Monthly Archives: May 2012

Rachel Caine-Biography and Book series

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Rachel Caine-Biography and Book series

BIOGRAPHY OF AUTHOR RACHEL CAINE
http://www.rachelcaine.com/Rachel_Caine_-_Writer/About_Me.html

Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including the immensely popular Morganville Vampires series, the Weather Warden series, and the Outcast Season series.

In 2011, Rachel published the first novel of her new series, The Revivalist, with the release of Working Stiff in August.

She has been honored with a Paranormal Pearl Award and an RT Booklovers Award, and was recently awarded a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times. Her first young adult novel, Glass Houses, was chosen for the Texas Tayshas List in 2009.

Rachel has appeared as a guest at over 100 science fiction, fantasy, mystery and romance conventions and conferences over the past 20 years, including Dragon*Con, San Diego ComicCon, the World Fantasy Convention, and the World Science Fiction Convention. She has been featured in several national publications including People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and Vanity Fair, and on international, national and local television and radio.

She was born at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, attended Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a bachelors degree in business administration from Texas Tech University. She’s worked in many jobs, including accounting, graphic designer, insurance investigation, corporate communications, and web design, to name just a few. She became a full time writer in 2010.

Rachel is married to award-winning fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad, and has two iguanas as pets: Popeye and Darwin

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Young Adult Series
Glass Houses
The Dead Girls’ Dance
Midnight Alley
Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule
Carpe Corpus
Fade Out
Kiss of Death
Ghost Town
Bite Club
Last Breath
Black Dawn

WEATHER WARDEN series

Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Fire Storm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

OUTCAST SEASON series

Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

THE REVIVALIST
Working Stiff
Two Week’s Notice (August 2012)

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DIE FOR ME (YA) Revenant #1 by Amy Plum

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DIE FOR ME (YA) Revenant #1 by Amy Plum

DIE FOR ME (YA) by Amy Plum

DIE FOR ME is the first book in Amy Plum’s YA Revenant Trilogy. With the May 2012 release of Until I Die, I had the chance to read the premiere story. Set against the backdrop of modern day Paris, France, Die For Me can easily cross several genres including paranormal and urban fantasy.

Following the death of their parents, Kate and Georgia Mercier made the decision to return to their father’s birthplace in Paris France. Every summer the girls had vacationed at their grandparents home in Europe so the lifestyle and ambiance would be relatively familiar and easily accepted. But Kate’s depression worsened as the summer wore on and with the new school year approaching, something or someone would have to change.

Vincent is a revenant-an immortal who was once human. Revenants are re-animated humans who feel the need to sacrifice themselves continuously to save the lives of others. In his nearly 90 years, Vincent has only loved once, but he is drawn to Kate like a moth to fire. She is young, beautiful and alone. And on the occasions he has had the chance to talk, he has made a fool of himself. But there is something about Kate that he needs, he wants and he knows that falling in love with a human would place everyone in danger.

We are introduced to Vincent’s fellow revenant’s-the twins Charlotte and Charles, Ambrose, Jules, Jean-Baptiste and Gaspard. As part of their re-animation, the revenants must go into a once monthly ‘hibernation’ to refuel, but it is during this down time that their bodies are susceptible to attack and death-their mind and body will separate and the spirit becomes Volant-with the ability to leave and communicate with the others.And each time they ‘die’, their body must be recovered before medical science and the authorities take possession. As the relationship between Vincent and Kate develops, so does their ability to communicate during Vincent’s times of dormancy. Seemingly rare between a human and a revenant, so too is their ability to share one body, but Kate and Vincent are connected at a higher level than most.

Like every paranormal storyline, there is always the dark side. The numa-are a species of revenant who have chosen the bad side of life while human and now face eternity fighting a war against the good. But it will be Kate and her sister Georgia that will become pawns in the numa’s hunt to discover the current location of the revenant household and take out the lives of everyone close.

Die for Me is an interesting storyline. The characters make light of their re-animation, liking themselves to zombies without the grotesque bodies, but the premise of a self-sacrificing being who feels the need to die over and over to save others has its’ moments. Like all YA storylines, there is denial about love and need, as well as the risk of hurting someone you love, but I must give kudos to Plum, for she writes a story that shows respect for the adults as well as the young. Look for my review of UNTIL I DIE in May.

