Title: Marked By Moonlight (The Moon Chasers Series, Book 1)
Author: Sharie Kohler
Publisher: Pocket, 368 Pages (December 26th 2007)
From: Borders

Synopsis: She doesn't know what bit her...

Seemingly overnight, Claire Morgan has transformed: the normally mousy schoolteacher is now bold, and her behavior is truly wild. Her eyes gleam silver. Suddenly she's a self-confident femme fatale with a libido that just won't quit. After an impulsive makeover, she's even...dare she say it?...sexy. Is Claire going insane?

Then brutally handsome stranger Gideon March tells her she was bitten by a werewolf, and Claire figures he's the insane one. Sure, she was attacked by a nasty dog in a back alley, but this guy stalking her says he's a member of an underground society of lycan hunters -- and his mission is to kill her immediately.

When Claire finally realizes she really is a lycan, there's no turning back -- because by now Claire and Gideon are bound by a hungry passion. If they can't break the curse by the next full moon, Claire's soul will be lost forever and Gideon will be forced to terminate his prey -- a woman dangerously close to devouring him, heart and soul.

Review: 4 Stars - For me, this was a new series that I found not all too long ago. I picked up the first and the third book... couldn't find the second which the author was amazing and sent a copy so I could read the whole series. The first book didn't disappoint me at all; it was a great beginning with an interesting take on Lycans and their hunters.

There was suspense, romance; danger and I mean come-on - Werewolves! Kohler does have a twist to her werewolves, or as they are called throughout this one, Lycan's in the fact that when they turn and kill there's no going back. Pretty much everything about who they use to be as a human is gone. There's a little bit more to it all in how it actually happens and what each person who gets bit goes through, but I leave it at that.

Also, we get to see things through the eyes of not only a woman - one of our two main characters Claire's eyes after being recently bitten, but we get to see through the eyes of our other main character - Gideon who just happens to be a Lycan hunter. And yep, you guessed it there's just a bit of tension and a HUGE conflict of interest when these two cross paths. Gideon sets out to go against his better judgment AND against all he knows to try to break the curse for Claire. Trying to save a person from the curse isn’t anything he’s done before and it brings up things from his past that is told throughout the book. He knows that if he can't do it, he'll have to kill her.

The story, characters and writing kept me turning the pages fast to see if Gideon could save Claire in time. If you want to find that out for yourself, be sure to pick up copy soon because I for one am glad that I have the next two books in the series because I can't wait to see what's coming next.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Take Me There
Author: Carolee Dean
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 336 Pages (July 20, 2010)
Preorder here: Amazon, Borders, Barns and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He's on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he'd never asked.

Oh, the cover love for this book! And then reading what it's about... yeah it's a book for me. Can't wait to read it. Anyone else with me on looking forward to reading this book?

Title: The Tension of Opposites
Author: Kristina McBride
Publisher: EgmontUSA, 228 Pages (May 25th 2010)
From: EgmontUSA, Thanks!

Synopsis: It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

Review: 4.5 Stars - First off, I read this book pretty much in one sitting. It was one that I didn’t want to put down, one of those books that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t want to let you go until you’ve heard all that it has to tell you. Until its characters within get all who read to hear their story. And what a story McBride has created!

This is a book about two friends and the aftermath of what happens when one is kidnapped, survives and how not only the victim is affected but the people around her.

I was able to quite clearly understand just what our main character Tessa was going through since the kidnapping of her best friend Noelle. It was easy to really know what it felt like to be in Tessa’s shoes from when it happened right through to the end. Since Noelle’s kidnapping Tessa had become more of a loner who enjoys taking pictures in solitude then letting people get too close. She has her reasons for this that’ll be clear to each reader.

Then we have Noelle… one of our other main characters. She was kidnapped and held for two years. Living with her kidnapper and all she went through changed not only her, but the people around her. We learn little about what Noelle went through, but it’s a story that makes it not hard to imagine what she had to live through day to day in order to survive. The reasons why she finally got away are told throughout, but don’t worry… I won’t give anything away. I’m not one who likes give to much away in my reviews, so no need to worry; I try my hardest to always be spoiler free.

It’s a sad story, one that’ll pull on some of your emotions. One that’ll make you feel for each of the two girls and what they are going through. There’s trauma, understanding, love, pain, and fear in this one, yet none of these emotions too overpowering – as McBride has written just the right mix to leave a mark.

One person who was such a light in this story full of emotional scars was Max. He had a clear head and was there for Tessa in a way she never allowed anyone to be for her before. Never pushing, never questioning, just being…. I liked the fact that he was the boy next door type. Max had some great things to say to Tessa that made her think and that I found was needed to balance out some of the healing of Tessa and through her to Noelle.

