Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent review

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…

From Goodreads

Liv Warren likes living by her own rules. Unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't like to play by her rules. That's how this blood tracker ended up using her powers for monetary gain. In a world where those with "special abilities" (like walking into shadows, name tracking & even blood tracking) aren't formally recognized by any government, but used by all, Liv finds herself in a pretty tight spot.

An accidental binding from childhood is coming calling in the form of one of her best friends trying to protect her daughter from the child's father's assassin. Sound complicated? It gets worse. This friend also happens to pull in the only other person on the planet that Liv can't stand to be around. Her former lover Cam Caballero is still just as smoldering as he was when Liv left him six years prior, to save both their lives. No time like the present to jump headlong into the fray with danger lurking around every corner from the local criminal families. Is there enough time to save the girl or will Liv just ending failing to keep every promise she's ever made?

Rachel Vincent is seriously my freaking hero! This woman is so diverse I can barely contain my excitement. Between the bean sidhe lore of the Soul Screamers series & the werecat drama of the Shifters series, I honestly wasn't sure how well she'd be able to pull off a whole new series. Let me assure you, Rachel is a remarkable craftswoman never to be doubted.

Blood Bound takes the meanings of "signed in blood" & "my word is my bond" to a whole new level & explores the murky waters of contractual bindings. It truly was fascinating reading about all the different types of bindings, means of tracking a person & situations that arise from such predicaments. Things can really start to get tricky when you're contractually obligated to more than one person & they're on opposing sides of a war in which you're an unwilling recruit.

Liz is a headstrong, complex character (Rachel seems to prefer these and I've got no complaints!) who is trying to do what she thinks is best in a bad situation. After running away from longtime boyfriend Cam (in order to save their lives) she finds herself the unwilling recipient of his assistance in her newest endeavor. Tension & sparks fly because while nothing about these two together has changed, more than enough has changed about them.

A promising start to a new series, Blood Bound is sure to delight. Keep a weather eye on the horizon for book 2 Shadow Bound, due May 22.

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent review

If I Die by Rachel Vincent review

While Kaylee Cavanaugh has been fighting hellions & saving people's lives for the last six months, she never knew that she was running on seriously borrowed time. Just when things are starting to settle back into a normal rhythm she's dealt two blows: her dreamy new math teacher is actually a lust-sucking incubus hell-bent on having a son & Kaylee's soul extension is up, her death date is in less than a week.

With the clock ticking, loudly, Kaylee starts to focus on what few things she wants to do before she dies. At the top of that list is spending some quality alone time with hunky boyfriend (and fellow bean sidhe) Nash. Unfortunately his ex & almost everyone else in their lives seem to be conspiring to keep them from taking their relationship to the next level. Tod, Nash's grim reaper big brother, is the number one offender because he can blink in at any time he chooses. But as the clock ticks down, Kaylee gets more deeply embroiled in the nasty mess that her incubus teacher is leaving behind. While on a mission to out the incubus, Kaylee makes a decision that changes everyone's life, permanently.

Rachel Vincent has done a fabulous job with the Soul Screamers series... up until this book. Now before anyone gets upset with me, I'll give you the quick & dirty sum up: yes I still enjoyed this installment in the series, yes the characters are still as endearing & unique as they have been, I just feel like the content of this book strayed from where it's been headed all along. Now for the details:

