Monthly Archives: February 2012

NEW RELEASE INFORMATION from WICKED SCRIBES

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WICKED SCRIBES-New Release Information

  • There will be a fourth book in Elle Jasper‘s Dark Ink series, called Black Fallen.  It is due out in December.
  • The preorder links are up for two upcoming Darynda Jones‘ books.  Death and the Girl Next Door will be out on October 2nd, and Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet will be out on October 30th.
  • The fourth Nola O’Grady book from Katharine Kerr will be called Love on the Run, and should be out on August 7th.
  • Seanan McGuire‘s second InCryptid book will be called Midnight Blue-Light Special, and it will be out in March 2013.
  • Richelle Mead will be starting a new adult series next year called Age of X.  The first book will be called Gameboard of the Gods.
  • A Trace of Moonlight will be the next Abby Sinclair book from Allison Pang, and it is due out on October 30th.
  • The next Linda Robertson Persephone Alcmedi book will be called Shattered Circle.  Look for in on November 27th.
  • There will be a new Horngate Witches book from Diana Pharaoh Francis this December called Blood Winter.
  • November 27th will be the release date of the first Alien Huntress spin-off book, Last Kiss Goodnight.  The new Gena Showalter series is called Otherworld Assassin.
  • Poison Princess, the first book from Kresley Cole‘s upcoming Young Adult series, will be released on October 2nd.
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LENOBIA’S VOW by PC & Kristin Cast-a review

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LENOBIA’S VOW by PC & Kristin Cast-a review

LENOBIA’S VOW by PC & Kristin Cast

Release Date: Jan 2012

Young Adult 

LENOBIA’S VOW is the 2nd story in PC and Kristin Cast’s House of Night novella series. Each novella delves into the background and younger lives of the resident professors and vampyres at the current day House of Night. Dragon’s Oath was the first storyline, followed by Lenobia’s Vow and in July 2012, the release of Neferet’s Curse. As with most novellas, the story is both quick and easy, but the information into the past lives and loves, is always welcome.

It is 1788 and Lenobia Whitehall is the 16 year old bastard daughter of Baron D’Auvergne. She and her mother work as servants on her father’s estate. When her half-sister Cecile suddenly dies, her mother risks everything to send her only daughter away. Forcing Lenobia to assume the identity of her dead sister, Lenobia becomes one of the ‘fille a la casquette’-known historically as casket girl, refers to one of the women brought from France to the French colonies of Louisiana to marry.

When Lenobia arrives at port to board the sailing ship Minerva, she is stunned, when Bishop Charles, the parish priest who has eyes only for Lenobia, is granted passage on the same ship. The Bishop has an evil reputation, one filled with sudden and terrifying injuries and deaths, especially by fire. But word about his dalliances had reached Rome, and as suspected, the Holy Father has sent Charles to his new parish in the Louisiana, hoping to curtail the rumors about his ‘demonic’ personality.

Throughout the 8-week voyage, Lenobia remains secluded in her cabin, feigning sea sick, fearing Father Charles will recognize her as an imposter. But cabin fever forces her to wander through the cargo area, where she meets a young ‘mulatto’ servant named Martin, who tends the horses on board. Martin is the bastard son of a rich New Orleans merchant and his black slave, and has accompanied his father’s prized geldings homeward. But as a man of mixed race, he is unable to marry or enter into a relationship with a white woman, but the heart knows NO color, and Martin and Lenobia (or Cecile) quickly fall in love.

Upon return from one of her visits with Martin, Lenobia is discovered by Father Charles, who reveals her identity as a bastard child, and demands that she be put into his care. But Sister Madeleine, the girl’s chaperone, recognizes that something isn’t right with Father Charles. Sister Madeleine, admonishes Charles, but not before she takes Lenobia under her wing. When Martin realizes that Lenobia has not been truthful about her identity , the young woman must come clean with her story.

But soon, everyone onboard, recognizes that Father Charles has eyes for Lenobia, and the crew does their best to keep her safe. When Charles realizes that his attempts to keep Lenobia to himself have been thwarted, he takes revenge on all those who stand in his way.

