Butterfly-o-Meter Books

#RAWBL: We're Reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green~ May 18 - 25

2013-05-18T00:00:00.000+03:00

Hey everyone! This is Beck and Livia's weekend fun, #RAWBL aka Read-Along Weekends with Beck & Livia. That's right, read-along! Fun, right?

The Title: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Next up:

May 25: The Hunt (The Hunt #1) by Andrew Fukuda
June 8: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
June 15: XVI (XVI #1) by Julia Karr
June 22: Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger

If you wanna check out all the titles scheduled so far, look in the footer of my blog, on my Google Calendar, they're all written up there.
Since there were some titles I didn't get to last year, I thought I'd re-do them starting now. New titles will be added to help motivate me into keeping up my reading schedule and keep track of authors and series I love. It's so easy to get caught up in the new releases, and I find I'm lagging behind on the ones I've been reading.
So for now, we'll do a sort of catch up RAWBL, lol :D

The How To:
- Join the RAWBL of the week anytime from Saturday 3 PM [GMT] to next Saturday at the same time.
- Read any sort of copy you have of the title (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, ARC/review copy if you have it and didn't get around to it...), we're all reading it at the same time! This is not a competition, so take your time and enjoy it.
- Tweet once during your #RAWBL reading using the hashgtag #RAWBL if you want to make it official, it can be whatever you wanna tweet except a spoiler, lol, we just want to know you're there with us
- Posting a review of the read? Let me know and we'll do a RAWBL Review link-up! Or just post your review's link in the comments section of mine or the weekly post announcing that title :D

Hoppity Hop Galore #31: Summer reading favs...

2013-05-17T05:15:00.000+03:00

Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book??

Hmm... I don't like summer. It gets super hot here, like unbearable heat, air feels hot as you breathe. I hate summer, I really do. Spring and fall are my thing. But anyway, due to my hate of summer, I tend to read winter stories or stories that include cool climate. Seriously, don't laugh! I don't mean winter holidays stories (that I rarely if ever read anyway), but just winter/cold climate stories. Those are my summer favs :D

» Click to show the #FF Linky List.. «

What about you guys? Lemme know in the comments or link me to your #FF. And don't forget to hop around and show some love to the bloggers xD

Book-o-Sphere Flutters: Virtual Book Tours - the insider's guide ~ I

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000+03:00

While ~~stalking~~ visiting blogs through the #FF last week, Angela and myself ran into each other. To make a long story short, after some chatting on the topic, she suggested I should write something like a guide on book tours.
I thought about it and realized while some of us have made up our minds about things, some of our bloggy friends might not find enough info on things that easily. And without really knowing what's up with something, it's really difficult and unwise to make up your mind about it, I think.

So I thought I'd share some of what I've learned through time. Take it as tips or ranting glories - whatever works for you.
For a wealth of knowledge on many things blogging-related, I refer you to Parajunkee's Book Blogging 101. I'm not entirely positive, but she might have covered every topic imaginable and she answers questions. So if you have questions about things, chances are she has a cool post on it already.
But just in case you wanna ask me, please do go ahead, here's the form. I'll do my best to share my knowledge on the topic, give my opinion, etc. This is my weekly rant of glory on book blogging things I'm either told or think would be of interest to other book bloggers or readers. Sometimes it might be just titles that are coming out next week, or rants on things, or the random dots gif... okay, it probably won't be the dots gif.

So, today's topic is

Virtual Book Tours

You've surfed around book blogs, you've seen the posts, maybe you've made your mind up about them. I know I have. I love book tours. But what are they?

What are they?

A virtual book tour is an online bookish event that usually consists of a number of book blogs hosting some book-related happening on the topic of the book that's being toured. It can have more fun events attached to it, like a Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest party, giveaways etc. If you've seen some content related to the same book on more then one blog on the same day, or on consecutive days - yep, chances are they're part of a tour for that title. But if you're still wondering, there are often pointers to the fact that this post is part of a book tour.

What are the signs?

Most often you'll see a tour graphic that shows up in all posts that are part of that tour. It will spell out the duration of this particular book tour, the title it's for, maybe who organized that tour.
Depending on what type of content that blog is hosting, you might see disclaimers stating that this is part of a tour, maybe some labels attached to the post that make it obvious it's a book tour appearance. I consider it a good practice to make it obvious that this post is part of a book tour, and to point out somehow who's organizing it: the tour graphic, a link to the schedule of the while thing, labels to indicate the fact. I do all three, for instance.

How to become part of one?

I'd say there are two main ways you can become a host on a tour.
1) You've already signed up -or you sign up- as host for one (or more) tour organizers (like Bewitching Book Tours, Parajunkee Book Tours, Bookish Brunette Book Tours, Xpresso Book Tours, Jitterbug PR, etc). Each time they're organizing a tour, or some short event (release day thing, cover reveal, etc) they send out invites to all of their hosts to join this thing they're scheduling now. You reply to that invitation, state the dates you have free in that interval, the kind of content you're willing to host (see some examples of stops below). They pick the hosts they deem fit out of the ones that signed up for this tour/even they're planning, then they get back to you to let you know that you're part of the tour and on this date you'll have this kind of stop - always from the dates and types of content you offered to do.
2) Some author/publicist emails you with the invite to participate in the event they're planning, book tour or some such, and they give you the info you need and the way to sign up for it. Again, you decide what dates and content you're offering to do. They put together the schedule, let you know when and what you're doing, and that's it.
In both cases, I recommend you keep a blog-schedule somewhere (I use Google Calendar) and make a note of that stop on the date you're doing it. These things can be easy to lose track of, and it's bad manners to get forgetful after offering to do something.

It's my choice?

It's always, always, always your choice. You offer the dates you're willing to do, the content, the terms.

Does it mean the same content?

I've seen some say that book tours look almost spamy, because it's the same content shown over and over again. Most often and regularly it's not. It really depends on you as a host what content you offer to or are willing to host.
Sometimes you're given a boilerplate of the info that you're supposed to put up and that's it, but I for one never do tours like that. I don't call that a tour, it's like a press release of sorts being sprouted out on many blogs ie channels at the same time. It's my blog, if you want to set up an appearance on it, you'll abide by my rules, first of which is original content. I do it, you'll do it if you wanna make an appearance. Frankly, I'd advise you do the same. Is it easy to just copy/paste something and have that date all solved with a cool post? Yeah, I guess. But unless it's the type of content that will always be the same since it's basic info (spotlights, excerpts maybe) then it should always be original.
Guest posts, for instance? It's either original or I'm not posting it on my blog. I can't be sure someone won't use it again in the future, but most people who do these things know that's crap online manners. You're a writer. I trust you to come up with some 500 original words of your own if you wanna do a guest post. It looks bad when you seem to not be able to do that, considering writing is what you do...

This is part I of my (uber-long) insider's guide to book tours. Tune in on May 23 for part II, where we'll talk about what types of tour stops you can do and my take on them. And, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them. This might or might not tun into a weekly ranting glory habit, day to be determined.
We shall see.

Have a fab Thursday!

Spotlight: Hold Me Down Hard by Cathryn Fox + Excerpt

2013-05-15T00:00:00.000+03:00

Hold Me Down Hard

By Cathryn Fox

Editions: ebook

Published: May 13th 2013 by Entangled: Flirt

Genre: Adult Contemporary / Romance {Hot}

When Eden Carver, Iowa farm girl turned NY actress, decides to seduce the sexy cop next door, she begins to wonder if she’s bitten off more than she can chew.　

The last thing Officer Jay Bennett wants is to cross a line with the sweet and innocent country girl—no matter how much he’d like to help himself to a nibble. Not only are they in the friendship zone, a naïve girl like Eden doesn’t belong in his dangerous world.　

But when she asks him to help her rehearse lines, and things go from simmer to boil, he finds himself doing the one thing he swore he’d never do.He knows he needs to walk away from temptation, but when sweet little Eden bites back, it tilts his world on its axis.

Because biting back changes everything.
~ Entangled

" Maria frowned. “Are you sure he doesn’t have a girlfriend somewhere?”
“Positive.”
Janie arched an inquisitive brow. “Maybe he just isn’t commitment material.” She rolled her eyes and added, “Typical playboy.”
“You could be right,” Eden said, nodding in dismay.
Maria blinked dark lashes over hopeful eyes. “Maybe you could reform him. Prove to him you’re the one and only girl for him.”
Eden blew an exaggerated breath. While she would love to do just that, she wasn’t sure how to go about it. Nor was she even sure if she could tame him, considering the amount of women she’d seen coming and going from his place over the last three years. Maybe he just wasn’t interested in long-term with anyone.
“Yeah,” Angie said. “Show him just how good you two can be together.”
“How? We’re friends and he just doesn’t seem interested in anything more.”
“Then make him interested,” Janie said.
Eden planted her elbow on the table and rested her forehead in her palm. “Make him? How am I supposed to that?”
“He helps you rehearse your scripts, right?”
“Yeah. What does that have to do with anything?”
Across the table from her, Maria giggled and shared a conspiratory look with Janie. Janie winked at her as Angie reached over and pulled Eden’s palms from her face and handed her a much-needed drink.
“It has everything to do with it,” Maria said.
Wondering what she was missing, Eden took a big sip of her daiquiri and leaned back in her chair. “You two want to enlighten me?”
Janie rolled her big brown eyes and her voice was teasing when she asked, “God, Eden, do I have to spell everything out for you?”
“Apparently.”
“Get your ass over there right now and ask him to help you rehearse.”
Frustrated, Eden threw her arms up in the air. “He runs lines with me all the time and it’s never made him notice me before. What makes you think this time will be any different?”
Janie leaned forward, a mischievous grin curling her painted lips. “Because this time, sweet, naïve Eden, you’re going to write the script.” "

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

About the Author & Links:

Cathryn is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. Cathryn also writes Young Adult novels under Cat Kalen and co-writes paranormal romance as Taylor Keating.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Guest Post: Michael Knost + Excerpt: Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy by Michael Knost (ed.) + Giveaway

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000+03:00

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy

By Michael Knost (ed.)

