Archive for June, 2010

Publisher– Walker Canongate
Publication Date – 5th July 2010
Paperback – 352 pages
Genre – Young Adult/Supernatural

Source – Received from publisher for review

Book Information – Meet the Radleys: Peter, Helen and their teenage kids Clara and Rowan.  An everyday family who live in a pretty English village and juggle dysfunctional lives.  So far, so normal.  Except, as Peter and Helen know (but the kids have yet to find out), the Radleys happen to be a family of abstaining vampires.  When one night Clara finds herself driven to commit a bloodthirsty act of violence, her parents need to explain a few things: why is their skin is so sensitive to light, why do they all find garlic so repulsive, and why has Clara’s recent decision to go vegan had quite such an effect on her behaviour…?  But when mysterious Uncle Will swoops into the village, he unleashes a host of shadowy truths and dark secrets that threaten to destroy the Radleys and the world around them.

Review – This is the story of Peter and Helen Radley, and their teenage children, Rowan and Clara.  The kids have never been able to fit in at school and are constantly feeling ill, with insomnia, headaches and nausea.  Clara decides to become vegan in an attempt to get animals to like her (they normally avoid her like the plague) but she ends up becoming even more ill.  One night, a boy from her school tries to attack her but she is so overcome with rage and blood lust that she ends up violently killing him.  It is at this point that their parents must reveal the truth to Clara and Rowan – they are a family of vampires who have made the choice to live among humans and give up drinking blood.  It is this decision not to drink blood that has always made them so ill, and why Clara became so ill when she gave up eating meat.  Then Peter’s brother, Will, arrives on the scene to help deal with the aftermath of Clara’s slip up.  However, Will brings with him even more secrets that could break apart the Radley family.
My impression of The Radleys is that it is, first and foremost, about repression.  Peter and Helen have set up a home amongst other middle class families and try to fill their time with ‘normal’ activities in order to fit in with everybody else around them, such as work, reading groups etc.  But neither of them are happy with their lives and they spend a lot of time reminiscing about when they were ‘practising vampires’.  They are always watching everything they say and do in order to keep the truth about their family a secret.  Even to the extent that they have not told their children what they really are.  This leads to a lot of strain on the relationship between Peter and Helen, and they don’t really seem to love each other any more.  This feeling of repression leads to a rather sad feeling throughout the book, with most of the characters feeling unhappy with their lives.
The characters are all keeping a lot of secrets and this made The Radleys a very intriguing read.  The author takes his time in revealing these secrets to the reader, meaning that we are taken on a journey through the twists and turns of the story along with the other characters.  This all leads to a brilliant ending, with the suspense starting to build up during the last quarter of the book moving towards a conclusion that I just didn’t see coming.  And to top it all off, there is a nice happy ending - I love happy endings!
This is the first book that I have read by Matt Haig and I must say that I really enjoyed it.  He writes in a style that is incredibly easy to read, with very short sentences and chapters that make it very easy to speed through the book.  Although it is being aimed at a Young Adult audience, I think it would also appeal to adults (in fact, there is so much swearing in the book that I’m not sure it would be suitable for younger teens).  The story is told from many different characters’ viewpoints but this does not become confusing at all.  In fact it gives much more life to the story being told as you are able to see how each character feels about the events unfolding.  If you are a fan of vampire fiction I would definitely recommend this book.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Grab your current read.

2. Open to a random page.

3. Share two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.

4. Be careful not to include spoilers.

5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the books to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from The Radleys by Matt Haig.

He sighs.  ‘I think we need to tell them the truth.’
‘What?’
He takes a deep breath of the stifling kitchen air.  ‘I think it is the right time to tell the children.’
‘Peter, we have to keep them safe.  We have to keep everything safe.  I want you to be realistic.’
Page 14

What is your Tuesday Teaser?

