Terry Goodkind Contest Giveaway!

Terry Goodkind Contest Giveaway!

Contest is now Closed – ended at 11:59pm 7/1/12
WINNER Announcement – link http://goo.gl/f8EMl


On July 2nd, Terry Goodkind is releasing his special e-format of The First Confessor:The Legend of Magda Searus.  There is a special limited edition collector’s package, of which only 300 were made available.  They went on pre order sale yesterday and sold out in 8 minutes. However, the wonderful Terry Goodkind has put aside a few copies to enable his fans to have a chance to win one of these fabulous packages.

The Reading Cafe is honored to be able to offer one of these packages to fans of Terry Goodkind.  The contest will run until midnight July 1st.  Below is the contents of the package and the rules to enter the contest.

Contents of “The First Confessor” Giveaway Package:
•Printed and Signed & Numbered Collector’s Hardcover Bound Book
•EBook Edition (Digitally Delivered on July 2nd)

•The Sword of Truth Sterling Silver 24″ Pendant & Chain (crafted by Rocklove Jewelry nyc)
•The Grace Sterling Silver Signet Ring W/Sealing Wax
(Exclusive-crafted by Rocklove Jewelry nyc)
•TuffWriter Stainless Steel Tactical Ink Pen (custom built and engraved by TuffWriter)
•Art Cards Collections featuring Artwork from “The First Confessor”
•”The First Confessor” Bookmark and Study Card
•DVD Featuring Downloads, Animation and  Short Films
•Unique Packaging Featuring Extruded Image of Book’s Cover
Link to Terry Goodkind’s Site for full package information, including special ebook 1st week ordering price.

Rules of Contest Giveaway (one winner will be selected from The Reading Cafe)

1. One entry per person

2. You MUST  post a comment on this giveaway thread answering the following question: 

      Name your favorite Terry Goodkind novel.

3. If you are registering using one of the social log-ins, please post your email address with your comment, as some such as Twitter do not allow for your email address.

4. Contest ends midnight July 1st, 2012

5.  The Winner will be chosen at random on July 2, 2012 from all eligible entries

6. Contest is open Internationally.

Good luck to everyone who enters.  And a special THANK YOU  to Terry Goodkind for the generous GIVEAWAY offer.

 

 

 

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An Interview with Clare O’Donohue

An Interview with Clare O’Donohue

Clare O’Donohue worked as a freelance writer & television producer. She produced the popular television show, Simply Quilts, on HGTV.  Clare has done a variety of other shows and has used her experiences in writing her two series…Someday Quilt & Kate Conway series.

We are happy to welcome Clare to The Reading Cafe.  Let’s begin our interview.

 

 

TRC: Hi Clare.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Let’s start with some background information. Will you please tell us about yourself?

Clare: I’m the author of six books, four in the Someday Quilts Mysteries series and two in the Kate Conway Mysteries series. Someday is my more traditional series, and Kate is a bit more sarcastic and complicated. When I’m not writing novels I’m a television producer. 

TRC: When did you start writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Clare: I’ve always loved reading and making up my own stories, even before I was old enough to read. I started actually writing stories as a teenager, and I became a newspaper reporter when I graduated from college, then about 13 years ago, I started working in TV. In documentary and informational TV, (HGTV, History Channel, Investigative Discovery etc…) producers write the shows we work on. So I guess I’ve always been a writer.

TRC: Many writers bounce ideas and information with either a family member, a friend or    another writer.  Who do you vent with or bounce off ideas?

Clare: I usually talk over my ideas with my sister, Mary, who is also an author (of a non-fiction parenting book). It helps to say things out loud, and be challenged to explain why characters are doing whatever they’re doing. It makes me see where I’ve gone off track, and often sparks some new idea.

TRC: What was your first book published?  What was your reaction when you found out your book was going to be published?

Clare: My first novel was The Lover’s Knot, the first in my Someday Quilts series. I wrote it in late 2006 into 2007, and it sold in Sept. of 2007. It was published in 2008. It was a bit of a whirlwind. When I found out it was going to be published, I think I screamed. Probably jumped up and down. I’m not a particularly emotive person, so that’s big for me.

TRC: Will you please tell us about the premise of the of your Kate Conway series?  How did you come up with the idea for this series, and how long did it take for you to write the first book of this series ..Missing Persons?

