Didn't win this time? Still check out Linda's books! Also make sure you enter this weeks contest with author Terri Garey! Oh and at some point this week I will starting the January Monthly Giveaway! Make sure you check in and vote!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.
If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.
The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.
But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack.
My Review :
Alpha Instinct is the debut book from author Katie Reus. With so many already established authors in the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre it is nice to see a new name and a slightly new concept creeping into the fold. I for one need some new blood now and again but sometimes it is hard to make the leap when there are already so many good books out there waiting for me. However this book called to me and I decided to give it a go. I am very glad that I tried it.
At the beginning I was worried that I wasn't going to like Alpha Instinct. It looked like to was going to be too lovely dovey for my liking but as things progressed I was pleasantly surprised to find that things were very Alpha. I really liked Ana and her pack as well as the new additions that come along during the story. It was a nice storyline and it kept me intrigued.
The plot was good and well developed. I was kept guessing till the end with only a few suspicions about who was behind everything. There were some good action scenes and some equally hot moments. I have been missing Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson and eagerly awaiting a new Kitty Norville book from Carrie Vaughn. Alpha Instinct however has taken the edge off my cravings with it's similar yet unique werewolf antics.
It seems obvious to me that this is a series where each book will center on a new character from the pack. Where as I feel this is getting a little old, I think it is the best way to go with this series if the writer wants to keep things interesting. The background story to keep the series going is already spread out in this book and I hope that plays out as well as planned. However the author also mentioned vampires so I hope that will be expanded on in future books.
Katie Reus is a new author on the scene and her debut Alpha Instinct has guaranteed her a place in the genre. How long she stays here is up to her but she has caught my attention. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series and I am eager to see what the author does to keep things going. She has laid down the groundwork and just has to keep building a stable, interesting and exciting story and she could be a big hit.
Alpha Instinct releases this week! Definitely worth checking out!
My author guest this week is Terri Garey! Her new gorgeous looking release, A Devil Named Desire is out now and I already have my copy waiting for me on the Kindle.
I love Terri's Nikki Styx series and was really surprised at how much I enjoyed her last release, Devil Without a Cause. Terri is definitely a must read author and I hope that if you haven't already had the pleasure of reading her work that you will give it a try after reading the interview.
So enjoy finding out all about the new book, series and the author. I hope you all enjoy the interview and take the time to enter this weeks contest. You could win a copy of one of Terri's great books!
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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your second book in the Devil's Bargain series, A Devil Named Desire ?
Terri - A DEVIL NAMED DESIRE is the of the Archangel Gabriel, who is the keeper of an ancient text known as the Ars Goetia, the Key of Solomon. The words of the Key hold unspeakable power, but can only be translated by someone pure of heart. When Gabriel's old friend and onetime brother, Samael the Fallen (better known as the Devil) forces a desperate young woman to translate the Key in return for her sister's life, Gabriel is driven to stop her in any way possible, even if it requires he become human to do it. What he doesn't know is that Samael is out to prove that he's not the only angel who can be led into temptation, and that when temptation comes in the form of a beautiful woman, it can be impossible to resist.
Amber - The first Devil's Bargain book, Devil Without a Cause, was a spin-off from the Nicki Styx series. Does this new book also fit into that world?
Terri - Yes. In Devil Without a Cause, Sammy Divine (the Devil) was offered a chance to learn a lesson by playing guardian angel. In A Devil Named Desire, Sammy turns the tables on his old friend Gabriel, and attempts to teach him a lesson regarding the nature of temptation.
Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the Devil's Bargain series? Was Sammy dying for his own set of books?
Terri - :) Sammy has a very strong personality, and his character became stronger in stronger in each subsequent Nicki Styx book. He has his own story to tell regarding his original fall from grace, and isn't quite the same as the one that the world is used to hearing. I really enjoyed patching together my own version of his downfall, and the world he inhabits, with a mixture of biblical stories, myth and legend. Sammy's kingdom is a dark one, full of shadows and secrets, strange creatures and strange landscapes. He rules it all --Lord of the Abyss, High Prince of Darkness -- but aches for the simplicity of what he's lost. I guess you could say he's a bit complex. :)
Amber - Where is Nicki? Is she ever coming back?
Terri - Nicki is coming back - she makes an appearance in A DEVIL NAMED DESIRE, actually. :) I'm currently working on a novella centered around her wedding to Joe that will be available in e-version sometime in 2012.
Amber - How long on average does it take you to write a book? Do you have a process you follow? or do you just start at page one and see what happens?
Terri - Each book takes about 9 months to write. I've never been the fastest writer in the world, and quite frankly, I don't want to be. I don't want rush it when I'm writing a book; it's a creative process that requires a lot of effort and imagination on the author's part, all designed to make it an effortless read for the reader. I start with an overarching concept, a clear image of my characters and their motivations, and an inciting event - a spark that sets the book in motion. Then I plot and plan several chapters in advance, letting the story evolve, but always knowing where I want to end up.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Terri - Names are critical! I can't fully visualize a character unless I know their name, but once I do, the creative juices start flowing. I remember driving along one day, thinking about this story idea I had for a spunky young woman who saw dead people, and wondering what her name might be. I brought up a visual image of what she would look like, and BAM, there was Nicki Styx: funky, fashionable, and a bit of a smartass, straddling the world between the living and the dead just like the River Styx divides the Underworld. She wouldn't be Nicki without her name. :)
Amber - How do you come up with the titles for your books? Do you always go with the first title or is it hard to come up with the right one?
Terri - I've been very lucky with my titles, and they usually come to my mind first, before I write the book. I've only had to change two of my original six, but even then I got to choose the alternate titles as well. DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT, DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE and A DEVIL NAMED DESIRE were all original titles that were kept.
Amber - How much say do you have in the book publishing process? Eg. Do you get to pick the cover?
Terri - No, I don't get to pick the cover. My editor is great about asking what my ideas are, and she then communicates them to the art department, who does their own creative thing. :) Authors have very little say in their covers. I did ask for graveyards, which I've gotten in various forms on each cover, so I've been lucky.
Amber - If the series was going to be made into a TV series or Film, who would you like to see playing Sammy and Nicki?
Terri - Zooey Deschanel would make an awesome Nicki, and I've always seen Sammy as a cross between Simon Baker (The Mentalist) and Billy Idol.
Amber - Are you working on any other projects? What is next? Maybe some YA like other authors?
Terri - I've thought about YA, but I'm not really sure I have the voice for it - right now I'm finishing up Nicki's wedding novella, and working on the third Devil's Bargain book, which is all about Sammy!
Amber - What have you been reading, watching and listening to lately?
Terri - I've been on a bit of a movie binge, actually, and listening to a lot of Florence & the Machine.
Amber - Who has been your biggest inspiration in life?
Terri - My mom. She had seven kids and a fairly tough life, but she was always kind and loved to laugh. She died too young, but handled even that with grace and dignity.
Amber - If you could live anywhere in the world. Where would you live?
Terri - Oo, tough one. I haven't seen enough of it yet to decide!
I am giving away one of Terri Garey's book, winners choice! So you can get the new release or pick a Nicki Styx book.
How To Enter
What are you reading?!
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The contest will stay open until Sunday 12th of February 2012 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school-but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.
Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head-wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea who he really is-or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.
My Thoughts :
I have, like many who visit this blog, so many books to read. However this year I really want to read some of the physical books that have been sitting on my bookshelf for the last few years. The poor things are gathering dust and I have to be hard on myself and read some of the old before always reading the new. So when a friend gave this book back to me I realised I had lent it to her before reading it myself. I didn't want to put it back on the shelf so it had to get read.
My friend liked this one and I have heard good things said about this series but I have to say I expected more. At the beginning it was all new and interesting. It was exciting getting to know Ever (one of the most silliest character names ever), her ghost sister and her abilities. However after a while I started to find her too 'Bella' like for my tastes. Actually at one point this book felt so 'Twilight' that I contemplated just not finishing it.
Sure this isn't Twilight. It has a lot of differences and cool twists and turns but it still felt like it had all been done before. Evermore felt like a mish mash of all those good Young Adult ideas you have already read and liked. It did try and be an individual and stand out but in my opinion it failed and just became too complicated and somehow a little boring.
In conclusion this isn't a series I am planning to catch-up with or follow. As it is the ending was the end for me. I wasn't left wondering what happens next or wanting to find out more. So this will stay a one off read for me and I will avoid the rest of the series. Definitely one for the Young Reader in your life to try but nothing an adult can really get their teeth into.
My author guest this week is the wonderful Linda Wisdom!
Linda stopped by to answer my questions about her latest book, her witchy characters and what the future holds! Have you checked out the interview yet?
When you get to the bottom of the interview make sure you a) order some of Linda's delicious books and b) enter the contest to win a copy of her latest release, A Demon Does It Better!
The contest is open till Sunday so you still have a few days left to enter!
Post about this giveaway somewhere on the internet eg. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter etc. Make sure you post the link here so I can confirm your extra entry.
Email your friends about this giveaway. Make sure you add my email address so I also get a copy and can confirm your entry. Amberkatzes_Book_Blog@gmx.eu
You can’t move forward until you deal with the past…
Starting over is nothing new to diplomat’s daughter Lindsey Yi. She’s grown up changing schools the way other girls change clothes. Still, moving to Lincoln, Connecticut, is different. Although she’s still reeling from the loss of her parents in an accident, Lindsey is finally in a place that feels like home. Because here, Lindsey’s ability to read other people’s thoughts doesn’t make her weird. It makes her one of the Mystyx.
When Dylan Murphy—hot, popular and a senior—starts to notice her, things get serious, fast. But even as she’s figuring out how she really feels, the Mystyx realize that they’re not the only supernaturals in town. There are other gifted teens who have different motives. And they are hoping to get close enough to the Mystyx to convert them—and the world—to Darkness…
My Review :
Mesmerize is the fourth book in the Mystyx series, a series I have been following from the beginning and one I have been enjoying a lot. I quickly got back into the feel of this series although it did take me a while to get used to seeing things from another perspective again. You see in this series each installment is told from another point of view, another member of the Mystyx.
This time we meet Lindsey and find out what her story is about. It is becomes pretty clear from the beginning what powers she has and what her 'problem' is. Each Mystyx has a different power/ability and they also all have some kind of problem at home or in their life that they are trying to deal with. Lindsey seems to have dealt with hers already but it is on her mind a lot as the story unfolds.
The ongoing story is easy to keep up with and each book has a story arc that adds to the main events. I did enjoy this one but I have to admit that I didn't think it was the best yet. I definitely enjoyed the previous books more but maybe it was just Lindsey and the whole Dylan thing. The whole lovey dovey boyfriend thing is not my cup of tea in a Young Adult and while I admit the story needed it, I didn't like it very much.
One thing that bothered me a lot with this book is the cover. It is pretty, doesn't give much away and it looks cool but it doesn't look like Lindsey. She constantly reminds us throughout the book that she looks Korean and there are even some people who point this out. However the girl on the cover doesn't look Korean at all.
All in all this is a very solid series that is still building up to the end show. There are obviously a few more books in there before the bad guys are defeated and I am going to be there to watch the show. I love the unique twist to this series and the abilities are pretty cool. A bit like the X-men but with weather and mystery this is definitely one you can get your teeth into. Try it!
Last week I had two author guests of the male variety! It made for a change in the mainly female run of things and it was nice to have the guys here on the blog. A huge thank you to to James R. Tuck and J.F. Lewis!
They also came bearing gifts! You had the chance to win a copy of their books and hopefully you took the opportunity and entered the contests. Both are now closed and it is time to see who won!
Didn't win this time? Enter the new contest (see the sidebar --->) and make sure you check back in to enter the Monthly Giveaway which will be starting soon!
Also make sure you check out the books from both authors!
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How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.
If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
