Alpha, by Rachel Vincent

Alpha, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #6)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 472 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

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.

I came to a conclusion today after finishing this last book. The final book. This is my number one favorite series. In general. I've known since the beginning of the series that it was my number one favorite ADULT series, but it's official that it's my number one favorite in general. So if you ever ask me what my favorite series is, and you don't specify, I'm going to have to say The Shifters series.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about this book because it's the last in the series. But all I can say is wow. I'm sad to see this is the end of the series, so very sad, but I love how it ended. Rachel couldn't have ended it in a more perfect way.

I cried so much in this book. I've cried so much in this series. Period. You just get hooked on the characters, even if they aren't the very front main characters, and when something happens you're hurt. I felt everything Faythe felt when something happened to this said character. It hit me hard.

Even though one of the deaths in the fifth book hit me hard, and I loved that person so much, I cried more with this person. Is that weird?

Anyway, this book was amazing. I loved it. I can't say which book was my favorite because they are all amazing. I can definitely say this one is high up on my top three lists for this book though.

The characters are amazing and real. Faythe is real. She makes mistakes, she gets her ass kicked in EVERY book. It's just...real. You know? A lot of people think they have to make their main character good at anything to do with the bad guys in the stories, but not Rachel. She made Faythe real. She made her have MAJOR flaws, she made her make stupid decisions that sometimes nearly costs someone their life. But she ALWAYS does it trying to stick up for who/what she loves.

And Mark. Ahh Mark. I love him so much. I love Jace too. But in this whole book I was all "OH. MY. GOD FAYTHE! WHY?!" and that's all I'm saying on that. Seriously. Read it and you'll understand.

All the characters grow so much during the series. Faythe definitely did. She goes from not wanting to be involved with her Pride, to live her own life, to nearly giving up everything to save her Pride. I admire her so much.

Overall, I really can't describe this book very well. Or my feelings. All I know is that it was filled with so much emotion and I loved it. There was a lot of violence and grief and just...so many tears. So much happened in a short period of time.

You should seriously think about picking this series up. It's amazing. It's real. It's so entertaining that you want to read it forever. Even if there were no real plot. Even if it was Faythe's day to day life. Her getting up, brushing her teeth, flipping pages in a book. You'd be entertained. Rachel did a fantastic job and now I want to finish her Soul Screamers series! Which is also amazing, well so I've read from the first book.

Note & Warning: This is an Adult series. There are some scenes  in this book that may not be suitable for those under the age of 16. 

This series is complete. Read my reviews for the rest of the series: Stray (#1), Rogue (#2), Pride (#3), Prey (#4), Shift (#5)

Past, Present & Future Reads #7

Past, Present, & Future Reading Pile is a new feature on my blog where I "hopefully" post every Monday to keep track of the books I've read the week before, what I'm currently reading and which books I hope to start and finish during that week. 

The Past

Shift, by Rachel Vincent

(Shifters, #5)

Publisher: Mira

Release Date: February 17, 2010

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways. 
As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe. 
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option...

One more book in this series left. I'm really sad. =( You can read my review of Shift here.

Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris
(Kate Grable, #1)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011

Someone's been a very bad zombie.Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.

This one was a pretty enjoyable, funny, non-serious book. My review will be up tomorrow. Monday, February 19, 2012.

Fins Are Forever, by Tera Lynn Childs
(Fins, #2)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: June 28, 2011

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all. 
Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody? 
The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

 I can't wait for Just For Fins!! I hope it's not the last one. My review for Fins Are Forever will be up on Thursday, February 23, 2012.

Total Books: 3

The Present

Starters, by Lissa Price
(Starters, #1)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: March 13, 2012

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER 
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

I'm an Ambuzzador for Random Buzzers this season, so I received Starters in the mail to review for it.  It's a debut book for Lissa Price this year which I'm happy about, plus its a Dystopian! I'm only 50 or so pages in so far, but it's really interesting!

The Future

• Illuminate, by Aimee Agresti
• Supernaturally, by Kiersten White

After I finish Starters, I'm going to read another debut author's book for 2012; Illuminate. It sounds really good! I can't wait to dive into it. And since I'm trying to save Alpha, the last Shifters book by Rachel Vincent, I'm going to distract myself by diving back into Evie's world in Supernaturally. 

So, as always, what books did you read this week? What are you currently reading? What are you planning to read next? Leave your comments below. 

I hope you have an awesome week and read some awesome books!

Shift, by Rachel Vincent

Shift, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #5)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: February 17, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 441 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 3 days
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile 
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways. 
As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe. 
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option...

Wow, I never get enough of this series. I've been flying through this series and now I only have one more book to read. Which makes me extremely sad. I tried to read this one slow so I could try and preserve some of it, but it didn't work out too well.

The usual craziness happens in this book, if you've read the series you'll understand what I'm talking about. Faythe and her Pride just never get a break. As soon as some sort of calmness sets in, something happens to blow that all up. But Faythe pulls through it. She still tries to keep a positive mind when all of this craziness is going on.

She has so many problems going on; with her Pride and her heart. There is a little bit of a love triangle going on, okay a big triangle and it's bad because not only is her head screwed up because of it, but mine was too! I love Marc, but I really like Jace as well. I wish Jace could find someone that is his true love.

Not going to go into anymore of that. There is a new species that is talked about throughout the beginning of the series, but never really show up until now and they are scary! Intriguing, but very scary.

Overall, I don't want to write much to giveaway any spoilers. It's very hard not to. So I'm just going to leave you saying that it was amazing, as always. I can't get enough of this series and I highly recommend it. Great characters, great plots, and great romance. =) And it's definitely not sugarcoated. =)

Note & Warning: This is an Adult series. There are some scenes  in this book that may not be suitable for those under the age of 16. 

The sixth and final book in the series is called Alpha. It was released on October 1, 2010. Read my reviews for the rest of the series: Stray (#1), Rogue (#2), Pride (#3), and Prey (#4).  

Past, Present, & Future Reading #6

Past, Present, & Future Reading Pile is a new feature on my blog where I "hopefully" post every Monday to keep track of the books I've read the week before, what I'm currently reading and which books I hope to start and finish during that week.

The Past

Pride, by Rachel Vincent

(Shifters, #3)

Publisher: Mira

Release Date: February 1, 2009

I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend--and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride--along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.I'm two for three. A goner.Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I "think" I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council."If" I survive my own trial...

I love this series. LOVE. You can read my review here. 

Prey, by Rachel Vincent

(Shifters, #4)

Publisher: Mira

Release Date: July 1, 2009

Sometimes playing cat and mouse is no game...Play? "Right." My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father's authority is in question and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven't laid eyes on Marc's gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother "and" an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don't exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again.Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays. Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever.

I only have two more books in this series to read. =( I am very sad. I really want to be reading them right now, but I also kind of want to save them. Forever. But I can't do that because I'm dying to know what happens. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this series? Seriously. You can read my review for Prey here.  

Carrier of the Mark, by Leigh Fallon

(Carrier Trilogy, #1)

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: October 4, 2011

From the moment she sets foot at her new school in Ireland, Megan is inexplicably drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRis. But Megan soon discovers that her feelings for Adam are tied to a supernatural fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that unites them could be their ultimate destruction. 

Wow! Can't wait for the next one. My review for this one will be up on Thursday,  February 16th. =) Also, by the way, the Paperback copy I got from the library says "Carrier of the Mark", but the one in the picture says "THE Carrier of the Mark". I also see "Carrier of the Mark" in some places on the web and "The Carrier of the Mark" in other places. I know it doesn't really matter, but it just kind of annoys me a little bit. You know what I mean? Ha! But the cover is beautiful and the book it AMAZING. =D 

Total Books: 3

The Present

The Repossession, by Sam Hawksmoor

Publisher: Hodder's Children Books

Release Date: March 1, 2012

34 kids missing. Vanished without a trace. 
Believing she is possessed, Genie Magee's mother has imprisoned her all summer encouraged by the sinister Reverend Schneider. Beautiful Rian, love of her life, sets her free, and their escape washes them up at Marshall's remote farmhouse downriver. But why are there newspaper clippings of the missing kids pinned to Marshall's bathroom wall? And should they believe his stories about the experiments at the Fortress, an underground research station nearby? 
Genie meets Denis. Missing two years now, but hasn't grown an inch. Rian is haunted by Renée, who insists she's not actually dead. Soon they discover the terrible truth about Reverend Schneider and worse, Genie is next ... and Rian can't do a thing to prevent it. 
The Repossession is just the beginning.

I haven't started this yet, but I will later on tonight. I got this book for review from Hodder's Children Books. It sounds very interesting. =) 

The Future

• Shift, by Rachel Vincent 
• Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris

After I finished The Repossession, I'm going to dive in happily to Shift, and then if I finish that I'm hoping to read Bad Taste in Boys. =)  I hope I get all of these done this week. 

What books did you read this week? What are you currently reading? What are you planning to read next? Leave your comments below. 

Happy reading and I hope you have an awesome week! 

Prey, by Rachel Vincent

Prey, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #4)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Mass Market Paperback: 394 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 2 days
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Sometimes playing cat and mouse is no game...Play? "Right." My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father's authority is in question and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven't laid eyes on Marc's gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother "and" an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don't exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again.Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays. Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever.

 Oh my God. Did all of that really just happen?! My head is still trying to wrap around everything. Especially the Ethan thing, which I'm not going to say, and just what will be happening in the next book. This will be a short review because I'm getting deeper in the series and I don't want to reveal any spoilers.

All I can say is this is a fantastic series. Gets better and better and it's so action filled and Faythe is one bad-ass heroine! She never fails to amaze me. And aah, Marc and Jace. I love them both. Marc a little more,  but Jace is inching his way up with every book. What will happen with this?!

I only have two more books in the series to read, which I am definitely sad about. If this series had a hundred books in it, I can honestly say I would read each and every one of them and not think twice about it. It could probably have no real plot and I would still love it.

Rachel is a fantastic author and this series is definitely my top favorite Adult series. Probably my top favorite series that involves some sort of shifter.

Overall, this series is amazing. Read it. It has everything. Great writing, great characters, great plot lines, action, mystery, ROMANCE! And werecats. Yes. WERECATS. Not werewolves. WERECATS. Big panther-like werecats.

Note & Warning: This is an Adult series. There are some scenes  in this book that may not be suitable for those under the age of 16. 

The fifth book in this series is called Shift. It was released on February 17th, 2010. 

Pride, by Rachel Vincent

Pride, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #3)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: February 1, 2009
Mass Market Paperback: 425 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 

 To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend--and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride--along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.I'm two for three. A goner.Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I "think" I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council."If" I survive my own trial...

Wow. I don't know what to say about this one. It was so different. I loved it, though not as much as the first two. It continues a bit after the last book ended and Faythe is put on trial for her actions in the last book. I love Faythe, she's such a strong character even with knowing that anything could happen with the trial. She's strong and puts on a great front and is still brave enough to stand up for what she believes in, even though her mouth gets her into serious trouble more often than not.

All the characters are great. Even the bad guys. I swear, Malone got such a strong reaction from me throughout the whole book. I despised him with every part of my being and I voiced it pretty loudly to my husband who I got to start the series and he went past me while I was re-reading the first two books.

You have got to love a book that makes you feel strongly--though negatively--about a bad guy in the story.

There is a lot of action in this series, and I love it. This one was kind of creepy in parts and it left me with my eyes wide open in horror at what was happening. Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong! It keeps you on your toes and your fingers turning the pages at the speed of lightning.

Overall, this series is amazing. I think it is definitely my favorite Adult series. I don't think I've read anything of Rachel's I didn't like. I plan on reading all of her series. (I've only read these first three books of the Shifters series and then the first book in her Young Adult series Soul Screamers.) Also, I actually found myself holding my breath at many scenes in this book. Have you ever found yourself doing that? I was so worried for Faythe. If you've read the first two books in this series but haven't gotten around to reading this one yet, do so now. I waited too long and now I'm upset with myself for not reading it sooner.

Note & Warning: Again, this is an Adult series. There are some scenes  in this book that may not be suitable for those under the age of 16. There is also some pretty gruesome scenes in this book relating to man-eaters. 

The fourth book in this series is called Prey. It was released on July 1, 2009. Click for my reviews on Stray & Rogue. 

Rogue, by Rachel Vincent

Rogue, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #2)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: April 1, 2008
Mass Market Paperback: 394 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Source: Bought
Challenge: Off the Shelf
Rating:
 To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I've made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I'm working harder than ever, though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on and off duty.But not all my mistakes are behind me. We're beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women and that they can all be laid at my feet--two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear....

This is yet another re-read of mine. I wanted to re-read the series in order to continue on with the third book and the rest of the series. I'm so happy to be diving back into this world, I forgot how much I loved it. The beginning of the book starts off as a couple of months after the ending of the first book. She's made a deal with her dad, which I'm not going to tell you what because I don't want to give anything away, but it's a good deal and benefits both of them. She stays at the Lazy S ranch with her family and those she grew up with and she's working as an enforcer for her dad, which I loved!

Faythe definitely kicks ass and you dive into that in the beginning. She's a strong and stubborn woman, and I love that in her character. She's no damsel in distress, which makes me very happy because it's so refreshing! Sometimes it's okay to let your man come to your aid, but you also need to learn to defend for yourself.

And speaking of men, *le sigh* I love Marc. He is just so yummy. Definitely a man to add to all of your Book Boyfriends list. He has a temper and he's pretty possessive, but in a weird way that is just kind of sexy with him. You know what I mean? Him and Faythe are perfect for each other. They may seriously push each other's buttons sometimes, but they are two halves to a whole.

I love all the other characters as well, they just jump off the page. They've all kind of grown from the first book, and I'm very happy about it. It makes everything all the more real.

There are a few "minor" characters that you don't see very often, though they are there, from the first book come back in this one and it will definitely make your jaw drop. I even like the bad guys! I mean, yes, they make me angry. But gosh, they are so real and intriguing! And this book also adds a very interesting female character to the cast and I'm very curious to learn more about her.

Overall, this book won't disappoint you after finishing the first book. It is just as intriguing. This series has action, mystery, romance and will never fail to make you laugh. I highly recommend it. You'll never get enough of it. =)
Note & Warning: Just as I said with the first book in this series, it's an Adult series. There are some scenes  in this book that may not be suitable for those under the age of 16.

The third book in this series is called Pride. It was released on February 1, 2009.Click here for my review of the first book, Stray. 

Stray, by Rachel Vincent

Stray, by Rachel Vincent
(Shifters, #1)
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: June 1, 2007
Mass Market Paperback: 618 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Source: Bought
Challenge: Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

There are only eight breeding female werecats left . . . And I'm one of them.I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . .

This is another re-read for me. I read Stray  a couple of years ago. I only read the first two books in the series, but never continued. So I decided to re-read Stray  & Rogue to refresh my mind so I can continue and finish the series. I have to say, I really forgot how amazing this series is.

It pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you along for the ride. The writing flows very nicely together and you can fly through more pages than your normally do a minute. I can't really think of anything that bugs me, other than the characters and the things some characters do in the story, which is SUPPOSED to happen. =) In which it is good.

I love the main characters, Faythe. She is truly a kick-ass heroine. She's brave, sarcastic, stands up for herself, and knows how to kick ass when she needs to. She doesn't let anyone push her around, and I love all of that about her. I can't believe I forgot how awesome she is! She makes me laugh constantly throughout the books.

I also love Marc, her family and Pride. They all have so much personality to them that you feel like you know them. I wish my family was that close. And aaaah, Marc is so yummy! (J, if you're reading this, you knew this was coming! I bet you think Faythe is yummy, but you're just too scared to say it.)

Overall, this was amazing the first time I read it, amazing this second time around, and I will definitely be re-reading it again in the future. It has a unique story line and there are WERECATS! Not werewolves, WERECATS! You can't say that isn't cool. And it's not housecat. It's BIG cats.

NOTE & WARNING: This is an ADULT book. It deals heavily with rape. There aren't any actual rape scenes in the book, but it is talked about and and attempted. This is a great series, but probably not so great for those under 16.

The second book in the series is called Rogue. It was released on April 1, 2008.