Clare: Kate is a freelance TV producer, working on everything from home decorating shows to true crime. Kate and I share a day job, which is where I got the idea. I meet people from all walks of life and they invite me into their homes and answer my long list of sometimes invasive questions. It’s the perfect job for an amateur sleuth. For a long time, I had this idea of a woman in the middle of a divorce when her husband dies. I liked how confusing that would be for a character. And I had this scene of Kate at her husband’s wake when the woman he left her for shows up. It sounds like something out of a soap opera, but I wanted to play it as it might happen in real life. People not wanting to make a scene, all the tension beneath the surface. It told me a lot about Kate’s personality that she wouldn’t kick her out, even though she might want to. Once I combined the TV producer and the woman in the middle of a divorce, it took me about 10 weeks to write Missing Persons. It sort of fell out of me.

TRC: Life Without Parole is your latest book in the Kate Conway series.  Can you please   tell us something about the premise of this story?

Clare: In Life Without Parole, Kate is in that odd in-between stage. Her old life ended with Frank’s death, and yet she hasn’t exactly started a new life. She’s sort of frozen, working too much and eating lots of take-out. She gets two job offers at the same time and takes them both, which is pretty common in the TV freelance world. In one she’s working on a show about the opening of a high end Chicago restaurant, owned by the sort of people who appear to have it all. In the other, she’s documenting the lives of two men who are serving prison sentences for murder. She finds herself drawn to these guys, their lives being as stuck in neutral as her own. Then, when someone at the restaurant is murdered, Kate leans on the men in prison to help her figure out who did it, and in doing so gets dangerously close to people she probably shouldn’t.

TRC: Someday Quilts is your other series, also in the Mystery genre.  You have 4 books   currently published in this series.   Can you please tell us the premise of this series? 

Clare: My Someday books center around the lives of five women who meet weekly at a local quilt shop owned by Eleanor Cassidy. Eleanor’s grand-daughter Nell comes to their little upstate NY town in the first book in the series, and decides to stay. Nell is curious, some might say nosy. She’s a bit of a romantic, but also fiercely independent. She becomes very close to these women, and to the local police chief, and helps (whether she’s asked to or not) when there’s trouble.

TRC: You worked on a television show called Simply Quilts.  Did this give you the idea on  your Someday Quilts series?

Clare: Simply Quilts was my first TV job, and I got it because I’m a quilter. Being around the guests of the show, and in the years since meeting other quilters, inspired me. Women (and men) who have nothing in common other than quilting are really bonded by this art form. I wanted to write about that.

TRC: What made you decide another series, and how would you describe the difference between the two series?

Clare: Both of my series are about friendship, love, and death. In Someday, there’s an optimistic spin to those subjects. In Kate, they’re complicated and sometimes painful. Just like an actor doesn’t want to play the same role his whole life, I didn’t want to always write from one point of view. These two series allow me to explore familiar topics in very different ways, and I think it keeps me more excited and interested in the process.

TRC: On your website, you talk about your career in Television as a writer and producer.  How do you feel this helped with your writing career?

Clare: I’ve met lots of interesting people, from politicians to killers, and getting to know all of them has helped me imagine very different lives from my own. And probably even more important, it’s helped me have the discipline to write on deadline. There are no TV producers with writer’s block.

TRC: Is there any other genre that interests you to write in the future? 

Clare: At the moment, I can’t imagine straying too far from mystery. I think the immediacy of a dead body really sets the characters on edge. It makes everything very important, very tense. People’s true nature comes out in crisis, and that interests me.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Clare: I’m writing the 5th in the Someday series, in which there are major changes in the lives of several of the characters. It causes Nell to rethink everything she’s been doing since she arrived in Archers Rest. And I’m also putting together my research for the 3rd Kate Conway, in which Kate delves into the life of a misunderstood historical figure and also makes a pretty significant leap in her own life.

TRC: Where do you like to do your writing?   In a quiet room…by yourself?

Clare: Generally I do write in a room alone. I will often say the dialog out loud to hear if it sounds natural, so being in a coffee shop just makes me look odd.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Clare: I do want to say that one of my favorite aspects of being a mystery writer is the lovely people – authors and readers – that belong in this community. I’ve made so many new friends since my first novel was published and it’s been an unexpected bonus to the job.  

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Anything sweet. Dessert is my weakness. 

Favorite Author: Too many to list – I read everyone from Elmore Leonard to Charlaine Harris. Donald Westlake’s ability to write both funny novels and dark novels has been an inspiration to me.

Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby was the book that made me want to be a writer, so that probably fits the bill. I loved the words, the phrasing. But honestly, I have so many favorites, and hopefully will keep discovering more.

Favorite Movie: The Quiet Man. My parents are Irish, and it was filmed near where my aunt grew up. It feels familiar and fun, and I like to think I’ve got a bit of Maureen O’Hara’s attitude in me.

Favorite TV Show: Justified, Breaking Bad & Mad Men. There’s not a wasted minute in any of these well acted, well written shows. I’m also a huge fan of Big Bang Theory.

Last Movie that you saw: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Do you have a favorite fictional character (not your own): Probably Nora Charles of The Thin Man. She was loyal, smart, could hold her liquor and knew how to patch up a bullet.

Thank you, Clare for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with your latest release, Life Without Parole.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

If you would like to know more about Clare, please visit her at the following links:

Website: http://clareodonohue.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clare-ODonohue/112467152159507
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/clare_odonohue

 

 

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Life Without Parole by Clare O’Donohue – a Review

Life Without Parole by Clare O’Donohue

Life Without Parole by Clare O’Donohue is the second book (April 2012 release) of her Kate Conway series.  In the first book, Missing Persons, we met Kate, who is a television producer, and her crew.  In Missing Persons, Kate solved the mystery of her soon to be divorced husband’s death, as well as finding who the murderer was in the missing person case she was filming. 

Life Without Parole picks up a few months later, with some of the characters from the previous book, which includes her two camera/audio friends, and her ex husband’s mistress, who wants to be friends with Kate.  Kate is still not totally over the death of her husband.  Though they were in the middle of divorce at the time of his death, she still thinks about their years together, even knowing he left her for another woman.  But Kate is alone, feeling sorry for herself, and her friends and family have become concerned for her lack of motivation to move on.

Kate receives two job offers.  To do a documentary of about Life Without Parole at the local prison.  This offer excites Kate, and she accepts it.  But then she receives another offer, something she does not want, but accepts that one due to the double pay.  This one is a reality show about a new restaurant opening.  Life for Kate gets hectic, as one of the owners of the restaurant is murdered, and once again Kate becomes involved in trying to solve the murder.  Of course Vera, her husbands mistress, who has befriended her and whom Kate can’t seem to get rid of, is the prime suspect.  Despite her reluctance to get involved, Kate feels the need to help Vera, whom Kate sees as too trusting and vulnerable.

Kate and crew, Andres and Victor, make their weekly visits to Dugan prison, to meet with two life time prisoners.  This is a very interesting aspect of the story.  No real mystery here, but both men during the visits will make suggestions to Kate on her ongoing murder investigation.  She learns to relax and be open with both of them, and a sort of trust develops. We get to learn about Brick, a hardened criminal, who accepts his fate of dying at the prison.   Tim is the other life time prisoner, who killed his wife, and later tells Kate he was innocent, and under the influence of drugs. Kate takes on Tim’s case to try to see if she can help him. This storyline of filming the documentary of the  prisoners in their every day life was interesting, and nothing dangerous.  However, nearer to the end, there is a change of events that takes a chilling turn, which may prove to be dangerous to Kate.  But a friendship made will be crucial in eliminating any threats.

The main storyline is the murder mystery at the restaurant and how Kate and  her crew work to help Vera, whom the lead detective is convinced is the murderer.  It seems throughout, almost all the investors in the restaurant are suspects. 

This is a murder mystery that has you baffled, especially with so many new twists along the way.  Kate Conway is an excellent character, and I enjoyed her sense of humor, her friendships with her crew, especially her unusual friendship with Vera, which is fun. 

Clare O’Donohue has created a wonderful and different character in Kate.  O’Donohue gives us a lot of humor and wittiness, into this interesting story, and the characters are very real, with normal real flawed people, which is a pleasure to watch.  Missing Persons had two ongoing storylines, as does Life Without Parole. O’Donohue has shown she knows what she writes, creates a real and detailed storyline, and flawlessy presents this mystery.  If you enjoy mysteries well done, then Life Without Parole is for you.  

Reviewed by Barb

Book provided by Publisher

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CRAIG WHITE Illustrator-Behind the Author

Craig White Illustrator-Behind the Author-An Interview

 

Craig White-Illustrator

Have you ever wondered who designed and illustrated some of your favorite covers?

