Review: Heartless by Diana Palmer

As a teenager, Gracie worshipped her stepbrother, Jason, a strong, silent young cowboy who left home early to seek his fortune. Though Gracie hadn't seen him in years, when her mother passed away, Jason ensured that Gracie would be cared for. Now the wealthy owner of Comanche Wells ranch, Jason has finally come back home, and discovered that the little girl he knew is all grown up.

When a moment of unbridled passion results in a kiss, Jason realizes that he's falling for Gracie. But Gracie harbors a shameful secret that makes her deeply afraid to love. Stung by her rejection, Jason leaves, ready to put the past—and the one woman he can't have—behind him once more.

Review:

Warning: There be a snarky review ahead - look away of you hate them....

Cowboys. Check.
Innocent virgin. Check.
Christmas hater. Check.
Pregnancy Scare. Check.
Chest hair of awesomeness. Check.
Deposed dictator/druglords/kidnappings. Check. Check & Check!

Diana Palmer novels are my numero uno guilty pleasure. Guaranteed to get me out of any reading slump and put a smile on my face.
Heartless was no exception. I have only read one other Diana Palmer book – Dangerous, and you can read my review here to see why I love her so. (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77026...)
The plot? Nah – you’re not getting that here from me – let’s get to the good stuff.
Alas, there was no drinking game worthy repetitiveness in Heartless but there is still plenty to discuss.

Careers I feel worthy of applying to now that I’ve read Heartless: rancher of rare Kobe beef, executive of a gaming company, party hostess, deposed dictator.

Shrew of the year award goes to: Stunning swimsuit model Kitty – who hates kitties, and Christmas, and everything else it seems, except redecorating.

Deposed dictator of the year: Machado. He drugs people and kidnaps them for ransom but he’s so sweet….and he doesn’t deal drugs like that evil Fuentes bunch he’s forced to work with. Awww. Let’s help him and get him back into power stat – and give him money!

Man of year award/A**hole of the year award: Jason – our intrepid cowboy/mutli- millionaire, business tycoon, rancher, lover of Kobe Beef – but not to eat (?), amazing brother (?) who has been there every step of the way but has never been there at all, never drinks but has drunken rages on a regular basis, can hang the moon and the stars…he’s perfect….except when he’s a complete ass. I love him. (except when I’m mad at him)

Favorite Jason quote: " This beautiful creature curled up in his arms had obviously found him irresistible and now he faced the prospect of having fathered a child with her because of his lack of control" ............

Yup, he’s just that studly. The ladies can’t resist his gravitational pull. Poor guy.

My *head desk/wtf* moment: Gracie had been drugged & kidnapped by Machado and released, now Jason is drugged & kidnapped by Machado. What’s a girl to do to help save her man? Call Machado directly of course. They’re old friends….she even has his cell phone number!

On my Diana Palmer rating scale I rate this one slightly less than Dangerous. Mostly due to the lack of drinking games.

Note: there isn’t currently a “Diana Palmer rating scale” but there should be and I’ll get right on it!

Also, I really loved Jason and Gracie. Didn’t see that one coming. In Dangerous, Killraven (total neanderthal) and Winnie (TSTL) were so unlikable but in Heartless I was rooting for Jason & Gracie as a couple.

So onward I go onto the next DP novel – “Lone Star Winter” TWO Christmas themed stories in one book! I hope they don’t hate Christmas!  (Note: I did start this one and to my surprise - there was no Christmas!!)

Buy the book! Heartless (Hqn)

Giveaway Hop!!

Welcome to the 

Splash Into Summer

Giveaway Hop!

Th hop is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer & co-hosted by Page Turners Blog

and runs from 5/25-5/31

Two winners!

1st winner receive a book of your choice up to $15!

2nd winner will receive a book of my choice from BEA!

Open to international entries as long as your country is on this LIST

Winners announced 6/1

*Fill out the FORM below after the linky

*Must be 16 to enter

*+2 if you follow - not required

**Go make a splash**

There are OVER *200* participating blogs

May the odds be in your favor!

Review: Dangerous by Diana Palmer

Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville’s resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn’t handle a man like him — a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven.... 
Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven’s pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family’s unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it…and the ice around his heart.
As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie’s life is on the line, and she’ll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love. 


