giveaways!

Ashes of a Black Frost (11/1) | The Shattered Vine (11/3)
Coming soon:

drey's Giveaway Policy

FTC Disclosure: I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on covers or links here may result in monetary compensation.

Winners!!

February 28, 2010
Boy oh boy, I'm late again! I'm starting to feel like the White Rabbit...

So. Quick winners announcement...

Winner of Jennifer Estep's Spider's Bite is... throuthehaze!!!

Winners of Lilli Feisty's Dare to Surrender are... ossmcalc!!! Anna ♥!!! belinda m!!!

Want the books? Purchase Spider's Bite at IndieBound, Amazon. Purchase Dare to Surrender at IndieBound, Amazon

Congratulations, everyone!! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information before the end of day Wednesday. And thank you for swinging by!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Tour: 27. Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman...

February 26, 2010
It's yet another tour day! This one's for Susan Jane Gilman's Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, which I wanted to read just because they traveled to CHINA, and I've always wanted to. But I was too chicken, so I'm living vicariously through someone else's memoir...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
SUSAN JANE GILMAN has written commentary for the New York Times, Ms., US, and the Los Angeles Times, among others. Winner of several literary awards for her fiction and essays, she is a native New Yorker who currently lives in "rent exile" in Washington, D.C.

Find Susan online at her website, www.susanjanegilman.com.

heaven
About the book:
In 1986, Susan Jane Gilman and a classmate embarked on a bold trek around the globe starting in the People's Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent backpackers for roughly ten minutes. Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche and Linda Goodman's Love Signs, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads--hungry, disoriented, stripped of everything familiar, and under constant government surveillance. Soon, they began to unravel--one physically, the other psychologically. As their journey became increasingly harrownig, they found themselves facing crises that Susan didn't think they'd survive. But by summoning strengths she never knew she had--and with help from unexpected friends--the two travelers found their way out of a Chinese heart of darkness.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is a flat-out page-turner, and astonishing true story of naivete, friendship, and redemption told with Susan's trademark compassion and humor.

drey's thoughts:
Just finished reading Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven... And I'm still processing... Susan Jane Gilman's trip to China back in the 80's may have begun with rose-colored glasses, all innocence and naivete, but it definitely did not end that way. What started out as an adventure of self-discovery ends in stressed health and mental faculties.

But while it made me glad I didn't visit China in the 80's--due to lack of basic facilities that I am rather fond of--I loved Susan's depictions of the basics of navigating around China. The visas, friendship stores, travel planning, public transportation, health care... The lack of basic facilities that you'd expect if you've only lived in the western world. The fascination that the people would have for someone who looked so completely and totally different from themselves. The feeling of being a fish out of water, in a culture so foreign and so different from anything you've ever known, reminds me of my solo journey to the good ol' US of A, even if I came for college, and without a backpack.

As I mentioned above, China is one of the countries that I'd really like to visit. But I'm too old to do it backpacking, which I am not ashamed to admit! I will so not have issues checking in to the Hilton!

Want to travel to the very far east from the comfort of your living room or favorite chair? Well, then pick this up!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven
Author: Susan Jane Gilman
ISBN-13: 9780446696937
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have one copy of Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven for you! Just fill out the form if you live in the US or Canada (no PO Boxes, please!), and do it before 6:00 pm CST March 11th!

Tour: 26. Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass...

February 25, 2010
It's tour time! Today we have Seressia Glass and her newest offering, Shadow Blade!

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Shadow Blade was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

seressia glassAbout the author:
Seressia has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on comics, cereal boxes–anything at hand. So it came as no surprise to family and teachers when she began creating stories featuring some of her favorite characters. One of her earlier works included the autobiography of a piece of bubble gum, and a short Halloween story was turned into a PTA play in elementary school.

Her proudest writing moment remains winning the first Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday “Living the Dream” essay contest as a high school senior and getting to meet Coretta Scott King. Since then, she’s channeled her belief in the power of the written word by creating rich, emotional stories of diverse people coming together to achieve the universal goals of love and acceptance.

When not working on her next story, Seressia is an instructional designer for an international home improvement company. She spends her free time people-watching, belly dancing, and watching way too much anime.

Find Seressia (& the above) at her website, www.seressia.com.

shadow bladeAbout the book:
For Kira Solomon, normal was never an option.

Kira's day job is as an antiquities expert, but her true calling is as a Shadowchaser. Trained from youth to be one of the most lethal Chasers in existence, Kira serves the Gilead Commission, dispatching the Fallen who sow discord and chaos. Of course, sometimes Gilead bureaucracy is as much a thorn in her side as anything the Fallen can muster against her. Right now, though, she's got a bigger problem. Someone is turning the city of Atlanta upside down in search of a millennia-old Egyptian dagger that just happens to have fallen into Kira's hands.

Then there's Khefar, the dagger's true owner — a near-immortal 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior who, Kira has to admit, looks pretty fine for his age. Joining forces is the only way to keep the weapon safe from the sinister Shadow forces, but now Kira is in deep with someone who holds more secrets than she does, the one person who knows just how treacherous this fight is. Because every step closer to destroying the enemy is a step closer to losing herself to Shadow forever....

drey's thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Shadow Blade, but I feel like there's a dearth of distinct characters in the genre. Maybe that's because I read Spider's Bite, Shadow Blade, AND Faith Hunter's Rogue Mage series, all in a row... Gin hunts her victims. Thorn hunts demonspawn. And Kira hunts Fallen.

