RhiReading

Review: Chain Reaction by Zoe Archer

2012-01-28T07:00:00.002-07:00

Chain Reaction by Zoe Archer
SciFi Romance, Adventure
Ebook $3.99 (novella, CARINA PRESS)
Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship's controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she's ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge.
Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene's trust.
The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost. (43,000 words)
Author Site: www.zoearcherbooks.com

Spread the geek-love! (4 stars)

A legendary pilot rescued from a fate as a slave when her ship was disabled by a mysterious device. An engineer from the aptly nicknamed 'NerdWorks' with the skill to aid her in her mission to destroy the device. Both with something to prove and a need to get revenge against the man behind the 8th Wing's greatest threat. But Celene Jur, with her stainless reputation, doesn't want a tech geek weighing her mission down and Nils Calder is the best man for the job. Sparks fly and not all of them good as the pair fight the sensual tension building between them and their mutual sense of duty.

CHAIN REACTION flew by fast, even for a novella. I have a serious weakness for geek heroes and Nils is a smolderingly well-built example of the hawt-geek. He's almost too darned perfect. Handsome, intelligent and romantic. Blah, watch me melt into an oozy little puddle of reader goo. It's pathetic. Meanwhile, Celene is maddeningly bad-ass in all the right ways. Is she a little too cool? Yep, she just pushes over the line between being awesome and too cool. Her redeeming quality is that being a legend has kind of made having a relationship impossible. Men are either intimidated by her or they want to hook-up with her for the status, finding a guy who likes her for her isn't easy until Nils comes along.

The actual plot is a little shaky. It's dull during the traveling bits but when action happens it's pretty fun. Once they reach the villain it hits a bit of a hurdle. I felt like them getting to him was too easily resolved considering all the preparation but this is a romance so I shouldn't have expected the 'boss fight' to be the highlight of the story. The conclusion was well done, I didn't want the characters to not stay true to their 'duty first' personalities. Once they return from the mission the actual ending made me grin. It's a romance and I wanted the geek to get the girl so I loved it.

While not without a few areas that didn't fully sell me I think the only big issue I had was that I had somehow not read COLLISION COURSE beforehand so I was confused at the beginning. I could have sworn I had read it already but I guess not. I think this can stand alone really but readers would benefir greatly from reading this second. Overall, I loved the sexy geeky spacey romance of CHAIN REACTION and can't wait to read more from Archer!

Other Reviews:
Smexy Books
Smart Bitches Trashy Books
Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks
Hanging With Bells

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

Check this book out if you liked:

Review: Banshee Charmer by Tiffany Allee

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-07:00

Banshee Charmer (From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency #1) by Tiffany Allee
Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Novella
Ebook $2.99 (novella, ENTANGLED)
When she’s sent to a crime scene and finds her second dead woman in as many weeks, half-banshee detective Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin is convinced a serial killer is on the loose. Incubi are extinct, her boss insists. But what else can kill a woman in the throes of pleasure? When her partner is murdered after using witchcraft to locate the killer and Mac is thrown off the case, her frustration turns to desperation.
Certain the killer is an incubus, Mac works behind her department’s back to chase down slim, sometimes perilous leads. While the killer eludes her, she does discover handsome Aidan Byrne, an investigative counterpart from the enigmatic Otherworld Enforcement Agency. Mac typically runs her investigations fast and hard, but with Aidan at her side, she’s running this one “hot” as well. But Aiden knows more than he’s letting on—something that could shatter their blazing romance and add Mac to the killer’s growing body count…
Author Site: tiffanyallee.com

Promising start to a new Paranormal 'cop' series (4 stars)

I prefer opening my review with my own summary of the storyline but BANSHEE CHARMER's blurb is spot on. So let's jump into what I thought about it shall we?

Since getting burned about eight books into the Anita Blake series I've had a tough time with finding a paranormal 'cop' series that doesn't fall off into the sexual side of the story. I like steamy love scenes as much as anyone but when it devolves the overall series into every-other-chapter nookie I just don't enjoy it. I love a good crime to solve and the thicker the mystery the better. BANSHEE CHARMER manages to introduce what I hope will become a great series.

I really like Mac. My only beef with her was her lack of follow-up on Aiden's credentials. She struck me as smarter than that. I do wish Allee had given us a little bit more to work with as far as the world building and what paranormal races are in it yet she gives what she gives well. No disjointed info dumps, hallelujah! The chemistry between Aiden and Mac honestly felt transparent. He's hot. She's hot. She's something other. He's something other. I just didn't feel it. There was too much of the telling and not enough showing of the chemistry. It happens sometimes with first person narrative and was one big flaw I found here.

The mystery was transparent from page one. Don't expect any surprises. This was definitely more about getting Mac and Aiden between the sheets than a real crime solving plot but as a short story there couldn't have been much more dragging it out.

As a novella I thought it was pretty good but I really wasn't thrilled with it as an introduction to a new series. I hope the first full-length novel has stronger legs to stand on. Overall, I liked it though, it was entertaining and has the potential for a great series to follow. If you're in the mood for something steamy and cop-py I think it's a light read for a rainy day.

Other Reviews:
Geeky Girl Reviews
Thoughts of a Snarky Writer
Getting Naughty Between the Stacks

Notes: ARC received via publisher.

Check this book out if you liked:

Review: Shadowlander by Theresa Meyers

2012-01-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Shadowlander (Shadow Sisters #1) by Theresa Meyers
Urban Fantasy, Fae, Novella
Paperback $8.99 (112 pages, ENTANGLED)
Ebook $2.99
Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.
O'Connell Family Rule #1: Don’t let the Fae know you see them.
O'Connell Family Rule #2: Don’t talk to the Fae.
O'Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.
Most people only believe what they can see. Gifted with the ability to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O’Connell would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks the sacred O’Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae who haunts her every step.
Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled “Seers”, Rook is stunned---she is one of the few that can permanently open the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow King, his court will rule the human realm.
Cate knows she has precious little time to find Maya. By midnight, the glamour of Mid-Summer’s Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever in the Shadowland, but Maya’s abductor won’t give up the woman he’s mesmerized easily.
The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny.
Author Site: www.theresameyers.com

It just wasn't for me. (3 stars)

Cate's family has had one standing command amongst them since their mother disappeared. Pretend that you don't know the Fae are there. But that's impossible to do when Cate's best friend is kidnapped and taken into the Shadowland. With a miniscule amount of time before the doorway to the Fae world closes trapping them there forever, Cate sets a plan in motion to rescue Maya. But it means revealing her ability to see them to the alluring Fae who has dogged her steps for years.

Rook's position in his world is high but shadowed by the King's wavering favor. Bringing Cate, a "Seer", to the Shadow King will bring that favor to him. But to Rook, Cate is more than just a pawn to be played at the whims of the Shadow King and his desire for her could prove to be their undoing.

I'm embarrassed admitting this but I wrote something similar to this when I was in high school. I think that's why on the one hand I liked it and on the other it felt sort of juvenile. I loved Meyer's writing style, was easily excited by the world-building, and enjoyed the basic set-up for the series but really disliked the characters. They felt a little too... ugh, I feel like a jerk saying this... flawless. The hot love scenes didn't make up for the lack of personality and chemistry I was looking for in Rook and Cate.

As a novella I felt like very little happened and yet a lot did. Too much talking about things and not enough organic flow of the info. It wasn't awful or unenjoyable it just hit a few of my reader-no-likey buttons. I didn't love it, couldn't quite say I liked it with so many things not working for me but I plan to check out the next one anyway. If you like Fae fantasy most of this takes place in their world and there's plenty of steaminess between Cate and Rook, it's worth a read if you didn't write stuff like this for fun when you were fifteen. lol It just kept taking me back to my awful teenaged ideas—need I say misunderstandings—of what romance and love were.

Other Reviews:
What's Your Story?
Kat Kennedy on Goodreads
Manga Maniac Cafe
Confessions of a Vi3tBabe

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

Check this book out if you liked:

Off Topic Rhi Go: Cats... and not the LOL kind.

2012-01-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

You wil obey me & get a kitty...

I've had a lot of different pets. Rabbits. An eel. A parrot. Frogs. Pigeons. The only thing I can think we've never gotten into are the 'creepy pets' like snakes and tarantulas. The thing is though... the only pets I've ever actually liked are cats. Cats are easy and aside from feeding them and cleaning up their pottybox they pretty much take care of themselves. Just when you need someone to cuddle they'll turn up and do it. The only major cons are shredded furniture and shedding. Since I shed too who am I to complain right?

So my author buddy, Stacey Jay, is trying to convince her hubs that they need a cat. And chickens. While my only experience with chickens has been visiting grandparentals and obsessing over getting to collect the eggs for them 20 years ago I can say I have cat experience. The kind that proves they are an essential part of a happy lifestyle. To prove it I'm posting some very personal pictures which I never share since I dislike my children being shown publicly without my permission and that always happens once they're out there. Anywho... help me make the case for cats if you love them as much as I do by leaving a comment.

My desk circa October 2009 in our awful apartment. Always cluttered and covered in cats. If there was enough of an open space they would fill it. Hearts are kind of like that too. Being a SAHM can get lonely during the day when your only child is school aged and these guys made sure I rarely suffered.

Loki, our Russian Blue/Scottish Fold moonlights as an Obstetrician. He started this annoying tummy laying thing a couple of weeks before I could even take a pregnancy test and continued to do it through the entire pregnancy. When I was sick he would pester me making sure I was okay like he's doing here.

When the baby came along he went through the jealous phase. Everytime I'd get out the camera to take her picture he'd pop up and do his begging for attention. Scottish Folds are known for their love of laying on their backs like this but Loki is the worst! He begs for belly rubs.

In spite of his seeming disdain for our baby he always came to where she would be and sit somewhere teasing her with his presence. I think she was mostly motivated to crawl so she could get him.

Like all cats he loves a good sunpatch but the only room in the house facing south is the baby zone. She's since learned more about what 'gentle' means when loving our kitties but she was squeezing him and leaning on him so roughly here and he put up with it so well.

So well in fact that she pulled out a pincer full of fur and ate it with his look of annoyance and eventually giving up the sunpatch his only real reaction.

He continues to do this even now that she's 2... he'll come stand where she's playing and look mad but deep down he loves her. He even sleeps under her crib sometimes. Because that's a cat for you. Passive-aggressive with their love.

They're also attention whores. I was trying to take a photo of my Halloween cupcakes before we ate them and he would not go away even though they're not allowed on the table. He wanted to be in my Halloween pictures one way or another and I think his presence added some spooky flair over the traditional black cat.

Pardon the makeupless mug. I was getting ready to have surgery and really upset so I was distracting myself taking photos and my sleeping cat was forced into this one. 'Cause he loves me and my hubs so much he sleeps between us every night much to our annoyance. We have no privacy. If we try and lock him out he scratches the carpet outside the door into ribbons. Wait... now that's starting to sound anti-cat. Uhm who doesn't love having a bedwarmer? *facepalm*

Then there's Cloud. Named after the Final Fantasy VII character but called 'Bob' most of the time. When he was a kitten his head was too big for his body like a bobblehead doll so I nicknamed him 'Bobble' and it just kinda stuck. He's a tuxedo cat and my best buddy. His quirks include an obsession with human hair, a love of sinks, a strange habit of sleeping in a 'faceplant' position, an OCD need to cover anything dirty, and a love of sitting on my shoulder like a parrot while I blog... as you can see this above he's now unable to do it since he weighs almost 13 lbs. His one really annoying habit is meowing his head off when he's in our downstairs and gets 'lost'. He plays fetch and likes to be in the bathroom when anyone else goes in there. Cloud is the weirdest cat I've ever had and my hubs constantly complains about his annoyingly brainless nature but he's a great companion who always cracks me up with his antics. He even let the baby decorate his butt with stickers while he was sunning himself.

I have LOADS more photos I could share but it'd require scouring storage discs from the past 6 years and I'm as disorganized now (uhm maybe more) than my desk shows above so I'll call it quits for now.

I prefer cats over any of the other myriad of animals we've had because they're small, cuddly, and have personality quirks that mean I never have a dull moment. They can be independant but extremely loving and loyal. Sure, some are hellions and some don't do well with kids... honestly, Scottish Folds have issues that can make them not the best if your kids are rough (bone issues). Our ADHD child and our cats don't mix well but that's due to her bad behaviors with them and not the cats. Get the right cat and you have a best friend for life.

It's Monday, Get Your TV on!

2012-01-23T13:00:00.013-07:00

TV Monday is officially back. I wanted to wait till there were enough shows to make it worth putting the post up. :)

As you can see Monday itself is kicking my butt. Too many shows and always a busy night without TV in the mix. Thank goodness for on demand service. So which of these are on your plate?

I've been devouring Shameless but didn't really think it fit the context of the book blog. It's great fun and so well casted. I tried watching the new season of Face-Off but am a bit meh on it. None of the artists have made an impression on me like a couple of the first season ones did. Now it's the long wait for April's Game of Thrones premiere. I'm just glad The Walking Dead will be back next month! Need me some zombies darnit.

So go ahead and check out this week's schedule, watch the previews, and discuss last week's episodes. You know you need someone to dish to and I do too!

Please be aware that if you're behind there may be unmarked SPOILERS in the comments.

Monday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Sunday:

(all synopsises courtesy of TVguide.com or the show's site)

BEING HUMAN

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"

Season 2, Episode 2

Sally wields new powers thanks to new ghost friends; Aidan assists Suren's bid to claim Boston; Josh tries to deal with a change in his relationship with Nora.

Notes: So glad it's back! Missed it so much but I really wish it was on another night of the week. As you can see my Monday nights are a juggling match.

LOST GIRL

"Where There's a Will, There's a Fae"

Season 1, Episode 2

Bo tries to recover gems stolen from a strange collector who offers to pay her with information about her origins.

Notes: Have you checked out this new show from Canada now being shown on Syfy? First epi was pretty interesting so I'm going to have to keep catching it on demand.

CASTLE

"An Embarrassment of Bitches"

Season 4, Episode 13

A popular reality-TV star becomes a murder suspect when a well-known dog trainer turns up dead.

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

"The Blond Leading the Blind"

Season 2, Episode 17

Spencer and Hanna worry about their boyfriends' safety, fearing "A" sees the boys as targets. Meanwhile, Ezra avoids Aria's phone calls, so she devises a plan to get an answer from him

Notes: I'm a week behind on these since it airs at the same time as Castle. It's hard finding time to catch up in between. Anyone else wishing the Aria/Ezra thing would just be DONE already?

THE LYING GAME

"Black and White and Green All Over"

Season 1, Episode 14

A youth-oriented ball is held at the country club, where Emma feels like an outsider and Ethan does his best to safeguard her. Elsewhere, Laurel and Ted uncover Justin's true motives; and Rebecca and Mads give each other advice.

