Under the Covers

BYE BYE BLOGGER!

2012-11-08T21:12:00.002-08:00

THIS IS IT!!!

Today is our final day with Blogger. We've had such a blast here and we can only hope that you will join us as we take our journey over to Word Press.

What does this mean?

We will no longer be active on this site. There will be no more new reviews, author interviews, guest posts and giveaways happening here. Starting Saturday November 9, 2012, in order to receive the latest happenings with us, you can now visit our newly launched Word Press site at www.underthecoversbookblog.com

How will this affect YOU, our reader?
All our old posts will still be here but any new information will only post on our new home (www.underthecoversbookblog.com). So here's what you can do to make sure you don't miss out on anything we have to offer.

If you have our blog bookmarked, please be sure to update your bookmark to http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com
If you follow us via GFC (Google Friend Connect), we are sorry but Google won't allow us to take you with us. If you want to stay connected, please be aware that you can follow us many different ways! You can:

If you follow us via RSS feed, we will have a different feed once our new site is up tomorrow, so be sure to follow that!

We hope that you'll join us at our new home!

Interview and Giveaway with Keri Arthur

2012-11-08T21:10:00.000-08:00

We are so extremely excited to have with us today the talented Keri Arthur. Her RILEY JENSON series has been one of my favorite series, one that I loved and devoured and she's been writing some kick ass books ever since! Her new series DARK ANGELS, which is loosely a spin-off of the Riley series, is one not to be missed. Here to celebrate the recent release of the fourth book in the series, DARKNESS HUNTS...please welcome Keri to UTC!

Can you please introduce yourself for those readers who are just discovering your books?

Well, I’m Keri Arthur, the author of both the Riley Jenson, Guardian series, and the Dark Angels series. I’m an Aussie, live in Melbourne (the place where both stories are set), and I’m a former function and dessert chef. I’m also addicted to green tea and dark chocolate <g>

Your Dark Angels series is one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series out there right now. How did you come up the idea for this series?

It grew out of the Riley Jenson series. Risa first appeared in Tempting Evil (the 3^rd in the series), but she was supposed to be little more than a baby Riley had to rescue in order to get the information on the bad guy she was hunting. I hadn’t planned for her to be in any other book, but in them she was--sometimes you just can’t keep a good character down! By the time she’d become a toddler who could see death and who had her ‘aunt’ Riley wrapped around her little finger, I knew she just had to have her own series. And while Quinn’s Aedh background was mentioned in the Riley Jenson series, I really hadn’t explored who the Aedh were, and what their role as priests were. The Dark Angel series gave me that chance.

I've loved Risa from the beginning. She's sexy, smart and tough. How would you say Risa has grown throughout the series?

In many ways, I think she started out somewhat naive and entirely too trusting. She’d been trained to fight by her aunt and uncle, but wasn’t really mentally tough. I think she’s becoming that now. She’s certainly learning trust is something that should be earned, not instantly given.

Azriel is one of the many reasons why I love this series. Risa and Azriel have incredible chemistry, but cannot really act on their desires. What do you think Risa sees in Azriel that makes him so desirable and similarly, what do you think Azriel sees in Risa that makes her desirable?

Tough question! For Azriel, it’s her humanity--her warmth, her passion for--and belief in--her friends, and her desire to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means putting her own life on the line (something that also frustrates the hell out of him given he was sent to protect her). For Risa--I think it’s the strength she finds when she’s with him--and the fact he is as sexy as hell. ;)

DARKNESS HUNTS steps away from the search to find the keys and focuses on a more immediate concern where a faceless killer is toying with Risa. What can readers expect from this book?

Lots of twists and turns, and hopefully, one hell of a read!

Lucian and Jak make regular appearances in DARKNESS HUNTS. So the question stands....Will Risa ever find love? ;)

Now, you know I can’t answer that without stepping into spoiler territory. But those who have read the Riley Jenson series can probably guess the answer given the same question hung over that series. And I am a believer in happy endings--or at least semi happy ones ;)

The series is set in Australia. How important was having the series take place in the country you're from?

It’s important in that I live in and love Melbourne, and it’s so much easier to write a series set in a place I’m familiar with rather than one I’m not. Plus, I don’t think there were any urban fantasy novels set here before I wrote the Riley Jenson series, and it’s always nice to have a somewhat different setting to other novels. Besides, Melbourne is such a great city--lots of gothic architecture, little laneways, and fabulous cafes. :)

What does a typical work day look like for you? How many hours do you write a day?

A typical day for me is walking the dogs after breakfast, then heading off to the gym for a couple of hours exercise. After lunch, I sit down and write. I generally don’t have a set amount of hours to write, but rather a required page amount. I aim for 5 pages every day. Sometimes I get more, sometimes less, but I can generally have the first draft of a book done in three months.

Do you keep or toss any rejection letters you may have?

Before I was published, I used to screw them up, jump up and down on them a few times, then toss them in the bin. Made me feel a whole lot better. Then, after a few days, I’d retrieve them, re-read them, and make a mental note of all the things I’d been doing wrong :) These days, rejections go through my agent, so they’re easier to cope with.

What's next for Keri Arthur?

After Darkness Hunts, my next release is the paperback re-release of Beneath a Darkening Moon. Darkness Unmasked, the next Dark Angels novel, comes out in June 2013. I’m currently working on Darkness Splintered, the 6^th book.

Well, there you have it! You are now seeing why you HAVE to read everything Keri Arthur has ever written right? Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

About the Author - The Unofficial Bio:

I’m a born and bred Melbourne (Australia) gal, and grew up sharing my life with dragons, elves, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and the occasional talking horse. Which worried my family to no end. Of course, now that I’m actually make a living sharing my life with the above mentioned creatures, they no longer contemplate calling the men with the little white coat. When not at my keyboard, I can be found at the gym, sitting front of the TV, or taking my two dogs for a walk.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

READ OUR REVIEW

Risa Jones, half-Aedh/half-werewolf, can enter the realm between life and death. She can speak to the dying and the dead, and she can see the Reapers, collectors of souls. What she can not yet see is the identity of a stranger murdering women and draining their blood. Now Risa must summon her gifts to find him, even if it means putting her own life in danger. But Risa needn’t look far. The killer knows who she is.

He tells her his victims are infected by darkness and he’s fated to destroy them. Fascinated by Risa, he engages her in a sinister game: the chance to save the life of his next victim by deciphering his series of clues. In a race against time, she enlists the help of the Reaper Azriel.

But as an attraction between them grows, so does the fear that the stranger’s motives are only part of a larger, more dangerous scheme—one that has lured Risa and Azriel into the dark.

Penguin Group has FIVE (5) copies of DARKNESS HUNTS up for grabs. US ONLY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY GIVEAWAY HOP

2012-11-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

Under the Covers is happy to be participating in the Men & Women of the Military Giveaway Hop. This hop is hosted by The Jeep Diva and will run from November 9 thru November 15.

There are very few things that we like more than a hot muscular body all wrapped up in a uniform.

Really, what better series to bring you for this giveaway than the KGI. We have a copy of ECHOES AT DAWN up for grabs for the duration of this hop.

