today!

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Isabo, and enjoy the rest of your tour! For more information about Isabo and her books, you can visit the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tour Schedule

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Here's the scoop on THE DARKNESS OF GLENGOWYN:

They’ll risk forever death for one last chance together…

Fire and Tears, Book 2

Nuala of Glengowyn hasn’t left her home city in over a century, but not by choice. Her skill as a weapons master has made her a prisoner of her people. Held apart, protected in the extreme—until Sorcerers attack the human city of Sinnale.

Sent to supply her unique magical arrows to help the humans, she is far from free. The elf king and queen have sent a bodyguard, a fearsome warrior whose reputation has no rival. The only man she has ever wanted. Einar of Glengowyn.

Einar is known as a battle-crazed destroyer, so feared among elves he’s called by a single name: Darkness. And he has only one weakness—Nuala. Their union is forbidden, for melding their magics could destroy Nuala’s gifts. Yet as they journey to the war-torn city, no royal decree is a match for two hundred years of pent-up desire.

But even if they escape the war zone, their lives still hang in the balance. They must confront their sovereigns and prove love makes them stronger—or face their deaths.

Product Warnings: This book contains a deadly elf hero, a heroine who’s his match, a lot of sexy misbehaving, some hard language, racing through the streets, owls, arrows, evil Sorcerers, wicked minions, and a very dangerous elf king and queen.

Read an excerpt (click on the Excerpt tab)

Purchase: Amazon

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There's a tour-wide giveaway: one (1) $40 gift card and three (3) e-copies of BRIGHTARROW BURNING. Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Isabo Kelly is the award-winning author of numerous fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romances. Her life has taken her from Las Vegas to Hawaii, where she got her BA in Zoology, back to Vegas where she looked after sharks, then on to Germany and Ireland where she got her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior.

Now Isabo focuses on writing. She lives in New York with her Irish husband, two beautiful boys, and funny dog. She works as a full time author and stay-at-home mom. 

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favourite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit  us? Please email me at jenn (at) tyngasreviews (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 giveaway, Isabo Kelly, Samhain, When I'm not writing  12 People left their mark

Banishing the Dark by Jenn Bennett

One of the best books of the year, hands down! Jenn Bennett has knocked it out of the park with BANISHING THE DARK, creating a strong, emotional finale for Cady's journey.

I had high expectations for BANISHING THE DARK because Bennett has given us such an amazing journey so far. I couldn't wait to see how Cady would react to the news of her pregnancy, especially on the heels of the foundation-shattering revelations  about her Moonchild abilities. (You may remember  my OMG reaction to BINDING THE SHADOWS.) BANISHING THE DARK picks up shortly after the end of the previous novel and all of the questions that I had  at the end of Book 3 are answered in the newest novel, and then some. I've always said that Bennett is a talented and daring writer and Cady's final book is truly a dazzling finish to Cady, Lon, and  Jupe's  journey.

The main focus BANISHING THE DARK is Cady and Lon's need to master Cady's abilities and keep Cady's mom from taking over Cady's body. She'd be a supercharged villainess with amazing powers and that wouldn't be good for the world, let alone Cady, who would be a prisoner in her own body. They also need to conceal Cady's pregnancy from her mother, in case Mommy Dearest decides to inhabit their unborn child. A complicated scenario, especially when they're missing a lot of the pieces needed to succeed. As always, Bennett has crafted an immensely satisfying plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering how Cady and Lon will get themselves out of this mess.

One of the neat things about BANISHING THE DARK is that Bennett has added chapters from Jupe's point of view. I adore Jupe and this was a real treat. He's such a charming young man and the chapters about him really added to the overall narrative. I don't know about you but I would definitely  read a story told from Jupe's point of view!