The Reading Cafe would like to present CRAIG WHITE, an illustrator and artist. You will be surprised at the number of covers that you will recognize.

CRAIG WHITE Illustrator-BEHIND THE AUTHOR

 

NOTE:  All cover photos and pictures posted throughout the interview were designed and/or illustrated by Craig. All pictures are copyrighted to Craig White. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

TRC: Hi Craig and welcome to The Reading Café. As part of our new series featuring the people “behind the authors”, we are talking to publicists, agents and illustrators, and we are pleased to talk with the illustrator of some of our favorite covers including Lothaire by Kresley Cole, Lover Avenged by JR Ward and Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston.

TRC: WE would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Craig: I’ve been illustrating book covers since 1997 and been a freelance illustrator since 1993– wow, that’s a long time now that I think about it.

TRC: As a child, where you always interested in art and drawing?

Craig: Yes, I have a twin brother, Brian who is also an illustrator and we were both always interested in art– or at least as long as I can remember. We were always doing crafts of all kinds when we were young. Our dad made us this cool low craft table that had red sides and a glittery formica top… we would sit at that table for hours creating stuff.

TRC: Many children and young adults like to draw, but few show a real talent. Did your talent come naturally, or did you have to work to perfect your art?

Craig: I guess it came naturally, but certainly not easily. Brian always seemed to have an easier time with it– and I had to work at it more. I’m still working at it to this day. 😉

In the first grade I remember doodling in class while my teacher was lecturing. I was copying a cover of a joke book of all things, when my teacher, who was walking between the rows of desks, stopped beside my desk. I thought I was in big trouble, but she reached down, picked up the book and my drawing and showed it to the class and commented how closely I had copied the cover… I think that was life changing for me. It was that encouragement that made me realize it was ok to keep trying at it. Of course, I put my drawing away after the incident and payed attention to the teacher (finally). Now that I think about it, I guess that was my first “unpublished” book cover. Ha!

TRC: Did you parents support your interest in the art field?

Craig: Yes, but not at first as a career. Brian and I convinced my parents that “commercial art” was a legitimate profession and that we weren’t planning on being “starving artists”.

TRC: What type of education and training are involved in the field of illustration?


 

Craig: When I was in art school in the mid 1980’s, desktop computers where in their infancy. We did everything by hand. When the Macintosh’s became usable as a tool, it changed the commercial art community forever. There were some who resisted this computer age, but like most of my colleagues, I happily gave up my supplies for a keyboard and Wacom tablet.

I assume now, that computer courses are the majority of what is taught in art schools. Hopefully they still teach the basics with pencil and paper, but there are some amazing illustrators working today who never touch paper and just “draw” or “paint” right in the computer– and you’d never know otherwise. Truly amazing artists using 21st century tools.

TRC: Please describe what an illustrator does for the author/covers?

 

Craig: We draw or paint or photo-manipulate (or all of the above) the cover art for the book. Hopefully we help the author sell the book with our associated imagery. We don’t do the type for the covers. That is handled by the art director and / or designer.

TRC: As an illustrator becomes well known in the industry, do you have your choice of various covers or assignments, or are you contracted to specific authors etc?

Craig: I’m not sure…. I’m not that well known. I’m not really contracted to specific authors, but if I did a cover and it does well and the cover is well received, the publisher usually hires me to do the next in the series. I LOVE working on book covers, and I’m always interested in doing different styles– luckily, my clients usually like my work and give me more work in return. Also my agent is the best salesman in the world. 😉

TRC: Was there ever a cover that you disliked and refused to illustrate and why?

Craig: I’ve done covers that I wasn’t that thrilled with in the end. I’ve certainly had my share of failures, but I try and give 100% to each job I take. Sometimes the idea or concept provided is just not that great or weak. My least favorite covers are the ones where there is just too much information on the page. I try and limit the subject elements to no more than 3 (for example: Hero, sword, castle background), but sometimes the publisher thinks it’s necessary to add more and the imagery suffers (for example: Hero, heroine, antagonist, castle, animal in sky, etc.– yikes!). In my opinion, less is better when it comes to book covers.


TRC: Do you receive any information about the premise of the storylines, as motivation or direction for your illustrations for covers?

Craig: Yes. Sometimes I get an art sheet, which has a synopsis of the story, character descriptions and a scene the author likes. 99% of the time, the publisher supplies the concept they want me to illustrate. Sometimes I’ll receive a manuscript. If I do receive a manuscript the publisher usually wants me to pick a scene or come up with a cover concept, so I’ll read it and try and create a concept that is simple, and effective.