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

They live by night.

Grace Peterson is desperate, in hiding, and on the run after escaping a shadowy group determined to exploit her extraordinary ability to heal others. Her only lifeline—an unerring telepathic ability she shares with her sister—has been severed, leaving her alone and vulnerable. And time is fast running out...

Enlisted to bring Grace home is Rio, relentless member of the KGI. He’s unprepared for his reaction to this wounded, damaged woman, and he’s fiercely determined to protect her from those who nearly destroyed her. In Rio, she finds a safe haven, and for the first time...hope. But the mission is far from over. The danger Grace has eluded is fast closing in. And now it’s pitching two lovers toward an unfamiliar horizon, with no place left to hide.

READ OUR REVIEW

INTERNATIONAL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep hopping!

Review: Breakaway by Bianca Sommerland

2012-11-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

Breakaway

by Bianca Sommerland

(Dartmouth Cobras # 3)

If there is one thing that I can tell you about this series is that there's a lot of kinky f*ckery and it's hot as hell!!! I was actually very excited about the two male characters in this book, both sexy and kinky hockey players. I can't say the same about the heroine.

We first met Jami as Richter's daughter in the previous book. Very troubled, not accepting of his father's life and choices, and to put it simply...a rebel. Although for most of this book I thought she was doing a lot better, incredibly so, I find that her HEA would've benefited from being written later in the series. Why? Because I still found her a bit immature and whiny at times and I think that's because of her age and that she just came out of what happened to her in the previous book.

That being said, I would've gladly taken her place! She has great chemistry with both Luke and Sebastian individually. I always love when authors take their time to develop the individual relationships in a permanent menage relationship. And Ms. Sommerland always delivers on that! And just how they each have a relationship with Jami, which is the reason they all come together, there is also a beautiful and deep relationship between Luke and Sebastian. I was left wondering if Sebastian's connection to Luke wasn't too strong and overpowering of his love for Jami. But I guess the balance was there most of the time.

Sebastian is all tall, dark and Dom. This is THE man that will leave you biting your lip and panting for more. His presence is commanding but he's also very caring of those he loves and others that have gone through what he has.

Luke was the lost soul in this story, which made me sad because I never thought that's where his character would fall to. I've always seen him as the happy and good humored one of the bunch. I have to admit when he first did his scene with Chicklet I almost wanted to see them explore that relationship because it was pretty hot. Luke is a Dom but he also needs to give up control. Sebastian fit into that perfectly and it was very real to see them, especially Luke, struggle with what his mind and body where saying.

Then there's the rest of the crew! Silver is pregnant and even gives birth in this book and that was just great to see. Sloan is also going through stuff in his personal life and even his relationship, so some of their issues come back to be dealt with. I love to see the new and old always woven in the story because we want to know what's going on in their lives.

Overall, this BDSM book is not for the faint of heart. It'll make you tingle in ways you didn't think were possible! I can't wait for the next installment about the kinkiest hockey team EVER!

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Infinite Betrayal by Robyn Mackenzie and Gayle Donnelly

2012-11-08T21:06:00.001-08:00

Infinite Betrayal

by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie
(Infinity # 1)

Mina Roarke is in mourning over the loss of her mother, her only family member. Having been brought up in the Pacific Northwest believing she had no one left but her friend Chloe she is distraught. When she finds letters written from her presumed dead father to her mother, she is stunned enough to travel to Germany to attempt to find something out about the man who took no part in her life. At Chloe's coaxing, Mina takes the journey. What she discovers on her travels rocks her very existence.

When Mathias, a very tall dark and sexy shifter of a race called the Coteri, is sent by Roderick, Mina's father and King of the secret shifter Coteri race, to protect her, sparks fly between the bodyguard and his charge. As Roderick's trusted General, Mathias is entrusted with protecting Mina with his own life if necessary, but protecting her means staying close to her and that proves dangerous. Aside from the Coteri being unknown to the human race, they have enemies, namely a former Coteri , Valencia and her demented son Luca, who belong to the Valta, the nemesis of the Coteri who's ultimate goal is to rule over humanity, not co-exist with it as the Coteri do.

Regardless of Coteri law forbidding a shifter to fraternize with humans, Mathias is so drawn to Mina he cannot help himself and one kiss has him ignite a fire deep inside She in turn is completely taken with him before she finds out about the Coteri and being a half breed herself. Mathias struggles with the budding relationship, knowing that his King would probably kill him for touching his daughter. Ultimately what the pair feel for each other creates fireworks and trouble taking the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotion. When Mina discovers the mystery of her birth she is confused and shaken. Will Mina comes to terms with the fact other races exist and she belongs to one? Will the dominant Mathias succeed in his quest to shelter Mina from the danger that is very much on her tail? Once again.. you're going to have to read to find out.

I loved INFINITE BETRAYAL! The creation of this shifter race by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie has shaken things up. I find myself imagining all the awesome tales to come from these amazing shifters. You feel the passion that Matthias and Mina have for each other, you become part of their world. The secondary characters only add to the drama with hunky shifters Talon and Tre, who pick on each other adding a bit of laughter and the super intelligent Isla who holds the Coteri history and knowledge dear. This story runs the gamut of emotions with the passion and desire to horror and disdain. I cannot wait for the second installment of this series hoping there are plans for several more! I highly recommend INFINITE BETRAYAL to all, it does not disappoint!

*ARC provided by author

You can find more of Kimberly's reviews at Book Obsessed Chicks.

And the Winner is...

2012-11-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Jacqueline Carey Giveaway

Elizabeth Powers

Winner was chosen through Rafflecopter. Email has been sent. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize (by just responding to the email you get from us).

Interview and Giveaway with J.T. Geissinger

2012-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

J.T. Geissinger

Hello maidens! Today we would like to hopefully introduce you to a great paranormal author, J.T. Geissinger. Her NIGHT PROWLER series is not to be missed if you have a thing for shifters. Please help us welcome her to UTC!

Who is J.T. Geissinger? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a native Angeleno, which is surprisingly rare, and I've lived near the Pacific my entire life. I'm addicted to reading and usually plow through 3-4 books a week, I love movies and junk food and wine, not necessarily in that order. I've been married for a dozen years to my best friend and the love of my life, who I regularly annoy with my tendency to leave all my clothes in whatever spot I happen to have removed them. I'm also an accomplished slob.

Can you please tell us about SHADOW'S EDGE?

Shadow's Edge introduces readers to the Ikati, a tribe of beautiful, savage shape-shifters that live hidden from the everyday world in small colonies across the globe. The first installment is Jenna and Leander's story. Jenna has been raised on the run her entire life. She has some powers she doesn't understand and was always warned by her mother that "If they find you, run." Naturally when Leander appears, offering to answer all her questions about her past, she is curious. But what she finds out shocks her and she is unwittingly drawn into a centuries-old battle between two enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy one another.

Where did the idea of the Ikati come from?

