Teaser Tuesday: Sweet Peril, by Wendy Higgins

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Hey guys! Switching things up, you're getting a teaser from me this Tuesday because I already did today's TTT topic, Top Beach Reads, last year and I don't feel like doing it again. So instead I'm going to tease you. Literally.

A T-shirt and flannel pajama shorts were not sexy, I told myself as I looked down at my outfit.. But
when he came out of the bathroom, shirtless, with his hair wet, and took in the sight of me sitting on his bed, I felt as if I were wearing something silky and minuscule. I guess the shower hadn't helped much.
"I should probably sleep on the couch," I offered.
 Please say no.
"No."
-Sweet Peril, page 277

Goodreads description:
Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?


Have you read Sweet Peril or Sweet Evil? What are your thoughts about the series and how do you like my teaser? Let me know in the comments, and link me back to your own TT posts :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Characters I would crush on

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week the participants post their top ten to a specific topic.


This week's topic is: Top Ten Characters I would Crush on... if I were also a fictional character

 So... I guess this is kinda a book boyfriend post? Though I think the idea of 'if I were also a fictional character' sort of changes things around a bit. It means we know less about them than we do as readers? Not sure... anyhow, here are ten of my favorite unfortunaltely-not-real boys.

1. Varen Nethers, from Kelly Creagh's Nevermore
   Yup, I've put him in this kind of post before. He'd creep me out but I'd also feel very, very attracted to him. I just love dark and artsy and literate and damaged mysterious guys >.<


2. Will Herondale, from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices
   I finished Clockwork Princess on Sunday and I just fell for him all over again. I have never read a character quite like him. He's inifinitely dedicated to those he loves and he has a wicked sense of humor.


3. Seth, from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series
   He's a long-term book boyfriend. I really liked him from the beginning and the way he treated Ash in a very respectful, open and honest way. He stays true to himself through it all and manages to acquire his own kind of power, and he always listens to all sides.


4. Cas Lowood, from Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood
   I just finished Girl of Nightmares and I'm crushing on Cas (or Theseus Cassio) again! Snarky. Self-deprecating somehow, but also very confident. Simultaneously sharp and insightful and blind in some respects. Determined. I don't know, I just realized I really missed his voice while reading.


5. Adam, from Gayle Forman's If I Stay
   Guitar-playing song-writing genius. He was also willing to do anything, go to any lengths for his girl. I liked that! From the way their sound was described, I'd also love his band.


6. Stephen, from Cat Winters' In the Shadow of Blackbirds
   This one releases today and I just felt with Mary Shelley and Stephen so much! He's a great person and what happened to him is awful. Can't really say more than that, just go read the book!


7. Ash, from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series
   Well... he's an ice prince of fairie with wicked sword skills. He's also loyal and sarcastic.
   Are you guys starting to see a pattern?


8. Kaidan, from Wendy Higgins' Sweet Evil
   He's a case of 'I'd crush on him but I'd eventually not really pursue him'. I'd watch from afar. Because even though I'd be attracted to him like mad, self-preservation would kick in. Or so I'd hope :P


9. Kisten, from Kim Harrison's The Hollows series
   Yeah, I still mourn Kisten... I haven't read him in a while but I really really liked him. Much of it comes from the way vampires are constituted in that series.


10. It's actually hard to pick these guys because once you think about it, if you just met them like that you might well not like them that much, or ultimately stay away. Because if you're not reading them, you don't see into their heads. Hm. Anyhow, here are a few more: Morpheus from A.G. Howard's Splintered, Cassel from Holly Black's Curseworkers, Alex from A.L. Weatherly's Angel series, Bones from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, Adrian from Richelle Meads' Bloodlines, Ash from Black City by Elizabeth Richards.

 Yeah, I'm aware that I cheated a bit. And I must confess sometimes I like the guys in how they fit with their girls. Doesn't mean I'd personally get along with them or want them in my life. I am probably taking these lists way too seriously :P
Anyhow, show me some of your crushes!

Bad Boy Rehab Giveaway Hop

 Hello lovelies :) I ADORE bad boys, so I'm excited to be part of the Bad Boy Rehab hop hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Book Hookup!

We tried giving up Bad Boys for our New Year’s Resolution…..
but try to make me go to rehab and I said no no no.

Bad Boy (n.) person

1. A guy who has many characteristics of a naughty, naughty boy.
OMG let the drooling begin.

2. A heartbreaker with a five o’clock shadow.
Rawrrrrrr!

3. Independent and willful. Does what he wants when he wants. Never follow trends, they follow him.

4. Someone that’s not looking for trouble, but there’s a serious sense of danger about him.
We love danger!

Usable Note: A bad boy is a gorgeous man with MANY layers and is INSANELY irresistible to women.
*raises hands*… YES PLEASE!

So there you have it :P Now here's the choice of books I have for ONE winner. All of them feauture either some long-time bad book boyfriend of mine, or a bad boy I haven't met but am fairly certain will be added to my personal list ;)

If you already have the book pictured blow and it's part of a series, you can choose one of the sequels instead.