AMAZON Kindle: $2.05 Die For Me
KOBO: $1.99 Die For Me
B&N NOOK: $1.99 Die For Me

Reviewed by Sandy

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BLACK DAWN (Morganville Vampires #12 YA) by Rachel Caine-a new release review

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BLACK DAWN (Morganville Vampires YA) by Rachel Caine

Black Dawn is the 12th book in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. It picks up right where Last Breath left off. Morganville is in total chaos after the battle with the Draug. The one enemy that the vampires have tried to evade for centuries. Most of the Morganville inhabitants have been evacuated due to the danger lurking, literally, everywhere in Morganville. The ones still in town are trying valiantly to come up with a way to defeat, and ultimately kill, the Draug. The fact that the Draug are “water-like” creatures makes that daunting task a slippery slope. Michael and Eve are struggling to rebuild their relationship and their trust in each other after Michael’s rescue from the Draug in Last Breath. Let’s just say that after his rescue from the Draug, his vampire nature rose to the top!!! But, first, they have to try and defeat the Draug.

Claire, of course, is enlisted to help Myrnin (resident whacky, brilliant vampire scientist) to try and come up with something to help save them all. Amelie, the Founder, has been infected by the master Draug, Magnus, and is slowly slipping away. While she is being protected by Oliver, her 2nd in command (and enemy some days), others plot to take over Morganville as soon as Amelie is “gone”. Myrnin and Claire come up with ways to kill some of the Draug, and soon, they, along with Shane and Michael and Eve, set out to the water treatment plant to cut off the Draug’s access to Morganville’s water supply. Once they reach the plant, they split up to complete their separate tasks. Then, mayhem ensues. Shane is captured by the Draug and held captive. Claire, very unwillingly, is taken back to Founder’s Square (the vampires strong hold). She rallies her posse once again and goes back to rescue Shane. Enlisted to help are Richard Morrell (the mayor), Hannah Moses (chief of police) and Monica Morrell (resident mean girl). Mayhem ensues during the rescue, but everyone makes it out alive. This time……………

Then, things get really dicey!! I can’t tell you (without giving too much away) if they kill the Draug or not, but I can tell you that Shane is the one who astounds everyone. Not Myrnin. Not genius Claire. But plain ol’ Shane!! Then, things really get kicking! A lot of known characters show up in this book, who haven’t really been around a lot lately. And, O.M.G.!!! There are things that happen at the end that totally surprised me!! I totally didn’t see a couple of things coming, and, in my opinion, those things can only enhance the Morganville experience. There will be new foes, new alliances, and to quote a line in the book, “New rules, children. Brand new rules. Remember that”.

This book was written from several character’s perspectives. And, to be honest, I would have to stop and think sometimes whose point of view I was reading from. That said, it was another great book by Rachel Caine. I so love it when a book is a page turner, and this one was. I love it when I get so vested in the story that I don’t realize I can’t turn the pages fast enough until it sneaks up on me!! I wish that I could say more about what happens in the book, but, like I said earlier, I don’t want to give too much away. Thankfully, the 13th installment, Bitter Blood, comes out in November 2012, so I won’t have to wait too long!! I can’t bear to be away from Myrnin too long!!

Well done, once again, Rachel!!!!

Reviewed by Vickie

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UPCOMING Release dates

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UPCOMING RELEASE DATES

 

TITLE:  Forbidden

SERIES:  Bodywalkers

AUTHOR:  Jacquelyn Frank

Release Date: October 2012

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Rogue Rider

SERIES:  Lords of Deliverance

AUTHOR:  Larissa Ione

Release Date:  November 2012

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Outpost

AUTHOR:  Ann Aguirre

Release Date:  September 2012

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Throne of Glass

AUTHOR: Sarah J Maas

Release Date: August 2012

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CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare-a review

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CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (YA)  by Cassandra Clare

May 2012 Cassandra Clare will release CITY OF LOST SOULS (the 5th book in The Mortal Instruments Young Adult series). We offer a review of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (book #4).  

City of Fallen Angels is the 4th instalment in Cassandra Clare’s –The Mortal Instruments YA series. Continuing the adventures of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec, Cassandra begins this story a few weeks after the demise of Clary’s father and brother, Valentine and Sebastian, and the 3rd book -The City of Glass.

Clary Fray and Jace Herondale/Lightwood/Wayland are in love-fated to be together forever, but something continues to hold Jace back. Throughout this series, Jace has been plagued with self-doubt in regards to his ability to protect and defend those he loves, especially Clary. As Nephilium (children descended from the mating of humans and angels) the Shadowhunters seek out evil and protect the humans, but Jace has doubts. He is forever exposing Clary to a world of demons, vampires and fey-all of whom, want to know-the daughter of Valentine, one of the strongest ex-Shadowhunters known and a monster without equal. Clary is not without her own powers as she is capable of designing protective runes-one’s that seem to hold much power over those who would otherwise try to injure or kill the Shadowhunters.

If you are a fan of the Mortal Instrument series, you are well aware of the continuing struggle between good and evil, love and hate, Clary and Jace. This novel begins with the disappearance of several one-time members of Valentine’s ‘Circle’ and their bodies are turning up in different territories of New York. Werewolves, vampires, fey and Nephilium are all being blamed by each other for the ritual murders, but when the bodies of new-born babies, possessing demon-like features are discovered, the investigation is turned towards Valentine. These babies are eerily reminiscent of the experiments that Clary’s father had performed on his own children-resulting in Clary’s demonic-like brother Sebastian.

Clary’s mother Jocelyn is about to marry Luke, the alpha-male for the local werewolf pack, but something isn’t right. A visit from the Queen of the Fey warns Clary about her choices in love and life, and she is concerned when her beloved Jace begins to withdraw his affections and seems trapped in a world of angst and self-recrimination. When Clary’s best friend Simon (a reluctant day-walking vampire) disappears from the pre-wedding party, she goes looking for her life-long pal. But Simon has a few problems of his own-he has been dating 2 supernatural beings-Isabelle Lightwood and Maia, the young female werewolf, from Luke’s pack. Clary, presuming Simon has fallen victim to his dual life with the two women, goes hunting but finds herself trapped and threatened by love of her life, Jace. Waking up, Clary discovers she has been brought to a rooftop garden, in a building under construction and she is soon to be the pawn in a game of life and death.

An ancient vampiress and ‘old’ girlfriend of the Warlock-Magnus Bane has surfaced, and is looking to regain control of the vampires in New York. But when Camille is fingered in the deaths of the Shadowhunters and the babies, she is taken into custody, but not before, she tries to enlist Simon, in her plans to fight Raphael, the interim leader of the vampires. Camille’s disappearance and the subsequent re-appearance of a more deadly, ancient threat, have the Shadowhunters on guard. But when the Demon-Lillith gains control over Jace, Clary becomes a weapon with which Lillith uses to manipulate both Simon and Jace in her game to resurrect Clary’s brother, Sebastian. Simon’s power as a day-walking vampire and Jace’s connection to Sebastian through his resurrection in City of Glass, are the catalysts used to bring the former demon –child, back to life.

Cassandra Clare’s YA writing styles are similar to most YA authors. The teen angst between the major characters, as well as the negligent parental guidance, is always a factor in writing these storylines. I like The Mortal Instrument series, but as many of you know, I am not a big fan of the ‘whoa is me’ –young adult stylings. It is enough that I lived through it in my teen years, as well as with my own children, but my anxiety level seems to skyrocket, when ever I read about the crushes and love-lives of these fantasy characters. I want to take every one of these young adults and put them in a room together for counseling. Sadly, if that were the case, there would be no need to continue any of these series. I am enjoying this series. I want to see these characters happy, but at the present, everyone is heading for depression. I look forward to Cassandra’s next instalment in this series….”City of Lost Souls” in May 2012 and “City of Heavenly Fire” in September 2014….if –I can hold out that long.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Journey to Publication 2 – The Days After by M.A. Abraham

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JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION – The Days After

The Reading Cafe has been following  M.A. Abraham on her road to publication. We asked her to follow this up with her thoughts the days after the release of her first novel in the Elven Chronicles-GABRIEL.  Once again, let’s meet up with Gabriel’s author, M.A. Abraham.