It all started with a stray cat. I own a flower shop located very close to a large feral cat colony, and have adopted three strays (so far) that have wandered in, looking for food. (As anyone who’s ever fed a stray cat before knows, once you feed them, they never leave.) So one day an incredibly sleek, beautiful female cat appears out of the blue, demanding a meal. She looks like a miniature panther, all black with bright yellow/green eyes. I fell in love. I named her Angelina (after the equally slinky/beautiful Ms. Jolie) and adopted her.

This cat has an uncanny ability to disappear. One minute she’s there, looking at you as if she’s just about to say something, the next she’s gone—poof!—as if she was never there at all. It must be a feral cat trick, but it got me to thinking.

I’d written a book (never published) about angels and demons and other supernatural creatures, so I thought shape-shifters might be an interesting thing to try next. And what better shape-shifter than one that can disappear into mist? Like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, or Dracula, the original shape-shifter who could turn into mist (and a bat). And because I’m one of those crazy cat ladies who will die alone in a one bedroom apartment with dozens and dozens of cats and has never lived without at least one cat since I was five years old, I put the idea of shape-shifting cats into motion.

Two things occurred to me immediately: one, there are a lot of people who hate cats. Two: the Egyptians revered them. Put those two things together and mix in a big bowl, and you’ve got a race of cat shifters worshipped as gods by the ancient Egyptians who’ve had to hide because they’ve since been hunted by humanity. I spiced it up with some historical nuggets about Egypt, the Inquisition, witch hunts, religion, Rome…it goes on, but you get the idea.

Can you tell us a little bit about Morgan and her journey in EDGE OF OBLIVION?

I love Morgan. She is a character very near and dear to my heart because of her struggle for freedom, to live outside the burden of secrecy her tribe requires. She's a rebel and a fighter, and Edge of Oblivion takes her on a journey of redemption that leads her into the heart of ancient Rome with a hot assassin at her side. If she fails in the task she has set before her, Xander will kill her. But in the meantime, love has a way of mucking up everyone's plans...

How would you describe your writing process?

Painful. The first draft, especially. It's like pulling teeth. After that, editing is simple. I like to write early in the morning because my brain is clearer, and currently I'm writing about 2,000 words per day (about manuscript 8 pages) because I'm on a December 1st deadline for the next book in the Night Prowler saga, Rapture's Edge. It typically takes 4-6 months to finish a book, and that includes several re-writes and edits.

If we were to step into your personal library, which books would we find on your keeper shelf?

Best book I've ever read is called Everything Matters by Ron Currie, Jr. I tend to gravitate toward very bleak literary fiction (such as The Dog Stars, The Road, etc.) or very emotionally draining romance with devastating endings (such as The Notebook.) It has to be dark and it has to be dramatic. I'm not one for light, fluffy fiction. Someone usually has to die for me to enjoy it.

Which paranormal creature is your favorite and why?

I love vampires but they've been beaten to death so I leave them alone. The tropes are all overwritten. Shape-shifters are fantastic because of the possibilities for creativity. If I could be any paranormal creature I'd probably be one of my shape-shifting panthers who can also turn to mist. Many of them have additional powers such as mind control, invisibility, etc. so that's helpful, too!

What was your favorite scene to write from your latest book and can you share it with our readers?

It's an emotional scene and one that gets me every time I read it because the situation is so hopeless for Morgan and Xander. They know there are no happily-ever-afters for people like them.

She kissed him and rocked beneath him and with her hips coaxed his body to where it wanted to go. He began to thrust, a primal motion disconnected from his will, which wanted him to slow, to be gentle—

Morgan moaned her approval beneath him. His hips took over and he thrust harder.

He heard thunder, he heard rain, he heard the metal headboard smacking against the wall, sending repetitive, hollow clanging through the room. He braced a hand against it, gripped Morgan’s hip in his other hand and lifted her up so only her shoulders were on the bed. So deep, so deep, he didn’t think he could go any deeper—

“I’m going to come again,” she breathed. She gripped his arms, meeting every thrust of his hips with one of her own, staring up at him with those searching eyes that carved a hole into his heart. “Come with me. Come with me, Xander.”

Breathing hard, sweat blooming over his entire body, he let go of the headboard and clasped her hips hard in both hands. He plunged into her again and again, wilder and harder, with every thrust losing himself to her and the storm and the magic they made together, here in the succoring dark.

“Amada mio,” he hissed through clenched teeth, teetering on the edge as a wave of heat surged up his spine. Every muscle in his body flexed. “Eu me comprometo a você.”

She stiffened and cried out, her head tipped back into the pillows. His eyes slid closed and he heard a roar, only dimly aware it had come from him. Pleasure, searing white, rocketed through him and he jerked, emptying himself inside her, surging again and again as his orgasm tore his breath and every coherent thought away. For a blinding moment there was nothing but the two of them, joined as one. It spun on and on, dreamlike, and then—

He collapsed on top of her. Shaking. Panting. Wordless. He buried his face into her neck.

Her arms came around his shoulders. She cradled him, murmured soft things into his hair that he could not comprehend, so great was his agony and his bliss. He drifted on a current of gratitude so pure it was almost sweet.

She had let a monster into the most precious part of her, had reminded him of what it was to feel passion and pleasure and tenderness, had given him a glimpse of things he didn’t deserve.

Happiness.

Hope.

He wanted to tell her that, wanted to say you have shown me the way back from hell. But there was a terrible pressure in his chest and a stinging in his eyes and a tightness in his throat that threatened to choke him if he opened his mouth.

“It’s all right,” she murmured, knowing him already too well. “We’re safe from the world now, for a little while. We can have this, it doesn’t have to change anything. We can have our night and go back to who we were tomorrow. Just for tonight, we can have that different life we always wanted.”

He stayed silent, while inside he wept.

In a dark underground cell, Morgan Montgomery waits to die. A member of the Ikati, an ancient tribe of shape-shifters, Morgan stands convicted of treason. And Ikati law clearly spells out her fate: death to all who dare betray.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Thanks to her friendship with Jenna, the new queen of the Ikati, Morgan has one last chance to prove her loyalty. She must discover and infiltrate the headquarters of the Expurgari, the Ikati’s ancient enemy, so they can be destroyed once and for all. The catch? She has only a fortnight to complete her mission and will be accompanied by Xander Luna, the tribe's most feared enforcer. If Morgan fails, her life is forfeit. Because Xander is as lethal as he is loyal, and no one—not even this beautiful, passionate renegade—will distract him from his mission. But as the pair races across Europe into the heart of Italy, the attraction blooming between them becomes undeniable. Suddenly more than justice is at stake: so is love.

Sensual, thrilling, and action-packed, Edge of Oblivion will enthrall readers with nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding passion.

READ OUR REVIEW

We have a SIGNED copy of EDGE OF OBLIVION up for grabs for a US maiden!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Edge of Oblivion by J.T. Geissinger

2012-11-08T05:36:00.001-08:00

Edge of Oblivion

by J.T. Geissinger

(Night Prowler # 2)

The second installment in the Night Prowler series , J.T Geissinger has left me of the edge of my seat with this one. Ok so I love a good shifter book like many of you but PANTHERS...YES!! From the first page I was hooked, I read this book in two days, might have been one if I didn't have to work. I swear work gets in the way of my reading time LOL.

I love how Geissinger portrayed her shifters. Each shifter has his or her own unique talent. With just one touch Morgan can persuade anyone to do anything she tells them. Now Xanders talent is COOL, he can turn into vapor. Yes, that's right, vapor! And he can walk through solid objects.

Morgan Montgomery is awaiting her verdict. In the Ikati, an ancient tribe of shape-shifters, law states any member who betrays the pack is sentenced to death. With one chance to prove herself innocent to the tribe Morgan takes it. If she can track down the headquarters of the Expurgari then she will be allowed to live. The only problem is the Expurgari have been hidden successfully for centuries. With the help of Xander Luna, the tribes most feared enforcer, if Morgan doesn't succeed Xander has to kill her.

The chemistry between these two characters was HOT, from the first touch you could tell they were hooked on one another.

The secondary characters were interesting as well and I hope that we get to see more of them in the next book. I really enjoyed Edge of Oblivion and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for action, with lots of romance.

*Review copy provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

2012-11-08T05:26:00.001-08:00

Mr. Real

by Carolyn Crane

Code of Shadows #1

Everyone knows that Alix is a good time gal who just wants to have fun and doesn't take anything seriously, so when loads an occult computer programme on to laptop that materialises anything you click on in 24 hours time, she decides to do a little shopping....a nice new necklace, a new outfit and a new man! Sir Kendall, a super spy from a liquer advert is just what she needs, someone to take charge and bonk her brains out and who just happens to look like the man she has a huge crush on. Paul Reinhardt has the sudden urge to go on a road trip to Minnesota, however, when he gets there he sees the woman he loves with the character he despises: Sir Kendall, his childhood tormentor. But what has Alix unleashed? Eachday Sir Kendall seems to get stronger and more dangerous and has plans for Paul and Alix....

WARNING!! This book gives you FALSE expectations! I have been clicking and clicking on pictures of Captain Mal Reynolds aka the sexy Nathan Fillion, and what do I have NOTHING but a slighty achy index finger, a bucket load of horny and a bumper pack of condoms (safe sex people!)....

*clicks picture of Cap'n Reynolds...you never know*

But despite my ruthlessly smashed hopes of sexual bliss I loved this book! it was funny, touching, full of complex characters and an interesting storyline. It was also such a medley of genres, suspense, paranormal, romance, spy, thriller that it felt fresh and completely unique.

What Ms Crane seems to do best is create characters that you wouldn't normally expect; Alix at the beginning of the book, although likable and fun, was also a bit ditsy and used sex to reinforce her self esteem but throughout Mr Real she grew into something so much more and Sir Kendall, who was a two dimensional, cheesy super spy from an advert became interesting and dangerous, and it is sad but fascinating to watch him questioning his own existence as he realises something isn't quite right.

*clicks again and peeks out window*

As well as great characters this book also drew you in with its humour and the sweet 'n sexy romance going on between Alix and Paul. Paul was so adorable and I loved that everything that Sir Kendall thought was horrid about Alix Paul seemed to love, the way she dressed, the way she joked it really came through that everything about Alix made Paul love her more and more and brought him happiness, even if he didn't want it to.

*clicks frantically on PDF of Mal accidently knocking the condoms on the floor*

This was a great book with a winning combination of romance, fun and great storytelling, Carolyn Crane has once again come up with a quirky and strangely moving series and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

*ARGH! Damn you Carolyn Crane *shakes first*....wait what was that noise....*

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Covers to Covet

2012-11-08T05:23:00.002-08:00

Biting Bad

by Chloe Neill

(Chicagoland Vampires # 8)

Welcome back to Chicago: Famous for sports, pizza, and vampires. At the tender age of twenty-eight, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, seen her Master fall and rise, and saved her best friend from self destruction. But this might be her toughest fight yet...

Available August 6, 2013

And the Winners Are...

2012-11-08T05:21:00.001-08:00

Lauren Dane Giveaway

Cait045

Felicity Heaton SWAG Giveaway

Kassandra Appel
Dian Setyarini
Maria Durst
Beckey White
Fiery Na
Lori Meehan
Linda Larsson
Susan House
Karin McCune
Infinitieh

Winners were chosen through Rafflecopter. Emails have been sent. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize (by just responding to the email you get from us).

Author Override: Carolyn Crane

2012-11-07T07:38:00.002-08:00

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

Hidden in the backgrounds of book covers…

When I was first discussing the cover for Mr. Real with my cover artist, Earthly Charms I had found this really cool wall paper pattern I wanted to use for the background. Colorful and grungy and just cool looking. I showed it to her, and she was almost horrified. I couldn’t have that be the background! It had nothing to do with the book.

Those words really stuck with me We had this whole back and forth about how backgrounds needed to be meaningful, and say something about the story. I kind of got into it, and we eventually found the house, pictured below, to use. Because it’s the key place in the story, and full of mystery, and almost another character.

What’s funny is that, back when the artist was doing Mind Games, I was asked by Spectra for ideas on the background. I suggested a turnpike that looks like a rollercoaster (the Tangle!). I even sent them some twisty rollercoaster pictures and they did a really nice job with it. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I thought maybe they just didn’t have any good backgrounds laying around the office or something.

Since then, I’ve been really getting into backgrounds of book covers, especially paranormal and urban fantasy ones. The different things the artist and/or writer choose to portray.

Sometimes I look at the backgrounds more than the people in the foreground.

I love the backgrounds on this series! This is a beautiful Victorian London look, and there’s all that fire, because, of course, Miranda has power over fire. It’s also moody in feel, for a fabulously moody book. These backgrounds are significant and powerful.

I love the way the Tiki theme comes alive here in this background, because of course, the main character owns a Tiki bar. And in general, there’s much magic in the air here. I couldn’t remember why the stairs were there, so I tweeted Jenn and asked her. She said: “the stairs heading down to Tambuku Tiki Lounge, like, symbolically? Underground/demon-friendly haven/underworld. Hidden.” I love that. Backgrounds are where it’s at!

This is a fabulous background, set in a future New York gone wrong. I love the way the street is torn up. You know when that street is torn up, there’s trouble!

Laura Bickle’s fabulously frightening YA about an Amish girl who fights vampires. This background captures the forebodingness as it becomes clear all is not well with the world. I’m a sucker for animals in backgrounds, too, and here are the crows. They were kind of the first to sound the alarm. Also, I personally feel the brightest part of the cover being by Katie’s heart is no coincidence. Since it went so well asking Jenn about the underground thing, I asked Laura about the cap she holds. Laura’s own take: “I think that it's kind of symbolic of her faith. Hanging on and it slipping away.” Hmmm!! Laura also supplied this link to the full art. Even cooler!

http://blot.com/post/20865515379/the-hallowed-ones

I so love this background. This is a high adventure romance, book #2 in the Iron Seas series. It’s a unique background, because you have the hero, Archimedes Fox, looking out through the whole metal/rivet & gears thing. The airship in the background is key, though, because they ride around on lots of airships and drop into dangerous places. The balcony behind him is presumably an airship balcony, suggesting something unseen below. I think the storm clouds are also purposeful.

This background captures the plot of this book so neatly – the heroine, Jennifer, accidentally opens a kind of gate and finds herself sucked into an ultra-enchanted fae realm where she herself has dangerous powers. I also love how sparkly the area around her is. The sparkles center on the heroine. In my mind, that’s no accident. I asked Jeffe if she saw anything else special. “I also love how his hand from the back is kind of translucently moving through her,” Jeffe says.

Okay, now I wish I’d asked all these authors for extra commentary. This is so interesting. Do all authors think about backgrounds so much? Anyway, I’m so focused on paranormal backgrounds these days. It’s kind of fun!!

The woman of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the hot martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class a few years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall – in the flesh – with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness – somehow.

But is super spy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

About the Author:

Carolyn Crane is the author of the Disillusionists trilogy and assorted novellas. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two cats, and works a day job as a freelance writer. During rare moments when she’s not at her computer, she can be found reading in bed, running, or helping animals.

website: http://authorcarolyncrane.com/
twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolynCrane
blog - http://thethrillionthpage.blogspot.com/
fb: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.crane2

So, what book background do you love?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Mr. Real!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Ties That Bind by Jaci Burton

2012-11-07T07:04:00.002-08:00

The Ties That Bind

by Jaci Burton

I love stories about second chance at love. This was a different take on it. I didn't read this as part of the original anthology, although I had that on my TBR for a while.

This story was different because Lisa and Rick were high school sweethearts and then Rick got Lisa pregnant when she was 16 and things changed. They got married but quickly things didn't work out so they got divorced. However, they raised their daughter together and were always in each others lives. Now their daughter is 18 and going to college. And she's making her mom, Lisa, kick start her new life with going away on a tropical vacation. Except that was all a setup so Rick and Lisa can get back together.

The premise is really sweet and just makes you happy that their love was able to persevere. I also thought the whole coming together idea was great, compliments to the daughter. The only thing I didn't like or understand was how much she fought them getting back together. I just didn't get the why, I thought that was unnecessary conflict when there could've been something else.

I really did enjoy the story though and I think the author did an amazing job at conveying these characters back story and feelings in such a short time. And oh... did I mention it was frecking hot?!?!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Redemption by Fire by Andrew Grey

2012-11-07T06:35:00.002-08:00

Redemption by Fire

by Andrew Grey

(By Fire # 1)

This was totally an impulse buy. I saw a review for the last book in this series on a blog that I love and follow and being the stickler I am for reading in order, I rushed and bought book one. Loved that it was a short story because I was feeling some m/m withdrawals in between all my "required" review reading so this hit the spot.

However, writing a short story I think has to be hard and as a reader it's difficult to connect on all levels with the story. I think that's what lessened my enjoyment of this story. This is the first I read by this author and it was very well written and I did enjoy what was presented. However, I felt that something was missing.

In a nutshell, Dirk is a firefighter who almost dies in a fire while rescuing a baby. He's always been an asshole and really none of his co-workers like him. While he's recovering at the hospital, the new "kid" at the station is the only one that goes to visit him. And the first thing he does is he throws in his face that he thinks he's gay and because he has to live in the closet, that's why he's such an ass.

Of course, Dirk is and he feels an immediate attraction to Lee. And while Dirk is recovering things heat up between them. And then Dirk has to deal with the repercussions of going back to work and whether or not he will come out to his friends and family in order to keep Lee, who is happily out.

I think there was a lot of growth for the characters that happened "off the pages" and that's what I didn't like because I felt that people just changed who they were so quickly and with no real reason as to why. But time had passed so I'm sure things and feelings prompted those changes. That's just something you lose when reading a short story and I think this one was affected by that.

However, that being said, I did enjoy Dirk and Lee together, as well as Dirk's turnaround with this co-workers and friends. I'm not sure if the next story will still be about the same couple since the issue of coming out to his father wasn't really addressed at the end of this book. But I will definitely continue reading the series either way. Quick, hot and entertaining read!

Purchase Links: Amazon

And The Winners Are...

2012-11-07T06:35:00.001-08:00

Phil Gigante Giveaway

Malinda Mullens

Signed Copy of ICED by KMM Giveaway

Debbie (TalkSupe)

Winners were chosen through Rafflecopter. Emails have been sent. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize (by just responding to the email you get from us).

Interview and Giveaway with Stephanie Tyler

2012-11-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

Guess what today is? RELEASE DAY! And we have with us the talented Stephanie Tyler who is celebrating the release of DIRE WANTS, the second book in the Eternal Wolf Clan series. Did you miss out on the prequel and book one? You have some catching up to do!

Hi Stephanie, welcome back to UTC. We are very excited to share with our readers about DIRE WANTS!

YAY! Thanks for having me back! I can’t believe it’s release day already – time is flying :)

Hot shifters...hot bikers. *sigh* How did you come up with the concept of the ETERNAL WOLF CLAN series?

Alphas with Harleys – what could be better? Seriously, I’m a huge Sons of Anarchy fan and I’ve always written some outlaw kinds of characters in my suspenses. And I thought, what better way for wolves who don’t want people getting too close to them – this would certainly keep the questions at bay. Except…who doesn’t love a bad boy? That’s the flaw in their plan.

In the series, there are shifters and there are dire wolves. What is the big difference between these two?

The shifters – for me – aren’t immortal. Also, the Dires and their Brother Wolves are both in control, and for shifters (Weres included) that’s not the case.

For someone who hasn't read the series yet (and that is crazy!) how would you describe it?

The Dire series is about biker Dire wolves who are immortal and have lived for centuries helping humans and repenting for their ancestor’s mistakes – and all without mates…until now.

You are bringing in a witch to the mix in DIRE WANTS. What is your favorite thing about Kate, the heroine?

She’s very strong – she’s scared and lonely but she’s going to put up a hell of a fight. She’s such a perfect match for Stray.

Do you have a favorite scene in DIRE WANTS that you can share with us?

This is one of my favorites, between Stray and Kate, right after she discovers he’s a wolf:

The brand was responding to Stray’s voice voice. Making her squirm. After what she’d just been through, what she’d learned about her rescue from the accident, that would be the last reaction she thought she’d have.

“I won’t hurt you. Let me protect you, Kate.”

It was what she’d wanted to hear from him—and yet she couldn’t let herself believe his intentions.

Instead, she inched closer to the door, surprised he was letting her.

When he spoke, his voice sent chills down her spine.

“If you run, I’ll chase you. That’s my instinct. I’ll chase you, and I will catch you.”

“And then what?” She managed to keep the tremble from her voice when she asked.

“You really want to find out, then run.”

God, she didn’t know if that would be stupid—or the best thing she could possibly do. But she ran anyway, down the closest stairway and then down another, into a series of mazelike hallways.

She felt, rather than heard, Stray behind her. His heat, the soft growl of a predator on the chase reverberating through her. But still, she ran in the dark until her side cramped and her legs ached, lungs burned. She slowed, waiting for his hand on her, but it never came. She stopped, turned again, and there he was in front of her, his eyes those of the wolf but the rest of him still pure human male.

She backed up and he didn’t follow, not until she turned to run again.

Finally, she pushed through an unlocked door into some sort of gym/training room. And there was no way out but the way she’d come in.

She’d really backed herself into a corner this time; Stray was already pissed at her, although the danger wasn’t at her throat the way it had been with Shimmin and his men.

This time Stray didn’t stop coming for her. He strode forward until only a few feet separated them. She swallowed hard, tried to ignore the way her body called out for him to touch her, and took a few steps to make her way back toward the door.

Stray gave a soft laugh. “Really, little witch? You want to bring out my prey instincts? Because you know what they say about wild animals: They can fool you because they might seem domesticated, but they can never be tamed.”

God, she believed it. Right now, she didn’t want him tamed at all. Walked toward him instead of away, reached her hands up to twine in his thick hair and pull her face to his. And she kissed him, reversing the roles. Because for once, she wanted to be the goddamned predator. The one who shook Stray to the core, because she was sure he’d managed to do that to every woman in his life.

But she would be different. Wanted to be, needed to be, although she wasn’t sure why that desire burned so brightly hot inside of her.

She just knew it was there, and there was no stopping it.

His lips were soft, but his kiss was hard—demanding. She gave as good as she got even as she braced herself for the pain—hers and Stray’s.

None came for either.

She’d tried to have sex just once and had nearly ended up killing the guy. It had been horrifying . . . as though something in her body had at once rejected and repelled the man.

That didn’t happen, and instead her body flared for Stray. He kissed her deeper and she was helpless against him. His hands went under her shirt, touched her lower back, and the brand tingled with pleasure instead of burning.

She should be pushing him away. Pushing and slapping, not feeling her entire body ache for him. Her nipples hardened; her body came alive. He tasted like a blend of the richest, most delicious spices. And she never wanted him to stop.

He knew it, too, the bastard, took full advantage of her sudden, inexplicable wantonness to press his body into hers, to grind his hardness to her belly. When he finally pulled back, he took in her quick breaths with a too-obvious satisfaction.

She pressed the back of his hand to her lips. They tingled—everything tingled—and if he didn’t back away, she might not be able to resist reaching out and grabbing him and kissing him.

Ridiculous. Had she hit her head and not realized it?

“Is this . . . only because of your prey instincts?” she whispered, not wanting him to say yes. Because then anyone could trigger this inside of him . . . None of it would be special.

He stared at her, his eyes so mesmerizing she couldn’t look away. “Yes.”

DIRE DESIRES is coming out in July of next year *sobs*. Any clues you can give us as to what this book will bring? Who the hero/heroine are?

I’ve been holding off on telling, but for you, I will :) Dire Desires hero is Jinx! And hey, don’t worry, I’ll keep you busy – I have a romantic suspense novella in March 2013 and book 1 in a new RS series in April :)

Surrender

by Stephanie Tyler

(A Section 8 Novel # 1)

DESPERATE, FEARLESS, AND HUNTED
For former Navy SEAL Dare O’Rourke, Section 8 was legendary. The son of one of its missing members, he grew up in the shadow of its secrets. All he knew was that it was a cabal of operatives discharged from branches of the military and reassigned to extremely dangerous, off- the-books international missions. And that their handler was as shrouded in mystery as the missions themselves.

NOTHING CAN STOP THEM. NOTHING CAN BREAK THEM.
Now the handler of Section 8 has given orders to kill any remaining members, along with their families. Dare must save his long-lost half sister, Avery, whom he was never meant to meet. Determined to fight for their lives and find their missing father, Dare and Avery bring together for one last mission those who are in danger because of their relationship to Section 8—to avenge their families and to survive.

Available April 2, 2013

When writing a series how do you choose which couple to write next?

They choose. Seriously. I had no idea Stray would be book 2 or Jinx book 3. I had plans and the characters had other ideas.

Lets do some quickfire favorites:

Fave season Fall, hands down.
Fave color Blue
Fave music Classic rock
Fave book Gone with the Wind
Fave place to visit Tanzania

Which paranormal creature is your favorite and why?

Wolves!!!! Because they’re warm and strong and just…primal. In Twilight, I think the wolf got gypped. Although I don’t love Bella so maybe not…

Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing with us today!

PLEASE NOTE that there are some technical difficulties with the ebook release of DIRE WANTS and it's currently not available but the issue is being worked on and all links should be working soon.

The supernatural world is rising up against the human one. The weretrappers want control, and only the immortal Dire wolves stand in the way of total destruction. Stray, a Dire, and his long-lost brother, Killian, emerge as the leaders of their pack. To keep themselves and the humans safe, the Dires need a witch as powerful as Seb, who betrayed the Dires to work for the weretrappers.

They find what they are looking for in Kate, a human who survived a horrible car accident that left her back scarred with a handprint no one else can see. Stray senses Kate's abilities as a witch and recruits her to help the Dires—all the while knowing she is so powerful they will need to kill her once she helps defeat the weretrappers.

Stray doesn't expect the powerful connection that he feels with Kate, or his irresistible need to protect her. They cannot hide their feelings or each other, and what once was taboo now seems inevitable…

Ms. Tyler is graciously giving away 2 ebook copies of DIRE WANTS, winners choice of B&N or Kindle.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Darkness Hunts by Keri Arthur

2012-11-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

Darkness Hunts

(Dark Angels #4)

by Keri Arthur

In the fourth book of the Dark Angels series, Arthur takes a slightly different approach to the storyline. Yes, the keys are needed to make everything right in the world. However, there is a more pressing matter that Risa and Azriel have to attend to. On the astral plane, there is a killer who likes to play games. He claims that it is his duty to rid the world of its evil, so one by one, he is killing off women. To make things even more drastic is the fact that this killer has no face. On the astral plane, his features don’t exist, which makes it even more difficult for Risa to pin him down. Also, he aims to make this a game by contacting Risa and giving her enough incentive to go searching for these victims until their time is up. In a way, Risa is a pawn in a deadly game of chess. But never count Risa out. She has her eyes set on winning.

In the process, Uncle Rhoan is there to guide her and Azriel is there to protect her. But even then, sometimes Risa is too late. More and more people are dying and she is always one step away from saving them. Jak and Lucian have a considerable amount of page time in this book. Risa explores her relationships with both of them and for one of them, the ties are completely severed because of one act that dissolved her trust in him. You need to read the book to find out who and why.

It seems that Risa has chosen one of the guys to be with. Azriel and Risa have had this chemistry from the very beginning so it’s really no spoiler when I say that they have decided that this thing between them in different than what they have with others. However, it’s not all flowery things and happy endings yet. Arthur explores their relationship, both the ups and downs, in a way that keeps readers riveted to the pages. She teases you and coaxes a few smiles because of the sweetness of some scenes, but then there is also heartbreak and sadness as well. Risa and Azriel are learning how to be together. When one person is a celestial being while the other is flesh and bone, having a “normal” relationship has a slightly different meaning to them. With the way Arthur ends this book, she gives those romantic readers some hope that there is a chance to see something good come out of this relationship. But, as is the case with all relationships, it’s about the journey of getting to that happily-ever-after that is part of the ride as well.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: The Fangover by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

2012-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

The Fangover

by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

Better start off being honest. I knew about this book, mainly because Erin McCarthy is part of the duo writing it and I happen to love her work. Was I terribly interested in reading it, though? Well, it was probably one of those "Oh yeah I gotta get to that someday". Of course, I also thought this had two separate novellas. Then I happen to win an ARC of this at RAW and my grabby hands had to read it right away. Well, I was so pleasantly surprised!