Editions: ebook, paperback

Published: May 14th 2013 by Seventh Star Press

Genre: Collection of Essays / Interviews

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews by and with many of the movers-and-shakers in the industry. Each contributor covers the specific element of craft he or she excels in. Expect to find varying perspectives and viewpoints, which is why you many find differing opinions on any particular subject.

This is, after all, a collection of advice from professional storytellers. And no two writers have made it to the stage via the same journey-each has made his or her own path to success. And that’s one of the strengths of this book. The reader is afforded the luxury of discovering various approaches and then is allowed to choose what works best for him or her.
~ Jitterbug PR

Writers Workshop Excerpt

" “Nothing fills a page faster than dialogue,” the writer said.

There it is, the blank page or screen, the intimidating and recurring challenge every writer must face. The temptation is to fill that page as quickly as possible, to advance the narrative however you can. Often the easiest way to do that, even for writers who are not masters of dialogue, is to get the characters talking. A few A few writers are even bold enough to begin novels or stories with a line of dialogue, something I don’t recommend unless you possess the skills of the early Robert A Heinlein, who began his story “Blowups Happen” with the suspenseful line: “Put down that wrench!” Orson Scott Card also opened his popular novel Ender’s Game with a piece of dialogue that immediately rouses the reader’s curiosity: “‘I’ve watched through his eyes, I’ve listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one.” Writing good and convincing dialogue is usually enough of a challenge without relying on it to hook a reader right at the beginning of one’s story. Writing dialogue, whatever the difficulties, is generally easier than, for example, crafting descriptive passages, offering insights into a character’s
psychology, creating vigorous and absorbing action scenes, or presenting necessary exposition in a graceful way.

Writers who harbor dreams of scriptwriting may be especially prone to fill pages with dialogue, but others also succumb, partly because dialogue is a shortcut and a very useful one. Sometimes a few well-chosen words of conversation can accomplish as much in a story as pages of description and exposition. There are also a fair number of readers who are more absorbed by stretches of repartee than by beautifully and poetically rendered descriptions. (Writers meet these people all the time; they’re the ones who tell you they skip all the dull parts, often meaning those carefully wrought passages that cost you so much effort.) Better just to cut to the chase, or in this case, drop in on the conversation.

The strength of dialogue—namely that it can be a useful shortcut—is also its weakness. Writers who rely too much on dialogue risk leaving too much out. The writer may hear the characters clearly and easily envision the scene, but that doesn’t mean that the reader will. (In a review of a novel some years back, Joanna Russ wrote that passages in that book seemed to be largely about names drinking cups of coffee, noticing the designs of ashtrays, or riffing on the furnishings in a room, the characters were so indistinguishable.) The beginning writer is likely to produce dialogue in which the reader will find it hard to tell one character from another. The useful shortcut can produce a story that is sketchy, in which too much has been left out. "

I hated books.

I hated reading. I hated math. I hated English. I hated biology. I hated everything about school. Except time on the playground…and obviously lunch.

Every new year of school I was amazed that my teachers promoted me to the next grade—I always thought I would be held back at every level.

Things were no different when I entered the fifth grade. But after a few weeks, my teacher, Bill Marino, pulled me to the side, handed me a worn paperback, and said, “I’d like you to read this.”

“Come on,” I said, exaggerating ocular disdain. “I don’t want to do a book report or anything.”

Mister Marino shook his head. “You won’t need to turn in a book report. In fact, while reading this you will be totally exempt of all homework—all you have to do is have a short conversation with me about what you read.”

I tried to read his face. “Conversation?”

“Yeah, just tell me what you thought of the book.”

“And I won’t have to do any homework while I’m reading this?” I said.

“That’s right.”

That night I began reading with the full intention of making the experience last as long as I could so I wouldn’t have to worry about homework for a few weeks. However, I quickly found that I couldn’t put the book down. My Theater of the Mind’s Eye was producing images and sounds I never knew existed. I found myself in a whole new world…and I loved it.

The next morning I returned the book to Mister Marino and we talked about the story, the images, the sounds, the smells—It was as though I’d just returned from some exotic vacation.

He told me the book was mine to keep and placed a large box on his desk filled with classic science fiction paperbacks. “Better get started,” he said, sliding box toward me. “Same deal—as long as you are reading one of these, no homework.”

I devoured them all…Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, and dozens of others. I was hooked.

The name of that first book was Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. I always laugh about the irony in that title because it became my very own childhood’s end.

When I first had the desire to write, I had nowhere to turn except to fall back to those stories I had read all through the years. Isn’t it funny how we somehow retain structure, grammar, and style via means of literary osmosis from the things we read? We may not understand why we do certain things as we do them, but we know when it sounds or looks right.

But that will only take you so far. At some point you’re going to have to learn how it works. Let’s be honest, you can take a pocketknife and start cutting up a frog on your own to see how biology works, but without guidance (a teacher or instructor) all you will achieve is a bloody mess…and a dead frog. You can expect the same thing in writing.

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction & Fantasy was put together with the person in mind who wants to see how fiction ticks, but can’t find the literary biologist to help them dissect it step-by-step. It gives you the instruction you need without the homework. It doesn’t hamper creativity. It doesn’t give you formula. It doesn’t offer a bunch of rules for you to obey.

But it will teach you how to avoid making a bloody mess by finally breathing life into the dead frog.

by Michael Knost

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depository

Featuring essays and interviews with:

Neil Gaiman
Orson Scott Card
Ursula K. Le Guin
Alan Dean Foster
James Gunn
Tim Powers
Harry Turtledove
Larry Niven
Joe Haldeman
Kevin J. Anderson
Elizabeth Bear
Jay Lake
Nancy Kress
George Zebrowski
Pamela Sargent
Mike Resnick
Ellen Datlow
James Patrick Kelly
Jo Fletcher
Stanley Schmidt
Gordon Van Gelder
Lou Anders
Peter Crowther
Ann VanderMeer
John Joseph Adams
Nick Mamatas
Lucy A. Snyder
Alethea Kontis
Nisi Shawl
Jude-Marie Green
Nayad A. Monroe
G. Cameron Fuller
Jackie Gamber
Amanda DeBord
Max Miller
Jason Sizemore

Fluttering Thoughts: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

2013-05-13T00:00:00.000+03:00

How Beauty Loved the Beast (Tales of the Underlight #3)

By Jax Garren

Editions: ebook

Expected publication: May 13th 2013 by Carina Press

Genre: Adult Steampunk / Romance

Source: NetGalley

It’s all been leading to this.

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke’s diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It’s been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: touching & FINALLY a HEA for Jolie & Hauk!

Worldbuilding: Again we deal with the cool Underlight, the paranormal Ananke, some awesome mythology (and even a Valhalla glimpse! xD). The world of this series is a beautiful mix of elements and it sure keeps you entertained.
Characters: Jolie and Hawk have been shown love by myself in reviews of previous installments in this series. While my frustration levels did run high about this pair - so much seemed to be working against them, even themselves in places - my evil reader side has been constantly thrilled. If you expect easy romance and a mushy happy ending here, well, you'll be left waiting. Jolie and Hawk give us some more of the same side of frustration, their issues have not magically disappeared just because they're in love (which they are!) or because they FINALLY are together. Or because they get their happy end, which they do.
In How Beauty Loved the Beast Jolie becomes an even stronger character, in my mind, while Hawk shows us more of his vulnerable side. Where she's fierce and demanding in her love, he's insecure, even shy in places. I loved them together and I really loved how their relationship evolved. Their one on one was very hot but it also oozed emotional connection and tenderness, an awesome mix.
Favorite Character: Hawk :D {particularly for his choice in the end}
Plot: More of the action we've already grown used to from Jax Garren, the Ananke are still up to no good and need some head-slapping. Preferably in copious amounts and from Hawk, if you ask me. Aside the action that is lively without becoming overwhelming, the romance arc keeps you on your toes throughout the novel. And it will keep you on your toes up until the very end - that I so loved. You'll see why when you read it.
Writing: Third person narrative, his and her POV. I loved it, as I did in previous installments of the series.
Curb Appeal: The cover is gorgeous and the blurb did hook me, but I was already invested in the characters so I would have wanted to read this anyway.

I loved How Beauty Loved the Beast and am very happy I read this series. I wasn't as into the story as I might have expected though everything felt well done and beautifully told, but I blame that partly on my mood. Either way, this was a one-go reading session and I had a lot of fun.
All in all, this is a great end to a fun series. It's a reinterpretation of the Beauty & The Beast theme, and Jax Garren makes it her own beautifully if you ask me. I recommend the series and look forward to reading more from the author.

