Paranormal Haven

Weekly Recap for May 21st - 26th

2012-05-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our Weekly Recap. We will be sharing what books and goodies we got and will go over some of our favorite posts, giveaways, book covers and anything else that peeked our interest during the past week. Lets start things off with sharing what books we got.

For Review

- Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep
- Lustfully Ever After by Kristina Wright

This Past Week At Paranormal Haven

Monday - Review of Natural Evil by Thea Harrison
Tuesday - Release day review of Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione
Wednesday - Picture of the Week plus feature and giveaway of Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco
Thursday - Places I'd like to visit.....Caldwell, NY from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series plus a giveaway for a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card
Friday - My first audio book experience

We're now on Twitter!

That's right, Paranormal Haven is now on Twitter. Check out this post for more and to learn how you can enter to win a $20 gift card.

Giveaways on other blogs

- Author Kristie Cook is giving away swag, signed books and a Nook Simple Touch during her Soul Savers blog tour
- Under the Covers is celebrating turning 1 buy giving away a copy of Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione, Bared to You by Sylvia Day, Demon's Bride by Zoe Archer and more
- If you'd like another chance at winning Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione, Romance Reader at Heart is also giving away a copy
- The Reading Cafe is giving away a copy of Flashfire by Deborah Cooke
- Hanging with Bells is giving away a copy of Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

Cover Talk

House Rules by Chloe Neill seems to be the cover of the week. We haven't had the chance to pick up the series yet but that doesn't mean we haven't enjoyed all the cover's badassness. Book 7 in the Chicagoland Vampires series won't be out until February 2013.

My first audio book experience

2012-05-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

So I decided to venture out and buy an audio book. I had a lot of reservations about doing so because I didn’t want anyone else’s voice in my head while I read. But then I decided to give it a try so that I could read and exercise (I’ve tried this with an actual book, it didn’t work out so well for me. I was walking and I think I heard even the birds laughing when I fell).

At first it was a little weird but once I got over my initial uneasiness of having a man read to me, it was a lot better. The sex scenes were another obstacle for me. In the beginning it was weird to walk by other people in the morning while having someone read a hot and heavy scene to me. Over all I thought that it was not a bad way of reading new books. I decided I could never listen to a book or series that I have previously read because that would ruin the illusion I have in my head as to how the characters all sound. I think I have gotten accustom to the man who reads the series I am listening to now, it may take some getting used to another person once I switch to a new series.

Right now I'm reading is the Karen Marie Moning Highlander series. I have read Beyond The Highland Mist and To Tame A Highlander. I enjoyed both books. I think the stories are unique and fun. There is a good love story in each one with lots of heat and passion. I will continue the series in audio form.

Has anyone else had any good experiences with audio books? Any suggestions to give me for new buys? As if I don’t have enough books on my shelf or on my Kindle, now I’m starting to get ones for the iPod. What a dangerous thing I have started. Well I hope to read (listen to?) a few more audio books and hopefully with your suggestions I can go spend money I don’t have and buy some more.
My Rating:

Answer some questions and you could win a $20 gift card!

2012-05-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Paranormal Haven is now on Twitter! We tried doing this a couple years back when we first started our blog but we didn't really care for it so it never went anywhere. We thought we'd give it one more try and this time we're really going to put forth the effort to make it work and we'd love some advice.

For bloggers who use Twitter, what is the best way to use Twitter to help our blog grow? For the non-bloggers, what are some tricks to using Twitter? What about commenting? Can we comment on any one's conservation we're following or should we keep our opinions to ourselves unless specifically asked? Do we ask permission to retweet something we enjoy or think our followers will like being made aware of? How often should we be posting? Any information you can give would be extremely helpful!

On a separate note, what time during the day do you like to visit blogs? Kind of an odd question but we're interested because we want to make sure we're posting our content at a time that it will receive the most viewer ship. If you decide to leave us this information, please let us know what time zone, country or state you're in.

As a thank you for answering some of our questions (and following us @paranormalhaven), we are offering up a $20 electronic gift card from the winner's choice of either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Giveaway ends on June 5th and is open internationally.

Fill Out Giveaway Form Here

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Places I'd like to visit.....Caldwell, NY from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series

2012-05-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many times I've read a book and thought, "that's a place I'd visit". Mostly so I can meet the sexy alpha heroes, but sometime it does sound like an interesting place. So I thought I'd pick some of my favorite fictional spots that I wish I could visit and share them with you. For today's post, we're heading to the east coast of the U.S.

The place: The city of Caldwell

Where it's located: New York

You'll find it in the pages of: The Black Dagger Brotherhood and The Fallen Angels series by J.R. Ward

Why I'd want to visit: I could have a delicious dinner at Sals Italian restaurant, take in the beautiful architecture of the Commodore skyscraper (I hear they have a couple penthouses), let loose at the Iron Mask night club or take a trip to the outskirts of the city to see the mansions that I could only ever hope to live in.

While all these are good reasons to visit Caldwell, my main reason for wanting to visit is the Black Dagger Brotherhood. (Caldwell is also the setting for The Fallen Angels series but for this post we're sticking with BDB). These males are the best and most fierce warriors of their race. Each night they patrol the streets of Caldwell in order to protect their kind from slayers known as lessers. These men are alpha to the core and the type of leather clad sexy that leaves you in awe.

Why it's probably a good idea the place doesn't really exist: Like most major metropolitans, there's crime in Caldwell. This city has the unfortunate added bonus of being the battle ground of BDB's war with the lessers, so human casualties do occur. Vacations are not a lot of fun if you're spending most of your time at St. Francis hospital.

Why I'd still risk going: Obviously, I want to see the hot men but it's more than just the looks. To watch them in action against the lessers, or others who would think they could do a better job protecting their kind, would be something I'd be willing to risk a lot for. Alright, and I REALLY want to get close to Vishous or maybe have a little one on one time with a certain sympath king...

