Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings

The Devil Inside by Jenna Black
Book 1, The Morgan Kingsley Series

I bought this at The Book Cellar, my favorite local bookstore. I've seen a lot of good reviews on the Morgan Kingsley series so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Book Burb from Jenna Black's website

POSSESSION. MURDER. MAYHEM. LET THE GAMES BEGIN…. Exorcism isn’t a job, it’s a calling—and a curse. Just ask Morgan Kingsley, a woman who has a stronger aura than any demon. Or so she thought. Now, in a pair of black leather pants and a kick-ass tattoo, Morgan is heading back to Philadelphia after a nasty little exorcism—and her life is about to be turned upside down…by the demon that’s gotten inside her. Not just any demon. Six feet five inches of dark, delicious temptation, this one is to die for—that is, if he doesn’t get Morgan killed first. Because while some humans vilify demons and others idolize them, Morgan’s demon is leading a war of succession no human has ever imagined. For a woman trying to live a life, and hold on to the almost-perfect man, being possessed by a gorgeous rebel demon will mean a wild ride of uninhibited thrills, shocking surprises, and pure, unadulterated terror…

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 by Tricia Telep (Editor)

I bought this from Amazon.com. Release date is September 22, 2009 but the book started shipping early. I got it this past Tuesday! I'm looking forward to reading some of my favorite authors Jaye Wells, Ann Aguirre, Larissa Ione and Jeanne C. Stein. Plus there are a couple here that I've been wanting read like Caitlin R. Kiernan, Deborah Cooke, Stacia Kane, Justine Musk, and Devon Monk, just to name a few.

Full list of authors:

Ann Aguirre	Larissa Ione	Patti O'Shea
Jennifer Ashley	Dina James	Jennifer St. Giles
Camille Bacon-Smith	Stacia Kane	Jeanne C. Stein
Dawn Cook	Caitlin R. Kiernan	Jordan Summers
Deborah Cooke	Caitlin Kittredge	Tiffany Trent
Carole Nelson Douglas	Rosemary Laurey	Jaye Wells
Angie Fox	Karen MacInerney	Diane Whiteside
Jamie Leigh Hansen	Devon Monk
Nancy Holder	Justine Musk

Book Blurb from Amazon.com

This exciting follow-up to the wildly successful Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance contains 30 short stories of hot blood, midnight pleasures, and inhuman passions. Containing the best names in the field, such as Eileen Wilks, Caitlin Kittredge, Jennifer Ashley, Dawn Cook, and Diane Whiteside, this compilation is sure to arouse attention.

VampChix is starting a monthly vampire book club, Bite Club. The first Bite Club meeting is October 30th and first book up for discussion is The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2. When I had seen this I was so syched since for once I actually have the book, I don't feel so behind what everyone else has already read because this has just been released. Now, I just need to be sure to read it before October 30th!

Okay, VampChix have set two simple rules for Bite Club:  

Rule #1: Tell everyone about Bite Club.  
Rule #2: Don't bleed on the carpet!

From the VampChix blog:

Here's how it works:
Each month we will feature a new vampire romance title, beginning with an author spotlight. Everyone gets a few weeks to read the book and then we meet to discuss our favorite characters, plot lines, settings, hot scenes, world building etc. etc. The blog will be open all month long for those who want to chat books, but spoilers will not be permitted until discussion day unless clearly marked. If you have a scene that jumps out and really grabs you by the neck, let's talk about it, but for those who choose to remain in the dark, spoilers can be skipped. When our club meets we can discuss any aspect of the book that appeals to us, and who knows? Maybe the author will drop in to talk too!

Where to find us: vampchixreadbooks.blogspot.com
First bite: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2
First chat: October 30th

I was good this past week, only bought two books and only one has been added to the TBR so I get two gold stars.

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Book 4, Fever Series

I bought this at Amazon.com. I read Dreamfever and the first three books in the Fever series this past week or so, back to back. KMM has become one of my all-time favorite authors. I.Love.This.Series! I'm going to do a series review later this week or next.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.…In New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning’s stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin’s battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest—and most erotically charged—adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V’lane vie for her body and soul, as cryptic entries from her sister’s diary mysteriously appear and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac’s greatest enemy delivers a final challenge.…

It’s an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth—about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons…and about the world she thought she knew.

Matters of the Blood by Maria Lima
Book 1, Blood Lines Series

I bought this one at Walmart. I found this book through Kimberly at Darque Reviews and you know what? The back of this book has a quote from Kimberly. Way to go Kimberly!!!

"Maria Lima weaves a brilliant tale of supernatural power, revenge, and the excitement of newfound love." - Darque Reviews

Book Blurb from Barnes & Noble

Try being Keira Kelly. A member of a powerful paranormal family, Keira elected to stay among humans in the Texas Hill Country when the rest of the clan moved (lock, stock, and grimoire) to Canada. But family duty means still having to keep an eye on cousin Marty — a genetic aberration who turned out 100% human, poor guy. And recently Keira's been having violent dreams — or are they visions? — featuring Marty as the victim of a vicious murder. Something sinister seems to be brewing in little Rio Seco. Can Keira get to the bottom of it all while avoiding entanglement with her former lover, Sheriff Carlton Larson? And what does she plan to do about the irresistible and enigmatic Adam Walker? When this old friend shows up as the new owner of a local ranc and wants to get better acquainted, Keira is more than happy to be welcoming...until she suspects that Adam could be intimately connected to the dangerous doings in Rio Seco.

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel by Seanan McGuire

I bought this at Borders, I couldn't resist all the great reviews I've read about this book plus I've wanted to read since I saw it mentioned at Lurve a la Mode.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

Drawn into Darkness by Annette McCleave

I bought this at Walmart, yet another book that the reviews I read lead me to buying this book.

Book Blurb from Amazon.com

Serving a five-hundred-year sentence as a Soul Gatherer-one who battles demons for the souls of the dead-Lachlan MacGregor keeps his distance from humans. That is, until the lovely Rachel Lewis knocks on his door, begging for help.

As they struggle to rescue her daughter from the clutches of a powerful demon, Lachlan finds himself increasingly drawn to the artistic single mother. But when Death assigns him an unbearable task, he's left wondering who will provide more for his soul.

What A Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken
Book 3, Dragon Kin Series

I bought this at a local bookstore, The Book Cellar. I haven't even read the first two books in this series but Amy ( who I'm going miss tremendously in the blogosphere! ) at Romance Book Wyrm has me convinced this is a must read series. I have the first two books already, just need the time to read them.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

Only for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, 'Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us - the most loved of all dragons?' No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I am so chivalrous, I will brave the worst this land has to offer. So here I stand, waiting to broker an alliance with the one the Northlanders call The Beast. A being so fearful, the greatest warriors will only whisper its name. Yet I, Gwenvael, will courageously face down this terrifying...woman? It turns out the Beast, a.k.a. Dagmar Reinholdt, is a woman - one with steel-gray eyes and a shocking disregard for my good looks. Beneath her plain robes and prim spectacles lies a sensual creature waiting to be unleashed. Who better than a dragon to thaw out that icy demeanor? And who better than a beast to finally tame a mighty dragon's heart?

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin
Book 1, Jaz Parks Series

I bought this at The Book Cellar also. I've been seeing a lot posts on this series so I thought I would give it a shot.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs
Graphic Novel

I pre-ordered this from Amazon.com and I guess what? I've already read it. Loved it!! I'm going to write up a review soon. Oh, and I'd like to note that on Amazon.com, a lot of a misguided individuals are giving this graphic novel a 1 and 2 star ratings because when they order it, they thought they were getting a full-length book.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

Mercy Thompson is a walker, a magical being with the power to transform into a coyote. She lives on the fine line dividing the everyday world from a darker dimension, observing the supernatural community while standing apart.

When Mercy travels to the Tri-Cities of Washington for a job interview, she quickly finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a gang war between rival packs of werewolves. And as if fangs and fur weren’t bad enough, Mercy must deal with the scariest creature of all: her mother, who is convinced that Mercy is making a mess of her life and determined to set her daughter on the right course.

The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter
Book 4, Lords of the Underworld Series

I pre-ordered this from Amazon.com.

Book Blurb from Amazon.com

Bound by the demon of Doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she'd fall for a kind human who wouldn't rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora's box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love….

Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey O'Hara
A Dark Brethren Novel

Bought this today at Barnes & Noble.

Book Burb from Barnes & Noble

For centuries war raged between the humans and Aeternus vampires—until courageous efforts on both sides forged a fragile peace.

But the rogue Necrodreniacs will never be controlled—addicted as they are to the death-high . . . and bloody chaos.

Since witnessing the murder of her mother, Antoinette Petrescu has burned with fiery hatred for the vampire race—even for Christian Laroque, the noble, dangerously handsome Aeternus who rescued her. Now an elite Venator, Antoinette must reluctantly accept Christian's help to achieve her vengeance—even as he plots to use the beautiful, unsuspecting warrior as bait to draw out the bloodthirsty dreniacs.

