Review: Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

(Net Galley e-book - 471 KB - 84,100 words)
Publication date: 3/28/11

Amazon Product Description:
For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears?

My thoughts:

Fantastic story!  I fell fast and didn't put it down until it was over!  I love the fresh new take on the whole werewolf idea!  If this first book is any indication of how great future books will be I can't wait!

Incredible characters!  Each of the characters has been well thought-out and lovingly designed.  It was easy to become completely engrossed in the lives on the page.  I was fully invested by the time I had turned the page a couple times.  If you are into shifters - this book is for YOU!

Elizabeth is superbly created!  From the first altercation in the bar when she was young, you just know she is going to great.  Angie - we all know that woman and secretly hope to have that kind of effect on people.  Braden - WOW! What more needs to be said - truly, we could only hope men like this existed!  I won't go on and name each character, but they all deserve mention as each and every one plays an important role.  The author didn't waste a single word on a character that had no meaning in the story, nor did she under-develop anyone.  Really, all the characters are superbly created.

The story line is smooth and the transitions between the past and the present flow easily.  The plot is interesting and intriguing - keeps you turning the pages.  I was thrilled with the new spin on werewolves - absolutely LOVED Braden's family and the idea that they chose and were supported and loved.  It was interesting that the mate for life aspect that we see in almost every shifter story is missing here -  giving the characters the choice in who they decide to be with.  

Review: The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris

I got this story from Netgalley.

pub date:  4/18/11

Amazon Product Description:

In the third installment in the Knights’ Tales series, Gerald Morris tells the laugh-outloud tale of King Arthur’s most celebrated knight, and nephew, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. With lively illustrations by Aaron Renier, Morris creates a captivating and comical medieval world that teems with humor and wonder.

This chapter book is sure to set young readers on another rollicking and hilarious Arthurian adventure!

My thoughts:

This was my first Knight's Tales book and I loved it.  The story was well told and entertaining.  It is a great read for young people and would be a super read-aloud for a classroom teacher.  This series would be a fantastic enhancement to any unit on King Arthur and his times.

The lesson is about courtesy, courage, honor, and the value of friendship.  It is told in a way that is humorous and captivating.  A great way to share the tale of the Green Knight and Sir Gawain with young readers and a fun retelling for the King Arthur fan in us all.

This story will capture the heart of young and old readers alike!  

Fool for Books Giveaway Hop!

Inspired Kathy at I Am A Reader Not A Writer, with some help from The Bookish Snob, is hosting another great Giveaway Hop!

Click here to go to the Linky!

I am #67 on the Linky list - Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the hop!

So ~~~~ the information you really want: What am I giving away?

I was lucky and was given two copies of The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead- from Stephen R. Lawhead!  So, I am keeping one and giving one to the lucky follower whose entry number gets drawn by random.org!
The giveaway runs from April 1, 2011 until midnight on April 2, 2011.  The winner will be chosen by random.org on April 3, 2011, the winner will be emailed and the book sent to the address listed on the form.

Rules:

1. Must be a follower - 2. Must be 13 years old or older. - 3. Must complete the form (fully)

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead!

Amazon Product Description:

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intereing realities. To unravel the future of the future.
Kit Livingston's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.
One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard, and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code--a roadmap of symbols--that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.
But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.
The Bright Empires series--from acclaimed author Stephen Lawhead--is a unique blending of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, fantastical adventure like no other.

To enter this giveaway hop - please make sure you are a follower and fill out this form!

April is Net Galley Month!

For those that don't know, NetGalley is a way for publishers to share their digital galleys securely to readers. Bloggers, librarians, booksellers.

Emily at Red House Books has declared April to be Net Galley Month!  I think this is a fantastic idea!  I am a Net Galley member and I too have amassed quite a list of galleys that I have been trying to get read and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to get me going on them!  So.... the idea is to read as many Net Galley books as possible in April 2011!  If you are interested in participating - then go here and sign up to be a part of this!

The books I am hoping to finish are:

Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez - - 4/1/11 - Review
Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler - 4/2/11 - Review
Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan - 4/3/11 - Review

The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter by Frank L. Cole - 4/16/11 - Review
In the Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane - 4/20/11 - Review
Forever Vampire by Michele Hauf - 4/22/22 - Review
Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins - 4/24/11 - Review

The Vampire Dimitri by Colleen Gleason - 4/25/11 - Review

Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape

Badlands by Seleste DeLaney

The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton

I will post the reviews and link them here as I finish the books!

Review: Phantom Evil by Heather Graham

Phantom Evil by Heather Graham
Pub. date: 3/29/2011

Pre-order the Hardcover version for $14.17 at Amazon.com
I got this book as an e-book ARC from Netgalley.com

Amazon Product Description:
A secret government unit is formed under the oversight of Adam Harrison, famed paranormal investigator. The six members he's gathered know a little of the otherworldly—each has honed a psychic talent of their own.

Jackson Crow, part English, part Cheyenne, heads the group. Haunted by his experience with an ancestral ghost who saved his life as a child, and the recent murders of two previous teammates, Jackson can't tell if Adam's demoted him or given him an extraordinary opportunity. Despite his link to the realm of spirits, he's well aware that the living commit the most heinous crimes, with spiritualist charlatans existing merely to fool and seduce the unwary.

To counterbalance Jackson's careful skepticism, Adam Harrison has paired him with Angela Hawkins, a young woman who learned the painful lesson of loss at an early age. A police officer utilizing her paranormal intuition in Virginia, she already has her hands full. But Adam's call to New Orleans is strong.

The case: In a historic mansion in New Orleans's French Quarter, a senator's wife falls to her death from a balcony. Most think she jumped, distraught over the loss of her young son. Some say she was pushed. And yet others believe she was beckoned by the ghostly spirits that inhabit the house—once the site of a serial killer's grisly work.

Whether supernatural or all too human, crimes of passion, greed and desire will cast the pair into danger of losing their lives…and their immortal souls.

My thoughts:
This was an edge of the seat thriller, ghost story with a romance on the side!  The characters are wonderful and the setting is fantastic.  I fell in love with the characters in the first few pages and couldn't wait to find out what happened next.  The author takes the reader through the wringer with the emotional rollercoaster that is this story.  This is a story of good vs. evil, life vs. death, real vs. unreal, natural vs. supernatural and the power of goodness and love.  If you enjoy ghost stories, love stories, mysteries, or thrillers - this is a must read!!!


New Orleans is the perfect setting for a ghost story and the author takes full advantage of that fact, using religion, folklore, and legend to add their own edge to her wonderfully written tale.  The descriptions of the city and the people are colorful, imaginative, and complete.  You feel as though you are right there with them as part of the team.  


The plot is thick and twisted - which is what we are all looking for in a great thriller/mystery. The author keeps you guessing and then second-guessing what you think you know and what you think you have figured out for certain.  


The characters are carefully created and realistic.  Each appears to have been developed with the others in mind so that they work together seamlessly.  The storyline is character driven and both the characters and the story have been meticulously maintained throughout the book.  

Happy Publication Date Vampire Voss!

Happy Pub. Date to The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason!

It's a fantastic read - go check it out!!!
You can see my review by clicking here!