Call me whatever you want but I didn't co-relate the fact that the book is called "The Fangover" with the movie "The Hangover". Yeah, that joke went right over my head (see what happens when you're not paying attention?). And that is exactly how I can possibly describe this book.

Vampire rocker kills himself (meets the sun) and his friends are throwing him a funeral "party". They get a little tipsy and somehow they all wake up the next day without recollection of how that night ended or what happened. All they know is that a human was turned and got married to one of the band members (vampire), the dead vamps sister is stuck in bat form, another band member is missing a fang and oh yeah, there's a passed out human priest in the bath tub. And let's not forget about the parrot! Now they just have to backtrack and try to figure out what went down.

So, there are actually two main couples throughout this story. One is Stella and Wyatt. Stella is Johnny's sister (dead vamp). Wyatt has been a member of the band for a while and has had a crush on Stella for just about that long. This was just the perfect opportunity for him to show her that he would be there for her and that they can be good together. I liked the fact that their romance started before the drunken behavior night and that we are given glimpses into their past. Even though Stella got on my nerves a bit at times, Wyatt made up for being extra sweet and caring while still being hot.

Then there's Cort and Katie. I actually enjoyed them a bit more. Katie used to be human and was part of the day band. Cort has had a crush on her for a while but humans have always been off limits so he stayed away. Now, not only did he turn her but he married her. I thought their romance was cuter even though I also wanted to pull my hair at their lack of communication and misunderstandings.

In the end, this book was a fun parody, not meant to showcase deep emotions but to make you laugh and it definitely achieved that in my opinion. A little bit of comic relief while throwing in some sexy vamps who are just not all there.

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

2012-11-06T07:35:00.002-08:00

The Marriage Mistake

by Jennifer Probst

(Marriage to a Billionaire # 3)

The Marriage Mistake is the third installment of Marriage to a Billionaire by Jennifer Probst. I must say that this book is the best of the three. Ms. Probst mastered the art of sexual tension, smexy scenes and managed to add a heart-warming element to the story, not to mention the swoon worthy hero.

Max and Carina are two people who are career minded. Max already established in the business world with Michael Conte, Carina’s older Brother. Carina on the other hand, had just finished her MBA and had come to America to learn the family business. Because Max saw her as his BFF’s little sis, he felt like he was babysitting and was a bit resentful of this assignment. However, what he did not expect was that Carina has grown up to be a beautiful, sexy, very independent woman and has been in-love with him for years. And that, shocked the heck out of him.

I was intrigued with Max and Carina being 20^th century career focused but with a very heavy cultural background. In the melting pot of New York City, this is realistic and very believable. How many of us battle between making your career a priority, love life or family life. Max and Carina managed to get both. Not only that their story was heartfelt, but had funny banters, family love, extremely high sexual tension and very sexy love scenes.

The secondary characters were just as great. Nick/Alexa and Michael/Maggie made their cameo. Momma Conte was there again and she was a major factor to this love story. You know what they say, mother knows best. And the “Book of Spell” that has made its way from Alexa to Maggie and Alexa, made its cameo. Looks like IT will make its way to the next heroine for Ms. Probst series. *crossing fingers*

Overall, if you enjoy a light read full of romance, heavy with sexual tension and ends with a Happy-Ever-After, this book is for you. Correction, this series is for you!!!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

And The Winners Are...

2012-11-06T06:51:00.002-08:00

Cathy Maxwell Giveaway

Jasmyn Novachek
Alicia Bhambhani

Kaleo Griffith Giveaway

Cheryl Stover Sanders

Olivia Cunning Giveaway

Laura Troxel

Winners were chosen through Rafflecopter. Emails have been sent. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize (by just responding to the email you get from us).

Interview and Giveaway with Lorelei King

2012-11-04T21:07:00.001-08:00

As some of you are already aware of, we love audiobooks here at UTC. With the recent release of FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET by Darynda Jones we thought to go behind the scenes and talk a little bit more with the awesome narrator of the Charley Davidson series, Lorelei King. But not only does she narrate this series, she's been a favorite of ours for a long while, narrating the Stephanie Plum novel and Mercy Thompson, amongst others. Please help us welcome her to UTC.

Who is Lorelei King? Tell us five interesting things about yourself that listeners wouldn't know.

At the moment she’s a frazzled, overworked actress-narrator-voicedirector-publisher-scripteditor! J

I don’t know how interesting they are, but here are five things about me that people may not know: 1. I can read ancient Greek. 2. I love iguanas, lizards and snakes – most reptiles, actually. 3. I can roller skate (badly). 4. I am a bit addicted to reality TV shows (obviously I am hanging my head in shame as I type this). 5. Before becoming an actress, I really wanted to become a makeup artist. Good lord. Reading back over this list, I hadn’t quite realized what nerd I am!

Charlie is a very sexy and feisty heroine. What are some of your methods of conveying her personality through her voice as you narrate the audio books?

Darynda Jones has already done the heavy lifting by writing a fantastic character! I don’t really do anything special with my voice; the dialogue does all the work – those lines know how they want to be said! :)

Here at UTC, we love Charley but we want to know what is your favorite quality about Charley?

I admire her for her (mostly) uncomplaining and humorous acceptance of her unique situation and responsibility – but the thing that’s most fun to play is her sarcasm!

This series has a unique take on the Grim Reaper. What paranormal element or creature would you say is your favorite and why?

The supernatural element I love best in this series is the departed souls ‘passing through’ Charley on their way to the beyond. The ability to know someone fully and see his or her life condensed into a moment would be a great gift.

In terms of ‘creatures’, I love love love Rocket. He is hands down my favourite supporting character. I adore his gentle giant quality and admire his extraordinary savant gift of knowing the name of every single person who has ever died.

Why do you think there is such an allure concerning paranormal creatures in fiction right now?

Hasn’t it always been the case? Haven’t we always been intrigued by the unknown? I think what sets the current obsession apart is perhaps its emphasis on the erotic aspect of the paranormal - and I have no facts to back this up, but I’ll bet it’s women driving it.... zombies and vampires – maybe we all just want to be consumed. We love a predatory male who desires us so much he wants to make us part of him.(Although given the choice, I’d rather go by vampire than zombie as I have this thing about personal hygiene...)

Pronouncing names and figuring out accents can be difficult sometimes. Would you agree? And if so, how do you get through these obstacles?

