Review: The Accidental Demon Slayer

Title - The Accidental Demon Slayer
Author - Angie Fox
Series or Standalone - Series Book 1 Demon Slayer
Genre - Fantasy Paranormal Romance
Publication July 29th 2008
(Goodreads) & (Amazon)
Rating 5 out of 5

Synopsis 

Newly anointed with demon-fighting powers and suddenly able to hear the thoughts of her hilarious Jack Russell terrier, a preschool teacher finds a whole new world of dark and dangerous, including a sexy shape-shifting griffin she's not entirely sure she can trust.

Opening Teaser

When I opened the door to greet my grandmother for the very first time, I’m not sure what I was expecting. I know I hadn’t envisioned an apple-shaped woman in a Kiss My Asphalt T-shirt, with wind-burned cheeks and a sagging tattoo of a phoenix on her arm. But what I really didn’t bargain for was a brief hug, followed by a forceful shove that had me landing firmly on my butt on the cold, black-and-white checked floor of my hall bathroom.

Review

I decided to read the Accidental Demon Slayer as part of this week’s bingo game for the Demons stamp. Lizzie's grandmother show's up out of the blue, riding a pink Harley and wearing a Kiss My Asphalt T-shirt. That should be enough to tip Lizzie off that she's not your typical let's bake cookies grandmother. Next thing Lizzie knows she's blasting a demon out of her toilet and learning that she's going through a change. Lizzie’s grandmother decides it would be best if she takes her to the safety of her coven, who also happen to be seniors liker her. Lizzie’s grandmother uses smuckers jars for her spells, and Lizzie jokes about using a so-be bottle.

Lizzie packs up her dog Pirate into a ferret carrier which he's none too happy about it and voices his opinion to Lizzie. Since Lizzie is going through the change to become a slayer she can hear what Pirate is saying, she packs a change of clothes and heads off with her grandmother in attempt to get away from more demons that will be coming after her. The head for Lizzie's grandmothers coven but they are attacked on the way by imps who work for the demons. They are saved by Dimitri a griffin shapeshifter who is supposed to teach Lizzie the way of being a slayer. Upon arriving at her grandmother’s coven she learns more about what she’s up against, but her grandmother is taken by the demon that’s after Lizzie and it's up to her to save her.

I loved this story, it's a fast paced adventure that draws you in right from the start and doesn't let go till the last page of the book. I started it yesterday morning and read as much as I could through the day even staying up late. The characters are great, Lizzie is a great character you instantly like her it's hard not to, because she has so much craziness going on. I found that The Accidental Demon Slayer flows smoothly, and with the added humor it’s a great light read. I felt that the characters are developed enough that you have a good sense who each one is, and I had no issues visualizing them. I love different characters in the story they add to the story giving it a fun spin. Plus who doesn't love a sexy shapeshifting griffin like Dimitri who is training Lizzie in the ways of demon slaying. This book is a great first book in the series; I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait to find some time to read the rest of the series.

Author Interview: Lauren Stewart's

Lauren Stewart Interview

Today I'm super happy to have a interview with Lauren Stewart the author of the exciting new book Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (Goodreads). She was nice enough to answer all my questions so I can share them with you. Don't forget to check out my review of Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (here).


Mandy - Where did you get the inspiration for Hyde?
Lauren - Hyde is (not surprisingly) inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I’ve always loved the story (even though I hadn’t read the novella since high school) because its theme, good versus evil, is something every one of us struggles with. So I used the idea, but within the context of urban fantasy—a mixture of romance, suspense, paranormal, and humor.

Mandy - Do you have a favorite character in Hyde?
Lauren - Without a doubt, Mitch is my favorite. He’s an anti-hero, which means he is as far from a good guy as he can be. But writing his often-cruel sarcastic comments was great fun. Plus, I got to live in a bad boy’s head and really create a rationale behind his actions. He’s bitter and filled with self-loathing, but that isn’t who he is. I’ve known a few bad boys in my time, and getting the chance to actually give him a good reason for his bad behavior was something not many of us get to do.

Mandy - What books have influenced your writing?
Lauren - I read in almost all genres, so my influences come from everywhere. But in terms of paranormal romance or urban fantasy, I would have to say that JR Ward and Karen Marie Moning helped me develop a style and showed me some amazing ways to break the rules. And I love breaking rules.