Upon arrival in Louisiana, Lenobia is suddenly ill, but a visitor, a Tracker for the House of Night name Medusa, tells her that she has been chosen as one of the daughters of the goddess Nyx, and has been marked as a fledgling vampyre. Father Charles recognizes the vampyre and vows retribution. Martin pledges his protection to Lenobia, and vows to be her consort when she reaches full status as a HON vampire. But Charles exacts revenge and in the end, Lenovba vows, that she will never love another man as long as she lives.

Lenobia’s Vow is a short story, that explains the circumstances of Lenobia’s life. As the resident House of Night horse-trainer, Lenobia’s affinity with animals was recognized early on her voyage to the New World. Like all vampyres at the House of Night, each has an affinity, something that is special to each. Lenobia’s Vow is a sad reminder, about the history of slavery and racism in the 18th century, and the power of the Catholic church over their followers. Although they say love conquers all, love cannot stop the evil that was bred into the minds of the time. I have a great affinity for prequels, as long as they are interesting and impart information about the characters we know and love, and Lenobia’s Vow is another wonderful prequel.

READING ORDER: House of Night Novellas

1.  Dragon’s Oath
2.  Lenobia’s Vow
3.  Neferet’s Curse (July 2012)

Review by Sandy

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Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

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Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Celebrity in Death by JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts), is the 34th book in the In Death series. There are also at least 10 novellas in this series, which would bring the count into the 40’s of stories about our beloved Eve & Roarke. But 40 something books later, I still can’t get enough of this series.

 

 

 

Celebrity in Death is another excellent book, and the premise of this story revolves around a movie being made from an earlier case of Eve’s….The Icove Case.   Nadine Furst wrote a successful novel about the shocking case that Eve, Peabody, and the rest of Eve’s team, including Roarke solved.  Now the movie is being produced from Nadine’s book.  The story picks up with Eve and Peabody visiting the set, seeing the actors playing their roles, and meeting all other cast members.  That night, at a dinner for entire cast, including Eve & Roarke,  the evening ended with a murder of one of the cast members. 

The story is done very well, and it kept your interest, as you tried to follow Eve, as she deciphers the clues.  Celebrity in Death was a bit different then many of the recent In-Death books, as it was not as intense, less violence and somewhat not as exciting .  But this was still an excellent read, as you were kept in suspense as to who the murderer was until close to the end.  Then it was interesting to see the twist of how deep this murderer was in other crimes, and the eventual arrest.

But the best thing about this story was to be able to relax, and thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie of the wonderful recurring characters that make up the In-Death series.  As each book comes out, we get to enjoy them even more.   I enjoy many couples in the books I have read, but to me, nothing comes close to the relationship between Eve & Roarke.  I love them together…love how Eve looks at Roarke with amazement that he belongs to her…..how Roarke loves his cop…how when Eve is in the throes of her nightmares from her horrific childhood, Roarke is always there to help pull her out of it….love when he worries, and forces her to eat,  or relieves her tension with their wonderful sexual encounters…adore when Roarke takes her clothes out of the closet to tell her what to wear when she has an important meeting.    They are by far, such an awesome couple, and I never get tired of them.

As I said, the great thing about this series, is that over time, as Eve moves on with her life, and learns to let people into her heart, and care about them, you meet these wonderful recurring characters that have become part of your family too….Peabody, McNab, Nadine, Mira, Mavis, Feeney, Louise, Charles, Baxter, Trueheart, Trina, and of course, the wonderful Summerset, and not to forget the all important Galahad, who has saved her life twice.   Eve, who when the series started stood alone, not allowing herself to have feelings about anyone, and now once she opened the door falling in love with Roarke, you grow with her and see the changes in her.  Just to see them each time, makes me happy.  Excellent book, wonderful series.  

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my good friend, Irene, for convincing me to try this series…40 some odd books later, I have never looked back.  Thank you Irene, for giving me Eve & Roarke.

