I’m late, I know! But better late than never, huh? Stop glaring at me, people. Blame my internet provider for my tardiness, not me. They’re the ones who were having ‘technical difficulties’.

*Scheduled for release June 5th*

Blood Kin by M.J. Scott – I’m really excited to get my hands on this. I read the first book, Shadow Kin, and was very impressed by the character complexity and darkness of the world. I can’t wait to see what makes the previous hero’s brother, Guy, tick. His attitude and profession (Templar!) intrigued me.

Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick – This is a reprint. I don’t know if any content has been changed, but I know it’s got a new cover. Why do I know this? Because it’s been on my TBR forever! The reissue will be a nice excuse for me to finally get a copy and try it out.

*Scheduled for release June 26th*

Angel Betrayed by Cynthia Eden – I really enjoyed my initial of Eden when I read the first book in this series, Angel of Darkness. I’m eager to learn more about Sam, the hero of this book. His good guy/bad guy status was very murky in the first book.

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost – Finally, Vlad’s story is here! I jumped off the Cat & Bones train a while ago, but I can’t say no to Vlad. *sigh* Love him.

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase – OMGosh, I l-o-v-e this author. I cannot wait to read this. Her stories are so fun and charming. If you haven’t tried her, you’re missing out!

Tarnished by Karina Cooper – I haven’t read this author before, but this book sounds fun. I’m always up for a new Steampunk adventure. I am rather nervous about the possibility of a love triangle, though. On Amazon, the blurb says, “I must decide where my attentions will turn: to my daylight world, where my scientific mind sets me apart from respectable Society, or to the compelling domain of London below. Each has a man who has claimed my time as his—for good or for ill.” Sounds like a love triangle to me. I might wait to see what my friends think of this before trying it myself. I just don’t want to be stuck with another triangle.

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt – I have really enjoyed this series so far. The hero of this book, Winter, hasn’t ever particularly sparked my interest before now, but I’m willing to put faith in Hoyt and read it anyway. She can tell a mean HR.

Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter – I’m stoked to try this angel spinoff series. One, I like angels. Two, I like Gena Showalter. Sounds like a win-win for me.

Visit Fiction Vixen to leave a comment on Eagerly Anticipating: Is It June Yet? or to read other articles like this.

©2009-2012 Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.

Knight is big presence, very angry at his brother for taking advantage of his hospitality and scares the crap out of Anya. But instead of fleeing for her life right then, she ends up accepting a ride home from him. Granted he doesn’t give her much of a choice; Knight is the type of man who does not take no for an answer and he gets what he wants. Apparently he wants to drive Anya home. Once they arrive at Anya’s apartment, Knight walks her to her door, does a safety check and takes a mental inventory of all the safety hazards in her building. Soon after, Anya receives a very expensive cell phone, new locks have been installed on her apartment door, and the other safety issues have been fixed. You guessed it, Knight.

As much as Knight wants to leave Anya alone to live the “clean” life she deserves, he finds himself drawn to her. When she has a dangerous run-in with Nick at the club Knight owns, Knight gives into his attraction and need to protect Anya. He wants her and he will have her in spite of his dark past and his questionable lifestyle.

Apparently, this author’s name has dominated a few the FV reviewers GoodReads streams for a while now. Since I don’t hang out there all that often, the hoopla has stayed well below my radar. I do have a bit of a Twitter habit though, and recently I caught a few conversations about this book. Actually, I caught fragments of conversations, usually stuff like this: “ewww daddy kink”, “major alpha male”, “compare to 50 shades”, “hero is a total ass”.  There are several keywords that always grab my attention, specifically, “hero is a total ass”. What can I say, we all have weaknesses right? But it wasn’t until Jen reviewed the book here at FV and she and Amy had a mini conversation about it in the comments section that I plunked down my $3.49 and bought the book. Although I’ve only rated this book a C, I can tell you I’m not disappointed in my purchase.

There are many things in this book I don’t necessarily like in my romance novels, erotic or otherwise. But I did read the author’s note to her readers before I read the book so I was prepared to for the “anti-hero” known as Knight. Well, I was sort of prepared. I like an arrogant alpha male, but Knight pushed past that frequently. There are many things to dislike about him. To say he’s high-handed is a major understatement, but at no time does he ever pretend to be something he’s not. He calls women bitches, he’s arrogant, domineering and a complete control freak. He deals in illegal activities without remorse, and he expects his woman to yield, or take the punishment. He also is very protective and views his woman as someone to be elevated above reasonable levels. He cherishes and protects Anya, yet controls her in a sometimes scary way.

