Jennifer Murgia excitedly announced that The Clearwood Collection Jewelry Company has some Angel Star inspired jewelry available. I have not been familiar with this company prior to this announcement, but found they have some awesome jewelry collections. Rush over now and take a look. http://www.theclearwoodcollection.com/main.sc
Lady Tink
and
Emma Michaels
Books will be sent from the publishers, I already have the address and emailed the publisher. If you do not receive them shortly please let me know.
Title: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
By: Erin McCahan
Reading Level: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic Books (Release June 2010)
BookWhisperer Rating:
Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.
When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.
Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else is a very fast paced and easy read. With this extremely quick pace it is easy to buzz through the pages at record speed. Although, I struggled because it was written very much like young adult though process jumpy and flighty. It takes a little bit to grasp the reading style so that you it does feel like the book rambles from topic. I liked the relationship and the storyline of this book, but it was not a must read that I do so love. Many young adults would easily relate and understand this book making it a wonderful read for the younger generation. McCahan has a very unique writing style that I is obvious from the first page. This style will make the read entertaining enough to see the ability of this author to truly create a story that read like the young generations thinks. This book was quick, easy, and fun.
Title: Incarceron
By: Catherine Fisher
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Dial Books
Book Whisperer Rating:
Book Description:
Imagine a living prison so vast that it contains corridors and forests, cities and seas. Imagine a prisoner with no memory, who is sure he came from Outside, even though the prison has been sealed for centuries and only one man, half real, half legend, has ever escaped.
Imagine a girl in a manor house in a society where time has been forbidden, where everyone is held in a seventeenth century world run by computers, doomed to an arranged marriage that appals her, tangled in an assassination plot she both dreads and desires.
One inside, one outside
But both imprisoned.
Imagine a war that has hollowed the moon, seven skullrings that contain souls, a flying ship and a wall at the world's end.
Imagine the unimaginable.
Imagine Incarceron.
While BookWhisperer prides herself in reading and reviewing various genres. Although Fantasy reads were never high on my list for enjoyment. My attempt to read Incarceron after its release was due to the huge wave of good reviews immediately following its release. Now having completed it I can say that I finished it and found it to my an alright book. I have a deep appreciation for its ability to build such a tremendous fantasy world. With a futuristic present world, but then to also add the bonus of a prison that is an entire world is impressive. This book demands readers with a very active imagination in order truly experience the depth of such a novel. Along with a very interesting story Fisher has a slew of characters that are very well rounded but yet easy to follow. This allows for the majority of the story's focus to be focus toward the intricate story. While I have learned to appreciate the story; I must admit that this would not be a book that I could not live without having read. Yes, I can understand and see the genuine work for such a complex story; but, no this not a story that I would call an awesome read. I look forward to the next book, and moving on past this experience. Last little note the cover art for this book was a wonderful mystery and one of the best I have seen in awhile. The key carries extreme significance in this book, and was a wonderful marker for the novel it will drawl readers in to discover the mystery.
Title: Retribution
By: Jeanne Stein
Reading Level: Adult PNR
Series: Anna Strong Chronicles
BookWhisperer Rating:
Book Description:
With her partner out of town, her family abroad, and her mentor estranged, newly-turned vampire Anna Strong is keeping a low profile.
But now young vampires are turning up dead, completely drained of their life force. And though Anna wants to say no when Williams, her former teacher and now leader of a supernatural enforcement squad, asks for her help, she can’t. But soon, she’ll wish she did.
Here we are book five in the Anna Strong Chronicles. Strong is the kick ass heroine that always seems to find herself in a world of a mess. I like this character, and find her story to be one that never becomes tiresome. Although, this is not the only extraordinary character in these chronicles; this is a story of various amazing characters that will demand the readers attention.
Regretfully, I must admit that the past two books in this series seemed to be running out of steam. Honestly I had became concerned that this series might not have the power to continue its momentum. Retribution has restored my faith. Anna's story picked back up, and promises the next book to have a awesome storyline. A highlight to this novel what appears to be wrapping up the mystery of Strong's destiny. The past books have mentioned Strong's destiny, but I felt this book did a much better job and I look for the next book to layout Strong's future.
Stein is an very enjoyable writer that knows just what her readers like. The only complaint that I find consistently with her books is moments of inactivity that I find myself struggling for a few pages. This usually occurs immediately after a confrontation or situation that is being wrapped up; it seems there will be a page or two that is mildly annoying to get through before the next thing begins. Impressively, I find this is easy to overlook with an author that has such incredible stories, so I will just chalk it up to a minor flaw.
On an ending note, let's talk about the cover art. All of the Anna Strong Chronicles are covers are a theme of the a female portraying the main character with added props that will leave the readers guessing. All of the covers are attractive and a great addition to one's bookshelf, but they are far from my favorites.
