3.5 STARS | The Dearhart Clan Series by Eri Nelson

Title: The Call from Within
Series: Dearhart Clan #1
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B005FYSXI2
Published: August 3rd, 2011
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes an introduction into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). Where an adult tale creates the foundation for untamed passions no longer bound by humanity but unleashed under the push of extinction.

An unknowing waitress by the name of Kristen Still slips of to sleep with her illusions of normality. Only to be awoken by heated dreams for an unknown traveler's face who had visited the diner in which she works. Although as the dream subsides her reality is disrupted by a wolfly protector unmasking a deadly mistake in which held Kristen against her will.

Under uncontrollable duress the wolf unfurls to, Owen, the man from her dreams. With fear and doubt discarded under their hastily following pursuers, Kristen flees with Owen's guidance only to learn more than she had ever bargained for let alone the desires she and Owen create.

Title: Double Call from Desire
Series: Dearhart Clan #2
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B006GV7Z50
Published: November 30th, 2011
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes the second look into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). An adult tale that continues with the moon's induced passions that surpass humanity's logic in favor of not meeting a beckoning demise.

As Kristen and Owen come to grips with a chosen destiny gifted by the moon, a scout is ushered off in search of a rogue wolf. Thomas chosen by Owen to survey for a troublesome wolf discovers a howly formed desirable temptation that he had never wish to unearth.

Not long after Thomas leaves on his scouting mission, Owen himself is persuaded by his highest of confidants to go in search of Kristen's past. Since she is their hopeful future, Owen is forced to depart only to find that soon after he is gone a misstep by Kristen finds her griped by a revenging hand's fury.

Title: Heated Calls from Change
Series: Dearhart Clan #3
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00BYAKU4Q
Published: December 10th, 2012
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes a third glimpse into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). With an adult laced premise, this dark tale once again leaves humanity's reasoning aside in support of fast-paced desires that imprint their futures against a looming extinction.

With maddening revenge toward his creator, Wash holds the kidnapped key to Owen's heart. However, her forced captivity is just a small obstacle to Kristen finding her way back to Owen.

Waging the war of inner turmoil Owen travels back to the pack where Kristen was last seen. Although he is not the only one who seeks the home of the clan, for four others travel now as well. Along with Thomas who brings his unwanted imprinted, Bry invades the wolfly space with an Ink that not only writes an ancient prophecy but leaves the clans alpha in peril.

I thought that the first book, The Call from Within, was missing something. Maybe it was just the length of the book, but I thought that we learned more about Wash than the two main characters, Owen and Kristen. Although when I read the second book, Double Call from Desire, it all started to make more sense to me. I also really liked how there were more characters add, mostly Thomas and Julia. It all comes to a head in Heated Calls from Change, where the members of the Dearhart pack come together and the danger is higher than ever. I liked how through each book, the threat of extinction for the pack and well as werewolves in general, just steadily rose higher and higher. And you have no idea what's going to happen until it does. As a whole, the Dearhart series was a really enjoyable read.

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Eri Nelson born Erica Walcott is a Indie Author and the youngest of three in a family of five. Erica became Eri (airy) from her mother who called her that for as long as she could remember. The short take on her name took on a more solid base with the love of her life and husband, Jeff Nelson.

Together they have been for the past twenty years. Within that time they were able to raise one daughter and endless amount of pets.

Eri Nelson is a nontraditional indie author who manages all areas of her fiction, fantasy, paranormal, action, adventure and sometimes-erotic writing. Eri handles all the groundwork of her books, even the editing. Because of this Eri strives to improve her abilities along with trying to explain to readers her far from traditional sentence structures. However, she will openly admit that typos follow her.

Writing is a passion for her and an abundance of never ending joy. Only one thing tops that for Eri... and that is when a reader enjoys the read......

Join Eri and her shadowy side of writing as she takes you along to explore new desire hunger filled worlds where your mind can share in the heat of the read.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | BLEACH Volume 50: The Six Fullbringers by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 50: The Six Fullbringers
Series: BLEACH #50
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421543031
Published: November 6th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Volume 45 | Volume 46 | Volume 47 | Volume 48 | Volume 49
Purchase: Amazon

Time always approaches from behind
Growling and flowing past our eyes
Stand your ground
No matter how much time shows its fangs
In order to wash you away to a beautiful past
Do not look forward
Your hopes creep up behind you
Only existing in dark turbid waters

After a long battle, Ichigo loses his Soul Reaper powers and is now living a quiet and peaceful life. But when a mysterious man named Kugo Ginjo approaches him, Ichigo might have a chance to regain hi powers. But what are Ginjo's true motives...?

