Review: NIGHTLIFE

Nightlife by Rob Thurman
Book 1 of the Cal Leandros series

Genre: urban fantasy

About Nightlife:

There are monsters among us. There always has been and there always will be. I’ve known that since I can remember, just like I’ve always known I was one…

…Well, half of one, anyway.

Welcome to the Big Apple. There’s a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side—and that’s only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the
preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human.

His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares—and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why? Cal hasn’t exactly wanted to stick around long enough to find out.

He and his half brother, Niko, have managed to stay a step ahead for four years, but now Cal’s dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they’ve always wanted him: He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal’s life….

Source: Info in the About Nightlife was taken from the author's website at http://robthurman.net/cal-leandros/nightlife/ on 01/08/2010.

Review:
I just recently discovered this author and series. I've seen this author and her work around the blogosphere for sometime but just never picked it up until now. My mountainous TBR pile might have something to do with my resistance there.

There are some scenarios in the book where it was just too logistically impossible in which the "suspension of disbelief" has to drop a little. But because of the compelling storytelling quality, I can overlook this as a reader. The story also has unexpected twists to keep a reader glued to the pages. The book is fast-paced, action-filled with humor between the pages and satisfying ending! Love it!

Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Next books in the Cal Leandros series:

IN THE MAIL: THE DRAGON KEEPER, BLACK DUST MAMBO & HEADLINE BOOKS

I got a dragon, a witch and a boatload of books in the mail this week :)

I would like to thank Voyager for the free copy of The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. I think I might have won this book from an online contest but couldn't trace it from where anymore. So if that was you, THANK YOU!

The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Book 1 of the Rain Wild Chronicles

About The Dragon Keeper:

For years, the Trader cities valiantly battled their enemies, the Chalcedeans. But they could not have staved off invasion without the powerful dragon Tintaglia. In return, the Traders promised to help her serpents migrate up the Rain Wild River after a long exile at sea—to find a safe haven and, Tintaglia hopes, to restore her species. But too much time has passed, and the newly hatched dragons are damaged and weak, and many die. The few who survive cannot use their wings; earthbound, they are powerless to hunt and vulnerable to human predators willing to kill them for the fabled healing powers of dragon flesh.

But Tintaglia has vanished and the Traders are weary of the labor and expense of tending useless dragons. The Trader leadership fears that if it stops providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage—or die along the river’s acidic muddy banks. To avert catastrophe, the dragons decree a move even farther up the treacherous river to Kelsingra, their ancient, mythical homeland whose mysterious location is locked deep within the dragons’ uncertain ancestral memories.

To ensure their safe passage, the Traders recruit a disparate group of young people to care for the damaged creatures and escort them to their new home. Among them is Thymara, an unschooled forest girl of sixteen, and Alise, a wealthy Trader’s wife trapped in a loveless marriage, who attaches herself to the expedition as a dragon expert. The two women share a deep kinship with the dragons: Thymara can instinctively communicate with them, and Alise, captivated by their beauty and majesty, has devoted her life to studying them.

Source: Info in the About The Dragon Keeper was taken from the author's website at http://robinhobb.com/novels/dragon-keeper/ on 27/08/2010.


I would like to thank Jeanette over at Today & Everyday for hosting a contest which made it possbile for me to win a copy of Black Dust Mambo by Adrian Phoenix!

Black Dust Mambo by Adrian Phoenix

About Black Dust Mambo

There will be times, girl, when all your magic ain't going to be enough, times when it will seem to dry up like mud under the noonday sun, or even make matters worse . . ."

Kallie Riviere, a fiery Cajun hoodoo apprentice with a talent for trouble, finds herself smack-dab in the middle of one of those times her mentor warned her about when she visits New Orleans to attend the Hecatean Alliance's annual carnival: her hard-bodied conjurer hookup ends up dead in her blood-drenched bed. And he was killed by something that Kallie would never dream of touching -- the darkest of dark juju, soul-eating juju -- a black dust hex that may have been meant to kill her.

Now Kallie has to use every bit of hoodoo knowledge and bayou-bred mojo she possesses to clear her own name and find the killer -- even as that dark sorcerer hunts Kallie and her friends. But Kallie's search for the truth soon leads her in a direction she never anticipated -- back home to Bayou Cypres Noir, and to Gabrielle LaRue, Kallie's aunt, protector, and hoodoo mentor . . . who is looking more and more like she just might be the one who wants Kallie dead.

Source: Info in the About Black Dust Mambo was taken from the author's website at http://adrianphoenix.com/mambo.html on 08/05/2010.

I would like to thank Book Chick City for hosting a contest which made it possible for me to win a boatload of books from Headline!!

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: FORSAKEN

WISHLIST:

Forsaken: The Demon Trappers
by Jana Oliver

Publication Date: 7 January 2011

About Forsaken: The Demon Trappers:

Seventeen-year-old Riley Blackthorne wants to become
a legendary Demon Trapper just like her father.
How hard can that be?
Way hard when it comes to the Trappers.
Most of these guys don’t want a girl in their Guild,
and the others spend their time staring at her breasts.
Now the demons are calling her by name,
which isn’t good news.
Riley just needs a chance to prove herself.
Which is exactly what Hell is counting on.

Source: Info in the About Forsaken: The Demon Trappers was taken from the authors' website at http://www.magespell.com/wordpress/ on 28/07/2010.

WW28: SEA

,WW28

• First you grab our Wicked Wednesday pic.
• Then you grab a book. Turn to page 28. Take the first sentence. And then you post it in your site with a link back to WW28.
• Come back to Cherry Mischievous - WW28 and give us the url of your post (in a comment at a WW28 post) so that other WW28 readers can find your WW28 offering.

WW28 book offering: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Page 28, 1st Sentence:

Was he trying to kiss me?

About Sea:

Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.
But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.

A compelling summer romance, Sea marks the arrival of a stunning new voice in YA.

Source: Info in the About Sea was taken from amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399251634?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwcherrydece-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0399251634 on 05/06/2010.

I would like to thank Angie for hosting the Blue Cover Special giveaway which made it possible for me to win Sea by Heidi R. Kling!!!

Interview With Daniel Kalbi + Giveaway

I would like to welcome the wonderful Daniel Kalbi who took the time off his busy schedule to be with us today....

•So, first of all... please tell us a little more about yourself.
My name is Daniel Kalbi, though if I had my choice I wouldn't use that last name at all. It reminds me of my father and all the horrible things I inherited from him. If I could choose any last name, it would Divine. I've always wanted to be part of the Divine family with Grace and Jude. I know they're not as perfect as they pretend to be--I mean, any family that goody goody would just be kind of creepy--and I know they have a lot their own secrets and issues, but I know they really do care about each other.

I love art, almost as much as I love Grace, and I hope to become an industrial designer someday. I am fascinated by designing and creating new things that will change the way people live their lives. It's a lot of work, and an extremely difficult program to get into, but I really want to find a way to use my natural talents to make people's lives better. Oh yeah, and I kind of have supernatural talents too--Grace calls them superpowers--but they come at the cost of having a demon inside of my head all the time. . . and that part I'd rather live without.

•Are you into reading books? If so, what is your reading list? Who are some of your favorite authors?
I'm really into reading. I was out of school for the last three years, but I like to think I'm a little bit self taught from all the reading I do. (Plus lessons from my mentor, Gabriel.) I like all kinds of books from biographies, history, religious texts, modernist fiction and poetry, and stuff that's just for fun. HOWL by Allen Ginsberg, and any poetry from Lawrence Ferlinghetti are some of my favorites. There's a certain remorse in Tennessee Williams work that really gets to me. For fun, I like to read stuff like LOST BOYS by Orson Scott Card and, of course, the HUNGER GAMES is just plain awesome.

•What is your strangest habit?
I love music. Always wished I played the drums, but my parents wouldn't let me take lessons. I have a habit of tapping out the drumbeat with my fingers on my leg to whatever song is stuck in my head.

•If you could have one superpower, what would it be? What kind of power would you choose?
I kind of already have a lot of superpowers. I don't really feel like I deserve any of the ones I currently have so I don't know if I should be asking for any more . . . but if I could choose another one, I'd say teleportation. I'd love to be able to grab Grace and pop on over to the Florence for an afternoon at a few art museums, or maybe a quick trip to China for some really good dumplings.

•If, you were to fall in love, who would be your ideal mate?
That's easy: Grace. She's smart, stubborn as hell, really talented at art, has this overriding idea that everything in life should be fair--and will fight to set things right if she thinks it needs to happen. And she just genuinely cares about people. If there's anyone in this world who could possibly love me, I think it would be Grace. Oh, and she's gorgeous. But in a real sort of way, not a fake, over-plucked, over-styled, Hollywood sort of way.

•What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Coming back to Rose Crest. I ran away because I was afraid--but coming back, was the hardest, scariest thing I've definitely ever done. Especially knowing what could happen now that I'm back.

•If you suddenly come to have $1M, what would you do?
I'd buy Bree her dream house and a little 3 Series BMW and a Mustang--because I think she really deserves it. I mean, she created me after all. :)

It has been a true pleasure having you here, Daniel! And thank you for dropping by and being with us today!!

And dear readers, that was Daniel, from The Dark Divine series by Bree Despain...

About The Dark Divine:

A prodigal son

A dangerous love

A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Source: Info in the About The Dark Divine was taken from the author's wabsite at http://breedespain.com/TDDsynopsis.html on 26/07/2010.

