Hi Guys! Hope you’re having a great weekend. Here’s the low down on what happened at BCC this week…

GUESTS

• Laura Kaye, author of the soon to be released paranormal romance, West of Want, stop by with her post: A Villain You’ll Love to Hate + Giveaway (ends 15/08/12)
• This week’s Debut Author Spotlight is on Janet Edwards, author of Earth Girl.

REVIEWS

• 5 Star Review – Tarnished by Karina Cooper
• 4 Star Review – Tremble Part 1 by Toshba Learner (Alternative Romance)
• 4 Star Review – Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong
• 3.5 Star Review – Blood & Silver by James R. Tuck
• 3.5 Star Review - Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane
• 3.5 Star Review – Shadow’s Edge by J. T. Geissinger
• 3 Star Review – The Taker by Alma Katsu
• 2.5 Star Review – Fallen by Traci L. Slatton
• 2.5 Star Review - The Roommate (Friday Film Review)

OTHER POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup - Comic Book TV Shows Making A Comeback, Walking Dead Season 3 Trailer, RIP Maeve Binchy & Union Jack Handbag
• UK Cover Art: Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison
• New Series Alert: Immortality Bites by Michelle Rowen
• Feed Your Fiction Addiction: August’s New UK Releases in Urban Fantasy
• Feed Your Fiction Addiction: August’s New UK Releases in Paranormal Romance

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

Another crazy week for me, but hopefully things will settle down somewhat next week. I have finished reading Christina Courtenay’s new novel THE SILENT TOUCH OF SHADOWS (review coming soon). As my reading time has been short I’ve only been able to read a novella this week, but it was a really fun historical romance A DELIGHTFUL ARRANGEMENT by Cecilia Gray. I have also got back into listening to audiobooks now I am driving to and from work again and have listened DEVIL OF THE HIGHLANDS also a historical romance, by Lynsay Sands. Definitely a laugh-out-loud funny book, I really enjoyed it.

I’m rather excited as just as if my weeks aren’t crazy enough, but after sadly loosing our dog in May, we are picking up a new puppy this week! She is sooo cute, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, but my husband and I do like big dogs. At the moment of writing this we still can’t quite decide on a name, hopefully we will have by the time we pick her up. I will be posting pics on my twitter account if you want to see

VICKIE’S ROUNDUP

I am rather pleased with myself this week. I have managed to complete two books, and have actually enjoyed both of them! The first is DAMNABLE by Hank Schwaeble and the second was SPELL BOUND by Kelley Armstrong. Damnable was a change of pace for me, as it is a horror and I haven’t read anything from the horror shelf for quite a while. I have to admit some of the more gruesome parts of of the story turned my stomach in the beginning but a few chapters in and I was getting more comfortable with the bloody bits (not that there are too many…thankfully). Hank Schwaeble is also a new author for me and I quite liked his style although I did manage to find a few bits I was a little unhappy with. You can catch my review on Damnable a little later in the month. I then moved on to an oldie but a goodie for me, which was diving back into the Women of the Otherworld series, by Kelley Armstrong. I picked up the latest two in the series and was determined I was going to make some headway whilst I was on holiday, so picked up Spell Bound as soon as I had finished Damnable, and I loved being dragged straight back into the storyline. I had to stop and think a couple of times to try and refresh my memory from the previous book (it really has been too long) but a few chapters in and I was away again,and finding it very hard to put down. I am loving the angst between the main character Savannah Levine and her bestie, Adam, and was gutted to have the book finish, especially where it did, but Yay! I have the next one to read straight away. Review books first though!

BECS’S ROUNDUP

I’ve enjoyed this week’s reading. A light, fun read is sometimes just the ticket to get motivated again and THE VAMPIRE STALKER by Allison Van Diepen was surprisingly that book  for me. I also finished 172 HOURS ON THE MOON by Johan Harstag, SHATTERED DREAMS by Ellie James and THE HUNTING GROUND by Cliff McNish, reviews all to come soon.

I’m ecstatic that I have managed to get my hands on an ARC of THE LOST PRINCE by Julie Kagawa I’m a huge fan of the Iron Fey series and can’t wait to see what mischief Prince Ethan will be getting up to. I’ve also bought a few new books this week with the Kindle sale still going, THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET by Kady Cross, FAERY TALES AND NIGHTMARES by Melissa Marr and a new release by Amanda Hocking, WAKE. My TBR pile is huge and I’ve only realised how big it’s grown when I attempted to prioritise my reading list, with so many sneaky buys going straight on my Kindle, my TBR list is over 80 books! So my future new book purchases should be non-existent.

Next week’s reads I hope to include IMMORTAL CITY by Scott Spear, REBEL HEART by Moria Young and EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington.

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

I’m almost finished both TREMBLE by Tobsha Learner and RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aaronovich. I have two stories left to read in Tremble and must say that the cover really doesn’t give an accurate image of what the shorts are like. The first of my reviews is here, and the others will be following over the next couple of weeks. As for RIVERS OF LONDON, it’s very quirky and completely different in tone to its American UF counterparts. The review should be up really soon after I finish it.

Last week, I said I was going to read THE STRAIN by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. I’ve changed my mind and am actually going to read THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK by Jillian Stone. I feel I need some PNR in my life again. My book buying ban is doing better this week. I only bought one book and even then I have to return it because it’s the wrong one.

Shock, horror I haven’t been to the cinema this week. I’ve seen nearly everything and the next film I want to see is THE BOURNE LEGACY. Hope to see that on Monday. Somehow I have been sucked into watching the Olympics, and did get a little emotional when Chris Hoy won the cycling and felt really proud that Andy Murray won the Tennis. However, I will be glad to watch something else after its finished

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished off SOUL FIRE by Kate Harrison, the second in her Soul Beach series, and I have to say that I am very impressed with her writing style. This book wasn’t quite as good as the first, but was still a very good read, and I can’t wait to read the final book in the series (I just don’t want to wait a year for it!)

I then moved on to reading DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES by Zoe Marriott, a YA fantasy novel that really pulled me in, as the author was really good at world building. My next book, SUNRISE AT SUNSET by Jaz Primo wasn’t nearly as good as this, but more on these two books in my reviews that are coming soon!

I’m currently reading THE FINAL EMPIRE by Brandon Sanderson, the first book in the Mistborn Trilogy, which a friend at university lent to me a while ago. I have to say I’m loving it so far, as the fantasy world has pulled me right in and won’t let me go! I’m about a third of the way through, and despite being such a long book it isn’t dragging at all and I’m enjoying it a lot. Can’t wait to finish this one and write my review

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

I wish I didn’t have to admit that due to my complete lack of organisation and flakey internet connection I didn’t get my roundup posted in time last week. That way I could look like I was an bionic reading machine.  Saying that though I have had great books to read over the last fortnight.  Last week was a super exciting release week for me as everyday another goodie either appeared on my Kindle or arrived in the post.

I did a one person high 5 when SHADOWS BEFORE THE SUN, the next novel in the Charlie Madigan series by Kelly Gay appeared on my Kindle. I tried to make it last a few days but unfortunately, it was soo good and I read it the same day. Now I have to wait in anticipation for the next one.   Then CHASING MAGIC by Stacia Kane appeared and I enjoyed it but perhaps not as much as the other books in the series. I do love the Downside vernacular and it demonstrates Kane’s talent as a story teller. There was almost squealing when GUNMETAL MAGIC popped through the letterbox.  The disappointment of not being able to get the Kindle version and the added stress of Amazon being sold out was quickly gone by page 1.  Loved it.

Last week I read two of the books that I will be reviewing including MOCKINGBIRD by Chuck Wendig and THE TEMPEST by Julie Cross. I don’t want to spoil the fun in September of reading my reviews so no more to say here. Another book I got totally obsessed with was KISS OF STEEL by Bec McMaster. I could not put this book down and was completely gripped. It even interfered with my Olympics watching!  Another book that diverted my attention away from anything else I should have been doing (like going to bed on time) was IRONSKIN by Tina Connolly.  I am very lucky to have received early copies of both of these books from NetGalley and the opportunity review them.

I am supposed to be saving a few of my other new books for my holiday but that is a whole day away and already dipped into one! I am looking forward to sunshine and new books.  August has only just started and has turned out to be a great month on the book front.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 19th Aug 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 2nd Sept 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 16th Sept 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 26th Aug 2012