These are a few of the books that make up the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, as well the current Fallen Angels books. To learn more about Caldwell, BDB and the Fallen Angels series, visit J.R. Ward's website. We could not recommend this series enough!

Feature and Giveaway: Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco

2012-05-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Undone Deeds (Connor Grey, book 6) by Mark Del Franco

Connor Grey, a druid consultant for the Boston P.D., usually helps the cops solve their “strange” cases, but now he’s the suspect in the midst of one. Wrongly accused of a terrorist act that rocked the city to its core, Connor evades arrest by going underground, where rumors of war are roiling. A final confrontation between the Celtic and Teutonic fey looks inevitable—with Boston as the battlefield.

Undercover agents are turning up dead in the Weird—their murders brushed aside and ignored—and Connor exposes a citywide conspiracy of silence that seems linked to the inexorable march to war. As he digs deeper into the mysterious deaths, Connor draws closer to the secrets of a past he has sought for so long. And as friends and allies abandon him one by one, Connor discovers that in the clash between light and dark, and in the face of a cataclysm of epic proportions, he might have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world.

For more information visit Mark Del Franco's website

This giveaway is open to U.S./Canada residents only and ends on May 29th.

Fill Out Giveaway Form Here

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Picture of the Week plus giveaway winner

2012-05-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

The winner of The Taker by Alma Katsu is ..... Molly F

Congratulations! You now have 3 days to respond to our email [or message us at paranormalhaven(at)gmail(dot)com] or another winner will be chosen.

Release Day Review: Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

2012-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Lethal Rider
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Lords of Deliverance, book 3
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-10: 0446574503
ISBN-13: 978-0446574501
Source: NetGalley
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Larissa Ione's website

This is the 3rd book in the series so there are some spoilers from previous books.

Having spent over eight months in a paralyzed state, Thanatos, the Horseman known as Death, wants nothing more than to get his hands on the woman who betrayed him. Thanatos has thought of all the ways he plans to make the Aegis Guardian Regan Cooper pay for her deception but when he's finally free, he gets the surprise of his life when he learns Regan is carrying his child. Regan knows the baby inside her could stop the Apocalypse and save humanity but a day hasn't gone that she hasn't been wracked with guilt over what she did to Thanatos. When he finally gets his hands on her, she's not sure what she's more afraid of, his anger or the heated desire in his eyes. With the baby's arrival possibly days away, Thanatos and Regan will need to guard themselves from unexpected enemies and prepare for the battle that could stop, or bring about, the Apocalypse.

From page one, I was pulled in and completely enthralled in the story and characters the way only a Larissa Ione book can do. With so many less than stellar books out here, it's nice to know I can count on Larissa to deliver a book that is everything but mediocre.

Regan and Thanatos' relationship is an uphill battle from the start. In the previous book, Immortal Rider, we see that Regan is sent by the Aegis, demon hunters, to seduce Thanatos in order to conceive a child that would stop the Apocalypse from occurring. After finding out he was betrayed, Thanatos is put into a state of paralyses to keep him from hurting anyone. Jump ahead 8 and a half months and Thanatos is free and ready to hunt down Regan. To his surprise, she's pregnant and to mine, he actually wants the child and will do anything to protect it.

Getting to know the man behind the bone armor and tattoos was something I really enjoyed reading. There are a lot of complicated emotions swirling around Thanatos that I didn't expect and by the end, it was hard not to fall in love with a man known as Death. My one real issue with Thanatos was how he treated Regan. He had every right to be angry and want retribution but he switched off from wanting to hurt her to wanting to kiss her easily and often. I felt as if I was going to get whiplash from his mood swings.

I wanted to hate Regan for what she did but in the end she won me over. She's intelligent, determined and like Thanatos, had a wide range and depth of emotions than I initially didn't think she had. What redeemed her in my eyes was how genuinely sorry she was for hurting Thanatos the way she did. It seems rare for a heroine in the paranormal genre to not only apologize but actually mean it and I felt that Regan did and would have done anything to make it up to Thanatos.

When these two weren't going at it, they were.....going at it. For two people as inexperienced with sex as they are, they sure learned fast and because quite good at it.

There's a lot going on in Lethal Rider and it all connects back to the main story arc really well. I'm not going to give away much because part of what made it so good was reading it for myself. Pestilence is wreaking havoc in the demon and human worlds and is becoming stronger by the day. I feel terrible for Thanatos, Ares and Limos who look at Pestilence and see the brother they once loved and now have to hunt down. Elsewhere, things are stirring in the Aegis and the results are something I felt was a long time coming. My favorite angel, Reaver, has a few 'oh my god' moments of his own I can't wait for him to get his own book.

Action, suspense, heart tugging romance and humor is everywhere in Lethal Rider and it was everything I wanted as a fan of the Lords of Deliverance books. This is not a series you want to read out of order. Go back and start with book one, which was good but my least favorite of the bunch but necessary if you want to completely understand what's going on with the rest of the books in the series.
My Rating:

Reviews for other books in the series:
Eternal Rider
Immortal Rider

Book Review: Natural Evil by Thea Harrison

2012-05-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Natural Evil
Author: Thea Harrison
Series: Elder Races, book 4.5
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ISBN-13: 9781619211100
ASIN: B007KSE4Y8
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Buy it here:
Amazon

For more information visit Thea Harrison's website

Alone in the Nevada desert, Claudia Hunter pulls onto the side of the road when she notices a dog has been injured. Rushing him to the nearest vet, Claudia makes the startling discovery that it's not a dog she just saved but a shapeshifter. A shifter that's been beaten and left to die. Luis Alvaraz doesn't want Claudia to get involved. Being too weak to stop her, Claudia catches the attention of his attackers and soon the pair will need to work together to stop the dangerous men who now wants both of them dead.

