I am really excited to have Author Kristin Miller on the blog today to share her top five favorite scenes from her novel GONE WITH THE WOLF. As someone who has only recently become acquainted with paranormal romance novels this book totally piqued my interest. It sounds sexy and playful and with an “Alpha male” wolf, I couldn’t help but want to know more.

And after reading the author’s favorite scenes this definitely became a must read. Which is why I included the guest post first.

But if you want to check out the book’s description, it follows immediately below the post, along with a link to a sneak peek on Entangled’s website. I’ve also included the author’s bio and places where you can find her online.

AND… this tour comes with a giveaway for a GONE WITH THE WOLF Prize Pack. So be sure to check it out below.

Now let me turn the blog over to the very lovely Kristin Miller… (and yes, I would have loved for this to be a top fifty versus top five, but I’m more than happy to discover all those sexy/hot/tantalizing scenes when I read the book).

Top 5 Scenes in GONE WITH THE WOLF

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today! I’m so thrilled to be talking about my five favorite scenes from Gone with the Wolf!

#1

The opening: When the book begins, secretary and bar owner Emelia Hudson is at her boss’s Halloween party dressed as Little Red Riding Slut. She had planned on seducing her boss and blackmailing him into talking about the shady business deal that was going to put her bar out of business. However, when she realizes Drake, her boss, isn’t coming to the party, she disappears into his wine cellar to empty his stash of expensive wine. Enter devishly sexy “security guard”…who of course turns out to be her boss, the jerk who is shutting down her bar. Before she realizes who he really is, there is some definite spark that makes the scene one of my favorites.

#2

A losing game of darts: Drake is an Alpha male CEO werewolf and as cocky as they come. When Emelia challenges him to a game of darts, he doesn’t think twice about it. He’s going to kick her ass, and win the honor of taking her on a date. Little does Drake know, Emelia has some tricks up her sleeve, which leads to…

#3

Drake jumping into the freezing cold waters of Lake Washington. This scene is one of my favorites because for the first time, Drake loosens up and begins to show a different side of himself.

#4

Starbucks drive-thru: In the middle of the book, Emelia and Drake are on their way back from a drive-in. They stop at Starbucks and have a moment in the car where Emelia is leaning over him and shouting into the speaker, and Drake’s hands do a little wandering. I really enjoyed discovering the chemistry between Drake and Emelia, and this was one of the scenes that really flew off my fingers.

#5

The ending: I can’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that Emelia shows her true strength and Drake learns what it truly means to love.

I had so much fun writing this book that I could choose a dozen more scenes if you had the time to post them!

Thanks for having me today!

About GONE WITH THE WOLF

GONE WITH THE WOLF by Kristin Miller

Publisher ~ Entangled
Pages ~ 207 pages
Release Date ~ April 23, 2013

CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder has given up the search for his one true love. When he discovers that she’s a secretary in his company, Drake’s primal instincts kick into overdrive.

What he wouldn’t give to have her fingers rake over his body instead of the keyboard…

Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. But when profits decline, she slips into a dress suit and secures a nine-to-five. After learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers.

Two can play the ruthless business game. If only her attraction to the boss wasn’t so intense…

When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate—he hatches a plan to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

To take a peek inside GONE WITH THE WOLF on the publisher’s website, CLICK HERE.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About Kristin Miller

Kristin Miller has had a passion for language and literature her whole life. Born and raised in northern California, she often made up stories about faraway places and edge-of-your-seat adventures. After graduating from Humboldt State University, Kristin taught high school and middle school English, married her college sweetheart, and had two beautiful munchkins. In 2008, she took time off from teaching to raise her children, and started writing while they napped.

Her first novel was published in 2011, and since then she has had seven other novels published (mostly paranormal romances). She is the author of Gone with the Wolf with Entangled Publishing, the dark and gritty Vampires of Crimson Bay series with Avon, and the short-but-steamy Isle of Feralon novellas with Harlequin Nocturne Cravings.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

The Giveaway

A GONE WITH THE WOLF-themed Prize Pack to ONE winner!