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Fluttering Thoughts: Trinkets And Arrows by C.L. Stegall

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000+03:00

Trinkets And Arrows (The Progeny novelette)

By C.L. Stegall

Editions: ebook

Published: Published June 19th 2011 by Dark Red Press

Genre: YA Paranormal / Mythology

Source: review copy

Life is not simple for Lily Abrams, a seventeen year old thief living in Encino. When her reputation derails her living arrangements, she knows what she has to do. She takes a job to steal a bag of rare coins from a suburban home, unaware of the danger lying within. Secrets as old as Ancient Greece are kept hidden in the middle of Los Angeles. After Lily crosses the wrong man, stealing his prized belongings, she makes a deadly enemy and pays the price. Rescued from death by none other than the actual Greek god, Apollo, Lily is manipulated into making an unbreakable deal with a god. He will teach her everything she needs to know about who she is, and what she is capable of; but, first, she must face a vengeful enemy.
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: alert and kickass

Worldbuilding: The demigods world from The Weight of Night is a fun one, with mythological elements and lots of intrigue.
Characters: I liked Lily - the MC. She was very independent, strong, resourceful and a survivor through and through. She was fun to read about.
Plot: We're talking about a short read, like short story kinna deal, so the story is very compact. There's a lot of action, pretty much all of it is a sequence of fighting scenes and hints at the awesome world of the series. If you're into action, this is for you. I'm less and less for this kind of action, I find, so I wasn't personally too into it.
Writing: First person narrative from Lily's POV with a nice flow. On a personal level, I might have found Lily's voice somewhat too mature as far as language use goes. I don't mean cussing or some such, I mean the way she worded her thoughts and things seen through her eyes. I would have expected a more teenagerish language, you know what I mean?
Curb Appeal: Gorgeous cover and the blurb is hooking. I'd probably go impulsive-buy on it just for the awesomeness of the redhead :D

All in all, this was a fun short read. If you're into action and fighting scenes, this is definitely a good one.

Amazon

#RAWBL: We're Reading Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward ~ May 11 - 18

2013-05-11T00:00:00.000+03:00

Hey everyone! This is Beck and Livia's weekend fun, #RAWBL aka Read-Along Weekends with Beck & Livia. That's right, read-along! Fun, right?

The Title: Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10) by J.R. Ward

Next up:

May 18: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
May 25: The Hunt (The Hunt #1) by Andrew Fukuda
June 8: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
June 15: XVI (XVI #1) by Julia Karr

If you wanna check out all the titles scheduled so far, look in the footer of my blog, on my Google Calendar, they're all written up there.
Since there were some titles I didn't get to last year, I thought I'd re-do them starting now. New titles will be added to help motivate me into keeping up my reading schedule and keep track of authors and series I love. It's so easy to get caught up in the new releases, and I find I'm lagging behind on the ones I've been reading.
So for now, we'll do a sort of catch up RAWBL, lol :D

The How To:
- Join the RAWBL of the week anytime from Saturday 3 PM [GMT] to next Saturday at the same time.
- Read any sort of copy you have of the title (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, ARC/review copy if you have it and didn't get around to it...), we're all reading it at the same time! This is not a competition, so take your time and enjoy it.
- Tweet once during your #RAWBL reading using the hashgtag #RAWBL if you want to make it official, it can be whatever you wanna tweet except a spoiler, lol, we just want to know you're there with us
- Posting a review of the read? Let me know and we'll do a RAWBL Review link-up! Or just post your review's link in the comments section of mine or the weekly post announcing that title :D

Hoppity Hop Galore #30: Happy Mother's Day! My Fab Fiction Mom is...

2013-05-10T06:50:00.001+03:00

Happy Mother’s Day! Who is your favorite mom from fiction?

God, I missed this!
Hmm... I'd probably have to say my fav ever book mom is Jenna Chamberland from The Milestone Tapes by Ashley Mackler-Paternostro. Many moms rull, but she stuck in my memory and I read the novel last year. :)

Happy Mother's Day!

» Click to show the #FF Linky List.. «

What about you guys? Lemme know in the comments or link me to your #FF. And don't forget to hop around and show some love to the bloggers xD

Fluttering Thoughts: Never a Hero by Marie Sexton

2013-05-09T00:00:00.000+03:00

Never a Hero (Tucker Springs #5)

By Marie Sexton

Editions: ebook

Expected publication: May 13th 2013 by Riptide Publishing

Genre: Adult MxM Contemporary / Romance

Source: NetGalley

Everyone deserves a hero.
Owen Meade is desperately in need of a hero. Raised by a mother who made him ashamed of his stutter, his sexual orientation, and his congenitally amputated arm, Owen lives like a hermit in his Tucker Springs apartment. But then hunky veterinarian Nick Reynolds moves in downstairs.
Nick is sexy and confident, and makes Owen comfortable with himself in a way nobody ever has. He also introduces Owen to his firecracker of a little sister, who was born with a similar congenital amputation but never let it stand in her way. When she signs the two of them up for piano lessons—and insists that they play together in a recital—Owen can’t find a way to say no. Especially since it gives him a good excuse to spend more time with Nick.
Owen knows he’s falling hard for his neighbor, but every time he gets close, Nick inexplicably pulls away. Battling his mother’s scorn and Nick’s secrets, Owen soon realizes that instead of waiting for a hero, it’s time to be one—for himself and for Nick.
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: touching and beautiful

World Building: Contemporary Tucker Springs, Colorado setting.
Characters: The broke my heart, let me tell you. Owen was this sort of delicate soul, near breaking and just hovering there on the very edge. My heart went out to him, and he made me think of something another character from another read said about horrible mothers. He certainly had one, poor man. I thought he was authentic and very easy to get emotionally in tune with, and love. I just felt like hugging him half the time, strangling his mother the whole time and kept wishing he'd get his much deserved happiness.
Nick seemed perfect at first. Just thoughtful, kind, charismatic. I was like, yeah, this is exactly what Owen needs. But Nick had to go and become all breakable too, and I was sighing and getting more heartbreak from each of them as the story progressed. I was at one point ready to slap Nick back to reality, I won't lie to you. But he was emotionally impaired a bit while Owen had a physical disability, no easy thing to get over or mend in both cases. You might have expected Nick to become Owen's hero, but in the end it sort of felt the other way around to me.
They were charming as a pair and I loved them together and the dynamic of their relationship. It was a slow burn romance, with some one on one but mild (meaning vanilla and sweet, imo) and rare. It was a lot about love here, very little about hotness.
Plot: There wasn't a lot going on outside of the romance arc, but that was complicated enough to keep me riveted. Both characters evolved in surprising ways. I both liked and got frustrated by that, because it wasn't an easy process.
Writing: Beautiful first person narrative from Owen's POV. I loved his voice and the way his interactions with the world came through to me.
Curb Appeal: High compulsive buy material, the cover and blurb suggest and emotional roller-coaster story and it delivers.

All in all, I found this read very touching, romantic and beautiful. I highly recommend this if you're into stories about non-perfect characters. None of the two in the main pair are stereotypes or cardboard characters, so if you're brave enough to read about beautifully almost-broken characters who find a happy ending, this is for you.

Riptide

Spotlight: Let Love In by Melissa Collins + Excerpt

2013-05-08T00:00:00.000+03:00

Let Love In (The Love Series #1)

By Melissa Collins

Editions: ebook, paperback

Expected publication: May 10th

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary / Romance

What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change?

That’s exactly what happened to Madeleine Becker when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can't get hurt if she doesn't fall in love.

That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy's pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy's inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past.

Together they find out what happens when they let love in.
~ Author

Snippet of Maddy and Reid’s first encounter:

" There was a group playing quarters on the island and another group lining up shots on the breakfast bar – so not my scene. I just shrugged my shoulders, opened the door, pulled out a bottle of water and, when I turned around to walk back outside, I face-planted into a wall of solid muscle.

“Hand me one?” His voice was smooth and... gruff at the same time. Red-faced, I turned back around and got him his water, glad for the cool respite that the opened refrigerator door offered.

“Here you go.” I could not peel my eyes away from his mouth as he moved the bottle to his lips. They were perfect - beautiful and full in a completely masculine way. I watched, completely fascinated, as his throat moved, downing the water in three or four large gulps. He wiped his mouth with his forearm and I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel up the rest of his arm to his biceps and shoulders – those were the same as his lips – perfect. Amazingly, gorgeously, utterly, divinely perfect. Muscled and tanned, his arms were mouthwatering.

My knees wobbled. My heart thudded. Thousands of butterflies spread their wings in my belly.

“Thanks…” he stared blankly at my face for a minute and I couldn't help but wondering if he liked what he saw. He cleared his throat and roused me from my little daydream where the gorgeous boy is mesmerized by the maybe-a-little-above-average looking girl. That’s when I realized he was asking for my name.

“Maddy. Sorry, my name’s Maddy." I nearly choked on my tongue to get my freaking name out. "

About the Author & Links:

I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Guest Post: To the Tune of Vampire by Sky Purington + Giveaway

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000+03:00

Heart of Vesuvius (Forsaken Brethren #2)

By Sky Purington

Editions: ebook

Published: March 29, 2013

Genre: Adult Time Travel / Paranormal

Alexandria has no choice. She must flee to the last place she wants to. Straight into the arms of a vampire she was determined to forget.

Salvator finds this a clever fix to obtaining the one woman he has always desired, Alexandria.

Together, they must find a way to evade her powerful enemy, Salvator's brother Luciano. On the run, they struggle to understand one another. Denied passion ignites. Blood is spilled. Within the heart of Vesuvius, anything is possible.

When ancient Italy pulls them back in time, dark secrets are revealed.

All can be conquered. But will it be? Can wrongs be made right? History is the locked door. Forgiveness is the key. Time will tell if ancient love can once again flourish.
~ Bewitching BT

To the Tune of Vampire

by Sky Purington

There are two things that are 100% necessary when I write. The first? Word flow. If my characters aren’t speaking to me then I’m not writing. The second? Background music. As this is the first official stop on my Bewitching Book Tour I thought to share what was playing in the background while I wrote this story.

Think vamps.

