Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Covet Books Launch Celebration!

 

Hi Guys!  I'm really excited to reveal three new amazing covers on behalf of Covet - an Entangled imprint.  

Introducing

COVET: Contemporary romance with a paranormal twist.

Get ready to laugh, experience romance, and fall in love with this brand new take on paranormal books.

 

 Title: Deceiving the Witch Next Door

Author: Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Genre: Category – Paranormal

Length: 291 pages

ISBN: 978-1-62266-952-3

Release Date: July 2012

Imprint: Covet

Synopsis:
Storie Bell has a little secret—she’s a witch. But magic hasn’t exactly kept her life from being a complete mess—her love life is non-existent and the town thinks she’s a total nutter. Plus there’s her neighbour Reid Malone who runs hot one minute and cold the next.

Reid Malone can’t wait to escape Bloomington, Texas. Unfortunately, he’s stuck where he is unless he helps his father hide a very illegal secret. The only key to Reid’s freedom lies with the eccentric Storie…and he’ll do whatever it takes to get the information he needs from her.

But Reid’s holding something back. Something big. And if he’s not careful, he’ll find out exactly what happens when you try to deceive a witch…

 

Title: Tall, Dark, and Divine
Author: Jenna Bennett
Genre: Category – Paranormal
Length: 291 pages
ISBN: 978-1-62266-953-0
Release Date: July 2012
Imprint: Covet

 

Synopsis:

 Eros, the Greek god of love, swore off the useless emotion after his ex ran off with some Viking godling. He's lost all interest in his matchmaking business, Made in Heaven, until he spots the sweet baker who works across the street. Before she stirs his sullen heart, he'll match her and get back to his ambrosia-laced wine in no time.

Lonely baker Annie Landon has given up on finding Mr. Right. What she needs is Mr. Right Here, Right Now, and this so-called “Greek God” she’s heard is on the rebound sounds exactly like the perfect kind of distraction. But picking up the bitter, workaholic is easier said than done…especially when he seems unreasonably determined to match her with someone else.

Can a woman looking for love—and the matchmaking god who wants her to find it with someone else—have a shot at a happy ending? May the best god—or mortal—win...

Author Interview: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

The Pet Washer by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Released: July 21st 2012
Publisher: Dreamcatcher Books
Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Author Site: The Pet Washer Series | Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Goodreads Synopsis:

What happens when a vacationing princess befriends a hard-working pet washer?

Meet the pet washer! Cianna works overtime at The Royal Pet Palace and Day Spa. Here, animals are cleaned, massaged, bedazzled, and dyed to match the outfits of their masters. Cianna is popular because she invents special shampoos, flea treatments, pet foods, and toothpastes to keep the pets as healthy as they are clean.

Meet the princess! Polly owns the finest dresses, the fastest horses, lives in the largest castle, and has the prettiest friends in the seven kingdoms. One of the dancers in her Spring Festival performance is sick, so Polly befriends Cianna to take her place.

When Cianna is thrown into the glamorous lifestyle of the royals it seems all her dreams are coming true, but when Polly has a change of heart, both of their lives are changed forever.

Up Next....book two, The Wishing Star!

I'm really excited to have author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez  drop by Chocolate Chunky Munkie and answer some questions for me.

Author Interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
 I'm an animal-crazy writer, mother, and wife in Northern California. I drive my kids around and write books--that's my life. My favorite thing in the world, next to my loved ones, is a blank page waiting to be filled with words!

 What inspired you to want to become a writer?
Writing is how I've always chosen to express myself. I began a diary when I was eight and I still journal today, but I think it was the great books I read as a kid that inspired me to write stories. I write primarily for children and teens.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 
Because it's the only way to find out what happens when a spoiled princess befriends a hard-working pet washer of course!

What sparked the idea for your novel?
The Real Housewives of New York believe it or not. On the show, the ladies were all packing up for the Hamptons (okay, the maids were packing!). I wondered how the local people feel when all the socialites descend on their town with all their drama and outrageous parties. I decided to write a book about a sleepy island overrun by vacationing princesses during spring break from the point of view of the local girl--the pet washer!

Your favorite authors?
 Jack London, Beatrice Potter, Jean Craighead George, Suzanne Collins, Richard Adams, John Steinbeck, E.B. White (I could go on!)

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? 
The senior editor at Random House so I could pitch my latest manuscripts in person!

 Thank you Jennifer for taking time to answer my questions, some great answers  :)

Giveaway: The Vampire of Highgate by Asa Bailey (UK Only)

Chance to win your very own paperback copy of The Vampire of Highgate by Asa Bailey.

As the book is kindly being provided directly from the Publishers it is open to UK only.


You can read my review HERE

Goodreads Synopsis:

 Kathy is an innocent, an outsider who longs to belong somewhere. Anywhere. Dreams of her half-sister Amber and of the centuries old Highgate Vampire are taking her to places she doesn't want to go. Kathy can't stop the sequence of events. If her nightmares and reality collide, the Highgate Vampire will come to take her soul...

 Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

So here are the details: 

• There will be 1 winner - The winner will receive a paperback copy of The Vampire of Highgate  directly from the Publisher.

• ·         Open to UK Followers·      

• You must fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter
• Giveaway will end 9th August 2012
• Please don't leave your email address in the comments box

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Corey Sondrup

Blood Amalgam by Corey Sondrup

Released: July 24th 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Find At:  Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
Author Site: Corey Sondrup

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Times up skinwalker.”

What if you woke up one day and found out the life you had been living was a dream and the people in your life weren’t who you thought they were?

What if you found out you were something other than what you thought you were?

Twenty-one year old, Wyatt Harrison was perfectly content spending his nights partying with his fraternity brothers while trying to juggle school and his psycho- girlfriend. Fate decided it was time for Wyatt to wake up.
Wyatt’s world is suddenly turned upside down when he discovers that wild animals would rather love him then eat him, his sister communicates with him from the dead, he discovers he has the power to regenerate his body as he walks away from an auto accident that killed five of his fraternity brothers. And to make matters worse, he has a new craving that neither food nor drink will satisfy.
With the help of his college professor, a mysterious, new girlfriend and a loving grandfather full of family secrets, Wyatt finds himself running from the beings trying to kill him and from the ones that have found better uses for his blood other than just food.

I'm really excited to have author Corey Sondrup calling in here at Chocolate Chunky Munkie to answer a few questions for me!

Author Interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I live in Park City, Utah. For the last sixteen years I have been a chiropractor, nutritionist and energy healer emphasizing the body-mind-spirit approach to health. I got the writing bug back in 2005. Since then I have written three books; two self help and one paranormal/urban fantasy. Writing comes last in my world. When I am not running my office, I move into husband and dad mode. In my limited spare time, I write.

 What inspired you to want to become a writer? 
 I originally started writing to reach a larger audience than what I could see on a daily basis treating patients. Writing a book was the next logical choice to spread the word on health & wellness. From there, I got bored with self help books and decided to write an upper YA-paranormal-urban fantasy series full of vampires, werewolves, witches and shape-shifters. Fiction is so much more enjoyable to write.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 
 My book is a fun and entertaining read with couple of different takes on the vampire and werewolf genres, besides, you can never read too many vampire/werewolf novels. What sparked the idea for your novel? I have always been fascinated with the supernatural as well as vampires and werewolves. After reading dozens of books on the subject, I thought to myself, Why not? I felt like I could add some fresh ideas from my background in energy healing as well as health and spirituality.

Your favorite authors? 
 I love Stuart Woods, Janet Evanovitch and Michael Connelly. In the paranormal/urban fantasy realm, I love Anne Rice, J.R. Ward, Cherie Priest, Jason Starr, and Lindsay Sands.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
 I would have dinner with my grandfather who happens to be a major character in my book, Blood Amalgam. He's been gone now for eighteen years and there isn't a day go by where I don't think about him. Writing has been the best way for me to stay connected with him. When I write about him, he is still alive.

Thank you Corey for taking time to answer my questions, some great answers  :)

***Review*** The Vampire of Highgate by Asa Bailey

The Vampire of Highgate by Asa Bailey

Released: July 7th 2012
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Format: Paperback
Source: From the Publisher for review purposes
Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Author Site: Asa Bailey

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kathy is an innocent, an outsider who longs to belong somewhere. Anywhere. Dreams of her half-sister Amber and of the centuries old Highgate Vampire are taking her to places she doesn't want to go. Kathy can't stop the sequence of events. If her nightmares and reality collide, the Highgate Vampire will come to take her soul...

My Review:

I found this one to be very chilling and spooky; there is an undercurrent of tension that runs through this book which only adds to the heightened darkened mood.

What I found interesting was that this novel was based on the real life story of the vampire of Highgate. This is really exciting as it adds extra oomph to the story. I have a friend who lives in the area and she was very excited to find a book about the local folklore. There is certainly no glamorising of the vampires in this books, it is hard, ruthless and not at all romanticised.

I must admit I did take a couple of chapters to settle into the story, but once I did I really loved it. The main character Kathy is flawed, but she shows real power when it comes to finding out what happened to her half sister Amber. I think she is a very brave girl and you can certainly see her character develop throughout the book. She is a much different person from the girl who left America at the beginning of the book.

This book is dark and gothic and you can get to feel the real terror of some of the victims that befall the vampire. The scene is set well and you can certainly get the feel of the locations, this for me is a must in a book. I really want to feel that I am walking the streets with the character whilst also feeling their raw emotions.

It does jump period a little and I did have to re-read some of the pages again just to make sure I didn’t miss any detail out. These flashbacks were very useful as it made the story more detailed.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect of this book, but it did not disappoint me. I would recommend this book as I do think it is a chilling and worthy read. I thought the writing style flowed nicely, but like I said before I did have to re-read a few pages just to make sure I hadn’t missed out any of the vital details.

Overall summary: 

If you want a dark, gothic and chilling read and don’t mind vampires being terrifying then this is the book for you. It has an added bonus of being based on a real life story of the Highgate Vampire.

My Thoughts on the Cover: 

Yes I do like it. The vivid red writing really stands out and the girl has a very mysterious and gothic feel about her. I don’t automatically get what the book is about from the picture, but the title of the book certainly explains a lot. I would pick this cover up in the bookshop, but I would have to be drawn in by the synopsis on the back to really want to take it home with me.

*** Many thanks to the publisher for supplying me a copy of this book for review.***

Wishlist Wednesday #40

Every Wednesday, Dani at Pen To Paper features Wishlist Wednesday, a meme in which you can list a book that you really want to read or keep meaning to get. These are books that you want to add to your wishlist, and believe me there are plenty!  I've decided to use Dani's feature every Wednesday :)

So what do you need to do to join in?

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.
• Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it's on your wishlist.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of her post.
• Put a link back to pen to paper (http://www.pentopaperblog.com/) somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

So here is my book for this weeks Wishlist Wednesday:

 

 

Out In Blue by Sarah Gilman

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable plumage, Wren knows one thing for certain: the human woman who saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The demon responsible for his parents' gruesome deaths two decades ago pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren's wing.Wren doesn't expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual talent of her own reveals the location of Wren's father, Wren's isolated world implodes. With the help of the demon protectors he's sworn never to trust again, Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who stalks his and Ginger's every step, and claim his eternity with the most courageous woman he's ever known.

 

 

 

I stumbled upon this book a few weeks ago when I was looking at my Goodreads recommendations.  I love the simplicity of the cover, that single feather is so effective.  I can't say I've read many books featuring Angels, but I have enjoyed the ones that I have read.  This books has been out since January 2011 so it's not a new release. It's the 1st book in the Return To Sanctuary series.  I would love to get my hands on a copy as it sounds so good.

Cover reveal: Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert & Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell

Hi Guys!  I'm really excited to reveal two new amazing covers on behalf of Brazen - an Entangled imprint. 

introducing

BRAZEN: the naughty little sister of our Indulgence line.

Brazen publishes steamy category romances that blend young, fresh voices, and explore the more seductive side of modern relationships.

Unleash your inner vixen. We know you want to.

Title: Wrong Bed, Right Guy
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Category – Contemporary
Length: 249 pages
ISBN: 978-1-62266-951-6
Release Date: July 2012
Imprint: Brazen

 

Synopsis:

 Seducing Mr. Wrong has never felt so right...

Prim and proper art gallery coordinator Elle Walser is no good at seducing men. Heck, she’s been throwing hints at her boss for months, but he’s completely clueless. Desperate to escape her mother’s matchmaking efforts, she comes up with a plan—buy some lingerie and climb into her boss’s bed. The plan goes brilliantly…until she accidentally seduces a sexy stranger instead.

Bad boy nightclub mogul Gabe Schultz just had the best almost-sex of his life. Too bad the smoking hot blonde thought he was his brother and bolted before he could finish what they started. Though her holier-than-thou attitude puts a serious damper his mood, Gabe’s never been one to give up on something he wants. And he wants Elle. But does a man who lives on the dark side really have a chance with a proper lady?

 Title: Seducing Cinderella
Author: Gina L. Maxwell
Genre: Category – Contemporary
Length: 277 pages
ISBN: 978-1-62266-949-3
Release Date: July 2012
Imprint: Brazen

Synopsis:

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds him himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

Musing Monday #11

Musing Mondays is a weekly feature hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  Each week MizB asks a book related question and we have to give our answers.

This week’s musing asks…

 Do you read magazines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

Yes I do read magazines, I buy a couple a month.  I love the celebrity gossip ones like Heat, Closer and Now.  It's my pure guilty pleasure.  It always makes me laugh that you can guarantee at the supermarket checkout the serving girl will always have a qick look at the front cover and then make some random comment.  No, I don't always agree with how stories are sourced, they say bad news always travels faster.  I'm always glad that I am not under the scrutiny of the press or the public, it can't be nice and is very intrusive.  But I like to buy these magazine for the entertainment news too not just for the celebrity news.

Books will always be number one in my life, but it is nice to have the odd flick through a magazine. 

Showcase Sunday #7 V-log

Hi Guys!  Welcome to another Showcase Sunday :D  It's been a few weeks since I last posted about my book haul.  So I have plenty to show you.  I decided to do another video.  I hope you enjoy watching it.

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea- what a great way to see what everyone else has had in their mailboxes :D




 For all the links to Goodreads please click on the titles:

• Shift by Em Bailey

• The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

• The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

• The Hunting by Sam Hawksmoor

• Genus by Jonathan Trigell

Ebooks this Week:

 Covet by Melissa Darnell - Netgalley










Many thanks to:
Hachette UK
Egmont UK
Corsair
& Netgalley

What books did you get in your mailbox this week?  Leave a comment and a link and I will have a peek :D

Sneak Preview: The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson

Hi Guys!  I'm really excited to show a sneak preview of the soon to be released book by author Dorothy Koomson .  It's due out on the 30th August 2012 - published by Quercus.  I'm really looking forward to it as I loved The Ice Cream Girls and The Chocolate Run.

You can click HERE to visit Dorothy's website where you can read a special prequel to her new book.

The Rose Petal Beach

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every love story has a dangerous twist. Tamia Brenett is horrified when her husband, Scott, is accused of something terrible - but when she discovers who his accuser is, everything goes into freefall. Backed into a corner and unsure what to think, Tamia is forced to choose who she instinctively believes. But Tamia's choice has dire consequences for all concerned especially when matters take a tragic turn. Then a stranger arrives in town to sprinkle rose petals in the sea in memory of her lost loved one. This stranger carries with her shocking truths that will change the lives of everyone she meets, and will once again force Tamia to make some devastating choices...

About The Author:

 Hello, my name's Dorothy Koomson and I'll try to make this bit that's all about me as interesting as possible.
I wrote my first novel called There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate when I was 13. I used to write a chapter every night then pass it around to my fellow convent school pupils every morning, and they seemed to love it.

I grew up in London and then grew up again in Leeds when I went to university. I eventually returned to London to study for my masters degree and stayed put for the following years. I took up various temping jobs and eventually got my big break writing, editing and subbing for various women's magazines and national papers.

Fiction and storytelling were still a HUGE passion of mine and I continued to write short stories and novels every spare moment that I got. In 2001 I had the idea for The Cupid Effect and my career as a published novelist began. And it's been fantastic. In 2006, third novel, My Best Friend's Girl was published. It was incredibly successful - selling nearly 90,000 copies within its first few weeks on sale. Six weeks later, it was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club and the book went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Oh, there I go again, this is meant to be about me, not my novels.

Okay, back to me. I recently spent two years living in Sydney Australia, and now I'm back in England. But I can't say for how long I'll be in the UK for because I've been well and truly bitten by the travel bug.

Twitter | Website | Facebook | My Space | YouTube | Goodreads 

Wishlist Wednesday #39

Every Wednesday, Dani at Pen To Paper features Wishlist Wednesday, a meme in which you can list a book that you really want to read or keep meaning to get. These are books that you want to add to your wishlist, and believe me there are plenty!  I've decided to use Dani's feature every Wednesday :)

So what do you need to do to join in?

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.
• Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it's on your wishlist.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of her post.
• Put a link back to pen to paper (http://www.pentopaperblog.com/) somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

So here is my book for this weeks Wishlist Wednesday:

 

 

Radiant Desire by Inara Scott

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 The object of every man’s fantasy just lost her wings…

Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia’s punishment is simple: make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.

…and now she’s losing her heart…

Kaia thinks her task will be relatively easy—as a faerie, she understands lust, and can love be much different? But once she is living among the humans, Kaia discovers the race she once disparaged is far more complex and beautiful than she imagined. She learns before she can break Garrett’s heart, she must find a way to heal it. And eventually, discovers that losing her wings may be a far easier price to pay than losing her heart.

 

 

 Wow what a fantastic cover, so eye catching.  Anyways enough about the cover lets move onto the synopsis, it sounds just my kind of thing.  A fairy story that is unique and intriguing.  I really want to learn more about the faerie world Kaia lives in and how she copes with the punishment the fairy queen deals her.  To be fae and fall in love with a human, when she has a lot to lose, is a big deal for her.  This book is not out until October so I have a few months to wait.  I will most definitely be getting this one as soon as it's released!

Blog Tour: Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario

Hi Guys!  I'm really happy to announce that Chocolate Chunky Munkie is participating in the Blog Tour for Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario.  This book is the first book in the Demons of the Infernum series.  For my stop on the tour I have a guest post from Rosalie.


To see all the other blogs participating in the tour click HERE

Guest Post by Rosalie Lario: Top Ten Books Everyone Should Read

 
Jenny, thanks so much for having me on your blog! Today I thought I’d tackle a really important topic: The top ten books I think everyone should read! :)

Okay, maybe not so important to the world in general, but for a reading buff like me, this is a big topic. Boiling all of the wonderful books I’ve read throughout my lifetime into a top ten has been more than a little difficult, but I’ve finally come up with a list. So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe. This is the first book I can remember reading and loving as a child. No surprise, it features a paranormal character: a vampire-bunny that sucks the juice out of vegetables. This book sparked my love for the paranormal, and it goes down as one of my favorites to this very day.

2. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. This is the first book I read which romanticized the vampire. 

3. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. Another paranormal book by Anne Rice. A haunting and mesmerizing story. I reread this one every few years.

4. Once and Always by Judith McNaught. This is the first romance I can remember reading, and it changed my life forever! 

5. Pet Sematary by Stephen King. Alas not a romance, but one heck of a book. It scared me sleepless!

6. To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Moning. I picked this book up on a whim early in my romance reading days, and it totally rocked my world. To this day I consider Grimm to be the ultimate romantic hero. 

***Review*** Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Released: 27th December 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Series: No
Format: Digital ARC
Source: Netgalley for review
Find at: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Author Site: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

My Review:

I really thought this book was excellent. It gripped me from start to finish. This book ticked all the right boxes, it had great characters, a fabulous and fast paced plot and an ending that was very worthy of the book. I am so glad I read this book.

 I did enjoy all of the mystical and magical beasties and preternaturals in this book. There were some very exciting fighting scenes; Kali can seriously kick-butt. I love the main character Kali; she is such an interesting person. Not every sixteen year old has to put up with half of what she does, but she copes well, even when she has the most terrifying situations thrown at her. It can’t be easy one day being human and the next day a fearless huntress. It would mess anyone’s head up. Bravo to girl power. There were other characters that really stood out for me, Skylar and Bethany, both were very different girls to each other but they had some really good qualities. I really liked the camaraderie between the girls when they were faced with difficult times. Before the incident with the Chupacabra Bethany wasn’t really in Kali’s or Skylar’s circles.

Showcase Sunday #6 V-log

Hi Guys!  Welcome to another Showcase Sunday :D  It's been a few weeks since I last posted about my book haul.  So I have plenty to show you.  I decided to do another video.  I hope you enjoy watching it.

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea- what a great way to see what everyone else has had in their mailboxes :D






For all the links to Goodreads please click on the titles:

• The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

• This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

• Ashfall by Mike Mullin

• Doom Rider by David Gatward

• Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher

• Heist Society by Ally Carter

• Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

• He's After Me by Chris Higgins

• Adorkable by Sarra Manning

Huge thanks to:
Hachette UK
Dani @ Pen To Paper
& Julie

 What books did you get in your mailbox this week?  Leave a comment and a link and I will have a peek :D

***Review*** Partials by Dan Wells

Partials by Dan Wells

Released: 28th February 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins/ Balzer & Bray
Series: Yes #1 in the Partials series
Format: Digital ARC
Source: Netgalley - for review
Find At: Goodreads| Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Author Site: Dan Wells

 

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

My Review:

This was certainly different. Once I read the synopsis I have to say the idea really appealed to me. This line certainly captured my attention “Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population.”-quote from Partials synopsis. 

Although the plot wasn’t fast paced it was certainly well rounded and it did hold my attention throughout the book. There was only one point my mind wandered. I really like books that make you stop and think, there are certain things in this book which with the way technology is advancing would be plausible in the distant future. Quite scary stuff really. 

I really liked the ending too, such a cliff hanger. This does mean that I cannot wait for the next book to be released, which if I remember rightly is in the early part of 2013. 

The only reason that this book lost a star rating and didn’t make it to five was that it wasn’t fast paced enough for me. About two thirds of the book was at a plodding pace and then whoosh off it went. I do like my books to be compelling page turners, that is the only criticism I can think of. So on the whole not bad then. There were plenty twists to the plot, some of them I did guess and others left me with my jaw gaping. 

 There was a good mix of ‘good and bad’ characters, some of them you really got to know, others only just scratched the surface. I’m pleased to say that there were two joint favourite characters Kyla the main protagonist and Samm the Partial. Kyla is certainly someone to be admired, she has a great fighting spirit and truly believes in doing what she believes is the right this. Both characters were rich in depth and I could really see how they were an essential part of the story. I really want to find out even more about them in the next book. Exciting stuff! 

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would! It was a totally unique story and one that certainly captured my imagination.

Story Rating: 4/5 – If you are a lover of post-apocalyptic dystopian stories, this is a must read. Cover Rating: 4/5 – A very chilling cover and certainly very apt to the story. 

 *** Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for supplying me a copy of this book for review.***