Rules (Yes, I know bad boys don't give a toss about them. But we still need a couple...)

• Open INTERNATIONALLY provided The Book Depository ships to you. Just fill out the rafflecopter, and please don't leave your email in the comments!
• One entry per person/household. Cheaters will be disqualified. I check  every single entry before picking a winner.
• I will order the cheapest edition available from my location on TBD, so covers may vary. If you prefer ebooks, you can also choose that instead of a paperback, provided it doesn't cost more and that I can gift it to you on Amazon.
• You must be at least 13 or have permission from your parent to enter (blah).
• The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, then I'll pick a new one.
• Once I've ordered the book, I'm no longer responsible for what happens with it.

That's it! If you have questions, put them in the comments or tag me on Twitter (@Butterfly_Ghost) :)
Good luck, and don't forget to hop along and check out the almost 100 other blogs participating!


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Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of 2012

Hey guys :) Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you can spend some relaxed days with your loved ones and eat tons of cookies ;) I'm sure eating more than I should, but my mom's are just too good to resist ^^''

Anyhow, today is the second day of the Top 10 of 2012 event co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun,  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Jaime from Two Chicks on Books and Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

And it's all about the cover-pretty of 2012! Choosing was really hard for me and I'm sure I simply forgot about quite a few really amazing ones. They must be for books published in 2012, and it would be better if we'd actually read them though it's not necessary.


Here I go... click the covers to get to Goodreads.







I haven't read Opal, Ten Tiny Breaths, and Blackbirds yet but the covers and descriptions sound awesome! I generally tried to choose different types of covers. I like the more abstract, illustration-design of Unspken and Blackbrids a lot, but of course I also like girls in pretty dresses... and there are so many amazing covers of that type around now! Also, I would love to have included Clockwork Princess and Splintered but those won't be out until next year.

Here are my three honorable mentions:


Two more pretty dress covers I really liked. And I like the simplicity of the cover for Confessions of an Angry Girl.

What do you guys think of my choices, and what made it onto your lists?

Waiting on Wednesday: Sweet Peril, by Wendy Higgins

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine to showcase upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our grabby book lover fingers on.

This week's pick:

Release date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback, 464 pages

Goodreads description:
Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

I've wanted this one pretty much since the second I finished Sweet Evil and when it was unclear whether Harper would pick up the sequel or not, I was really afraid that I'd never get to see more of Anna and Kaidan's story. I can't wait to read about how things continue for Anna and how she will try to change things for the Nephs! And what's gonna happen with Kaidan, of course ;) 
  
Are you also desperate to read Sweet Peril? What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Cover Reveal: Sweet Peril, by Wendy Higgins

Hey guys! I'm really excited to be part of the cover reveal for the sequel to Wendy Higgins' Sweet Evil! It was one of my favorite reads of 2012 and when the future of the series was uncertain I was extremely worried about never getting to see how Anna and Kaidan's story continues. I was so relieved when I heard that Harper is going to continue publishing the trilogy!
But now, without further ado, the cover for Sweet Peril!

I think it's absolutely gorgeous! I love how it takes up elements of the first cover but also makes it clear that the situation is now different. Anna's expression is no longer innocent and unknowing. I also like that both her and Kaidan are dressed in the same color. I'm reading that as a connection. They are no longer exact opposites. However, they aren't openly touching so it's clear that they can't really be together. The color of the sky implies that the overall situation is dire but not without, maybe, hope? Anyway, those are my thoughts. I'd love to hear yours in the comments!

Here's the book blurb:

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Sweet Peril will be released on April 30, 2013 by HarperTeen.

Book 3 of The Sweet Trilogy, Sweet Reckoning, is slated for spring/summer 2014.

Sweet Peril on Goodreads 

Preorder on Amazon   Preorder on The Book Depository   Preorder on B&N

And for those who don't know the series, the cover & description of Sweet Evil.

add it on goodreads

Published: May 1, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: Paperback, 453 pages

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

About the author:

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Peril is her second novel.

Website    Wendy's Facebook    Wendy's Twitter 

Sweet Evil on Facebook    Kaidan on Twitter

 Thanks to Wendy for letting me be part of the cover reveal!

I can't wait for the book to be released! I hope there will be a trailer :) What about you guys? What are your thoughts on the new cover or the series?

Top Ten Tuesday: Rewind, aka Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Every week the participants have to post a top ten list to a certain topic. Anyone can participate and link up!

This week's topic is a rewind, that means we can pick a past topic that we missed or want to do again. I chose my Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For. I don't know why I didn't. Some are because I read them before I really had the blog, some out of laziness, some because I feared that I could never do them justice or would just ramble and gush. Some I meant to but something happened and then it was too long ago that I'd read them. Oh well, here goes.

No particular order. Slideshow because I couldn't layout the pics the way I wanted and it's something different for once - in short, I felt like it.