Heart of Vesuvius’s playlist bangs out with ‘movie Blade’ techno to match the opening scene then soon screeches to a somewhat soothing halt with dark hypnotica. It’s all a mad mix of dark groove and sensual rhythm combined with strobe-light flicker. Made to mimic its master, this playlist does ancient vamp well. So sit back, flip the switch up and crawl into the Heart of Vesuvius rhythm style.

HEART OF VESUVIUS Playlist- Click HERE to listen. ( http://tny.gs/1054gh4 )

Blood is Pumpin’ by Voodoo and Serano on Anthems of Ibiza

As the Rush Comes by Motorcyle

I Remember by Kaskade and Deadmau5

I Love my Sex by Benassi Bros.

Fata Morgana by Enigma

Time by Antaeus

Breath by Telepopmusik

Sail (Unlimited Gravity Remix)

Sargasso Sea by Salt Tank

Soul Train by Scooter

Deepak Chopra by Deepak Chopra

The Eternal City by Michele McLaughlin

I Feel You by Schiller

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon

About the Author & Links:

Sky is the best-selling author of seven novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases?
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Guest Post: The Fictional Characters I’m inviting to my Ultimate Halloween Party by Paula Millhouse + Giveaway

2013-05-06T00:00:00.000+03:00

Three Wishes

By Paula Millhouse

Editions: ebook

Published: March 13th 2013 by Boroughs Publishing Group

Genre: Adult Fantasy / Romance

Abigail O’Malley wants to find true love…which is about as easy as catching a leprechaun.
Abigail O’Malley’s world turns upside down when a rival Irishman threatens to take her bar, an historic Savannah landmark, mere days before the start of the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
When she captures a leprechaun, her three wishes include his gold, fairy magic, and the mystery of her One True Love.
Will Michael McKnight have time to prove he’s up to the task of granting all her wishes before the bad guys close in and destroy Abby’s dreams forever?
~ Bewitching BT

The Fictional Characters I’m inviting to my Ultimate Halloween Party

by Paula Millhouse

We all have our favorites. Here’s a sneek-peek of who’s on my Halloween Party invitation list this year, and why:

1. Edward Cullen, cuz you know, he just makes vampires look sexy.
2. Andre Maras, the lead vampire from Amber Belldene’s novel Blood Vine. I figure Andre and Zoey Porter would be fun at a party, especially if they were pouring the wine.
3. Beast, from Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, because he’s just so much fun to look at. Besides, we’ll need a bouncer, right?
4. Tony Stark, from Iron Man. Who doesn’t want to attend a party where Tony’s flash and dazzle will light up the venue?
5. OK, ALL the Avengers! Bound to make for interesting party conversation.
6. The current Dr. Who, because I love his English accent and he can stage the Tardis outside for time-travel fun rides.
7. Chewbacca. He can bounce with the Beast just in case the vampires and the Avengers take issue with the party favors.
8. Hiccup and Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon. I’ll have them staged next to Dr. Who and the Tardis for party-goers who want to stay in this realm and take a dragon ride.
9. Jarrid, and The Eternal Order from Tricia Skinner’s novel Angel Bait – you never know when you’re gonna need half-angel assassins to back up the bouncers. This is an eclectic group, and thing might get out of hand!
10. And last but definitely not least, Michael McKnight and Abigail O’Malley from my short story Three Wishes, the guests of honor. Word on the street is they’ve got a fairy dance troupe following them around that’s bound to please the Halloween crowds. Dancing is a must at my outrageous party.

How about you? Any favorite fantasy characters on your list for your Ultimate Halloween party?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon | Smashwords | AllRomanceEbooks

About the Author & Links:

Paula Millhouse grew up in Savannah, Georgia where Spanish moss whispers tales in breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, and the Intracoastal Waterway. As a child Paula soaked in the sunshine and heritage of cobblestones, pirate lore, and stories steeped in savory mysteries of the south. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal chapter, the Mystery/Suspense chapter (Kiss of Death), and a member of Savvy Authors.

She lives with her husband at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains with their pack and pride of furry babies.

In the southern tradition of storytellers, she loves sharing the lives of her characters with readers, and following her muse on the quest for happily-ever-afters in thrilling romantic fiction.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Spotlight: The Impaler's Revenge by Ioana Visan

2013-05-04T00:00:00.000+03:00

The Impaler's Revenge (The Impaler Legacy #1)

By Ioana Visan

Editions: ebook

Published: April 14, 2013

Genre: Adult Fantasy / Paranormal

In a world crawling with vampires, Romania is the safest place left on earth. Thanks to the Little Council, there hasn't been a vampire on Romanian ground in over five centuries. But one day, Liana Cantacuzino, also a member of the Little Council and a descendant of one of the old noble families, is ordered to bring one in, covertly. Enter Maximilien Hess, a thousand years old vampire determined to ruin the existing order of things.

Suddenly, Liana finds herself forced to protect Hess, instead of having the pandurs kill him. With the help from her trustful friends, Rodica Ghica and Ştefan Sturdza, and that of an innocent bystander, Dr. Jesse Carver, Liana has to find out what is going on and what the President is hiding from her. When all is revealed, Hess's secret changes everything.

The first novella in The Impaler Legacy series, a vampire saga like no other.
~ Author

Amazon | Smashwords

About the Author & Links:

Award-winning writer Ioana Visan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't, she writes about it.

She made her debut in English with a short story published by Every Day Fiction, and also has one included in Evolved Publishing's "Evolution: Vol. 2" short story collection. After fighting the apocalypse aftermath in "Human Instincts", she played with shapeshifters in “Blue Moon Café Series: Where Shifters Meet for Drinks”, and then she dealt with vampires in “The Impaler’s Revenge”, before tackling longer works like a fantasy trilogy and a science fiction series.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Ruby by Jeffe Kennedy

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000+03:00

Ruby (Facets of Passion, #3)

By Jeffe Kennedy

Editions: ebook

Expected publication: May 13th 2013 by Carina Press

Genre: Adult Contemporary / BDSM Erotic Romance

Source: review copy

Danielle Sosna has no problem denying herself in order to achieve her goals—after all, that attitude landed her a dream job at Vogue Paris. But in New Orleans for one last assignment before heading overseas, she's faced with the most decadent of temptations. Seductive Cajun chef Bobby Prejean takes Dani's strength of will as a challenge, and offers her a night of wild indulgence—if she will agree to obey his every command…

Dani can't resist Prejean's invitation to join him in a world of carnal desire, complete with fetish costumes and masks. Determined to keep her emotional distance, she gives Prejean everything but her name. A night becomes a week, as she spends Mardi Gras suspended…in the delicious space where pleasure meets pain.

Too late, she realizes the cloak of anonymity has not protected her—and that chasing her dream might come at the expense of her heart.
~ Bewitching BT

Bomy's Flutter: Scorching hot magnificence

Aaaand, Jeffe Kennedy has done right by my evil reader desires yet again. Am I surprised? Not in the slightest. As far as I'm concerned, at this point Jeffe Kennedy is instant-buy OCD-ness. You've heard me mention it before, because I feel that way after I read each of her new releases. Though I get excited about lots of authors, it's actually a very select few of them I read everything by. I'm up to date with Jeffe Kennedy's releases so far and I fully intend to keep the good habit.

This time she takes us to contemporary New Orleans, where Dani is about to get a dose of awesome from Prejean. I loved the feeling I got about New Orleans, that sense of romanticism and old yet ageless beauty that I'm so partial to. I got that awesome sense of untamed beauty from the setting of this story, and loved it lots and lots.

The characters were interesting and super-charismatic, something that I've come to get accustomed to from Jeffe Kennedy. Dani is a very take-charge and beautiful woman who does show some slight OCD-ness on certain topics. She practices a 'healthy' dose of self-flagellation ("Pain is weakness leaving the body") and has a love-hate relationship with control. I really liked her, but more then that, I resonated with her a lot. Dani is an independent woman with a perfectionist mindset and very high expectations when it comes to her achievements. It's the OCD winner mentality, or at least I call it and it gives you a lot of drive and little to no pleasure at all. Because however high you'll climb, there will always be a peak you've not reached yet. Dani suffers and punishes herself for every peak she doesn't reach. And she doesn't take that kind of failure easy, either. I thought she was a striking work of art as far as characters go. Yes, I really liked the female MC's in the series so far, but I will admit Dani is my favorite. She's more broken though very functional, something you all know I totally love. Evil reader and proud of it, I'll never tire of saying so. There's an extra degree of beauty to the broken yet functioning, it's an aestheticism that appeals to me the most.

Prejean came in strong and owned the scene, of course. He was very upfront about his control over things, well to the point of rudeness and slightly beyond it in places (see the restaurant incident in the beginning). Maybe he even came close to jerk-ish in places, but somehow it worked. He pushed Ruby as close to her limits as he could, but was very tender and caring about it. He had a more complex vibe then the stern Dom, an intimate sort of emotional connection that just floored me from the very first time they talked in the rain. Maybe I would have taken out the beard; I mean literally. Do you guys like beards? They creep me out. But then again I tend to run on the peculiar side with these things. Anyway, Prejean was a very intense Dom, but also managed to make the simplest of conversations ooze intimacy. It's tough to be Dom to Dani, or Ruby, she's sort of elusive. If you've met that type of people you know what I mean. They're the type who stay right there beside you yet deny you everything of essence, somehow. It takes a very clever Dom to truly have that kind of person, to have them fully, entirely.
Prejean managed to have Dani. I liked him, but rare as is, I liked her better.
Favorite Character: Dani xD

The story flows really well and has a very alert pace. The romance felt more intense then in the previous stories of the series, somehow more focused on the pair. The one on one is intense, scorching hot, delightful and proper intimate kink if I may say so.

Cover is gorgeous and the blurb is hooking, but to me the author's name is an instant-buy kind of selling point. If you haven't gotten your Jeffe Kennedy fix yet, do it. You'll thank me later, I think :D

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

About the Author & Links:

Jeffe Kennedy took the crooked road to writing, stopping off at neurobiology, religious studies and environmental consulting before her creative writing began appearing in places like Redbook, Puerto del Sol, Wyoming Wildlife, Under the Sun and Aeon. An erotic novella, Petals and Thorns, came out under her pen name of Jennifer Paris in 2010, heralding yet another branch of her path, into erotica and romantic fantasy fiction. Since then, an erotic short, Feeding the Vampire, and another erotic novella, Sapphire, have hit the shelves.

Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and frequently serves as a guinea pig for an acupuncturist-in-training.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Guest Post: In the Mood by R.R. Smythe + Excerpt: Heart Murmurs by R.R. Smythe

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000+03:00

Heart Murmurs

By R.R. Smythe

Editions: ebook

Published: March 21st 2013 by Astraea Press

Genre: YA Fantasy / Romance

Mia Templeton is dying. Or was dying. After receiving a heart transplant, her world is forever altered. Before her eyes open, she overhears her donor was a murdered girl of the same age. Whispers invade Mia’s head before she’s even left the recovery room. She develops tastes for foods she once hated, and dreams so vivid, she feels they’re someone else’s memories. Her personality is altered—once a quiet doormat, she’s now inexplicably flippant, and confident. And her unexplained longing for the new boy at school is borderline obsessive.

Morgan Kelley is new. Adopted by his aunt, a descendant of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), he’s thrown into life at a new high school, and as a historical guide for his aunt’s store—a homage to all things Alcott. Conspiracy theories abound about his mangled lower leg—but no-one has been brave enough to ask. Till Mia.

Something is awry with the Underground Railroad tunnels beneath his aunt's home. Mia and Morgan enter the world of a secret Literary Society--and are drafted to help bring a rogue Literary giant to justice, solve the mystery of her heart donor, the real fate of Beth from Little Women.
~ Bewitching BT

In the Mood

by R R Smythe

The lights in the movie theater darken. The credits are over, the lowlights flicker and the story begins. Because at its heart, a movie is just…Story.
Why does story matter? It is the suspension of disbelief. So for those precious two hours, you are transported. Forgotten is the work woes, the family responsibilities—all that remains is THIS person’s life. This person’s troubles.This person’s pain.
You feel, with the main character, the climb of the suspense rollercoaster, clenching your stomach, tighter and tighter as they move toward the pinnacle, their black moment—when all is completely, utterly lost, and you may even shed a tear. But then, the rollercoaster hits a curve in the track, and your emotions dip up and down with your stomach, till it comes to a screeching, satisfying halt.

And you feel so much better. It took you on an emotional journey…but a safe one. Someone elses. You feel Relieved. Exulted, even.
Because (if you write like me) everything came out okay in the end. And maybe, our own problems seem either trivial or at least a bit more manageable.

Writing story, when the author is ‘in the zone’ is exactly like the above. Louisa May Alcott called it a ‘vortex’ and so do I. However, authors also have real lives. Real life often makes it difficult to plummet into the vortex, and the words stall on their way from mind to fingers.

Many come up with touchstones to drive them quickly to the zone. Some use candles, scents. Others use lighting or the place where they write (like a haven) only good things happen ‘in this space’.

For me, the strongest….is music. I do have a soundtrack for every book I write. I recently discovered spotify and it’s a truly dangerous time suck. So for today, I will just share one song.

The song relates to Heart Murmurs, in the lyrics. They deal with time. And how often, perfect moments, which are far and few, wish and beg to be petrified in time. Hardened pieces we could pull out like sea glass, to examine and stregthen us when times are rough.

My main character, Mia, has a few of those perfect moments, where she wishes to halt time—only for her, she does. Her eyes stray to the hour glass beside her bed, and she wills the sands to cease their freefall. Temporarily.

The Bravery - Ours

Whenever I hear the music, I am instantly transported to Story. ;) To Heart Murmurs and my summer on the deck, the sounds of my family in the yard below.

I hope you enjoy Heart Murmurs, and Mia and Morgan’s complex, difficult and oh so satisfying story.

Excerpt Opening Heart Murmurs:

" I don’t remember dying.

“Stand back. Clear!”

Nothing. A feeling of floating, weightlessness.

“Oh, please, please, baby.” My mother’s voice, sounding uncharacteristically hysterical.

“Clear!” A spreading, burning under my ribcage. Followed by a surging river of heat to my heart. It stutters, rumbling like a kettledrum inside my ribs, and up into my skull.

“Come on, Mia.” My father, unglued.

The steady beep-beep-beep of a monitor and the whooshing of a respirator. My chest rises up and down without my permission, a puppet to the machine. A rushing sound, like water filling a vacuum, clogs my ears. My new heart, my new heart, accelerates, beating so fast, it feels as if it will take flight from my newly stapled sternum.

A dull, muted pain aches through my chest; which will, no doubt, intensify when the drugs wear off.

“Too fast.” The monitor is screaming, wailing like a kid’s tantrum.

Two choked sobs. Mom... and Beth.

Beth is here, how wonderful. I try to move my fingers, to tell her I’m okay. Don’t cry.

My brain says lift, but all I got was—“Her fingers twitched. I saw them.” Beth’s voice, relieved and oh-so scared.

My heart thrums, finally steady and even. It feels strange, too far back in my chest. Like an ill-fitting shirt. I raise my hands to try to scratch it, adjust it.

“Mia? Mia, can you hear me? We’re all here, darling. Dad and Beth, and Claire is outside.”

I feel the tube down my throat, choking me. I suck in for air, but my chest rises on its own, interfering with my breathing. I feel like I’m suffocating, despite the oxygen shoved up my nostrils.

“She’s trying to breathe on her own. We need to adjust the respirator. Easy, Mia.” Dr. Starzel, my own personal medical savior.

Two unfamiliar, whispering, conspiratorial voices, “I can’t believe they found a donor, just in time.”

“The report said it was a homeless girl. She was murdered.”

“For heaven’s sake! She may be able to hear you. One more word and I’ll have both of your babbling traps fired.” My father chastises the women, whom I guess to be nurses, by the soft squeaks of their retreating Crocs.

I have a murder victim’s heart? Worry tickles the back of my brain. How did they find a donor? How—I’m struck with pain so blinding, I feel my brain shrivel inward. Like a cowering child. And hear nothing.

The weightless feeling is back.

I feel the burning rush of something shoot into my IV. It’s liquid fire.

I trace its path up my arm, into my brain, addling it. But relief is the trade-off. The pain backs off.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. It is the only sound I hear, for what seems a very long time... "

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

About the Author & Links:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, R R Smythe is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love--not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger's syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society's downtrodden. In fiction, she's a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

She also writes under the pseudonym Brynn Chapman .
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Spotlight: Once by Dana Michelle Burnett

2013-05-01T00:00:00.000+03:00

Once (Gypsy Fairy Tale, #1)

By Dana Michelle Burnett

Editions: ebook, papaerback

Published: March 27th 2013

Genre: Adult Paranormal / Romance

Beautiful. Secretive. Magical. You envy their freedom, but you are distrustful of their ways. A strange carnival has come to Corydon, Indiana and the Irish Travellers have captured the small town's attention--but it's Harmony who's attracted theirs.

Harmony sees the Travellers everywhere and just like everyone else in town she's curious. But once she meets the mysterious and captivating Kieran, Harmony's life takes an exciting and chilling turn.

Up until now, Harmony never believed that fairy tales or myths were real, but Kieran and his family belong to an ancient tribe called the Tuatha de Dannan and someone else has discovered their secret.

An ancient battle is about to begin again, and now no one is safe, especially Harmony. Can Kieran resist the urge to be with her or will his feelings put her in the crossfire?
~ Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop a.k.a. my sort-of Easter giveaway xD

2013-04-30T15:30:00.000+03:00

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Eve’s Fan Garden

Hey guys! Since Easter for me is May 5th this year, I thought I'd do this giveaway as an Easter one, the Eggstravaganza was too early to count, right? Lol. So we'll do this one. The loot is a $10 giftcard for the Book Depository payable by PayPal. And just to make it clear, it doesn't have to be Easter for you this week to enter or anything of the sort.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to hop around and enter all the awesome giveaways! Happy Easter if you're celebrating it May 5th xDD

Guest Post: As told by Tristan… by Kaitlyn Davis + Giveaway

2013-04-30T00:00:00.000+03:00

Scorch (Midnight Fire #4)

By Kaitlyn Davis

Editions: here

Published: April 5th 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal / Romance

“All it did was remind Kira that time was running out. That she needed to choose. Or a lot more than a forest would burn. The whole world would crumble."

Aldrich escaped…again. Tristan forgot…everything. And Luke, well, Luke was getting more than a little impatient. But those were the least of Kira’s concerns, because something else happened in England—something she was trying desperately to forget. A wedge of evil had lodged itself in her heart, a little black hole had nestled into her flames, and it wasn’t going away—not anytime soon…and maybe not ever.

Scorch is the fourth and final book in the thrilling Midnight Fire Series.
~ blurb source

As told by Tristan…

by Kaitlyn Davis

I'm Kaitlyn Davis, the author of the Midnight Fire Series—a whirlwind paranormal adventure with heart-pumping action and heart-stopping romance—and this blog tour is celebrating the release of Scorch, the final book in the series! Thank you for joining me!