TRC: What is the most difficult aspect of being an illustrator?

Craig: Hmmmm. I guess the business part of the business is a drag– being self-employed is a blessing and a curse– but more of the former which is good! I love EVERYTHING else about my job.

TRC: Are you involved in the video promotion and illustration for the commercial release of the book?

Craig: I made some video promos for some of the covers I illustrated as an experiment to see if I wanted to get into that as well. I think they were pretty successful, but we didn’t get a big response and it kind of fizzled. Some of the video promos I’ve seen are really amazing… like a movie promo. How they can make them without having a “Hollywood” budget is beyond me.

However my agent and I are still working on an economical method of creating video promotion. Hopefully soon we’ll be presenting it to the publishers.

 

 

 

 

NOTE:  If you would like to watch Craig create this fantastic cover click HERE.  Watch the amazing video as Craig illustrates this cover.

 

 

 

TRC: Would you please tell us about some of your other work as an illustrator ie magazine, video, commercial ads?

Craig: When I first started out freelancing I did trading card art for Fleer and Marvel. Sports cards and comic book cards. Then I met my agent and did a series of “Give Yourself Goosebumps” by R.L. Stein. Over the years I’ve done lots of magazine work in a more traditional style– not photo manipulation that I do now.

NOTE: These R.L.Stein covers are only a few that Craig has illustrated.

 

TRC: What would you say or recommend to the young adults, hoping to enter into the field of illustration?

Craig: Learn to draw well. Learn to draw everything. Perspective, composition, and form are things I use everyday– and I learned all of that in the beginning by drawing.

And… it’s so amazingly easy to do… all you need is a pencil, paper and determination. You can draw almost anywhere at anytime–and it will only make you a better artist. How great is that?

I always recommend one book to anyone wanting to learn to draw– it’s “Drawing the Head and Figure” by Jack Hamm. Originally published in 1963! To me it is one of the best figure drawing books available. I think I have two copies. And it’s only like $8 I think. Cheaper than two non-fat latte’s at Starbucks!

TRC: *thinks to self*..I need a Starbucks run!!

TRC: Do you or have you ever mentored a new illustrator in the business?

Craig: Unfortunately no. Maybe someday.

TRC: Have you ever had an art showing?

Craig: Not yet. 😉

TRC: How old where you when you sold your first artwork?

Craig: Wow, probably in high school.

TRC: In which medium do you prefer to work and why?

Craig: I prefer to use my Mac for work… because it’s what I’m best at and what I can sell commercially. Last year I started painting with alkyds (oils)… which I loved. Nothing quite compares to putting brush to canvas– seeing form materialize before your eyes with just a brush stroke is amazing… also quite frustrating at times… but I love it all the same.

TRC: What are you working on today?

Craig: Today I’m woking on a highlander type romance cover… it’s not going well. 😉 But also a great sci-fi cover that is coming out great! Space suit, big weapon, futuristic city and space background… really cool.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Craig: One more thing to add to aspiring artists– don’t ever give up on your abilities. Even pros who have be doing this for years have trouble realizing their vision every day. I can’t think of a single illustration I did that didn’t frustrate me at some point. So just keep at it and realize it’s not easy for anyone.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Tex-mex! (I’m originally from Houston)

Favorite Dessert
Boston Cream Pie

Favorite Movie
That’s a tough one… Star Wars

Favorite TV Show
Right now it’s The Walking Dead (gross! I know, but I can’t stop watching it)

Last Movie you saw
The Artist

Last Book that you read
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (great!)

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

TRC: Thank you Craig for taking the time to answer some of our questions about the life of an illustrator. Please keep us informed to any new cover illustrations you are working on….maybe we can get an early scoop 😉

~~~~~~~~~~

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CRAIG?  Post a comment and ask Craig about his amazing covers.

~~~~~~~~~~

BIO

Link: Craig White Illustrations

Since 1993 Craig White Illustrations has been providing illustration services for the media industry. Craig’s work has appeared on the covers of best selling authors such as: Carrie Vaughan, Ellen Byerrum, Marjorie Liu, Glynnis Campbell,Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, Clive and Dirk Cussler, Laurell K Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Shelly Laurenston, Shannon K Butcher, Jacquelyn Frank, Kresley Cole, Thea Harrison, Christina Douglas and Erica Hayes. Craig’s work has also appeared on national magazine advertisements, packaging, outdoor and online media.