Mandy - What kind of atmosphere do you prefer to write?
Lauren - Anywhere that doesn't provide a million distractions. Which, of course, means I can’t write at home. My mind would drift to how big the laundry pile is getting or that I really need to have my kids go through their toys. So, though it’s loud, my favorite place to write is my neighborhood coffee place. It’s easier to tune out that chaos than the chaos of the countless other parts of life we all juggle.

Mandy - Who’s your favorite author?
Lauren - That depends on the day. But the writers who I would wait in line to see or would pay $27 for their book the day it releases (not happily, mind you, but I've done it) are JR Ward for her BDB series and Karen Marie Moning for her Fever series.

Mandy - Did you know you always wanted to be a writer?
Lauren - Not at all. I never thought I would be any good at it. I've always been a reader who made an exorbitant amount of to-do lists. What I didn't realize, until just a few years ago, is that those lists were precursors to something I feel incredibly passionate about—writing. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Nor do I have any plans to.

Mandy - Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks or hardbacks?
Lauren - I love e-books. It’s so easy to feed my addiction and, unless I forget to charge my device, I’m never without something to read.

Mandy - Do you watch TV? If so, what’s your favorite show?
Lauren - Right now, I’m really into Grimm. I love the premise and, with only a few episodes of ‘meh’, it is getting really exciting. Plus, Nick is so cute! And he’s actually a good guy, which is not the type I usually like (fictionally speaking, of course). I just watched the pilot for Arrow, and that was really enjoyable. It may or may not have had to do with the guy being so insanely hot. I’ll watch anything that Joss Whedon touches. Plus, I admit to loving cooking shows. All of them. Not sure why, since I don’t cook, but it looks exciting when they do it.

Mandy - Are you a night person or a morning person?
Lauren - I’m a night person by nature. Although, having two small children means I have to pretend to be happy when they wake me up every morning to tell me something vital like, “Mommy, my tooth didn’t come out last night.” So, occasionally, it takes a lot of pretending.

Mandy - What is your favorite electronic gadget?
Lauren - My iPhone. It makes me happy. I wish it didn't  but it does. I waited a really long time for my prior contract to run out, so all that anticipation makes me really appreciate the thing. Until it breaks. Then I shall curse every moment of it and Apple’s existence.

Mandy - What are five items you never leave home without?
Lauren - Keys, phone, coffee, laptop. And kids, I suppose, but only when they get out of their cages. J Do I need to tell you that I was kidding?

Mandy - Anything you want to say to your readers?
Lauren - I have the absolute best readers out there. Hands down. They rock.

But I’d also like to tell ALL readers that you have no idea how powerful you are. The industry is changing and authors are changing. We want to get to know you. We want you to reach out to us. Not in a stalker-ish way, but let us know if you enjoyed our work. And please, if you did, tell your friends.

With the way online retailers work now, each reader can make a profound difference in the success or failure of a book. It isn’t as anonymous as it used to be when you walked into a bookstore and bought one of a hundred books laying out there. Every book you buy has an effect on what books pop up for other people with similar buying habits. Publishers don’t control that, authors don’t control that—you do.


Thank you so much for having me. Happy reading, everyone!

Thank you so much for being here today Lauren it's been a pleasure having your, and I loved your book.

Don't forget to enter to win your own E-copy of Hyde, an Urban Fantasy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Hyde, an Urban Fantasy

Hyde, an Urban Fantasy Virtual Book Tour

Title - Hyde, an Urban Fantasy

Author - Lauren Stewart

Series or Standalone -Book 1

Genre - Fantasy Paranormal

Publication - July 8th 2012

(Goodreads)

Rating 5 out of 5

Synopsis

To survive, they must embrace what they most despise . . . in themselves and each other.

Mitch Turner is everything women want most in a man—charismatic, successful, drop-dead gorgeous. Except he’s not a man—he’s a monster.

The only way Mitch can protect others from his monstrous side is to stop them from getting too close…that and a 7x7 foot cage. Isolated by his genetic curse, he spends his life hurting people emotionally, driving them away before Hyde can harm them physically. But, after a night of the best sex Mitch has ever had, he realizes that might be impossible. Except the woman he was with claims she doesn’t remember any of it.

Eden Colfax is everything men want most, men other than Mitch, that is. She’s kind, honest to a fault and sickeningly sweet. To rid herself of the monsters that haunted her broken childhood, Eden doesn’t lie, doesn’t curse, and definitely never wakes up naked in strangers’ beds…until the day she does. 

Then the flashbacks start—places she’s never been, people she’s never met, blood she’s never spilled. She discovers she’s split into two parts—the woman she thought she knew and another who is capable of anything. And the only person with any answers is the one man she never wants to see again. 

What neither of them know is that someone is watching them both, manipulating them, determined to see just how evil the two of them really are. And when the truth begins to seep through the cracks, leaving them nowhere to turn but each other, they will be forced into a partnership neither had expected. 

Because in life, who you trust is as important as who you are. And when you can’t even trust yourself, sometimes the only person you can rely on is the last person on Earth you should be falling for.*** This novel is intended for adults only, as it includes lots of cursing, descriptive sex, biting sarcasm, and themes similar to those in Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, from which this story was inspired.

Review

I received Hyde, an Urban Fantasy as part of the Blog Tour Hosted by Bewitching Book Tours in return for a honest review. Mitch is attractive and successful, but he's also has a deep dark secret that which explains why he comes off as a jerk. Eden also is attractive super nice, but she also has a deep dark secret one she doesn't even know that she has. One night Eden wakes up in Mitch's bed, unknown as to how she's gotten there. It's not uncommon for her to wind up in different places then when she goes to sleep since she's been known to sleep walk now and then. 

After Eden wakes up in Mitch's bed everything starts to come out who she really is what's really happening, who this stranger Mitch that's she's drawn to is. They each have a part of them that is someone else, that when they sleep the other person takes over control of their body. While Eden's tends to be a party girl who's into hooking up with men then dumping Eden in random spots. Mitch's alternate persona is different he’s monster, he's filled with rage and wants to kill all who he comes in contact with. Eden doesn't know how she's gotten Chastity while Mitch inherited his Hyde from his father. 

I've never read any of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde stories but I've always been fascinated with the whole concept so when I saw this book I had to read it. I found the story entertaining; it's a fast paced story that keeps you on your toes as we learn more about Mitch and Eden. At first I wasn't too sure about Mitch but I was instantly in love with Eden she's so sweet you can't not like her. The more the story progressed and we learn why Mitch act's the way he does I started to like him to. I admit the story is a little heavy on the cursing, descriptive sex but if you look past it, and focus on the story aspect it's a great story. It's a new concept to me, and I really liked that they both had their own version of a Hyde because I've never heard of a female version of a Hyde like character, and it's not the traditional story. I feel like Lauren Stewart did a great job taking a known concept and creating a unique story. I loved the story however I suggest over 18 for anyone interested in reading Hyde, an Urban Fantasy. 

Don't forget to enter to win your own E-copy of Hyde, an Urban Fantasy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the Review Pile!

From the Review Pile October 25th 2012

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

I stumbled across this one this evening and thought it was a great idea and would love to it to my regular line up. So the real question was which book did I want to give a little extra publicity too. 

I ordered Darkfever online a long long time ago like 2009 and I still haven't started it yet. I keep saying one day I'll start it, everyone loves the series and I think this is the little push I need. I keep hoping that I'll have a bingo week of Fey so I can get the push I need to read it. This is even the cover I have on the paperback.

Darkfever 

by Karen Marie Moning

Book 1 in the Fever Series

Published Oct 31st 2006 

(Goodreads)

Synopsis 

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. 

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

What's from your review pile?

Also check out my current giveaways

Spooktacular Giveaway (Here)

 E-copy of Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (Here)

W...W...W...

W...W...W... Wednesdays October 24th 2012

W...W...W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to link up to her so others can see what your reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions...

1.What are you currently reading?
2.What did you recently finish reading?
3.What do you think you'll read next?

What am I currently reading? Hyde, an Urban Fantasy by Lauren Stewart (Goodreads) 

What did you recently finish reading? Matt Archer : Monster Hunter by Kendra C. Highley (Review)

What do you think you'll read next? Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox (Goodreads)

What's your W...W...W...

Current giveaways!

Matt Archer Giveaway! Whole Selection of Prizes Nooks to books (Here)

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop Over 400 other blogs participating (Here)

Waiting On Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday October 24th 2012

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.

I saw this one the other morning and it's been sitting in the back of my thoughts and I can't wait to get my hands on it. It's sounds like a spooky book too which is something I'm getting more into. So Sweet Damage is my WOW for the week because I want it now.

Sweet Damage

by Rebecca James

Young Adult

Expected Publication April 2013

(Goodreads)

Synopsis

I still dream about Anna London's house.

In my dreams the house is more than it was in life; the building taller and more imposing, the hallways longer and more labyrinthine, the inside colder and darker than the real thing ever was.

Anna is sometimes in these dreams, lingering ghost-like and elusive ahead of or behind me, and no matter how much I chase her or call her name, I can never reach her.

In my dreams it's as if the house itself has sinister intentions. In real life, though, it wasn't the house that was responsible for what happened there. It was the people who did the damage.

A gripping new novel from the author of Beautiful Malice.

What's your wow this week?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway (Here) Over 400 other blogs are participating.

Review: Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Matt Archer: Monster Hunter Blog Tour

Title - Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Author - Kendra C. Highley

Series or Standalone - Matt Archer #1

Genre Young Adult Fantasy

Publication - August 18th 2012

(Goodreads) & (Amazon)

299 Pages

Rating 4 out of 5

Synopsis

Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer spends his days studying Algebra, hanging out with his best friend and crushing on the Goddess of Greenhill High, Ella Mitchell. To be honest, he thinks his life is pretty lame until he discovers something terrifying on a weekend camping trip at the local state park. 

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard. 

But that's not the half of it. After Matt is forced to kill a strange creature to save his uncle, he finds out that the weird knife he took from his uncle's bag has a secret, one that will change Matt's life. The knife was designed with one purpose: to hunt monsters. And it's chosen Matt as its wielder. 

Now Matt's part of a world he didn't know existed, working with a covert military unit dedicated to eliminating walking nightmares. Faced with a prophecy about a looming dark war, Matt soon realizes his upcoming Algebra test is the least of his worries. 

His new double life leaves Matt wondering which is tougher: hunting monsters or asking Ella Mitchell for a date?

 Review

Matt Archer is a typical teenager he hangs out with his best friend Will, has a crush on the beautiful girl in school, and finds it all kind of blah. Matt goes camping with his uncle Mike his mom's brother on a typical weekend camping trip. While on the camping trip Matt has to save his uncle from a strange creature using his uncle's knife. Matt's uncle tells him the story how he the story he about how he learned that there are monsters, and how he happened to have the knife. 

Matt learns that the knife is magical picks the one who shall wield its power and Matt just happens to be that guy. His uncle plans a trip before he deploys to have Matt go through monster basic training so he's better prepared to wield the knife. After a long weekend at basic training Matt returns home to start his journey of hunting monsters in his own backyard. His uncle is going to deploy but he wants Matt to have a partner before he leaves. Matt's best friend Will stumbles across them hunting one night and fits the bill perfect as a partner for Matt, since he knows he can trust Will. While Mike heads off for Afghanistan, Matt, and Will continue to hunt down the strange creatures, tracking their patters to see if they are getting smarter which they are. They also are seeing several female creatures which aren’t common, and the rise of monsters happens to have something to do with the lunar eclipse. 

I received Matt Archer: Monster Hunter as part of a blog tour at YA Bound in return for a honest review. I totally loved Matt he reminds a lot of a guy next door type. The author does a great job creating a character that anyone can relate to, and someone you can root for when things get tough. I really like that family is so important in this story, and it's not your typical two parent family. I love the concept of the monsters it's unique from typical monster books, and I really liked that aspect. It's a fast paced adventure that draws you in right from the start not letting go till the end. I had a hard time putting it down I wanted to read it all in one sitting but I had to make dinner but when it was over I came back to finish. I can't wait to read the next one in the series and read more about Matt's adventures.

About the Author

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes chocolate is a basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations, baking and listening to bad electronica.

Her Website (Here)
Twitter (Here)

Giveaway Details:

Grand prize is a Nook Simple Touch and a $25 B&N card plus a paperback copy of Matt Archer: Monster Hunter. (US only)

 (3) 1st place winners get a $10 Amazon Card plus a paperback copy of Matt Archer: Monster Hunter. (Open Internationally)

Tour Schedule (Here)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

October 24th to 31st 2012 

This Hop is Hosted by:

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (Here)

& 

The Diary Of A Bookworm (Here)

THIS HOP FEATURES BOOKS THAT HAVE A SPOOKY THEME


For my Stop on the Hop I am doing a International as long as the book depository ships to your address. Since this is a spooky theme I'm going to do keep with it.

Check your Address (Here)

Prize 

First book in two of my favorite series.

With the upcoming release of Kept book two in the Coveted Series.


Coveted 
by Shawntelle Madison
(Goodreads)

&

Born at Midnight 
by C.C. Hunter
(Goodreads)


 New release Whisper at Midnight book four in the Shadow Falls Series.

1 Lucky winner will get this Amazing duo from the Book Depository.

Or

Book of choice that meets the requirements max $15.00

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the Other participating Blogs Over 400 giveaways

Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday with Mandy!!

This week's topic is:

Top 10 Books to Get into the Halloween Spirit

This week's Top Ten Tuesday lets you choose your favorite authors in a specific genre, be it sci-fi, romance, nonfiction....anything that strikes your fancy! This should be VERY easy! I have divided my ten picks between my two favorite genres: historical fiction and fantasy. I realize that these two practically opposite genres, but I love reading about worlds I will never know. Also, they have some of the prettiest covers!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Brookish. Who doesn't love lists. They make life easy! And fun!! It's always a never ending topic. 

I tend to not read scary books because they give me nightmares but I've red a few and I've been reading more and more lately.  For me I find zombies the most scary because I keep thinking that one day we are going to have real zombies, that some crazy scientist creates in a lab and they get loose.




Cruise of the Undead by Laura A Hansen (Goodreads) I can't wait to start this one next week. They may scare me but I can't get enough of them.


The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz (Goodreads) My first and last Dean Koontz book. I was stupid to pick it Marley and Me meets Silence of the Lambs....I should of known.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (Goodreads) My high school english teacher had us read this in class it was so creepy when I was a teen, and I loved it.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (Goodreads) I can't wait to start this one, however I think I may do And Then There Were None and then read Ten to compare. However I've got the hardback of Ten just sitting there.


Hollowland (Goodreads) &  Hallowmen (Goodreads)by Amanda Hocking. My sister called me up and told me at the start of the year I had to read these two because she was. They were the start to my zombie addiction.

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison (Goodreads) I really enjoyed this one but it's super creepy reminded me of the movie The Village.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Goodreads) I picked this up a year ago with every intent to read it but I'm not sure it sounds a little to creepy for me.

What Kills Me by Wynne Channing (Goodreads) It's not Halloween without Vampires and I loved the story as much as the cover of this one.

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter (Goodreads) I loved the series and I think it covers everything else that I didn't in the above books.

What's your Top Ten this week?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!! Over 400 other blogs!!!
(Here)

Teaser Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read

~Open to a random page

~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away to much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Currently Reading

The Accidental Demon Slayer
By Angie Fox
Book #1 in the Demon Slayer Series
Urban Fantasy Demons
Publication July 29th 2008
(Goodreads)

Teaser 


“Stop!” Grandma commanded. “What do you think this is, Spring Break at Daytona Beach? Ain’t no suitcases on a Harley. One backpack.” She held up a single finger, with a silver snake ring wound around it. “One.”

“Let’s just fly,” I pleaded, hearing the desperation in my voice. “It’ll save time!”

She threw her hands out, sloshing apple juice onto the hardwood floor. “I can’t protect a whole plane! You want demons camping out on the fuselage?”

Oh my word. We were a human tragedy waiting to happen. I shoved the image out of my mind. “Fine,” I said, yanking my school pack from its peg. “This will barely fit a tube top and a pair of socks.”

Grandma raised a brow. “Well, won’t the truckers enjoy that?”

What's your teaser?