Book Chick City: November 2009

This Week's New Releases: 30/11/09 ~ 06/12/09

Monday, November 30, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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A few of this weeks releases.

The Werewolf's Guide To Life

A Manual for the Newly Bitten

Ritch Duncan, Bob Powers (Broadway)

Publication Date: 3 Dec 2009

Paperback: 256 pages

Summary (Goodreads)

Have you been attacked by a wolf-like creature in the last 30 days? Was it after the sun had set and under a full moon? If you answered, “yes” to both these questions, there’s a very good chance that you were bitten by a werewolf. You now have less than a month before the full moon returns and with it your first transformation into a savage, bloodthirsty beast.

Survival is an option, but first, know this:

• Werewolves are real.

• The majority of lycanthropes who do not have access to this book die during or shortly after their first transformations, generally due to heart failure, gunshot wounds, exposure, drowning or suicide.

• Hollywood horror movies are NOT to be used as guides to living as a werewolf. Their goal is not to educate, but to entertain. As a result, they are largely ignorant of the realities of the condition.

• Ignorance creates monsters; lycanthropy does not.

• You are not a monster.

The Werewolf's Guide to Life cuts through the fiction and guides you through your first transformation and beyond, offering indispensable advice on how to tell if you’re really a werewolf, post-attack etiquette, breaking the news to your spouse, avoiding government abduction, and how to not just survive, but thrive. You cannot afford to not read this book. Your very life depends on it.

Crimson (Dead World #3)

Jordan Summers (Tor Books)

Publications Date: 2 Dec 2009

Paperback: 311 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary (Goodreads)

On the run from the law, Gina ‘Red’ Santiago and Sheriff Morgan Hunter continue their search for the proof needed to clear their names. Unfortunately, the danger doesn’t just lie in No-Man’s-Land. Someone near to them is about to betray them for the Other blood running through their veins.

Politician Roark Montgomery is desperate. The election is near and he still hasn’t found the fugitives. Roark’s not above using the traitor in his midst to kill the two people that stand between him and political victory. It takes a predator to catch a predator. Morgan’s and Red’s only option is to face the assault head on. With Roark, nothing is ever that easy, but they know two things he doesn’t: Love is worth dying for. And it’s never smart to corner a hungry wolf.

Divine Misdemeanors

(Merry Gentry #8)

Laurell K. Hamilton (Bantam Books)

Publication Date: 4 Dec 2009

Hardback: 336 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Summary (Goodreads)

Between dark faerie magic and the deepest desires lies the world of Meredith Gentry, princess, private eye, and powerful player in a game of supernatural sexual intrigue. The tension in this extraordinary saga continues to mount as Merry, pregnant with twins, refuses the throne of faerie and retreats with her bodyguards to Los Angeles in an attempt to protect the new life growing within her. Both the deadly destructive factions of the faerie courts -- as well as those who would worship her -- will be equally dangerous to her attempts to create a peaceful haven for her unborn children.

Labels: This Week's New Releases |

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The 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge - My Progress!

Monday, November 30, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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I couldn't resist this challenge. This year I've read a lot more YA, so thought I would challenge myself next year by joining J. Kaye's 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge. I haven't chosen my books yet, I will probably just add them as I go.

There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

Timeline: 1 Jan 2010 ~ 31st Dec 2010

You can find out more about the challenge here.

I am going for: The Mini (12)

**UPDATE** As I have already hit target of 12 YA books, I am upgrading to next level.

So, I am going for: Just My Size (25) - COMPLETED!

The Splendour Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Mr Monster by Dan Wells
Marked by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Betrayed by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Chosen by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Untamed by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Hunted by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Tempted by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Burned by P. C. & Kristin Cast
Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw
Shadows by Amy Meredith
The Other Countess by Eve Edwards
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld
The Radleys by Matt Haig
Crawlers by Sam Enthoven
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy: Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Labels: BCC's Reading Challenges 2010 |

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In My Mailbox (#19)

Sunday, November 29, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Received some great books this week for review. I'm so excited about The Everlasting, it looks like a great horror and the cover is just brilliant! I'm also looking forward to starting the Weather Warden series and The Morganville Vampires. The book buying ban I was on didn't last very long, only nine days, but it's better than nothing, don't you think? All links go to Goodreads, just in case you wanted to add any to your shelves!

For Review:

The Everlasting

Tim Lebbon (Allison & Busby)

Publication Date: 28 Aug 2008 (this edition)

Paperback: 350 pages

Genre: Horror

Summary (book cover)

Thirty years ago, Scott's grandfather slaughtered his best friend, then committed suicide. Now the spirit of the murdered man has returned, seeking the ancient volume that can return him to life... for ever. And only Scott can stop him. Pursued by this savage spirit and accompanied by a strange woman who claims to be immortal, Scott must do the impossible: find the book that may have driven his grandfather to murder, and destroy it before its secrets can be revealed. His desperate search will take him where few living souls have been, including the nightmare place known as the House of Screaming Skulls...

The Rest Falls Away

(The Gardella Vampire Chronicles #1)

Colleen Gleason (Allison & Busby)

Publication Date: 28 April 2008 (this edition)

Paperback: 431 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary (book cover)

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy of vampire slaying, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget. And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

Ill Wind

(Weather Warden #1)

Rachel Caine (Allison & Busby)

Publication Date: 28 April 2008 (this edition)

Paperback: 414 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Summary (book cover)

The Wardens Association has been around pretty much for ever. Some Wardens control fire, others control earth, water, or wind - and the most powerful can control more than one element. Without Wardens, Mother Nature would wipe humanity off the face of the earth...

Joanne Baldwin - fashion addict and professional, if unwilling hero - is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now Joanne is trying to outrun another kind of strom: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life. Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful Warden. Unfortunately, he's also on the run from the World Council. It seems he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn - making him the most wanted man on earth. And without Lewis, Joanne's chances of surviving are as good as a snowball in - well, a place she may be headed. So she and her classic Mustang are racing hard to find him because there's some bad weather closing in fast...

Glass Houses

(The Morganville Vampires #1)

Rachel Caine (Allison & Busby)

Publication Date: 26 May 2008 (this edition)

Paperback: 348 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary (book cover)

Morganville is a small town filled with unusual characters - when the sun goes down, the bad come out. In Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day. For Claire Danvers, high school was hell, but college may be murder. It was bad enough that she got on the wrong side of Monica, the meanest of the school's mean girls, but now she's got three new roommates, who all have secrets of their own. And the biggest secret of all isn't really a secret, except from Claire: Morganville is run by vampires, and they are hungry for fresh blood...

Beyond the Wall of Time

(The Broken Man Trilogy #3)

Russell Kirkpatrick (Orbit)

Publication Date: 17 Dec 2009

Paperback: 534 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Summary (book cover)

The wall of time has fallen, leaving the gods free to indulge their hunger for violence. A few know of their escape into mortal lands - and these few struggle against the control of the malevolent mage Husk. They also struggle with their own problems. Queen Stella, still hiding, must make a deal with the Undying Man. His word is suspect, but her options are limited. Fisherman Noetos seeks revenge for the deaths of his loved ones, not yet realising the enemy is closer than he imagines. And the unconventional cosmographer Lenares is the only one with the power to prevent the Gods destroying the world - if anyone will believe her. The queen, fisherman and cosmographer must travel to Andratan to confont Husk. But whether they can break free of his hold on them, and defeat the Gods, is another matter entirely.

Bought:

• Xombies Apocalypse Blues by Walter Greatshell

• Dead to Me by Anton Strout

So, that's what was in my mailbox this week - how about you?

Labels: In My Mailbox |

24 comments |

New Blogs on the Block: Fiction Vixen

Saturday, November 28, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Fiction Vixen

1. When and why did you start blogging?

I've been blogging for years on various other topics. Although I've lurked around (sounds so diabolical doesn't it?) in the bookish community for some time, I only decided to start blogging about my minor obsession in August. I suppose I never really thought anyone would be interested in anything I had to say and I still wonder about that. But, I've had a great time socializing with those that share my love of books so I just do my thing and enjoy.

2. Tell us a little about your blog?

FictionVixen.com is still in it's infancy and I've changed my mind many times as to the direction I want to take it. I do know that I want to focus on book reviews and commentary on my favorite genres. I've just held my first giveaway and I look forward see where things go in the future.

FV's Tech! Hey, that's me! ;)

3. Are there any features on your blog you would like to highlight?

Since my blog is still so new, I haven't come up with anything totally unique to FictionVixen.com. Hopefully in the future as time permits I'll come up with something but for now, I'm focusing on book reviews.

4. What's been the high point of blogging so far?

I have to say I've been overwhelmed with the overall warmth of this online community. I love it that my fellow bloggers take the time to visit regularly and leave meaningful positive comments on my posts. I've learned a great deal in a short amount of time from bloggers like yourself and I'm excited to be a part of this community. I've recently started receiving requests from publishers and authors for reviews and I have to say, it's great honor.

5. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am wife to my British husband (I'm American), and mom to three active girls. Until recently I worked from home creating digital scrapbook designs and graphics for blog design. I'm always in need of a creative outlet so I'm looking forward to whatever is next.

FV Reading

6. What's your favourite book of all time?

That is a very hard question for me since I've been known to be quite fickle when it comes to books. I tend to fall in love with a series as opposed to a specific book. I suppose if I had to pick one it would be Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I absolutely could not put it down. I feel like Claire and Jamie are old friends. If I were going to pick a series it would be the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning.

7. Who are your favourite authors?

Karen Marie Moning, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kresley Cole, J.R. Ward... really, I think there are too many that I love to name them all here.

8. How many books are on your tbr list right now?

That really depends on what you consider a TBR list to be. If you mean books I actually own but have not read, then at last count about 40ish and growing. If you mean books that I have on my list that I intend to read sometime before I die... well, that's a much different story. Check my GoodReads.com shelf for a sampling of that list. :)

FV's Favourite Reads

9. Where do you see your blog in a year from now?

To be honest I haven't really thought that far in the future. I've been hard at work trying to create a blog that is esthetically pleasing to the eye, easy to navigate and entertaining. I hope to beef up the content as I go and the main focus is and always will be simply to create a base for sharing my love of reading with my peers.

Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Thanks FV!

Labels: New Blogs on the Block |

17 comments |

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Dresskeeper' by Mary Naylus

Friday, November 27, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Title: The Dresskeepr

Author: Mary Naylus

Publisher: Prospera Publishing

Publication Date: 27 Nov 2009

ARC: 238 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Young Adult

Source: Review Copy

Reviewed by: Carolyn

RATING: 6/10

BOOK COVER SUMMARY:

Picky Robson thought things couldn't get any worse. Her life is a boy-free zone, she's being bullied at school, then mum announces she has to look after gran every weekend for the foreseeable future. One night, unknowingly tempting fate, Picky slips into a flouncy old dress from the depths of an ancient chest and finds herself back in the 17th Century London. But she is not alone. A weirdo in a wig is trying to kill her - mistaking her for a girl called Amelia. Who is Amelia? Can Picky change the pst by exposing the murderer? And will she make it back alive?

REVIEW:

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the main character Picky (real name Penelope), and all the supporting cast of characters were well written and had a lot of depth to them. I was able to immerse myself in Picky's life quite quickly and found the travelling from the present to the past really interesting and most of the time absorbing.

Picky, however, did have an annoying habit of saying "no, seriously" quite a lot, which at first was quite funny as I could really hear a thirteen-year-old saying it. But after a while it lost its appeal and became irritating. I was also surprised at Picky's lack of knowledge. Her exclamation of "what on earth is a Nazi?" and her insistence of not quite grasping the fact that the 17th Century didn't have phones or the internet, even though she had travelled back three or four times, was annoying. And yet, she knew Christopher Wren and that he built St. Paul's Cathedral and Isaac Newton, so her intelligence, or lack of it, wasn't really consistent.

However, overall Picky is very witty and had me smiling several times throughout the book. The premise of her slipping on a dress and travelling back in time is a good one. Her descriptions of Victorian England are very visual and I enjoyed the detail of the 'flouncy' dresses she had to wear and how different Victorian London is to London today. At times the descriptions had me using my other senses too...

I step outside onto the path, and seemingly into a giant bonfire. Black soot lies over everything... It's hard to breathe... I am still trying not to use my nose because of the putrid smell. I begin to cough, then I notice that the brown stuff on the street is poo...

Hmm, lovely...

VERDICT:

This is a really good read and I found myself reading the majority of the book in one sitting. I think it is more suitable for the lower teens, but I'm sure you would enjoy it at any age, as I did, and I look forward to the next book from Mary Naylus, 'The Plaguemaker'.

You can read more about the author here:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Labels: 6/10 Rating, Authors M-P, Book Reviews, Fantasy, Prospera, Reviews by Carolyn, Young Adult |

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Guest Post & Giveaway with author Gabriel Madison [NOW CLOSED]

Thursday, November 26, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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The Killing Off Of Main Characters

by Gabriel Madison

First I would like to thank Carolyn for giving me an opportunity to share something I’ve been thinking about for the past few months.

I used to be a huge fan of the TV show One Tree Hill. I loved the show because of the story about two brothers, living in the same small town, going to the same high school, but having absolutely nothing to do with each other on account of their domineering father. The story of Nathan and Lucas pulled me into the fascinating story about belonging, and true family. I have to also admit, the story of Lucas and Peyton became very interesting to me as well.

Anyway, last season made it obvious that a main character from the show was going to be killed off. I hated it because it was my favorite character. Every week became harder and harder to watch because I knew they were going to kill of this character. The last episode finally came, and not only did the writers not kill of this character, but they gave them a happy ending.

I went to the online chat rooms and message boards and read how people felt about the ending. The thing I kept seeing is how people felt the writer took the easy way out. How the writer didn’t have the courage to kill off a main character.

I personally feel the writer showed they had courage and creativity by not killing off a main character. Maybe ten years ago, killing off a main character in movies, TV shows and books would be shocking and provocative. But now, it seems killing off a main character is a trendy thing to do. I’ve seen countless movies and TV shows, and read many books where a main character is killed off. It’s no longer taboo, but almost expected. It feels like if writers don’t have anything else to talk about, or no creative way to take a story, they kill someone off. I personally feel this has become a crutch that writers use to try and show they are edgy or unpredictable, when actually killing off a main character has become very predictable.

I read a book a few months ago (not going to say the name of the book, but trust me, EVERYONE has heard of it) and the entire time I was reading the book, I knew a few main characters were going to be killed off. When I got to the end, the writer took a turn I didn’t see coming… nothing happened. A lot of people have criticized the writer for taking this direction, and honestly when I first finished the book, I thought that was a lot of build up for nothing to happen. No fighting, no death, no supposedly tearful ending. Instead, it felt more like a happily ever after story, something we don’t get much of these days.

I’m not saying all stories should end with a happily ever after ending, nor am I saying killing off a main character should be done away with, I’m only saying that mixing it up would truly make for unpredictable storytelling, some stories ending with characters riding off into the sunset, while some stories ending with characters suffering a tearful death.

Today’s writers, whether they are for movies, TV shows or novels, seem to take the shocking death of a main character approach to storytelling. For example, one of my favorite shows on TV is Lost, the last season is coming up soon, most of the conversation is about who is going to die at the end of the series. Lets be honest, what would be more shocking, killing characters everyone is waiting to see die, or letting them all live?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Gabriel Madison started writing when he was in high school, mostly short stories and poetry, and then developed a passion for screenplays. He attended a private art University in Atlanta Georgia for Media Production. There he studied script writing and film making. He wrote a few screenplays, and made a few short movies, including a twelve-minute vampire movie, he adapted from a short story, called Midnight Diner. After leaving school, his passion shifted mainly towards writing stories, than shooting and directing them. He writes short stories, novellas, screenplays, graphic novels and full-length novels. He was once asked to define himself: he answered... ‘storyteller’.

Gabriel Madison now lives back home in Albany Georgia. His debut novel Three Seeds is now available in print and as an eBook. His vampire novella The Green-Eyed Devil will soon be released only as an eBook.

Title: Three Seeds

Paperback: 290 pages

Publisher: eTreasures Publishing

Publication Date: 19 Aug 2009

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Buy here: Amazon

Summary:

An unnatural cold front grows each day, bewildering world leaders and scientists, while leaving people across the world in a state of panic. All of North America is covered in snow. Earth is slowly reverting into a frozen oasis, causing religious groups to scream of the end of days, while others believe it’s the beginning of a new and foretold era.

Rosemary Anderson finds herself working as a receptionist, living on an old southern plantation and wishing for excitement. David, the man claiming to have rescued her from a car wreck three years earlier, has maneuvered himself into her life, but only shows up occasionally to ask Rose strange and cryptic questions about a past she no longer remembers.

Rose’s desire for adventure comes true, when strange men arrives at her plantation, and suddenly assails her. Rose narrowly escapes with the help of her mysterious friend David. David flees to Atlanta as he leads Rose through a hidden and treacherous world filled with death, power, secrets and passion. While trying to protect her from immortals shrouded by shadows, an ancient secret society and antediluvian beings from a forgotten time determined to either capture... or kill her.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Okay, onto the CONTEST!

Gabriel is kindly giving a copy of Three Seeds in e-Book format as today's prize.

To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is the following:

1. Tweet/Blog about this contest leaving link with comment

2. Leave email address with comment

That's it - easy peasy lemon squeezy!

This is open worldwide and ends 3rd Dec. Good luck to all!

If you would like to know more about Gabriel and his books then visit him here:

Website

Labels: Giveaways, Guest Author |

10 comments |