Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Release Day! Book Review and Giveaway: INSATIABLE by New York Times Bestselling Author Meg Cabot: Two Winners for this One!

Title: INSATIABLE
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins)
Format: ARC
ISBN: 978-0-06-173506-6
Price: $22.99, Pages: 464
Release Date: June 8, 2010


When I first saw the name Meg Cabot, I immediately thought this was a new young adult book by the prolific author of such titles as The Princess Diaries series and the Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls series. I was surprised to discover that INSATIABLE is an adult paranormal novel.
As the literary and cinematic world is awash in all things vampire, Meg Cabot has thrown her hat into the ring and written a gothic, yet humorous take on the trend.

The tale follows the escapades of Meena Harper, the writer of a soap opera named “Insatiable.” What better way to climb in the ratings than to give the people what they want, and what do they want? Why vampires of course.  It may be in vogue, but Meena is sick to death of it. It’s not like they really exist after all, but what her boss wants, her boss gets—no matter how Meena feels about it.

Mary Lou, Menna’s pesky neighbor, insists she meet her brother-in-law, a rich prince from Europe named Lucian Antonescu who owns a real castle. A girl has to do her job to the best of her ability. Lucian could possibly serve as a perfect research subject and provide some great ideas for vampire story lines. Her neighbor left out one important fact: Lucian also goes by a few other names, one of which is the prince of darkness. He takes more than a passing interest in Meena and life is about to get more complicated—way more.

 An impending war between vampire factions adds to the mix. Oh. And let’s not leave out Meena’s own supernatural powers: she knows when someone is going to die. A lot of really nasty vampires would love to have that ability. It would give them the heads up and allow them to circumvent the future. All they have to do is imbibe Meena’s blood. Simple enough, unless there’s a renegade vampire hunter on the loose and a furious vampire ruler intent on making her his mate.

Meg Cabot puts her own humorous spin on the trend of the moment. You can almost see her winking as she makes fairly obvious though unnamed references to Twilight and other of-the-moment vampire cinematic and literary fare. It’s like she’s sharing an inside joke with the reader and one can’t help but smile and chuckle as the story is read. She makes several direct references to popular culture that take an ancient storyline and imbue it with a modern and current sensibility.

In addition to telling a vigorous story with a rousing and often breathtaking plot, Cabot gives her readers a history lesson, interspersing the story with true historical facts that provide the foundation for Dracula, the vampire character.

There were a number of characters in the book and this reader found herself having to look back and reread sections to recall who was attached and connected to whom. This in no way took away from the overall enjoyment of the story, which was high. The book comes to a firm conclusion, but the author has written the ending such that the story could continue with a sequel. I certainly would be eager to read it.

For your chance to check out Ms. Cabot's contribution to the vampire madness, become a follower if you're not already. Leave a comment about your favorite vampire telling us why he (or she!) is your favorite and your email so you can be contacted.

The publisher sent me two ARC's so two of my diligent followers will benefit. I'm tickled!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.

Thanks to William Morrow / HarperCollins for making the ARC's available!


Contest Ends Tuesday, June 15, 2010


Toodles!

34 comments:

  1. Already following Writing is a Blessing with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- My favorite vampire is the original Dracula by Bram Stoker because it's the first one I read about :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. My favorite vampire is probably Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's hilarious and not as broody as Angel was.

    jennapomme[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Thanks for the contest! I love Meg Cabot, and can't wait to read her new book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome! Meg Cabot is simply awesome, and I'd love for a chance to read her newest release! :)

    I'm a big fan of the vampires from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. They still have the traditional "vampire" essence to them, but they're unique too. I love them!

    Love, Hannah
    xoxosweeet at yahoo dot com

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  4. I love Meg Cabot's other work. It's usually a light read that makes me smile... and I'm really *really* stoked about the premise of this one. : D

    I'm not a huge vampire girl. I usually cheer for the werewolf or other supernatural. However, Sonja, from the Underworld series is a vampire that I definitely cheer for as well as Selene.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oooh, please enter me in. I love Meg so much! My favorite vampire is Lucius from "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side." He was so funny and charming (when he wanted to be, that is). I'm an old follower.

    stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am already a follower :) I have really been wanting to read this book!

    I have to say my favorite vamp is Eric from Sookie Stackhouse series. He definitely has it going on!

    booknerdd(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. My favorite vamp is Eric from The Sookie Stackhouse series.

    Please count me in.

    +1 Follower

    cindyc725 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love to give this book a try. Am an old follower via Google Friend Connect. Count me in

    bookventuresbookclub AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love, love, LOVE Meg Cabot! She's one of my favorite authors (if not my only favorite author). I've been wanting to read this book for ever since I heard of it on Meg's website.

    Anyway, I'm a Twilight girl. My favorite vampire? Emmett, of course! You else would it be? Emmett, the big teddy bear of vampires. Also, he has a hilarious sense of humor. Love him!

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    Sophia Lee
    mashimaro401[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh! I'm an old follower. Did I have to mention that?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have to say Dracula is my favorite vamp. Nothing beats him.

    Melissa
    Old follower
    jedisakora@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love Meg Cabot as well. My fav vamp would have to be Lestat from Interview with the Vampire.
    Thanks for the contest...oh and I'm a follower

    majik.of.mystee(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sita from Christopher Pike's The Last Vampire series. She is just totally kick butt and yet very "human" at the same time.

    ajourneyofbooks-at-gmail-dot-com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesome! I've been dying to read this book! I'm following you now =) And I must admit that my favorite vampire would have to be Alice Cullen because Twilight is the only vampire book I've read (YET - just got into the genre, thanks to Twilight, but plan to try out more). I want Alice to be my best friend =) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    thebookishtype [at] yahoo [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am a follower and my fave vampire so far, well it is sort of a tie I guess - Love Eric Northman from the Sookie series, and I also Love JohnMatthew from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series! This book looks good and I liked Cabot's other books so I hope I get a chance to read it!
    polsen11atcomcastdotnet

    ReplyDelete
  16. This sounds cool, but do I really have to pick a favorite? Maybe Eric, 'cause I'm still way behind reading the series and he's getting more and more intriguing...

    sdeeth at msn dot com.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My favorite vampire is still Louis from Interview with the Vampire. I don't know why, I think it's because it was the first "vampire novel" I ever read.
    I'm following you publicly on Google Friend Connect as Tethered Mommy.

    Maggie at tethered mommy dot com
    www.tetheredmommy.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am a follower.
    My favorite vampire will always be Jean Claude from the LKH Anita Blake series. He is just, perfect.
    Although, a close 2nd is Raphael from DB Reynolds' Vampires in America series. Both are complex, brooding, intense personalities.

    Get me at demonloversblog@gmail.com
    http://demonloversbooksandmore.com

    DL

    ReplyDelete
  19. Of course I follow your blog, but I (hanging head in shame) have not yet had the pleasure of reading any of Meg Cabot's work, so Insatiable would be a first.

    My favorite vampire is, was, and will always be Spike from BTVS.

    APSKap (at) comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Meg Cabot has been one of my absolute favorite authors since I discovered this genre! I really NEED this book, lol ;D

    My favorite vampire harkens back to my tender youth - Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadow fame 1969. If he's too busy to reach, I'd take Lestat ANYtime hehe

    Thanks for the terrific giveaway - and I am a follower :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm a follower. :-)

    Damon Salvatore (from the books) is my favorite vampire; he was complicated and dark but not nearly as evil as he purported to be.

    whatinabox at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Let's see my fave vamp in a book I read recently is Alec Royce from Jess Haines' Hunted by the Others. I just love a tortured soul, need burning in his eye...eh-hem, I'm getting carried away, aren't I?

    I'm a follower

    patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm following you and I'm going to just stick with the basic love I have of Edward. Sorry I just can't even help it:)

    www.momstheglue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cant wait to read it. I love Meg's other books and vampire novels in general. So excited to combine them!

    My favorite vampire is Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse series. However I do also have a small part that still compares all others to Bram Stokers Dracula too.

    I am a follower

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I just started reading the House of Night series and really like Zoey. Can't wait to see how she develops throughout the series!

    I am a follower.

    kherbrand at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  26. My favorite vamp is Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Just love how his character begins as an enigma and develops into more of a person as the series progresses. Plus he's hawt! lol
    -following u :)
    -bells DOT franco AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can't wait to read this! I love Meg Cabot's Boy series and this looks like such a great read!

    My favourite vamp? Hmm, just one? So many to choose from!

    I'm going to have to go with the entire (sorry can't make me choose one) Black Dagger Brotherhood. What's not to love about those guys? Can't wait for the next book in the series!

    - follower
    - xmaybetomorrow(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. My favorite would have to be Angel from the Buffy series. I love how you can take a big old brooding vampire and turn him into a mushy mess with a fast-talking little blonde who could kick his butt back to hell.

    clderwee at gmail dot com
    I'm also a follower

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm so excited to read this one!! My favorite vampire is Angel from Buffy and Angel!! Thank you for the contest!!
    I'm a follower :)

    inthehammockblog (at) gmail (d0t) com

    ReplyDelete
  30. sounds like a "must read"!
    and the contest is awesome!!

    rebecca (at) rebeccaleighromance (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am a follower. My favorite vampire is Marius from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. He is decadent :)
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm a follower and my favorite vampire is Damon from The Vampire Diaries because Damon is my son's name

    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am a GFC follower. My favorite vampire is the true original Dracula...Bela Lagosi.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  34. My favorite vampire is Angel from Buffy The Vampire Slayer Thank you for the a chance to win!!!
    I'm a follower

    acouponaddict@charter.net

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading what you have to say. Seriously!