“Never let a pixie kiss you. Ever.” This is the number one rule to remember when dealing with pixies.  Captivate by Carrie Jones picks up where Need ends, with Zara and her friends controlling the pixie population. But a sudden spike in the pixie population along with the appearance of a possible new pixie king make Zara question exactly what it is they are trying to accomplish by capturing the pixie population.

Born a half-pixie, Zara and her were boyfriend Nick have defeated the King of the Pixies who also happens to be Zara’s father.  Zara has turned her attention to patrolling with Nick and drafting a book on pixies with Devyn.  When things start spiraling out of control Zara is approached by Astley, a possible new pixie king who promises her that he can help her control the pixies and fix what has gone wrong.  Zara knows that you can’t trust a pixie but then the unthinkable happens and Zara has to decide whether trusting Astley is the only way to save her friends, but will it mean losing her humanity?

I read this book without having read the first one (which I definitely will do) and as a stand alone book it was great.  I do want to go back and read about how Nick and Zara met but this book was great to see their relationship progress, and to see it progress the way a teenage relationship should.  Zara’s heart and willingness to question why things are a certain way keeps the book intriguing as you discover along with Zara what they are doing by capturing the pixies.  One of my favorite scenes is where Zara kidnaps her father and drives him out into the middle of nowhere to question him, Zara’s attempt to be tough and strong while trying not to feel bad for him was a great example of how Zara feels torn between the different worlds she inhabits.  The world that Jones has created with Pixies and Weres is intriguing but the story left a lot of things open and I can’t wait to read the third book Entice when it comes out in December.

Read excerpts from both books at Need Pixies.com

Rating: 1

Title: Captivate

Author: Carrie Jones

Format: Hardbound, Paperback, ebook, audio

Page Nos.: 288

ISBN: 978-1599903422

Publisher: Bloomsbury Teen

Release Date: January 2010

Available for purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Reviewer: Jessica

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to provide a review and it did not impact my review in any way.

On August 14th at 1:00 EST Pajama Chat Readers will be discussing two great YA novels, Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey and Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen. Both books are the second in their series so grab both and get caught up.

Check out the Show on Blog Talk Radio and Sign up for an Email Reminder.
Blood Feud 1pm EST
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/terry-kate/2010/08/14/blood-feud–pajama-chat-readers
Reign Check 2pm EST
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/terry-kate/2010/08/14/reign-check

The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge.

It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.
The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan’s and Isabeau’s perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.–Bloomsbury Publishing

You can read my review of this book here.

You can read an excerpt of the book here.

Enter the world of Nikki Donovan, a demon princess hell-bent on living a normal teenage life.

Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous — but potentially dangerous — faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki’s potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophesy. Nikki knows she’d never turn violent, and she certainly couldn’t destroy the world…could she?

Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage — and perhaps a bit of demon-level strength — to get herself out again.–Bloomsbury Publishing

You can read the first two chapters here.

The novels are available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle versions. So get reading and get ready to chat.

Emma has the perfect boyfriend and the perfect plan for her school play. When Mike Kissed Emma by Christine Marciniak is about how her plans have to change in the light of new information. Her plan involves her and her boyfriend, Trevor, singing a super romantic song together as major roles in the play but not the leads. When Emma’s plan gets ruined, she doesn’t really mind because she is the lead, unfortunately the person she has to “fall in love” with during the play is Mike. Biker Mike. He is the weird outcast, skater punk kid that nobody expected to be any good when it comes to acting. He blows everyone away, but not enough to make them accept him. Emma decides to try and become his friend. Then something happens that changes everything: Mike kisses Emma. In front of the entire school at a dance, and more importantly, in front of Trevor. She quickly discovers what a really nice guy Mike really is, she starts to realize how her “perfect” boyfriend isn’t so perfect after all.

I loved reading this book and never wanted to put it down! In this book, Emma has participated in 3 school plays: My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, and the Sound of Music. She references each a couple of times and it helped knowing a little bit about each one, especially the Sound of Music. I loved how there were unexpected twists in the plot, and being able to see as her view of her friends changed with each chapter. I could really relate with Emma and her problems she was having because I am going to be a senior in high school this next year, so I can see why her ideas are the way they are.

Rating:

Title: When Mike Kissed Emma

Author: Christine Marciniak

Format: ebook

Page Nos.: 177

ISBN: 1-60154-545-2

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: August 2009

Available for purchase: The Wild Rose Press

Reviewer: Jillian

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to provide a review and it did not impact my review in any way.

Can love triumph over revenge when the revenge is sought because your vampire sire left you buried in a coffin for over two hundred years? Blood Fued by Alyxandra Harvey is the second book in The Drake Chronicles series and continues where Hearts at Stake left off.  With the death of the vampire queen, things at the vampire court are a bit tense as new alliances are being formed. Isabeau St. Croix has been sent to the court as the representative of the Hounds, a group of vampires viewed by most of the court as being wild and superstitious.  Isabeau, in addition to representing the Hounds, has her own agenda with a plan to seek revenge against Greyhaven, Montmarte’s top lieutenant.

Logan Drake, one of the sons of the new vampire queen, has been assigned as Isabeau’s guide at the court.  As Isabeau and Logan begin to get to know each other, the Court is attacked and they must help each other out against the common enemy.

Isabeau is originally from the French Court during the French Revolution, having survived the horrors of seeing her parents decapitated by the guillotine, she travels to London to be with her family where she is transformed into a vampire by a guest at a ball.  Isabeau was thought to be dead so her family buried her and her sire left her alone in her coffin, where she remained for over 200 years until the Hounds’ hounds scented her and dug her out.  Isabeau is a strong character, not only being trapped in the coffin, but having to quickly adjust to life in the 21st Century.  As the Court is attacked, Logan and Isabeau are a good balance for each other, Logan’s suave charm with Isabeau’s wild attitude as a member of a  tribal vampire group.  It was nice to be able to see Lucy and Solange from the first book for a little bit, and I enjoyed this continuation of the series and of the Drake brothers.

The first book in the series was part of the Pajama Chat Readers online book club and you can listen to me discuss the book with two other fabulous ladies here.

The Drake Chronicles Website covers all things Drake related.

The Drake Chronicles Reading Order:

Hearts at Stake

Blood Fued

Rating:

Title: Blood Feud

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Format: Paperback

Page Nos.: 272

ISBN: 978-0-8027-2096-2

Publisher: Bloomsbury Teens

Release Date: July 2010

Available for purchase: Bookstores, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble

Reviewer: Jessica

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to provide a review and it did not impact my review in any way.