Prize pack includes:

GONE WITH THE WOLF swag including a custom made beaded bookmark
Seattle’s Best coffee & Starbucks travel mug
Ghirardelli chocolates
“Too Much of a Good Thing is… Wonderful!” wine bottle charm

Enter in the Rafflecopter below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour

May 1 – Urban Fantasy Investigations – Guest Post

May 3 – Love to Read for Fun – Excerpt

May 6 – Fiktshun After Dark – Top 5 Scenes from GwtW

May 8 – Ex Libris – Guest Post

May 9 – Caribbean Accent – Interview

May 10 – Love Romance Passion – Guest Post

May 11 – The Jeep Diva – Interview

May 13 – A Book Obsession – Guest Post

May 15 – Tempting Reads – Review

May 16 – SassyCat’s Book Review – Review

May 17 – Paranormal Book Club – Guest Post

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DEAD EVER AFTER (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris

Release Date: May 7, 2013

… And I’m terrified!

I was reluctant to start this series when a friend first introduced it to me. I was just starting to get my feet wet with YA books and I wasn’t ready to dive into a paranormal romance. I’d tried reading the first book in the BDB series based upon her recommendation and I just couldn’t get into it at the time. So I was hesitant to start this series.

While I’d always loved the paranormal, and all things vampire, I wasn’t much of a fan of romance novels and hadn’t actually read a PNR book before. But I became an instant fan of author Charlaine Harris’ characters and world.

As soon as I finished reading book one in the series, I purchased the eight-book omnibus for Kindle and proceeded to read it in one very long two-day reading marathon. And as the ninth book, DEAD AND GONE, was also available I dove right into that one.

I was obsessed. Especially as DEAD AND GONE seemed to be the only one with a cliffhanger ending. Well, if not a cliffie, there were definitely questions. BIG questions. Ones that sent me to the forums to try and find answers.

Of course I didn’t find out their meaning. Not until the next book came out – which felt like a lifetime of waiting until its release. And, even then, I didn’t feel they were answered satisfactorily. Yes, I still wonder….

And while I wasn’t the biggest fan of books ten through twelve, I am still looking forward to majorly obsessed with this upcoming final book in the series, though there will be a follow-up, AFTER DEAD: WHAT CAME NEXT IN THE WORLD OF SOOKIE STACKHOUSE, which I’ve read will, among other things, also talk about Sookie’s HEA.

I think this series does need to end, though in some ways I don’t want it to. But I know that it won’t end the way I want it to. I just know it. And as much as I am looking forward to this book’s release, I am also dreading it.

I’ve never before been one of those fans that disagrees with an author’s choice for a book’s outcome. These books are the author’s stories, not mine… though I make them mine. But for some reason things are different when it comes to the Southern Vampire Series. I feel like I might just disagree with the way things end.

Say… if it’s a Sookie + Bill lovefest. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

… and not in a good way!

Or if Good Ol’ Sam becomes her HEA. Really? After all the skanks he hooked up with? How could that make for a happy ending.

The author has mentioned on her blog and in interviews that Sookie won’t become a vamp. And with the way things have been progressing in the past few books, she and Eric seem to be growing apart.

So I can’t imagine this series ending in a way that will leave me with the warm and fuzzies. I’m already heartbroken. Why?

Because I believe Sookie’s HEA is with Eric the Northman. They are perfectly matched.

For the first nine books of the series it seemed as if they were, anyway. He was always there for her. Always. Until that terrible moment in DEAD AND GONE. But that wasn’t by choice.

The dude wore spandex for her, for goodness sake! Spandex!

And while Sookie seemed to try anything and everything to stay away from him, they still were drawn to one another. It was totally not just for the sex.

But now… after reading the description, finally, I’m feeling my heart sink. I just know things are not going to end well. And that after three point five years of waiting – no, it’s not as long as some – I’m going to be crushed.

I’m dying on the inside a little. Frickin’ A Sookie!

So, no, I am not ready. But I am going to take the plunge because my curiosity will eat me alive if I don’t.

But what about you?

Are you ready?

What is your HEA for Sookie?

What do you think is going to happen?

Are you prepared to be devastated?

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store.

Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte’s Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire’s girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state. She has survived earthquakes, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief . . . and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time.

But with life comes new trials . . .

The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Sookie finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut.

He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime. But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough…

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD (Beri O’Dell #1)
Author: Rinda Elliott
Published: March 26, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About the Book

On Goodreads…

Beri O’Dell is investigating paranormal creatures because she wants to know what she is. Taller and stronger than most men, she astral projects and can peel through dimensional layers to see the creatures and spirits beyond.