The Den of Shadows Quartet by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

I bought this at Barnes & Nobles today because Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog brought this omnibus to my attention and plus the fact that Anna at Anna's Book Blog mentioned that this series is one of her favorite rereads.

Book Burb from Barnes & Nobles

FOUR COMPLETE NOVELS—ONE CAPTIVATING WORLD
In the Forests of the Night
Three hundred years ago Risika had a family—a brother and a father who loved her. Three hundred years ago she was human. Now she is a vampire, a powerful one. And her past has come back to torment her.

Demon in My View
Jessica isn’t your average high school student—she’s an acclaimed published author of vampire fiction. Now two new students at her high school strongly remind her of her favorite characters. But those characters only live in her imagination—right?

Shattered Mirror
Christopher Raneva and Sarah Vida may look like a normal high school couple, but he’s actually a vampire who’s sworn off human blood and she’s an incredibly powerful, vampire-hunting witch. As if that weren’t enough to prevent their love, his past and her future collide when they get tangled up with Nikolas, one of the most reviled vampires ever.

Midnight Predator
Once a happy teenager, Turquoise Draka is now a vampire hunter. Her current assigment is to assassinate Jeshikah, one of the cruelest vampires in history. But to do that, she’ll have to enter Midnight, a fabled vampire realm, as a human slave. . . .

Blood Vice by Keith Melton
The Nightfall Syndicate, Book 1

I happily accepted this one for review since it was a book on my wishlist. It is currently available in ebook format but will be published in print this coming December.

Book Burb from Samhain Publishing

Business has never been better for hit man Karl Vance. Boston is awash in mafia blood, and Vance has a certain fondness for blood. He’s a master vampire—one of the most powerful of his kind. Having sworn to never again feed on the blood of innocents, Karl preys instead on Boston’s criminal underworld. Which makes him a valuable asset to those who deal in death.

Maria Ricardi intends to use that asset to its full extent in order to gain power within her patriarchal crime family. Vance thinks he’s been hired to keep track of the family’s princess, but she’s got a plan to get her hands dirty and earn the respect she deserves. And she’s not above using their instant attraction to get what she wants.

That driving ambition draws the attention of a rival clan’s newest and most dangerous “consultant.” Alejandro Delgado, Vance’s centuries-old nemesis. Delgado zeroes in on the one chink in Vance’s armor—his fondness for the headstrong Maria.

When she becomes enslaved by Delgado’s unnatural kiss, only one thing is certain. Vance has to decide which he wants more. To settle the score—or rescue her soul.

Warning: Intense, graphic mafia-related violence, profanity, gangster slang, assassinations, fang punctures, explicit vampire sex, betrayal, greed, murder, gangland warfare, pervasive supernatural mayhem, large-scale explosions, and extremely expensive Italian suits.

I haven't had very much time to read this past week, much to my dismay but I have been skipping around in The Eternal Kiss when I can. So far, most of the stories I've read are pretty enjoyable, a couple I didn't care to much for. I still have several more to get through before I can form a opinion of the anthology as a whole.

Today, we'll be traveling to help take some stuff for my son to UNT for the fall semester, and I don't have to do any of the driving, so I'm going to throw myself into Retribution.

Retribution by Jeanne C. Stein
Book 5, Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Can you believe this, Borders had one copy of Retribution on it's shelves on Friday night!! I was going to cancel my pre-order to Amazon and order this from B&N since they were shipping early a week ago but I decided to wait because I knew I couldn't read it this past week. But when I seen this at Borders I couldn't resist. Temptation at it's finest.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

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.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
Book 2, Alpha and Omega Series
Release Date: August 25, 2009

While picking up some last minutes items for my son's dorm at Walmart I found Hunting Ground. I was very surprise to say the least about finding this book there this past Saturday.

Book Blurb from Amazon.com:

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

Staked by J.F. Lewis
Book 1, Void City Series

I won this lovely book and Norse Code in the August Contest from Anna at Anna's Book Blog. Thank you Anna!!

Book Burb from Amazon.com

UNREPENTANT. UNIMPRESSED.AND TOTALLY UNDEAD.

Eric's got issues. He has short-term and long-term memory problems; he can't remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire in the first place. His best friend, Roger, is souring on the strip club he and Eric own together. And his girlfriend, Tabitha, keeps pressuring him to turn her so she can join him in undeath. It's almost enough to put a Vlad off his appetite. Almost.