I did like the characters. Kira and her friends are cool, and yet smart enough to get freaked out when things get crazy. I liked the Egyptian mythology incorporated into the book, it was not only entertaining, but creative as well (who isn't fascinated by that stuff??). And the spider god reminds me of Coyote from C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers--but a lot more likable!

I think that urban fantasy fans will dig this offering from Seressia Glass. I can't wait for the next one!

Check out an excerpt of Shadow Blade!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Title: Shadow Blade (Shadowchasers #1)
Author: Seressia Glass
ISBN-13: 9781439156797
Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have a copy of Shadow Blade for you, IF you live in the US. Also remember, giveaways are for followers only. To enter, fill out this form before 6:00 pm CST, March 10th!

February's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jennifer shares some thoughts...

February 24, 2010
It's time for our Featured Author, Jennifer Estep, to say a few words. I was wondering what she'd want to talk about. I mean, we've talked books, we've talked writing, what else is important? Other than chocolate, but I'm sure we covered that, too...

Anyway. Let's find out, shall we?
Greetings and salutations! For the last time, I want to say thanks to drey for inviting me to be the guest author on the site this month. Thanks so much, drey! It’s been a lot of fun. drey: Oh goody! Maybe you'll come back?

So drey said that I could talk about anything that I wanted to today, and I thought that I would focus on something that I do way too much of in my spare time - watch television.

Seriously, I am totally addicted to television. Some of my favorite television programs right now are Chuck, Burn Notice, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, and The Mentalist. And these are just a few of the shows that I keep up with on a weekly basis. drey: I heart Chuck! But I think the first season is better than the current one...

So what do these shows have in common? What makes me like them so much? Simple - they’re just fun. When I sit down to watch television, or read a book, or go to the movies, I want to be entertained first and foremost. I want drama, action, danger, romance, and witty dialogue all in one program. Whether it’s Michael Weston thwarting the bad guys on Burn Notice or Chuck Bass being deliciously evil on Gossip Girl, I like shows that just want to entertain viewers and don’t take themselves too seriously. Angsty dramas are okay every once in a while, but I’ll take sun, sand, explosions, and the shifting alliances and couples of the Upper East Side any day of the week. ;-)

I’ll admit that I also have a weakness for spy shows and programs that are heavy on action, which is why some of my all-time favorite television shows include Alias and The A-Team (I’m so excited about The A-Team movie that’s coming out this summer that it’s not even funny.) drey: OMG! There's an A-Team movie coming out?? I swooned over Dirk Benedict...

Watching these kinds of shows has influenced my writing - because I write books that are just fun. At least, that’s how I think of them and that’s what I want to give to readers - a fun read. Spider’s Bite, the first book in my new Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, has everything that I like in a television show - action, drama, danger, fight scenes, and some sizzling romance. I like to think that the rest of my books do too.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a program to go watch. ;-)

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite television shows? Share in the comments.
I am addicted to NCIS. I love Mark Harmon. I also watch Private Practice, for all the eye candy on it. And The Amazing Race, for all the challenges the teams have to go through. Like Jennifer, I like to be entertained, otherwise what's the point? But it has to be quality entertainment... My all-time favorite is a 6-week miniseries from HBO, Band of Brothers, followed closely by Firefly, and Cowboy Bebop.

25. Bloodring by Faith Hunter...

February 23, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Bloodring was bought and paid for. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

bloodringAbout the book:
In a novel filled with lush imagery and exhilarating action, Faith Hunter creates a near-future world caught in the throes of an ambiguous apocalypse-where a woman with everything to hide finds her true destiny revealed.

As humanity struggles with religious strife and seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle, a new species has arisen. "Neomages" are human in appearance, but able to twist left-over creation energy to their will. A threat to both humans and seraphs, they are confined in luxurious Enclaves.

Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary neomage. Nearly driven insane by her powers, she is smuggled out of an Enclave and now lives among humans, channeling her gift of stone-magery into jewelry making. But when Thaddeus Bartholomew, a dangerously attractive policeman, tells her that her ex-husband has been kidnapped, Thorn risks revealing her identity to find him. And for Thorn, the punishment for revelation is death.

drey's thoughts:
I picked up Bloodring after reading Faith's Jane Yellowrock books, Skinwalker and Blood Cross. Apparently I can't get enough Faith... =)

I like Thorn. She is strong, powerful, and on the lam. Well, in hiding, anyway, since she's been in the same place for 10 years now... Then her ex-husband goes missing, and the cops come knocking on her door. To further complicate things (because she really really REALLY needs it complicated), Thorn finds a stash of gemstone that talks to her... And she gets herself involved in the fight between heaven and hell.

Thorn's world is stark and unyielding, and amazingly detailed. The residents of Mineral City have their own factions, from the conspiracy theorists to the unyielding religious. And not all of them are happy when Thorn comes out of hiding to save her--and their--home.

Heavenly deities, elemental magic, and a big bad scare-the-bejeebus-outta-you baddie provide the supernatural in this romp through Thorn's post-apocalyptic world. I don't know how I missed this when it came out a few years ago, but I'm glad I read it (and the following books, Host and Seraph too... because I never read just one!).

