When I saw the announcement that Amazon was taking orders for the Kindle 3, I hesitated for about ten seconds. I had a Kindle 1, how could I justify buying a new Kindle? I read over the features and the space appealed to me, as did the length of the battery life. That was one of the things that disappointed my about my K1; I felt like I was always charging it. While space was not a major issue with a 4 gig SD card, I still would rather have the space on the device. But the PDF feature especially seemed cool because when reviewing, we receive a lot of PDF’s and I hate having to convert them to Kindle format.

Oh, and the ability to separate my books into collections. Going through 50 pages of books is not fun. There were other features that appealed to me such as the text to speech and global 3G, but the ones I mentioned were the key features in my decision making.

So I hopped over to Bitten By Books, clicked the Amazon link and ordered the 3G Graphite version of the Kindle. I hesitated at spending the money for the cover with a light, but I read in the car on the way home from places, so I added that to my order. Then I sat back to wait…and wait…and wait.

YAY! Finally, I got an email that my K3 had shipped. I watched as it traveled from Indianapolis to me along with everyone else who ordered one the day I did. The big day arrived, and when I got home from work, the pretty little box from Amazon awaited me on my porch. I brought it in and tried to resist the urge to tear the box open right there. My husband beat me to it! I was stunned! He opened the box, tore off the protective covers and turned it on. And sat there and tried to figure out what to do next!!!

Then, it was my turn to check out my new toy. And what a change! It is thinner, and way less bulkier than my K1, which means it is lighter, too. The five-way controller makes it easier to navigate my way around the menus. Although, I can see how that might quickly be a part that can wear out. I spent my evening playing with it and learning many of the “new” features.

Collections. For those of you who have a K1, well, this is just cool. I think my only complaint is that you have to go through all the books in order to add a book to the folder. I’d love to be able to add the book as I’m reading it to that folder or find a different way to add them, but I’m sure at some point that could be an upgrade.

Lightweight. Wow. I was terrified that I was going to drop it a few times because the weight difference and the thickness were so different from what I was used to with the K1. Now I will not feel like I will be carrying a brick in my purse when I take my kindle somewhere.

Other features and interesting things about the K3. A lot of the reviews I have read have spoken to the text. The text seems clear and of better quality, which I think will make an easier reading experience. I like the graphite color, although I will be on the lookout for a pretty skin for it since I got attached to the one that came on the used K1 that I bought. I think the keyboard is nicer as well. Although, I can see how having to hit symbol every time I want to put a number in could become a hassle. I did like having the @ symbol on the main keyboard as well on the K1. The web browser is much better than the K1, but I don’t imagine I’ll be using it all that much. But other than color, it is similar to using a browser on a blackberry - or seems to be.

I have to confess, though, when I was ready to transfer some items from my computer to the new Kindle, it took me a minute to find the USB cable. Why? Well, on the K1, I was used to having a separate USB cord. While I rarely used it because I used the SD card feature (which I am going to miss), I did have it. So, I started looking through the box and everything wondering what happened to that cable when my husband opened the box. Then it occurred to me, the USB cable and the power cable were the same cord. How cool is that? I only have to take one cable with me when I travel now. What a neat and unexpected feature.

I am still playing with it and still learning all the neat things I can do with it. I am sure it will take me a while to learn, but I hope this will be my last purchase of one for a while, despite not having a color screen yet. And now that I have the new one? I am stumped on what to do with the K1. Do I try and sell it with all of its cool accessories that I bought and cannot use now or do I pass it along to my sister-in-law for a really expensive Christmas present. Decisions, decisions. But I have to say I love it so far and am excited and glad that I spent the money for it. Now to wait and see if the cover is worth the money I paid for it. But the Kindle 3? It is definitely rated 4.5 tombstones.

We are excited to share the new No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon book trailer with you all today! Many of you  may have already seen it, but for those who haven’t, here it is. Check it out and tell me what you think in the comments. Love it? Hate it? Excited for the book? While you are at it, rate it with the stars and tell us what rating you gave the trailer and why!

“Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before…..”

Link to trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067W4Kvqa4g

Sherrilyn Kenyon website containing book synopsis and much more:
http://were-hunter.com/

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department – while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen and survived all manner of fiery hell. But her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains – or more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims – and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon, she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more – she’s collecting spirits. In a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Letter to the reader on Sparks:

Dear Reader:

Some of the strongest feedback I received on EMBERS involved Anya’s elemental familiar, Sparky. Sparky’s a fire elemental who takes the shape of a speckled five-foot salamander. Depending on his mood, he can be spunky, cranky, or petulant. But he’s always got Anya’s best interests at heart, even when he’s hogging the bed or eating her cell phone.

In SPARKS, I decided to let Sparky off the leash, so to speak. Sparky’s gonna be a papa of a few dozen little newts that are soon to hatch in Anya’s bathtub. And that involved some preparations…including Anya reluctantly making a trip to the baby superstore for provisions. I won’t spoil the story, but the havoc Sparky wreaks requires the intervention of the fire department.

I hope readers enjoy watching Sparky run wild in the aisles. We all need to cut loose, sometimes. But when Sparky does it, Anya had better make sure that her insurance premiums are paid up.

-Laura Bickle

•¸¸.•*¨*•☆ •¸¸.•*¨*•☆ •¸¸.•*¨*•☆ •¸¸.•*¨*•☆ •¸¸.•*¨*•☆ •¸¸.•*¨*•☆

Learn more about Laura Bickle here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.

Welcome to the poll of the week!! Polling runs through Sunday 9/5/10 at or around 11:00 pm CST. VOTE on the Right side of the site then stop here to tell us “Do you HAVE to have a Happily Ever After in your Paranormal Books?” and why you chose your answer. Thank you to Rachel for this week’s poll!

Please comment as MUCH as you like. We want to hear from AUTHORS AND READERS alike! Remember to VOTE over on the right hand side of the site. Choose wisely you only get 1 vote, though you can comment below as much as you like!

Feel free to use the banner at the top of this post. Put it on your blogs, groups etc. to let your FANS and friends know about the poll! Link back to this post here:

http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=29892

I didn’t think I would ever say this out loud, but CUNT WON it with 171 out of 391 votes with twat a very close second at 150. See all of the poll results below.

While you are here be SURE to check out all of the other events/contests going on by clicking here! Something new every single day!

ADMIN NOTE: Please be respectful of other people when commenting. Everybody’s opinion is valid regardless if it matches your own. We have a ZERO tolerance for flaming and cheating. Anybody who is caught doing either will have their comments deleted and IP Permanently banned from this site. Thank you.

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Greetings, Watchers. This week we have two goodies for you: True Blood and Haven.

True Blood, 9:00 p.m. EST Sunday, HBO (Carol)

So, I have just come off of a marathon viewing of Seasons One and Two of True Blood over the last couple of weeks. I love the show, and would like to share my thoughts and observations regarding the visual version of Sookie’s world. As you read this, please keep in mind that at the time of this writing I have only seen Seasons One and Two of the show and have only read the corresponding first two books of the series.

One aspect I most enjoy is that we get to know a few characters in more depth than we do in the books. We learn more about Sam, certainly. Two of my favorite minor characters are Hoyt and Terry. However, something that has bothered me from the very beginning is Jason’s portrayal. I know he is not a particularly endearing character in the books, at least so far, but in the show he comes off as bordering on ridiculous. And we get more Lafayette…

I do feel as though the Maryann/maenad storyline was dragged out a bit too long, though Michelle Forbes was great in the role. I liked what the writers did with the Godric character, combining two vampires into one. I thought his end was touching, just as that of his counterpart in the book was.

The humor always works really well, and the writers do an excellent job fusing it with the other story elements. I laughed out loud a lot.

So, viewers, tell me what your favorite aspects of the show are. Which characters do you like the most on the show, and why? Which ones do you like the least? What do you enjoy most about the show in general?

