Followers

Romance Reviews

The Romance Reviews

Crimson Romance

Crimson Romance
For the best in romance, from sweet to naughty!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Defenders of the Scroll ~ History, Legend,and Lore ~ by Shiraz



From the Cover:

A teenage boy. A dark wizard. A mystic scroll. And the fate of a world hangs in the balance... When Alex "the Axeman" Logan is pulled from his world to help a young princess, named Dara, save her kingdom from the Shadow Lord, he thinks there has been a mistake. He's a teen guitar player close to failing 11th grade, not some defender of the realm. All he has are some school books, his wits, and his love of fantasy movies. Overnight his life is history. Alex must confront the Shadow Lord and his minions when he is thrust into a land that has changed from a magical paradise to a barren, hopeless, helpless realm invaded by a dark army. But Alex is not alone. He has the help of Dara, a magic scroll, and a band of unlikely companions drawn from his own history books: a hardened Roman Legionnaire, a swift Japanese Samurai, a fearless African Warrior, a fiery Amazon Archer, and a spirited Shaolin Monk. Can Alex become more than he believes and lead his small band of Defenders to the Hall of Shadows, the birthplace of the Shadow Lord? The fate of the realm and everyone in it rests on him.

Alex must choose, a chance in a lifetime or pass the 11th grade. A no brainer, right? Alex chooses the chance of a lifetime, skips his 11th grade exams, and goes to the Axeman Band audition. Just as he's set to perform, he feels strange. He slips away from his life and his reality being slammed into another place and time. There, a young wizard and daughter of the ruler, Princess Dara, begs him to help her, save her and her home.

Mornak, wizard and ruler of the realm of Mythos created the Hall of Shadows where all the evil of the realm was imprisoned. But, the Hall is rebelling, bringing forth it's own life, and it wants it's revenge against Mornak and the good people of the realm. The Shadow Lord has been born within the Hall and released to wreak his vengeance across the realm, taking over nearby Aspiria in the realm of Mythos, imprisoning Mornak, and enchanting the wizard King's knights, the Axeman. He travels through the shadows unseen by most eyes. Mornak's only hope is his young daughter who holds the scroll where he has poured all his magic, his entire being into. She holds the key to saving the realm.

Being only ten years old, Princess Dara is frightened of the immense power that has been thrust upon her. She does the only thing that she can think to do, she calls upon the Axeman to save her, hoping for the King's knights, and instead she gets Alex. Upon his arrival in the realm, he brings his school books containing teen heroes from throughout history. Since calling him, he is granted the gift of calling on the heroes and objects contained within the pages of those books. Maya, Amazon warrior, can shoot the straightest arrow. Tenzien, Shaolin monk who can move quicker than the eye. Genjuro, Japanese samurai with the quickest sword. Bantu, African warrior giant capable of holding off an army. Scorpius, Roman legionnaire who can defeat many enemies with his mighty military prowess. With Alex's imagination and modern know how, and his fierce warriors called from history, can they save the realm from the evilness of the Hall? Can they save the wizard King Mornak? They are the realm's only hope.

Defenders of the Scroll by Shiraz was a fast fun read. It creates a mystical ride for the reader with action, adventure, pirates, warriors, and magical creatures. It's a time and place where magic rules and wizards can be either good or evil. It is a land of enchantment where Alex's wildest dreams and nightmares can come true. A true comparison for me would be C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I enjoyed this mystical magical adventure wholeheartedly. It is written for a younger audience or those who are young at heart. If you like me, are willing to allow yourself to be transported to a magical realm, then this is the book for you. If you enjoyed C.S. Lewis' many tales of the land of Narnia, try this is the book. I can't wait to see what adventures, wizards, and magical beings we get to meet in Book Two, soon to follow I hope. This book is the imaginative creation of Shiraz, the author, and storytellers Rupinder Malhotra and B. Singh Khanna. I received my review copy from the author, thank you Shiraz for exciting my imagination. If you like to check out this new author's website or DotS, click here. If you like to meet the author and are going to be in the Ontario area throughout the month of October, check out Chapters or the author's website for times and locations.


Here's a peek at the book trailer.


I found this fanmade video for The Call and it fit the story so well, I had to include it.


Here's the last few minutes of The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, just because I love Narnia!! If you haven't read C.S. Lewis, you're missing out on a real treat! Defenders of the Scroll put me in the mood to watch a few minutes.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Banned Book Week ~~ September 26 to October 3, 2009


Did everyone know that this week is Banned Book Week? For those of you who thought the United States was beyond such perversities as banning books, think again. Many popular books have been banned by various entities in the past, present, and I'm sure in the future. Here's this is a partial list:




1984 George Orwell Rad
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain ALA [11]
The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby Dav Pilkey ALA [47]
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark Twain ALA
Alice series Phyllis Reynolds Naylor ALA [2]
All the King's Men Robert Penn Warren Rad
Always Running Luis J. Rodriguez ALA [66]
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis ALA
An American Tragedy Theodore Dreiser Rad
The Anarchist Cookbook William Powell ALA
Anastasia Again! Lois Lowry ALA [81]
And Tango Makes Three Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell ALA [9]
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging Louise Rennison ALA [32]
Annie on my Mind Nancy Garden ALA
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Judy Blume ALA [82]
Arming America Michael Bellasiles ALA [34]
Arizona Kid Ron Koertge ALA
As I Lay Dying William Faulkner Rad
Asking About Sex and Growing Up Joanna Cole ALA
Athletic Shorts Chris Crutcher ALA [38]
Beloved Toni Morrison ALA [24] /Rad
Black Boy Richard Wright ALA [67]
Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo A. Anaya ALA [39]
Blood and Choclate Annette Curtis Klause ALA [54]
Blubber Judy Blume ALA [36]
The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison ALA [12]
The Boy Who Lost His Face Louis Sachar ALA [79]
Boys and Sex Wardell Pomeroy ALA
Brave New World Aldous Huxley ALA [37] /Rad
Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson ALA [20]
Bumps in the Night Harry Allard ALA [83]
The Call of the Wild Jack London Rad
Captain Underpants Dav Pilkey ALA [10]
Carrie Stephen King ALA
The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger ALA [19] /Rad
Catch-22 Joseph Heller Rad
Cat's Cradle Kurt Vonnegut Rad
The Chocolate War Robert Cormier ALA [3]
Christine Stephen King ALA
A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess Rad
The Color Purple Alice Walker ALA [14] /Rad
Crazy Lady! Jane Conly ALA [42]
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat Alvin Schwartz ALA
Cujo Stephen King ALA
Curses, Hexes and Spells Daniel Cohen ALA
Cut Patricia McCormick ALA [86]
Daddy's Roommate Michael Willhoite ALA
A Day No Pigs Would Die Robert Newton Peck ALA
The Dead Zone Stephen King ALA
Deenie Judy Blume ALA
Detour for Emmy Marilyn Reynolds ALA
The Drowning of Stephan Jones Bette Greene ALA
Earth's Children (series) Jean M. Auel ALA
The Exorcist William Peter Blatty ALA
The Face on the Milk Carton Caroline B. Cooney ALA
Fade Robert Cormier ALA
Fallen Angels Walter Dean Myers ALA
Family Secrets Norma Klein ALA
A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway Rad
Final Exit Derek Humphry ALA
Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes ALA
For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway Rad
Forever Judy Blume ALA
Girls and Sex Wardell Pomeroy ALA
The Giver Lois Lowry ALA [014]
Go Ask Alice Anonymous ALA
Go Tell It on the Mountain James Baldwin Rad
The Goats Brock Cole ALA
Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell Rad
Goosebumps (series) R. L. Stine ALA
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck Rad
The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald Rad
The Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Paterson ALA
Guess What? Mem Fox ALA
Halloween ABC Eve Merriam ALA
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood ALA
Harry Potter (series) J. K. Rowling ALA
Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad Rad
Heather Has Two Mommies Lesléa Newman ALA
The House of the Spirits Isabel Allende ALA
How to Eat Fried Worms Thomas Rockwell ALA
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou ALA
In Cold Blood Truman Capote Rad
In the Night Kitchen Maurice Sendak ALA
Invisible Man Ralph Ellison Rad
It's Perfectly Normal Robie Harris ALA
It's So Amazing Robie Harris ALA
Jack A. M. Homes ALA
James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl ALA
Jay's Journal Anonymous ALA
Julie of the Wolves Jean Craighead George ALA
Jump Ship to Freedom James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier ALA
Jumper Steven Gould ALA
The Jungle Upton Sinclair Rad
Kaffir Boy Mark Mathabane ALA
Killing Mr. Griffin Lois Duncan ALA
Lady Chatterley's Lover D. H. Lawrence Rad
A Light in the Attic Shel Silverstein ALA
Little Black Sambo Helen Bannerman ALA
Lolita Vladimir Nabokov Rad
Lord of the Flies William Golding ALA/Rad
Mommy Laid An Egg Babette Cole ALA
My Brother Sam Is Dead James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier ALA
The Naked and the Dead Norman Mailer Rad
Naked Lunch William S. Burroughs Rad
Native Son Richard Wright ALA /Rad
The New Joy of Gay Sex Charles Silverstein ALA
Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck ALA /Rad
On My Honor Marion Dane Bauer ALA
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey Rad
Ordinary People Judith Guest ALA
The Outsiders S. E. Hinton ALA
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky ALA
The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett ALA
The Pigman Paul Zindel ALA
Private Parts Howard Stern ALA
Rabbit, Run John Updike Rad
Running Loose Chris Crutcher ALA
The Satanic Verses Salman Rushdie Rad
Scary Stories (series) Alvin Schwartz ALA
A Separate Peace John Knowles Rad
Sex Madonna ALA
Sex Education Jenny Davis ALA
Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut ALA [069]/Rad
The Sledding Hill Chris Crutcher ALA
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy A. N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) ALA
Song of Solomon (novel) Toni Morrison ALA /Rad
Sons and Lovers D. H. Lawrence Rad
The Stupids (series) Harry Allard ALA
Summer of My German Soldier Bette Greene ALA
The Sun Also Rises Ernest Hemingway Rad
That Was Then, This Is Now S. E. Hinton ALA
Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston Rad
Tiger Eyes Judy Blume ALA
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee ALA [041]/Rad
Tropic of Cancer Henry Miller Rad
Ulysses James Joyce Rad
View from the Cherry Tree Willo Davis Roberts ALA
We All Fall Down Robert Cormier ALA
Whale Talk Chris Crutcher ALA
What my Mother Doesn't Know Sonya Sones ALA
What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons Lynda Madaras ALA
What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters Lynda Madaras ALA
Where Did I Come From? Peter Mayle ALA
Where's Waldo? Martin Handford ALA
The Wish Giver Bill Brittain ALA
The Witches Roald Dahl ALA
Women in Love D. H. Lawrence Rad
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies Nancy Friday ALA
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle ALA




Also, there are some great books coming out today, so happy release day!!

Congrats Jocelynn!! To read my review, click here. Check out Jess' blog for a great guest post and giveaway!



Congrats Gail! Check out Blodeuedd's Blog for a great guest post and review!



Congrats Sarah! Fantasy Book Critic has an excellent review, to check out this great review, click here. You want a free read of Sarah Langan's book, The Keeper? Check out Eos (my favorite publisher) for details, free ebook!!



Congrats Jennifer! This is a three part series, light and dark fae fantasy. Fresh Fiction has an excellent review here.



John Sandford is one of my favorite author and today is the release of his third book in the Virgil Flowers Series. If you haven't check out John Sandford's great reads, you're missing out on a sexy detective who's always rough and ready. Genre Go Round has an excellent review here.



For a more comprehensive list of new release, see Donna at Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Promo ~ Sherrilyn Kenyon ~ Born of Night

I've discovered a new series and I can't wait to take a peek! Tara at Zeitghost Media sent me a heads up on this one. Sherrilyn Kenyon has a new series hitting the shelves, The League. Book One in the series, Born of Night, will be available 9-29-09. This will be Nykyrian and Kiara story. Book Two, Born of Fire, will be released 11-3-09 and Book Three, Born of Ice, will be released 12-1-09.

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 539
Available in Mass Market Paperback

(release date: Sept. 29, 2009)


From the Cover: Awakened from a drugged sleep in a cold cell, the Princess Kiara finds herself a prisoner of the merciless marauders who threaten her father's planetary kingdom. Miraculously, a rescuer appears, but behind his fearsome mask is the handsome face of a dark avenger whose outlaw touch sets her very soul aflame.

Synopsis (from Sherrily Kenyon site) :

In the Ichidian Universe no one was safe people were dragged from their homes and killed in the streets. Victims of a ruthless tyrant who was bent on being the sole ruler. Those who opposed him formed an alliance called The League, which fell under the leadership of the Quorum.

The Quorum realized that the best way to keep trouble from starting was to cut it off at its knees. So a separate group of soldiers was needed, The League Assassins. Highly trained and highly valued, they are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption...

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades was born and trained to slaughter. Refusing to be a pawn, he turned his back on the League and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him. Now his assignment is to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father's political alliance has made her a target. She wants nothing to do with politics, yet she is forced to submit to protection or die.

And as her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them most-- each other.



And here's another tasty treat! The first 9 chapters are available right here online.

If you'd like to take a closer look at this series, click here.

If you'd like to take a look at her Dark Hunter world, click here.

Want information about the author or the books, click here.



Here's a peek at the book trailer, too cool.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

On the Bluffs by Steven Schindler

Publisher: The Elevated Press
Pages: 300

Align Left

Sometimes the biggest lies are the ones we live

From the Cover: While Brian DeLouise was working the graveyard shift at a conspiracy theory-crazed radio station his wife was alley-catting around Washington, DC. But a cheating wife and a dead-end job no longer made him angry or depressed. He was just numb. It took a daring brush with death to awaken his senses and a few clicks on Google to begin a journey to recapture a love he believed was gone forever. Brian finds his lost lover in a rundown mansion on the windswept bluffs of Cape Cod, where he must confront a fast approaching evil while he risks losing everything he now cherishes.

Brian has had enough. Enough of his loveless marriage and DC. Enough of his job listening to crack pots who call into the ARS radio station (known to one and all as Arse). When he married Frances, she had a voracious appetite for sex, and now, they haven't had sex in two long years. He knows that she is having sex with anyone else that strikes her fancy. They only were married because of a pregnancy scare, but now he wonders if that was a lie too. Twenty years of a loveless, lie filled marriage. Good friend George agrees it's time to get out.

Brian's job which he at one time loved, has all but driven him mad. They call at all hours of the day or night, and need him to come to work to fill in for others to busy with their real lives to bother to be there. After a minor temper tantrum at work, related to the stress of his failing marriage and way too much overtime, Brian is put on leave and eventually let go.

Frances finally decides to ask for divorce, knowing she will devastate Brian. But he could care less, he's already made plans to head to Cape Cod, to look up an old girlfriend, from a time when he was truly happy. When he arrives, Smart House looks just like it did from his youth. Portia, his one time love, looks even better. This is just what the doctor ordered to get his life together.
As Portia and Brian try pick up from where they left off twenty years ago, he meets Portia's daughter, Juliette. Could Juliette be a love child conceived before her mother left for Europe?

On the Bluffs by Steven Schindler is great chick-lit. It took me a while to get into the book, about 80 pages worth, but after that the pages flew through my fingers. It's a moving story of a love almost forgotten.
After the heart less Frances is done with Brian, he's little more than a shell. But Frances' refusal to accept him finally sends him over the edge. Brian only wants to recapture what is missing in his life today. To do so, he returns to the place and time when his life felt right. We all know we can't go back in time and expect to pick up where we left off, too many things have changed. But who said change was a bad thing? And that's what this story captures. Brian goes back to the place and time where everything was good, but he has to deal with the changes. Portia's mother, Beatrice, isn't as well as he had hoped and neither are the two elderly borders staying in Smart House. Portia has a grown daughter who's not all that friendly toward Brian, and Portia, while more beautiful than ever before, has her own health issues to address. George, ATF agent, helps keep Brian grounded through his divorce and his budding romance with Portia. But everything isn't as it appears to be at Smart House. Portia's brother, Richard, being one as well as the death of their father. And where has Beatrice hidden all of her money?

On the Bluffs was a fast endearing read that once I got into the story, I was hard pressed to put down. There were laugh out loud moments and teary eyed moments. It deals with the mysteries of life and a renewal of love. I highly recommend this book to lovers of chick-lit, I don't believe you'll be disappointed. For more information about Steven Schindler, please visit http://www.stevenschindler.com/

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That

First I wanted to know if anyone else has seen this freaking hot trailer of Gerard Butler's new movie, Law Biding Citizen. I mean, OMG, it's an action/adventure....I'm loving it..... (Cecile thinks it great too!)



New Moon Trailer, just because I can't quit watching it, lol!





Then, Lea and SciFiGuy have this hot new cover art up for Carolyn Crane's new novel (squeeing ***it's her first!***)

(available March 23, 2010)

Paperback, 432 pages
".....Mind Games is the first in an urban fantasy trilogy about a hypochondriac who joins a psychological hit squad. It takes place in a fantastical Milwaukee/Chicago....." from Carolyn Crane's blog.

This is definitely on my wish list, pre-order from Amazon maybe????


And Sophie Renwick's newest novel, a paranormal romance, Velvet Haven is coming soon too!!

(available March 2010)


And, I wanted to remind everyone to run to the nearest bookstore and pick up Dawnbreaker by Jocelynn Drake. YAY, it's finally here!!!

(available Sept. 29, 2009)
The dawn brings new terror for the creatures of the night . . .

Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.

The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.

Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.

This is one of my favorite series. It's freaking awesome!!! Check out Nightwalker and Dayhunter too!! If you want a chance to try to win this one, check out Jocelynn's contest on her blog! She's giving away TWO copies!! Ends on 9-26-09!!

New contest for Dawnbreaker by Jocelynn Drake!!! SciFiGuy is offering up THREE copies of this awesome book courtesy of Eos/Harper Collins. Check out this contest, ends 9-29-09!!

Third Contest!!! One Book Away From Heaven has a guest post with Jocelynn Drake. Jocelynn is letting everyone in on her writing tips. I sure could use this!! She's also giving away TWO copies of Dawnbreaker and TWO copies of your choice, Nightwalker or Dayhunter!! Four winners in all!! Check this contest out too!

And, one last thing before I go, my beautiful friend Lea at Closetwriter, is getting ready for her one year blogoversary!!! Starting September 28, 2009, she's having a party! So, everyone stop by and give Lea a shout and help her celebrate!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Skin Trade, Book 17 of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton

Publisher: Berkley / Penguin Group
Page: 486

From the Cover: When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin City's local authorities what they're dealing with. Only it's worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slain - paranormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, where's she's joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. It's a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses 'tiger' too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

Anita Blake, zombie animator extraordinaire, has received a special gift from a wicked special admirer, Vittorio, the vampire that escaped his execution in St. Louis. He's a serial killer driven mad by his desires, and now he's focused on Anita. He's sent her the head of the executioner of Las Vegas.

When Anita receives his 'invitation' to come and play in Las Vegas, she knows she must go and she'll need to leave before Jean Claude wakes, he'll never let her face Vittorio by herself. He can't go into Max and Bibiana's territory without permission and that will take too long. But Edward can and does, bringing Bernando and Olaf with him. They've all become legal vampire executioners now, and Olaf really enjoys his job.

Anita is put to the test. She has to control the ardeur, learning to feed it emotions instead of sex. Marmee Noir wants to control her body and soul, and if she can't, she going to try to force Anita into pregnancy and let her soul seep into her child. Marmee Noir must die. Belle Morte has her own plans for Anita, Belle wants Anita to become hers with all her special abilities. Vittorio who Anita finds out is the father of all vampires and in control the evil Djinn has his own agenda. The Day Father (Vittorio) is trying to kill Marmee Noir and take Anita instead. Marmee Noir stripped him of his powers, but he's regaining them.

Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton is Anita Blake starting to get back to her roots. No raising of zombies which I always liked about Anita, her ability to call to the dead, but maybe in the next book. I felt this book was better than the last several books. I know everyone was talking about the 'rape' scene, but I didn't see it. Yes, sex was supposed to have occurred with a sixteen year old weretiger, but it wasn't brought forward in the book in detail of any kind nor was it the most important part of that scene. Anita was being controlled by Vittorio who is a sick freak in his own right. It helps her to realize the different between forced acts and free will. I think it brings a forgiveness to Anita's personality that has been missing from the books. She afraid of become a monster, but her body is conductive for the monsters to possess. There was only three sex scenes in this novel and only two with details (one with Wicked Truth and one with weretigers Crispin and Domino), a lot less that the books after Blue Moon. If you liked LKH's early work, I think you'll like this novel. Edward is the main hero in the book, but there are so many secondary characters in the book, saving Anita in one form or another, that he shares this responsibilities. He's torn between being Ed and being Ted, and one day, he's going to have to deal with his growing conscious especially since his marriage to Donna. I also thought the book was a little long and some of the dialogue, especially the inner monologue, could have been shortened; trimming down the pages. If you haven't read Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, this is not the place to start. Laurell K. Hamilton's complete book list can be found below. Warning: After Blue Moon the books are very explicit. Sexual escapades are contained in all of the novels.

Short Stories involving Anita Blake's world.
* Magic Like Heat Across My Skin (2001)
* Bite -- The Girl Who Was Infatuated With Death (2005)
* Strange Candy (2006)
* Micah and Strange Candy (2007)
* Never After (2009)

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series
* 1 : Guilty Pleasures (1993)
* 2 : Laughing Corpse, the (1994)
* 3 : Circus of the Damned (1995)
* 4 : Lunatic Cafe (1996)
* 5 : Bloody Bones (1996)
* 6 : Killing Dance, the (1997)
* 7 : Burnt Offerings (1998)
* 8 : Blue Moon (1998)
* 9 : Obsidian Butterfly (2000)
* 10 : Narcissus in Chains (2001)
* 11 : Cerulean Sins (2003)
* 12 : Incubus Dreams (2004)
* 13 : Micah (2006)
* 14 : Danse Macabre (2006)
* 15 : Harlequin, the (2007)
* 16 : Blood Noir (2008)
* 17 : Skin Trade (2009)
* 19 : Flirt (February 2010)

Merry Gentry Series
* 1 : A Kiss of Shadows (2000)
* 2 : A Caress of Twilight (2002)
* 3 : Seduced by Moonlight (2004)
* 4 : A Stroke of Midnight (2005)
* 5 : Mistral's Kiss (2006)
* 6 : A Lick of Frost (2007)
* 7 : Swallowing Darkness (2008)
* 8 : Misdemeanors (December 2009)

Laurell K. Hamilton talks about Skin Trade, Book 17

Sunday, September 20, 2009

ABC Meme

I wasn't going to post this until tomorrow, but the weather's crappy here today and I don't really feel like cleaning, lol. So, ya'll are going to get it a day early.

I have been tagged by Blanche at There's No Such Thing As Too Many Books and by Lea at Closetwriter.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Share your ABC’s.

3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs.

4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag.



Available or single? Neither

Best Friend? I'd like to say my hubby, but that would upset my daughter, lol, who truly is my best friend, we share a lot. (except when I'm Mom in front of her friends, and then she tells me we are no longer friends, LOL)

Cake or Pie? I love pumpkin and apple pie, but truly adore German Chocolate Cake

Drink of choice? Sweet Tea or Root Beer (Jones or Barqs)

Essential item for every day use? Laptop and Blow Dryer (eek, hair issues!)

Favorite color? Purple/Blue/Pink

Google? Choking......Couldn't live without it or Yahoo Mail

Hometown? Springfield IL

Indulgences? books, books, books, and movies, I love movies.

January or February? February, one month closer to Spring

Kids and their names? 3, Kristopher, Kirsten, and Patrick

Life is incomplete without? family, friends, good food, laughter and books!

Marriage date? March 21st (first of Spring)

Number of siblings? 5 sisters, 1 brother (I'm the oldest)

Oranges or apples? apples or oranges, all good, love them both

Phobias and fears? anything with more than 4 legs (creepy crawlies have always terrified me, since infancy literally)

Quote for the day? Why don't they make the whole plane out of the stuff that they make the little black boxes out of, it survives everything, even the crash. I want to fly on that plane.

Reason to smile? my kids and pooch, when he's not being evil, he smiles so pretty and looks so happy.

Season? Spring, I love Spring and Summer

Tag 3 people anyone how like to play along, you've been tagged!

Unknown fact about me? Can't think of anything, I'm pretty open

Vegetable you hate? rutabagas, brussell sprouts, asparagus, turnips, beets (gross)

Worst habit? I have trouble keeping up with laundry and house work, lol

X-rays you’ve had? ankles, hips, knees, chest, neck [car accident ] (and teeth of course)

Your favorite food? Lasagna, Spaghetti, Pizza, Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Zodiac sign? Sagittarius, the archer


Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sugar Time by Jane Adams

Publisher: Book Surge Publishing
Pages: 208 (214 - Amazon)


(Release Date: July 2, 2009)
From the Cover: Charlotte "Sugar" Kane hasn't brought in a hit TV show for 20 years. She's about to prove she still can, even if she's an old broad in a youth-obsessed business, when she's blind-sided by a medical malady that could cost her the pilot if anyone knew about it as well as ruin her chance to turn it into a winning series. She manages to keep her secret from the conniving young assistant who wants her show, and even from her grown kids and closest friends. And when she falls in love with Alex Carroll, she can't tell him, either: "What man who's still got what it takes wants a woman with a condition?" But Alex has a secret of his own, and by the time Sugar learns it, she'll have to face the hardest decision of all for a woman of a certain age who gets her last chance at both love and success - and knows that getting one means giving up the other.

Sugar sits watching TV at home wanting for her agent to call when she starts to feel odd. Like an octopus grapping a hold of her middle and squeezing. It could be food poisoning, but what it is a heart attack. Not wanting her neighbors to know, she makes her own way to the hospital. Mustn't let everyone know she's getting older. She hasn't had a hit show in twenty years, but maybe her ship is coming into dock. There's an opportunity here if she doesn't let it slip away.

And to top it all off, her daughter is expecting her first child (Sugar's first grandchild) and she wants her mom to be there. Add in Sugar's health concerns, which she decides her son and daughter don't need to know about, along with the budding of a new romance, and Sugar's plate is full.

Sugar needs the new show if she going to revive her dying career and the new romance if she wants to revitalize her life, but at 50 something, can she keep all the balls in the air? She comes to realize that life has to be worth living, but which is more important, her career or her love?

Sugar Time by Jane Adams was a good read for the lovers of chick lit. It brings many of the concerns that women are having to light, how to balance a career, love life, family. Are you one person or ten, can you be everything that everyone wants you to be? Who will you fail? Sugar's life complicates even more with her health concerns that she's trying to keep to herself. She's discovering what it's like to not be the freshest bloom in an industry that only cares how good your latest project was, and it's been twenty years between hits for Sugar. But it comes down to what she values most, career or everything else. Her career is so demanding that it wants to absorb her life. The stress of health issues, a new love with his own problems, and the needs of her own children all have to be addressed.

I'd like to say that Sugar Time was a fast fun read, and it was fun. Fast it was not. It was thought provoking and, well, let face it, we're all getting older, so it really brings issues into focus that I'd like to ignore. You know, like age, kids that will someday have their own kids, and having time for a life. It address some of the struggles we're all going through whether you're a man or a woman. That made it a hard read. I know it sounds silly to some, but the loss of her pouch, Tory, was almost more than I could take. So, if you want to think about life and where your's is going, this book is for you because, believe me, it will make you think and maybe even re-evaluate what you consider important and what's not. If you'd like more information about Jane Adams or her books, please visit her website.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Bite Club

From Michele's VampChix Blog:

We all share a common vein here at VampChix- we love our vampires! So, we're starting a monthly vampire romance book club and our first featured book is: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2




The rules are simple:

First rule of Bite Club, tell everyone about Bite Club.



Second rule of Bite Club, don't bleed on the carpet!



Here's how it works:
Each month we will feature a new vampire romance title, beginning with an author spotlight. Everyone gets a few weeks to read the book and then we meet to discuss our favorite characters, plot lines, settings, hot scenes, world building etc. etc. The blog will be open all month long for those who want to chat books, but spoilers will not be permitted until discussion day unless clearly marked. If you have a scene that jumps out and really grabs you by the neck, let's talk about it, but for those who choose to remain in the dark, spoilers can be skipped. When our club meets we can discuss any aspect of the book that appeals to us, and who knows? Maybe the author will drop in to talk too!



Where to find us: vampchixreadbooks.blogspot.com
First bite: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
First chat: October 30th

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Dark Time: Mortal Path, Book One by Dakota Banks

Publisher: EOS Books / Imprint of Harper Collins Publishing
Pages: 306

From the Cover: Three hundred years ago, she sold her soul to a demon. Now she wants it back.

For centuries, the woman calling herself Maliha Crayne has lived a second life—as an assassin for the malevolent creature who owns her soul. A haunted killer with the blood of countless victims on her hands, she has finally discovered a way to nullify the demonic pact that chains her: If she saves a life for every one she has taken, she will be free.

But if she fails, her punishments will be unspeakable, unendurable . . . and neverending.

As our story opens, Susannah Layhem of Massachusetts (1692) is a healer and works with herbs, but then she's accused of being a witch and sentenced to burn. She has done nothing but bring good health to her community and for it, she is going to gain death and so will the infant she's carrying. The night before her burning, she gives birth in the dirt and squalor of her cell to her stillborn infant daughter; her body too abused and an damaged to continue supporting the life growing within her. She's dragged crying from her cell and placed upon the wooden mound; set aflame. Just as she takes her last breath and utters her final curse, she's snatched from her fiery death, and transported to another place and time. A voice offers her a choice, go back to the flames or becoming his slave. She chooses life and the cursed existence to the demon, Rabishu. She becomes Ageless, continuous life for the rest of eternity.

For centuries, the death that she brings does not burden her consciousness, but when she's told to kill an infant girl, much like her own long dead daughter, Constanta, she has to draw the line. She cannot bring herself to harm the infant who hasn't even had a chance to live. It's the beginnings of her conscious self re-asserting. Over the years, she has come to the conclusion that she can no longer be the demon's killing machine.

After many years of searching for the answer to her release from the Rabishu's service, he reveals that there is an escape clause to her contract. But to escape, she has to set the scales straight, for every life she has taken, one must be saved. She will become mortal again, but with a longer lifespan. She can be wounded, but she'll heal faster. For every life she saves, she'll age faster. And if she is killed, she becomes Rabishu plaything for an eternity of hell. She'll have to re-invent herself over and over again to hide her extended life.

In this incarnation, she becomes Maliha Crayne (alter ego: Marsha Winter, thriller author) and she still trying to balance the scales.

Dark Time: Mortal Path Book One by Dakota Banks was a fast paced thriller/urban fantasy that jumps from the days of early Massachusetts to the present then back again throughout our heroine's existence, showing the trials and tribulations she must endure if she wants to regain her soul from the enslaving demon. When Rabishu released her from his service, he etched the scales of justice into her skin, and with each life earned, the justice scales losses a tiny figure as it marches across her skin with fiery footsteps to create balance. She soon discovers Rabishu doesn't play fair, his assassins will kill her if they're able. But, Rabishu has also trained her well, she is quick and powerful, a force to be reckoned with. She can bring death to even the Ageless. So begins her new life to fight against the wrongs of the world; to the weak, the young, and the powerless, she is their champion. To the cruel, evil, and bloodthirsty, she is their worst nightmare. There are several powerful players in this novel; long time friends, Yanmeng and Amaro, provide a supportive extended family for her as well as back up. New love interest, Jake, may be what he appears to be, DEA agent, or maybe he's something else altogether. If you enjoy a thrilling urban fantasy as much as I do and if you like a kick-ass heroine, pick up this book, an excellent read well worth you time. I loved the qualities that Mahila embraces as she tries to regain her soul. It's a quick read moving through time as Mahila works to right the wrongs. The story leaves me begging for more with one question remaining, who or what is Jake Stackman? To learn more about Dakota Banks or the new series, Mortal Path, please visit http://www.dakota-banks.com/ . Her second book, Sacrifice: Mortal Path, Book Two will released in 2010, I can't wait to read it. For a sneak peek of Book Two, check out SciFiGuy's sneak peek. Thanks TJ Dietderich at Planned TV Arts for my review copy.

Here's a peek at the book trailier. Excellent presentation of the story to follow.



Dark Time: Mortal Path Book One (July 2009)
Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book Two (2010)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Contest Alert!!! Giveaway of Cayla Kluver's Legacy!!!

This is another WOW! moment for me. I was contact by Natalie at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide with an offer of 3 copies of Legacy by Cayla Kluver for a giveaway. Who could say no to that? I'm very happy with this young author's work and very happy to host this giveaway.

From the Cover: As a dark rivalry between two kingdoms threaten to erupt into war, a willful princess must decide between duty and desire. Obligated to wed her father's choice in successor to the throne, seventeen-year old Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into worst of all possible fates--a marriage to the arrogant and hot-temptered Steldor. When the attractive and mysterious Narian arrives from enemy lands bearing secrets and different ideas about women's roles in the world, Alera's private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. The discovery of Narian's shocking past plunges Alera into a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, leaving her unsure of what to believe in, or whom to trust.
This is a beautifully worded historical YA full of the magical, intrigue, and young love. To read my review, click here.

Now here are the rules:

Since it will shipped by Fed Ex, it can only be shipped to US addresses and no PO Boxes. (But, international readers, if you know someone with a US address and they're willing to ship to you, please feel free to enter.)

If you'd like to follow, you can earn an extra entry. This is not necessary to enter, so please don't feel obligated to do so. If you already follow or become a new follower, just post a second comment.

If you post (sidebar is okay) this contest, you can also earn an extra entry. Again, this is not necessary for entry, just appreciated. Please post in a new comment where the posting can be located.

Contest runs until 9-30-09 and three winners will be drawn the morning of 10-1-09 by randomizer.

Thanks everyone for stopping by and Good Luck!

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Copyright © 2008-2011 Tink's Place All Rights Reserved. Proudly powered by Blogger

  © Blogger template Starry by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008 Modified by Lea

Back to TOP