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Title: About That Night (FBI #3)

Author: Julie James

Published: April 3, 2012 by Berkley

Format: Paperback, 304 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

He’s playing games.

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

But she’s making the rules.
 
Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten. . .

    Preorder your copy today!
                   4 . 3 . 12             

I See Double...Make That Triple

I was browsing through Amazon for potential new books to purchase (even though I still have plenty to get through available just a few feet away) when I ran into this book

Look familiar? Here's a hint: It has something to do with fever and not of the prepubescent variety.

Sigh, stock photos, you gotta love em.

Winners

Happy 2012 everyone!

Winners of:

Making Waves, Twice Bitten, & The Master:
Mary 

Vampire Academy 1-3: 

Melannie

Congrats to the winners!

Winners were chosen by random.org and have been notified. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. 

A Gifted Coffin

Hello fellow blog world!

I hope you have all been having a merry holiday season! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for this year to be over!

My sisters, nieces, brother-in-law, and their dog are finally gone so the peace and quiet is finally back. No more Mom and what she calls lecturing and I call nagging at my big sister, Garbage Disposal, about the proper way to raise a child and infant; no more Dad muttering to Mom behind Garbage Disposal's back about his disagreement on how to raise a child; no more Mom and Dad making annoying baby noises (trust me, it sounds more obnoxious when Asian parents do it); no more Mom and Dad speaking to their grandchildren in Chinese even though they don't understand them (one is at the age she can only wail, the other only understands the words she learned in that Nick Jr. show Ni Hao Kai Lan); no more Mom trying to poorly persuade Garbage Disposal to leave her children at her home so that they can take care of them (no comment); no more waking up early because of a crying infant and a screaming three year old asking for her dad and knocking on my room door screaming, "Aunty Kristy, the sun is up!" (the three year old has one decibel level and that's LOUD); no more headaches and a stuffy nose from my allergic reaction to anything four legged and furry; finally, no more surprise pee puddles from the four legged friend, the infant, or the three year old (I need to invest in a waterproof mattress pad). 

But hey, not everything was bad. I have to say I will miss playing The Settler's of Catan with my brother-in-law and HTML even though they kicked my A*# big time. There was also the better food I've gotten to consume since the parents cook better meals when their other children come home. I also received some nifty gifts that HTML considers morbid but I consider cute. And here's my coffin with Dracula Pig, along with my Virginia Woolf signed giclee print.

Virginia Woolf by Justin Hillgrove

Dracula Pig by Alexz

Speaking of gifts, my earliest followers may or may not recall a giant package I received way back when. Here's a refresher of what it looked like.

Since I gifted the second print this month, I'm now able to reveal it to you.

Wind Moon by Nene Thomas 

Custom 2" Wide Complete Black Picture Frame (17x26) by Craig   

  

To my brother-in-law, Bender, who couldn't make it this year to our family Christmas gathering, I gave him a very early Christmas present when he dropped by with my sister Momo, and my niece Lala back in October. He's a Star Wars fan, so I had to pick this signed print up for him.

 Spare Parts by Justin Hillgrove

 

Well, that's all I have to say for now. Oh, wait, one last thing, don't forget to sign up for the giveaways! They're all ending very soon.

Making Waves by Tawna Fenske (Int.)(12/31)
The Master by Jean Johnson (12/31)
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill (12/31)
Vampire Academy books 1-3 by Richelle Mead (12/31)

Free ebook offers from some authors

Merry Christmas Eve to all those that celebrate!

As a gift to their fellow readers, some authors are offering free downloads of their e-novellas.

From now until December 26th, Winning the Wallflower, by Eloisa James will be free to download on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles. To learn more about the book click here.

As a very special gift, Ilona Andrews is offering a never before released Kate Daniels novella entitled Magic Gifts! Click here to grab your copy!




I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!


Making Waves by Tawna Fenske (Int.)(12/31)
The Master by Jean Johnson (12/31)
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill (12/31)
Vampire Academy books 1-3 by Richelle Mead (12/31)

Free E-Book from Jade Lee

As a gift for the holidays, Jade Lee if offering a free e-book copy of her story Almost an Angel.

Just go to her website here, and fill out the information and read the instructions Jade provides.

Afterwards you should get a coupon code sent to your email.

The offer is good until December 31.


Don't forget to enter my giveaways.
Making Waves by Tawna Fenske (Int.)(12/31)
The Master by Jean Johnson (12/31)
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill (12/31)
Vampire Academy books 1-3 by Richelle Mead (12/31)

My Favorite New Author In 2011 Kindle ebook Giveaway

 Giveaway is now closed

Hey everyone!

Last week's Follow Friday question asked what book I would buy for EVERYONE if I could? Well, part of my answer was Tawna Fenske's book Making Waves.