Claudia is retired from the army and has spent the last few year traveling around the U.S. After finding Luis injured, she makes quick connections and discovers who is behind his beating. Not one to back away from a fight, Claudia demonstrates some impressive skills when backed into a corner and finds herself with the same enemies as Luis. I liked Claudia's ability to stay calm and rational when situations got bad but there wasn't a whole lot more to her. Whether she eating dinner, being shot at or looking at Luis when he's wearing nothing but a sheet, she had the same calm and detached demeanor.

Luis is the opposite. He works as an investigator for the Wyr (the supernatural) and you get the feeling he likes to go out and really live life. His feelings for Claudia are instantaneous and he lets her know it. I know this is a novella and because of its length, the characters are suppose to fall in love quickly but Claudia and Luis get a late start to things so I wasn't all that convinced of their feelings for another. Sure, they're good in bed and work as a decent team in the field but nothing about them said permanent.

I didn't enjoy this novella like I did True Colors, the first novella in this series. It starts out slow but in the end I found the story to be interesting and something I wouldn't have mind reading in a full length book. In a series with really strong couples, Claudia and Luis didn't hit any of the right cords with me and ended up being what I liked least about the novella. I'm really hoping that the Devil's Gate, the next Elder Races novella, will be better than than this one.
My Rating:

Weekly Recap for May 14th - 19th

2012-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

For Review

- Chosen by Sable Grace

This Past Week At Paranormal Haven

Monday - Review of A Patch of Darkness by Yolanda Sfetsos plus a guest post from Yolanda
Tuesday - Review of Sparks Fly by Katie MacAlister and Eternal Kiss of Darkness promo post
Wednesday - Picture of the Week and feature and giveaway for The Taker by Alma Katsu
Thursday - Beyond the Blog with the Jeep Diva
Friday - Review of Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

Giveaways on other blogs

- Author Chloe Neill is giving away ARCs of Biting Cold
- The Qwillery is giving away a copy of My Lord Vampire by Alexandra Ivy
- Goldilox and the Three Weres is giving away a set of the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep
- Author Deborah Cooke (who also writes as Claire Delacroix) is giving away a signed copy of The Beauty Bride
- Mundie Moms is giving away 2 City of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare audio books plus more
- Pen to Paper is giving away a a signed copy of Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
- Under the Covers Book Blog has a signed copy of Embrace of the Damned by Anya Bast to giveaway

Cover Talk

Instead of showing off the latest book cover for this week's Cover Talk, we decided to post Entertainment Week's latest magazine cover (a.k.a. one of the hottest magazine covers ever!) that features the men of the upcoming movie, Magic Mike. There's also a few pics from inside. For the entire spread, pick up EW's latest edition or visit their website.

Book Review: Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

2012-05-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Black Dawn
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Morganville Vampires, book 12
Publisher: NAL
ISBN-10: 0451236718
ISBN-13: 978-0451236715
Source: From publisher for review
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Rachel Caine’s website

It was dangerous enough to live in Morganville when all you needed to worry about was all the vampires, but when a new evil comes to town and scares even the most terrifying Vampire you know you’re in trouble. Most of the humans have evacuated Morganville (which in its self tells you the severity of the situation that the vampires let them leave). As always Claire and her friends have forgone the easy way and instead of leaving, they stay to help defend Morganville.

But this threat may be more than a couple humans and a few couple vampires can handle. The draug spread through water and feed on vampires through touch. They compelled them by their siren song into a trap. Making it had for the vampires to hunt and fight them without falling prey to them.

As the draug quickly multiply and now have infected the town founder Amelie hope may be a thing of the past. If Claire and her friends don't find a way to cure Amelie and save the town, there may no longer have a town to save.

As always Rachel Caine weaves and exciting adventure in Morganville. With lots of action, humor and a little romance you can't helped but be sucked into these books. You will have a fangtastic time reading this book.

If you have not read this series I think you should add it to your ever growing TBR list. Even though it is YA it lacks the teen angst you find in most YA books. No teen insecurities, no whinny teenage girls (well mostly, Monica may fit the description) and no sparkly vampires. No you get the real gritty side of the vampire world and a few teens just trying to keep each other and those around them alive and safe in a town determined to see them all exterminated.

I feel all the books must be read in order if this book appeals to you , please check out the first book in the series, Glass Houses, so you can read them in order; then you can get the fill effect of the story.
My Rating:

Beyond the Blog with the Jeep Diva

2012-05-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Beyond the Blog, where we'll not only be featuring some amazing blogs but also the creative people behind them. Today we have an interview with Vanessa a.k.a. the Jeep Diva. Vanessa is super friendly and you'll find great things all over her blog. Make sure to check out her blog after you've read her interview :-)

Let’s start with a few blog related questions

Why did you start blogging?
I have an abundance of time on my hands, I love to read and thought sharing the awesomeness that I read would be fun.

How has your blog changed since you first started it?
At first I only posted reviews on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Now I have posts every day, sometimes more than one in a day.

What do your family/friends think of your blog?
The Hub thinks that it takes up too much of my time. My sister in law thinks it’s foolish and a waste of her brother’s money. Don’t even get her started on the lack of income from it. My Diva’s (friends) think it is great and love to hear me talk about what I read that rocked recently.

What are some of your favorite blogs to visit?
Red Hot Books
Riverina Romantics
Sam E and R’s Awesomeness
Parajunkee
Under the Covers
Smitten With Reading
and of course Paranormal Haven

What advice would you give to someone who is new to blogging?
Do not attempt blogging alone. Get a team of people who share the love of reading. Blogging is very time consuming. Having a couple of people to help with posts, reviews and hops is very nice.

Let’s get to know the blogger behind the blog, shall we?

Can you tell us about where you’re from?
I NEVER tell anyone where I’m from. It’s a very small Podunk town people try to leave but seldom succeed. I was born and raised in south Louisiana. I now live in the boonie hills of Tennessee and LOVE it!

What’s a typical day in your life like?
When the Hub is gone, wake, walk the dogs, read, walk the dogs, read, eat, read, walk the dogs and then off to bed where I read a little more.

When the Hub is home (he works out of the country and leaves for 28 days at a time) we are on the go constantly and I seldom see a book. We travel to places we have never been, quad, Jeepin, boating, and we are constantly on the move.

What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?
I have an extreme case of CDO, I alphabetized my OCD. Anything with numbers has to be on an even number. I alphabetize almost everything. The matching of shoes to purses or outfits to purses is insane too, it’s obsessive.

What is your favorite thing to do (aside from reading) in your down time?
I love Jeepin, quading, and driving back roads in the Jeep and taking pictures of old barns, cemeteries or other road side oddities.

If you could sit down and chat with any author, who would you pick and what would you like to talk about?
Stephen King! I so love that man’s books. I would have to talk about Roland, the Baronies and how the Dark Tower series evolved with many of his other books included.

What was your first full on, geek out fan moment?
May 2011 I went to a Sherrilyn Kenyon signing. I bet at this point you’re thinking “oh yeah, Sherri rocks” which she does. That is so not where I’m going with this tale. I met Picky Me (Tricia Schmitt) the cover artist. She’s just made of all that is awesome. I had a full blown fan girl moment. I even informed her that I cyber stalk her. LOL

You just won your dream vacation, all expenses paid. Where are you going?
I would go on a cruise to Greece. I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise and the Hub will not go. The man spends 28 days in the middle of the ocean, vacationing on a boat in the ocean just does not appeal to him.

Oh, we forgot to mention you get to take your fantasy man with you. So, who are you taking?
The Hub. I married the most awesome human ever and I would make him go with me.

Thank you Vanessa the interview. If you want to know even more about Vanessa and her blog, here's where you can find her around the web.

Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google+

Feature and Giveaway: The Taker by Alma Katsu

2012-05-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Taker
Author: Alma Katsu
Series: Taker Trilogy, book 1
Publisher: Gallery Books

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening. Until a mysterious woman arrives in his ER, escorted by police—Lanore McIlvrae is a murder suspect—and Luke is inexplicably drawn to her. As Lanny tells him her story, an impassioned account of love and betrayal that transcends time and mortality, she changes his life forever. . . . At the turn of the nineteenth century, when St. Andrew was a Puritan settlement, Lanny was consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, and she will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for eternity.

For more information visit Alma Katsu's website

This giveaway ends on May 8th and is open to U.S./Canada residents only

Fill Out Giveaway Form Here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Picture of the Week plus giveaway winners

2012-05-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

I found this one on Smexybooks' Facebook page. Thank you Mandi :-)

Giveaway winners:

His Dark Bond and Savage Bond by Anne Marsh ..... Ilona F

PDF copy of Black Desire by Karyn Gerrard ..... Linda L

Congratulations! All winners now have 3 days to respond to our emails [or contact us at paranormalhaven(at)gmail(dot)com] or another winner(s) will be chosen.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaiene Frost special ebook edition!

2012-05-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the upcoming release of Once Burned, from now though June 25th, Jeaniene Frost's publisher is offering a special ebook edition of Eternal Kiss of Darkness for only $1.99! Eternal Kiss of Darkness won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and it was a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestseller. Plus, in this limited-time discount edition, you can get a sneak peak at the entire first three chapters of Once Burned, available wherever books are sold June 26.

Order at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Sony, Kobo, or your favorite ebook retailer.

Link to the trailer is here: http://youtu.be/vxiDLcSCP9g

Book Review: Sparks Fly by Katie MacAlister

2012-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sparks Fly
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Light Dragons, book 3
Publisher: Signet
ISBN-10: 045123653X
ISBN-13: 978-0451236531
Source: From publisher for review
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Katie MacAlister's website

Ysolde de Bouchier can't seem to catch a break. The First Dragon demands that she right past wrongs and informs her she's running out of time, her mate Baltic can't seem to get along with anyone, his former guard is out to kill them and she's still trying to wake her sleeping dragon. But none of that will matter when someone she loves his taken and Ysolde will do whatever it takes to get him back.

First off, if you haven't read this series from the beginning, don't start with this book. Katie MacAlister does a better job than she has in past books at recapping previous events and includes a glossary in the back of the book but even with a guide, there's so much going on in this book that it's very easy to get lost. This is a spin-off of a spin-off of a series. Before starting this book I went back and read the previous 2 books as well as the Silver Dragons series (the original spin off) and still found myself getting confused from time to time. With that being said, lets get to the review.

Separate, Ysolde and Baltic are not the most original characters. She's funny but doesn't always make the wisest decisions and he's a determined alpha with a soft spot only for his mate. As a couple, I really liked their relationship and the history behind it. They have a lot working against and even after centuries apart, their love and bond is stronger than ever. Not to mention with Ysolde's often imaginative sexual fantasies, they're not lacking any heat in the bedroom.

There are a lot of supporting characters to the point I think there were too many. It seems like every character that's been introduced since the start of the series is in this book and it felt overwhelming and unnecessary. A few I did enjoy seeing again was Jim, a demon in the form of a dog who loves to give his honest opinion about everything, Brom, Ysolde's son who is 9 yet talks like he's 30 and Kostya, Baltic's former second in command turned enemy who currently has a hate/will tolerate/hate relationship with Baltic.

