Jax Reviews Magyk by Angie Sage

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Septimus Heap, Book 1
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Owned by reviewer
Release Date: March 5, 2013 (Reprint edition)
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?

The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart.

Review of Lust for Life by Jeri Smith-Ready

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: WVMP Radio #4
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble

Blurb from goodreads:

Former con artist Ciara Griffin hopes to settle into a normal un-life as a fledgling vampire, with the help of her fiance, grunge DJ/guitarist Shane McAllister. But when the WVMP station crew reports that hippie vampire DJ Jim has murdered a pair of humans - humans who happen to share Ciara's last name - that's when trouble rolls out the red carpet. To redeem her past and pay back her most wounded victim, Ciara plans one final triple-crossing con game - with her own "miracle blood" as the bait. And as Ciara clings to what's left of her humanity, she'll need her new vampire strength - and old con artist cunning - now more than ever.

2013 and December Challenge Wrap Up

Can you believe 2013 is over? Yikes. I succeeded in all of my challenges though a few I just squeaked by.  How did you do? I signed up for even more challenges for next year, eep. "Challenge" is definitely the word for 2014. :D

 Book Chick City's 100 Books in 2013

For this challenge, I didn't count any children's books, unless it was YA or MG, nor did I count books that I edited. I also did goodreads' reading challenge and I counted everything for that one, but didn't track here on the blog. :D (I made it but just barely.)

Review of Ivory Pal: Born to Fly Higher by Cindy McCauley

Publisher: Hooves and Tails
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 1, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* 
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Try as they might, the trainers could not get Ivory Pal to comply with the "traditional" Tennessee Walking Horse training techniques. The beautiful palomino colt had completely given up, shut down, relegated to a box stall 24/7, until he met his new partner Rafael Valle. His fate was about to take a U-turn. A heartwarming true story of a "show horse reject", his trials and triumphs, and his relationship with Valle built on trust and mutual respect rather than on fear and intimidation.

Blog Tour Giveaway, Guest Post, & ARC Review of Black Arts by Faith Hunter

Publisher: Roc
Series: Jane Yellowrock #7 
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who always takes care of her own—no matter the cost...

When Evan Trueblood blows into town looking for his wife, Molly, he’s convinced that she came to see her best friend, Jane. But it seems like the witch made it to New Orleans and then disappeared without a trace. 

Jane is ready to do whatever it takes to find her friend. Her desperate search leads her deep into a web of black magic and betrayal and into the dark history between vampires and witches. But the closer she draws to Molly, the closer she draws to a new enemy—one who is stranger and more powerful than any she has ever faced.  

This concludes my series of reviews of the Jane Yellowrock books. Over the past three days, I've reviewed books four through seven, which is today's review. I also featured a quote from "Raven Cursed" as part of the Friday 56 meme. I hope you've enjoyed visiting Jane's world and getting to know her and her companions. At the end of this post is a giveaway for a  print copy of "Black Arts" and there's also a guest post by Beast on essential items to take on a trip to New Orleans.

Review of Blood Trade by Faith Hunter

Publisher: Roc Fantasy
Series: Jane Yellowrock #6
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line... 

The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.

But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.

Review of Death's Rival by Faith Hunter

Publisher: Roc Fantasy
Series: Jane Yellowrock #5
Format Read: Paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…

For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey.

Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.

Sunday Book Share #69

 

 

 I'm participating in The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer; Showcase Sunday hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea; Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and Library Loot co-hosted by The Captive Reader and The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. All of these memes give book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and posts and events at their blogs.

Only two days left in the year and three days left of my break. I am ready for a new year, hopeful it will be a wonderful one. I'll spend New Year's Eve at a friend's house, watching movies and eating way too much food. Though, I've been doing that last one for about a week now, lol. My Christmas was good; I hope yours was too. Kwanza is almost done; so many holidays. I hope you've enjoyed yours.

Review of Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter

Publisher: ROC Fantasy
Series: Jane Yellowrock #4
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Unless she wants to face a very angry mast vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It's a good thing she's worth every penny.

The Friday 56 #9 Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter, part of her Jane Yellowrock series. This is from page 56.

Once dressed, I brought six knives and my backpack into the twins' common room and finished weaponing up in front of their large, flat-screen TV.

Related articles

• The Friday 56 #8 You're absolutely perfect. (beasbooknook.blogspot.com)
• The Friday 56 #2 (wereallmadherebookblog.wordpress.com)
• The Friday 56 #9 ~ Shadows of Penumbra by Margaret E. Alexander (fuonlyknew.com)
• The Friday 56 #7 ~ Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth ~ A Vampire Intrigue (fuonlyknew.com)
• The Friday 56 (evasmoodboard.wordpress.com)

Review of Bring On the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: WVMP Radio #3
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

WHAT'S BLOOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock & Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor's degree!

But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps? Ciara's suspicions are confirmed when she's assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control's oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious fatal virus spreads through Sherwood;and corpses begin to rise from their graves;Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic.

Cat Thursday - I Can Haz Cookies?

 

 Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict. 

 

 Don't let this adorable face fool you.  He's a cookie thief! A friend sent me some cookies she made. I ate a few, then put the box away to go Christmas shopping. When I got home, the box was on the floor and Goof had tried to get into it. Guess who got coal in his stocking yesterday? :P Okay, not really, but the naughty boy! :D

How was YOUR CHristmas? :)

Related articles

• Cat Thursday - Are YOU A Cat Maniac? (beasbooknook.blogspot.com)
• Cat Thursday - Do you want my box? (beasbooknook.blogspot.com)
• The Most Awkward Cats of 2013 (thepinkstache.wordpress.com)

Review of Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: Persephone Alcmedi #6
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She’s trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he’s recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time.

Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move?

Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price.

Merry Christmas!

Review of Wicked Circle by Linda Robertson

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: Persephone Alcmedi #5
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The fifth in the exciting urban fantasy series featuring Persephone Alcmedi, a modern-day witch with a sexy werewolf boyfriend.  

Persephone Alcmedi has helped her waerewolf lover Johnny unlock his powers. Now she must come to the aid of Menessos, the vampire overlord she has secretly marked. Beset by a trio of truth-seeking vampire sisters so dangerous their own kind keep them confined in stone, he now needs her more than ever...and she realizes her need for him. Seph has magical promises to fulfill for the waeres, multiple mundane family challenges to meet, vampire politics to confront, both the supernatural males in her life to balance, a dragon to deal with...and then a government investigator shows up to complicate matters. 

Review of Bayou Noel by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Series: Bayou Heat #8.5
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: I own it
Release Date: December 11, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* (According to goodreads, it's available on Smashwords but I couldn't find it.)

Blurb from goodreads:

'Tis the season for new beginnings.
Molly is through with spending Bayou Noel alone - after waiting five years for Garrick to notice her as more than just his mother’s caregiver. The aggravating male might always have a place in her heart, but she’s determined to find someone who wants to build a family with her. She has no idea that writing a letter of resignation will bring Garrick back to the Wildlands.

It will take a miracle to bring them together
Garrick can’t believe that Molly is willing to walk away. She’s not only become irreplaceable to his mother, but he’s become addicted to her letters when he was far away from home. He’ll be damned if he is going to let her slip away. But once back in the Wildlands, Garrick is forced to choose between opening his heart to the female he loves or risk losing her forever.

Quote-Tastic #29 Who Tidied the Brimstone?

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in. 

Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! 

Just grab the button and put up your post :) 

Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section. 

Reading "Clean Sweep" by Ilona Andrews made me want to re-read the Keeper series by Tanya Huff. I might get to it over the break but in the meantime, I've been poking through the first book, "Summon the Keeper". It was hard to pick just one quote, there are so many good ones. Claire is a supernatural, a Keeper, whose job it is to keep order and fight evil, and Dean is the handyman and chef at the inn Claire owns; he's just found out about the supernatural world and is still adjusting.

2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge Sign Up Post

I am a glutton for punishment. I am signing up for this challenge, hosted by Melissa at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf. I almost signed up last year and regretted not doing it so I'm going for it. This makes six challenges for 2014 that I've signed for, gulp.

Here's how this challenge works:

Guest Review: Kyria Reviews Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Publisher: Ace
Series: Kate Daniels #6
Format Read: paperback
Source: from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…  

Sunday Book Share #68

 

 

 I'm participating in The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer; Showcase Sunday hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea; Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and Library Loot co-hosted by The Captive Reader and The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. All of these memes give book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and posts and events at their blogs.

It's almost Christmas! One more day until vacation!! My school is open Monday and then closed until January 2nd. I am so ready for a break.Over the break, I'll be reading, relaxing and car shopping. I'm not looking forward to that last one but I think my current car is on its last legs so I need to look around. What are you all doing for the holidays?