Blog Hop Friday

Crazy-for-Books Book Blogger Hop has a  Mr. Linky and the rules for the hop are over there too. I know I have found a lot of amazing blogs using these links. Most important for Friday, have fun!!! It's Friday after all! Have a great weekend!
The  question of the week is: What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?
I am eagerly awaiting The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong.  I love her books and I get really caught up in the characters that she writes.  Summary of The Gathering: Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.
It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you wonderful bloggers and don't forget to check out my current contest.  H.P. Mallory is giving away a couple of copies of her amazing books.

Third Line Thursday (5)Out of the Transylvania Night by Aura Imbarus

Out of the Transylvania Night
Author: Aura Imbarus
Third Line Thursday Page 183

Since we wouldn't be buying much in LA when we arrived, I had to fit enough to get by on into two suitcases. I knew I couldn't last six months without my most precious books, so I would fill one suitcase with those and other possessions I couldn't live without. As I selected what to take and what to leave, memories of my childhood somersaulted in my mind.

My thoughts - I would have a hard time leaving my books behind as well. 

  My simple rules for Third Line Thursday are as follows: Pick up the book you are currently reading, go to chapter 3 or page 3 or any page or chapter with a 3(13, 23, ect.) then type in the third line (sentence) from that page. See simple!

Scourge - Reviewed

Scourge
Author: David H. Burton
Release Date: November 2010
Publisher: David H. Burton
Pages: 232
Target Age: Middle Grade
Source: Given to me by the author for an honest review
Summary from Amazon.com
Two dads, five siblings, and goggles! Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things get even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago. Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.

Scourge is the first Middle Grade book that I've read in quite a long time and it was my very first steampunk ever, and I gotta say, I was impressed.  The story grabs you pretty quickly and the children find themselves in a whole new world.  A world with dirigibles and mushrooms that attack!  I loved the way Burton built up this world and described things to you while engaging you with the characters at the same time. I really enjoyed how the story was moving on and you didn't feel as if you were reading through page after page of description. There are enough fight scenes and cool/creepy characters to keep even the most fidgety boys entranced.  The characters are so much fun and range from pixies to robotic spiders.  This is one of those books that you could read out loud to your children and not feel as if you are reading a "children's" book, while still feel good reading it with your child.  I will definitely be looking forward to diving into another adventure with Grim and his brothers and sisters.  Well done Mr. Burton!

GIVEAWAY!!! An interview with H.P. Mallory AND Giveaway

H.P. Mallory was sweet enough to answer some fun questions for me so that we could get a glimpse of the mind behind the new (and amazing) Jolie Wilkins series and the Dulcie O'Neil series.

Shari - What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?

H.P. - Friendly, loyal, fun loving, hard working, stubborn

Shari - How long have you been writing, are the Jolie Wilkins and Dulcie O'Neil books your first attempts at novel writing?

H.P. - Fire Burn was my first novel which I wrote about 3 years ago. I’ve been writing off and on all my life, really. Dulcie was my second book and Toil and Trouble (the second in the Jolie series) was my third.

Shari - I've read that you enjoy traveling, if you could wake up tomorrow and pack a bag to go anywhere, where would you go?

H.P. - Um, I’d love to go to Italy and Greece. I think my next big trip is Australia! 

Shari- Which one of your male characters would you be the most excited to have show up on your doorstep and why?

H.P.- Oh, man. This is a tough one. I love Rand because I love his morality and the fact that he wears his heart on his sleeve but I do also love Sinjin because he’s playful…can I say both?

Shari- Do you already have ideas brewing for books outside of the Jolie and Dulcie series and if so can you hint at what they might be?

H.P. - Yes, I have a book that is halfway completed but I do think I’m going to change it up a bit before I release it. Initially it was about a demon hunter but I think I’m going to spin it so it’s a bit more unique. More to come… 

 H.P. has been nice enough to give away two ebook copies of her books here on My Neurotic Book Affair.  The first place winner will get to choose between Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble or To Kill A Warlock. Our second place winner will receive the remaining copy.  I have read both of these books and LOVED both of them.  I will be adding H.P. Mallory to my list of favorite authors.  To learn more about H.P. and her wonderful books visit her website

  So how do you enter?  Leave me a comment telling me where you would go if you could just pack your bags tonight and be on your way.  If you would like additional entries leave me links to anywhere that you spread the word twitter, facebook, your blog, ect! If you already follow me let me know and I'll give you two additional entries and if you are a new follower that will get you an additional entry as well.  Contest ends at midnight on February 4th.  Good Luck!!!!

Third Line Thursday (4) Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

Playing Hurt
Author: Holly Schindler
Third Line Thursday Page 213

I can't stand to look at Clint.  I wipe my cheek and turn my back to him, lower my face down toward the gleaming front of the payphone, my heart drumming away like an entire marching band.  How can this be happening?

My thoughts- Trouble in paradise? I've just started this book so I really jumped through for this today, and I have no idea what this means for the characters just yet!

  My simple rules for Third Line Thursday are as follows: Pick up the book you are currently reading, go to chapter 3 or page 3 or any page or chapter with a 3(13, 23, ect.) then type in the third line (sentence) from that page. See simple!

Waiting On Wednesday (1/19/2011) Cloaked

Cloaked 
Author: Alex Flinn
Expected Publication: February 8th
Summary from Goodreads: Think you know paranormal romance? Alex Flinn gives the genre a twist in this modern fairy-tale mash-up!
Johnny’s not your average hero. But a little magic changes everything. There isn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. It all starts with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess. And before Johnny knows it, he is on a mission in the Everglades, with only a flock of swans and a talking fox named Joe to help guide him against the forces of an evil witch.

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting.
  
So spill... what are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (1/18/2011) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand

"Both of you be qu---" Mom starts to say, but then we slide on the ice.  She hits the brakes and we drift sideways, picking up speed.  Mom and I both scream as the car careens off the road and crashes through a snowbank.

Excerpt from page 72 (according to my nook)
Unearthly is available now.

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble - Reviewed

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author: H.P. Mallory
Released: October 2010
Publisher: H.P. Mallory
Pages: 304 File Size: 366 KB
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Target Age: Adult
Source: Given to me for an honest review from the author
Summary: from Barnes&Noble.com
A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead.
A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover.
A six hundred year-old vampire with his own agenda, one that includes an appetite for witches.
The Underworld in chaos.
Let the games begin.

Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires Jolie to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, accidentally brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie's incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld's most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.

 I LOVED Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble.  LOVED IT!!!!  Fun, fast, sexy, snarky, and just plain lovable. This was one of those books that I just didn't want to put down.  I was drawn into the story and laughing out loud within the very first pages.  The men are hot and the sexual tension  is oh so intense.  You know me and spoilers, I'm not a fan.  So.. I'm just going to leave you with this friendly advice - get yourself over to a .com book store and download this book, I can't imagine that you will be disappointed. Be ready to need that next book though, cause this one will leave you hanging.  I know that this is a short review, but I really have nothing bad to say about this book and I can't wait to read Toil and Trouble - now available.  Join me this Friday for a fun interview with H.P. Mallory and a chance to win your own copy of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble or To Kill A Warlock. 

Third Line Thursday (3) Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Human Blend
Author: Lori Pescatore
Third Line Thursday Page 36 (according to my nook)

Austin placed an arm around Julie's shoulder.  Her mind was quiet this time, no more warnings being received.  She didn't bother to wonder why that was. She snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. 


My thoughts-
This books has had be hooked from the first page!!!!

  My simple rules for Third Line Thursday are as follows: Pick up the book you are currently reading, go to chapter 3 or page 3 or any page or chapter with a 3(13, 23, ect.) then type in the third line (sentence) from that page. See simple!

Waiting On Wednesday (1/12/2011) Vesper (Deviants # 1)

Vesper (Deviants #1)
Author: Jeff Sampson
Expected Publication: January 25th
Summary from Goodreads: Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.
The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?
As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting.

So what are you waiting on?

A Dream Of The Past - Reviewed

A Dream Of The Past
Author: Lisa Rusczyk
Released: February 2010
Publisher: Club Lighthouse Publishing
Pages: 199 (according to the nook)
Target Age: I think this one is aimed at Adults however I can't see a reason why Young Adults should not read this book. 
Summary from Shelfari:
All people have dreams from their pasts that never came to be. This is especially true for Gamane, and he intends to fix it. A long time ago, he tried to imprison Kalelli, the woman who would not love him back, with a powerful enchantment. Kalelli countered the spell, and instead of becoming his prisoner, a new race was born and Kalelli was destroyed. The cadens, part cat, part bird, and part magical Kalelli have been able to live in peace for hundreds of years, but now Gamane is back and wants to kill them all to restore his beloved back to life in her human form.  Marcila doesn-t fit in on her island home of Slinaria. She is a skeptic living among people who thrive on stories and try hard to forget the past. When she finds out her father is alive and abandoned her when she was a toddler, she sets out for the mainland to find him so that she can understand why she is different. On her journey, she forms a bond with a caden and decides she must help fight Gamane in his mission. She meets others who share this vision, including her father. A group of mages and civilians band together to stop the powerful Gamane and end the caden killings.

While it took me a little while to get into, I did end up enjoying this story.  A Dream Of The Past starts off with Marcilla setting off to find her father and while looking for him she meets up with a lot of different people from many different walks of life. Each character has their own journey and obstacles, however they are all led back to the same common goal.  I really liked how the characters stories were constantly intertwined throughout the story.  The character development started off a bit sketchy in the beginning for me, but by the end you could really see everything come together.  I don't normally read a lot of fantasy books tending to favor romance, but this was an enjoyable read. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre I think you might really like A Dream Of The Past.

I received this book from the author for an honest review. 

Teaser Tuesday (1/4/2011) Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

He took another deep breath.  He spoke slowly, but with an intensity that frightened me even more.  "What you saw-what you fought -last night was a reaper.  Forget the scythe-wielding skeletons in long robes.

Except from page 40 on the nook
Angelfire is set to be released on February 15th

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

The Accidental Demon Slayer - Reviewed

The Accidental Demon Slayer
Author: Angie Fox
Release Date: July 2008
Publisher: Leisure Books
Pages: 292
Target Age: Adult
Summary from Shelfari:
It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her. Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be...?

 This was such a fun book.  I absolutely loved the characters in this story.  Lizzie our main character is a little OCD and this claim that she is a demon slayer and didn't know it, is driving her just a little crazy.  To say she is having a hard time accepting her new situation is quite the understatement.  Since Lizzie's grandma (who happens to be a witch) has shown up Lizzie can now understand her dog Pirate. Pirate is a Jack Russell and he is a trip.  Makes me look at my dogs in a whole new way. Dimitri is one hot shape shifting griffin and wow! the heat that he and Lizzie share is quite, well.....WOW!  Between the witches, demons, and not very nice werewolves this story is pretty action packed and quite hysterical.  I can't wait to read Book 2 "The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers" 

You can and should grab your copy from amazon.com or B&N.com  Enjoy!