As for the plot, where to begin....Ysolde has been given a mission from the creator of the dragon race with little time or instructions on how to complete it, she's trying to get their Light sept recognized by her fellow dragons as a real sept but is having a hard time because of bad blood between Baltic and every other dragon, Baltic's former soldier is trying to kill them, Ysolde's trying to make sense of her visions with little to no help from Baltic....and that's just some of what's going on in this book. I'm all for keeping things interesting with a subplot or two but like supporting characters, there's just too many. There's a lot of humor to these books and I'm invested in Ysolde and Baltic so I will continue on with the series. I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that the author will scale back the overabundance of story in the next installment.
My Rating:

Guest post from author Yolanda Sfetsos

2012-05-14T22:32:00.004-07:00

Casting My Characters

Hi! Firstly, I'd like to thank Paranormal Haven for having me over here today. :)

Tomorrow, my urban fantasy book A PATCH OF DARKNESS will be released from Samhain Publishing. I'm very excited, and also a little nervous. While I can't wait for Sierra's first book to be out in the wild, I can't help but feel those jitters whenever a new book is released.

So, instead of worrying about it, I thought I'd put together a fun post for today. I'm going to share pictures of who I visualized as my characters while I was writing the story. Are you ready to get started? Okay, here we go:

Sierra Fox

Jonathan Wells

Ebony Aikan

Jason Papan

Lavie Grye

Oren McKee

Vixen

Conrad Hicks

Well, there you have it. That's quite a nice looking cast, right? There are more characters in this story, as well as in the future installments, but the characters I've added here will be in the entire series.

I have to admit that casting the characters is a lot of fun. It means I have to spend quite a bit of time looking through pictures of actors, musicians, models, etc. but I really don't mind. :)

I hope that if you read my novel, you now have a clearer picture of each person as they pop up on the page.

Thanks for reading,

Yolanda

Wife. Mother. Writer. Bibliophile. Dreamer. Animal lover. Intrigued by the supernatural. Horror freak. Zombie enthusiast. Movie & music fan. Slave to her muse.

Yolanda lives in Sydney, Australia with her awesome husband, lovely daughter, and cheeky cat.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

All it takes is one weak seam for everything to fall apart.

Sierra Fox, Book 1

In a perfect world, Sierra Fox would have stayed away from the Council she left years ago. But in this world—where spirits have the right to walk among the living—it’s her job to round up troublesome spooks and bring them before that very same Council.

Though her desk is piled high with open cases, she can’t resist an anonymous summons to a mysterious late-night meeting with a bunch of other hunters, each of whom seems to have a unique specialty. The news is dire: something is tearing at the fabric of the universe. If the hunters can’t find who or why in time, something’s going to give in a very messy way.

As current cases, family secrets, new clues and her tangled love life slowly wind themselves into an impossible knot, Sierra finds herself the target of a power-sucking duo intent on stealing her mojo. And realizing she holds the key to the last hope of sealing the widening rift.

Warning: Spook catching: may contain traces of ectoplasm and otherworldly nasties. Not recommended for those with allergies to ghosts, demons, and with boyfriends who think your power is theirs. While reading, avoid dark patches and stay to the light.

A PATCH OF DARKNESS will be available from Samhain Publishing on May 15.

Book Review: A Patch of Darkness by Yolanda Sfetsos

2012-05-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

A Patch of Darkness
Author: Yolanda Sfetsos
Series: Sierra Fox, book 1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ASIN: B007RGWKXU
Source: From author for review
Buy it here:
Amazon

For more information visit Yolanda Sfetsos’s website

Sierra Fox is a Spook Catcher. It is well known that ghosts roam around. They even have their own council. When the ghosts get too rowdy, home owners call on Sierra to come take care of the problem. When Sierra gets a mysterious note dropped off at her front door, she follows the note to a time and place to meet hunters of creatures she didn’t know existed. They were brought together by another type of person(ish) to help out with a problem.

A Patch of Darkness is the first in an Urban Fantasy series. The main plot line here is Sierra trying to figure out what is wrong with the ghosts, and why so many demons pop up, but underneath it is a mystery—who is messing with the Sierra? I am surprised that this is the first book in the series. There is a ton of back plotting done, which can make the novel drag a bit. The back plotting goes into why Sierra hates the council, what they did to her and for a long time leaves the reader wondering.

It is the romantic plot lines that bothered me. Sierra is dealing with a lot of crazy stuff, and on top of that she is juggling boyfriend Jonathan. Hints are dropped, no not dropped, slapped across the main characters face that he may be involved in more than she thinks. She ignores it for the majority of the novel which I didn’t understand, but that has to do with characters, and I will get to that in a moment. There is also another minor romantic subplot with the P.I. upstairs, but this became distracting, and didn’t seem to add a lot to the main events.

It is safe to say Sierra was hard for me to identify with, and it didn’t help that I felt detached from her relationships. The only one that felt real was her relationship with her assistant Ebony. Sierra uncovers a secret about her past which should have been life altering, but I didn’t feel as if it was, and when it affected her emotionally, I was just ready for her to move on. This has a lot to do with the amount of stuff Sierra tells the reader. Instead of experiencing the characters through actions, we experience them through Sierra’s judgments that are proven wrong, and hard to relate to.

The story takes place in Australia, which was fine by me. The descriptions are nice, and easy to follow. Also the story has its slow spots, but picks up very quickly when the action happens. Sierra does a lot of ghost hunting which makes for some really great fun scenes.