In the very beginning I assumed Anya would be a very strong character possibly standing up to Knight and giving him a run for his money. We’re told she’s self-sufficient, hard-working, and overcoming a shitty childhood without being pissed off at the world. But once she meets Knight, I think she totally loses her spine. Yes, submitting to a dominate man she’s very attracted to turns her on and seems to suit her, but she learns things about Knight throughout the story that would make a marshmallow react. But Anya just doesn’t react. In fact, she spends a lot of time whispering, “Okay.” I found her character quite frustrating in that aspect. At times when I thought she should have been fearful, she was not, and times when I felt it would have been appropriate to be angry, or appalled, or anything, she was not.

I am baffled by my reaction to this book though.These characters are not typical romance characters by any means, yet I hung on and wanted them to find their happily ever after however twisted it seemed. There are different strokes for different folks I guess and these two seem to fit like puzzle pieces. The level of emotion amped up by Knight’s intensity and Anya’s thrill at being the recipient of his all-encompassing attention makes for a very crack-like read. I just couldn’t stop and if I’m being honest, I really didn’t want to. Their the relationship was intense and for all that disliked about the characters, I wanted them to find happiness in each other.

Knight frequently calls Anya his baby and he likes her to call him daddy. I’d love to be really cool here and say the daddy kink didn’t bother me, but I have to admit it did jar me the first few times it came up, but not enough to make me quit reading. The baby/daddy thing felt uncomfortable but it somehow seemed appropriate for Knight’s character. Definitely not hot for me, but okay in this book if that makes any sense.

I want to mention the quality of the writing and/or editing in the book. I can’t review this book without letting you know that it is very rough around the edges and at times hard to read. There are many errors.

Then I turned, moving stiffly, I reached in and flipped the switch on the light in the study and the windowless room went black. Then, like I’d be graded for the endeavor, I carefully closed the door.

Then I walked slowly down the hall to the bedroom.

Then I got dressed, shoved my PJs in my overnight bag, went to the kitchen, grabbed my purse from the counter and dug out the keys to Knight’s apartment. I dropped them on the counter, pulled on my jacket and grabbed my bag and purse.

Then I got the heck out of there.

The story is told from the heroine’s point of view and therefore in her “voice”. I realize some people may speak in this manner, beginning every sentence with “then”, but I found it grating. I felt like I was listening to a first grader relating the events of the day, page after page.

I read a certain series that I always say I’m going to quit. It makes me uncomfortable, pushes me a little beyond my boundaries and I really do mean it (at that time) when I say it’s not for me. But still, I keep reading. I can’t quit it. I opened a package from UPS recently and immediately got a little thrill when I saw the latest book in the series in print, right there. I guess it’s what you call a guilty pleasure. I think Knight might fit into that category for me since there were so many things about it that gave me scrunchy face, yet I fully intent to read the next book in this series whenever it’s published.

Rating: C
Knight by Kristen Ashley
April 8th 2012
GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble

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©2009-2012 Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.

Review: Captivated by Lauren Dane
Review: In the Company of Witches by Joey W. Hill
Review: Knight by Kristen Ashley
Review: Lover Unexpected by Brindle Chase
Review: The Shifter by Jean Johnson
Review: Cost of Repairs by A.M. Arthur

Book Craft: Shanna Vaughn from Hide A Book
Samantha Rides Again and Wants to Honor Your Loved One
Random Friday: Jowl Flapping Funny, ARCs, eBooks Deals, Guest Review Ops and More

Giveaway Winners:

The two winners for The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan are:

Barbed1951 and stella.exlibris

Congratulations ladies, email is on the way!

We’re looking forward to another great week at Fiction Vixen, I hope you’ll join us!

Visit Fiction Vixen to leave a comment on In Case You Missed It: Weekly Recap and Giveaway Winners or to read other articles like this.

©2009-2012 Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.

Juliana is back with another Book Craft feature. Today is she is talking with Shanna Vaughn from Hide-A-Book.

FVBR: Tell us a little about yourself and what it is that you do.

Shanna: Hi, my name is Shanna. I am a book lover, romance reader and I make book covers. Hide-A-Book covers are a fun stylish option for covering paperback books in both mass market size and trade paperback size. They have an adjustable edge so you can change the size to accommodate different book widths.

FVBR: How did you get started on this and what inspires you the most?

Shanna: Well, I have always been a little crafty crafter at heart and I wanted to fulfill my creative side in a way that was sorely lacking in my life. I spent a while thinking about what things I love and books are definitely number one on that list. One of the things I really wanted for myself (and just wasn’t seeing for sale) were book covers. There weren’t any stylish non-fabric options out there at the time so I created my Hide-a-Book covers using beautiful paper combined with a vinyl cover. What inspires me the most are amazing handmade papers and the endless variety of gorgeous patterns and textures available.

FVBR: Why book covers? Do you read a lot?

Shanna: I love romance novels and I’m not shy about sharing that, but some of those covers are a bit fugly and sometimes embarrassing. Many years ago, I recall putting a post-it note over the face of the guy on a Christine Feehan novel to hide it and I thought, there has to be a better option. I also read a lot and take a book pretty much everywhere, so I wanted a cute little cover to wrap it up, as well as a ribbon bookmark that wouldn’t fall out like a paper one while rattling around in my big ole purse.

FVBR: How do you decide what patterns / designs to use?

Shanna: I choose patterns and designs that speak to me and then see what my customers like and which designs they respond to. It’s fun to shop for different designs but sometimes I want them all!

FVBR: What materials do you use to make your book covers?

Shanna: The covers are made from paper; everything from classic Japanese silk screened prints to Nepalese Lokta fiber and modern Indian designs on cotton rag paper. The paper is in a vinyl cover with a handy ribbon bookmark held in place by metal eyelets.

FVBR: What are some of your favorite books? Favorite authors?

Shanna: Hmm, gosh it’s so hard to choose! My all time favorite books are: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal and Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos.

FVBR: Favorite quote or saying?

Shanna: Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. – Abraham Lincoln. It just reminds me everyday that I have a choice to be happy.

FVBR: If you could go on an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why, what attracts you or “calls to you” about that place?

Australia because it’s such a beautiful and fascinating place. The people are amazingly friendly and who wouldn’t want to go somewhere where Christmas is in the middle of summer?

FVBR: Do you ever envision taking your idea and reapplying it in a different context?

Shanna: Sure, with the shift to ebook reading I’ve thought a lot about ideas for ebook readers but nothing that really captures my interest has surfaced yet. Pretty paper keeps calling to me so I may have some ideas about different ways to create beautiful things with those materials in the upcoming year.

FVBR: What are some ideas, tips, or “tricks of the trade” you can give our readers about crafting or how to repurpose materials and objects they have lying around the house?

Shanna: If you have the space, it pays to keep on hand lovely bits of paper, scraps of colorful fabric and elegant buttons. Blogs are an endless source of creativity for me and it never fails that I’ll see a great project that I can plunder my stash for supplies.  I always keep my scrap paper, it comes in handy for small gift wrap, tags or little envelopes. You can cut out flowers or other motifs from fabric or paper and decoupage with a little Mod Podge onto picture frames or chunky bracelets for a nice handmade gift.

FVBR: You have said you’re also a romance reader (woohoo!), so I’m sure you must find your book covers very, very useful sometimes, right?

Shanna: Absolutely! Cover art is definitely getting better for romance but I don’t think the naked man cover will ever depart completely from this genre . They’re handy for making books safe for work.

FVBR: What is your favorite romance genre and why?

Shanna: I will read just about anything and I definitely go through phases of things I’m into. Right now I love a good contemporary romance especially chef romances like Louisa Edwards’s Recipe for Love series and sports romances like Deirdre Martin’s New York Blades hockey series. There’s something sexy about heroes that are really, really good at just one thing.

FVBR: Who are your favorite romance authors and/or what are your top five romance books?

Shanna: My favorite romance authors are (in addition to the ladies mentioned already), Kristan Higgins, Lynn Viehl, Jill Shalvis and Emma Holly.  This year I also discovered Georgette Heyer and have managed to read nearly all of her romances which has led to a new appreciation of historicals. My top five favorite romance books are Frederica by Georgette Heyer, Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

FVBR: And because I just have to ask (we are a romance blog after all!), you would choose the …
– sensitive and reflective poet, who is quiet but passionate in his/her beliefs
– bad boy/girl who is cynical and has a devil-may-care attitude — but is just waiting to be reformed
– tortured and mysterious loner, with a rough, intimidating exterior but a soft, heart of gold
– arrogant, distrustful aristocrat-type who needs to be taken down a peg or two and let down his/her guard
– entrepreneur whose strong personality and hard work has brought him/her from down-on-his/her-luck to great success
– ____________________ (fill in the blank with your own description!)

Shanna: I would have to go with the entrepreneur whose strong personality and hard work has brought him/her from down-on-his/her-luck to great success.

Visit Fiction Vixen to leave a comment on Book Craft: Shanna Vaughn from Hide A Book or to read other articles like this.

©2009-2012 Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.

Happy Friday!! I have no idea what that penguin has to do with this post, other than it’s totally random.

Thank goodness the weekend is in sight. In addition to running a busy blog, the girls at Fiction Vixen have a lot going on on the personal front.

My eldest daughter has returned to work and that means I’ve had my little tiny g-baby with me during the day. It’s only been 5 years since I had a newborn of my own, but wow, I forgot how the little ones can rule your life! I’m loving having her but we need to work on a more efficient schedule. I’m behind on EVERYTHING!

Jen is due to have a sweet little baby in about two weeks so there will be yet another little mini-vixen joining the ranks soon. Yay!! Must be something in the eInk.

Samantha is about to embark on her annual AIDS Life Cycle charity ride. She wrote a post today telling you about it. She will be doing a little something extra special this year so be sure to check out her post.

Catherine and Amy could be looking at massive TBRs if we’re going to keep up around here. Oh wait, they’re already rock stars! We might need some extra help then!

If you’re interested in guest reviewing at Fiction Vixen, be sure to check out the form at the end of this post. (Don’t skip to the end, read the whole post. I’ll know if you don’t. *eyes on you*)

*****

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill ARCs

Chloe Neill is giving away signed ARCs of Biting Cold, the sixth book in the Chicagoland Vampire series. Head on over if you’re still with this series and enter to win.   Read the first chapter too. She’s throwing in two signed copies of Charmfall as well! The contest closes May 21, 2012.

*****

Jowl Flapping Funny!

I ran across If It’s Hip, It’s Here recently and I about died lol’ing at these dogs caught in mid head-shake. Jowls are a flapping!

This one is my favorite. LOL No airborne saliva.

I’m sure I’d look exactly the same way if I whipped my hair back and forth. heh. Head on over to If It’s Hip, It’s Here for more like this.

*****

Birchbox

My buddy Mandi at Smexy Books always knows about the coolest stuff. I swear my life would be so boring without her. She recently told me about Birchbox. For $10 a month you get a box a beauty and makeup samples delivered right to your door. I love trying new makeup but it’s pricey so samples are awesome. I haven’t signed up yet but I’m going to. Anyone else out there tried Birchbox?

*****

eBook Deals

Don’t forget, I post book deals as I find them over on our Facebook page. Like us on Facebook and check the page often, I post deals almost every day. Here are a few recent book deals that I posted:

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger .99
Lord of Vengeance Tina St. John (Lara Adrian) .99
Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry 2.99
I Kissed An Earl by Julie Anne Long 1.99
What Happened In Vegas by Sylvia Day .99
Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost 1.99

*****

 Giveaway Winner

I forgot to announce the winner of His Dark Bond and Savage Bond! Shame on me. The winner is:  Eva / TXBookjunkie

Eva, I have sent you an email.

*****

Guest Reviewers

Fill out this form if you’re interested in becoming a guest reviewer at Fiction Vixen. We provide the books, you provide a thoughtful, honest review. (Not all applicants will be contacted.) I’ll post this form somewhere on the blog as well.

*****

That’s it for me! Have a great weekend!

Love—FV

Visit Fiction Vixen to leave a comment on Random Friday: Jowl Flapping Funny, ARCs, eBooks Deals, Guest Review Ops and More or to read other articles like this.

©2009-2012 Fiction Vixen Book Reviews.