RT Book Reviews

Jon Land at ThrillerFest 2009

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:53:00 +0000

RT caught up with thriller writer Jon Land at ThrillerFest in New York yesterday to present him with our Pioneer of Genre Fiction Award, since he had been unable to pick it up in person at our convention in April. Land was first published in 1983 with THE DOOMSDAY SPIRAL. Since then, he's written more than 25 books and has over 7 million copies in print.

Land says, "Being a great writer is about always growing, always learning, and doing everything possible to entertain and thrill your readers. Hands down, the greatest compliment I can be given is, 'I couldn't put your book down!' It was that way 25 books and 25 years ago and it's that way now."

He's looking forward to seeing everyone in Columbus at next year's RT convention!

Stephanie Klose
Senior Editor/Reviews Coordinator

Photos from Brenda Jackson's 2009 Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:49:00 +0000

(click photo to enlarge)

Author Brenda Jackson, her husband Gerald (center), Mr. Romance Randy Ritchwood, and the gentlemen who were auctioned off on the 2009 cruise. The auction was a benefit for the Josephine Threatt Scholarship Foundation.

(click photo to enlarge)

Brenda Jackson and her husband Gerald (seated center) with some who joined her on the 2009 cruise from New York to Canada. 200 people were on the cruise.

To read more about Brenda Jackson and her cruise, visit:

BrendaJackson.net - Madaris/Westmoreland Family Reunion Cruise 2009 and The People's Advocate - Brenda Jackson Shares The Power Of Her Pen

Rob

Romance Is Still on Top

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:29:00 +0000

from UPI:

"The poll of nearly 2,000 British women between the ages of 45 and 60 found romantic fiction was the most popular reading fare, preferred by 35 percent of those surveyed... On top of that, 10 percent more said they actively chose books that featured lots of sex scenes."

read the full article: Poll: Sexy reading makes women swoon

Rob

Literature via Twitter?

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:26:00 +0000

I admit it - I do not follow anyone on Twitter. I have no account, I don't post to it, I don't read it. I've never even been to the web site. But I am hearing about some interesting uses for the web site that is expressly a way of communicating to people via 140-character phrases. This is a version of the cell phone novels being written in Japan.

For instance:

On June 16, aka Bloomsday, two ULYSSES fans recreated a chapter on Twitter. They used a software program to help them post tweets from many of the characters in the book. First, they created accounts for 54 characters from the novel. Then, they planned out and executed the lines from the novel as they would have taken place in real time. You can find more at the blog by one of the creators here.

JunkDNA is another writer/blogger who is using Twitter to write fiction. He has a book available, too, but mostly he gives away his content in an effort to reach more people.

Penguin is planning to release a book in the fall that reduces literature into 20 tweets or less. It's the idea of two 19-year-old college students (of course). It will be called TWITTERATURE - and frankly I am scared. A lack of attention span is blamed for fewer books of long length being published nowadays and this book takes that theory and runs with it. I see it as more of a gimmick than any real potential literary trend, but I am sure my 14-year-old sister would love it. Who needs Cliffs Notes when you can just read Twitter?

There is even a web site that lets you crib literary quotes for your tweets. You don't even have to actually read anymore - you can just fake it and make the world (or at least, your Twitter followers) think you actually read Shakespeare, Kerouac, or Twain.

Do you use Twitter? Do you use it to write fiction, follow favorite authors, brainstorm with strangers? Tell us about it in the comments!

Nicole

Interactive Reading - Fad or Future?

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Do you remember reading "choose your own adventure books"? I do and I loved them. I didn't care what the story was, whether it was fantasy or fairy tale, I loved reading them over and over. Last year, I even wrote about a Jane Austen version for grown-ups, which I very much enjoyed.

Well, the next logical step in non-traditional books has arrived in the form of PERSONAL EFFECTS: DARK ART by J.C. Hutchins.

I first saw this book in the bookstore a few weeks ago, as I was picking out my birthday present (Tanya Huff's THE ENCHANTMENT EMPORIUM). I desperately wanted it, but I just couldn't afford it at the time. So, last week, I added it to an order I was placing on Barnesandnoble.com and then waited anxiously for it.

It's a hardcover, but there's much more to it. Inside, there are "pieces of evidence" that go along with the story, a murder mystery. Psychological reports, ID cards, and other flotsam that might help you solve the mystery are included. But, that is just the beginning.

If you Google characters names, web sites for them come up, as well as profiles on social networking sites such as Facebook. All the phone numbers and web sites mentioned in the book or in the evidence work - you can call the phone numbers and get related information, visit the web sites, send emails to the people in the story, etc..

The author is also offering an audio prequel on his web site and instructions on how to make your own DARK ART party with your friends. There is even a web site where you can "commit yourself' to the psychiatric hospital in the book.

I admit to being very intrigued by this concept of interactive novels. It makes my little researcher heart very happy. However, a part of me wonders just how well this type of book will do once the novelty wears off. Will readers really want to go exploring on the web to find out more about the story they are reading or have read? Do they really care that much? How much of the interest is dependent on the quality of the story, or does that really even matter? It didn't matter when I read the choose your own adventure books, but I was 10 years old at the time.

What do you think? Is this the next wave in books or just a flash in the pan? Would you want to read a book that requires you to work for the information or do you just want to be able to enjoy the story without going to that extent? Tell me what you think in the comments.

Nicole

Michael Jackson Comic Book Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:25:00 +0000

from Jason Schultz, Bluewater Productions:

To millions, he was the King of Pop; one of the world's most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute to his memory and legacy in October 2009 with a special collectors edition biography comic, which will trace Jackson's rise as a musical prodigy with the "Jackson 5" through last Thursdays sad end.

The book will feature highlights from his storied career and enigmatic private life.

"Michael Jackson's music served as the soundtrack to countless lives... including mine," said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, "His influence on our culture has been profound."

TRIBUTE: MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP features a wraparound cover and foreword by The Official Michael Jackson Fan Club's Giuseppe Mazzola. Mazzola was also Jackson's friend.

"This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans," Davis said. "Although the book won't shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar, and as a complex person."

For more information, visit: www.bluewaterprod.com

To find a comic book store near you, go to the comic shop locator: www.comicshoplocator.com

Rob

Author Alice Hoffman's Twitter Freakout

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:40:00 +0000

from The Afterword, 6/29/09:

"Boston-area writer Alice Hoffman has a new book out, THE STORY SISTERS, and the reviews have been fairly decent. But she doesn't seem to have appreciated the attentions of Roberta Silman, a correspondent at the Boston Globe who dished out a moderately unloving review. ...Ms. Hoffman went ballistic on Twitter...which began Sunday morning (4 a.m. Tweets? You know that's ill-considered)...here's the gist:

'Roberta Silman in the Boston Globe is a moron. How do some people get to review books? And give the plot away.'

'My single bad review in my hometown. This is a town where a barking dog is the second top story on the news'

'I guess that's why the Times is getting rid of the Globe. They read the reviews.'

'Interesting, reviewers can say what they want. But when writers speak up they're going after reviewers.'"

Alice Hoffman deleted her Twitter account today, but you can visit The Afterword and Gawker for screenshots of her Tweets.

Rob

Guest Blogger: Author Kate Douglas

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:20:00 +0000

My thanks to Rob for the invitation to blog today. I'm celebrating the release of the fifteenth story in my Wolf Tales series: WOLF TALES VIII. To explain the discrepancy in numbers, it's because the novellas in the Sexy Beast anthologies are very much a part of the series-I write it like a soap opera in a linear fashion, so that the stories segue one into the other.

Confusing, yes, but it's the only way I can write, and so far it appears to be working. Kensington has asked for three more novels in the series, which will take me to WOLF TALES 12 (sigh...no more cool Roman numerals) in January 2011. I can't believe I'm still doing a series that started out selling on-line as an erotic romance serial from a brand new little e-publisher back in 2004: Changeling Press. The owner, Margaret Riley, asked me for something totally new and different-and very sexy-to help launch her new company. I had a little thousand word freebie story about a woman who was lost in a snowstorm and rescued by a man she never saw-even though they had mind-blowing sex all night long before he left her on the side of the road.

Readers wanted more, so I took that kernel of an idea and turned it into the first story in my serial (Dubbed WOLF TALES) and called it STEFAN, after the main character-who quickly evolved into a man who was more beast than human. It was the first chapter, a 12,000 word story that led to another, and another and so on as every six weeks I wrote a new one about a group of sexy shapeshifters who were rediscovering their Chanku heritage. What my readers didn't know at the time is that I was discovering it right along with them! I didn't even know they were shapeshifters at first, and I didn't have a clue about their genetic history. The storyline very literally evolved as I wrote each new chapter. I discovered their polyamorous relationships in the second chapter when Stefan and Anton finally opened up about their feelings for one another, and believe me, it was a complete shock. I had no idea that was even coming until it happened.

When Kensington Publishing launched their new Aphrodisia line of erotic romance with the release of WOLF TALES-a compilation of all the stories to date in my online serial-I had no idea I would still be writing the series so many years later! My "seat of the pants" style of writing means that my journey of discovery continues even now. Characters will say or do things and I'll stare at my computer screen wondering, "Now where in the hell did THAT come from?" The odd thing is, quite often something that happens in a story that is not entirely resolved in that particular book, will pop up later on in another book and finally make sense. I really don't plan ahead-I'm not that organized-so it's always a thrill when that sort of thing happens.

My newest release, WOLF TALES VIII, is a perfect example. Things that happened in books I wrote a couple of years ago are finally making sense to me-and hopefully to my readers as well. This book is essentially two separate stories that come together in some interesting ways at the end. The first half introduces a new character, a young woman named Daciana Lupei who is not at all what she seems. Her presence creates an entirely unexpected event and tests ongoing character Anton Cheval in ways that rock the foundations of his role as the pack's uber-alpha. The second half of the book looks at Millie West, my middle-aged heroine who is still discovering the sexual side of her Chanku nature. When her mate sets up a meeting between Millie and a young man who is more beta than alpha, the sparks fly and both of them learn they have more courage-and a stronger capacity for sexual adventure-than they ever imagined.

And, as disconnected as the two stories sound, they really do come together in the end, and lead directly to the next story, CHANKU CHALLENGE, which will come out in Sexy Beast VII next Fall. Trust me!

One of my readers, Mischa Parris, has created a wonderful Chanku Family Tree for the series. Below the chart is a short description of my shapeshifters for those of you not familiar with the characters and their history, and if you ever have any questions, please feel free to write to me directly. I answer all my mail and love the chance to chat one on one with my readers. I can be reached at kate@katedouglas.com, but if you've got questions now, I'm ready and willing to answer whatever I can! And thank you to RT Book Reviews for this terrific opportunity to chat about my favorite characters!

Kate Douglas
www.katedouglas.com

Fiction Turned Real

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Dave Eggers, founder of McSweeney's and best known for A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS, has a new book out called ZEITOUN. Eggers is considered by many to be one of the fathers of modern fiction. But this new book is unlike any other he has written.

A week after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun disappeared. Zeitoun, a Syrian-American businessman who stayed in New Orleans to protect his home and business, is the focus of this book that ranges around the world, with interviews from family and friends.

What I find most interesting about this is that it's quite a departure from Eggers' usual fare. Humorous essays and turns of phrase are what he is known for and yet, here is a project that was 3 years in the making, involving hours of travel, research and interviews.

The field of stories stemming from Katrina and similar catastrophic events has been mined pretty well, but I am a bit intrigued with ZEITOUN. What made Dave Eggers decide that THIS story had to be written? That Zeitoun's story was more worthy of being told than other personal stories? He spent so much time on this book that I am curious to see what comes of it.

From what I can see this is a labor of love. Rather like Patricia Cornwell's exploration on the Jack the Ripper legend or John Grisham's THE INNOCENT MAN last year. And just like with those stories, I wonder what kind of an impact ZEITOUN will have on fans and other interested parties.

Do you think you will read this new book by Eggers? Or do you think he should stick to fiction?

Nicole

Interview with Mr. Romance Charles Paz

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Last week, I posted photos from Dorchester's cover shoot with 2009 Mr. Romance Charles Paz. Liz, Stephanie, and I also recorded an interview with Charles. Check it out:

Charles Paz interview, NYC 6/17/09 (right-click the link to save)
12:37 minute MP3 file - 11.6 MB

Enjoy!

Rob

Dorchester Cover Shoot with Mr. Romance

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:21:00 +0000

RT editors Liz French, Stephanie Klose, and I attended Dorchester's photo shoot yesterday. 2009 Mr. Romance winner Charles Paz and actress/model Serene Aandahl posed for the cover of Connie Mason's upcoming book THE LORD OF DEVIL ISLE, due out May 2010.

I met Charles for the first time and he was charming, funny, and completely down-to-earth and is also genuinely interested in the women's fiction industry. If you're an author and would like Charles to pose for your cover - or if you just want to say hi - you can connect with him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/charlespaz. He'd really love that!

Serene was fantastic as well. In fact, everyone at the shoot was great and let me snap a bunch of photos. Check out our online album:

Flickr - Dorchester cover shoot with Mr. Romance, NYC 6/17/09

Thank you to photographer Shirley Green, her assistant Philippa Claydon, illustrator Judy York, Dorchester production assistant Cindy Johnson, and Dorchester marketing manager Erin Galloway for giving us the opportunity to post this behind-the-scenes look at a romance cover photo shoot!

Rob

Adventures in Audio Books

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:12:00 +0000

Although several RT staff members are big audiobook fans, I was never quite convinced of their appeal. To be fair, the first and only time I'd ever listened to an audiobook was during a 14-hour drive that was part of a family vacation I took when I was about 13. I listened to V.C. Andrews' FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (when I wasn't busy pelting my brother with Cheetos). To be honest, the whole experience left me feeling rather nauseous. Of course, my tendency toward carsickness, the sheer amount of Cheetos I'd eaten, and VC Andrews' rather adult plotline were probably in large part to blame for my queasiness.

And so, when I came across a copy of Alyson Noel's YA blockbuster EVERMORE on audiobook, I figured I should give the aural format another whirl. After all, I hadn't eaten (or thrown) Cheetos in years. Plus, I planned on listening to the book on my walk to work, the better to rule out carsickness.

And, wow! I was really impressed. Not only did listening to the book make my walk to work seem far faster than usual, it was a great way to carve out some extra "reading" time in my day. I loved listening to Katie Schorr's interpretation of Noel's story, and getting to meet Ever and her friends through my ears instead of my eyes was a really interesting and different experience for this die-hard reader.

If you've never tried an audiobook but are interested in checking one out, we at RT are running a contest right now with MacMillion audio. E-mail elissa@rtbookreviews.com with a reason why you would like to win a free copy of P.C. And Kristin Cast's HUNTED on audiobook. And to get your ears ready, listen to this podcast with P.C. as she talks about her series:

HUNTED interview and first chapter (right-click the link to save)
18 minute MP3 file - 8.3 MB

Elissa

What Kind of Book Shopper Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:59:00 +0000

(photo by Lizzy Foulkes)

Bookseller Matt Blind recently wrote a blog post detailing the various types of people who come into his store. As a former bookseller myself, I related to many of the descriptions of some of these shoppers. Below is a brief description of the seven types identified in the blog.

Seekers – those looking for a specific book. These include students of all kinds and those who heard about a book (TV, radio, magazine, friend) and want THAT book.

Grazers – those who love book stores but don’t really ever plan to buy a book. They wander the aisles and just gaze at the shelves and displays, occasionally picking up a book to read the cover and then go back to wandering.

Browsers – those who don’t need a specific book, but are content to roam through the aisles of the genre or topic they are looking through, i.e. sci-fi, romance, self-help.

Campers – those who come into the book store, set up shop and stay there. This includes students who think the book store is their personal library, the homeless, tutors and others who set up their drinks, food and laptops and don’t move all day.

Idiots – those with little to no specific information about the book they are looking for. "I don't remember the name of the book or the author, but I think the cover is red. Do you have that one?"

Independents – those shoppers who would rather use a computer terminal than talk to a bookseller.

Time-sucks – people who come in and ask advice for books as gifts without an inkling of what works. Or, just ask general questions about books that don’t help the bookseller or the consumer do anything, except waste time.

I have definitely interacted with many customers like those described in the blog. I was once asked to find a book based on the fact that it was large and yellow – miraculously, I was able to find the book they meant, but that is one of those types of questions booksellers dread.

When I go into a bookstore, I try to be as prepared as possible, armed with as much information about the book or books I am looking for. If I am just browsing, I do my best to stay out of the way of the other buyers and booksellers. I step around those randomly sitting in the middle of an aisle, the ones snoring in the wooden chairs, and try not to squeal too loudly when I see a new book on the shelf by one of my favorite authors.

How about you? Do you see yourself in the categories above? Do you think there are other types of buyers? Leave a comment and let me know!

Nicole

Fiction for a Cause

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Author John Klopfer will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of his book to cancer research efforts, in honor of his wife and partner, Lori Bari.

John Klopfer's debut novel, A QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY, is a bold look at several sensitive issues. Klopfer tackles racism, diversity, love, and loss with the grace and ease of a seasoned author.

When Carollyn and her two sons, Nathaniel and Jason, make the journey to Daytona Beach to meet her estranged grandfather, they do not expect a warm reception. However, the old man, known fondly by all as the "captain," apologizes and asks for forgiveness for his past transgressions. When Carollyn's mother was very young, she was impregnated by a black man. The captain kicked her out of her family's home when she refused to have an abortion.

After her mother's death from cancer, Carollyn began to put the pieces of her racially divided family back together, and is able to offer her grandfather redemption.

The tale is one that will bring tears to any reader's eyes - both of joy and of sadness.

A QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY is dedicated to Lori Bari, Klopfer's wife, who is battling Stage IV colon cancer. While writing the manuscript, Klopfer would often read it to her for a valuable second opinion and to soothe her pain and troubles. Because of Bari's influence, Klopfer will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from this book's sale to cancer research.

He believes that in these troubled economic times, writers and artists should come forward and use their talents to support struggling charities.

For more information, please visit: www.authorhouse.com

Ask the Author: Betina Krahn

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Betina Krahn (MAKE ME YOURS, THE BOOK OF TRUE DESIRES) is our current Ask the Author forum guest. She will be answering your questions until June 28, 2009.

Go say hi and ask Ms. Krahn some questions!

Thanks,

Rob

Alyssa Day's New York Times Bestseller

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Congratulations!

Author Alyssa Day's new book ATLANTIS UNLEASHED made the New York Times bestseller list! The first 10 people to email authoralyssaday@aol.com get a signed copy of Atlantis Unleashed. Hurry!

Check out our interview videos with Alyssa here.

Rob

Interview with Author Debbie Macomber

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:03:00 +0000

I was at Harlequin's 60th Anniversary art exhibit on Friday, May 29, 2009, during the media event in the afternoon and again at the opening party later that night.

I got to meet and talk with many fantastic authors and recorded interviews with several of them. Here's my interview with Harlequin's number one author, the sweet and fantastic Debbie Macomber:

Debbie Macomber interview, NYC 5/29/09 (right-click the link to save)
12:54 minute MP3 file - 11.8 MB

I'll post the rest of my interviews soon. Enjoy!

Rob

Author Mary Jo Putney - RT Video Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Check out our new YouTube videos featuring author Mary Jo Putney:

Mary Jo Putney - Becoming an Author

Mary Jo Putney - Characters' Motivation

Mary Jo Putney - Social Issues in Romance Novels

Mary Jo Putney - Using Formal Language

Mary Jo Putney - Returning to Regency England

Mary Jo's book LOVING A LOST LORD comes out June 30, 2009. Thanks Mary Jo!

Rob

Have You Heard?

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Interesting tidbits I've been hearing about lately...

Bloggers turning their online work into books are nothing new. But there are a couple of new additions that look interesting. HOLLY'S INBOX is written in the can-be-annoying style of emails, but this book could very well be the next Bridget Jones (and those were written in the can-be-annoying style of journal entries). Also from a British writer, what makes this interesting is that the author is actually...a man. Holly is a fictional creation from Bill Surie, the man behind the web site, hollysinbox.com. Also, the book is 650 pages! But from most of the reviews I have been seeing, it's totally worth it. A sequel is already planned.

One of India's most known bloggers, Amit Varma, has published his first novel, MY FRIEND SANCHO. An award-winning journalist, he is already planning to turn this first book into series. Unfortunately, his book is not currently available in the U.S.

Fans of Lawrence Block will be thrilled to know he's written an autobiography. However, while it does cover the same basic stuff as the usual biographies - childhood, adolescence and adulthood, what the book is really about is his love of "race walking," which is pretty much what you think it is. What you may not know is that it is a competitive sport. STEP BY STEP is his first nonfiction work that isn't a writing manual and his love for this sport shines through.

Another name people might know is Guillermo Del Toro, mainly for his work in movies. This month, THE STRAIN, co-written with Chuck Hogan is released. As full of gush and gore as you might expect from Del Toro, fans of horror should check it out.

Nicole

Marjorie Liu Exclusive: Letter from Grant Cooperon, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:33:00 +0000

It's the Summer of Marjorie M. Liu!

Who else do you know who can write suspenseful urban fantasy, timeless paranormal romance stories, and kick-ass action in comic-books--all at the same time? Oh yeah, and she's also a lawyer!

Since Marjorie's got so many fans out there across different genres, she thought she'd give you a little treat with a special letter that comes out of her urban fantasy Hunter Kiss series (see below for the series overview). It's a letter you won't be able to find in any of the books--instead it will be posted in four different sections on a few different websites starting today.

Marjorie says of the special letter -- from the desk of Grant Cooperon to be only opened by his daughter: "I'm excited about this promotion because I love being able to reach out to you, my fans-- in person at romance conventions, or ComicCon, or online through my blog or twitter. This summer is a busy one for me because I've got the new DARK WOLVERINE series and the special NYX: NO WAY HOME collection, both from Marvel, coming out in the next two weeks, followed by DARKNESS CALLS on June 30 and THE FIRE KING at the end of July. I'd love to get all my characters at the same 4th of July BBQ and see what happens...but that's not in this letter!"

Check out part one of the letter right here at RT Book Reviews, including an audio version read by your favorite webmaster! (hint: me)

Part two will be available at Tor.com starting June 15 and part three will be available at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books starting June 22. Stay tuned to learn where the complete letter will be posted on June 29!

Hunter Kiss series overview:

Long ago there was a war between demons and a race of creatures that created, from human flesh, superhuman warriors who fought their battles, and who eventually imprisoned the demons inside a multi-dimensional prison that, after thousands of years, is finally weakening. Unfortunately, those warriors have all died out, except for one bloodline, which has been protected for thousands of years by five demons who live by day as tattoos, and who peel off their host's body at night to form a lethal, yet childlike, army.

Passed down from mother to daughter, only the demons decide when the time is right to leave a host. When that happens, when the mother loses their protection, she is murdered by those she hunts. Usually in front of her daughter. Fathers are not talked about, ever. Fathers are never acknowledged. There is no family but mother and daughter -- and the demons who protect them.

