Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers #2) by Michelle Rowen

* * *

MY KISS CAN KILL.

I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul...or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't...I hurt myself.

Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop-or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy....

NIGHTWATCHERS

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Dare I say it? Wicked Kiss is even better than Dark Kiss! Now that Samantha has lost her soul and is a gray she has to deal with that constant hunger to feed off other people's souls. It's a bit of a nuisance. So priority number one is to recover her soul and get her best friend back. Not so easy. The person who could help her most is no longer, evil aunt Natalie, and Stephen her former crush who took her soul in the first place remains elusive. While all that’s going on, Bishop the fallen angel who is burdened with a soul is going mad from it. There are also a string of mysterious teenage deaths raising eyebrows and more grays to be rid off. Still, there's time for Samantha to nurse a longing for Bishop and her curiosity about his past is gnawing at her as much as her hunger for souls.

Our unlikely team of paranormals - angels, demons, gray - has plenty to contend with which makes Wicked Kiss so much fun. There is not one moment of downtime. Even when it’s sort of quiet, there’s always something or someone stirring the pot, whether it's her arch nemesis Jordan or the addition to the team, an angel named Cassandra.  She claims she’s there to assist with the cleanup in Trinity but she has a hidden agenda. There are plenty of trust issues going on and Samantha has a hard time leaving Bishop alone when it comes to getting to know him better. Their constant I-want-to-touch-you-but-it’s-too-dangerous moments are exciting and once Samantha does get glimpses of Bishop’s past it’s almost too much.  But really it’s the dynamic between Samantha and Kraven that was most fun for me. Kraven reminds me of some of my favorite snarky fictional boys – Damon, Jace and Patch – and we know how much I LOVE snark and bad boys. He had me giggling a lot! 

Rowen definitely elevated this story and as each chapter progressed so did the tension and urgency. Introducing a few new elements shaped a story that I genuinely liked. It's simply an enjoyable, fun escape!  

~ Bel

A Peek in the Biblio-Bin (37)

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This is what we have in our bin this week. Tell us what's in your Biblio-bin!

Bought
Blood, Bath and Beyond by Michelle Rowan
Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

For Review
Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop!

While we are enjoying our not-so-lazy days of summer, we are thrilled to participate in the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Colorimetry. 

There are over 200 blogs participating, so be sure to check out the linky below and enter to win some great stuff! 

For our fabulous giveaway, author Michelle Rowen has graciously offered TWO copies of her upcoming book Blood, Bath & Beyond!  This means two of our lucky readers will win! 

Michelle Rowen is an award winning, national bestselling author of some seriously fun books, including adult and young adult paranormal titles.  Michelle's new adult series, the Immortality Bites Mystery series kicks off with Blood, Bath & Beyond (how awesome is that name?).  

  

An Immortality Bites Mystery #1
 August 7, 2012 - NAL Obsidian
ISBN-10: 0451237641
ISBN-13: 978-0451237644

Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiance Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…

Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is!

Traveling with him to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

Praise for Blood, Bath & Beyond -
“A bloody hysterical paranormal mystery!” –New York Times Bestselling Author Victoria Laurie

4-1/2 star TOP PICK! “Rowen jumps from paranormal romance to paranormal mystery without skipping a beat…Here’s hoping Sarah will have many more adventures in her new series.” —RT BookReviews

5 star TOP PICK! (Rowen makes) the transition from paranormal romance to paranormal mystery with ease. Her writing is sharp, witty and does not disappoint. The ending will delight both old and new fans, and leave you thirsting for the next installment. —Night Owl Reviews

About Michelle:
Michelle Rowen has always loved vampire fiction, especially when thevampires are tall, dark, and handsome instead of evil, scary, and gruesome. Sheis the national bestselling and award-winning author of many paranormal novelsfor adults and young adults. When not writing or reading, Michelle enjoyswatching trashy reality TV and coming up with good excuses not to go to thegym. Visit her website at www.michellerowen.com, "Like" her at www.facebook.com/michellerowenbooks, and follow her at www.twitter.com/michellerowen!

So, you know the drill.  This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada shipping addresses only.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below and keep your fingers crossed! 

~Shel

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



By James Dashner
Publication Date: August 14, 2012

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive



By Michelle Rowen
Publication Date:  August 7, 2012

An Immortality Bites Mystery #1
 August 7, 2012 - NAL Obsidian
ISBN-10: 0451237641
ISBN-13: 978-0451237644


Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiance Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…


Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is!

Traveling with him to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

Dark Kiss: Nightwatchers #1 by Michelle Rowen

* * *

I don’t do DANGEROUS.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha – that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me … something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing – and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me…

Nightwatchers: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising …

In Dark Kiss, the first installment in the Nightwatchers series, Michelle Rowen introduces an interesting take on angels and demons. Without giving the plot away because I really do like how the author has developed it, I’ll do my best to give you a brief overview.

The first few chapters were a blast because I had no idea what was going on. I love a good set up that way  –  you’re just itching to have any kind of explanation just so you can deduce who the good and bad guys are. Samantha as the heroine is your average teenage girl who lands herself in the middle of trouble because of that one alluring kiss, the result of which has led to a string of creepy events and disastrous consequences. She unwittingly ends up falling in with a group of angels, led by Bishop and demons, led by Kraven, who are working together to stop a sinister threat in the town of Trinity. Something or someone has been feeding on people’s souls and it’s now up to this unlikely group to find The Source.

There’s definitely evil at play and as much as Samantha may want to revert back to normal, her new hunger and abilities have made that unlikely. She strikes a deal with Bishop to help him and Kraven with their mission in hopes that they can help her with her situation. Of all the characters in the book, I liked Kraven and his sarcastic sense of humor the most. Really – coming from me, is anyone surprised by this? Task at hand aside, both Bishop and Kraven have their own personal agenda and Samantha becomes a point of contention between them. Even though she becomes an integral part of their mission, her inexplicable abilities have them on edge. They’re not exactly sure what to make of her much less trust her. And this motley crew of good and bad that’s been charged to save the souls of the people in this town can also be volatile at times. At some point each of these characters has to come to blows with one another.

Aside from serving as a cautionary tale of accepting kisses from longstanding crushes, there’s plenty of action, betrayal, misguided moments and surprise revelations that could make your head spin just a wee bit. Dark Kiss is a fun read that adds some new dimension to the world of angels and demons. You know something has to be going terribly awry for them to be (not so) willingly working together. You also gather that there's something bigger at stake than just what's going on in this one town. After reading Dark Kiss – which provides some answers but a whole new host of questions and problems – I'm eager to know what other bits of intrigue will be added to the mix as the series progresses.

~ Bel

Interview with Michelle Rowen

Michelle Rowen is a prolific author of both adult and young adult titles.  I recently had the pleasure of reading Demon Princess: Reign Fall, the third in the Demon Princess series. Michelle ended the book at a bit of a cliff-hanger, so I wanted to pick her brain and try to get her to spill the secrets of what is going on with Nikki, Michael and Rhys!  Of course, Michelle out-smarted my tricky questions...

1. You write both paranormal romance for adults and the Demon Princess series for young adults. Did you find it difficult to switch to writing for young adults? What was most difficult? I read Angel with Attitude and enjoyed it, but which of your other adult books would you recommend we read to tide us over until Reign Storm?

Michelle:  I didn't find the switch difficult at all because I started off writing YA, but ended up being published in PNR first. I love both equally and, maybe I'm a bit delusional, but I don't find much of a difference in the writing process, apart from the age of the characters and some of the themes I get to explore. For books to tide you over.... probably my Living in Eden trilogy, starting with The Demon in Me might be a good pick. More demons, but different than princess ones! I think it was a phase I was going through as a writer that made me want to explore the deliciously demonic in more than one series.

2. And because we really do have the mentality of 16-year olds here at BiblioJunkies, what fictional character would you most like to go out with?

Michelle:  Automatically my answer to any question like this is Jericho Barrons. He's the only character, apart from my own, that I'm completely obsessed with. However, I'm really not sure I could handle him on any level. He's probably best left on the page and in my imagination. ;)
 3. We don't have the tag line of Books. Boys. Pie. for nothing here at BiblioJunkies, so I have to ask, what is your favorite treat?


Michelle:  If I see Key Lime Pie on a restaurant's menu, there is a 99% chance I'm going to order it.
 4. I have a total crush on Rhys, what treat should I have on hand for a fictional date with the King of Faery?
 Michelle:  Well, Rhys does enjoy human wine, as he learned at a party in the second book, Reign Check. He also seems to give me many indications that he's very likely a vegan -- so a fruit-based meal might be a good idea. Strawberries and chocolate!! (although, remember, he's only sixteen!) ;)

5. And finally, Reign Fall ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger, will all our questions be answered in the last book Reign Storm?


Michelle:  Uh-huh. Not sure when Reign Storm will be available, but all questions will be answered in the fourth and final book. Promise! 
 
A huge thanks to Michelle for agreeing to answer my silly questions!  I will definitely be trying out the Living in Eden series while I wait for the last Demon Princess book.   For more information about any of Michelle's books, check out her website at:
 
http://www.michellerowen.com/
 
~Shel

Demon Princess: Reign Fall by Michelle Rowen (Book 3)

*** 1/2

Prophesies, demon slayers, dragons, homework… It’s going to be a hell of a week!

It’s been a dangerous ride for Nikki Donovan since she first learned she’s a demon princess. And the ride isn’t over yet!

She’s just found out that her best friend is a demon slayer in training, one who doesn’t know that Nikki is exactly the prey she’s sworn to hunt. Nikki’s demon king father has signed her up for lessons in how to master her erratic half-demon powers, and that’s on top of her regular homework! Also, she’s torn between two boys—Rhys, the faery king she’s prophesied to marry, and Michael, a Shadow whom she’s forbidden to love.

To top it all off, a dark force is haunting Nikki, something mysterious and evil that wants the demon princess dead…but who—or what—is it?

In Reign Fall, we find Nikki dealing with her growing feelings for both Michael and Rhys.  Most of all, her double life as a typical teenage girl and a demon princess is taking its toll on her relationships with friends and family, not to mention her sanity.  To top it off, there are dragons, faeries and demon slayers abound. 

Reign Fall is escapism at its best.  Nikki and Rhys are so much fun with their sarcasm and silly arguments.  I love sarcastic and witty heroines, plus at book 3, she still reminds me a little of a young Stephanie Plum.  I could not be happier that Michelle Rowen decided to finish the series by self-publishing (something I wish more authors would do when publishers decline to finish a series), despite the fact that the ending of the book is killing me!  Please support Michelle Rowen in this endeavor and get yourself a great read in the bargain.

Reign Fall is available via Kindle and Smashwords.  The final book, Reign Storm, will be out in 2013.  Check out our interview with the talented Michelle Rowen!

~Shel

Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen (Book 2)

***

Nikki Donovan was a demon princess. Now she's a demon princess in love.

Fresh from finding out she is a demon princess and meeting her father for the first time, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But then Rhys, the handsome teenage king of the faery realm, enrolls at her school as a "foreign exchange student." Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend are getting in the way of her new relationship with the Shadow-creature Michael. But this love triangle from hell isn't even Nikki's biggest problem: There's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy all the demon and human worlds. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training. Throw in a field trip to none other than the Underworld itself . . . and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

The Demon Princess series is light, fun and a great escape.  I read Reign Check last year, but needed a refresher when we received an ARC of Reign Fall (book 3) from Michelle Rowen.  Reign Check was just as fun the second time around.  The snarkiness between Nikki and Rhys is often hilarious.  Nikki herself reminds me of a young Stephanie Plum, you know, if Stephanie were a demon princess. 

If you are looking for something interesting, fun and completely endearing, then Reign Check is the book for you!  The third book in the series, Reign Fall is available as a self-published ebook available from Kindle and Smashwords.

~Shel

A Peek in the Biblio-Bin - #13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Shel gives you a Peek in the Biblio-Bin.

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods...and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

Protecting humans is the Bringers’ duty. Sending demons to the Shadow World is their pleasure.

In one night, Ravyn’s life plunges from barely tolerable to deadly. Forced to flee the only home she’s known, she stumbles headlong into the clutches of Icarus, a powerful demon intent on stealing her powers. Unfortunately for him, she has no intention of cooperating.

When Rhys realizes the woman he’s rescued from the Bane Demon is no mere human, his obligation as a Bringer dictates he protect and train her in the ways of his people. But he’s unprepared for the intense desire he feels for the fiery Ravyn. To surrender to his need may mean her death.

As the Demon King’s desire for ultimate power escalates, fathers are slated against sons, and foes are made allies. The Bane threat upon them, Rhys and Ravyn must quest to unite the last of the Bringers—and explore a passion too powerful to ignore

 

 

 

Prophesies, demon slayers, dragons, homework… It’s going to be a hell of a week!

It’s been a dangerous ride for Nikki Donovan since she first learned she’s a demon princess. And the ride isn’t over yet!

She’s just found out that her best friend is a demon slayer in training, one who doesn’t know that Nikki is exactly the prey she’s sworn to hunt. Nikki’s demon king father has signed her up for lessons in how to master her erratic half-demon powers, and that’s on top of her regular homework! Also, she’s torn between two boys—Rhys, the faery king she’s prophesied to marry, and Michael, a Shadow whom she’s forbidden to love.

To top it all off, a dark force is haunting Nikki, something mysterious and evil that wants the demon princess dead…but who — or what — is it?

 

 

What is in your mailbox this week?