What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week. This meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed last week:

Take a Chance on Me – Jill Mansell

Books Reviewed Last Week:

Take a Chance on Me – Jill Mansell
Succubus Heat – Richelle Mead

Books I gave up on:

None

Books I am currently reading:

The Radleys – Matt Haig

Up next:

Grace Under Pressure – Julie Hyzy

Publisher – Bantam Books
Publication Date – 4th June 2009
Paperback – 512 Pages
Genre – Urban Fantasy
Series – Book 4 in the Georgina Kincaid series

Source – Library

Book Information - Georgina Kincaid has been a bad, bad succubus… which should be a good thing.  But lately, thanks to her foul mood over breaking up with bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, she’s been so wicked that Seattle’s uber-demon Jerome, decides to “outsource” Georgina to a rival–and have her spy for him in the process.
Being exiled to the frozen north – okay, Vancouver – and leaving Seth in the cozy clutches of his new girlfriend is unpleasant enough.  Then Jerome is kidnapped, and all immortals under his control mysteriously lose their powers.  One bright spot: with her life-sucking ability gone, there’s nothing to keep Georgina from getting down and dirty with Seth – nothing apart from his girlfriend that is.  Now, as the supernatural population starts turning on itself, a newly mortal Georgina must rescue her boss and figure out who’s been playing them – or all hell will break loose…

Review – ***Warning – This review contains spoilers***
Georgina has been in a foul mood ever since breaking up with her mortal boyfriend, Seth, in Succubus Dreams.  So much so that her boss, Jerome, sends her away to Canada to help (and spy on) another demon.  Georgina has to help Cedric break up a group of Satanists in his area who are bringing unwelcome attention and embarrassment.  However, things start to go very wrong when Jerome disappears and all of the lesser immortals working for him lose their powers.  Georgina discovers that he has been summoned by a human magician and she is determined to find Jerome and the people who have captured him.
You really can’t help but feel for Georgina when reading Succubus Heat.  She is devastated by her break-up with Seth so she tries to cover it up by being angry with everybody and embarking on a fling with dark and dangerous Dante.  I wasn’t keen on the angry Georgina at the beginning of this book but luckily she becomes more and more like the Georgina I know and love as the story progresses.
Seth comes across as pretty unlikeable I’m afraid.  He is currently dating Georgina’s friend, Maddie, which in itself is a horrible thing to do, but he then goes backwards and forwards between the two women when Georgina loses her powers.  This makes the reader sympathise with Maggie as she is a nice girl who trusts both Georgina and Seth, who probably never would have got together with Seth had she known about their past relationship.
The mystery element of the book was once again brilliant.  Richelle Mead always throws lots of red herrings at the reader so that we are kept guessing right up until the end who the perpetrator is.  I am also very intrigued by the visions that Georgina had in Succubus Dreams.  They are mentioned several times in Succubus Heat and I can’t wait to find out if it will come true and, if it does, who the man in the vision is.
All in all I absolutely loved this book.  The Georgina Kincaid series is easily one of my favourites and I really can’t recommend them enough to anybody who has not yet read any of these books.

Other books in the series (click on link to see my review):
1. Succubus Blues
2. Succubus Nights
3. Succubus Dreams
4. Succubus Heat
5. Succubus Shadows

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  Every week I’ll post about what books I have received that week – either through the mail for review, borrowed from the library or bought.

For Review:

Janet Evanovich – Sizzling Sixteen

It’s summertime in Jersey And all across the land It’s time for Summer Reading And working on your tan.  But no vacation can start Or go off without a hitch Unless you’ve packed your bag With the latest Evanovich.  Yes, it’s time for Stephanie and gang To get up to their old antics With Grandma, Lula, Connie too— Mrs. Plum, she will be frantic! See, someone wants to kill Vinnie Who? The list is long And Mooner returns to brighten our day Complete with his favorite bong.  And Lula’s involved in a Ponzi scheme Stand back!  You know she’ll be pissed While Stephanie’s chasing a dangerous skip He thinks he’ll never be missed.  With Ranger days and Morelli nights (Or perhaps it’s the other way ‘round) This sixteenth Stephanie Plum adventure Will wear the blockbuster crown.  So grab some donuts and Cluck-in-a-Bucket And get ready for grand-scale fun Number sixteen is a sure-fire bet For bestseller lists: number one!