She once helped her foster sister, Detective Elsa Remington, track down killers in Jacksonville, Florida, but stopped when a nasty fire elemental turned her strength against her. Now, she finds herself pulled back when something steals Elsa’s soul and puts her into a coma.

With little time to spare, Beri searches for the reason behind her sister’s coma. She has help in her spirit guides Fred and Phro, but others come along for the ride, including a pyro-nervous witch, and an androgynous necromancer.

The last thing Beri needs is to fall in love with a mysterious stranger. But the handsome Minoan warrior Nikolos knows what creature she’s after because he’s battled it before.

It’s bad.

Really, really bad.

He calls it the Dweller on the Threshold.

~~~

How it Rates…

DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD gives readers a kick-ass heroine who is anything but ordinary, a world that is refreshingly different, an enemy who is both deadly and a bit of a mystery and a story that has action aplenty, an intriguing puzzle and a love interest who is most definitely interesting.

Author Rinda Elliott went out of the box when creating her characters and her story. Even her title, DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD, is atypical of stories in the genre. But it invites readers to learn more, to meet her character Bergdis Hildegun O’Dell, a.k.a. Beri, and the other rather unconventional and uniquely named characters in her story.

DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD follows Beri O’Dell as she tries to solve the mystery behind the mass comas that have befallen a number of people, including her sister Elsa, and find answers to questions about just who, and possibly what, she really is. With little to go on, she must rely on a perky witch named Blythe who is far more talented than she appears to be at first glance, her spirit guides – Fred and Phro – one of whom claims to be the goddess of love, and a Minoan Warrior, Nikolos, who has quite a few secrets he’s keeping.

Many of which look to be dark. And a few of which might just be dangerous. Especially to Beri, who can’t seem to fight her growing attraction to him.

With a wildly entertaining and eclectic cast of characters, a heroine with an acerbic tongue and “hit first, ask questions later” approach to investigating, a constant slew of grotesque and violent enemies to keep Beri busy, and a touch of sexual tension added to the mix, DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD is an incredibly appealing, fun and exciting first book in author Rinda Elliott’s new series.

So, what more can I possibly say about DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD?

It was witty and clever. The premise was definitely different – in a great way. The characters were not your typical character archetypes. The enemy – the dweller on the threshold – was more than a little bit scary.

The opening quotation and the prologue immediately drew me in. And while it took a few pages into the story itself before I was able to figure out just what was going on, once I discovered its rhythm I was hooked.

Beri wasn’t your typical run-of-the-mill heroine. She wasn’t a damsel in distress. And while she wasn’t always the easiest character to relate to, I loved her from the moment I met her. Her abilities were absolutely fascinating and I hope to discover more about them in future books in the series.

The story kept its focus on the urban fantasy/paranormal elements, keeping the suspense and action levels up, but didn’t shortchange the romance, which was equally important to the story’s outcome. And it was nice to discover a story whose love interest wasn’t in the least bit cookie-cutter.

From its unusual title, to its diverse characters, to their unique abilities, to the dark and disturbing world, I just knew that this book would set itself apart from the crowd. And it did that and so much more.

Rinda Elliott’s new series is definitely one I’m adding to my “must reads” list. And her character, Beri, is a new favorite.

My Favorite Bites…

“Bergdissssss. Ever trap smoke in a jar?” It took a deep breath then blew it out. I heard the moan of trees bending behind me. “It writhes, twists and turns, seeking the smallest opening for escape. It finds it. Always.”

I’d been transported into the Princess Bride. The extra gory version.

**This review is based on an eARC I received from the author for review and contains my honest thoughts about the book.**

I am super stoked to be a part of the blog tour for OUT IN BLUE by Sarah Gilman. When I first heard about this series back in December I was immediately intrigued. I love stories about angels and hadn’t read any of the non-YA variety. Until now.

I loved meeting Wren and Ginger. This story had me instantly captivated. The lore was quite a bit different from some of the other books I’ve read. And the chemistry between Wren and Gin was electrifying.

The story instantly grabbed me. Right from those first lines. Ones that are revealed below in the chapter excerpt I have for my stop today. So be sure to check it out and the rest of the reveals on this tour because OUT IN BLUE is a fantastic read. One that I highly recommend.

And if you’d like to know what I think, check back next week for my review.

But in the meantime, don’t forget to visit all the stops on this tour for more awesome posts, interviews, reviews and chapter reveals and for more chances to win an eBook of OUT IN BLUE.

At the end of the tour author Sarah Gilman will be hosting a chat on the Return to Sanctuary Facebook page. So be sure to mark your calendars!

Want to know a little bit more about OUT IN BLUE and author Sarah Gilman? Here’s some information on them both.

Title: OUT IN BLUE (Return to Sanctuary #1)
Author: Sarah Gilman
Publisher: Entangled Select
Pages: 352
Release date: February 26, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Author Sarah Gilman

Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

The tattoo of a bloody knife and scattered feathers caught Ginger Magellan’s attention. Her stomach curdled at the sight of the archangel poachers’ insignia. The bearer of the gruesome illustration ordered an espresso from the petite girl behind the bar.

“There isn’t a fallen archangel around here, is there?” The barista’s voice rose.

“Not for much longer, there won’t be.” He turned away and pulled out his cell phone.

From where she sat in the café, Ginger wrapped her hands around her coffee and stared into the dark brew, eavesdropping on the poacher’s conversation.

“The house has been abandoned for years, but it’s the right place. I saw him fly in the fog this morning. Devil has a balcony entrance on the third floor.”

Devil. Ginger hid a snort of disgust under a fake cough.

The poacher continued after a moment. “Yeah, white wings, black markings. It’s Wren, for certain. And not a Guardian in sight. He’s all ours.”

Ginger tensed. No Guardians? Why would an archangel be without his demon bodyguards?

“Meet you there in thirty? He’ll be back before the fog clears.” The poacher accepted his drink from the barista with a charming grin. She refused his payment and wished him luck. He blew her a kiss and left the café.

Clenching her teeth, Ginger tucked a twenty under her coffee and rushed for the exit without waiting for change. She stepped into the foggy autumn morning, shivered, and buried her hands in her pockets. Two police officers chatted next to their cruiser, but she turned and hurried in the other direction. Archangel poaching, though technically illegal, was applauded and encouraged by most of the human population. She couldn’t trust the police.

She’d warn this “Wren” herself.

Feb. 11th – Fiktshun After Dark
Feb. 13th – Kindle and Me
Feb. 15th – My Shelf Confessions

Feb. 20th – Ren’s Rambles
Feb. 22nd – Cocktails and Books

Feb. 25th – Reader Girls Blog
Feb. 27th – Bumbles and Fairy-Tales
Mar. 2nd – The Book Cellar

Mar. 4th – Always YA at Heart
Mar. 6th – Simply Ali
Mar. 6th – Fade Into Fantasy
Mar. 8th – Girls With Books

Mar. 11th – Young Adult Book Reviews
Mar. 13th – Urban Fantasy Investigations
Mar. 13th – Ramblings From This Chick
Mar. 14th – Goodreads Group: Never Too Young for YA Books
Mar. 15th – Kristina’s Books and More
Mar. 16th – Return to Sanctuary Facebook Chat

The publisher, Entangled, is offering up four paperback copies of OUT IN BLUE for giveaway during the tour!

Sorry, but it’s US only.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
In addition to the tour-wide giveaway, Entangled is offering up ONE eBook copy of OUT IN BLUE for giveaway here at Fiktshun After Dark.

You must be eighteen or older to enter and there should only be one entry per household.

And as I’m sure there were various requirements in the other giveaway, the only requirement here is to leave a comment with an answer to the question.

Enter below….

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When I was invited to be on the tour for WINGS OF REDEMPTION I took one look at the description and said yes, yes, yes. I’d just been thinking about the fact that I hadn’t read any books outside of YA where the focus was angels.

Well, hello WINGS OF REDEMPTION. This story of an archangel, a human, love and betrayal sounds absolutely amazing. And as soon as these crazy holidays are over I can’t wait to dive in.

For today’s stop on the tour, author Sarah Gilman is sharing her favorite inspirational characters that are angels. And I have to say that I most definitely agree with her choices. Especially choice number one.

My favorite angel characters in YA books – since I haven’t met any in paranormal fiction –  are Ellie from Angelfire and Clara from Unearthly.

Anyway, you’re not here to listen to me ramble about my favorite angels, you’re here to see what the author has to say. But before that here’s just a little bit about the book….

About WINGS OF REDEMPTION

Thanks so much for hosting!

Happy New Year, everyone!

The paranormal romance genre is a dragon’s treasure hoard full of vampires, telepaths, shifters, reapers, demons, and my favorite: angels. Reading, for me, is all about escaping the real world and living grand fantasies, and I can’t think of anything more compelling than meeting someone who can fly.

My husband accuses me of having a crush on Superman, but that’s just not true. Superman doesn’t have wings!

What angel characters have inspired me? That’s a tricky question. Before I began work on my archangel series, I hadn’t read any angel-based paranormal romance. At the time, I was coming down from an all-consuming vampire phase. I even started a vampire novel at first. Winged entities have been a fascination of mine since I was little, and before I knew it, I had a character with wings and I was deep into writing an angel story that became Out in Blue, the first novel in the Return to Sanctuary series. If I remember correctly, the only angel character in a romance I’d read at that point was Lassiter in J. R. Ward’s vampire books. My series came less from inspiration and more from something organic in my subconscious that needed to be voiced.

After I began working seriously on Out in Blue, I sought out angel stories in all genres and there are several characters who have inspired me:

1. Michael and Gabriel from the movie Legion. I love how they gave their angels believably-sized wings and rugged, warrior personalities.
2. The angel on the cover of Angelology, a thriller by Danielle Trussoni. The book was fantastic, but the cover has been of particular inspiration to me. That’s what angel wings are supposed to look like!
3. Lassiter from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I love the concept of an angel helping a vampire. I stray from denominational expectations in my own writing to explore the potential of angels as complex characters.

Readers, who is your favorite angel character?

About Sarah

Well that post was awesome! And I, too, went from an obsession with vampires to an obsession with those angelic in nature. While I’ve fallen back into a vampire reading craze recently, I am equally as intrigued with the idea of those stories more angelic in nature.

And I’m definitely certain WINGS OF REDEMPTION will be at the top of the list of angelic books to read in early January.

Anyway…

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your inspirations. I’m definitely curious to read Out in Blue after having checked that book out on Goodreads.

The publisher, Entangled, is offering up to ONE winner an eBook copy of WINGS OF REDEMPTION.

• The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
• One entry per HOUSEHOLD.
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Winner will be chosen by Random via Rafflecopter.
• Winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours to respond.

Today is the fourth day of the Top 10 of 2012 week-long event. And the topic for today is Book Boyfriends.

As I am a co-host for the event on my other blog Fiktshun, and I’m only participating in this event on this blog today, I’ll skip all the formalities. But if you head over to Fiktshun today, you can see just which Book Boyfriends in YA I chose.

And now for my Top 10 Book Boyfriends of a sexier variety….

1.

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King

2.

The Southern Vampires series by Charlaine Harris

3.

4.

Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill

5.

Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

6.

Unbound series by Rachel Vincent

7.

Dune chronicles by Frank Herbert

8.

Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole

9.

Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole

10.

While reading books that are not within the scope of my YA book blog is a rare occurrence, I’m still incredibly stoked to have discovered such amazing male leads in the books that I do read.

Of course Roland will always top any list I put together. I have loved him forever and will continue to do so well beyond my dying day. But there will always be room for nine other bookish boyfriend on the list.

Though Eric Northman, Lestat, Ethan and Bones have pretty much cemented their place on my Top Ten. For the others, my options will be open. So they better not develop too much of a heart of gold in any series books they make an appearance in. Because I do tend to love the bookish bad boys.

On Goodreads…

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined. And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or in humans.

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed.

No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.

***

***This review contains a spoiler for a PREVIOUS book in the series***

HOW IT RATES…

BITING COLD is yet another incredibly entertaining, easy to fall in love with and absolutely captivating installment in author Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series. A story that starts with a road trip and ends with a battle to keep Chicago safe, this sixth book in the series is every bit as exciting as fans would expect it to be.

And it was even more exciting than I hoped it would be. There is an even deadlier threat to Chicago with the appearance of a new supernatural being, one who came as a total surprise to me. The growing tension between the humans and the supes is making Chicago a very unfriendly town for the Cadogan Vampires. And life inside the House is under even more strain due to the Greenwich Presidium.

In BITING COLD, Merit is forced to face even greater challenges than she has in the past. Tasked with protecting the Maleficium from Mallory, trying to keep her former friend safe from herself and those who wish her dead, making sure Chicago and its citizens are protected from a new enemy who has no qualms about meting out justice to those he feels are deserving, standing Sentinel in a House under investigation, and living with the fear of just what Ethan has become is a heavier burden than any new vampire should have to bear.

And the fact that she’s forced to deal with an incredibly stubborn former master vampire with commitment issues does not make her job any easier.

Filled with intense battles, nail-biting tension and suspense, and that delicious chemistry between Merit and Ethan that makes this series so addictive, BITING COLD is a must read addition to the series.

So, what more can I possibly say about Biting Cold?

He’s back. He’s back. He’s back. He’s back. And he might just be here to stay.

BITING COLD is a return to the series I had grown to love prior to what I will now just call “the incident.” The one that shattered my heart into a million pieces. The one that made me too heartbroken to pick up the next book in the series until I had reassurances and answers. And even then my broken heart made it nearly impossible to get lost in the story.

But now? Reading this installment was like coming home. To a world I knew and loved. To characters that I count among my favorites. To an adventure I wanted to embark upon, to enemies I was ready to face. Because the kick-ass Merit I expected to see was there. And because her partner, her liege, the frequent source of her frustration, was there.

Yesss…. He’s back. He’s back. I am so unbelievably happy that he’s back.

It’s just so easy to fall head over heels in love with each of the books in this series. And BITING COLD was definitely not an exception. The story was fast-paced, with moments of nerve-wracking suspense. The writing had an easy flow. There were several new elements to the story that not only moved the plot forward but added to it, making it just as wildly entertaining as each of its predecessors. And a few that made it even more so. Especially as pertained to the new supernatural being and the fate of the Cadogan House Vampires.

As soon as I set this book down I was more than ready to pick up the next book in the series, HOUSE RULES. Of course, as that book has not yet been released, I have to suffer the agony of having to wait to find out just what’s in store for my favorite Sentinel.

But I think the wait is manageable. Why? Because he’s back….

MY FAVORITE BITES…

Whether it’s YA or books of a darker, sexier nature, there’s just something I love about demons. Maybe not the “stink like brimstone, look like festering boils” kind of demons, but those demons with the blackest of personalities, the dark and soulless eyes and the well-muscled, tattooed physiques that seem to adorn the covers of books they appear in.

Whenever I find myself stalled in my reading, unable to remain captivated with the books that top my pile, I seem to default to those reads with these tortured, wicked men.

Vampires have long been a favorite of mine, but even they don’t always get me out of my reading doldrums. Their immortality, their aversion to sunlight, their lust for blood isn’t always enough.

Sometimes I need to head south, to the Underworld. To the place of hellfire and hell hounds, where the evilest of humans suffer for eternity, and where these demons do the dark bidding of their masters.

The undead may be soulless, but they may have once had a soul. They may still have a conscience. They may retain a shred of humanity. But demons on the other hand are by their very nature and definition – “cruel, evil, or destructive” or ones that act as “tormentor[s] in hell.”

The idea of embarking upon a dark journey that involves these types of characters, these beasts in the shape of men, somehow always manages to spark my interest in reading when its abandoned me.

And whether it’s their cruelty, their lack of moral fiber, their hedonistic pursuits that dra me in, I’m not entirely sure. But there’s just something about these baddest of boys or wickedest of men that never fails to make me want to get to know them.

But is it just me? Am I the only one who prefers bad boys to good? Who enjoys the dark side versus the bright one? Who is captivated by their relentless pursuit of destruction?

All I know for sure is that at this moment the two amazing books that top my reading pile aren’t quite enough to dissuade me from getting to know more about Malkom Slaine who, as luck would have it, just happens to be both demon and vampire.

I am a very new inductee into the Kresley Cole fan club. Okay, while I may not actually have gone through any blood rituals, sworn to sacrifice my first born, or made any promises whatsoever, I consider myself a fan.

And while haunting her site I happened to notice a store that offered up signed copies of her book LOTHAIRE which I just read and LOVED. So of course I had to buy one for myself. I am a signed book collector junkie after all.

I had every intention of keeping this one for myself, except that on a few of the edges there is some denting. I don’t think you can see it in the picture, but it’s there. Which means I have to buy an entirely new copy. Because I am a bit of a freak for having perfect copies of my collectible books.

The FedEx delivery person clearly had a bit of fun with the packaging, as it was majorly roughed up and delivered at 9 p.m., so I am hoping that the replacement copy I’ll be ordering will be treated just a little bit better.

Anyway….

With a description as awesome as the one below, how could anyone not want a signed copy? Even if it is just a little bit rough around one or two of the edges. Well, unless you’re like me and want an absolutely perfect one…

Wicked description, right? Well, LOTHAIRE is an absolutely delicious read. Even for those of us who haven’t yet sunk our teeth into any other books in the series.

You can add LOTHAIRE to your reading pile by just clicking the image above, and you can enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below. But here are the details.

No need to like or follow or do all that crazy stuff. But if you’d like to spread the word that would be fang-tastic.

(Yeah, that was a little cheesy…)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am so thrilled to be today’s stop on Entangled’s tour for COMMENCEMENT by Paige Cuccaro and to be able to share an awesome excerpt and a few details about the author and book.

COMMENCEMENT is a recent discovery, but one I moved to the top of my list of reads after having checked out the excerpt I received for the tour. And as it is a novella – one that sounds totally fun and flirty – it should be a super quick read, so I’ll have no problem sneaking it onto my reading pile this week.

The excerpt offers the perfect tease and introduction to the author’s new series. But I’ll let you judge that for yourself. Well, after you check out a bit more about the book and author, that is….

Title: Commencement (Hellsbane #0.5)
Author: Paige Cuccaro
Pages: 87
Imprint:  Flirt (Entangled Publishing)
Pub. Date: September 27, 2012

~~~

As promised….

Justin knotted his arms across his chest and grunted. “Right. Shoulda been more specific.”

“Excuse me?” The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I tried to read him, but without tapping my gift, I was flying blind. I knew if I opened myself to his feelings, though, I risked another emotional bitch-slap.

No, thank you.

“Nuthin’,” he said, snagging his backpack from the floor next to his bed. “I gotta roll.”

“What? Wait. I mean, a second ago you wanted to… Where are you going?” I sounded panicked.

Maybe because I was.

If Mihir was right, Justin was playing with some pretty serious otherworldly power. As insane as that sounded, it had to be worse than playing with fire, and Justin couldn’t even light a match without burning his fingers. If there was even the slightest chance any of this was real, I had to try and help him.

Justin was a sweet guy, athletic, sexy, great in bed, but in the quick-thinking, smart-enough-to-outwita- supernatural-heavy-hitter category, he’d pull all Fs. With or without a computer virus’s help.

Not that I was any better.

“I just remembered I gotta hand in my term paper to Richardson. It’s already late.” He slung his backpack over one shoulder and held the strap with his right hand. His butt-ugly ring stared at me. “Oh. Speaking of which, maybe it’d be better if you didn’t sleep over tonight. Got that exam in Richardson’s Logic class tomorrow and it’s gonna kick my ass if I don’t do some serious crammin’. Sorry, honey.”

“Wha…? I thought… I mean, yeah, of course. Your grades are more important, but…I could come over after you’re done studying.”

I’d gotten used to spending the night wrapped in his arms. Besides, whatever was happening with him was crazy, and kind of scary, but that’s what it meant to be in love. Right? Standing by the person even when he’s freakin’ you the hell out. Being there when he needs you most—protecting him however you can. As bizzaro as Justin was behaving, I had to suck it up and stay close if he needed me. Right?

He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I doubt I’ll even make it to bed. You’d be in there alone anyway.”

“But you need to sleep.” I sounded slightly more desperate than I liked, but what better time to slip the ring off him than in his sleep?

“Aww…I’ll manage.” His smile turned indulgent. “It’s killin’ me, too. You think I want to spend the night studying? Hell, I wish I didn’t even have to take the stupid exam.”

A sudden flare of light sparked at his shoulder and the smell of sulfur tinged the air like smoke. My gaze shifted to Justin’s right hand. I hadn’t seen it, but I was sure the flash had come from the ring.

“Did you see that?”

“What— No. Didn’t see anything.” He stiffened, his eyes wide like a boy who’d been caught peeking at Christmas presents. “See ya around, Emma.”

He leaned in and pecked my cheek—my cheek?— then turned to leave. I didn’t know squat about enslaved spirits or whatever, but I did know something was off-kilter. And a woman’s instincts were all I needed to sense it. Something weird may be going on, but seriously? What college-age guy passes on the chance for sex?

“Justin, wait.”

He turned at the door as I snagged my backpack.

“C’mon, Em, don’t beg.”

Oh, he had to be dreaming. I don’t beg.

~~~

So? What do you think? Emma sounds kinda awesome, right? I love an MC who is not afraid to admit that she’s better in bed than in school and does not resort to begging. I cannot wait to learn more about her over the course of the series!

Anyway, I’m not the only stop on tour. There may just be a few other places to haunt….