Do the Zombie Shuffle! REVIEW of "Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry

 Why this book?: ZOMBIES!

Type: Young Adult Fiction, Zombies, Coming of Age, Epic battles, Definitely not a Coward

About the Book: Benny is fifteen, and needs a job before he begins to lose half his rations. But after a series of jobs that don't work for him, and with no other prospects, he finally takes his brother up on his offer of apprenticeship. Ben's older brother Tom is a zombie bounty hunter, known as one of the best, but Benny has seen other bounty hunters, and Tom doesn't act like them. In fact, Benny thinks Tom is a coward, and can't imagine Tom doing anything other than running away. But while out in the Rot & Ruin amongst the zombies with his brother, Benny finds there's a lot more to learn than he thought. Maybe the other bounty hunters aren't so great, and maybe Tom isn't the bad guy in all this.

My Review: The book lists the appropriate age range from 12 and up, but I would hesitate to give this book to anyone ages 12 - 14, unless I know they are mature enough to handle it. While there are some great themes in this book, it is still jam packed with violence and even murder. However, the violence is dealt with extremely well, and is even necessary to the plot. And the character development because of what Benny and Nix witness and have to go through themselves, it's truly amazing. They don't just solve the problem and everything goes back to a joyous existance. No, they learn about the hardships of the world and it makes them grow up. They become hard themselves, wary, but still resilient and willing to fight the next battle.

There were some excellent themes in this book, my favorite being that just because you are in a place with no laws, doesn't mean you can ignore what is right and wrong. Benny and Nix know this, and they fight for what is right, even though they might end up dead. I'm always a sucker for Young Adult fiction where teenagers and children will risk their lives for the greater good or to save others. Probably explains why I read so much YA, actually. The book can get a little preachy with some of it's themes and central ideas, and Benny's older brother Tom can be a little too perfect, but this is still an excellent book. I would like to see a sequel, and the ending was left with an opening for one. However, at the same time, I love the ending because of what was left open - the reader can imagine this group doing anything, and can picture a happier ending than what they might actually find.

Cover Loving: Oh yeah, definitely matches the creepiness of the books. And near the beginning, Benny mentions that some people believe that if you look into the eyes of one of the zombies, you can see what you would look like as a zombie. This cover is perfect for that.

Recommendation: Great YA book, recommended for boys and girls alike. The book lists 12+, but I would probably only recommend it for 15 and up, unless the younger teen is mature enough to handle it.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Probably the best zombie fiction I've ever read. Definitely recommended, make sure to read this asap!

Have you read "Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry? What are your thoughts about zombie fiction? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy? Get it from Amazon.com via the link at the left!

Happy reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

A friday off!

Taking today off from blogging (I know, the irony of blogging about taking a day off from blogging).

But some notes:
Check out the guest post from author Jemima Valentino HERE.

Look at my new button! You can find it on the righthand sidebar (Under the Contests and About Me sections). If you want to put it on your site, or just think it's cool, let me know!

And please excuse any weirdness/mess as I'm going to be trying some new things in the upcoming weeks.

Have a good weekend, everyone! And coming up Monday: A review of "Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry. How exciting!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

BLB Tour: GUEST POST by author Jemima Valentino!

Everyone, please help me welcome Jemima Valentino, author of "His Elle!" Novel Addiction is stop number one on Jemima's Book Lovin' Bitches blog tour, so be sure to follow her along the rest of the tour! And check out the links at the bottom to purchase "His Elle!"
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The Writers Curse

Guest post by Jemima Valentino - author of the BDSM erotic novella "His Elle."Recently, I have been captured in the iron grasp of writers block. The curse that strikes every writer, author or blogger at some time in their career (writers block does not discriminate between the professionals and hobbyists), and for some of us it truly seems never ending. This time around it’s been bad enough that I’ve even struggled to write this guest post and have been staring at a blank screen for hours every time I’ve tried to post something requiring a degree of thought to my blog.

“So,” I hear you say, “what do you do when writers block sneaks up on you wielding its knife, still freshly bloodied from its last victim?”


Well, as the old saying goes Feed a cold and starve a fever. For me, I take this as a literal translation and pick up the nearest enemy of our dreaded writer’s curse - words. I read. I have already read four books this month alone. I am not the fastest reader in the pack and anyone who knows me will know that four books in a month must mean that I’m extra hungry. It’s true.

I believe that to lose myself in someone else’s work for a while, whether it be within the same genre as I write, or not, will help to shift something in my brain the words will come again. I’m pretty sure it’s now starting to work as I have managed to write this short rambling post, and also work on the next chapter of my new erotic paranormal romance The House on Hundred Hill.

This month I have soaked up remarkable stories and have discovered some truly exciting authors that I have never heard of before. Kitty Thomas is now a name I will recognise as one of the best BDSM writers I have ever had the good fortune to come across, and on the whim of a recommendation I am also completely addicted to Meredith Gentry and her entourage of sidhe warrior faerie bodyguards, thanks to New York Times best-selling author, Laurell K Hamilton.

Reading so much of late has made me fall in love with books all over again and remember that as a reader I have the ability to become emotionally attached to fictional characters that are materially and physically nothing but words on a page. Hell, if you say that out loud it’s almost enough to get you locked up in a padded cell! Reading has re-inspired me to write. The way I have felt over recent weeks for the characters of Merry Gentry, The Killing Frost, Darkness, Rhys, Emily Vargas and her Master to name but a few, has reminded me that it is exactly what I crave as a writer - to have a reader feel exactly that way about the characters I have created.

Any writer that tries to tell you they don’t need to read the work of another author is the same that will tell you they don’t need an editor. Those are the ones that require the padded cell as either notion is utterly insane.

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Thank you so much for stopping by, Jemima!