One of my favorite aspects of ending this series is that my main character, Kira, finally has to choose between the two leading men—Tristan and Luke! The suspense is killing some of my readers :) And for a while, it was killing me too! So, instead of talking about Scorch, I thought I would take everyone back to the beginning—back to Ignite, the first book in my series (free wherever ebooks are sold!).

This is the fifth of six guest posts that will turn the attention on both Tristan and Luke as they get to tell their side of the story! We'll be revisiting a few important scenes from the first chapters of Ignite, but this time it won’t be Kira who does the talking…

Next up? Kira and Tristan's impromptu acting scene! Kira knows Tristan is keeping secrets—heck, he kissed her and than ran away just so he wouldn’t have to tell her the truth. But this time, Kira has a plan. She sits next to him in class, completely ready to interrogate him, when their teacher assigns paired readings of Romeo & Juliet. Kira thinks it's the perfect moment to find some answers, but Tristan has another idea in mind… Ignorance is bliss, right?

~~~~~~~

As told by Tristan…

He should have known. The second he walked into class, he should have noticed her suspicious absence from Luke's side. But it wasn't until Kira slipped silently into the seat next to his that it hit—she had duped him.
And now they were a pair, reading some of the most romantic words in the English language.
Tristan cursed.
He never should have taken her to the church—really, he never should have kissed her. Even before that, he never should have stuck around to draw her. When he happened upon her at the park, he should have just stopped, turned around, and walked away.
But he just couldn’t.
She made him feel so…alive. He couldn’t walk away. Not from that.
But he had to.
There was nothing for them. Pain he was used to, but he wouldn’t force it on her.
Next to him, Kira coughed.
He turned to her, wincing as his heart started beating stronger, reminding him what he was determined to forget.
"But soft what light through yonder window breaks," he read, removing any and all emotion from his voice. Pretending—it had become second nature by that point. After a century of pretending, it should be easy. But stealing the love from his voice was hard, much harder than any role he'd played before.
Kira laughed.
He forced himself forward, reading as quickly as he could, trying to end the torture.
"You know this is supposed to be a love scene, right?"
Did she have to remind him? Tristan thought, meeting her eyes for a split second, before dropping back to the page. It was too hard to look at her—those fire-filled eyes would burn his resolve away.
"Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed." He added a hard edge to his voice, doing his best the play the character he had created.
"Look, Tristan," Kira pressed on, oblivious to the battle raging inside of him, "there's no point hiding the fact that you like me, from me I mean. I flipped through your notebook—" No, he thought, not listening anymore. He thought he had lost the journal at home. Or at the park. His chest strained. "I saw the drawings you made of me."
Tristan deflated, defeated. Idiot, he thought.
She placed his moleskin journal on the desk, twisting the knife.
He looked away while she continued talking.
"They were really great actually, pretty flattering." She paused. He couldn’t look at her. "Anyway, I think we should talk about what happened, not here obviously, but somewhere we can meet in private."
Private, Tristan thought and looked up—straight into Diana's watchful gaze. How could he have let this go on, they had drawn too much attention already. It wasn't safe. Every second they spoke, the more in danger Kira became.
He had to end this, for good.
But he had to act natural, annoyed, so they would buy it.
"Hey Juliet, it's your turn," he drawled, acting the jerk, trying to play it cool while his insides boiled.
"Oh right," Kira said. She looked down and started reading, copying his monotone style.
A laugh slipped through his lips—lips caught in a half-smile. Why was she so damned amusing? He cursed.
"I get it. I sounded like an idiot," he said, trying to force her to stop. But Kira just continued.
I have to stop this, he thought and took a deep breath.
Leaning in closer, he whispered, "Okay, here's the truth Kira. We can't talk here and we shouldn’t even be talking now… or maybe ever." He said, strengthening his conviction. She had to understand.
Instead she looked up, annoyance brewing behind those eyes. "You told me that already."
"Yet you seem to have trouble understanding it. English is your first language, right?" He tried to joke, to lighten the mood. Kira just rolled her eyes, not easing the pressure.
"Like I said before," Tristan said, bringing the point back around, deepening his voice, "we just can’t ever be."
"I understand what you're saying, but I also know you don’t mean it," she said. A knowing smile danced on her lips.
"I do," Tristan said sternly, while his insides screamed that he didn’t.
"Oh really," Kira pressed, "it didn’t seem that way when you kissed me."
A memory surged. Her soft lips, her sigh, the way her body melted into his, molding together, fitting perfectly…
Stop.
He blinked it away.
"Kira, forget that ever happened, okay?" At least one of us has to, he thought.
"Or what? You don’t scare me."
"I should," Tristan said, pushed to brink. He had to make her understand. She had given him no choice.
The ice flooded back into his veins. The hunger swelled. He let it.
Kira couldn’t look away. Even as panic settled in, she couldn’t break contact. In that moment, he knew he had her. She was trapped, a victim who didn’t realize she was the prey.
He continued staring, let the fangs expand in his mouth. She had to understand—they would never work.
As much as it would haunt him, as much as the memory of that kiss would burn—stronger than the sun itself—he had to scare her away. There were no choices left.
He wasn't strong enough to let her go.
She had to fear him.
It would be better this way, he told himself, even as the hurt settled in.
After another moment, he released his supernatural hold over her.
Kira blinked, then her eyes narrowed on his. "What the hell was that?"
"Me," he told her. Bitter.
Me, he thought, letting the loathing surge.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords | Sony | iTunes

About the Author & Links:

Kaitlyn Davis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars. She's been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to finally share her work with the world. She currently lives in New York City and dreams of having a cockapoo puppy of her own.
Pinterest | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Fluttering Thourhgts: The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle

2013-04-29T00:00:00.000+03:00

The Devil's Metal (Devils #1)

By Karina Halle

Editions: ebook, paperback

Published: September 21st 2012 by Diversion Books (first published September 19th 2012)

Genre: NA Urban Fantasy / Romance

Source: NetGalley

It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: fun but not riveting for me

World Building: 1974 America blends with paranormal - demonic - elements.
Characters: Dawn and the band were cool, but they didn't really reach me for some reason. Dawn did grip my attention in the beginning but then my emotional investment in her took a slow and steady fall. I didn't respond to the whole band and tour thing, though I like some rock stuff, little metal...I just don't respond to the people doing the magic, I guess. There's this disconnect between art and artist, my admiration for the art doesn't extend to the artist. I can be very much into the artist, but as a person, not an extension of the art. So the whole band and groupies thing was entirely lost on me. The characters had a lot of potential but they didn't pull me in all the way, in the end.
Plot: The story is fun if you're into the roadtour and band thing. The plot is active without getting tiring and there are a few interesting twists in.
Writing: First person narrative from Dawn's POV
Curb Appeal: Awesome, awesome cover. The blurb does a good job at introducing the story and characters.

All in all, this was a cool read but I didn't respond to it all the way. It has great potential for you if you're into bands and band-life with some paranormal twists. Give it a shot, it might be a better fit for you.

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depository

Review: Wicked as She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson

2013-04-28T00:00:00.000+03:00

Wicked as She Wants (Blud #2)

By Delilah S. Dawson

Editions: ebook, paperback

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Pocket Books

Genre: Adult Steampunk / Fantasy / Romance

Source: NetGalley

When Blud princess Ahnastasia wakes up, drained and starving in a suitcase, she’s not sure which calls to her more: the sound of music or the scent of blood. The source of both sensations is a handsome and mysterious man named Casper Sterling. Once the most celebrated musician in London, Sangland, he’s fallen on hard times. Now, much to Ahna’s frustration, the debauched and reckless human is her only ticket back home to the snow-rimmed and magical land of Freesia.

Together with Casper’s prickly charge, a scrappy orphan named Keen, they seek passage to Ahna’s homeland, where a power-hungry sorceress named Ravenna holds the royal family in thrall. Traveling from the back alleys of London to the sparkling minarets of Muscovy, Ahna discovers that Freesia holds new perils and dangerous foes. Back in her country, she is forced to choose between the heart she never knew she had and the land that she was born to rule. But with Casper’s help, Ahna may find a way to have it all…
~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: Delilah S. Dawson delivers awesomesauce yet again

I read and talked about Wicked as They Come back in October as part of my steampunk galore RAWBL-ing. When I saw the second book in the Blud series up on NetGalley of course I did my best to snatch the ARC and, thankfully, managed to.

The world of Blud is still as charming in Wicked as She Wants as it was in the first book of the series. Even more so, since this time we're in Blud from start to finish, while Wicked as They Come took us into the Blud world from our own. If you've read the first book, you've already been introduced to Casper, the love interest of Ahnastasia, our main character. In fact, Criminy and Tish make a short appearance in Wicked as She Wants, just enough to say "Hi!" pretty much. I loved that, I love novels that stand on their own just fine but include characters from the previous ones in the series.
The world of Blud is fascinating, with bludmen and bludwomen and pinkies living in something of a delicate balance. Fantastic bludanimals and a parallel world feel dominate the realm of Blud, where history is similar just different enough to make your grin. Or, well, to make me grin. Delilah S. Dawson playfully references authors, places, historical events with the blud spin and I love her worldbuilding, without a doubt. Plus, if the princess Ahnastasia didn't make you wonder, Freesia's capital - Muscovy - sort of made it clear to me what historical character she was referencing. Loved, loved, loved how Delilah S. Dawson built this story, just loved it. In fact, because of the setting and story, I found myself enjoying this novel even more then the first in the series. It has more of a classic beauty air about it, and I'm not going to lie, my first love was and will remain classic literature, names that for instance Delilah S. Dawson mentions in her blud-version of the world.

Ahnastasia was a fantastic main character. She was proud, perky, very able of defending herself and claiming back what was hers. She was a princess in more ways then one, though, and it made her funny, likable. Very well spoken, very proper but self-entitled - something royalty might suffer from, we can guess. She was a very well rounded character, charismatic though not the easy to like type perhaps - that to me makes her even more likable. I like strong and proud and unapologetic and she's all that. Loved her.
Casper was an interesting character in Wicked as They Come and he delivered in Wicked as She Wants as well. Charismatic, a powerful presence but tender and thoughtful, he made an awesome pair with Ahnna. While Casper, like Tish, is a human who landed in the Blud world, there's a duality to his nature that you'll understand better and better as the story unfolds. I loved his transformation and the Casper version from the end of the novel was, in my opinion, the best possible version of Casper. No, I'm not spoiling your read with clarifications. *insert evil chuckle*
The tension between Ahnna and Casper was delicious, just delicious. They made the kind of couple I adore reading about, a spin on the enemies turned lovers with a not-so-hardcore enemies instance in the beginning. Sparks were flying all over the place and their one on one, when it happened, was very hot. Slow burn romance and hot one on one, that's a recipe to make even evil readers such as myself happy.
Another interesting character was Keen, Casper's human sidekick. I felt she helped emphasize Casper's dual nature and she was quite fun on her own.
Favorite character of the novel: Ahnastasia. {And it's not as often as I'd like that I love the MC, but she's just that awesome xD}

The plot was an eventful adventure that took us traveling through the world of Blud and helped us meet all sorts of its inhabitants and explore some of its lovely landscapes. While the pace of events was alert, this wasn't the agitated action flavor. This, coupled with the first person narrative writing's tone make me say the novel has some of that classic charm I so love. The story has a fairytale flair that won me over quickly, the princess fighting to get her kingdom back and falling in love in the process. For a words-geek like myself this novel is a jewel, it's just so beautiful on all accounts.

As far as curb appeal goes, the cover is fabulous, the blurb had me hooked but the real selling point, for me, would be the fact that I believe Delilah S. Dawson can't really do me wrong.

All in all, I loved Wicked as She Wants to bits and would recommend you try it out. It's one of my favorite reads of this year for sure.

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depository

Spotlight: Murderous Requiem by Jamie Fessenden

2013-04-27T00:00:00.000+03:00

Murderous Requiem

By Jamie Fessenden

Editions: ebook, paperback

Published: April 8th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Genre: Adult MxM Paranormal / Mystery

Jeremy Spencer never imagined the occult order he and his boyfriend, Bowyn, started as a joke in college would become an international organization with hundreds of followers. Now a professor with expertise in Renaissance music, Jeremy finds himself drawn back into the world of free love and ceremonial magick he’d left behind, and the old jealousies and hurt that separated him from Bowyn eight years ago seem almost insignificant.

Then Jeremy begins to wonder if the centuries-old score he’s been asked to transcribe hides something sinister. With each stanza, local birds flock to the old mansion, a mysterious fog descends upon the grounds, and bats swarm the temple dome. During a séance, the group receives a cryptic warning from the spirit realm. And as the music’s performance draws nearer, Jeremy realizes it may hold the key to incredible power—power somebody is willing to kill for.
~ Goodreads

Excerpt from Murderous Requiem by Jamie Fessenden:

" Irritated, I started to take my plate back up to the bedroom. Alex would kill me if I didn’t return it to the kitchen, but I could bring it down later. As I started to climb the stairs, however, I found my way blocked by Rafe.

“Brethren,” he said smoothly, somehow managing to make the word sound sexy. I could feel his eyes scanning my body as he smiled at me. “How are things in the Renaissance?”

I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or merely playful, so I replied, “All right, I guess.”

“You guess?”

I shrugged, the plate of risotto starting to feel heavy in my right hand. “There are some symbols on the staves that I can’t make much sense of. I mean, they look familiar, but I can’t place them.”

“Symbols?” he asked, taking a step closer. His hand on the banister brushed against my left hand. I was tempted to pull it away, but couldn’t think of a compelling reason to do so. He was dead sexy, after all. And certainly Seth and Bowyn wouldn’t mind me flirting with him. Or doing other things with him, for that matter.

“I’m not sure what they are. Some sort of occult alphabet, perhaps. But nothing I recognize. They’re always paired with a Latin letter, but even those don’t make sense, because they’re all consonants. No vowels at all.”

Rafe was looking at me intently with those penetrating, dark eyes. There was something grave in his expression, even as his fingers lightly traced the length of my fingers in an unmistakably seductive gesture. “I remember seeing them on the manuscript,” he purred. “I can show you what the symbols are.”

“You can?” It was enormously arrogant of me to assume that, just because Rafe looked as if he belonged on a fashion runway, he couldn’t possibly know something that I, Herr Professor, didn’t know. So I mentally slapped myself and asked, “What are they?”

He smiled and bent down to bring his lips close to my ear. “Come to the chapel after midnight.”

His breath was hot against my earlobe, and my voice quavered a bit as I responded. “I’m not going to fuck you in the chapel.”

He laughed and kissed me lightly on the neck, causing me to shiver involuntarily. Then he said, “You can have me whenever and wherever you want, Brethren. But I’m not asking you to come to the chapel for sex. There are better places for that.”

Then he slid his rough, razor-stubbled chin along my cheek and finished by delivering a firm kiss to my mouth. He was a damn good kisser.

Rafe chuckled and pulled away, a smirk on his lips, before slipping past me to continue down the stairs. After a moment of standing there like an idiot, with my plate still in one hand and the beginnings of an erection tenting the cloth of my robe, I started to climb the steps again. Regardless of what happened in the chapel, I thought, I was seriously considering taking him up on that offer. "

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Dreamspinner Press | Book Depository

About the Author & Links:

Jamie Fessenden set out to be a writer in junior high school. He published a couple short pieces in his high school's literary magazine and had another story place in the top 100 in a national contest, but it wasn't until he met his partner, Erich, almost twenty years later, that he began writing again in earnest. With Erich alternately inspiring and goading him, Jamie wrote several screenplays and directed a few of them as micro-budget independent films. His latest completed work premiered at the Indie Fest 2009 in Los Angeles and also played at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival two weeks later.

After nine years together, Jamie and Erich have married and purchased a house together in the wilds of Raymond, New Hampshire, where there are no street lights, turkeys and deer wander through their yard, and coyotes serenade them on a nightly basis. Jamie currently works as technical support for a computer company in Portsmouth, NH, but fantasizes about someday quitting his day job to be a full-time writer.
Blog | Goodreads

Excerpt: Seal of Surrender by Traci Douglass + Giveaway

2013-04-26T00:00:00.000+03:00

Seal of Surrender (Seven Seals #2)

By Traci Douglass

Editions: ebook

Expected publication: May 6th 2013 by Crimson Romance

Genre: Adult Paranormal / Romance / Urban Fantasy

Love, like War, will always find a way…

War has shaped every aspect of Irena Soldan’s life—her childhood, her work, her DNA. Unaware she is the genetic host of the second Seal of the Apocalypse, Irena battles for those who cannot fight for themselves. As a top human-rights operative for The Omega Consortium, her company provides both the financial backing required to undertake her task and a charismatic, publicity-loving boss to promote her cause. Life proceeds on plan for Irena until a mysterious, sexy stranger arrives claiming to be her guardian and Irena’s path takes a sudden, inauspicious turn for both the erotic and the lethal.

Chago has always been the quiet one amongst his warrior Scion brethren—the brooding, Spanish combat expert with a hidden soft side. A member of Divinity’s covert special forces, he’s protected humanity for more than a millennium. Still, his greatest joy comes not from the battlefield, but from tending the cattle herd on his remote Montana ranch.

Irena’s new assignment takes her straight to the heart of a bloody civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa and Chago’s mission demands he follow. Expecting a seething cauldron of female whoop-ass, he instead discovers a harbinger of peace amidst a world of ever-increasing violence. The explosively tense situation is further magnified by the cunning Omega Consortium leader, his ambiguous personal agenda, and an ancient foe whose audacious rise to power threatens the world’s very existence.

Despite the cataclysmic circumstances, an undeniable attraction ignites between Chago and Irena. Together, they must unravel the ancient puzzle of the Seals and discover her employer’s ulterior plans before they both become casualties of War. Soon, both are forced to choose between a past riddled with old torments or risk everything they treasure on a love capable of defeating evil incarnate.
~ Bewitching BT

SEAL OF SURRENDER by Traci Douglass

Excerpt:

" Chago walked across the open Montana field toward the broken fence in the distance. He lugged the heavy toolbox one-handed and glanced sideways to see his herd while they grazed on the nearby plain. A small calf trotted in his direction and nuzzled his hand, searching for its daily treat.

“Hola, Ernie.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an apple. The calf chomped his prize and cantered away. Chago shook his head at the tiny cow’s retreating waddle and pushed the rim of his Stetson a tad higher before he continued on his way. After a short trek, he reached the broken section of fence and knelt to examine the damage. Hammer in hand, he squinted into the bright light of the rising sun, placed the first spike, and pounded away.

Domesticated wasn’t a word most people would use to describe him. Most said he possessed more brawn than sophistication, more muscle than grace. Chago had learned long ago to use his bodybuilder physique and unsettling manner to his advantage. Few knew the true extent of his intelligence or the depths of his emotions and he intended to keep his brawn-over-brains persona intact.

The ranch’s open expanses and fresh air suited him in a way no other place had in eons and reminded him of his human childhood in the Pyrenees. He planned to retire here as soon as he could figure out a way to convince Divinity. A millennia as the Scion combat expert had taken their toll.

