Chomping at the Bit: 2011 style

Here are just a handful of upcoming releases for the new year!  I can't wait to get my eyes into these!

Flip This Zombie, the second part of Jesse Petersen's Living with the Dead Series is set to release on January 3rd.  Better get those slaying shoes on!








Larissa Ione is coming out with the first installment in her Lords of Deliverance series: Eternal Rider on March 29th.  I adore her Demonica series so I have high hopes for her future novels!

 
Charlaine Harris is at it again!  Her eleventh book of the Southern Vampire Series, Dead Reckoning, is slated to hit shelves on May 3rd.  I am excited to see what mayhem Sookie will be stuck in next.









Karen Marie Moning will be wrapping up her five part Fever Series on January 18th with Shadowfever.  I am currently reading the fourth novel, Dreamfever.  Spectacular is what immediately comes to mind!










And of course, JR Ward is coming out with another Black Dagger Brotherhood novel: Payne's story, Lover Unleashed, on March 29th.






What novels are you aching to sink your teeth into?

~Helena

Wishing you a Vampy New Years

San Francisco, the city of Rice-A-Roni, is boasting a vampire tour tonight!  Tickets can be purchased here.

Blurb taken directly from webpage:

"Join us on this exciting tour on New Year's Eve for an experience you will never forget! You might call it, "History with a Twist." San Francisco's Nob Hill has holds many secrets of the night! Discover the mysteries from an exotic 127-year old Vampire who tells tales of Grace Cathedral.

For over 100 years, the upper class Nob Hill area has been home to San Francisco's rich and famous citizens. Mighty railroad barons built their mansions atop the hills. Some of the cities finest hotels and restaurants are there today.

But beneath all this wealth and opulence lies a secret: vampires live in tunnels below here. That's according to an exotic 127-year-old vampire who sleeps during the day in Grace Cathedral. Our Vampire is the main character and guide of the tour as you learn the darker side of San Francisco's Nob Hill."

Sounds like an interesting unique way to ring in the new year!

~Helena

Recommendsday Review - Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Today's Recommendsday review is Hollowland by Amanda Hocking.

I came across this gem when searching for cheap books for my Nook.  Hollowland promised zombies, romance, and plenty of action; I was hooked at "zomb-".  The price is crazy affordable, just 99 cents more than free; and nestled nicely into my college student budget.  Hocking is a very talented author who boasts many ebooks for the Kindle and Nook.  Along with a love for paranormal romance, Hocking and I are mere months apart in age.  That's right, Amanda Hocking is 26!  I am in awe of all she has accomplished in less than a year (according to her blog) and her success is very inspiring.  Now onward to my review!

Remy is on a mission in zombie infested waters.  After a horrific invasion of her compound by zombies, Remy's little brother is whisked away to another installation miles away.  Remy is desperate to find her brother and desperate times call for desperate zombie ass-kicking moves.  (Yes I just morphed two cliched phrases within a few sentences...envy my brainwaves).  Teamed up with a spoiled tween girl, Harlow, a rockstar, Lazlo, and a medical student, Blue; Remy fights her way toward her goal.  Humor and sarcasm pepper the nailbiting action.  I devoured this book in two sittings, only stopping for that pesky responsibility known as classwork.

The character development is superb.  I absolutely loved Remy with all her fire and determination.  Rip roaring action is around every page.  Speaking of roaring, did I mention there is a zombie eating lion?!  I didn't, well hot dog!  I think I about busted a gut when Ripley first entered the fray.  Honestly, in a nut shell, I completely adored this book.  My only misgiving is the ending; it seems very abrupt and left me wanting more closure with the characters.  I am hoping that means a sequel is on its way...fingers crossed! :)


Rating: 5/5

~Helena

Just because...

I was rummaging through my laptop and came across a season 3 true blood promotional poster.  I smiled.  I felt all warm and fuzzy.  I heard the blood in my veins sing...then I posted. :)

~Helena

Book By Its Cover - Waking the Witch

Today's book by its cover review is Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong.


Synopsis:

At twenty-one, Savannah Levine-orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer-considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with an impressive knowledge of and ability to perform spells. The only problem is, she's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult. She's working as the research assistant at the detective agency they founded, and when they take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge, Savannah finds herself itching for a case to call her own. (She's also itching for Adam, her longtime friend and colleague, to see her as more than just a little girl, but that's another matter.)

Suddenly, Savannah gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman's dead, and on closer inspection small details point to darker forces at play. Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with signs of supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious- and far more dangerous-than she realizes.

Helena's Thoughts:

LOVE this cover.  I find myself drawn to the blue/green urban covers most, purple power color second, ha.  Storm clouds seem to gather energy from the radiating model, or vice versa...regardless she seems connected to nature in a raw way that is highly appealing.  Bad ass motorcycle - check!  Bad ass shoes - check!  Lack of typical black leather cladness - check!  Yay, finally a heroine that looks freaking awesome and formidable in a pair of jeans and a wife beater.  The tree in the background is pretty sweet too.  I adore this cover if you haven't caught on to that yet!  Stellar job Armstrong!

Lily's Thoughts:

(Yea Lily, I decided to post this without you.  Bite me! ;p  I misses you)

Happy Holidays!

(you can buy this wonderful creation here)

~Helena

Public Service Announcement

For those who still have trouble distinguishing one type of zombie from another, a chart:



I don't know who submitted this, but I am grateful.

Happy Holidays!
~Lily

Review - Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Does your marriage need help?  How about a few counseling sessions with a certified therapist...how bout one that has been zombified?  Ok, how about just zombies in general?  Meet Sarah and David, a busy couple in Seattle, who embark on their now routine marriage counseling session; only today proves to be far from a routine day.  It all starts when they walk into their appointment to find their therapist eating the previously scheduled couple.  Yes...eating them; thus starts the first installment in Jesse Petersen's Living with the Dead series, the delightful Married with Zombies.

Petersen weaves a tale of adventure and pure terror in the face of a zombie apocalypse.  Snarky comments kept me rolling through every chapter.  The characters were perfect.  I connected completely with Sarah and David.  Found myself on edge during every zombie fight, sighing with relief every time they had two seconds of breathing room, and even shedding a couple tears.  This is a rip roaring comedy that will keep you flipping the pages all night.  You may even find yourself wondering if your own relationships might benefit from a little zombie therapy ;p  If you have even a slight enjoyment of zombies and a good laugh, make sure to start in on this series.  You will not be disappointed. :)

Rating: 5/5

Flip This Zombie, the second book, will be available in January 2011!  Make sure to check it out.  First chapter is posted here for your viewing pleasure.  Eat, Slay, Love is book three slated for a June 2011 release.

~Helena

Review - The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

Francesca Lia Block's novel 'The Frenzy' features a green-eyed redhead who has a secret even she does not fully comprehend.   Olivia is a werewolf with all the issues of a normal teen taken to the extreme.  The town and family that Olivia grows up in is extremely close minded.  As a result, she feels compelled to hide her interracial relationship, her best friend's sexual orientation, and obviously her "little" moon induced hair problem.  

Block has the beginnings of a wonderful idea; however, the execution fell a tad short.  The character development is sub par.  I had a hard time relating to any of the characters; so much so, that even in the face of complete tragedy I did not feel for those involved.  Simply put, this story is way too short.  Block wove a very detailed action packed plot with many powerful messages; however, those are all lost when connection with characters doesn't occur.  Many times, we are told how the characters have to hide who they are because of the town's ideals; however, there are not many times where we are shown how the town reacts in situations.  The same goes for the characters, we are told through Olivia's words how the people look, how they think, etc but we are never really shown it through enough character and scene interactions.

The premise behind Olivia's curse is a novel one and definitely refreshing.  The way all the characters intertwine is also neat; however, I feel like this story is more of an outline lacking complete detail and fleshing out.  I missed dialogue and more explanations of actions.  I was left feeling like the woods and the other werewolves were never really explained completely.  Most characters only had one side, and presenting more viewpoints would have helped the storyline and character connections.

Sadly I feel that Block missed the boat on this story.  I have heard good things about her other novels, so I suggest picking one of those up instead.  Great outline and plot sequence, just lacks important details.

Rating: 2/5

~Helena