About "His Elle:"
A creature of beauty and intelligence is a rare breed, especially one who so wantonly offers the submission of her soul to another.



Through a chance meeting at an urgent care clinic, Elle and her Master soon fall unintentionally and desperately in love, embarking on a deeply intense BDSM relationship.


Knowing they must soon part, Elle is pushed further than ever before. Through one final limitless display of submission, expertly guided by her Master, can Elle truly release her fears and give him all of her heart? WARNING: This book is for readers 18+: as a BDSM, Erotic Romance, it contains scenes of a graphic nature, not suitable for minors.

Find Jemima at her blog: Jemima Valentino
Buy "His Elle" at Amazon.com: His Elle - BDSM erotica
Buy it at B&N.com: His Elle, Nookbook
Buy it at Smashwords.com: His Elle by Jemima Valentino

And head HERE to find more info, and watch the book trailer!

Again, a HUGE thanks to Jemima for stopping by, and I hope you all get a chance to check out her book, "His Elle!"

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Whatcha Got Wednesday #18

Welcome everyone! Whatcha Got Wednesday is my own little meme where I talk about what I got this week. I don't do this to brag or anything, just share what I received this week and hopefully start up some discussion about what reads we're all looking forward to. Also, since I review for RRT, this allows me to show what I've received from them, since I can't post the reviews here.

So... I was a bad, bad girl this week. With Borders closing, I went on a bit of a buying spree... Some of these are books I've already read (and reviewed), but I wanted them for my own personal collection. But anyways... here we go!

BOUGHT:
"Destined for an Early Grave" by Jeaniene Frost - AHH NEW CAT AND BONES!
"Dancing on the Head of a Pin" by Thomas Sniegoski - Yay Remy Chandler!
"Bonded By Blood" by Laurie London - With a cover like that, I couldn't pass it up.
"The Black Sheep and the Princess" by Donna Kauffman - New to me author, and very interesting cover blurb
"Warrior" by Zoe Archer - So many people loved these, I decided to try them out!
"The Darkest Hour" by Maya Banks - Been looking forward to reading this.
"Fallen Angel" by Heather Terrell - ANGELS!
"How to Say Goodbye in Robot" by Natalie Standiford - Such a good, cute book.
"Sweethearts" by Sara Zarr - This book haunts me, sometimes..
"Nevermore" by Kelly Creagh - I just.. I really wanted it.
"All Jacked Up" by Lorelei James - Working my way towards owning the whole series!
"Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White - LOVE this one! Can't wait for "Supernaturally!"
"Zombies vs Unicorns" by Various - Do I really need a reason?!
"Matched" by Ally Condie (Not pictured) - Bought that, and automatically gave it to my Mom, telling her she just HAD to read it.

FOR REVIEW FOR ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY
"Falling Under" by Gwen Hayes - I.. don't know anything about this, but I agreed to do it anyways. =)
"Never Again" by Michele Bardsley - I jumped on this one. And not just for the awesome mantitty cover.

Well, that's it for me this week. And if I'm smart, that will be it for me for a long time, aside from review books.

So now it's your turn - did you get anything noteworthy this week? Do you agree that I am obviously addicted to books, and it's become an unhealthy obsession? Eek. Share your thoughts in the comments!

Until next time, Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Epic Cat and Bones-ness! REVIEW of "This Side of the Grave" by Jeaniene Frost

Why this book?: Love Jeaniene Frost. LOVE Cat and Bones. Mostly Bones.. but Cat certainly has some seriously awesome moments too.

Type: Series, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Ghosts, Ghouls, Epic battles, Awesome nicknames

About the book: Really, it seems like things will never settle down enough for Cat and Bones to get some time alone. The undead world is far from quiet, with ghouls attacking masterless vampires, and the threat of war leaving everyone jumpy. The ghoul Apollyon has singled Cat out as the reason for the tension, and the cause of the uprising. So now Cat, Bones, and the crew must find a way to diffuse the situation before an undead war turns the world upside down.

Review: This book made me finally move Jeaniene Frost to the Do Not Read In Public catagory. Not because the book was bad, but because I was sick of the weird looks I keep getting whenever I laugh out loud, smile at the page, or squirm on the end of my seat because I can't handle all the action. Cat and Bones get into the most delicious scrapes, and I literally wiggle in my seat to see how the heck they manage to get themselves out. There are some readers out there that talk about books being crack - well Jeaniene Frost is my drug of choice. I crave these characters and their interactions. I love to see how they deal with each new situation. And you can genuinely see the character development from book to book, even with the characters that get less limelight.

The one thing I missed in this book was the tension between Cat and Bones. Where they fought not only the outside world, but each other in their attempts to keep the other safe. But this goes along with the development aspects. Considering what happened at the end of "One Foot in the Grave," Cat and Bones took a huge step forward in their relationship, and "This Side of the Grave" truly reflects that change. But as I said, I admit to still missing it, just a little. Another book for the keeper shelf, "This Side of the Grave" did not disappoint. A fast-paced, intricate plot and characters that are beyond loveable, I eagerly anticipate the next one. Heck, I eagerly anticipate my next re-read of the series.

Cover Loving: YES! A beautiful cover, and an equally beautiful stepback. It fits perfectly with the rest of the series, and I love the gargoyles.

Recommendation: Definitely something for fans of excellent, epic Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. This is one of my favorite series of all time, and is the subject of much re-reading. I would recommend the entire series to anyone.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE 5/5. Seriously, Jeaniene Frost really didn't disappoint with the newest Cat and Bones book.

Have you read "This Side of the Grave" by Jeaniene Frost? What are your thoughts? Have you read the rest of the series? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! Want to read it? Get your copy at Amazon.com via the link at the left!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~