BANISHING THE DARK is the final instalment in the Arcadia Belll's story and it's a humdinger! I'm sorry to say goodbye to Cady and her friends but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the emotional journey that Bennett has given us. You can be sure I'll be re-reading this series on a very regular basis.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Arcadia Bell, Edelweiss, Jenn Bennett, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  5 People left their mark

The One by Kiera Cass

I have a feeling many people are going to disagree with me and this review. This isn't a negative review, just a "neutral" one. It's not because I didn't like THE ONE. In fact, I finished it in less than two days so there must have been something that kept me hooked. It was interesting enough to read (almost) straight through, but personally, despite all the anticipation leading up to its release, the book lacked that WOW factor I was hoping to get. It just feels like the whole story was missing... something. I'm going to try to explain my thoughts about this book with this review but I apologize in advance if it just comes out as a jumble of words.

When I started reading this series, I think the only reason I picked up book 1 was because of all the controversy around the author and some bloggers. I wanted to dive into it with an open mind but to be honest, I was a little intrigued about the scandal. The basis of the story was intriguing; choosing the next princess of Illéa reality-television-style was creative. Even if I'm not a huge fan of reality TV, I find there's something dramatic about the whole concept.

THE ONE is the last of the trilogy and everything the series was leading up to was revealed in this book. Obviously we find out who the next queen of Illéa will be, and we also learn more about the different characters. Especially secondary characters that become important in the conclusion of the battle between the royals and the rebels. Illéa is a new-ish country which replaced the United States of America we all know today and with a royal family ruling the country with more restrictions than ever, rebels are acting out against the monarchy. The public is divided into eight castes, and it's this segregation that drives the violence in some of the rebels. Personally, one of the things that I don't understand at all is how Americans were brainwashed into this type of society. No one remembers anything about America except a selected few and personally, I find it just doesn't make sense. Americans are so proud of their country in general that the idea they would simply forget about their former glory after a few generations doesn't make sense, especially after a huge war against Asia. But I guess that's the magic of dystopian fiction.

One thing I do love is the fact that the main character's name is America and that symbolizes a lot because she represent a hope for a country that might eventually return to its former glory. As one of the last choices for Prince Maxon to marry, America also represents the most daring choice, the unpredictable one of the selection because of her lineage and her caste. In reality, it's almost like a fairy tale, the poor girl getting the chance to become a Princess. While most of the story is a little predictable, some of those last twists near then end add a bit of depth and politics to a story that could have been just a straight romantic YA novel.

One thing's for sure, THE ONE is dramatic until the very end. It's the finale fans of the series won't want to miss. It's an ending that so many have been anticipating, and it includes a very violent scene towards the end which will decides the future of Illéa. Prince Maxon might or might not follow his heart, but I think in the end he makes the best and most sensible choice for his country.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Dystopian, Harper Collins, HarperTeen, Kiera Cass, Library, Review, The Selection, young adult  7 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [107]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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Wow! I didn't realize I had so many new books stacking my shelves this week. Crazy how you can accumulate books without realizing it. I guess it doesn't help that I attended a french book fair last weekend and I was bound to buy a few book there.

  

  

  

  

Library

The One by Kiera Cass

Red Planet Blues by Robert J. Sawyer

Purchased

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

iPod et minijupe au 18e siècle par Louise Royer

Culotte et redingote au 21e siècle par Louise Royer

Le projet Ithuriel par Michèle Laframboise

La dernière sorcière d'Écosse par Valérie Langlois

So this is it for me this week. Make sure to share with the rest of us what's new stacking your shelves this week!

Have a great weekend!

[inlinkz_linkup id=406345]

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Posted by Tynga at 23:48

 Meme, Stacking The Shelves  43 People left their mark

The Ward By Jordana Frankel

In a not so far future, the water levels has increased dramatically, flooding entire cities and contaminating water sources. Ren lives in what used to be Manhattan and she fights to survive. Fresh water is a valuable resources not available to the likes of her and her friend is terribly ill. She is an undercover scouting agent for the government, a job she dreads but it's a necessary evil if she wants to purchase medicine for Aven. Her world turns upside down though when she stumbles into a source of fresh water after a crash.