Ichigo begins training to master Fullbring and quickly makes progress in the first stages. But while Ichigo is with the members of Xcution, Orihime is attacked by Tsukishima. And while all of this is happening Urahara and Isshin are secretly planning something.

When Ginjo explains Xcution's mission to Ichigo, he mentions an interesting fact about Hollows. Why do they have holes in their chests? They lose their hearts from the pain of not being saved by a Soul Reaper, and that lost heart becomes their mask. Each member of Xcution has their parents attacked by Hollows before they were born. They want to remove their Hollow-like powers from themselves. And to do that, they need a Soul Reaper. That's where Ichigo comes in. It's really pretty interesting when you think about Ichigo, Chad, and Orihime and how they got their powers. Sure, Ichigo already had latent Soul Reaper powers because of his dad, but I'm thinking the Hollow power he got when his mother was attacked.

"Ichigo. You may think you're hiding it. But honestly, I couldn't stand watching you since you lost your powers. You wanna fight, don't you? It hurts you that you can't protect those around you, right? You don't have to hide it. Ichigo. That's what makes you who you are."

I think Chad's words are what finally made Ichigo accept Ginjo's help in regaining his powers. This is nothing new with Ichigo. It literally hurts him when he can't protect those he loves. He doesn't want power to be able to fight for fighting's sake, he wants power to be able to fight to protect.

Riruka's first reaction to seeing Ichigo is hilarious. She's got a HUGE crush on him!

Ichigo begins his Fullbring training inside Riruka's Dollhouse. While being chased by a giant talking stuffed pig, he tries to figure out how to use Fullbring. Eventually he realizes that he needs to use his Deputy Badge, but he also needs to know how to manifest his Fullbring. Now the first stage of Ichigo's Fullbring is pretty cool--it looks like Zangetsu's guard. "Things have changed, you're no longer helpless. A glimmer of hope and you're a completely different person. Experience or instinct. Which is it? Ichigo..." Hope is Ichigo's greatest strength, while despair is his greatest weakness.

Uryu was the first of Ichigo's friends to be attacked and this time it's Orihime. Tsukishima cuts her with his Fullbring, Book of the End. It has a strange power, though. It doesn't seem to really cut someone, but plant false memories. Orihime thinks of Tsukishima as a friends after this and doesn't know why. This leads Ichigo back to Ginjo to learn more about Tsukishima. He was once the leader of Xcution, but he changed his mind and disappeared. He's attacking Ichigo's friends to get his attention and to keep him away from Ginjo and the others. All things said, it's safe to say that Tsukishima is dangerous.

Ichigo begins stage two of mastering Fullbring by fighting Jackie and her Dirty Boots. I can't wait to see how Ichigo's Fullbring evolves. Every time Ichigo gains a new power is always very awesome.

Twitter | Goodreads

The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | Lightning by Taryn Kincaid

Title: Lightning
Series: 1Night Stand #138, Sleepy Hollow #1
Author: Taryn Kincaid
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Erotica
Elements: Succubi, Incubi
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Format: PDF
ASIN: B009SEKGNA
Published: October 17th, 2012
Source: FMB Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: 1NS: Menage Bound | Escape to Me | Power Play
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | ARe

In mystic Sleepy Hollow, succubus Lily Night put her prom date, Campbell Jones, into a coma after a night of wild, unbridled sex. She has steered clear of mortals ever since, afraid of damaging them or worse, not to mention the inconvenience of knocking out the power every time they have sex.

Successful architect Campbell Jones has lived with strange powers and a sexy secret since that prom night. He’s buried himself in work to forget the woman who’d dumped him at the ER then vanished from his life without a trace.

Neither Lily nor Campbell have forgotten that night or the love they’d shared. Will a 1Night Stand help them bury their past?

I really liked Lightning! Lily left Camp their senior year during prom after putting him in a coma after having sex. Just disappeared, leaving Camp to deal with all the strange changes that happened to him after that. 10 years later, it's their high school reunion. Both are dreading and secretly hoping to run into each other again. Neither has been able to forget the other. And thanks to Madame Eve's 1Night Stand service, sparks fly between them once again.

There was something really sweet about Lily and Camp, especially at the end. And it's interesting that Camp developed all these powers after being in a coma senior year. Is he now an incubus? Or is he still only a human, but with supernatural powers? It's never stated right out if he is or not. I think he must be at least half incubus if not a full one.

I can't wait to read Thunder, the next book in the Sleepy Hollow series, which is also a part of the 1Night Stand series. That is about Camp's younger brother Sean and the witch who is having her house renovated by the brother's construction business.

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Multi-published author of HEALING HEARTS, a sensual Regency romance from Carina Press; SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS, an erotic paranormal from The Wild Rose Press; LIGHTNING and THUNDER, both erotic paranormals for Decadent Publishing's 1Night Stand series.

A former award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist, Taryn currently slaves away in the booby-trapped field of law, escaping into the delicious world of romance every chance she gets. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Hudson Valley RWA, RWA’s Beau Monde chapter, RWA’s Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapter, and RWA’s Electronic & Small Press Authors Network.

She lives in the historical Hudson River valley region outside of New York City, where the shopping is fabulous, the scenery is awesome, and things can very often be relied upon to go bump in the night.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | Hypnotist by Virginia Nelson + Excerpt

Title: Hypnotist
Series: The Edge #44
Author: Virginia Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Erotica, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Format: PDF
ASIN: B0096IQ9XO
Published: September 5th, 2012
Source: FMB Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Series Review: Night Music
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | ARe

Who knew quitting could be so hot?

Carnie Sabatina wants to quit smoking, but is a hypnotist really the answer? Enter Doctor McSexy and a trip down the rabbit hole that not only breaks her bad habit, but sets her passion on fire.

Is it tempting fate to take control?

Michael Schommer’s love life crashed and burned when his ex dumped him for his best friend. Is it too much to ask for a woman who wants to share more with him than a quick roll between the sheets?

Enter Patient McHottie, whose bad habits open a Pandora’s box of secret cravings for the hypnotist and the patient...

Burning up...

One hypnotic suggestion sends them up in flames, but will temptation and passion be enough to turn their parlor tricks into happily ever after?

Carnie wants to quit smoking, so at her mother's suggestion, she goes to see a hypnotist. Mike just wants to find someone he can love and be loved by. Neither of them expected the passion unleashed by a simple hypnotic suggestion for Carnie to follow her instincts and take a chance to find the love they both want.

Virginia Nelson has done an amazing job creating a short story with characters that are as full of depth as those of a full length novel. Both Carnie and Mike are looking to find someone to love and be loved. They just never expected it to be with each other. This makes them very easy to relate to. Doesn't everyone want to find the very same thing? But the fact that Hypnotist is only a short novella with such an in-depth story and characters is what makes this book so great.

Hypnotist my be a part of The Edge series, but with this book, unlike some of the others, I felt that there was more emphasis on what Carnie and Mike were searching for that on their late night rendezvous.

Hypnotist was such a great, quick read. I really wish there were more to their story. Hypnotist would make a great prequel to a series, or even a stand alone novel.

As her eyelids fluttered open, a refreshed sense of peace and energy washed over her, as if she hadn’t stayed up past three a.m. then got back up at six that morning to meet a deadline.

No, not just refreshed and energized.

Impassioned.

Flicking a glance at the man next to her, so calm and cool, she knew what she wanted.

I want him to burn like I do.

Never having experienced that kind of immediate need for someone before, she was at a loss. She normally followed her impulses but….

I dare.

He smiled at her, and it was weighted with exhaustion. He came across like a nice guy. A really nice guy.

She wanted to see him be a naughty guy.

Practicing powers of seduction she didn’t even know she had, she adjusted herself on the couch.

“Look, I am sorry that the hypnotism didn’t work on me. I mean, you gave it a shot.” She tossed her hair back, wondering for a moment how it had come down.

His lips curled slowly up. “Thanks for that.”

“Mmm. I could reward you for giving it a shot, anyway.”

His brows dropped. “Huh?”

One of her hands dropped to his thigh, on the couch next to her, and she caressed the tight denim. “I mean, you tried. The least I can do is give you a kiss….”

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Virginia Nelson spends her days chasing three very active kids around. When she is not doing this, or plotting taking over the world, she likes to write, play in the mud, drive far too fast and scream at inanimate objects. She can often be found listening to music that is far too loud and typing her next fantastic tale of blood, sex and random acts of ineptitude. Romance, in Ms. Nelson’s opinion, is not about riding off into the sunset on the back of a horse with the knight in shining armor— it is about riding the dragon. If the knight can keep up… well, that is love.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | BLEACH Volume 45: The Burnout Inferno by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 45: The Burnout Inferno
Series: BLEACH #45
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421542980
Published: August 7th, 2012
Source: Library
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Do not live bowing down.
Die standing up.

