31 March, 2011

JUST VISITING: Monster Story author, McCarty Griffin Speaks



Please give a warm welcome to McCarty Griffin. I'm moving the spotlight over to her, as she talks a little about her writing journey, indie publishing, and her daily routine.

Find McCarty Griffin at her author page on Smashwords | Website | Twitter | Facebook



I started writing Monster Story years ago, when I was still in law school. I’ve been in love with horror since I was a small child, thanks to my mother’s penchant for watching Chiller Theater, hosted by Chilly Billy Cardille, every Saturday night and allowing her enthralled four-year-old daughter to watch with her. I grew up on all the great scary movies, featuring the wolf man, vampires, mummies, zombies and aliens. If the movie became too much for me to bear, my mother would let me hide my face in her side until I could stand to look again. To this day, I have to fight the urge to hide my eyes in my husband’s shoulder if we’re watching a particularly frightening movie, especially living dead movies.

When I hit my teens, I discovered Stephen King, who wrote what I consider the best vampire story in print, ‘Salem’s Lot. I also came to love the works of Anne Rice, Dean Koontz and Peter Straub. This steady diet of the best horror writers of our time cemented my love for a good old-fashioned monster story, whether it’s a movie or a novel.

Fast forward to my early thirties, when I lived in a back holler in West Virginia, while attending law school at West Virginia University College of Law. I had a three-hour commute every day and many times I would find myself driving all alone on the deserted back roads after dark to get home to the log cabin I lived in at the time. I don’t remember when the plot for what would eventually grow into Monster Story began brewing, but I do recall many nights staring at a big full moon in the black skies above me and wondering how I would react if indeed a beast like a werewolf suddenly jumped out into the road from the surrounding countryside. Since I was far too old to run home to my mother and hide my face in her shoulder, I decided to write the story. Naturally, I had to call it Monster Story; nothing else seemed to fit.

Like many Indie writers, I have a full and hectic life. I wake up before daylight, and while everyone else is still sleeping, I do the social media rounds for the sole purpose of marketing my books. I solicit reviews and interviews. I beg for guest blog spots and for bloggers to post my book for their readers to discover. In short, I do whatever I can to market my work in a virtual world literally flooded with Indie ebooks. Then, after I get my two children off to school and my husband leaves for work, I divide my time between my writing and my household. Sometimes the writing takes precedence, sometimes the household does.

At times, I feel as if I just don’t have the time I need to do all the things I want to do, especially writing. That’s how Monster Story ended up languishing in a drawer (and later, a computer file) for several years, until I finally realized that no one was going to give me the time to write; I had to just take the time. I still struggle with that, as I have no doubt many other writers do. However, the longer I go on with my determination to write full time and actually make a living at it, the better I get at managing my time.

Someday, I’ll find that perfect balance between life and writing. Until then, I’ll just keep trying.


Thanks McCarty, for stopping by. I can see how a steady diet of horror movies and living in a rural area can certainly spawn numerous atmospheric and spooky novels! Check out MONSTER STORY, a full-length novel and HALF-INCH, a short story both by McCarty Griffin on Smashwords today!

From Good Reads:
Christy McCauley has returned to West Virginia at last, but her homecoming quickly turns into a surreal nightmare. In the deep hollows and woods of rural Augusta County, something unspeakable is slaughtering people in the dark of night. Authorities don't know if its human or animal, or how to stop it. Christy and her friends only know they must hunt it and destroy it, before it kills again.

Buy on Smashwords




From Good Reads:
Pammy has had enough of Bobby, her abusive drunk of a husband. One lovely spring day, she decides to kill him, despite the fact that they will soon be divorced and he will, at least in the eyes of the law, be out of her life for good. Indulging in homicidal daydreams for years has led her to devise her own perfect and completely bizarre plan.

Buy on Smashwords







Tour Participation:

29 March, 2011

Glimmer by Vivi Anna Giveaway



Thanks to Vivi Anna and Bewitching Book Tours, I am offering one lucky reader a chance to win an e-copy of GLIMMER. I thoroughly enjoyed this intense novel of the fae. See my 3.5 star review, here.


About The Author:

A BAD GIRL at heart, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her original unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in ancient Egypt, or in an apocalyptic future, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

Once shot at while repossessing a car, Vivi decided that maybe her life needed a change. The first time she picked up a pen and put words to paper, she knew she had found her heart. Within two paragraphs, she realized she could write about getting into all sorts of trouble without suffering the consequences.

When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds.

On The Web | On Twitter | On Facebook



Giveaway Rules:

1. Must be 18+
2. Fill out the form
3. One entry per person
4. Ends 04.05.11, 6pm EDT




Glimmer by Vivi Anna (Blog Tour)




Book: GLIMMER
Author: VIVI ANNA
Genre: PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY
Published: 2011


Series: Nina Decker
Source: Author via Bewitching Book Tours, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Although Nina Decker’s father is one hundred percent human, her mother is not. She belongs to an ancient and rare race of people called the fae. But these fae are not those written about in fairytales, with pretty gossamer wings and fairy dust, no they are sinister, malevolent and unkind, dwelling in another realm called Nightfall. More prone to destroy than to create. Abandoned at the age of ten, to be raised by her father, Nina has never forgiven her mother for that or for ruining her father. A man of only sixty, he appears to be closer to eighty with a frail body and mind. He’s been fae-struck and is slowly fading away to nothing. This is one of the reasons why Nina has never gotten too close to any one man. She doesn’t want to seal his fate like her father’s has been...

My Review:
GLIMMER was a surprising book in several ways. The beginning starts off with a fairly gruesome attack having taken place. The victim has been brought to the hospital where Nina Decker works, and the reader is immediately thrown into the dual world that Nina lives in. One where humans exist with werewolves, but don't know of the other danger -the fae- that also share their space. Nina is half-fae, and knows that they are far from the "fairies" described in books. They are dangerous, vicious creatures, who only wear the mask of humanity when they want to.

What surprised me was that I really expected an action-packed urban fantasy, in which the heroine tried to solve the question of who attacked the victim in the hospital. But, the war that is coming is far more than this isolated experience. Even though the attack is the catalyst for the beginning of the book, the real plot is the exploration of Nina and the way that she identifies herself. She is fae, and isn't. She fights half of herself because she doesn't want to become the creature that her mother is.

Even before I reached the end of the story, I knew that I would be left wanting more. Not just because of the page length, but also because Vivi Anna's words drew me in. She has a talent for darker paranormal, and her character, Nina Decker, was a interesting person to get to know. Though the book does leave the reader hanging in terms of Nina's story having just started, I didn't feel as if it was a cliffhanger, in the traditional sense. Nina went through a transformation, and the first part of her new life had left her changed.

Hopefully, any subsequent Nina Decker novels will pick up what was started in GLIMMER. I really enjoyed the attraction between Nina and Severin Saint Morgan, the face of the "out" werewolves. I really enjoyed the glimpses of Nina's father, a cautionary tale of what becomes of a human that is fae-struck. Though he struggles with lucidity when seen throughout the novel, I thought it was interesting to have an example of the darker side of having the fae among humanity. Mostly, I would just love to return to this world that Anna has created, and take another trip through the surreal with Nina Decker.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars) Highly Recommended



Links for the author and books:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase at:
Amazon | Smashwords

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:





Tour Participation:

23 March, 2011

CONFIDENTIAL: Naomi Clark, Author of Night and Chaos Visits



Welcome Naomi Clark to Read My Mind! She was nice enough to answer a few burning questions that I had about herself and her writing. And folks, Naomi is British. You know how much of an anglophile I am, so the "cheers" at the end of her email put a smile on my face!


Find Naomi on GoodReads | Blog | Twitter


RMM: Tell me a little about yourself.

NC: Argh, this is always so hard to answer! Let's see... I live in Cambridge, I love B-movies, especially if they have giant sea animals in them, I have a big problem with chocolate and far too many books. Or not enough, depending on my mood! I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and I love anything to do with the supernatural and paranormal.


Who is one person that helped to inspire you to write Night and Chaos?

NC: This is terrible, because I can't remember her name, but I attended a writers' conference in 2008, and one of the talks was on e-publishing. I'd never considered that route for my work before, but after hearing this speaker talk with so much enthusiasm for her e-publisher, I looked into it. Night and Chaos was the first book I wrote with the sole intention of e-publishing. I wish I could remember who gave the talk, because it was highly motivational!

RMM: The rise in e-publishers and successful e-published authors is amazing. It seems like a viable alternative for some writers, and opens up more niche markets for readers.


I'd like to find out a little more about your characters. Who was the hardest to bring to life on the page? The easiest?


NC: I think Ryan was the hardest in a lot of ways. I had a very specific idea of how I wanted her to be - a character who thought a lot of things she didn't say, didn't trust many people, and wasn't necessarily a "kick-ass" heroine in that she's not a fighter or a warrior, but a survivor. It was hard to write her that way and still keep her sympathetic, as she comes across as quite detached at times. I was worried readers wouldn't be able to connect with her, so it was pretty important to me to give her a good sense of humour too!

Easiest was Smoke, one of the secondary characters. Sometimes you just happen upon a character who springs to life fully-formed, and Smoke was one of those. Right from the start of the book, his scenes were the easiest and usually most fun to write.


RMM: Are you working on anything new right now? Can you tell me anything about your current project?

NC: I'm working on the sequel to Night and Chaos, Blood and Bones. There's also going to be a third book somewhere down the line! I just finished editing a werewolf novel called Wild, which I'm hoping to see released in the very near future. Around that, I'm also working on the sequel to my debut novel, Afterlife. I'm always juggling multiple projects, and I like to write short stories as well, so I've got plenty going on!

RMM: By the way, I love the titles: Night and Chaos, as well as Blood and Bones. It certainly sounds like you have your plate full. I'm a multi-tasker too, so I completely understand!


Tidbits:

Coffee or tea?


Herbal tea - I love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste, and regular tea is just boring.

Early riser or night owl?

Both! I work full-time, so I'm up at 6.30 for my day job, then usually stay up pretty late in the evening working on my writing.

Audi sedan, Toyota Prius, Honda minivan, or Ford 4x4?

Um... I don't know anything about cars, but a minivan sounds useful.

Summer at the beach, or winter in a cozy cabin?

This is hard. I love the beach, but I prefer winter to summer, so I'll take the cozy cabin, as long as it's stocked with hot chocolate and has an open fire.


And finally, one sentence to convince readers to pick up Night and Chaos.

It's classic Urban Fantasy, but there are no vampires, no werewolves, and nothing sparkles!



From Good Reads:
Ryan McCarthy fled Applied Paranormal Theory and Tactics, her father, and her lover six years ago, desperate to build life away from the weird science and supernatural experiments of her childhood. But everything she hoped to escape comes back with a vengeance when she's kidnapped and tortured by a possessed APTT employee out for revenge on the man responsible for his possession: Ryan's father.

Now, reunited with the lover she abandoned, Ryan is forced back into a world of danger and darkness she no longer understands, pursued by enemies with powers she can't fathom. But Ryan's not entirely powerless herself. She'll have to use every trick she knows - as well as the mystic gift she hates - to stay ahead of those enemies. And that will be easier said than done.


Purchase NIGHT AND CHAOS at: Amazon




Tour Participation:

21 March, 2011

Lemniscate by Jennifer Murgia: First Chapter Reveal



HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO LEMNISCATE AND JENNIFER MURGIA!

If you are a fan of ANGEL STAR, and have been awaiting the sequel, LEMNISCATE, it's now available. And to celebrate, Jennifer Murgia is wrapping up her quote hop blog tour by releasing the complete first chapter to all of the bloggers that participated!


__________


Chapter One

It had been raining for three days straight. I rolled onto my side to face the window towards the bit of light glowing behind the thin skin of my eyelids and grew excited for a moment, thinking today the sun might finally make an appearance. I should have known better. Under normal circumstances I would have been more than happy to cinch my covers in closer, keeping the warmth in as long as possible, thawing my flannel-wrapped arm after mercilessly sending it out into the open to slam the snooze button. But not today.

I opened my eyes to Garreth standing at the glass, his skin reflecting back a pale glimmer against the dry side of the window. My warm light on the bleakest of Monday mornings was tracing the crooked lines of water with his finger, seemingly deep in thought.

“Writing love notes to me on my window?” I mused out loud, stretching my cramped legs toward the bottom of my quilted bed. I propped myself up onto my elbow as he turned around, his striking blue eyes reminded me of his perfection.

Each day I’m astounded to find him here with me.

My angel. My guardian. My boyfriend.

Garreth has been earthbound for months now, choosing to live the life of a mortal just so he can spend each and every waking moment with me. It’s not that he’s giving up an extraordinary existence, he’s just trading part of one for another. He’s still my guardian, still here to protect me. True, there isn’t anything human about him besides the charade he plays for others, and his looks, which, now that I think about it, aren’t quite human either. I remember the irregular heartbeats I felt the first time we met at school last spring. The way I would feel all weak and fluttery. Words can’t describe what he means to me. My mother would call it unhealthy and irrational if she ever learned the true depth of my emotions. Anyone would.

Garreth’s aura isn’t like the average guy running around my school or at the mall. He’s pure. Surreal. And his heart beats only for me. I should feel important and flattered, I know. But honestly, it makes me uncomfortable. Why anyone would give up the freedom of roaming the heavens to be stranded here is beyond me.

Especially for me.

“You’re awake,” he said, walking slowly to my bedside. Sitting down and looking deeply into my eyes, Garreth bent to kiss me good morning. His hand rested gently on my cheek, allowing me to feel the exceptional warmth of his skin, his soft touch nearly lulling me back to sleep.

“Oh, no you don’t. It’s time for you to get up.”

“Please tell me it’s Saturday,” I murmured, forcing my face into my pillow.

“Unfortunately, it’s Monday and unfortunately again, we have a calculus test today.” Garreth nudged my ribs and I couldn’t help giggling.

“Ok, ok! I’m up!” I smiled into his chiseled face. He looked as handsome as always. His sandy hair, tousled as usual, hung seductively over his brilliant blue eyes. My eyes traced the strong bridge of his nose, which led to his perfect lips, and I let my eyes rest there for a few minutes. Picking up on my thoughts, he bent lower. I could smell the warmth of his skin, fragrant and spicy, as if he’d just showered with an amazing fragrance not yet discovered and bottled. It was his scent, an incense of sorts that belonged only to him and gently surrounded him like his aura. It made me dizzy, but I loved it. I closed my eyes as his lips rested softly on mine and my arms wove up and around his neck to keep him longer.

“Test? Remember?” He grasped my hands, still clasped behind his neck, and uncurled my fingers with a gentle strength, bringing them to rest at my sides. “Later . . . later you can kiss me and not let go,” he whispered softly into my hair and then stood up.

“Of course you’ll ace this test. You have infinite knowledge.” I was being sarcastically playful, and Garreth rolled his eyes.

“I’ll make sure I get a few wrong.”

“Gee, thanks,” I responded.

I could hear my mother stirring down the hall. Within minutes she’d be padding softly in this direction to her shower and stop at my door along the way, urging me to wake up. She’s not aware that I’m usually up by this point, nor is she aware that Garreth is the one to wake me before she ever gets the chance to.

A dresser drawer scraped shut, usually Garreth’s clue for a silent, celestial exit, knowing twenty minutes from now he’d be knocking on the kitchen door to take me to school. I kissed him goodbye with one last chance to see the blue of his eyes sparkle like diamonds. Like clockwork, my mother’s knuckles rapped at my door.

Only twenty minutes longer.

That’s all I have to wait.

Twenty minutes.


__________



Jennifer has also revealed the prizes that one lucky quote hop commenter can win:










Nice, right? There's still time to check out the complete list of quote hop blogs, here, and comment before the end of today, March 21st, to be in with a chance to win.
Visit my quote, here

Purchase LEMNISCATE at: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

16 March, 2011

Best Seller for a Day: Irish Moon by Amber Scott

Book: IRISH MOON
Author: AMBER SCOTT
Genre: HISTORICAL ROMANCE/FANTASY
Published: December 2010


Series: none
Source: Author, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Druid Magick... Breanne grapples with the old ways, her mentor murdered before she masters her talents. The stranger washed ashore must be the key to proving murder.
Knight Errant... Ashlon made a vow to bury the Bloodstone, it's horrific past, it's secrets, in the farthest reaches of Ireland.
Fate's Twisted Course... Passion binds them but betrayal will test every belief under an Irish Moon.


My Review:
IRISH MOON has mystery and romance, in a historical setting that I don't spend nearly enough time reading. Breanne, Ashlon, and the rest of Amber Scott's cast of characters, exist in 1300's Ireland. Breanne has had magic training, and when her mentor is found dead, she must figure out who killed him, and why.

I think it is safe to say that this is a paranormal romance, but a lite version. More like magical realism, in that there are paranormal elements, but in a largely historical setting, where the magic is peppered into the story and becomes part of the plot, not the central vision. I like that IRISH MOON has much to do with the mystery and the developing relationship of the main characters, Breanne and Ashlon. It's safe to say that I really enjoyed following their relationship.

Though, Breanne is unsure at first, about Ashlon's part in her mentor Heremon's death, she can't help the attraction that she feels on first sight of him...and neither can Ashlon. But, what makes their story so likeable is that Scott doesn't try to sell it as a love at first sight. Yes, they feel an attraction, but as with the magical aspect, it doesn't become the only facet of the plot.

I just had a good time reading IRISH MOON. I was able to immerse myself into the world that Scott created. I don't spend that much time reading about 14th century Ireland, but the dialog, the description of the setting, and the way the interpersonal relationships were conducted, all ring true. The result is a delightful highland tale that will catch the attention of readers who enjoy the mix of Irish history, mystery, magic, romance and suspense.

4.5/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars) Highly Recommended



Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:





Purchase IRISH MOON on Amazon

Help Amber Scott move up the Amazon bestseller charts by buying IRISH MOON for only $.99 today, March 16th, only.

Check out the Best Seller For A Day website for details on how to get a 100% rebate on 2 other great novels, as well as being entered to win Amazon Gift Cards. Support Amber Scott, indie authors, and participate in the Best Seller For A Day program on Saint Patrick's Day!

15 March, 2011

CONFIDENTIAL: Author Interview with Lindsey Leavitt (Blog Tour)




I'm happy to welcome YA and MG author, Lindsey Leavitt to Read My Mind today. She's written PRINCESS FOR HIRE, as well as the very different, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD, which just came out from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. Her latest book tackles some hard subjects, such as Multiple Sclerosis and OCD, while also having a fair amount of humor mixed in.

Find Lindsey Leavitt at: Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook




RMM: Tell me a little about yourself and SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD.

LL: Hi. I’m Lindsey. I like writing books and answering interviews about my books. I also like my husband and kids and family and friends and books and being outside and playing and reading and.. stuff. Also, coke slurpies. Not in that order, because coke slurpies would probably be higher on the list.

SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD is a book about first love, first loss, and spandex. Not too much spandex. Just enough to be tasteful.

RMM: I noticed that your first novel, PRINCESS FOR HIRE, was published by Disney/Hyperion. Was the publishing process this time around any different? Was it an easy transition to a different house?

LL: It was an easy transition because the books are so different, which impacts the editorial process all the way to book marketing. PRINCESS FOR HIRE is a tween fantasy, so I enjoyed mixing up all the world building with that series with the every day high school setting of SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD. I have more books coming out with both publishers, and both houses have been super wonderful and cooperative.

RMM: Did you come up with the title, Sean Griswold's Head? If not, what was the original title?

LL: Yep, I came up with the title before I knew what the book was even about. My publisher and I considered changing the title for awhile, but after dozens of emails, we couldn’t decide on one that worked. And I think it does work. It’s quirky, sure, but so is the book.

RMM: If you are working on something new right now, can you tell me a little about it?

Yes! The next book in the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series, THE ROYAL TREATMENT, comes out in May and I’m finishing up the third and final book for that now.

I also recently sold another YA contemporary called AUTHENTICALLY VINTAGE, about a girl whose boyfriend cheats on her with his cyber wife so she decides to go vintage—forgoing 21st century technology and accomplishing a list her grandmother wrote at 16.

RMM: A little more on your characters in SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD. Who was the hardest to bring to life on the page? The easiest?

LL: Payton was the hardest, because we’re very much in her head (despite the title) for the whole book, and sometimes she makes choices the reader might not like. I tried to make her sympathetic, even when she was being annoying or bratty or mean. Easiest? Mmmm, probably Payton’s brother Trent. He’s not in a lot of scenes, but I love him. I don’t think I revised any of his scenes that much—he just kind of came out the way he is.

RMM: Do you find yourself including any similar themes or character traits in each one of you books?

LL: I guess I do a lot of coming-of-age stories. I chose to put a dandelion on my website because I think it symbolizes the teen years so well. And there’s humor in most of my writing, mostly because I need some release of tension while I’m writing the story.

Tidbits:

Coffee or tea?


Neither. Milk. Skim.

Early riser or night owl?

Night owl 100%

Audi sedan, Toyota Prius, Honda minivan, or Ford 4x4?

Can I amend to Toyota minivan? Because that’s what I drove in high school. You know the blue previa Juno drives? That was my EXACT car, except I broke the cool fin on the garage door.

And finally, Have you ever had a Sean Griswold's Head (a person or music or other item used to focus your thoughts that quickly becomes an obsession)?

I’ve had quite a few. My current one is bubble pop on facebook and I use it to avoid my ever growing email inbox. Ooh! Bubbles!


RMM: Thank you Lindsey, for taking the time to answer a few questions for my readers!




I really enjoyed my first foray into a Lindsey Leavitt novel. Click title to see my 4.5 star review of SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD .

From Good Reads:
According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

Book Review: The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker

Book: THE EMPEROR'S EDGE
Author: LINDSAY BUROKER
Genre: FANTASY
Published: December 2010


Series: Planned series
Source: Author via Book Lovin' Bitches E-Book Tours, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad overwhelmed.

Worse, Sicarius, the empire's most notorious assassin is in town. He's tied in with the chaos somehow, but Amaranthe would be a fool to cross his path. Unfortunately, her superiors order her to hunt him down. Either they have an unprecedented belief in her skills... or someone wants her dead.


My Review:
This is the second book that I have read by Lindsay Buroker in a very short time, and it certainly won't be the last. From previous experience, I knew to expect adventure, a little danger, great characters, and a multi-faceted story line to go along with Buroker's engrossing writing. I wasn't let down. In fact, I think I liked THE EMPEROR'S EDGE just a little bit more than I did the first book, ENCRYPTED.

While this book takes place in roughly the same world as ENCRYPTED, the timeline is years later, and the planet is a different one in the overall empire. The assassin, Sicarius, who had a supporting role previously, now gets his own book. Here, he teams up with Enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon. The Emperor's life is in danger, and some of his most trusted associates have betrayed him. Working behind the scenes, and largely unknown to the Emperor, Lokdon and her "team" must find a way to thwart a possible coup, while learning to trust each other.

Buroker has a really attractive writing style to me. Though, the female heroine gets to show everything from her point of view, Buroker makes excellent use of dialog to further the plot, as well as create relationships between the characters. I also like how she makes her heroines attractive to smart readers. There's no dumbing down at all. In her first book, the heroine was a cryptographer, and in this book, she is a law enforcement officer. There are times when Lokdon is quite vulnerable and unsure; unsure of herself, how well her plan will work, and whether she can get her team to work cohesively. However, she always comes off as resourceful, and even stands up to Sicarius, a notorious assassin.

I would definitely recommend THE EMPEROR'S EDGE to any reader that likes fantasy and adventure. Though the romance angle isn't played up too much, I think that anyone who has a romantic heart would enjoy the journey that Lokdon, Sicarius, and the rest of the characters take in this book. And, I'm happy to know that Buroker has more books planned for the future.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommended, if you liked:

StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw
Soulless by Gail Carriger


Links for the author and books:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads

Purchase at:
Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Amazon

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:




Tour Participation:

11 March, 2011

Book Review: The Shifters of 2040 by Ami Blackwelder

Book: THE SHIFTERS OF 2040
Author: AMI BLACKWELDER
Genre: SCIENCE FICTION/FUTURISTIC
Published: October 2010


Series: THE HUNTED OF 2060 #3
Source: Author via Book Lovin' Bitches E-Book Tours, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Set in Alaska in 2040, Melissa Marn and Bruce Wilder must work under the iron fist of the SCM, while still trying to maintain humanity. Discovering a world of shifters and hybrids, the scientists must struggle with human prejudice and betrayal. With the original ancestors, dubbed shifters, still living on earth, humans are in the midst of a fifteen year old war. As the eldest hybrids, Unseen and Diamond, learn about humans the hard way, with the loss of loved ones and sacrifices, love on planet earth proves challenging.

My Review:
Ami Blackwelder has created a rich and enthralling world in THE SHIFTERS OF 2040. Also, a deadly and frightening one for the alien race of shifters that had come to the planet Earth in 2020. Her novel explores deeper themes of the human spirit and what we are capable of, when we allow total fear and prejudice to control our actions.

There are a multitude of characters in which the reader is allowed to experience their life and point of view. Though it might seem disorienting to switch from character to character for some readers, I liked the affect. Blackwelder has chosen her characters, so that each kind of "player" in her field gets a chance to influence the reader. From the scientist that feels that her experimentation is the only way to combat the "shifter" invasion, to the military general whose rhetoric and power comes close to despotic, to the shifters themselves that don't seem as dangerous as the humans believe them to be.

I would point out that this novel is heavy on the science. In fact, some of the experimentation that the doctors are doing, as well as the shifter DNA dynamics are so well discussed that I could only guess at the research that was done by the author. This did not put me off in any way. I enjoy reading science-fiction, and the world shown in THE SHIFTERS OF 2040 is very like the one we live in, so much so, that it seems all the more frightening for the possible reality that it portrays. This is the perfect novel for someone who enjoys a detailed look into the human reaction and offensive toward a species that did nothing more than come to our planet.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars) Highly Recommended


Links for the author and books:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase at:
Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:





Review Copy Provided by and Tour Participant of:

08 March, 2011

Book Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Book: SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD
Author: LINDSEY LEAVITT
Genre: CONTEMPORARY YA
Published: March 2011, BLOOMSBURY USA CHILDREN'S BOOKS


Series: none
Source: Publisher, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object—an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas—it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking—er, focusing on—Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.


My Review:
The first thing that came to mind, when I sat down to write this review, was that I quite enjoyed SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD. Lately I've been reading more contemporary YA, mostly courtesy of a fantastic marketing publicist at Bloomsbury. I haven't been disappointed yet. Lindsey Leavitt takes a sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-breaking, sometimes romantic, and sometimes serious look at the toll Multiple Sclerosis can take on a teenage girl and her family.

Peyton Gritas is the last in her family to be told of the debilitating disease that her father has been diagnosed with. Though, I thought that her character reacted in a fairly spoiled way to the announcement, Leavitt really captures the emotion that is involved in finding out that your whole world is about to change. Not only that, but I found myself really invested in the family dynamics that were shown throughout the book. Peyton has an older brother that doesn't live at home, and her other brother is in college. Even though her second brother comes home to attend a local college, there is still a definite difference in how the two are affected.

The story is told from Peyton's point of view, and it's in her head that the reader understands what an off-spring might have to experience when their parent suddenly loses the armor of omnipotence. Though her brothers are going through a similar experience, Peyton is the closest to the fallout. She still lives at home, and she is burdened with the knowledge that certain things her father used to do, are things that he can no longer do. And, all of this is complicated by her OCD.

Leavitt has written a very entertaining novel that explores the psychological affects of a teenager dealing with her father's disease. Even with the very somber theme, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD has many light-hearted moments, and I liked being included on Peyton's journey of acceptance, as well as the romance that developed between her and Sean Griswold.

4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4.5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales


Links for the author and books:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase at:
Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Amazon

Available formats: Hardcover | E-Book

Challenge Participation:

Kindle Contest From Paranormal Romance Author Moira Rogers



A while ago, the awesome author duo known as Moira Rogers, hosted a contest that posed the question: Vampire Lumberjack or Werewolf Bootlegger? Sides were chosen, and comments were left. Some trash-talking ensues, as is expected, and good-natured fun was had by all of the participants. Why argue a side? Because every comment that was left on every blog that featured a post went into the hat to win... A Kindle e-reader.

And now, Moira Rogers is at it again. This time, there is no trash-talking involved. Cause some people might not be so good at that. Just comment. On this post or any of the other blog posts to have your name go in the kitty. Also, here's another picture of Roger's newest hero, Wilder. You're welcome.


Moira Rogers says:
Want to win a brand new Wi-Fi Kindle 3? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you can have your chance! For more chances to win, visit the main contest page.

Every participating blog you visit gives you another chance to win!
This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo. For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post. Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.


Be sure to check out all of the details first.



Bloodhounds, Book 1
Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication—keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

Product Warnings
This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

See my review, here.


Wanna Purchase Wilder's Mate? (Available March 8th)
Barnes and Noble | Samhain Publishing | Amazon

05 March, 2011

Book Review: Cop Appeal by Ava Meyers

Book: COP APPEAL
Author: AVA MEYERS
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/EROTIC ROMANCE
Published: December 2010


Series: Red Hot Cops #2
Copping to It: Red Hot Cops #1

Source: Author, no other compensation given for an honest review.

From Good Reads:
People used to call her Sure-Thing-Sarah, but the only thing Sarah Larson’s sure about these days is her continuing desire and love for undercover cop Luke Anderson. Only Luke comes from money, and he’s the most honorable and sexually adventurous man she knows. Four years ago, she committed the biggest mistake of her life--fearing she wasn’t good enough for Luke, she left him to marry another cop. One, it turns out, who’s dangerously possessive.

Now, a year after her divorce is final, Luke is back and ready to show Sarah exactly what she’d been missing all this time. He’ll start by accepting her offer of mind-blowing sex in the event her marriage ever ends. Since Sarah’s a woman of her word, she gives in to Luke’s demands. For two days, she commits herself to pleasuring him and to being pleasured in return.

Eventually, Sarah’s old fears rise up to haunt her, but she’s seen the happiness she adds to Luke’s life. Their physical bond is spectacular, but there’s humor, affection, and tenderness there, too...


My Review:
Ava Meyers returns to the RED HOT COPS series with another good read that gives a taste of a woman's fantasy to do slightly naughty things with the man that she has desired for some time. Luke, the third participant in the menage that happens in COPPING TO IT, makes a return appearance as that man. As in the first book in the series, there is a certain amount of danger that lurks in the background, while the two characters explore and fulfill their sexual attraction to each other.

Sarah, the primary feminine character, is well-defined. She has a past that is revealed, but not dumped on the reader. A key phrase, one that haunts her about her reputation, is speckled throughout the novella, as a sort of subliminal reminder of both sides of her desire and fear of moving forward with Luke. Aside from that, there is also her ex-husband that is a much more tangible danger. Though he doesn't make a real appearance as a deterrent to Luke and Sarah's relationship until the end, his presence as one of Sarah's all-too real fears gives spice to the encounters that she and Luke have.

I liked that Meyers stayed away from using Luke's job in an undercover cop situation, as the seminal plotline. As with the first book in the RED HOT COPS series, there is a degree of naughtiness and sexual fantasies coming to fruition, but the different slant on why the two characters are thrown together, kept me from feeling that the book mirrored its companion novella too closely, and distinguished itself as a stand alone piece of writing.

COP APPEAL is a good addition to the RED HOT COPS series, and I enjoyed this, slightly longer than the first, novella. I think that other readers who enjoy seeing an man in uniform, out of it, while being able to experience a little bit of a "forbidden fantasy" type plot (there's another orchestrated m/f/m scene), will have fun with COP APPEAL in particular, and the RED HOT COPS series as a whole.

3/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 10.5/15 (3 stars)

Recommended, if you liked:

Copping To It by Ava Meyers
Never have I Ever by Alisha Rai
Talk Dirty to Me by Ginny Glass


Links for the author and books:
* Website (also writes under: Virna DePaul)
* Twitter
* GoodReads
* Facebook

Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* All Romance E-Books
* Amazon
* Smashwords

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:

Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

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