The Last Echo Review

The Last Echo

By Kimberly Derting

Summary

In the end, all that's left is an echo...
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye...

What I Loved

Intense

Kim has done it again, she has made my heart pound and sit on the edge of my chair wondering how the heck Violet is going to make it out of this situation this time.

Characters 

Violet: I still enjoyed her character. Her faithfulness to Jay is wonderful, but her confusion about Rafe makes her a normal teenage girl and adds entertainment. I have to say, it would suck to be her, she always draws the murders attention and that is not a good thing.

Rafe: If I didn't love and miss Jay so much in this book I would love Rafe even more. I'm conflicted with Rafe, I really do love the dark brooding boys and he fits this so well and this connection that him and Violet has is both intriguing and concerning. I don't know what to fully make of him, but I really do like him and I want to know more about him.

Murder's POV
This always freaking creeps me out to no end, but I do think it is a good thing and it brings me back down to Earth and reminds me to not judge people by their looks. The good looking ones can be even more dangerous because you can let your guard down around them since they don't "look" the part of psycho.

Didn't Like

I'm a such a wuss and this book scares me! Really make you think about knowing a person before you trust them, looks can be deceiving. I'm still waiting for Violet to finally learn self defense, just reading the books makes me want to learn. 

Recommendation 

A must read series

Information 

The Body Finder Series

The Body Finder

Desires of the Dead

The Last Echo

Book 4 2013

The Pledge Trilogy

The Pledge

The Essence Jan 1st 2013

Book 3

Could you handle finding dead bodies?

The bodies I could handle, it's the murder that I couldn't

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The Immortal Rules Review

The Immortal Rules

By Julia Kagawa

Summary

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

What I Liked

Future of Vampires
Vampires are the dominate species in the world and many humans have been killed off by disease. This book stays with the traditional vampire and adds I guess you could call them zombie vampires aka "rabids", now those things are scary, even the animals aren't safe from this.
Action
Allie learns how to fight with a katana, how cool is that! There is a decent amount of fighting and action throughout the entire book. It isn't filled with action, but a good amount. 

Character

Allison aka Allie: She is awesome! She is almost as bad ass as Rose, but not quite. I enjoyed her internal struggle that she has with herself, she doesn't ever want to fully give into the monster she has become. Allie wants to keep her humanity, even though it is a continuous struggle and not going to be easy ever. I like her perseverance, strength, will and stubbornness. 

Romance

This book has very little romance, for me I enjoy having a break from lots of romance especially in the YA genre.

Didn't Like

It slowed down a little in the middle of the book while she was traveling looking for Eden, but that didn't last very long and it soon picked up.

Recommendation 

Must read for all vampire lovers

Information

Blood of Eden Series

The Immortal Rules

unknown how long series will be

Iron Fey Series

The Iron King

Winter's Passage

The Iron Daughter

The Iron Queen

Summer's Crossing

The Iron Knight

Would you choose to become a monster?

Now I wish this would have been the cover! This is awesome!!

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Mini Challenge

Women of the Otherworld

Mini Challenge

The Challenge
Showcase ALL of Kelley Armstrong's books

My

Kelley Armstrong

Collection

These are all of her books I own

From the Women of the Otherworld Series

Used Mass Market Paperbacks (to be replaced)

I started collecting the series when I found many of these on the $1 shelf, I had been eying them for a while. I want to eventually replace them all with hardback copies.

Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken No Humans Involved

Hardbacks

Personal Demon, Living with the Dead,Waking the Witch and Men of the Otherworld

ARC (to be replaced)

Spell Bound

Signed and YA set

Adult Signed

Counterfeit Magic

YA Signed

The Gathering, The Awakening, The Reckoning, The Summoning, Enthralled (ARC) and Enthralled (hardback)

When I went to her signing there was a limit on number of books you could get signed in the Smart Chicks Event and since I already had A LOT of books with me I didn't want to add the adult series as well. I hope one day I can get all her books signed.

Counterfeit Magic

signed and personalized

Enthralled 
hardback signed on the story, ARC signed in the front

There you have it my Kelley Armstrong Collection

Are you participating in The Women of the Otherworld Series Challenge?

I am, I need to get reading too! If you aren't you really should, the 1st 2 books in the series are pretty awesome and I can't wait to read the rest of the books.

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Fairytale Giveaway Hop

 *CLOSED*

Fairytale Giveaway Blog Hop

My Favorite Fairytale Character 

Cinderella

My favorite would have to be Cinderella, I have always loved her the most, but Belle is a close second. The like the story of a girl with low stature rising up to become more and breaking free of her suppressing bonds. I really do love all retold fairytales, they always make me happy. Cinderella has had some very awesome retellings; Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Bound by Donna Jo Napoli, Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey and many others. I also love Ever After and I love how strong Danielle is. Oh and I can't forget Ella Enchanted, I love how fun that version is and love Prince Char.

*CLOSED*

The Giveaway

Win 3 Books

 Beauty by Robin McKinley (mass market)
Beauty and the Beast retelling
The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott (arc '08)
The Wild Swans retelling
The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey (mass market)
The Arabian Knight's retelling

*CLOSED*

To Enter

US Only

Ends May 1st
Winner has 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Fill Out Form Here

WINNER IS BEING CONTACTED

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Don't forget to check out the other blogs that are participating in this whimsical giveaway

Bookography (37)

Bookography

Bookography is a fun new way to share the beauty of books with photography. Take a picture with the book being the focus or inspiration and share the picture(s) you have created for the week.

Third Place Books

One of my favorite new & used bookstores in Lake Forest Park. They have hosted some amazing events over the last two years since I first found this store. So far I have seen Andrea Cremer, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Alexander Gordon Smith, Robin Wasserman, Megan Bostic, Kiki Hamilton, Kendare Blake, Kathy McCullough and Cherie Priest and I'm probably missing a few others. There are a few events that I have wanted to attend, but due to having to work and pay for my reading habits I have been unable to attend. I know I will be attending many more future events hosted at this wonderful location.

If you would like to participate please do. I will post my Bookography post each week on Wednesdays. I would love if you would link back to my blog and share your own link in the comments.

To see my previous weeks pictures check out my Bookography tab 

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Top 10 Tuesdays (17)

Top 10 Tuesdays

Topic: Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

This meme is created by The Broke and the Bookish, anyone can participle telling about their top 10 topic items are.

Females

I am really picky about my female characters. I personally love female characters that are strong and don't easily break down, but I don't like them so hard that they show no weakness to nothing. I can't stand weak and whiny characters. This is why I tend to like more UF/PR female adult characters then YA females. There is a lot of whiny females in the YA world, but there are some really great ones too. The adult characters just stick out in my mind more.

Mercy Thompson

from Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
She kicks ass! I also love that even though she maybe weaker then werewolves she hasn't let that stop her, she has learned to fight and she uses her speed at changing to her advantages.

Phedre no Delaunay 

from Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
She is just an amazing character! She knows many languages and is versed in MANY arts.

Kate Daniels

from Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Another kick ass female heroine that I love!

Rose Hathaway

from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
One of the top kick ass YA heroines  

Bertie Shakespeare Smith

from Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
She can create stories and things, she is fun and has two awesome guys in love with her and she has the coolest sidekicks ever!

Males

I love these boys for different reason! 

Kale

from Touch by Jus Accardo
What is not to love about him, he had a bad boy side but he is so innocent. Oh got to love those ice blue eyes.

Imriel de la Courcel

from Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey
He is a very complex young man. We get to know him from being a baby to finding his HEA and all the trials in between of wanting to "be good"

Tynan MacGillivray

from Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle
OH I LOVE Kendra's men, she writes the best dark and brooding boys ever! He purrs! 

Gideon McInnes

from Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle
Yum Scottish Werewolf, what is not to love!

Brandon

from Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

He has always stuck out in my head, I think it might be mostly because I really don't like Celeste and I think he is way too wonderful of a guy for her Celeste. She bugs me to no end, she is the type of female character that I can't stand!

What are you 10 favorite characters?

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The Hunt Review

The Hunt

By Andrew Fukuda

 Left: US / Right: UK

I like the UK edition more, the essence of the book is captured completely

Summary

Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
 
Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
 
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

 UK Trailer

What I Liked

Intense 

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and you find yourself holding your breath or doing something along with the character? I felt like I was doing this all the time. I got so involved within the pages I would catch myself trying not to show any emotion, not panic along with him, yawn, shudder or get grossed out reading the description of the vampires eating. I got so pulled in with the dangerous intensity of the book.

Character

Gene: Wow I don't know how he could do what he is does, playing at being a vampire when a little "human" detail could start a feeding frenzy at any moment. He is a very interesting and intriguing character, human but not.

Vampires

These vampires follow some of the traditional traits, but Andrew takes it a step further and puts his own twist one them. They have VERY different mannerisms and sometimes I didn't even understand them, but I just moved on, it is what makes them very unique.

Would Have Liked

History

I would have liked more information about this world. It never got explained when or how vampires became the dominate species of Earth or even if this is even Earth. I really would like some back history of this world.

Recommendation 

Not for the queasy individuals nor vegetarian. A read for someone who likes dark and intense storyline from the male POV and doesn't need romance in all their books.

Releases 

May 8th 2012

Amazon / B&N / Book Depository 

Information 

New Series
The Hunt
Book 2 early next year

Could you hide your human traits to survive among vampires?

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