Naomi's Reading Palace: September 2013

Review ~ Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

Title: Hard Bitten

Author: Chloe Neill

Series: Chicagoland Vampires #4

Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Published: May 3^rd 2011

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals—and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan, are tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of an underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society—a world full of vampires who seem to be ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands.

Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up is a combined meme with the Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. I’ll share news, post a recap of the past week and tell you what will be happening on my blog in the week ahead. I will also tell you about the books and goodies that I have managed to pick up.

It is school holidays down here in Australia, so I have found it hard to blog and read as much as I am used to. Lucky I was able to get ahead with my posts, otherwise things would be pretty dismal in the Palace!! But I am lacking time to visit my favourite peeps around the blogisphere… I will be back in another week, I promise!! ;)

Also, since I wrote this post, I have spent most of the week in hospital with my daughter, so sorry if I don't get to you straight away!!

Review ~ If You Leave by Courtney Cole

Title: If You Leave

Author: Courtney Cole

Series: Beautifully Broken #2

Genre: NA Contemporary/Romance

Published: August 6^th 2013

26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Swoon Thursday is a super HOT meme created by the fabulous girls over at YA Bound.

Archangel's Storm

By Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter #5

Published September 13th 2012

Title: Wild Child

Author: M. Leighton

Series: The Wild Ones #1.5

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Expected Publication: October 22^nd 2013

Jenna Theopolis has always known what she wanted. Getting out of her small hometown of Greenfield was number one on her list of priorities. Until she met Rusty Catron.

Rusty’s fun-loving personality was the perfect match for Jenna’s inner wild child. But what started off as a summer fling quickly turns into something more. At least it does for Jenna.

Rusty has lived with the ghost of his father’s abandonment since he was a child, but now he’s beginning to feel the crippling effects of his scars. He wants to trust in Jenna, but deep down he doesn’t believe someone so wild and free can ever be tamed.

But tragedy strikes, pushing Jenna out of Greenfield and leaving Rusty with a choice to make—face his inner demons or lose the love of his life. Forever.

Title: Twice Bitten

Author: Chloe Neill

Series: Chicagoland Vampires #3

Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Published: July 6^th 2010

Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where I have the chance to spotlight an upcoming release that I’m eagerly anticipating.

Endless Knight

By Kresley Cole

The Arcana Chronicles #2

Expected Publication – October 1st 2013

I am a fan of Bethany Lopez and today is Cover Re-Reveal day for the first three books in her Stories About Melissa series as well as the reveal of the forth cover in the series, TTYL. Check them out below and tell me what you think!!

Title: TTYL

Author: Bethany Lopez

Series: Stories About Melissa #4

Genre: YA Romance

Expected Publication: October 2013

The last few months have been a rough road for Melissa. Her grades have slipped, her parents treat her like a prisoner, and her closest friends are too involved in their own lives to spend time with her. Desperate to escape her depressing funk, she starts spending more time with Layla, who introduces her to a new crowd...the wrong crowd. When Melissa starts to go down a dangerous path, can anyone get through to her before she does something she'll regret?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Hard Bitten

By Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires #4

Published May 3rd 2011

Title: Mystery Rises

Author: Marilyn Phillips

Series: Mystery Falls #2

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy / Romance

Expected Release: Fall 2013

After spending months apart due to an enforced separation, Samantha and Shadow are finally reunited. However, it is a reunion which may be short lived. As more secrets of the past are revealed, Samantha not only discovers her true heritage, but also how heavily intertwined it is with Shadow’s. Suddenly finding themselves on opposing sides of a feud which started long before either one of them was born, they struggle to remain together in a world which seems determined to keep them apart.

Neither one of them wants to enter the conflict started by their forefathers, but unfortunately, there may not be a choice. With Samantha’s true identity now known in the world of the angels, she has become a pawn in a deadly game of revenge. Desperate to hold on to the one person who truly matters to him, Shadow must find a way to protect Samantha... or risk losing her forever.

Title: Tempt The Stars

Author: Karen Chance

Series: Cassandra Palmer Series #6

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy

Published: September 25^th 2013 (Australia)

Being a goddess is a lot less fun than you might think. Especially when you’re only a half goddess, and you only found out about it recently, and you still don’t know what you’re doing half the time. And when you’ve just used your not-so-reliable powers to burglarize the booby-trapped office of a vampire mob boss.

Yeah, that part sucks.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Cassandra Palmer, aka the Pythia, the freshly minted chief seer of the supernatural world. After all, Cassie still has to save a friend from a fate worse than death, deal with an increasingly possessive master vampire, and prevent a party of her own acolytes from unleashing a storm of fury upon the world. Totally just your average day at the office, right?