Author Link(s):
http://breedespain.com/
http://twitter.com/breedespain
http://www.breebiesingerdespain.blogspot.com/

Buy Link:


GIVEAWAY:
And here is your chance to bag yourself a free copy of the first book of this wonderful series, The Dark Divine! Comment in this post to enter and please leave a way to contact you or come back after Sept 16 to check if you won.

Contest Rules:

• Open to international readers.
• Ends on: 15 September 2010
• Open only to Cherry Mischievous followers (via Google Friend Connect) and/or to CherryD community members.
  
  • Not yet a follower? Just click the "FOLLOW" button on the sidebar. Easy peasy!
  • You do not have to be a CherryD member if you are already a Cherry Mischievous follower to enter this contest. But being a CherryD member as well, will gain you 5 extra entry credits. Extra entry credits will increase your chances of winning.
• This contest is open internationally where the amazon online shop is accessible to you and/or where Book Depository ships to.
• Winner(s) will be picked among the entries who are also followers. Winner(s) have one week to claim prize otherwise prize will become forfeit and/or another winner drawn.
• Void where prohibited.
• Questions? Ask! mischivus101-followergiveaway [at] yahoo [dot] com.
• Please read the blog's Disclaimer as it forms part of the contest rules.

Trailer:

WW28: LEADER OF THE PACK

WW28
A chance to showcase your favourite!

• First you grab our Wicked Wednesday pic.
• Then you grab a book. Turn to page 28. Take the first sentence. And then you post it in your site with a link back to WW28.
• Come back to Cherry Mischievous - WW28 and give us the url of your post (in a comment at a WW28 post) so that other WW28 readers can find your WW28 offering.

WW28 book offering: Leader Of The Pack by Karen MacInerney

Page 28, 1st Sentence:

When I opened the door, the smile died on my lips.

About Leader Of The Pack:

WILDLY INDEPENDENT, SHE’S NOT ONE FOR PACK MENTALITY.

On the outside, Sophie Garou is living every woman’s dream: she has beauty, brains, and a big-time position in Austin’s most respected accounting firm (not to mention a very sexy, very successful new boyfriend). But there’s one Sophie would rather keep under wraps: she is a werewolf.

Sophie’s life gets a little more hairy when her long-estranged father, Luc, arrives in the Live Music Capital to attend the werewolves’ annual Howl and reconnect with his daughter. But Luc’s plans fall apart after he’s accused of murder and arrested by his archrival, Wolfgang, leader of the Houston pack (and one notoriously dirty dog).

Wolfgang drools at the thought of Luc’s impending execution, but Sophie won’t let her father die without a fight. Determined to prove his innocence, she and her friends set out to find the real killer. Along the way, Sophie must deal with taboo attractions, Machiavellian intrigues, sinister agendas, and hair-raising betrayals.

Source: Info in the About Leader Of The Pack was taken from vvb32 Reads blog at http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2010/04/giveaway-leader-of-pack.html on 21/05/2010.

I would like to thank vvB32 Reads for hosting the SheWolf Challenge giveaway which made it possible for me to win Leader Of The Pack  by Karen MacInerney!!!

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: POISONED KISSES

Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven

Genre: urban fantasy

About Poisoned Kisses:

It's not easy to be a Daddy's Girl when your father is Ares, Greek God of War. As a nymph of the underworld, Kyra has made it the mission of her very long life to thwart her father and all those who serve him. To answer her calling in the modern world, she intends to assassinate a notorious shape-shifting arms dealer. To get close enough to kill him, Kyra pretends to be the woman he once loved, but Marco Kaisaris isn't the monster Kyra thinks he is--and even if he doesn't break her heart, he may still be the death of her.

Source: Info in the About Poisoned Kisses was taken from Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8531289-poisoned-kisses on 15/08/2010.

Buy Link(s):

Review: THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
the movie

Review:
The Sorcerer's Apprentice was fantastic! Although some of the scenes were a bit too far fetched and the "suspension of disbelief" will have to drop a notch or two. But I can forgive that as a moviegoer given that the movie was wonderfully entertaining :) The visual effects were stunning... The blending of 3D animation and live actors was so seemlessly done that it brought to life the magic of the story so vividly! Not to mention, the acting was very good. Nicholas Cage may be purported to have BPD, but he can act!

Cherry’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Movie Link: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/sorcerersapprentice/

About The Story:

Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turtletaub, the creators of the "National Treasure" fanchise, present THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE - an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

Balthazar Blake (NICHOLAS CAGE) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (ALFRED MOLINA). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (JAY BARUCHEL) a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protege. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE. The screenplay is by Matt Lopez and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story  by Matt Lopez and Larry Konner & Mark Rosenthal.

Book Buy Link(s):