The great battle heads for a climax as Aizen joins the battlefield and faces the Soul Society's greatest captains. Captain General Yamamoto reveals his true powers for the first time, but will it be enough to stop Aizen?

You know, whenever someone introduces a new attack that hasn't been seen, you think "Oh wow, that'll do the trick." Shinji's Bankai seemed real mysterious, but of course it doesn't do much of anything against Aizen. It was really kind of pathetic, if you ask me.

Ichigo makes his big entrance into the battle at last! It was a great, dramatic entrance, but the attack, might I add SURPRISE attack, was blocked! What a wasted offensive strike!

When the captains and Visoreds make a stand to protect Ichigo so he might have his chance to attack Aizen and finish him, it was real bold and BAM! in your face, but totally deflated when they start falling one by one.

What is the difference between hate and duty? Swinging a sword for hatred is only violence, but swinging a sword for duty alone is what a captain does. Can you guess who made this statement? Well, it definitely sounds like something Hitsugaya would say. He takes his duty as Captain very seriously, but he also has a very short temper and he really hates Aizen for what he did to Hinamori.

When I first saw Captain General Yamamoto battle in the volumes when Ichigo and company invaded the Soul Society to save Rukia, I thought him incredibly strong and unbeatable. But in this volume in his fight against Aizen, he seemed incredibly weak in comparison. It was kind of disappointing.

With Yamamoto and the other captains down for the count, Ichigo enters the battle again as Aizen leaves the flames. But if Yamamoto, the strongest, most powerful Soul Reaper for a thousand years, couldn't even scratch Aizen, will Ichigo be able to defeat him?

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The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | The Chosen of Gaia by M. Mariz

Title: The Chosen of Gaia
Author: M. Mariz
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Publisher: Marcela Mariz
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0985808433
Published: August 4, 2012
Source: JKSCommunications
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Fifteen-year-old Albert has just received an invitation that could transform his disappointing life completely – a chance to belong to an advanced and hidden society that only reveals itself to a select few.

Immersed in a new world of mind-boggling technology and intriguing peers, Albert will overcome his fears enough to ignore a few suspicious details. But soon he'll find his family dragged to the center of a scandal that threatens to tear them apart and erase their very identities.

A conflicted Albert must find the strength to challenge authority by relying on his newfound allies and gift for Revelation.

Prepare for adventure, humor and suspense in this fast-paced tale of a “normal” family striving for their place in a “perfect” world.

Gaia is a perfect world that values the good in people and strives to advance its society. There hasn't been a serious crime in more than 200 years and no ones fears leaving their homes unlocked. The citizens of Gaia are descended from those who once lived in the legendary city of Atlantis. And then there are those very select few from Earth who were Chosen and given the opportunity to live on Gaia. Albert Klein and his family are the most recent to be Chosen to live in this perfect world. But just as there were those in Atlantis that persecuted the mystics, there are those on Gaia who persecute the Chosen.

The Kleins and their neighbors, the Beckers are two Chosen families being targeted by this clan of racial purists. Albert, with the help of his new friends, will need to overcome his fears and embrace his new found gift for Revelation to set things to rights.

The Chosen of Gaia depicts a seemingly perfect world of peace, enlightenment, and advancement. But a pretty exterior can't hide a ugly interior forever. No matter how hard or how long one strives for perfection, it cannot be achieved. As long as hate exists in the hearts of people, peace cannot be gained. This is shown through the racism and prejudice the Raif clan shows toward the Chosen. They see the Chosen as impurities that need to be purged from the Gaian society.

But there are those, like Albert, who strive to be the best they can possibly be and gain strength from the persecution they face, and become unlikely heroes to those who would face the same persecution. Albert was even dubbed "The Clumsy Chosen Hero" after his efforts to stop the Raif clan were made public. It's through people like Albert that even a small amount of peace can be obtained.

The Chosen of Gaia raises questions about the nature and hearts of the human race. Through only one person a civilization can thrive or decay, all depending on what's in their hearts and minds.

I really liked this story and the characters the live within it. I would love to see more from this world, maybe from Ruth's POV, Albert's twin sister. But if this is the end of the Chosen's story, I'm glad that it ended on a happy and hopeful note. The bad guys are punished, friendships are mended, and love brings them all together. It couldn't end in a better way.

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M. Mariz is an actress, lawyer and writer with more than 20 plays produced. Her debut novel The Chosen of Gaia (Sept. 28, 2012) was inspired by her own Revelation dream.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and currently living in Southern California, Mariz writes screenplays and novels in both Portuguese and English. The artist has more than 15 years of acting experience, encompassing works in theater, television and movies. She has multiple plays and sketches featured in theaters, including a teenager play that was performed by young Brazilian celebrities all over the country, and has written many other plays for different Brazilian companies to present work-related themes in a funny, entertaining way.

She lives with her husband in Orange, California, where she is constantly developing ideas for new stories to tell.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | Dancing with Death by Andrea Heltsley

Title: Dancing with Death
Series: Dancing #1
Author: Andrea Heltsley
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Horror
Elements: Demons, Succubi
Publisher: Andrea Heltsley
Format: PDF
ISBN-13: 978-1478204183
Published: August 10th, 2012
Source: Andrea Heltsley
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon

Death is coming and he's coming for me.

Murders have plagued the woods in the past, making them a place of fear. Eighteen year old Wendy and her friends become worried when a new string of murders come to their high school. After a horrible car accident, Wendy returns to school, going from wallflower to popular overnight. As the murderer edges closer to Wendy she realizes things are changing. She is afflicted with nightmares that are all too real and she herself is undergoing unnatural changes. Learning the truth about her past, could be the key to saving her future.

In Dancing with Death, Wendy is a senior in high school, living in a town plagued by murder after murder. The "Witchy Woods" where the murders took place is a place of fear, so when Wendy is hit by an oncoming car on a road alongside the woods, left in the ditch in her mangled car, she fears that that is how she will die. But before her car can explode she's saved by a stranger who pulls her out and takes her to the hospital. This car accident is only the beginning as Wendy's life changes forever.

There is a very good reason why I gave Dancing with Death only a 3.5. More than half of the book is just intense makeout scenes and finding the perfect outfit. I started to wonder if that was all this story was going to be about. What saved this book was the strange nightmares and messages from beyond the grave. This piqued my curiosity enough to find out what was really going on. Don't get me wrong, I like action but not when all of it is in the romantic sense. The story really picked up when Wendy and Halle found the locked chest in the attic filled with her family's secrets. Then there were the multiple murder attempts against Wendy's life. Basically I'm saying that, even if they are small, I would have liked more events to add suspense and intrigue within the first half.

I definitely wasn't expecting Wendy's secret family history to be what it was, though. I don't want to say too much about it since I want to leave that part for readers to find out, but I will say that she is a demon and the type of demon she is really explains the changes she undergoes. I thought the story would have had something to do with Death himself from looking at the title, Dancing with Death, but it really only refers to death itself.

I mentioned intense makeout scenes and, boy, are the INTENSE. Wendy finds herself with two guys vying for her attention--Brandt Summers, the new guy from California and Matt Geyer, the new school librarian. Maybe it's my bookish ways, but I loved Matt from the very beginning. Now that is perfect--a smokin' hot male librarian. But he's also genuine, loving, and respectful. I never really liked Brandt. That's all I can really say about him--I just didn't like him at all.

The conclusion was a little anti-climatic, but the question of whether Wendy will live to see the next year leaves me wanting for the next book, Dancing with Demons.

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I am a biology nerd who decided it was more fun writing than dissecting. I have written two novels and my third will be out this summer. I live on coffee and read like a robot. My husband and two italian greyhounds usually have to tear me away from the computer...imagine that. :).


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Title: Darkness Before Dawn
Series: Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #1
Author: J.A. London
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Elements: Vampires
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0062020659
Published: May 29th, 2012
Source: Library
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.

Dawn Montgomery lives in a world ruled by Old Family vampires. As the delegate between the citizens of Denver and Lord Valentine, Dawn negotiates the blood supply to the vampires, and ensures the protection of the people living behind the wall. The VampHu Treaty was created to protect the humans within the walled cities, but it also serves to imprison them in those cities. Any vampires within the city are fair game and can be killed by the Night Watchmen. But when Dawn meets Victor, she learns that not all vampires are the monsters she thought they were.

Darkness Before Dawn depicts a world ravaged by war, a war that has left the vampires in charge, and the humans broken, fearful, and angry. Most dystopian worlds I've read about were brought to that state by a zombie attack, so the use of vampires in Darkness Before Dawn was new for me. Another interesting thing about the vampires in this series is that creativity eludes them. In every vampire books I've read the vampires have always been extemely talented ans creative, but not so in this one.