Maxine changes everything, in more ways that one. She's fallen in love with a former priest whose secrets are almost as terrible as her own. Grant can alter the nature of a human -- or demonic -- soul with nothing but his voice, and he's been using that gift to help others, to make the world a better place. Maxine and Grant are determined not to lose each other, no matter what -- no matter who comes for them. But there's a lot of uncertainty in their lives, and risk.

One day Maxine will have a daughter. Grant hopes -- and believes -- that he will be the father. And this is a letter to that unborn child, a way for him to be with his little girl. Just in case the worst happens. Just in case he never gets to meet her. He wants her to know she's loved.

Rob

Two New Contests at HSReaders.com

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Inspirational author Missy Tippens is giving away a suntan along with her June book, HIS FOREVER LOVE, that she will autograph for the winner.

Western Historical author Stacey Kayne is giving away her June anthology, STETSONS, SPRING AND WEDDING RINGS, and her July release, MOUNTAIN WILD, that she will autograph to the winner. She also has a great video book trailer for MOUNTAIN WILD, which is the final book in her Wild trilogy.

Enter both contests at: www.hsreaders.com/contests

Rob

Interview with Author Gena Showalter

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:11:00 +0000

In case you missed my tweets from Harlequin's 60th anniversary art exhibit on Friday, May 29, I was there during the media event in the afternoon and again at the opening party later that night.

I got to meet and talk with many fantastic authors and recorded interviews with several of them. Here's my interview with the extremely talented paranormal author Gena Showalter and her amazing editor Margo Lipschultz:

Gena Showalter and Margo Lipschultz interview, NYC 5/29/09 (right-click the link to save)
10:08 minute MP3 file - 9.3 MB

My other interviews are coming soon. Enjoy!

Rob

Author Alyssa Day - RT Video Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:20:00 +0000

Check out our new YouTube videos featuring author Alyssa Day:

YouTube - Alyssa Day - Warriors of Poseidon Series

YouTube - Alyssa Day - Redemption as a Theme

YouTube - Alyssa Day - Facing the Darkness

Alyssa's latest book is ATLANTIS UNLEASHED. ATLANTIS UNMASKED comes out July 7. Thanks Alyssa!

Rob

RT at Lady Jane's Salon 6/1/09

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:21:00 +0000

(pictured left to right: authors Wendy Corsi Staub, Marjorie M. Liu, Diane Gaston, and Amanda McCabe)

Monday night, I attended the fifth Lady Jane's Salon romance book reading at Madame X in Manhattan. The kind and talented author Diane Gaston let me borrow her camera and emailed the photos to me last night. Thank you so much, Diane!

Diane Gaston and Amanda McCabe read from their new historical anthology THE DIAMONDS OF WELBOURNE MANOR, Wendy Corsi Staub read from her romantic suspense DEAD BEFORE DARK, and Marjorie M. Liu read from her urban fantasy DARKNESS CALLS. Marjorie is also our current Ask the Author guest, so visit our forum and post your questions.

I also met Maria Lokken from Romance Novel TV and Elena Stokes from Wunderkind PR and hung out with LJS regulars Biz, Elizabeth, Grace, Stacey, and Marcos. I had a great time and will of course be back next month for more romance and fun. Hope Tarr, Maya Rodale, Leanna Hieber, and Ron Hogan are the best!

Lady Jane's Salon takes place on the first Monday of every month. If you're in the NYC area, come to Madame X and check it out.

Photos: Flickr - Lady Jane's Salon at Madame X, NYC 6/1/09

Rob

Amanda McIntyre Tonight on Blogtalk Radio

noreply@blogger.com (RT Book Reviews) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Catch author Amanda McIntyre with author and hostess Renee Bernard on Blogtalk Radio tonight! You can even call into the show and talk to Amanda and Renee live!

Blogtalk Radio
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
8:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Call-in number: (646) 200-4071

Rob