 

 

Discoveries

Everyone has an opinion… as if I didn’t know. Some think Gabriel is the man… others think Marious is tops… other believe the real star of the book was Eden with her independent attitude. Diversity is good. This should make for some interesting discussions.

Good to Go!

The books are out early! They said we were to upload the material a minimum of 24 hrs. before release date, so they could check over the formatting… that was supposed to take a full day… 3 hrs later it was up and there were sales within 15 min.

Cannot complain about sales, we are doing well, considering these are e books and I am an unknown… my website is being hit from half way around the world. Netherlands, UK, USA, Canada, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece… wasn’t expecting all that.

The reviews came in and they were favorable… wiping brow off with back of hand in relief… people are beginning to send bits of comments through the contact list, and they are favorable… another relief.

Well, we are 3 days out of launch… people are telling me they are putting aside books that I would consider almost a sacrilege to think about in favor of Gabriel… jaw dropping a half a foot… cannot believe this. They have to be pulling my leg…

As long as things seemed to take before Gabriel was published, they seem to take just as long to settle. The book has been on the market for 3 days now… and I finally got an ISBN number for the book, which means it will now be distributed to e book stores… they don’t tell us how long that will take, just that it will be done… the guess is from 2-14 days… no guarantees. We know we covered all the bases… now our job is to move on.

Telling people who are writing to me to put their comments in a review… each one is worth something in the end. I appreciate hearing that they enjoyed the book, but I need the credits it would give Gabriel on the sites. Especially, as everyone seems to also want to see it in print.

Reviews are beginning to be posted on the book selling sites… they are also favorable. Alright… I can live with that… there are names there I don’t recognize, that means it isn’t all friends… even better, no pats on the back for a job adequately done that someone felt obligated to write. (ya, I know… the insecurity lives on… so shoot me)

10 days after publication

Time to do interviews… this feels like a ping pong match… you would think this would be a no brainer… oh, that is right, my brains packed and left home for a while… both sides.

Two weeks after publication

There isn’t much to say… sales are slow but steady… reviews are favorable on the average. Nothing under a 4 (no complaints from this end) It has been 2 weeks since Gabriel was released. No one has asked for money back. I guess that is a good sign. In some ways it is more than I should expect, I am an unknown… my work is different.

Tomorrow is the day the interview is going to be released and I am beat… I have a life beyond this, I feel as if I am dragging my butt behind me. Edits, rewrites, new storylines, book keeping, sales, trying to hold it all together… going to get lost for a couple of weeks, maybe the distance will give me clarity… too much going on in my mind, can’t sleep.

April 4 – today TRC ran the interview, and many of my friends participated… thought that was cool… hits on my own site also increased a lot as well, probably due to the exposure. I left them with a tidbit from Marious’ Story, just as a thank you and to tweak their curiosity. Yes, I know teasing again. As a friend in the UK said to me once, “You are bad.” I replied: “Don’t you just love it though.” His answer: “Yes, don’t change. It is so natural on you.” That was a fun trip.

Getting hits on my site from really different places, and I am getting a blast seeing where they are coming from.

Sigh…I need a break

Have had a meeting with my editor, she wants me to publish a few of my stand alone books… and I am supposed to be writing book 4 as well? When?

Time to Recoup

Took some time off, headed for the Canadian Rockies to visit with a couple of the bros, took two weeks to figure what was wrong with what I am trying to write… now I think I should be able to move on.

Is it time to start all over again?

Editor is coming on Sunday to start the edits on Marious’ Story… she read it through, says it is better than Gabriel…:D I wonder if that means less editing as well.

New plans have been forming… People are giving me little projects to go with the larger ones… good thing I have a head start here. Again with the secrets…:)

Working on keeping my name out in the public… publicity is another job and it is a good thing I have Becca to keep me on track… I can get pretty involved in what I am doing, and the rest of the world just does not exist. She reminds me that there is more to life than the written word, and the characters I am writing about.

M.A. Abraham,

That’s it for now folks. M.A. Abraham is now hard at work with more for us, as her Elven Chronicles will continue. The Reading Café will be there for her, and we will keep you in the loop, as M.A. Abraham’s journal will continue . If you have any questions, feel free to ask away, and perhaps M.A. will drop by and answer.


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SHADOW’S CLAIM-New release from Kresley Cole

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SHADOW’S CLAIM by Kresley Cole

From the Facebook pages of Kresley Cole:

Here it is, folks, the cover for SHADOW’S CLAIM! (11.27.12) I hope you love it as much as I do! [Below, I’ve got some more scoop on Trehan’s story and The Dacians Series in general] Background on the image: I put in a few cover requests for this one. I wanted to have the hero looking like he’d just returned from punishing the heroine’s enemies, basically a “you mess with her, you’ll see a man get mean” scenario. I requested mud on his grim face, a menacing stare that says “you’re next,” stuff exploding in the background, clothes all ripped up. And the art department delivered! That, my friends, is Trehan Cristian Daciano to a T!
Background on the book: Trehan (the master assassin from LOTHAIRE) enters a blood-sport tournament for the hand of Princess Bettina (his halfling mate). I wanted to depict a hero who desires his heroine so much, he’s eager to run into the fray for her, to spit blood with a grin on his face–because with every blow he takes and gives, he’s one step closer to claiming her (of course, Bettina has a mind of her own, and things don’t go exactly as planned for poor Trehan).
The Dacians Series is a sub-series of the continuing Immortals After Dark, with a focus on the royal Daciano family of vampires. The new books will drive forward the overarching Lore plot and will feature IAD characters–some that we know and love, some we’ve heard about in passing (for instance, Morgana, Queen of the Sorceri, is one of Bettina’s guardians!)
I hope you enjoy! 🙂

BACK COVER BLURB

Fall 2012
#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians, a new paranormal romance collection following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark.
Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful Sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament—to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED
Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER
Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL
Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever-pitch….

http://www.facebook.com/notes/kresley-cole/shadows-claim-back-cover-blurb/10150707284387920

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LAST BREATH YA (Morganville Vampires # 11) by Rachel Caine-a review

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LAST BREATH YA by Rachel Caine

Last Breath YA (Morganville Vampire #11) by Rachel Caine

Last Breath is the 11th book in the Morganville Vampire series. Lots has happened since the initial Glass House. Claire and Shane are in a relationship and have been through hell and back. Michael, who is now a vampire, and Eve are engaged to be married. Needless to say, that does not set well with either the humans or the vampires of Morganville.

With this book, the reason Morganville was selected is revealed. It’s in the middle of the arid Texas desert, where sunlight is plentiful and where the one true enemy of the vampires can’t reach them, until now. The Draug, who are fueled by water. Strange things start happening in Morganville and vampires start coming up missing. Of course, Claire is noticing something is not right. When she meets Magnus, a new guy in town, she knows down to her toes that she’s right. Something is wrong. And it takes her a little bit to convince others that things aren’t as they appear. Claire, by the time this book is written, is clearly in Amelie’s court. Amelie is the Founder of Morganville and Claire has her ear. However, in this book, Claire begins to wonder just how safe she is, and how safe she can keep her friends.

To say that I loved this book would be a huge understatement. When everyone realizes who and what has arrived in Morganville, all hell breaks loose. Amelie herself is terrified and we’ve never seen that in previous books. When she figures out what is going on, she simply says, “run”. Amelie makes truces, in order to try and save everyone, with those who would want to seize her power. When Michael is one of the ones who ends up missing, Claire and her posse to the rescue!! While reading the scenes where they find Michael and try to save him and others, I literally was holding my breath. A lot happens in this book. Main characters are injured, some physically and/or mentally. And this book just reiterates that Myrnin totally rocks!!!

There was so much left hanging at the end of this book. Who’s in charge? Who’s really dead? Will the Draug still be around?? New alliances formed? Relationships damaged? Hands down, this is my favorite book of the series so far and I can’t wait for the release of Black Dawn on May 1st. It is one of those books that I’ll be downloading on my Kindle at 5:00 a.m. on release day!!!!

Well done Rachel!!!

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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