1. Sweet Evil, by Wendy Higgins
   I LOVED this one! It kept me up into the night because I just couldn't stop. But somehow the review just never happened, I don't remember why but I have a bad conscience.
2. Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake
   Also a total favorite! I was determined to review, already writing parts in my head. But someting came up and I never got around to it :(
3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor
   One of my favorites I read this year, but this was before I had the blog.
4. Hunger, by Jackie Morse Kessler
   I wanted to, but it just hit too close to home and I would have had to go into personal stuff in the review, which I didn't want because well... this is the internet, and my name and face are on this blog.
5. Blood Bound, by Rachel Vincent
   Inconvenient timing and laziness combined with fear of not being able to do it justice because it was just that good.
6. The Wood Queen, by Karen Mahoney
   Victim of procrastination and lack of blog.
7. Bridger, by Megan Curd
   I was on the road and had loads of stuff to do when I got back from that ten-day interrail trip to three different cities. Read it on the drive to Prague and later to Hamburg and Amsterdam.
8. Croak, by Gina Damico
   Big love, but lots of life going on. I really want to review Scorch though!
9. The Devil's Graveyard, by Anonymous
   Third in the series. To be honest I didn't know how to approach a review of this book, plus it doesn't really fit into what I usually review here.
10. Bloodlines, by Richelle Mead
    I don't remember why this didn't happen, but I'm sure it was one of my ususal lame excuses :P

Comments on my list? Also, what topic did you choose for today?

GIVEAWAY (Int)! Blogoversary and 200 follower-celebration

I know I know, I've been talking about this forever. By now, you've probably been thinking I'd never actually follow it up... but here it is, my joint 200 follwers and 3 month blogoversary celebration giveaway! To be precise, the blogoversary of my first post was on August 24, but since I only started blogging somewhat seriously in mid-June, I guess I can be forgiven for being a bit late. Right? This giveaway is going to last for all of September!

I can't believe it's been three months already! For that amount of time, I don't think I've posted enough reviews *squirms* I'm not used to reading on a schedule or having to immediately write about what I've read yet, and while I probably won't review every book I read, I still hope to get the reviewing frequency up a bit. It's just that writing them up actually takes me ridiculously long because I want to do justice to the book without spoiling too much or being super vague.

Also, I never thought I'd have so many awesome followers by now! Seriously, I'm happy about every page-view and comment on one of my posts! Especially the reviews, since I love to exchange impressions and discuss :)

I'm also curious to hear you guys' opinion about this blog. What do you like? Dislike? What kind of post would you like to see more of? One of my regrets three months into blogging is that I don't really feel part of a community. Where do bloggers 'hang out'? I'm a bit shy when it comes to striking up a conversation first and I'm afraid that I'd just bother people... but I love it when people talk to me :)

But now, without further ado,


The Prizes

Paperback Bundle

Ebook Bundle

Each bundle will go to ONE winner, who will receive ALL the books in it! The paperbacks will be ordered from the Book Depository, the eBooks from amazon, so you'll need a kindle or kindle app to receive them. (I even switched from amazon.de to amazon.com for this, since the German store doesn't have a give-as-gift function). Anyone the Book Depository ships to and anyone able to receive kindle books can enter, no matter where you live! Note on ebooks: if you already have one of the books, you can also choose another installment of the same series.
Also, I won some Origin swag from author Jessica Khoury and have some (though sadly not much) swag (some of it signed) lying around and if I receive that Origin swag by the end of September, I will put together a swag bundle for one runner up and add it to the rafflecopter!

I also want to try something new and creative for you guys to get more entries. Jessica Khoury's contests for swag and ARCs brought the Pinfiction phenomenon to my attention, and I'd like to try this here as well! How does it work? Easy. Just go to my Pinboards (you don't need a Pinterest account), pick a pin that you like, and write a 500 character (including spaces) story/scene to it! When you've done that, email the story and a direct link to the pin you picked to shelfspaceneeded(at)hotmail(dot)com. Attention: 500 characters are the limit, not 500 words! Enter your email address into the provided space of the rafflecopter form so that I know which entry is yours. Sounds fun, right? Something other than just sharing on twitter/facebook/whatever :)

The Rules

• One entry per person / household
• International as long as Book Depository ships to you and you can receive kindle gifts from amazon
• You must be at least 13 years old
• This is a follower-appreciation giveaway, so you must follow me by GFC or email
• Cheaters will be disqualified and all their entries deleted. Believe me, I will check ALL entries before picking a winner, because cheaters falsify the odds for everyone and it's not fair.
• Contest ends midnight September 30th, but I reserve the right to end it early
• I also reserve the right to add/subtract/substitute prizes before the end of the giveaway
• As soon as the Book Depository ships your books, I'm no longer accountable for them
• Winners will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours, or I'll pick someone else.

If there are any questions, put them in the comments or tweet me (@Butterfly_Ghost) :)

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