February 29, 2012

Impatiently Waiting! Hidden (Firelight Trilogy #3) by Sophie Jordan

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Expected Publish Date: September 11, 2012

Summary: Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse,
a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.


♥♥♥♥♥


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

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February 25, 2012

Next week’s new releases!

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Pandemonium
by Lauren Oliver
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher's Summary: The old Lena is Dead.

The old Lena remains with Alex in Portland, Maine, behind a wall of smoke and flame, but the new Lena was born in the Wilds, transformed by hardship, deprivation, and loss.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena fights for a world in which love will no longer be considered a dangerous disease. Her inner life is as turbulent as the world around her...Although consumed with grief for Alex, might she be falling in love with someone else?

♥♥♥



Partials
by Dan Wells
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher's Summary: The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

♥♥♥



A Touch Morbid
by Leah Clifford
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher’s Summary: Eden saved Az.

She fought and sacrificed and won him back from the most evil of evils. Now is the time for happily-ever-afters, right?

Not so fast.

A boy—even an angel—is hardly the solution to Eden’s problems. She’s still caught between life and death, still cursed to spread poison with her touch. She’s lost one best friend and another is quickly unraveling. And now something is happening to the mortals. Something very, very bad.

What happens in the dark spaces? The ones between life and death, love and hate, betrayal and redemption, sanity and delusion.

Or good and evil.

Eden is about to find out.

The riveting sequel to A Touch Mortal.

♥♥♥



Torn
by Amanda Hocking
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher's Summary: When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

♥♥♥




Fugitives
by Alexander Gordon Smith
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher Summary: Forever altered by his experience in Furnace Penetentiary, Alex has done the impossible and escaped. But the battle for freedom is only just beginning. Charged with his superhuman abilities, Alex must uncover the last of Furnace’s secrets—the truth about the man who built the prison, the man known as Alfred Furnace. And to do that he must stop running and finally confront his greatest fears.

♥♥♥



Allegiance
by Cayla Kluver
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Summary: An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...

♥♥♥



When the Sea is Rising Red
by Cat Hellisen
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher's Summary: After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.

♥♥♥




Unafraid
by Michael Griffo
Expected Publish Date
February 28, 2012

Publisher's Summary: The boarding school known as Archangel Academy possesses a legacy of secrets known only to a privileged few. For in this peaceful, charming part of England lives a population of vampires at war with one another—and Michael Howard is caught in the middle of it all…

When Michael left his small Nebraska hometown to enroll at Archangel Academy, he couldn’t have imagined how much the experience would change him. Once mortal, Michael is now a vampire with a destiny that was foretold long ago, and a group of friends with their own mysterious abilities.

But there are enemies too, some of them hiding in plain sight. Being strong enough to defend himself isn’t enough. Michael must find a way to protect his entire race of vampires. Dark forces within the school will drive everyone to take sides in the escalating violence. And for all his new powers, Michael will discover that love, jealousy, and vengeance have a danger all their own…

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February 24, 2012

Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature - Patricia with Two Chicks on Books

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This week on my Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature, I’m featuring Patricia from Two Chicks on Books!

Patricia from Two Chicks on Books is another blogger I can proudly call one of my blogger best friends. But Patricia is a little social media shy, so I really didn’t even begin to get to know her until she, Jaime (the second half from Two Chicks on Books) and I carpooled to the Melissa Marr signing in San Francisco back in June of last year! We had a great time and I also discovered that Patricia and I have very similar taste in books.

Since that first road trip, Patricia and I have attended a few other signings, we’ve met up for lunch, and she even came over to my house last Thursday for book club! I actually ended up feeling a little bad for inviting Patricia for book club on a Thursday, because she missed The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle! Sorry Patricia!

Patricia is very sweet, I feel like I can tell her anything, and I truly trust her like a best friend. I truly realized that I was more than lucky to have her as my BBF when she sent me a very thoughtful gift with a very sweet, sincere and very personal message for Christmas. I’m pretty sure I even cried a little bit. It is one of those types of gifts that are so special and personal that you wouldn’t want to share it with anyone.

If you can already call Patricia your blogger best friend, you too are very lucky.

Check back next week for my next Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature!

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February 22, 2012

Impatiently Waiting! Darkness Before Dawn by J. A. London

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Expected Publish Date: May 29, 2012

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....


♥♥♥♥♥


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


Pre-order here:
AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository



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February 18, 2012

Next week’s new releases!

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A Beautiful Evil
by Kelly Keaton
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012



Purchase here:
AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository


Publisher's Summary: Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly reimagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.

After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari.

Ari, along with the superhot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine....



♥♥♥



Fever: Chemical Garden Trilogy
by Lauren DeStefano
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012



Purchase here:
AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository


Publisher's Summary: The second book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy reveals a world as captivating—and as dangerous—as the one Rhine left behind in Wither.

Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped the beautiful prison of Wither’s mansion, but they are far from escaping danger. First they’re chased for stealing a getaway boat, and then the fleeing pair ends up in the eerie den of Madame, an old woman who collects girls and sells them to the highest bidders. Worst of all, Vaughn, Rhine’s sinister father-in-law, seems to be on her trail every step of the way. Rhine remains determined to get to her brother in Manhattan—but the road they are on is long and perilous.

Now that Rhine has finally regained her freedom, what lengths will she need to go to in order to keep it?



♥♥♥




Double
by Jenny Valentine
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012




Purchase here:
AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository


Summary: When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel's identity, gaining the family and friends he's always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn't as easy as he hoped--and Chap isn't the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel's disappearance, Chap realizes that he's in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.
After all, you can't just steal a life and expect to get away with it.
Award-winning author Jenny Valentine delivers an explosive mystery where dark secrets, betrayal, and loss pave the way for one teen's chance at redemption.



♥♥♥



Faery Tales & Nightmares
by Melissa Marr
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012



Purchase here:
AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository


Publisher's Summary: Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a story-teller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with . . . or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.



♥♥♥




The Catastrophic History of You And Me
by Jess Rothenberg
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012



AmazonBarnes & NobleThe Book Depository


Publisher's Summary: Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart - literally. But now that she's in heaven, Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend knows a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost - and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul who's been D&G (dead and gone) much longer than she… and who just might hold the key to her forever after. With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on… but how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

♥♥♥


A Perfect Blood
by Kim Harrison
Expected Publish Date:
Feb 21, 2012



New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the Hollows with the electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed Pale Demon!

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

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February 17, 2012

Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature - Jaime with Two Chicks on Books

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This week on my Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature, I’m featuring Jaime from Two Chicks on Books!

Jaime was one of the first bloggers I could truly call a best friend when I started blogging. And guess what? She’s a local!!! I don’t quite remember when I started stalking Two Chicks on Books because Jaime and I actually started our friendship on Twitter. But even before I REALLY started stalking her, I already noticed that Jamie had a ton of pictures with some of my fave authors…and, boy, was I ever green with envy! And, yes, I definitely made a point to tell her that! Yeah, I’m always pretty vocal about my envy…LoL.

Right about the time Jaime and I both discovered that we lived near each other, I asked Jaime if she was going to attend the Melissa Marr signing in San Francisco. And, that was all it took! Jamie might just as well have told me that she wouldn’t miss it for ANYTHING in the world (I think she said something like, “Hell yes I am!”) because she totally adores Melissa so we decided to carpool! Several of my friends at work were utterly terrified that I would go on a trip to San Francisco with a couple of girls I only just met online. Of course, I totally laughed it off because I already felt like I was gaining a great friend and thought Jaime just seemed way too sweet to be someone who’d want to chop me up into little pieces. He!he!he!

The Melissa Marr signing was the first time I met Jaime in person, and we had a fabulous time! Not only did I find my first blogger best friend, but ever since then we’ve tried as often as possible to attend author appearances together. And the best event we’ve attended that was all sorts of AWESOME is when we traveled to Seattle to see a bunch of our favorite authors at The Smart Chicks Kick it Tour!

Another reason (one of many!) that I consider Jaime my blogger best friend is that she ALWAYS tries to keep me in the loop with anything exciting in the blogging world! She will try to include me in anything she thinks I will enjoy, and she always keeps me informed about local events that come up. She even knows that I tend to forget (in the chaos of my life!) about TV shows she knows we both enjoy watching, so she will even tweet me to remind me that The Challenge will be starting soon! Now, that is truly a blogger best friend for you!

And, on a more personal level, Jaime has always been there to answer her phone when I really needed to vent about some drama in the book blogging world. And, more importantly, Jaime has always been there when I really needed to talk to someone about the craziness in my personal life (without judging me), and she’s really helped me feel like I’m not crazy.

If you can also call Jaime your Blogger Best Friend, then you are also very lucky. And, if you don’t know Jaime, you need to get to know her because over and above everything I’ve already said, Jaime TOTALLY ROCKS!

Check back next week for my next Blogger Best Friend Friday Feature! I will be featuring the OTHER one of Two Chicks on Books.

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February 16, 2012

Giveaway of Fair Game by Patricia Briggs



Patricia Briggs, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, New York Times bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...

Publisher's Summary: They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...


Please read giveaway rules before entering here: Magical Urban Fantasy Reads Contest & Giveaway rules. Open for US shipping only. Giveaway ends February 18, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.




Erika (from Let's talk about books)


Giveaway hosted by ACE with Penguin Group
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Dear followers, fans and peeps! Some of the books I review on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads are provided to me for free by either the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. Please know that I am in NO WAY compensated for my reviews. All opinions are mine and I am not required to give a positive review in exchange for a free book! But some of the purchase links on my blog are monetized through places like Amazon, Book Depository or Barnes & Noble.