Follow Friday {12}

This week at The Book Nympho :

REVIEWS:

Blood Spirits by Dennis Sharpe
True Blood S4 E1 & E2 Review

GIVEAWAYS:

Freedom Giveaway Hop

MeMes: 

On My Wishlist  |   In My Mailbox  |   It's Monday

Teaser Tuesday   |   Waiting on Wednesday   |   Dirty Little Secret 

200+ Follower Giveaway WINNER:
June M.

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee.com.

This week's featured Blogger is: 

Erika @ Let's talk about books

This week's question:

Q: ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

A: None of my favorite book characters have been made into movies (yet) so I'll pick from one that has ...

(even though I've not read the Vampire Dairies I love his character on the show)


Damon Salvatore

My reaction: Elena who?!

AND

Eric Northman

My reaction: Bite Me!

REVIEW: Blood & Spirits

Blood & Spirits (The Coming Storm #1)

by Dennis Sharpe
Urban Fantasy
BUY: Amazon | B&N

Paperback, 310 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Witless Fiction/CreateSpace
RATING: ★★★

I received my copy from the author for review

Small-town life can be hard for a dead girl... 

For Veronica Fischer the night to night life of a bloodsucking madam in Middle America is tough enough before she adopts Rachel Gregory, an eight year old ghost.

After her house is set on fire, and Rachel disappears, all signs point to foul play. When she finds herself with a hit out on her unlife, and warrants for her arrest, it becomes clear she's going to need help.

Now she has to contend with horny zombies, violent spirits, and murderous grave robbers if she's ever going to find Rachel and discover the awful truth of the coming storm.

A raucous ride through the dangerous lives of the lecherous undead.



REVIEW:

First I'd like to thank Mr. Sharpe for contacting me and giving me the opportunity to read his awesome book. I've never read anything by a male author before and the only reason is because the genres I usually read are mostly written by female authors. But don't be fooled, Sharpe does an excellent job of building his female heroine, Veronica. I never once thought about the author being male while reading the book.

My co-workers (mostly male) tease me about the books I read, they call it "vampire porn". One asked me what I was reading the other day and I told him about the Blood & Spirits and that it was written by a male author. So he said, "What is the foreplay in the sex scenes shorter?" I laughed so hard at that.

If you are wondering, there is one sex scene in the book and it's not the usual hot and steamy scene. But it's not because a male author wrote it. It's because of the two characters that are getting it on. Let's just say that it is the most gross sex scene I've ever read and I've read a lot. {points to self - smut queen} Anyway don't let the gross sex put you off of reading this book.

Blood & Spirits is a great Urban fantasy book about Veronica, a vampire madam of all things, trying to keep all the people she loves safe from the big bad in the book. When she realizes she is in over her head, she calls in here maker, Jules. Now this is where I did get a little lost in the book. Jules and Veronica can read minds and after she picks him up from the airport and they make it back to her place, he asks to her to tell him everything about the mess she is in so he can ride her memories. Then the story jumps and I’m not sure if Jules is seeing it all through V’s memories or if my Nook was skipping pages on me but it was so important for her to call him for help but yet after he arrives he is no longer in the story. But then after I kept reading it all becomes clear.

In any case this was a great book by Sharpe about vampires, spirits, and it even has a zombie in it. {This is my first zombie book and I can't wait to read more with this type of creature.} I highly recommend Blood & Spirits to anyone that is a fan of the Urban Fantasy genre. It has action, mystery and a kick ass heroine and some great secondary characters. My only complaint was that we didn't get to see more between Veronica and her love interest, Garrett. But after all this was an UF book and not a PNR book. But here's hoping for more in the next book. Which I can't wait to read.

Freedom Giveaway Hop

In between your BBQ's, pool/lake parties and fireworks this holiday weekend stop by and try your luck with the Freedom Giveaway Hop hosted by Simply Stacie & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. There are over 200 blogs.

I'm giving away a copy of

Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson
(US ONLY)

The Wyndham Werewolves meet Betsy's clan in this 4-novella anthology:

-Santa Claws

-Monster Love

-There's No Such Thing as Werewolves

-A Fiend in Need

Full of humor, this novella includes four different, but related stories. Included in the book are MaryJanice's much loved characters including the Wyndham werewolves, Queen Betsy and King Sinclair.

All you have to do is leave a comment 
with your email address.

You do not have to be a follower but it is appreciated.

Dirty Little Secret {2}

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

This weeks question:

"Which heroine from a book would you most want to be and why?"

My answer:    

Cat from the Night Huntress series by Jeaneine Frost. One word BONES. But she is also a kick ass chick and has cool friends like VLAD.

P.S. My 2nd choice would be Xhex from BDB series. She is kick ass and she got JM at the end.

Thank You R.A.K.{June}

The lovely ladies over at Book Soulmates has created Random Acts of Kindness. Each month you can sign up with your book wish list. Some months you might get a free book(s) other you may not.  But the idea is to spread the love and give books to others and hope you get some in return.

WOW. June was my 1st month to participate and I got tons of free books. Thanks ladies! I had fun so I will continue to sign up in the ahead months.





Books I received:

from: Anna @ ANNA'S BOOK BLOG

from:Lori @ ROMANCING THE DARKSIDE

from:Lisa @ LISA LOVES LITERATURE

Stephanie @ ONCE UPON A CHAPTER

I also got these. (I'm so sorry but I can't give credit to who sent these!! I lost the name. If you see this post let me know and I'll add your name. SORRY)

       

Books I sent:

to 

Heather @ BOOK SAVVY BABE

LAST DAY: 200 Follower Giveaway

Just a reminder that TODAY is the LAST day to enter ...

Just click HERE to go to the original post and enter.

Winner will be announced tomorrow in the 

Follow Friday meme.

You guys have pushed my over 250+ followers so the winner will get a $25 gift card instead of $15.

Waiting on Wednesday {14}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're anxiously awaiting.

Title: Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood Told by the Wolf

Author: Trisha Speed Shaskan

Publisher: Capstone
Pub Date: August 1, 2011

OF COURSE you think I did a horrible thing by eating Little Red Riding Hood and her granny. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you...

I've put in a request for this on NetGalley. Even though it's a children's book it sounds fun and I bet I'll love reading to my 5 year old.

And while I was looking around on NG I ran across ...

Title: Ward Against Death
Author: Melanie Card
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: New Adult/Upper YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 2, 2011

CHRONICLES OF A RELUCTANT NECROMANCER - Book One

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Release Day

Deeper Than Midnight (Midnight Breed, #9) by Lara Adrian
Taken By Fire (ACRO, #6) by Sydney Croft 
Lure of the Wicked (Dark Mission, #2) by Karina Cooper 
Changeling Dream by Dani Harper 
Wolf Tales 12 by Kate Douglas 
Crave The Moon (Nightcreature, #11) by Lori Handeland 
Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden 
Mystical Warrior (Midnight Bay, #3) by Janet Chapman 
Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle 
Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe 
Lord of Shadows by Alix Rickloff 


My pick for this week is:

DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT

From the back cover:

Delivered from the darkness, a woman finds herself plunged into a passion that is DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT . . .

At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world was changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well--the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.
Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos's most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he's hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he'll go to end Dragos's reign of evil--even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne's tender heart.

TAKEN BY FIRE

HIS MISSION WAS TO TAKE HER OUT.

BUT DESIRE GOT IN THE WAY.

A product of genetic manipulation, Melanie Milan shares a body with her malevolent sister Phoebe. A sleek, blonde predator with a heart of pure darkness, Phoebe puts their body through the wicked underbelly of sex for thrills—when she’s not igniting her pyrokinetic skills for an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Melanie rarely gets out to play—much less fall in love. But that changes when rival ARCO agent Stryker Wills shows up, with a mission to take out the woman who torched his partner.

An operative with rare abilities, Stryker soon realizes that the woman he’s about to kill isn’t the murderous fire starter he’s hunting. But he does want her. Melanie, with the power to ice anything in her path, is heating things up in ways that are setting his blood on fire. As long as Melanie stays in control, she is his best ally to bring down her sister and stop hellish havoc from being unleashed. Walking a tightrope of longing and hate, Stryker and Melanie begin to understand that true power lies in sweet surrender to each other, to the fire between them, to the erotic adventure that’s joined their hearts and abilities to become their salvation—and perhaps the world’s.

Drink Deep Sample Up

Chloe Neill has posted a sample of Drink Deep on her website. Go HERE to read it.

Teaser Tuesday {14}

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme.

 Hosted by

MizB of Should Be Reading.

The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters
by Sierra Dean

“Sadly, I have a date elsewhere.” He stopped touching me and
tipped an imaginary hat towards us.
The whole encounter had been entirely unlike Holden. He had
been almost…playful. He was usually so serious. His unusual
behavior tonight made me wonder about the envelope in my purse.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? {10}

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Is a meme hosted by Shelia over at Book Journey. 

I've been dragging my feet lately with my reading. Normally I average 2-3 books a week but the last couple of weeks I've been lucky to get 1 book done in a week.

I've received some books for review last month and I'm not reading anything else until I get those done. So here is my reading PLAN for this week.

Finishing up Blood & Spirits by Dennis Sharpe (would have finished this Sunday night but the season premiere of True Blood took me away from my reading)

BUY: Amazon | B&N

Review to be posted on Tuesday.

Then I'm reading The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters by Sierra Dean. Release date July 19, 2011

Read an Excerpt

Buy: Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.deNook / iTunes / Kobo

Then if I have time this week I'll finish up the Elemental Witch Series by Anya Bast.
(I had this book in my It's Monday a couple of weeks ago but I pushed it back to read something else.)

True Blood S4 E1 & E2

Stop by on Sunday nights after True Blood to talk about the show.

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

Tonight was the season premiere of True Blood and since the show is based on the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris I thought I would do a weekly "review" on Sunday nights after watching the new shows. Please fell free to leave comments on the show on my thoughts of the show below.

For those of you that have not read the book series the 4th season of True Blood will be loosely based on the 4th book, Dead to the World.

I'm late with my post because I watched the 2nd show on HBO GO. So if you have not watched it you might want to skip the end of this. I'll put a red break so you know where to stop reading.

True Blood S4 E1: She's Not There

First let me say the farie stuff  is GAY.

Did not see the whole Sookie being gone for a year coming. So Sookie spends 10-15 mins in GAY farie world but it's actually about 12 months our time, which makes sense, her grandpa Earl that he was only there for a little time too but he had been gone for 20 years.WOW. Not sure how I feel about it but I guess if they want to make some of the characters grow they had to do something. And it keeps it fresh for us that has read the books.

I knew when Sookie sees her house all painted that Eric had something to do with it. But with him buying the house she's not safe from other vamps entering her home. Wonder what kind of trouble that will bring in the future.

I was wondering how Bill and Eric felt Sookie if she was gone for a year but I guess since she felt like she was only gone for a few minutes maybe her body would still have their blood in her.

Eric, "You are mine" well hell ya. Loved his tricked out hiddie whole.

Bill's the King, WTF?! I like how they are showing us more of his past, with being a "spy" for the AVL. I must say I like Bill in the show MUCH better than Bill in the books.

Pam, one word. AWESOME. "Pulling good string" I bet!

Jessica and Hoyt has just started and I am already done with that. Let's move on.

Tara, really?! Moving on...

Love Layafette. Wait to you see next week's show.

Over all it was a good start to the season. Just hope we don't see much of the farie world.

True Blood S4 E2: You Smell Like Dinner

I watched episode 1 & 2 together so my thoughts might over lap.

Anybody else think it's ironic that the actress that is playing Marina the head witch is Harry Potter's Aunt that hates witches? Just wondering.

So it looks like we are going to get more shifters this season. I knew that Tommy was pulling something with the whole praying before dinner and hanging with Hoyt's momma. 

I like how that are bring in the Skinwalker angle with the new shifter chick. Reminds me of Mercy Thompson series by Patrica Briggs.

Arlene was crazy before but she's going to be in a rubber room by the time this season is over.

Little bit a twist with Crystal helping turn Jason into a were-panther. Oh I forget to say something last week... Jason a cop?!?! And he seems to be the smart one?!

Eric getting his memory wiped at the end and Sookie seeing him. It's going to be all good from here out. I can't wait!

FREE YA Audio Books

SYNC: SUMMER 2011

SYNC is back for another summer of fabulous YA and Classic pairings released each week from 6/23/11 - 8/17/11 as FREE audio book downloads!

Download this week's SYNC offerings here.
Available June 23 - June 29:

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

Narrated by Jenna Lamia and David Ledoux

Published by Scholastic Audiobooks

ROMEO & JULIET by William Shakespeare
Narrated by a Full Cast
Published by AudioGO

Want to see the complete summer schedule?
Visit the SYNC page here.

Want to be reminded of the release dates for the titles?  
Text syncya to 25827 to receive reminders via text.

Want to share on your blog?  With patrons?  With students?  With pals?

Complete print and online tool kit available here.

In My Mailbox {14}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It showcases new books that I've purchases, checked out from the library, or received for review.

My mailbox is full of FREE books this week!

I got these free from B&N and Carina Press

      


I got these free from Lori @ Romancing the Darkside through R.A.K.

     

I also got these through R.A.K. (I'm so sorry but I can't give credit to who sent these!! I lost the name. If you see this post let me know and I'll add your name. SORRY)

       


I  won $15 in books from Amazon during the Midsummer's Eve Hop. So I chose Hit List by LKH.
Thanks Maria @ To Read, Perchance to Dream