The flow & content of If I Die felt very different from what I have come to expect from her work. The 5 books take place over just 6 months which is not an issue in and of itself, but the fact that Kaylee is trying to lose her virginity to her boyfriend of just 6 months (despite that just a few months earlier he was addicted to a deadly Netherworld drug & hasn't fully recovered yet) & the new bad guy in the story is a lust-sucking demon who is sleeping with (and potentially killing) young women in the hopes of having a son was just too much for what has actually been a very tame storyline thus far. I'm not opposed to sexual situations in YA, I just feel that these situations felt forced. They didn't seem to really mesh well with everything else that we've seen in the series. The baddies are bad, but they've never crossed the inappropriate line, until now.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I can move on to what was AWESOME about this book. Kaylee is as self-sacrificing as ever & really does make me feel like there are still really good character role models. Granted she seems to bring about as much trouble as she tries to negate, but I think that's part of the territory. Despite the tone of the storyline, I was surprised to see less of Nash & Kaylee's dad than I would have expected, but let me assure, there is a very good reason that we don't see much of them. While Kaylee is out to stop the incubus, another character is plotting a different ending to the love story. I can't tell you any more than that without ruining a very well-planned surprise, but let me assure you that you won't be disappointed. :)

Overall, the writing still oozed the sarcasm & wit that I adore from these characters. There's nothing like teenage angst mixed with otherworldly tempers to make things interesting. So go ahead & read this enticing installment in the fabulously popular Soul Screamers series. And be sure to let me know what you think about the book in the comments. Think I'm being overly sensitive or do you think it is just the natural progression for the storyline or something else entirely? Sound off below!

ARC graciously provided by Around the World Tours

If I Die by Rachel Vincent review

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read the first two Soul Screamers books (My Soul to Take & My Soul to Save) please read no further!

Kaylee Cavanaugh just can't seem to catch a break. It has been a whirlwind last few months learning about being a bean sidhe & all that entails on top of the other-wordly happenings that seem to plague her life. Just when she was starting to catch up & feel a bit more in control of her life, more craziness begins.

The Scooby Doo-esque couple making a startling discovery at a friend's party. Kids in their school are in to heavier stuff than the normal "recreational drugs." These kids are in to demon's breath. Kaylee gets a whiff of it off a friend after he rammed her car & it immediately sends her into a tailspin. The highly-addictive & extremely deadly substance is almost impossible to obtain (since demons can't come into the human world & this substance is literally the exhalation from a demon) & it's dropping kids like flies.

Unfortunately Nash doesn't feel like rising to the occasion. He doesn't think that just because one kid got his hands on a very dangerous substance that the "bean sidhe signal" has been waved. All of his rationale is based around keeping Kaylee & himself safe, but there is only so much that can be done. And when these two finally get on the same page, the world will literally never be the same.

Rachel Vincent has done it yet again. She has woven an intriguing & entertaining story with some very dynamic characters. Kaylee continues her struggle with her identity & makes great strides to put forth her best effort. I really feel like we get to see her stepping out of the sheltered protection & really taking some risks. Albeit, some of those risks are stupid & dangerous, but she does them because she knows they are the right thing to do. All I will say about Nash is that he is an intriguing plot device that worked magnificently. I totally didn't see that coming!

The Soul Screamers series is one that I find myself enjoying more & more as I read them. They are one of the few series that I can enjoy reading multiple times because I seem to pick up on different details every time I read them. Each book seems to have it's own tempo & meter, while still maintaining the overall plot & balance. I really look forward to the next installments!

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

Alpha: Shifters Book 6 by Rachel Vincent

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING! This is the final book in a 6 book series so there are previous book spoilers in this review. You've been given fair warning.

Faythe is sure that war is coming but she's not sure what expect. There hasn't been a full-scale civil war in the werecat community in decades and everyone was kind of hoping to keep it that way. Unfortunately with Malone creeping in on the Faythe's pride's territory by trying to declaw her and having her brother murdered, there doesn't seem to be much other recourse.

Of course Faythe's problems can't possibly end there because due to extenuating circumstances she's got to choose between the two men that she loves. Marc has known her since she was a rebellious teen and has been her sturdy rock. Unfortunately in her darkest hours, after Ethan's death and when she thought Marc was dead too, she gave in to her needs and had a tryst with Jace. He had always been there trying to convince her to him a chance and now he's got the opportunity. Too bad whoever she is with will one day become the Alpha of the Pride and at the moment Malone is doing everything he can to make sure neither of them are eligible.

When the Territorial Council meets to vote on their new head, the werecat community shatters and nothing is the same. Friends and family will die, new bonds will be forged, and old ones will be lost forever. For Faythe, at least one thing is certain: she will keep her Pride.

This was an amazingly incredible finale to one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. Rachel Vincent is a master at weaving an enticing and enrapturing tale and she is at her best with this novel. Watching all the books' details combine into a believable and emotional conclusion was quite fascinating. Faythe is as kickass as ever and the reader can't be disappointed in her performance. While I was very sad to see some of my favorite characters fall in the war, I completely understood the necessity. And let me just say, I was quite pleased with Faythe's choice in mate. Go Team _a_ _! (He he, you thought I was going to tell you didn't you? Silly people) Seriously, if you enjoyed the other novels or haven't tried them yet, I assure you that they're worth it!

Alpha: Shifters Book 6 by Rachel Vincent

Waiting on Wednesday: Alpha (Shifters #6)

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Words do not convey my excitement for the final book in the Shifters series Alpha (Shifters, #6) by Rachel Vincent! It's set to be released on September 28 and that date can't get here soon enough. Faythe Sanders is one of the most powerful lead female characters in a series. Be sure to read my mini-reviews of the series (Part 1 & Part 2) before reading the blurb below. Of course there are spoilers for each book in the subsequent review.


YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready.

From Goodreads

How amazing does that sound? I have the countdown widget in my countdowns box on the right hand side. If you're as excited as I am, grab it and post it. Spread the word about this amazing series & its eagerly anticipated finale. Head over the urbanfantasy.blogspot.com to learn more about Rachel Vincent and her series.

Grab the countdown widget here:

Waiting on Wednesday: Alpha (Shifters #6)

Soul Screamers Love Continues!

So I obviously like the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, seeing as I dedicated a whole week to celebrating it. Well, the time has come to share some more Soul Screamers love!

Rachel is hosting a simple contest on her blog where the winner will receive a signed copy of My Soul to Keep and a large t-shirt!! Go here to enter.

She has also graciously provided her fans with a wallpaper featuring the covers of all 3 novels and the prequel novella, which can be found online here. And while the release is a little less than 2 weeks away, there is still time to grab the widget which can be found here on the sidebar.

I think that about does it for info on the next awesome book! If you haven't read the first ones, I suggest checking out my reviews (My Soul to Take and My Soul to Save) or picking up a copy! Hope you enjoy them!

Soul Screamers Love Continues!

Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent Mini-Reviews Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of my mini-reviews of Rachel Vincent's Shifters series. If you missed Part 1, check it out here. If you're ready though, go ahead and read below to find out more about the wonderful werecat world.

WARNING: I put these three in a separate post because they contain spoilers for the first three books. You've been warned!

Prey
After coming out on top during her trial, Faythe has returned to the Lazy S ranch once again, only this time it's without her exiled lover Marc. While it's hard on Faythe, she has her hands full with the protection of Kaci, Manx, and baby Des. Faythe is really trying to coax Kaci into understanding that her cat form is nothing to be ashamed or frightened of.

But when they come under attack by a huge pack of strays and then a Pride member is outright murdered on their own property, the Pride goes into a tizzy. Someone is pulling the strings on this operation and they're going to pay dearly, not only for their actions, but also for what their actions cause Faythe to do in her love life.

Shift
With a Pride member dead, the Pride gathers its allies at the ranch to prepare for the coming civil war. There is no other answer for what has occurred in their society. While her father is impeached from the territorial council, the South Central Pride is virtually cut off from everyone else. Which is why the Thunderbirds had no real trouble cornering them and beginning to pick them off one by one. Now the Pride is scrambling to bring them proof that they are not responsible for the death of the Thunderbirds' Flight member. Everyone is depending on Marc, Faythe, and Jace to keep their tempers in check and work together without tearing everything apart.

Alpha (set for release on October 1, 2010)
This is the blurb from the back cover. P.S. I am in LOVE with this cover. It's my favorite of them all!