All in all The Tension of Opposites is one of my favorite books for 2010. McBride has made a fan out of me and I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next. I would recommend this book to anyone, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. It arrives in bookstores on May 25th. Enjoy it guys.


FTC Disclaimer: I did not pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

WOW, another week of In My Mailbox is here already? Crazy that its that time again. So, here's a look at all the goodies that arrrived on my doorstep either by purchase or for review. It's hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. As always, thanks so much for hosting it Kristi!

So here's what I got this week.....

For Review:

Shadow Hills By: Anastasia Hopcus

Amber's Summer with M. the V. and New Poems By: Cameron Glenn

(thanks to Anastasia, Egmont and Cameron.)

Won:

Something, Maybe By: Elizabeth Scott (it was authographed too!)

(thanks to Cindy over at Princess Bookie for the contest and to Elizabeth Scott for sending it out!)

Purchased from Amazon:

Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, #4) By: Melissa Marr

Rebel Angels By: Libba Bray

The Great and Terrible Beauty By: Libba Bray

Tsunami Blue By: Gayle Ann Williams

This World We Live In (Last Survivors, #3) By: Susan Beth Pfeffer

From Kelly from Demonlover's Blog/Paperback Swap:

A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry, #1) By: Laurell K. Hamilton

This is a little late this week. Sorry about that, just have been so busy around here this weekend. So, what all did you guys get this week? I hope it's some great stuff. Happy Reading :)

Title: Divine By Mistake (A Goddess of Partholon Novel
Author: P.C. Cast
Publisher: September 1st 2006 by Luna (first published 2001), January 15th 2010 by Mira Books
From: UK Publicity Company

Synopsis: (Per Goodreads) The most excitement teacher Shannon Parker expected on her summer vacation was a little shopping. But then her latest purchase--a vase with the Celtic goddess Epona on it--somehow switches her into the world of Partholon, where she's treated like a goddess. A very temperamental goddess…

It seems that Shannon has stepped into another's role as the Goddess Incarnate of Epona. And while it has some very appealing moments--what woman doesn't like a little pampering now and then?--it also comes with a ritual marriage to a centaur and the threat of war against the evil Fomorians. Oh, and everyone disliking her because they think she's her double.

Somehow Shannon needs to figure out how to get back to Oklahoma without being killed, married to a horse or losing her mind….


Review: 4 Stars - I’d had this series on my wish list for awhile now, and was lucky enough to be asked to review the series for the UK release of the books. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but being that I love the House of Night Series, I knew I was bound to enjoy this one as well. The first book may look daunting due to its size, but don’t let that stop you from reading it.

From the first page to the last I can say that I was extremely entertained by the story. Shannon, our main character is witty, sharky and written perfectly for someone so out of place in this world she’s sucked into. I could almost picture the other characters faces when she spoke so unlike they did. From hearing about Rhiannon from the other characters within Partholon and getting such a vivid picture of who Shannon was - Cast did a great job at writing two people who have so much in common, yet are polar opposites.

There’s a little bit for everyone in this book. Fantasy… I mean there’s beautiful and perfect Centaurs…. in this book! To the landscape and scenery that makes up Partholon, to the castles, to the evil that lurks…. To the love and romance that forms throughout the story. It’s a match made of so many things that each reader should be able to find one or two things in it that they could like, love or relate to.

Something I found interesting while reading was the way people could forgive each other and understand why characters had to do certain things. How most people from Partholon so easily gave one another a second chance. There are so many books and well, real people out in the world that hold grudges and it’s nice to read something that there’s actual understanding and forgiveness that comes through. Well, for this reader.

Another thing I should mention is… only part of this series is considered Adult. Three books – Divine By Mistake, Divine By Choice and Divine By Blood. While the other two books – Elphame’s Choice and Brighid’s Quest are both Young Adult titles. The thing about this first book in the series is even though it was an adult book there was little sex, and even the sex scenes that were in the book weren’t much, if maybe even only a couple sentences and nothing graphic in the slightest. It’s more flirting, suggestive talk and innuendos and a little bit of cursing that makes this more of an adult title. Well, other then the fact that all our main characters are very much adult. *Note: For my younger readers, please don’t by any means judge weather or not you’re allowed to read this book based on what I’ve just said. As always, that’s something that is between you and you parents.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and didn’t want it to end. I’m thankful that I have the rest of the books in the series here waiting for me to read them. I can’t wait to see what adventure/trouble Shannon/Rhea, ClanFintan and everyone else, new characters and old face next.


FTC Disclaimer: I did not pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review..