An avid snowboarder, surfer and musician, Craig lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter and faithful pug.

 SHANNON K BUTCHER-covers

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INFERNO- (Chronicles of NIck) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

INFERNO-Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon-cover reveal

Here’s the scoop on hero Nick Gautier’s next adventure:

The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen…
Nick has his driver’s license and he’s not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn’t what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he’s been told will ultimately kill him.

But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows…

Inferno will be out on March 19, 2013.

Reported by Marcie

LINK:  SHERRILYN KENYON website

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Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi-a review

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, is her debut novel in what is expected to be a trilogy.  With this first book, Rossi has impressed me very much with her writing and how she moves the storyline so seamlessly.  The reader is caught up in the worldbuilding that Rossi has created.

Under the Never Sky takes place in a world that is decimated by deadly Aether storms, with much of the human race divided. Rossi immediately brings us into this story of two worlds..an outer wasteland and futuristic domes.  This is considered YA, as it is a dystopian story, with a feel of paranormal. But like most YA lately, this is not just for teens.  It has teenage heroes, but the story is totally adult.

We first meet Aria, who has led a sheltered life inside the dome society, where they live in virtual realms.  They know very little of the outside world, as the powers that be have created an environment that protects those inside from the dangers that has destroyed earth from those storms. The virtual reality realms keeps everyone content.  But Aria misses her mom, who works within another dome, and she is determined to get in touch with her.  She and her friend go on a forbidden trip with some other boys, to see what is on the outside world, thinking she may be able to contact her mother. When the outing turns disastrous, Aria’s life is about to change for the worse.

Perry is an Outsider who has lived all his life outside of the domes. He has learned to live in this harsh world, with his family and tribe to fight off the elements. The outsiders world is filled with fear, due to the Aether sky, disease, and starvation. During his hunt for food to bring back to his people, Perry comes across the dwellers (Aria and her friends).  He watches from afar, but when one of the boys begins to attack Aria and her girlfriend, Perry comes to the rescue, and brings an unconscious Aria inside the Dome to be found later.  Only Soren, the boy who masterminded the trip, and who attacked Aria, survives besides Aria.  His father is one of the most powerful consuls, and to protect his son, Aria is framed for the other deaths.  She is exiled and sent out to die, to the outside death zone.  At the same time, Perry’s nephew is kidnapped by the Dweller Guards, and Perry sets out to find him.

Alone in what looks like a desert, and the Aether sky, Aria slowly feels like she is dying.  Perry comes across Aria, and though he dislikes her, he must help her, because she is the only link to find his nephew. The two of them clash immediately and only the need to survive, keeps them together in a forced alliance.  Aria looks at Perry as savage, and he sees her as a mole.

Perry is strong, and feral, but he has compassion and begins to feel sorry for Aria.  But she makes things difficult, as she was out of her element and the only way she knew how to handle herself was obnoxiously. Lol  She was very rude to Perry, who in a sense was keeping her alive.

But in time, Aria begins to come into her own.  She goes from a helpless girl, to someone who is determined to survive, as she learns how to defend herself, and quickly grows up.  She becomes a fierce, durable tough kick ass heroine, who eventually joins hands with Perry to help him find his nephew, and her find her mom. Perry has heightened senses that make him one of the more powerful outsiders, and one who can lead his own tribe as a Blood Lord.  The last 2/3’s of the story was very well done.  It was exciting, lots of action.  The romance between Perry and Aria moves slowly, as trust must come first, and each must learn about themselves.

I thought Rossi did a great job, as this is her first book.  Her world building was very imaginative, and her characters were excellent.  I enjoyed Roar, liked Marron and his home, can’t wait to find out more about Perry’s sister, and Cinder was totally different, should be interesting to see what happens to him.  Rossi made Perry and Aria, two unlikely pairings work, and by the end you loved them together.  The only negativity I have for this book, is both the beginning and the end.  In the beginning it was a bit slow and confusing, but this was necessary to learn the worlds.  But the end, is some thing I truly personally hate…. a cliffhanger.  Of course, I will read the next book.  How can I not, it was a good book, and I want to know what happens.  But I so hate cliffhangers.

