Merry Christmas everyone!!!

In My Mailbox #15

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by Kirsti @ The Story Siren and was inspired by Alia @ Pop Culture Junkie.


I am very happy to have received Toil and Trouble from  H.P. Mallory for review this week.  I really enjoyed Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble (click the title to see my review) so am looking forward to the second Jolie Wilkins book!

Title: Toil and Trouble
Author: H.P. Mallory


The Underworld in civil war. 
The cause? A witch who can reanimate the dead. 
A sexy as sin vampire determined to claim her. 
An infuriatingly handsome warlock torn between duty and love. 
Who says blonds have more fun? 

After defending herself against fairy magic, Jolie Wilkins wakes to find her world turned upside down—the creatures of the Underworld on the precipice of war. 

The Underworld is polarized in a battle of witch against witch, creature against creature, led by the villainous Bella, who would be Queen. 

While Jolie has one goal in mind, to stake the vampire, Ryder, who nearly killed her, she also must choose between the affections of her warlock employer, Rand, and the mysteriously sexy vampire, Sinjin. 

And as if that weren’t enough to ruin a girl’s day, everything Jolie knows will be turned inside out when she’s thrust into the shock of a lifetime. 

Toil and Trouble is the second book in the Jolie Wilkins series, the follow up to Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble.

Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011

Another challenge I'm going to attempt in 2011!!

The Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 is hosted by Book Chick City.

Sign Up Details

• To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge - you then use the URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL - this will be deleted.

• You must add the button to your sidebar - make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed below!

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules: To read TWENTY FOUR (24) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2011 (24 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to add your reviews.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog just FILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

Follow Friday #17 & Book Blogger Hop #16

HAPPY FRIDAY!!  I'm joining in Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop again this week.  Take a look around!   

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee, head on over there to join in the fun, meet new blogger friends.  Featuring today Angie @ Another Book Junkie.

Do you have an under-noticed author that you think we should all know about?

I've been thinking about this and can not think of just one!  I've discovered great books from Indie authors, so I guess I'm noting a whole section of authors!  (Yeah, I know it was meant to be an author!)

I'm also taking part in the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy For Books so head on over to join in the fun!  This weeks question is from Angela @ Library Girl Reads

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"
All of those things!  I love reading what people think of books and it's great to get some interviews and giveaways etc in there too.  I suppose for me it's the whole book blog experience I like, I love also how every blog is just a bit different!

Shifter Challenge 2011

Another challenge - I love them (so much that I set them monthly on Goodreads!!).  Must admit I'm better at taking part than finishing them but i'll give it a go!

The Shifter Challenge is being hosted by Parajunkie, to take part sign up here.

This challenge celebrate those fantastically furred peeps that are quite normal except for the fact that they spend a good bit of their lives on four legs.here we celebrate those fantastically furred peeps that are quite normal except for the fact that they spend a good bit of their lives on four legs.

The rules:

1. Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating. That post is the link that you will include in the Mr. Linky below. The link should be the post link not just your blog link.
2. Grab the button and display it in the post (use grab code underneath the button) or on your sidebar so others can join in the fun.
3. Challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011
4. The challenge is to read 20 books that have a SHIFTER as a MAIN character, either protag or antagonist
5. There will be a post that goes up for January 1 where you add each book as you read them and discuss books read in the comments.

2011 E-Book Challenge

Hosted  by The Ladybug Reads

Another challenge I'm going to participate in in 2011.  I have just got into reading e-books but I love them!  I'm going to go for Obsessed (like you didn't see that coming!!).  To join in find details here.

Challenge Guidelines: 1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 e-books.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 e-books.
-- Addicted – Read 12 e-books.
-- Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1, 2011 and lasts until December 31, 2011.

Paranormal Romance Reading Challenge 2011

Hosted by: Bitten by Paranormal Romance

One of several challenges I'm taking part in during 2011.  Watch out for more!  (Anyone interested in monthly challenges I run some on Goodreads.)

This is a challenge to read 20 paranormal romance book between Jan 1st through Dec 31st. Any books read before Jan will not count.

You can pick any *adult paranormal romance book as you go, new release or old release it doesn't matter. But remember this is only for paranormal romance.  NO urban fantasy, YA or paranormal erotica. If you have any questions please email me or leave a comment.

*It doesn't matter if the book is vampire, witch, any shape-shifting, Greek gods, zombies or faeries just as long as it adult paranormal romance. Most book will tell you on the side cover if its paranormal romance, that's what you want to get to read. If you have a book you don't know if it would work or not just email Laurie at Bitten by Paranormal Romance and ask, its no bother.

Here is some examples
Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunters
Lynsay Sands An Argeneau series
Nina Bangs Gods of Night series

Just because she said no erotica doesn't mean she wants you to read books with no sex in them these listed above have sex in them, but they are not considered erotica we know the difference. The reason she said no erotica is because she is also hosting an Erotica paranormal romance next year too and she wants them separate.

Each month she will put out a newsletter of sort and in there will be some choices of different books. You can comment and ask questions as we go. That way we can get ideals as we go.

Read it and write a review on your blog (you do not have to have a blog to participate) and come back and post the review in the Mister linky on the Bitten by Paranormal Romance Blog. She will have a mister linky for each month so don't worry. If you don't have a blog visit her blog for different directions.

During each month there will be one winner that is picked to win a prize.


To sign up and get all the details about the challenge click here. 

Waiting on Wednesday #14 ~ "Shadowfever" by Karen Marie Moning

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine which spotlight eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.


 My pick this week is Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning, I'm really enjoying the series - yeah I've only just got round to it - and will be up to date by the time Shadowfever is out!

Title: Shadowfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: 18 January 2011

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac.
Evil is bad that believes it's good."

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh--a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More importantly, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse, to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and make a choice that will either save the world...or destroy it.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Hi Everyone, I've not been around for at least a week (life gets in the way and you have to go away on family business - you know how it is!!),  When I got back I discovered I'd been awarded The Versatile Blogger award FOUR TIMES!!  A great big thank to all, I really appreciate it!!  Make sure you stop by these great bloggers (after you read my post of course!).  Thank then to:

 Mariya @ Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
Nanny @ Getting Naughty Between the Stacks
LunaMoth @  Far From Reality
Akasha Hale & Lexus Salvatore @ Supernatural Must Read

Here's the rules:

1. Share 7 things about yourself
2. Pass The Award to 15 bloggers recently discovered.
3. Notify the blogger recipients
4. Link The blogger who gave the award.

7 Things about me

1.  I love coffee.  I'm probably a full on coffee addict.  Nothing better than a lovely cup when I'm reading, in a cafe, having a break from study (you get the idea!!)
2.  I love blogging.  I've been at my book review blog nearly four months, I've learnt so much and have a lot more I want to learn too!  I love the actual blogging and the community too!!!
3.  I live in a tiny village in the north of England ~ it's a long way removed from the settings of most of the books I read!
4.  I absolutely love my baby nephew - two months old today :)
5.  I hate the cold snowy winter, much prefer the warm sunshine of summer.
6.  I always busy!!
7.  I'm studying for another degree in Math and IT (my first degree was in History)

I'm passing the blog award on to

(I appologise if you've already received it - but you won't have from me!!!!)
 1. Smash Attack Reads
2. Fiction Vixen
3. The Creative Well
4. Book Chick City
5. The Bookish Snob
6. Mindful Musings
7. Books With Bite
8. Paromantasy
9. Wicked little Pixie
10. Urban Fantasy Investigations
11. Book Faery
12. Reading on the Dark Side
13. Among The Muses
14. Location 2571
15. Parajunkee's View


There are other blogs I'd love to pass this on to also but have declared themselves award free blogs, but I love them anyway!!!)