Reading Resolutions Giveaway Winner

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my Reading Resolutions Giveaway,
I was blown away by the number of entries in just one week! Out of the 437 individual entries, Random.org picked number 384:

Becky B.

Congratulations Becky! You have an email from me waiting for you:) Thanks again everyone!

Review: The Mind Readers

THE MIND READERS
Lori Brighton
Paranormal Young Adult
e-book
Available Now
Received from author for review

THE STORY
Cameron can read minds. She doesn't understand how or why, she just knows both she and grandmother have the same ability. People must never know about it though. They won't understand. The incident in Michigan proved that.

Cameron is going through her day to day routine, tolerating her popular but extremely shallow best friend while knowing exactly what she's thinking at all times. The murder of a classmate changes everything for Cameron though, and brings her into contact with Lewis, a handsome outsider who knows of Cameron's ability.

As she spends more time with Lewis, she realizes he shares her gift, and wants to introduce her to his mentor Aaron who he claims can help Cameron understand and focus her ability in a way her grandmother has denied her all these years. Unable to resist learning more and finding others like her, Cameron leaves her grandmother behind and enters a world far more dangerous and infinitely more complicated than she could ever have imagined.

MY THOUGHTS
The Mind Readers introduces us to the limitless possibilities of the human mind and all the unfathomable potential lying dormant there, just waiting to be tapped and put to uses beyond our wildest imaginings. No longer confined by the parameters of rational understanding and believability, the characters in this world find themselves capable of not only reading thoughts, but also related abilities such as telekinesis and emotional influence, making us pause to wonder if just maybe people with similar gifts might actually be among us. Though we sit in awe at Cameron's abilities, secretly pondering what we ourselves might be able to accomplish should such a gift be plausible, we are also exposed to the guilt that accompanies this exceptional power, and the burden Cameron bears knowing the thoughts, motivations, and dark secrets of everyone within a mild radius of where she's standing. We join Cameron as she ultimately must weed through the cacophony of everyone else's opinions and judgments and find not only herself, but her place in the world.

The influence of others is a constant barrage for Cameron, as her grandmother constantly attempts to stifle her gift while Lewis encourages her to not just accept her ability, but also expand it, focus it, and use it to its full potential. Despite the unavoidable influx of unwanted information from those around her, she does a beautiful job of maintaining her autonomy, managing to formulate her own thoughts and opinions through all the noise. Though she does have the frustrating tendency to run from her problems as opposed to facing them head on, this reaction is understandable given the context and the desire she must have to be alone in her own head. She maintains a wariness when presented with the opportunity to control her gift, never fully letting her guard down though it slips now and then with Lewis, almost as though our voice is one of the many she can hear as we encourage her to be vigilant with her suspicions, and we are able to smile in satisfaction when she seems to heed our warnings.

Because this story is written from Cameron's point of view, we are limited by her interpretation of the events and find ourselves as thoroughly confused at times as she is. We want so desperately to believe Aaron and Lewis have nothing but the most honorable of intentions, but a niggling sense of unease remains prevalent, prickling us in caution when they try to convince us of their story. This constant indecisiveness and suspicion on both Cameron's part, and therefore ours as well, adds realism to the events as were we in Cameron's shoes ourselves we wouldn't have the gift of any absolute truths granted to us through the benefit of another person's perspective, we'd be only left with our own instincts, questions, and observations as she is. We know no more than she does, and find ourselves lost in the churning sea of conflicting information and questionable allegiances, struggling to understand while still hesitant to fully believe what we're told.

Though the confusion does seem to be intentional, a little more information toward the end of the story would have been welcome. We are given a lot of the how's of Cameron's gift as we watch her training with Lewis and Aaron, but we are denied the most of the why's of their battle with the enemy. The end is left wide open, and if you're the type of person who wants to walk away from a story fully informed, you may be frustrated by your lack of knowledge. Overall, this is a very interesting read with strong characterization, though it's lacking just a few valuable pieces of information to help it stand alone without the need for a sequel.

Rating: 3.5/5

In My Mailbox #16

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren and is a great way to see what other bloggers are reading and reviewing. I always love seeing what everyone else got for their week!




For Review:
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver (courtesy of For What It's Worth)
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh
Chime by Franny Billingsley (courtesy of Loves to Read)

Bought:
Hexbound by Chloe Neill

Won from All Consuming Books:
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Shocked and Humbled

Wow. I'm going to keep this post short because I really can't adequately put into words how thrilled I am to have come in 4th place in the Reader's Choice Awards for Best New Blog, so I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who voted and to everyone who takes the time to visit the blog. I never dreamed the book blogging community would be as vast and welcoming as it is, and I'm absolutely overjoyed to be a part of it. Thank you all so much again!

To view all the other fabulous blogs in both this category and the Best Blog category, please visit Natalie's site, Mindful Musings. A big thank you as well to Natalie for creating and hosting these awards!

Review: The Greyfriar

THE GREYFRIAR (Vampire Empire #1)
Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Urban Fantasy
301 pages
Pyr/Prometheus Books
Available Now

THE STORY
In 1870 everything changed. Humans went from the dominant species to outcasts, fighting for survival and struggling to rebuild the empires they lost when the vampires swept through and destroyed everything in their path. Now in the year 2020, the surviving refugees, who fled to the areas south of the equator where the heat prevents vampires from traveling, have gained back their strength and amassed an army to rival their vampire enemy's forces.

Princess Adele of Equatoria is sent on a mission to build alliances for the new war against the vampires, but before she can play at politics, her airship convoy is attacked and she is separated from her younger brother and her people, saved from a lethal vampire's grasp by The Greyfriar, a man of myth and legend rumored to have destroyed hundreds of vampire foes single-handedly.

The Greyfriar leads her deeper into enemy territory in an attempt to expedite her return to Equatoria and the hands of her American fiance, then loses her to the clutches of vampire Prince Gareth and his brother Cesare. While trapped at Gareth's stronghold, Adele learns more about the vampires and the humans that live among them than she ever learned through her studies, and her relationship with Gareth changes her view of the impending war forever.

MY THOUGHTS
The world of The Greyfriar is one the likes of which we've never seen before, combining both familiar and unfamiliar vampire lore reminiscent of an ancient past with the hypnotic newness of the technological advancements defining the steampunk genre. This world of vampires is brutal, their fangs not used only for sustenance or pleasure, but instead to tear, maim, and dominate the human population. While we read on in grim fascination at the singular killing instinct of these beings, we also blink in awe and wonder as the pages paint pictures of regal airships and progressive weaponry, thereby thrusting us into a juncture where old world mythology meets futuristic possibility, and we have the pleasure of experiencing both the childish sense of giddiness at all things novel combined with the full emotional depth and character attachment the rest of us so desperately craves. This story provides us with not just a spectacular world, but also with characters who leap from the pages to take form right before our eyes, their images leaving lasting imprints on the insides of our lids so we see them fully and completely while awake or asleep, and whether we're reading their story or continuing with our lives, they remain forever with us.

Adele is a truly spectacular heroine, exuding a strength and fighting ability that makes us wish we could follow her lead and take up arms beside her, but also maintaining a feminine vulnerability that allows us to penetrate her impressive royal warrior visage and find the leader, the friend, and the memorable woman underneath. Though she harbors the same prejudice and hatred for the vampire race as her countrymen, when presented with the possibility that her opinion isn't completely incontrovertible, she doesn't clutch to her righteousness for an extended period of time to the detriment of her relationship with Gareth, but expands the understandable narrow-mindedness and allows him to show her what she never imagined possible.

The connection between Adele and Gareth is one of extreme potency, yet the intensity stems not from grandiose actions or bold declarations, but from the simplest of gestures that, in the context of these two individuals, are extraordinarily poignant and moving. Suddenly, amidst the chaos of vicious fighting, blood, and death, we find ourselves sequestered in the blissful warmth of the growing affection between our two protagonists, basking in the glow as adorable misspellings and awkward haircuts transform from mundane occurrences to moments thrumming with an innocent passion and a mutual trust that speak far more loudly than any voice ever could. Gareth, for all that he is physically similar to his vampire brethren, is a knight-errant, choosing to be different in mind and soul where he cannot be different in body, and bearing witness to Adele's gradual acceptance of both the man and the presumed monster is a heartwarming intimacy not soon forgotten.

The Greyfriar is a pleasure to read, and surprising in the emotional reaction it evokes as our attachment to Adele and Gareth grows with every passing moment they spend in our thoughts. Their journey is just beginning, and though they are separated by distance, race, and politics, they are bound in feeling, the strength of Adele's affection breaking through the numbness of Gareth's vampire reality and creating the possibility of a future where their obstacles may be overcome. A future where their time together will no longer be defined by brief moments, but by days, weeks, and years. We are left with the knowledge that miles of rough terrain remain underfoot for the two of them, but their newfound ardor radiates from the pages nonetheless, melting the chill we feel when confronted with the difficulties they're sure to face, and we close the back cover with a soaring hope for their inevitable reunion.

Rating: 4.5/5

Interview: Chloe Neill

Today I'm hugely excited to welcome Chloe Neill to the blog! Ms. Neill writes two of my very favorite series, the Chicagoland Vampires and the Dark Elite, and has a snarky sense of humor I can't help but adore. Her characters won me over the moment they opened their little sarcastic mouths, and I always look forward to seeing what snappy one-liners are waiting for me in between the pages. Hope you enjoy the interview!

Both Lily and Merit have very distinct, very snarky voices, have you ever found yourself losing track of them and using Merit’s voice in Lily’s world or vice versa? Or is it easy for you to slip into their heads and stay there?

Not really. Lily and Merit are very different people, and I think I am a "method" writer (like a "method" actor). Instead of trying to "sound like" Lily or Merit, I try to "be" Lily or Merit when I type. Because I have a pretty good sense of who they are, if I try to be them when I'm writing, switching between voices isn't so difficult.

The characters in the Dark Elite novels have unique gifts, do you find it more difficult to come up with the parameters of that particular power or to assign it a name?

Thanks! I actually keep a running list of powers as they occur to me, although it is difficult to sometimes match the right Adept to the right power. I enjoy coming up with names to match the powers, although with so many fantasy and magic based books out there, it can be difficult.

Though I don’t know for sure, the increased role of Sebastian in Hexbound creates the potential for a romantic triangle between him, Lily, and Jason. Why do you think love triangles are so appealing to us as readers?

I think partly we enjoy the idea of our being in the middle of a love triangle–being the object of two men's affection. And, it definitely creates an interesting conflict for readers to delve into and think about.

Your bookshelves – are they organized any particular way (alphabetized, color coordinated, etc.) or are the books just placed wherever there’s room?

Generally, they are placed where there's room, with two exceptions. My cookbooks stay near the kitchen, and my Chicago and paranormal research books stay in my office. Everything else gets lumped together. :)

When writing, how closely do you adhere to your outline? Do you stick to it precisely, or do you find a lot changes once you sit down and start creating?

I previously had a pretty detailed outline, but I found writing felt very administrative when I wrote that way. I now utilize a plot graph similar to that (allegedly) used by J.K. Rowling. You can find a sample of hers here: http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/jkrowlingpage.jpg

I know when I’m reading, I can do so with the television on but the radio royally distracts me, are you the type of person that can read with a lot of noise or do you need absolute quiet?

It really depends. I used to write with music, but I tend to have the television on now. Usually something I've seen before–marathons are awesome. I'm writing this (and editing HARD BITTEN, the fourth Chicagoland Vampires novel) while watching a CSI marathon.

If you could choose between Merit’s strength and skill with a katana or Lily’s control of Firespell, which would you choose?

Oh, interesting question. I'd probably go with FIRESPELL, because I think it would be fascinating to figure out all the various ways the power could be used.

Were there any alternate titles for either Hexbound or Firespell you can share with us?

Actually, FIRESPELL was the first and only title, which is a miracle! My editor and I tend to go through LOTS of titles before picking a winner. I don't recall the pre-HEXBOUND titles, although I know there were a number.

Do you find subsequent books in a series easier to write because the world is already established, or more difficult because you need to keep readers interested in a world with which they are already familiar?

I think they're much easier to write because you don't have to introduce the main characters to magic. Both Lily and Merit were mostly unaware of their various magical worlds, so FIRESPELL, for example, involved a lot of hinting to Lily that magic existed so she could figure it out later.

Can you give us one trait either Lily or Merit possess that you wish you did? One you’re glad you don’t?

They are both really brave, which I appreciate. I'm not sure I'd have handled their respective situations as well as they did. I'm really glad not to be in high school like Lily. Does that count? :)

Thanks for having me today!

Thanks so much for stopping by Chloe! If you haven't had the chance to read either of these series, drop what you're doing immediately and give them a try, you won't be disappointed! There is a third book in the Dark Elite series under contract, but no release date as of yet. Good news on the Chicagoland Vampire front however, we get not one, but TWO Merit and Ethan books this year. YAY! Hard Bitten releases May 3rd, and Drink Deep releases in November. For more information on Chloe and her books you can find her here:

Website
Blog
Twitter



HEXBOUND (from Goodreads):

Lily Parker is new to St. Sophia’s School for Girls, but she’s already learned that magic can be your best friend…or your worst enemy.

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…