Reviewed by Barb

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ARCHANGEL’S STORM-Cover Reveal

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ARCHANGEL’S STORM-from Nalini Singh

The next instalment in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter Series is ARCHANGEL’S STORM.

Release Date: September 2012

Series:
1. Angel’s Blood………March 2009
2. Archangel’s Kiss……February 2010
3. Archangel’s Consort…January 2011
4. Archangel’s Blade…..September 2011
5. Archangel’s Storm…..September 2012

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Highlander for the Holidays Review

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Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman – a review 

(New Spellbound Falls Update follows review)

I find it difficult to put into words what exactly it is about this novel that endeared it so greatly to my heart, and left such a profound, satisfied glow upon completion. I have found much to appreciate in each of Janet Chapman’s novels; the Midnight Bay trilogy resides amongst my favorites of her work–yet this is only the second of the Highlander series I would rate at 5 stars. Aside from my emotional connection to this emotionally charged journey, the plot was finely crafted. The lead characters were both ripe with substance, and fleshed out with their inward and outward imperfections. Being a lover of the classic style in the fantasy genre, I am rarely so impressed with the contemporary side. Nor am I typically so taken with this much realism mixed amongst my fiction…however, this novel had me since the very first page.

Not since Michael MacBain have I adored the male lead of this series as much as I did Ian MaKeage. Reliable in the honor so deeply ingrained within him, infallibly compassionate, utterly selfless, and as solid as Tarstone Mountain. He somehow manages to walk that fine, complex line between the civility of the modern time to which he was born, and the intense, alpha code of his ancient Highlander heritage. There is quite the intriguing twist I was not expecting with Ian, one that comes with a choice he must make towards the end of the book. Ms. Chapman kept this happenstance painfully vague, and I look forward to what it means for the future of this story arc.

Jessica Pringle was equally wonderful in her role as female lead. She was everything I look for in my heroine’s. Despite her terrifying past, and the horror she has suffered, she holds a loving, and compassionate nature. This character was so real, believable, and inspiring to anyone who has led a similar life. Jessie has been repeatedly knocked down, yet just as many of us are required to do in our lives; she simply rises to her feet, brushes herself off and continues to put one foot in front of the other. Instead of holding on to her bitterness, and allowing herself to be untrusting of any man who should come into her life–Jessie bravely accepts what she cannot change about yesterday, and focuses on what may be in store for tomorrow.

In addition to this superb couple, and the unfolding of their tender, and sweetly romantic relationship–it was enjoyable meeting great side characters in Merrissa, and Roger, as well as many of the next generation MacKeage’s and MacBain’s. I wondered if the eccentric “justice of peace” was simply a cheap replacement for “father” Daar, (who moved to Midnight Bay with Kenzie Gregor) but I quickly found myself MORE enamored and attached to Roger. What a fabulous, humorous, whimsical character. I look so forward to reading more about him with the (hopefully) next installment in the Highlander series.

I would recommend Janet Chapman’s; Highlander for the Holidays, to anyone looking for a fun, marvelously written escape into the magical and charming Highlands.……..of Pine Creek Maine that is! 

*Spellbound Falls Series Update*

Janet Chapman has a new release today.  Spellbound Falls is the first book in her new series…The Spellbound Falls.  As noted above, this series is spin off–from the Midnight bay trilogy (which was a spin off of the original Highlander series.) 

Spellbound Falls

 

A newcomer to Spellbound Falls, Maine, Maximilian Oceanus is trying to get a handle on fatherhood. But his newly discovered six-year-old son wants to find his father a wife. Too bad Olivia Baldwin wants nothing to do with the dangerously seductive Mac–especially with all the weird stuff happening all around him.…

The second book of this series, Charmed by His Love is scheduled for May 29, 2012, and the third book of the series Courting Carolina is scheduled for September, 2012.

This is straight from Chapman herself:
Duncan MacKeage who is Callum and Charlotte’s son (from the Highlander series)–is my hero in my June release coming up; Charmed By His Love (A Spellbound Falls Novel). And Alec MacKeage, whom you met in Highlander for the Holidays, is the hero in my September release, Courting Carolina. (Yup, I’ve brought some of my highlanders to Spellbound Falls!)

Review and Update by Miranda 

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ECHOES AT DAWN by Maya Banks

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ECHOES AT DAWN -Maya Banks

Echoes at Dawn
KGI Series, Book 5

RELEASE DATE: JULY 3, 2012

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

They live by night.

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

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

FROM THE WEBSITE OF Maya Banks:

The Kelly/KGI Series centers around a military family. There are six Kelly brothers, all of whom served in different branches of the military. When the idea for this series came to me, the first question that always pops into my mind is where? For me this answer was immediate. I lived in Paris, Tennessee for several years and spent many a day on Kentucky Lake and in the Dover area. For me, it was the perfect place to base the stories.

The Kellys are a lot of fun to write. They’re loyal, hard working, fiercely competitive and family is the most important thing in their lives. Marlene Kelly is the matriarch of the large family and has a penchant for collecting “strays” as her sons tease her endlessly over. Over the years she’s added “adopted” family members to the fold and she incessantly mothers them all. Her most recent addition to the Kelly clan has her sons up in arms, but Marlene didn’t raise six rambunctious sons by being a wimp!

The first book in the series, The Darkest Hour, finds the Kelly family in turmoil after the death of Ethan Kelly’s wife a year before. Rachel was much beloved by all the Kellys and Ethan hides a dark secret about the state of his marriage before her fateful mercy mission to South America—the one she never came back from. Now on the one year anniversary of her death, he receives startling information. She’s alive.

 http://www.mayabanks.com/books/main.php#connected-kgi
READING ORDER
1.  The Darkest Hour
2.  No Place to Run
3.  Hidden Away
4.  Whispers in the Dark
5.  Echoes at Dawn (July 2012)
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HEART OF ATLANTIS by Alyssa Day

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HEART OF ATLANTIS-Alyssa Day

Heart of Atlantis: From the website of Alyssa Day

And the excitement continues!! Wow!! Wait for it – the one book you’ve been DYING to have!! Yes, I’m talking about Alaric!!! HEART OF ATLANTIS will be coming December 4th, 2012!! For all of you Quinn and Alaric fans, this is going to be THE book. When Alaric finally discovers how the Atlantean elders have been deceiving him all this time, the entire world will be in danger!

HEART OF ATLANTIS will be the final book in the first arc of the WARRIORS OF POSEIDON series. BUT DON’T WORRY!! I PROMISE TO WRITE DENAL’S BOOK AND JACK’S BOOK!!

I asked and you answered–and the answer was overwhelmingly YES! So I will be writing a series of short stories about what happens when Princess Riley and the gals bring the holidays to Atlantis! I had a visual of Alaric’s face when they try to explain the Easter bunny to him, and I knew I had to do it!

THE NEW SERIES! 2012 will see the release of the first book in THE LEAGUE OF THE BLACK SWAN. When the Dark Wizard of Bordertown unleashes his power to protect the only woman he has ever loved, the dark forces trying to take over the supernatural community in New York City had better watch out! I love writing these books and I can’t wait to share them with you.

http://www.alyssaday.com/news.html

FROM AMAZON:

Alaric, Poseidon’s High Priest, has made a vow to Quinn, the woman he loves and the leader of the Resistance: to save her friend Jack before his last bit of humanity has been drained. Should Alaric succeed, there’s one danger-he may lose Quinn to the love of the man whose life he saved…

 

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Rebecca Hamilton Interview & Giveaway

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Rebecca Hamilton Interview

The Reading Café welcomes Rebecca Hamilton, who has published her first book…The Forever Girl.  Before we start the interview, here is a little about Rebecca.

Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1985

Hometown:  Not sure. I moved so much, that I’ve never really lived in any one place long enough to consider it a hometown. I guess Hamilton, N.J., since that is where I tell people I’m from (because that’s where I spent my most formative years).  Currently resides in Florida.

Favorite Authors of Fiction:  Nancy Pickard, Marisa de los Santos, Anne Rice

Writing Genre:  Paranormal, Fantasy and sometimes Horror and Literary Fiction.

Interview:

TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

R.H:  I have always enjoyed writing but I didn’t get serious about it until about four years ago.

TRC: What is the first piece of work that you have ever published?

 R.H.: The Forever Girl

TRC: How does it feel to see your work available for others to purchase? 

R.H.: It’s a bit exciting but also nerve-wracking. No matter how complimentary some reactions are to the novel, I tend to feel like the negative comments are what I need to pay attention to. And that’s probably true, in a sense, but I wish I had enough confidence to enjoy having my work published a little more.

TRC:  Tell us a little about the premise of The Forever Girl.   

R.H.: The Forever Girl is about a young Wiccan woman who’s cursed with a hissing noise in her head. Doctors couldn’t help, so she tries a ritual instead. The results are anything but what she expected. As Sophia digs deeper and deeper in her search to find silence, she uncovers a dark supernatural world, and her problems worsen. The only person who might be able to help her is a man she’s not sure she can trust.

TRC: Do you consider The Forever Girl as Urban Fantasy?  How did you come up with the idea of the story? 

R.H:  Eh, I guess some might say so, but I don’t think it fits neatly into the genre. It doesn’t take place in the city, Sophia isn’t some crime-fighting toughie, and there’s no one on the cover dressed in leather and sporting a navel ring.

As for the story idea, it sort of came to me with a “what if” question. Unfortunately, one of the characters took over and we don’t get to that question in book one. But the question had been: What if you had to kill the man you love in order to save him? And that should come into play the next time we see Sophia in this series.

TRC: Do you have plans for more books in The Forever Girl series, and if so how many? 

R.H: There will be seven books in total, along with some standalone-but-related novellas to hold readers over in between. Books 1, 4, and 7 feature Sophia, and books 2, 3, 5, and 6 are new characters.

TRC: What are you working on now?

R.H: I’m working on Her Sweetest Downfall (one of the Forever Girl Journals [ie: novellas]) and Come, the Dark (which is more formally book two in the series).

TRC: Are you interested in writing other genres?

R.H: Oh, yes! I have written a literary fiction novel and have another one planned, but haven’t have a chance to get back to them yet. I’m also co-writing a couple horror novels with my writing partner, R.P. Kraul.

TRC: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers, about what you have planned for the future?

R.H: I think my books are sort of genre mash-ups in some way, so I’m counting on an audience that won’t mind that. For example, some books in the Forever Girl Series are more paranormal fantasy while others are more historical paranormal romance and yet others might fall under a difference variation of paranormal. My plans for the future are to put my work out there and try to find the right readers for my books, despite my genre-bending and mash-up tendencies.

TRC: When you write, do you use a computer or first put pen to paper?  Who is your muse? Do you bounce your ideas off anyone in particular?

R.H.: I use a computer. My muse … it’s usually a combination of my writing buddy, R.P. Kraul, and whatever character I’m writing at the time.

 

 LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Song: Rolling in the Deep, by Adele

Favorite Music Group: I don’t have a favorite!

 Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk

Favorite Food: Tacos, usually. Or anything sweet.

Favorite Dessert: There is no way I could pick one.

Last Vacation Destination: Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite TV Show: Make it or Break it, Dexter, or True Blood

Favorite Movie: Becoming Jane

Favorite Actor/Actress: Emma Stone or Natalie Portman

 Favorite Fictional Book Character: Cornelia Brown, from Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos or Jody from The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

Thank You, Rebecca for being our guest on The Reading Café.  We enjoying having you and wish you luck with The Forever Girl.  We look forward to seeing you again soon.

~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~

Rebecca has graciously offered to give a lucky member of The Reading Café a free e-book of The Forever Girl.  You must be a member of The Reading Café to be part of the giveaway.  A winner will be chosen at random, and Rebecca will send the e-book to the winner via email.  Good Luck to all.

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