Thursday, February 23, 2012

Blog Tour: The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair

Genre:Murder Mystery
Publication.Date  February 7th 2012
Pages:346
Published By:  Penguin Books Canada   | 
WebsitePeggy Blair

The Beggar's Opera - Goodreads
My review copy:Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get: Amazon | Chapters






     In beautiful, crumbling Old Havana, Canadian detective Mike Ellis hopes the sun and sand will help save his troubled marriage. He doesn’t yet know that it’s dead in the water—much like the little Cuban boy last seen begging the Canadian couple for a few pesos on the world famous Malecon. For Inspector Ricardo Ramirez, head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Cuban National Revolutionary Police, finding his prime suspect isn’t a problem—Cuban law is. He has only seventy-two hours to secure an indictment and prevent a vicious killer from leaving the island. But Ramirez also has his own troubles to worry about. He’s dying of the same dementia that killed his grandmother, an incurable disease that makes him see the ghosts of victims of unsolved murders. As he races against time, the dead haunt his every step...
(Goodreads)




"The dead will come," she rasped. "My gift to you, as the eldest child."
The boys, small beggars, chased through the throngs of Canadians and Europeans who had come to Cuba in search of sun and a taste of Hemingway. This one stayed after the others scattered. He skipped beside the couple happily, oblivious to the lies their eyes and mouths exchanged.
His hallucinations looked over his shoulder, grimaced slightly at his mistakes. They were unfailingly polite. They stayed out of the bathroom and the bedroom, and if Ramirez suggested they leave, they left. All it took was a meaningful glance.








   
     Real, captivating and ultimately moving, The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair is a significant addition to the murder mystery genre. It's a poignant and brutally honest story that paints a truly harrowing picture of poverty, abuse, corruption and abominable living conditions in Hemingway's Havana. It's dark, disturbing, thought-provoking, and heart-poundingly thrilling. Not by any means an easy-to-digest book, but one absolutely worth reading nevertheless.

      Inspector Ricardo Ramirez is called in to investigate when the body of a little Cuban boy is discovered floating in the ocean in the Caleta de San Lazaro. Drugged, brutally raped and killed with a blow to the head, the boy had last been seen accepting money from a Canadian tourist, Mike Ellis. Witnesses saw Ellis giving the child money, and later on someone made an anonymous phone call to the police station stating that they witnessed a man with his description approaching young boys for sex in Parque Ciudad. A pair of men's briefs had been found in his room - the underwear had the boy's blood on it. Not to mention the polaroid photographs recovered from under the mattress in his hotel room - they were pictures documenting every step of the brutal rape. Mike Ellis has no memory of the previous evening - after the fight with his wife, he spent the night getting drunk at a local bar. It seems Inspector Ramirez has all the evidence he needs to convict the murderer and close the case, but is the case really as obvious as it appears? Or is there more to the story? Is Mike Ellis a cold blooded, vicious murderer, or is someone trying to frame him? With only seventy-two hours to solve the murder case, the race against time begins. Will justice be served?

      The first book in the Inspector Ramirez Series is a taut and atmospheric thrill ride that keeps you guessing until the very last page. It's an exceptionally well-written murder mystery, set against a vividly depicted political and cultural background of Cuba. Blair writes with real understanding of Cuban harsh reality, compelling the reader with insights into the troubled society. Her knowledge about forensics, police procedures and related protocols is apparent on every page. The amount of detail is simply mind blowing. Disturbing at times, but mostly very impressive and fascinating. It's a gorgeously suspenseful mindbender, a great example of how the right approach to storytelling - scattering pieces of information throughout the novel, beautifully braiding together the convoluted threads, and diabolically building the tension and mystery - can elevate the book and turn it into a heart-stopping literary puzzle.

      Blair did a remarkable job fleshing out the main character, Inspector Ramirez, making him one of the most unique and unforgettable narrative voices in recent fiction. I found him different from all the other detectives/inspectors in popular murder mysteries. Haunted by the ghosts of victims of his unsolved murder cases, dying of a rare (and incurable) type of dementia, struggling to keep his life from falling apart, he was a very convincing and easy-to-connect-with character. And as much as I loved the intelligent and provocative plot line, I think the whole thing wouldn't turn out nearly as good without the well-drawn, complex MC. His presence in the book added a lot of character and flavor, creating a memorable, eerie atmosphere, and turning a solid whodunit story into an absolute masterpiece.

      The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair is a stunning debut novel and a very promising beginning to a great new mystery series. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for Inspector Ramirez in the next book.





Thanks to Penguin Canada we have one copy of Peggy Blair's brilliant book up for grabs!
OPEN TO: CANADA ONLY
ENDS: March 15th

Enter through Raffl below! (click on SEE MORE to see the Raffl)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Blog Tour: Picture The Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (Review + GIVEAWAY)

Genre:YA Mystery, Historical Romance, Supernatural
Publication.Date  February 1st 2012
Pages:264
Published By:  Sourcebooks Fire   | 
WebsiteAdele Griffin | Lisa Brown

Picture The Dead - Goodreads
My review copy:ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository






   A ghost will find his way home.

Jennie Lovell's life is the very picture of love and loss. First she is orphaned and forced to live at the mercy of her stingy, indifferent relatives. Then her fiancé falls on the battlefield, leaving her heartbroken and alone. Jennie struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, but is haunted by a mysterious figure that refuses to let her bury the past.

(Goodreads)




I wake with a pit in my stomach. I wish I could yank up my quilts and hide from the day, but the morning doesn't know how to mourn.
The dead cannot defend themselves.
I've never been Aunt Clara's ideal specimen of niece, with my flat feet and too curly black hair and wide lipped laugh - though there's been no reason for laughter these past months, and certainly not this morning.
   

     Picture the Dead is more than a ghost story. It's a truly masterful, original, and jaw-dropping creation - a work of art. There's a touch of romance, beautifully described historical setting, goose-bumpy atmosphere, and a thrilling mystery. Above all, there's a skillfully executed, bone-chilling plot line, emotionally engaging first-person narrative, and a totally unexpected yet entirely satisfying conclusion. Combining Adele Griffin's excellent writing style with Lisa Brown's phenomenal illustrations, Picture the Dead reaches a whole new level of storytelling, taking the reader back in time to the last months of American Civil War. The deliciously eerie scrapbook-like graphics perfectly complement the plot line, adding flavor and resulting in an unforgettable reading experience. Be prepared, this book will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

     In this riveting book, set in 19th-century America (1864-65 - the last two years of American Civil War), we meet sixteen-year old Jennie Lovell, who, after both her parents died and her twin brother was killed on the battlefield, was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle - the parents of her childhood friend and soon-to-be-married fiance, William. Jennie doesn't have anyone left. She has no other family members to turn to, nor does she have any savings of her own. She's fully dependent on her fiance's family, and when the news about Will's death reach the Pritchett household, Jennie finds herself in a very difficult living situation. Aunt Clara becomes even more hostile towards her, making it clear that Jennie does not belong there. With no status and nowhere else to go, she tries desperately to prove herself useful to her Aunt and Uncle by performing various household tasks. She's also caring for Will's brother, Quinn, who returned home seriously injured. Moody and withdrawn, Quinn refuses to speak about his war experiences, nor does he want to talk about Will and what happened to him. It quickly becomes obvious that he knows more than he lets on. There's an air of mystery surrounding Will's passing, and Jennie is determined to find the truth. Even if it means doing something unconventional, like, say, trusting in the supernatural and looking beyond the rational to seek answers to her fiance's death. What she uncovers is so much worse than she ever expected.

     In this enthralling wonder of a book, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown managed to create a truly breath-taking and spine-tingling atmosphere, without the book becoming overly creepy or frightening. Is it scary? Oh yes, it is, but in a very subtle and balanced way. Mystery and supernatural play a big role in this novel, and the delicious Gothic illustrations blend well with the story, enhancing the already powerful, eerie atmosphere. The amount of thought put into this project is really admirable. Down to the last detail, everything is well thought-out and executed with care: all the mesmerizing drawings, choice of colors, even the font type.

     With rich descriptions and accurate language for the time period, Adele Griffin does an excellent job painting a vivid and realistic historical background, and breathing life into the characters. The landscapes, the city and the Pritchett House are all very well drawn, the dialogues come across as natural and believable, the scrapbook elements add intensity and flavor to the story, the pacing is excellent and, in the end, it all comes together in a way that is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we get a look at the social/class issues of the period. Not only do we see the suffering of the families affected by the Civil War, but we're also introduced to a fascinating phenomenon of 19th-century Spiritualism - a significant social movement, that was especially popular during the war, when so many lives have been lost, and people would do anything to contact their loved ones one last time.

     All in all, this was a very unique and enriching reading experience and one that I won't forget for a long time. If ever. Picture the Dead is a haunting and painfully beautiful tale of love, betrayal, trust, hope, perseverance, death and new beginnings. Extremely well-written and gorgeously illustrated, it's a fabulous ghost mystery. Highly recommended!






Sourcebooks Fire generously offered a copy of Picture the Dead up for grabs!

Ends: March 15th
US/Canada

Enter through Rafflecopter below:
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Monday, February 20, 2012

Blog Tour: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (Review + Giveaway)

Genre:YA Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural
Publication.Date  March 6th 2012
Pages:367
Published By:  Sourcebooks Fire   | 
WebsiteJessica Shirvington

Embrace - Goodreads
My review copy:ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository






    It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013!

(Goodreads)




It's hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother's death. It's not that I blame myself for her not being here. No one could have known she wouldn't survive childbirth. It's not that I miss her either. I mean, I never knew her in the first place. But it is the one day each year that at some point I'll be forced to ask myself, was it worth it? Was my life worth taking hers?
Not everything is black and white, Violet. Don't believe everything you've been told. I'm... I don't fit into any of your little boxes. Anyway, if I meant to hurt you, it would be done.
"You're enthralling," he continued. "It's as if you become each of the senses and can affect them in me. Through you, I feel birds flying around me and even feel morning and evening manifest their power."


 
     Wildly compelling, sexy and taut, Embrace by Jessica Shirvington offers a hot new take on angels! This fabulously written page-turner explores destiny, betrayal, love, trust, and free will. It's a delicious treat for everyone who enjoys fast-paced and totally engaging stories, filled with gorgeous characters, shivery sexual tension, heart-stopping plot twists, and richly developed mythology. This isn't yet another mediocre angel story, this is the real deal - an angel story to die for!

     Violet's seventeenth birthday is approaching and she is not happy about it. In fact, she doesn't like celebrating her birthday at all, as it also marks the anniversary of her mother's death. Raised by a workaholic father, Violet seems to be just a typical teenage girl - with friends, hopes and dreams, and plans for the future. Well, maybe she's a little bit more talented than other kids her age - she can draw and paint like an artist. And OK, she's also quite athletic - ever since she met Lincoln, she's been exercising regularly: running, wall climbing, even practicing martial arts! And, well, there's no denying the fact that she's also quite a beauty.

      Strange things have been happening to Violet recently. She's determined to find some answers, but who can provide them? Everything gets even more complicated when she learns that her long time crush (Linc) has been keeping secrets from her, too. Nothing seems to be the same anymore, her life is turned up side down. Having discovered who she really is, Violet is now facing some very difficult decisions. She can either take the final journey to becoming a full-blown Grigori (it's called embrace) or she can choose to remain human. Whatever she'll decide, there will be consequences, and nothing will ever be the same again.

     Jessica Shirvington managed to do this one thing that many before her have tried and failed - she made angels sexy! With her excellent writing style, she created a beautiful, emotionally engaging, and entirely captivating story. I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It's gripping and intense. Lush. Steamy. Taut. Action-packed and entertaining. The tension never lets up, the characters are well-drawn, likable, easy to connect with. There's a fabulous chemistry between them. I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but this one worked so well! I won't even try to deny it - I LOVE PHOENIX!!! Mysterious, cocky, powerful, arrogant, passionate, H-O-T, Phoenix knows exactly what he wants and he will stop at nothing to get it. In terms of character development, Embrace is absolutely phenomenal. At least when it comes to male love interests. Violet is a whole different story - some will like her, some will not. Although you might find her just a tiny bit annoying at first, she will probably grow on you as your read farther into the book. Not exactly what you'd call a "match made in heaven", but give her a chance. For the most part I wasn't very fond of Vi, but as long as she doesn't go Calla on me, I am willing to tolerate her for Linc and Phoenix.

     The plot line blew me away. There's no denying that. I'm fairly confident that this is one of the best - if not THE best - angel book out there. Jessica Shirvington's take on angels is not only original and well thought-out, but also very well balanced, believable and charming, without being cheesy or preachy at the same time. Let's face it - it's hard to talk about angels without mentioning God, Heaven and Hell, and other Christian mythology-related issues. And yet she managed to avoid digging deeper into the heavy stuff. She focused on Grigori and angels, and it turned out fabulous. As much as I loved the world building and all the 3D characters, I appreciated Shirvington's skillful and enjoyable storytelling the most. Her plotting was smart, elaborate and often full of surprises. I found myself totally invested in the story and eager to find out what will happen next. It's a dynamic and powerful read, destined to become a bestseller. Highly recommended!






Sourcebooks Fire generously offered a copy of Embrace up for grabs!


Ends: March 10th
US/Canada

Enter through Rafflecopter below:
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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day! TOP 5 Romantic Reads + Love Poem by Rusty Fischer (+ Giveaway!)


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

To celebrate this very special day I asked my favorite book-ish people to share their TOP 5 Romantic Reads with us today! Here's what they said:


Lena Coakley, the author of Witchlanders:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Heathcliff’s only redeeming quality is his love for Catherine, but that love is so strong, it conquers even death. Emily BrontĂ« created the quintessential bad boy, and many of the romantic heroes who came after him, from Rhett Butler to Edward Cullen, have a little bit of Heathcliff in them.

A Room with a View by E.M. Forester

So what if Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson hardly say three words to each other? Their romance, set against the gorgeous backdrop of Florence, Italy is the perfect dream of young love. The movie, starring a young Helena Bonham Carter, is wonderful, too.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Maybe I should say Mockingjay, because it’s at the end of the Hunger Games trilogy that the love triangle between Katniss, Gale and Peeta is finally broken and Katniss chooses the right path and the right man. No spoilers!

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Do true lovers ever find their happy ending? Not if they are Russian, my dear. Anna’s tragic tale is the favorite of many authors: William Faulkner called this novel, “the best ever written.”

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Westley and Buttercup.  The classic fairytale romance.  Sigh.



Witchlanders
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Atheneum 

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future. It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.

My review | Goodreads |Lena Coakley's website


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Kendare Blake, the author of Anna Dressed in Blood:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This was the first romantic classic I ever read, and after it, nothing else compared. Jane and Rochester are an excellent match. They both have so many issues. And they like it about each other. Gad, what a couple of misfits.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Is this a romance? No, but there's something about how Lyra and Will go to the same park bench in different dimensions to tell each other about their day that just gets my romantic goat. Oh, you hopeless lovebirds and your futile actions. 

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

For a girl in love to have to accept the idea that her boyfriend and everyone around her will forget she ever existed, but not to worry because they'll be better off...dammit Suzanne Young. What a bitter, fantastic pill to swallow.

Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

Big boned, funny girl catches the eye of the college rugby star? Scandal and heartbreak ensues? Yes please.

So Shelly by Ty Roth

Not exactly a romance either, but there's a lot of love going on in the pages, and a lot of terrible, and a lot of tragic. But it's mostly beautiful and interesting. It has a very gothic feel.


Anna Dressed In Blood
Hardcover, 316 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Tor Teen

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life

Goodreads |Kendare Blake's website









Girl of Nightmares
Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by Tor Teen

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

Goodreads |Kendare Blake's website


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Elizabeth Miles, the author of Fury:

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

This is one of my top five favorite books of all time -- a heartbreaking, bone-chillingly honest treatise on love, jealousy, the works. The first time I read it, I remember shaking my head, flabbergasted by how well Greene could convey the fragilities and insecurities of love.


His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman

Will and Lyra! I have some problems with the progression of this series overall, but not with the portrayal of Will and Lyra's deep, intelligent, emotional connection.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Dorothea and Will bring out the best in each other. That's pretty much the ultimate goal of a romantic partnership, no? (Little known nerdy fact about me: I am a George Eliot freak. I have three editions each of Middlemarch and Silas Marner.)

Love Story by Erich Segal

I only recently read this book for the first time (devoured it in one sitting, no less). It's terribly sad, of course, but the love between the two main characters has a redemptive -- not to mention fun and flirty -- quality.

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman

Another recent read. Min Green does what so many of us desire to do when a relationship crumbles: analyzes it to absolute death, points out for the other person everything that went wrong, and revels in the moments when it really seemed like it would last forever.


Fury
Hardcover, 370 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.
ENVY (The Fury Trilogy #2) comes out in Septemeber! I'm SUPER excited for it!!!


My review | Goodreads |Elizabeth Miles' website
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J. Gabriel Gates, the author of Dark Territory:

Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Sure, you’ve seen the musical, but have you ever read the book by Gaston Leroux?  This was one of my all-time favorites growing up.  It’s romantic, scary, tragic—what more could you ask for?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 I just read this book recently, and it’s great.  The protagonists are two young sorcerers who have been pitted against one another in a contest that’s played out in a rather extraordinary circus.  Two magical lovers dueling to the death—it doesn’t get much better than that.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

 Sure, roll your eyes, high school English class kids.  But there’s something extraordinary captured it the longing Pip feels for Estella.  And in my view, it is that painful, hopeful, desperate expectation that lies at the heart of a great love story.

Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Malory

When we think of King Arthur, we normally think of epic duels, jousting, and the quest for the Holy Grail.  But this awesome tale also features one of classic tragic love triangles of all time between King Arthur, his queen, Guinevere, and his best knight, Lancelot. 

Dark Territory, The Tracks, Book 1 by J. Gabriel Gates

 Shameless self promotion?  Maybe.  But I stand by my choice.   You have a bad-boy from the wrong side of the tracks fighting for the heart of the girl he loves—with kung fu.  If that’s not romantic, I don’t know what is.


Dark Territory
Paperback, 504 pages
Published July 1st 2011 by HCI Teens

Star-Crossed Love, Martial Arts, and Supernatural Evil meet at the Abandoned Tracks in the Deceptively Quaint town of Middleburg...When Ignacio Torrez moved from the rough streets of Los Angeles to a small town dead smack in the middle of nowhere, he never expected to find himself in the midst of a gang war. But, he soon learns, these are no ordinary gangs. The wealthy, preppie Toppers on one side of the tracks and the working-class Flatliners on the other adhere to a strict code of honor and use their deadly martial arts skills, taught to them by the wise Master Chin, to battle one another for pride, territory, and survival. When Raphael, leader of the Flatliners, falls for Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival gangs prepare for a bloody, all-out war. The only hope for peace between them lies within the dark territory of the abandoned train tunnels where the tracks cross. Under the direction of the mysterious and frightening Magician, the awesome power within the crossing sends the rivals on a terrifying mystical quest to fight the malevolent force that threatens the existence of Middleburg.
Goodreads |My Review |J Gabriel Gates' website




Ghost Crown
Paperback, 480 pages
Expected publication: June 5th 2012 by HCI Teens

After their harrowing adventures, Middleburg's teens are hoping life will return to normal. Despite a tentative alliance between the goth Flatliners and the rich, preppie Toppers, any hope of peace is dashed when Topper girl Aimee arrives at the homecoming dance with Raphael, a Flatliner. A fight erupts between the two gangs and, in the midst of the rumble, a bizarre catastrophe occurs when Middleburg's homecoming queen discovers she has supernatural powers.
To make matters worse, Middleburg real-estate moguls who have bought up most of the land in the Flats have started evicting their tenants. They are searching for a priceless treasure prophesied in ancient Chinese writings and will stop at nothing to find it. But Raphael and his impoverished Flatliners vow to get it first and use it buy back their homes. Meanwhile, a handsome, charismatic half-angel, half-human comes to Middleburg with plans to steal Aimee from Raphael. As Raphael and his Flatliners and Zhai and his Toppers work to perfect their supernatural abilities and find the treasure, Aimee begins kung fu training, intent on becoming strong enough to locate and rescue her missing mother. When she discovers that the mysterious treasure may be the key to finding her mom, the race to find it intensifies.
But there are others who seek the treasure, too, forces powerful enough to reduce all of Middleburg, and perhaps the world, to ashes…

Goodreads |
J Gabriel Gates' website

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Shannon Parsons, from The Savvy Reader:

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This is one of my favourite books of all time, and features my very favourite couple, Henry and Claire. Ah, doomed love due to time travel. Don’t you just hate that?

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

At first glance this non-fiction story doesn’t look like a love story, but during Conor’s time in Nepal he met his wife Liz, and their blossoming relationship is a really lovely part of the story.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy. Girl and boy realize they are doomed because they live in a dystopian society where love is considered a disease!

Furious Love by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger

The great Hollywood love story ever told. Period.  

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

It just wouldn’t be a list about love if I didn’t include Romeo and Juliet. Beautiful, timeless, and heartbreaking.

Shameless plug – Looking for books on love & relationships? Savvy Reader names 10 Books We Heart here. :)

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And now something even more awesome!
Rusty Fischer, the author of Zombies Don't Cry and Vamplayers, is here with us today for the most perfect Valentine's Day guest post ever: A LOVE POEM!

Enjoy!

My Vampire, My Valentine:  
A Valentine’s Day Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Vamplayers

He brought it at night
Yes, straight to my door;
A Valentine so pretty
I couldn’t ignore.

His hands as he passed it
Were pale and so cold;
The look in his eyes
Was centuries old.

His features were dashing
His dress rather formal;
I knew that this night
Would be far from normal.

“T-t-thank you,” I stammered
While sounding the fool.
As at my feet gathered
A puddle of drool.

I could not look away
From those dark, liquid eyes;
Even as they appeared
To cut me down to size.

“I hope that you like it,”
He said with a grin.
“And that, if you do,
You’d… invite me in?”

His voice sounded desperate
At clash with his face;
Which smiled rather slowly
At an iceberg’s pace.

I’d seen him at school
I’d heard all the talk.
But why had my doorstep
He’d bothered to stalk?

The girls they all wanted
A taste of his kiss.
So why had he come here?
Why now? Why… this?

And oh, there were rumors
Of late nights and dread.
That said our boy Chester
Was one of the undead.

A vampire, they claimed
Who’d suck dry each vein.
But what did those girls know
Of his smoldering pain?

And yet, I was wary.
I liked being living.
Though a peck on my cheek
I wouldn’t mind Chester giving.

“You see,” I said slowly
While stepping outside.
“My sister’s quite shy.
She might run and hide.”

“I’m great with the kids,”
He said with a sneer.
“They all gather round
When Chester comes near.”

“Well Chester,” I hemmed
“That’s all well and good
But it’s getting quite late.
I don’t think I should.”

Now Chester’s eyes grew
Quite narrow and dim.
And I worried that he’d think
I was rejecting… him.

“That’s fine,” he sighed slowly
While turning around.
“I’ll try finding another date
On more… fertile… ground.”

And his parting did cause
My pulse quite to race.
As I frowned there to see
The sad look on his face.

“I guess, just for now,”
I sighed with chagrin.
“It would be okay
If you would come in.”

His smile then it beamed
And I thought that I spied;
Two fangs pass his lips
Yes, one on each side.

And just as I turned
To open the door;
Those fangs pierced my skin
And I slumped to the floor.

“No, no,” Chester sighed
Catching me round the waist.
“I just want a sip;
I just want… a taste.

“You see, I get lonely
This time of the year.
It would be nice to have
Someone who… wanted… me here.”

I couldn’t believe it
My heart filled with strife!
The most romantic line I’d ever heard
Was the last line of my life?

So take my advice
On this Valentine’s Day;
If onto your doorstep
A vampire should stray.

Think twice before accepting
His antique Valentine;
For while you are reading
On your neck, he may dine!










About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of several YA supernatural novels, including Zombies Don’t Cry, Ushers, Inc., Vamplayers, I Heart Zombie and Panty Raid @ Zombie High. Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more!



Vamplayers
Paperback, 1st Edition, 384 pages
Published December 13th 2011 by Medallion Press

At the Afterlife Academy of Exceptionally Dark Arts, the vampires in training follow one of two tracks: they become either Sisters or Saviors. Of course, everyone wants to be a Savior, swooping into infested high schools in matching red leather jumpsuits and wielding crossbows, putting down swarming vampires with deadly efficiency.

But Lily Fielding is just a Sister—a Third Sister at that, a measly trainee. When Lily and her two Sisters, Alice and Cara, are called out to their latest assignment, she figures it’s just another run-of-the-mill gig: spot the Vamplayer (part vampire, part player), identify the predictably hot, trampy girl he’s set his eyes on, and befriend her before the Vamplayer can turn her to do his bidding.

Finding the sleek and sexy Vamplayer, Tristan, and his equally beautiful and popular target, Bianca, is easy. And when Lily meets the adorably geeky Zander, she too falls under a lover’s spell. But this assignment turns out to be trickier than most when the Third Sister must battle the baddest vampire of all.
GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the fabulous Rusty Fischer, we have a copy of VAMPLAYERS up for grabs! 
To enter:

Leave a comment on this post (including your email address!) telling me: 
What is your all-time favorite romantic story?

Open to: INTERNATIONALS
Ends: February 25th

For extra entries:
+5 Follow Rusty Fischer on Twitter: @Ruswriteszombie
+ 5 Follow Rusty's blog: HERE 
 +5 Tweet about this giveaway using: Win a copy of #Vamplayers by the fabulous @Ruswriteszombie over at @SeoEvie Bookish blog! International! #yalit http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day-top-5-romantic.html

Happy Valentines!!!
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