Title: Risen

Author: Christine James

Series: The Chosen Chronicles

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Published: May 24^th 2013 by Ambrosia Arts

(First published April 7^th 2011)

A fun night in a small town carnival will change Erin’s life forever with a simple visit to a bizarre and mysterious fortune teller. Scared to death by what the haggard woman reveals, Erin quickly flees and quite literally collides with Angelo, a mysterious, captivating carnival worker. Later that night, he appears in her dreams but he’s not the only one visiting her slumber. Evil is lurking on the edge of the shadows and it’s coming for her. Loyalties are tested and the lines of friendship begin to blur as long hidden truths come to light and fate bears down upon them all. Everyone has secrets but when some turn out to be more than heart wrenching, Erin has to decide who she can trust.

Angelo is not what he seems but then again no one ever is. Not even Erin. Can Erin deal with the harsh past that Angelo has been harboring or will it prevent her from doing what she's been chosen to do?

Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up is a combined meme with the Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. I’ll share news, post a recap of the past week and tell you what will be happening on my blog in the week ahead. I will also tell you about the books and goodies that I have managed to pick up.

We had a wet start to the week down here in Aus! It was great to have some rain as we have had a relatively dry winter. I am looking forward to the good weather though and being able to do some things with the family.

In regards to reading and book blogging, it’s been business as usual. I’ve been reading a few books, and trying to get ahead in my posts so there is not too much pressure. The kids are about to start school holidays, so I want to be prepared just in case something pops up.

read more "Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up #55"

Book Boyfriend of the Week is a NEW weekly meme hosted by Reading and Things. Each week I will tease you about my current Book Boyfriend, to entice you to go out and meet him for yourself!

This week I read the third book in the Lost and Found series and I fell for ~

Garth Black

He's a drop dead gorgeous Cowboy... yep, cowboy, not my usual cup of tea, I assure you. Garth comes across all arrogant and rude, but deep down he is broken and wants someone to love him. I just wanted to grab him and show him that he can be loved! He sure as hell didn't get it at home and is unsure of what to do when someone actually show that they care about him.

Title: The Vincent Brothers

Author: Abbi Glines

Series: The Vincent Boys #2

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: March 7th 2013 by Hot Key Books

(first published June 1st 2012)

Sawyer Vincent is still heartbroken over his breakup with Ashton Gray - made worse because he lost her to his brother - but Lana McDaniel thinks she might just have a cure. Lana's lived in her cousin Ashton's shadow all her life, but now she's taking the lead and is determined to make Sawyer her man. But can she be sure that Sawyer's not just using her to get back at Ashton? And what if Sawyer sees through her new sexy version of herself and discovers the shy, geeky girl she used to be?

THE VINCENT BROTHERS picks up where THE VINCENT BOYS left off - with twice the fun, twice the excitement and twice the sexy.

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read.

Here’s this week’s question:

What were some of your favourite picture books as a kid? If you have kids, what are your favorites to read to them?

Believe it or not, I still have some of my books from when I was a kid and have passed them on to my daughter. She is 8 now and has started reading them a lot lately. Here are some snaps of them...

As you can see, this was my Winnie the Pooh collection and the front book, Pooh's Very Own First Book is very worn and lost it's spine!! I loved that book.

Click on the banner above to view the tour schedule

Title: Finders Keepers

Author: Nicole Williams

Series: Lost and Found, #3

Release date: September 16, 2013

Age Group: Mature YA/New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

There’s tortured. And there’s Garth Black.

His life has been a constant carousel of tragedy and disappointment, including his love life. Of course, applying the term “love” to Garth’s conquests is a gross misuse of the word. Some people were made to give and accept love, and others weren’t. Garth Black redefines the “others” category. He’s made a vow that the day he meets a woman who could sucker him into falling in love will be the day he runs away.

Garth’s plan has one flaw. What happens when he’s already fallen hard for a girl before the warning signs and red flags go up? What happens when the love he’s avoided his entire life brings him to his knees? What happens when Garth Black lets the dirtiest four letter word he’s ever known into his dark, lonely life?

This cowboy’s about to find out he can control some things, and he can’t control others. Number one on the what he can’t control list?

Love.

Swoon Thursday is a super HOT meme created by the fabulous girls over at YA Bound.

If You Leave

By Courtney Cole

Beautifully Broken #2

Published August 6th 2013

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where I have the chance to spotlight an upcoming release that I’m eagerly anticipating.

Through the Zombie Glass

By Gena Showalter

White Rabbit Chronicles #2

Expected Publication – September 24th 2013