Book Tour Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson

Title: Deep Blue Secret

By: Christie Anderson

Series: The Water Keepers Book 1

Publisher: Createspace (July 29th, 2011)

My Copy: Review Galley from Author

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

California teen, Sadie James, thinks her life couldn't get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she's rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won't even tell her his name.
Each time the boy appears, Sadie's unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her. But as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one?
As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn't as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.

Anderson offers a creative alternate world that will give a readers a relax from the the typical paranormal story. Admittedly, I found found this book slightly frustrating. While I loved the characters, and could see the potential growing through this book; it was obvious that the climax was not going to be reached in this particular book. Sadie is a very special and down to earth character that readers will enjoy. This mystery of her past will keep readers guessing with this easy paced story. The alternate world that Anderson has previewed throughout the book still remains a mystery holding my attraction to this story. My overall impression of this read is a enjoyable and imaginative read.

Review: Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Dirty Blood

By: Heather Hildenbrand

Series: Dirty Blood Book 1

Publisher: Accendo Press (April 2nd, 2011)

My Copy: Barnes and Noble Purchase

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

 Hell Yeah!!! This was an incredible book. I would go as far as to say that this is a comparison to my beloved Cat and Bones Series.  Heather Hildenbrand offers a kick ass and brutal read that will grab readers from the first page. Tara is your intense heroine that will take no crap from anyone. I was in love with her character from the start. Her sarcasm along with her no nonsense approach gives her a well round and fun personality that proves an immediate attention grabber.

This concept of the “Dirty Blood” was inventive and fresh. I like how it gives them an advantage over the other breeds, and places hope in the hands of our characters for a brighter future if they can overcome. The stereotypes of your werewolves and hunter are twisted in this novel, but it was all very intriguing with the exception of the werewolf’s ability to talk when shifted. This talent was a bit odd for a me to follow in the beginning. The concept is easily summed up as Hunter and Werewolves.  The “Dirty Blood” is the very rare occasion that a child is born with both of the abilities of a Werewolf and Hunter. The result is a stronger, and kick ass mixed breed that is destined to change the world for both species.

From the start through the last pages Dirty Blood offers a rollercoaster read, that will race you through page after page. I finished this story of 677 pages in less than 24 hours if that tells anything. With a story that you can not put down, Hildebrand promises more to come in the following installments. This is a BOOKWHISPERER RECOMMENDED read.

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan

By: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcefire Books (December 1st, 2011)

My Copy: Ebook from NetGalley

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

I LOVED THIS STORY. Jordan is a strong and independent young woman. Who just happens to be the best football player in the state, and a girl. As a daughter to an NFL Quarterback it is not unlikely that her life would surrounded around Football, but readers will be encouraged by this young girls' drive to overcome in Man's World. I love the wholeness of Jordan and her Team; it is incredibe how they rely on one another so deeply. This team is so interwoven, and it appears that each character has his own role and place within the group. It is like they are her family, and the love and support that they give her is incredible. Although, I must note that I developed lingering questions about Henry long before they appeared in story. It was obvious that the emotions running between these characters were deeper and dedication on a whole different level. I must admit that when the development comes to light I was their biggest fan. It infuriated me to no end that they were being so dense and stubborn. To anyone else this couple was meant for one another, but to theirselves it was a mystery. Secondly, I was happy to see her Dad come around, and realize that his fears we only hendering his relationship with his daughter. The book came together perfectly at the end, but I was a little depressed that it ended so quickly after they had just started talking again. It didn't really give readers the conclusion that would have seal a Happily Ever After. Even not being a sports enthusiaist; this was a simple and exciting read. It was easy to find youself absorbed into this story, and experience this story as though you are Jordan. Being a sports novel many would expect the abundance of whitty humor. This is a favorite for The BookWhisperer!!

Review: Always Been Mine by Elizabeth Reyes

Title: Always Been Mine

By: Elizabeth Reyes

Publisher: Self Published

My Copy: Review Ebook from Author

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

After one heartache too many, Valerie Zuniga vows to never let Alex Moreno hurt her again. A year later, she is forced to reunite with him at a party where one unexpected sizzling kiss tells her she’s far from over him. No way will she allow herself to get sucked back into that torment. She’ll resist him even if that means using the one thing that’ll stop Alex dead in his tracks: another man.
Alex is coming off one of the worst years of his life. He spent so much time wallowing in self-pity, he never realized how much he’d missed Valerie. That is, until that kiss. Now, he’s determined to get her back one way or another, and no other man will stand in his way. Especially after discovering that Valerie may be in danger, a danger he blames himself for.

Always been mine is the second Moreno Brothers book, but it is transitioning from Young Adult Romance to Adult Comtemporary Romance. In Forever Mine, we follow Angel and Sarah through love, laughter, and tears; with just a side salad of Alex and Valerie's wild sex craze. Always been Mine digs deeper into that romance, and finds that emotions run much deeper than the occasional hook up previewed in the first book. After a disasterous spy mission, Valerie has given up on the relationship she knows can and will never exist. Alex has proven to be the ultimate ladies man that will not be capable of settling down with just one woman, and she refuses to continue setting herself up for heartache.

All the while, Alex has many things he is not proud of; including letting Valerie walk away. Valerie is the one person he wishes he could spend the rest of his life with, but he just let her walk away rather than tell her the truth. Now after a year apart the pain of her loss only seems to be increasing. If he could just find a way to get her to see how much he really loves her, and that he can be the a one woman kind of man. His opportunity comes at Sarah and Angel's wedding shower.

This begins a rollercoaster of frustration when Valerie lies to Alex telling him she is seeing someone, and they can no longer be more than friends. Followed by a month of lies and secrets that will keep the readers infuriated with the characters. Valerie has spent this entire year trying to get over Alex, and made several mistakes. One of which turned into a controlling and psychotic boyfriend. When he begins calling her, and making corner her alone she begins looking for somewhere she can feel safe. It becomes evidently clear that the only pace she will truely feel safe is the one place she has vowed not to go back to.

Always been Mine was very different from the Young Adult Romance that Forever Mine offered. This was anticipated seeing as how we were changing genres, but I think that it was also a little shaky as Elizabeth Reyes finds her Adult Romance groove. Overall, even with the transitioning occuring I it was an incredible read. I love how each book highlights one romance, but there is some much about beginnings and continuations of the romances prior. Reyes is one exceptional author; that offers story packed full of hot and steamy romance. As mentioned before I believe she is still learning and working out the kinks, but all around she has a very promising future. Great read!!

Review: Captivated by D. Apodaca

Title: Captivated

By: D. Apodaca

Series: Aflliction Book 1

Publisher: Eminent Books (June 10th, 2011)

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

Mindy Keenan couldn't shake the feeling that somehow...in a matter of moments...the boy she once knew was not the one standing before her.

After Mindy's childhood best friend, Dean Aiken, shuts her and everyone else out of his life, she learns to move on. Years pass and she gets used to the fact that he's no longer a part of her life, but things begin to change
Mindy's new best friend, Markus Medina, witnesses Dean kill two people behind a club. Mindy has a hard time believing him, especially when he mentions that the bodies disappear. Poof! Into thin air. Markus decides he has to follow Dean around in order to get evidence that he's been killing people, so he doesn't sound like a nut to the police.

Despite Marcus' crazy theories about the possibility of Dean not being human. And not to mention the fact that he's dangerous. Mindy can't help that she may be falling in love with him. Even after hiding their feelings for each other from the world. Dean and Mindy being together stirs up dangers that neither of them could ever imagine. When she finds out about what Dean really is and the world he tried to keep her away from...it's already too late.

This is an author not afraid to think outside he box and take a leap. Captivated will grab readers right from the Prologue, and not allow you a breath til the very end. The romance is hot, and the headache is palpable. Be ready to laugh and cry in this whirlwind story that will deny reads their simple happily ever after. The drastic conclusion left me in a uproar, and in despair for the characters of the intense read. I'm anxious to see just where D. Apodaca will take this story from here. Congratulations on such a beautiful book, and truly amazing story. BOOKWHISPERER RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!!

Prince of Wolves Giveaways

Quinn Loftis is the debuting author of Prince of Wolves. I recently had the pleasure of reviewing this book, and can’t wait for my chance to read Blood Rites. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this book check out my review here. I loved working with this author, and was honored when she offered me the opportunity to giveaway some books on my blog.

About Prince of Wolves (Book 1 Grey Wolves Series)
Jaque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don’t realize the last two weeks of their summer was going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis Lupus, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane’s mate and complete the bond between them?

This book has me so psyched for the second book I can hardly wait the month for its release. Jaque and Fane are an electrifying romance that I instantly fell in love with. The second book Blood Rites will be released on November 30th. I am have been honored so much, that Quinn is allowing me to also giveaway one copy of this upcoming book as well. Below I have listed some details.

 

About Blood Rites (Book 2 of the Grey Wolves Series)
Now that Fane has defeated the corrupt Alpha of the Coldspring pack he and Jacque can complete the mate bond between them and perform the Blood Rites ceremony, those are Fane's intentions...but you know what they say about good intentions.

 

 

The Giveaway

Quinn has generously offered to giveaway five ebooks to winners. There will be a possibility for four winners, because one will win both the first and second book of The Grey Wolves Series. Can you believe it!!! All you have to do to win if leave me a comment with you email below. Winners will be chosen by random number generator on November 30th. I will then email with a coupon code to download your books from Smashwords. Again these are EBOOKS ONLY!! Good Luck!

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me

By: Tahereh Mafi

Series: Shatter Me Book 1

Publisher: Harper Collins (November 15th, 2011)

My Copy: Advanced Reading Copy from Publisher

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

 Shatter Me is a compelling and terrifying look at an alternate reality that is almost plausible. Mafi’s futuristic world strangely resembles our own, and it is realize what a terrifying future this could be. Although this author shows us that in this reality not everyone was accepting of a destroyed future, and found that in the presence of hysteria it is easy to overcome the weak. Our story is told by Juliette, who is a young girl that has lived a life of neglect. Not because she was abused or beaten, but because she is special. After many fatal incidences she was taken away to a asylum where she could no longer hurt anyone with her touch; regardless if everyone of the incidences in her past had been accidents. When a young man is bunked in her cell she finds herself drawn to someone for the first time in her life. While knowing that this friendship has no where to go from here; she learns to enjoy the comfort of a compassionate person even if she can not touch them. Comfort is short lived when a major betrayal will take away everything she has come to enjoy.

Juliette has no idea that she has been a object for various individuals attention for a long time, and they will stop at nothing to find her. When she finds herself in the clutches of a psychotic mad man; she discovered there are things out there far worse than herself. This story was addictive, gruesome, and overwhelming at times; but after starting I knew I had no chance of being able to walk away from this story. Readers will find themselves reading “just a few more pages”, until they barrel through the end of this story. I can not wait to see what the next book as to offer, and this start is opening the door for a fresh and new series that will knock readers off their feet.

Hottie Vampire Covers

You know how we all know and love those sexy vampire covers. One of my favorite publicist friends offer some information on just how hard they have to work for that look. KJ Wignall released Blood on September 5th, but they have been working on a different cover. Check out what I learned below.

To start, Elizabeth Law, the publisher, talked to the jacket designer, Sammy Yuen, about what ideas he might have for showing the character of Will, a teenage vampire who was ³created² in the 13th Century and Sammy had the idea of showing the vampire as he stalks the streets of London. As she recalled, there was some discussion of wardrobe, and of a long jacket that might be a possible choice for the model (Sterling) to wear. But when Elizabeth
arrived at the photo shoot she was so dazzled by the sight of Sterling with his shirt off that all thought of trying additional wardrobe choices went out of her head. She wanted something where the character looked haunted, but
also where he would clearly appeal to the readership. I¹d say they nailed it!

What follows are paired shots from the photo shoot and Elizabeth¹s commentary on the thought process behind each one.

 

1. short vs long hair (Sterling with short hair & Sterling with long hair) Will has long  hair in the book! But, frankly, we hated how the wig looked. We decided we could live with the error, that being immediately appealing was more important than being 100% accurate.

 

 

 

 

2. one-eyed view vs hair in the face (Sterling one-eyed long hair & Sterling hair in the  face) The single eye shots looked good in the studio, but when we tried them on the cover, we found it was a little forced looking‹like he was acting, rather than natural. Also, we really hated the wig!

 

 

 

 

3. strike a pose poses (Strikes a pose A & Strikes a pose B) The first shot was too   reminiscent of Taylor Lautner¹s entrance in Twilight:Eclipse, and in the second I thought Will looked like a juvenile delinquent‹not heir to the Earl of Mercia, which he was long ago, before he was attacked and became a vampire.

 

 

 

4. to fog and not to fog (To fog & Not to fog)
I LOVED the fog. We tried shots with and without fog because we weren¹t sure which would look better on the jacket. We ended up using a fog shot because it added to the ³atmosphere² on the book jacket.

 

 

 

 

5. black fog and just black (Black fog & Just black)
It¹s interesting, because the shots against black look really good‹but the white background allowed the designer, Sammy Yuen, to lay in the London architecture into the finished background. Also, black made me think³vampire at night² which I find really clichéd.

 

6. full frontal versus over the shoulder look (black fog full frontal & black fog over the should look) There was quite a bit of discussion about over the shoulder‹I thought those shots were very sexy. We are thinking of using an over the shoulder
shot in the book¹s sequel (due out next fall) called Alchemy.

 

 

 

Not all glams and glory the first try I see… I like hearing about how they come up with the ideas for these amazing covers that grab us everyday….

Sophie & Carter Giveaway

As you may have just read and had the pleasure of reviewing Sophie & Carter. I couldn’t put this book down! I have been offered the chance to host a giveaway for a copy of this book.

About the book:

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

 

Check out my review here: http://book-whisperer.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-sophie-carter-by-chelsea-fine.html

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

To win comment below, and please include your email so that I may contact the winner. Contest will run through November 11th. I will select the winner using the random number generator. Please only US Residents..

Review: Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine

Title: Sophie and Carter

By: Chelsea Fine

Publisher: Acacia Publishing (January 13th, 2011)

My Copy: Advanced Reading Copy from Publisher

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbour Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

Sophie & Carter’s first chapter offers and enticing altercation that grabs readers from the first word. This is a dramatic love story for two kindred spirits. Sophie is a responsible and dedicated young woman that is raising her three younger siblings in the absence of her drug addicted mother. Carter is your hero and protector that is dedicated to his own tragedy. For years her endured fatal abuse at the hands of his father, and when he became a man his father abandoned the family leaving Carter to care for his Mother and her mental illness as a result of her own nightmarish abuse. Sophie and Carter are next door neighbors, and while each pretends to be the normal teenagers; they are fare from normal and help one another through their own horrible lives.  This story is gut wrenching and sickening, but it offers a genuine love story that we captivate readers every inch of the way. The deep seeded love previewed between these characters is palpable and awe inspiring. This is an extremely short story will a powerful punch that will leave readers stricken far past the last page. In my experience I finished this book in just a couple hours. It was impossible to put down! BookWhisperer Recommended!!!

Review: Red by Kait Nolan

Title: Red

By: Kait Nolan

Published: August 14th, 2011

My Copy: Review Ebook from Author

BookWhisperer Rating:

About the book:

Every fairy tale has a dark side...
Elodie Rose has a secret. Any day, she’ll become a wolf and succumb to the violence that’s cursed her family for centuries. For seventeen years she’s hidden who and what she is. But now someone knows the truth and is determined to exterminate her family line. Living on borrowed time in the midst of this dangerous game of hide and seek, the last thing Elodie needs to do is fall in love. But Sawyer is determined to protect her, and the brooding, angry boy is more than what he seems. Can they outsmart a madman? And if they survive, will they find a way to beat the curse for good?

Red has an incredible beautiful cover that is certain to grab readers eye. I was anxious for a chance to read this short paranormal mystery. Kait Nolan offers a short and entertaining read. Elodie and Sawyer pasts are very tragic and saddening, but it is great to see the chance at happiness for these two characters. Their journey is a gruesome and detailed read; it is easy to feel that desperation and intensity of their story. I find Nolan writing style is new and offers some obstacles for keeping readers dedicated to the story line. This is a great start for this debuting author, and I look to see more from her in the future.