Once Burned - Cover Revealed

Ohh yes!!!! Is finally here!!!

The cover for Once Bunred has been officially revealed and I am soooooo looking forward to this novel that I’m getting crazy!

If you’d like to download the stepback as you wallpaper you can check it out at Jeaniene’s website; you should also check her take on the cover.

I imagined Vlad a bit differently but still:

Underworld: Awakening

Movie: Underworld: Awakening
Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Horror
Runtime: 88 minutes
Format: 2D and 3D
Rating: R
Studio: Screen Gems
Country: USA
Language: English (with Spanish subtitles)
Official Website: http://www.entertheunderworld.com/

Director(s): Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Producer(s): David Kern, Gary Lucchesi, James McQuaide, Tom Rosenberg, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern, Len Wiseman, Richard S. Wright
Writer(s): Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, J. Michael Straczynski, Allison Burnett, Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Theo James, Kris Holden-Ried

Release Date: January 20, 2012 (USA); January 26, 2012 (PR)
Find it: In a theater near you
Scores:

• Metacritic: 39/100 (critics); 7.2/10 (users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 31% (critics); 75% (users)
• My rating: ★★★☆☆

Underworld: Awakening opened in theaters here in Puerto Rico this past Thursday. I have been a loyal fan to the franchise since the very first Underworld made its debut, so naturally by Friday I was, with ticket in hand and boyfriend in tow (not that he minded ~.^), walking into the cinema to enjoy the next chapter of this epic story. We managed to find some decent seats in the top level of the fully packed cinema. 45 minutes of movie trailers and same commercials that I can watch home and the movie began. Approximately an hour and a half later the credits began to roll and I was left with a feeling of “that’s it?!” Let me explain…

–  –  –  –  –  DISCLAIMER: SOME SPOILERS AFTER THIS LINE  –  –  –  –  –  –

Review: Embraced by the Shadows

Title: Embraced by the Shadows
Series: Standalone (as far as I’m aware)
Author: Mayra Calvani
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Publication Date: October 5, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition (revised edition)
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Alana Piovanetti was 10 years old when, at a family vacation in Istanbul, she saw a man with fangs in his mouth. Since that day Alana has been having the strangest of dreams, all surrounding creatures of the night taking her into wild rides. Fast-Forward twelve years and Alana is a recent college grad looking for a job, just like any other person in her beloved Puerto Rico. Landing the job as manager of La Cueva del Vampiro, (a hip, new vampire-themed restaurant/nightclub in San Juan) turns Alana’s dreams into nightmares; but when she meets a mysterious man named Sadash those nightmares turn into reality. Now Alana must face the ultimate decision between logic and love; one brings the safety and comfort of loved ones, the other brings unstoppable death.

The main reason I picked this book was because of its setting, being a Puerto Rican that have lived my entire life here on the Island I was beyond happy to see a story take place within my well known roads and I just love it. I am very visual and I have little problems imagining the places that authors describe in their tales, however there is such a great feeling to read about the cobblestone streets with its sometimes extremely steep inclines of Old San Juan and know that I have walked them up and down many times myself.

Word of advice to the female population, if you ever come here and visit Old San Juan leave you spiked heels at the hotel or whichever place you are staying. If you want high heeled shoes, opt for some pretty wedges or at least have a pair of those convenient bendable ballerina flats that you can keep in your purse; trust me on this, by night’s end you’ll want to throw them to the ocean.

Now, I already said that I loved the setting, I just wish there was a bit more of it. The story takes place primarily in San Juan and just a bit in El Yunke. What I wasn’t too happy about was the main character, Alana; yet I have to say that for the story her character works.

A Perfect Blood Excerpt, Chapter 4

Here it is, the fourth excerpt for the Hollows’ A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison.

You can read the fourth chapter here:

A Perfect Blood – Chapter 4

If you’d like to catch up on the previous chapters you can find them here:

A Perfect Blood – Chapter 1
A Perfect Blood – Chapter 2
A Perfect Blood – Chapter 3

Remember that you can this book is released on February 21, 2012

Happy Reading!!

YA Kindle (Limited Time) Offers

Psst!! Any Kindle readers out there? Wanna know a secret?

On of my favorite blogs, The Midnight Garden, has posted a list of some free YA goodies and other special offers in the e-book spectrum. If you like catch some or all of the offers head to: the midnight garden: freebies & sales alert! (and thank you) to get the respective links.

You might wanna hurry, Amazon is known for short term offers...

Happy Reading everybody!!

Resident Evil: Retribution, Official Trailer

Courtesy of Resident Evil Movie via Facebook Page.

To all my followers and lurkers here is a question: how many of you are Resident Evil fans? My answers, I am one. 

My first contact with the franchise happened when I was around 11, when my cousin bought the very first Resident Evil for his PlayStation, fast-forward a few years and the first movie hit theaters. Now, 21 games, 4 motion pictures and 2 CGI movies later the franchise keeps going on strong with its next two new movies to be release this year. For the new CGI movie (Resident Evil: Damnation) there is no release date other than 2012. But us fans can count for sure on the release of Resident Evil: Retribution, schedule for September 14, 2012. The very first trailer has hit the web today, so without further ado, I’ll leave you to enjoy the trailer:

First ICED Teaser

Karen Marie Moning has given us a teaser at her next book ICED. The book is expected to hit stands on October 30, 2012. 

Here I leave you with the teaser:

“Four nights he’s come to me, murmuring my name, making it an exquisite melody with which not even the divine orchestral choir of all the angels in heaven could compete.

He chimes my name in the language of the Unseelie and it makes my ears ring until my mind is emptied of all thought, until my eyes are incapable of beholding any vision other than him. He is so beautiful that merely looking at him makes me weep and when I brush tears from my cheeks, my hands come away stained red with blood.

He wakes me but doesn’t wake me.

A Perfect Blood Excerpt, Chapter 3

Are you a Kim Harrison fan? Are you eagerly waiting for the next installment in The Hollows series? If so you might have heard that the author, Kim Harrison is giving the first 5 chapters as excerpts before the release of A Perfect Blood on February 21, 2012. The chapters are being released individually, so far, once a week. And keeping up with the schedule the third chapter is now available. If you’d like to read it head to Harper Voyager Books:

A Perfect Blood – Chapter 3

If you’d like to catch up with the previous chapters you can find them here:

A Perfect Blood – Chapter 1
A Perfect Blood – Chapter 2

Happy Reading!!

Update: Upcoming Reviews, January 2012

Recently I joined a Monthly Reading Challenge hosted by Paranormal Romance group at Goodread. I am hoping that it serves as a way for me to increase my monthly readings and their variety. The challenge consists on reading 10 books, one for every category outlined. If I complete the challenge I will also have 9 new reviews up and running for you to enjoy (I already posted the review for the first book I read for this challenge).

My Challenge (categories included):

1. Vampires – Embraced by the Shadows by Mayra Calvani 
2. Werewolves – How God’s Bleed by Shane Porteous 
3. Shifters – Moon Called by Patricia Briggs 
4. Gods/Goddesses/Immortals – Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon 
5. Demons/Angels – Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 
6. Witches/Warlocks/Sorcerers/Mages – Witch Fire by Anya Bast 
7. Fae/Fairies – Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr 
8. Aliens/Space Adventurers – Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn 
9. Psychics/Ghosts/Human with Paranormal Abilities – The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong 
10. Hunters/Warriors/Slayers/Guardians – Teddy Bears and Tea Parties by S. Boyd Taylor 

**Those I'm already finish with are strikethrough, you can find the reviews at their respective links.**

A Perfect Blood Excerpt, Chapter 2

A new excerpt, chapter 2, for A Perfect Blood is now available for our perusing. It has 14 pages of story. If you’d like a tease before the book is released on February 21, 2012

You can find it at:

A Perfect Blood, excerpt – Chapter 2
A Perfect Blood, excerpt – Chapter 1

In this chapter the interactions between the new Old Vampire continue as well as the interactions between Rachel and her new bodyguard. We also get a glimpse of what might be the premise for this book; Rachel might have been found by the demons.

If you'd like to read my take on the first chapter go here.

A Perfect Blood Excerpt, Chapter 1

For those of you out there that love their witches good and kick ass, an excerpt from the awaited continuation to The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison is now available for everyone to enjoy.

The excerpt is of the first chapter (13 pages) from A Perfect Blood; book that will be released on February 21, 2012. From now on, the first five chapters of the book will be subsequently release as excerpts until the release date for the Novel. Chapter two is expected to be released next Tuesday.

If you wish to read the first chapter you can find it at Harper Voyager’s Facebook Page.

I have to say, I have a love/hate relationships with excerpts; I love getting a chance to read some of the story to curb the waiting but they are always, and I mean always left in some kind of cliffhanger (big or small) that only makes the waiting more excruciating. I know that is part of the reasoning behind the excerpt, to give you barely enough to entice you without giving you too much information or revealing any plot points.

Now, The Hollows is one of my favorite series featuring a witch. I discovered it while perusing Border’s isles looking at the covers hoping for something to grab my attention and boy did it grab it. At the time the book that had come out (and was being featured on the shelves) was Every Which Way but Dead and the cover alone pulled me (I am a sucker for boots, the higher the better); while reading it over a bit I realized that it wasn’t the beginning of the story, so an employee helped me find Dead Witch Walking. I read the first chapter on the store and that was all it took for me to decide that The Hollows, along with Rachel, Ivy and Jenks, were going home with me.

News: City of Lost Souls Cover Unveiled!!

Lo and behold! The cover for City of Lost Souls has been unveiled.

USA Today reported an exclusive: the reveal of the 5th Mortal Instruments Book and an excerpt from the novel, yikes!!!

City of Lost Souls is the fifth installment in the Mortal Instruments Saga by Cassandra Clare, schedule to be release on May 8, 2012. The Mortal Instruments follows shadowhunter Clary, her boyfriend Jace and their friends as they battle demons in the age old war of Good vs. Evil. 

If you would like to read the short excerpt, follow the Link; the excerpt is right after the news.

The Official Description of the Book is as follows:
This title is fifth in the international bestselling paranormal thriller series "The Mortal Instruments". Clary and the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling. This is the follow-up to the international number one bestseller "City of Fallen Angels". "The Mortal Instruments" series has over one million books in print. It has been on the New York Times bestseller list for six months straight. The books have been translated into 19 languages and have also appeared on bestseller lists in Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Film rights optioned, with Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower cast as leads Clary and Jace. Global cover reveal planned for autumn 2011. -- From Amazon.com Product Description

Here I leave you with the cover for you to enjoy:

Review: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties (Spoilers Free)

Title: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties
Series: Standalone Story, so far…
Author: S. Boyd Taylor
Illustrator: Jorge Rodas
Publisher: S. Boyd Taylor; Premium Illustrated Version edition
Publication Date: August 12, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (sorry, this code does not allow for half stars)

If you like your reviews spoiler free continue reading this post. If you don't mind a few spoilers, there is another version, a bit extended.

Ever wonder how things would have been if your favorite childhood toys all of a sudden came to life? Wouldn’t that had been the best time of your life, to finally have the toys interact back? What if they did but they were not as innocent and good as you thought them? What if instead of playing they’ll try to eat you alive? That is the premise of Teddy Bears and Tea Parties, a world where children most adapt or die and adults seem to be nowhere to be found.

I’m not even sure how to begin reviewing this one. Teddy Bears and Tea Parties is a short (about 13 pages long) that tells the story of young child, known throughout as “Little Girl”, who’s in a mission to find her kidnapped sister, Angie, who was taken by Him.

In Little Girl’s world magic has, somehow, come back and has given life to EVERYTHING, from the toys to even the houses; and everything is hungry and must be fed. There is a line in the book that pretty much summarizes its concept: “The world is alive since the magic came back, and children are small and make a good snack. And everything tricks and everything cheats and everything, everything, everything eats.” Much like this one there are a few other phrases that give a sense of creepiness and uneasiness, which I assume is what the author was going after.

Review: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties (Some Spoilers)

Title: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties
Series: Standalone Story, so far…
Author(s): S. Boyd Taylor

Illustrator: Jorge Rodas
Publisher: Publisher House if available
Publication Date: August 12, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (sorry, this code does not allow for half stars)

If you would prefer to read the review Spoiler Free, please follow this link.

Ever wonder how things would have been if your favorite childhood toys all of a sudden came to life? Wouldn’t that had been the best time of your life, to finally have the toys interact back? What if they did but they weren't as innocent and good as you thought them? What if, instead of playing, they’ll try to eat you alive? That is the premise of Teddy Bears and Tea Parties, a world where children most adapt or die and adults seem to be nowhere to be found.

I’m not even sure how to begin reviewing this one. Teddy Bears and Tea Parties is a short (about 13 pages long) that tells the story of young child, known throughout as “Little Girl”, who’s killing bears (yes, your read correctly, bears) left and right in order to find her kidnapped sister. The short opens with “Little Girl” wiping a blood stain from the kitchen window; afterwards she proceeds with her mission searching for her sister, Angie, who was taken by Him, also known as Himn; the evil character and main antagonist in the story.

In Little Girl’s world magic has, somehow, come back and has given life to EVERYTHING, from the toys to even the houses; and everything is hungry and must be fed. There is a line in the book that pretty much summarizes its concept: “The world is alive since the magic came back, and children are small and make a good snack. And everything tricks and everything cheats and everything, everything, everything eats.” Much like this one there are a few other phrases that give a sense of creepiness and uneasiness, which I assume is what the author was going after.