Mundie Moms

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Book Review- The Lost Saint

By Bree Despain
Published by Egmont USA
To Be Released on December 28th, 2010
Source- ARC from EgmontUSA
4.5 Stars- Go Pick It Up

The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. Readers, raveous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint (quoted from Goodreads).

Oh how I enjoyed The Lost Saint! As I've said before, I'm not always a fan of the second books in series, as the characters sometimes make choice (that I know the need to make) that make me cringe and more often than not, it breaks the main character and it either breaks up the main love interests or leaves their relationship in jeopardy. This sequel has all that and more. Not only does Bree deliver a darker journey for Grace to take, as she learns to control her inner wolf, but she throws in a few twists and leaves me wanting a whole lot more with her ending.

I really liked that The Lost Saint picks right up from where The Dark Divine ended, and takes right off. What I enjoyed most about this sequel is how much Grace has grown as a character. She's not the good little preacher's daughter who sits on the side lines and pretends nothing is going on. She is on the hunt to control her powers, save her brother and the one she loves. There's romance, more history, a darker plot, fantastic plot twists that kept me guessing at who was behind the new evil that's roaming the city streets and action. Mix all these great elements with some fantastic new characters, and I was hooked.

Oh yes, the new characters. While Grace has found her inner strength, she has yet to get over little insecurities she has with Daniel. Katie Summers, the new character (whom I feel so honored is named after me) just might feed upon these insecurities and may or may not shake things up just a bit between Daniel and Grace. She's not the only one. Enter into the picture the hot new mysterious Talbot. Is he or isn't he out for Grace!? What's Jude's role in all this? Is he really out to protect his sister or save himself? That's one of many questions you'll be asking yourself until you get to the every end of The Lost Saint. Let me just say the ending will make you realize that nothing was predictable with this sequel.

I'm really looking forward to the next book! There's so many answers I need and I want to know what happens next. In the mean time, I'll enjoy re-reading The Lost Saint. I definitely recommend pre-ordering this book.

For more on the series and to see Bree's The Lost Saint play list, visit her site here: http://www.breedespain.com/

See The Lost Saint Trailer here-

AND thank you to Egmont, we have 1 copy of The Lost Saint with nail polish we're giving away! This contest will end on December 27th, when we host a LIVE Pre-Launch Chat Party with Bree!!! Don' worry, we've got more giveaways in store. Just make sure you join us on December 27th to find out what they are and how you can win!

Our Favorite Reads for 2010- Couples, Love Triangles & Hot Scenes

This week we've enjoyed sharing our Favorite 2010 Books. So far we've shared with you our favorite series, our favorite debut authors and today we thought we do something fun and share who our favorite couples from 2010.

Of course we couldn't do that and not include our favorite love triangles and then of course that lead Sophie & I to banter back and forth about our favorite HOT scene. Don't worry, we'll share our favorite hot scenes, but you'll have to excuse the emails that went on between us, as I've included some of our dialogue below.


Our Favorite Couples from 2010:


















1) Ren & Calla from Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
2) Megan & Ash from The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
3) Anna & St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
4) Ethan & Lena from Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
5) Cabel & Janie from GONE by Lisa McMann




Our Favorite Love Triangles From 2010:

















1) Will- Tessa- Jem from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
2) Ren- Calla- Shay from Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
3) Will- Jacinda- Cassian from Firelight by Sophie Jordan
4) Nick- Mae- Alan from The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan
5) Spyder- Sienna - Deni from Sea by Heidi R Kling




Our Favorite HOT Scenes from 2010:


















S - You wanted to talk about Hot Scenes? Or should I say "hawt" scenes because we all know what you mean, right? I'm thinking of Syd and North in Alex Bracken's BRIGHTLY WOVEN. You know the moment when she helps him get dressed for battle and he leaves but then...holymoly...HE COMES BACK for that incredible nowayhedidntjustcomeback moment. Okay, it was a kiss....

K- That was a hot scene, but I'm talking Paris. Lush green grass. St. Claire and Anna from Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss. You know the scene. No it's not what you're thinking. My modern day Mr Darcy would never do something like that.

S - Okay, I'll raise you the Grass in Paris moment and I'm going to do what Sophies do best. *raises her eyebrow* I'm going to go down low...all the way to the cellar. How can you NOT bring up the kiss between Sophie and Archer in HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins???? I mean, oh let me just quote from page 286: "His lips trailed from mine to my throat and I closed my eyes and let my head tip back against the wall as I slid my hands inside his shirt..."

K- *snort* NOTHING can top Andrea Cremer's Nightshade scene with Ren and Calla in the bathroom! You know the one where..... *excuse me I think I need to go re-read it* Get your mind out of the gutter. It's not what you're thinking, but it's... is it hot in here?!

S - *fans Katie with CLOCKWORK ANGEL which gets a good breeze stirred up* So *glances at CA's cover* let's talk about IT. You know HolyHolyWaterKiss??? Will...*shakes head*...he kinda had me with these words (page 291, no Katie, I don't have that page memorized) , "God in Heaven, " he whispered. "What was that?" I'm such a sucker for those Shadowhunter boys.