The deaths of Dawn's parents and brother have influenced her view of vampires. She doesn't know how her parents died exactly, only that they were ash by the time the Agency got to them. Her brother Brady's death was more traumatic. A vampire attacked their home and Brady put Dawn in a closet to protect her. His final words to her were, "Don't be afraid of the dark," and then all she heard after that was his screams. So you can see why Dawn views vampires as bloodthirsty monsters. But Victor slowly shows her that not all vampires are like the one that killed her brother.

In the prologue we see Dawn's parents before their eventual deaths and the assassin asking, "Does your daughter have any idea about her true heritage?" This leaves me wondering, is Dawn more than human? Dawn mentions how the sunset calms her. This makes me think that she has some vampire in her. Lord Valentine mentions his other son turning her into what she was always meant to be. What is Dawn meant to be? These questions aren't answered in Darkness Before Dawn, but I hope that was get even just a little hint in the sequel, Blood-Kissed Sky.

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J. A. London is the mother-son writing team of Rachel Hawthorne and her son, Alex London. Rachel has written many novels for teens, including the popular Dark Guardian series. Alex, a recent graduate with a degree in Historical Studies, enjoys combining history and fiction to create unique worlds. The Darkness Before Dawn series is their first joint project.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | The Mosswoods by Astrid Yrigollen

Title: The Mosswoods
Series: The Mosswoods #1
Author: Astrid Yrigollen
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Astrid Yrigollen
Format: PDF
ASIN: B005CF7N44
Published: July 12th, 2011
Source: YA Novel Reader Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Poppy Mosswood like most 17 year olds wants to lead a normal life. But the Mosswood family is anything but normal. Keepers protect the land from humans who would exploit it. For in the forest dwell wondrous creatures and dangerous beings. Beings that would love nothing more but to overthrow all of mankind.

Ruthless billionaire Preston Buckthorn moves to town planning to marry Poppy to his son Brad. Brad wastes no time trying to win her heart but his love is warped by the taint that runs in his blood.

As Poppy is taken in by Brad's charms the appearance of a handsome stranger from the forest awakens her heart even though it is forbidden by both their worlds. From his long dark green hair to his piercing eyes, Ashtel is beautiful and powerful. He feels the danger that has emerged to threaten both of their worlds.Torn between pledging herself as a Keeper, Brad and Ashtel, Poppy is unaware of the true identity of Preston Buckthorn and that his sinister plan includes much more than just owning Mosswood forest.

The beginning of The Mosswoods was kind of slow--basically just introductions of the Mosswood family and forest--but the prologue kept me intrigued about what was going to happen. The second half of the book is when things really start to pick up. I was glued to my seat the whole time.

Poppy Mosswood is a character easy to relate to. She's at a crossroads. Should she follow in the footsteps of her family and become Keeper of the forest? Or should she go out on her own and experience the world? Every teenager that's about to graduate from high school and become an adult had to choose what they are going to do with their lives, and it's no different for Poppy. Well, except for the magical forest in her backyard that she's meant to protect.

Astrid Yrigollen does and amazing job describing the world--especially the forest--of The Mosswoods. I could picture the ancient and magical forest, with its assortment of peoples and creatures, so well. Mosswood Forest is definitely a place I would like to visit if it were real. On second thought, maybe I'll stick to just imagining the forest in my head. Id' rather not meet a Boarman and get eaten by him.

But there is one creature from the forest that I would love to meet--and that's WATTY! I liked Watty from the beginning, but once he started talking I couldn't help but love him. He's so funny and adorable--for a fierce werecat that looks more like a saber-toothed tiger, that is!

Poppy has to choose between Brad and Ashtel. She feels drawn to Ashtel, but feels a sadness when she's with Brad. You would think that it would be an easy choice, right? I could feel the sincerity of Ashtel's feelings for Poppy, but I always thought that Brad was a little sketchy. I would definitely choose sincere over sketchy any day. But Poppy has good instinct and I know she'll pick the right guy.

I was totally geared up for the happily ever after ending and was shocked by what actually happened. It's a great lead-in to the sequel and the sneak peek at the end does not disappoint. I wish I had the next book in my hands right now!

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Astrid Yrigollen is a self published Author of Young Adult and Children's books. Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published!

She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, The Doughnut Tree, Mysterious Pootkins , and The Mosswoods to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary journal "Threshold Press" and Shock and Awe Magazine.

She finds writing for young adults both refreshing and challenging. She always wishes to provide examples of positive role models, conflict resolving methods and communication for young adults with their parents or guardians.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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