That's What I'm Talking About...: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Review: Kiss at Your Own Risk

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Kiss at Your Own Risk

Author: Stephanie Rowe

Release Date: January, 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Soulfire series, Book 1
ISBN: #9781402241956

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Paperback, ebook

I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.

From the author’s website:

He needed a killer woman...

Blaine Underhill is one lucky man after having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch. Now he’s determined to save his still-enslaved friend, but in order to do so, he’ll need the help of one of the world’s most lethal women.

She was drop dead gorgeous, literally...

Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of being a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she’s one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever. When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!

What B is talking about:

Trinity Harpswell is a recovering Black Widow, or is trying very hard to be. Whenever she develops feelings for a man, her inner spider is triggered and she is compelled to kill him. Now, she’s seven days away from ending her curse forever. No more intentionally dating the most repulsive men she can find, no more making herself look as awful as she feels, no more “Oops, guess what I just did again” relocations for her family…just a normal life. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that simple for Trinity.

Blaine Underhill has just escaped over a century of torturous captivity at the hands of the powerful Black Witch, Angelica. When one of his friends is betrayed and recaptured during their getaway, however, he becomes determined to find a way to rescue him and kill the witch once and for all. His plan only has a few flaws, namely that she can’t be killed, and any rescue attempt will only land Blaine and his friends right back where they started. Only one kind of being is guaranteed to be able to kill anything, and Blaine needs one fast: a Black Widow.

Sometimes the best books are the ones that make you laugh when you’re not at all prepared for it. Kiss at Your Own Risk, the first in Rowe’s new Soulfire series, definitely falls into that category. If this book wasn’t as much fun to write as it was to read, Rowe pulls an excellent bluff. Too much alpha in your alpha-male? Give him some disturbingly keen domestic skills. Having trouble finding a name for your monster? Make one up, like “Schnoodemgon.”

Blaine and Trinity are an impossible perfect pair, but they handle their respective burdens with hilarious resignation and considerable sarcasm. They are distrustful of hope, and cynical enough to always expect things to get worse, yet they stubbornly continue to fight for a happier future for themselves. Their path towards intimacy is a rough one, and even somewhat predictable, but once they do fall into each other, it’s as sweet as it is sexy.

Kiss at Your Own Risk is a light, sweet story that was great fun to read. Rowe does away with the burden of convention from the beginning, allowing the story to be thoroughly enjoyable, while creating warm, endearing characters that are very much worth cheering for. I highly recommend it as a quick, “feel good” read, and hope that the sequel won’t be far behind.

My Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Labels: 4.5 stars, paranormal romance, reviews, Soulfire Series, Stephanie Rowe |

5 comments

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Year in Review - 2010

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Welcome to the end of another year. This is my first year blogging, and it was interesting to see how my book list panned out. I read fewer books in 2010 than 2009, but that is understandable now that I’m writing reviews, completing author interviews, blog hopping and chatting with my gals (and guys) and Twitter.

I really enjoyed blogging and discussing books with all of you. I hope you have enjoyed our time together as well! I've listed some of my highlights and stats from 2010 below. How did 2010 go for you? What were your favorite reads during the year?

Thank you all for stopping by and supporting me and That's What I'm Talking About. Joyous New Year and Happy Reading!!

The Summary:

I read 83 books;

I read 21 comic books;

I read 4 partial books (i.e. one novella out of an anthology);

I read 4 free short stories;

I had 1 DNF.

Favorites of 2010:

Published in 2010:

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Published prior to 2010:

Demon Moon by Meljean Brook

Seduced by the Storm by Sydney Croft

New series (2010):

Stormwalker Series by Allyson James

Series prior to 2010:

ACRO Series by Sydney Croft

Guardian Series by Meljean Brook

Favorite Non-Paranormal read in 2010:

Decadent Deceptions by Keta Diablo

Favorite Guilty Pleasure:

Black Wade by Franze & Andaerle

So without further ado, here is the LIST for 2010:

Book #1: Heart of Darkness, anthology (January 2, 2010)

Book #2: Wild Thing, anthology (January 3, 2010)
Book #3: Lone Wolf, Teresa D'Amario (Janunary 7, 2010)
Book #4: Shades of Midnight, Lara Adrian (January 9, 2010)
Book #5: Gentlemen Prefer Succubi, Jill Myles (January 11, 2010)
Book #6: Passion Unleashed (2nd read), Larissa Ione (January 16, 2010)
Book #7: Wicked Enchantment, Anya Bast (January 19, 2010)
Book #8: Succubi Like It Hot, Jill Myles (January 21, 2010)
Book #9: Esctasy Unveiled, Larissa Ione (January 24, 2010)
Book #10: Taken, Anya Bast (January 25, 2010)
Book #11: Demon Moon, Meljean Brook (January 28, 2010)
Book #12: Demon Night, Meljean Brook (February 6, 2010)
Book #12.1: “Thicker Than Blood" from the anthology First Blood, Meljean Brook (February 6, 2010)
Book #13: Demon Bound, Meljean Brook (February 12, 2010)
Book #14: Demon Forged, Meljean Brook (February 21, 2010)
Book #14.1: "Blind Spot," Meljean Brook from the anthology Must Love Hellhounds (February 21, 2010)
Book #15: Of Crimson and Collars, Audrey and Stella Price (February 22, 2010)
Book #16: Archangel's Kiss, Nalini Singh (February 25, 2010)
Book #17: Without Reservations, J. L. Langley (February 27, 2010)
Book #18: With Caution, J. L. Langley (March 1, 2010)
Book #19: With Love, J. L. Langley (March 2, 2010)
Books #19.1: Buffy, Season 8 Comic Books: Volumes 26-31 plus Willow one-shot (7 total) (March 5, 2010)
Books #19.2: Angel Comic Books: Volumes 24-27 (4 total) (March 6, 2010)
Book #20: Born of Night, Sherrilyn Kenyon (March 13, 2010)
Book #21: Born of Fire, Sherrilyn Kenyon (March 18, 2010)
Book #22: The Darkest Passion, Gena Showalter (March 22, 2010)
Book #23: Atlantis Redeemed, Alyssa Day (March 24, 2010)
Book #24: Riding the Storm, Sydney Croft (April 1, 2010)
Book #25: Unleashing the Storm, Sydney Croft (April 4, 2010)
Book #26: Lion's Heat, Lora Leigh (April 8, 2010)
Book #27: Seduced by the Storm, Sydney Croft (April 18, 2010)
Book #28: Lover Mine, JR Ward (April 25, 2010)
Book #29: Taming the Fire, Sydney Croft (May 3, 2010)
Book #30: Mortal Temptations, Allyson James (May 8, 2010)
Book #31: She Wolf, Teresa D'Amario (May 11, 2010)
Book #32: Dark Succession, Teresa D'Amario (May 19, 2010)
Book #32.1: "The Faery Prince's Mate" Free novella Teresa D'Amario (May 25, 2010)
Book #33: Magic Bleeds, Ilona Andrews (May 30, 2010)
Book #33.1: The Darkest Facts: A Lords of the Underworld Companion, Gena Showalter (May 30, 2010)
Book #34: My Blood Approves, Amanda Hocking (June 5, 2010)
Book #35: Siren's Call, Devyn Quinn (June 12, 2010)
Book #36: Bound By Rebellion, Christa Paige (June 15, 2010)
Book #36.1: "Succubus Diaries: Foreplay" Free novella by Jill Myles (June 15, 2010)
Book #37: Deadly Fear, Cynthia Eden (June 21, 2010)
Book #38: Black Wade, Franze & Andaerle (June 21, 2010)
Book #39: Sin Eater's Prince, Keta Diablo (June 24, 2010)
Book #39.1: Buffy, Season 8 Comic Books: Volumes 32-35: Twilight Story Arc (4 total) (June 25, 2010)
Book #39.2: "In Sheep's Clothing" Free novella by Meljean Brook (June 26, 2010)
Book #39.3: Angel Comic Books: Volumes 28-33 (6 total) (June 26, 2010)
Book #40: Bound By Deception, Christa Paige (June 28, 2010)
Book #41: The Darkest Lie, Gena Showalter (July 2, 2010)
Book #42: Eve of Samhain, Lisa Sanchez (July 9, 2010)
Book #43: Demon Blood, Meljean Brook (July 13, 2010)
Book #44: Bonds of Justice, Nalini Singh (July 21, 2010)
Book #45: Tempting the Fire, Sydney Croft (July 23, 2010)
Book #46: Decadent Deceptions, Keta Diablo (July 26, 2010)
Book #47: Captive Spirit, Liz Fichera (July 31, 2010)
Book #48: Infinity: The Chronicles of Nick, Sherrilyn Kenyon (August 6, 2010)
Book #49: Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between, J.A. Saare (August 9, 2010)
Book #50: Sins of the Heart, Eve Silver (August 14, 2010)
Book #51: Sin Undone, Larissa Ione (August 18, 2010)
Book #52: The Moon: Tigress by the Tail, Teresa D'Amario (August 23, 2010)
Book #53: Sins of the Soul, Eve Silver (August 26, 2010)
Book #54: Cruel Enchantment, Anya Bast (August 29, 2010)
Book #55: Dust, Joan Frances Turner (September 3, 2010)
Book #56: Burning Up, anthology (September 6, 2010)
Book #57: Atlantis Betrayed, Alyssa Day (September 12, 2010)
Book #57.1: read 55% of Where The Rain Is Made, Keta Diablo (September 14, 2010) - DNF
Book #58: Taken By Midnight, Lara Adrian (September 17, 2010)
Book #59: Sins of the Flesh, Eve Silver (September 21, 2010)
Book #59.1: "A Tangled Web," Mercedes Lackey from the anthology Harvest Moon (September 24, 2010)
Book #60: The Iron Duke, Meljean Brook (September 28, 2010)
Book #61: No Mercy, Sherrilyn Kenyon (September 30, 2010)
Book #62: Presumed Dead, Shirley Wells (October 4, 2010)
Book #63: Styx's Storm, Lora Leigh (October 6, 2010)
Book #64: Fearless Desires, Stacey Espino (October 9, 2010)
Book #65: Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (October 10, 2010)

Book #65.1: “Zane’s Tale” Free novella by Jill Myles (October 11, 2010)
Book #66: Lie With Me, Stephanie Tyler (October 16, 2010)
Book #67: Geist, Philippa Ballantine (October 21, 2010)
Book #68: Ghost Town, Rachel Caine (October 24, 2010)
Book #69: Magic at the Gate, Devon Monk (October 28, 2010)
Book #70: Immortal Awakenings, KC Randell (October 31, 2010)
Book #71: The Taming of the Wolf, Lydia Dare (November 4, 2010)
Book #72: Fearless Love, Stacey Espino (November 6, 2010)
Book #73: Promises in the Dark, Stephanie Tyler (November 8, 2010)
Book #74: Stormwalker, Allyson James (November 12, 2010)
Book #75: Firewalker, Allyson James (November 20, 2010)
Book #76: Real Vampires Have More to Love, Gerry Bartlett (November 25, 2010)
Book #77: Beneath the Thirteen Moons, Kathryne Kennedy (November 30, 2010)
Book #78: Black Wings, Christina Henry (December 4, 2010)
Book #79: Blood Moon Betrayed, Teresa D'Amario (BETA READ December 11, 2010)
Book #80: Size Matters, Stephanie Julian (December 13, 2010)
Book #81: The Prince's Groom, KT Grant (December 18, 2010)
Book #82: Wolf Fever, Terry Spear (December 26, 2010)

Book #83: I Dream of Genies, Judi Fennell (still reading...)

Labels: 2010, Allyson James, blogging, Ilona Andrews, Keta Diablo, Meljean Brook, reading, Sydney Croft |

6 comments

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Author Interview & Giveaway - Terry Spear

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Today I have the honor of bringing to you author Terry Spear. With almost 70,000 copies sold, Terry Spear is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. She received her MBA from Monmouth University. An eclectic writer, she dabbles in the paranormal as well as writing historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Terry lives in the heart of Texas. Please help me welcome Terry to That’s What I’m Talking About.

Twimom: Terry, welcome and thank you for stopping by.

Terry: Thank you for inviting me here today.

Twimom: How long have you been writing and how did you start? What are your inspirations?

Terry: I started when I was a kid, reading and dreaming up stories of my own! Not only was my father a great storyteller, who also had lots of adventures which sparked my own interest in creating stories, but when he died, I wrote about his 13th mission over Germany in WWII. That ended up being my first published work. So my dad definitely inspired me. Beyond that, loving to read stories and wanting to create my own, and then sharing these with readers who enjoy them and want to see more of the wolf world is an even greater inspiration for me.

Twimom: You current release, Wolf Fever, is the 6th book in your romance series featuring werewolves. What first attracted you to the shape-shifting, paranormal genre?

Terry: When I was a kid, I loved “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” which was a Norwegian tale about a prince cursed to be a polar bear by day and man at night. I loved that story. Later, I saw the movie, Ladyhawk, where the man was a wolf during the day and the woman a hawk at night… and again, it was a love story where the two would never be able to be together as man and woman. Note, the hero was a wolf, and of course I was in love with him. But how much better would it be if she was a wolf too? And they could be together either in their wolf or human states? In my stories, that’s definitely the case. No curses, they’re all very well-adjusted werewolves. For the most part!

In the case of Wolf Fever, Carol isn’t accepting her werewolfism very well, but that’s to be expected. She foresees a future disaster within the pack and that pushes her to fight accepting what she is. And Ryan doesn’t want to concede she might actually have psychic abilities. But there’s more to the reason he can’t leave her alone. And she knows it too, even if he can’t admit to it being anything more than an investigator’s desire to learn the truth.

Twimom: Oh, I LOVE Ladyhawk, too. I haven’t thought of the movie in ages. I see that you enjoy researching your Scottish roots. What’s the most interesting/surprising thing you’ve discovered about your ancestry?

Terry: When I was researching my mother’s Scottish ancestry, I didn’t know the MacNeill’s first name or the Campbell’s either that had started the family in Scotland, which was on her mother’s side. I only had the fascinating oral history that had been passed down for generations about the Lady Campbell, daughter of the duke of Argyll, who ran off with the commoner MacNeill. They had paid for passage to the Carolinas and were taken to Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, instead to settle the island. That’s all I knew. So I put that little bit of information on the PEI site and got a response from a distant relation who was a descendent of a close family line. He had a letter from my great-great-grandfather, written in 1906, detailing something of the trip over and how they nearly starved until the native Indians showed them how to locate and kill walruses to keep them alive. But my ancestors on my mother’s father’s side, also include the Scottish-born Playfairs, one of whom, a crater was named on the moon for. The younger brother, William Playfair, who we directly descend from, was the founder of statistical graphs, and apprenticed with Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the threshing machine, and he became personal assistant to James Watt, also a famous Scottish inventor. Another brother was famous for architecture, and his son even more famous!

Twimom: Wow, how wonderful! Can you tell my readers more about your Highland Medieval Series?

Terry: I love historical romance, and so I had wanted to write about the Highlands in medieval times. No guns. I wanted an early age and I was fascinated with Henry I as having the most mistresses of any king, but also at the time, he was the most learned. But when his father died, and his older brother met with a tragic end during a hunting accident that Henry was participating in, and suddenly, he had the crown while the brother who should have had it was overseas, well, it just seemed like the perfect time period to write about—lots of conflict, romance, and adventure. I was fascinated with how the Saxon princess and her brother fled to Scotland when William of Normandy took over and she became the king’s wife, and then their daughter became Henry’s wife, thereby tying the Saxons and Normans and Scots royalty together. Yet the Highland clans didn’t want to give up their autonomy. In my book Winning the Highlander’s Heart, I actually included some of the people of that time period that the hero and heroine stay with, one in particular who was a Saxon lord who had sided with the Normans, and kept his castles and titles, when others lost everything after the invasion.

Twimom: Do you write any other genres?

Terry: I have a vampire novel out, Deadly Liaisons—it’s about a vampire hunter who is bound and determine to find the vampire who killed her parents and terminate him, but the prince of the vampires in Oregon takes her under his wing, vowing to protect her, even though it looks as though the best protection he can offer her is to turn her. She’s torn between being one of the kind she’s supposed to terminate, and bringing an end to the vampire who has taunted her all her life, not to mention she’s falling in love with a vampire—which just cannot be.

I also write paranormal YA and have The Vampire…In My Dreams and Deidre’s Secret out.

Twimom: I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What is the best book you've read in 2010? What types of books do you enjoy reading?

Terry: I read tons of books (many audio since I don’t have a whole lot of time to sit down and read). I try to list them on Goodreads after I’ve read a few because I have a mind like a sieve when it comes to titles and authors! I have a time remembering names anywhere I go! I listened to the Truth series by Dawn Cook recently and just loved it. On my trip to Scotland and back, I read several books, and when I visit my son, I read at night. Mostly, I read historical, and on the trip, I picked up all Highland romances. But I also love fantasy, as was the Truth series. I love time travels but it’s harder to find them. I also read YA, and read a series recently that I enjoyed, which was a fantasy by Tamora Pierce, the Beka Cooper stories.

Twimom: What upcoming release are you most excited to read?

Terry: I recently read one of Stephanie Laurens new books and am interested in her next one. And I’ve been enjoying Lisa Kleypas’s audio books also.

Twimom: Terry, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.

Terry: Again, thanks for having me!! And good luck to everyone who comments!

Readers: You can find Terry on line at

Her Website: http://www.terryspear.com/

Her Blog: http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TerrySpear

GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of Wolf Fever to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks for sponsoring the giveaway of Terry Spear’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s interview or my review of Wolf Fever yesterday (Dec. 27, 2010). Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from now until 9:00 PM EST on Friday December 31, 2010. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.

Labels: Author Interview, contest, giveaway, shifters, Terry Spear |

10 comments

Monday, December 27, 2010

Review: Wolf Fever

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Wolf Fever

Author: Terry Spear

Release Date: December 1, 2010

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Heart of the Wolf Series Book #6

ISBN: #978-1402237522

Genre: Paranormal Romance (werewolf)

Format(s): paperback (416 pgs), e-book

I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.

Be sure to check out my giveaway of Wolf Fever at the end of this review.

From the author’s website:

Carol Woods wanted more than anything to be a nurse at the hospital in Silver Town, Colorado where her family lives, but she never foresaw how she’d end up with the job. Now she’s a red werewolf facing a mating, trying to forestall shifting for a variety of reasons—one of which has to do with a swine flu virus that seems to be attacking the werewolf kind in a bad way, while working with a private investigator who doesn’t believe in her psychic abilities one bit. So why does she thinks she’s falling in love with the infuriating gray?

Chester McKinley can’t get his mind off the entrancing woman, a nurse, a newly turned red lupus garou belonging to another gray pack and the only one left who might be able to learn how to stop the swine flu virus from making a permanent impact on their kind. Although he doesn’t want to draw Carol into this dangerous situation or believe she is involved, he has no other choice. But does the woman really have psychic abilities that are keeping her from shifting, or is she a fraud, a master at deception, and is behind the infections of their people? And how can he keep his hands off the intriguing woman, and his mind on the mission as the virus takes its toll?

What I’m talking about:

The story kicks off with newly turned werewolf, Carol Woods, fighting the change from human to wolf. She was turned via an attack five months prior and she still hasn’t accepted her new life. She’s in the custody of Darien Silver, pack leader and Carol’s protector. She is a guest, with restrictions, until she finds a mate to help her adjust to her new life.

In addition to fighting her inner wolf, Carol is also psychic and she’s foreseen some serious trouble for her new pack. Several members of her pack will not be able to shift from wolf back to human, but no one believes her. And really, she just wants one man to believe in her - (Chester) Ryan McKinley, an alpha leader from a neighboring pack. Meanwhile, Ryan will do what it takes to learn the truth about Carol, and why he can’t stop obsessing over her.

This is the sixth book in Ms. Spear’s Heart of the Wolf series, and my first look at this wonderful world. Although I did not read any of the previous books, I found the story easy to jump into - never feeling lost or that I had missed out from skipping the earlier books. Although I may have gotten a deeper understanding of the pack life and rules from the previous books, Ms. Spear did a great job bringing me up to speed and I was able to enjoy.

Carol is a delightful heroine. She is a strong woman placed in a difficult situation. She is terrified of what may come to pass, but she also embraces her new life in her own way and at her own speed. She interacts well with all of the pack, even polite to those I wouldn’t have been. She understands pack politics and hierarchy, but challenges the alpha as a sister would.

Ryan is an alpha through and through, but he gives Carol space and time. Of course, this is partly because he isn’t sure if he is the right male for Carol, so he tries to keep their relationship professional. Thank God Carol makes the first move! Together they make a sweet pair, and I adored watching Ryan and Carol each overcome their personal obstacles to finally come together.

The overall story had some exciting twists and turns. Someone/wolf is after Carol - why? Will Carol’s promotions come to pass? Can Carol and Ryan put the pieces of the puzzle together in time to save the pack? There were some exciting moments, but all-in-all a fairly mild story - no cliff hangers or jagged edges. The romance was also sweet, and the sex somewhat hot, but definitely on the mild side compared to other romances I have read.

Wolf Fever is an entertaining shifter story and you do not need to read the prior books in the series in order to enjoy this one.

My Rating:

Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)

GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of Wolf Fever to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks for sponsoring the giveaway of Terry Spear’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s review or my interview with Ms. Spear tomorrow (Dec. 28, 2010). Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from now until 9:00 PM EST on Friday December 31, 2010. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Heart of the Wolf series, paranormal romance, shifters, Terry Spear, Werewolf Series |

7 comments

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Sunday Snippets

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Dear Friends:

Sunday Snippets will be on a 2 week hiatus during the Christmas and New Year holidays. It will return on January 9, 2011. I look forward to sharing with you a peek at some wonderful books in the upcoming year.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Labels: Sunday Snippets |

0 comments

Friday, December 24, 2010

Cover Love

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LOOK WHAT JUST CAME IN...

Devyn Quinn has released the cover for her upcoming release Darkness Descending, a novel of the Vampire Armageddon.

Here is a little bit about the story (taken from Devyn’s website):

The first seal has been broken, signaling the end of days. Fallen angels in the form of vampires are infecting humans one by one, creating an army fit for Armageddon. Of the few who survive the infection, one stands alone above all others…

For one year, Jesse Burke has been suppressing the beast within, driven by vengeance to destroy the vampiric fallen angels terrorizing New Orleans. But a war of biblical proportions is too much for one girl to handle, and she must turn to slayer Maddox deValois for training, though it threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But the sinister demon Queen Amonate is doing everything in her power to lure Jesse to her side to fulfill her destiny as the mother of the devil’s child.

Before this war is over, everyone will learn that hell hath no fury like a woman possessed…

This cover is just gorgeous and the spiderweb image rocks! The book is scheduled for release August, 2011. For more about Darkness Descending, please visit Devyn’s website HERE.

Labels: Cover Love, Devyn Quinn |

0 comments

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Review: Demon Underground

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Dear Readers: I would like to take a quick moment to introduce to you B., my dear friend and new team member here at That’s What I’m Talking About. B. is a freelance copyeditor, writer, and graphic designer based in Austin, Texas. She is happily married to a very tolerant man and has two children who are too smart for their own good…or hers, for that matter. B. will be helping me with book reviews and other fun stuff. Please say hello to B., and give her a warm welcome!

Demon Underground

Author: S. L. Wright

Release Date: December 7, 2010

Publisher: Roc Fantasy

Allay Series Book #2

ISBN: #978-0451463678

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format(s): paperback (352 pgs), e-book

I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.

From the author’s website:

Half-human and half-demon, Allay has finally warmed up to her new life feeding off the customers at her downtown bar when she finds herself brokering a truce between New York City's most powerful demons. But when she senses assassins around every corner, Allay hides out of sight and underground-until combatants in the growing war tempt her back above the surface. Her choice is clear: live in fear or change the world as everyone knows it.

What B is talking about:

Allay is a demon hybrid who owns a bar on the lower east side in New York City and has just obtained independence from her demon progenitor by contributing to his death. Now, she just wants to take care of the human regulars at the bar while she drinks from their emotions, as all demons must do in order to feed. With her only friend, Shock, and offspring, Bliss, by her side, she hopes to stay out of the politics that consume the powerful demon factions vying for power in the city. As the only half-human, half-demon in existence, however, she’s unable to avoid all those who want to use her for their own machinations, and discovers that standing on her own may be the only way to find out who her true friends are and hold onto what’s left of her humanity.

Demon Underground is full of vivid characters and Wright does an excellent job keeping the action moving, while flatteringly trusting her readers to keep track of all the players, major and minor alike. She occasionally spends too much time on the details of individual settings, but the dedication to her overall vision generally pays off. My biggest problem with Demon Underground is that, as the second novel in the series, it relies too heavily on information from the first, Confessions of a Demon, which I haven’t read. It took a long time to familiarize myself with established characters, especially since these demons can change their visage at will and have multiple personas, and it made reading the first part of the novel a lot of work. Not that I mind novels that make me work for the happy ending, but a more thorough explanation of the plot and characters would have made me feel more welcome in the world Wright has created. The novel did what it was meant to do, though, as I’m now curious enough about how the story started to consider buying the first book to fill in all the gaps: I just wish this novel didn’t begin with quite so many.

If you’ve already read the first novel in the series, Demon Underground will likely not disappoint as a continuation of the story. As an introduction to the series, it didn’t really draw me in until nearly halfway through the book. Once it did, though, it was difficult to put down, and I found myself rooting for Allay for the duration of the novel.

My Rating:

Liked it, there were a few issues - recommend (B)

Labels: 3 stars, Allay Series, reviews, SL Wright, urban fantasy |

5 comments

Monday, December 20, 2010

Review: The Prince's Groom

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The Prince’s Groom

Author: KT Grant

Release Date: November 12, 2010

Publisher: Ravenous Romance

Book #2 of a Pirate-Themed Series

ISBN #: 9781607773702

Genre: M/M Romance, Pirates

Format(s): e-book

From the author’s website:

Mr. Martin, the former first mate of an infamous pirate captain is mourning the loss of his young lover. He and Thomas de Fleurre, an exiled prince turned gentleman landowner, had a passionate affair on a tropical island paradise for a very short time. Thomas decides to end their relationship since Martin is a wanted man on the run for a twenty-year-old crime he didn’t commit.

Thomas longs for the frank speaking Martin, who not only ravaged his body, but his heart and soul. He has moved on, finding happiness in the arms of another man, but can’t stop thinking about those hot steamy nights where Martin made his every fantasy become a reality.

Martin’s past comes back to haunt him as he arrives on Thomas’s doorstep to finish what they started. And then Martin puts his life on the line to save Thomas from an unstable woman who is obsessed with claiming Thomas as her own.

With a dangerous highwayman also terrorizing the land who has close ties to Martin, Thomas becomes a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse. It’s up to Martin to save Thomas and hope they can sail away on their tide of passion, where he will end up being the Prince’s groom.

What I’m talking about:

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed an M/M romance and so I jumped to purchase KT Grant’s (aka @katiebabs on Twitter) debut M/M story. The book is the second in her pirate-themed series, following The Princess’s Bride. I did not read the first book and I’m sorry that I didn’t prior to reading The Prince’s Groom.

The story begins with the wedding of Thomas’s sister, Daisy, to former pirate, Chelsey. We discover that Thomas and Martin are in the midst of an incredibly hot fling, but Thomas feels obligated to go back home and perform the duties his status as a gentleman landowner holds. He longs for Martin to come with him, but because he is an outlaw, it just won’t work.

Fast forward one year: Thomas has upheld his duties, and although he has another lover, he is lonely and misses Martin. Meanwhile, Ramona, the youngest daughter of the local sherriff, Viscount Alastair Veiga, has set her deranged sights on Thomas. She craves love along with power and prestige and thinks that Thomas loves her and will marry her.

Overall, the story is exciting, well-thought-out and sexy. I adore Martin and Thomas. Their love for one another is almost innocent and so touching. Their sex is passionate and hot! Thomas’s new lover, William, is also a well-developed side character. His ardor for his boss and friend feels sincere and his heartache true.

Ramona is a bitch and completely unstable. Her treatment of her dear, meek older sister, Julia, is outrageous and perfectly evil. She is a character you long to hate, and Ramona makes it easy to do so.

Although Ms. Grant did a fabulous job providing backstory from the first book, I felt I was missing out by not reading it first. It seems that Martin and Thomas’s beginnings were in The Princess’s Bride, and I would have appreciated reading about their first meeting, first kiss, first encounter.

I enjoyed reading The Prince’s Groom, and plan to go back and pick up The Princess’s Bride. The story is delightful and the romance hot. For those that are on the fence about an M/M story, this is a gay romance and the sex scenes are deliciously descriptive!

My Rating:

Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)

Labels: 3.5 stars, GLBT, KT Grant, m/m romance |

3 comments

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday Snippets #39

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Stormwalker by Allyson James

I rested my forehead on the table. “How did you get to be sheriff when you have PTSD?”

I knew I shouldn’t have asked such a dangerous question, but I didn’t have the energy to care.

“Because I do the job better than anyone else,” Nash answered. I believed him, somehow. “I haven’t had an episode in a year.”

“Not since Amy.”

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew I’d just blown any chance of getting out of here today. I peeled open my eyes and looked up, wincing when I saw Nash’s gray ones.

“You give up this so-called investigation and go home,” he said in a hard voice, “or I’ll bust you for fraud and expose you for the con artist you are.”

I started to answer that I had the right to live in any town I wanted to, but my stomach decided just then to punish me for the night of storm magic. I pressed my arm over my abdomen, but it didn’t help.

I staggered to my feet and made it to the trash can in the corner before my morning coffee and a gob of bile came up.

“Damn it, Begay--”

Nash’s diatribe was cut off by a deputy outside saying quickly and worriedly, “You can’t go in there.”

The door banged open, and a man shouldered his way in, shoving aside the deputy who tried to get in his way. He was six-feet-six of solid muscle in jeans, a black T-shirt, and motorcycle boots, had a silver earring dangling from one ear, and dragon tattoos snaking down both arms. His hair was black, the wild curls of it just contained in a ponytail. He had the blues eyes I’d ever seen, and I vividly recalled staring into them the night I lost my virginity.

My mouth formed the name, “Mick,” at the same time Nash rose to his feet and aimed his nine-millimeter right and Mick’s head.

“Stop.”

Nash might as well have tried to stop a freight train. Mick came on.

“I said, stop.”

Nash’s voice was ice-hard. He might have scared the hell out of insurgents in Iraq, but he didn’t know Mick. Mick ignored him, and Nash fired.

The sound exploded in my head. I screamed. The bullet hit Mick in the shoulder, and he grunted with the impact, but it barely slowed him down. He made it to me and scooped me up.

“Hey, baby,” he said, grinning. “Miss me?”

Labels: Allyson James, Stormwalker Series, Sunday Snippets |

1 comments

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas Time

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I can't believe it's almost December 25! It is true... the older you get, the faster time seems to move. Jobs, family time, holiday parties, sporting events, school activities... They all crowd up this busy time of year. When I was younger, it seemed like Christmas vacation (it was still called that way back then) lasted FOREVER! It was filled with days outside playing in the snow, trying out the new toys, just hanging out with my family, enjoying TV specials (no DVDs or OnDemand back then). I think back to that time with amazement. Then I wonder, am I providing my children with the same great memories? Or am I too busy with "stuff?" As I read my books, spend time online, run to the stores, text on my phone, am I forgetting to just slow down and spend quality time with the family?

We have one more week until vacation time begins. My goal is to slow down and give more time back to my family. I want to create magical childhood memories for my kids. And I'd love to get back a little of the magic for myself. What about you? What are your plans for the holiday season?

Labels: blogging, life |

3 comments

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cover Love

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LOOK WHAT JUST CAME IN...

Meljean Brook has released the cover for her 7th GUARDIAN SERIES book (and the 11th story in the series)... I give you Demon Marked.

Here is a little bit about the story (taken from Meljean's website):

Recently escaped from a mental hospital where she spent the past two years, Ash is searching for answers, trying to discover who she is…and what she’s become. Tattoos mark her skin – which is sometimes crimson. Her eyes glow when she’s angry. And icy fear is a constant companion, along with a desperation she doesn’t understand, and a torturous pain that she can barely remember. Fueled by vague memories and newspaper reports, she searches for Nicholas St. Croix – a man who, five years ago, was suspected to have murdered a human woman…who looks exactly like Ash.

Nicholas St. Croix doesn’t know if he can trust the demon wearing the face of the woman he once loved – but if he wants to find out, he’ll have to keep her alive. Because the past is catching up to Nicholas, in the form of a demon commanded by Lucifer himself to sacrifice Ash and open a gateway to Hell. Protecting her means that Nicholas will find himself irrevocably changed, body and soul – and unaware that if he saves Ash’s life, Nicholas might be eternally damning the only woman he’s loved…

So awesome!! I love the colors and the tattoos rock! This is one of my absolutely favorite series and I cannot wait for the release of Demon Marked in August 2011 (*sobs* that's such a long wait!). For more about the Guardian Series, please visit Meljean's website HERE.

Labels: Cover Love, Guardian Series, Meljean Brook |

4 comments

Review: Size Matters

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Size Matters

Author: Stephanie Julian

Release Date: available now

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

ISBN: #9781419930294

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): e-book (novella length)

I received a copy of this book from the author for the purposes of an honest review.

From the author’s website:

Carrie Benton's got the best job in the world working as a reporter for the Weekly News Journal. Chupacabra picnicking at the Jersey shore? Check. Aliens in the White House? Absolutely. Bigfoot stalking the forests of northern Pennsylvania? Well, okay... but Bigfoot is so Left Coast.

Tim Sattazahn can't believe his luck. The six-foot redhead who crashed into his forest during a snowstorm is gorgeous, funny and hot for him. Everything would be perfect except for the fact that she's looking for Bigfoot.

And, unfortunately for Tim, she's found him...

What I’m talking about:

Carrie Benton doesn’t believe any of the stories that her paper, The Weekly News, prints. But she’s happy to put her reporting skills and her talent for making anything sound believable to good use as a writer. In order to follow up on a prime story, Carrie heads out to the woods in snow storm to grab some photos for a Bigfoot sighting.

After crashing her car, Carrie heads into the unknown in hopes of finding some help. Little does she know that she’s being watched by tall, dark and sexy, Tim - who is the only person living out there for miles. When Carrie passes out, Tim makes his move and rescues her - taking her back to his home for recovery. After Carrie wakes, the two hit it off spectacularly, and both realize that there may be more to their relationship than just hot sex.

I really enjoyed this novella from Ms. Julian. It’s a quick read full of fun and smokin’ romance. The mythology is very original - I can’t say that I’ve ever read a “Bigfoot romance” before. As corny as it may sound, the story is actually very smart and well written. I enjoyed the pop-culture references (especially since I’m a sci-fi geek) and the thoughtful dialogue between Carrie and Tim.

Although it’s a shorten-length story, the characters are well-developed and interesting. Carrie is an independent woman that can think on her own and has sex because she likes it. The romance is not based on the stars alining or any magicks, just a strong woman that wants a big man. The paranormal is present - Bigfoot, Yeti and a Fae - but it doesn’t dominate the story, giving a entertaining twist on a hot little tryst!

My Rating:

Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Labels: 4 stars, Lovers on the Fringe, paranormal romance, reviews, Stephanie Julian |

6 comments

Monday, December 13, 2010

Falling Behind

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BEHIND.

I hate feeling like this. I don't like it when I can't maintain my carefully planned schedules. I hate when clutter infiltrates my life. I feel overwhelmed when I have so much on my to do list that I need a separate list just to keep track of what isn't yet on my to do list.

It's not even that I'm overly busy, but sometimes life just gets in the way of best intentions.

I have worked hard in the past 11 months to create a blog of which I am really proud. I have enjoyed the ups and downs, the growing pains and the successes. I've read countless new books, discovered several new authors, and found numerous new bloggers and tweeps, many of which I am happy to call friend.

Lately, I have fallen behind in my reading and blogging. I can blame work - I've had to put in an extra day each week for the past month (my only day I have off to myself). I can blame family - I'm a wife and a mom of two young monsters, and we have a busy schedule. I can blame the holidays - Thanksgiving, time off from school, Christmas, parties, shopping, cards, etc.

But the bottom line is that although all of those factors contribute to the craziness in my life, I realize that sometimes I just need a "time out." Even though I enjoy reading, I found lately that I prefer to be visiting with friends and socializing rather than reading, and I only have so many hours in the day. However, my wonderful little blog is being a bit neglected. For that, I am a sad.

I apologize to my wonderful readers that come to me for reviews, opinions, interviews and book talk. I hope that after the holidays are over I will be back up to speed and putting out 2 or so reviews per week. I know you all have big hearts and hopefully will stick with me as I try to figure out a happy medium in my life.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Labels: blogging, life |

9 comments | Links to this post

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday Snippets #38

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Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

The Founder sighed and sat back in her chair, and it seemed to Claire as if she became a different person. One who was irritated and unhappy and sad. Hannah and Richard sat down, too. After a moment, Amelie continued. “Claire, this is a very unfortunate situation. You know that don’t you?”

Claire nodded, thinking, It’s really damn unfortunate for me. But she didn’t say it.

“Having just harshly sentenced Kyle, I can now afford to show leniency toward you. There are mitigating factors -- you were definitely acting in defense of your own life, and all of the witness statements support it. The vampire you staked was known to be extraordinarily violent, and we have been considering for some time what to do to restrain her appetites; you have removed this problem for me, and although I can’t be seen to celebrate this, I must acknowledge that you did me a service in this matter. Again.”

Amelie’s long white fingers tapped the table in a little dry clicking rhythm, and her eyes went half-closed as she stared at Claire. Finally, she looked to Richard Morrell. “What say you?”

“She acted in self-defense. Its unusual, but there are plenty of precedents -- I did it myself once, and you found that what I did was justified. I don’t support any kind of punishment for her.”

Amelie looked at him for several long beats after he’d finished, and neither of them blinked. She turned her attention to Hannah. “And you?”

“Not guilty,” Hannah said. “You changed the rules in Morganville. You gave humans rights to defend themselves, even if it cost vampire lives. Claire was within the law to do what she did, and she saved her own life and the lives of at least some of the people in that room.”

Amelie closed her eyes for a moment, and said, “I’d have preferred you to use nonlethal methods in your heroic defense, but I cannot deny that there is right on your side. On mine, there is only tradition, but tradition is a very powerful force to vampires. It will be quite difficult to convince them that you shouldn’t join young Kyle in the cage. Oliver already cast his vote. I will be obliged to overrule him.”

Labels: Morganville Vampires, Rachel Caine, Sunday Snippets |

1 comments