Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian - Releases tomorrow 2-26

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost. 

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts. (courtesy of www.amazon.com)

This is one of those books that I have been dying for. Little Mira is all grown up - I mean it's like watching a niece grow up as she has been with us for so many of the books.  And to see that the little tidbit from our last book about her has grown into her own novel - priceless.

Adrian is amazing as she keeps this series riveting. I was sucked in and Mira is so cool.  I was amazed at how Adrian takes the series 20 years forward with this book and you don't feel like you missed those.  Talented indeed!.  Mira and Kellan are a perfect match and Adrian opened up a story line that is bound to keep us wanting more. Kellan has a couple different emotions as he reunites with Mira - and Mira just amazes me - she was raised right!

I am anxious to get to see the rest of the children we have been watching in perhaps the next books.  Adrian is always on my 'gotta have' list.  If you weren't sure - you need to get this book to continue the series.  If you have not read the Midnight Breed series before, you will not be disappointed but start from the beginning because you'll be on cloud nine!

5 Slices

COVER REVEAL - Forsaken by the Others by Jess Haines

Today Jess Haines is revealing the cover of her latest coming out in the H and W investigations series - Forsaken by the Others and Seduced by Books is a part of the many blogs that have the pleasure to release this to you today as well as letting you know about the giveaway.

The H&W Investigations series is one of my favorites - You can read a couple of my reviews here on the blog - Hunted, Taken, Deceived, Stalking.  Shia is a great character, and something about the way Haines writes has me loving and cheering for an unexpected character.  :)

Today we reveal the AWESOME cover for Forsaken by the Others Book 5 in the series due out this summer (July)-

Back Cover:

The Others--vampires, werewolves, things that go chomp in the night--don't just live in nightmares anymore. They've joined with he mortal world. And for private investigator Shiarra Waynest, that means mayhem...

Have a one night stand with a vampire, and you can end up paying for it for eternity. P.I. Shiarra Waynest, an expert on the Others, knows that better than most. Yet here she is, waking up beside charismatic vamp Alec Royce with an aching head...and neck. Luckily, Shia has the perfect excuse for getting out of town--namely, a couple of irate East Coast werewolf packs who'd like to turn her into a chew toy.

On Royce's suggestion, Shia temporarily relocates to Los Angeles. But something is rotten--literally--in the state of California, where local vampires are being attacked by zombies. Who could be powerful enough to control them--and reckless enough to target the immortal? Following the trail will lead Shia to a terrifying truth, and to an ancient enemy with a personal grudge...

Jess Haines has a giveaway going - starting today and going until Feb 22nd.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Link up to Jess Haines for details here and to see more blogs; increase your chances of winning by visiting all the hosting blogs.

Grab the bundle of the previous 4 books and get caught up here -- you won't be disappointed!

Tainted Blood by Joann I. Martin Sowles

Tainted Blood is the third installment in The Brookehaven Vampires series:

Laney’s life is suddenly tangled by deceit, and as she tries to pull her past, present, and future together, she finds herself and her friends fighting for their lives. Thrown into the midst of a conflict that has been brewing for centuries—a conflict that no mere human should be anywhere near—Laney and her friends will discover that the mythical creatures of lore are not so mythical after all.

As Carter and Kiera’s relationship moves forward, Laney and Oliver’s becomes strained…confusing…dangerous.

Laney would have never thought Oliver was capable of causing such pain, such heartache, such fear. When he becomes a danger to everyone they know, especially her, Laney must make the choice to save herself, or those she loves.

As if this weren’t enough, a visit from Oliver’s brother could bring Laney’s life to a tragic end.(courtesy of Amazon.com)

Sowles is an independent author that also publishes her own work.  As such if often takes a little while between releases, and I am always jumping when I hear she has a new book coming out to be able to continue to read Oliver and Laney's story.  As the third in the series, I felt this book moved pretty quick seeing as we know most of our characters.  I also think that having some of the 'real' young adult drama come into play connects you to the supernatural characters involved.  I'm not going to discuss the 'drama' in particular, so you'll have to grab the book :).