K- I can only imagine what the scene would do to you if you pictured BinBons as Will *snickers* Cassandra Clare definitely has the best hot scenes. I'll raise you Clockwork Angel for City of Glass page.... oh wait, wrong year. DANG IT! That's a good scene too. Nothing says hotter than a mansion that's blown up, a shadowhunter, rocks under your back and well you know the scene. You know what's as hot as a Holy Water Kiss? One that's between a draki hunter and a draki! You know the one in Sophie Jordan's Firelight with Will and Jacinda. Oh wait, there's more than one. Let me go find the one I'm talking about and ignore the fact that it "might" take me awhile, as I might accidently find myself reading the whole book again.

S - While you're doing that...*grabs Sarah Rees Brennan's DEMON'S COVENANT* ummm, I remember another scene on a counter....(page 186) "Suddenly she was flat on her back on the kitchen counter, one leg wrapped around Alan's good leg, one of Alan's hands cradling the back of her head as he kept kissing her, exploratory, his lips lingering over hers even as his breath came harsh in her ears." *sigh* Nerdy guys do try harder, Alan, they do. And I'm a GeekGirl at heart.

K- Huh. I forgot to mention the other part of the Firelight love triangle.. I don't need a counter when I have an ally way and the smokey voiced Cassian. Not to give away an spoilers as to what is going on.... "I stare up at him. The immensity of him, a looming wall. Well over six feet. I forgot about his size. His sheer presence. Somehow, with time and distance, here in the human world, he had shrank in my mind. Now I get all over again why he's the leading onyx of my pride. Second in command only to his father."

S- *lost in deep thought while reading The Iron Daughter*

K- I know how much you love Julie Kagawa's broken Prince of the Winter Court's kissy scenes. I can only guess which ONE you're reading. *dangles picture of BinBons in front of S* Thinking of Prince Ash are we!?!

S- *grabs a Kleenex* He just said, "Don't ask me to do this again." And it broke my heart all over again.

K- Let me remind you what happens in The Iron Queen. Oh wait! Jace will heal your broken Prince Ash heart from that teaser Cassie posted a few weeks ago. You remember the one.....

"He reached past her before she could say anything, and yanked open the elevator gate. "I love you, Clary," he said, without looking at her. He was staring out into the church, at the rows of lighted candles, their gold reflected in his eyes. "More than I ever-" He broke off. "God. More than I most likely should. You know that don't you?"

She stepped outside the elevator and turned to face him. There were a thousand things she wanted to say, but he was already looking away from her, pushing the button that would bring the elevator back up to the Institute floors. She started to protest, but the elevator was already moving, the doors closing behind it as it rattled it's way back up. They shut with a click and she stared at them for a moment; the Angel was painted on their surface, wings outspread, eyes raised. They Angel was painted on everything.

Her voice echoed harshly in the empty room when she spoke.
"I love you too," she said."

K- Oh wait, that's not out until next year. I guess we'll pick this up on April 5th!
Nothing tops the elevator scene and don't ruin it for me. I know it's a teaser and I'm sure Cassie is going to rip my heart out in City of Fallen Angels, but I'll enjoy every moment of it.


Who are some of your favorite couples, favorite love triangles or favorite hot scenes from this year?

Giveaway Winners & BIR 2010

I am SO sorry I am so late on posting are giveaway winners from the last couple of weeks. Congratulations to the following winners:

WINNERS for the Clockwork Angel AudioBooks:
#42- Elizabeth Morgan
#130-Crystal Broyles
#52-Kim Pickett

Lunarmorte SIGNED Prize Pack Winner Is:
#115-Asenath Rallison

Restoring Harmony Prize Pack:
#6 Jennifer Ray

All winners have been contacted via email.

We'll be wrapping up Our Favorite Reads from 2010 this weekend with giveaways! Be sure to visit each of our Favorite Reads posts this week, as winners will get to select books from our list.

Don't forget, our Best I've Read giveaways ALL end TONIGHT!! You can see the links in our right hand side bar. All winners for those will be announced on the 20th!! You can go here to see all of our posts-http://tinyurl.com/2bf5en5 and be sure to visit The BIR2010 Website for the winners of their grand-prize giveaways.

Thank you to ALL of you who have entered our giveaways, commented on our posts and made it a a fun week last week. It was a lot of fun for us and thank you to the bloggers who were apart of this huge event. Just a reminder, that while the giveaway ends today and the winners will be announced on the 20th, prizes won't be mailed until after the New Year.

Waiting on Wednesday- Corsets & Clockwork


By a variety of authors including, Kiersten White, Tiffany Trent, Jaclyn Dolamore, Tessa Gratton, Caitlin Kittredge, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Dru Pagliassotti, Dia Reeves, Ann Aguirre, and Frewin Jones. It's edited by Tricia Telep.

To be released May 2011

I haven't been able to find anything else on this book, but with a title like Corsets and Clockwork, we're sold! The added bonus is the list of talented authors who's writing make up this book. We are really looking forward to it's release.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, and allows us to spotlight a book that we are eagerly awaiting to be released.

Labels