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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Follower Love Giveaway Hop - Feb 8th to 13th

Head on over right now and check it out - there are over 200 blog giveaways!

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Go to BOOK'D OUT ... an amazing book giveaway happening right now

I've entered ... guessing you all will too!

DARK OF THE MOON by Rachel Hawthorne

First published in 2009 by Harper Collins

Paperback : 262 pages

ISBN : 978 0 06 170957 - 9

Brittany is determined to prove herself to the Dark Guardians. And yet, she's been keeping a devastating secret : She hasn't experienced any of the intense, early signs of change that mark a Dark Guardian's transformation. The only intense feelings that she has are for Connor - and she's kept that a secret too. But she knows she'll never truly have Connor's love if she's not a shifter like him.

At the first full moon after her birthday, her greatest fear is realized : She doesn't transform. Brittany is so desperate to become a wolf that she'll go to extremes she never thought possible ... and put all the Dark Guardians in incredible danger.

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Another easy book to read in this series - read it quite quickly, and even though I did, I enjoyed it, but it's light reading. We follow Brittany through trying to keep her secret from everyone, except her friend that she confides in. Together, they are wondering if maybe Brittany's birth certificate is wrong, and she may just have to wait a bit longer. That said, she has to keep her guard up to make sure her secret stays just that, just a little longer.

And once Connor starts to pay her attention, she fears telling him the secret that could effectively end their chance at a relationship. Throw in the 'mad' scientist Mason who is after them, at all costs, to try and make a serum from their blood and be able to transform - no matter what, that is his ultimate goal.

Enjoyable read - with a predictable ending.
Next book in the series is SHADOW OF THE MOON

RATING - 6/10

THE FOREST OF HANDS & TEETH by Carrie Ryan

First Published in Great Britain in 2009 by Gollancz

Paperback : 310 pages

ISBN : 978 0 575 09085 9

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

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This book intrigued me from the beginning - and that was before I even opened the cover - the name itself was enough to have me thinking it should be interesting.

The story revolves around Mary, a teenager living in a society that cannot leave the confines of the village. On the other side of the gates, the undead walk and thirst for blood. Mary has seen many people lost to the Forest, and she is about to see alot more. Mary struggles with the belief that there is nothing outside the village - that the world is gone, and all she wants to do is follow her dreams and see the wonderful ocean that her mother told her about growing up as a young child.

Through a tragedy, Mary finds herself in the hands of the Sisterhood, who try hard to break her spirit and make her conform, as no-one stood up and asked for Mary's hand. But nothing will stop her questions, and her thirst for more. When a 'visitor' appears in the Cathedral one night, Mary finds herself pushed to the limit to find out where they came from - but before she gets the chance, the visitor is gone.

As always, there is a love story, which has many twists and turns, and when a small group of them find themselves wandering the path between villages, all the while being stalked by the Undead on the other side of the fences, emotions run high and deep, as they try to come to terms with what has happened to them, and the bleak outlook for their future.

For me, Mary was stubborn and a little more mature I guess than most of the YA heroines we come across in books these days. You will ask yourself if Mary is putting her desires over the safety of the group, and in the end you will see reconnection between brother and sister that you thought was lost for good.

Enjoyed this read, and looking forward to the next 2 books THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES and THE DARK HOLLOW PLACES.

Rating - 7/10

DIVINE BY BLOOD by P.C.Cast

First Published in Great Britain in 2010
by MIRA Books
Paperback - 392 pages
ISBN - 978 0 7783 0363 3

"You are divine by blood and have power beyond your wildest imaginings"

Morgan bit her lip. Power beyond her wildest imaginings - WOW! That must be some power, because she definately had an excellent imagination.

Conceived in a lie to a goddess plagued by evil and a father that sacrificed himself to stop her. Morrigan is raised as a normal girl in Oklahoma.

Now eighteen, Morrigan is finally learning the truth about her past and discovering an ability to harness magic. Finding her way to Partholon, she hopes to be respected as the daughter of a goddess - she's ready to be worshipped!

But Morrigan is plagued by doubt - are the voices she hears a connection with the goddess of Epona, or the evil that controlled her mother.

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This book took me a little bit to get into ... I wasn't a fan of Morrigan, she seemed like deep down she had the makings of another Rhiannon, which annoyed the heck out of me.

It was like going back to the beginning again, once Morrigan crosses over into Partholon, and she has to be looked after by Brita, who was the High Priestess before she appeared to them. But slowly, I tended to have a softness for Morrigan - how could she not have some of Rhiannon's dark side running through her, considering the circumstances before and during her birth.

The story grew on me, and I came to understand where she was coming from - fighting the ultimate battle - good vs evil. The way the book ends, is just right for the 2 follow up books in the series ELPHAME'S CHOICE and BRIGHID'S QUEST.

Take the chance ... grab these series of books and lose yourself in a mystical fantasy story of love and discover.

RATING - 7/10