Notes: I have to admit I've not been keeping up with this one. It lacks something that I can't put my finger on so I get bored and distracted. *doh*

REVENGE

Notes: Revenge is a repeat this week!

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Notes: TVD is not showing again until Feb. 2nd.

THE SECRET CIRCLE

Notes: TSC is not showing again until Feb. 2nd.

SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE

"Fugitivus"

Season 2, Episode 1

As the leader of the newly freed slaves, Spartacus begins to understand the importance and overwhelming responsibilities of his task. Meanwhile, Claudius Glaber arrives in Capua, compounding Spartacus' problems.

Notes: You can watch this episode already on the show's FB page. I watched the first five minutes just to get pumped for the premiere and it's first 3 minutes consisted of nothing but ass-kicking. Not sure about Liam McIntyre yet but at least the show goes on.

ONCE UPON A TIME

"Fruit of the Poisonous Tree"

Season 1, Episode 11

Sidney asks Emma to join his search for evidence that will reveal the extent of Regina's corruption to the people of Storybrooke; and Mary Margaret and David continue their secret meetings. In the fairy-tale world, King Leopold is granted three wishes by a genie, but must be careful to use them wisely.

Weekend Reading [01/20-01/22] :: Keep Calm and Fangirl On

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

I hate admitting this but I get sickly obsessed with things. I am a fangirl of the worst kind. The kind who has spent an entire tax return on action figures. The kind who has stalked stores at midnight for collector's edition DVD sets. The kind that gets suckered into paying exhorbitant amounts of money for that one coveted item that no one can find.

Star Wars. Lord of the Rings. World of Warcraft. LOST. Monster High. I own enough 'toys' to open a museum. It doesn't help that I married a fellow collector. We're no help curbing one another's addictions to our latest obsession. We've been through it with our kids too. Bakugan. Yugioh. Pokemon. Halo. Bella Sara. The big kids are fading out of it just as the wee one's distinct loves—thank goodness she loves Hello Kitty as much as I do—are starting.

But there are other types of fangirling. Obsessing over the latest episode of a TV series. Getting itchy with excitement for a long awaited—and probably bad—sequel to a favorite film franchise. Squeeing everytime your fave nail polish brand announces new colors. Or more to the point of all this... melting into a puddle of goo over the announcement of a spin-off series, cover reveal, or teaser chapter from a favorite author.

Now, while I might own a Hello Kitty hairbrush, a True Blood makeup set, a Monster High purse, pewter Lord of the Rings wine goblets, and enough Star Wars Christmas ornaments for a single tree I get just as excited about books. Maybe more so.

So, what gets your fangirl blood boiling? Do you have a hard drive full of fanfic? A guestroom devoted to your Star Trek memorabilia? A closet filled with anime cosplay stuff? Spent more than a month's rent on shoes? Let your geek flag fly a little. ;)

This weekend I'm grabbing a couple more titles from my review reading pile. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Chain Reaction by Zoe Archer, was feeling the need for more Scifi flavor in my book diet. Did you know Zoe's husband, Nico Rosso, also writes romance? How cool is that? I have one of his romances hopefully up next weekend.

On that note lovelies I am off to try and write more on the reviews waiting and get a post up for my other blog. I'd hoped to get out and feed my Underworld fangirl but I dunno if our budget is really there for it right now. (Damn my Jewelmint addiction!) Have an awesome weekend and let me know what you're reading eh? -- Rhi

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-18T17:20:00.001-07:00

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Young Adult, Angels, Romance
Hardcover $17.99 (448 pages, HARPERTEEN)
Paperback $8.99 (446 pages)
Ebook $0.99
Audiobook $17.94
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
Author Site: www.cynthiahandbooks.com

Perfect page-turner for a long winter weekend (4 stars)

Leaving the comfort of her life in California for being the new-girl in Wyoming isn't a choice for Clara Gardner. As an angel-blood, she has many gifts that make life easier but it comes with the price of having a purpose. A divinely appointed duty she must fulfill. If only it were easier to figure out just what that duty was than trying to decipher cryptic clues in waking-dream-like visions. All she knows is that she must save a handsome guy from a forest fire in Wyoming so her mother packs she and her brother up and off they go.

Meeting Christian, the guy her visions indicate she must save, doesn't help much. The attraction she feels for him could be part of her destiny. But when another guy begins to steal her heart Clara is torn between love and duty. If loving Christian is supposed to be her fate then why does it feel wrong? Could choosing between the desires of her heart and the duties of her kind really be crossing the line between good and evil?

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of angel stories. They're not easy to pull off in execution without too much religion thrown in. But Nephilim tales are becoming more and more popular so I was pleased to give UNEARTHLY a try. What makes this book work is that readers know very little about what being an angel-blood is and neither does Clara. As she learns more about her purpose and what secrets about being part angel haven't been revealed to her so do we the readers. It makes this one difficult to put down and even a bit frustrating at times.

If you took out the angel element and made this simply a love-triangle story it would get a five-star rating from me. I adored Tucker right away and enjoyed the developing relationship he and Clara had. It made me want to be a teenager again just so I could have the fun they were having getting to know one another and becoming friends. In contrast, Christian isn't unenjoyable just vague. I look forward to getting to know him more as the series progresses.

In avoiding spoilers I can't truly expound further on what else there is about this book. It's long but only occasionally slow, I finished it in a weekend which is fast for me. While I didn't love it I will definitely keep reading more of the series. Hand has a wonderful grasp of voice and normally I hate first person-present-tense perspective but it was only mildly distracting for me here. A great book for a weekend when you're snowed in. Definitely recommended for angel fans.

Other Reviews:
Reading Teen
Books and Things
Sophistikatied Reviews
Krystle Yanagihara on Goodreads
Vampire Book Club
Chicks With Crossbows
Between the Covers

Notes: ARC received via Amazon Vine.

Check this book out if you liked:

Review: Enchanted Destiny by Rayka Mennen

2012-01-18T13:50:00.001-07:00

Enchanted Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Paranormal Romance, Psychic, Witches, Novella
Ebook $2.99 (89 pages, ENTANGLED)
Kat never believed she’d fall victim to her family’s stories about destined soul mates—she makes her own fate, thank you very much. When she walks by a construction site and admires the same sexy architect for the zillionth time in a week, the last thing she expects is to be slammed by a vision of his death.
Which activates the spell that will change their lives forever.
Jake is a single dad with a singular focus—create a stable life for him and his son. His ex-wife cured him of any desire to fall in love, but when an intriguing woman saves him from what should’ve been a deadly accident, he can’t shake his fascination. Too bad she’s crazy, claiming she’s a witch and that they’re soul mates—not exactly the “stable life” he had in mind.
Kat’s destiny comes with a deadline. If they don’t fall in love by her twenty-fifth birthday—a mere three weeks away—Jake will never find the peace he seeks and Kat will lose her magic forever.
Author Site: www.raykamennen.com

Light and Sweet, PNR Fun! (4 stars)

Kat has her life all planned out. Her witchy powers have come in handy in her business but when she has a vision of the handsome guy she's seen at the construction site she passes on her way to work meeting his death she finds her plans getting disrupted. According to the family legends he's destined to be her soul-mate and if he doesn't fall in love with her by her impending 25th birthday her witchy gifts will be gone.

Jake has had enough heartbreak for one lifetime, with a baby to parent on his own and a career he craves stability. But when Kat comes crashing into his life, saving him from a swift exit he can't squash the attraction. If only she weren't a nut-job claiming she's a witch...

I didn't go into this one thinking I'd like it. In fact, I was pretty sure it was going to get a two-star. Blending the supernatural with the lightness and sweetness of a solid romance novella I ended up sucked in and enjoyed myself. ENCHANTED DESTINY is a quick read with likable characters and just the right amount of quirk. This is just the sort of read I need when I've been soaking up too many darker Urban Fantasy stories. Think of it as the novella equivalent of a palate cleanser.

While it's not dark or particularly lengthy I found it to be a satisfying read worth recommending to readers in need of something just plain sweet and uncomplicated. Will definitely be watching to see more about ENCHANTED DESIRE, the sequel, which should be out sometime this spring.

Other Reviews:
Book Lovers, Inc.
Wendy Hines on Goodreads

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

Other enjoyable novellas from Entangled Publishing:

Review: Deadly Pursuit by Nina Croft

2012-01-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Deadly Pursuit (Blood Hunter #2) by Nina Croft
SciFi Romance, Shapeshifters, Vampires
Paperback $15.99 (286 pages, ENTANGLED)
Ebook $4.99
Breaking assassin Jonathon Decker out of a maximum security prison on Trakis One seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, pursued across space by the two most powerful factions in the universe, the crew of El Cazador are having second thoughts. They’d like to give him back. Unfortunately, that no longer seems an option.
Jon is used to working alone. Now, he’s stuck on the space cruiser El Cazador until he can work out just what he’s supposed to know that puts him on everybody’s most-wanted-dead list. He’s not happy that the crew includes a runaway priestess with designs on his virtue—such as it is. Jon likes women, but he gave up the role of protector a long time ago, and Alexia, High Priestess of the Church of Everlasting Life, is an accident waiting to happen.
After twenty-four excruciatingly boring years of doing her duty, Alex is finally having some fun. She never meant to run away—it was a rash impulse—and she means to go back—eventually. But first, she’s going to squeeze enough excitement out of the situation to last her a lifetime. And what could be more exciting than a stunningly gorgeous werewolf?
Meanwhile, the Church are chasing their missing priestess, and the Collective are pursuing their escaped assassin. Being hunted has never been more deadly…or more fun.
Author Site: www.ninacroft.com

When the hunted becomes the hunter... (4 stars)

When the El Cazador's crew broke assassin Jon Decker out of prison they knew he was dangerous. But far more dangerous is the mystery as to why the Collective want him so badly. Complicating things is the discovery that the cabin boy has just been outed as a woman, and not just any woman. High Priestess of the Church of Everlasting Life, Alexia has spent her entire life under the designs of others. Her little adventure wasn't supposed to land her in the place she's found herself. But being part of the crew is far more enjoyable than serving the Church, at least on the El Cazador she has a choice in what she does and just maybe people who care about her as more than just a figurehead.

Before her obligation to the Church manages to wrest her from the new life she's built Alex just wants one thing—to know the touch of the virile werewolf assassin. But the last thing Jon needs is the complication of a virgin bride of God, even if she's the only thing to truly spark his desire in a long time. Their pasts have made them hunted but their pursuit could prove their more than just prey.

Admittedly, I think my expectations were a little higher than could be met but Croft has done it again. Taken a crew of misfits and sent them on a great adventure where another pair of characters find a happy ending. In my geekness I love the idea of vampires and werewolves in space but I have to say it is actually the one thing that sort of kills this series for me. It's too... Earthy? I kind of wanted them to have some space/alien origins that would scrape the cheese off the idea for lack of a better way to put it. I felt like the werewolves here didn't get explained enough for me as a reader. I like to have a solid understanding of the 'mythology' or in this case 'pseudo-science' that makes it work.

Pushing past that one area I struggled with I really enjoyed DEADLY PURSUIT. It's not-as-common to see the heroine as the one doing the chasing and I adored it here. It may not be something I want in every romance but when done right, as it was done here, it's refreshing. Jon is just not the guy you see being pursued by a girl in romances, that big-bad alpha male being chased by a tiny barely-woman was a nice twist. I didn't quite like either character as much as I had hoped, both felt a little two-dimensional and uninspired but they weren't unlikable either.

On the whole it wasn't flawless but it was still very much worth the read. The things that weren't working for me were pretty mild and not-too-hard to look past to enjoy the novel as a whole. I look forward to seeing what adventure is next for the El Cazador's crew and I really want to know more about the Trog darnit!

Other Reviews:
Fangbooks
Reading Reality
The Romanceaholic
OCDemoness

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

Check this book out if you liked:

Weekend Reading [01/13-01/15] :: Why I like heroines with big issues...

2012-01-13T22:45:00.004-07:00

I was debating whether to address the whole Friday the 13th thing, especially since I think it falls again in April and July. Talk about weird eh? But instead I was sorting through recent videos and photos to share with family and friends and saw a cluster of pics I took for review projects and the above one kinda made me smile. No, it's definitely not a flattering shot. It was taken in the mirror on my antique vanity to show the necklace and what I paired it with outfit wise but there's something about it. I guess 'cause I'm smiling at myself as I'm viewing the shot and it looks natural.

I think we all struggle with how we feel about ourselves. Being confident does not come to me naturally. Low self-esteem lived in me most of my life and still tries to hook it's claws into me daily. The difference these days is that I'm learning how to fight it. I may never look at myself and see beauty or view work I've done and feel boundless pride but it's okay to be content with it, to find a level of comfort in who I am and what I want to do with the life I have. I damn sure want people to like me but does whether I like me or not need to depend on them?

I think that's one reason I love a good kickass heroine with some issues. My three favorites last year were Annabelle Lee from Dead on the Delta with her drinking problem, Cady from Kindling the Moon with her naivety, and Abby Sinclair from A Brush of Darkness struggling with how a car accident changed her life. All three of them have an issue that on some level resonated with me. Sometimes when I just want to crawl inside myself and hibernate, it helps to sit down and read a heroine getting through her own issues or something worse. Do any of you experience that?

This weekend I'm trying to get through Unearthly which is alright but not really wowing me. I finished so many books this week. Well, it felt like so many. Three is a lot for me. Then it's time to start up the ARC of Hallowed of course. I was also one of the fortunate readers who got an ARC of Hunter's Prey (Bloodhounds #2) by Moira Rogers so I'm going to alternately dig into it too. So it should be a really good weekend of reading. What are you working on right now?

On that note dear readers I have to fly. Everyone here is fighting the edge of a cold. I have such a messy house but no energy to work on it. Better just rest and read, the dishes can wait right? ;) -- Rhi

Review: The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

2012-01-11T13:15:00.003-07:00

The Demon Lover: A Novel by Juliet Dark
Paranormal, Literature, Fae
Trade Paperback $15.00 (448 pages, BALLANTINE)
Ebook $9.99
Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.
Author Site: julietdark.com

A Must-Read for Urban Fantasy Dabblers (5 stars)

Raised by parents obsessed with fairytales and folklore, writer Callie McFay came by her obsession naturally. Being raised by her stoic grandmother after their deaths she's a contrast in classy New Yorker and eccentric professor. When she accepts a job teaching at Fairwick College she finds herself buying the neglected Victorian house once occupied by another writer who left a collection of unedited drafts for her Gothic romances. As Callie begins reading them she finds that there's one thing the final versions all left out, a mysterious demon lover. Her own hauntingly real dreams of a similar shadowy figure leave her at the center of a world she never knew existed.

Callie quickly discovers that not only is her nightly visitor real, all of the creatures of myth she once thought were stories are too. Surrounded by demons, witches, and fae, Callie's eyes are opened to the truths she must know to not only protect herself, but the community she has grown so fond of. Her incubus must be sent away before he consumes her completely but can she cast him out knowing the painful fate he will be banished to?

Don't get me wrong. I love a proper paranormal romp that ends with a definite hero and heroine's happily-ever-after. Even moreso do I enjoy a butt-kicking heroine with fancy weapons and a questionably practical wardrobe to do it in. But THE DEMON LOVER takes great elements of each and softens the stuffiness of literature with them in a masterful blend of myth, mystery, and sensuality. Admittedly there were times I rolled my eyes because I felt it went too far into trying to be intellectual and chic but for the most part the balance of elements worked to create a really great read.

If you love cozy mysteries for their small town feel this has a great community built into it. It was easy to connect with the town and the professors, wanting to see what would become of them. Family curses, different mythological beings trying to get along, and mysterious attackers in the woods round out the incubus banishment plot nicely. Callie has moments she seems much older than she is, her voice not ringing true to someone so young. Occasionally she comes off as downright snobbish and yet most of the time I liked her in spite of it.

I think this would be a great read for Urban Fantasy fans who would like something less violent than the norm and for literature readers who feel like indulging their paranormal guilty pleasure with something not stashed in the Young Adult section.

Other Reviews:
My Overstuffed Bookshelf
Badass Book Reviews
Dear Author
The Bawdy Book Blog
Dark Side of the Covers

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

EREADER CONTEST: Trucker vs Outcast Throwdown! [Moira Rogers]

2012-01-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

If I were trying to keep my ass alive in a post-apocolyptic hell on Earth you can bet your sweet butt I would not be joining up with a group of whiny, demi-demon outcasts being lead by a dude.

I would be joining up with Team Trucker. If I have to be following someone she's going to be a strong chick like Devi who stands by her friends. That and having a mysterious guy who can kill you with dental floss or Cache who can hack your brain? Devi's friends are far scarier individually than the entire Team Outcast crew combined. Gotta go with the team who're more likely to come out of a fight intact than a bunch of wimpy half-breeds. Me, opportunistic? Hell yeah.

A psychic, a lady's man, a hacker... sorry Team Outcast your odds aren't looking really favorable. So you've all got mommy and daddy issues... boo-freaking-hoo. In a fight I'll take a big gun and an eighteen-wheeler over men with bad tempers and a bunch of useless old pop-culture references thank-you-very-much.

But don't just take my word for it... head over to Moira Rogers' blog and check out the details of the giveaway. Leave your comment here whether you're on Team Trucker or Team ~~Boohoo~~ Outcast and don't forget to buy your copy of Hammer Down: Children of the Undying, Book 2.

Leaving a comment enters you into the EREADER giveaway. Let the fight begin!

Disclaimer: This post is part of Moira Rogers’s Post-Apocalyptic Trucker vs Outcast Showdown. A comment on this post will enter you to win your choice of a NOOK Simple Touch, or a Kindle Touch or Kobo Touch with special offers. For rules, details on more ways to enter or information on how to pick your own side, visit the contest page at Moira Rogers’s website.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
Young Adult, Dystopian, Futuristic, Science Fiction
Hardcover $17.99 (### pages, PUBLISHER)
Ebook $9.99
Audiobook $39.99
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Author Site: marissameyer.livejournal.com

Not Just Another Fairytale Retelling (5 stars)

Being cyborg means being owned. Not quite human and not quite android, Cinder serves her family in their marketplace stall as one of the best mechanics in New Beijing. Her skill leads the prince to bring an ancient android no one on his staff has been able to repair to her stall. But what could the future emperor need with an old tutor robot?

As plague strikes the market and Cinder's 'step-mother', Adri, and 'sisters', Pearl and Peony, prepare for the upcoming ball celebrating the end of World War IV decades ago Cinder's life takes on a new purpose. Her fate tied to the possibility of a cure for the plague and a growing friendship with the prince will put her in danger of more than just being given away as a test subject by her stepmother. Cinder's existence may threaten the only real enemy worth fearing.

It isn't every day an author can pull off a flawlessly genre-bending, roller-coaster ride of young adult fiction. Watch out, because here comes Marissa Meyer. Taking a classic fairytale and turning it on its ear in all the right ways she manages to make a classic cool again. Melding futuristic tech with a dash of dystopian flavor, a subtle sprinkling of romance and enough fantasy to give it a twist Cinder is an adventure I almost couldn't put down.

Just when you'll think Meyer has taken you off the path of the classic Cinderella format a clever twist brings it back on track. At the same time she manages to make each character in the story unique, interesting and just enough like their fairytale counterpart to be obvious. Prince Kai is handsome and intelligent, a stronger figure than the original Prince Charming, and Iko, the little android with a big personality, is sure to win
a fan following.

To sum it up, if you love any of the elements this story contains you are sure to love Cinder. It's smart with just the right amount of humor and sadness, in spite of being, in essence, a retelling it's as fresh and original as it can get. I am so anxious to read the next Lunar Chronicles novel, Scarlet, a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. Meyer is going on my auto-buy list.

Other Reviews:
Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm
Lauren's Crammed Book Shelf
Writing From the Tub
Krystle Yanagihara on Goodreads

Notes: ARC received via Amazon Vine.

Review: Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2012-01-06T22:00:00.002-07:00

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Young Adult, Vampires
Hardcover $16.99 (320 pages, HARCOURT)
Ebook $9.99
The highly anticipated sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.
It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?
Author Site: bethfantaskey.com

Something was missing... but it was still just shy of lovable... (4 stars)

Now married and living in Romania, Jessica and Lucius face a new challenge together. While royalty they must still be judged worthy of being king and queen by their fellow vampires. Stepping up from being just a title to showing true leadership potential is difficult for a girl raised by vegans but Jess doesn't have a choice. When a violent crime leaves her beloved husband as the obvious suspect she will have to sink or swim on her own.

With the support of Lucius' cousin Raniero and Jessica's best friend Mindy, Jessica will find her resolve. Not just the strength to find the true perpetrator but to prove her worth as a vampire queen.

Please don't hate me for finding this sequel to be only okay. I know exactly what about it didn't work for me. I missed the tension between Jess and Lucius that their seperation in this book—while he's in solitary confinement until his trial—didn't allow for. At the same time it was awesome! I loved seeing Jess growing into her role, how she was learning to trust her instincts. As a married adult I truly found this part sang to me. This is a message I would want my daughters to get. Being strong as individuals is so important to a marriage and Jess shows that here, I felt proud of her as if I were her own mom.

I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives once again but mostly I wanted to read Mindy and Raniero's. They're very cute in their quirks. I would love to read an adventure of theirs! They kept the really obvious plot from getting dull.

Overall, I honestly struggled with missing the tension between our hero and heroine yet still managed to find it enjoyable. The plot is far from original and I had it figured out so fast it made the book drag at points but I was thrilled to jump into the lives of these characters again, seeing how they've grown since the last time I read them. Recommended for folks who loved Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side—especially those who took part in the wedding story voting—not so much for those who only liked it.

Notes: Received ARC via author.

Free on Kindle as of the date of this review:

Weekend Reading [01/06-01/08] :: Getting Bejeweled & Out-of-This-World Reading

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Goooood morning everybody! I'm feeling just slightly more energized today than I have all week. I shouldn't be looking forward to the weekend considering it means the kid will be home from school but I have a spa date! How can I not get all excited when I'm scheduled for 2 hours of being beautified? It feels like it's been forEVER since our last appointment. Now if only I could just get my hair to grow out again. My regular stylist wasn't available for one of my scheduled appointments over the summer and they didn't tell me until I was there. I liked the other girl but she cut my hair too short and now it refuses to grow below my shoulders enough to satisfy me.

So how are y'all recovering from the holidays? Are you broke and hungover still? lol Already given up on those resolutions? I don't really make resolutions myself. I set a few realistic goals to work on like an unfinished project or adding a healthy habit. One of my goals last year was to begin making our home more eco-friendly in small ways. I began switching to greener laundry and cleaning products, using fewer paper towels, and I no longer leave a light on in the kitchen at night like I always did.

This year my goals are more abstract and one I didn't mention on my other blog is that I've decided not only to nix my pajamas-all-day habit but I'm investing more of my spending cash into becoming more polished. Jewelry, make-up, wardrobe, things that make me look (and thus feel) better. After years of being a SAHM and having an attitude that how I look doesn't really matter I realized that it really does. It matters to me. I want to feel confident and pretty when I need to snap a photo or make a video for a review or when I present myself in public. I don't want my kids to think their mom is a lazy slob incapable of proper dress. I've already picked up a few pieces of jewelry from Jewelmint—yes that's Eric from True Blood's girlfriend's jewelry line—and started doing the Influenster thing to find new products. I'm also starting to make a list of classic wardrobe items I want to invest in so I'll have some lasting style.

Now when I'm out at the bookstore and I start babbling to strangers about books I hopefully won't look as young as people often mistake me to be. I'll begin looking more my age and with some professional polish. Okay, I doubt it but I'm going to try. lol

As far as reading goals... or blogging goals... I'm not really sure what I want to achieve this year yet to be truthful. The only thing I know I really desperately want to do is crush my TBR pile's face in. I have so many books in it I haven't even cataloged them all onto Goodreads yet. They're in boxes and triple stacked on a shelf... in piles in front of the bookshelf. Covering the entire surface of my desk. Yeah, they need to get tamed.

So I nixed the monthly themes for now. Decided to crush the books for review pile first and then try to tackle the books I've bought or won or whatever. It's probably never going to happen but I have to try. The hubs has a face he makes when I mention buying more books or making a Goodwill stop to check for new releases on their shelves. Seriously, someone here reads all the stuff I do and then drops them off there. I got Magic on the Line and Under Attack for 75¢ each a couple days after Christmas.

This weekend I'm working on Unearthly by Cynthia Hand which has so many creepy similarities to my own life I'm not sure what to make of it. Hopefully I'll even have time to read with the spa-date and a party we're invited to Saturday. Wish me luck and don't forget to leave a comment telling me what you're working on! -- Rhi

Conclusion: 2011 Personal Reading Resolutions Challenge

2012-01-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

Last year I decided to give myself some goals to work on for the year regarding reading and book blogging. Now it's time to sit down and look at which ones I managed to make progress on and which ones I did not.

1. Instead of setting a counting the number of books I read this year goal, set a page count goal for each month.

-- Dropped the ball a bit with this one and just started using the Goodreads challenge as my barometer for whether I was reading decently or not. I managed to read 90 books for the year which is a lot for me.

2. Discover and read/review/interview six 2011 Debut UF or PNR (NON-YA) Authors.

-- I managed to nab Kevin Hearne, Patricia Eimer, Lisa Kessler for interviews/guestposts but getting debut authors is tough when so many of them are busy. I had fun though.

3. Invite a few fellow book bloggers to be interviewed or guestblog this year.

-- Only one guest has worked out but I also guested elsewhere which was cool!

4. Share a cover art post once a month even if I've seen a dozen other bloggers post the same ones.

-- I know readers love this (duh, I do!) but I found it difficult to keep up. By the time I'd sit down on any given day EVERYONE else has posted any new cover I had found. Kinda takes the wind out of my sails so I just don't feel like making the effort anymore. But I did get to be one of a few bloggers to do a scheduled cover reveal which was really cool.

5. Host one giveaway each month.

-- Even though I really want to save up for a professional blog design I decided doing giveaways was more important. It's weaksauce bribery but it brings in new readers to the blog. *facepalm* I don't think I did one every month but more than once I had a few in the month. My budget is even smaller this year so who knows if 2012 will have many but I'll continue trying to do a giveaway when I can.

6. Join a blog hop or other special blogging event.

-- Took part in a handful of hops, which took me from about 60 members to 500 more. Was also a guest reviewer in another blogger's event AND hosted my own launch celebration for a new publishing house. Was even invited to become a reviewer for a bigger fancier blog.

7. Try a M/M Romance.

-- Okay, I got one. I read a few pages and decided the main character annoyed me. Couldn't keep reading. It'd be the same with a straight romance but I didn't want my first M/M to be problematic thanks to an annoying MC. Think I may put a request out with some very specific desires for help finding one I'll actually like. Yes, I'm still intimidated by the M/M pairing. *sulk*

8. Take part in at least one reading challenge during 2011.

-- Joined one and didn't quite finish it because I had RL and review reading competing with my time for it but I'm enjoying the being challenged part.

9. Read three banned/challenged books in 2011.

-- I read two. But all the twitter drama over Banned Books Week being propaganda kinda tainted the joy of it. Ah well.

10. Save up the money to get a "real design" custom made for the blog.

-- I at least have an idea of what I want done for my logo and a sort of theme to it now but financially this year was horrific for us. Lots of medical bills and unexpected expenses. I'm depressed about the whole thing and have decided not to even try to get a pro design anymore. Colour Lovers has been a fun place to make a background and change the blog up each month. Beats being boring. lol

11. Review some non-fiction books with speculative fiction related themes (ie. cookbooks, craft books).

-- I did a few of these but not many. Instead I've been doing a bit of reviewing of other types of books (ie. toddler books, sewing and cooking) on my other blog.

12. Catch up on The Hollows, Cal Leandros, Cat Star Chronicles and Mercy Thompson series by year's end.

-- I caught up to River Marked with Mercy, not paying HC price for an ebook. Didn't even crack a Cat Star Chronicles, bummed I sucked there. Still have a couple to go on The Hollows, but I'm just not feeling the series anymore... I hate Ivy, always have. I've got Deathwish in my gym bag and read it only there. Been working on it a few pages at a time since August. lol

So overall I did alright on most of my goals. Not sure what I want to do this year. Fewer maybe? None at all. I dunno. I'm still trying to catch-up IRL from the end of year crazy we had. Ask me again in a week. :P

How about you guys? How was your reading last year? Did you hit any special goals or try something new? Have you planned any special challenges for yourself this year? -- Rhi

Interview: Author Beth Fantaskey (+get JGtDotDS FREE on Kindle!)

2011-12-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Beth, welcome to RhiReading. Congratulations on your new release, Jessica Rules the Dark Side!

One of the things I love about your books is that you're not afraid to take risks in the telling that might pose challenges for you and possibly for the reader. JRtDS has a lot of interesting challenges that I've been wanting to ask you about.

As a sequel Jessica and Lucius are now married and facing their roles as royalty together. Was it difficult deciding what boundaries needed to be put in place for them as a couple since this is a Young Adult novel?

I expected it to be a pretty big challenge – especially since so many readers asked to know what happened on Jess and Lucius’s wedding night. (I wrote the story of their wedding for my website, and it ends with Lucius closing their bedroom door after the ceremony.) Ultimately, though, as I wrote that scene and others in which Jess and Lucius are alone together, it didn’t seem that difficult to express their passion without being graphic. I focused on the emotions passing between them, rather than a lot of physical description, and I think it came out pretty intense, without being inappropriate for younger readers.

In JRtDS the chapters alternate between the perspectives of Jessica, Lucius, Mindy, and Raniero. Were any of the characters hard to switch into or especially easy?

The characters are all so real to me that it was very easy to switch between their voices. At a certain point in the story, it became more like “channeling” than writing.

Romanian is an important language throughout the storytelling of JRtDS. Did you learn the language as Jess did or through some other means?

Actually, I don’t know any Romanian. I would use translation websites to try to express what I wanted the characters to say, and my publisher was nice enough to hire a Romanian translator to polish it up.

How totally cool? It sounded so authentic to me. I'm so impressed!
With Lucius locked away during most of the story Jessica has to sink or swim on her own. But thanks to modern crime solving techniques and help from her friends she steps up to the challenge. Did you intend to make a statement about being strong as individuals for a stronger marriage or was that just my observation run amok?

That’s not just your imagination. I did want to make a point about how Jess, always a strong, independent girl, suddenly finds herself in an incredibly scary, overwhelming place – and naturally starts to rely upon her husband, who was trained since birth to rule the world she’s just entered. For awhile, neither one of them realizes that Lucius’s strength is becoming like a crutch to Jess – which actually makes neither one of them happy. Relationship becomes much stronger again when Jess regains her power.

You did something clever between these books, allowing readers to help you decide on the details of Lucius and Jessica's wedding. I actually chose not to read it because I knew there was a sequel in the works and didn't want to be spoiled but after reading JRtDS I realized that perhaps I should have. The wedding chapters are currently down so where can I and other interested readers find them?

I temporarily removed the wedding chapters so I could edit them and rewrite certain parts. (I wrote the wedding quickly, posting new chapters every other day, so they needed some editing.) Anyway, my web designer is working hard to get them back on my website as soon as possible, and I understand that my publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, plans to release them in some form, too, either for e-readers or on their website. I would say check my website, bethfantaskey.com, after January 1. And I’ll post on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as soon as they’re available. (bethfantaskey.com, facebook.com/beth.fantaskey, twitter.com/bethfantaskey, bethfantaskey.tumblr.com)

I'm sure that after reading JRtDS fans will want to know what you have planned next? Another Jessica book? Will Mindy and Raniero have further adventures? Something completely new?

Right now I’m working on a new story with new characters, but I would like to at least do another short web-based story about Jess, Lucius, Mindy and Raniero, as a second “thank you”to everybody who’s supported the books. I purposely left some loose ends at the end of Jessica Rules so I could do another interactive reader event. I’m very grateful to readers who ask for more of the story, and like to have a way to express that. ☺

Thank you so much again for being here Beth and answering my questions. Watching your authoring career over the past several years has been lots of fun and I look forward to seeing what this new project is when the time comes!

Dear readers, you can currently get Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side for FREE on Kindle or for $8.99 in paperback. Beth's other novel, Jekel loves Hyde is also available in multiple formats.

Weekend Reading [12/23-12/25] :: Merry Christmas from RhiReading

2011-12-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

I am utterly exhausted. The hubs' surgery went well but the wait at the hospital was a real pain. Apparently I am invisible so I waited for 2 hours and finally started thinking something was wrong. When I asked if he'd been brought back they took me back where he'd been waiting for me for an hour. He was upset and I was moreso. Now he's in agonizing pain from the gas. Having been there with this same surgery—from the same surgeon no less—back in February I know how much pain he's in and hate not being able to make it go away. :(

On top of all the surgery stuff it was our eldest's 13th birthday yesterday. She showed up for our weekend with her with brown hair (she naturally has gorgeous blonde hair anyone else would pay top $ for in a salon), a lowcut top, and enough eye makeup to make me cringe. It's starting. That teenager hell I imagined when she was first born. I just hope she has enough sense to be a leader and not a follower now that she's got this much peer pressure to be like everyone else.

Tot had an accident at grandma's yesterday afternoon. We'd been doing some last minute shopping (birthday cards!) and dropped by her house. The tot decided to pull on her stocking and the heavy stocking holder on the mantle fell and hit her face. Poor kid now has a scratch from the corner of her nose down toward her jaw. *facepalm* I had literally been telling her to settle down at home earlier in the day since she was jumping by the TV stand and I was thinking she'd bonk her head. I wanted her to be bruise free for Christmas since she has a gorgeous dress to wear. Doh!

I did get some reading done in the waiting room at the hospital but since then I have had only a few minutes here and there. I dozed off trying to read last night. Hopefully by Monday the stress will smooth out and I'll be good to get back on reading to finish out a few more books by year's end. At more than 85 this year I'm feeling really good. I'd just like to have hit a full 100.

Been working on The Demon Lover: A Novel and Deadly Pursuit (A Blood Hunter Novel) this week. I cracked Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles but only a few pages in so far. With the kids getting all kinds of awesome loot tomorrow I'm sure I'll have slightly fewer distractions over the next week so maybe I will get all three done. We'll see. ;)

Anywho, I've got a lot to get done today and need to change this IV line of coffee. *giggle* Caffiene and cupcakes are all that's getting me through the weekend. If you celebrate Christmas may yours be very Merry and if not, I hope that whatever holiday you celebrate is joyful and if you celebrate nothing at all... well happy weekend reading to you! -- Rhi

Review: On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane [Blog Tour & Giveaways!]

2011-12-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sharing my review today in conjunction with the On a Dark Wing Blog Tour so please check out my review. Be sure to enter my giveaway for a print copy and then head over to the tour site to visit the other blogs—9 of them have book giveaways too! Plus, on the tour hub you can enter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire! Jordan will be announcing the winners of both the book giveaways and the Kindle Fire in a live chat on January 5 at 7:00 PM EDT. -- Rhi

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane
Young Adult, Paranormal
Paperback $9.99 (313 pages, HARLEQUIN TEEN)
Ebook $8.99
The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.
Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.
Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey's secret crush—starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.
And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.
Author Site: jordandane.com

Didn't quite hit the mark this time... (3 stars)

Five years have passed since Abbey Chandler's mother died in the car accident she survived. Now her brush with Death has come back to haunt her. As Nate Holden—Abbey's crush—sets off to climb Denali, a mountain known for its many dangers, she discovers that Death is back in her life. As the Angel of Death joins Nate on his perilous trip up the mountain Abbey must come to terms with her mother's fate and the value of her own life.

Having read Dane's darker young adult novel, IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS, earlier this year I think I may have been expecting too much from this novel. It's definitely not as dark as I had anticipated. ON A DARK WING jumps perspectives giving the reader glimpses of what's happening on Denali and with Abbey. Each character rings strongly and individually which is something I love about Dane's writing. These are very three-dimensional characters. That's also a little bit what killed this book for me. Abbey was great at first. Her snarkiness was infectious and her reflection about her infatuation with Nate sounded so true-to-life. Then all of the sudden at a key point in the book she switches stances with no suitable explanation why. I literally reread the page four times to see if I'd missed something. From there on out the story lost it's central thread of enjoyability.

The ending was pleasant but felt anticlimatic, almost vague. Still, the overall sentiment of appreciating life and understanding the necessity of death was interesting and good. On the whole I just think I expected something much more dark and otherworldly than this turned out to be so I wasn't satisfied while other readers looking for something softer will be delighted.

Notes: ARC received via Publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

2011-12-22T00:01:00.009-07:00

Coming from Entangled Publishing in Spring 2012

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

the first book in the young adult dystopian Lost Souls series.

What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

         Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

         Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

        But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

Quick Kindle Deals!

2011-12-21T16:25:00.001-07:00

Hey guys! Having a rough day here. Long story but short version is the hubs is having emergency surgery in the morning. Trying to keep calm and not stress considering the season is already stressful.

Anywho, laaate tonight a couple of posts are going up. One is a gorgeous cover reveal for a new series starting next year, YA dystopian anyone? ;) ;) Then the review for On a Dark Wing with my giveaway.

In the meantime here are a few awesome deals I found for Kindle today. Snap 'em up fast!

FREE

99¢

$1.99

$2.99

Review: The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred

2011-12-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred
Fantasy, Angels
Paperback $16.99 (342 pages, ENTANGLED PUBLISHING)
Ebook $4.99
Heaven can go to hell.
Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia's father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.
Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves--fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda--who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.
Heaven seems a distant dream, but when Anazakia learns the truth behind the celestial coup, she will have to return to fight for the throne--even if it means saving the man who murdered everyone she loved.
Author Site: janekindred.com

The most original fantasy you will read this year! (4 stars)

When her beloved family is slain by her cousin and dear friend, Anazakia, a grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, must flee the Heavens or face the same fate. As the last surviving member of the House of Arkhangel'sk, Anazakia's fate as the heir to Heaven's throne is thrust upon a pair of Fallen, demons with plans of ransom. Secreted away to the world of Man, Anazakia must rely on Belphagor and Vasily in the harsh Russian countryside.

Hunted by Seraphim and haunted by mysterious spirits of the seasons Anazakia can trust no one fully. But when Belphagor is imprisoned comfort is found in the arms of his fiery companion. When the truth behind the murder of her kindred comes to light Anazakia will return to Heaven to fight for what is hers and the fate of two worlds will collide in a cataclysmic battle of epic proportions.

There are no perfect words to describe THE FALLEN QUEEN. I've never read anything like it and don't believe I will again. Not because it wasn't good but because it belongs in a class all its own. Rich in fantastical celestial and angelic mythology then steeped in Russian culture I could compare it to a well aged wine. There are layers and layers of fascinating concepts and ideas peppering this story. It's romantic but not a romance. The lines of sexual orientation are crossed and blurred and reformed and extinguished making it both slightly erotic and a little ethereal. Those who are enticed by pleasure/pain will find this highly enjoyable.

Kindred's writing style is dance-like, a true ballet of fiction. Calculated steps done so passionately one could forget this is more likely to be shelved with popular fiction than literature. THE FALLEN QUEEN could easily become a classic. My only true issues were firstly frustration with Vasily's relationship with Anazakia, I felt betrayed for Belphagor, and secondly struggling to understand the subtleties of this richly Russian influenced world building. I'm also not turned on by whipping/spanking so the scenes where this took place were off-putting but that's my personal issue, not a reflection on the writing as they were all well written.

If you enjoy polyamorous romance and contemporary fantasy I would highly recommend you pick up this book. If you're an urban fantasy fan bored of the same-old, same-old this is a break from the norm but not truly urban. If you enjoy the complexity and sensuality of Ilona Andrews or Meljean Brook, THE FALLEN QUEEN should definitely be added to your wishlist. Not a completely flawless read but one that I am so glad I didn't miss.

Other Reviews:
Urban Fantasy Investigations
Reader Unboxed

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

A Little Off-Topic: The Hunger Games Nail Polish from China Glaze

2011-12-20T20:32:00.001-07:00

I stumbled on this... my husband had it up for some reason and so it was up when I came to use his computer. I am a closet polish freak (my other blog has lots of evidence of this) so I am hoping I can find somewhere in town to buy these when they are available. :D

---EDIT: I found this article about the polish line interesting. I also found a release date of March 1st.

I'm finding conflicting sheets with names for the colors and since I'm not familiar with China Glazes' naming system I'm going to share the sheet with the official looking stuff.

If you are a nail polish lover and HG fan I can tell you now that the dark one, Smoke and Ashes, and the Luxe and Lush one will be the first ones sold out. Make sure you snap them up fast if you can find them. I'll share more about them if I can find more. Further checking into this reveals that the colors are representative of the 12 districts, or at least that's what the rumor mill says and considering the names... it makes sense.

Review: A Clockwork Christmas (anthology)

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

A Clockwork Christmas by Jenny Schwartz, J.K. Coi, P.G. Forte, and Stacy Gail
Steampunk Romance, Holiday
Ebook $9.99 (CARINA PRESS)
We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas
Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.
Anthology includes:
Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi
Author Sites: pgforte.com, jkcoi.com, stacygail.blogspot.com, authorjennyschwartz.com

As Steampunk Romance Good, as Holiday Romance Not (3 stars)

In the past year the world of steampunk fiction has been heating up the pages with an influx of steamy romance. It's no surprise that Carina Press called for submissions for this anthology last year but what surprised me was that while enjoyable as steampunk romances not one of these felt particularly Christmas-centric. Every single one felt as if it had been already written then quickly had some minor changes made to set it in the holiday season (which may or may not actually be the case, I do not know). Which was ultimately so disappointing for me I found it hard not to give this a lower rating.

Keeping that factor in mind each of these authors has a distinctive voice and the variety of settings and plots here is rich. If I put my hand over one eye and pretended this wasn't supposed to be a holiday anthology I'd give it four stars but it has to lose one for the lack of holiday flavor. But let's break each down individually shall we?

[CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET by Stacy Gail] A thief who must steal back a priceless gift by Christmas morning or forfeit her life. The man who lost a woman dear to his heart thanks to her. Danger and gadgetry lace this adventure and the lush chemistry between Cordelia and Roderick sparks off the page. (4 stars)

[THIS WINTER HEART by P.G. Forte] An emotionally wounded mother brings the son his father never knew existed to meet him. Rejected by her husband thanks to the nature of her existence Ophelia must convince Dario that the boy is his son. A difficult plot to wrap one's head around I simply could not get past Dario's awful behavior enough to connect with this story. Simply put, the hero is an asshole and the heroine is pathetic, hated them both though I liked Forte's style and the concept. (2 star)

[WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL by Jenny Schwartz] An American inventor visiting Australia is propositioned by a local suffragette to represent her beliefs in the men's clubs. Esme thinks Jed a scoundrel, the sort of man with little money and morals, but he's more than meets the eye. These characters and this story really put a smile on my face. The steampunk elements were a tiny bit light but overall this was a well done romance for such a short story, I loved it. (5 stars)

[FAR FROM BROKEN by J.K. Coi] A spy must confront the damage done in the physical repairing of his ballerina bride after his enemies tortured her. A couple coming to grips with the changes both physiological and emotional when their love and lives have been run through the worst. Callie might be damaged but Jasper will learn you can't fix what isn't truly broken. Even though it was the least Christmasy, in my humble opinion, this was a really great story. (4 stars)

As a collection A CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS was a nice sampler of authors I've been wanting to read and a great place to try on steampunk romance. As a holiday anthology it doesn't shine but is still worth picking up if you're not that into the holiday thing.

Notes: Review copy received via NetGalley.

Buy the stories individually:

It's Monday and I'm alive... really.

2011-12-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

*yawn* Holy crap... where did last week go? I've finally shaken the cold but with the holiday season being filled with things like kids' concerts and such the week flew away from me. As much as I dread the start of a new year I'm so glad there're only a couple weeks of this one left. I'm just plain exhausted. Burning the candle at both ends is hardly healthy but there's always so much to do this time of year and I try really hard to catch up loose ends with the blog every December.

We hit 50 degrees on Saturday. It was freakishly warm. Kids were out in shorts. Usually this week of the year we're lucky if it gets above 20. Then we got a dump of perfect, pretty Christmas snow yesterday. Bet ya it'll melt before Christmas Day though. lol

I've been keeping it quiet but there's something medically wrong with my husband. The doctors still can't figure it out so we're cramming in a bunch of tests before the end of the year when our insurance changes. It's scary when the people trained to figure this stuff out can't seem to find the source of a problem. As if we didn't have enough stress with everyday life eh?

So what have you been up to? Working? Shopping madness? Reading great books? I've got a few reviews to get written and up this week with the ON A DARK WING tour stop and giveaway being Thursday. Better yet... wanna chance to win a Kindle Fire? Drop by the Tour Site and check the schedule. While you're there fill out the rafflecopter to enter! (My 12-year-old is getting a KF from us and my grandma and my dad pooling funds so I can't wait to play with it when he's at school lol).

May your week be filled with good books and minimal stress. :) -- Rhi

Winner! Gift Card Giveaway Hop

2011-12-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to everyone who not only dropped by on the hop but especially to those of you who took the time to comment and tweet about it! Getting a blog noticed by the folks who would enjoy it isn't easy, especially with the amount there are out there that share much of the same qualities. I've found some of my favorite blogs and made wonderful friends thanks to Inspired Kathy's hops.

Of course there has to be a winner and here at RhiReading the lovely combo of Rafflecopter and Random.org chose anastasia! She has claimed her prize already but don't worry if you didn't win. I'm already planning some fun stuff for 2012 that will definitely include another giftcard giveaway or two.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AFK-ish this week... 'cept the giveaways!

2011-12-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! I dunno what's up with me but I caught a cold last week and can't seem to shake it. It just keeps getting worse and worse. It probably doesn't help that I don't know how to rest. What mom does? I can't even seem to get caught up with my laundry and dishes and make decent meals this weekend. :(

Naturally with my head foggy from congestion I can't think enough to write my reviews. So I think I'm going to just call in sick to the blog this week. lol I'll make sure to pop by and handle the giveaways but aside from that I really need to put my health first before this gets any worse. It's making my asthma act up which is just unusual so I'm not taking any risks. Getting me butt to bed with some tea and vitamins!

Hope to be back by Friday with some decent posts for the weekend. XO -- Rhi

Gift Card Giveaway Hop :: $10 Amazon.com Giftcard [Ends 12/13]

2011-12-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is a time when we stress out thinking about the desires of others more than ourselves. But as a mom I do that every day. So sometimes it's nice to just think about what I want. Since our money was so tight this year I told my family all I wanted was to be able to have money to do a few giveaways before the end of the year. Afterall, without the support of all of you wonderful visitors I'd be here talking to the crickets and questioning my sanity.

I know you have a bazillion other places to stop on the hop so I'm making this one quick and easy... Rafflecopter to the rescue!

P.S. -- I'm giving away a second $10 Amazon.com Giftcard on my other blog, RhiAlistic!

Now hop on over to some of the other awesome blogs in the hop for more chances to win!

Guestpost: Author Jane Kindred (+international giveaway!)

2011-12-08T05:00:00.005-07:00

Humming to Pyewacket

Because it’s the holiday season, my favorite paranormal romance has been on my mind. Every year around this time, I have to watch the 1958 movie Bell, Book and Candle. The pivotal scene in the movie takes place on Christmas Eve, when urban witch Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) uses her familiar, Pyewacket, to cast a love spell on unsuspecting Shep Henderson (Jimmy Stewart).

The movie isn’t billed as a paranormal romance (I doubt the concept existed as such in 1958). It’s a romantic comedy. But for me, it was the first story I ever encountered that made me think, “Hey, now; why aren’t there more stories with sexy witch heroines?”

It was the kind of thing my friends and I were always making up in grade school. We all wanted to imagine ourselves as women with some kind of supernatural power—whether it was witchcraft or a bionic arm—and inevitably, there would be an episode in this serial game of imagination where we “lost our powers” because of some powerful male villain. Yeah, no Jungian metaphors floating around in there at all.

But Shep Henderson wasn’t a villain. He was Gillian’s love interest, and falling in love with him was what made her lose her powers. It’s the one part of the story that doesn’t work for me, the sappy romantic ending in which Gillian is no longer the fascinating, strong woman in black pants and bare feet, but a teary-eyed, meek, almost childlike woman in a pastel yellow dress and pumps. The most telling thing to me about the ending is that her cat doesn’t like her anymore. Always listen to your cat.

From the first time I saw the movie, I wished it had a better ending. I still adore it, it’s charming and romantic, but I’d adore it more if Gillian hadn’t had to give up all her power to be loved.

Luckily, times have changed, and paranormal romance is an actual, thriving literary genre. As a general rule, paranormal and urban fantasy heroines retain their magical powers when they find love. Some even use their love and sexuality to give power to other paranormals. (Anita Blake, I’m looking at you.) And even if you hate Twilight, Bella becomes more powerful, not less, as a result of her love for Edward. (Note: if you do hate Twilight, please don’t trash it here; I have a low tolerance for attacks on other people’s work and other people’s tastes.)

Not only are there women who can be powerful and still find love in paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but these forward-thinking genres are increasingly home to male demons who find love with male demons, and female vampires who find love with female vampires, and numerous permutations in between. LGBT characters are no longer the ones who have to die tragically or provide comic relief. They’re the heroines and heroes of their own stories.

When I wrote my House of Arkhangel’sk trilogy, I hadn’t even heard of m/m romance, or paranormal romance for that matter. I had my head buried deeply in traditional epic fantasy, where such elements are not commonplace. I worried that I’d never sell my series, and that if I did, I’d be asked to take out the romance between my boys.

Fortunately, it isn’t 1958. Not only did no one ask me to tone down the romance in my unconventional series, they wanted more of it. Turns out, readers actual like smexy demon boys who like other smexy demon boys. And now my naughty demons are loose in the world, with the first book in the series, The Fallen Queen, available now, and Books Two and Three due out next year.

You probably couldn’t get much farther from Gillian Holroyd than my demons—though you could read the underground society of Greenwich Village witches and warlocks of Bell, Book and Candle as a metaphor for the LGBT community of the time—yet I still credit her with sparking my imagination and setting me in motion along the path that led me here.

I’d love to hear about the first paranormal story that hooked you on the concept and had you hunting for more. Was it a movie? A book? A comic? A cheesy 1960s TV series? Leave me a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Fallen Queen. (And remember, no trashing of sparkly vampires allowed!)

* * *

Blurb for The Fallen Queen:

Heaven can go to hell.

Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia’s father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel’sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.

Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves—fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda—who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.

Heaven seems a distant dream, but when Anazakia learns the truth behind the celestial coup, she will have to return to fight for the throne—even if it means saving the man who murdered everyone she loved.

* * *

Bio:

Jane Kindred began writing romantic fantasy at the age of 12 in the wayback of a Plymouth Fury—which, as far as she recalls, never killed anyone…who didn’t have it coming. She spent her formative years ruining her eyes reading romance novels in the Tucson sun and watching Star Trek marathons in the dark. She now writes to the sound of San Francisco foghorns while two cats slowly but surely edge her off the side of the bed. Jane is the author of The Devil’s Garden (Carina Press/June 2011) and The Fallen Queen (Entangled Publishing/December 2011), Book One of The House of Arkhangel’sk trilogy.

You can find Jane on Twitter: @JaneKindred
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/somewherebetweenheavenandhell
or on her website: www.janekindred.com

* * *

To enter to win a print or ebook copy of The Fallen Queen please leave a comment for Jane.

The giveaway is international and provided by Jane, not me.

As this title is more on the adult side I would suggest you be 18 or older to enter but am not asking for your age, just want you to be aware before you enter.

Contest ends Monday, December 12th at noon MST. I'll use random.org to choose a random commenter and contact them that afternoon.

Congrats to Where The Best Books Are!

2011-12-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Just saw the news and had to stop what I was doing to say congrats to Jennifer of Where The Best Books Are! for winning the Happy Haulidays giveaway. :)

There were so many blogs who participated and so many amazing charities I'd not yet heard of that I learned about through this event. I hope this will continue to be a celebration Chronicle Books hosts for years to come.

In the meantime Chronicle has their special Happy Haulidays deal going again this year so take advantage ASAP:

As a special thank you, we're offering a promo code to all Happy Haulidays bloggers, commenters, and fans. Shop now on ChronicleBooks.com and enjoy 35% off + free ground shipping when you enter promo code HAULIDAYS at check-out. But hurry—you have to order by December 16th to save!

Review: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

2011-12-07T10:40:00.004-07:00

Heart of Steel (Iron Seas #2) by Meljean Brook
Romance, Steampunk, Alternate History
Paperback $15.00 (320 pages, BERKLEY)
Ebook $9.99
Audiobook $27.97 (10 hours and 15 minutes)
As the mercenary captain of the Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.
Treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair -- he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she's no easy conquest.
When da Vinci's sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco -- and straight into their enemy's hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart...
Author Site: meljeanbrook.com

Everything I desire in a Romance done to perfection. (5 stars)

Archimedes Fox, legendary hero of serial novels and treasure hunter, is bound and determined to have his greatest adventure yet. He plans to fall in love. But not with just any woman. Fox wants Yasmeen, the equally legendary Captain of the Lady Corsair, the woman who has done nothing but make her heart of steel obvious. From tossing him to zombies to taking his most valuable find courting Yasmeen could be more trouble than any adventurer—legendary or not—can handle.

Getting his treasure back is a life or death matter for Fox. When circumstances alter the course of their adventure to get it back the pair must brave zombies, a mutinous crew, and Horde territories. Can the pair survive their most dangerous adventure yet? Will Yasmeen's heart find enough warmth in Archimedes to melt her cold exterior or will her past keep her from a love worth waiting a lifetime for?

I shouldn't be reviewing this book. I'm having a terrible time finding anything I didn't like about it which makes it difficult to be objective. Keeping that in mind let me just say that I know this book and series will not work for everyone. You have to suspend disbelief a considerable bit and let the pseudoscience be.

Brook has built one of the most exciting worlds I've read but there's so much of it I think it'd be easy to get Tolkien-esque in description overload. Fortunately, Brook has done an excellent job of not overly fatting this novel while still giving readers much more of the world to explore. If you've read THE IRON DUKE and wanted to know more about the Horde this book will be very satisfying.

As an adventure this book is great. As a romance it is exceptional. The groundwork for it was laid a bit in THE IRON DUKE so I honestly would not recommend this as a stand-alone though I think it's the better of the two. Yasmeen is an intriguing woman and finally getting some background on her made her even more enjoyable. Archimedes is charming and could disarm any other woman thrown at him but naturally he wants the one who doesn't want love with him or anyone. Their banter is as amusing as always but the sexual tension in this one sparks off the page to the point of nail-biting. Looking for some steamy steampunk? This is your book, hands down.

If you read THE IRON DUKE and struggled with disliking Mina and Rhys or finding their romance a little too unbelievable (I know many of you did based on reading others' reviews) I'd suggest giving this one a try. Yasmeen is no wilting flower and Archimedes is not the overbearing alpha-male type that I personally can't stand. The pair are equals in all ways which is exactly what I was looking for. This is one of my favorite romances I've ever read and the adventure only makes it more exciting. I'm scared Brook might not be able to top this one but I'm anxiously awaiting more Iron Seas novels.

Other Reviews:
Dear Author
Smexy Books
Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks

Notes: Review copy received via publisher.

Check this book out if you liked:

Review: I'll Be Mated for Christmas by Rebecca Royce

2011-12-06T07:00:00.003-07:00

I'll Be Mated For Christmas by Rebecca Royce
Paranormal Romance, Werewolves, Holidays
Ebook $2.99 (short story, DECADENT PUBLISHING)
Bethany Johnson grew up one of the only humans in a pack of werewolves. She didn’t have an easy time and her self-confidence was almost non-existent. Finally, after some serious psychotherapy and the help of weight-loss surgery, she is feeling like the Bethany she has always wanted to be. But now she has to say goodbye to the werewolves in her life. Out with the old and in with the new this year…
Luke Denarius is the new Alpha of the Delta pack. He’s never met Bethany but the second he scents her he knows she is his. No way is she going off to Italy for adventure and hot sex with other men.
With the help of Madame Eve these two will find that a mating is in the works for Christmas.
Author Site: rebeccaroyce.com

A 1 Night Stand is Not Enough! (3 stars)

Left emotionally damaged by a childhood growing up one of few humans amidst a pack of werewolves, Bethany has finally found a bit of backbone. After a quick holiday visit to her half-siblings she bids them farewell, she's gotten control of her body and wants to start a new life. But when Luke, their new pack leader, catches her scent he's not about to let her get away so easily. She is destined to be his mate and her scheduled one night stand facilitated by the mysterious Madame Eve is his ticket into her life. This Christmas Bethany will realize that not all wolves are as big and bad as she's been lead to believe but is she ready to be Luke's mate?

This was my first 1 Night Stand read, one I wasn't quite sure how to approach since I know each entry is very different. But I'm glad I did. Royce managed to bring me a heart warming smile in one very short story with her wonderful hero. I won't spoil anything but if you're a more pack-oriented werewolf fan this one will please.

That said Royce did tread on my one HUGE pet peeve in a sensual scene... there was too much talking! It was a bit painful. It killed any heat I felt coming from the pages quickly. There also wasn't a lot of build up to the love making due to the short nature of the story so it did feel a little forced. What it did manage to do was sell me on Royce's writing and ability to come up with a good basic premise.

I'm not sure I would buy this one at full price because it is awfully short, I would perhaps recommend picking it up in the Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand Holiday Anthology as this really feels like it should be part of a short story collection. Overall, not without it's flaws but not unenjoyable either.

Notes: ARC provided by publisher.

Other books from Rebecca Royce:

Interview: Author Laura Kaye (+giveaways!)

2011-12-05T05:00:00.016-07:00

Hi Laura! Thank you so much for being here today. I thought since you've been mostly getting to focus on your writing or your characters we'd shake it up a bit with holiday season topics.

Sounds great! And thanks so much for hosting me here!

In the spirit of the season this mini-view is a quick set of dozen questions!

What is...

Your must-have Christmas time treat?

Iced sugar cookies…and I have an awesome recipe for them: available in this free cookbook! Ooh, but I also love warm gingerbread with Cool Whip!

Your fondest Christmas time memory?

Oh, geez, just one? The first year my oldest daughter was old enough to get Christmas morning and appreciate the presents was truly wonderful—it’s amazing how infective a kid’s joy on Christmas can be!

The best book you've received as a gift (anytime of year)?

I’ve written two fan fiction novels in the Twilight fandom, and one ended up being a bit popular… One year for my birthday, my best friend had it bound and printed through CreateSpace and surprised me with it in book form. That was freaking awesome!

Your favorite Christmas tradition?

Decorating the Christmas tree as a family, and telling my girls all the stories associated with the ornaments.

All about your books...

Aside from her hero, what gift would you give your heroines at the holidays?

Hmm…okay, I’ll play! Assuming their hearts’ desires had been fulfilled by the big guy (er, that is, the hero!), then I’d share with them some of my favorite things: a Pandora bracelet, some wonderful Body Works mango body butter, and green M&Ms. *grins*

Which of your heroes would you most like to meet under the mistletoe?

OMG you have no idea how hard this one is! Um…geez…hmm…maybe…oh, but what about?...sigh…oh, he’d be soooo good, but then so would…okay—I decided! I’d have to go with Caden Grayson from Hearts in Darkness. I mean, I love ALL my heroes, but Caden has those spider bite piercings…that would be, er, extra delicious!

If Santa left your one special writing gift this holiday what would you ask for?

Does time count? Or does it need to be more tangible? A writing weekend away? Money to pay for all the Cons I’d like to attend? LOL I’ve got a list!

And just for fun...

Naughty or Nice? Naughty is nice! So, naughty…

Sugar Cookies or Gingerbread? Ha! I totally didn’t read down here when I answered the question above! LOL I. Can. Not. Pick!

Snow Angels or Snowmen? Aw, snowmen, natch.

Your tree: Fake or real? Real.

Opening presents: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Christmas Day.

Thanks so much for the fun interview! Now, everyone, please share one of your must-have Christmastime treats! And thanks for reading!

Laura Kaye

Buy Laura's Books

Connect with Laura

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

About Laura Kaye:
A multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance, Laura Kaye’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura is the author of the bestselling contemporary romance and award-nominated HEARTS IN DARKNESS and the bestselling and award-winning paranormal romance FOREVER FREED (NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011), as well as an erotic romance novella, JUST GOTTA SAY. Her fourth book, contemporary fantasy romance NORTH OF NEED, is the first in the 4-book Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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About North of Need:

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves...

Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she's recreated the very thing she'll never have.

Called to life by Megan's tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.

Megan is drawn to Owen's mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration--before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow's grief and learn to trust love again, or she'll lose Owen forever.

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An Excerpt from North of Need

Owen’s POV:

Chair Lift 3 took them where they needed to the top of the mountain, and Owen loved how Megan snuggled into the side of his body, their thighs pressed tight together. He gazed down at her. “Beautiful up here,” he murmured as the unnoticed resort glided by beneath them.

“Yeah.” She turned away from his chest and took in the view, then glanced up to see him staring at her. A blush bloomed over her cheeks, discernible even under her ski goggles and beanie. She leaned back against him. He squeezed her in with his arm around her shoulders. At the end of the lift ride, they jumped off together and she guided them to the trail she wanted to try.

“Okay, promise me you won’t cheat.”
“Cheat? What do you mean?”

“None of that snow god voodoo,” she said.

Owen’s whole body shook with amusement.

“I mean it,” Megan said, humor coloring her voice.

He steadied himself using his poles. “No voodoo. Got it.”

“Good. Okay, then. Wait here a second, I want to show you something.”

He nodded. “All right.”

Megan slowly skied away from him. “Stay right there, now,” she called over her shoulder. Just as he started to frown at how far she’d gone, she threw him a mischievous look, dug her poles in, and shoved off. “Catch me if you can!”

Owen gaped. “That little…And she told me not to cheat.” He didn’t think on it long, though, because he was after her in a flash. He knew why she made him promise not to use his powers. She was good. Surefooted and centered. Handled the turns with ease and zigzagged on the straightaways to pick up speed. Gods, her competence on the snow had him hardening in his pants.

He whooped out a cheer of pure exhilaration. The cold air whipped at his hair—he wore neither hat nor goggles, not needing them. He filled his lungs with the wind, fed off it. Tightening his stance, he gained on her, but never caught up. Man, was he going to make her pay.

At the bottom, they twisted to a stop, their downhill skis carving into the snow and sending up sprays of powder. Owen glided toward her.

“Sorry, sorry,” she giggled out with a hand over her mouth.

Owen grabbed it and pulled it away, wrapped it around his back.

“I told you, never hide your smiles from me.” He kissed her cold lips. “Naughty, naughty girl.”

She nodded. “Yep. Ready to go again?”

He smacked her bottom, though her insulated snow pants kept his bare hand from having the effect he really wanted. “You better believe it.”

Review: North of Need by Laura Kaye

2011-12-04T12:50:00.001-07:00

North of Need (Hearts of the Anemoi #1 by Laura Kaye
Paranormal Romance, Mythology, Holidays
Paperback $12.99 (234 pages, ENTANGLED PUBLISHING)
Ebook $4.99
While attempting to escape the agonizing memories she associates with Christmas, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband--and collapses in tears against the snowman at the sight of what she'll never have.
Called to life by the power of Megan's tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.
Megan is drawn to Owen's mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things, and her heart opens enough to believe he's a Christmas miracle. But this miracle comes with an expiration--before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow's grief and learn to trust love again, or she'll lose Owen forever.
Author Site: laurakayeauthor.com

In the Heart of Winter, Something Hot for the Holidays (5 stars)

Holed up in the winter retreat she once shared with her husband, Megan Snow can't yet bear the holidays with family and friends. Still greiving the tragic death of her husband just two years earlier she needs to celebrate in her own way. Building a snow family is hard work to take her mind off things at first but reminds her more of the life she believes is lost to her. When her tears awaken a snow god in the form of her snowman she finds herself faced with a chance at the very thing she thinks is lost.

Brought to life by Megan's tears, Owen Winters has his own painful past and a powerful reason to bring happiness back to Megan's life. But can he warm the heart frozen by grief before his chance at a life with her melts away? In a season of Christmas miracles can a snow god bring the heat of passion and the fire of love to a woman so deeply chilled by loss?

Alright, I hate admitting this but six months ago when I first heard the concept for NORTH OF NEED I laughed my butt off and rolled my eyes. "Didn't they make a movie like this back in the 90's?" I asked myself. Yeah, they did. But no, they didn't. 'Snowman comes to life' is about all they have in common. Owen becomes a man (a very good looking man!), not the creepy vision that might arrise thanks to holiday movies. So don't panic.

Now I am a slow reader in spite of my status as a reviewer so it says something when I finish a book in one evening. It was too good to put down for more than getting my kids to bed and making another cup of tea. Kaye manages to take a concept that could be very cheesy and blend it with strong emotional content, a fascinating mythology, and just enough action and physical intimacy to make the story flow perfectly. It isn't just any book that has tears sliding down my cheeks before the first chapter is finished.

Fans of Greek mythology will delight in the fresh life Kaye brings to the paranormal romance genre. Readers who love an emotional rollercoaster ride in their romance—the sting of sadness, the warmth of hope, and the bliss of a happy ending—will be richly rewarded for picking NORTH OF NEED up. Looking for something a little steamy to warm the cold winter nights? Passionate, truly sensual love scenes pepper this novel in just the right places. My only issue at all with the book was that occasionally the dialog during the love scenes was distracting but it's a personal preference for only romantic—not 'instructional'—chatter when things get hot in romances. Megan is a compassionate, struggling heroine you will ache to see happy and Owen a hero who will warm your heart with his enthusiastic, loving spirit.

Quite simply, I loved this book so much I'm gifting it for Christmas! While it sparkles as a seasonally appropriate winter wonder it isn't so Christmas-centric it wouldn't work any time of year. If you love your paranormal romance without vampires and shapeshifters or are just looking for something new add Laura Kaye and her Hearts of the Anemoi to your list of must-have authors.

Other Reviews:
Books and Things

Notes: ARC received via publisher.

Check this book out if you liked:

Guestpost: Author Rebecca Royce

2011-12-03T07:00:00.004-07:00

Happy Saturday dear readers! Putting together huge events is something I'm still trying to figure out but as you've seen November was a month of diving into anthologies and novels with Christmasy thematic elements. It's with great pleasure I accidentally stumbled on author Rebecca Royce and realized she had a 1 Night Stand title from Decadent Publishing coming out.

In honor of I'll Be Mated For Christmas' release day which was yesterday I invited her to drop by with a guestpost. It'll make you appreciate the good guys. Then check out I'll Be Mated For Christmas! It's a short story—see below for details if you're unfamiliar with the 1 Night Stand series—but the sweet ending had me slavering for more holiday werewolf reads. Afterall, who wouldn't want a loyal, passionate werewolf at Christmas? -- Rhi

When Real Life Becomes More Like Fiction

Last night, I had a girls’ night out with some of the mom’s from my son’s nursery school class. I think that this time of year, with everything going crazy and all the present buying and running around that it’s important to take a little time to make sure we enjoy ourselves.

We had a great time. Six moms drinking wine and munching for hours. Then it was time to leave, it was almost midnight, and one of my friends has a two-month-old baby at home. Exiting the restaurant, we say our goodbyes and head to our various cars, which were parked around the building.

I got in my car and I was ready to leave when my phone rang. I’ll admit it, I thought it was my husband calling to complain that I was out too late. But it wasn’t. On the other end of the line was my friend with the two-month-old baby. She had driven with another one of our friends to the restaurant. Only when they had arrived back at their car—there was no car. Both they and another friend had been towed, for some unknown reason, why we were in the restaurant.

After some maneuvering we finally find out the cars have been towed to some unknown lot. Into my car we all get and arrive at this lot where we had been told that the cars would be released for $40 each. But the man at the lot, holding the cars, has no intention of releasing the cars for $40 each.

No.

He wants $180 each. Cash. Or the car is not getting released. Not to mention the place was, how shall I say it, shady. Dark and not well lit these two men stood next to their tow truck blowing cigar smoke all over us. Finally, my one friend calls her husband. He says he’ll be right down but it takes some time to get to the lot so we need to go retrieve the cash since he also doesn’t have $180 in cash on him at the moment.

As I’m standing there in the dark in this horrible part of town looking at this situation (which we did taken care of, eventually, for $180 in cash for each car.) all I could think was that one—it felt really surreal that it was even happening and two—I preferred the fictional version of the night that I would write. The tow truck driver would turn out to be a hero and the lot filled with crazed were-panthers who he would protect everyone from.

But, alas, he was just another crook looking to make some money off of women with no other choice but to pay him.

If you get the chance, I hope you’ll check out I’ll Be Mated For Christmas, it has the right kind of hero. I promise.

Bethany Johnson grew up one of the only humans in a pack of werewolves. She didn’t have an easy time and her self-confidence was almost non-existent. Finally, after some serious psychotherapy and the help of weight-loss surgery, she is feeling like the Bethany she has always wanted to be. But now she has to say goodbye to the werewolves in her life. Out with the old and in with the new this year…

Luke Denarius is the new Alpha of the Delta pack. He’s never met Bethany but the second he scents her he knows she is his. No way is she going off to Italy for adventure and hot sex with other men.

With the help of Madame Eve these two will find that a mating is in the works for Christmas.

Connect with Rebecca Royce

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+

You can find out more about how this ultra-sexy, multi-authored series works on the 1 Night Stand blog.

You can purchase I'll Be Mated for Christmas in print as part of Madame Eve's 1Night Stand Holiday Anthology or alone as an ebook.

Thanks so much for dropping by to share your story Rebecca! Gosh there are some real jerks out there. Glad Luke is a far sweeter kind of guy most deserving of Bethany.

W. R. [12/02-04] :: Keepin' it short.

2011-12-02T07:00:00.032-07:00

Is it just me or did this week fly by fast? So much stuff going on between catching the holiday sales, writing for my other blog—you've got to check out my beauty reviews if you love makeup and body products—and family stuff, I hope my weekend is quiet. But I doubt it. I forgot we have my SD while her mom is out of town so our Breaking Dawn date night has to move back another weekend. *mini pout*

Tomorrow I have a guestpost from author Rebecca Royce. Sunday will feature my review of North of Need and Monday I have a miniview with Laura Kaye. *phew* It's busy around here! Don't you love it? I think 2012 is going to be even busier! If you're a fellow blogger needing a co-host for an event next summer let me know. I'm spoken for in March but I think sometime in the summer would be another good time to start planning for.

Over the weekend I'm hoping to finish Jessica Rules the Dark Side and get started on The Fallen Queen. December is looking like I might not get as much of my reading goal met but I'm sure going to try. What are y'all reading this weekend? -- Rhi

Something I've been meaning to share for a while...

2011-11-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Back in October author Tara Maya sent out one of her newsletters which I always enjoy even though I've been buying her books but have yet to read them. She said to feel free to share her story and it moved me so much at the time I had to put it on hold. Today seemed like a good day for sharing it. I hope you will read it and be as touched as I was, that it will inspire you. But please also make sure you read past the jump because Tara is giving away copies of her new book and I want you to know how to get one! -- Rhi

Being Different, Being Bullied...

I was watching a classic teen movie with my friends one day -- this was when I was in highschool myself -- and enjoying the romantic antics. Then one little scene in the movie ruined it for me. A nameless side-character, wearing a huge, awkward backbrace, struggled to get a drink of water, but couldn't suceed even that simple task because the brace got in the way.
Apparently, this was supposed to be hilarious.

The scene was just a sight gag and over quickly, but I sank in my seat, unable to enjoy the rest of the movie. Actually, I didn't sink, so much as sit straight up, because I too wore a huge awkward backbrace. I had been diagnosed with scoliosis my freshman year in high school. I can still remember my disbelief when my doctor told me I would have to wear a backbrace throughout my four years of highschool. I couldn't think of a worse time stand out as different...and not in a good way. Highschool was supposed to be all about meeting boys, having fun with my friends, oh, and maybe some studying. I had been ectastic when I made the Cheerleading Dance Squad. Nothing caught the boys' eyes like wearing that signature short skirt around campus every Friday!

I cried all the way home from the doctor's appointment. Now everything was ruined. My highschool years were offcially doomed to suck.

Not so, my mom insisted. There was no reason I couldn't be on the dance squad. I didn't have to wear the brace during practice or performances, and it actually didn't interfere all that much with my movements during the rest of the day. She told me, "Don't give up on your dreams just because of a few bumps in the road."

She was right that the brace didn't stop me (physically) from dancing. But I was right that people's perceptions of me changed because I had a disability. So it became a contest between whose reality would win: Mine, where I was capable of doing anything, including dancing... or theirs, where I was nothing but a freak in a brace, whose incompetance was good only for a sight gag.

Then things got worse.

The leader of the Cheerleaders took it upon herself to make my life so miserable I would quit. Before she knew I wore a backbrace, she thought I was "terrific" and she was "so happy to have me." But after she found out I had to wear a brace, she decided I was not cool enough to be on her team. She tried everything to make me give up.

My response?

No. Effing. Way.

...Suceeding Anyway

I kept dancing. Did the pain of being rejected go away? No. It was there, and sometimes, to be honest, I felt it all come crashing back down on me again.

That's how I felt when my book kept coming back from agents and publishers, rejected. Even when they loved the book and praised my writing, they turned it down because it was too unique. Was it epic fantasy? Young adult? Paranormal romance? It had vivid and rich world-building and a vast scope of characters and battles, like epic fantasy. But the main character, Dindi, was young, and suffered a lot of problems, like being bullied, that made the story appeal to young adults. And beneath it all was a romance, for as Dindi grows into her power, she finds her enemy is the man whom she had once -- and still -- loves. So how do you place a series like that?

Once again I was told, "We have no room for you on our team."

My response?

I will find a way.

Being Different, Being Dismissed...

I did sell two other books (under a different pen name) to a traditional publisher, but I couldn't find a home for Dindi and Kavio, for my fantasy series.
Then ebooks came along and changed everything.

I created my own publishing house, Misque Press. I felt awkward and freakish being "self-published." That wasn't how books were "supposed" to be published. It was a huge disability in the book world. Most reviewers wouldn't accept indenpendently published ("indie") books and many readers were distainful of them. When I told my family I had published a book, they were excited... until they found out how I had published it.

So it became a contest between whose reality would win: Mine, where it didn't matter how a book was published, only how good that book was... or the naysayers, who said a book should be condemned without a trial.

I didn't expect to sell millions right out the gate, and that's a good thing. Because the first month, I only sold 12 books.

Yeah. Twelve.

But I didn't become a writer because I expected to get rich at it. Everybody in the world had promised me that would never, could never, happen. I didn't care. I write because I love it. I love my characters, I love my world, I love to share them. So... I just kept writing. And then the sales started building... and building.... and BUILDING.... Fans started writing in. Furious emails demanded to know when the next book would come out because the last one ended on a cliffhanger!

I will find a way.

If the overwhelming response to The Unfinished Song is any indication, I guess I did.

...Suceeding Anyway

Just like coal that gets turned into a diamond, pain can sometimes be turned into a source of strength. It all depends on what you do with it. I took the pain I remembered from highschool and turned it into a fantasy story about a girl who is told she can't dance because of who and what she is. And every time I faced another rejection, I remembered what my heroine said to herself: "Just keep dancing."
I bet there is something you've always dreamed about, something you want to do, some plan you have for yourself. And the more worthy a plan it is, the more true a dream it is, the more likely it is that you've already encountered people who have told you why it's impossible. They've told you it can't work, that it costs too much money, that it's too risky. Or maybe they've made you doubt yourself. As if this dream only works for someone else, but never for you.

Well, I just want to tell you, don't believe them.

They may tell you, "No." They may bully you. They may intimidate you. They may discourage you. They may hurt you. They may reject you.

Just. Keep. Dancing.

Want to know how to get your copy of The Unfinished Song: Root for free?

"I will give away a copy of this lovely book to the first 100 new subscribers to my list."

Which means all you need to do is get subscribed to her newsletter through this form. If you haven't started the series yet the first book is currently available for free on Kindle via the link below!

Connect with Tara

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

You can find Tara's Unfinished Song books in many places but here are the links to Amazon:

It's Monday, Get Your TV On!

2011-11-28T10:30:00.006-07:00

Unnngh...

I'm still recovering from the insanity of my holiday weekend. I think I may still be drunk from the party I went to Saturday night. I hope y'all had a really good one and didn't overspend like I did. It was a great weekend as far as Sunday night's shows went though. The big bummer is that this is going to be the last TV Monday post until January when the shows pick up again. Mostly because there are only a couple of shows that will be continuing through December. But don't worry, not only will shows we've been missing be back, I'm adding a couple of previously unfeatured shows to the list so stay tuned!

So go ahead and check out this week's schedule, watch the previews, and discuss last week's episodes. You know you need someone to dish to and I do too!

Please be aware that if you're behind there may be unmarked SPOILERS in the comments.

Wednesday:

Sunday:

(all synopsises courtesy of TVguide.com or the show's site)

American Horror Story

"Spooky Little Girl"

Season 1, Episode 9

The Black Dahlia (Mena Suvari), a famous Hollywood murder victim from the 1940s, visits the house. Meanwhile, Constance discovers more of Tate's bad behavior.

Notes: I know there are 12 episodes of AHS with episodes scheduled for Dec. 7th & 14th. Which means it's likely the season finale will fall on Dec 21st but don't quote me on that.

Once Upon a Time

"The Sheperd"
Season 1, Episode 6
David must make a choice between Mary Margaret or Kathryn; and Prince Charming's life is changed.

Notes: Any of you LOST fans notice the Apollo bars in last night's epi? ;)

And here's a teaser for January!

Review: Demon Bait by Moira Rogers

2011-11-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

Demon Bait (Children of the Undying #1) by Moira Rogers
Futuristic, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance, Demons
Ebook $3.50 (novella, SAMHAIN)
His mark could bind her forever—or finally set her free.
Children of the Undying, Book 1
Fifty years after a demon apocalypse devastated the world, summoners still bear the bulk of the blame. Marci lives in secret, hiding the gifts that could cost her a secure spot in one of humanity’s underground cities, and access to their virtual world. After all, her chances of avoiding the genetic-testing lotto are better than her chances of surviving topside.
The bastard son of a terrifying incubus, lust heats Gabe’s blood and sex fuels his magic. Innate charm and charisma help him navigate the cultural gap between the outcast town he calls home and the human settlements he infiltrates for trade. His latest mission nets him an unexpected asset—a summoner strong enough to soothe his darkest needs.
Trust a half demon, especially one who uses a lockdown to trap them together? Not in this lifetime. Yet Marci can’t resist Gabe’s offer to see her safely to a selective outcast settlement where she can live without fear. The journey alone is as dangerous as the way Gabe makes her heart race, but it could be her one hope of a real life.
If only she could be sure Gabe’s telling her the whole truth…
Warning: Contains a virtual world where humans flee to escape the demon-infested earth, a dangerously seductive half demon with sex magic to burn and a network-hacking summoner brave enough to make herself vulnerable to him.
Author Site: moirarogers.com

I need Hammer Down to be out now! (4 stars)

I generally prefer to give a short rundown of my perception of the plot when I write my reviews but the blurb for this one does a great job of it. Once again the duo that writes as Moira Rogers have built an interesting and exciting world to send their characters out into. Post-Apocalyptic tales are hot right now and the Children of the Undying is one I've been looking forward to for a while.

What didn't work for me this time was the length. It really didn't give me, personally, enough answers to the world building things I was confused about. So while I was supposed to be focusing on Marci and Gabe I often ended up sidetracked trying to figure out how it all was supposed to work. Struggling through that I ended up not feeling the attachment or care for either character I'd hoped. It's happened before and is one reason I don't usually like novellas as series openers with an occasional exception such as Rogers' WILDER'S MATE. The sexual tension is a yummy contrast to the danger element though I didn't find it enough to win me over.

While I couldn't love DEMON BAIT as a whole the set-up for the series is very promising. Looking for another post-apocalyptic romance? You might want to wait until the next in the series is available and read them back to back so you don't suffer from question overload like I am! lol If you're already a fan of Rogers you should definitely pick this up. The formula of Alpha hero and strong but still a little vulnerable heroine Rogers does so well is sure to appeal!

Other Reviews:
Brenda Hyde
Under the Covers
The Book Pushers

Notes: ARC received via the author.

Check this book out if you liked:

Weekend Reading [11/25-11/27] :: Turfection & the Dark Side

2011-11-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

I did it. I managed to prepare most of Thankgiving dinner on my own with minimal trouble. Okay so for some reason my rolls got a little too dark on the bottom, I was making gravy and trying to get everything to the table at the same time! My turkey, however, was exceptional—if I do say so myself—and my candied sweet potatoes were fabulous. That carcass up there...? Yep, that's the remains of my perfect bird. Even the hubs ate some and he's not a turkey fan. Now we get to live off of mounds and mounds of leftover meat and potatoes, veggies and cranberry sauces for the rest of the weekend. I hope you all had a lovely holiday if you're here in the states, and that no matter where you are, you're getting to put your feet up and relax with a good book over the weekend.

I actually don't have much shopping to do. Our entire extended family on either side—and honestly, everyone I seem to know—has had a tough year, so gifts are minimal. It's one of those times to just be grateful we have a home and food, all the basics that we need plus enough extra to do something small for one another. What am I getting this year? The money I'm using to host the upcoming Giftcard Giveaway Hop giveaways for my blogs. The hubs wanted to nab one of the great laptop deals yesterday so I could blog from more than set places but who wants to owe more money to the credit card companies eh? I'd rather get to giveaway some giftcardness so I can share books with my readers!

So what are you guys reading this weekend? I'm working on Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey finally. I can't believe so many people have already reviewed it on Goodreads. Granted I've had my ARC for a while now but I hate reviewing a book more than a week before it releases. Buzz is good but not if people can't remember by the time the book is available eh? Since I'm interviewing Beth in December I figured I should get the book read so I could ask good questions right? Hopefully I'll find some time to work a little more on A Clockwork Christmas too.

On that note I'm still exhausted from all the work yesterday and a turkey n' cranberry sandwich sure sounds good. *nomnomnom* Have a great weekend! -- Rhi

Pre-orders: January 2012

2011-11-23T10:45:00.001-07:00

Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

2011-11-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Young Adult, Futuristic, Zombies
Hardcover $16.99 (480 pages, DEL REY)
Ebook $9.99
Audiobook $40.00
A cyber-Victorian/steampunk romance – with zombies.
Almost two hundred years in the future, Nora Dearly lives in a world of bustled gowns, fake manners, watery tea, and uppity lords and ladies.
Thank God the zombies came to rescue her.
Dragged into the night by the living dead, Nora soon finds herself fighting for the father she thought long gone, the friend she was forced to leave behind – and the love of a handsome, noble young army captain.
Who just happens to be a walking corpse.
Author Site: liahabel.com

Dearly, Misrepresented (3 stars)

DEARLY, DEPARTED is a futuristic tale of our world remolded. In a splendidly imagined, but confusingly executed mash-up of Victorian societial norms with cyber-tech and a brief mention of steampowered machines Nora Dearly finds herself at the center of chaos. What was supposed to be an enjoyable Christmas break becomes a terrifying adventure to escape zombies only to find she has been rescued by other zombies.

Meanwhile, the father she thought was dead has been captured while trying to come to her rescue himself. He is wanted for his potential to create a vaccine for "the Laz", the sickness that makes zombies. Nora must learn to trust her living-dead rescuers and hope that the friends left behind in New London haven't been infected.

This was one of my more anticipated reads of this year and unfortunately fell very far short of my expectations. Broken down into bare bones concepts I loved the ideas that provided the world building for DEARLY, DEPARTED. A Neo-Victorian society, a secret zombie branch of the military, a romance between a pretty young woman and a mannerly undead. All very interesting and so-very-IN right now. Alas, the novel has been touted as Steampunk which it really isn't. Including airships, adding a brief mention of a steampowered machine and Victorian manners does not Steampunk make. I have to admit that was my biggest dissapointment. My other was the romance that was supposed to happen. Firstly there was NO chemistry between the characters AT ALL. She spends most of the time being terrified of him and then randomly for no apparent reason starts getting all mushy toward him.

The characters on the whole are good. Most do not get enough screentime to really let the reader get attached and the constant switching of perspectives and each chapter being a new character's first person reflection doesn't help that. The plot is extremely slow through the middle and sometimes the descriptions of clothing are distracting when so little else gets the same treatment.

On the whole I just couldn't bring myself to like DEARLY, DEPARTED. It was alright but so bogged down in the little annoying issues such as poor pacing, switching character perspectives, and general randomness it didn't work for me. If you're looking for a great YA steampunk read this one just isn't it. The zombie element is decent but the romance with zombies was a little squicky considering how they are described as falling apart. I might have to pick up the sequel DEARLY, BELOVED eventually to see if it gets any better but it currently doesn't have a release date.

Other Reviews:
A Cupcake and a Latte
Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalking Queen of the Undead
The Bookish Brunette
Book Faery

Notes: ARC received via Amazon Vine.

It's Monday, Get Your TV On!

2011-11-21T13:00:00.012-07:00

Ahhh Monday. The day I sit down and plan out my TV time for the week. Because what reader, reviewer, and blogger in their right mind would dare do anything unrelated to books?

But that's where I argue that ALL of my TV choices that I feature here have some relation to books (or the book genres featured here). Even the ones you're probably questioning heavily like Revenge and Sons of Anarchy. Did you know that these are inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo and Hamlet? Oh yeah. Those are books. Nifty huh? Maybe YOU should be tuning in too. ;)

I'm going to try and make it quick here folks... I'm super sleepy today for some reason and we have a lot of ground to cover. So go ahead and check out this week's schedule, watch the previews, and discuss last week's episodes. You know you need someone to dish to and I do too!

Please be aware that if you're behind there may be unmarked SPOILERS in the comments.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Sunday:

(all synopsises courtesy of TVguide.com or the show's site)

Castle

"Kill Shot"
Season 4, Episode 9
A sniper goes on a murder rampage in the city, and police struggle to find a motive before time runs out and another victim is killed. Meanwhile, Beckett's PTSD symptoms escalate, but she attempts to hide them from the team.

Death Valley

Get More: Death Valley, Full Episodes

"We Got This"

Season 1, Episode 12

Stu and Billy sit back and let a pair of vamps take care of a zombie.

Note: Trying to sort out the episode names and such for this show is a pain in the arse. If this is wrong info I do apologize.

Sons of Anarchy

"Burnt and Purged Away"

Season 4, Episode 12

SAMCRO must negotiate with the Irish Kings to secure the club's future.

Note: Next week is the first half of the two part season finale! Don't miss it!

Revenge

"Suspicion"
Season 1, Episode 9
Emily seeks guidance from her mentor after losing her most trusted ally. Meanwhile, Victoria finds herself all alone; and Tyler continues to cause damage.

American Horror Story

"Rubber Man"

Season 1, Episode 8

The identity of the man in the rubber suit is revealed.

Once Upon a Time

"That Still Small Voice"
Season 1, Episode 5
Henry puts himself in danger when he explores a sinkhole he hopes will lead to the fairy-tale world; and Jiminy Cricket wants to leave the family business.

The Walking Dead

"Pretty Much Dead Already"

Season 2, Episode 7

A grave threat rears its head from a surprise source; Rick and Hershel work together to avoid a dire situation; and Dale has it out with Shane.

Note: If you've missed out on any of TWD Season 2 AMC is marathoning them this Sunday (November 27th) afternoon. Check your local listings for times!

Review: Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge

2011-11-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge
Young Adult, Vampires
Paperback $8.99 (240 pages, EMBER)
Ebook $8.99
For Jane Jones, being a vampire is nothing like you read about in books. In fact, it kind of sucks. She's not beautiful, she's not rich, and she doesn't "sparkle." She's just an average, slightly nerdy girl from an ordinary suburban family (who happens to be vampires.) Jane's from the wrong side of the tracks (not to mention stuck in the world's longest awkward phase), so she doesn't fit in with the cool vampire kids at school or with the humans kids. To top it all off, she's battling an overprotective mom, a clique of high school mean girls (the kind who really do have fangs), and the most embarrassing allergy in the history of the undead, she's blood intolerant. So no one's more surprised than Jane when for the first time in her life, things start to heat up (as much as they can for a walking corpse, anyway) with not one, but two boys. Eli's a geeky, but cute real-live boy in her history class, and Timothy is a beautiful, brooding bloodsucker, who might just hold the key to a possible "cure" for vampirism. Facing an eternity of high school pressure, fumbling first dates, or a mere lifetime together with Timothy, what's a 90-something year-old teen vampire to do?
Fans of the Vladmir Tod Chronicles, You are So Undead to Me, and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side will feast on this deliciously readable, smart, and fantastically funny debut.
Author Site: caisbook.com

Should NOT be compared to Jay, Fantaskey, or Brewer! (2 stars)

Jane Jones is just your average teenaged vampire with over-protective parents and a blood-intolerance. For no apparent reason she's suddenly receiving the attentions of handsome vampire Timothy and awkward human Eli. All she really wants is to be human again, even if it means leaving her parents and younger brother behind. Meanwhile she has to juggle schoolwork and problematic peers.

I chose this book because of the comparison to one of my favorite authors and two others that I really enjoy. How could that go wrong? When your heroine and plot are as dull as dishwater and your vampire mythos is the only redeeming quality in your book... getting compared to other authors CAN be a bad thing. St. Onge's writing just isn't on par with Jay or Fantaskey and Jane doesn't have the distinct voice of Vladmir Tod. That said, if you haven't read any of these three authors and are looking for a clean-ish vampire book for a younger reader this one might be a hit!

Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to like this one. The characters were all very flat making them feel distant and the only one I could even feel any attachment to was Jane's little brother. Conceptually the vampire myth here has some decent twists but somehow manages not to feel more like a high school story about a sickly nerdy girl and less about a teenaged vampire. The title pretty much says it all.

Other Reviews:
Alexia's Books and Such...
Abnormally Paranormal
Midnight Bloom Reads

Notes: ARC received through Amazon Vine.

Check this book out if you liked:

Weekend Reading [11/18-11/20] :: Subzero Temps & Sexy Steampunk

2011-11-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ugh. We knew this time of year was coming but before Thanksgiving it just isn't fair! It's currently snowing a powdery, dry snow with whipping winds straight down from the North. Having just finally finished watching Game of Thrones I can't help but go "winter is coming". :P It wouldn't be so bad. I like snow. What I don't like is that this is when our temperature drops into the below 0 territory and the windchills hit super negative numbers. At the moment it's -4. And I needed to go grocery shopping. Doh!

I suppose the big advantage to being stuck at home is that time to read seems more likely. But at the moment my kitchen pipes are frozen and water is leaking through the pipe of my wood stove. *facepalm* Which means the hubs and I get to play amateur home repair all weekend. I hope you all are enjoying a warmer weekend than I will be!

Over the weekend I have got to get some reading caught up. I somewhat stalled out with Dearly, Departed. It's in this sort of slow section and I'm soooo bored. I'm bummed it's even happening because it started off very promising. I'm also working on A Clockwork Christmas, the featured holiday book of the week. :) So far it's purty good. I finished Stacy Gail's story which had a few flaws but was overall really good. Now I'm on P.G. Forte's story but not liking it at all. Boo! hate when that happens. Then I've got to start cram sessioning a line of books I need to review and write interviews for. Yes, I actually have gone ahead with planning a bunch of December activities for myself and then gotten too sidetracked to read the books for them. Me bad. :(

Well dearies, the tot is screaming for lunch and I really should do something about the mess of laundry downstairs. May your weekend be filled with reading and fun. I know lots of ya are heading out to see BDP1 so drop in and let me know if it's decent please 'cause I'm too broke to go and our theater will be extra packed since it's so cold. TTFN! -- Rhi

Review: Hot Guys and Baby Animals

2011-11-14T23:00:00.001-07:00

Hot Guys and Baby Animals
Photography, Animals, Humor
Print $9.99 (80 pages, ANDREWS MCMEEL)
Ebook $7.99
Are you sick and tired of studly male models showing off their perfectly sculpted muscles? Have you had enough of cuddly baby animals flaunting their perfect newborn fuzzy cuteness? We didn't think so. Shirtless guys and puppy dog eyes take over Porn for Women titles with this collection of Hot Guys and Baby Animals by Audrey Kuhner and Carolyn Newman. In addition to benefiting the SPCA, Hot Guys and Baby Animals features 40 photos of gorgeous guys and their fuzzy friends, along with tongue-in-cheek captions detailing the likes and dislikes of each guy and baby animal. Let the "ohs" and "ahs" begin as male models play with puppies, snuggle kittens, nuzzle lambs, and even coo at a few chicks (baby chicks, that is). Perhaps the Sundance Channel says it best in its review of the California calendar that started it all: "Hot guys + baby animals = genius."
Publisher Site: andrewsmcmeel.com

Cute and cuddly and totally giftable... (4 stars)

Looking for a gift for that certain someone on your list that just needs a good dose of cute baby critters that isn't four? Look no further than this adorable book from the publisher who brought us Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe.

It's simple really. Attractive—and sometimes shirtless—men holding or posing with baby animals.

From puppies and kittens to ducklings and goats (okay, there's even one who has a snake) there're more cute critters in this tome than the petting zoo. Surely someone wouldn't mind petting some of the occupants of these pages? These aren't overly artsy though each has a definite portrait feel. The model and animal(s) have their names on the opposite page with a cute little 'fact' about each. My personal favorite is Billy Ray and Georgia's "Billy Ray used to be a competitive figure skater. Georgia is a kung fu master." featuring a burley tattooed guy and a kitten snuggling up to each other. Very 'awwww' inducing.

Precious and funny, Hot Guys and Baby Animals, also benefits the SPCA which any animal lover will appreciate. I think this would be a great gift for a gal (or guy) with a great sense of humor who also doesn't mind a bit of man candy with her daily dose of cute.

Notes: Review copy received via NetGalley. Cross-posted from my other blog.

Goes great with:

It's Monday, Get Your TV On!

2011-11-14T12:00:00.002-07:00

It's Monday RhiReading fans! Time to chat about what's on the tube that falls into our favorite subjects... authors, paranormal, horror, fairytales, and sexy anti-heroes!

I've been trying to be good and catch up on reading but since I upgraded my cable service I had to spend a bit of the weekend catching up on Dexter and finally watching Game of Thrones which has me dying to read some high fantasy. Would you guys like to see these added to the TV Mondays listing?

Since we've been also trying to find time to play catch-up with The Vampire Diaries so we can make Thursday night an official TV night I just discovered that both it and The Secret Circle had their finales last week. Correct? So they'll not be on the list again until January.

Oh and if you haven't checked it out yet... pop on over to ABC Family's website to see the hilarious Pretty Little Liars/The Muppets mash-up! It takes me back to being a kindergartner playing with my rubber Miss Piggy and Kermie toys in my grandma's bathtub.

Check out this week's schedule, watch the previews, and discuss last week's episodes.

Please be aware that if you're behind there may be unmarked SPOILERS in the comments.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Sunday:

(all synopsises courtesy of TVguide.com or the show's site)

Castle

Note: No new Castle until next Monday! *sob*

Death Valley

MTV Shows

"Some Things Never Change"

Season 1, Episode 11

Carla and Kirsten make a house call to visit an elderly woman and her zombie husband.

Note: Trying to sort out the episode names and such for this show is a pain in the arse. If this is wrong info I do apologize.

Sons of Anarchy

"Call of Duty"

Season 4, Episode 11

A powerful foe threatens SAMCRO's business with the cartel.

Revenge

"Treachery"
Season 1, Episode 8
Victoria's relationship with her family deteriorates further. Meanwhile, Lydia's memory issues could prove problematic for the Graysons; and a new arrival with a connection to Emily has dubious reasons for being in the Hamptons.

American Horror Story

"Open House"

Season 1, Episode 7

Moira persuades a prospective buyer to make an offer, but Constance and Larry try to undermine her efforts. Meanwhile, Vivien and Luke (Morris Chestnut) grow closer.

Once Upon a Time

Note: No new Once Upon a Time this coming weekend. Check back next week for the new episode info.

The Walking Dead

"Secrets"

Season 2, Episode 6

Glenn becomes the keeper of a pair of secrets; Andrea develops a new skill and is forced to rely on it during a life-or-death confrontation; Rick uncovers a secret about someone close to him.

Review: A Vampire For Christmas anthology

2011-11-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

A Vampire for Christmas (anthology) by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro, and Alexis Morgan
Paranormal Romance, Anthology, Vampires, Holidays
Mass Market Paperback $7.99 (384 pages, HQN)
Ebook $6.99
It's the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow.
And they don't care if you've been naughty or nice.
Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there's no place like home for the holidays—and these dazzling vampires can't wait for an invitation.
Author Sites: laurielondonbooks.com, michelehauf.com, caridad.com, alexismorgan.com

The anthology curse strikes again! (3 stars)

It's no secret that most readers don't love anthologies. The short story format is easy to mess up and never quite manages to satisfy even series fans. For me personally I come to most anthologies with one of two purposes. Enjoying a short that ties into a series I already like or getting a feel for the writing style of an author I'm interested in and haven't tried before. A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS served a third purpose, I wanted something to get me into the holiday spirit.

[Enchanted by Blood] Set in the world of Laurie London's Sweetbloods series this holiday season is sure to please fans. Trace and Charlotte are characters I don't recall from the previous novels but Jackson makes a cameo appearance. The romance works well because the characters have a past. The holiday flavor is medium and if you're new to London's writing this is a great example of her work. (4 stars)

[Monsters Don't Do Christmas] Set in Michele Hauf's Beautiful Creatures world this quickie features Daniel, a vampire, and Olivia, the next-Celine Dion. I'm not totally new to Hauf but this is the first vampire story of hers I've read. Hauf definitely has a flair for unusual pairings and this one is very unexpected. The holiday flavor was medium but the likelyhood of the situation felt pretty weak which distracted me as a reader. (3 stars)

[When Herald Angels Sing] In a world of its own, Caridad Piñeiro's contribution has a Dickensian redemption theme. A wayward vampire, demonic pirates, and an angelic heroine all fighting for the fate of the same soul in 1930's New Jersey? Yeah, it was just too eclectic of a mix for me. Too much showing, not enough doing (unless you count the love scenes). The holiday flavor was non-existent unless you count that it's Christmas Eve. It just didn't work for me at all. (1 star)

[All I Want For Christmas] In Alexis Morgan's story, modern day Seattle is the scene where an undercover vampire cop gets tangled up in the life of a kind-hearted diner owner. His investigation of missing teens keeps bringing Eagan back to Della's diner where the family she's made for herself makes for interesting interactions. The holiday flavor on this one is high and the romance quick but cute. This one had some cheesey moments but it worked with the Christmas theme making this my favorite of the collection. (4 stars)

Overall this is an enjoyable, if highly varied, collection of shorts and I think a decent sample of each author's style. While I didn't love it, I would recommend it to my fellow Paranormal Romance readers who are in the mood for Christmas themed vampire short stories.

Other Reviews:
All Things Urban Fantasy
Melindeeloo

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.

Check this book out if you liked:

Young Adult Print Bargain Book Round Up!

2011-11-12T10:00:00.001-07:00

I'm a bit of a bargain geek when it comes to books (okay, and everything) so once in a while I spend a Saturday morning storming Amazon.com in search of sales on books from my wishlist. I've even found many of them in my local Hastings store for even less!

These are in no special order but look at the 'or Buy New' price to see how great these sales are. Most are 60% off or lower. These are printed books paperback and a few hardcovers but double check the Kindle prices as some are also on sale in that format too.

A quick note about bargain books though... sometimes (but not always) they will arrive with a black permanent marker swipe along the top or bottom edge of the pages. They don't bother me really since I'm getting a brand new book in perfect shape save for the mark which is only visible when looking at the edge. I find them less from Amazon but always on books I buy on 'clearance' locally.

W.R. [11/11-11/13] :: Tying up loose (book) ends and upcoming fun!

2011-11-11T12:00:00.003-07:00

Most years Veteran's Day passes without much fanfare for me. Not because I don't care but because I live in a military community, married into a family of veterans, and supported my husband while he served. Why should we only care on one day of the year? I recognize the sacrifices of vets every single day. When we have a little extra money for charities we usually donate to those that benefit those who have served in our armed forces because we know firsthand how much it costs physically and emotionally. Have seen the physical and emotional scars of battle in our friends and loved ones. Don't forget to be thankful to our veterans today, but try not to forget them—and their families who serve at home—every other day of the year.

This weekend I'm going to try and finish up the handful of books I've started but haven't managed to get 'round to finishing for whatever reason. The Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax is first on that list. Everyone seems to either LOVE or HATE this book. So far I've leaned mostly toward hate. I even debated not finishing it. But since I requested it for review and was halfway through I decided to finish it. Reviewing it is going to be the hard part. If I can finish that one off I'll try to get more of Dearly, Departed read. I've enjoyed it a lot but hit a point where I was getting kinda bored. Then there was other reading that demanded my attention so I set it down. There's also Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. which I kind of have been reading but not reading while I cook dinner. Somewhere I saw it compared to Stacey Jay's writing and well y'all know why I'd pick that up. So far it's not interesting me enough. *le sigh*

Since this month is all about Christmas and speculative fiction (scifi, steampunk, paranormal, horror) I've been gathering more titles for featuring and am excited to let y'all know I'm having author Rebecca Royce visit the blog at the end of the month! She'll be here to guestpost and we'll be featuring her upcoming One Night Stand series release from Decadent Publishing, I'll Be Mated For Christmas. If you have a favorite holiday tale in this vein leave me a comment—even if it's not new!—and let me know. I'm going to feature one a week through the end of the year.

On that note my dear readers I must don my cape and fly... it's time for lunch, the tot needs a nap, and I've got errands to run. TTFN and have a great weekend! -- Rhi