Ghost of a Chance (Ghost Finders, #1) by Simon R. Green. © 2010 Ace Books. ISBN 9780441019168. Mass Market Paperback. Urban Fantasy. 272 pages. $7.99 US. Source: review copy

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Synopsis
The Carnacki Institute exists to Do Something About Ghosts: lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice.

The Institute’s operatives are the best of the best. JC Chance: sharp, brave, charming and almost unbearably arrogant; Melody Chambers: science-geek techno-wizard extraordinaire who keeps the antisupernatural equipment running smoothly; and Happy Jack Palmer: the telepath with the gloomy disposition, is the last person anyone would want navigating through his head.

Their current assignment: investigate a major haunting deep underground at London’s Oxford Circus Tube Station. Difficult—and dangerous—enough without the added interference of a pair of agents from the infamous Crowley Project whose mission is much simpler: eliminate Chance, Chambers and Palmer, whatever the consequences…

Review
The Carnacki Institute of London—secretly located within the walls of Buckingham Palace—is to ghosts what Torchwood is to aliens (with a little of the Talamasca Caste thrown in). Their job is to protect the Queen’s country and people from the things that go bump in the night, and also to study them and gather knowledge of the arcane.

Ghost of a Chance is the first in a new series by popular author, Simon R. Green and begins with an incredibly creepy prologue. Let’s just say, I started this book around 1 a.m. and it didn’t take long for me to get unnerved (but a good kind of unnerved.) Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Bloggers/Authors/Publishers:

Love Halloween, Horror & the Supernatural / Paranormal? Then I’d love for you to be a part of our inaugural ”31 Days of Halloween” extravaganza this October!

Email me raoreviews(AT)gmail(DOT)com for more information (put “31 Days of Halloween” as the subject please), or comment below with your email and I’ll contact you. I’m looking for guest bloggers/reviewers, any publishers or authors interested in giveaways or featuring upcoming books and more! Spots are limited, so email soon! (ETA: Young Adult and Adult welcome.)

If you are not able to participate but you’d still like to promote the event, you are more than welcome to save the above button and place it on your blog/website with a link back to this post.

• Total # of Spots: 62
• # Spots Still Available: 35

Booked Participants
Eleni @ La Femme Readers; Courtney @ Once Upon a Bookshelf; Book Whisperer; Larissa @ Larissa’s Bookish Life; author and blogger E.J. Stevens; author Skyler White; Julia @ Robot Rex Reviews; Ellen at Confessions of an Overworked Mom;

Bonds of Justice (Psy-Changeling, #8) by Nalini Singh. © 2010 Berkley Sensation. ISBN 9780425235447. Mass Market Paperback. Paranormal Romance. 368 pages. $7.99 US. Source: Amazon Purchase

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Synopsis
Max Shannon is a good cop, one of the best in New York Enforcement. Born with a natural shield that protects him against Psy mental invasions, he knows he has little chance of advancement within the Psy- dominated power structure. The last case he expects to be assigned to is that of a murderer targeting a Psy Councilor’s closest advisers. And the last woman he expects to compel him in the most sensual of ways is a Psy on the verge of catastrophic mental fracture.

Review
This book is a throwback to the first three books in the series in terms of the writing style, and that is a good thing.  I’m going to look at the character and the plots of the book.  Just a word of caution, in order for you to get the whole story of this book you need to at least read the first two books in this series. Read the rest of this entry »

And the winners of She’s Gone Country by Jane Porter are …

Congrats girls! Your information has been sent to the publisher and your copies should be sent out soon. Enjoy!

Halo (Halo, #1) by Alexandra Adornetto. © 2010 Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 9780312656263. Hardback. Young Adult/Urban Fantasy. 496 pages. $16.99 US. Source: ARC supplied by Good Golly Miss Holly ARC Tours

• On sale 31 August 2010
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Synopsis
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him?

Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There?s a new kid in town and he?s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he?s after Beth.

Review
I was so excited when I landed a spot on Good Golly Miss Holly’s ARC Tour for Halo. I’m all about some angels and the premise for this book sounded promising. And then I actually read it.

I seriously worry about the future of women (and feminism) when there’s things like this and Twilight guiding our youth … and adults. I know that may be harsh, but I’m losing my patience. Halo was practically Twilight, but with wings.

First, you’d think that a book bordering on 500 pages would actually have a massive amount of plot development, but it’s sparse at best. We have to sit through pages and pages of empty scenes to even be given a small ounce of story line. And can I just say, being a teenage girl is not all about makeup, shopping and zomg!prom! What a way to paint them as empty eedjits, eh? Oh, and by the way it’s the 21st Century, girls can ask guys to the prom too. Clichés don’t stop there though, no. They range from “poetry is for girls” and “I’m a boy, I know engines” and back. *sighs* Read the rest of this entry »

Beginning tomorrow I won’t be around much until Monday. Tickets were purchased yesterday and so on Saturday (14th) I will be getting my geek on Star Wars style. We are journeying up to the Huntsville Space Center to see the official Star Wars exhibit. I’m uber-excited! ZOMG Luke’s original Land Speeder! AHHHHHHHHH! *flails* Then after work tomorrow, I’ll come home for a nap and then once it’s dark my booty will be parked in the front lawn for the Perseid’s meteor shower. Yes, yes, I am an astronomy nerd, thankyouverymuch.

Also, I received She’s Gone Country by Jane Porter from Hachette Book Group today and to celebrate, how about a giveaway? Yay! Here’s a blurb from the publishers:

Jane Porter has returned with the type of bestselling novel that she writes best, featuring an almost-forty protagonist finding a second chance in life. SHE’S GONE COUNTRY is an entertaining tale of a modern-day woman, Shey, who has led a charmed life in New York City, gracing the covers of Vogue, and is now forced to reinvent herself by moving back to her hometown in Texas after her marriage falls apart. Shey soon realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, and allow for the possibility of new love in the present.

Since I just received it, my review will be posted within a week or two, but it sounds like a great book. Can’t wait to read it!

To win one of three copies, simply be a follower (Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friend Connect), leave me a comment below with something that makes you get your geek on, and then fill out THIS FORM. You must do all three, guys. It’s not required but I’d love if you can spread the word!

Winners will be announced August 19th (contest ends August 18th) and addresses then sent to the publishers. Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win. No P.O. boxes.

Good luck!

Z by Michael Thomas Ford. © 2010 HarperTeen. ISBN 9780060737580. Hardback. Young Adult/Urban Fantasy. 288 pages. $16.99 US. Source: ARC from publisher

• On sale 07 September 2010
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Synopsis
Josh is by far the best zombie Torcher around. At least, he is in his virtual-reality zombie-hunting game. Zombies haven’t existed in the real world in more than fifteen years, and the battle to defeat the devastating zombie epidemic is now the stuff of history lessons. Or so it seems.

When Josh accepts a coveted invitation to join an underground gaming league in the dark, forgotten tunnels of the city, he soon realizes that hunting zombies is not all fun and games. Real blood is spilling, members of the team are disappearing, and the zombies in the game are acting strange. And then there’s the matter of a mysterious drug called Z…

Review
It’s 2032. Antarctica is turning into a rain forest. The oceans are brown, capped with yellow foam. Books, magazines and all things made of paper belong to museums. And 15 years have passed since the great Zombie purge…

In 2017, a mutated strain of the flu caused a portion humanity to be reverted back to the reptilian brain—the part of the brain which is focused on instinctual behaviors such as aggression, dominance, and territoriality—as a primary source. From there, they became zombies and wreaked havoc upon society, finally stopped by a militant group known as the Torchers. Read the rest of this entry »