Reviewed by Barb

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A Vampire’s Vindication by Alexis Morgan-a review

A Vampire’s Vindication by Alexis Morgan

A VAMPIRE’S VINDICATION by Alexis Morgan

A VAMPIRE’S VINDICATION is the 4th storyline in Alexis Morgan’s Vampire Series. Although written as a novella, it was a fairly short storyline introducing vampire Griff Tyler and chancellor Keelie Bronson. Under the assumption that Griff was responsible for her father’s death, Keelie is stunned when she learns the identity of her father’s real killer.

Following her mother’s death from lymphoma, Keelie Bronson must face some realities. She is alone, the man suspected of killing her father is paying too much attention to her and the attraction between the couple is palpable. But it is the contents of the envelope that her mother left behind, that has everyone anxious and looking for a means to an end.

Griff Tyler is a wealthy vampire with connections but it is his brother Becan whom appears to be making up for lost time. Hoping to find out the truth behind the death of Keelie’s father so that he can take control of the family estate, Becan attempts to force Keelie into revealing the contents of her mother’s envelope. But it is the protective nature in Griff that steps in, warning the others, that Keelie Bronson is his.

Keelie must face reality when it is revealed that her mother’s house belongs to the Tyler Clan of vampires. But upon her mother’s death, the house must now revert back to Griff’s family. Stunned that she no longer has a home, Keelie attempts to pack up the remains of her mother’s life, when the house is rocked, by several explosions and fire consumes what is left of her mother’s things. Hoping to secure Keelie to a safe place, Griff calls in reinforcements to help locate the person responsible for the attack on the home.

Thinking the perpetrator is Griff’s brother the search party is stunned to find that Becan was a victim, as much as Keelie. When the truth about her father’s death is finally revealed, it is a saddened Keelie that must face the ghosts that have haunted her all of her life.

A Vampire’s Vindication is a quick read, and one that is not necessary to the series storyline. This particular novella may be read as a stand-alone, as it does not impart any pertinent information, but like most novellas, the story is interesting and adds another dimension to Morgan’s Vampire series.

Reviewed by Sandy

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All I Want For Christmas by Alexis Morgan-a review

All I Want for Christmas by Alexis Morgan-a review

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS by Alexis Morgan

Alexis Morgan’s ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS can be found the in the December 2011 Christmas anthology-A Vampire for Christmas. Like most short stories it was a quick and easy read, the plot was interesting, the characters are lovable, but most of all, it will warm the heart-at any time of the year.

Eagan McHale doesn’t like Christmas. The cold makes him miserable and the twinkling lights-don’t even start. But several missing teenagers, has the vampire/undercover officer on the hunt. As the mangled and blood-drained bodies begin to mount, Eagan suspects newly turned or young vampires testing their prowess as predators. But night after night, Eagan is drawn to a little café, where the most beautiful woman haunts his dreams.

Della Breit, café owner and Christmas lover, keeps her clients happy, the hungry fed and her employees safe and warm, but a stranger in a long dark coat, mystifies and amazes. When the dark haired man finally enters the diner, she knows her life is about to change-forever.

As the story progresses, Eagan worries that his need for Della may inhibit his ability to think straight and keep his mind on the task at hand-hunting down rogue vampires, but when Della asks for Eagan’s assistance with decorating the shop for Christmas, he is surprised how quickly their relationship moves forward. There is an immediate attraction between the couple, and one that does not go unnoticed by the ever-present werewolves who work and tend the diner. Knowing that Eagan is not the only supernatural being who currently vies for Della’s attention, he tries to pull away, but an accident at the café, has Eagan dropping everything to tend to the woman who has invaded his thoughts. When Eagan attempts to heal Della, using both his tongue and his blood, he knows it was a mistake. He is now connected to the woman for all time.

The couple quickly amp up their relationship into one of sexual heat and chemistry, and when Eagan feeds during sex, he knows he is lost. This is his mate and the draw of her blood, will forever be his need. But when he senses her distress, not only does he hunt for the cause, but the werewolves who work with her, assist in the rescue of his mate.

WE are introduced to Tenn (chef), Lupe (friend) and Harry (client)-all supernaturals, as well as Daniel, the young boy caught in a loop of vampire feeding. Here’s hoping that Alexis continues their stories, in upcoming novels or novellas.

All I Want for Christmas is a wonderful addition to the anthology A Vampire For Christmas. As anthologies go, some stories need to be told, while others should have been left on the shelf, but All I Want for Christmas is definitely a story you will want to read. My only complaint.—it didn’t last longer.

Reviewed by Sandy

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