Follow Friday, 18+ Blogger Tag Along, Welcome!

Hello new and old visiters! Welcome to me own little slice of Bloglandia, Novel Addiction. My name is Amanda, and I review a little of everything, mostly Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy, and a mix of Young Adult fiction. I work as a Library Assistant at the Reference desk of my local library system, so I'm pretty much surrounded by books 24/7 - it's a good life.

Be sure to come back next Monday - author Jamie Magee will be giving away a print copy of her book "Insight" to one lucky winner! And there are even more great giveaways and posts coming up - be sure to check my "Upcoming Excitements" notifications on the righthand side. Make sure you follow Novel Addiction on Twitter @Novel_Addiction , find me on Goodreads , and you can grab my blog button on the right hand side (under my About Me section)!

And stay tuned - Novel Addiction might be getting its very own MASCOT. As soon as I find the proper image, he'll come by to introduce himself.. if I can make him, that is. Thank you for visiting! And if you have your own blog, be sure to leave a link/let me know, I always follow back.




Who are You the Girl, instead of You the Blogger? - I am Amanda, 23 years old, working in a library. I also sell Avon, have a writing group that is made up of myself and my friends and while we do some writing, mostly we use it as an excuse to meet up and have a good time. I also actively participate in theatre, I've recently been cast in "Urinetown." Which sounds gross, but the show is hilarious, a little dark, and just my kind of humor. 


 How many erotic books do you buy in a month? - Not many. I don't read a lot of strictly erotic books, I get my steamy scenes within romance. But I love love LOVE finding free erotic reads! I have tons from special promotions, etc - it's like my own secret treasure trove, and I can't wait to read them all, and discover new authors to love!

 If I gave you $80 dollars and sent you into the bookstore, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till? - What a cool question! Let's see, "A Hundred Words for Hate" by Thomas Sniegoski, "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness, "Not that Kind of Girl" by Siobhan Vivian, and the rest of it would be impulse Romance/YA buys, probably.


Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

I'm a genie in a bottle.. REVIEW of "Master of None" by Sonya Bateman

Why this book?: So many people loved it, and now I know why. Lucky me, I was able to get it from the library. Thank goodness I waited until now, the second book is due out soon!

Disclaimer: Library book. I did not receive this book in exchange for a review, nor did I purchase the book.

Type: Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Djinns, Good guys versus Bad Guys, Antiheroes, Secret Daddy

About the book: Gavyn Donnati is a thief, and definitely not a lucky one. Hired to steal a very specific knife, he's now running from his employers because - you guessed it - he's lost the knife. While on the run from the goons, a strange, tall man jumps infront of Gavyn, taking the bullets being fired in his direction. After a quick getaway and a very confusion conversation, Gavyn has his very own genie - Ian. Ian and Gavyn are tied together, and must work together to save themselves and their loved ones from the evil djinns, and Gavyn's old boss.

Review: I may have an obsession with conmen. I also enjoy human characters being thrown into a fantasy or paranormal world, and discovering there's more to the world, and maybe themself, than they knew. So it really isn't a surprise that I fell in love with "Master of None." Gavyn and Ian were fascinating characters, each with their own little quirks. Gavyn constantly checked for escape routes, should he need to make a quick getaway. Ian had.. well, excellent phrasing, and I just loved his attitude. The two men have been through a lot in their lives, and have to go through even more in the course of this book. It was beyond a pleasure to be able to read it and follow along on their journey.

There are some very powerful scenes in this book, and I would say "Master of None" has one of the best written torture scenes I've ever read. I was literally wiggling in my seat, biting my lip, and making little gasping noises just in reaction to what was being done to Gavyn and others. And the ending (no spoilers) just made me so.. happy, and proud. I cannot wait until the next book comes out, so I can see how Gavyn and Ian's journey continues. This is definitely a series for fans of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction, and Science Fiction/Fantasy to pick up! A great author, and an excellent series to keep an eye on.
Cover Loving?: I like it well enough. I do like the text block on the cover. But this cover just didn't "wow" me.

Recommendation: Oh yeah. A great story, great characters, everything a fiction fanatic needs. A book for your keeper shelves. Buy multiple copies and make your friends read it too!

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Excellent book, I couldn't put it down. Eagerly anticipating the next one, "Master and Apprentice"!!!!

Have you read "Master of None" by Sonya Batemen? Are you also eagerly anticipating the release of the second novel? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up your very own copy of the book? Or maybe more than one so you can thrust it on your unsuspecting friends? Get it from Amazon.com via the link to the left!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Whatcha Got Wednesday #19

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's another installment of "Whatcha Got Wednesday"! WGW is my own little weekly meme where I get to talk about what I got  in the past week. I don't do this to brag, but to spotlight some books I received that I might not be able to get to for some time. All ebooks for me this week, and I'm super excited about.. well, all of them, actually.