Haven - 10:00pm EST Friday, Syfy (Brit)

I have mixed feelings about this week’s episode. The Dark Man storyline wasn’t as good to me as the other supernatural storylines in the past shows. It was a little boring. What did you think? I did think the opening scenes when the shadow rose up out of the ground was creepy, but after that I didn’t care so much. Did you like it?

For me the Dark Man was more like background noise and the real focus this week was the further development of the characters. The writing is so good and the characters are believable and sympathetic and the dialogue is perfect. What is your opinion?

One of my favorite scenes this week was when Nathan was teasing Audrey about not remembering any of her fellow officer’s names. She was so far out in left field reaching for names. She called Bob, Alan and Steve, Stan. Oh, and what about when she was interviewing two shooting targets from the range to try and lure the Dark Man to the station? Something about her pretending to have a normal conversation with cardboard tickled me. My sense of humor is off at times. Did you find it at all funny?

There was a moment between Jess and Nathan that was touching, but then a few scenes later everything went all to hell. I was a little disappointed in her decision but I probably would have run screaming from that town a long time ago.

And yippee the newspaper guys were back because that is just “how they roll.” You’ll have to watch to understand that reference. But they are so cool I think I would watch a show featuring just them!

My absolute all-time favorite moment of the entire series happened in the very last minute of the show. I won’t give all the details in case not everyone has watched it yet. But when Audrey kisses Nathan on the cheek, something amazing happens (this is the part I can’t tell), and the look on his face of pure joy and disbelief gave me chills. I even gave a little cheer. Wasn’t that just the perfect ending?

So what was your overall impression of this weeks show? Haven will be off next week for the holiday so I will see you guys in two weeks for an all-new episode.

Hello Readers!

Welcome to our Weekly Book Chat. This week we are discussing  Master of None by Sonya Bateman. Jump right in and start sharing and even if you haven’t read the book, ask the other readers questions about it. Who knows, this may become a favorite new book! Be sure to invite a bunch of your friends to come and chat with us this week! Here’s the direct link so they won’t get lost. http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=29880

To read a 5 Tombstone review of this book click here.

Please remember to IDENTIFY SPOILERS, especially if they refer to events later in the series.

1.) This series has an unusual premise. Which aspect of the book did you most enjoy?

2.) How do you like Gavyn as a main character? Do you have trouble accepting him as sympathetic, given his background?

3.) Do you have a favorite secondary character? If so, why are they your favorite?

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439160848
• ISBN-13: 978-1439160848

To purchase a print copy of Master of None from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Master of None from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase an eBook copy of Master of None from Barnes & Noble click here.

To purchase an eBook of Master of None from OmniLit click here.

Note: If you are going to post major spoiler, be sure to post this first in your comment. Do this

****SPOILER*****
S

P

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I

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E

R

Just copy and paste that, then your commentary.

That way others can avoid them if they want. This is called Spoiler vision.

Also be SURE to check out our amazing line up of other author events this month here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=4

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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/?afsrc=1&lkid=J14331750&pubid=K158391

This edition of Off the Fang brought to you by Buyer’s Remorse: wherein you are deeply saddened that you can’t give every book in the world a home. (This may lead to the over-consumption of chocolate, the direct infusion of caffeine into your bloodstream, and the gnashing of teeth.)

One of my (horrible OCDs) tasks at Bitten by Books is to compile a list of new releases (which I did anyway). This allows us (me) to make sure (prepare my wallet) we have all the new bright and shiny books for you fabulous (seriously) readers. In doing so, I’ve been concerned for (slightly pissed off at) the publishing world.

There are thirty-three releases in the Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy genres on August 31st alone. Most of the releases are continuations of series I love. Others are new-to-me authors I’m dying to read. But there is no way on caffeine’s green earth I can afford thirty-three books! And, I’m guessing, neither can you.

Wondering what books, exactly, will be available for mass consumption on August 31st? Here’s the list I have:

1. Susan Squires - The Mists of Time

2. Dakota Banks - Sacrifice

3. Jayne Castle - Midnight Crystal

4. O’Riley, Howell, Ivy - Yours for Eternity

5. Alexandra Adornetto - Halo

6. McCarthy, D’Arc, Lyon - The Beast Within

7. Adrienne Barbeau - Love Bites

8. J. K. Beck - When Blood Calls

9. Laura Bickle - Sparks

10. Marie Brennan - A Star Shall Fall

11. Gail Carriger - Blameless

12. Cassandra Clare - The Clockwork Angel

13. Harry Connolly - Game of Cages

14. Kelly Creagh - Nevermore

15. Claire Delacroix - Rebel

16. Christine Feehan - Dark Peril

17. Kelly Gay - The Darkest Edge of Dawn

18. Simon R. Green - Ghost of a Chance

19. M. K. Hobson - The Native Star

20. Sharie Kohler - My Soul to Keep

21. Ann Aguirre - Killbox

22. C. E. Murphy - Truthseeker

23. Alyson Noel - Radiance

24. Jesse Petersen - Married with Zombies

25. Lynsay Sands - Born to Bite

26. Gena Showalter - Unraveled

27. Susan Sizemore - Primal Instincts

28. Jeanne Stein - Chosen

29. Dianne Sylvan - Queen of Shadows

30. Jessica Verday - The Haunted

31. Claudia Gable - Romeo & Juliet & Vampires

32. Kiersten White - Paranormalcy

33. Kate Douglas - Hellfire

So where does this leave us? Whom do you support? Sure, most authors don’t make a push to have you buy their book during the first week it’s on sale, but as a reader and fan, you want to make sure your favorite author has a successful run. It is, after all, in that first week of sale that the bestseller lists are compiled.

As readers, does that information affect your purchases at all, or do you grab what you grab? I’m curious as to how you all cull the herd, as it were, during one of these ridiculously massive release dates. (By the way, September 7th and September 28th appear to be about as ridiculous as August 31st, so be warned.)

“Alastor Krayl’s world shattered when he learned that his father was the Underworld god of chaos and evil. All that saved him from self-destruction were his newfound brothers and the bond they shared as soul reapers. So when one of his brothers is murdered, vengeance becomes Alastor’s obsession. And the enigmatic Naphré Kurata, a witness—or is she the killer?—has the answers he seeks.

A reluctant Underworld enforcer, Naphré trusts no one, especially not a seductive soul reaper who makes her burn with lust. Torn between duty and desire, she fights to keep her secrets safe from Alastor, even as she longs to surrender.”

When a romance begins with a severed head, you know it’s going to be fun. One of the many reasons I love Eve Silver’s books is her bloody wit. Sins of the Soul didn’t disappoint. Alastor and Naphré aren’t as violent as Dagan and Roxy, but they’re just as passionate. In fact, I found myself clinging to them far more tightly than I did Dagan and Roxy. There is something about seeing two beings, so used to being in control, go completely mad for each other in the Underworld. I was so sure I was reading a retelling of Persephone and Hades with a twist, so sure I knew which deity jacked their travel plans, that when the ending of the book arrived, I was blown away. No, I didn’t find out who the responsible parties were, but I found out who they weren’t.

One of the biggest surprises was how much I loved Izanami. I’d never heard of the Japanese goddess before and found her minion, the Shikome, both loyal and terrifying. I hope to see more of both of them in the third book, Sins of the Flesh.

Alastor and Naphré’s passion exploded off each and every page of the second novel in the Otherkin series. The looks they gave each other sizzled, their brief sexual encounters thrilled, and the love they felt for each other made my tiny little heart grow three sizes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the sex—and I’m talkin’ hot Underworld lovin’—but holy mother of caffeinated goodness is it HOT when there’s sex with actual emotion! I actually teared up at point. It couldn’t be helped. Alastor and Naphré are simply that engaging of a couple.

I liked them so much I’ve developed a list. I call it: Great moments in Sins of the Soul history. By far, these are two of my favorite moments, not only from Sins of the Soul, but in recent romance reading. The first one is Naphré talking to Alastor after a particularly stressful event. I like it because it’s so random yet heart-felt. Instead of bemoaning their situation, she zones in on one simple, sweet word:

“I’ve graduated?”
“What?”
“You didn’t call me ‘pet’.”

Awwwww. Talk about melting my heart!

The second is after a Big Reveal. As with most romances, something happens that threatens to tear The Couple apart. Instead of allowing Naphré to stomp off, Alastor stands up for the woman he cares for and tells her how it is, no softening the blow. It has been edited to suit a PG audience:

“Hate me. Leave me. But let me get you the APPLE out of here first.”

::sniff:: Alastor cares about her so much! I love it. Absolutely love it.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373774834
• ISBN-13: 978-0373774838

To purchase a print copy of Sins of the Soul from Amazon click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Sins of the Soul from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Sins of the Soul from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase a Nook copy of Sins of the Soul from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Otherkin series in the order they should be read:
Sins of the Heart
Sins of the Soul
Sins of the Flesh

The first half of Out of the Ashes is pure urban paranormal but mid-way through, it shifts into pure fantasy. While this may bother some readers, I found it to be a delightful surprise. While the character development could have been a little bit more in-depth, I did find Afton to be a likeable heroine. The conclusion of Out of the Ashes hints at further adventures for Afton and her friends, and I would definitely return to their world again. All in all, it was a very enjoyable read.

Excerpt: “Afton Cooper can touch objects or dead people and get a sense of their lives - she-s also a phoenix. When Afton gets an ID bracelet sent to her that belonged to a rogue cop, she sees his murder at the hands of a succubus. Afton joins forces with Ian Perry, an Anime (Shapeshifter) to try and solve the mystery: Who-s behind the killings? What does -three of six- mean? Can Afton and Ian stop the dark forces at work before they succumb to their own passion?”

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
  
• Book Length: Novel
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60313-902-1

To purchase a Kindle copy of Out of the Ashes from Amazon click here.

Tessa Gray travels to London to meet her brother, Nathaniel. Two women known as the Dark Sisters greet her upon arrival, promising they were sent by her brother. Instead of delivering her to Nate, they keep Tessa captive and teach her how to use her power to transform into other people—a power she never knew she had. The Dark Sisters plan on giving her to The Magister, leader of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, but are thwarted by a mysterious young man named Will.

Will is a Shadowhunter, a supernatural warrior who battles real-life demons in a world full of vampires, werewolves, and warlocks. He and his fellow Shadowhunters offer Tessa protection. She may be the key to the discovery of The Magister’s identity, and her special power is sure to come in handy in a battle against a new man-made enemy the Shadowhunters may not be able to defeat on their own.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare is a dark, witty, emotional journey into the Downworld of London. Tessa evolves from a sixteen year-old girl, naïve about the way the world works, to a young woman who can see past the pretty lies to the gritty truth. I loved her character! She’s a bit more submissive than I normally like, but she stands up for what she believes in and isn’t afraid to do what’s necessary.

I would also like to applaud Cassandra for not falling into the three-way romance trap. I was afraid Tessa would be torn between Will and Jem, the two young male Shadowhunters. Jem acts as more of a friend than love interest, and I hope he sticks around for the long haul. As for Will…he’s dark, broody, and tries to keep Tessa away with harsh words he doesn’t mean. Yes, it sounds like 90% of the male love interests in YA fiction, but Will’s different. He doesn’t just conveniently say, “Oh, I lied because I care.” No, Will is made of sterner stuff. You can feel his pain when he’s saying these nasty things, and the last scene he’s in almost made me scream in rage and frustration.

I’ll admit it. I totally jumped on the steampunk bandwagon. Books, conferences, outfits, the whole shebang. And you know what? I don’t regret it one bit because it brought me to Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. The cover kindled a fangirl spark, but the exceptional writing and amazing story turned it into a full-blown blaze.

Book Stats:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416975861
• ISBN-13: 978-1416975861

To purchase a print copy of Clockwork Angel from Amazon click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Clockwork Angel from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Clockwork Angel from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase an Nook copy of Clockwork Angel from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Infernal Devices series in the order they should be read:
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess