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Thank you ladies. Very much appreciated.

Jealousy by Lili St. Crow
Shelf: Young Adult Paranormal
Date Read: 6.19
Rating: 3.5

Not quite as good as the first but has the same intensity and excitement. Dru became very annoying very quickly. She spent a lot of time crying, was so dependent on Graves (what happen to the strong confident girl from book 1), and lots of internal dialogue. I'd have to keep rereading passages cuz I would lose track of the conversation.

Another love triangle with no clear "winner". I like Christophe- hes rescued Dru several times and I feel for his problems however he loved her mom, um yuck! I also like Graves, but I’m have to wonder what is his deal. I'm curious to know what he feels about Dru. He doesn’t act like a normal guy with a girl he really likes, especially when the girl is often throwing herself at him. He has never taken any initiative to further a romance with her.

Will continue to read this series as I want to know who she chooses.

Regina~so sorry to hear that! Hang in there, and I hope your family member recovers soon!

Shelf: Young Adult Paranormal
Finished 6/20
4�

Gwen Frost is a gypsy with the gift of touch. She can gather pictures, emotions, and background from the objects and people she touches. After the death of her mom, Gwen's grandmother sends her to Mythos Academy to learn more about her powers. She feels out of place with no friends and surrounded by fellow students who are Spartans, Valkyries and other warrior races. She develops an unexpected friendship with a Valkyrie named Daphne after enlisting her help investigating an unfortunate event on campus. Gwen also develops a crush on the hottie Spartan named Logan Quinn after he helps her out of a couple of jams. The character development is wonderful and I especially loved Gwen's relationship with her grandmother. It will be interesting to see what happens next for her in her new role and with her friendships with Daphne and Logan in the next books. I'm hoping Gwen winds up with Logan at some point.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the author's take on mythology. I found it very intriguing and look forward to seeing where she takes it as the series progresses. Unfortunately, she also uses repetition in her YA books and I did not care for it. There are certain events that happen in detail in the prequel, First Frost, and are referenced again repeatedly in this book. There were also some phrases that felt like they were overused as well. As Jessica said, it must be the author's overall writing style but it does feel like overkill. I will continue with the series though, because I'm curious to see where it goes.

Regina,my thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery!

Thanks ladies, I am back at work today as my mom is caring for my husband today. I hope the next few days helps him get ambulatory. I love him so much and I don't resent caring for him, but it is hard balancing everything.

I am excited, I start my shelf read today! (YA for UF/PNR) and I am loving my Free Space book

I LOVE seeing our name in the title of our group! Great pick!

Dawn wrote: "Jealousy by Lili St. Crow
Shelf: Young Adult Paranormal
Date Read: 6.19
Rating: 3.5

Not quite as good as the first but has the same intensity and excitement. Dru became very annoying very quickly...."

Dawn great review, I have wondered about this series.

Glad to see you're feeling more normal, even if he isn't better yet :) *fingers crossed for a speedy recovery*

Regina wrote: "Dawn great review, I have wondered about this series."

I really liked book 1 and 2. This one was a little lacking but the story developed and Dru learned some things about her mom - that was a nice touch.

Shelf was released - Favorite Series

Im gonna read well listen to

Ohhhhh!!! I love that shelf. I will be back with mine. :D

For favorite series, I'll be reading

For the free space, I'll be reading (April 2012 New Release thread)

The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead - (06/24/2012) ★★★★
Young Adult Paranormal - Shelf #1

It really sucks that the next book won't be out till next year!

Adrian is one of my most favorite fictional characters. He is broken and very very messed up but that only makes me love him more. He can be wise beyond his years one moment and very childish the next and he's simply too complex and colorful and I can't seem to get enough of him.

Sydney's smart and competent but her hung ups, although justified considering her upbringing and conditioning by the Alchemists, retract major points from her appeal. She makes a lot of progress in this part of the story and sees things that start to change her worldview but her resistance to change is remarkable (and remarkably annoying).

There's drama, and there's action (although a lot less with a heroine not as feisty as Rose) and I really enjoy immersing myself in the world of the series. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Favorite Series - Shelf #2 (06/24/2012)

✔Amanda A - Dangerous Games - Keri Arthur - (06/26/2012) ★★★★ - Review
✔Dawn - Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris - (06/28/2012) ★★★★ - Review
✔Jessica - Killing Rites - M.L.N. Hanover - (07/01/2012) ★★★★ - Review
✔Regina - Black Heart - Holly Black - (06/28/2012) ★★★★ - Review
✔Thenia - Queen of Shadows - Dianne Sylvan - (07/02/2012) ★★★★ - Review

Done: 5/5 ~stamp #2 received (07/02/2012)

I think I finally settled on Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead for my book on the Favorite Series shelf. For some reason, I was indecisive about it; too many shiney books.

Those 3 are very fun books for the favorite shelf book. So I am going to read it is an ARC I need to read and I really liked #1.

Wow, I didn't realise he was up to #3 already. I'll have to see if I can still preorder. Thanks Regina :)

I love his take on UF. The humor is great!

Yep, just preordered :)

Jessica wrote: "I think I finally settled on Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead for my book on the Favorite Series shelf. For some reason, I was indecisive about it; too many shiney books."

LOL. I know that feeling.

I read A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer for our Free space shelf but I can't seem to settle on one for the Favorite Series shelf. I'm really looking forward to next Tuesday since exams will be over and I'll be off work for the summer and I will finally have a chance to rest and read all I want!

How are you doing with your books? We're very close to our first stamp!

A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer



(06/26/2012) - ★★�

Dark and atmospheric, this was the story of Quinn, a human among many suddenly finding themselves in an unfriendly world where they are food and slaves and nothing else.

Quinn is very self conscious about her special brand of weirdness of which she knows very little. She fiercely loves her brother and is loyal to a fault, putting him before even her own well-being.

The vampires are monsters who feed off humans - off their blood and fear and pain. The world is very well built with layers of complexity that we haven't even scratched the surface of.

Arturo,our main male lead and one of the vampires, is a mystery for the most part, being what he is and accepting it fully but showing signs of things not so monstrous when involving Quinn.

The ending takes us for a spin, telling us mainly that we don't know even what we think we know about our heroes and that their story's only just beginning.

Update:

Free Space - Done: 4/5
✔Shelf #1 (06/17/2012) - YA PNR ~stamp received (06/27/2012)
✔Shelf #2 (06/24/2012) - Favorite Series ~stamp received (07/02/2012)
✔Shelf #3 (07/01/2012) - New2You: Series - Done: 5/5 ~stamp pending
Shelf #4 (07/08/2012) - Shifters - Done 3/5

I finished my YA PNR shelf -- from the first week.

Book: Red Glove by Holly Black

Date: 6/25/12
Rating: 4 stars
Review:

I am enjoying this series. It is different. It is told by a male POV, dark, slightly twisted and young adult. There is a lot of death, some drinking and sex. Like in many young adult books there is bad parenting, a boarding school and undiscovered powers by the main character. The book isn't amazing or perfect, but it is enjoyable and different enough to make me want to continue on.

Congrats team! First stamp pending!
Hi5's all around!

CONGRATULATIONS, Double-of-Seven!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'young-adult-paranormal'.

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats Dble7!

Yay team!

Shelf: Favorite Series
Finished 6/26
4�

In this installment of the Riley Jenson series, Riley is tracking a serial killer who she thinks has connections to Gautier. To me, the action was slower and there was an overall darker tone than in the previous books. I still enjoyed it though. The bickering between Riley and Quinn has gotten old so I hope she sticks with her decision regarding him at the end of the book. I will continue with the series because I like Riley. She is a tough, kick-ass heroine and also very entertaining.

Yay for our first stamp!

I am changing my favorite series book. I need to continue the Curse Workers series -- I can't stop! So my favorite series book is now

I finished my favorite series shelf book.
Book Black Heart by Holly Black
Date 6/28/12
Rating 4 stars
Review
This book is a great conclusion to this series. I just wish there was more! Holly Black balances having highly flawed charcters but that are still sympathetic -- and who progress over the series. The mysteries are fun and the friendships are intersting to watch. I highly recommend this series.

Book: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
Shelf: Favorite Series
Date Read: 6.28.12
Rating: ★★★★

This is the fifth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I have always hesitated to start reading this series because of the show. However I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that these books are way better than the show. After finishing Dead to the World I immediately downloaded Dead as a Doornail to my iPod and was slightly disappointed as I was hoping for more Sookie and Eric action. This book is full of mystery, interesting characters and plot. My only complaint is the the number of love interests she has kind of reminds me of Laurell Hamiltons' Anita Blake while not bad but she makes out with one, gets jealous the next, kisses another man and then another - just seems a little out of the character she portrays normally. I also wonder being as she gets into a lot of trouble usually of the deadly sort why Bill doesnt come to her rescue if they share a blood bond and he can sense her emotion. Cant wait to get the next one

I cannot wait for the shelf announcement!

LOL. You'll have to Regina! Like the rest of us.

:D I survived! Shelf announcement, another great shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

New 2 You Series.

Ooo, looks promising!

I think I'm going to read "The Taken" by Vicki Pettersson (Celestial Blues Series) for the New 2 You Series shelf. The cover keeps catching my eye each time I'm stalking GR. Plus old school main male lead PI is going to make me think of Humphrey Bogart in "The Big Sleep" and that's going to make me very happy. :D

EDIT: I ended up changing my book for the Favorite Series Shelf. I'm picked up "Killing Rites" by M. L. N. Hanover yesterday and am currently in the middle of it, so review to come soon.

Book: The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Shelf: New 2 You(Me) series
Date Read: 7.1.12
Rating: ★★�

This was a definitely an UF with very little romance. The Better part of Darkness has me confused - I liked parts of it and the other part was eh. I didn't always get what was going on and then it picked up and I was getting drawn in. I liked Charlie as a heroine she tough, kickass and has a tender side only for her daughter but she has some major avoidance issues that is a annoying. I look forward to the next book in the series and to see if the author brings more to the story.

I changed my Free Space to

Queen of Shadows - Dianne Sylvan
Shelf: Favorite Series
(07/02/2012) ★★★★

A dark, compelling story about a woman who starts out being controlled by her fears and powers that she cannot understand and with the help of her friendly neighborhood vampire leader manages to get back on her feet and learn to stand tall.

The book has everything, from really unpleasant and traumatic events, to humor, romance, friendships, awesome powers and fight scenes, betrayals and mysteries. It's got its slow moments and its intense ones and everything in between.

It was definitely a fun ride and although I couldn't really identify with Miranda for a big part of the story, I ended up really liking who she became (the little I saw of her new self that is).

Looking forward to seeing how things turn out from here on.

New2You: Series (Personal) - Shelf #3 (07/01/2012)

✔Amanda A - The Darkest Day - Britt Bury - (07/07/2012) ★★★★ - Review
✔Dawn - The Better Part of Darkness - Kelly Gay - (07/01/2012) ★★� - Review
✔Jessica - The Taken - Vicki Pettersson - (07/07/2012) ★★� - Review
✔Regina - Anna Dressed in BloodKendare Blake - (07/07/2012) ★★� - Review
✔Thenia - The Shadow Reader - Sandy Williams - (07/04/2012) ★★★★ - Review

Done: 5/5 ~stamp received (07/11/2012)

Book: Killing Rites by M.L.N. Hanover
Shelf: Favorite Series
Date Read: 07/01/2012
Rating: 4 stars

Hanover's talent at intriguing world-building returns once again in "Killing Rites," I'm happy to say. I'll admit that the previous book in the series, "Vicious Grace," had burned me out a bit and it took longer than it should have for me to pick up the fourth book. Fortunately, I think the step back actually helped me appreciate "Killing Rites" even more, making it my favorite book of the series.

I know that from reading other reviews on GR, there are some that wish Hanover would spend more time on romantic relationships for the main character. I actually think part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so thoroughly is because we don't have the relationship between Jayne and Aubrey anymore. I never enjoyed that aspects of the books previously; the relationship felt awkward and temporary, one that all the participants (including the reader) knew was just a brief phase but that Jayne and Aubrey wanted to try to make something more.

Even though it was the fourth book of the series, everything we learn about Jayne makes it feel as fresh and new as the first book. The pacing of the series is superb, answering questions but leaving the readers with even more questions. What I really appreciate is that the author doesn't use the "oh, I just remembered there is this INSANELY important question I need the answer to and I know who to ask, but I'm going to wait 100 pages to do so" tactic. Or the tactic where things click for the reader about 75 pages before they do for the lead character. Hanover creates legitimate scenarios that don't tease and torment the reader; instead, you're fully engaged and invested.

My only complaint is that, at least to GR and some quick googling, there's no date set for the release of the 5th book. Hopefully that's remedied quickly, because I'm on pins and needles for the next one.

Good job team! Favorite series stamp on the way!

Enjoy your books for the rest of our selves everyone!

Woohoo!

For New2You Series, I'll be reading

CONGRATULATIONS, Double-of-Seven!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'favorite-series'.

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats Dble7!

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams
Shelf #3: New2You: Series
(07/04/2012) ★★★★

Very unique take on the fey, which I liked for a change! The world the story's set in is complex, the characters flawed and believable and the relationships between them realistic.

McKenzie is caught between two opposing sides of the fey war and while firmly allied to one side, begins questioning her loyalties after being captured by the other side's leader. Her refusal to even see beyond what she'd thought was true is irritating, but even she can't ignore the facts for long.

People die, events take unexpected turns and our heroes face dilemmas and make tough decisions and sacrifices.

Looking forward to reading where they're heading next.

P.S.: The cover may be a tiny bit misleading since I don't think McKenzie even touches a regular sword (much less a katana) throughout the book!