Laney and Oliver have been trying to just get some time to themselves and not have to deal with the craziness of Oliver's world.  I felt their pain as they continue to get pulled apart.  Of course, as Sowles brings in this side of Oliver we have not seen and we end up with issues flying left and right you are definitely turning those pages to find out what happens next.  Carter is one of my favorite characters.  He has some interesting situations to deal with and I was probably as anxious as the characters in the book to find out the results. 

We continue to see more characters lives unfold and the story moves as a really good pace. 

Overall I enjoyed Book 1 - Book 2 moved fast but had a couple of turns I wasn't sure about, and Book 3 really brought things back around.  Great YA read, enjoy the path I think I see Sowles going with quite a few characters.  Can't wait for some more Laney and Oliver and Carter.

Vital by Jamie Magee

Willow’s journey continues in VITAL, the fourth book in the INSIGHT series. Combating a crumbling family life, a circle of suddenly inconsiderate friends who seem determined to anger her, and a plethora of emotional trials too numerous to withstand, Willow feels overwhelmed. She has pushed herself beyond her own limits and in so doing has closed her mind. Dreams are no longer coming to her.

As she deals with this tumultuous environment, Willow also notices a change in her beloved. Once her source of support and compassion, Landen is suddenly filled with a newfound rage. Fierce and possessive, he forces Willow to wonder whether the bliss of their love has faded away, or if something darker is affecting Landen’s soul. Always watchful of Willow, Drake sees this change and the growing rift between the pair. Both he and Willow remember all too well what happened during Venus’s passing; will Drake take advantage of Landen’s compromised emotions?

Amidst all this turmoil, Willow finds herself obsessed with finding her: the elusive twin. The girl who looks exactly like Willow, and who must be Drake’s soul mate. Willow knows in her heart that to find this girl will remove a tremendous weight from her shoulders, clearing her mind and heart. But a mysterious warning about the chart of her past forces her to consider this course carefully.

And she must consider it soon. Even now, Mars approaches and Willow’s most important battle is at hand. Will she finally break beneath the torment the universe has set upon her, or will she stand beside her friends and loved ones as Mars unleashes its wrath? (courtesy of Amazon.com)

This is my FAVORITE book so far in the series, and maybe in total by Jamie Magee.  Each time I crack a book open from her it's better than the previous book.  Magee has an enormous talent and I am thrilled that she is writing and publishing books.  I am completely in the Insight world when I read, I've said this before about her books, but it's one of the best explanations.--- When I complete a book by Jamie Magee, I literally have to blink a few times to come back to reality.---  I have a hard time putting one of Magee's books down and Vital was one that I didn't put done until I finished. This is a series that can not go ignored.  As the 4th book in the series Magee has already set up our characters and their world which is freshly intertwined with astrology/zodiac; yet in this book I felt like I was falling in love with the characters all over again. I felt this is a pivotal book for what is to come from Magee.

Drake's character speaks to me, so I can never get enough of him.  Willow has grown as we enter this 4th book, we can see her actions are more planned.  This is a tangled situation for Willow, Landon and Drake, but for them to survive they have to find a way to make it work.  I am desperately waiting for Drake to find his soul mate, he is my favorite character in the Insight series.  Magee also writes a series called See (currently there are 2 books out in this series) which has a slightly different basis - the easily explanation I have is revolving around music and souls which I think go together very nicely.  (Potential Spoiler) Insight and See are starting to intertwine which further shows Magee's talent to bring the 2 worlds together.  Magee's character development and concepts are off the charts.

As such Magee gets 6 slices for Vital.  I am anxiously awaiting the next book Vindicate - Out Jan 11 2013

Liz Strange Giveaway

Here we go!!!

Liz Strange has offered 1 lucky winner an eBook copy of Book 1 in her David Lloyd Investigations series, Missing Daughter, Shattered Family. 
In Honor of the Release of her 2nd book in the series, A Fresh Set of Eyes, which is now released as of June 28th.

All you have to do is comment below and make sure you are a blog follower by July 27th. 

Make sure you leave your email in your comment and tell us, what do you love about a good mystery/suspense novel?  Or just give a comment to Liz?  Did you read David Lloyd yet? Have you read her Dark Kiss triology? 

We want to hear from you and give you a chance to read Book 1 because we know you will be dying for Book 2 as soon as you do.  You owe it to yourself to sit down with a good book.

Read our reviews of Missing Daughter, Shattered Family and A Fresh Set of Eyes here on the blog, posted today.  4 slice reviews. 

We will pick a winner July 28th. 

Order on Amazon.com -- Missing Daughter, Shattered Family or A Fresh Set of Eyes

A Fresh Set of Eyes by Liz Strange

A mother turns to David to help free her son and another young man from prison, where they have spent the last ten years for a double murder many feel they did not commit. The police investigation was spotty, the evidence non-existent, and yet someone had to pay for the vicious assault on two young brothers. Never one to shy away from a tough situation David agrees to look into the case, despite the tense situation with his partner's family and the physical and emotional needs of the former-prostitute he's taken under his wing.



With so many lives on the line, David must find a way to help them all without hurting the most important person - himself (courtesy of goodreads)

Book 2 in the David Lloyd Investigations series by Liz Strange

In this sequel, Strange bases our mystery of a famous injustice case where we can find one mistake can corrupt a judgement on a murder case. 

David and Jamie are moving their relationship forward and Jenny is cleaned up and things can only keep moving in that direction.  David uses his heart to help pick cases where he can make a difference.  He has a sense for wrong and right.  Strange doesn't put David so close to the line of fire in this case as in Book 1. 

I thought that Strange took a case from the 'real' world and truly let it unfold.  I thought I was part of the investigation of the actual case.  Her investigative writing is very CSI and the suspense really twists in your gut.  We get to see how our previous characters from Book 1 are panning out.  Jamie has a lot to tackle with his family and with his coming out.  Fricking Jeremy gets a little of what he has coming to him. 

I am anxious to see where the David Lloyd series is going, I think David has quite a future in solving crimes :)

Missing Daughter, Shattered Family by Liz Strange

When a brutal homophobic attack ended David Lloyd's career as a police officer, his life was changed forever. Five years later David is running his own private detective agency, where a missing person's case comes to his attention. Digging into the circumstances of her disappearance forces David to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him, and that he can no loner deal with his long-time partner's fear of being honest about their relationship.


Solving the case might not only bring peace to a shattered family, but could finally put David's own demons to rest. (courtesy of goodreads)
 
This is book 1 in the David Lloyd Investigations series by Liz Strange.
 
 
One of the best things about the was Liz Strange can write is that she has a knack for bring in a M/M relationship as instinctive and fluid.  Her books focus on the relationship as ordinary as it should be and not forced or for shock.  That's not what this review is about but I wanted to say that I love how Liz writes the relationships, true and just like it should be.  We open up to a horrible attack on our lead character.  Leaving his career from injuries David has become a private investigator.  He is in a relationship with real problems he has to work through when a case walks through his door. 
 
As soon as David here's the case he's wrapped up in it.  Strange manages to keep you on your toes trying to guess what the out come will be.  As I was reading this book, I literally couldn't wait to figure out our mystery.  David is a classic character, I could just picture him sitting on my couch hanging out, some one I could be close friends with.  He's tough on that outside with a heart of gold on the inside.  The more and more he unravels about this case, the crazier the events happen to him.  Someone definitely doesn't want him to find out where the missing daughter is.  Strange also manages to rope in the reality of life, relationships are not easy, they require work. 
 
Strange gives David the answer to his mystery - and it's one heck of a twist.  David also inherits some family along the way.  Strange gives you a natrual story that flows for our lead character as if you are a spectator on the side lines, you're on a roller coaster as you figure out the mystery, wilder than the Hulk at Universal :)