 First up: Skin Thief (Cassandra Farbanks Series.) by Sonnet O'Dell. I reviewed the previous book in this series, "Lost Innocents," and really enjoyed it. Check out my review HERE, and keep an eye out for my review of "Skin Thief"!

 Yesterday I posted my review of "Credo's Hope" by Alison Holt - and she recently released the second book in her Alex Wolfe series, Credo's Legacy (Alex Wolfe Mysteries). I'm so excited to be able to review the second book, I loved the first!

 Next up - Rage (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Book 2) by Jackie Morse Kessler. Thank you Netgalley! Though you're totally ruining my free time (and by that, I mean I no longer have any, thanks to you).

 Also Netgalley - Bumped by Megan McCafferty. You may remember me gushing all over her Jessica Darling series, I can't wait to see how she pulls of a dystopian-esque novel.
 "The Goddess Test" by Aimee Carter. Mythology? You bet I'm in. Again, another netgalley book.
 Kiss Me, Kill Me (A Paranormal Romance Anthology) Thanks to Lori Brighton for this one! Several authors I enjoy in this one, and I can't wait to find some new authors thanks to this anthology.

 Wild Desire by Lori Brighton. I enjoyed "Wild Heart." I'm glad I have some Historical Romance to mix it up. Thanks to Lori for this!

 A Night Of Secrets, Historical Paranormal Romance (The Night Series) Another one by Lori Brighton. I may be addicted.

That's it for me this week, but I think it's enough, right? I guess I better get to reading!

What about you guys? Did you get anything noteworthy this week? Is there anything you're exceptionally looking forward to receiving/buying? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Freeze, it's the police! REVIEW of "Credo's Hope" by Alison Holt

Why this book?: Author requested a review.

Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Series, Fiction, Mystery, Police Fiction, Procedural Fiction, Long Hours, Licky the Carnivorous Puppy, Great Friends, Even better Partners

About the book: Alex Wolfe works for the Tucson Police Department, and if her case load isn't enough as it is, her friend convinces her to take on another one. Alex is already bogged down with work and trying to steer clear of her easy-to-anger boss, now she has to look into an old, closed case to prove a man innocent, hopefully before his final appeal and subsequent death sentence should his guilty verdict hold. Alex has no problem saying he's guilty and leaving everything to the attorney, but some things just don't add up, and she isn't going to rest until everything is tied up nice and neat.

Review: I will gladly shout from the rooftops about how much I enjoyed this book. From page one I was interested in the story and the characters, and couldn't wait to read more. Wolfe was smart and bold, and felt incredibly genuine. Perfect reactions, I'd say she was one of the best, real feeling characters I've read in, well.. maybe ever. I was struck by how accurate Wolfe's police career was portrayed, only to find out the author not only works on the police force, but also offers tips on her blog for authors that want to write accurate police characters. For readers who enjoy comparing characters and book series, I found some similarities between Wolfe and Stephanie Plum, though Stephanie relies almost entirely on luck, and Wolfe has the brains and the guts to solve the case.

I loved the plot, and the mystery was well thought out, with just enough little hints along the way so the ending was a pleasant surprise (I never expected that one!), but not a huge, out-of-left-field kind of shock. My favorite part? When Wolfe's supervisor, Kate, assigned Wolfe to on-call duty as "punishment" for going against her orders. Talk about some great revenge!  But you'll just have to read it and find out why. The only issue that made me stumble when reading "Credo's Hope" was the abundance of side characters. While they weren't technically all necessary, they did add a lot to the story, and I was grateful for their presence. There was an occasion or two where a name was mentioned and I forgot who that was, but generally the context was enough for me to pick it up right away.

Cover Loving: I like it. Short, Sweet, and to the Point.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended! Fans of Procedural/Police fiction and Mysteries will absolutely love "Credo's Hope." I'm not a huge mystery person (just an occasional fan) but this book had me hooked from page one, literally.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Definitely a winning book. The story and characters felt so incredibly real and genuine. Excellent novel, definitely a series and author to watch!

Where to buy the book:
Amazon: Credo's Hope (Alex Wolfe Mysteries)
Smashwords: Credo's Hope

Barnes and Noble: Credo's Hope
FIND THE AUTHOR HERE!

Have you read "Credo's Hope" or another book by Alison Holt? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy? See the links above!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

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 ~!~