Penguin Teen Australia: The Indigo Spell FINISHED COVER!

Penguin Teen Australia: The Indigo Spell FINISHED COVER!:

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Swoon Thursday (2)

The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works.

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound!

“I know I’m not who you wanted for her.  And I’m not even going to pretend to think I’m good enough- I know I’ve made mistakes, and I’m probably going to make more.  But I love her with every single cell in my body.  She’s the reason my heart beats- literally.  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.  There’s no one I’d put ahead of her.  And I will never, ever leave her, as long as she wants me.”

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent Kindle Location 5578

So what do you think? Did it make your heart beat just a little bit faster? 

Enemy Within

Coming August 30, 2012

Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl's curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

CHAPTER ONE

Mirko

Immortality is a lie. It’s something the Pijawikas tell themselves to feel godly. Pijawikas and Zao Duhs don’t age like humans, but we do age and we can die. With Pijawikas directing the Zao Duhs to do their dirty work, the lie that they will never die is a lot easier for them to believe.

Not so for Zao Duhs. Death doesn’t just haunt me. It slaps me in the face, then holds my eyelids open as person after person dies. I’ve watched people I have known, loved, and who didn’t deserve to, die. Pijawikas don’t mind. As long as the person dying is only a Zao Duh or a human, nothing is lost to them.

Brooke is part Pijawikan and instead of them adding her to their list of sacred lives among the chosen, they see her as an abomination—a death sentence deserved. One I can’t allow them to make good on. I’ve fought for and against the Pijawikas, but I have never felt as strongly as I do now about not giving them what they want.

Brooke is innocent, and she holds a place in my heart so deep I didn’t think it existed before I met her. Pijawikas have broken my heart, and broken my body and almost my mind, but I can’t let them harm her. Not this girl.

When she ran out of her father’s house, the look on her face sent a cold chill through my limbs and sinking horror in my gut. Whatever we thought we conquered had come back tenfold.

She was tired and battered, barely able to clean the dirt and blood off her face and change into clean clothes. Even her nap on the plane couldn’t replenish her. Although she still had enough fight in her to make sure we went home and not on the run from her father.

“He’d find us anywhere,” she had said. “Please. I just want to go home and see my mom and Kaitlynn.”

She was right, and the bruised and heart-wrenching look she gave me melted any resistance I would have put forth. I wasn’t prepared to fight this battle. Not against the Head of Pijawikas. We needed resources and a plan. Garwin could provide the recourse. I still had to come up with a good plan, but no matter how creative a solution I could find, I knew my time with Brooke was limited. Zladislov would hunt her down and kill her. Realistically, I couldn’t save Brooke from her father, but I sure as hell had no doubt I would die trying. I knew my days were numbered.

Garwin came out the front door as we made our way up his steps. He met Brooke with open arms, and even though she whimpered a little when he squeezed her tight, the relief on her face was palpable.

“I’m glad you’re all right. I have been so worried about you,” Garwin said as he walked us inside.

Garwin had increased his security since the last time I was there. Strange faces littered the hallway, and a burly man stood by the marble statue. I took note to test his reflexes and agility later. We needed more than to look like a strong force. I needed everyone to deliver when Zladislov arrived.

“Where’s Mom?” Brooke asked as she looked around and eyed the security detail.

“She’s on her way,” Garwin said. “She’s been worried about you. I haven’t told her anything yet, only that you were coming home.” He eased Brooke down on the couch and then took a seat in a large chair by the fireplace. Jaren and I sat on the couch with Brooke across from Garwin. Yes, Jaren was still hanging around. I couldn’t seem to get rid of the kid.

“I understand you had to be discreet while talking to me on the plane, but I can’t wait for Brooke’s mom to get here. What’s going on?” Garwin had a calm demeanor, but I could feel the anxiousness stirring below the surface.

“Zladislov’s my father and he wants to kill me,” Brooke said. She didn’t sound scared, but she did sound hopeless and tired.

“Oh, dear God.” Garwin ran his hand along the outside of his mouth and stood. He walked over to his liquor cabinet and dropped two ice cubes in a glass, then poured his favorite brandy in after. He picked up his glass, swirled the liquid a couple of times and then took a swig. The whole time he stared ahead as if looking at something but seeing nothing. Wherever his mind was, it wasn’t in that room.

I had never seen Garwin speechless before. He always had someone to call or a brilliant idea to offer as a solution.

Brooke tensed. “Garwin? Say something.”

I knew our situation was daunting, but I never expected that eerily distant look in Garwin’s eyes, which only set Brooke further on edge. She was scared but fought to stay awake. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier with every exhale.

Garwin stared on for a moment longer before he turned to us. “I have a lot to think about and you need to get some rest,” he said, then looked at me. “Will you make sure she gets to her room all right?”

“Of course.” I stood and gently tugged Brooke up by her arm.

She yelped and guilt sliced through me. She was injured and anywhere I touched her I’d cause her pain. However, she didn’t appear to have the strength to get off the couch, let alone climb the stairs to the bedrooms. I bent over and caught her underneath her knees. They buckled with ease and she rested in my arms.

Jaren rose with a scowl on his face and his footsteps sounded behind us. There was a reason Garwin asked me to take Brooke up to her room and not him; I was best suited to handle her.

Brooke’s breathing was rough and deep, full of both exhaustion and pain. I hoped once I laid her down, she would fall asleep and the pain would subside.

I walked as smoothly as I could and paid attention not to jostle her as I climbed the stairs. “Which room?” I whispered to her.

“It’s the second to last door on the right,” Jaren said. I didn’t like the idea of Jaren knowing which room belonged to Brooke.

“Hmph,” I huffed, and Brooke stirred slightly. I wouldn’t make any more of that. Brooke needed to rest, not worry about Jaren and me.

Jaren’s footsteps sped up as he went around us and then turned the doorknob. I paused for a second before entering. A part of me didn’t want to put Brooke down and that side struggled with the part of me that wanted her to be in a painless sleep. The selfish side lost and I moved forward and set her on top of the bed. A content sound escaped her lips, telling me she needed the rest as much or more than I assumed.

“Thanks for carrying her up,” Jaren said, as if I were doing him a favor.

“I didn’t do it for you.” A fuzzy blanket lay at the foot of the bed. I grabbed it and covered Brooke’s arms. She seemed to calm and her breathing became more relaxed.

I kissed her forehead, comforted because she was.

I walked away, but Jaren stepped around me and kissed Brooke on the cheek. Anger and possession flared up inside me. She had yet to choose me, but she was mine. My days with her were numbered and I wasn’t sure how many of them I could deal with this kid trying to one up me. I focused on Brooke to read her response to Jaren’s sign of affection, but there wasn’t one. I expected at least some sort of reaction, even in the slightest, but there was nothing. Almost as if he kissed the cheek of a corpse.

I had seen this before, but I had to make sure. I strode back over to Brooke’s side and shook her shoulder. “Slatki.”

Nothing.

She was still as a stone. My fears were confirmed.

“What’s wrong?” Jaren asked from behind me.

“She’s in a sleep.” Not even her eyes fluttered from behind her lids.

“And that means what?”

I turned to face him so he knew exactly how serious I was. “It means no one comes into this room alone. When she wakes up, she’s going to be ravenous for blood. Anyone in here when she comes to will not be you, or her mother, or anyone else she recognizes. Until she feeds, she will be completely controlled by that hunger. You are not to call Kaitlynn, and no one is to come in here without me with them. Is that clear?”

He glared at me and his jaw tightened but he nodded.

I smirked and waited at the door until he cleared it, then I shut it, letting him see that I alone controlled the access to Brooke. I wanted it clear that my commands went deeper than any boyish possession over her. Lives were on the line.

He marched across the hall, opened a door to another room and then closed it behind him. Did he think he was going to stay in the room across the hall from Brooke? I shook my head and looked to the doors next to Brooke’s. I moved to the one on the left and opened it. Furnished but bare of any personalization. I’d talk to Garwin about taking that one.

Brooke being in a sleep complicated things. It wouldn’t be easy to move her in her condition and any plans we made would have to be implemented without her input. We couldn’t wait for her to wake, though.

I descended the stairs two at a time and stopped at the burly guy standing at the stairs’ base. I didn’t need to ask Garwin his thoughts on him as the guy’s mere presence told me everything I needed to know. “Zao Duh?”

He nodded.

“Good. Don’t let anyone go inside her room. She’s in a sleep, but if you hear her come out, grab her.”

His nostrils flared. He knew what that meant, but I wasn’t sure if he’d seen it or just heard about it. “Are you Mirko?”

“Yes. And you are?” I was familiar with many Zao Duhs, but this one was unknown to me. That would normally make me unsettled, but I trusted Garwin’s judgment. Especially when it came to Brooke. He did hire me at the onset, which was the best call he could’ve made for her.

“Rorik.” He struck his hand out and I shook it. His grip was firm and assertive, a good indication he was confident in his stature. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the infamous Mirko.”

I grinned. Damn right he’d heard of me. I lead some of the fiercest and most sought after group of Zao Duhs on the planet. “I’d like to say the pleasure is mutual, but I need to know a few things first.” Business before anything else. That’s the way I worked, which was what kept people alive. I wasn’t about to let my guard down because some guy was impressed with my name and told me so.

“I assume Garwin filled you in on why you’re here?”

He frowned. “Zladislov is after the girl.”

“And you care because?” His answer was crucial in gaining my trust.

“I had a sister about her age who was killed by Pijawikas. I aim to protect the innocent. No matter who the perpetrator is.”

“Do you understand if you get caught, you’ll be arrested for treason?” Not only was that a loaded question, asking him if he knew the full implication of his actions, but I wanted to see the look on his face when the idea of his death became fresh in his mind.

He didn’t even flinch. “Yes, sir. I do.”

I shook his hand again. “Good. I think we can work together.” That was one down. I only needed about one thousand more to call it a fair fight.

To get a few more, I went to the rental car for my phone and dialed Ace.

“Hey, man. How’d it go?”

“Jelena was neutralized—by Brooke, actually.”

“No shit? How’d she do that?”

“That will have to wait for later. I need a favor and what I’m about to ask you is huge. I’ll understand if you can’t do it, but I need you.”

“Bro, you know whatever it is you need, I’m there. What’s up?”

“Zladislov knows about Brooke and he’s going to kill her. I need reinforcements. I know it’s as close to a suicide mission as you can get, and I’d never ask this of you, but I have to put up some resistance for her—something to make Zladislov’s men think twice when they come for her. I can’t let her go down without a fight. I’m sorry, Ace, but I love her. I can’t not ask this of you.” Ace knew how deep my feelings for Brooke went. I’d made them clear when he and Brooke talked me into using her as bait for Jelena.

“Whoa. That’s pretty steep.” Silence hung in the air, and I almost regretted asking him. “But you know I’m with you. Where are you? Are you guys on the run?”

Relief the strength of something unnatural washed over me in waves. The kinship Ace offered was unlike anything I could’ve asked for in my life. Sure, I’d been there to save his ass more than I could count on two hands, but every time I was in a bind, he was there. Just like the time we met.

I was on a mission to save a kidnapped Pijawikan girl from a rogue Zao Duh. He’d captured her and threatened her life in exchange for money. Life as a Zao Duh is tough, but you don’t use a child like that. Ever. Let alone a Pijawikan child. They’re rare and almost revered within Pijawikan culture. It wasn’t just a recovery mission, though. It was a rescue and assassination. Things went wrong and when I thought my life was over, Ace came out of nowhere and rescued me. Bros ever since.

“I couldn’t talk her into running. And this might be her final days, so she should get to spend them the way she prefers. But she’s in a sleep right now, so any persuasion I would normally use to get her out of here won’t work, and I can’t just take her. No matter how bad I want to, it’d be wrong, and she’d never forgive me. I can’t do that to her.”

“A sleep? Talk about worst-case scenario.”

“God, you have no idea.”

“So where are you now?”

“Lexintgton, Virginia. Garwin Johnson’s home. Come and bring everyone who’s willing. Tell them what’s at stake and ask anyone who’s willing to please come. I can’t thank you enough for this, Ace.”

“I’m with you. Just hang tight. We’ll be there soon.”

I hung up the phone and smiled, an unexpected happiness started to take root within my chest. I may not be able to stop Zladislov completely, but I was one step closer to delaying him.

The next step was a plan and I needed Garwin for that, so I went back inside to find him. My phone rang before I reached the den. When I pulled it out of my pocket, Unknown read across the display. “That was quick,” I told Ace when I answered.

“Yes, I do pride myself on my efficiency.”

Acid rose in my throat. “Dikan.”

“It really is heartwarming to find you remember my voice. We’ve had some good times, haven’t we?”

The bastard taunted me. His idea and my idea of good times were not even in the same hemisphere. “How did you get this number?”

“A little birdie from The Base gave it to me.”

I growled.

“Ah, now don’t take it out on the little birdie. I’m a hard one to resist, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

I knew exactly how hard it was to resist him. Resentment took hold of me so swift and strong I heard the phone creak as I squeezed it. I forced myself to release some of the tension in my fingers. I couldn’t afford for the phone to break and end the call. Dikan called for a reason beyond taunting me. Everything he did had ulterior motives. I had to hang on long enough to figure out what they were this time.

My jaw clenched beyond my control, so I had no choice but to speak between my teeth. “What do you want?”

Dikan chuckled. “I’m calling out of consideration for you, old friend. I saw how much you were taken by the young melez. It’s sweet really. And disgustingly fitting for you. Too bad it won’t last.” His smirk was layered within his tone. “Jelena’s death will be avenged. Your time with Brooke should be well spent as it will end soon.”

“You come near her and I’ll kill you. You have nothing to use against me this time.”

Dikan’s maniacal laugh filled the line. “I’m afraid that’s not so. But until then, I bid you farewell and a pleasant time spent with your lady friend.”

The call ended, and hatred I had long ago conquered swelled up inside me. Its tentacles took hold around my heart, in my gut, and possessed all possible thought within my mind. I rode it for a flurry of a few minutes until I realized I could no longer allow myself to be controlled by hatred and resentment. I had a purpose beyond revenge and bloodthirsty justice for a past so ugly and wrong. Brooke was my focus now. I pushed harder and harder on the hatred, trying to quell and lock it up enough to clear my mind and get a handle on the proper move I needed to take.

I concentrated on Brooke: her laughter, her blush, the smell of her hair, and the memory of her velvety skin as I stroked her cheek. The acute memory helped ebb the anger, but what replaced it was less satisfying.

I looked down on the phone and hit redial. Ace answered on the second ring.

“I know I said warn the others and to ask those who are willing to come. But I need more than that,” I said, hopelessness thick in my words. “Offer them money. If they won’t come for me, or for Brooke, or because protecting the innocent is what we stand for, offer them money. I’ll split everything I have with those who will be persuaded by it. Just get anyone and everyone you can.”

“Sure, sure. What happened?” Ace knew me and he knew it was unusual for me to sound like that—desperate.

“Dikan called. He’s up to something and I don’t think it has anything to do with Zladislov.”

“Oh, shit. I’ll see what I can do.”

Oh, shit was right.

Copyright 2012 Angeline Kace

Teaser Tuesday (2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“What happened? Are you okay?”

The dagger slipped from my grip and clattered to the floor as he reached me, and several people turned to stare at the strange, bloody knife that had appeared out of nowhere, from their perspective.

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent Kindle location 3473

So what do you think?  Why was there a bloody knife?  Who had it? Who is he?

Before I Wake

Author: Rachel Vincent
Format: eBook
Print Length: 344 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: June 26, 2012

I died on a Thursday—killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul.
The good news? He didn't get it.
The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school…

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend.

But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life….

My Thoughts

The Soul Screamers world is intriguing.  The mixture of paranormals, demons, and humans makes for interesting relationships.  There are new characters introduced, and old friends as well.

WOW! I absolutely love the relationship aspect of this book.  Kaylee’s relationships with everyone changes due to what has happened to her. Nash’s reaction to everything is to be expected.  Sabine’s interaction with Kaylee is mind blowing.  Darn is that gal honest to a fault.  Emma’s unconditional faith in her continues to be shown in all of her actions.  Kaylee’s dad is trying to make up for all those missed years- a little too late.  Kaylee instead of resentful humors him, Tod respects his wishes.  Speaking of Tod OMG where can I get one?  Talk about an amazing boyfriend.

Another thing I loved though is that Kaylee was not happy-go-lucky about what happened to her.  You know those books that when something terrible happens to the main character and they are not changed by it?  This is not that type of book, Kaylee instead struggles with it.  Her struggles especially at night are understandable, and emotional. 

Speaking of emotions, woozier this book causes a lot of them.  There is the OMG moment, the awe moment, the OH NO SHE DIDN’T moment.  Talk about good story-telling!  The ending made me teary-eyed, my chest hurting just a little.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Other Characters

Tod- Reaper boyfriend

Emma- Faithful best friend

Nash- Ex-boyfriend, Tod’s brother

Sabine- Nash’s ex-girlfriend

Avari- Evil

Between the Bind: Giveaway: 100 Follower Giveaway!

Between the Bind: Giveaway: 100 Follower Giveaway!:

<a href="http://betweenthebind.blogspot.com/2012/07/giveaway-100-follower-giveaway.html" title="between the bind givea...

OBSIDIAN by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Book Trailer

Swoon Thursday (1)

The wonderful gals at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound!

Since this is my very first swoon post my fingers are crossed hoping that you like it. 

He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck.  He tipped my head up and lowered his lips to mine.  I closed my eyes and melted as my whole body was consumed in that kiss.  I was nothing.  I was everything.  Chills ran over my skin, and fire burned inside me.  His body pressed closer to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.  His lips were warmer and softer than anything I could have ever imagined, yet fierce and powerful at the same time!

~The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead~ Kindle location 6105

So how did I do?  Hate it, like it, or love it?  Leave your comments below

Leif

Author: Abbi Glines
Format: eBook
Print Length: 94 pages
Publisher: Self-published
Published: July 3, 2012

"She was mine. I owned her soul…until Death stole her heart."

LEIF is a novella from the Existence series. It is glimpses into Leif's point-of-view during both Existence and Predestined. Also, each digital copy of LEIF has a free download for Dank Walker (AKA Death) newest song - Closer.

My Thoughts

I was in the minority when reading the two novels that preceded Leif.  Most of Abbi’s readers were Team Dank all the way.  I was not.  I was and still am Team Leif even if he lost.  There was something about him that I liked.  I think it was his protective side of Pagan.  The novella proves my point, Leif is amazing.  He did what he did to protect what was rightfully his.  He loves Pagan and has been there for her almost her entire life.  The scenes in the novella that were re-written into his point of view were the scenes I was hoping for. 

Abbi is a very talented writer, proven through this novella.  Some writers can only create a villain, a character who all must hate.  Abbi has an unbelievable ability to turn a supposed (remember Team Leif here) villain into a likable guy.   The emotional rollercoaster that Pagan puts Leif through is shown throughout the novella.  In everything that he does he considers Pagan’s feelings.  He truly does love her and did everything possible to protect her.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars 

Other Characters

Ghede- Leif’s daddy- pretty evil
Dank- otherwise known as Death, competes with Leif for Pagan’s affections
Pagan- the girl that Leif is fighting Dank over.  Keep in mind without Leif there would have been no 18 year old Pagan.
Sabine- someone who shows up at the end of the novella, I am really hoping that she will be his trilogy.

The Golden Lily

Author: Richelle Mead
Format: eBook
Print Length: 423 pages
Publisher: Penguin Publishing
Published: June 12, 2012

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

My Thoughts

Richelle Mead is a master storyteller, the Golden Lily being her newest masterpiece.  I was unable to put this book down.  Staying up way too late for a mommy of two toddlers, but honestly it was worth it.  The novel entices the reader into a world of budding romance, mystery and of course action.

I love the world that Sydney lives in, especially her ingrained opinions of vampires.  The opening of the Golden Lily is extremely telling of the strict draconian society that Sydney is a part of.  Sydney has not changed much from the last book, still relying on facts instead of intuition.  However, she does allow for some personal changes.  Watching her struggle with the intricacies of dating and relationships is hilarious.  Adrian of course is as amusing as ever.  He starts to care about others more than himself, this growth stunned me.  The reason behind the growth will not.

The characters that we have grown to care about through Bloodlines, and the Vampire Academy series go through a lot in this book.  The new threats to their secret come from various angles.  At the end of the book, I was shocked and awed.  Adrian’s honesty and belief in Sydney through-out the book stunned me.  I was very grateful that he the hurt that he was feeling over Rose was not showing as much.  While Sydney is my favorite character in the series, I could not help but want to shake her a little at the end.  My heart literally broke for her and as I closed my eyes to sleep I thought “Sydney how dumb can someone so smart be?"

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Other Characters

Jill- spirit bound to Adrian, Princess who has to go into hiding due to political shenanigans.
Angelica- Jill’s roommate, sent to protect her.
Trey- Sydney’s friend at school, sets her up with her boyfriend.  Sydney begins to worry about him due to some behavior changes.
Eddie- Jill’s guardian, secretly has feelings for her.

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"He took a deep breath and, his hand still holding mine, pulled me toward him. His green eyes were dark in the candlelight but somehow just as enthralling." ~The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead Kindle Location 3627

Here's my first teaser ever!  How did I do?  What is your teaser of the week?

Velveteen

Author: Daniel Marks
Format: ARC  eBook
Print Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Random House
Published: October 9, 2012

Velveteen Monroe is dead.  At 16, she was kidnapped andmurdered by a madman named Bonesaw.  But that's not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.
Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days. It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

My Thoughts

The cover page of this book is stunning, the models portraying Velvet and Nick were exactly as I pictured them.  The book itself was also stunning, graphic and at times a little confusing.  The confusion comes due to too many subplots within the book.  The major plotline was the cracking in foundations of purgatory caused by Shadowquakes.  The very thing that Velvet is supposed to prevent/ stop from happening.  Her haunting Bonesaw does not cause them- more evil ghosts do.  A subplot is the revolutionaries that want to breakout of purgatory.  Hence the confusion within the novel- revenge, shadowquakes, revolutionaries and of course forbidden love.  Although Nick kinda kicks that subplot to the curb real fast- he doesn’t really care that it is forbidden.  To him it is a no brainer.

The first chapter will wrap you up into Velvet’s world.  She is a ghost bent on revenge- or that is how others will see her.  I kind of saw her differently.  She is ghost bent on saving victims of a death as horrific as hers.  She kept trying to thwart Bonesaw’s next murder, if that means haunting his sorry behind then so be it.  As the team leader of a group of Salvage’s (search and rescue of wayward souls), she further proves my point. 

Her personality is spunky which I can relate to and I love her sarcasm.  She is extremely loyal and trustworthy to her friends.  Nick, the love interest, is adorable.  There really is no other way to put it. Even though he discovers he is dead and that he could of course control corpse he keeps a positive attitude.  When Velvet is being witchy, he calls her on it.  The fact that he even likes her is adorable- considering he was the basketball jock to her Goth gal.  This was even pointed out by Velvet, which was awesome.

I only had two complaints about the book.  The romance was not really romantic. Nick was not introduced until chapter 10- wish he got to the party a little bit earlier. Falling in love should have taken longer than five minutes. The other thing is how descriptive the book it.  Does the reader really need to know that “a pair of gruff-looking souls in coveralls chained the funicular cars to a massive wedge…”?  Some of the vocabulary used in the descriptions was on the higher end of a SAT vocabulary studying list.  This caused the book to be a little choppy for me.

My Rating 3 stars out of 5

Other Characters

Luisa- Velvet’s best friend, happens to also be on her Salvage team as poltergeists along with her brother
Logan- Luisa’s brother, on the Salvage team as poltergeists
Nick- Velvet’s love interest, she of course becomes his boss