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Title: Bloodring (Rogue Mage #1)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451462411
eBook
Publisher: Penguin, 2008
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+

24. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick...

February 22, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Hush, Hush swung by for a second visit from my local library before I got around to reading it. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

hush hushAbout the book:
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

drey's thoughts:
I'd brought Hush, Hush home from the library before, but didn't quite get around to reading it. So it went back, and then came to visit again. And this time I did get it read! =)

Nora is a gutsy girl. I wouldn't want to live in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, all by myself, in a place that gets foggy more often than not. Like, um, creepy! Vee, her best friend, is just plain annoying. The contrast between Patch and Elliot in the beginning--the one dark and mysterious, the other blond and friendly--was a pretty predictable contrast to their true selves. Add in one career counselor who seems to know more than normal, and you get a nice mix of good, bad, and crazy in this offering from Becca Fitzpatrick.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
ISBN-13: 9781416989417
Hardcover: 391 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

23. Fade Out by Rachel Caine...

February 19, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Fade Out was on loan from my local library, and has since returned to its collection. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

fade outAbout the book:
Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, life has changed--dramatically. The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again--almost.

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. Yet when one of Eve's cast mates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. As she and Claire investigate, they soon realize that not only is the subject of the film the vampires themselves, but that this project is a whole lot bigger--and way more dangerous--than anyone suspected.

drey's thoughts:
Welcome to Morganville. Where the things that go bump in the night have just concluded a civil war, and victors and losers alike are trying to adjust to the changes that have come to stay. Well, mostly. Because some definitely do not want to adjust. And letting the dissent fester is a leadership that does not appear to be all present.

Things may be back to normal, but that doesn't mean that it gets easier for Claire. Eve has a new goth friend, and Claire goes through am-I-losing-my-best-friend anxieties, compounded when she finds out that Kim and Shane had previously hooked up. Adding to Claire's misery? Ada hates her. Really, really hates her. Never mind that Ada isn't even real...

This next Morganville Vampires installment keeps the tension going in that little town, and even brings in technology! But I'm ready for this series to get wrapped up, and for Claire to be able to go on her merry way.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Fade Out (Morganville Vampires #7)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN-13: 9780451228666
Paperback: 237 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

Tour: 22. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep...

February 18, 2010
It's tour time! Today, Jennifer Estep's Spider's Bite is touring... And if you've been hanging 'round here this month, you'll know that Jennifer is my February Featured Author! It must've been serendipity...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Spider's Bite was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
By night, Jennifer Estep is an author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. By day, Jennifer is an award-winning features page designer for a daily newspaper.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. She is also the author of the Big Time paranormal romance series, including Karma Girl, Hot Mama, and Jinx. Find Jennifer online at www.jenniferestep.com.

spider's bite
About the book:
My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South—when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way—good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction . . . especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.
drey's thoughts:
Jennifer Estep's foray into the world of urban fantasy features an assassin, and not just any plain ol' assassin either but an elemental who makes killer (haha) sandwiches.  Gin is orphaned at a young age, and taken in off the streets by the man who teaches her the tricks of the trade, and eventually becomes her handler.

The storyline and characters are a mite predictable, but Jennifer put it all together into an entertaining package. The big bad villain reminded me of that line in the movie The Incredibles, where the seamstress tells Mr. Incredible that he doesn't want a cape, and why. Never mind that she doesn't have a cape, lol! Donovan is the classic good cop who's conflicted about having to work with the bad guy (girl?) to solve the mystery at hand, never mind her having saved his tush a few times. And Gin, the baddest assassin in the South--who does some jobs pro-bono--is your Robin Hood in black. Her emotions are a bit all over the place here, ranging from anger to despair to wondering what it would be like to do the horizontal tango with the yummy Donovan.

Fans of the genre who like their heroines mostly (rock) hard, who can kick butt with the best of 'em, then pick this up and give it a whirl.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassins #1)
Author: Jennifer Estep
ISBN-13: 9781439147979
Paperback: 395 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have one copy of Spider's Bite for you, if you live in the US. To enter, fill out the form. That's it. Just remember that giveaways are for followers only, and this one ends March 3rd!

February's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jennifer's fave reads...

February 17, 2010
Today's post is from our February Featured Author, Jennifer Estep. She swings by to share her favorite reads (because authors love to read!). Share some of your own!

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to drey once again for inviting me to be the guest author this month. Thanks so much, drey!

So today drey asked me to talk about my favorite reads. Now, I love books. I always have. When I was a kid, the highlight of my week was my mom and I going to the local library every Saturday to get some new books to read. It was a tradition that I still remember fondly, all these years later. And yes, I still go to my local library whenever I can.

So what do I like to read? Just about everything. Romance, fantasy, mysteries, thrillers. Just about the only two genres that I don’t particularly care for are science fiction and non-fiction. (drey: I don't like non-fiction either...)

As far as romance goes, I like paranormals, contemporaries, and all kinds of westerns. I enjoy reading paranormal authors like Kresley Cole and Jeaniene Frost; contemporary authors like Lisa Kleypas and Kristan Higgins; and westerns by folks like Linda Lael Miller, Jodi Thomas, and Jo Goodman.

When it comes to fantasy, I enjoy epic, urban, young adult, and everything in between. The Elenium series by David Eddings is one of my favorite epic fantasy trilogies. Beauty by Robin McKinley is a great young adult read and another one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed the recent young adult books Graceling by Kristin Cashore and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I like folks like Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison when it comes to urban fantasy.   (drey: I LOVED The Hunger Games! And Harry Dresden is a favorite character... Does this make us, like, BFFs? *grin*)

I also like books that are just action-packed or fun, or even better, both at the same time. For action-packed thrillers, nobody does it better than Ian Fleming and his classic James Bond series. The Jack Reacher series by Lee Child is also excellent, along with the Parker series by Richard Stark. When it comes to fun, I always reach for Donald E. Westlake and his Dortmunder comic crime caper series, about a group of thieves with some of the world luck around.

So there you have it. Some of the authors and books that I turn to when I’m in search of a good read.

What about you guys? Who do you like to read? Share in the comments.

One of my recent oooh-I-can't-stop-reading-anything-I-can-find-by-this-author is Faith Hunter. I practically swallowed down Skinwalker and Blood Cross, as well as her Rogue Mage series. Like, inhaled... I also love C.E. Murphy's Walker Paper series, and Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series. Now I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting and waiting and waiting (yes, including for Web of Lies)...



THANK YOU for swinging by, Jennifer!!

Winners!!

February 16, 2010
Sigh. Wouldn't you know it. It's no longer the 9th or the 14th. I am so late with these, and for that I apologize!!!

Before I announce the winners, though, I do have a public service announcement to make. *gets on soap box* Please pay attention to the giveaway rules. I've noticed quite a few entrants without the corresponding comments, when comments are asked for. I'd hate to have you not actually get credit for your entries, so please, please, do as the giveaway asks. Thank you! *gets off soap box*

Ok. Winners. First up is for a copy of Sherrill Bodine's A Black Tie Affair. The winners are:

bgcchs
kkhaas

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Next up is for a copy of Kathryn Borel's Corked. The winners are:

gcwhiskas
ayancey
seknobloch
lizzi0915

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBoundAmazon

Congratulations, everyone!! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information before the end of day Friday. And thank you for swinging by!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

21. Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Eternal on the Water was provided by Barnes and Noble for their online book club, First Look. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

eternal on the water
About the book:
From the day Jonathan Cobb and Mary Fury meet on the banks of Maine's Allagash River, they approach life with the same adventurous spirit with which they conquer the river's treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily. And so for them, the life they love demands equally that they confront the most difficult of choices, and vow, when time and illness necessitate, to return to the river together so that Mary can make one final journey. Set against the rugged wilderness of Maine, the exotic islands of Indonesia, the sweeping panoramas of Yellowstone National Park, and the tranquil villages of rural New England, Eternal on the Water is at once heartbreaking and uplifting--a timeless, beautifully rendered story of true love's power.
drey's thoughts:
Eternal on the Water starts off as a a downer of a book--with a death. But as you continue reading, it takes that downer and turns it into a truly lovely love story. A story about a girl and a boy who meet, and realize they're meant to be together. A story about life and death. A story about love and the choices we make, regardless of the ramifications we face down the road, regardless of how much--or little--time we have together. A story full of little instances where love, and life, is shared. A story about a celebration of life.

Make sure you have a supply of tissues handy when you read this. And yes, that's when, not if.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Eternal on the Water
Author: Joseph Monninger
ISBN-13: 9781439168332
ARC: 344 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

20. Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge...

February 15, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Worst Case was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

worst case
About the book:
Best case: survival

The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.

Worst case: death

Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears, one powerful family after another uses their leverage and connections to turn the heat up on the mayor, the press—anyone who will listen—to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, who send their top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's life—and love life—suddenly get even more complicated.

This case: Detective Michael Bennett is on it

Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet—one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York. From the shocking first page to the last exhilarating scene, Worst Case is a non-stop thriller from "America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes).
drey's thoughts:
This collaboration between Patterson and Ledwidge is a fast paced, action-packed read. Detective Michael Bennett is a likable character, with his conscience and his brood of adopted kids... The plot is gripping, with the villain kidnapping rich kids and grilling them with questions. If they can't answer correctly, they die. All while the cops are trying to find them, and the bad guy, while dealing with the kids' parents. Who, being rich and all that, come with a whole lot of attitude towards the detectives.

I enjoyed Worst Case, even though I thought it was pretty predictable.

drey's rating: 3/5  Good

Title: Worst Case
Author: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
ISBN-13: 9780316036221
Hardcover: 356 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

19. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz...

February 12, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of The Van Alen Legacy swung by for a short visit from my local library. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

the van alen legacyAbout the book:
With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry; love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Schuyler has made her choice. She has forsaken Jack for Oliver, choosing human over vampire. But old loves die hard... And even coldhearted Mimi seems to suffer from the ties that bind.

Young vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series.

drey's thoughts:
So what do people do after an apocalyptic battle? Why, batten down the hatches and hide out, of course. Hoping that the baddies will just go back where they came from. Which is what the Conclave--what's left of it anyway--decides to do. Well, ok. That, and hunt down Schuyler. Because she killed Lawrence, she is a Silver Blood, and she must be tracked down. Ok, so how delusional can people (ok, even blue bloods) be? Seriously?