A few days ago, Tawna announced on her blog that Amazon was going to do a special promotion for Making Waves by selling the kindle version for $0.99 from December 17-23.

I don't have the funds to buy everyone a copy, but I will buy 5 kindle ebook copies for my followers. So, here's some information on Making Waves.

Title: Making Waves
Author: Tawna Fenske
Published: August 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks
Format: Kindle ebook
Genre: Contemporary Romance
  
She always wanted to belong... just not to a disfunctional pirate crew.

Juli has trouble fitting in, though she'd prefer to keep the reasons to herself. But when she mistakenly stows away on a ship of misfit corporate castoffs, her own secrets become the least of her concerns.

He knows plotting a diamond heist may be considered unusual behavior...

But Alex isn't feeling very normal when his unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb. Meeting Juli doesn't do much to restore normalcy to Alex's life, but it sure is exhilerating!

As Alex and Juli bare their secrets - and a whole lot more - they find that while normal is nice, weird can be wonderful.

• Leave a comment with your email address (the email address is a must since I'll be sending the ebook as a gift to your email)
• Must be a GFC follower or Goodreads friend
• Open Worldwide
• Five winners will be chosen using random.org
• Ends December 31st

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Follow Friday (6)

It's time to end the week with Follow Friday Hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read.

Q: When you've read a book, what do you do with it? (Keep it, give it away, donate it, sell it, swap it..?)
A: It really depends on the book. For books that I really enjoy, I lend it to my friends. If the book wasn't that great I'll either donate or give it away. However, for most books, I just keep it and shelve it.

Don't forget to enter the giveaways.
Current Giveaways:
The Master by Jean Johnson (12/31)
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill (12/31)
Vampire Academy books 1-3 by Richelle Mead (12/31)

Indulge Yourself

 Spooky Pooky Creations

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share a website that sells beautiful wands for those Harry Potter fans. And, if you don't mind sending a belated holiday gift to someone, you could also order a custom made plushie based on anything or anyone just like the Mad Hatter I received last year. Just Click on the link above to her Etsy site and click on Request Custom Item under Shop Info. Here's a link to the owner's blog, which showcases some of her work. Happy Shopping!

P.S.
Don't forget to check out my giveaways!

Follow Friday (5)

It's time to end the week with Follow Friday Hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. Don't forget to enter the giveaways. Just click on the links above under Current Giveaways.

Q. Keeping with the Spirit of Giving this season, what book do you think EVERYONE should read and if you could, you would buy it for all of your family and friends?

A. For all the Romance readers, I believe my choice for 2011 releases will have to be Making Waves by Tawna Fenske. The book has drugs, pirates, strip battleship, and cheese doodle, which leads to a rather hilarious read.


The books I recommend that everyone should read in general are the Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings. They are both epic in their own way.

Holiday Giveaway 3

Giveaway is now closed

Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: August 16, 2007 by Razorbill
Format: Paperback, 332 pages
Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever

Title: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: April 10, 2008 by Razorbill
Format: Paperback, 327 pages
Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance 

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price

Title: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: November 13, 2008 by Razorbill
Format: Paperback, 443 pages
Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance

Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret .... She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever

• Leave a comment with your email address
• Must be a GFC follower
• Open to US residents only
• One winner will be chosen using random.org
• Ends December 31

Holiday Giveaway 2

Giveaway is now closed

Title: Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3)
Author: Chloe Neill
Published: July 6, 2010 by NAL Trade
Format: Paperback, 355 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy


Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire

• Leave a comment with your email address
• Must be a GFC follower
• Open to US residents only
• Ends December 31

Holiday Giveaway 1

Giveaway is now closed 

nuXmas

I'm not dead, but the blog sure seems that way. I've been MIA for a few months now and probably will be again very soon. Since it's the holidays, I just wanted to post a few giveaways for all my followers. So lets get this show on the road.

Title: The Master (Sons of Destiny #3)
Author: Jean Johnson
Published: September 4, 2007 by Berkley Trade
Format: Paperback, 340 pages
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance


The Sons of Destiny series continues with the third sizzling romantic fantasy.

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to the Isle of Nightfall, where women are forbidden. But when the abducted third-born brother is taken by a powerful and beautiful mage, he wonders if she is his own Prophesied Disaster, his foretold wife-to-be...

Kidnapped from the Isle of Nightfall and taken captive by slavers, Dominor is sold to a lovely mage who promises freedom. But Lady Serina has plans for him; she needs another powerful mage to re-enact a mating ritual, to help reverse a Tantric spell cast centuries ago. Agreeing to help her, Dominor doesn't suspect the secret she holds back from him: there is more to this magical mating than the Arithmancer has revealed.

When that secret finally shatters, Dominor is determined to retake possession of the woman who is his destiny.

• Leave a comment with your email address
• Must be a GFC follower
• Open to US residents only
• Ends December 31

Winners of The Fire Lord's Lover and The Wolf

Winners of:

The Fire Lord's Lover:
Mary 

The Wolf: 
Book Savvy Babe

Congrats to the winners!

Winners were chosen by random.org and have been notified. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. 

Be sure to stop by my blog in the middle of September when I will continue my giveaways!

Now it's time for me to spend a month in this little area in SoCal. 

This blog and blogger is now officially on vacation. See you in September! :)

Farewell Borders

Today was the last day I spent my afternoon at a Borders. I've spent many hours of my life at this store, particularly during my college days when I was stuck on campus with gaps between my schedules. When I was not purchasing books, I was sitting at the cafe studying and eating either a cream cheese pretzel, a slice of lemon loaf cake, or a blueberry scone with a cup of hot or iced chai latte (depending on the season). Very fond memories I will have of this store and I will miss it dearly. Goodbye Borders, Barnes and Noble will never be able to replace you completely with your non-snotty workers and your weekly coupons without an annual $25 membership fee. Just like I mourned the loss of Papyrus near campus, I will mourn the loss of you even more. You were my bookstore version of Target.

My last Borders purchase

As a final reminder,

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaways here and here. They both end tomorrow, August 5th.

The Plastic Surgery Of Digital Art

I decided to redraw Hawke in his wolf form for my Kiss of Snow review. The original was too brown and gray for my liking so I decided to redo it to make him look more golden. Too bad during the time that I drew the original I wasn't "layering" so I had to erase the original wolf and a third of the background before putting in the new one. It would have been much easier if I initially had the wolf and background done separately so that I could have just swapped the wolves out and be done with it. Oh well, lesson learned.

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaways here and here. They both end this Friday, August 5th.

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days!

 The Usual Suspects by Justin Hillgrove

Another print I need to buy a frame for. This is the only recent print that I own that's not signed by the artist :(

¡Buenos dias!

I hope no one ended up in the slammer this weekend like the shady characters above. If you did, all I have to say is, "Please, do tell."  

Well, I just wanted to remind everyone I won't be posting much after this week since I'll be out of town. Sadly, I won't be posting much this week if at all since I'll be too busy packing and meeting up with old friends before I go. I'm not sure if it matters to you, but that means no reviews of any kind.

Before I sign off, I'll like to remind you to don't forget to sign up for my giveaways here and here. They both end this Friday, August 5th.

That's it for now, have a wonderful week and for those heading back to school soon, good luck with classes!

A surprise inside every paper or plastic!

Goodbye Borders! I'm pretty sure we'll see one another once more before we truly go our separate ways :(

Follow Friday (4)

It's time to end the week with Follow Friday Hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. Don't forget to enter the giveaways. Just click on the links above under Current Giveaways.

Q. Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?

A. Lately it would have to be this

Book Review: A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Title: A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2)
Author: Kresley Cole
Published: March 28, 2006 by Pocket Star
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance

A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her . . .

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents -- until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae -- and their notorious dark desires -- ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire . . .

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Warning picture spoilers (sort of)

What I Liked: A tortured alpha werewolf male, a half breed valkyrie/vampire heroine that's growing into her own, two species that are enemies brought together by destiny, Paris, Scotland, New Orleans, what's not to love? Lachlain is uber alpha but he has his tender moments once he gets his act together. Even though Emma is a little spineless and lacks self-esteem at the beginning, her commentary and thoughts are quite funny. And I love the valkyries Nucking Futs Nix and Regin whenever they make an appearance. I swear I read this book over 10 times since it was my go to book for procrastinating while studying for exams. Oh, I forgot to mention, the sex is HOT!
 

  I didn't bother drawing the cityscape background this week since drawing a full human body shot and a fancy balcony took too long. Click to enlarge

 Here's the original drawing, which is quite plain. In case you're curious, beginning of Chapter 4 or page 44

What I Disliked: I was hoping for a longer appearance of Demestriu, but what content there is of him is still good.

Rating: 5/5 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't review a recently released book this week since the ones I've read weren't inspiring whatsoever. Well that's not completely true since I read Gail Carringer's Heartless and that was pretty awesome. However, she has a graphic novel coming out for her series, so it's pointless for me to draw it. I think my human drawings are getting too realistic, I may revert back to animation/cartoon versions since they take less time. My eyes still hurt from staring at the screen all day while having to constantly zoom in and out so the proportions and overall appearance of "Emma" didn't look too awkward. Full body shots suck and apparently blond hair is also a pain to draw. You can tell I got lazy on the nighty and back rails.