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready. From Goodreads

So there you have it folks. Are you intrigued? If you haven't read one yet, go to your library and grab Stray. They're amazing and fantastic! I'm kind of sad to see the story end with Alpha, but Faythe's story can only go so far. Congratulations to Rachel Vincent for an incredible job well done. I can't wait to see where Faythe winds up!

Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent Mini-Reviews Part 2

Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent Mini-Reviews Part 1

I did a similar post on the Mercy Thompson series that I love so much by Patricia Briggs a few months ago. Well seeing as how I have managed to fall in love with yet another shifter series, I figured I would do a post about it as well.

Rachel Vincent's werecat Shifters series, staring the completely fallible and wonderful colorful Faythe Sanders, is a fun, quickly-paced series covering six novels. We meet Faythe when she is summoned home from grad school for her own protection. Needless to say, she doesn't go back to school what with all the kidnappings, attempted murders, oh and over-protective ex-fiances hanging around. The books follow Faythe as she tries to navigate her very modern self-existence within the rather 1950's view of a tabby in her pride.

She's smart, she's sassy, she's stubborn, and most of all she just wants to live her life without it being dictated to her. I feel that all women can relate to her, and even some men can, on some level or another. Below you'll find a synopsis/mini-review for the first three books. The other three will be provided in a later post.

See my full review of Stray.

Stray
All Faythe wanted was to be left alone. She was working on her graduate degree, but the werecat community just couldn't leave her alone. After fighting off a stray (a once human, made into a werecat through an illegal attack; no pride) Faythe is summoned home for safety. Someone is snatching tabbies and they're not giving them back. Despite all precautions to the contrary, Faythe becomes one of the snatched. In a race against the clock, Faythe must work quickly to figure out who is behind this, what their plans are for the tabbies, and then set them straight.

Rogue
We pick up where we left off in Stray with Faythe being cooped up in the house of werecats trying not to go crazy. Now as enforcer though, she's getting to see some action and prove her worth. She doesn't want to be seen as weak, so she does whatever is necessary to prove that fact. Even if it means working with her on-again boyfriend/ex-fiance Marc as a partner. While out on a mission, the two come across a dead stray. They do their job of covering it up, so the humans don't find out, but as more toms (male werecats) start to die, the trail becomes hotter than ever. Someone's killing toms in the same places that human girls go missing and it's up to Marc and Faythe to stop them. But who do you look for when anyone's a suspect?

Pride
Faythe Sanders is mischievous at her best, but certainly not intentionally combative. Well, only when the situation calls for it, and the situations she is on trial for were just that. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the council, Faythe has broken some of their major rules and must now pay the price. Only in this world, you are presumed guilty unless you can prove otherwise. Faythe is struggling to keep her temper in check while trying not to freak out about that fact that if found guilty the best outcome is the loss of her claws and the worst being execution. Given that she's one of the few tabbies in the US, that speaks volumes about her alleged crimes. It just so happens though that Lady Luck has not abandoned Faythe yet. The large number of hostile strays in the area is suspicious and the council wants answers. If Faythe can prove her worth, she can keep her life.

Tune in on Thursday for the next three books!

Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent Mini-Reviews Part 1

Congratulations, we have winner!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Soul Screamers' Week giveaway! After adding up all the entries and using Random.org to chose the winner, the result is:

Stephanie P.

I have already e-mailed you and I need to hear back ASAP so that I can contact the fabricator. Again, thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and came to visit during Soul Screamers' Week. I also want to thank Rachel Vincent, because without her books and cooperation nothing would have been possible. It was a great success and I hope to repeat it in the future. Any suggestions or requests? I look forward to planning the next celebratory week.

Congratulations, we have winner!

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Welcome to the last day of Soul Screamers' Week! Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the giveaway!

This is the sequel to My Soul to Take so obviously there maybe some spoilerish stuff below. Just an FYI.

Who knew being a bean sidhe could be so dangerous? After narrowly escaping a rogue grim reaper, Kaylee was hoping her world would return to normal or as normal as her life can get. Unfortunately that is not in the cards. Even though her newly-returned dad has her on a pretty short leash, Kaylee manages to go to a concert with hunky boyfriend Nash and his grim reaper brother Tod. Naturally, nothing goes according to plan as teen sensation Eden takes the stage and collapses. Kaylee freezes and knows what's coming: her soul song. Clenching against it she realizes that there's no pull to wail. That's when she knows something about this is all wrong.

Every time someone near Kaylee is about to die, she gets an uncontrollable urge to wail for their soul. Well, it's only uncontrollable if Nash isn't around. As a male bean sidhe he can help her control her wail so that the humans don't try to lock her up for being crazy. Only this time neither of them had to do anything and that's because Eden didn't have a soul. She had Demon's Breath as a substitute. The only way to have that is if you have sold your soul to a demon and they had to give you something to keep your living until your regularly scheduled expiration date. Unfortunately, Libby (the special reaper who deals with Demon's Breath) informs the trio that she will be back in a few days, for Tod's former girl friend Addison Page

In a race against the clock, Tod, Nash, and Kaylee must dodge observant and restrictive parents, the grim reaper hierarchy, and Dekker Media who doesn't want them interfering with their deals or their stars.

My Soul to Save furthers the trials and tribulations of being a teen bean sidhe. Kaylee, Nash, & Tod grow as characters gaining depth that was only beginning to form at the close of the first book. While Kaylee becomes more comfortable in her new found species, even taking lessons from Nash's mom and expanding her powers, Nash doesn't change a while lot. He becomes more authentic to his wholesome, helpful self. Tod on the other hand, allows the reader to delve deeper into his past and his present when he exposes his feelings for a former flame and the secretive regulations surrounding reaper business.

While I was not nearly as big a fan of this book as the first one, I think it serves its purpose by allowing us a closer look at the characters themselves. The storyline (a multi-billion dollar media mogul is controlling teen boppers in evil ways) was a little far reaching for my tastes, but along the same lines as Airhead. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here and what trouble the kids get into in the next round.

If you would like a chance to win this book, Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie is giving one away , The Book Muncher is giving 3 away , and Tales of a Ravenous Reader is giving one away as well! Also you have the chance to win both books over at The Story Siren's site.

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Soul Screamers Playlist

Welcome back to Soul Screamers Week here at Tattooed Books! Don't forget about the giveaway! Enjoy this nifty little treat.


While scouring the net for ideas for Teen Tech Week I came across a GREAT website: playlist.com. It is completely free and so much fun. You simply sign up for an account and then you can select songs to add to playlists that you get to create! They have a great selection of songs and it's super-easy to use. Check out the playlist I made for My Soul To Take below. I think it's pretty good.

For a first-timer, I think I did pretty well. I hope you enjoyed my little foray into the music department. Stay tuned for more great stuff coming at you every day this week!

Soul Screamers Playlist

Waiting on Wednesday: My Soul to Keep

Welcome to Day 3 of Soul Screamers' Week! If you haven't entered already, go enter the giveaway! Enjoy!

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today's book is My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent and is set to be released in June of 2010. There isn't much out about this book yet except:

1. It will continue the incredible story of Kaylee Cavanaugh, teen bean sidhe, as she makes her way through the perils of teenhood & comes to terms with her special talent.
2. The Netherworld isn't done with her yet and will make an appearance in her school!
3. The cover will be purple. (Sweet, that's my favorite color!!)

In light of all this news and the fact that there is no cover out yet, I decided to try my hand at making a cover. Please be kind.

So there you have it. What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday: My Soul to Keep

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Welcome to Day 2 of Soul Screamers' Week! Don't forget about the giveaway! Enjoy!

Kaylee Cavanaugh just wants to be a normal teen. Like it isn't bad enough that she got dumped with her Aunt Val, Uncle Brendan & spoiled cousin Sophie when her mom died and her dad ran away to Ireland, but she's crazy too? She doesn't believe it, but those close to her have no other choice.

After having a "panic attack" in a mall by screaming her head off, and being unable to control herself, Kaylee wound up locked in the mental ward at the local hospital and taking heavy medications. She's been out for a while now and hasn't had an incidents, so she's starting to think that life is returning to normal. Until she goes to a local club with her best friend Emma. While there, and hanging out with uber-hunky athlete Nash Hudson, she sees a girl shrouded in shadows and gets the familiar urge to scream. Fighting it away, with the help of both Emma and Nash, Kayless manages to recover her composure. That is until the next day when she finds out that the shadowed girl wound up dead in the bathroom of the night club.

Now totally freaking out, Kaylee continues her quest for normalcy. Sadly, that is not to be what she finds. When Emma is unreachable due to being grounded, there is only one person left to turn to. Nash isn't running for the hills and soon tells Kaylee why that's the case. He is just like her; she's not crazy, she's a bean sidhe. As he unfolds the truth of her heritage, they become more than just friends because he has a natural gift to help her control her wail, which is actually music to his ears. And help her he does and more teenage girls continue to die around them. Only something is off about their deaths. Healthy, teenage girls don't just collapse into death from no cause. Something is causing this and it will take everything Nash and Kaylee can muster to put a stop to it before someone closer to home becomes the next victim.

If you are tired of the furry, pointed-teeth paranormal that is currently very popular, than look no further. This new angle into the paranormal field is entrenched in a rich history that gives a whole new meaning to "difficult teenage years." Kaylee Cavanaugh is a pretty solid female lead who I'm sure many younger girls can relate to; she is not the star of the show, but she's comfortably in the middle ground. Her insecurity is one of her most pulling attributes. That's not to say that she is scared out of her mind and unsure of anything, but she exhibits normal teen fears of acceptance and self-worth along with confusion of what she really is. Bean sidhes or banshees are an interesting choice for a teen series as usually these women are portrayed as old hags or gorgeous young women. The thought that they had to have a youth, and to set that youth in the modern age, shows a great insight.

The storyline was well thought out given that there was a "rational" explanation for her "panic attacks" and that her family tried to protect her by hiding the truth. This was especially true of her absentee father, which given what is revealed about why he is absent, made quite a bit of sense. The timeline of events felt a little rushed as I don't think anyone, even a resilient person, could handle as much as Kaylee did in a short amount of time, but that tends to be a genre norm. I also enjoyed the way the characters interacted with one another, there was a lot of emotion conveyed with very few words and I could really feel what was happening to the characters. I don't always get that kind of reaction.

Honestly, this is now one of my personal favorites for this genre. It has just enough of all the right stuff (action, intrigue, mystery, romance) to really keep me on my toes and keep me guessing as to what's going to happen next. Pick it up if you get a chance and don't forget to check out the next installment that will be featured later this week, My Soul to Save.

You have the chance to win both books over at The Story Siren's site.

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Interview with Soul Screamers author Rachel Vincent!

Welcome to Soul Screamers' Week! As a celebration of all that Rachel Vincent has accomplished with her teen series, I will be holding a week-long celebration of Soul Screamers. During this week there will be my reviews of the books, Soul Screamers related posts, an interview with Rachel and (what would a celebratory week be without...) a giveaway! Enjoy!

Let's give a warm welcome to Rachel Vincent who is here to kick off the Soul Screamers' Week with her interview.

1. What made you choose paranormal as your main genre?

Actually, I chose urban fantasy. At least, that's what I thought I was choosing. But I'm typically shelved in Paranormal Romance, which means my readers are a cross-section of romance and fantasy readers, which is awesome! As for how I chose urban fantasy, I just write the kinds of books I like to read. ;)

2. How much research did you actually have to log on bean sidhes for the Soul Screamers series?

Um... I read what I could find, but there wasn't exactly a ton out there. Which is why I chose bean sidhes. There was plenty of room for me to make stuff up, without disturbing the existing lore too badly. So my bean sidhes are a good mix of existing lore and my own imagination.

3. Your books are coming out in quick succession, did you write them all at one and then divide the stories up or have you been writing the whole time?

I've been writing the whole time, but not just on the Soul Screamers series. I also write an adult series (Shifters) for MIRA Books. I had the first three Soul Screamers books written before the first one came out.

4. What is your favorite aspect of your series? (Certain characters, the mythology, the romance, etc)

My favorite aspect of the Soul Screamers series is the world building. After writing the Shifters series for so long, in which I'm limited to three different breeds of shape shifters, I felt like my hands were really untied with Kaylee and her world. There's nothing I can't do there, and I've really let my imagination go, and that means that there's an infinite number of plots and characters I could write.

5. Any hints about your third installment My Soul to Keep that’s due out this June?

Yes! MSTKeep is all about the consequences, and in the Soul Screamers world, consequences are real, and they're permanent. These books each stand alone, but the events in MSTKeep are--in large part--aftermath of what happened in MSTSave (though you don't have to have read it first), and Kaylee's relationships in this one are changed forever. Its a very emotional story, and devastating in many ways. A couple of the scenes actually made me uncomfortable to write.

6. Anything else you want to tell your readers and fans?

Kaylee's a strong character, and her strength is mostly on the inside. She's loyal, and brave, and caring to a fault. But she's not afraid to do what needs to be done. I love this series and these characters, and I'm so grateful to everyone who's decided to give them a try!

Thank you so much Rachel for that little peak into your world(s)! That's some exciting news on the MSTKeep front. Check out her website for more information on both her series and for a list of appearances.

Interview with Soul Screamers author Rachel Vincent!

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Can't a girl catch a break? Not when you're one of 8 breeding female werecats in the continental United States; and especially not when you are an Alpha's daughter.

After growing up in a gender-biased society of werecats where females are only expected to have litters of children to further the species, Faythe Sanders escaped the oppressive rule of her Pride and her Alpha/father for the care-free whims of college life. After completing her BA, Faythe stayed on to continue grad school and her normal life. Normal, human boyfriend Andrew and a normal, human roommate have done wonders to keep Faythe centered and focused and decidedly ignoring any non-human activities.

That is until she happens upon a stray on campus one night. Since this is the South Central Pride's territory, this stray is breaking the law and needs to be sent back to the free territory. Only he doesn't smell like a normal stray; he's spicier than that. After getting into an altercation with this stray and breaking his nose before he ran off, her father's enforcer show up, in the form of stray-turned-Pride-cat and former fiance Marc Ramos, and inform her that she will be coming back to the ranch immediately. Upon arrival it is like being thrown back in time as nothing has changed at the Lazy S ranch. Her room is the same, her brothers are still over-protective, and her parents are forever trying to get her to settle down with a husband and children.

Only upon further inspection is she told that her cousin Sara has been kidnapped and several young women have been mauled and murdered recently. Naturally Faythe rebels against being brought back to be "protected," she wants to help and fight whoever is behind this nefarious plan. Soon enough, there is more fuel to the fire when her teen cousin Abby is taken and Sara shows up murdered. As the Prides band together to find this murderous cat, Faythe gets more than she bargained for when she asked to help. The force of parental pressure, and sexual tension between Marc, Jace, and herself, causes Faythe to forget her surroundings and become the next kidnapped tabby.

In a race against time, Faythe discovers what true courage is, who she can really trust, and that protecting is what is meant to do.

Stray is the beginning of a great werecat series by Rachel Vincent. While she may have some flaws, Faythe Sanders is a strong female character who proves that no one is perfect, but that doesn't mean you stop trying. She does what she thinks is best and what her heart tells her is right, despite the consequences. Now, this can get her in to trouble, more often than not, but at the same time it is what makes her so likable as a character.

She's not the only one though. There are SO many characters in this book because Prides are necessarily small. Faythe's older brothers run the gamut from uber-responsible lawyer Michael, to fun, frolicy Ethan. Marc and Jace are the main love interests and as such are definitely beyond the realm of normal hotness. Faythe's parents are the very image of what I would expect a sire and dam to be like: overprotective, caring, understanding, and yet firm when necessary.

The plot is built so that as you go along, you find yourself trying to figure out who is responsible for what, because all of the necessary clues are found in the story itself. Often times I find that the main character solves the mystery with outside information that the reader is not privy to and it just irks me; but here that is not the case. The story plods along and carries you all the way to the very end, with the climax just a few short pages from the end! It's fantastic!

Overall I'd have to say that Rachel Vincent has now won a spot in my "awesome" shelf with this book and series. Make sure to check out all the books, in order of course,:

Shift is scheduled for release March 1, 2010 and the final book in the series will be entitled and is tentatively set for October 2010. Stay tuned for more Shifters action.

Also, if you like her werecat series, Rachel Vincent has also written a bean sidhe series about a teenage girl who has just discovered that she is a bean sidhe. The series is called Soul Screamers and it already has a prequel novella (available for download here) and two published books (My Soul to Take & My Soul to Save). I am having a Soul Screamers week at the end of January to celebrate this fantastic series. Find out more about the celebratory week and GIVEAWAY here.

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Do you love the Soul Screamers series?

Hokay, so here's the deal. I have fallen in love with Rachel Vincent's writing. Both of her series are amazing!! Her adult series Shifters is about werecats and her teen series Soul Screamers is about a teenage bean sidhe. As a celebration of all that she has accomplished with her teen series, I will be holding a week-long celebration of Soul Screamers from January 25-29th. During that week there will be my reviews of the books, Soul Screamers related posts, an interview with Rachel and (what would a celebratory week be without...) a giveaway!!

I know you are all as excited as I am about the content and even more excited about the prize. I have teamed up with the incredible "UnderGlass" on Etsy.com to bring you a handmade necklace. ONE winner will get to choose a "soul" necklace from the site. She has even offered to create a custom item with the winner's choice of a world and then "soul" on any color they choose if nothing in her store strikes their fancy. View pictures below for a better understanding.
So, the winner can either choose one of the existing "soul necklaces or they can create their own.

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED and the winner will be announced on Friday January 29th. All you have to do to be entered is fill out the form below. You MUST be a follower in order to participate and it is only open to US residents. There are options for extra entries, as always:

+5 Old Follower
+3 New Follower
+1 Sidebar (leave link)
+5 Blog post

If I make it to 100 followers I will throw in a mystery prize (a gift card? a mystery book?)

If you have any questions or if anything is unclear, please let me know and I will work quickly to rectify the situation. Good luck to all and be sure to check out my Soul Screamers week from January 25th-29th!

Do you love the Soul Screamers series?

Trailer: My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

I thought that considering that this is my Waiting on Wednesday book this week, that I would share this lovely little book trailer with you. You can find the original post at Rachel Vincent's blog. Remember, My Soul to Save is the second book in the Soul Screamers series, the first being My Soul to Take, so obviously there may be spoilerish stuff in the video. Other than that, enjoy!!

Trailer: My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's choice is a day late of the release, but I'm still really excited! My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent. This is the second book in the Screamers series, the first being My Soul to Take, so obviously there may be spoilerish stuff below.

“If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.”

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....
From Goodreads

I absolutely devoured My Soul to Take and I was fortunate enough to score a copy of My Soul to Save at the local book store with my Christmas gift cards. Rachel Vincent has a magnetic writing style that I can't seem to move away from and I truly hope she keeps it up. If you haven't checked her books out yet, you should definitely get on that. She has the Soul Screamers YA series and then she has an adult werecat series along the same lines as Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series.

Waiting on Wednesday