Review:


I'm warning you ahead of time - if you don't like snarky reviews....look away. I know this is a sensitive topic these days but I'm sorry but there is no other way for me to review a Diana Palmer novel. All I can say in my defense is that I ADORE her books. They can pull me out of the worst moods. Sure - I'm positive it's not in the way the author intended but fun is fun...


** spoiler alert ** 


Dangerous is a book that drinking games were invented for.

Take a shot every time:

•Someone glares
•Mentions birds – Kilraven, Blackhawk, ravens, he’s a tough bird, a strange bird, a little canary bird
•For every mention of the word/words: Halo - the video game, snickered, chuckled, silver eyes, little blond chain saw
•Everytime someone mentions how Winnie saved Kilraven with her “gift” on that domestic abuse call.

My observations of the MC’s.

Kilraven. This man HATES ties. HATES them. He glares. A lot. He knows almost every language and can use almost any weapon – and has had almost every cool dangerous undercover government job but he’s NOT…..I repeat NOT an FBI agent – that’s just a horrifying thought - he's a FED. He does not want Winnie to get pregnant. He’s a prude. He is a sex stud. He has awesome chest hair. He’s Dangerous. (and a huge asshole)

Winnie. She is a 911 operator. She loves her job. No really – almost as much as Kilraven hates ties. She has the gift. Her life will be over if Kilraven leaves town. There will be no reason to ever go out again. She’s a blond chain saw, a canary bird, a little violet, and an innocent.

General observations:

It would be wrong to pretend Kilraven & Winnie are married for a planned weekend undercover assignment. That would sully her reputation – her going away with a man for the weekend. What would people think?! It is quite alright though to marry someone you don’t love, deflower her on said weekend and then divorce her as soon as you get home. Nope that won’t affect her reputation at all. Except to make her look like a gullible idiot! Also to put a finer point on this….if he can restrain himself (because no way does he want to take the chance of her getting pregnant!) that will be an annulment, BUT if he can’t restrain himself (after all it’s been 7 years and she is walking around in skimpy dresses & has irresistibly sexy feet… that hussy) that would be a divorce.

Almost everyone in town has either “the gift”, “restless feelings”, premonitions…really someone should investigate this phenomenon.

Favorite line:
First the set up: Winnie’s breath caught at the wide, thick wedge of curling black hair that covered him to his belt buckle. (ewww)

He pursed his lips. “Impressed?”

“Oh, yes….”

“And I will tell you, it feels as good as it looks” he murmured.

Oh my.

I could go on and on. It may seem like I hated this book and I guess in the strictest sense yes I did, but I honestly haven’t had so much fun reading anything in a long, long time! I kept notes. I have post-it notes everywhere in the book. I stayed up until midnight reading it. It was like going to the old creature double feature movies. It’s so over the top but so much fun anyway. It’s all just so crazy and makes no sense. There are random facts about Scottish history, guns, Emergency Services. Kilraven is such an unbelievable ass to Winnie but I couldn’t stop reading.

There was one paragraph that has me completely perplexed though. Seriously – if anyone has read this and gets what it means please tell me. Did I miss something? Is it a metaphor for something else?

Kilraven states that he has only ever been with his wife then a few pages later (pg 113) He says this really odd thing to Winnie…

“This is how you looked that morning when you found me and Sheriff Hayes in bed with your brother and Keely,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“You stopped playing with me,” he said somberly.

Whaaaaat??? I have no idea what he is talking about!! Did he have an orgy with Winnie's brother, best friend and the sheriff?

So sorry if I offended anyone who loves it. I love a lot of books that people could make fun of me about and feel free to do so to get even!


Rating: Seriously - how do you rate such a thing?? It's horrible but it brought me endless joy!


My review for Heartless by Diana Palmer coming Thursday 5/26th

Buy the book: Dangerous

Sunday Ramblings....

Eva and Aly

Sent by my pal @Samk52 on Twitter

I'm off to BEA for the week! I have some posts scheduled barring a Blogger meltdown - which is possible. I  might try to blog while I'm in NY but I'll have limited computer access so the best way to follow the BEA happenings would be to follow me on Twitter - @teamsheltie

Wrap up: 

Reviews:

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

BEA tips and advice

Kate from I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read wrote an awesome POST to get you ready for BEA

WoW picks - BEA Edition

***CONTEST*** Enter my 1000 Follower giveaway! Ends 5/31 - International - *10* winners!

Enter HERE

Coming up: It's Diana Palmer week. Tuesday I'll review Dangerous - Thursday I'll review Heartless.

Wednesday is the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop! Over 300 blogs are participating!

ARC Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntiire

 One hour to rewrite the past . . .
 
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
 
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut. (YA)

Review:

It's not too often that I'm surprised by a book, but Hourglass did just that. Pleasantly so.

I admit that I was initially intrigued purely by the cover and title. I've been burned by that rational when reading many times so I usually guard against such things but that cover kept calling to me. The ARC popped up as a selection on Amazon Vine - I caved and picked it for review. 

The summary led me to believe that Emerson sees dead people. Not so much. This is a time slip/romance novel. Something I usually don't enjoy. I find that this premise is used mainly to manipulate the characters and the plot making for an anything goes - nothing is real - type of story. Not with Hourglass. McEntire has laid out a very well planned mythology for this time travel series. 

Emerson starts seeing what she believes to be ghosts shortly before her parents death in a horrific car accident. Since their death, she has been sent to a mental institution where they basically drugged her into a stupor and then to a boarding school. After a while, Em doesn't stop seeing these "ghosts" but she does become better at hiding the fact so she can appear normal. She has lost all but one friend, Lily, after her public displays of craziness.

After losing a scholarship to the boarding school she goes home to live with her brother Thomas and his wife Dru. Her brother has tried to find help for her with various experts, but mostly they are quacks. Em takes this in stride to pacify her brother because he means well and gives him one more shot when Thomas mentions a boy named Michael who belongs to an organization called the Hourglass. After meeting Michael everything changes for Em. Michael gets it. He truly believes her and he may have the answers she's been looking for.

There are so many things to love about this book. Myra McEntire takes the basic premise of most YA books out there and then spins her story in a way that overcomes all the annoyances that I have been having of late with this genre. There is just so much to like I don't know where to start. How about here....

Family: For one, their present. When Em has to go live with her brother and his wife, she of course has the natural feelings of intruding, feeling like a third wheel. What's different about Hourglass is she's not. Both Thomas and Dru are involved parental figures. They provide love, structure and understanding. It is such a rare occurrence in YA these days that I wanted to yell out "see it CAN be done"!! Emerson has her rebellious moments as any teenager would but Thomas is not some clueless overprotective dork. He acts as a guardian, fair but firm. Again - I can't even tell you how much this particular aspect of the story impressed me.

Friends: Friendships were very important to all the characters in Hourglass, which I loved. They weren't disregarded when things got tough or used as a convenience when facts had to be revealed or when a plot twist was needed.

World building: As I pointed out earlier, time travel isn't used as an excuse to contort the plot. It drives everything forward rather than hindering it. Besides the time travel element, the Hourglass organization consists of other people with gifts like Emerson. Think X-Men. You can use your power for good or be persuaded to the dark side. 

Insta love: Hate it. Michael and Emerson have it. We find out that Em is not seeing ghosts but can time travel into the past. Michael has the gift of traveling to the future. Together they can do both. There are very few matches like this and they feel an instant electricity and attraction when they meet. BUT - where Hourglass impressed me is that Em and Michael know it's insta love and they question it!! They want to be sure they know each other as people. Sure, it's hard to fight that type of attraction but I give them an "A" for effort.

Dum dum dum - Love triangle: Hate them more than the insta love….lol This is not a big plot point in Hourglass but there is an element of a triangle (or maybe even a quadrangle) but it was handled really well IMO. Two very nice guys….and while Em was impressed by looks, (and believe me you will be too - hoo-boy - these guys were off the charts!) she definitely wasn't some hormonal chick going back and forth from guy to guy leading everyone on. (personally, I would like to see Kaleb with a certain best friend….)

Villain: The bad guy was BAD! He could really hurt Emerson and everyone else! The author underplayed him early on so when he is revealed the impact was greater.

Can't leave without describing the boys……..holy crap! I am not even kidding when I say there are some seriously swoon worthy boys in Hourglass. If you're not drooling over Michael right off the bat then you may need to be checked out by a Dr. He is wonderful and kind, sexy, protective, and self sacrificing. Then we have Kaleb - he's got the sexy bad boy with a heart of gold thing covered!

It wasn't until I finished Hourglass that I realized I didn't really learn much about the Hourglass foundation but it was ok. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, the ground work had to be laid, characters introduced. Myra did an awesome job.

If I have one complaint it would be about 2/3 through the story lagged a bit for me as it delved more into teenage angst and misunderstandings as Em and Michael worked through their feelings for each other. Em tended to run away whenever things got uncomfortable and Michael danced around a few issues. I was ready for some action! Just a minor blip in an otherwise great story. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Hourglass is a story with fantastic characters - both main and supporting with plenty of room for future development. There is excellent world building and enough twist and turns to keep you guessing. I thought I knew what was happening but I was never quite right in my guesses. Add in a realistic protagonist who doesn't whine about her abilities and you have yourself a winner!

Authors website: http://myramcentire.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @MyraMcEntire

Buy the book! Hourglass

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Waiting on Wednesday - BEA edition

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 


I'm headed to BEA next week and there are two books that I really want when I get there.

TRIAL BY FIRE by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (June 14, 2011) 
Publisher: EgmontUSA


There can only be one alpha. 

Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

SHUT OUT by Kody Keplinger (September 5, 2011)

Publisher: Poppy

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

What books are you waiting for?

BEA 2011 - tips and advice

Last year I went to to BEA for the first time and it was an overwhelming experience. Here are a few things I learned. Keep in mind that all advice is based on last years experience, things may be a little different this year.

The Basics:
*You do not need to bring any books or pay for books once you are there. They are all free. There are a few booths and publishers that offer networking opportunities and don't have books to hand out or have limits as to how many books you can take. A good rule of thumb is to ask first before you start grabbing.

*All signings are free, however, at the table signings a $1 donation is suggested - proceeds go to charity.

*If you are able to - pick up your badge/pass the day before at Javits. That way you don't have to wait in line Tuesday morning checking in - you can go right to the floor. (they were open until 5pm last year)

My Tips:
*You will hear this advice from everyone who has ever attended BEA and truer words were never spoken. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. You will be standing and walking a lot.

*Try to bring a bottle of water and some munchies like a granola bar or crackers. Food is very expensive at Javits and you'll be stuck in lines a lot so it's nice to have a quick snack.

*Don't be shy! I know I am but really we're all in the same boat so relax and have fun. Meet your fellow bloggers.

*Find other bloggers to team up with. There are often several coveted signings at the same time. Since human cloning has not been invented yet - having someone who can help you navigate is essential. If you can, exchange your text info before you go. It's difficult to hear on the phone there so texting works much better.

*If you are attending any of the author breakfasts eat breakfast BEFORE you go. They give you a muffin and maybe a bagel. One basket per table - no refills. You will be starving afterwards. Also it's first come seating so get in line early for the best seats.

*Business cards. I brought a ton last year but really 50 or so should do. Most of my cards went to other bloggers rather than networking with publishers. I'm sure everyone has a different experience with this so use your own judgement but don't go crazy worrying about it.

*Several authors were told by their publishers to network with bloggers more but weren't familiar with blogging so this is a good opportunity to introduce yourself and exchange info. You can set up guest posts or interviews after BEA

*Which leads me to....believe me - I understand how exciting it is to meet your favorite authors. BUT these are long lines with time limits for the signings. Now is not the time to take 100 pictures, discuss your WIP, plan interviews etc. You can have a really great conversation, get a quick picture and set up something for later fairly quickly and keep the line moving. By day 2 it starts getting really ugly in these lines - keep it moving!

*Bring a rolling luggage bag. Mine was a 21" carry on bag. They have an area downstairs to check it. They will give you a ticket and only you can get in the area to drop off or pick up your books. LIFESAVER! Those books get heavy.

*There will be lots of bags being handed out to carry your books. Try to find a larger, sturdy one rather than the smaller cloth ones. Again - those books get heavy! Harlequin had a fantastic bag last year and I'm bringing it with me this year.

* This is really difficult to do when free books are being flung at you from every angle but TRY to be discriminating in your choices. Keep in mind two things: you have to read all these books and you have to get them all home. I freaked out last year when I had over 80 books to read and NONE of them interested me. I was overwhelmed. It doesn't seem possible I know, but it can happen.

*Have a schedule. Prioritize. Be prepared to adjust your schedule. Some of the signings are timed so closely together that there is no way you will make them all. Between the long lines and scrambling to make it from one side of the building to the other you're going to miss a few things.

*Have lots of patience. There are big crowds, long lines and long days.

*Keep in mind the publishers of the books you want. Last year the schedule had booth numbers but not all booths were marked clearly. The publishers have huge signs so it helps you navigate a little easier.

*For the ticketed authors you have to get up early (6am last year) to pick up your tickets. Get there early. Loooong lines.

**My biggest tip is that if you have to ship your books home use the USPS. It's about 2 blocks away and open from 7am - 10pm. The supplies are cheap and you can send using media mail (cheapest) all the way to flat rate priority (most expensive).
(I got 80 books last year - used 4 large flat rate priority boxes and had my boxes at my doorstep when I got home for just over $40) I would probably go with the cheaper media mail this time.

The Fed Ex rates at Javits are insanely high.

USPS is located on the corner of 8th Ave and West 33rd Street - you can't miss it. Warning: there are a lot of steps!

NYC TIPS:

*Bring cash - a lot of great restaurants only take cash. Plus you'll need it for taxi's, tips etc.

*Catch a cab in the direction you are headed - it's cheaper. Walk one block over if you need to.

-Avenues run North to South - even avenues run north, odd avenues run south.

-Streets run East to West - even streets run east, odd streets run west.

Here are the links to all my BEA posts from 2010. There are lots of pictures to give you an idea of what you are in for.

Part one - the books and swag
Part two - pictures, author breakfast
Part three  - authors and signings
Part four - NYC

Feel free to leave a question or email me at fwiw(dot)kea(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.

Sunday Ramblings....

All of today's pet pics are of Benji 

(sent by Marc of Bookmarc Blogpants Blogging Fame)

Wrap up:

Reviews:

33 Days: Touring in a van. Sleeping on floors. Chasing a dream. By Bill See

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

We interrupt this wrap up for more Benji....

Shift Blog Tour Wrap up and Grand Prize Winner:

Click HERE for winners and links to all posts from the tour

Contests:

Those Who Fight Monsters: The Occult Detectives Anthology Giveaway Ends TONIGHT! US Only

1000 Follower Giveaway! *10* Winners! Ends 5/31 - International

Coming up: I'll have a BEA tips post for all of you who are headed to NYC and I'll be reviewing Hourglass by Myra McEntire (I liked it!)

And now I leave you with one more Benji pic

I believe he's saying "enough with the rambling" so this wrap up is done!

Have a great Sunday!!

Blog Hop - Finally.....

Bunny is not pleased with blogger today!

But we're all here now so bygones....maybe....

If you would put my review back up from yesterday that would make me happier.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy For Books

Q. Are you going to BEA and or the Book Blogger Convention this year?

Yes, I'm going to BEA but no, I'm not going to the BBC. I went to BEA last year too but it was my first time in NYC and first time ever at a convention so I'm hoping I will be a little less nervous and relax/enjoy myself more this time around.

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee

Q. What is the most emotional scene you've read in a book lately?

There are a few. All of Enclave by Ann Aguirre ate away at me and had my stomach churning so it wasn't technically one scene. And the end of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. Can't explain the scene since it's very spoilery. Blubbered my eyes out.

I have a few contests going on - links are under my header. Sorry - due to blogger epic fail I'm rushing to write this post in and I'm on way way out the door - but THANK YOU for stopping by and I will hop back and comment!!

Have a great weekend!!

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

Review:

I admit it. Based on reviews and my Twitter stream I had insanely high expectations for this book. Some were met, some weren't.

Pia, a half human - half wry, is blackmailed into stealing from Dragos, a powerful dragon shifter. Although she goes through with the act, she does it in a way that grabs Dragos's attention and garners her a little sympathy from a man that doesn't dole out sympathy very often.

Dragos is used to getting his own way so when he tracks down Pia he's in for a surprise when she doesn't cater to his every whim and makes him say please after asking (aka - ordering) her to do something.

OK guys you know the drill….you know what's going to happen. They will be attracted to each other, they will fight the attraction, they will give in and have steamy sex. They will fight the big bad and hopefully get their HEA.

I didn't feel like Dragon Bound broke any new ground with this genre. In fact this book reminded me so much of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, I half expected Dragos & Raphael to be business partners or have Elena walk in to talk to Pia at some point and have a chat about their alpha males. There was even a friendship with Pia and Dragos's sentinel Graydon that was a dead ringer for Elena and Illium's friendship.

I just read The Guild Hunter series not too long ago so maybe that's why the comparison seemed so fresh to me.

Despite this I really enjoyed and believed in Dragos and Pia. They make a fabulous couple full of tension and love. Dragos is full on alpha male and bossy but mostly because he doesn't know any other way. If he upsets Pia he has no problem apologizing or asking what he did wrong so he can fix it. Awww - loved him. Pia is smart, adaptive and funny. She gets a little too wishy washy at times but I still liked her. Dragon Bound also features a great friendship between two women!! Yay - that is shockingly rare these days.

I loved the new world Harrison created. It's filled with all types of shifters, faeries, and elves and a few other things I'll leave you to discover.  

It didn't blow me away as much as it seemed to do for everyone else but it was a lot of fun and I'll be reading the next installment which features Tricks - Dragos former PR rep.

Rating: 3 out of 4 Exciting world building with a great romance - I just felt a case of deja vu while reading it. Any fan of PNR/UF should enjoy it.

Author's website: Thea Harrison

Buy the book! Dragon Bound (A Novel of the Elder Races)

Pre-order book 2! Storm's Heart (A Novel of the Elder Races) 

Shift Blog Tour Wrap up and Grand Prize Winner!

Without any further ado…..here is the winner of the SHIFT Blog Tour Grand Prize Giveaway!

Randomizer has chosen #853 - the winner was from YA Book Queen's Blog Tour Stop - An Interview with Jeri 

Two Chicks On Books

You won:

* "Annotated"  copies of both SHADE & SHIFT

* A galley of SHINE - the third and final book in the Shade Trilogy, (for which there will be no ARC's) when it is ready in the fall

* An iPod Shuffle

*Note: All prizes from the tour may take up to 6-8 weeks for delivery.


Contact me at fwiw(dot)kea(at)gmail(dot)com

Congratulations and BIG BIG BIG thanks to everyone who commented, tweeted and helped spread the word about this Blog Tour. You were all amazing and made this a fantastic experience!

I want to thank all the people who participated in the tour. I've made some great friends along the way!! Here are links to all their blogs - go visit!

Mountains of Instead
He Followed Me Home
What’s on the Bookshelf
Addicted 2 Novels
The Book Smugglers
Mundie Moms
Jackie Morse Kessler
The "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, A Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and Brooke Reports
Just Another Book Blog
YA Book Queen
A & C Book Junkies
Bitten By Books
Ink Gypsy on Twitter #UFchat,

You can click HERE to links for all the postings if you missed any of the tour!

Thank you to Jeri and Simon Pulse for prizes for the tour and for making it international so everyone could join in.

A word from Jeri:

Thanks to everyone who blogged, commented, and spread the word about the SHIFT blog tour--from where I'm sitting, it was a big success, and that is because of all of you!  Thanks to Simon Pulse in the US, Canada, and the UK, who provided copies of SHIFT.  Thanks especially to Karen, for being such a gracious, organized, and generous host.

Now it's time for me to crawl back in my cave and finish the third book, SHINE, in time for my June 1 deadline.

But first, indulge me in a street-musician, pass-the-hat moment.

If you've enjoyed the blog tour and would like to see another one next year (with even more awesome prizes), please consider purchasing SHADE and SHIFT.  If you've received a copy for review or won one in a giveaway, please consider buying one for a friend or family member, or to give away on your blog.  Bloggers and readers really do make a difference! Thank you for all of your support.

Thanks again for making it so much fun.  Hope to see you next year on the SHINE blog tour!

Website: Jeri Smith-Ready
Twitter: @jsmithready
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jerismithready



My turn:
Warning: Unabashedly gushy!!

I first picked up Wicked Game by Jeri a few years ago. Her writing and playlist for that book set in motion a passion for music (my hubby thanks her for that) and is one of the inspirations for my starting a blog. I wanted to let people know about her books. I wrote her a fan letter telling her so and she was very kind. Then several months later I read her Aspect of Crow series - gah! What an emotional ride and I wrote her another email. This one, embarrassingly gushy and fan-girly. Once again Jeri could not have been nicer. I'm still shocked at the lack of a restraining order….lol This only encourages me to write further gushy emails (now about Logan and music). Don't encourage me Jeri!
Jeri is, of course, a talented writer but she is also a great person, always generous and always kind to her fans. I love her as an author and respect her as a person so this was an amazing thrill for me to be asked to host this blog tour.

Thank you :-)

Buy Shade & Shift at these fine places:



Amazon: Shade (Shade, Book 1), Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Barnes & Noble: Shade, Shift

For a personalized singed copy of Shade or Shift visit independent Maryland bookseller Constellation Books. Just mention when you order that you want your copy personalized.

Pre-order Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions a paranormal anthology with a short story "Bridge" told from Logan's POV. AMAZING story!! Releases September 20, 2011

Other authors in the anthology: 

Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray 

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan 

IV League by Margaret Stohl 

Red Run by Kami Garcia 

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce 

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent 

A Mortal Winter King by Melissa Marr 

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong 

Let’s Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan 

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready 

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting 

Leaving by Ally Condie 

At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday 

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson 

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Automatic by Rachel Caine

SHIFT Blog Tour Schedule

*Follow each day of the tour for more daily giveaways and to be entered for the GRAND PRIZE:

"Annotated" copies of both SHADE & SHIFT - PLUS - a signed galley of SHINE, the third and final book in the Shade trilogy. There won't be any ARC's for SHINE so this is a big deal!! AND an iPod Shuffle! Awesome right??

Click here for rules and details! Grand prize winner announced right here on May 11th!

Follow the tour:

Tuesday, April 26: For What It’s Worth – Kickoff, Guest post: presentation of Logan’s “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)” playlist

Wednesday, April 27: Mountains of Instead – Guest post: All Things Scottish (especially Zachary)

Thursday, April 28: He Followed Me Home – Guest post: Deleted Logan Scenes from SHIFT

Friday, April 29: What’s on the Bookshelf – Guest post: Loving the Love Triangle

Sunday, May 1: Addicted 2 Novels – SHIFT review

Monday, May 2: The Book Smugglers – Video guest post: Newgrange & the Mysteries of Ireland

Wednesday, May 4: Mundie Moms – Interview with Jeri

Thursday, May 5: Postmortem (Jackie Morse Kessler) – Death Interviews Logan

Friday, May 6: Books, Sweets and Other Treats – Group Interview with Zachary by the "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and BrookeWorm

Sunday, May 8: Just Another Book Blog – SHIFT Review

Monday, May 9: YA Book Queen – Interview with Jeri

Tuesday, May 10: A & C Book Junkies – Guest post: SHIFT playlist and Writing with Music

Wednesday, May 11: For What It's Worth - Wrapup and grand prize giveaway

Special Events :

Tuesday, May 3: Bitten By Books – Launch Day party! Live author Q&A all day long, big prizes

Saturday, May 7: Twitter Chat on #UFchat, hosted by Ink Gypsy, 6-7:30pm Eastern - Chat with Logan, Zachary and Aura - and Jeri of course!

Buy the books!

Shade:  Love ties them together.

Death can’t tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift. Shade (Shade, Book 1) 

   

Shift: Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart. Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Coming September 20, 2011: Anthology that includes a short story about Logan by Jeri Smith-Ready. Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

**Visit Jeri on her website 
** Twitter @jsmithready
**Facebook: www.facebook.com/jerismithready