Andy Mulligan – Trash

Raphael is a dumpsite boy.  He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it.  Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael’s world turns upside down.  A small leather bag falls into his hands.  It’s a bag of clues.  It’s a bag of hope.  It’s a bag that will change everything.  Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives.  Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking, fast-talking to stay ahead.  As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man’s mission to put right a terrible wrong.  It’s three street-boys against the world…

Sasha Wagstaff – Wicked Games

Feuding families, star-crossed lovers… let the fireworks begin!
Debonair and dynamic, millionaire Judd Harrington is back at Brockett Hall.  With his socialite wife and family in tow, he’s returned from LA a glittering success.  But as he stares across the valley at Lochlin Maguire’s beautiful country house, all he can think of is revenge.
Meanwhile Judd’s arch-rival has troubles of his own.  Lochlin’s record label is losing major talent to an unknown competitor, his wife Tavvy is distracted and he can’t seem to see eye to eye with his son Shay.  And, unbeknownst to Lochlin, his talented singer daughter Iris has fallen for irresistible racing driver Ace Harrington out in LA.  Ace is under orders from Judd to break Iris’s heart.  What he hadn’t bargained for was losing his own in the process.  Can he go against his father’s wishes?  Or will Judd’s wicked games ruin love’s young dream?

Publisher– Headline Review
Publication Date – 24th June 2010
Paperback – 416 pages
Genre – Chick-Lit

Source – Received from publisher for review

Book Information -Cleo Quinn doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to men, but now Will’s come along she’s optimistic.  Handsome, attentive and an absolute gentleman when it comes to her questionable cooking skills, he could be her Mr Right.  Things are definitely looking up for Cleo… apart from one small problem with a rather large ego.  Johnny LaVenture, sculptor extraordinaire and her childhood adversary, is back in Channing’s Hill and tormenting Cleo as if he’d never been away.  But life never goes to plan, does it?  Johnny isn’t the only one stirring up trouble and, for Cleo’s family and friends, all kinds of sparks are starting to fly.  If you think you can put the past behind you, think again…

Review – Take a Chance on Me tells the story of Cleo and her sister, Abbie.  Cleo has had a pretty disastrous love life so far but she believes she has finally met Mr Right.  However, things go very wrong when she finds out that Will has been keeping a secret from her.  But at least her childhood nemesis, Johnny LaVenture, is being a lot more friendly to Cleo now.  Meanwhile, Abbie finds out about a secret that her husband is keeping from her that could lead to the end of their happy marriage.
I really like the way the author describes the characters in Take a Chance on Me.  They are all believable and likeable, with Abbie being my favourite.  Although Cleo is the main focus of the book I was drawn in straight away by Abbie’s story.  I feel that Jill Mansell beautifully captures the heartache experienced by Abbie in her quest to start a family and this storyline makes way for some very thought-provoking, and at times heartbreaking, moments.
Cleo’s side of the story provides most of the laughs and romance in the book and brings in some light relief from the sad events in Abbie’s life.  Although I found the ending to be pretty predictable I still really enjoyed it – I do love a happy ending.
Overall, a great summer read that will make you laugh and cry, with a happy ending that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.  This is the first Jill Mansell book I have ever read and I will definitely be on the lookout for some more very soon.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Grab your current read.

2. Open to a random page.

3. Share two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.

4. Be careful not to include spoilers.

5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the books to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from Take a Chance On Me by Jill Mansell (Sorry, I know it is quite a bit longer than two sentences but I just couldn’t cut it down any more!):

Cleo watched as Mandy jumped guiltily and, in her tequila’d-up state, attempted to conceal the identity of her companion by shoving his head against her chest.  From here, it looked as if he was having a coughing fit.  Maybe he was suffocating in her cleavage.  Then Mandy leapt back in horror, shoving him away from her so hard he went crashing back against the shop door.  She was screaming, repulsed, staggering all over the pavement with her arms outstretched and her fingers like claws.
Oh dear God, he’d only gone and thrown up on her.
Page 150

What’s your Tuesday Teaser?

What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week. This meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed and reviewed last week:

Wind Warrior – Cynthia Roberts
Star Crossed – Jo Cotterill

I also carried out an interview with Cynthia Roberts which you can see here.

Books I gave up on:

None

Books I am currently reading:

Take a Chance on Me – Jill Mansell

Up next:

Succubus Shadows – Richelle Mead
The Radleys – Matt Haig

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  Every week I’ll post about what books I have received that week – either through the mail for review, borrowed from the library or bought.

For Review:

Pamela Samuels Young – Buying Time

Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer.  But just when he’s about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.
In Waverly’s new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash.  But there’s a catch.  His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime.  Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars – including a hefty broker’s fee for himself – in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.
The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General.  When Waverly’s clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson – who has some skeletons of his own to hide – are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City.  It is a chance for me to list a couple of books that are on my TBR list but that I don’t currently own.

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

I have just finished reading the first book in this series ( you can see my review for Bitten here) and I absolutely loved it.  Now I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!

It’s time to bite back…  Elena Michaels is a wanted woman.  She hasn’t done anything wrong.  Well, not recently, anyway.  But ten years ago her lover turned her into a werewolf: the only female werewolf in the world, in fact.  And now, just as she’s finally coming to terms with this rather startling situation, a group of scientists learns of her existence.  They’re hunting her down, and Elena is about to run straight into their trap.  But they haven’t reckoned on Elena’s adoptive family, her Pack, who will stop at nothing to get her back.  They haven’t reckoned on Elena herself, either, and that’s a big mistake…

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Sixteen-year-old Evie’s job is bagging and tagging paranormals.  Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency.  But when someone – or something – starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she’s worked hard to help become productive members of society, she’s got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.
Normal is so overrated.

What’s on your wishlist this week?

Jo Cotterill is the author of Star Crossed, the first book in her new Sweet Hearts series (you can read my review of this book here).  Jo has shared her top 5 list of leading men with me.  Why don’t you let me know what you think of this list? Do you agree and who would you include on your list?

1. David Tennant (he can be my Doctor Who any day!)

2. Adrian Lester (the man from Hustle – smooth and charming)

3. David Boreanaz (Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - a GOOD vampire!)

4. Colin Firth ( from Bridget Jones’ Diary and Love Actually.  Quiet and shy, aww!)

5. Robert Sean Leonard (Loved him in Dead Poets’ Society, now he’s a doctor in House.)

Publisher – Red Fox
Publication Date –27th May 2010
Paperback – 272 Pages
Genre – Young Adult/Chick-Lit
Series – Book 1 in the Sweet Hearts series.

Source – Received from Random House Children’s Books for review

Book Information - ‘You did WHAT?’ screamed Mari.  ‘You turned down the cutest boy ever?  Are you crazy?’
Fliss isn’t exactly outgoing.  But on stage she really comes alive.  And this summer, she’s playing Juliet opposite her dream Romeo – Tom Mayerling.  If only she could tell him how she feels!
But unless Fliss finds some inner confidence, she’s going to miss her chance with Tom.  Because someone else has her eyes on Fliss’ role – and her leading man…

Review – Star Crossed is the story of Fliss – a young girl who dreams of becoming an actress when she leaves school.  She is cast as Juliet in her school’s production of Romeo and Juliet, but it is obvious that her mother doesn’t support her in her dreams of an acting career.  Her leading man is Tom, a boy she has had a crush on for ages.  However, Fliss is too shy to tell him how she feels and he seems to be getting very close to Samantha, who is confident and always seems to get what she wants.  It is up to Fliss to be confident enough in herself to stand up to her mum about her love of acting and to let Tom know how she feels about him.
I really liked the character of Fliss.  She is incredibly shy but is able to come out of herself on stage and she gains confidence by pretending to be someone else for a while.  And although Fliss is scared of confrontation she finds the strength to stand up for herself when her role in the play and her friendship with Tom hang in the balance.
Fliss’s friends, Victoria and Mari, are good supporting characters and Mari in particular provides some funny moments.  I wasn’t keen on Tom as a romantic interest for Fliss.  His relationship with Samantha shows him to be quite weak and willing to just go with the flow, rather than working for something that he really wants.
The storyline flowed well and I found it to be realistic in regards to the issues facing teenage girls.  However, a lot of the story is made up of these girls sitting around and chatting, and I often found myself hoping that something more would happen.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a nice ending and I think young girls will enjoy Star Crossed.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Grab your current read.

2. Open to a random page.

3. Share two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.

4. Be careful not to include spoilers.

5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the books to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead.

I nodded and we approached the rock, our steps filled with both eagerness and apprehension.  After all this time and all the failed efforts, it didn’t seem possible that we’d really done it.  Something was going to happen.  Something had to happen.
Page 431

What’s your Tuesday teaser?

Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming romance author, Cynthia Roberts, along for an interview.  Her historical indian romance novel, Wind Warrior, is being released today and you can see my review of it here.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Can you tell us a bit about your new book, Wind Warrior?

 ***Up on the blog tomorrow is an interview with Cynthia Roberts so please come along and say hello to her***

Publisher – Tate Publishing & Enterprises
Publication Date –15th June 2010
Paperback – 304 Pages
Genre – Historical Romance
Series – Book 1 in the Iroquois Series

Source – Received from author for review

Book Information – Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep.  Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically.  But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own.  Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.
Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s.   It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil.  Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.

Review – At the start of the book we learn about all of the tragedy that Leslie has already experienced in her life – including the death of her husband and child.  Just when she thinks she can’t take any more, she witnesses the death of her father and the murder of her best friend and she knows that she has to run in order to stay safe.  Whilst she is running from her enemy, she meets up with Winnokin, a Seneca war chief who has appeared in many of Leslie’s visions.  Winnokin has also had visions of Leslie and he believes they have been brought together by a Supreme Being.  They quickly fall in love and Winnokin helps Leslie to overcome the heartache that she has experienced so far in life.
Leslie is an amazingly strong heroine in this novel.  To survive everything that she has been through and to come out of it with such strength and the ability to carry on living her life to the full is just inspirational.  And Winnokin is a very loveable male lead.  He is strong, loving, protective and a brilliant leader of his people.  The chemistry between them is obvious right from the beginning of the book even though they haven’t actually met at this point.  But aside from this chemistry, there is a deep love between them that even the problems brought about by their cultural differences can’t destroy.
Wind Warrior is full of wonderful descriptions of both the characters and their surroundings so that you feel as if you are right there with them.  I also loved the amount of detail given about the Seneca history and traditions.  I really enjoyed every second of this book and I would highly recommend it to everybody.

And here is the trailer for Wind Warrior:

If you would like to purchase a copy of Wind Warrior it is available tomorrow from Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble.
It is already available in ebook format from the publishers website.

What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week. This meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed and reviewed last week:

Bitten – Kelley Armstrong
Succubus Dreams – Richelle Mead

Books I gave up on:

None

Books I am currently reading:

Succubus Heat – Richelle Mead

Up next:

Take a Chance on Me – Jill Mansell
Star Crossed – Jo Cotterill

Publisher – Bantam Books
Publication Date – 4th December 2008
Paperback – 448 Pages
Genre – Urban Fantasy
Series – Book 3 in the Georgina Kincaid series

Source – Library

Book Information -Some days, a girl just can’t catch a break… especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men.  First there’s her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels.  It’s not just that they can’t have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys).  Lately, even spending time together is a challenge.  Seth’s obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina’s under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block.  Then there are the dreams.  Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future.  Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused – especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point.  Now Georgina faces a double challenge – rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind.  Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again…

Review – There are lots of different things going on in the third installment of the Georgina Kincaid series.  First of all there are the many complications that keep popping up between Seth and Georgina.  It is obviously becoming harder for them to stay together as a couple, and although the no-sex rule between them is taking its toll, other more serious issues are coming to the forefront, such as the inability to communicate with or trust each other.  Things become increasingly difficult for them when Seth has a near death experience and his outlook on life changes dramatically.
Also, there is a new succubus in town.  Tawny is surprisingly inept at seducing men, and as her mentor it is Georgina’s job to try to help her.  But things are made worse for Georgina as Niphon, the imp who bought Georgina’s soul, will be staying around until Tawny takes her first victim.  Niphon seems to hate Georgina and he does anything he can to make her miserable.
And, last but not least, there are the dreams that she has been having every time that she gets an energy fix from a victim.  Georgina experiences a very vivid dream and then wakes up the next morning to find that most of her energy has gone.  With her boss, Jerome, away on business Georgina turns to her mortal friend Erik (who made an appearance in Succubus Blues) and an acquaintance of his called Dante to try to work out what is happening to her.
There is a melancholy overtone throughout Succubus Dreams that hasn’t been present in the other books in this series.  What with the problems between her and Seth, her memories of past hurts and her longing for a child, we see a very different side to Georgina in this book.  It makes the reader really feel for Georgina, as although everybody experiences pain at some point in their lives nobody else has to live with that pain and guilt for all of eternity the way she does.  But I love Georgina and I really do hope that she finds some happiness in future books.
I really enjoyed reading Succubus Dreams and Richelle Mead is fast becoming my favourite author.  She has raised many issues that will stay with me, whilst managing to write a brilliant mystery that kept me enthralled in the storyline.  I have only just finished this book but I am starting Succubus Heat straight away as I can’t wait to find out what else is in store for Georgina.

Other books in the series (click on link to see my review):
1. Succubus Blues
2. Succubus Nights
3. Succubus Dreams
4. Succubus Heat
5. Succubus Shadows

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  Every week I’ll post about what books I have received that week – either through the mail for review, borrowed from the library or bought.  I had a great week this week!  I received 5 books for review – more than I’ve ever had before in one week!!! Very exciting!

For Review:

Jill Mansell – Take a Chance on Me

Cleo Quinn doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to men, but now Will’s come along she’s optimistic. Handsome, attentive and an absolute gentleman when it comes to her questionable cooking skills, he could be her Mr Right.  Things are definitely looking up for Cleo… apart from one small problem with a rather large ego.  Johnny LaVenture, sculptor extraordinaire and her childhood adversary, is back in Channing’s Hill and tormenting Cleo as if he’d never been away.  But life never goes to plan, does it?  Johnny isn’t the only one stirring up trouble and, for Cleo’s family and friends, all kinds of sparks are starting to fly.  If you think you can put the past behind you, think again…

Priya Basil – The Obscure Logic of the Heart

A devoted daughter; a secret love; an impossible dilemma…  Lina has always been the apple of her father’s strict eye.  When she meets Anil, a wealthy, cultured and decidedly liberal student of architecture from Kenya’s Asian community, the intensity of her feelings for someone so different takes her by surprise.  She is political and he is not; she is of modest background and he is not; she is a Muslim and he is not…  While Lina’s parents still dream of a suitable boy for their eldest daughter, she engages in an intricate game of deceit to hide her blossoming relationship.  When Lina’s mother chances upon a suitcase of their love letters, a moral chasm threatens to tear the family and the lovers apart.

Jo Cotterill – Star Crossed

Fliss isn’t exactly outgoing.  But on stage she really comes alive.  And this summer, she’s playing Juliet opposite her dream Romeo – Tom Mayerling.  If only she could tell him how she feels!  But unless Fliss finds some inner confidence, she’s going to miss her chance with Tom.  Because someone else has her eyes on Fliss’ role – and her leading man…

Julie Hyzy – Grace Under Pressure

Everyone wants a piece of millionaire Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, and letters are coming in daily from those claiming to be poor relations.  The elderly, reclusive heir trusts no one but his aged curator, Abe.  But when Abe is killed in a case of mistaken identity, the tide changes…
Although shaken by the murder, Grace Wheaton, whose lifelong dream has been to work at the manor, steps up to the challenge of assuming Abe’s job.  But now some of the letters arriving for Bennett have taken a nasty turn, demanding millions – or else.  When an uninvited stalker shows up at the manor and at Grace’s home, she and handsome groundskeeper Jack Embers must protect their dear old Marshfield.  But to do this, they’ll have to investigate a botched Ponzi scheme, some torrid wheaton family secrets – and sour grapes out for revenge…

Matt Haig – The Radleys

Meet the Radleys: Peter, Helen and their teenage kids Clara and Rowan.  An everyday family who live in a pretty English village and juggle dysfunctional lives.  So far, so normal.  Except, as Peter and Helen know (but the kids have yet to find out), the Radleys happen to be a family of abstaining vampires.  When one night Clara finds herself driven to commit a bloodthirsty act of violence, her parents need to explain a few things: why is their skin is so sensitive to light, why do they all find garlic so repulsive, and why has Clara’s recent decision to go vegan had quite such an effect on her behaviour…?  But when mysterious Uncle Will swoops into the village, he unleashes a host of shadowy truths and dark secrets that threaten to destroy the Radleys and the world around them.

Purchased:

Beth Fantaskey – Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit in to Jessica Packwood’s senior-year “get a life” plan.  But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth and he’s her long-lost fiance.  Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess.  But Jessica has never even been kissed – how can she possibly commit herself to a long-term relationship?  Or an eternal relationship, for that matter?

What was in your mailbox this week?

Publisher – Orbit
Publication Date – 26th February 2004
Paperback – 464 Pages
Genre – Urban Fantasy
Series – Book 1 in the Women of the Otherworld Series

Source – Library

Book Information – Elena Michaels is your regular twenty-first-century girl: self-assured, smart and fighting fit.  She also just happens to be the only female werewolf in the world…
It has some good points.  When she walks down a dark alleyway, she’s the scary one.  But now her Pack – the one she abandoned so that she could live a normal life – are in trouble, and they need her help.  Is she willing to risk her life to help the ex-lover who betrayed her by turning her into a werewolf in the first place?  And, more to the point, does she have a choice?

Review – At the start of the book, Elena is trying to live a normal life in Toronto, despite the fact that she is the only female werewolf in the world.  She lives with her boyfriend Philip (who knows nothing about her being a werewolf), and she has a normal job.  But it is obvious that Elena feels uncomfortable in this world and doesn’t know how to act ‘normally’.  She acts in a way that she thinks Philip would like, even though that isn’t the real Elena.  I felt really sorry for her at this point as I don’t think anybody can be very happy if they are not able to be themselves and feel as though they have to watch every word they say and every move they make.
Then she gets a call from Jeremy, the Alpha male of the Pack that she left a year ago, and Elena ends up having to go to Stonehaven where the Pack lives.  It is here that she meets up again with Clay, the ex-boyfriend who turned her into a werewolf against her will.  I think the romance element between Elena and Clay was brilliant.  Elena has a lot of bad feelings towards Clay but she keeps finding herself in bed with him.  However, Clay obviously loves Elena and would do anything for her.  They spend a lot of time fighting but they are always there for each other and there is an incredible amount of sexual chemistry between them.  I found myself desperately hoping that they would work out their differences as they really do belong together.
Elena has to go back to Stonehaven to help catch a rogue werewolf who has been killing humans in the area.  The Pack then have to find out who is behind the killings before any attention is drawn to them.  The mystery side of the story was fast-paced and well written, with lots of twists and turns that made me have to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next.  Once I started ‘Bitten’ I just couldn’t put it down and it is one of my favourite Urban Fantasy books that I have read so far.

Other books in the series:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frost Bitten

What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week. This meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Books completed last week:

Dido – Adele Geras
Wind Warrior – Cynthia Roberts

Books Reviewed Last Week:

Dido – Adele Geras
Double Jeopardy – Martin Stratford

I also interviewed Martin Stratford last week and you can read that here.

Books I gave up on:

None

Books I am currently reading:

Bitten – Kelley Armstrong

Up next:

Succubus Dreams – Richelle Mead