The story is left with some questions for a second novel. The main problem with it is that though it ties together at the end it lacks emotional impact. I wanted to feel more for the main character than I did, instead I put things together faster than she did, and couldn’t always understand her judgments. Instead of experiencing things the reader is told a number of things which lead me to feel uncertain about the main character. Unreliable protagonists are usually okay in my book, but because of the holes between her and other characters, I left the novel feeling distant.
My Rating:

Weekly Recap for May 7th - 13th (plus announcement)

2012-05-13T05:00:00.001-07:00

For Review

- Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione
- Archer's Lady by Moira Rogers
- Blood Kin by M.J. Scott
- Cursed by Benedict Jacka
- The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman

This Past Week At Paranormal Haven

Monday - Review of Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands
Tuesday - Review of Silence by Michelle Sagara
Wednesday - Picture of the Week
Thursday - Interview and giveaway from author Karyn Gerrard
Friday - Review of Demon's Bride by Zoe Archer
Saturday - Feature and giveaway of His Dark Bond and Savage Bond by Anne Marsh

Giveaways on other blogs

- Mind Reader and Darkest Sins is giving away a blog design
- Vampire Book Club is giving away 2 ARCs of Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
- Mel's Random Reviews is giving away a book of one winner's choice
- The Bookish Brunette has started her huge Zombie Craze event which will be lasting all month long

Cover Talk

It's always a good week when a pretty new book cover is unveiled. This past week was a great week because we got 2 eye catching new covers from 2 of my favorite authors.

Shadow's Claim is the first book in Kresley Cole's IAD spinoff series, The Dacians. We've already met the hero, Trehan, in Lothaire's book and I'm super excited to learn more about him. Shadow's Claim is currently scheduled to be released on November 27th.

Last Kiss Goodnight is Gena Showalter's first release in her Otherworld Assassin series. I love the black and white/red cover. I'd almost expect to see it as a cover for one of Kresley Cole's IAD books. Last Kiss Goodnight is currently scheduled to be released on December 26th.

Announcement

Athenna and I have decided that aside from our Weekly Recap and the occasional post from an author that prefers a weekend post date, we'll not be posting on weekends. With 4 of her 5 kids in sports and dance classes (plus competitions), myself going to school in the evenings and both of us working and wanting time read, we just don't have the time right now to blog 7 days a week.

Feature and Giveaway: His Dark Bond and Savage Bond by Anne Marsh

2012-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

His Dark Bond (Fallen, book 2) by Anne Marsh

He Hungers For Her Body. . .

Zer is no angel--well, not anymore. He's explored every flavor of sin imaginable, drinking in the pleasures of humanity. But now he must find the woman who carries his salvation in her very blood. . .a woman like Nessa St. James.

And Her Soul. . . Nessa has considered the bargain the Fallen offer. Anything she wants in exchange for accepting Zer's bond? No way. Not her. Not when she finds out about the mind-blowing ritual involved, and the marks of surrender that will ink her skin. But with a serial killer to stop and centuries of experience on his side, this is one job Zer's going to nail.

Savage Bond (Fallen, book 3) by Anne Marsh

As a former Dominion warrior and Fallen angel, Vkhin knows how to fight. How to track his prey. And when to deal out death with brutal efficiency. Redemption isn’t part of his plans—until he finds himself chasing Fallyn Lee through a wasteland. Now, he’s hunting for the woman who could restore both his lost wings—and his soul.

Ria Morgan was just doing her job, shooting recon photos of a secret Fallen prison. When her chopper goes down, however, she figures her days are numbered. Until the dark angel hunting her offers her a temptingly seductive deal: bond with him and he’ll keep her safe. Safety’s tempting—but Vkhin is even more so. Now, Rhea must choose between long-held loyalties and the wickedly sensual pleasure of Vkhin’s touch.

Contact Anne: Website || Facebook || Twitter || Newsletter || Email

Anne is giving away a copy of His Dark Bond and Savage Bond to one winner in either paperback or e-format. This giveaway is open internationally and will end on May 15th.

Fill Out Giveaway Form Here

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Book Review: Demon's Bride by Zoe Archer

2012-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Demon's Bride
Author: Zoe Archer
Series: Hellraisers, book 2
Publisher: Zebra
ISBN-10: 1420122282
ISBN-13: 978-1420122282
Source: From publisher for review
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Zoe Archer's website

Anne, an impoverished Barron’s daughter married a stranger, Leopold Bailey. She knows he has secrets, and is more than a little intimated by her new handsome husband. Like the other Hellraisers Leo was given a gift, the gift of prophesy, by the devil. Born as a saddler’s son, he has become the Demon of the Exchange. He topples men’s fortunes and stacks his own. With his gift he has acquired much, even a wife among the peers of London’s elite. With her by his side more doors will open for him, and nothing can stop him, until he ends up in love with her.

This is the second book in the Hellraisers series. This one could be read as a standalone. The first book is about a different couple, but also holds the story of how the Hellraisers were given gifts by the devil. Demon’s Bride is a lot like the first, it felt like it followed the same formula. There are some differences in the ending, but not enough to set it apart.

Like with the first novel it does an excellent job of putting the reader into the time period. I even think the heroine felt more realistic than the first. She is a lady of her time and has more of an excuse to deal with the issues in her marriage. She did marry a man for convenience, and knew it might be rocky. She really has very little to complain about—other than that pact he made with the devil. Their falling in love is steamy, and those steamy scenes are done very well. The first half of the book is them falling for one another, and his mounting insecurities.

The main problem for me was that I felt as if I had read this book before. It was so like the first one that I could predict each step Leo and Ann went through. The action scenes, like the romantic scenes are done well, but there is a serious lack of tension in them. The ending should have been exciting, but it felt far too predictable for me. There is a little twist that reminds the readers that nothing is truly safe, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel much more for the ending than what I did.

I would like to read the next one, just because so far it looks like it might be a little different than the first two. I am hoping it isn’t the same plot. I will say that the characters in the second book are better than the first, but the tension they build together does not carry through to the end. I never felt like our main couple was really in danger, nor did I believe they really thought they were in any danger. I really want there to be more to it.
My Rating:

Interview and giveaway from author Karyn Gerrard

2012-05-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today we are talking to author Karyn Gerrard about her vampire series, Blackthorne Clan, and her latest release, Black Desire.

Make sure you keep reading after the interview to learn how you can enter to win an e-copy of Black Desire for yourself.

Can you explain what Black Lust is?
My clan of vampires has the last name of ‘Black’ so the titles of the books in this series are a play on the name.

Can you tell us who and what the Blackthorne Clan is?
They are an old clan/family of vampires living in a fictional coastal village in Nova Scotia, Canada. Back in the 1700’s the name of the clan was Blackthorne, but the name became shortened to Black in the ensuing years.

Can you describe what a Thrope is and why they would have conflict with the Blackstone clan?
Don’t you love that every paranormal author has their own twist on the mythology? I broke my wolves into three groups. Thropes, Lycans and Weres. The Thropes are the elite; they can shift into wolves and have other powers. Thropes are very cold and detached, they hide their feelings. They are also very devious. They also take their breeding very seriously, which will tie into the conflict with the Black’s.

What sets your vampires apart from all the others in paranormal romance genre?
My vampires are very emotional. In my paranormal world, the Blackthorne Clan has done the impossible, they have children. So I have Dhampyres (half-vampires) and Quarters (1/4 vampires) in my vampire world.

Can you tell us a little about the two main characters in Black Desire, Tristan Black and Katrina Hammond?
Tristan Black is a Dhampyre (half-vampire) and the son of the leader of the clan, Deegan (a pure-blood vampire). Tristan’s last mate was human and died of old age in 1939. He has closed off his heart all the decades to follow until a chance meeting with a woman in a pub. He feels the Mate Bond.

Katrina Hammond is a historical romance author (I couldn’t resist!) on vacation visiting her cousin in the small village in Nova Scotia. The attraction to Tristan is immediate and potent. Katrina can’t believe what she’s been pulled into. Vampires? Wolf-shifters? Some vacation!

What is the relationship between Lucius Black from Black Lust (the first book in the Blackthorne Clan series) and Tristan Black from Black Desire? What are their positions in the clan?
Lucius Black in the first book is a Quarter, and Tristan’s son and Deegan’s grandson. The book takes place in the U.K. where he has been staying with a cousin who is part of another branch in the Blackthorne Clan tree.

In the second book, the scene shifts to Canada and focuses on Tristan. Lucius will show up again in Book 4. Book 3 is about Deegan, the leader.

How many books do you have planned for this series?
I only planned on three, but Marcus Steele, a Thrope, (who appears in Book 2 and 3) had such an impact on me, I had to do his own story. I hope to submit Book 3 and 4 this fall and fingers crossed they will be accepted.

Did the series come out as originally planned or did it evolve as you went along?
It did come out as planned, the three books all fell into place. But Marcus wouldn’t let me leave it at that. *grins* I’m sure four books is all I will be doing, but I certainly left it open to explore other characters should I wish to at another time.

Is there a routine you use to help inspire you when you write?
I limit my computer and writing time to the weekdays when my teacher hubs is at work. I usually take the weekends off. Usually all it takes is a pot of hot tea, Earl Grey is my tea of choice. I also crank up the music, crack my knuckles and I’m off! So far, writing block hasn’t been an issue, and as long as it stays fun and publishers keep accepting my manuscripts, I will keep going!

More about Black Desire:

Black Desire (Blackthorne Clan, book 2) by Karyn Gerrard

Tristan Black of the Blackthorne Clan has known heartache and pain. He is a Dhampyre (half-Vampire) and most would say blessed with extreme longevity. Tristan would say cursed as he observed the long, slow decline and then death of his human wife due to old age while he seemingly aged not a day. Now seventy years later, he meets Katrina Hammond who piques his interest.

Katrina is a romance writer on summer vacation when she meets the mysterious and dangerously sexy Tristan. Katrina now finds herself in the middle of a clash between the Blackthorne Clan and a pack of Thropes (wolf shape-shifters).

Can Tristan protect Katrina, and can he protect his heart?

She awakened feelings in him he thought he would not have again. He considered these passions to be little more than vampiric mythology. She awakened his...black desire.

How you can contact Karyn:

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Goodreads || Pinterest || Newsletter

Karyn is giving away a PDF copy of Black Desire. This giveaway is open internationally and will end on May 15th.

Fill Out Giveaway Form Here

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Picture of the Week and a couple giveaway winners

2012-05-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

I like my men to have a little hair on there chest so this picture is really working for me. What do you think of our Picture of the Week?

Giveaway winners:

E-book from Hailey Edwards' backlist ..... Laurie F

Cleaning out our closet giveaway ..... Erin W K

Congratulations! All winners now have 3 days to respond to our emails [or contact us at paranormalhaven(at)gmail(dot)com] or another winner(s) will be chosen.

Book Review: Silence by Michelle Sagara

2012-05-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Silence
Author: Michelle Sagara
Series: Queen of the Dead, book 1
Publisher: DAW Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0756407427
ISBN-13: 978-0756407421
Source: From publisher for review
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Michelle Sagara's website

Emma’s father died, and last summer her boyfriend, Nathan, died. One night when visiting Nathan’s grave she meets Eric, a new school mate, who is much more than he seems. Beside him is a ghost, and it won’t be the last time Emma sees a ghost. Emma discovers why she can see the dead, and what that makes her. She also seems to start a new trend by helping the dead.

When I first cracked the book open I expected what we get a lot in YA novels. Main character has a secret power she doesn’t know, boy is looking for her for some reason, and they fall in love, blah, blah, blah. I was half right. She does have a super power she didn’t know about. She has powers over the dead. Anyway, Eric’s reason for finding her is bad, very bad, but a good kind of bad. I can’t say what they are. I feel like it might give away too much.

This isn’t really an original story amongst YA novels. There is a girl who discovers a secret about herself, and saves people—sort of. She is helped by friends, and a lead guy who is also a hero himself. There is no love triangle here, there isn’t any romance at all here, but I actually thought that made it better. There isn’t even much of any kind of subplot going on. I thought the story was very simple, which helps make it a very quick read. Where it stands out from most novels is in the prose. There are a good many turn of phrases that sound close to poetry.

The characters are what shine through in this novel. Emma is genuine. She cares about other people, and other people care about her. She is a little down in the dumps, but who could blame her, so many people in her life are gone, and then ghosts get thrown into the mix. Each of the side characters, mainly her friends, carries distinct personalities. They don’t feel like place holders, in fact they are very interesting individuals.

If I liked all this other stuff why didn’t it get a better score? It doesn’t move very fast. When the story does move it gets very confusing. The start of the novel moves along at a brisk pace, but towards the end of the novel I felt like there was a lot of uninteresting pages of description when it came to the magic, and what was going on. I had to re-read tons of pages at the end because I didn’t understand what was trying to be described, or had lost interest. This is also true when the characters are in conversation. I was left in many pages wondering which character had said what, and even wondering what they were talking about. I did way too much re-reading!

The magic system was neat, but at the same time seemed like it took all day to read about. No, seriously, I get that necromancers use the dead for power, and I get that you are new at this whole thing, but I don’t need five pages of figuring it out. Especially when the other characters have told you ten plus times you only have like two minutes. I wanted to feel so much more danger in the end than I did, and this kind of made the story a wash. That was, until the last page. The last page I was like ‘What? Wait? Why did… I am going to have to read the next on now!’

I think this story has flaws. It is a quick read to the end, but loses a lot of its tension and drive. This is YA, and I feel like many teens would get bored with it in the same parts I was forced to re-read pages. I never felt like any of the characters were really in danger. That being said the start of the novel is good, and the characters are also very well done. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but leaves the reader with just the right about of questions to want to continue with the series.
My Rating:

Book Review: Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands

2012-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Under a Vampire Moon
Series: Argeneau, book 16
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
ISBN-10: 0062100203
ISBN-13: 978-0062100207
Source: From publisher for review
Buy it here:
Amazon
Book Depository

For more information visit Lynsay Sands' website

Carolyn Connor is on the beautiful island of St. Lucia for a much needed vacation that will help take her mind off her cheating ex-husband and pending divorce. Unfortunately, the island has been overrun by honeymooners and couples, leaving Carolyn more depressed than when she arrived. The man who's able to catch Carolyn's eye is a handsome rock violinist who she believes is far too young for a 42-year-old. Immortal Christian Notte is on St. Lucia for one thing and one thing only, Carolyn. She is his life mate and he'll do whatever it takes to convince her they belong together. Even pretend he prefers dating men, a suggestion by his cousin, so that she'll act as his girlfriend in front of his family. Carolyn agrees to help Christian and soon finds herself falling for a man that she believes she couldn't possibly have a future with.

Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series is one of my favorite vampire (or immortals as they like to be called) series. There's usually plenty of humor, steamy romance, and characters you can't help to fall in love with. Sad to say, Under a Vampire Moon came up short on all of this.

Carolyn has never been much of a dater and her ex really did a number on her self-esteem. In addition to feeling physically unequal to Christian, Carolyn is 42 years old and thinks she is too old for someone who appears to be 25. Christian is actually over 500 years old and thinks Carolyn is perfect in every way. All immortals long to find their life mates so now that he found his, Christian is eager to tell her everything so they can start their eternity together. Problem is Carolyn won't even entertain the idea of dating Christian so his cousin Gia comes up with the idea that will end in Carolyn having to spend lots of time with him. Christian pretends to like men in order to get Carolyn to be his girlfriend in front of his family, who are all part of this ruse, so that they don't cut him off due to his sexual preference.

This story just did not work for me. Throughout the book, Carolyn switches off between spending time with Christian and running away from him when she had any inappropriate thoughts. She never really gets comfortable around him and the feelings she did end up having for him felt forced. Christian spent more time chasing Carolyn down and getting her to go on dates with him than actually wooing her. I thought he was more in love with the idea of having a life mate than Carolyn herself.

I really like the supporting cast in these books but I thought this time around they only added complications and awkward moments. Christian is the son of Marguerite Argeneau-Notte and Julius Notte. Marguerite and Julius are on the island with Christian and it was actually Marguerite who found Carolyn. While they are helping their son with his mate, Julius and Marguerite are able to read the no so innocent thoughts he has towards Carolyn. Some of their comments were funny because of the way they'd casually mention it but then it got a bit weird and uncomfortable when they'd talk about his ever present erection or how good the sex will be once they're mated. Even fictional parents should have some boundaries with their children.

I didn't completely hate Under a Vampire Moon. Christian's cousin Zanipolo steals a couple scenes with his humor and willingness to do whatever he can to help his family. Also, the mortal captain Jack is a new character who likes to have a good time and has a thing for Carolyn. They're both kind of a mystery and I hope each will get their own books in the future. Overall though, this was a disappointing installment in a series that I thought was finally improving after the less than spectacular Rogue Hunter books. I'll continue on, I just hope the next book will be better than this one.
My Rating:

Reviews for other books in the series:
Born To Bite
Hungry For You
The Reluctant Vampire
The Gift (from The Bite Before Christmas anthology)

We'll be back Monday

2012-05-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

In the first time since 2010, we are taking the weekend off from all things blog related. Not sure if that shows what kind of dedication we have to our blog, or what few other hobbies we have. Either way, we hope everyone has a great weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday!