That's What I'm Talking About...

Blogiversary

2012-01-28T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for making these past two years great! Today is my 2 year BLOGIVERSARY, and I am excited about all the good times we’ve had. I look forward to another year of reviews, book talk, author interviews, giveaways and fun!

I blog because I enjoy reading and sharing my love of books with others, but it’s each of you who stops by and leaves a comment, those that enter the contests, readers that tell me they buy a book because of my reviews... you all make it that much more special.

Thank you to you all!

Happy Reading!

Review: Seducing Liberty

2012-01-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

Seducing Liberty

Author: D.L. Jackson

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2011

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

One Night Stand Series

ISBN: #978-1613331521

Genre: Erotic Romance, time travel, historical/contemporary

Format(s): e-book (12k wds.)

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Out of the mists of time, rides a story of espionage, love, and a 1Night Stand.

When Ryann Summers, an actress playing the role of Lady Liberty, an Agent in Washington’s Culper spy ring, asks Madame Eve of 1Night Stand for a date, a night she’ll never forget—where her identity is kept secret—she gets more than she bargained for.

Now she’s caught in the middle of the American Revolution and between two of the sexiest men she’s ever set eyes on. If she can survive the musketballs and the invading British forces, she just might find everything she’s been searching for—sex hot enough to set the sea on fire.

What B is talking about:

Seducing Liberty begins with a history lesson, and Jackson has clearly done her homework. One of the most well kept secrets of the Revolutionary War was the Culper Spy Ring, which operated in New York for General George Washington. Underneath the big clashes and key players in the war, these men and women fought another, equally perilous, battle for information that could be used against the British.

Madelyn Summers, recently betrothed and the daughter of a staunch British loyalist, refuses to accept her fate as a “brood mare,” and instead decides to help the rebels by passing them any military secrets she overhears. With tempting curves and a figure described as “lush,” Madelyn would be a dream come true for any man of the day. If only she weren’t so willful, of course. But a series of mishaps soon reveals that she’s not the only spy under her father’s roof.

The story then shifts to New Hampshire in the year 2011. Ryann Summers is a well-known movie actress portraying a Revolutionary spy. Unfortunately, being a star with curves in an age when chivalry seems dead isn’t pleasant, especially when working with two hot, but unavailable costars has given her a hunger for a ménage a trois.

From here on, Jackson tosses the rules out the window. Ryann thinks what she wants is impossible, given her status as an A-list actress. Luckily for her, with Madame Eve and her 1 Night Stand dating service, anything is possible. Ryann takes the reader through two more time shifts and a lot of sexy improbability before her story’s through.

Despite the engrossing beginning (I happily ignored other obligations to spend several hours researching Jackson’s historical details), the abrupt change to modern times and what follows is a bit jarring. The formal, partial authenticity of the first part of the story isn’t present in the second, and the adjustment took a little while. Soon enough, though, it became easier to just read along and let the story go where it would. There are a few highly amusing passages, especially when the very modern Ryann finds herself in the middle of Madelyn’s escape.

In the end, Seducing Liberty was a lot of fun to read. As with all the 1 Night Stand stories I’ve read so far, Ryann gets her wish and then some. As one of the stories in the series that isn’t about weres or other paranormal creatures it has a lot to offer. The sex scenes are relatively short, but oh so hot, and with the suggestion that the fun may not be limited to just one night after all, Jackson ends her tale on a very happy note.

B’s Rating:

Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)

Purchase Info:

Seducing Liberty (1 Night Stand Series)

Quickie Review: Magic Gifts

2012-01-27T04:00:00.000-05:00

Magic Gifts

Author: Ilona Andrews

Release Date: Dec. 25, 2011

Publisher: n/a

Kate Daniels #5.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy, novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Author (A free ebook as a gift to her fans – only available for 2 weeks on her website)

NOTE: this story will be included as an extra in the upcoming Gunmetal Magic.

About the book:

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extreme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

What Una is talking about:

Magic Gifts is a wonderful present for Ilona Andrews’ fans. It is a delightful tale that takes place during the next, highly anticipated novel, Gunmetal Magic: Andrea’s story. If you haven’t read the series, the story will be neither as magical, nor witty and wonderful as if you have. I seriously suggest you take up this series. Ilona Andrews is a must-read author for me. The Kate Daniels series is phenomenal and, as soon as I am able, I’m tying Gikany down so she has to read it.

In Magic Gifts, we get to glimpse behind the scenes as our beloved couple Kate and Curran try to have a date night that goes horribly, horribly wrong. Their give-and-take, witty banter, and the intricate adventure they go on are fundamentally Kate and Curran. Long-time fans also get a glimpse into what is happening with Andrea, which is set-up for the next book.

The series is a must read. This story is a must read for Kate and Curran fans – but be warned, as poor Ms. Andrews has talked about on her blog, it is a self-published story and therefore should be treated as an advanced reader copy. There are a few grammatical blips, but you should have NO trouble following along since you just KNOW what she is talking about! Yes folks, she (well, they, it’s a husband and wife writing team) is just awesome!

Una’s Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Review: Flashfire

2012-01-26T04:00:00.000-05:00

Flashfire

Author: Deborah Cooke

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: NAL

Dragonfire #7

ISBN: #978-0451235473

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Paperback (396 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Master illusionist Lorenzo wants nothing to do with the Pyr. His dragon nature is just another secret to hide and another detail to juggle, like ensuring that each of his Las Vegas magic shows is a true spectacle. Until he feels the burn of his firestorm and his whole world shifts....

Cassie Redmond is tired of photographing celebrities. She wants to pursue her dream of serious photography—despite the lucrative offer for a shot of a dragon shifter. Las Vegas is the last place she wants to be, but Lorenzo arouses more than her curiosity when he shifts shape as the finale of his show. Instead of forcing him to reveal his secrets, Cassie gets swept away by this illusionist’s masterful touch.

Lorenzo wants to satisfy the firestorm and put it behind him. But Cassie is hard to forget—and he can’t ignore the danger when Slayers target the mate Lorenzo didn’t believe he wanted....

What G & U are talking about:

Flashfire is the seventh novel in the Dragonfire novels. The young adult series, The Dragon Diaries (reviews for Flying Blind here and Winging It here) is a spinoff of this series. Gikany and Una have read the two Dragon Diaries novels but have not read the main series it stemmed from. We jumped in and started with Flashfire and although you can tell you are missing some back-stories, you can jump in at this point. Understanding the overall mythology from our reading of the young adult series helped us fill in some of what we had missed by jumping into the middle of the series.

The beginning of Flashfire was a little slow and clunky but we think that is all due to the fact that we jumped in. The novel makes many references to past events and although it makes the reading a little slower, it did not detract from our overall enjoyment. The world and mythology are very intriguing and we enjoyed the interplay of dragon politics. The events we read about in the Dragonfire series take place years prior to the Dragon Diaries. So it is amusing to already have an idea what will happen since some of the characters we are reading about are the parents of Zoë’s dragon buddies.

Now to the yummy part, Lorenzo is hot. The chemistry between Cassie and him steamed off the pages. We enjoyed the interplay between them and their struggles. The pacing for the story was well done and nothing about their story felt rushed or too much. They are both very strong-willed individuals and independent so watching them dance around each other, as they come to compromise enriched the story greatly.

If you haven’t read the Dragonfire series, you might want to give it a shot. We enjoyed the mythology and world that Ms. Cooke has created and we also recommend her spin-off series, Dragon Diaries. Feel free to jump in with Flashfire; it is fun. However, if you want to have a better connection to the characters, start from the beginning. Either way, how can you go wrong with hot dragon shape-shifters?!

Their Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Flashfire: A Dragonfire Novel

Review: The Departed

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-05:00

The Departed

Author: Shiloh Walker

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: Berkley Trade

FBI Psychics Book 2

ISBN: #978-0425245217

Genre: Suspense Romance

Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

A LIFELONG OBSESSION

FBI Special Agent Taylor Jones has made it his mission to save those in harm’s way by any means necessary—including employing psychic agents like Desiree “Dez” Lincoln, who can communicate with the disembodied spirits of the dead. Taylor is haunted by his own ghost, his kid sister, gone missing at age six. For a quarter of a century he has been tortured by her loss and the mystery of her disappearance.

A NIGHT’S INDISCRETION

When Dez is seriously wounded, Taylor can no longer hide his feelings for her. Getting involved could spell disaster for both of them—not to mention those who rely on them for help—but once Dez lays her hands on him, he can’t resist the fierce attraction. But after giving in to his desires, Taylor pulls back, and Dez strikes out on her own.

AN INESCAPABLE PASSION

Responding to the call of another anguished spirit, Dez is led to Taylor’s old hometown. As the two are forced to come together to save a girl in peril, Dez may be able to help Taylor finally find the answers he’s been looking for…

What I’m talking about:

When Dez Lincoln is seriously injured while saving a child from a horrible predator, her boss, Taylor Jones cannot get the gruesome images out of his mind. Although he is as cold as they come, inside Taylor is a wreck - trying to control a situation that is beyond his reach. The fear of losing Dez pushes Taylor to act out his inner-most desires and makes Dez’s fantasies come true. Until the next day... When Taylor does the unthinkable and orders Dez on a mandatory leave of absence. Dez knows that he’s doing it to put distance between the two so Taylor can rebuild his walls. But Dez isn’t going to take it and walks.

Fast forward fourteen months. Dez is working free-lance and overwhelmed with the spirits of those that have passed. Taylor is making his annual visit home to pay tribute to his baby sister, who was abducted when she was six. Both individuals are near their breaking points when they find each other again. Now they have to work together to unscramble cryptic clues left by the ghosts of French Lick, Indiana before someone else is murdered.

The Departed is a gripping, suspenseful story. I was immediately drawn in by Ms. Walker’s talented storytelling and could not put the book down until the very last stone was turned. There were several twists and turns, but never did the volume of clues or characters become overwhelming. Nothing felt contrived. I was guessing what would come next, who was behind what, and how the story would be resolved though out the story.

Although this story is about solving a series of crimes, there is much more at stake than the lives of the citizens of French Lick. At the heart of this story is the fragile existence of two fiercely independent and strong individuals. Both Dez and Taylor are flawed, and doing the best that they can, even when confronted with horrible situations. Both are close to the end of their respective ropes, and in Taylor’s case, maybe even close to taking his own life.

Dez and Taylor fit together perfectly. Ms. Walker creates a couple that needed each other, but were not needy. They are able to get past the rough edges (and there are a lot) to find a way to heal and be whole. They complement one another so well. I was cheering whole-heartedly for Dez and Taylor, and they held my heart in their hands. I cheered their successes and I shed tears in their pain. I love a story that can evoke a wide range of emotions within me.

Although this book is the second in the FBI Psychics Series, I did not read the first, and it is not necessary. This book can be read and appreciated as a stand alone. However, after enjoying this book so very much, I’m adding more of Ms. Walker’s books to my wish list. The Departed has that perfect mix of spectacular plot line, engaging characters and a wide-ranging emotional impact.

My Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

The Departed

Review: Onyx Moon

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

Onyx Moon

Author: Ann Mayburn

Release Date: Nov. 21, 2011

Publisher: Decadent

Prides of the Moon #4

ISBN: #978-1613331644

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotica, Novella, GLBT

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Marcus Galin has searched the world for a very special kind of werepuma, a Beta who has also been blessed by the Goddess as a shaman. His prayers are finally answered when Madame Eve of the 1 Night Stand matchmaking service arranges for him to meet a man in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica that fits his requirements. Only problem is that Marcus is terrified of magic and doesn't know if he can overcome his fear enough to open his heart to a stranger that his pride and his heart desperately need.

Vashan Dulphin has spent all of his life as an outcast among his people. By a twist of fate and gentics at puberty he became a werejaguar much to his family and pride's disgust. Since then he has lived in solitude among his people, barely tolerated only because of his power as both a Beta and a shaman. Desperate for a chance to find a home where he will be loved, he calls on the aid of Madame Eve who sends him Marcus.

Together the men will have to overcome their fear and self-doubt for a one in a million chance at love.

What B is talking about:

As the alpha werepuma destined to take over his pack, Onyx Moon, Marcus is already shouldering much of the responsibility he owes his people. We first met Marcus at the end of Turquoise Moon, the third story in the series, while he was under the spell of the magically-aided, but crazed, Stephen, who was pursuing Kara as she tried to bond with her true mates. Marcus’ own pack has been without a shaman for too long, and it’s his duty to find one young and strong enough to protect the pride. The new shaman must also be a beta who will bond with Marcus, so that there can be no doubt as to the spiritual guide’s motives and loyalty. That alone is no small task, but combine it with Marcus’ fear of magic, and it seems impossible.

Vashan has his share of problems, too. Being the only werejaguar in his insular pack has been a burden; one that’s nearly become too much to carry. If it weren’t for his powers as a shaman, his pride would have killed him long ago. Now, he wants to find a new home where he’ll be welcome, and someone who’ll love him for who he is. Luckily, and at the urging of Madame Eve from the 1 Night Stand dating service, he decides to give Marcus a chance. While I enjoyed reading each male’s perspective throughout the story, it is Vashan’s that tugged most strongly at my heart.

Mayburn gives Marcus and Vashan a lot of obstacles and poor odds on the path to becoming mates, as she’s done with most of her characters that I’ve read to date, but it’s a contrivance that works well in the Prides of the Moon series. Thanks to their inner animals, these shifters recognize a potential mate on sight, and the reaction is instantaneous and thoroughly sexual.

These two shifters are a very good fit for one another, even from their erotically charged initial meeting. Marcus’ puma is immediately drawn to Vashan, his need to claim and mark the shaman a jolt of pure, sexy goodness that grows quickly as they begin the “mating games” that will bond them to one another forever. The bonding process is an incredibly sensual one; each man’s perspective melding with the other’s as they give themselves fully to their mating.

The Prides of the Moon stories are satisfying reads on their own, but I recommend reading the series in order. Each chronicle leads directly to the next by either a single character or a pair, and having all the details from the previous tale increased my sense of familiarity and overall enjoyment as the story progressed. Marcus and Vashan are generous and loving, and utterly sexy as they work their way towards the love and happiness they crave; and I have no doubt that whatever Mayburn has in store for her cats next will be just as satisfying.

B’s Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Amber Moon, Book 1
Emerald Moon, Book 2
Turquoise Moon, Book 3
Onyx Moon, Book 4

Review: The Fallen Queen

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

The Fallen Queen

Author: Jane Kindred

Release Date: Dec. 6, 2011

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

The House of Arkhangel'sk, #1

ISBN: 978-1937044534

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): e-book, paperback.

Book Source: NetGalley

About the book:

Heaven can go to hell.

Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia’s father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel’sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.

Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves—fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda—who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.

Heaven seems a distant dream, but when Anazakia learns the truth behind the celestial coup, she will have to return to fight for the throne—even if it means saving the man who murdered everyone she loved.

What VampBard’s talking about:

The Fallen Queen is the first book in Ms. Kindred's series, of which I can already tell that I'm going to be a HUGE fan. My initial reaction, at 20% of the book read, was: This is like Dune (Herbert) meets Singh's Guild Hunters! What a win-win for me!

The beginning of The Fallen Queen revealed a bit of history, as well as Anazakia doing her best to 'test the limits' regarding the rules of her station, as an heir to the throne of Arkhangel'sk. Kindred did a phenomenal job of setting-up her world. What can only be described as a coup, masterminded by the Evil Queen, as I came to call her, left Anazakia the only surviving heir...and only because she was acting 'slightly' outside the expected societal norm. Luckily, Anazakia's Nurse/confidante/governess (whatever you want to call her...) knew about Anazakia's penchant for livin' on the edge, found her with a necessary item, and paid a demon to keep her hidden. Really enjoyed the Russian language, as well.

As we get further into the story, it becomes painfully obvious that Anazakia is someone important, and there are those that are willing to 'obtain' her. It seems that it's not simply her station that creates her importance. Unfortunately, one of her 'captors' was injured, although she was able to assist with his rapid healing...to a certain point, and concurrently learned about her own powers in the world of Man. Anazakia also learned a secret from those 'Unseen' when she leaves the hotel because Vasily and Belphagor were engaging in act with which she was unfamiliar. MMMmmmhhmmm... a little M/M tossed into the mix. It's interesting watching the tension between Vasily and Belphagor, as well. But wait! Vasily isn't only into Belphagor! A twisted (in a good way!) love triangle develops, increasing the already intense tension between our three main characters.

Tensions rise as Belphagor does something totally out of character...he's selfless. In order to protect Anazakia and Vasily, Belphagor leaves to find a way to get the reigning queen to give him an audience. Long story short, Belphagor gets the audience, and fails to leave for an extended period of time. Hatin' on the Queen. She's the resident baddie, and we're supposed to hate her. We all know someone like her – self-centered and self-serving.

I could tell, at the end of the title, that other titles are planned for this storyline, as there really wasn't much resolution, nor a concrete HEA. Usually, that bugs me, but it didn't this time. For me, even a series needs to provide some significant resolution at the conclusion of each title. Personal preference, and the only thing keeping me from giving this title the highest rating.

This was a very nice paranormal romance, light on the romance, heavy on the action in the final third of the story. I enjoyed the way The Fallen Queen was written. The languages used were quite appropriate, and added a lot to the story for me. Ms. Kindred surely has created a beautiful world, and I look forward to reading future installments of her House of Arkhangel'sk series.

VampBard’s Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

The Fallen Queen (The House of Arkhangel'sk, #1)

Review: Heart's Sentinel

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Heart’s Sentinel

Author: PJ Schnyder

Release Date: Jan 5, 2011

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Terra’s Guardians #1

ISBN: #978-1936394425

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Paperback (200 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Born human, Mackenzie never wanted to be a shapeshifter. After a shifter stalks and brutally Changes her, she runs to the jaguars of River Gap pride for protection from the stalker still searching for her, to come to terms with the attack and learn to control her new, powerful cougar body. Adam, a River Gap Sentinel, is assigned as her guard and mentor. Well aware of his strength and how new she is the shapeshifter world, he holds himself back from the flames of primal desire she ignites. But, to survive the stalker, they both need to first battle their pasts and learn what it truly means to be the sentinels of each other’s hearts.

What G & U are talking about:

Heart’s Sentinel is the first book in the Terra’s Guardians series and was a great read. Gikany and Una can see some similarities to a couple other series they enjoy, but there are enough differences to make this world of shifters and alien hunters intriguing and fascinating.

We felt there was a small homage to Lora Leigh’s Breeds and Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changling, but when it comes down to it; Heart’s Sentinel is its own world and incredibly tempting. These shifters are a bit more akin to the wild nature of animals and yet they are balanced by their human half. The dance between Adam and his mate Mac, was rich, tantalizing and when they finally came together, sizzling hot! We enjoyed the dance that progressed between them. The pacing and momentum were well done.

The mystery and hunting of Mac’s shapeshifter-stalker was also quite gripping. It was incredibly difficult to put down; thankfully we had the ebook version. Una found herself trying to catch red lights and long lines so she could keep reading. The world-building that takes place (as usual in a first book of a series) was woven well into the storyline. The way the pack acts and works was really heart-warming as they come together to protect a woman, changed against her will, trying to learn to live in this new, strange and difficult chapter of her life. However, considering she gets Adam….well, there should be SOME benefit!

As we did a bit of research for our blog review, we have discovered another story in the Terra’s Guardians series, Red’s Wolf. It is considered book two, however it is a novella. We have gone ahead and downloaded it so we can enjoy! Gikany and Una encourage you to go out and either download this ebook or order the paperback version (both covers are quite yummy)!

Their Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

Heart's Sentinel
Red's Wolf

AAD Author Spotlight: PJ Schnyder

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers! Today I bring you sci-fi and paranormal author PJ Schnyder. Born and raised in the North East, PJ spent her childhood pretending to study for the SATs by reading every fantasy and sci-fi novel she could borrow from the local and school libraries. She scored fairly high in the verbal portion.

She was introduced to the wonderful world of romance a decade later by her best friend at an anime convention in Seattle.

She now lives somewhere temperate watching the seasons go by with her two dogs and super stealthy ninja kitty, writing her stories.

PJ is represented by Louise Fury of the L. Perkins Agency.

PJ is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.

Please help me welcome PJ to That’s What I’m Talking About. Take it away PJ...

The zombies...are coming!

Last fall I took a break from writing paranormal and sci-fi romance when author/photographer/game designer J.R. Blackwell invited me to contribute to an incredibly fun project. She designed a role playing game called Shelter in Place, a live action game of zombie horror in which players take on the role of Zombies or Humans as they play out the events of a zombie apocalypse. To celebrate the release of the game, she was editing a sister anthology to the game called Gimme Shelter.

For her anthology, I wandered about the streets of Seattle idly mulling over what I'd do if attacked by zombies. The closest I'd come to thinking about it before had been playing Plants vs. Zombies on my iPad. And yet, writing a story on gardening and tower defense didn't seem to take off in my brain at the time.

Zombies were new for me. Flash fic was too. I wanted to write something different for J.R.

Remember My Name took form in a coffee shop on 1st Ave just a few blocks from Union Street next to three french presses full of gourmet coffee.

Here's a snippet chosen by the editor:

Damn Recon Marines. If they’d stuck to the original route, they never would’ve been cut off from the transport ship in the first place. The tiny alley didn’t present enough escape routes and I’d have my hands full providing the support they needed to make it the rest of the way to the waterfront.

You can purchase Gimme Shelter (Galileo Publishing January 15, 2012) in eBook format here:

Galileo Games

Amazon

You can purchase Gimme Shelter in Print format here:

Galileo Games – Lulu

Thank you, Jen, for having me as a guest. :)

~ PJ Schnyder

Visit PJ on her blog: http://pjschnyder.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pjschnyder

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pjschnyder

Be sure to stop by later today for Gikany and Una's review of Heart's Sentinel by PJ Schnyder.

Contest Winners - January Book Giveaway

2012-01-21T07:53:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the January Book Giveaway. A special thanks goes out to my new and continuing Google Connect Followers. I hope you are all staying warm and enjoy snow (or the lack there of)!

Every person that commented was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winners were selected using random.org.

The Winners:

Set #1

JoAnna

Set #2

asiamorela

Set #3

erin

Set #4

kimmyl

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I am sending the winners an email to contact me with their full name and mailing address. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your information so I can send you the books. You have until Wednesday January 25, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Review: The Bitter Seed of Magic

2012-01-20T06:54:00.001-05:00

The Bitter Seed of Magic

Author: Suzanne McLeod

Release Date: Dec. 27, 2011

Publisher: Ace

Spellcrackers #3

ISBN: #978-1937007201

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format(s): Paperback (357 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

On the surface, Genny's life seems ripple-free right now. Finn, her sexy boss and -- well, Genny's not sure what else she wants him to be -- has stopped pushing for a decision on their relationship. The seductive vampire Malik al-Khan has vanished back into the shadows. And the witches have declared her no longer a threat. But unless Genny can find a way to break the fertility curse afflicting London's fae, she knows this is just the lull before the magical storm.

