What Did I Receive?

As you know, "What Did I Receive" is much like the popular "In My Mailbox". On Fridays, I try to post any and all books I may have received in the past week, unless I haven't had any deliveries.

Unfortunately, the junk mail and bills seem to overflow my mailbox more often than books.... In a book lover's world, the roles would be reversed, of course! :D





But I was lucky this week-- I had one package arrive!

Here's what I got this week:

Title: Truly, Madly
Author: Heather Webber

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 2nd, 2010
Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Romance
Summary (From back of the book):
Have any plans for Valentine's Day? Well, have I got a match for you! Her name is Lucy-- Lucy Valentine-- and she's so fresh, funny, and fabulously original, she just might give flowers and chocolate a run for their money.

Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine, Inc. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the psychic ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is, Lucy's powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You'd be surprised. In a big city like Boston, love is a mystery-- and Lucy's upstairs neighbor, Sean Donahue, is a hot private eye whose job is murder. With a little lucky, she can help solve the perfect crime and find her own perfect match-- with Sean.

~~~~~~~~

Thanks to B&N's Sneak Peak Book Club, whom I was lucky enough to snag this ARC from!

~~~~~~~~



Hmm... With the publication date so far away, I'll probably wait and post my review...later next month? But I do have others planned between now and then, don't worry!

What about you? Did the UPS man show up on your doorstep this week? If so, please share all the juicy details-- about the books, of course! Where was your mind?

Enjoy!





Until Next Time,

[Review]--- "Daughter of the Flames"

Title: Daughter of the Flames

Author: Zoe Marriott

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: February 2009

Genre: Teen Fantasy/Romance, Magic

Summary (B&N):
In a world of clashing cultures, a girl fights for freedom — and finds a surpring romantic ally — after learning a startling truth about her identity.

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, fifteen-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior priestess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes. Terror strikes when the forces of the tyrannical Sedorne king destroy the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people’s fate — and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.

Order your copy of Daughter of the Flames at:

Amazon.com

B&N.com

Borders.com

My Review:

Another captivating cover-- and story-- by the talented Zoe Marriott! Prepare to be engulfed by the fire in this one--- Daughter of the Flames is even better than her first novel, with more action and romance, yet still containing the magical quality that grabbed my attention in The Swan Kingdom.

Once again, Marriott's characters are very well developed and a joy to read about. Zahira (or Zira) is even more of a kick-a$$ heroine than Alexandra (from Swan Kingdom). Fiery, passionate, training to be a warrior priestess but suddenly destined to be queen of her people, she's everything you could ask for in a heroine. She's not perfect, her life has been hard, but you can easily relate to her-- and isn't that one of the best things you can say about a character?

And with such a strong heroine, you need a hero that can match her, right? Sorin, the Lord she falls for (despite that fact that he's the "enemy" at the beginning) fits the job perfectly. He's not a wimp, but he's not too rough either--- the right medium between the two, combined with the sweet moments he has with Zahira, makes him a good choice for a husband. I can easily see why Zahira would fall in love with him!

Even better, you can clearly watch them connect, getting to know and trust each other, instead of just falling straight into lust like some other books. Although, for a YA novel, the romance does get fairly heated at times... But nothing too graphic, for those of you that are worried about it! It's a nice addition to the emotional connection you can see between them, without making their love seem cheap.

To sum it up, this is a mesmerizing story, set in a fantasy world, with a good dash of all the requirements for a perfect novel: action, suspense, romance, and the fight between good and evil. In other words, Daughter of the Flames has it all! The touching romantic spots, the adrenaline-laced fighting, and the enchanting descriptions-- together these will keep you up all night just to finish the book!

And, as much as I enjoyed her previous novel, I have to say that Daughter of the Flames is much better-- and one that you definitely shouldn't miss if you love a good fantasy novel, YA or not!

4.5 Stars! Who needs paranormal worlds all the time when you can lose yourself in a good fantasy romance like that of Daughter of the Flames? No matter the age, if you enjoy a good magical story, this is the book for you! If nothing else, the covers themselves are breathtaking-- and the story? Even more so!

~~~

Thanks again to The Shady Glade, whom I won this from last month-- and to Zoe for supplying the goodies to begin with! :D
~~~

Enjoy!







Until Next Time,

What Did I Receive?

As you know, "What Did I Receive" is much like the popular "In My Mailbox". On Fridays, I try to post any and all books I may have received in the past week, unless I haven't had any deliveries.



Unfortunately, the junk mail and bills seem to overflow my mailbox more often than books....
In a book lover's world, the roles would be reversed, of course! :D



But I was extremely lucky this week, and I had two packages arrive, both on the same day. Here's what I found on my doorstep this past week:



Monday:





Love is a Battlefield by Annalisa Daughety (Thanks to LT's Early Reviewers Program!)

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (Thanks to Hachette Publishing and The Book Soulmates!)

I've got a few reviews already lined up ahead of these (see sidebar under "Upcoming Reviews"), but these two will be next on my list. Look for my reviews within the next week or two (at the most!).




How about the rest of you? What did you find on your doorsteps this week? Feel free to share in the comments!





Enjoy!





Until Next Time,

[Review]--- "The Swan Kingdom"

Title: The Swan Kingdom
Author: Zoe Marriott
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: March 2008
Pages: 253
Genre: Teen Fantasy, Magic
Summary (B&N):

A new voice in fantasy weaves a rich, entrancing tale of a girl with powerful healing gifts —- and the courage to use them to save her ailing kingdom.

Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Fantasy lovers will be held in thrall by this tale full of visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force and sweetened with familial and romantic love.

Places to Order The Swan Kingdom from:

Amazon.com

B&N.com
Borders.com

My Review:

Besides the beautiful cover art, The Swan Kingdom itself was a dazzling story, a remake of a fairy tale but done in Marriott's own way. Full of magic, set in a fantasy world that you can practically picture just by reading the book, and with an added dose of action and adventure to keep the story alive, this book is truly worth your time to read.

Marriott does a wonderful job with the characters, especially Alexandra , our heroine for this journey through the Kingdom. is a good example of a strong young woman, one that does not whine and allow others to push her around. She's got courage, and she's not afraid to face her fears-- even if that means her new (evil) stepmother. In a way, Alexandra reminds me a lot of Yelena, from Poison Study (by Maria V. Snyder), which is a compliment, really. If you enjoyed Snyders' magical world, then I'm sure you'll love The Swan Kingdom as well.

I enjoy reading new takes on old fairy tales, and this one is no different. This time, the base for the novel is the story of the young boys, turned into swans by their stepmother, destined to stay cursed forever. Unless, of course, Alexandra , who was spared this curse (though still exiled from the kingdom), can save them and reverse the spell. Along the way, she meets new friends, finds more adventures, and, of course, falls in love, too.

My only qualm lies in the romance- it felt a bit lacking most of the time, even for a YA novel. I wish Marriott had added more to this, showed us how they really fell for each other.

The story flowed nicely, though there were a few action sequences where I almost felt a bit lost. But just as quickly, the confusion was gone and the writing was clear again. A few tiny flaws, but no where near enough to destroy the story or the readers' enjoyment!

4 STARS! For a first novel, Zoe Marriott did a wonderful job, and I'm looking forward to many future books from her. She has a talent for writing, and a unique story to tell the readers. Added to that her good fortune in cover art designs, and you've got a rising start to keep your eyes on!

~~~

Thanks to The Shady Glade, whom I won this book from during the contest last month!

~~~

P.S.: The cover I used on here is the UK cover, which is the edition I won from Shady Glade's blog contest. I have to say, after seeing the US covers for Marriott's books, I was glad I was lucky enough to receive the UK ones. In my opinion, they're much prettier! And come on-- be honest, we all go for new books based (partly at least) on the covers!

Oh, and I know that it's been a flood of YA books I've been reviewing lately-- it's just that's what I've been receiving for review purposes, and since I put those books above my own (bought) ones for reviews on here....

However, I promise that as soon as possible I'll go back to more of a variety mix for reviews! I'm hoping that you're still enjoying the reviews, and finding new books to check out-- especially if YA is not your usual genre of choice. :) Isn't that the point of a good review and blog, to help you venture outside your normal?


Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

[Review]: "Shiver"

Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: August, 2009
Pages: 400
Genre: Teen Fiction, Teen Romance, Shapeshifters
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 1
Summary (B&N):
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Places to order Shiver at:

Amazon.com
B&N.com

Borders.com

My Review:

How can you beat perfection? The answer: you can't. Which is why, no matter how long I work at my review, it will never quiet do justice for Shiver, which could be, quiet honestly, my all-time favorite YA novel to date!

Beginning with the plot itself, Shiver is truly one of a kind! Unlike the countless other werewolf stories out there, this isn't one of them-- it sticks out from the rest. Instead of turning whenever you want, Shiver's wolves cannot control their shift... But it's not the moon that holds them enthralled. Instead, it's the temperature. If it gets too cold (Winter, for example), they change into wolf shape for good, only to emerge human when it begins to warm up.

Also, unlike most versions of the werewolf, Sam (the wolf hero of our story), loses all of his human memories, feelings... For months upon months of the year, he's simple a wolf, surviving in the woods like any wild animal. And for years, this is the only time that Grace gets to see Sam, not knowing at the time of course, in his wolf form sneaking through the woods at the edge of her house.

But this year is different-- this year, Sam knows it could be his last year, meaning that after this winter's change, he'll continue to be a wolf for the rest of his life, however long or short it may be. For unknown reasons, this always happens to the werewolves-- soon they loose themselves completely to the wolf, and their human side ceases to exist. Although Sam's only a teenager, and not nearly as old as many of the previous shifters that have been rendered permanently wolf, he knows deep down that his time is up. This pushes him into finally confronting Grace, telling her not only what he is, but how he feels.

The romance between Grace and Sam was, to be quiet honest, beautifully written, heart breaking at times, and very sweet during others. You couldn't ask for anything better-- even if you aren't a teenager, I promise, you won't miss any of the more sensual romance you expect from adult books, Shiver manages to cover all the bases (no pun intended!) and enchant the reader from page one!

Characters, always an important part of a story, are also wonderfully done in this book. You really do connect to them, feel for them, and enjoy being a part of their journey as they develop, expand, and yes, even when they're hurt. When Grace and Sam grieved, I did as well. When they were happy, I was reading with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed how we got to switch between Grace's point of view and Sam's--- this not only helped the story to flow, but it allowed us to see into both of their hearts' and minds'. When an author can pull the reader into the story like that, well, you know she's got one amazing skill, and one that I hope she continues to use in the future books as well!

5 STARS! Shiver manages to hold the reader captivated from beginning to end, and if you're like me, you'll find yourself putting the book down, yet the characters and the words will stick in your mind for weeks after, just as clear as if you had the book open in front of you. I'll be honest-- I even cried at the end, and though I won't ruin it and say 'Why', I will say it was due more to the brutally honest words Maggie used to convey the emotion and story than any harmful events. Simple words for an ending, but they were enough to make me cry! That's what I call powerful writing. Romantic and sweet, funny and touching, and even enough of an underlying suspense/unease to keep the action of the story going, Shiver is sure to becoming a legend in YA shapeshifters! I know it is on my shelf.

~~~~
Thanks to Jessica for sending this to me, via GoodReads First Reads!
~~~~

And if you want to hear a truly AMAZING review on Shiver, check out Teddyree's!

Enjoy,

Until Next Time,

What Did I Recieve?

Nothing this week either. :-(

Not 10 minutes after posting this, I checked my email and found an ARC E-Book of a 2010 YA Release... I won't say what book it is, yet, but you'll know closer to the time when I schedule my review for it on my sidebar. :D I'm excited to get started, even with the fact that it is an E-Book, which means strained eyes and an aching neck, but I think it will be worth it!

BUT, I did have a bit of a... slip up while at the grocery store... Yes, I know what you're thinking: "AGAIN?". But what can I say? I couldn't resist the pretty covers!

Here's what I picked up this week:

• Fade Out by Rachel Caine
• People of the Thunder by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear
• 2012: The War of the Souls by Whitley Strieber
  
  
  

I know I was suppose to have my Shiver review up today, but I had a few set backs. I will have it up on Monday though! I want to finish tweaking it, and making it as good as possible-- I really loved the book, and I hope my review can even start to do it justice (if you've read it, you know what I mean, no explanation needed!)

Hope everyone has a good weekend, go have fun before the snow hits for the year!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

[ARC Review]: "Modern Day Witch Hunt"

Title: Modern Day Witch Hunt

Author: Kiki Howell
Publisher: eXcessica publishing
Publication Date: September/October 2009 (Print/E-Book)
Genre: Erotic, Paranormal
Pages: 148

Summary (Amazon.com ):
Kamillia is an author of paranormal romances living in an upscale suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Accused of being an actual witch herself by an ambitious group of businessmen with a dark agenda, she is surprised to find a man who resembles one of her fictional, alpha male heroes at her door offering her protection.

Luca is an immortal Watcher from the River of Light. Sent to Earth to help Kamillia, whose true heritage has yet to be revealed to her, Luca is caught off guard by the fighting spirit of the woman and the way his human body betrays him in her presence.

When research for her next novel requires Kamillia to travel to Italy, she and Luca are forced to join together despite numerous obstacles to overcome the evil of many centuries blocking a portal there. Only then, can she return to the problems awaiting her in her own city, with or without this stranger who has captured her heart but cannot share her future.

Places to order Modern Day Witch Hunt from:

Amazon.com (Print Copy)

Amazon.com (Kindle)

My Review:

For a quick read, Modern Day Witch Hunt wasn't half bad. However, I can't say that it was my favorite either.

I think the main thing that lowered the rating for me was the lack of connection between the characters. I know, this is an 'erotica' novel, not straight romance. But, for me at least, romance is still a key part of erotica novels as well. Maybe the sex takes a front seat for a while, and it's much more explicit, but the romance should still be there. Right?

Despite this flaw, the writing in general was good. Howell does a nice job at describing the setting, allowing the writing to flow, et cetera. However, the one thing I would have liked a bit more detail on is the magical world this was set in. I wanted to know so much more about the 'Watchers', what they are, and especially a bit more about Luca's past. There's so much potential with this plot line, but it was like we only got a skim from the surface of it, when I wanted to submerge myself in the world instead. If this part of the book had been expanded a bit more, with a lot more details -- and characters too (really, I don't remember any besides h/hr!) -- I'm sure my rating would have gone up more.

Even though it was a novella (short novel), I felt like the basic plot for the book was a bit too rushed. The build up, the back ground information, it didn't quiet flow as smoothly as I would have liked. Maybe it would have worked out much better if this had been a full length novel instead.

BUT, I still liked the book, and I'll still look for Howell's future books. A few flaws here and there won't throw me off the author for good. And it could be that I was looking forward to more of a romance novel at the time that I picked this up-- it's an opinion only, so I can't say the problems I had with the book are completely the author's fault.

3 STARS! If you like to read erotica novels, then maybe you should put this one on your next wish list. A nice, quick read, Modern Day Witch Hunt manages to tease your interest, but in the end, it leaves you wanting more-- maybe a future book about the Watchers introduced in this one? If only Halloween wasn't over, I'd suggest this as a good one to read that night.

~~~~~
Thanks again to Kirstein (aka, Kiki Howell) for sending this novel to me to review!
~~~~~


Sorry I'm running so behind on my reviews! Even though my computer is back, it's not completely recovered..... Slow running, a few straggling viruses that I've had to scan and 'kill'. Really, this just isn't my month! Or months, I guess, since it all began last month...

But I will have Shiver's review up ASAP, hopefully before Friday. Also, I 'm going to get back into more posts in between reviews (maybe more of my wish list?!).

Enjoy!






Until Next Time,