Eric tries to solve one problem, only to create another: he turns Tabitha into a vampire, but finds that once he does, his desire for her fades -- and her younger sister, Rachel, sure is cute. And when he kills a werewolf in self-defense, things really get out of hand. Now a pack of born-again lycanthropes is out for holy retribution, while Tabitha and Rachel have their own agendas -- which may or may not include helping Eric stay in one piece.

All Eric wants to do is run his strip club, drink a little blood, and be left alone. Instead, he must survive car crashes, enchanted bullets, sunlight, sex magic, and werewolves on ice -- not to mention his own nasty temper and forgetfulness.

Because being undead isn't easy, but it sure beats the alternative.

Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout

This looks to be a stand alone. I couldn't find any information on whether this book was part of a series or not.

Book Burb from Amazon.com

Is this Ragnarok, or just California?

The NorseCODE genome project was designed to identify descendants of Odin. What it found was Kathy Castillo, a murdered MBA student brought back from the dead to serve as a valkyrie in the Norse god’s army. Given a sword and a new name, Mist’s job is to recruit soldiers for the war between the gods at the end of the world—and to kill those who refuse to fight.

But as the twilight of the gods descends, Mist makes other plans.

Journeying across a chaotic American landscape already degenerating into violence and madness, Mist hopes to find her way to Helheim, the land of the dead, to rescue her murdered sister from death’s clutches. To do so, she’ll need the help of Hermod, a Norse god bumming around Los Angeles with troubles of his own. Together they find themselves drafted into a higher cause, trying to do what fate long ago deemed could not be done: save the world of man. For even if myths aren’t made to be broken, it can’t hurt to go down fighting…can it?

Demon Dreamer by Vivi Anna

I won this novella over at Lauren Dane's blog during her Laid Bare with Flair Contest. Isn't the cover just gorgeous?

Book Burb from Samhain Publishing

Submission is the only path to his salvation…

A Captive Souls story.

Born a seer, Kiara Brodie has always been feared for her power to see others’ fantasies. She’s fine with that—it keeps the men of her Irish Gypsy caravan at bay. She wants more than this transient life. A letter from her estranged father, summoning her to Louisiana, could be her long-awaited chance to put down roots.

She finds two half-sisters she never knew she had, and an old mansion haunted by a darkly sexy demon who inhabits her dreams. At night he whispers to her of carnal delight, enticing her on a journey of extreme pleasure—and pain.

Malvo knows just what to do with the curious woman who wandered into his lair behind the library bookcase—lock the door behind her and make her a lustful proposition she can’t refuse. He seeks to temporarily ease his lonely torment, but Kiara’s willing and wanton response opens his eyes to the possibility that she is his path to his own salvation.

If only she is willing to remain captive to his every sinful desire—forever…

Warning: Contains every sinful fantasy you have ever secretly entertained—including some of the deadly ones. Being bad was never oh, so good!

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
Book 1, Strangely Beautiful Series
Release Date: August 25, 2009

I received this from the author for review. Currently reading and enjoying this book!!!

Book Blurb from the author's website:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Kay
Book 1, Charlie Madigan Series
Release Date: November 24, 2009

I received this ARC for review from the author. I can't wait to dig into this one.

Book Blurb from the author's website:

Divorced mother of one, Charlie Madigan, lives in a world where the beings of heaven and hell exist among us, and they aren't the things of Sunday school lessons and Hallmark figurines. In the years since the Revelation, they've become our co-workers, neighbors, and fellow citizens.

Charlie works for ITF (Integration Task Force). It's her job to see that the continued integration of our new "friends" goes smoothly and everyone obeys the law, but when a new off-world drug is released in Underground Atlanta, her daughter is targeted, and her ex-husband makes a fateful bargain to win her back, there's nothing in heaven or earth (or hell for that matter) that Charlie won't do to set things right.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Book 1, Shiver Series

I bought this book through Amazon.com after unsuccessful trying to find it at my local Borders. I've read so many good reviews on this book, (Thanks Anna!) I had to get it.

Book Blurb from the author's website:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost
Book 1, Southern Witch Series

I bought this from a vendor at ArmadilloCon, Edge Books. Don't you just love this cover?

Book Blurb from the author's website:

In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing more troublesome than gossip—is magic.

The family magic seems to have skipped Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets in the way of the supernatural are a few untimely visits from the long dead, smart-mouthed family ghost, Edie. But when her locket, an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul, is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.

After a few experiences in dysfunctional magic, Tammy turns to the only one who can help; the very rich and highly magical, Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers—and a 007-savoir faire to boot—but the locket isn’t the only legacy passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning…to stay away from anyone named Lyons.

This past week was a busy week. I went up to the University of North Texas campus in Denton with my son for the new student and parents orientation for a couple of days. We both feel better about him going to UNT now, especially my son. He was a bit nervous about going to college up there, being away from home for the first time. I'm still nervous about him driving so far away by himself all the time, it's about a 2-1/2 hour drive and a long busy highway. *a mother's shudder & cringe*

Well, without further ado here is my stash for the week.

Night Child By Jes Battis
Book 1, OSI Series
I picked this book up at my local bookstore, the Book Cellar.

Synopsis from Penguin.com

That’s a dead vampire, I thought. My boss dragged me out of bed at two in the morning to see a dead vampire? I might be an Occult Special Investigator for Vancouver’s Mystical Crime Lab, but a dead vampire is routine, and no reason to disturb a person’s sleep! Then I took a closer look at the body…

Tess Corday soon realizes that there is not going to be anything ordinary about this case. Not the lab results on the cause of death. Not Mia Polanski, the teenage girl living at the address found in the vamp’s pocket, who may well be in thrall to a demon. And certainly not Lucian Agrado, the necromancer who is liaison to the vampire community. Agrado is supposed to be part of the solution, but Tess suspects he might be part of the problem.

Under pressure from her boss, Tess is trying to go by the book on this one. But when Mia reaches out to her, she risks her career to help the girl. And finds herself in the middle of a paranormal conspiracy that will change her life forever.

Or possibly end it…

By Blood We Live edited by John Joseph Adams
Bought at Amazon.com as a Pre-Order. The synopsis sounds gruesome. Love it!
Synopsis from the back of the book

Vampires. They are the most elegant of monsters-ancient, seductive, doomed, deadly. They lurk in the shadows, at your window, in your dreams. They are beautiful as anything you've ever seen, but their flesh is cold as the grave, and their lips taste of blood. From Dracula to Twilight; from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to True Blood, many have fallen under their spell. Now acclaimed editor John Joseph Adams brings you 33 of the most haunting vampire stories of the past three decades, from some of today's most renowned authors of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

Charming gentlemen with the manners of a prior age. Savage killing machines who surge screaming from hidden vaults. Cute little girls frozen forever in slender bodies. Long-buried loved ones who scratch at the door, begging to be let in. Nowhere is safe, not mist-shrouded Transylvania or the Italian Riviera or even a sleepy town in Maine. This is a hidden world, an eternal world, where nothing is forbidden... as long as you're willing to pay the price.

Authors in this anthology:

Kelley Armstrong L. A. Banks Elizabeth Bear Neil Gaiman Joe Hill Stephen King Sergei Lukyanenko Tanith Lee Brian Lumley Ken Macleod Garth Nix

Anne Rice Lilith Saintcrow Harry Turtledove Catherynne M. Valente Carrie Vaughn David Wellington Tad Williams Michael A. Burstein Barbara Roden Nancy Kilpatrick Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Norman Partridge Michael Marshall Smith Nancy Holder Jane Yolen Gabriela Lee Caitlin R. Kiernan Brian Stableford Kevin J. Anderson Eric Van Lustbader Bruce McAllister Barbara Hambly

The First Sign of the Zodiac
The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson

I received this book as part of the Autograph Game started by Cassandra Curtis. It's my turn to read The Scent of Shadows. I'm so excited to be a part of this game plus this is a series I've been wanting to read for awhile. I've never done something like this before. So this book is my next read.

Synopsis from author's website

When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert.

By rights, she should be dead.

Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset – a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow – seeking answers to whom or what she really is ... and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure.

But the nightmare is just beginning – for the demons are hunting Joanna, and the powerful Shadows want her for their own...

The Light of Burning Shadows by Chris Evans
Book Two of the Iron Elves
I won this book over at Graeme's Fantasy Book Review. The amazing thing is I won it this past weekend and received it in the mail on Thursday. So, I'm ordering book one this week. Yep, that's all I need is another excuse to buy another book. Actually, I was already going to get the first book because Anna's spotlight on the this book, over at Anna's Book Blog.

Synopsis from Amazon.com

"They might be doomed, damned, and buggered for all eternity, but that didn't mean they couldn't sparkle like a diamond in the sun and grin like a skull in the moonlight on their way to oblivion."

Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this second epic fantasy adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves' perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency.

The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army's elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elfkyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters.

Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor -- ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands. Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally -- and fearsome enemy -- in a growing conflict that threatens all?

Personal Demons by Stacia Kane
Megan Chase/Demon Book 1
Bought at The Book Cellar (local bookstore)
I bought this book after reading Stacia Kane's Dame for a Day Post over at Deadline Dames.

Synopsis from author's website

“Hi! How may I slay your personal demons?”

When psychological counselor Megan Chase promises listeners to her new radio call-in show she’ll slay their personal demons, they believe her. So do the personal demons.

Megan doesn’t know she’s the only human alive without a personal demon on her shoulder. This, coupled with her psychic abilities, makes her a valuable weapon for any demon mob-like “family” lucky enough to gain her allegiance. It also makes her a serious threat not just to the personal demons, but to a soul-sucking Legion of Hell known as The Accuser. The Accuser already has an old score to settle with Megan, and sees this as the perfect time to do it.

But Megan isn’t without allies as she’s plunged back into a world she forgot existed. A member of a competing demon family sees Megan as his ticket to power, and sets about both protecting and seducing her with devilish intensity.

Can Megan, her new demon lover, a witch with poor social skills, and three cockney guard demons named Malleus, Maleficarum, and Spud defeat not only The Accuser, the personal demons, and the ghosts of Megan’s past, but the reporter who threatens to destroy Megan’s career as well?

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Bought at Amazon.com when I heard they were already shipping this book. My stepdaughter and I are both wanting to read this book. She has already read the prequel, so she primed to read it now. I plan to read the prequel today before I start The Scent of Shadows.

Synopsis from author's website

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH KAYLEE CAVANAUGH

She doesn't see dead people, but...

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about the need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next...

SOUL SCREAMERS
The last thing you hear before you die...

The Eternal Kiss - Anthology edited by Trisha Telep
Release Date: 7/27/2009
Bought by Pre-Order. Amazon is already shipping. YAY! For early shipping.
Synopsis (from Amazon's website)

There's an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephanie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want!

This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including:
- Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe)
- Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)
- Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood)
- Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)
- Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)
- Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked)
- Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool)
- Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld)
- Maria V. Snyder
- Sarah Rees Brennan
- Lili St. Crow
- Karen Mahoney
- Dina James

They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.

Wages of Sin (Book 1, Cin Craven Series) by Jenna Maclaine
Bought at Amazon.com
Synopsis (from author's website)

Dulcinea Craven descends from a long line of witches, and she has just inherited wild, untrained magical powers that she has no idea how to control. Now a ruthless vampire and an age-old demon are determined to enslave Cin and steal her power for their own. Her only hope is The Righteous, a band of warrior vampires who slay the rogue undead. Among them is Michael, a fierce swordsman who inflames Cin’s most primal hungers. Showing her a sensual pleasure beyond anything in the mortal realm, she must choose between the human existence she has always known, and immortality as a vampire—a new life filled with forbidden urges, dark yearning, and unearthly passions…

Grave Sins (Book 2, Cin Craven Series) by Jenna Maclaine
Won at the Sinful Summer Contest (still going on until July 30, 2009)
Synopsis (from author's website)

With Michael by her side, Cin’s latest mission brings her face-to-face with Marrakesh, a beautiful, half-mad vampire queen charged with slaughtering humans. If she’s found guilty, Marrakesh will pay with her life. But Cin is convinced that someone- or something- far more ruthless is trying to steal the queen’s throne. It’s a mission that will pit Michael and Cin against each other for the first time, awakening their darkest instincts and testing their love like never before…

Greywalker (Book 1, Greywalker Series) by Kat Richardson
Bought at Barnes & Noble
Synopsis (from author's website)

Recovering from a near-fatal accident, Seattle Private Investigator Harper Blaine develops the ability to move through the Grey: the realm of ghosts, vampires, witches, and magic that exists between our world and the next. Harper wants her life to return to normal, but when her clients turn out to be paranormal, the reluctant Greywalker is drawn into the affairs of ambitious vampires and angry ghosts. As her cases converge, Harper uncovers a plot that threatens Seattle's Grey world and must choose between honor and survival.

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales
Bought at Barnes & Noble - On Sale, couldn't pass this up.
Synopsis (from B&N's website)

A classic of Western literature—the complete fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. In this new edition of more than 200 tales, readers of all ages will discover The Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, and more. Experience the magic, adventure and romance in stories of princesses and poor girls, witches and princes, swans and ravens, donkeys and devils. First compiled in 1812, these magnificent tales date back to the dawn of story-telling among the people of northern Europe.