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I am a sucker for a good contemporary romance... It lightens up the darkness--war and fighting, good-vs-evil, and save-the-world-or-else --that we get in urban fantasy and fantasy.
About the author:
Gwyn Cready is the recipient of the 2009 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance and the author of Tumbling Through Time, Seducing Mr. Darcy, Flirting with Forever, Aching for Always and A Novel Seduction. She has been called "the master of time travel romance." A Novel Seduction is her first foray into contemporary romance as well as men in kilts, and she found both eminently satisfying. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
About the book:
When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really wants the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change . . . even him. At his sister’s advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistible. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself secretly falling in love with the story—and with Axel, who’s drawing his own lessons from the book’s compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine?
drey's thoughts:
I was really in the mood for something light and heartwarming when I picked up A Novel Seduction. And how could I go wrong with a half-nekkid dude in a kilt? (Yes, even though I can tell this half-nekkid dude isn't wearing his kilt like a true Scots! ;)
Anyway. Ellery is stubborn and opinionated. Alex is a reformed rake who still loves her, and has no idea why they broke up five years ago. Well, he has an idea, but no confirmation, as Ellery has steadfastly avoided the entire topic--and him. For us readers, A Novel Seduction has back-flashes to provide some insight into the state of their relationship then, to go with the reminiscing today, especially in Ellery's case. And I'm sorry, but I think she totally made a mountain out of a molehill and placed the responsibility for said mountain squarely on Alex. Not that he's all shiny-halo blameless himself. But still.
In any case, these two find themselves thrown together in an assignment she doesn't want to do, and he can't afford for her not to. And he makes a feeble attempt at keeping her on track, but mostly just brings along romance novels to see what all the fuss is about. The story was mostly so-so for me, until they got to Edinburgh and Alex dons a kilt. Ah, that savior of all romance novels, that kilt. :D The plot was believable enough--but I have to say I didn't care for the scenes with her boss and his paramour. What I did enjoy was the banter between Ellery and Alex. It swings from almost-hostile to downright warm-fuzzy, and had plenty of "awwww" moments that romance fans love. All in all a pretty good read.
drey's rating: Pick it up!
Have you read A Novel Seduction? What did you think?
Title: A Novel Seduction
Author: Gwyn Cready
ISBN-13: 9781451612646
Paperback: 373 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
I've been looking forward to Jerzy's journey since Weight of Stone... And here it is.
About the book:
An island nation has vanished. Men of honor and magic have died unnatural deaths. Slaves flee in terror. . . . Are the silent gods beginning to speak? Or is another force at work in the Lands Vin?
Laura Anne Gilman’s critically acclaimed, Nebula Award–nominated Flesh and Fire introduced a brilliantly imagined world where the grapevine—cultivated by the Vinearts who know the secrets of wine magic—holds together disparate lands. Now, confusion, violence, and terror are sweeping over the Lands Vin. And four people are at the center of a storm.
Jerzy, Vineart apprentice and former slave, was sent by his master to investigate strange happenings—and found himself the target of betrayal. Now he must set out on his own journey, to find the source of the foul taint that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. By Jerzy’s side are Ao, who lives for commerce and the art of the deal; Mahault, stoic and wise, risking death in flight from her homeland; and Kaïnam, once Named-Heir of an island principality, whose father has fallen into a magic-tangled madness that endangers them all.
These four companions will travel far from the earth and the soul of the vine, sailing along coastlines aflame with fear, confronting sea creatures summoned by darkness, and following winds imbued with malice. Their journey will take them to the very limits of the Sin Washer’s reach . . . and into a battle for the soul of the Lands Vin. For two millennia the Sin Washer’s Commandment has kept these lands in order: Those of magic shall hold no power over men and those princes of power shall hold no magic. Now, that law has given way. And a hidden force seeks the havoc of revenge.
Title: The Shattered Vine (Vineart War #3)
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
ISBN-13: 9781439101483
Hardcover: 343 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
Jerzy heads home in this final installment of Laura Anne Gilman's Vineart War trilogy. He's left his vines, traveled far and wide, seen creatures real and fantastical, and avoided the Washers. He's more aware now of the power a vineart mage can wield, yet realizes that with power comes responsibility. Oh how I wish that were true of our politicians! Ok, sorry, I got distracted. Won't happen again...
The first part of The Shattered Vine covers Jerzy's return (with his friends) and getting settled back in. Things have changed while Jerzy was away. Lords are making pacts with their Vinearts, and the Washers are understandably nervous. Though Jerzy has no love for the Collegium at all, he realizes that their role is a necessary one--even if they go overboard with that responsibility. Because the alternative is far worse than some overzealous Washers, as he well knows.
I liked the scenes with Ao in them, his sense of humor is infectious. And wish there was a bit more of Mahault and what shape her future takes. As for Kainam, he's still a Prince--there'll always be a place for him in the world.
The second part of The Shattered Vine reveals the anti-climactic conclusion to this series. It was honestly a tad underwhelming, especially after all the build-up of evil and taint so far. But still, this is a very satisfying conclusion to a very imaginative world from Gilman.
drey's rating: Excellent!
Have you read The Shattered Vine? What did you think?
Giveaway!
It's release week for The Shattered Vine, and in celebration, the publisher has one copy of the book for you! This one's US-only (no PO Boxes, please). Enter by filling out the form before November 3rd. Good luck!
Hello, Publication Day! Chris Evans' third book in the Iron Elves series is out today!
About the book:
In the bestselling traditions of Terry Brooks, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Bernard Cornwell comes the third novel in the acclaimed epic fantasy series following The Light of Burning Shadows.
Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this all-new epic adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves’ perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, now takes on greater urgency....
Packed with wit, high adventure, and political intrigue, Ashes of Black Frost will hook readers on this bold and exciting series.
Title: Ashes of a Black Frost (Iron Elves #3)
Author: Chris Evans
ISBN-13: 9781439180662
Hardcover: 435 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts: Ashes of a Black Frost picks up after the bitterly hard-won battle with Major Konowa Swift Dragon emerging from the haze of blood and guts barely cognizant of those around him. He's lost so much to get to this point, and it's not even a point he wanted to be at. But being a soldier, he has to go on, because the Iron Elves' salvation is the most important task to him. Plus, someone has to kill these obnoxious hordes of evil.
This is still an epic military fantasy read--there's lots of battle, orders, guns, strategies, and guts and gore and death. But there's also the characters caught up in the mayhem and chaos. The Major is one, of course. Worried about his family and friends, missing (yes, even if he only admits it to himself) his crusty Sergeant--one of my favorite characters in this story, trying his best to keep the remnants of his troops alive to get to the end, hoping to get to the Shadow Monarch to end this curse, the Major is a pivotal character in this series. However, my favorite character in this installment is Viceroy Alstonfar, the diplomat-turned-entertaining-solder-and-strategist. He takes the place of Yimt in providing a touch of humor in this otherwise bleak and despairing landscape. And I'll leave the character-talk here since I can't discuss some of the other characters from the series without letting you know whether they're alive or dead, which would be very spoiler-esq. And you all know I don't do spoilers!
Will Konowa find his Iron Elves? Will he be able to free them all from the curse of the Shadow Monarch? You'll have to pick this up and find out. Fans of military fantasy will love this conclusion to Chris Evans' Iron Elves series.
drey's rating: Pick it up!
Have you read Ashes of a Black Frost or Chris Evans' Iron Elves series? What did you think? If you haven't, check out the giveaway below!
GIveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have a copy of Ashes of a Black Frost for you! US residents only, no PO Boxes please. To enter, fill out the form below before November 1st. Good luck!
We're continuing our lead-up to the release of The Shattered Vine, book three of Laura Anne Gilman's Vineart Wars series. Today's giveaway is for the second book, Weight of Stone!
About the book:
An island nation has vanished. Men of honor and magic have died unnatural deaths. Slaves flee in terror. . . . Are the silent gods beginning to speak? Or is another force at work in the Lands Vin?
Laura Anne Gilman’s critically acclaimed, Nebula Award–nominated Flesh and Fire introduced a brilliantly imagined world where the grapevine—cultivated by the Vinearts who know the secrets of wine magic—holds together disparate lands. Now, confusion, violence, and terror are sweeping over the Lands Vin. And four people are at the center of a storm.
Jerzy, Vineart apprentice and former slave, was sent by his master to investigate strange happenings—and found himself the target of betrayal. Now he must set out on his own journey, to find the source of the foul taint that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. By Jerzy’s side are Ao, who lives for commerce and the art of the deal; Mahault, stoic and wise, risking death in flight from her homeland; and Kaïnam, once Named-Heir of an island principality, whose father has fallen into a magic-tangled madness that endangers them all.
These four companions will travel far from the earth and the soul of the vine, sailing along coastlines aflame with fear, confronting sea creatures summoned by darkness, and following winds imbued with malice. Their journey will take them to the very limits of the Sin Washer’s reach . . . and into a battle for the soul of the Lands Vin. For two millennia the Sin Washer’s Commandment has kept these lands in order: Those of magic shall hold no power over men and those princes of power shall hold no magic. Now, that law has given way. And a hidden force seeks the havoc of revenge.
This one's open to US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below before October 27th. Good luck!
We're continuing our ramp-up to the release of Chris Evans' third and final Iron Elves book, Ashes of a Black Frost on October 18th with a giveaway for the second book in the series, The Light of Burning Shadows.
About the book:
As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves’ perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency. The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army’s elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elf kyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters. Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor—ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands.
Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally—and fearsome enemy—in a growing conflict that threatens all?
This one's open to US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below before October 25th. Good luck!
Boy, what a week for giveaways! Book three of Laura Anne Gilman's Vineart Wars series--The Shattered Vine--is coming out in a few weeks, and we're celebrating with some giveaways. Today I have for you the first book, Flesh and Fire!
About the book:
Hailed as "something wholly new" and "extraordinary" in starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, Laura Anne Gilman’s Flesh and Fire is as intoxicating as the finest of wines—and as powerful as magic itself. Once, all power in the Vin Lands was held by the prince-mages, who alone could craft spellwines, and who selfishly used them to their own gain. Now, fourteen centuries after a demigod shattered the Vine, it is the humble Vinearts who know the secret of crafting spells from wines, the source of magic, and they are prohibited from holding power.
But a new darkness is rising in the vineyards, and only one Vineart, Master Malech, senses the coming danger. He has but one weapon to use against it: a young slave named Jerzy, whose origins are unknown, even to him. Yet his uncanny sense of the Vinearts’ craft offers a hint of greater magics within—magics that Malech must cultivate in his new apprentice before time runs out. For if Jerzy cannot unlock the secrets of the spellwines, the Vin Lands will surely be destroyed.
This one's open to US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below before October 20th. Good luck!
Chris Evans' third and final Iron Elves book, Ashes of a Black Frost, is coming out October 18th. In celebration, the publisher has kindly organized a series of giveaways. We're starting out today with a copy of the first book, A Darkness Forged in Fire.
About the book:
An unforgiving world of musket and cannon . . . bow and arrow . . . magic, diplomacy, and oaths--each wielding terrible power in an Empire teetering on the brink of war.
Even in this world, Konowa Swift Dragon, former commander of the Empire's elite Iron Elves, is anything but ordinary. He's murdered a Viceroy, been court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and been banished in disgrace to the one place he despises the most--the forest. All he wants is to be left alone, but then an unexpected royal decree orders him to resume his commission as an officer in Her Majesty's Imperial Army, effective immediately.
For in the east, a falling Red Star heralds the return of a long-vanished magic, and rebellion is growing within the Empire as a frantic race to reach the Star unfolds. It is a chance for Konowa to redeem himself--but the entire enterprise appears to be a suicide mission . . . and the soldiers recruited for the task are not quite what he expects. Worst of all, his key adversary to obtain the Star is none other than the dreaded Shadow Monarch, whose machinations for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could ever imagine . . .
This one's open to US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below before October 18th. Good luck!