Finished with his repairs, he climbed through the slats to view the other side of the fence and stopped short. A familiar burn ignited around the sigil on his lower abdomen. Duty called. He glanced toward the sky with exasperation. “Really?”

One second he was standing in the field, flies buzzing around his head. The next he was the star attraction in a white marble room. The only other occupant of the grand hall stood dead center. Her sharp gaze assessed him from top to toe.

“Chago.” The older woman’s expression held a hint of humor before she hid it behind a mask of calm.

“Divinity.” He bowed in deference and caught a whiff of fresh cow patty. Fantastic. He spied a telltale clump on the side of his well-worn boots and an image of the small calf flashed into his mind. Chago chuckled and raised his gaze to hers, his wry smile accompanied by a small shrug.

“Doing some farming?” She surveyed his overalls, her eyes bright with suppressed laughter.

“Ranching,” he corrected her.

“Hmmm. I’m afraid your recreational activities will have to wait.” She stood in front of him and craned her neck to meet his stare. “I have work for you.”

Dammit. What now? They’d secured the first Seal only months before and stopped the Apocalypse. Where was his much-deserved vacation? He looked away and sighed. No point in arguing. “Yes, ma’am.” "

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon

About the Author & Links:

Traci is the author of paranormal/urban fantasy and contemporary romances featuring a sly, urban edge, including her current Seven Seals series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.

Traci is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University. Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards. An earlier draft of Seal of Destiny won the paranormal category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.

Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series and a new futuristic suspense series with hints of the paranormal and plenty of romance.

She loves hearing from readers! Connect with Traci here:
Website | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Spotlight: Tristan's Lyceum Wolves by Kym Grosso + Excerpt + Giveaway

2013-04-25T00:00:00.000+03:00

Tristan's Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3)

By Kym Grosso

Editions: ebook

Published: April 1 2013

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

An erotic paranormal romance…
Charismatic and powerful Lyceum Wolves’ Alpha, Tristan Livingston, is out for revenge after a devastating attack on his pack. Not only did he survive a building collapse, he orchestrated the rebuild of his chic, state-of-the-art nightclub within a week. Determined to mete out justice, he rescues a beautiful witness who may be the key to helping him find the perpetrators.

Dr. Kalli Williams, dedicated veterinarian, is hiding a secret that endangers not only her own life but the lives of wolves across the country. After being tortured by a savage vampire, she’s reluctantly agrees to help the sexy Alpha in his quest to identify suspects; ones who’d kill her on the spot if they knew she existed. As Kalli places herself in the hands of the dominant wolf, she soon finds she wants nothing more than to submit.

Tristan, committed to ruling his pack as a lone wolf, is inexplicably drawn to the mysterious and enticing woman, who seems more than human, but not quite supernatural. As he discovers her secret, he teaches her the meaning of trust, helping her learn how to be true to her nature. After living a lifetime alone, will he succumb to the visceral need to claim her, acknowledging the soul binding connection between an Alpha and his mate? And will he prevail against the menacing enemy who threatens to destroy Lyceum Wolves?
~ Bewitching BT

TRISTAN’S LYCEUM WOLVES EXCERPT

" Julie poked her head around the corner in time to see Tristan making his way down the long hallway. She quickly got back to work, annoyed that he’d gone so far with his investigation. Their voices had carried well into the kitchen during the heat of their argument. She’d been tempted to intervene, but knew better than to interfere with Alpha business.
Padding into the room, Tristan eyed Julie standing next to the stove, pouring the broth into Tupperware containers.
“She sleeping?” Julie asked, already aware of the answer. He’d been down in her room for well over an hour, sitting in total silence, watching Kalli sleep, and she found it curious that he was taking such an interest in the injured human woman.
“You didn’t bring the soup,” he commented.
“You were busy,” she curtly replied.
“What gives, Jules? Just say it.”
“I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that you don’t take direction well, Alpha. Although I guess you’re more used to giving directions than taking them,” she huffed. “I could hear the ruckus all the way in here. No disrespect intended, but I did say not to upset her, didn’t I?”
“Yeah well, it’s not easy being king,” he remarked with a smart-assed inflection, grabbing a bowl of soup. He sat down at the counter and began eating while she finished working.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to be so hard on you. I know you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. It’s just that seeing her like that….all those scrapes and bruises and bite marks. My God, she was a mess. I suppose I’m going a little mother hen on you. I’m not used to having to deal with such violence. You are good to us, here.”
“No worries. We worked it out. She’s a tough one, you know. Believe me; she’ll be right as rain, soon. My spidey sense tells me so,” he joked.
“All right then, I’m going to leave you some crackers and ginger ale to put next to her bed in case she wakes up in the middle of the night starving. I was able to get a little bit of the electrolyte fluid into her before she woke up all the way. I have to say that it’s unusual for a human not to be dehydrated. I guess she must have been really, really healthy before this happened to her. It’s almost as if…well, never mind.”
Tristan stopped eating and stared over at Julie, who looked deep in thought. “What is it?”
“Oh, I’m just being crazy. I was just going to say that it’s almost as if she had the constitution of a wolf. Silly, huh?”
“Yeah, silly.” Tristan bit into a cracker, considering her assessment. Silly? Or right on target? He felt it too. Something about that woman wasn’t exactly human, but then again, she wasn’t at all supernatural.
Julie gathered up her purse and gave Tristan a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. “Okay, hun, well, call me if you need anything. I’ll stop by tomorrow to check on our girl. Maybe bring up some clothes for her, too. Get some rest, okay? Love ya!” she chirped as she entered the elevator and the doors slid shut.
Tristan reveled in the quietness surrounding him. He needed to think about his next steps, his strategy. He planned to bring in a sketch artist, so they could put a face to the arsonists. The meeting with Jax Chandler was in another two days, and he needed to get his shit together before it all went down. Throwing his bowl in the sink, he went to take a hot shower. He needed to think, without his libido interfering. It was as if he’d just been given a few more pieces of a jigsaw puzzle for which he didn’t have the picture. But he was cunning, and that’s what he did best, work with the impossible to make the possible happen. He was Alpha. "

Winner: Andalene

Amazon

About the Author & Links:

Kym Grosso is the author of the erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. Both of her novels, Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1) and Luca's Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), are currently available via Amazon, digitally and in print. Tristan's Lyceum Wolves is scheduled for release on April 1, 2013.

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She writes autism articles on PsychologyToday.com and AutismInRealLife.com. She also is a contributing essay author in the new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog, cat and guinea pig. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow covered mountains. On any given night, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Character Interview: Pallas Doesn’t Hold Back with Annie Nicholas + Giveaway

2013-04-24T00:00:00.000+03:00

Prima (Vanguards #6)

By Annie Nicholas

Editions: ebook

Published: April 22nd 2013

Genre: Adult Paranormal / Romance

One year ago, Sugar survived a wolf shifter attack but it had left her broken. Paralyzed on the left side, she fights for independence in her day-to-day life. Her worst injuries are the scars on her soul. She can’t bear who she has become and it drives her to push her vampire lover, Daedalus, away. How could he still love her when she is just a shadow of herself? But a new threat on Daedalus’s life yanks away her veil of self-pity and she resolves to help him.

The vampire council sends an emissary to Daedalus. His clan brother, another Nosferatu, hands him an ultimatum. Return to his post as Prime in Pal Robi or he’ll kill Sugar and her shifter friends. Daedalus has brought enough trouble into Sugar’s life. He won’t be responsible for more, so he agrees to leave Chicago.

To both warriors surprise, Sugar’s not willing to remain behind, and with her own shifter guards she’s ready to assist Daedalus regain control of Pal Robi.
~ Bewitching BT

Pallas Doesn’t Hold Back

Hello, I’m Annie Nicholas and I’ve brought along with me Pallas, a vampire character from my new release Prima.

Pallas…

Do you even have a last name?

Not that I remember. Why would I need one?

I think for tax purposes it would be wise.

Taxes? Who would think to charge me taxes?

The Government. Vampires are legal citizens now, so you get to pay like everyone else. Why don’t you introduce yourself to our audience.

I am Pallas.

You have to forgive him. He’s been hibernating for the last three hundred years. Pallas is from the Nosferatu clan. The same clan Daedalus is from. Why did you go to sleep?

Our wars had ceased. Somehow my people discovered peace. I was bred to be warrior. What else was I to do?

Then why wake up? Did the wars start again?

No. My stupid clan brother lost his mind and abandoned his post as Prime in North America to follow a human of all things. The Vampire Council woke me to…talk some sense into him.

What makes a Nosferatu vampire different than a regular vampire?

Our clan is the oldest. We appear less human than others. We’re stronger in all regards than the other vampires.

How do you find the modern world?

Noisy. Fast. I do like television though. And Daedalus’ car.

How would you describe Daedalus and Sugar?

Daedalus has always been a pain in my ass since the day they dragged him into our training camp a thousand years ago. He doesn’t deserve someone like Sugar.

Sugar is naïve but with time she may become someone worth pursuing.

Do have any plans for the future? Nothing of my doing. Apparently, I am expected to train some worthless shifters how to fight so Sugar can have an elite guard.

Comment on this post with your email address if you'd like to enter the giveaway for 1 ebook copy of Prima. Open Internationally, giveaway ends May 1.

Amazon link | Barnes&Noble | Book Depository

About the Author & Links:

Annie Nicholas hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day. Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter Subscription