Then a faeling -- a teenage girl -- is fished out of the River Thames, dead and bound with magic, and Genny is called into investigate. As she digs through the clues, her search takes a sinister and dangerous turn, exposing age-old secrets that might be better left buried. Then another faeling disappears, and Genny finds herself in a race against time to save the faeling and stop the curse from claiming its next victim -- herself!

What G & U are talking about:

The Bitter Seed of Magic is the third installment in the Spellcrackers novels. As usual, Genny is up to her eyeballs in fae issues, curse issues, vampire issues and all important relationship issues. By the end of this novel it seems everything is resolved. Almost.

This is a difficult review to write. Now that we have read two of these books, one of our main issues with these novels is something that seems to be characteristic of the author’s writing style. The first half of The Bitter Seed of Magic is slow…Genny agonizes about past events and continues to be torn about on-going issues (see the list above). However, as the murder mystery develops, the last half is gripping and exciting. The ending is so sudden that it feels like “poof” here’s the ending. The build-up to the end is too long and the ending is more summarized than experienced by the reader.

Genny is an interesting character. She tries to be very independent and strong but she isn’t…and she can be incredibly dense at times. It was very refreshing to watch her ask and plan for help in this novel. She didn’t try to do it all herself. She was much more open and worked well with others. This brought us to a somewhat abrupt and information rich ending, but it did resolve the curse issue.

What really kept us reading The Bitter Seed of Magic were the on-going issues between her, Malik and Finn. And because we just are too curious for our own good, we’ll read the next one. We also enjoyed the fact that the novel is written with British slang and terms. It is just fascinating to hear in one’s head when reading. The mythology continues to be interesting, especially how the paranormal world blends with the mundane one. The supporting characters are funny and captivating. The fae and vampire politics add an entrancing element to the novel. According to Ms. McLeod’s website, the fourth book, The Shifting Price of Prey is due out in June in the UK.

Their Rating:

Liked it, but we had some issues - recommend (B)

Books in the Series:

The Sweet Scent of Blood (Spellcrackers 1)

The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2)

The Bitter Seed of Magic (Spellcrackers 3)

Contest Winner - Missing In Paradise

2012-01-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the “pickled” guest post by Authors After Dark 2012 feature author Tilly Greene. I also want to thank Tilly for stopping by and for graciously donating an e-copy of Missing In Paradise for the giveaway.

Every person that commented on the post or review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.

The Winner:

Una

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I need the winner to please send me an email at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your name. I will forward your email to the author, who will send you the book. You have until Tuesday January 24, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Review: Dreaming Awake

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-05:00

Dreaming Awake

Author: Gwen Hayes

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: NAL

Falling Under #2

ISBN: #978-0451235541

Genre: YA Paranormal

Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nighttime realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

What B is talking about:

One week after her return from Under, Theia is trying to rejoin her old life again, but she’s not the human girl she was before. After her blood oath with the nightmare queen, Mara, she finds she’s changing more every day. But what is it, exactly, that she’s turning into? With a growing hunger she can’t fully control, a list of questions that keeps getting longer, and dark desires that grow more difficult to resist by the day, Theia is terrified of what she may become.

Theia and Hayden are still undeniably perfect for one another, but after the resistance they both cling to in the first novel of the series, Falling Under, their continuing dance of self-denial is almost too much. Theia wants to give herself to Hayden thoroughly and eternally, but if he takes what she’s offering, he’ll not only ruin himself, but the sacrifice of her own humanity to save him will mean nothing. If they refuse to accept their mutual desire, they’ll fall apart anyway. Each is determined to sacrifice everything to save the other. It’s a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” and while I thought it was sweet, after a while it became difficult to maintain a consistently high level of investment in their story.

I particularly enjoyed Theia’s friends in Dreaming Awake. They steal the spotlight several times throughout the novel, in particular Donny and her “sneetch” (popular) boyfriend, Gabe, and most especially Varnie, alongside his crush, Amelia. As they are Theia’s best friends, Donny and Amelia get their own first-person interlude in Under, as does Hayden. The shift between worlds, set off by a somber page of ghostly gray roses at the beginning and end proclaiming, respectively, “up is still down,” and “down is up again,” is a device that worked well in Falling Under, and is repeated fairly successfully here.

Theia tries to fight her battles alone by withholding information from her friends, and pushing Hayden away, all in the name of trying to save them. In the end, however, her self-imposed isolation turns out to be her biggest weakness. Hayes does an admirable job of empowering the central group of teens, however, and literally drops them into their worst nightmares, while doling out substantial pain and loss as they struggle their way through.

Dreaming Awake stands fairly well on its own, and is an enjoyable novel overall. However, I believe that reading the first novel is key to appreciating the beautiful horror of Under as Theia sees it. Some of the inhabitants and features of the nightmare realm are truly hideous, but without the detail provided in the first book, it’s easy to reduce them to merely being shockingly gory, rather than chillingly grotesque. While I wouldn’t recommend this novel to anyone under the age of fifteen, I think young adults in their mid- to late teens (and older YA fans) will find this a worthy continuation of the series.

B’s Rating:

Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)

Books in the Series:

Falling Under (Falling Under #1)
Dreaming Awake (Falling Under #2)

Review: Bride By Mistake

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-05:00

Bride By Mistake

Author: Anne Gracie

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

The Devil Riders #5

ISBN: #978-0425245798

Genre: Regency, Historical Romance

Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Eight years ago, Lieutenant Luke Ripton made a hasty wartime marriage-in-name-only to protect a young girl from a forced union and left her protected in a remote mountain convent. Now, Luke is Lord Ripton, but he has been unable to obtain an annulment. Which leaves him no choice but to collect a wife he doesn’t want.

For nearly a decade, Isabella has waited like a princess locked in a tower, dreaming of her handsome, dark-eyed prince. Her dreams are shattered when Luke reveals himself not as a prince, but an autocratic soldier, expecting her unquestioning obedience, which is something Isabella’s fiercely independent nature will not tolerate.

And while Luke and Isabella’s fiery personalities clash at every turn, they remain bound to their vows, ever expecting that the passionate fury they share could become passion of a different kind…

What Nima’s talking about:

When I saw the title of Anne Gracie’s Bride By Mistake, I have to admit that my first thought was of Deeanne Gist’s 2005 novel, A Bride Most Begrudging. Gist’s book is very loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” Bride By Mistake does deal with issues of respect, obedience, and submissiveness, but bears no other resemblance to the earlier novel.

The Devil Riders series follows four of five best friends, Gabe, Harry, Rafe, Michael, and Luke, labeled in school as, “Wellington’s Angels or his Devil Riders, depending on who you talk to.” Bride by Mistake is the fifth installment and follows the last hold-out, the most haunted by his experience during England’s war with France. This is Luke’s story of recovery, redemption, and true love. The action in Luke’s story takes place almost exclusively in Spain with virtually no interaction between him and his friends back in England so it stands alone very nicely if you haven’t read the previous books.

Gracie’s novel splits the narration, vocal and internal, between Lieutenant, newly titled Lord, Luke Ripton and Spanish heiress Isabella Mercedes Sanchez y Vaillant Ripton. Luke begins the book as a haunted bad boy, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, with the secret heart of a gentleman--always duty-bound to do the right thing and protect the innocent. You just want to spank him, send him to bed…and then join him. Isabella has a fiery Spanish temper, but is duty-bound to her own priorities as well. Sparks fly between them when the pair’s priorities are in completely different directions and on opposing time-tables. They must consciously choose to split up, or come together and make it work.

I sat down “just to start” the Regency period historical romance and was over 100 pages in before I came out of my “book trance.” The movie played completely effortlessly in my head in full color with casting, costuming, and sets. (U.S. soccer player Carlos Bocanegra would do exceptionally well as Lord Ripton and wouldn’t you just love to see him in formalwear?) The action is quick paced and moves you quickly along, including the love scenes which are not crudely explicit or drawn out. Instead the story opts to focus on building the emotional intimacy between Luke and Bella. Likewise, the focus on relationships in the book pushes out most of what another author might have expanded into intense action scenes. Instead, Bride By Accident reads, very happily, like an Andrew Davies screenplay. There are tense moments, but very little bloodshed.

Luke’s change of complete disinterest in Bella to lusty attraction happened, perhaps, a little too quickly for me. Then again, lust tends to strike much quicker than love and respect. Those come with time and observation which the couple has in spades when Bella takes off after her father’s jewels and Luke’s sense of honor compels him to follow.

I also have to take some minor points off for a couple of unnecessary repetitions and a personal pet peeve, secret-keeping. I believe in foreshadowing. I believe in the right of characters to keep their own secrets. I have an issue with characters who tell us they have a secret and then hold it back solely for the sake of controlled story pacing. It’s a practice that feels forced to me, not a natural flow of the plot.

Overall, the book was an excellent read. There is a certain novel satisfaction in having a couple start the book already married. We know they’re supposed to be together, not just hope it. Bella makes the declaration, “Luke, however it happened, mistake or not, I made sacred vows to love you and honor you and I promise you I will never ever break them.” Awwww…. *contented sigh* With that security, watching their love build and grow is a delight, not a predictable or boring premise at all as it might have been in the hands of a less skilled author.

Nima’s Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Bride by Mistake

Review: Darker After Midnight

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-05:00

Darker After Midnight

Author: Lara Adrian

Release Date: Jan. 24, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Midnight Breed #10

ISBN: #978-0345530875

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Hardcover (384 pgs), e-book, audio

Book Source: Author

About the book:

In the dark of night, a blood war escalates within the hidden world of the Breed. After existing in secret for many long centuries, maintaining a fragile peace with the humans who walk beside them unaware, a single act of retaliation has put the entire vampire nation at risk of discovery. It falls to the Order--a cadre of Breed warriors pledged to protect their own and humankind alike--to stop Dragos, the power-mad vampire at the center of the conflict, before his push for domination can explode into catastrophe.

At the center of the Order’s quest is Sterling Chase, once a morally rigid enforcer of Breed law, now a warrior fallen from grace, whose biggest battle is the one he wages against his own savage nature. With addiction beckoning him toward eternal darkness, Chase’s path to redemption has never seemed more out of reach--until he finds himself drawn to a beautiful young woman who may be something much more than she seems . . .

What I’m talking about:

Okay, so I’m just going to come out and say it: I LOVED THIS BOOK! I am in awe of the mastery Ms. Adrian has put onto the pages. If you have not read the Midnight Breeds series, go pick up book 1, Kiss of Midnight, NOW and do NOT start here if you want to enjoy the full potential of this book.

Last we saw outcast Breed warrior, Chase Sterling, he was sacrificing himself to save his former friends and comrades. Darker After Midnight picks up immediate after the conclusion of Deeper Than Midnight. Chase has been incarcerated by the human police force, the Order has gone into hiding and Dragos is taking over Boston. It’s a scary time for law-abiding Breeds. Chase is hell-bent on bring Dragos down, which includes killing off some very high-profile human Minions (mind-slaves to Dragos).

Right in the center of Chase’s path of vengeance is the exotic Tavia Fairchild, and soon they both discover she is so much more than anyone understands. Tavia has been lied to her entire life and is inexplicable drawn to Chase. Although she fears him, she stays with Chase because he tells her the truth. Together the two attempt to discover her true origins and bring down Dragos.

So much happens in this story, but it never felt overwhelming or forced. I could write three pages alone of basic plot summary. But the bottom line is that whether you are new to the series or a long time fan, Ms. Adrian does a fantastic job bringing the reader up to speed on both the story arc and the characters without being redundant or intrusive. In the beginning, she writes “slice of life” sections, which give insight into the lives of all of the characters, but also provide an effortless way to catch up on the first nine books (which is especially great for those of us that don’t have the best memories). She also does a superb job of covertly mentioning facts so the can remember who is mated to whom, which warriors have moved on, etc.

I also love how Ms. Adrian paints a scene for her readers. She provides details that help construct almost tangible images. It’s done in a way without being wordy or obtuse.

The pairing of Chase and Tavia is exemplary! They both feel damaged by life and don’t trust others. They find truth and salvation in each other’s arms, but it takes time. I adore that they both make mistakes, and then realize that they want to be better for each other. And their smex scenes... WOW! They are intensely erotic. Like most romances, the pair must give and go through a lot, but this is one of those situations where the couple just comes together for all the right reasons, and it feels perfect.

The book also brings the series fans full circle with a Gabrielle and Lucan subplot. The couple doesn’t dominate the book, but rather compliments the overall story - we started with them in the very first book, and it is fitting to come back to the Order’s leader and his mate. Lucan’s struggle between wanting to have a child and concerns over a violent future are heart-felt and emotionally wrenching. There is a scene between the two - a discussion about having a baby that showcased Lucan’s inner-turmoil and the complete love and devotion each has for the other, and it tore me up inside.

This was most definitely the conclusion of a major story-arc involving Dragos and his Gen One Hunters. But this is NOT the end of this amazing series. Ms. Adrian has already announced that the upcoming story arc will focus on the younger characters, with the next release focusing on the mysterious Mira.

So much happened that leads to the next story. We are given glimpses of the Breeds and Breedmate origins, Jenna is still evolving and Tavia is a miracle that leaves so many possibilities for the future. Without giving spoilers, I will tell you that this book changes the game in a MAJOR way and I am more excited than ever to see what comes next!

I honestly could go on and on. I have so much exuberance for Darker After Midnight because it is the perfect climax to this amazing series. I only hope that I got a fraction of how wonderful this book is within my review.

My Rating:

Personal favorite - a must read (A+)

In addition, Darker After Midnight is one of...

Purchase Information:

Darker After Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel

AAD Author Spotlight: Tilly Green

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers! Today I bring you erotic romance author Tilly Greene. Tilly was born into the easy folds of a sleepy beach town and embraces the laid back mindset she grew up with. Life took a turn one day while sitting in the back of the school bus with her friends: she was introduced to the joys of romance novels and has never looked back. Now, every day she looks forward to writing about women who are independent and confident, the men who love them, and their twisting passionate path to each other..

Tilly is here today to share with us if any of her personal experiences every show up in one of her stories. In addition, Tilly is offering a copy of her book Missing In Paradise to a lucky commenter. Details for GIVEAWAY are below.

Tilly is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.

Please help me welcome Tilly to That’s What I’m Talking About. Take it away Tilly...

Hello Jen and the That's What I'm Talking About gang, thank you so much for inviting me here today!

My name is Tilly Greene, an erotic romance and erotica author, and this week’s Authors After Dark Featured Author! I hope to see some of you at the fabulous readers convention and thought I'd share with you all a little something about me - the author and personal me.

Whether in person or online, the question I am asked most often is: Does anything about me, my life or something I’ve experienced personally ever show up in one of my stories.

While well meaning and one I’d be interested in knowing as a reader, it’s actually a double edged sword of a query to answer. As an author, I get a kick out of sharing all sorts of bits and pieces about me, my work, and how a story comes together. On the other hand, knowing too much about a story could take away the some of the joy found through reading something for the first, thirtieth or hundredth time.

Despite the good and bad sides to that question, there is something that happens when an author shares a special tidbit with readers and that’s the shining sliver of fun that comes with knowing something personal from the writer themselves. That said, here’s a sliver of useless yet meaningful to me bit fun you’ll find in Missing in Paradise.

I grew up in Southern California - no, that’s not the fun bit - and used to take the train into Los Angeles to watch a USC football game or two - neither is that, but yes I’m a Trojan fan. Across from the grand yet oddly quiet Union Station is Olvera Street - again, not the interesting bit, although this is a must visit place of unique LA history and culture. The next street over, on the corner, is a place called Philippe’s and that’s the gem of a tidbit I’d like to share with you from my recent release.

As a youngster, it was an adventure to go to LA, the big city, and not too long ago we visited the hot food spot again as adults. Even though I was looking at the place with adult eyes, not that much had changed. The tables were still communal and happily shared by people from all walks of life, sawdust was still on the floor, and the French Dip sandwiches are still the very best to be had. I enjoyed myself so much, we make a visit as often as possible and with that said, I will still never eat the pickled pigs feet - make that the pickled anything.

The joyful memory of this last visit stuck with me and when it came time to write a LA based story, it was the perfect place for the heroine sit down and take back control of her life. Here’s an excerpt from Missing in Paradise of that scene:

No one put the pressure of success on her shoulders, she’d put it there herself, and it was too much to handle. The path she’d followed thus far showed cracks and she needed to fix them before she shattered. Mary squared her shoulders and accepted responsibility for her actions while content with choices made. There was no one to blame for the situation she found herself in but herself, and it was up to her to make it right.

Feeling all fired up and eager to get her life back on track, she drank more of her soda and dug her mobile out of her purse. As soon as she pressed the power button, a low battery warning popped up and she hoped there was enough juice to dash off a few texts. There was no need for pleasantries with Mike. They’d established that on the beach at dawn, and she made the message short and to the point.

Can we talk?

Realizing Mike may not have his phone handy didn’t stop her from holding her breath and waiting for a response. With the phone in one hand, she used the other to bring the sandwich blindly to her mouth for a bite. She didn’t want to look away from the screen and rubbed her thumb over it to make sure the screen saver didn’t flash on. The quick buzz and accompanying shake of the device alerted her to a message. Giddy and excited, she swiped a shaking finger across the opening tab to read his answer.

OK.

Two characters, nothing else, but they were good enough to keep her hopes alive. A sense of relief that he appeared to be open to working things out filled her body and mind. Thinking about what she wanted to do, Mary knew they needed to talk in person, not by text or even a phone call. The last one she’d made to him had been a disaster. No, they had to talk face-to-face.

Your place in a few hours?

With fingers crossed, she pressed send and took another bite. The answer came back almost as quick as the first and it said the same thing.

Ok.

Apparently he wasn’t going to make it easy for her to make things right between them. Fine, he was worth fighting for and she was prepared to fight. She would do whatever was necessary to bring him back into her life. Mary laughed at her show of bravado and wolfed down the rest of her sandwich, then indulged in a pickled egg to go. There’d be no physical fight, neither of them had an ounce of violence in them. What she’d do was rely on the truth to get her man back. Being honest with him about what she was feeling, her fears mainly, would hopefully be all she needed. The truth wasn’t going to be easy to share, but she would do it, and if it all worked, then Mary needed to be prepared for the reunion. The giddiness racing around inside her was as strong as it had been on their first serious date as teens and again as adults.

Think positive, she reminded herself as she walked out to her car. Success would be hers and ultimately theirs, but first she needed to go shopping.

The pickled egg had to be in the story because everyone except me always loves Philippe’s pickled eggs. So, to answer that original question, yes, things I do occasionally show up in my stories and I hope readers fall in love with this place as much as I do and want to visit the place, try one of their fabulous sandwiches, and take in some of the real LA.

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com
Facebook│Twitter│Hot Thoughts Blog│ARe Cafe

About the Book

Missing in Paradise by Tilly Greene
Contemporary erotic romance + bondage
Published by Ellora’s Cave

When the love of Mike’s life breaks up with him abruptly, he doesn’t know where to turn. Mary is an emotional mess who reacts without thinking, and immediately regrets her decision. Making things right with Mike isn’t easy. It requires privacy to rebuild their love and share their lust. Neither expects their getaway to become a major news story.

The tattooed retired surfer and daytime TV star are opposites, yet perfect for each other. But paradise isn’t easy on them. Their bond will need to stand up to the strain of a public-relations nightmare if they have any hope of making it work.

Mistakes are made and they need privacy to fix things, but what about the media?

eBook available from Ellora’s Cave, All Romance, Amazon, BN and Sony

GIVEAWAY: Thank you Tilly for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Tilly is graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Missing In Paradise. Please leave your comments for Tilly by Wednesday January 18, 2012, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the author can send you the book. Thank you to Tilly for this fun giveaway!

January Book Giveaway

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hello readers... Happy New Year! I hope that your first couple of weeks in 2012 have been good ones. We’ve had no snow up here in my neck of the woods and my kids are very sad (especially since we got snow shoes for Christmas!) It’s time for my JANUARY Book GIVEAWAY! How do these titles sound?

Set #1

The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R. Green

Charmfall by Chloe Neill

Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland

Set #2

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

The Mortal Bone by Marjorie M. Liu

Set #3

Tempted Again by Cathie Linz

Catch of a Lifetime by LuAnne McLane

Untamed by Pamela Clare

Set #4

Twice Fallen by Emma Wildes

Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner

Under the Same Sky by Genevieve Graham

Four lucky winners will win some great January releases.

The Rules: To be entered, please leave a comment telling me your favorite snow-related past time (Mine is cozying up to the fire and staying inside!) AND which book set (1, 2, 3, or 4) you prefer if you win (I will do my best to accommodate the winners’ first choice). You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it always appreciated. Contest is open from January 16, 2012 until Friday January 20, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST. If your email is not part of your profile, please leave it so I may contact the winners. One entry per person. Contest is restricted to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. Four (4) winners will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Contest Winner - Abstrus

2012-01-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my interview with YA author TK Rayford. I also want to thank TK for stopping by and for graciously donating an e-copy of Abstrus for the giveaway.

Every person that commented on the post or review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.

The Winner:

Sariah

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I need the winner to please send me an email at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your name. I will forward your email to the author, who will send you the book. You have until Thursday January 19, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Contest Winner - Perfection

2012-01-14T22:24:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the touching guest post by erotica author Kris Cook. I also want to thank Kris for stopping by and for graciously donating an e-copy of Perfection for the giveaway.

Every person that commented on the post or review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.

The Winner:

paperbackdaydreamer.com

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I need the winner to please send me an email at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your name. I will forward your email to the author, who will send you the book. You have until Tuesday January 17, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Review: Raven Cursed

2012-01-13T06:33:00.001-05:00

Raven Cursed

Author: Faith Hunter

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: ROC

Jane Yellowrock Series #4

ISBN: #978-0451464330

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. But lately instead of just slaying vampires, she’s been working for them.

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: skinwalker Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Is it a rogue-vampire, shapechanger, or witch? Or something else magical? Unless she wants to face a very angry master vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It’s a good thing she’s worth every penny.

What B is talking about:

Against her better judgment, Jane Yellowrock has once again signed on to work for the Blood Master of the City of New Orleans, Leo Pellissier. This time, she’s in charge of security for talks between Leo’s representative and another master vamp who’s ready for territory of his own. With her crew of hired guns, and her inner Beast helping her along the way, the job should be fairly simple. But, as Jane’s learned time and again, with the vamps, nothing ever is.

Hunter doesn’t shy away from complex storytelling, leading both her heroine and her readers through a maze of subplots and conflicts. Raven Cursed and its predecessor, Mercy Blade (review HERE), are two of the busiest stories I’ve read to date. The cast of species/creatures alone is a lot to take in: witches of all sorts, a sorcerer, weres, Mithrans (vampires), blood-servants (and slaves), a grindylow, angels, demons, and humans. There is so much going on, it almost makes me dizzy to think how Jane manages it all.

But, that’s part of what makes Jane such a relatable heroine to me: she doesn’t handle it all. Not always well, anyway. She makes mistakes, and in her line of work, those mistakes are often irreversible and deadly. Sometimes, through a certain amount of vanity over her abilities, or a dogged focus on the bigger picture facing her, Jane misses things. But in Hunter’s writing, the inconsequential doesn’t really exist.

For a woman who eagerly denies that she’s beautiful in any way, Jane’s personal life is astonishingly crowded. Her relationship with Rick LeFleur is still somewhat confusing, although I found him much more likable in this story. Not that he’s the only one making her an offer these days. Her boss, Leo, wants her. As does his primo blood slave, George Dumas (aka “Bruiser”). And Leo’s number two Mithran, Grégoire, would gladly seduce her as well. As would Grégoire’s two blood slaves, who happen to be twins. Of her many potential bedmates/suitors, the one Jane considers a real candidate is Rick.

Hunter is an admirably clever storyteller, taking one small detail from the previous novel and, like an explosion, letting it burst into many separate spokes, all spreading out in a rush, intertwining intermittently, then coming back together into a seemingly cohesive ending. Except for the next small seed she plants at the end for the next novel, of course, which I’m eagerly anticipating already.

B’s Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, Book 1)
Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, Book 2)
Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock, Book 3)
Cat Tales: Four Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock (An eSpecial from the New American Library)
Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock, Book 4)

Contest Winner - Dangerous Ally

2012-01-12T22:04:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the guest post by debut author Jessica Lauryn, and the review of Dangerous Ally. I also want to thank Jessica for stopping by and for graciously donating an e-copy of Dangerous Ally for the giveaway.

Every person that commented on the post or review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.

The Winner:

asiamorela

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I need the winner to please send me an email at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your name. I will forward your email to the author, who will send you the book. You have until Tuesday January 17, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Review: High Above

2012-01-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

High Above

Author: Mari Freeman

Release Date: March 16, 2011

Publisher: Decadent

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Dragons annihilated civilization some ten generations ago. A few Crossbreeds, humans born with dragon-like characteristics, now lead opposing tribes who still battle for dwindling resources.

Rhone’s wings have been stripped from his body by the Lax tribe, his family killed, and his hopes of leading the Mountain people away from the constant threat of marauders destroyed.

Ketta’s life has been full of pain and anguish. Her brother rules her and the Lax tribe with a bloody fist. Tired of the violence, Ketta takes a stand and rescues Rhone from the brink of execution.

Armed with knowledge from Ketta’s somewhat addled grandfather, the unlikely pair embarks on a quest to heal Rhone’s wings. Along the way, the couple struggles to find the truth beneath hatred and lies.

Desire and a mutual enemy bring them together; mistrust and secrets tear them apart. These lifelong foes will have to fly high above their differences to defeat a deadly dragon and save what’s left of both their tribes.

What I’m talking about:

The prologue of this short story read like a fantastic action movie - the kind that are labeled “summer blockbuster.” I LOVED the concept of dragons coming forth and decimating civilization. This created a post-apocalyptic setting without the usual politcal causes.

Fast-forward several generations and civilization is bleak. Humans and Crossbreeds tribes live in primitive settings built from what is left in the greater-Los Angles area. We don’t have much time to learn about Rhone and his tribe, because right from the beginning he is captured and tortured by rival tribe leader Nyx.

Nyx is simply a cruel, power-hungry Crossbreed. He rules with an iron fist, fostering fear among his own tribe. Ketta, Nyx’s sister (a rare Crossbreed female), is tired of her brother’s evil and believes Rhone was sent to free them all and bring peace. She helps him escape and the pair get help from Ketta’s grandfather, Arwin.

In spite of its shortened length, High Above is packed with action and excitement. It was fairly entertaining throughout, and the romance was passionate. The story had all the moving parts you’d expect - interesting plot, exciting setting, evil bad guy you love to hate, romance, action, and a happy ending. There were no major moral conflicts or overly dramatic moments to incite a deep emotional reaction, although there was one shocking moment that took me by surprise.

Unfortunately, because of its length, I felt there were places in the book that needed more which would have created a more fulfilling story. I wanted to know why Rhone could awaken Daisy (no spoilers here). I would have liked more time to develop the trust between Rhone and Arwin and learn more about Rhone’s history and tribe. However, it is a novella and there just wasn’t space to answer all of my questions.

Overall, this is an enjoyable novella-length fantasy story. It’s perfect for an afternoon getaway from life. I hope that Ms. Freeman expands upon this exciting world in future works.

My Rating:

Liked it - recommend (B)

Purchase Info:

High Above

Author Interview & Giveaway: TK Rayford

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

Today I have the honor of bringing to you author TK Rayford. TK is a self-published author of a young adult sci-fi series. TK was born in Chicago, IL with her four siblings. She later moved to Memphis, TN. She fell in love with writing in the second grade and has been writing ever since. Her teachers would always say that she would become a great writer, but she would insist that she would be a neurosurgeon. She proved herself wrong and her teachers right when she decided to pursue her passion, which has always been writing.

Please help me welcome TK toThat’s What I’m Talking About, and read on for a special GIVEAWAY...

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

TK: Thanks so much for having me! I am super excited to be here.

Twimom: Please tell my readers a little more about yourself... how did you get into writing? What are your inspirations?

TK: Well, I have been into books since my older sister started teaching me how to read when I little. I was always content to sit on the porch with a good book while my siblings wreaked havoc in the neighborhood. I can't say that I was born with hundreds of people in my head because I don't remember being born, but they have definitely been there for the majority of my life. And when you're as into reading as I was with the bonus of having people living in your head with stories to tell, the writing kind of comes naturally. As far as inspiration goes, there aren't many people that I'm not inspired by. I'm as inspired by other writers, especially indies, who did everything in their power to get their names on the cover of a book as I am by regular, everday people who simply know the importance of hard work.

Twimom: Abstrus is your debut title and the first in your Planet Abstrus series. Can you tell us more about the series?

TK: Abstrus wasn't really something I came up with on my own. It kinda found me in the form of a dream, which is normal for me, and for the longest time it only lived as blue sharpie written on the back of a privacy release form that I had beside my bed. It's about Lexi, a 17 year old girl who finds out some strange truths about herself and her mother who has disappeared. She's thrown into this crazy world where everyone is out to get her before she even has time to come to terms with the fact that she's not exactly human. The first two books of the series, Abstrus and Sion, are available now, and they follow Lexi as she tries to determine the differences between truths and lies as well as friends as enemies.

Twimom: What are your future plans for the series?

TK: I'm planning four books total in the series. I'm currently working on book #3 which is called Galaos. I hope to have the entire series completed this year.

Twimom: I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read during 2011?

TK: Well, there's not much time out of the year that I'm not reading something. Depending on what else is going on, it may take me longer to finish a book, but I'm usually always in the middle of a read. My Nook app on my phone has really spoiled me, because if I'm not at home in front of my computer writing, I'm glued to my phone screen. Yes, even in public. I love young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. As far as my favorite read during 2011, you couldn't have asked a tougher question! But if forced to choose, I would have to say The Hunger Games. The trilogy definitely was a favorite.

Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?

TK: There are so many books that I'm looking forward to this year. I think Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout is highest on that list. I'm also looking forward to her sequel to Obsidian.

Twimom: TK, 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.

TK: Thanks for having me. I really enjoyed it and hope to stop by again soon.

You can find TK Rayford on line at

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

About the book:

When 17 year old Lexi Lee's mother disappeared six months ago, her world was turned upside down. Just when she is coming to terms with her new, motherless life, she meets Farah, Ferdinand, and Liza, a strange group of teenagers. She quickly finds out that they are not at all what they seem.

Lexi finds that although she is human, that is only one part of what she is and people are after her for it. She has to figure out who she can trust... and fast. She learns that her mother has known the truth all along, but disappeared before she could explain things to her. She believes that she has no hope of survival if she doesn't find her mother, and trusting the wrong person to help her could prove fatal.

Excerpt

I could barely make out their shapes in the dark and without the weak glint of a light hanging on the side of one of the buildings; I probably would have walked right by them without ever noticing that they had stopped. I could make out two of them kneeling in front of something, their heads hung low in concentration, while the other, which I could tell was Ferdinand because of his big frame, stood behind them as if he was protecting them. But what would he be protecting them from—me? I felt a shiver slither its way from the nape of my neck and rest in the bottom of my spine. I was convinced that the hairs on the back of my neck would have been standing on end were they not slicked to my skin by the rain. Nervously, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other while I tried to gather my wits. I stood and watched Farah and Liza kneeling and Ferdinand standing over them like a mother hawk protecting her young for what seemed like forever. There was no real reason for me to be frightened except for maybe the lack of light in the alley way between the buildings, but I couldn’t shake the quiet terror that was building in my throat and threatened to explode in a scream. It would have been an irrational scream. Wouldn’t it?

I fought back the panic and the urge to turn and get out of the alley as fast as I could. I squeezed the fabric of my jacket between my fists and worked up the courage to find my voice. It wasn’t enough courage to take a step forward though.

“Guys,” I almost whispered.

Liza lifted her head, which was the only indication they gave that they had even heard me speak. It seemed as if they had completely forgotten that I was following them from the theater. They were frozen in place like statues and I felt the unease creeping back. I began to pick my foot up to step back—but then Ferdinand was there. I had not seen him move but there he was, standing directly in front of me. And in the same way, his hand materialized on my shoulder, preventing me from moving backward at all.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Farah and Liza to even look at Ferdinand. He probably would think that I hadn’t noticed his ability to materialize at my side without taking a step. Liza glanced over at Farah, who gave a short nod of her head that I would have missed had I not been completely engrossed by the pair. She rose to her feet, as if Farah had just given her permission to do so, and much in the same way that Ferdinand did, appeared at my side. She didn’t do it as effortlessly as he had and that was only apparent in the fact that a tendril of her strawberry blonde hair fluttered in the breeze that her movement had created. Unlike Ferdinand she didn’t touch me, didn’t attempt to make eye contact or even assist him in restraining me… not that he wasn’t doing a good job of it himself. His grasp on my shoulder wasn’t hard or tight. He didn’t seem to be holding me in place with any sort of super-human strength at all. It was more as if his hand was a huge magnet and not just to my shoulder. But the very fiber of my being had all of a sudden become the magnet with the opposite pole. He held me in place not by forcing me to stand there but by making my will bend to his. I stood there because I all of a sudden wanted to. Taking that step backward had become the furthest thing from my mind.

But there was something else there too. It seemed that somewhere in me there was a strange curiosity quickly arising and that hadn’t come from Ferdinand. That was mine alone. I wanted to know what was happening around me more than I wanted to be able to break free of Ferdinand’s hold and flee the way I had come. Even more so, I wanted to know what would happen next, and I couldn’t even logically explain why.

Liza stood in front of me, eyes closed. Strange sounds began to emanate from her. It sounded like humming from a bird, but as if the bird was speaking in a foreign language. Her mouth never moved at all. It became clear that I was hearing a conversation in a strange language when the same humming, but a deeper baritone version, began to bubble up from Ferdinand. It lasted only a few seconds before silence once again fell in the little alley way. We stood in this way, Ferdinand with his hand on my shoulder and Liza eyes closed in front of me, for what seemed to be hours rather than minutes. Ferdinand’s hold on me didn’t lessen with the passing time. I was stuck in that spot as if my feet had been cemented to the wet pavement. The rain had all but stopped by now but I was beginning to experience a feeling that chilled me and not just because my jacket and jeans had finally soaked completely through. Ferdinand’s control over my want to flee and my budding curiosity had no effect on the fear that was simmering in my throat and chest and threatening to strangle me. I could feel my body struggle between my instinct to flee and the complete mesmerizing effect that he and the situation had over me.

GIVEAWAY: TK is generously donating an e-copy of her first release, Abstrus, to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. To enter, please leave a comment for TK and your email at the end of today’s interview. One entry per person. Contest is open internationally. Contest open from January 11, 2012 until Saturday January 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.

AAD Author Spotlight: Kris Cook

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers! Today I bring you erotic romance author Kris Cook. Kris describes himself as a military brat to the core, and never put down deep roots in any particular geographic location. Until Texas. Why? Kris loves the sun.

A voracious reader, Kris loves many genres of fiction, but his favorite books are romances that are edgy, sexy, with rich characters and unique challenges. Kris’ influences include JR Ward, Lora Leigh, and Shayla Black.

Kris is here today to share with us how he came into writing romance. In addition, Kris is offering a copy of his book Perfection to a lucky commenter. Details for GIVEAWAY are below.

Kris is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.

Please help me welcome Kris to That’s What I’m Talking About. Take it away Kris...

I’m so thrilled to be the featured Authors After Dark author for this week at here with Twimom. I look forward to meeting her in New Orleans in August.

To give your readers a bit of background about me beyond the typical bio, I thought I’d share how I came to writing romance. I began writing in a completely different arena with my sister several years back. We were only 10 ½ months apart in age, but most thought we were twins.

My sister and I wrote plays and screenplays together. We were lucky and had some successes that included winning some contests, having a couple plays produced for stage, a short film that got screened at some festivals, and more. Then tragedy happened. Just as we were beginning to break out and get noticed by some Hollywood folks, my sister was diagnosed with cancer. She fought bravely for 18 months. A few weeks after her fortieth birthday, the disease finally took her from my family.

I still miss her every day.

Enter my buddy, Shayla Black. She and I had lunch every week. I think part of that was her way of helping me with my grief, though she claimed it was more to brainstorm on her book ideas. It wasn’t long before she pushed me to write again. It was hard. I had always had a writing partner. I didn’t want to write plays or screenplays yet. Too hard. Too many memories. She suggested that I write an erotic romance novel.

Weeks turned to months and months to a year or two, but eventually I finally succumbed to her nudges. I told Shayla that the book had to be paranormal. Just so you know, Twimom, I’m a huge fan of paranormal fiction. I love TV shows like Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and more. Big fan of J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, G.A. Aiken, Larissa Ione, and more.

Perfection was born from an idea of mine about mixing myths from different regions of the world. Settling on angels, demons, jinn and ifrit, phantoms and shadows, vampires and shapeshifters—the book came alive for me in my imagination.

That first book was published in September 2009 by Siren-Bookstrand. It is still near and dear to my heart. It got me writing again.

I am so blessed to have two other amazing authors in my life, Melissa Schroeder and Sophie Oak. They kick my butt when it needs it and advise me on my career. Shayla, Melissa, and Sophie are like sisters to me and I love them very much.

So, too personal, Twimom? Sorry. I suppose it is the New Year that has me reflecting so deeply. Let’s tell your readers about that first book I wrote.

Perfection is a paranormal erotic ménage romance that starts off the Eternally Three series (E3). There are two warring factions of immortals. The Alliance is made up of warrior angels and jinn. They have vowed to protect humanity. The other side, The Dark, consists of demons and ifrit. They work to destroy every mortal in the world. The immortals on both sides need humans to survive. They need to sexually connect by tripling with a human and another immortal for their very existence to continue. When Micki shows up looking for her missing brother, two immortals, one tough angel warrior and one guilty jinn, are blown away by the tiny human female. These three must come together in love, honoring their union, in order to destroy an unrelenting evil.

Captivation is the second book in the series and I will be working on the third book, Devotion, this spring and hope to have it out early fall.

Thank you for letting me be your guest, Twimom. Can’t wait to meet you in New Orleans at Authors After Dark. BTW – Melissa Schroeder and I are hosting another happy hour. Please you and any of your readers drop by for a free drink on me.

More about Perfection

While searching for her missing brother, Micki Langley visits a nightclub with a notorious reputation as ménage a trois central and comes face-to-face with two amazing men straight from her fantasies.

Ancient jinn Jared endures heavy guilt and wants nothing to do with the human girl. Tripling is necessary to keep immortals alive, but his hunger for Micki is far beyond normal.

Though warrior angel Bradley completes their threesome, he despises Jared for his tainted reputation. He vows the jinn won't hurt the gorgeous human and has no problem fighting him to prove it.

But when the threesome comes together, they share more than an exchange of energy, they share an unshakable bond that generates astounding power. Their enemies seek to destroy their perfect triad, which could unsettle the balance of power between angels and demons. Will the threesome be able to stand strong together - in trust and love - to defeat the relentless evil?

Excerpt:

Standing beside her, Bradley’s body heat loomed on her shoulder. Jared’s hot eyes sent her silent commands that incited cravings. Her body began to demand satisfaction. Heat rose from her skin, centered between her legs, melting her.

Then Bradley cupped her cheek, fingertips caressing her neck, while Jared nearly touched her intimately. Tingles erupted. Warm wetness soaked her panties.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Bradley asked.

“Micki.”

Jared’s free hand slipped under her shirt and brushed across her bare back. Sensations ripped through her entire body. Combustion. She shivered.

Bradley looked at her, his stare burning with suggestion. She wanted him to drink all of her up with his hot mouth, but she needed to focus.

“Do you know Eric Langley?” Micki asked Bradley.

He cut a quick glance to Jared before looking her way again. “Yes. But I’m not sure if he’s here, either.”

Bradley knew Eric! “Thank God! Where is he? Is he safe?”

Another pause. “I don’t know.”

Jared and Bradley’s hesitation troubled her. She suspected they knew more than they’d told her. Plus, strange as it was, as her worry for Eric grew, so did her desire for these two men. Did the nice folks in white coats need to whisk her away?

Unease skittered through her. “If you don’t know, I can’t just sit here. I need to be looking for him.”

She should get up, resume her search, but Bradley’s piercing blue eyes zeroing in on her mouth paralyzed her.

She swallowed hard. Bring on the straight jacket.

“You look like you need to be kissed,” he murmured.

Heat flared inside her, but she tensed. When she glanced back at her biker, he showed no sign of rage—not even slight annoyance. Instead, he seemed revved up by Bradley's suggestion.

Micki sucked in a shocked breath.

She could name a thousand reasons not to take Bradley's dangled bait, but the moment crashed over her reserve. She could exit the ride later, before the big drop. Now, she burned to taste Bradley’s lips, revel in Jared’s touch. Feel their need and let them feel hers.

It’s only a kiss, right?

GIVEAWAY: Thank you Kris for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Kris is graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Perfection. Please leave your comments for Kris by Friday January 13, 2012, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the author can send you the book. Thank you to Kris for this fun giveaway!

You can find Kris online at:

WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

Review & Giveaway: Dangerous Ally

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Dangerous Ally

Author: Jessica Lauryn

Release Date: July 6, 2011

Publisher: BookStrand Publishing

The Pinnacles of Power Series

ISBN: #978-1610346979

Genre: Contemporary Suspense Romance

Format(s): Paperback (334 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Author

About the book:

For five lonely years, diamond smuggling kingpin Lucas Ramone has hidden himself from the world. With a father who has baited him all his life, made a game of trying to trip him up at every turn, Lucas will do whatever is necessary to protect what is rightfully his. What he isn’t prepared for is Lilah Benson…

Upon accepting a job in the home of her sister’s maniacal ex-fiancé, reporter Lilah Benson believes she has finally found the perfect way to make her mark on the world. Exposing the criminal endeavors of Lucas Ramone won’t soon be forgotten. But as she comes to know the man who was supposed to be her adversary, Lilah is tempted by a passion far stronger than the desire to see her name in print…

Power and control are tools of survival, critical in a world of thievery and deception. Lilah, an innocent in a land of criminals, may be the one person capable of bringing Lucas to his knees. But Lucas will stop at nothing to keep his empire secure.

He will have it all: His Fortune, His Legacy, and Lilah Benson in his bed…

What VampBard’s talking about:

I spent a lazy Saturday afternoon reading Jessica Lauryn's Dangerous Ally. I really enjoyed the story. Filled with espionage and HOT bow-chicka-wow-wow, it was overall a great read. The plot arc was action-packed (and not just with the HOT scenes - get your mind out of the gutter!) and had several twists. While it wasn't a completely unpredictable story, I found it to be quite telling of unhealthy relationships across the world. Kudos to Lauryn for showing readers that men are capable of overcoming adversity at the hands of abuse.

Bad Dad was quite the villain in this story. Raphael hopefully gets what he deserves in the long run. Mr. Power-Hungry-Cold-As-Iceberg-That-Sunk-the-Titanic was the worst parent imaginable for young Lucas as he was growing up. I can't even give a comparison to a movie character/star for this dude... he's so negative and hideous with regard to his behavior, he must be hideous.

Lilah, our heroine, originally entered the life of Lucas to expose his diamond smuggling endeavors. BUT... she fell for him and that kinda never happened. *snap* The NYT journalist is completely able to care for herself, and resists admitting to herself that she's falling for Lucas until the 11th hour...even though she's gone through the resistance to his overbearing bossiness as well as attempting to blow off jealousy.

Lucas is our hottie hero. What's cool about him is that he's been raised by his dad who is a real *ahem* jerk *ahem*, and he even ends up learning valuable lessons through the course of the book. While it seemed like Lucas was lying to himself for most of the book, it was refreshing to see a relationship in a book develop in a more realistic manner. Kudos, Ms. Lauryn!

VampBard’s Rating:

Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)

GIVEAWAY: Ms. Lauryn is graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Dangerous Ally to one lucky commenter. Please leave your comments for Jessica by Thursday January 12, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. Comments may be left here or after Ms. Lauryn’s guest post HERE. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the author can send you the book. Thank you to Jessica for this fun giveaway!

Purchase Info:

Dangerous Ally [The Pinnacles of Power]

Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Jessica Lauryn

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers! Today I bring you debut romantic suspense author Jessica Lauryn. At two years old, Jessica became a devoted fan of both listening to and reciting the books her parents would read to her at night. When she was a little older (about four), she sought a greater challenge in her life, and began making up stories of her own, acting them out with her dolls. “When the dolls got “boyfriends,” she says, “I knew I was getting too old for dolls!”

A life-long lover of romance, Jessica took several writing classes in college, and told her professors she was one-day going to write soap-operas. When graduation came, she joined a critique group, and on a whim, decided to “write a romance novel.” That first attempt will forever be staying under the mattress…

Then, on a train ride to her internship in the fashion industry, Jessica finally cracked open her first romance novel. That hot August morning, she fell head-over-heels for the genre, and has been writing it ever since.

Jessica is most intrigued by dark heroes, who have many demons to conquer…but little trouble enticing female companions into their beds! She feels that the best romances are those where the hero is already seducing the heroine from that first point of contact. “Isn’t it the hero’s job to seduce?” she says with a grin. Jessica loves to see the sparks fly when a stubborn, domineering hero crosses paths with a bold, feisty heroine, and uses the combination frequently in her stories.

Jessica is here today to share with us a little about her debut novel, Dangerous Ally. KEEP READING for your chance to win a copy... Details for GIVEAWAY are below.

Please help me welcome Jessica to That’s What I’m Talking About. Take it away Jessica...

In fiction, villains typically serve as adversaries, wicked individuals whose intent is to foil the hero’s and heroine’s missions. Not necessarily the case with The Pinnacles of Power Series. In this series, (which will consist of somewhere between three and five or more stories) villains can be seen as flawed but mysterious individuals who, when understood, can come to be viewed as people, who’ve made the choices they have for a reason. Given the love they’re starving for, they may even come to reform. This is precisely how Lucas Ramone, diamond smuggling kingpin and hero in Dangerous Ally, came to be.

When I first began writing (what wasn’t then supposed to be a series), Lucas was a power-hungry billionaire, living in Westchester, NY. Unbeknownst to his then-fiancé Lena Benson, Lucas was spending his days (and nights), managing several underground enterprises, including one which was importing stolen gems into the country. He’s supposed to come off as evil and scary (and does). But as an author who found these qualities fascinating, I wanted to know why Lucas had made the choices he had, and more importantly, to see if he could ever reform.

Delving into Lucas’s psyche, I learned several things about the character that I didn’t already know. As a child, after refusing to take his lesson with his swimming instructor, Lucas’s father tossed him into the pond in their backyard. Lucas survived, but didn’t walk away from the incident unscathed. It was lessons such as this that taught him to regard everyone who crossed his path as an adversary, including the woman he will fall in love with in Dangerous Ally, Lilah Benson. In turn, I gained a great appreciation and sympathy for Lucas. With the understanding I acquired from learning about this and Lucas’s other past tragedies, I strove to create a character readers could love as much as I did. I became so enamored with the character of Lucas Ramone, in fact, that Dangerous Ally, (which is NOT book 1 in the Pinnacles of Power Series) wound up coming first. Like many of the best surprises in life, I found this to be a great one indeed.

Excerpt:

Feeling the warmth of tears in her eyes, Lilah rose from the table. She never became so emotional over nothing. What in God’s name was wrong with her?

Lucas’s strong hand came against her shoulder. She didn’t pull away. In fact, she had the strangest urge to just lean into him. Like somehow, he would take away all of her doubts.

"Lena’s happy in her life with her children, and with Alec Westwood," he said. "I’d never begrudge her that. All I ever wanted was her happiness."

The way he said the words, she almost believed them. He seemed to care, or at least, maybe was trying to be a better person.

"You’re trembling," he said, reaching in before she could stop him. His finger brushed her quivering lip.

Her instinct was to smack his hand. But the tingling sensation racing from mouth to spine kept her in place. Lucas’s touch was so soft. It made her crazy. She was consumed by the strongest desire for his lips to be where his finger was now.

He took her wine glass and held it out to her. "Here," he said. "This’ll calm your nerves."

Senses returning with a bang, Lilah held up two hands in protest. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" she snapped, not entirely sure whether it was him she was angrier at or herself.

"Am I that obvious?" He laughed as if the whole thing was funny, setting the glass back down.

She enjoyed being in the company of a monster—there was nothing lighthearted about it!

"I’m guessing you’ve probably been down this road too many times, hmm?" Lucas replaced his hand on her shoulder.

"What road would that be, exactly?"

His gray eyes looked deeply into hers. "I’m sure I’m not the first man who’s tried to get you into a relaxed state, Lilah."

"Actually—" She hesitated, not wanting to get so personal yet feeling she could probably tell him anything and he’d somehow understand. "It’s been a long time, longer than you’d imagine. After I finished college, I had every intention of becoming a journalist. Meaning I’d be out most of the time chasing a story despite whatever danger came with it. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, for as long as I can remember."

He nodded, coming closer. "You must have been very persistent. It takes a good deal of perseverance and sacrifice to become a success at such a young age."

Lilah sure knew that. While her friends had been enjoying their last semester of college, she’d been frantically gathering writing samples, sending them out to every newspaper who would give her the time of day. But had her father noticed? Even when she became one of the youngest reporters at the New York Times, he’d barely raised a brow.

Deep down, she knew this was why she’d accepted Raphael’s offer, even in spite of the danger that came with it. A story about Raphael Ramone’s family laundry wasn’t going to impress Blake Benson. But exposing Lucas’s diamond smuggling operation would be a print-worthy unearthing that would win her father’s admiration as well as her first Pulitzer.

She lowered her gaze. "I haven’t given up anything so wonderful."

Lucas lifted her chin. "But if it came to that, do you think you’d be willing to make that sacrifice? Give up something you want—maybe something you want more than anything—to attain some ultimate level of self-victory?"

A chill came over her at his words. Lilah came back a step, unsure of what had just happened but wanting desperately to pretend it hadn’t.

Lucas cleared his throat. "Let’s get some air, shall we?"

Something she needed desperately. She followed him to the balcony, welcoming the cool night breeze as it caressed her hot skin.

"It’s beautiful here," she said, hoping very much to steer the conversation in a new direction.

"It is." He nodded and came beside her, bracing the rail with one hand. He slipped an arm around her back.

His body was warm—like a furnace—and he felt strong, as if he spent his days loading lumber instead of dabbling away at a computer.

Lilah shivered, goose bumps forming along her bare arms. It felt so nice being close to Lucas. Too nice. Maybe she’d just stay there with him a few minutes longer. They weren’t exactly hurting anyone by being in each other’s company.

He leaned into her, speaking in a tone she could only describe as husky. "Those men you never met," he said, "that was their loss."

She blinked, keeping her eyes on the night sky. "Please. A man’s the last thing I need in my life."

"Are you sure about that?" Lucas asked, his warm breath coming against her ear. "Or is it possible you’ve been hiding behind your work for so long, you don’t even know how things could be?" His palm brushed her bare shoulder as he turned her to face him. "No one knows what it’s like to be hidden from the world more than I do, Lilah. You can trust me on this. I think we’re more alike than you realize. And it’s possible we’re both missing out on something incredible."

She didn’t push his hand away as it cupped her cheek. Or his arm as it encompassed her waist. No, she let him do what he wanted. She wanted him to touch her...

Be sure to stop by later today for VampBard’s review of Dangerous Ally.

GIVEAWAY: Ms. Lauryn is graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Dangerous Ally to one lucky commenter. Please leave your comments for Jessica by Thursday January 12, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. Comments may be left here or after the review of the book, later today. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the author can send you the book. Thank you to Jessica for this fun giveaway!

You can find Jessica online at:

Sunday Snippets

2012-01-08T04:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday Snippets is still on a hiatus. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Reading!

P.S. If you are a fan of Sunday Snippets and would like it to stay, please leave me a note or send me an email. Thanks!

Random House Spotlight Book

2012-01-07T08:36:00.001-05:00

THE DEMON LOVER by Juliet Dark
Random House Publishing
December 2011
448 pages

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

Right now you can get a glimpse of this recent release from Random House right here at That's What I'm Talking About:

A must-read for paranormal romance fans: THE DEMON LOVER: A Novel by Juliet Dark (excerpt)

Purchase Info:
The Demon Lover: A Novel

Review: Lure of Song and Magic

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

Lure of Song and Magic

Author: Patricia Rice

Release Date: Jan. 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Magic Series spinoff

ISBN: #978-1402255748

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Paranormal

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

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Workaholic TV producer Dylan Ives believes former singing sensation Syrene Malcolm holds the clue to finding his kidnapped son. A lost child herself, Syrene cares about the missing boy even though Dylan's personality is nothing short of rude. But Syrene refuses to unleash her dangerous siren's voice, even for a man who is impossible to deny...

What I’m talking about:

Dylan Ives is a highly successful LA producer with a heavy heart. His 4-year-old son was kidnapped a year ago, a year after his wife ran away (and subsequently died) with the boy, fearful the boy was in danger. Dylan refused to believe his son was dead, so when a he receives a mysterious text from a person called “the Librarian” that a former child star can help find his missing son, Dylan tracks her down.

Pippa James is a secluded children’s author, hiding from her destructive past. At the age of twelve, she was Syrene, a singing sensation, and by age 18 she was an emotional wreck, widow, and has-been child star. She believes her Voice is evil and will cause utter despair. She thinks her Voice turned her teenage husband to drugs and his early demise. She hides in the mountains, keeping her singing and Voice safe from the outside world.

Lure of Song and Magic is a spin-off of sorts of Ms. Rice’s Magic series, a historically-set romance series with a hint of magic. Lure focuses on the descendants of the original characters (for a look at the first book in the series, Merely Magic, click HERE). Lure is a stand alone story and does not require any knowledge of the original series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Right from the start, I was under Pippa’s spell; she captured me as she does the hearts and minds of friends and strangers alike. Pippa does have a gift, and with the help of years of isolation and Dylan’s persistence, she learns that her Voice can be a joyful, beautiful thing.

Pippa and Dylan’s love grew from an honest place. It wasn’t love at first site, nor was it an “I hate you, therefore I love you” cliche. The characters are written with their hearts on their sleeves. Each alone, but not overly lonely, they slowly realize that they do not want to live without the other. The give and take we witness between Dylan and Pippa is heart-warming and frankly, touching. I fell in love with the pair as they fell in love with one another.

The story also had subtle humor throughout the book. Both Pippa and Dylan has sarcastic and snarky moments. I never found myself laughing out loud, but I did have a grin often. Here is an example... Early on in the story, Dylan pushes his way into Pippa’s life and won’t walk away, believing she is the key to finding his lost son. In an effort to smooth things over, he makes Pippa a smoothie:

He knew to take peel off a banana. He wasn’t as certain about the lemon and orange, so he threw them into the container whole. Orange peel was supposed to be good for something.

I found myself captivated by the scenario of the book... Is Dylan’s son alive? Why was he kidnapped? What is Pippa’s history and who are her parents? The plot unfolds at a comfortable pace, keeping me glued to the pages, always guessing at the truth.

Ms. Rice pours her heart into this story and her characters, and this makes for a beautiful story. There were a couple of parts that were so moving, I had tears in my eyes. The story had just the right mix of emotional upheaval, romance, humor and storyline. I recommend this story to anyone in the mood for a warm, wonderful romance.

My Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:
The Lure of Song and Magic

Review: Haunted Warrior

2012-01-05T04:00:00.000-05:00

Haunted Warrior

Author: Allie Mackay

Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012

Publisher: Signet

ISBN: #978-0451235480

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Kendra Chase is exhausted from her work as a ghost whisperer, so she's been looking forward to her vacation in Edinburgh. But work awaits her as the tiny fishing village is being excavated, and supernatural uprisings have been reported.

Graeme MacGrath knows the source of the psychic trouble. The excavation is disrupting the protective veil between this world and darker, more ancient ones. He hates to admit it but he will need the fetching Kendra and her paranormal abilities to save the town he loves from unspeakable evil.

What VampBard’s talking about:

Initial reaction: um. Wow. The heat with this one starts right away **fans self**. The tension in this title builds from page 1. The inner conflict for both the hero and heroine are tremendous, especially since they're both keeping secrets from one another – secrets they believe will push the other away. Ha. As. If.

Kendra, our heroine, finds herself in the Scottish Highlands, walking. She senses something powerful – electric even – on the Highlands with her, and notices Mr. Hottie, clad in a kilt and cape. Wowza. She's totally worried that she looks like scum – Ladies, don't we always worry about this when we see the Man of Our Dreams!?!?! Kendra and Graeme are tossed together until Graeme makes it his mission in life to 'protect' her from the bad guy. Kendra, on assignment for Ghosthunters International, fears she is breaking one of her cardinal rules: never fall in love while on assignment. Meh. Can't help when love finds us, right? Animal lovers: this one is for you! Kendra is an animal lover, too! What I really enjoyed about Kendra was her drive to be independent, but she wasn't stupid about it. You know, the kind of heroine that does really stupid stuff just to prove she can do it, or to make a point? You won't find Kendra pulling that stuff. Gotta say, I loved the epilogue... don't ditch it ;)

Mr. Mystery Man, making his premier in the first several pages of the book, has looks and magnetism to spare. Think: Ronn Moss (from the soap The Bold and the Beautiful) in his younger days. After wiping up the puddle of drool and getting ice for my beverage, I continued to read. Graeme is Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Smokin'-Hot. His family has lived in the same village for ages, and they protect something powerful. Graeme had his own set of 'inner turmoil' going on, surrounding 'who' he was as well as his place in this world. Rather, his DUTY in this world. Once all that business was figured out, the HEA commences.

ABSOLUTELY breath-taking setting descriptions! I felt as though I was in the small Scottish town described. The castle ruins, as well as the general ambiance of the various locations were explained so well that I thought that I felt the harr on my face at times. What was above and beyond was Ms. Mackay's ability to pull the 'inner monologue' from her characters and give us crystal-clear insight as to their thoughts about various things. While we mostly heard from Kendra's perspective, there were a few gems from Graeme's point-of-view as well. Character descriptions, especially those of Graeme, are stellar, as shown in this little snippet:

And she was about to fork her last bit of bacon when a shadow fell across her table. Looking up, she met Graeme's smiling eyes, and her heart nearly threatened to burst from her chest.

“Lain serves up the best breakfast on the coast.” His deep, buttery-rich burr quickened her pulse, pouring over her like molten honey.

The look in his eyes made her prickle with awareness.

She blinked, sure her face was heating. “Yes, he does.” It was all she could think to say. He looked so good in his jeans and cream-colored, cable-knit Aran sweater. “I've never had a better breakfast.”

That was true.

Her words deepened his smile. The attractive way his eyes crinkled did dangerous things to her emotions. She could so easily fall in love with this man. She feared she was already halfway there.

“It is a lot of food...” She put down her fork, hoping to hide her feelings by looking at her plate. “I'm not sure I can finish.”

“You'll hurt Iain's feelings if you don't.” He set a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. His touch send delicious shivers along her nerves. “Dinnae worry yourself. Even if you're feeling full now, you'll be glad for the energy when we're out on the open water. A good Scottish breakfast will keep you warm.”

Kendra almost laughed.

If her personal heat index rose any higher, Scotland would feel as balmy as Florida.

If I had to choose one thing that annoyed me, I'd have to say that a few plot-points were 'expected' and could have been done a bit more creatively, based upon the world that Mackay's created. Not enough to REALLY bug me, but it's really the only thing keeping me from giving this title 5 stars...

VampBard’s Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

Haunted Warrior

Review: Clockwork Prince

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-05:00

Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: Dec. 6, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Infernal Devices #2

ISBN: #978-1416975885

Genre: Young Adult (Historical Urban Fantasy)

Format(s): Hardcover (528 pgs), e-book, audio

Book Source: Purchased with my own funds

About the book:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

What Una is talking about:

It may be solely because of the nostalgia that I feel from reading them, but I do love young adult novels. I will, however, preface this by saying I have learned that whiny, impulsive, immature heroines/heroes do not appeal to me (this assumes that they do not learn from their mistakes). However, Cassandra Clare has created a rich world of characters that becomes a part of you through her Mortal Instruments and her Infernal Devices series.

The Infernal Devices series is a prequel to Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series and looked forward to reading more of the mythology Ms. Clare had created in a historical Victorian setting. I was not disappointed. You do not need to read the Mortal Instruments series before starting this series, however you need to read the first book, Clockwork Angel in order to understand what continues in Clockwork Prince.

In Clockwork Prince, we find Tessa struggling with the truths uncovered in Clockwork Angel and the rejection she feels. As the story progresses, so does her relationship with other members of the Institute. We are also given a glimpse into Will’s inner heart and the truth behind his prickly exterior. In this series, we are not wholly bound to Tessa’s perspective; the reader is allowed access to other character’s experiences, which make the overall feel of the story richer.

I have recently been exposed to Steampunk, and I am really enjoying this new urban fantasy niche. It is a small portion of the Infernal Devices series, but I love how it is woven into background of these novels. I find it absolutely fascinating and Ms. Clare does an expert job of including it as an element and yet keeping it from becoming overwhelming.

Readers of both the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series will be rewarded by the opportunity to see more of the character Magnus Bane, the warlock. He was one of my favorite characters from the Mortal Instruments series, and I absolutely love his witty character in this novel. We see so much more of him in this book and have the opportunity to see how much he has changed in later books.

So many questions are still left unanswered about the Magister, but some important ones are resolved. The love triangle, which reaches its pinnacle in this story, is also quite gripping. With the culture of the time period and its morays, this is a rich and thrilling story, full of contrasting elements, action and adventure, mysteries to be solved and love to conquer. Please check out this worthwhile series!

Una’s Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Books in the Series:

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices 1)
Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices 2)

Review: Hold Me if You Can

2012-01-03T06:57:00.000-05:00

Hold Me If You Can

Author: Stephanie Rowe

Release Date: Jan. 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Soulfire Series #3

ISBN: #978-1402241970

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Escaping Hell was the easy part...

Nigel Aquarian has escaped with his life, and with his inner demons. He needs beautiful Natalie Fleming, the woman he’s admired from afar for years, to soothe his turmoil…if only she wasn’t consumed with her own problems…

Staying out is going to be the real challenge…

Ever since her brush with death, all Natalie wants is to run her famous chocolate shop and be left alone. But the only way she can kick-start her powers is by giving free rein to her sensual side, which Nigel is more than happy to help her explore…

With Nigel making quite a convincing case for losing control, Natalie is finding the temptation darn near irresistible…

What B is talking about:

Natalie Fleming is ready for a fresh start. She’s the only Sweet to ever survive a deedub (“demonic leprechauns of hostile origin”) bite, she has three days to get her chocolate shop ready for inspection, and the temporary restraining order against the creatures that attacked her is supposed to keep her safe. As a Mystic, as well as a Sweet, her sole desire is to create magick male mojo-increasing chocolate treats to help restore hope to the impotent. Unfortunately, her power of suggestion is on the fritz just now.

As a healer and an artist, Nigel Aquarian has dedicated himself to saving every warrior under his care, while finding lasting inner peace, and escape from his internal demons, for himself. But when the new leader of the Den of Womanly Pursuits uses Nigel’s gift of art, his only source of calm and healing energy, to kidnap one of his friends and threaten another, he needs help to get himself under control. The kind of help only Natalie can provide.

Unlike the first two novels in this series, Hold Me If You Can is a little bit more serious in places and adds more levels to the already busy list of conflicts Rowe has woven into her story. While this unpredictability works well to keep the pace of the novel quick and fun, I had mixed feelings about it here as the hopelessness of the two main characters continued to build. I found myself extremely eager for them to have some sort of respite. Still, as the story progressed, then drew to a close, I happily ignored everyone and everything around me, furiously going through the pages, unable to put the book down until the very end.

One of the best things about every book in this series so far is Rowe’s unapologetic infusion of humor into otherwise desperate situations. Hold Me If You Can follows in this tradition beautifully. Clever, snarky lines like, “Ah, it was always unfortunate when someone else had a valid point,” and, “Nigel. Chocolate. Nigel. Chocolate. What should she choose?” are scattered throughout the novel, practically waiting to ambush unsuspecting readers.

Although Hold Me If You Can could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading this series from the beginning. Rowe doesn’t spare her conflicted heroes anything, and the backstory definitely adds to the overall understanding of her characters.

The Soulfire series is one of the most unique I’ve read yet, and although it seems to have more conflicts and internal turmoil, Hold Me If You Can handily continues in that tradition. Rowe writes some of the most confused heroes I’ve ever seen, and some of the most beleaguered heroines, but she somehow makes it all work out in the end, with plenty of laughs along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this addition and can’t wait to find out what delightful torture awaits the next hero.

B’s Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Reading & Blogging Goals for 2012

2012-01-02T04:00:00.000-05:00

The NEW YEAR has arrived and everything starts anew. All the book lists reset to zero and there are so many possibilities.

READING CHALLENGES:

After my failed attempt to complete a reading challenge last year, I have opted not to participate, other than my usual goal of reading one book per week - so a goal of 52 books in 2012. I’ve added the GoodReads widget to my sidebar to help monitor that goal.

TRY SOMETHING NEW:

I have heard about and met so many great authors in the past year, and I want to read new-to-be authors and stories. My goal is to read 12 new-to-me authors over the course of 2012. I’ve already got a few on my schedule: Shiloh Walker, Mari Freeman, Stacey Kennedy, Jennifer Estep and Joan Swan all in the first three months of this year.

MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS:

We all have them! There are a couple (or maybe more *wink*) books that are scheduled for release in 2012 and I WILL be reading them. Here are the ones at the top of my list...

DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian (Jan 2012)

Midnight Breed #10: This is going to be the climatic conclusion to the Dragos story arc and Chase’s story. So. Good!

MIDNIGHT ENCHANTMENT by Anya Bast (Feb 2012)

Dark Magick #4: This series has gotten better with each book. I love the Fae meets modern world twist.

THE DARKEST SEDUCTION by Gena Showalter (Feb 2012)

Lords of the Underworld #9: Paris’ story. Need not say more.

NIGHTWALKER by Allyson James (Winter 2012)

Stormwalker #4: I adore this series. Mick and Janet are so perfect together. Book 3: Shadow Walker was my favorite book in 2011.

DIRE NEEDS by Stephanie Tyler (March 2012)

Eternal Wolf Clan #1: I adore Steph’s military suspense and her work as Sydney Croft is some of my favorite. I cannot wait to find out what she does with sexy shifters!

LOVER REBORN by JR Ward (March 2012)

Black Dagger Brotherhood #10: I just hope she treats Tohr right and of course, cannot wait to see more of Qhuinn and Blay!

HEART OF ATLANTIS by Alyssa Day (May 2012)

Warriors of Poseidon #8: This one is Alaric’s tale - he’s long been tortured by a forbidden love and I want to see how he explodes when he finally has it!

LETHAL RIDER by Larissa Ione (May 2012)

Lords of Deliverance #3: Have you been reading these books? OMG! What will happen next?!

GUNMETAL MAGIC by Ilona Andrews (Aug 2012)

Kate Daniels #5.5: The first “Kate” full novel told from the POV of another character - Andrea. I adore Andrea and she has had some rough times... can’t wait to find out what happens and who she ends up with (please be Raphael).

RIVETED by Meljean Brook (Sept 2012)

Iron Seas #3: No one tells a story like Meljean. Book 1: Iron Duke was hands down my favorite read of 2010 and I just love this series.

Unnamed Guardians #8 by Meljean Brook (unknown)
We all know this amazing series is coming to a close, and I for one will miss it. When I stalked Meljean’s website, I couldn’t find word about this book for 2012, but I cannot wait to read Michael’s story.
SO tell me... what are your plans for 2012? Do you have a TBR list a mile long? Have you set some goals? I hope we will continue to chat about it here at That’s What I’m Talking About.
Joyous New Year and Happy Reading!

Sunday Snippets

2012-01-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Happy NEW YEAR! I hope you are enjoying some relaxation time and possibly watching some football.

Sunday Snippets is taking a New Year hiatus. I'm not sure if it will only be for this week or if it will be longer. It's a time consuming post to run each week, and I need a little break. Hope to be back soon!

Happy Reading!

Jen