Figuring out accents isn’t so difficult – the author usually gives you clues in the writing, or you can infer accents from wherever the story is set. But I agree that pronunciations can be challenging! A good producer will normally do the research for you, but I always do my own research too - I think it’s a good habit to cultivate. Sometimes I have to be a bit creative: If I can’t find the word in a dictionary, I go on YouTube to see if I can find a clip of someone saying it. If it’s a company name, I call them up to see how they answer the phone. And I’ve been known to email complete strangers asking how to pronounce their names. People are fantastically helpful.

What books do you enjoy reading?

My work schedule means that I get very little time for ‘leisure’ reading, but when I get the chance I like to re-read old favourites, like my collection of Gerald Kersh novels, and I also like downloading books to my Kindle – usually crime fiction (Maureen Carter is a recent favourite) and sometimes books by writer friends on Twitter – Jojo Moyes, Maria Duffy and Keren David are some who come to mind (by the way, if you want to say hi via social media, my Twitter handle is @LoreleiKing and my Facebook pro page is www.facebook.com/LoreleiKing).

Which book has been your favorite to narrate so far? Why was it your favorite?

Oh, there are SO many that I’ve loved narrating! This is hard.The first time I recorded a Janet Evanovich, my socks were well and truly knocked off. She’s so funny and writes such great characters. I had a similar experience with Darynda Jones’ first book – another really fresh voice. And I have to admit to having a very soft spot for The Guy Next Door by Meg Cabot, which I recorded years ago with my husband, Vincent Marzello. Cute, funny, epistolary. :D

Thank you so much for sharing with us today!

Maidens, if you haven't listened to an audiobook by Lorelei King then you are missing out. Big time! She's one of UTC's all time favorite narrators and we are now giving you the chance to win your audiobook of choice from her work. To find out what she's narrated, click here. a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

2012-11-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

4.5 Feathers

Lord's Fall

by Thea Harrison

(Elder Races # 5)

LORD'S FALL is a great love story with a hint of Hunger Games element with some Civil War action. As usual, Thea Harrison did not disappoint. She has given her readers a chance to peak beyond Pia and Dragos’ Happy-Ever-After (HEA) and a glance at what’s up and up with the Wyr Demesne.

It has been 7 months since Pia and Dragos have mated. If you have been following the Elder Races series, you know that Pia and Dragos are expecting Peanut and she is now taking on the role of Dragos’ mate. Her first mission is to repair the Wyr and Elves demesne’s relationship. Turns out that she’ll be doing more than just fixing a demesne quarrels, she’ll also be in the middle of a civil war between the Elves and their Ancients. Unfortunately, she will be doing this mission on her own and away from her mate. It's something both she and Dragos must overcome.

Meanwhile, at The Callubre Towers, Dragos’ Seven Sentinels are down to five. His top two, Tiago has mated with the Dark Fae Queen, Nininane aka Trix and Rune has mated with Carling, the Vampyre Queen. The need to replace them was inevitable so Dragos held the Sentinel Games. That’s right boys and girls, there will be new characters to look forward to. The Sentinel Games are pretty awesome and watching Dragos do his public appearance without Pia was pretty cute. I like that Thea keeps his character at a constant. He’s still very powerful, rich, sexy, overprotective but very sweet to his mate. He is the reason I am addicted to this series.

It was brilliant how Ms. Harrison brought Dragos and Pia back even after their HEA in Dragon Bound. This just shows you, even in our fantasy world, an HEA still needs a lot of work to keep going. There are also a few new relationships that are rekindled, few that are obviously brewing to be something more and new friendships were formed. This hopefully ensures us more of this world. If you have not read Dragon Bound, I highly suggest you do so. Pia and Dragos' characters and relationship building started there and it’s a shame to miss their courtship.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Nauti Temptress by Lora Leigh

2012-11-04T21:04:00.002-08:00

Nauti Temptress

by Lora Leigh

(Nauti Girls # 1)

First in a new series by Lora Leigh involving in some ways my favorite Nauti boys? I'm in! The Nauti series was one of the first romantic suspense stories I ever read so it really holds a special place in my heart. They are all alpha males with lots of attitude, dominance, confidence and guns on occasion. I was very excited about this series because I thought we would be reading about their daughters. Which is not the case. Don't ask me why I thought that, maybe I read it somewhere.

The good thing about not reading about the daughter of my favorite Nauti boys is that they are still young, still around and still kicking ass. My favorite part of this book was the fact that they are all present in this story, especially Dawg. See, it turns out that Dawg's father had a whole other family going and now Dawg is responsible for his half sisters and their mother.

Eve being the oldest works as a bartender and also helps their mother run the B&B that Dawg got for her. And in both places all she sees is Brogan Campbell. He's a bad boy, has been around for some time but rumor has it he's a thief and a traitor. Dawg doesn't want his sister anywhere near him but Brogan has other plans. He needs Eve so that he can get the help of the Mackay boys to solve the case he's been working on.

Overall not bad as far as a storyline goes, there was some action and some mystery. But there were a lot of loopholes for me. For example, at the beginning Eve seems like she doesn't know anything about Brogan they've barely talked before etc. Towards the end of the book and without that much time passing, she knows everything about him from their prior interactions. So either I'm missing something or this connection they had happened while I wasn't looking.

But one thing is for sure... Lora Leigh knows how to turn up the heat. Even if the story and characters are not 100% what I wanted, I have no complaints in that department. Brogan is almost primal, a great dirty talker and knows exactly what to do for Eve. I just wish for once the heroine wouldn't have been a virgin. Maybe it'll happen one day.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

Covers to Covet

2012-11-04T21:04:00.001-08:00

Available February 2013

ARC Review: Hell Hath No Fury by Jamie Brenner

2012-11-04T20:35:00.001-08:00

Hell Hath No Fury

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 6)

The moment has finally come! The last installment in the Gin Lovers serial. If you haven't been reading this along, like me, then I think you're missing out. The world Ms. Brenner created is addictive and alluring. After the past few episodes, I was very excited to read this last one.

The events leading up to this book, and then everything that happens in this last episode, had me biting my nails and pulling my hair. This series is full of intrigue. I admit there were times reading this episode that I didn't know which way the author was going to go with the ending and our main love interest. But rest assured there is a HEA.

Basically Jake is going to jail and the only one that can do something to save him is Charlotte. She has the big fish the cops need to drop the charges against Jake. And yes, that would be her husband. Incredible how much Charlotte has changed throughout this serial and has come out of her shell and sharpened her claws. She is feisty but smart, knows when to push and when to let things go.

We get a resolution with all the characters in the series and I was happy with everything. Obviously the one I was most anxious about was Jake and Charlotte. But this was actually my reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5. Rafferty, who has been Charlotte's silent ally in the house, was showing feelings for her in this one. To bring this up this far into the story I thought was unnecessary. It had me scared that out of nowhere Charlotte would end up with someone that she didn't have feelings for. And on that same token, how could Rafferty stir anything in Charlotte when she's in love with Jake and doing everything she can to help him? OK rant over.

That one minor thing aside, I think this serial is a must read. If you are not into serial books, then make sure you pick up a copy of the full length book which will include all the episodes, which comes out in February.

I was so excited to know how it ended but now I know I'm going to miss reading it!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon