November's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jeannie's top 5 books

Today, Jeannie swings by to share with us her top 5 reads... Come find out what they are!

Top 5 Favorite Big, Fat Books

When people ask me what sort of music I listen to, I answer “all kinds”. Which means I listen to radio ga-ga. Which means I don’t identify with any type of music. My answer is always very disappointing to people.

When people ask me what books do I like to read, I can’t be so blithe. I do read all kinds, but my books do identify me. So here’s my answer – big, fat, juicy books the size of dictionaries. Ones that suck you into their decades of storyline, and at the end you feel like you’ve aged and changed with the characters. In retrospect, most of them are historicals and fantasy stories. Probably because that also lends to the transportive element.

Here are my five desert island keepers—in no particular order. They are all books that took me somewhere else and kept me there for a long time. Very important to have that window when you’re stuck on a desert island.

Roots by Alex Haley. This powerful book showed that traditions of culture and family are strong enough to transcend time and space. Through abduction and enslavement and every attempt to erase his past, Kunta Kinte survives and passes down his roots through the stories and words he taught his child. The scene where Kunta names Kizzy and presents her to the heavens the way his ancestors did back in Africa brought me to my knees. When Alex Haley traces back his family history and finds his ancestral tribe in Africa, it’s a miracle that the original abduction was still recorded in their oral history. The “laying on of hands” as Alex is taken back into the tribe completes the circle.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I watched the movie after reading the book and I never felt the movie did it any justice. So much more happens in the book. There are nuances of Southern culture before and after the Civil War, as well as Scarlett’s growth from a spoiled brat to a strong woman. Also her relationship with Rhett Butler is complex and conflicted. The movie chops everything up into disjointed episodes. The scene when Rhett drags Scarlett up the stairs makes no sense without all the context behind it. I also read this when I was in love with The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The Outsiders references Gone with the Wind, so reading both enhanced my experience.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Though a historical, this reads to me like a fantasy with its elements of witchcraft and prophecy and dastardly evil villains. The historical detail regarding craftsmen and builders is fascinating. Everyone kept on recommending this book to me because they knew I loved historical epics. “It’s about building a cathedral,” they’d say. It is so NOT about building a cathedral. It’s about Christianity and its role in politics. It’s about the rise of cities and medieval industry. It’s about the plight of working class people. And there’s a love story woven into it all. So many threads and generations winding together so perfectly.

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. This story brought Morgan Le Fay to life for me. It told a favorite story of mine from a new feminine perspective. I read this first in middle school and it changed everything I thought about King Arthur. Plus the risqué sexual elements and Wiccan rituals had me avidly hanging onto each page. The story starts with Morgana as a child and follows her through a stint with the fey, where time distorts, and then it continues afterward to the last days of Camelot. I closed this book and felt like time had distorted for me. Fifty years had passed and I had lived them with Morgana. But when I looked up from the book, only a day had gone by. This book started my addiction for big, fat epic books.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I could have cheated and rolled the entire trilogy in, citing one of those three book volumes, but I think each book in itself feels epic. After reading this book about the rise and fall of civilization, and the psycho-historians who tried to be the shepherds of it, I wanted to be a psycho-historian. I heard Asimov wrote this when he was 18. I was 19 when I read this and felt dull and dim-witted in comparison. They were originally published as a series of novellas, but there’s such cohesion and purpose throughout that I never thought of them as separate entities. The later books are written more in novel structure with a single storyline that continues throughout. This was a book where I felt my neural connections expanding, making new branches and growing beyond their old boundaries.

I guess that’s the only way I can describe it. I could feel my mind going somewhere new and unexplored with each of these books. I didn’t just enjoy these books, I assimilated them. Or perhaps they assimilated me? The books I write now are much, much smaller in size, however the grand scale and larger than life characters of these epics has always stayed with me.

Are there any big, fat books are on your keeper shelf?

Wow, those are epic reads, Jeannie! Gone with the Wind is on my shelf. And while I haven't read Pillars of the Earth yet, it's on the tbr list... My keeper shelf has George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire series, and I've read them multiple times. Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower. C.S. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy. And a few others... What about you guys?

Review: 143. Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown...

Carolyn Brown is one of my favorite guests here at drey's library, and I need to fix the fact that she hasn't visited since January. *gasp* How on earth did that happen?? Anyway, I love how her characters radiate spunk and sass, and Honky Tonky Christmas is no different...

Title: Honky Tonk Christmas (Honky Tonk #4)
Author: Carolyn Brown
ISBN-13: 9781402242014
ARC: 368 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
The Honky Tonk bar in Mingus, Texas has a new owner--Sharlene Waverly. Never mind that the previous three owners have all found love and left the bar, she's dead certain that being number four means she's immune to the Honky Tonk charm. Then in walks Holt Jackson...

Carolyn Brown is at her best when bringing two reluctant lovers together. The sparks flying between Sharlene and Holt could light bonfires. The other trademark of Carolyn's books? The families. It doesn't matter how much they might agree or disagree, they stick together. So they can be a little nosy... Sometimes... But when it's doing what's best for their own, they band together and take care of it.

Honky Tonk Christmas is Carolyn Brown through-and-through. If you enjoy contemporary romance starring sexy-licious cowboys, pick this (and all her other cowboy romances) up. You won't regret it. Well, except you'll need a towel to wipe the drool off the covers...

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Want my ARC? Comment and let me know. I'll pick from the first 10 people. US only please. Extra entries apply (+1 for tweeting, +1 for linking, +1 for fb share), comment separately so it counts!

Review: 142. Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley...

How do you turn down a book with a title like Dating Mr. December? Well, in this case, you don't... *grin*

Title: Dating Mr. December
Author: Phillipa Ashley
ISBN-13: 9781402241420
ARC: 294 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Phillipa Ashley's Dating Mr. December first brought to mind the 2003 movie Calendar Girls. Only with dudes. Reluctant dudes, at that...

Emma Tremayne is settling in at a new job, and comes up with an idea for a fundraiser for the town's mountain rescue squad. Pitching the idea isn't the hard part, it's convincing the guys to take the leap, especially one of the squad leaders--cranky, broody, gorgeous Will Tennant.

Well, you didn't think this would be an easy love story, did you? As with all good ones, there are plenty of hurdles to get over, but Phillipa Ashley writes such sexy characters and dialog that you'll have inhaled this before you realize you're at the end. And then you'll pick up 12 Men of Christmas to see if it's as entertaining as the book.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Winners!

I have winners to announce! First up: Kylie Brant's Deadly Intent goes to...

comment #7: Jane!

Next up: Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches and buttons goes to...

comment #9: Bethany C.! (Please remember the book will not ship until January)

Congratulations, y'all! Thank you for swinging by!

Want the books? Purchase Deadly Intent at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository. Pre-order A Discovery of Witches at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Review: 141. The Insane Train by Sheldon Russell...

Sheldon Russell's The Insane train is on tour, and I was lucky enough to receive a copy for review as part of that tour. After all, who wouldn't want to read about a train full of asylum inmates?

Title: The Insane Train
Author: Sheldon Russell
ISBN-13: 9780312566715
ARC: 312 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Omnimystery

drey's thoughts:
Hook Runyon just can't catch a break. He might lose his job. He picks up a stray mutt. And now he has to figure out how to move a train load of inmates from the Baldwin Insane Asylum in Barstow, California to Oklahoma. Along an old track. With an old train...

And then people start dying. Actually, they started that before he got pulled into doing the insane train thing. But that wasn't on his watch, like these new ones are... But to find out what's going on, Hook has to start at the beginning.

The cast of characters in The Insane Train are pretty neat, especially the motley crew he finds and hires to help out on the train. The language is what I'd imagine for the time. And the ending, while not completely surprising (there are only so many characters, after all), is still satisfying. A good read from Sheldon Russell!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: Sheldon Russell & The Insane Train!

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Sheldon Russell as he stops by on his blog tour for his latest offering, The Insane Train... Sheldon has kindly taken the time to answer some of my questions, check it out below. Don't forget to read on to the end to find out how you can enter a contest for a signed copy of The Insane Train for your very own collection!

drey: Hello Sheldon! Thank you for visiting us today! I enjoyed reading The Insane Train and Hook Runyon’s story, and am glad you’re here to chat with us.

Could you share with us how you got on the path of being a writer?

Sheldon: I lived so far back in the boonies I could have been raised by wolves. I wasn’t, as luck would have it, but I could have been. My nearest playmate lived three miles away, and town was a place we visited once a week to sell cream and buy groceries.

This kind of isolation can turn a boy inward, make him more reflective and imaginative. Drop him into a culture that loves story-telling and fiery oratory, and you’ve created a writer, or a recluse perhaps. In my case, a writer, I think.

drey: Tell us a little about The Insane Train and Hook Runyon.

Sheldon: Hook Runyon is a one-armed railroad yard dog, i.e., detective, who lives in a caboose, drinks busthead liquor, and collects rare books. After having lost an arm in an accident, he turns hobo. There, he learns the skills necessary to survive as a yard dog.

In The Insane Train, a fire has burned the insane asylum to the ground in Needles, California. Hook is called upon to escort the remaining patients, many of them criminally insane, to an old fort in Oklahoma.

But because of the war, there is a shortage of manpower. Desperate for help, Hook hires a motley collection of vets who are living under a bridge to help in the transfer. With such a bizarre crew and passenger list, things soon enough go awry.

Hook struggles to keep murder and mayhem from derailing The Insane Train on its ill-fated journey.

drey: What inspired you to write a story set in the 1940’s? How did you research the environmental factors – people’s way of living, thinking, etc. – in those times? And if that wasn’t enough, you’ve also added the element of mental illness to your story – did that increase the amount of research that you had to do?

Sheldon: As a child, I spent a lot of time with adults who were products of World War II. I can remember the men coming home from the war and how it important it all seemed. In many ways I was more comfortable with that generation than with my contemporaries.

In addition, trains were a vital part of that era. My father had been machinist on the Santa Fe, and so I had grown up hearing those stories. In the end the 1940’s made the most sense for the Hook Runyon series.

While poking through the historical society archives I came across a newspaper story about a private mental institution that had burned in 1908. So many of the “inmates” died that they were buried in a mass grave. The state of Oklahoma decided to transfer the remaining patients by train to a new location in the old territorial Fort Supply. I thought this a perfect situation for Hook.

As a university professor, I learned research skills early in my career and have been involved in psychological research in a number of ways over the years. Even so, I had to do considerable reading in the medical end of things, diagnostic standards and medical terminology for instance, in order to give credibility to both my characters and their illnesses.

drey: What do you indulge in when not writing?

Sheldon: Even then books are important to me. I spend a lot of time browsing in used bookstores, collecting, that sort of thing.

We’ve always done a lot of our own carpentry work and are currently remodeling an old building on our ranch. It is to be my new office and will be equipped with no phone.

My wife and I enjoy auctions, where we buy lots of useless stuff that we can’t live without. I have an old blacksmith forge that I give a go once in awhile. My wife is a sculptor, extraordinaire’, and so the art world has been a large part of my life as well.

As with most people, I suppose, I have more interests than I have time to pursue.

drey: Hmm, why am I thinking that the guys from American Pickers would love to stop by your place?

What are you looking forward to next?

Sheldon: The Johnson Canyon railroad tunnel in Arizona, long-since abandoned, was guarded twenty-four hours a day by the military during World War II. Dug through solid basalt rock, the tunnel touted the steepest grade of any run in the United States. This is a perfect place for Hook to uncover a secret that could have changed the course of history.

drey: And last, but not least, the Proust-lite:

1. What is your idea of earthly happiness? Home
2. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Deceit
3. Who is your favorite hero in fiction? Tom Sawyer
4. Who is your favorite hero in real life? Churchill
5. What sound do you love? My wife’s whistling
6. What sound do you hate? Dead battery
7. The quality you most admire in a man? The lack of pretense
8. The quality you most admire in a woman? Determination
9. If not a writer, you would be a... musician
10. What is your favorite swear word? Son of a bitch, in all its variations

Thank you again for stopping by, Sheldon! Everyone, find Sheldon online at sheldonrussell.com.

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

About The Insane Train:

The Baldwin Insane Asylum in Barstow, California, has recently burned to the gound in an inferno that cost many inmates their lives and injured scores. Now, Hook Runyon has been put in charge of security for a train that is to transport the survivors, alongside the head of the asylum, Dr. Baldwin, the attending doctor, taciturn Dr. Helms, and a self-sacrificing nurse named Andrea, to a new location in Oklahoma.

Hook hires a motley crew of WW II veterans to help, and they set out for the new destination. But things go awry on the Insane Train, as several inmates and attendants are found dead, and Dr.Baldwin seems increasingly disoriented and incapable of running operations.

With Andrea's help, Hook begins investigating the suspicious deaths, and uncovers a trail of revenge that has been a long time in the planning ... by a person as mentally disturbed as her charges.

Check out an excerpt of The Insane Train at http://sheldonrussell.com/insane_train_excerpt.html.

Contest!
Win your very own copy of Sheldon Russell's The Insane Train! Go to Sheldon's book tour page at Omnimystery (http://sheldon-russell.omnimystery.com/), and enter your name, email address, and this PIN: 3101. Entries will be accepted until 12:00 noon PT tomorrow, so hurry! Winners will be announced at Omnimystery next week. Good luck!

Review: 140. The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare...

The Taming of the Wolf is my first Lydia Dare... What took me so long?

Title: The Taming of the Wolf
Author: Lydia Dare
ISBN-13: 9781402244377
ARC: 373 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
A note to Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth:

Dear Sir -

It might be a good idea to not be such a controlling, scowling, boor, especially when you're around the lady you're trying to convince to marry you. Forgive my impertinence, but that's a surefire way to drive her far far away, as fast as she can go...

Then again, maybe expecting the Earl to be anything but what he is, when his own perception of himself is so skewed, is too lofty a goal. At least, until Caitrin Macleod comes into the picture.

This one's got all the right portions of chemistry, dialogue, and plot. If you like werewolves with your romances, then add this to your fall/winter reading pile.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 139. Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin...

I'm always excited to find new work by Asian authors, and I usually try to get my grubby paws on 'em--unless it's non-fiction, that is! So I was antsy to get started on Jeannie Lin's Butterfly Swords...

Title: Butterfly Swords
Author: Jeannie Lin
ISBN-13: 9780373296149
e-ARC
Publisher: Harlequin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Jeannie Lin

drey's thoughts:
Princess Ai Li is about to be wed, when she finds out her husband-to-be is not the honorable warrior her family thinks he is. And so she decides to run back to her father to let him know. Unfortunately, she is found out almost before she can put her plan into action, and would've been hauled back to her betrothed already except for the fortuitous meeting with Ryam. What follows is an adventure story where two people fall in love along the way.

Ai Li is not strong. She is not sassy. She is honorable and obedient (well, except for the not-marrying-her-betrothed thing). She has also been sheltered for most of her life, and is very naive and trusting. I mean, would you go off into the woods with some guy you just met? But hey, without that, there'd be no story.

And what a lovely story this is. The characters are ones you'd root for. The setting is lush. You'll read this in one sitting.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

The 2010 Green Books Campaign, and 138. Freezeframe: It's Gonna be a Long Winter by Jamie Smith...

Today, I'm excited to be participating in the 2010 Green Books Campaign! What is it, you ask? Here's a quick answer:

On Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time 200 bloggers will take a stand to support books printed on environmental paper by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 such books.

Two hundred bloggers. Two hundred books. Wow. For the complete list of books & bloggers, click on the button above.

My book for review is a collection of strips by Jamie Smith, Freezeframe: It's Going to be a Long Winter.

Title: Freezeframe: It's Gonna be a Long Winter
Author: Jamie Smith
ISBN-13: 9780974922119
Paperback
Publisher: The Ester Republic Press, 2008
Purchase at Amazon

About the book:
Yet another collection of classics from Alaska's longest-running cartoon, the fruits of Seasonal Affective Drawing are home-grown humor from the heartland of the north. Smith's zany look at life in the Frozen North is appreciated by both visitors encountering our mosquitoes for the first time and sourdoughs with a profound understanding of that winter run to the outhouse...

drey's thoughts:
How is Wisconsin like Alaska? Well, it's bloody cold in winter. Ice-fishing is a bona-fide hobby. Have I mentioned that it's cold? Like, freezing, brrrrrrrrr cold, so cold your snot freezes before it gets out of your nose... Never mind that Alaska gets way colder, and stays that way for much longer. That's just details!!

Anyway, now that we've established that it's cold here (too), Jamie Smith's pen very cleverly captures the joy of living in Alaskan frigidity, whether the subjects are human or animal. I had a good laugh flipping through it, even as I mentally cringed at the thought of winter almost being upon us. Along with the cold, the snow, and the ice. Have I mentioned that I'm from a tropical country? *grin*

Like this? Tweet it! Then check out the other 199 books and bloggers who're participating this year!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+

November's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jeannie's books!!

This month's Featured Author, Jeannie Lin, writes historical romance set in China. Here are her books:

On the way to her wedding, Ai Li discovers a plot against her family and escapes with butterfly swords in hand. When a blue-eyed barbarian rushes into a throng of bandits to save her, their journey takes them across the Tang Empire and to the very edge of honor, loyalty, and love.

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

When a corrupt local official wants to take Mei Lin as, not second, but third wife, she rebels and makes an outrageous declaration — she’ll only marry a man if he can defeat her in a sword fight. She has managed to fend off the local thugs and village hopefuls, but then a tall, mysterious stranger comes into town…

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Hmm... Who else is drooling over the yummy Asian dude? *grin*

137. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon...

I picked up Diana Gabaldon's Outlander because I'd seen it mentioned before (as a good read, of course!), and it was on sale on B&N for my nook...

Title: Outlander (Outlander #1)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
ISBN-13: 9780440212560
eBook
Publisher: Random House, 1992
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
I have a new literary hero--Jamie Fraser. *swoon* Diana Gabaldon's Outlander is a story big on adventure. Add in time-travel, sexy Scots, dangerous Englishmen, political wrangling, and a wee bit (hah!) of magic, and you have a tome that begs to be finished, and stays with you for a while after.

Claire Randall is taking a break from being a nurse during WWII when she falls through time to land in 1743, smack dab in the middle of a Scotland torn by war. Confused and wary, it takes her a while to accept that this is her new reality, and even longer to adjust to it. Meeting Jamie Fraser and the clan MacKenzie puts her on the path to being a bigamist, albeit unwittingly--although, is that what you'd describe her as, if her husbands exist in different centuries, and the current one may cause the previous one to not ever have been born? But things being what they are, and choices being very limited, she does what she has to, to survive.

She never counted on falling in love with Jamie. Then again, those who've read Outlander are probably all in love with Jamie... *grin* Gripping is probably an understatement for how much Outlander makes you ignore everything else so you can find out what happens to Jamie and Claire... And after you've finished it, you realize that there are more books!! Yikes! I am going to need a vacation to read these!

Have you read the Outlander series? What did you think?

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+

Tour: 136. Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Piñeiro...

Today, I am one of the tour stops for Caridad Piñeiro's Stronger Than Sin!

About the author:
Caridad Piñeiro is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project: write a book for a class lending library. Her love of writing continued through high school, college, and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, her passion for the written word led to a determination to publish and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad's first novel was released and a decade later, she is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas. Find Caridad online at her website www.caridad.com, on facebook and on twitter.

About the book:
Title: Stronger Than Sin
Author: Caridad Piñeiro
ISBN-13: 9780446543842
ARC: 317 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Source: Hachette Book Group

It's been six months since Liliana Carrera helped her brother rescue Caterina Shaw from Wardwell Laboratories, a group of fringe scientists experimenting on human beings. Now, Liliana--with funding from the FBI--has set up a new facility to continue testing the inhibitor complex, a cure for the patients of Wardwell. What's even better is the FBI has managed to recover another of the patients, Jesse Bradford.

When Jesse arrives at Liliana's facility, he has been drugged and displays violent erratic behavior. As Liliana helps him detox, Jesse demonstrates strange powers--superhuman strength and the ability to heal quickly.

Despite their growing attraction, Jesse is secretive and Liliana remains fearful of him. Eventually he admits that Wardwell scientists threatening his sister's life in order to maintain control over him and his powers. As they try to locate her, they begin to suspect that the scientists may have corrupted the FBI. Unless they can discover Wardwell's master plan soon, Jesse's sister, the other patients, and an unknown number of innocent people, will pay the price.

drey's thoughts:
Caridad Piñeiro sure knows how to mix up interesting characters, great back-stories, and fast action. Stronger Than Sin continues with the devious plot first brought to us in Sins of the Flesh, with Wardwell scientists still experimenting on human beings. Only this time, they're also trying to get theirs hands on Liliana's inhibitor compound, so that their genetically-modified humans don't die away so quickly... After all, if she found a way to save Catarina's life, why not the others'?

When the FBI brings Jesse Bradford to Liliana, she finds a guy who's slowly being calcified to death. And as she tries to find out how to stop the process, she realizes that people are not always who you think they are, and has to decide whether Jesse is worth going all-in for, even if that means she might not survive the experience.

Stronger Than Sin offers an interesting plot to go with the romance. Pick it up if that's how you like 'em!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Check out Stronger Than Sin:

Giveaway!
Like what you see? Then enter this giveaway! 5 lucky ducks will get their very own copy of Stronger Than Sin, US and Canada only (no PO Boxes please!). To enter, comment with why you're interested in this book. Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Do it before 6pm CST November 21st.

Extra entries:
+1 for tweeting (comment with the link to your tweet)
+1 for linking on your blog sidebar (comment with the link to your blog)

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Saturday Spotlight: Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs...

Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, so I'm a lil' bit embarrassed to admit that I haven't read Masques yet. But I shall have to remedy that soon, as Wolfsbane--book #2 in the Aralorn series--has just been released...

For the last ten years, shapeshifting mercenary Aralorn has led a dangerous existence — a far cry from her noble upbringing. Now she must return home under the most unfortunate circumstances. Her father, the Lyon of Lambshold, has passed away. But when Aralorn and her companion Wolf arrive, the combination of their magic uncovers something wonderful yet alarming — her father is not actually dead, but only appears so. Yet a dark mist is also very much alive within him…

The Lyon of Lambshold has been ensorcelled by the ae’Magi, who’s using him as a conduit to finally destroy Aralorn and Wolf. With her father as the pawn, can Aralorn overcome this mysterious sorcery? Or will she finally fall to the blackest of magic, losing not only her one true companion but also her life…?

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Review: 135. Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane...

I really enjoy the world that Stacia Kane created in her Downside Ghosts series, especially the language. I'd love to have her swing by one of these days and tell us more about how this world evolved.

Title: Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)
Author: Stacia Kane
ISBN-13: 9780345515582
eBook
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
Oh, Chess. I so wish you'd get some help with that addiction of yours,  because right now your life just seems to be based on a series of choices--when you get to choose, that is--that you make based on whether or when you can get more... You need to get more rest, take better care of yourself, move out of the Downside...

I do understand that if you did, though, you would probably be a different Chess than the one I know and want to read more of. Who knows, maybe making better decisions means that you're not entangled in situations that just seem to pop up out of the blue, with all four loyalties digging their talons into you and pulling you in different directions... Which four, you ask? Well, there's the Church you work for, asking you to look into the supposed haunting of a famous actor's home (shhhhh, keep this on the down low!). Then there's Bump, the drug lord in Downside, who seems to think you're his personal Church-witch, because he has the drugs you want. Or maybe it's Lex, whom you get more than just drugs from (you can do better, you know...). And, of course, there's your personal little helper, those little pills that help you make it through each and every day... When Bump and Lex approach about dead prostitutes, you wonder if you're getting in the middle of a gang war. But they'd tell you if you were, right?

Anyway. I really am glad you made it through Unholy Magic in one piece (although you sure had me on tenterhooks for quite a bit there!). I'm sorry that Terrible's not on speaking terms with you anymore though--except when he's on Bump's business, of course. I sure hope you get help--and soon--because I'm not sure how many more of these stories you can keep going through, without causing permanent harm to yourself. And that would not be good.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 134. The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan...

I can't remember where I first noticed Celine Kiernan's The Poison Throne... But I was intrigued by the premise of having to choose--and between difficult choices at that--and I was looking to try a new-to-me fantasy series (and author!).

Title: The Poison Throne (Moorehawke #1)

Author: Celine Kiernan

ISBN-13: 9780316077064
Trade Paperback: 475 pages
Publisher: Orbit, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Celine Kiernan's The Poison Throne sets a fifteen-year-old apprentice carpenter on a hard path. When Wynter Moorehawke returns home, she expects it to be just as it was when she left five years ago. Instead, it seems as though the King has gone mad, and things that used to be so much a part of normal daily life--including ghosts and talking cats--are now banned, upon penalty of death.

When Wynter goes to search out her childhood friends--the King's sons Alberon and Razi, she finds that Alberon's gone, and Razi's being pushed to assume Alberon's position as heir. And she has a challenger for Razi's attention in the form of Christopher Garron, Razi's new best friend.

As things at court spiral out of control--some don't like the idea of Razi assuming the throne, some don't like Christopher because he's not one of them, and the King is unpredictable and paranoid--Wynter has to decide between staying with her father, or helping her friends survive this mad King's schemes.

The Poison Throne is part mystery and part coming-of-age, all wrapped in a middle-ages setting. Celine Kiernan's writing keeps you on the edge, waiting and wanting to find out what happens next. I cannot wait to read The Crowded Shadows...

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

November's FEATURED AUTHOR: Jeannie Lin!!

Good morning! Today, I have the pleasure of introducing November's Featured Author, Jeannie Lin! I have to say, I heart Jeannie--she's a computer gal (like me!!), she likes cooking(I like eating!!), and her Smackdown match-up is hilarious! *grin* Without further ado, heeeeeeeeeeeeere's Jeannie!

About Jeannie: Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart® winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon.

drey: Hello Jeannie! Welcome to drey’s library, and thank you for taking the time to visit us this month. I’m very happy you’re here as November’s Featured Author, I hope you enjoy your visit!

Jeannie: Thanks for having me. This is my birthday month so it’s nice to be featured in November.

drey: Oooh! Happy Birthday!! If you tell me when, I'll sing "happy birthday" to you... ;)

Can you share tell us about yourself in 10 sentences or less?

Jeannie: I’m a computer gal by trade and I write in the hours before and after work. I spend entirely too much time on the computer, work out as an excuse to get out of the house, and like to bake and decorate cookies.

drey: When did you know you wanted to be an author? What were you doing? Was it a gradual realization, or did it just pop up one day?

Jeannie: I fantasized about being an author since my mum told me that if you wrote stories that were good enough, people would pay you for them. (I think I was in second grade at the time.) Though I was always penning little stories when I was a teenager, I was really afraid to show them to anyone but my Little Sis. I finally threw my hat into the ring seriously about five or six years ago and my Little Sis is still my primary critique partner.

Of course she now has an MFA in creative writing so that partnership worked out nicely for me.

drey: How did your first sale happen?

Jeannie: Harlequin Mills & Boon requested my manuscript after reading it in the final round of RWA’s Golden Heart contest in 2009. Before that, my agent had the manuscript out on submission as well. In the end, Harlequin was the one willing to take a chance on the unusual setting.

drey: Well, I'm glad they did. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to read it myself, if they hadn't!

Who and/or what inspires your writing? How many ideas never make it to paper, and what do you do with them?

Jeannie: This is one of the sources of my writer angst. I don’t have a million ideas, beating down my door to get written. I gravitate around an idea and its players for a long, long time. I daydream about them and work and rework scenarios in my head. I can’t put my finger on what inspires my writing, but it’s usually about a scenario and how the people brought into it interact. I like classic scenarios with deeper exploration of the psychology of the players.

drey: What do you indulge in when not writing?

Jeannie: Cooking and eating. I have a plate of Halloween sugar cookies right now that I’m munching on way too quickly. I tell myself they’ll taste better if I eat them when they’re fresh.

drey: Of course they taste better when fresh! Right out of the oven's yummy!

Do you have a favorite accompaniment to chocolate?

Jeannie: Now, I’m actually not a chocolate freak like my husband. I do like coffee with chocolate. Coffee flavored truffles from See’s Candy are a huge weakness.

drey: *stunned* Not a chocolate freak...??? 

Smackdown: Your two favorite characters face off in the ring. Who are they, which one wins, and why?

Jeannie: This conjured up so many weird match ups. I mean Han Solo and Queen Elizabeth I would make a hilarious episode of Robot Chicken.

drey: Electronic readers are becoming more affordable and available. Their impact on paper books, the environment, people's reading & buying habits - what's your take on this? Do you think it’s here to stay? As a writer, how are you adjusting to, or taking advantage of, the digital age?

Jeannie: Here to stay, absolutely. For a newbie like me, it’s getting harder and harder to break in. I think eBooks with its low price point and accessibility is the only thing that’s going to get new authors a more widespread readership. I think print will start to take on a more boutique value. I see people buying books electronically and then, if they enjoyed it, buying print versions to gift to others or to have on their keeper shelf. Similar to what we see in the DVD market – people buying a movie they’ve already seen to gift it or to watch it over and over again.

I’ve learned a lot about the digital market with my first release. A lot of education was involved, telling readers how to get my books and that they didn’t need fancy e-readers to read them.

drey: On the publishing side—where do you think publishers and authors stand on the digital divide? Are they jumping across the great divide, or waiting ‘till someone builds a bridge? Name one thing you think could be improved in regards to eBooks.

Jeannie: If you’re jumping now, it’s already too late. I think publishers know that. Some publishers are weathering the storm better than others. Same with authors. I think in the digital media age, you need to be observant and you need to be flexible and ready for change. That’s what over a decade in the technology industry has taught me. Don’t get married to any one method – instead be literate in the basic principles of the space. Right now, the players who are winning the game are addressing two key aspects: technical interfacing and community. For instance, I think Amazon’s technical interfacing is amazing. I think Harlequin has the community aspect down, but has a way to go on the interface. Goodreads is a great example of interface design that actually promotes community.

drey: You are right about the technical interface and promoting community... I personally think that there is still a lot to be desired in almost all sites, and I usually forget that most business aren't technology powerhouses, but instead need a well-defined approach to melding technology with social interaction (i.e. community). Without the approach, all the technology in the world won't help you.

Tell us a little something about Butterfly Swords. How much is Ai Li like you?

Jeannie: Butterfly Swords is that classic adventure/travel tale of my heart. The romance gave it structure so it wasn’t just two people going from place to place and getting in and out of capers. Ai Li isn’t like me at all actually. She’s a very thoughtful girl and always tries to do the right thing. She jumps to conclusions and is very black and white in her thoughts about right and wrong, whereas I’m very accepting of the gray of life. I admire how righteous she is. I also admire how athletic and coordinated she is. Not me at all.

drey: What is it like, being an Asian writer in a (mostly) Caucasian publishing world? Not just personally, but in writing about Asian characters?

Jeannie: This is what life has been like. :) I grew up in a predominantly Caucasian community and was one of the few Asian kids in school. Now I live in St. Louis where I don’t see a lot of Asian faces on a day to day basis. I can’t say I don’t feel like a minority, but I can honestly say I feel an innate belonging. When I go to conferences, I feel comfortable in my own skin. I don’t feel like I stick out at all. But when I see another Asian writer, it’s inevitable. We make eye contact. We may not go up to one another, but there’s recognition. “Hey you,” we say silently.

Writing about Asian characters in mainstream genre fiction is much the same process of balance and negotiation. I described my brain as having a huge Venn diagram at its center. Asian side, Caucasian side, the shaded part where they overlap. I’m always reflecting on Western culture and then Asian culture and then myself and my own biases. It’s not as easy as I’ve tried to describe here—it’s a million threads intertwined inside. And then to figure out how to put that on paper. It’s really a wonderfully interesting process. I know I overthink everything, but I’ve overthought everything all my life.

drey: Wow. I am sure I will have plenty to chat with you about on this topic, but it will have to wait for another day, i.e. when my brain-leaking-out-thru-the-ear problem is no longer a problem...

What are you looking forward to next?

Jeannie: I’m writing a book with my sister. It’s the most frightening thing we’ve undertaken. We even set a due date for having three chapter written each by Vietnamese (Chinese) New Year. I haven’t even started.

drey: Well, does your sister know? ;)

And last, but not least, the Proust-lite:

1. What is your idea of earthly happiness? Holding my hubby’s hand
2. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Self-doubt
3. Who is/are your favorite hero/heroine(s) in fiction? Han Solo
4. Who is/are your favorite hero/heroine(s) in real life? My mum and my grandmothers
5. What sound do you love? Crickets chirping (my husband hates them)
6. What sound do you hate? Breaking glass
7. The quality you admire most in a man? Dependability
8. The quality you admire most in a woman? Intelligence
9. If not a writer, you would be a ... global traveler
10. What is your favorite swear word? Son-of-a-bitch (all one word)

Thank you so much for stopping by! Everyone, find Jeannie online at her website, http://www.jeannielin.com/, and on facebook.

Review: 133. Child of Fire by Harry Connolly...

Author Harry Connolly recently approached me about reviewing his new offering, Game of Cages. And since that's book #2 in his Twenty Palaces series, I decided to get my hands on a copy of the first one, and here we are.

Title: Child of Fire (Twenty Palaces #1)
Author: Harry Connolly
ISBN-13: 9780345508898
Paperback: 343 pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Child of Fire is a very fast-paced read about a guy who gets hauled out of jail to help out on a mission that's strictly need-to-know.

The plot isn't too complicated--there's something going on in the little town of Hammer Bay, and Ray is volunteered to tag along to find out what it is. Unfortunately for Ray, investigations aren't his "thing" and he ends up rousing a hornets' nest of trouble, which brings up more questions about the residents of Hammer Bay. And his "boss" Annalise, isn't too enthused about letting him in on what she's looking for, or why. Then again, why would she? In Annalise's eyes, he should cease to exist, and she's 100% willing to help him get there.

The story gets a tad violent, but what else would you expect from hanging out with power-hungry cops, gangs, and money-grabbing fools? Then again, Ray himself ain't no saint... But he'll still get you rooting for him to save those he can, and get out alive...

Child of Fire is a pretty good first offering from Harry Connelly, and I'll be finding out how Ray fares in the next installment, Game of Cages.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

It's been (almost) 2 years!

I cannot believe how fast time flies. It's November (already?!?!), and my 2-year anniversary as a book blogger is only 3 weeks away... To celebrate, I've got a few things up my sleeves...

But first, I'd like to thank you guys--readers and authors both!--for visiting, commenting, and entering my giveaways. I was hoping by this time to have more of a dialog going on about books here, but as you can tell, I haven't quite gotten that far! My Featured Author spotlights seem to be doing alright, and I'm happy for the chance to meet new authors and introduce them to you. I am also thankful that they're willing to take the time for all the stuff I demand! *grin* I am now recruiting for 2011's slots, and if I haven't replied to your inquiries, or you're not on the list in the sidebar, please feel free to remind me! I'm afraid the gray hairs are starting to overpower my natural color, and is resulting in even more forgetfulness than normal. (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)

I did slow down a bit on my reading compared to last year, which is good for my free time, but not so good for my Mt. TBR! To those whose books I still haven't gotten around to, I sincerely apologize. I will read them, I promise. Sometimes though, I think I'm like a magpie--oooh, pretty shiny new things! *sigh*

And, to the authors, publicists, and publishers who have so generously sponsored the multitude of giveaways this year, thank you! I--and my winners--are very grateful for the titles that have brought new characters to our homes (& hearts!), or continued us on a journey with a character we hold near and dear. I'm pretty sure the Mr. thanks you, too, for our pocketbooks might be a little lighter otherwise *grin*...

For this next year, I will continue with my Featured Author spotlight. I aim to get more of a dialog going about the books I read (feel free to offer suggestions on how!). And to participate more in the book blogging community. For now, let's move on to the fun stuff!

Thing 1 is a giveaway!
"Hmm, what kind of giveaway?" you wonder... Well, it's not like it's going to be a surprise when I say "books!" is it?

Here they are, the little gems we love so much:

Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately, US only
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Rise Again by Ben Tripp, US only
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Tempted by Fate by Kate Perry, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
The Harry Bosch Novels Volume 3: A Darkness More Than Night, City of Bones, Lost Light by Michael Connelly, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Thunder and Ashes by Z.A. Recht, US only
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Rescue by Anita Shreve, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
Hell's Corner by David Baldacci, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
The Brave by Nicholas Evans, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)
The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent, US & Canada, no PO Boxes
(IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository)

To enter, fill out the entry form (i.e. click this link). You can do this once daily, and either pick the same book every day or pick all 12 books over (at least) 12 days! Please refer to the geographic limitations stated above. Do it before 6pm CST November 30th.

A huge thank-you to Danielle, Stephanie, Miriam, Anna, and Brad for providing the books!!

Thing 2 is a giveaway! With a twist!
I read a comment by C.E. Murphy on her facebook page about an email from a Marine she'd sent books to... And a lightbulb went off in my head. I seriously have piles of books next to my bookcase--piles of books that I've read, that weren't from the library. So I'm going to (somehow) get them shipped out to our troops stationed overseas. I've reached out to the USO, but haven't heard back. If you know of an organization that will distribute books & such to our troops, please let me know. But anyway! Back to the books... Here's how this giveaway will run:

For every 10 comments on the blog during the month of November, I will add 1 book to the "ship-out" pile. Comment daily. Go hog wild. Just make sure it's not spam, 'cuz those I'll delete. If you'd like, comment on this post (and this post only!) with suggestions of reading materials to add to the pile. If I get more comments than I have books to ship, I'll randomly pick some off these comments and send those too. What do you think? Come and be chatty! (By the way, comments with twitter status for your tweets count, too!)

Happy November to you, happy blogoversary to me, now go have a great month!

Happy Halloween!

Saw this on facebook, had to share... Enjoy!

Winner of Poisoned Kisses!

Time to pick a winner for a copy of Stephanie Draven's Poisoned Kisses! I wonder if the giveaway got buried in the post, and nobody noticed it, because there were definitely fewer entries than I'd expected... Sorry, Stephanie!

Anyway, Randomizer says the book goes to...

❤Stephanie!!

Congratulations! Email's on its way to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Saturday Spotlight: Crave by J.R. Ward...

So, Chloe Neill got me started on J.R. Ward's In Death series... Which I sooooo should get back to, because I have a lot to catch up on! But I saw the cover for Ward's new Fallen Angels series, and am definitely going to pick this up!

Seven deadly sins. Seven souls that must be saved. One more no-holds- barred battle between a fallen angel with a hardened heart and a demon with everything to lose.

Isaac Rothe is a black ops soldier with a dark past and a grim future. The target of an assassin, he finds himself behind bars, his fate in the hands of his gorgeous public defender Grier Childe. His hot attraction to her can only lead to trouble-and that's before Jim Heron tells him his soul is in danger. Caught up in a wicked game with the demon who shadows Jim, Isaac must decide whether the soldier in him can believe that true love is the ultimate weapon against evil.

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

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Contest: A Discovery of Witches!

Last Saturday's spotlight featured author Deborah Harkness discussing which wines you could serve on a date with a vampire... Today we're doing a lil' pre-release (or rather, two-months-ahead-of-release) celebrating with a giveaway!

What's the release, you ask? Well... none other than her first work of fiction, A Discovery of Witches!

It begins with absence and desire.
It begins with blood and fear.
It begins with a discovery of witches.

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.

For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

Up for grabs are a set of gorgeous buttons boasting allegiance to each of the magical species in the novel (“I’M A WITCH,” “I’M A VAMPIRE,” “I’M A DAEMON”), one that poses that nagging question, “Where is Ashmole 782?” AND one finished copy of the book*.

* The book will not ship until its publication date in January

To enter the contest, comment on why you'd want to read A Discovery of Witches. Remember to include your email address for winner notifications. US and Canada only, please (no PO Boxes!). Do it before 6pm CST Nov 11th!

Deborah Harkness is online at her website, and on facebook: Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches.

For extra entries:
+1 Which button do you want most?
+1 Tweet this giveaway, comment separately with your twitter status.
+1 FB share (www.facebook.com/dreyslibrary), comment separately with your FB name.
+1 List this on your blog sidebar, comment separately with your blog link.

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

Pre-order at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Kylie Brant stops over for a visit!

Kylie Brant has a new book coming out in November--Deadly Intent is book #4 in her Mindhunters series--and she's stopping by to say "hi" (and a few more words!), and give away a copy of her new book! Read on...

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

About the author:
Kylie Brant is the author of thirty-one romantic suspense novels for Silhouette and Berkley. She's a three time Rita nominee, and has been nominated for five time Romantic Times awards, including a win for Career Achievement. Twice she's received the overall Daphne du Maurier Award for best mystery/suspense novels. Her books have been published in twenty-five countries and translated into fifteen languages. A mother of five, Brant also teaches full-time, working with learning disabled students.

I Meet the Most Interesting People...

Okay, a lot of them are products of my imagination, but they *are* intriguing story people, at least. People who, if they were real, I could admire and respect. People I'd be proud to call friends. Not because they're perfect. Perfection is boring :) My characters are flawed, sometimes deeply. They struggle to overcome obstacles to do the right thing. They've become good people despite sometimes traumatic incidents in their pasts. They're complex, because the most interesting people are multi-faceted, with layers that aren't easily pierced.

When I'm coming up with a new story sometimes it's the suspense plot that will occur first, but more often it's the characters who first spring to life, fully developed. Then the suspense idea closely follows and I ask myself, 'How would these story people react to that situation? What will it make it particularly difficult for them to reach their goal?" There's always an external conflict of course, usually in the way of a villain. But giving characters a flaw or an emotional conflict means they have an inner struggle as well.

My characters, despite any other flaws, are extraordinarily patient :) Some linger in my mind for years, waiting for their turn to have their story told. Others are more demanding, surging to the forefront and beating on the walls of my imagination, refusing to be ignored any longer. Just as in real life, the squeaky wheel is often heard first.

From my earliest years I've always been fascinated by why people do the things they do. In that way I suppose I imagine them from a psychological point of view. Naming them and giving them physical attributes are probably the last things I do for character development, and are the most deliberate actions I take with them. Oddly enough, the physical description of my characters often requires the most thought. I don't necessarily 'see' them so much as I 'know' them--what and who they are and what events have shaped them. I often land on their descriptions simply through the process of elimination--let's see, I haven't had a green-eyed heroine in several books :) Perhaps because of this quirk, the most difficult question I'm asked is: if your book were a movie, who would you cast as the leading characters? I always have to go back and remind myself, okay, what did they look like again? I tend to think that who people are inside is ever so much more interesting than what they look like!

Somehow my cast always seem to have at least one character that adds some comic relief. I don't do this consciously but I have a slightly twisted sense of humor and it sort of works into the stories, even if I don't necessarily plan it that way at first. These characters, whether a health-conscious partner detective, a tattooed scientist with unusual luck with women, or a pint-sized angelic looking lab assistant with the mouth of a sailor lighten the otherwise dark subject matter. They also provide a foil for the main characters, and through their eyes we're given an outside look at the hero and heroine.

The villain, of course, is the most interesting character to write, because evil is riveting. Delving into what events twisted people into psychopathy is endlessly fascinating. Perhaps because I had a perfectly ordinary upbringing, devoid of homicidal maniacs or anything more traumatic than having to wear braces for three years, I have to dig deep for these crazed characters at times. Unfortunately, the news is awash with horrible things that people have been forced to endure. But its also full of stories that prove the resiliency of the human spirit. And I think that factor, when it comes to the closure of the story, makes for the most satisfying of endings.

Some characters I've read have stayed with me always. Scout, from To Kill a Mockingbird. Holden Caulfield, from Catcher in the Rye. Huck Finn. What unforgettable characters have you run across in your reading?

Thank you for sharing with us, Kylie!! Y'all, find Kylie online at her website, http://www.kyliebrant.com/.

About Deadly Intent:
No one knows the patterns and nuances of communication like forensic linguist Macy Reid. She is also an expert on kidnapping, having experienced firsthand the stark terror of being abducted when she was a child. So she is the perfect investigator to be called in when a Denver tycoon's eleven-year-old daughter is abducted—for the second time.

The biggest stumbling block for Macy may be a member of her own team: Kellan Burke, the wisecracking, rule-breaking investigator who relishes getting under Macy's skin. Their styles couldn't be more different; the attraction between them more explosive. And when it becomes apparent that Macy can't solve the case without confronting the demons from her past, Kell is just the man to take her there—and back.

Read an excerpt!

Contest!
Kylie is giving away one copy of Deadly Intent to you lucky readers! This one's open to wherever The Book Depository will ship! Please make sure you check their list of countries before you enter...

For one entry, answer Kylie's question: What unforgettable characters have you run across in your reading? Make sure your email address is included, so that I can contact you if you win... Do it before 6pm CST Nov. 10th. Good luck!

Extra entries:
+1 Tweet this giveaway, comment separately with your twitter status.
+1 FB share (www.facebook.com/dreyslibrary), comment separately with your FB name.
+1 List this on your blog sidebar, comment separately with your blog link.

Don't want to wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Winners of Justin Peacock's Blind Man's Alley!

Boy, am I ever late on this one. I blame my day job--I've been pulling 12-14 hour days, including weekends, and it's put a serious cramp on my blogging ability. I mean, the brain's just mush, you know?

Anyway. I had Randomizer pick two winners for Justin Peacock's Blind Man's Alley, and they are...

Stephanie!!

Benita!!

Congratulations! I'll need your mailing information by the end of day Saturday, please. Thanks for stopping by!!


Didn't win? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

October's FEATURED AUTHOR: Stephanie interviews Kyra...

I cannot believe how fast time flies when you're having fun--hopefully Stephanie had fun while visiting us this month! Today, Stephanie shares a lil' Q&A with Kyra, the heroine from her new book, Poisoned Kisses! C'mon and see... *grin*

Hey everybody! I’ve really enjoyed my month as the featured author here to celebrate my debut novel, POISONED KISSES. I still find it a little amazing that it's really happening and that my first book has hit the shelves! Before I say goodbye, I want to say a few more words.

Since I've been working so hard on my writing lately I've become a very boring person, so I thought maybe we’d like to hear from my characters. Allow me to introduce Kyra, a knife-wielding nymph of the underworld. She's agreed to answer a few questions for us today, which I can only think means that we've caught her in a very good mood.

Q. When you were a little girl your father gave you ambrosia to make you immortal. Why aren't you a little more grateful to him?

Look, it's hard to be a daddy's girl when your father is Ares, Greek god of war. He's not really the affectionate type. Besides, immortality isn't all its cracked up to be. At first, mortals worship you, but then your friends die. You make new friends and they die too. And before you know it, the mortals forget you and chase after the latest religious fad. I bet half the people reading this don't even know what a nymph of the underworld is...but I bet they all believe in angels!

Q. What do you have against angels?

If I needed someone to guide me from this life into the next--I'd want a warrior. Someone who would fight for my shade with a torch in one hand and a knife in the other. I wouldn't trust the salvation of my eternal soul to some cherubic coquette with feathery wings.

Q. Were you looking for love when you went searching for Marco Kaisaris?

I was looking to kill him, actually, but he almost killed me instead.

Q. I thought you were immortal.

Yes, well, so did I! As it turns out, his poisonous blood is the only thing that can kill me.

Q. So why did you go after Marco in the first place?

I didn't know he was dangerous. At least, not dangerous to me. I just thought he was another monster that Daddy wanted to add to his menagerie. But when I was a young nymph, Hekate prophesied that I'd conquer a hydra. I thought it was my fate. My destiny. Maybe it still is.

Q. Why did you impersonate Marco's first love?

Well, I knew he wasn't going to trust me. I had to impersonate somebody in order to get close to him. His ex-girlfriend seemed like the best choice, but wow, what a mistake that turned out to be. I can make mortals see whatever I want them to see when they look at me, but even wearing another woman's face, I can't really pull off prim and proper. Basic black and pearls just aren't my style.

Q. Did he see through your disguise?

Only after we'd slept together. I think he knew the truth, deep down, but that didn't stop him from being furious about being tricked. And it didn't stop him from taking revenge, either.

Q. You and Marco have both done some pretty terrible things. Do you think you'll be able to forgive each other?

Well, let's just hope I still have an eternity to find out.

Stephanie, thank you so very much for spending October with us--I hope you've enjoyed visiting as much as I have! Everyone, there's still a few days left to enter my giveaway for a copy of Poisoned Kisses!

132. Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer...

Title: Wild Ride
Author: Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
ISBN-13: 9780312533779
Hardcover:
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Wild Ride came from my local library (I love my local library!). I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I always love a Jennifer Crusie book for a quick fun read, and when I saw this one in the "new books" section at my local library, I just had to bring it home... And when work for my day job drove me completely nuts, I picked this up for some brain relaxation.

And brain relaxation it provided. Mab--Mary Alice Brannigan--is working on restorations at Dreamland (an amusement park) when she gets run over by a clown. Not the kind that scares kids at parties, but one of the metal statues that decorate the grounds. How is that possible? Well, consider that Dreamland was built as a prison for demons, and one got loose...

Ethan Wayne has a bullet in his chest from Afghanistan, and returns home to Dreamland to live out his last days. Then Dreamland throws him a curve and a lifeline, but it takes him a while to appreciate the chance...

Then there are the government agents intent on finding out if there really are demons at Dreamland, and how the demons can be used. Because that's what governments do, right? Add in the Dreamland regulars, Mab's icky uncle, and the demons themselves, and Wild Ride is a quick breezy read with a dash of romance and a tablespoon of action. No brains required. *grin*

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

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