Running With Wolves

Happy Thursday Everyone,

There's a YA Paranormal trilogy by Andrea Creamer out there full of werewolves...only this isn't your ordinary werewolf--in fact, I kind of hestitate to call them "werewolf" because they're not really like that, they're not a typical werewolf at all. The last one came out January 3, 2012, and it was very good.

Calla Lily--Calla for short--has known all her life that as a Guardian, she was to serve and protect the Keepers and obey their every command. In return, they supply everything a Guardian could need.

In Nightshade, the first in the trilogy, Lumine, Calla's Keeper decides the Nightshades (Calla's wolf pack) and the Banes (rival pack) must unit. Lumine and the Bane's Keeper have arranged for Calla and Bane up-and-coming alpha, Ren to be mates. Calla understands this is how things must be. After all, her kind aren't allowed to choose very many things for themselves. They owe the Keepers everything.

Except, when she meets Shay everything changes.

Then enter the Seekers...enemies of Guardians and Keepers.

Wolfsbane picks up right where Nightshade leaves off and takes you on a ride through how the Seekers operate...and all the lies...when Calla learns the truth, what will she do?

Where Wolfsbane ends, Bloodrose opens. A war is brewing. A line has been drawn firmly in the sand. Guardians are choosing sides. Betrayals have happened. And Calla is torn between her love for Shay and her love for Ren.

The ultimate war between good and evil erupts and Calla is right smack in the middle of everything.

When the dust clears...where will it leave Calla, Ren, and Shay?

Love, loyalty, betrayal, lies, truth, good and evil...Andrea Creamer's Nightshade trilogy is full of surprises. You never know what to expect. The trilogy was like no werewolf (which, given what they are, I'm not sure if "werewolf" is the right term or not) novel I've ever read. Very different. I really enjoyed the first two, and the last has a quite an ending.

Find it at Amazon and Amazon Kindle, as well as Barnes & Noble and Barnes & Noble Nook.

Have A Tantalizing Thursday!

Weave Through Time A Bit Of Celtic Magic

Happy Wednesday Everybody,

I forgot to let you all know that Andrea Creamer's Bloodrose, book 3 in her Nightshade series came out yesterday. I've got it and am looking forward to reading it...if you haven't read this series, it's a YA Paranormal...wolves done differently...not your typical werewolf fare at all. Really good. If you haven't checked out Nightshade I recommend it.

Now, for anyone who didn't read the comments in the comments section of yesterday's post, I warned a commenter that I'd be posting about more books I've read. After all, I mentioned I got THREE books for Christmas and I'm now reading last one. Today I'm going to talk about one of the ones I received and tomorrow I'll talk about the other (I don't know when I'll talk about the last one, I still have to finish reading it).

The first book I chose to read out of my Christmas presents was Lesley Livingston's Once Every Never. I chose it because it was a gift from my offspring and being a mom I thought "Hey, even if they don't ask, I should go ahead and read that one first." Plus I loved Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange Trilogy (great YA fantasy books, very well written, absolutely recommend).

A wonderful thing about Lesley is she takes mythology, or in this case, history and mythology, and fills in the blanks with such talent you start to believe it's possible:

Clare, short for Clarinet (her parents are musicians), finds herself spending the summer with her aunt, an archaeologist, and her best friend.

Clare's prepared for being watched like a hawk (after all, when you end up having a wild party and your folks find out, you're bound to be watched more carefully than before). She's also coming to terms with the fact that despite being in London, the likelihood of her doing any shopping at the famous Harrod's or going anywhere else like that is nonexistent. So...being abroad may not be as exciting as Clare hoped.

However, a touch to a priceless artifact triggers blood curse magic, and Clare realizes her humdrum existence is about to become anything but ordinary!

Once Every Never deals with Britain's Celtic Queen, Boudicca. I didn't find much details on the site I looked at, but it was really something to contemplate just how much research Lesley must have had to do for this novel. Not only that, but to fill in where history books leave gaps.



When picking up this book, don't expect it to be like her Wondrous Strange Trilogy. That is doing Once Every Never a disservice. This novel stands on its own. It's not a branch off of Wondrous Strange and has nothing to do with that trilogy. Once Every Never is its own story.

It wouldn't surprise me if Once Every Never has a sequel, however, I can also see it as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it. It's action, history, magic, and romance all packed up into one YA Fantasy novel.

Find it on:  Amazon (paperback) and Barnes & Noble (paperback).  (Note:  I didn't see it available on Kindle or Nook).

Have A Whimsical Wednesday!

New Releases & Great Reads

Happy Thursday Everyone,

We're finally on the mend, for which I'm saying thank you prayers. With Christmas right around the corner, it's a dear wish of mine for us to be well enough to enjoy the festivities, and it looks more of a possibility than earlier this week.

I don't know if I'll get to posting on Friday or not, but if I don't, I want to leave you with some new release news:

Christie Craig has released a brand new e-book called Murder, Mayhem & Mama. It'll be exclusively available on Barnes & Noble Nook, then sometime in February 2012 will be available on Amazon Kindle.

Nina Cordoba has taken her writing in a new direction with her brand new release, Mia Like Crazy.  It's available on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook.

If you're looking for in-prints to read:

Syrie James' Nocturne is one of my favorite vampire novels. This poigant, emotional novel will keep you going long after you finish the last page.

Magic abounds in Shanna Swendson's Enchanted Inc. 4-book series. I adore these books and have read them more than once.

If you're looking for something sexy and vampire, check out Kerrelyn Sparks' Love At Stake series. First book is called How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire. Humor, romance, and awesome vampires.

If you're looking for something Christmassy, I laughed and utterly enjoyed Debbie Macomber's The Perfect Christmas.

If you're looking for a YA read...

Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed is absolutely superb. The furies and fates have kept scions (demigods) reliving the Helen of Troy, Trojan war over and over. Fantastic read. Love it, can't wait for the sequel (2012, Dreamless will be released).

Check out Lauren Oliver's thought-provoking dystopian, Delirium. What if love were considered a disease? What if it could be eradicated? Would you take the cure? The sequel, Pandemonium will be available in 2012.

Andrea Creamer kind of took me by surprise with her Nightshade novel and its sequel, Wolfsbane. Really fascinating story. I'm looking forward to Bloodrose available January 3, 2012. Shape shifters, lies, and a brewing war. Never a dull moment.

I probably will have a post up for Friday, but I don't know for sure. Either way, hope y'all have a Merry Christmas!

Have A Tinsel-Filled Thursday!