Jeaniene Frost’s next book in the Night Huntress World The Eternal Kiss of Darkness. This book will feature Mencheres as the main character. If you haven’t read First Drop of Crimson she my review here. Today I found the Trailer for the upcoming release. Check it out below!
Title: Blood Feud
By: Alyxandra Harvey
Series: The Drake Chronicles Book 2
Publisher: Bloomsbury Books (Special Thanks for Review Copy) Released June 22nd, 2010
BookWhisperer Rating
Book Description:
The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge. It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.
The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.
This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan’s and Isabeau’s perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.
This is the second book of The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey. Hearts at Stake (Book 1) was an instant follower for many. With a book of so much action, emotion, and humor it was a winner from page one. I have been waiting for Blood Feud seen completing my ARC of Hearts at Stake, and was ecstatic when I also received the ARC for the second installment. Book two carries much of the same momentum and velocity of the first novel promising to be an enjoyable read. Although, I quickly realized that the emotion that was crammed in the first installment was not a pronounced in Blood Feud. Never fear if you were reluctant to move on from the Nicholas and Lucy relationship in book one; I found that this novel continues this original relationship, as well as, the new budding relationship with Isabeau and Logan Drake. Though, the regretfully the quality of this relationship did not seem to compare to that of the first book. I very much enjoyed this book, but it was not everything that I expected. As generalization I felt that the first book was altogether better than the second. I am hoping that the third book Out for Blood, to be released in December, will follow more of the first books momentum than the second. As an action packed and humorous book continuation of the first book , but I just felt that the first book was very masterfully created and the second did not feel as complete. As the reader I felt that I was following along with the story, but unlike the first I didn’t feel a part of the story. I hope that the third book jumps right back on track, and flows together more fluently than this book. This is a promising author that I tend to greatly enjoy every all her stories, even in a book that I feel held room for improvement I enjoyed the characters and every moment reading. I very much believe that Logan and Isabeau relationship in Blood Feud held a large part in the difference between the two stories; I believe that the Isabeau and Logan relationship was a different kind of relationship that was intended to fit a couple with a very different personality. This could be what made this book take on a much different feel than Hearts at Stake. In wrapping up this is an upcoming and rising series that I look for to become a very common read with the vampire craze, and it will prove to have been worth it.
Title: First Drop of Crimson
By: Jeaniene Frost
Genre: Adult PNR
Series: Night Huntress World Series
BookWhisperer Rating:
Book Description:
Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows – her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield – and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness – and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human – even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together…
Because once the first drop of crimson falls, they will both be lost.
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! I love Jeaniene Frost! Immediately after it’s release I came across a book called Halfway to the Grave four years ago, the book description was catchy and promised for another interesting heroine that I so love so I figured “What the Heck”. Now four years later I am a hooked fiend, and can not enough of Frost writing or the stories that she has created. I was curious how well I would like First Drop of Crimson seeing as how it is a spin off to the Cat and Bones series, but I am here to stand on this mountain top and scream that it doesn’t matter if is done by this author. If Jeaniene Frost has written it; it will be a promising story that you will find yourself up for days to finish. If it takes that long; seeing has how I finished this book cover to cover in twelve hours!
Spade has always been Bones’s back up in the past books. There has never been much to this character, and he was a little rough around the edges. Well don’t let that be a disappointment he is still rough around that edges, but when he loves you he will take on hell to keep you safe. Which is always a plus if I do say so myself. Frost built this character into something that will be craved just as much as our dear Bones, and will an accent. LOL! Denise is Spades heart throb in this novel, and I have to say I was so excited to see the turnout after having lost her husband in Destined for an Early Grave. Curiosity about how this author would turn about that situation was utterly impressive to see this was not over looked in this book, making it more acceptable and realistic for this character to move on. And please don’t be discourage about the change of characters for I was ecstatic to see that Cat and Bones played a large role in the second half of this book. I would have thought it hard to write a spin off novel, and cast different characters front and center while still including this die hard characters. Although, I must say that I was not discouraged in the story at all to not have them not leading the story.
This book is exceptional. Which leads me back to that it is not the characters or the story; it is this insatiable author and her writing abilities. Every paranormal reader will feel at home this Frost books where she can create a story with kick ass action, a awesome plot, and amazing love. There is nothing else to ask for, go get your copy NOW! FYI in case you don’t already know Eternal Kiss of Darkness will be released released on July 27th. I also look forward to the next installment in the Night Huntress series that will be rolling again next year. I have been heart broken seen I found out that Frost was taking this year for the Night Huntress World books, but it has proven worth it.
Title: Swoon at your own risk
By: Sydney Salter
Reading Level: Young Adult Romance
Publisher: Graphia Books (April 2010)
BookWhisperer Rating:
Book Description:
It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.
Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?
No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.
As a book blogger I hate having to give a review for a book that has proven to be a struggle. Swoon at your own risk, is just that kind of struggle that I hate to encounter. I believe that I should give a book at least 100 pages before making any decisions about what I think of the book as a whole. After giving this book that opportunity I was still at a loss to find my groove. Per the description this would be a book that I would typically read and enjoy, but I found that I this book is lacking. The storyline did not carry the intensity that the description promised. Even a book with a slow start will reach a point where the reader is hooked, and will carry out the remainder of the book. Salter’s book was lacking that hook, and I found it to lose more of my attention the further that I read. As I said before I hate giving any book a bad review, but I could not find anything in this book that would rate worthy. I can not recommend this book any further. Look for Swoon at your own risk in an upcoming second chance giveaway.
In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a great way for book bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus help add to your TBR piles. If you noticed BookWhisperer didn’t have a IMM post last week. This was the first week that I didn’t receive anything in the mail, but so far this week seems to be making up for it….. 
Broken by Travis Thrasher
Dark and Stormy Knights 
Forbidden Sea by Sheila A Neilson
Title: Hex Hall
By: Rachel Hawkins
Reading Level: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
Publisher: Hyperion Books
BookWhisperer Rating:
Book Description:
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
Hex Hall is an tremendous beginning for this Hex Hall Series. Sophie Mercer is an awesome character that seems to not really fit in anywhere. Although, I found the ending to tie up all the loose ends, and enlighten readers with a logical conclusion. This is a novel that is best not to take anything for granted. Without a stone unturned this story will weave a mystery that will proves no character can be taken at face value. Hawkins managed to build a story that ties all supernatural into one thrilling story. With it’s completely original storyline it promises to the be an excellent read, and will leave the readers guessing as to what will happen in the books to come. Although, one logical conclusion can be made that the ending to Hex Hall is not be the removal of Sophie’s powers, and there is much more to tell about her adventures to come.
In light of all the fears that were portrayed in this first book toward a Vampire; I am anxious to see how the other students handle a demon in there midst. I am also confident that we have not seen the last of the delicious Archer, and I firmly believe there is more to his story. I look for Demon Glass to continue changing Sophie’s world, and that what we believe now about enemies and friends may very soon change again. Many books can carry through a story that includes a twist that will change the stories direction, but Hex Hall seemed to stop in middle and rewrite the story with what Sophie has learned about her family. This is very rare, and it was carefully mastered to created a incredible story that is sure to become another favorite to Young Adult Paranormal lovers.
Covers being one of my favorite attributes to stories; this one is by far mesmerizing. With a cover such as Hex Hall every reader is sure they have it all figured out. With the addition of the cat and the flipped view it is not only attractive, but adds to the idea that Sophie is a Witch. After completing the novel I am continuing to stare at it, and wonder if it was intended to mislead the character or if this was just meant to portray her as most of the story does. This is definitely a cover mystery that I enjoyed.
This is the BookWhisperers first Hawkins read, and she will be added to my list of authors to watch. Future will unravel, and my prediction is that there is much more to come from this talented author. I love a author will a good sense of humor, and Hawkins takes the cake. For example: “I heard the man and woman cry out a warning as I frantically racked my brain for some sort of throat-repairing spell, which I was clearly about to need. Of course the only words I actually managed to yell at the werewolf as he ran at me were, “Bad Dog!”” (page 19). I was laughing so hard I had to stop reading at this point. I mean seriously that is an author that will not leave you wanting, and she is just getting started. Be on the look out for Demon Glass (Hex Hall Book 2) to be released March 1st, 2011 by Hyperion Books.
Once Upon a Nightmare is the BookWhisperers first attempt at reading a Horror Novel. While I found myself completely horrified at the experience due to the content of the novel, it was an exceptionally written book. This has being a thrilling experience to look into the mind of a serial killer, and a woman that has no choice but to live every experience with the victims. Be forewarned, as I was from the author, this is quite a graphic novel and not intending for the weak stomach or heart. This is a novel truly intended to terrify and capture the reading in a world of fear. The reading dialog caused for some concern at point due to the transitions from characters within chapters, but I found this to be the only constructive criticism that I could muster out of the entire book. Readers will admire the authors ability to create a work of art with such detail and honesty. Even though, you might find yourself checking every room of the house and never answering the door at night for days following. Any reader that enjoys a truly straight forward and scary book should definitely try this book on for size, and in the words of the author directly SWEET DREAMS! 