Today's tour is for a historical romance laced with mystery and a sweeping backdrop... Say hello to Carrie Lofty and Flawless...
About the author:
Carrie Lofty holds a Masters degree in history, which she puts to good use as a devoted historical romance writer (What a Scoundrel Wants and Scoundrel's Kiss), teacher and lecturer on the craft of writing, and as founder of the blog Unusual Historicals. An active member of the Chicago North and Wisconsin chapters of Romance Writers of America, she lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two daughters.
Sir William Christie, ruthless tycoon and notorious ladies’ man, is dead. Now his four grown children have gathered for the reading of his will. What lies in store for stepsiblings Vivienne, Alexander, and twins Gareth and Gwyneth? Stunning challenges that will test their fortitude across a royal empire . . . and lead them to the marvelously passionate adventures of their lives.
Lady Vivienne Bancroft fled England for New York, hoping to shed the confines of her arranged marriage to unrepentant rogue Miles Durham, Viscount Bancroft—though she never forgot the fiery desire he unleashed with his slightest touch. And when the gambling man arrives on her doorstep for a little sensual revenge for her desertion, he is met with Vivienne’s dilemma: She must earn her father’s inheritance by profitably running a diamond business worth millions in colonial South Africa. Swept together in an exotic undertaking filled with heated passion and hungry temptation, will Vivienne and Miles discover that the marriage vows they once made are the greatest snare—or the most treasured reward?
Title: Flawless (Christie Saga #1)
Author: Carrie Lofty
ISBN-13: 9781451616385
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
Carrie Lofty's Flawless sets up the story for the series quite nicely, with the Christie children getting together for reading of their father's will. Of course, it's not exactly what they'd expected, which throws them into quite the tizzy. Vivienne doesn't have much of a choice other than to do as she's directed to--you can't live on nothing, after all. So after packing and preparing and waiting for the fighting to be over, she heads to Kimberly and her father's diamond mine.
What she doesn't expect is to see her rogue of a husband there. And she definitely doesn't know what to think of his efforts to get back in her good graces--or into her bed. The fireworks between the two are zingy hot. And the dialog deliciously cutting.
Carrie Lofty's vivid descriptions cover both the lush landscape and the workers' pitiful living conditions. And her characters are moving and beautifully written. I just have one teeny tiny problem. All throughout the book were missed punctuation errors, specifically where it referred to Miles in the possessive form. That would be "Miles'" not "Miles's". Yes, I'm nit-picky like that. Feel free to blame it on my English-teacher mother. And I'll volunteer to proof-read the other books in the series, just in case... *grin*
I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour for Alma Katsu's The Taker!
About the author:
Alma Katsu is a writer living in the Washington, DC area with her husband, musician Bruce Katsu. She was born in Fairbanks, Alaska but spent most of her childhood in Massachusetts, in the middle of the area where colonial history was made. She started writing as a stringer for local newspapers while still in high school and continued as a freelance writer through her college years at Brandeis University, mainly in music journalism. She moved to Washington, DC to take a job with the federal government and stopped writing fiction for about twelve years to concentrate on her career. She returned to writing fiction at age forty and was accepted into the writing program at Johns Hopkins. The Taker is her first novel and is published by Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster. She's not much for writing short stories but has had a few published, most recently in Enhanced Gravity, an anthology of work by Washington DC women writers, published by Paycock Press.
Alma was gracious enough to take the time to do a Q&A, so here you go!
drey: Hello Alma! Thank you for taking the time to visit drey's library and do this Q&A.
When did you know you wanted to write?
Alma: When I was very young, I was an artist. I actually sold my first work commercially when I was 10 years old. Everyone expected me to be an artist when I grew up, but I discovered that I enjoyed writing more. It was more of a challenge. I figured whatever career I chose, it would have something to do with writing, although not necessarily fiction. I never expected to be able to make a living as a novelist.
drey: What was the first story you wrote, and what happened to it?
Alma: The first story I remember writing was in the fifth grade. It was about a Victorian-era detective who lived with his sister and had to wear gloves all the time because he’d ruined his hands with acid while conducting an experiment. An obvious Sherlock Holmes rip-off. My teacher liked it, though, and encouraged me to continue writing.
drey: How did you celebrate the UK release of The Taker? Any plans for the US release?
Alma: I held my breath when The Taker was released in the UK, not knowing what to expect. It came out right after the London Book Fair. The Taker got a few nice mentions in the press, from Cosmo UK and Marie Claire, and good support from bloggers. But since I was a debut author and no one knew me, there were no plans to tour and it was hard to get much attention from the press.
I’m very lucky in that the US publisher is very supportive of the novel. They’ve already had a day of events for The Taker during BEA this past May, and sent me to Comic-con in San Diego, and we have appearances lined up for two months following the release. We’re having the launch party in Arlington VA at a friend’s independent bookstore, One More Page Books, with a special wine (Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee, in case you want to drink along at home) picked out specially for The Taker, and my husband’s band is going to play. It should be a great party and anyone in the DC area is welcome to join us.
drey: I'm wishing I lived in DC, I'd love to join you guys!
I loved Adair--he's so villainous, and yet can be so charming. Where did you find the inspiration for his character?
Alma: Adair is getting quite the fan club—I was just on a panel on crafting the villain at The Writing Show, the monthly meeting for the James River Writers in Richmond, VA and the moderator confessed that she loved Adair. He has a huge personality and he believes his own PR, if you know what I mean.
I drew partly on what I learned from analyzing genocides and mass atrocities on the job. (I used to be an intelligence analyst.) You see really horrible people involved in what usually amounts to people killing their neighbors. You have a charismatic leader and followers (whose buttons the leader knows how to push), all of these people feel justified in doing something that they must know, on some level, is wrong. Most people can rationalize just about anything to themselves, if not to others. So that’s part of why Adair is such a convincing villain—he believes he has the right to do what he does.
The other inspiration for Adair is Bill Sykes, from Oliver Twist. Sykes had such simmering menace.
drey: In your opinion, what's his most redeeming quality?
Alma: I don’t know if it’s redeeming or not, but the thing about Adair that doesn’t make me completely throw up my hands is that he believes he considers all sides to a situation before he makes his decision. That is, he thinks he’s open-minded. You actually might be able to talk him out of doing something, but you’d have to make a really strong argument. He is so lacking in self-awareness that it’s almost endearing.
drey: Lanore's love for Jonathan spanned centuries, even if (in my opinion) he wasn't deserving of such devotion. Were Jonathan's flaws a conscious decision, or just how he ended up getting written?
Alma: One thing I noticed about some of the handsome men I’ve known is that they can be very passive. They know when a woman is drawn to them. If that woman wants to act on her attraction, they won’t stop something from happening, but they’re not going to make any commitments, either.
I agree that Jonathan didn’t deserve Lanny, but you know how it is: you can’t tell your best friend that she’s involved with the wrong fella. And everyone has flaws. The characters in The Taker are like most people, in that they act in their own self-interest most of the time. The question is what line won’t they cross? At what point do they realize they’re lying to themselves in order to justify doing something they know is wrong?
drey: How true. And I loved how Lanny's character did not seem to want to think that she could be wrong in loving Jonathan...
What, in your opinion, is Jonathan's worst trait?
Alma: He’s selfish, but not actively selfish. He’s not only handsome but he’s used to people doing things for him because of his family. It’s easy to see where he might come to believe that it’s not his fault if people want to please him. He’s not encouraging it—but he’s not refusing their favors, either.
drey: Where are Luke and Lanore headed next?
Alma: You’ll find out about that in the next book, The Reckoning. At the end of The Taker, we see that they’re living together in Paris, thinking they’re going to start this life together but you know we can’t make it as easy as that for them.
drey: Lanore is so introspective at the end of the book. What is her greatest regret?
Alma: I think she regrets having put her life on hold for Jonathan, wandering aimlessly while hoping for his return. But if you knew everything that happened to her during those years—and you’ll hear a little about them in The Reckoning and in the last book, The Descent—you’ll see that she had a wonderful full life and many adventures, and she finds someone who loves her as completely and fully as she deserves.
drey: That's good to hear! I can't wait to read the next books! *grin*
The Taker hits the big screen--Who do you see in the roles of Lanore, Luke, Jonathan, and Adair?
Alma: I’m really bad at this question because I don’t watch movies very often and so I don’t know many young actors and actresses. (drey: that's ok, I don't either!) Several people have said Jonathan Rhys Meyers for Adair but lately I’m thinking Jason Momoa wouldn’t be a bad choice. He’s a bit muscly but he’s got that hot & sweaty thing going. All my choices for Jonathan are dated, I’m afraid. A few people have mentioned Mia Wasikowska for Lanny.
drey: What's next? Is there a sequel (or two)?
Alma: There are more books, as mentioned. I’m wrapping up The Reckoning now. You’ll see lots of the characters return and get to see what they’ve been doing for two hundred years. One comes back that you might not expect (hint, hint.) All three books are a bit different from each other. Lots of adventures, more surprises, but at the end Lanny gets what she wants after learning a lot about herself and the true meaning of love.
drey: Thank you so very much for doing thsi Q&A! I can't wait for The Reckoning!
About the book:
True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. . . .
On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.
Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.
Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.
Title: The Taker
Author: Alma Katsu
ISBN-13: 9781439197059
Hardcover: 436 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
Alma Katsu's The Taker is a surprisingly mesmerizing tale of childhood fancies and grown-up realities. We start with a childhood infatuation that grows into so much more. Love? Well, Lanore is certain it is. Who knows what Jonathan thinks... Especially when he's got all the girls vying for his attention already.
But Lanore is convinced that she's the one for him, that they're meant to be together, and it's all going to work out. Until the day she's sent to Boston in shame, heartbroken because he's betrothed to another.
Lanore meets up with Adair and his group in Boston, and winds up staying with them. Smart? Maybe not. But it's not like she had much choice. Destitute women rarely do. As she tries to make the most of her opportunities though, she finds that her new friends have a darker side. And is drawn irrevocably into their web when she tries to run away... Now they want Jonathan too. Can she give him up, even after he broke her heart?
The Taker is a dark story, set in a time when women don't have options other than do as you're told, or take to the streets. And Alma Katsu makes it even darker with Jonathan's callousness, and Adair's motives and inclinations. Luke is a refreshing change from the other characters, but he seems to pale in comparison to the rest--maybe because he isn't just like them? In any case, there's something for everybody here, whether you like mysteries or the paranormal or just plain fiction.
drey's rating: Excellent!
Have you read The Taker? What did you think? And if you haven't, here's your chance...
Giveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have two (yes, TWO) copies of Alma Katsu's The Taker for you, if you live in the US (no PO Boxes, please). To enter, just fill out the form below. Remember you can come back and tweet this daily! Good luck!
I'm so excited to be part of the blog tour for Kelly Gay's The Hour of Dust and Ashes!
About the author:
Kelly Gay is a two-time RITA Award finalist, a 2010 finalist for Best First Book from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, and a recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council’s fellowship grant in Literature. She also writes a YA series as Kelly Keaton. Kelly lives in North Carolina.
*squeal* Kelly took some time to answer some questions for us. How lucky are we?? *grin*
drey: Hi Kelly! Thank you for taking the time to visit drey's library
and answer some rambly questions for me... :)
Kelly: Hey Drey! Thanks for having me!
drey: Do you listen to music as you write? If so, what's on the writing-Charlie-Madigan soundtrack playlist? How does this differ from the writing-Ari soundtrack playlist? :) OR do you prefer to write in quiet?
Kelly: I usually write without music. I tend to get distracted by lyrics. But I do sometimes listen to music to get into a certain mood. I did that a lot with Ari's books, but not so much with Charlie -- and I'm not sure why that it is... Hmm.
drey: What inspired your world--the blend of Atlanta and portals into other dimensions?
Kelly: My love of mythology and ancient civilizations. I 'm very inspired by the notion that there is a grain of truth (if not more) in ancient myths and legends, that there was some kind of truth, or personal experience, or witnessed event that inspired the myths we know today. And in my case, the idea is that the beings from Elysia and Charbydon were the inspiration and basis for many of the world's ancient myths of gods and demons.
drey: Are you as kick-ass as Charlie is? How much of her is based on you or someone you know?
Kelly: Yes, but only in my mind! Physically I couldn't hold a candle to Charlie. She'd kick my ass in a heartbeat. Picture me going, "Ow! Stop it! That hurts!". But that aside Charlie and I are very much alike in terms of force of will and our love of family. I draw on a lot of those protective feelings that I have for my own daughter when I write certain scenes. I might not be physically trained to take down bad guys, but put my kid or family in danger and I'd stop at nothing to protect them, and Charlie is no different. Charlie isn't really based on anyone I know or myself even, but more of someone who I'd admire and root for and relate to in many ways.
drey: Did you research Charlie's fight scenes? How/where?
Kelly: To some extent, yes. Mostly, I just see the fight in my mind and try to show it on paper. Sometimes I'll get hung up on details and will turn to research or ask my resources (you know like, what does a bone breaking in a certain part of your body really sound like) or I enlist my kid to reenact a move to see how my arm bends or if something is even possible. She relishes those moments (which usually involves me saying something like, "Not *that* hard!") and somehow we always end up on the floor laughing.
drey: What's going on with Charlie and Hank? Is there any chance for a something between these two? Pretty please?
Kelly: Haha! I wish I could tell you everything. I think Charlie and Hank are noticing and considering each other on a level they never have before, but the timing really stinks for Charlie as well as Hank with his past coming to light. But I promise there is more to come on them both in the 4th book.
drey: Where do I get my own hellhound? I love Brim!
Kelly: Well, if Emma has her way and rescues every hellhound she can find, you'll have more than enough to chose from! Just
head to Atlanta's Candler Park and listen for the howling. ;-)
drey: I'm on my way! Every girl needs her own hellhound...
When can I get more Charlie?
Kelly: The 4th book comes out next summer. So a year, but I hope it'll be worth the wait!
drey: I'm pretty darn sure it will be! Gotta find out what happens with Hank... Can't wait! *grin* Thank you so very very much for stopping in today!
About the book:
To save her sister, she must stop a silent killer. . . .
Protecting Atlanta from the off-world criminals of Underground is tough enough, but now Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank, learn that the addicts of the offworld drug ash have begun taking their own lives. Ash makes humans the perfect vessels for possession, and something or someone is leading them to their deaths. Charlie is desperate to save her addicted sister, Bryn, from a similar fate.
As New Year’s Eve approaches and time runs out, Charlie makes a deadly bargain with an ancient race of beings and embarks on a dangerous journey into hellish Charbydon with Hank and the Revenant Rex to save Bryn and make it back before it’s too late. Only, for one of them, coming home means facing a fate worse than death. . . .
Title: The Hour of Dust and Ashes (Charlie Madigan #3)
Author: Kelly Gay
ISBN-13: 9781451625479
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
The job never stops when you're Charlie Madigan. Now that the fate of the world is in good hands (for the time being!), she's got to track down the reason ash addicts are committing suicide, preferably before anything happens to Bryn... In the course of her investigation, she finds that not all is as it seems, and the fate of the world may not be quite as happily-ever-after as she'd thought.
Charlie is one of my favorite female characters in an urban fantasy. (Now why does that sound like an award category? Hmm...) She's not perfect, but she'll do the right thing no matter what it takes--and if it involves her family or her friends just doing the right thing isn't going to be enough.
In this third installment she goes all out to help her sister and in doing so finds out that there's so much out there she doesn't know. She gets to meet sylphs (eek!) and go to
hell. Literally. How much more fun can she have? Shall we talk about the shadowy creature who shows up whenever she uses her power? Or how about Hank's past--that comes back to bite him in the behind, as pasts are wont to do? Never mind that he didn't do anything wrong.
Juggling everything takes a lot out of Charlie, and the ending leaves even more for her to pick up in book four. Which I want to get my hands on, like right now!
drey's rating: Excellent! Kelly Gay does not disappoint with the action in The Hour of Dust and Ashes, or with the story and character development. And I love that her cover girl's covered up (except for the lil' midriff shot in The Better Part of Darkness)!
Have you read The Hour of Dust and Ashes? What did you think? And if you haven't, here's a chance to win a copy for yourself!
Giveaway!
The publisher has generously provided two copies of The Hour of Dust and Ashes for you, if you live in the US (no PO Boxes, please)! To enter, fill out the form below. Good luck!
Boy oh boy, wait till you see what we have here for you today... A guest post from Laura Griffin AND a giveaway!
About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. Her books have won numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA (Whisper of Warning) and a 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award (Untraceable). Visit her online at her website www.lauragriffin.com or on Facebook.
The Story Behind the Story
I started my career as a newspaper reporter, so I’m a big believer in doing some legwork before sitting down to write a word. Some people call this “research” or “procrastination.” For me, it’s a little of both and an important part of my writing process.
One of the best parts of being a writer is that it gives me an excuse to do interviews. Over the years I’ve had a chance to interview all sorts of people who later became characters in my books: Navy SEALs, FBI agents, artists, crime scene techs, anthropologists. Once I actually interviewed a fingerprint expert, which would have been a fairly routine, except that the guy was standing there holding a glove made of human skin as we talked. I found this to be a bit distracting. But as with all good interviews, I learned something. (In this case, it was that once a body reaches a certain stage of decomp, the skin slips off like a glove and can be used by a skilled technician to recover prints for identification purposes.)
Not all of the research I do has such a high gross-out factor. Some of it is really fun. There was the time I jumped out of an airplane in Tennessee. This experience inspired the skydiving scene in my second book, One Wrong Step. One of my most memorable research excursions was visiting the FBI Academy at Quantico. There, I had a chance to meet dozens of interesting people who would later answer my pesky story questions. I also got to tromp around the grounds and visit Hogan’s Alley, where special agent trainees practice making arrests. The highlight of the trip was learning to shoot a Glock on the FBI firearms range.
My latest book Snapped opens with a sniper scene, so I interviewed an array of law enforcement experts before writing the story. A police sniper gave me some tips on SWAT tactics that helped me pack the opening pages with as much tension as possible. This book is a romantic suspense--a mystery intertwined with a love story. This book is especially close to my heart, and I hope readers will connect with it, too.
About the book
SOPHIE BARRETT THINKS SHE’S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. SHE MAY BE DEAD WRONG.
On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people—plus the shooter—are dead and dozens more are injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn’t the random, senseless act it appeared to be. No one wants to believe her—not the cops, not her colleagues at the Delphi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who’s already saved her life once.
Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can’t resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she’s made herself the target of a killer without a conscience. And the real terror is only just beginning. . . .
Title: Snapped (Tracers #4)
Author: Laura Griffin
ISBN-13: 9781451617368
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
Laura Griffin's Snapped is fast and tightly-paced, and will have you at the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down--from the first shot to the very last page, because I just had to find out who the bad guys are and what the deal was.
I really liked Sophie--she doesn't make excuses for herself or her past, and she's not going to sit back and wait for someone else to fix the problem. She charges in with her charm and her brains, and actually manages to dig up stuff that the cops hadn't looked into. Now to get the cops to pay attention to that...
Jonah is a good guy--and true to typical romance-novel hero typecasting. He's gorgeous (of course), stubborn (*rolls eyes*), and does his utmost to keep Sophie safe--including from herself. Which means that he'll take her information and then tuck her back under lock and key until he has time to get answers. Which is so not how Sophie works.
Of course, that means that their interactions come with lots of sparks, which means this book is not only suspenseful, but fun to read as well. Fans of romantic suspense will love Snapped.
drey's rating: Excellent!
Have you read Snapped? What did you think? And if you haven't, here's your chance to win a copy!
Giveaway!
Boy oh boy, do I have a giveaway for you to enter! Laura has very graciously offered up a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky duck. And thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of Snapped for you, too! This one's for US residents only. To enter, fill out the form below. Good luck!
Justice was supposed to post last Thursday for a blog tour, but I was out of town and didn't get the book in time... Hopefully I'm not too late with this, as it's definitely one for the to-read pile!
About the author:
Karen Robards is the author of thirty-four novels and one novella. A regular on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, among others, she is the mother of three boys, ages 12, 17, and 23, and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Find her online at www.karenrobards.com.
About the book:
Feisty criminal attorney Jessica Ford has done her best to comply with the orders of the Secret Service’s unofficial witness protection program ever since she became the lone witness to the First Lady’s murder. She changed her name, dyed her dark hair blonde, and traded her sturdy black-rimmed glasses for contact lenses. Unfortunately, winning her first high-profile case for prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm Ellis Hayes, and subsequently landing her face all over the news, is not exactly “keeping a low profile.” Or so says hunky Secret Service agent Mark Ryan, whose newest assignment—despite Jess’s stubborn protests—is keeping her safe at all costs. It just so happens he’s also her ex-boyfriend.
The trial earns Jess a permanent spot on the firm’s elite legal defense team, replacing an associate who eloped suddenly and never came back. It’s the chance of a lifetime. But Jess’s mind has raced with questions from the moment the prosecution’s star witness shocked the courtroom with an electrifying revelation involving the handsome son of a powerful U.S. senator. Was the pretty, young mother intimidated into changing her story on the stand? Why will she not return Jess’s calls? Did Jess’s ambitious predecessor on the case really just abandon her successful career? Or did both women mysteriously disappear?
After Mark rescues Jess from an attacker outside her apartment, she begins to consider the possibility that she is a target. Maybe it’s not so bad to have her irresistibly charming and hard-bodied former lover around for protection. Maybe. The question is, which of the many inadvertent enemies Jess has made recently is he protecting her from? The investigation leads her to some startling coincidences—and to a teenage runaway who may just hold the missing link . . . if Jess can find her.
As Jess hurtles closer to the truth—and the sexual tension between her and Mark grows hotter than ever—she finds herself in a race against the clock to find the answers before what she doesn’t know gets them both killed.
Title: Justice
Author: Karen Robards
ISBN-13: 9781439183700
Hardcover: 342 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket
drey's thoughts:
Karen Robards' Justice is a gripping read that you will not be able to put down. It starts off with a woman getting killed while two teenagers are hiding under her bed. And moves to a courtroom scene where Jess is surprised by the outcome because, well, she's absolutely certain her client is actually guilty.
Then danger shows up on her doorstep. Literally. And Jess has to figure out who's trying to kill her, and why. Luckily she has Mark to watch out for her, and luckily he has skillz. However, she hasn't quite figured out if she can (or wants to) put up with him, skillz notwithstanding.
The story moves quickly and flows nicely. When the action picks up, it doesn't quit until everything's over and the bad guys are done for. You'll definitely want to add this to your reading pile.
Today's tour is for Gwendolen Gross' latest, The Orphan Sister...
About the author:
Dubbed the reigning queen of women's adventure fiction by Joanna Smith Rakoff in Book Magazine, Gwendolen Gross grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. She graduated from Oberlin College, where she studied science writing and voice performance. She spent a semester in Australia with a field studies program, studying spectacled fruit bats in the rainforest remnants of Northern Queensland.
After college she moved to San Francisco, then San Diego, and worked in publishing, as well as performing with the San Diego Opera Chorus. Through the San Diego Writing Center, she was selected for the PEN West Emerging Writers Program.
Gwendolen received an M.F.A. in fiction and poetry from Sarah Lawrence College. Her poems have been published in dozens of literary magazines, including Salt Hill Journal, Global City Review, The Laurel Review, and Hubbub, where her poem was selected for the 1999 Adrienne Lee Award.
An original, timely, and touching novel about a set of triplets—two identical and one fraternal—who find their alliances suddenly shifting when a dark family secret comes to light which forces them to redefine their roles and their identities.
As the fraternal triplet to her identical sisters, Olivia and Odette, Clementine Lord has always struggled to forge her own way alongside a matched pair, always feeling like the unmatched shoe. When their father, a prominent neurosurgeon, disappears for a week and returns with a shocking family secret, the crack in the three women’s tight relationship threatens to unhinge them all. As Clem attempts to sort out her family history and come to terms with her future, she reflects on the tangled relationship she’s had with her father, her mother’s stubborn loyalty, the tragic death of her college boyfriend, and her complicated feelings for her best friend, Eli. Ultimately she discovers that love—both familial and romantic—is more resilient and adaptable than she ever thought possible.
Remiscent of Sarah Pekkanen’s The Opposite of Me, the issues of sibling rivalry, identity, and moral responsibility combine in this poignant and compulsively readable novel of three sisters caught in the crosshairs of adulthood and family intrigue.
Title: The Orphan Sister
Author: Gwendolen Gross
ISBN-13: 9781451623680
Paperback: 283 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books
drey's thoughts:
Gwendolen Gross' The Orphan Sister tells the story of one of a triplet set who's not like the other two, and how that affects their relationship and interactions--with each other, with their family, friends, with strangers. It is also the story of a family that falls apart when the father disappears--telling only one child where he went--and of secrets that can tear your life apart if you let it. It is a story of grief and yearning and loss when a loved one dies young. And last but not least, it is a sweet romance between two best friends who (finally) take that step that has been waiting for them for so very long...
The emotions are tangled and complicated, the characters are easy to like, and the story is compelling. The mystery surrounding her father's disappearance throws Clementine for a loop, especially when her mother's reaction isn't quite what she expects, and one of her sisters' is openly hostile. He is not a person you would care for, and yet I almost felt bad for the consequences of his past--I guess that's the mark of a good author! I enjoyed Clementine tremendously--she's been a third wheel all her life, and yet she's the strong one for her family in its time of need. She's loyal and true, she's steadfast even when confused, and she's the one who tries to hold the family together.
drey's rating: Excellent! Pick this one up for your summer reading.
Giveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Orphan Sister for you! US residents only, please (no PO Boxes). To enter, fill out the form below before 6pm CST July 20th. Good luck!
Jenna Black first caught my eye with the cover for Siren Song, due out in July. Then I found out she has a new UF novel, and when Pocket Books organized a blog tour, I had to sign up...
About the author:
Jenna Black is a typical writer, which means she's an "experience junkie." She received B.A. degrees in physical anthropology and French from Duke University. She once dreamed of being the next Jane Goodall, until she realized that primates spend eighty percent of their time not really doing anything. She moved on to such pastimes as grooming dogs and writing technical documentation before creating the popular Morgan Kingsley urban fantasy series and The Guardians of the Night paranormal romance series. She lives in North Carolina.
From the acclaimed author of the Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist books comes the gripping first novel in a new series about a private eye who discovers, to her surprise, that she’s an immortal huntress.
Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die.... Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy. But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy...
Title: Dark Descendant (Descendant #1)
Author: Jenna Black
ISBN-13: 9781451606799
Paperback: 325 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster
drey's thoughts:
I was really looking forward to Dark Descendant--so much so that I picked it up as soon as I received it... Nikki Glass bounced around the foster care system when she was a child, until she landed with the Glass family and they adopted her. Now grown up, she's a private investigator suffering through her sister's matchmaking (non-)abilities when a client calls for help. Ignoring her gut instinct, she heads out, only to have her entire world turned upside down faster than you can say "oops".
I'm not sure if I like Nikki much. There's nothing specific that makes me not like her, but there's nothing specific that makes her stand out, either. Instead, I find myself more interested in Jamaal, the half-mad one, and in Anderson, the leader. The bad guys are almost laughably incompetent--even while they're powerful.
While I did like the premise of descendants of the old gods starring in a new series, I felt like Dark Descendant was just a teaser. There has to be more to this world than the descendants of gods duking it out with each other.
drey's rating: OK: There's a lot of promise in this series, but I'll wait for the next one to see if it bears fruit...
Have you read Dark Descendant? What did you think? And if you hadn't, here's your chance to pick up a copy...
Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have two copies of Dark Descendant for you! US only, no PO Boxes please. To enter, fill out the for before 6pm CST May 23rd. One entry per person, multiples will be disqualified (you may want to comment after filling out the form so you know you've already entered)... Good luck!
This week has just flown by! And what a week it was. In honor of the US Navy SEALs' successful mission, Laura Griffin offers you a thought (or more) on the SEALs. Read on:
"I will never quit" By Laura Griffin
Several years ago I stood knee-deep in the Pacific Ocean, teeth chattering, wondering what on earth would possess a sane man to join the Navy SEALs. I was on Coronado Island that day, and my mission was partly tourism and partly research. I had decided to write a SEAL character in my next book, and had spent the past few months researching what many would call the most elite fighting force in the world.
Coronado is a place where young men who aspire to be SEALs suffer through a ruthless training regimen that boggles the mind. For weeks on end, bands of SEAL trainees run with telephone poles, do five-mile ocean swims, undergo “drown-proofing,” endure sleep deprivation. They are systematically broken down—pushed beyond all limits, both physically and emotionally—and if they survive, they’re built back up again. Few make it through, and that is the point. Those who do come out stronger and more deeply committed to their jobs than most of us can imagine.
It takes a special sort of man to become a Navy SEAL, which is precisely why I had decided to write a SEAL character in my next story. I want my heroes to be, well, heroic. I had recently finished reading Lone Survivor, a book about Marcus Luttrell, the SEAL who managed to live through a deadly firefight in the mountains of Afghanistan. Three of his teammates died. After being blown off a mountain by a rocket-propelled grenade, Luttrell--severely injured--crawled and walked seven miles to a village where he was taken in by a local tribe.
How did he do this? The man is a SEAL. The word “impossible” is not part of the SEAL vocabulary. Men who become SEALs share a special vision of what it means to stand in the face of adversity.
I will never quit…If knocked down, I will get back up, every time…I am never out of the fight. Sound hardcore? It is. It’s straight from the SEAL creed.
A man such as this—one who is unwilling to give up under the most dire circumstances—was just the sort of hero I needed for my story, UNSTOPPABLE, which involves a terrorist plot on American soil. After months of research, I started writing about U.S. Navy SEAL Gage Brewer, and I’m still writing about him today.
I thought about the SEAL creed this week as I watched the news about Osama Bin Laden. I am never out of the fight. It seems fitting, and not altogether surprising, that SEALs were the ones to finally track down the world’s most wanted man. They risked their lives, in an operation that could have ended in disaster, in order to make the world a safer place. These guys are tough, they are committed, and they never give up—not even after ten years. They are heroes. And it’s a good thing we have them in real life, and not just in books.
Laura's right--these men are heroes, as are all the men and women who fight for this country. We thank you.
Laura Griffin's UNSTOPPABLE appears in the Pocket Books anthology Deadly Promises, and I have one copy up for grabs, if you live in the USA (no PO Boxes please).
THESE HEROES ARE 100 PERCENT RAW, DANGEROUS, AND . . . UNDENIABLY SEXY.
New York Times bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Cindy Gerard and rising romance star Laura Griffin mix seduction and suspense in three irresistible romantic adventures. From sultry international jungles to the rugged terrain of the American Southwest, join the larger-than-life, scorching-hot alpha heroes of the Bureau of American Defense, Black Ops, Inc., and the U.S. Navy SEALs for all the pulse-pounding, heart-racing, toe-curling excitement. They're cool under pressure, steamy under the sheets, and when the enemy strikes, there's not a lethal mission these gorgeous men can't handle. . . .
To enter, fill out the form below before 6pm CST May 20th. One entry per person, multiples will be disqualified (you may want to comment after filling out the form so you know you've already entered)... Good luck!
It's been a while since I picked up a "lighter" murder-mystery, and I'm glad it was this--it fit the mood perfectly!
Title: Murder Takes the Cake
Author: Gayle Trent
ISBN-13: 9781451600018
ARC: 252 pages (without recipes)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster
drey's thoughts:
Daphne Martin returns to her hometown after putting an abusive husband in jail for trying to shoot her. As she tries to rebuild her life, she's dragged into a police investigation when she finds a customer dead. Not by her hand (or cake), no matter what the local gossips say! After all, she was only trying to deliver a cake...
Yes, Daphne bakes. And the descriptions of her cakes are so scrumptious I wanted to run out and get one to eat. Unfortunately, I was traveling when I read this, so no cake for me. Bummer.
Well, Daphne finds out quickly how fast bad news flies in a small town, as orders for her cakes dry up. And she has no choice but to try and figure out whodunnit, because a girl has to eat! Then she finds out just how many people would've dunnit, which makes it really difficult to figure out who's friend or foe.
Murder Takes the Cake has a heroine that you'd like, with light-hearted humor sprinkled throughout the dialog. The plot flows, the small-town gossip feels real, and the family interactions are complicated, as they usually are.
ps: There are recipes for those who like to bake, too. And if you do try 'em out, I'll expect a slice in my mailbox. ;)
Today, I'm participating in the blog tour for L.A. Banks' Surrender the Dark... Banks is a new-to-me author, and I was thrilled by the opportunity to check out her writing!
About L.A. Banks:
L.A. Banks is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels and twelve novellas in a wide range of genres, including her popular Vampire Huntress and Crimson Moon series. In 2008, she received Essence magazine's Storyteller of the Year Award. She lives in Philadelphia. Visit her online at www.leslieesdailebanks.com.
Title: Surrender the Dark (new series!)
Author: L.A. Banks
ISBN-13: 9781451607789
Paperback: 373 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster
About the book:
Celeste Jackson’s life has been a series of tragic occurrences. Haunted, the thirty-three-year-old woman has bounced from therapists to group homes, to drug halfway houses. Plagued by nightmares and hallucinations and misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, she is found by the angel Azrael—her protector. But as Azrael helps her to unlock her powers, and they work to amass an army of those with powers like Celeste’s in order to fight the forces of darkness, Celeste has as much to teach Azrael as he has to teach her. She’s been down the path of temptation and addiction. Now she must help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could make him an eternal prisoner—his addiction to her.
drey's thoughts: Surrender the Dark packs a lot of stuff into its 373 pages. The world is a battleground between the forces of good and evil, and the Mayan calendar was right--12/21/2012 is the end of the world as we know it, because that is when the forces of Light and Dark descend upon our world to fight it out once and for all. In preparation, angels are being sent into our world to protect the Remnants--those who have human and angel in their bloodlines.
Celeste is one of the Remnants. When we first meet her, she is strung out on dope and fear, along with a history of mental instability behind her. Then she meets her guardian angel Azriel, and pretty much goes through a miraculous transformation. I honestly don't know how she managed to hang onto what's left of her sanity. And Azriel. Well. Tall, dark, and handsome indeed. And completely confused as to how to function in earthly society.
Their adjustment to each other, getting Azriel put together, and meeting Celeste's aunt takes the first 140 or so pages. The remainder of the book covers their journey to find the rest of the good team, introducing the rest of the cast of characters, and fighting the bad guys. I so wanted to put "evil forces of the Destructicon" there! *grin* But that's beside the point. Surrender the Dark is an interesting new series I'll be adding to my to-check-out list.
drey's rating: 3/5 Good
Challenge: New Author
Have you read Surrender the Dark? What did you think?
UPDATE!!
Sorry this is late, hopefully it didn't get missed... BUT thanks to the publisher, I have two copies of Surrender the Dark for you, if you live in the US (no PO Boxes, please)!! *grin*
To enter, comment with your email address and share what L.A. Banks book(s) you've read & whether you liked 'em! Do it before 6pm CST April 13th! Good luck!
About the author:
About the book:
, the issues of sibling rivalry, identity, and moral responsibility combine in this poignant and compulsively readable novel of three sisters caught in the crosshairs of adulthood and family intrigue.
, a book about Marcus Luttrell, the SEAL who managed to live through a deadly firefight in the mountains of Afghanistan. Three of his teammates died. After being blown off a mountain by a rocket-propelled grenade, Luttrell--severely injured--crawled and walked seven miles to a village where he was taken in by a local tribe.