As you know, I am a dystopian fan, and I loved that this novel was based on a plausible future. With global warming being a current concern, I thought it was smart of Frankel to exploit it, and bring it to a whole new level. How will human's greediness rule the world when the most important resource of all - water- becomes rare? A terrible illness was also born during these dire times and the way authorities handle the situation is simply animalistic. Humanity's depravity was loud and clear in this novel, exposing our darkest side.

I have to say I struggled a bit at first because Frankel throws us smack in the middle of her world, with no explanations nor glossary to rely on. Still confused after three chapters I thought of giving up on the book but I'm glad I did not. I got hooked after Ren crashed her vehicle during a race, nearly dying, and discovered a fresh water spring. From then on, the plot was engrossing and I kept on turning the pages. A bit later, Aven fell really ill (I won't give you any details so I don't spill the beans) and the plot became a race, keeping me breathless. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if Ren and her unlikely allies would reach their goals.

I enjoyed the characterization very much even though there were slight flaws. Ren is a very dedicated friend and nothing can stop her from helping her 'sister' Aven and I appreciated it. On the other hand, she has this big crush on Derek and Jordana lead us to believe that he has always been very distant from her in the past, and all of a sudden he acts like a good friend rescuing her, going as far as being helplessly in love with her... I didn't buy. Also, one of the riders hates Ren with a passion, and it was really out of the blue, as if she needed an enemy so the author conjured one. On a positive note, I loved Callum to piece, he was such a great guy!

Some of you might know I am a lab technician and the way Callum and Ren try to cure the blight is simply impossible, which kills me. I know common populace don't know the subtlety of blood transfusion, which is FINE! I mean, I studied three years for that... but. You just cannot take someone's blood and give it to anybody! You have just as many chances of killing them from your act than saving them from their illness. Sorry for the rant, I had to say it because MANY authors do that mistake and it's a pet peeve of mine. And you can't produce medicine on a grand scale is just a few hours... just sayin'!

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and its originality. The conclusion was really shocking and I can't wait to see what happens in the following novel (which is still untitled, as far as I know). Fans of dystopian books will find something to like, and as a bonus, there are no love triangle! *yay*

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Posted by Tynga at 02:06

 Dystopian, Edelweiss, Harper Collins, Jordana Frankel, Review, The Ward, young adult  Leave your mark

Soapboxing: That pesky blog/work/life balance

[UPDATE: Hi guys! The post that originally went up on the 15th wasn't complete. Here's the final version. Sorry about that! ~Jenn]

As some of you may know, I moved to the UK in February for a job, having *finally* finished my degree. (I'm going back to Canada next week for my convocation to celebrate this milestone, which has me over the moon.) I thought I'd have more time to devote to my blogging pursuits, both here and over on I Read Good, but I'm still struggling with it even though I am supposed to have more downtime than before. Reading's not a problem -- I routinely devour a couple books a week -- but I do find it challenging to sit down and write my reviews and schedule guest posts and try to come up with creative content. This is something that's always in the back of my mind but it's been taking up my brain power than usual since we're resurrecting "When I'm not writing" next week. It's a feature that I love organising but I do wonder:

How many hours should I be spending on blogging in a week?

Am I burning out?

How am I going to keep things fresh for myself, let alone the readers? 

I know that many of the Team Tynga's readers are bloggers themselves so maybe this post is more of a cry for inspiration. I love books and being a part of the book blogging community but there are days when it's a struggle to sit down and blog. And it makes me so grateful to be co-blogging here on Team Tynga's Reviews since I get to share the responsibilities on this blog with my lovely friends. For me, co-blogging has been really fun and it's one of the things I love most about blogging: I've gotten to know these wonderful people and talk about books even more! It's definitely helped keep my interesting in blogging alive and well. I occasionally think about giving up my own blog but I like having a site that I have complete control over too much to stop writing on it, even though I post less than I would like.

So my question for you is:

How do you guys find time for everything?
Share your tips in the comments, please!

Soapboxing is our platform for talking about books and book-related topics that matter to us. Soapboxing posts may be rants, they may highlight awesome or terrifying trends, or they might tackle bookish issues on our minds…
The content will vary but the posts will (hopefully) never be boring!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Soapboxing  12 People left their mark

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Ship Breaker is a book that sat on my to-read list forever and I decided that I had to give this book a shot when I saw it at my library. Ship Breaker is a slow-paced, realistic dystopian novel that focuses more on character development and world-building than action, which is both simultaneously refreshing and problematic. Bacigulpi's novel was an interesting change of pace and it is unlike any other dystopian book on the market--a feat that few authors have accomplished.

Ship Breaker takes place in a world that was ravaged by natural disasters and subsequent oil shortages. Nailer lives in a world where if you don't have a Crew, you're almost guaranteed that you're going to die of starvation; his Crew scavenges wrecked ships for parts and other valuables.  Nailer's world changes forever when he finds "Lucky Girl", a member of the elite who could potentially fetch a large sum but Nailer is unsure what to do with her.

It's truly sad how little diversity there is in young-adult literature and I was so excited to see that Ship Breaker has an extremely racially diverse cast of characters. We have characters with skin colors of all tones and hues, but diversity isn't a major focus in this novel. Many of the characters are possibly bi-racial such as Nailer who is unsure of his heritage and his ethnicity.

The narrator of the Ship Breaker wasn't bad, but feeling his reading didn't fit with the novel's slow-pace. The narrator's voice never really intrigued me and made the novel feel tedious and unengaging; I think I would've enjoyed this book far more in print and I wouldn't recommend the audio version at all.

Ship Breaker is one of the better dystopian books I've read this year and it really managed to stand out in my mind. I'll definitely be reading Bacigalupi's future novels and I'm quite excited to read this duology's conclusion in The Drowned Cities. It'll be interesting to see how The Drowned Cities goes because Ship Breaker's ending felt very final and conclusive, but I'm definitely ready for more.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 dystopia, Dystopian, Hachette, Library, Little Brown, Paolo Bacigalupi, Review, Romance, Science-Fiction, Ship Breaker, young adult  4 People left their mark

Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall

In DARKNESS RISES, Dianne Duvall introduces to a couple of really interesting new characters: Krysta and her brother Sean. Krysta is a gifted one who knows nothing about the Immortal Guardians. She's been hunting vampires on her own for six years, after her husband was murdered and she was left for dead by a vampire. Krysta's ability to see auras makes her better able to fight vampires, something her brother can't do. But Sean has the ability to heal so he spends his evenings healing Krysta after her battles. It's an existence that can only end one way, until Krysta catches Étienne's eye during a battle. Étienne is immediately drawn to Krysta and Krysta to Étienne, though she hates herself for being attracted to a "vampire". She learns the truth when Étienne saves her from a military unit that was trying to apprehend him and she and Sean are introduced to the world of the Immortal Guardians.

I really enjoyed these new developments. This is a great way to grow the series, introducing new gifted ones and a renewed military threat. Krysta and Sean are great additions to the Immortal Guardians network/family, and Duvall plants some very interesting seeds for future novels with this renewed military effort to capture and study an Immortal Guardian. I can't say too much about it since it would be a major spoiler but I will say that these developments have me even more excited about this series.

We also get to know Zach, Seth's fellow angel, a lot better. He's so different from Seth but I found him to be very interesting. His relationship with Ami is adorable and Duvall seems to be getting ready to hook him up with one of the Immortal Guardians, which will hopefully happen sooner rather than later, so that I can get more of him.

DARKNESS RISES is a great paranormal romance and a strong entry in the Immortal Guardians series. Duvall's initial story arc wrapped up in the last novel but she's created some very intriguing possibilities this time around, which has renewed my enthusiasm for this series. This is one PNR series I would recommend to anyone who appreciates great characters, continued story arcs, and passionate romance. For the full picture, you should start with DARKNESS DAWNS but you could probably pick up DARKNESS RISES with little difficulty.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Dianne Duvall, Immortal Guardians, Kensington, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Vampire  2 People left their mark

The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan

Let me start off by saying that this series is fast becoming a favorite of mine. This sequel has surpassed my expectations with all its twists and turn. When I thought things couldn’t get any crazier, they did. Personally, I think if a book has the ability to surprise me like this one did, the author must be doing something right. Add to the fact that it’s well written, I would definitely recommend the book to any fans of the genre.

Violet, or V to her friends, is the main character and narrator of the story. As the protagonist in a young adult book, she’s definitely up there will all the great strong female characters we’ve seen over the years. She might be a little naive about some aspects of the world, and she does have her little moments of insecurity, but when it comes to kicking butt, she can totally keep up. There aren’t as many fight/action scenes in this book because it concentrates a little more on story building compared to book 1, but it really was thrilling. The slow build up in the relationship between V and Ryn couldn’t have been done any better and I’m really curious to see where it will go. It seemed inevitable that the two characters would end up liking each other, but I love the way the author kept the suspense by not pushing things too fast.

There are so many surprises in THE FAERIE PRINCE that I can’t really list them all. Plus, if I were to list them all, it would be major spoilers and that’s not my intention. One thing I really didn’t expect is the story behind Violet’s father’s death. I almost didn’t believe it at first and I still question it, after learning the truth. I think knowing the truth will change V’s perspective on life and will definitely impact the development of the series.

I think I mentioned it in my review of book 1, but it’s hard to believe that this series is self-published. Personally, I find it’s so well written that it could have been published by any of the major publishers. I’ve been looking at the covers because they reminded me of a series, but I just couldn’t think of which one. It finally hit me that visually they look like Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. They are very similar, and I think fans of one series, will definitely enjoy the other. The esthetics of the Creepy Hollow covers are very pleasing and initially, it’s one of the first things that grabbed my attention.

If it weren’t enough that the story and the characters are original, the scenery and the faerie world illustrated in the book will sweep you off your feet. I mean, not only does the book have pegasi(!), it’s the little things that amaze me like, the ambers that replace the smart phones of our world and the way the characters travel by faerie paths. And Filigree! Violet’s “pet” is a shape-changing being that I would love to have as my own. One moment he’ll be a pig, literally pigging out, then he’ll curl up on Violets lap as a cat. It would be wonderful to have a pet that changes shape according to its mood and its owner’s mood.

This book was flipping amazing and I can’t wait to get to book 3! If you haven’t already checked out this series, I highly recommend that you do. Inexpensive as eBooks, they are definitely worth the read.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:24

 Author, Creepy Hollow, Faeries, Magic, pagasus, Paranormal, Rachel Morgan, Review, Self Published, young adult  7 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [106]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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Two books to share with you lovelies this week from me! Most excitingly, The One by Kiera Cass came out! YAY! It's not even as though this is some heart-wrenching or adrenaline-pumping series that totally warrants the amount of excitement I have when new installments come out. I'm not even entirely sure I can put into words what it is about the series that always has me all up in emotional knots, but all I know is, I'm okay with it. And I have the final book in the series now, and I AM SO HAPPY.

Also picked up Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. I think I used to own this one and it got lost in one of many moves the last couple years before I got a chance to read it. Now that there's a bunch of buzz out there about the next book in this series coming out soon, I find myself more inclined to read the first book. I always do that. Do you?

The One by Kiera Cass (Goodreads link)

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence (Goodreads link)

What did you add to your shelves this week?

[inlinkz_linkup id=402977]

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Posted by Tynga at 23:00

 Meme, Stacking The Shelves  24 People left their mark

The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead

Justin & Mae's take on religion has been drastically changed in Gameboard of the Gods and the stakes are even higher in The Immortal Crown. The Gods are having an even stronger impact on the actions of both our heroes and it will lead them to Arcadia, a country at war with the RUNA. Justin & Mae will find themselves knee deep in political and religious drama and they will commit to their respective gods in ways we (and they) never imagined.

I am a huge fan of Richelle Mead and despite Age of X being my least favorite of all of her series, I truly enjoyed this second installment in the Age of X series. The science fiction structure isn't usually my cup of tea, and I struggled when reading the first novel, but this time around I found myself in known territory thus appreciating the ride that much more.

I think the main reason I like this series, as opposed to loving her other series, is because Mae is very stoic emotionally and I prefer demonstrative and passionate characters. In TIC though, she really gets out of her shell, takes risks, and her relationship with Justin really took a different turn which I appreciated. Justin is as lovable as ever and this sweet talker will take big risks for the beautiful Preatorian, which allowed him a special spot in my heart.

When I reviewed GotG I complained about the uselessness of Teresa and even though she has a more important role this time, I still don't feel she is important enough to the main plot line to deserve her own point of view. Her actions in this installment will have an impact in the second novel, I'm sure, but I can't bring myself to care for her, or her actions.

The main plot line was truly thrilling and I enjoyed discovering the oppressive Arcadia. The progression  of the religious aspect was phenomenal and engrossing. I couldn't believe both characters got so involved with their respective deity. The troubles they get themselves in - and out - of were tremendous! I also loved that the subplot about Mae's niece progressed.

The conclusion, especially in Mae's case, left me simply flabbergasted. What happened will be a game changer and I can't wait to see what will come out of this. I also keep my finger crossed for the unstable relationship between Mae and Justin.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:56

 Age of X, Dutton, Edelweiss, Gods, Paranormal, Penguin, Review, Richelle Mead, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction  6 People left their mark

Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot

This is my favorite book so far in the series. It took Suze's ability to mediate and brought it to an entirely new level because this was all angry ghosts. And they're not your typical angry ghosts, they're the angry ghosts from Jesse's past. Yup, you heard me, the main focus of this book is Jesse and his death and his past and I am one very happy reader despite the fact that this book was, at one point, emotionally traumatizing to me. I could not have asked for a more delicious reveal to his story (though I already suspected most of it) but the modern day plot twists and the revelations of the past were superb. Just wow, I am very happy with this one and I think it's perfection. If I had to describe it in one word it would be "epic."

What I found to be most interesting about this book was the introduction of a new mediator, Jack, who is only a young boy. Jack is, well, adorable. He's spent his entire life being scared of ghosts because nobody saw what he could see and he was constantly in and out of therapy because of this. And then Suze came along and realized what he was while babysitting him. She pretty much changed the poor kid's life and helped him out greatly by explaining things to him and helping him. Unfortunately, this made him a very young and impressionable individual that could easily be manipulated. And, boy, was he manipulated by other evil forces. With Jack came his older brother, Paul, who I hope to never meet again. Seriously, that guy has way too many unanswerable questions and he deserves to have the word "creep" branded all over his body. It's a shame that the pretty ones are never pretty on the inside too.

I don't want to elaborate on the plot too much with this one because it was taken in so many different directions. There is Jesse and Jesse's past and Jesse's present and Jesse's unknown future. There's his dead body, there's his enemies and his friends. There's people trying unravel his mystery that are dropping like flies and a mystery force that is out to ruin Suze's life by turning her beloved organic orange juice into bugs. It's all rather supernaturally traumatizing and it truly is an emotional roller coaster.

There was a point in this book where I put it down and took to twitter to scream at Gillian and Christina for making me read this because my heart was shattered on the floor. I was looking at it while my cat decided to sit on it. It was just that bad. I couldn't bring myself to read on because this book elicited such an intensely sad emotion from me. But I was forced to read on because Meg Cabot brings the fluff and I'm thankful I did because this one was a doozy. Suze went places that she never fathomed she could go and Father Dominic, our lovely priest mediator, even accepted the fact that exorcisms and kicking butt is sometimes the way to go! Hold the phones and stop the presses! That is a miracle within itself!

All in all, the best book yet. With two more books to go, I hope that this series continues to be this awesome because Cabot seriously took this one to an entirely new level. I am fangirling and screaming and crying and laughing. I'm doing everything simply because Cabot has created characters that I'm so attached to I can't bear to see them hurt and I just want to see them triumph. Now...onto book five to see them triumph once again!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Avon Books, Fantasy, ghosts, Gifted, Harper Collins, Meg Cabot, Review, The Mediator, young adult  4 People left their mark

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

The Last Policeman is a clever blend of mystery and science fiction elements and this is one of the strangest novels I've read in a while. Though The Last Policeman is a hybrid of many genres, it works so well and this is an absolute must-read. I can definitely see why this book has received so much acclaim and it deserves so much more hype!

The world is going to end because of an asteroid that is scheduled to hit Earth in 6 months and the chances of survival are non-existent. Hank Palace decides to spend his last 6 months on Earth investigating a chain of suicides and deaths that have occurred in his small "Hanger Town".  So many people have already hung themselves, so it should be no big deal when Palace finds the body of Peter Zell in a McDonalds bathroom. All the signs say that Zell committed suicide, but Palace has this gut feeling that there's more to this case. While the rest of the world decides to prepare until the end, Palace is determined to solve this case.

Hank Palace is an enigmatic character I loved to read about and his character is almost as much of a mystery as Peter Zell's suicide. Why does Palace feel the need to solve this suicide? Why is he so determined? I loved Hank's fierce determination and how he continued to pursue this case even when all of his colleagues claimed that the case was a dead end. Hank is a bit of an introverted character and I truly felt for him and his situation because I felt a deep connection with him. It's extremely easy to root for Hank Palace and I loved how he doesn't conform into society's standard of what a hero is.

The Last Policeman is an excellent mystery with a noir-like feel and yet, it defies so many mystery tropes. The mystery in this novel is filled with twists and turns and I never figured out who the killer in this book was which is a testament to Winters's talent. I usually am an expert at figuring how who the killer is in mysteries novels, but Winters managed to stump me in The Last Policeman. This is an extremely well-written, cinematic mystery that will captivate mystery fans and sci-fi fans alike.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:24

 Ben H Winters, Dystopian, Mystery, Publisher, Quirk Books, Review, Science Fiction, The Last Policeman  Leave your mark

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Paige Tyler has created a very sexy adventure in HER PERFECT MATE. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did -- Tyler has a fantastic sense of pacing and the book kept getting more intense and more interesting.

The two main characters, Landon and Ivy, have a really strong romantic connection and, after some initial unease (mostly on Ivy's part), they build a very supportive and trusting professional relationship as well. I loved that Landon has major respect for Ivy's abilities and is willing to work with her even though her abilities -- her very existence -- are a complete surprise. Landon's forced to face a whole new reality but it does it with aplomb and an open mind, two things that Ivy wasn't expecting. It was a refreshing change from the "little lady" attitude that we see in some paranormal romances featuring strong male leads; this was just one of the pleasant surprises in HER PERFECT MATE.

The worldbuilding in  HER PERFECT MATE is also well done. The X-Ops series is a closed world with a supersoldier vibe to it since shifters hide from the general populace but have been recruited as part of a crimefighting task force. The shifters aren't trusted by all of their human co-workers, including their partners sometimes, which makes for a tense working environment, particularly for Ivy, who had a would-be rapist and a chauvinist as partners before Landon was assigned to the unit.

As you would expect, there are some large action sequences in HER PERFECT MATE. There are well-written and engaging. Tyler has a nice balance between action and romance in this novel, though there are aspects of the plot that were a bit predictable. This may just be me and my obsession with these types of stories, however, so perhaps you'll be surprised by some of the big moments in the story. ;) I want to stress, though, that I truly enjoyed HER PERFECT MATE, even though some of the moments are not unique to this world.

If you're looking for an extremely steamy romance with a good helping of adventure, you should try HER PERFECT MATE. I think you'll enjoy Tyler's voice and the world and characters she has developed. I, for one, am glad I gave this series a shot and look forward to the next offering in the X-Ops world.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Netgalley, Paige Tyler, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shifter, Sourcebooks, X-Ops  9 People left their mark