In this installment, I really enjoyed Bliss' storyline. How she figures out what's happening, how she tries to keep a shred of herself alive, and how she tries to find her sister. Schuyler's story was just ok, for me. Mimi's was slightly better than I expected--she does some growing up. The boys mostly stayed in the background, making this a girl-power book, lol.

My overall opinion? I expected more out of this one. After the ending in Revelations, I thought there'd be more bombshells dropped here, more lines either tied off or expanded. But it felt like an in-between-er book, one to fill space in between two big storylines. So, that gives me hope for the next one. If you've read the previous Blue Bloods books, you will want to pick this one up, just to read what happens.

drey's rating: 2.5/5 Better than OK

Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
ISBN-13: 9781423102267
Hardcover: 369 pages
Publisher: Hyperion, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

18. Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty...

February 11, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Dare to Surrender was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

dare to surrenderAbout the book:
HE MEETS HIS MATCH.
SHE MEETS HER MASTER.

Art gallery curator Joy Montgomery has never liked her body's generous curves. And she's always been too shy to explore her wild side. But tonight, everything is going to change . . . Desperate to save her job, Joy approaches bad-boy artist Ash Hunter and asks him to exhibit his erotic work at her gallery. Ash agrees on one condition: Joy must pose as his model. But business soon turns to pleasure, as Joy experiences a passion beyond her wildest imaginings and Ash finds more than just inspiration in his voluptuous new muse.

drey's thoughts:
Lilli Feisty's Dare to Surrender is super hot and super sexy. It features some characters from her previous book, Bound to Please, most prominently Ash Hunter, who used to be Ruby's. But Joy is all new, and so is her best friend Erica. Who actually features quite a bit, for being a not-main-character...

Joy is fun. But a little too hung up on her weight, and a little too attached to a job working for a guy I would kick to kingdom come faster than you can sneeze. I felt that Dare to Please had a lot more in-depth character than Dare to Surrender, though the latter did have lots of hot sex. This one's not for the faint of heart!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Dare to Surrender
Author: Lilli Feisty
ISBN-13: 9780446541930
Paperback: 335 pages
Publisher: Forever, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Now, for those of you who would like to try for a copy of Dare to Surrender, read on! I have up to 5 copies for you, courtesy of Hachette Book Group. We'll start with one on the block, and 1 more for every 10 people who enter this giveaway. Please remember that giveaways are only open to followers, and this one's for those in the US and Canada only.

To enter, fill out the form. Easy peasy.

February's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jennifer's books!

February 10, 2010
Jennifer Estep is my February Featured Author, and today's post is a spotlight on her books. If you missed last Wednesday's interview, just click on the link in the right sidebar!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the covers or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Jennifer started with the Bigtime series, paranormal romance novels Karma Girl, Hot Mama, and Jinx.

karma girl
Someone has to pay for what happened to Carmen Cole…

Bigtime, New York is not big enough for both Carmen Cole and the superheroes and ubervillains who walk its streets. An intrepid reporter, Carmen’s dedicated her life to unmasking the spandex wearers, all because her fiancé turned out to be a superhero, and a cheating one at that – sleeping with none other than his nubile nemesis.

Exposing the true identities of the nation’s caped crusaders and their archenemies has catapulted Carmen from her sleep southern hometown to the front pages of one of the country’s biggest newspapers, The Exposé. Hobnobbing with modelizing millionaires and famished fashionistas is all in a day’s work for the woman hot on the trail of the Fearless Five and Terrible Triad. But when Carmen gets the scoop of her career, her life comes crashing down around her. And even Bigtime’s sexiest superhero, Striker, may not be able to save her …


hot mama
She can melt steel – and men’s hearts…

By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she’s Fiera, a superstrong superhero who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiera, along with the other members of the heroic Fearless Five, make life miserable for the ubervillains who want to take over the city.

But Fiona’s personal life isn’t so fine. She still misses her fiancé, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. But men admire Fiona’s smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game – especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona’s love life might just crash and burn…


jinx
She never wanted to be a superhero. Too much danger. Too much spandex…

Bella Bulluci’s big passion is the arts. Her big pain is being born into a family of superheroes. Of course, Bella might feel differently if her own superpower was one she could control – or at least get some use out of. Instead, her power is one of capricious luck – supercharged telekinesis. In other words, static electricity. Bella knows that’s not a power – just a jinx.

During a gala fundraiser for the local art museum, Bella comes upon two things no Bigtime supergirl should be without: an ubervillain of her very own who plans to steal a priceless gem; and a dashing – if slightly shady – stranger named Debonair. He may have a reputation as a notorious playboy, but the real sparks are going to come from Bella, who’s finally going to learn just how well love and danger can go together…


But, that's not all... Jennifer has just released a new urban fantasy series, with Spider's Bite, the Elemental Assassins #1. Book #2, Web of Lies, comes out in May. Check them out!

spider's bite

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South—when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way—good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction . . . especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.


web of lies
Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I’m Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coal-mining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired.

So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scount mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental—with a little Ice magic thrown in—but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man … dead or alive.
Don't these look totally delish? I've just started reading Spider's Bite and am trying to put this post together so I can get back to it! Check them out and enjoy!!

17. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins...

February 9, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Catching Fire was on loan from my local library, and has gone to another rabid fan. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

catching fire
About the book:
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol--a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.
drey's thoughts:
Well. I finally got Catching Fire, after what seemed like an interminable wait... And was the wait worth it? Oh yes. Because now that you've heaved a sigh of relief at the end of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins quickly takes a jab at your mid-section, resulting in the whoosh of lost breath. Again.

How bad can it be? Well... Let's see. The President shows up at Katniss' (new) house and threatens the lives of her loved ones, then announces that for this 25th anniversary of the Hunger Games, the only eligible tributes are former victors. Which means that everyone who's ever survived the horror of their Hunger Games now gets to go back. And try to survive it again. Talk about nightmares!

So, Katniss and Peeta team up again, this time to assist the other in staying alive. They find unexpected allies, and unexpected chances. Catching Fire will have you at the edge of your seat until you read the very last word. And then some. I can't wait for the third (and last?) book to come out. August won't get here soon enough for me!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2)
Author: Suzanne
ISBN-13: 9780439023498
Hardcover: 391 pages
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc., 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

Winner of Jill Myles' Gentlemen Prefer Succubi!!

February 8, 2010
I'm just a little itty bitty late for this one, lol... But I hurried up and put Randomizer to work, and the winner of Jill Myles' Gentlemen Prefer Succubi is...

bgcchs@...!!

Congratulations!! The email has been sent, please reply with your mailing information before the end of day Thursday. Thank you so much for swinging by!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

16. Blood Cross by Faith Hunter...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation. My copy of Blood Cross was purchased for my nook.

blood crossAbout the book:
The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules-but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep...
drey's thoughts:
Well. That blurb above really doesn't say much, does it? But don't let that deter you from picking up this 2nd book in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series... I mean, just look at that cover! How much more bad-ass can she be? *grin*

All kidding aside. I loved Skinwalker, and I have to say that Blood Cross did not disappoint at all. Jane is awesome! Even when she's tired, covered in blood, hiding from Leo, and hunting the rogue.

I cannot wait for more Jane. I am off to go stalk Faith to find out more, lol!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock #2)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451463074
eBook
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

15. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale...

February 5, 2010
FTC Disclosure: My ARC of Lessons in French was provided by Sourcebooks for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

lessons in frenchAbout the book:
He's always been trouble...
Trevelyn and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure. Until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and in a furious frenzy drives Trevelyn away in disgrace...

Exactly the kind of trouble she's never been able to resist...
Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyn returns. Callie is shocked to discover he can still make her blood race and fill her life with mischief, excitement, and scandal. He would give her the world, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything--himself..

For Trevelyn, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last good-byes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them...

drey's thoughts:
Laura Kinsale's Lessons in French is a pretty lighthearted romp in the romance genre. Callie is spontaneous and spunky. Trev is just broody, lol. But the two of them make a good pair, even when he's being a clod.

The plot with her other suitors and his past catching up to him was not too distracting from the interaction between the two, which is the best part of Lessons in French in my opinion. Well, except for Hubert being dyed. And hiding out in Trev's mother's kitchen. *grin*

There are lots of parts that will make you chuckle out loud, if not laugh outright. And it wouldn't be a romance book if it didn't have a happily ever after, now would it? How? Well, you'll have to read it to find out.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Lessons in French
Author: Laura Kinsale
ISBN-13: 9781402237010
ARC: 446 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Winners!! Laura Bynum's Veracity!!

February 4, 2010
veracityNext up: announcing the winners of Laura Bynum's Veracity!

bethsbookreviewblog!!
tWarner419!!

Congratulations!! Emails have been sent, please reply before the end of day Sunday. And THANK YOU for swinging by!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Winner!! Nancy Holzner's Deadtown!!

deadtownI'm sooooo late with this, sorry!!!

Anyway, I put Randomizer to work like, lickety split, and the winner of a signed copy of Nancy Holzner's Deadtown is...

holdenj!!


Congratulations!! Email has been sent, please reply before the end of day Sunday. And THANK YOU for swinging by!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Tour: 14. Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline E. Luckett...

'Tis time for another blog tour! This one is for Jacqueline Luckett's Searching for Tina Turner... I will readily admit to putting both arms (forget hands, the entire arm went up, lol!) up in the air to sign up for this one. I love Tina, and thought I'd like a book with a character who is a huge fan and wanted to try to live a better life by walking away from everything that tied her down.

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Searching for Tina Turner was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Jacqueline E. Luckett is a former sales representative for Xerox who, after leaving the corporate world, dared herself to take a creative writing class. She began writing short stories and poetry and has never looked back.

This San Francisco Bay Area native loves living in Oakland, but she travels frequently to nurture her passion for photography and cooking exotic foods. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Find Jacqueline online at her website, jacquelineluckett.com and on her blog, jacquelineluckett.com/blog.

searching for tina turner
About the book:
On their first date more than thirty years ago, Randall Spencer took Lena to an Ike and Tina Turner concert. From the minute they sat down in the fifth row, Lena knew that Randall wanted to impress her even though he didn't need to--she would have gone anywhere just to be close to him. Yet now, after twenty-three years of marriage, Lena is missing one important thing... happiness.

On the surface it looks like she has everything a woman could wish for: a rich husband, two wonderful children, and a life of luxury. The reality is that her husband is emotionally distant, her son has developed a drug habit, and her daughter is disgusted by her mother's "overbearing behavior."

Determined to save her failing marriage, Lena suggests going to a marriage counselor to get to the root of her unhappiness and to find the gem they once called love. But in the sessions Randall doesn't understand Lena's frustrations and makes it clear that she is the one with the problem. When the counseling seems futile, he offers his wife an ultimatum: Be grateful for all I've done for you or leave. Embracing her fear of wasting her life, Lena chooses the latter and leaves behind everything she's known.

Drawing on the strength of Tina Turner's life story, Searching for Tina Turner is Lena's struggle to find herself after twenty-three years of being Randall's wife.



drey's thoughts:
I'll start by saying I really enjoyed reading Searching for Tina Turner. Lena is strong, much stronger than she gives herself credit for. But it takes a lot of soul-searching for her to find that out, and even more time for her to actually start to believe it... Which is kinda depressing to me, as I'm also a wife and a mother. Do we all get to that place where it seems like that's all we are? Why is it that Lena can't get Randall to see her? To understand what she's trying to say?

It's not easy to tell your spouse, whom you still love, that you're not happy. And Lena manages to do that, as well as not back down when Randall issues his ultimatum. She finds her backbone after sacrificing her dreams for his career. And then heads out to pursue a wish of her own.

The only thing that I didn't care for that much, was Lena's meeting up with an old flame. I am firmly in the camp that when you leave a man, you should leave men for a while. After all, what's the point of going to find yourself only to be hanging 'round another guy? I won't spill the beans, so I'm zipping these lips! =) Get it and read it for yourselves!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Title: Searching for Tina Turner
Author: Jacqueline E. Luckett
ISBN-13: 9780446542968
Hardcover: 299 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway: Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep..

February 3, 2010
Today, I have for you one copy of Jennifer Estep's new urban fantasy novel, Spider's Bite! This comes from the author herself, who happens to be drey's Featured Author for February (yay me!). Come check it out!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

spider's bite
About the book:
My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

Sooo... Want a copy? Then keep reading! Here's what to do...
#1. This is open to US and Canada followers only!
#2. Fill out the form.
#3. Comment and share... Based just on the blurb above, who do you think would make a good Gia on celluloid? (yes, you can check out Jennifer's website, or her interview!)
#4. Do it all before 6:00 pm CST February 24th!

February's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep!

Good morning! Today I have the pleasure of having the very lovely Jennifer Estep stopping by. Why? Well, because she's February's Featured Author, of course! So buckle in and hang on for a wonderful month with Jennifer!

She was kind enough to take some time to answer some questions for me... C'mon and see!


drey: Hello, and welcome to drey's library, Jennifer! Thank you for participating in my Featured Author series, and taking the time to do this Q&A!

Jennifer: Hi, Audrey! Thanks so much for having me here.


Any time, Jennifer... =)


drey: When did you first realize that you wanted to be an author? What were you doing?

Jennifer: I’ve always loved to read ever since I was a kid, and I’d written a few short stories and poems growing up, mostly for school assignments.

But one day, about the time when I was finishing up high school and getting ready for college, I starting having the thoughts that I think a lot of authors do in the beginning – “Why, I could write something better than this” or “This is a good book, but if the characters had done this, it would have been so much better.” All of which lead up to the single thought that gets all authors started in the first place– “Why don’t I write my own book with my own characters? Wouldn’t that be fun?”

I started writing my first book soon after that, and I haven’t stopped writing since.


And I for one am glad for that! Can't wait to read Spider's Bite...

drey: Who/what inspires your writing? Where do you get your ideas?

Jennifer: I get ideas from literally everywhere. The way a person laughs. The smell of someone’s perfume. How someone walks or talks. Everything around me can be a source of inspiration.

A lot of times, if I’m watching a movie or TV show, I’ll think about what would happen if one of the characters had made a different choice. Or maybe if a new character was introduced that had some impact on the action. What if so-and-so did this? How would the other characters react? I call it the “what-if game.” It’s a great way to brainstorm ideas.

For Spider’s Bite, the idea that I had was what if an assassin was double-crossed on a hit and her handler was murdered? What would she do? Why, seek revenge, of course! That idea was really the beginning of the whole book.

drey: Your Bigtime series is romance, and the new Elemental Assassin series is urban fantasy. What prompted the switch from "book candy" to "gritty"?

Jennifer: I had an idea for an assassin book that I had been wanting to write for a while, but I knew that it would be much darker and grittier than my Bigtime books, which are basically, fun, light, comic book romances. But the urban fantasy market has really exploded in popularity in recent years, and the darker, grittier reads really seem to be resonating with readers right now. So I decided to try my hand at urban fantasy.

Also, writing a darker, grittier book really gave me a chance to stretch myself and grow as a writer. You always want to keep growing and try new things as an author, and writing a different type of book let me do that. I think that I’ve done some of my best writing to date in Spider’s Bite and the rest of the Elemental Assassin series. Hopefully, readers will agree. ;-)


I'm sure we will, Jennifer!


drey: What do you like to indulge in, when not writing?

Jennifer: I love to read (of course!) and will often treat myself to getting a new book whenever I visit one of my local bookstores, which is why my TBR pile just keeps growing and growing and growing ... ;-)

Ugh, I so know how that goes!! Now, for some magic trick to making that pile shrink, lol!

I also like to cook and spend time with friends/family, and I’m a total geek in that I also love to play D&D and card games with friends.

Oooh, you're a geek! I heart geeks, lol! Do you play board games too? =)

As far as food indulgences go, one of my absolute favorite things is strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Yummy!

drey: Screen version of Spider's Bite: Who's your dream team? TV series or movie? *grin*

Jennifer: I think Spider’s Bite and the other books in my Elemental Assassin series would make for a great TV show. There are so many things that happen during the course of the series, and so many bad guys, that it would be hard to cram them all into just one movie.

As far as actors go, I think that Jennifer Garner would be awesome as my assassin heroine Gin. I really loved her on Alias. I also think that Hugh Jackman would be cool as Gin’s foster brother/partner in crime Finnegan Lane. Jackman can be charming and dangerous at the same time, which is exactly what Finn is.

A girl after my own heart, lol! I LOVE Hugh. ::swoon::

drey: Good, bad, or indifferent: (Dark / Milk / White) Chocolate + __________________ (fill in the blank).

Jennifer: I’m definitely a dark chocolate lover. ;-) Milk chocolate is okay, but I don’t like white chocolate at all. It doesn’t even taste like chocolate!

Didn't we talk about dark chocolate & raspberry? Yummy... =)

drey: Electronic readers are becoming more affordable and available. There's been quite a bit of discussion about their impact on paper books, the environment, people's reading & buying habits... What's your take?

Jennifer: I don’t have an e-reader myself, although I’m considering getting one. I think that anything that encourages people to read – whether it’s books, magazines, newspapers, etc. – is a good thing. To me, reading is one of the great joys of life, and people who don’t read books really don’t know what they’re missing.

I know a lot of people are attracted to the immediacy of e-readers, in that you can download a book and start reading it right then and there without having to go to your local bookstore. And you mentioned e-readers being more environmentally friendly than traditional paper books, which I think is another good thing about them.

But even if I do get an e-reader, I’ll probably always still prefer paper books to electronic ones. I spend so much time on the computer already, that it’s nice to read something that’s not on a screen. I also really enjoy browsing through bookstores and the tactile sensation of seeing all the covers grouped together and being able to pick up and flip through any book that I want to. And to me, there’s just nothing better than curling up with a good, print book on a rainy day.

drey: On the publishing side--what do you think publishers and authors ought to do about this side of the digital revolution? Jump in wholeheartedly, and blaze the path for others to follow? Watch from the sidelines till there's some consensus on what the new business model is going to be for the digital age? Cross their fingers that this is all just a fad & will blow over soon?

Jennifer: I think publishers and authors need to education themselves about e-books and keep up with the latest news/trends, because e-books are definitely here to stay. Lots of publishers and authors are already exploring how they can deliver e-books to the public, as well as other features like bonus content.

For my new book Spider’s Bite, I wrote a free short story and posted that on my Web site, and my publisher posted it on their site as well. The response has been so good that I plan to do a free short story for each book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. I think this sort of bonus content that has arisen out of the ever-growing and changing e-book market is really a boon to readers. I know that as a reader, I love bonus content.

Basically, I’m for anything that gets books into people’s hands – whether it’s a traditional print version or an e-book delivered to their laptop or phone or whatever. How e-books affect traditional print publishing is something that I think will continue to evolve over the next several years, but I’m excited to see where the new technology takes us all. Happy reading everyone! ;-)


Jennifer, THANK YOU so much for swinging by! Y'all, find Jennifer online at www.jenniferestep.com. Swing on over and check out her new book, Spider's Bite.

13. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter...

February 2, 2010
I picked up Skinwalker after reading a post on C.E. Murphy's site about a possible collaboration between her and Faith Hunter, with Joanne Walker and Jane Yellowrock. I was intrigued, and while shopping for eBooks for my new nook (yay!), picked up Skinwalker and Blood Cross...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation. Skinwalker is all mine.

skinwalkerAbout the book:
A year ago Jane nearly lost her life taking down an entire blood family of deadly rogue vampires that preyed on the helpless local populace of an Appalachian town. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s hired by those she’s trained to kill—vampires…

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. Back from hiatus, she’s hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission—or else the next skin she’ll need to save just may be her own…
drey's thoughts:
Jane Yellowrock is a complex character. She's tough, inside and out. She's alone most of the time, except for the Beast. And she's not what you'd expect from the get-go, so try to read this one without any preconceptions... And she's now in my group of favorite urban fantasy heroines.

The story in Skinwalker starts out deceptively simple - Jane shows up to take on a job. There are brief references to the last job she'd completed, nothing in-depth, nothing to give away what she is, other than vamp hunter. LOVE her calling card, by the way--"have stakes, will travel"...

Faith Hunter keeps you reading, not just with the plot and action, but with gradual revelations about Jane. And at every reveal, I thought to myself, ok, I can see that, I get it now. But you don't. Not till she's been completely unwrapped, and the big "whoa" gets you. This one should be on the TBR pile for urban fantasy fans.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451462800
eBook
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+
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