Monthly Archives: July 2012

V Plates (Men of the Otherworld) a short story by Kelley Armstrong-a review

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V Plates (Men of the Otherworld) by Kelley Armstrong

V PLATES (A Short Story) by Kelley Armstrong

V PLATES is a short story found in the anthology BLOODLITE III: Aftertaste (May 2012 release). A book with approximately 30 short stories by authors such as Kelley, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jim Butcher, Bloodlite III: Aftertaste is a publication from the Horror Writers Association. And since we have been focusing on some of Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld novels, V Plates is a rather interesting look at Nick’s new -found attempt at fatherhood.

In the novel Frostbite, we are introduced to 3 new characters werewolves: Noah the 16year old son of a former pack mate: Reese, a 20 something import from Australia on the run from his past: and Morgan- a Canadian werewolf living with a real wolf pack in Alaska. V Plates is the story behind Noah’s first foray into manhood, and Reese’s attempts to find Noah an experienced woman.

Noah was tired of being teased about his virginity. At 18, he was small for his age, and the other guys at school made it a point to tease Noah about his lack of sexual experience. And to complicate matters, Noah dumped his girlfriend in order to hook up with the school bad girl. But Reese had another idea in mind. Heading into the city, Reese had booked a night of sexual pleasure at the local brothel, and Nick was not too pleased that Noah had gone to Reese with his sexual concerns and questions.

But all too soon, the local house of ill-repute was something from a horror movie. Reese’s senses went into overload when he recognized the stench of death. When an oversexed lady-of-the-night insisted on entertaining Reese, he made sure that Nick went along for the ride. And once in the room, it would become readily apparent why Nick was suddenly Reese’s wingman. How Nick missed the scent of death is questionable, but a fight with a houseful of demons and zombies, would ensure that Noah kept his virginity for another tale.

V PLATES is approximately ONE chapter in length. Kelley has promised to write a series of shorts so that her fans would not be disappointed, and V Plates is the first of many –we hope. A lighthearted look at Nick’s attempts to raise a teenage boy and young man with only his own experiences to draw from, V Plates is a great addition to the Men of the Otherworld series. FORBIDDEN (December 2012) will focus on Morgan.

reviewed by Sandy

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An Interview and Giveaway with Kalayna Price

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An Interview with Kalayna Price


The Reading Cafe is thrilled to have Kalayna Price with us today.

This is a very busy time for Kalayna, as she has just released her third book in her Alex Craft series, and will also release her third book in her Novels of Haven very soon.

Let’s meet Kalayna.

 

 

 

 

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

TRC: Can you please tell us about yourself?

Kalayna: Well, I’m the author of two urban fantasy series, the Alex Craft novels and the novels of Haven. I’m also a hoop-dancer, a painter, a photographer and recently I decided to learn violin (in all that free time I don’t have. LOL. Of course, I’m also an avid reader.

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

Kalayna:I started my first ‘novel’ at twelve. It was one of many false starts. I didn’t get serious about writing until I was twenty-three. Then I actually sat down and worked through the stumbling blocks that had always stopped me before and wrote my first real novel in just under three months.

TRC:  We see in your bio, you like to paint or take pictures with a camera.  Is this your hobby, or perhaps a way for you to relax and get more ideas to write?

Kalayna: Both are hobbies. Photography reminds me to stop and actually look at the world, so you could say it influences my writing. Painting is simply a relaxing hobby these days. It let’s me transfer my thoughts into a different medium.

TRC: What was your first book published?  ONCE BITTEN from the Haven novels?


Kalayna: Yes, Once Bitten was my very first novel, both written and published.

TRC:  How did you come up with the idea of Kita and the Haven Novels?  The third book in this series, Third Blood comes out in August. How many books do you plan for this series?

 

 

Kalayna: Ideas are so hard to pinpoint. Writers are like sponges—we suck up all the information around us. There it simmers until something new emerges. Kita and several of the other characters just showed up one day and started talking. So I’m sure many things inspired them, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what. As far as my plans for the series. There will be two main arcs over the course of six books. Third Blood will end the first arc and start the second, so I’m very excited to share it.

TRC: Can you tell those who are new to your books the premise of the Haven Novels.

Kalayna: The stories follow Kita Nekai, a shapeshifter on the run from her clan and responsibilities. In the first book she gets turned into a vampire and drawn into the underworld of a city called Haven. If she thought being the smallest shifter was hard, being a dead one really sucks. Literally.

TRC: The Alex Craft novels is your other series, with the third book, GRAVE MEMORY out this month.  How many books do you plan for this series? 

Kalayna: I have a definite end planned for the series, but I’m not sure how many books it will take for Alex to reach that end. Currently six books are contracted for the series.

TRC: Can you tell us the premise of Alex Craft, and also something about Grave Memory.

Kalayna: Alex Craft is a grave witch, which means she draws the memories from the dead in the form of shades. She uses this ability in her PI business and also to assist the police. Unfortunately, business isn’t going well, so she’s broke. When a case involving a dark cop, a sexy reaper, and a soul silencing killer lands at her feet, she has no choice but to take it. But this case might cost her more than her rent—it may cost her soul.

TRC: Both Alex Craft and the Haven Novels are Urban Fantasy.  Do you ever think about writing another genre in the future?

Kalayna: I have a couple ideas on the back burner, including a futuristic dystopian and a YA, but right now I’m focusing on only these two series.

TRC: You consider your writing genre as Urban Fantasy.  How do you explain to someone-what is Urban Fantasy literature?

Kalayna: Urban Fantasy is a mixed genre. At it’s most basic level it is a story in which fantastical elements are essential to the plot. But books in the genre also draw strongly from other genres so most have elements of romance, horror, humor, and/or mystery. The voice can be anything from a sassy chick lit to a dark noir. It really is a diverse and fascinating genre.

TRC: Who is your favorite Author?  Did this author inspire you to write urban fantasy?

Kalayna: Oh, that is too hard to narrow down. I love tons of writers, both in and outside my genre. I will say though, until I was about fifteen I wrote mostly High/Epic Fantasy. Then I read the early Anita Blake novels and wanted more of the same, but at that time, the genre didn’t exist. So I started writing what it was I wanted to read—which later became known as Urban Fantasy.

TRC: What is your favorite book you have read?

Kalayna: If I can’t narrow down an author, I definitely can’t narrow down a single book!

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Kalayna: I’m currently finishing up a Haven Novel and am about to start the next Alex Craft novel.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Breakfast

Favorite Movie: Labyrinth or Princess Bride

Favorite TV Show: Don’t really have one

Last Movie that you saw: Despicable Me

Last book that you read: I’m currently reading Blood and Bullets by James R Tuck

Favorite Character from books you have read: Oh no, definitely can’t narrow that one down.

Last vacation destination: Uh. I can’t remember the last time I took anything but working vacations. I should put vacation on my to-do list. ^_^

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kalanya: Thank you so much for having me here. I’ve had a lot of fun.

TRC: Thank you, Kalayna for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with both Grave Memory and Third Blood.  We look forward to talking with you again in the future.

Kalayna: You as well!

****GIVEAWAY!!****

Kalayna and her publisher have graciously offered to give five (5) members of The Reading Café a chance to each win copies of the first two books of her Novel of Haven series. 

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hello to Kalayna

4.  Giveaway open to US or Canada only

5.  Contests runs from July 12-15, 2012.

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Kalayna Price Biography-Bibliography

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Kalayna Price Biography-Bibliography

Biography


Kalayna ((pronounced Kuh-LAY-nuh)) Price has always been an avid reader and dreamer. At ten she raided her father’s fantasy fiction bookcase and her already active imagination went into hyperdrive. Her first love was for the epic adventures and mythical races and creatures of high fantasy, but she has always been drawn to things that go bump in the night. It is that darker side of fantasy where she currently devotes her words.

Kalayna is the USA Today Bestselling author of two dark urban fantasy series: the novels of Haven and the Alex Craft novels, both of which have been translated into several languages and are available all over the world.

The Haven Novels, consisting of ONCE BITTEN (January 2009), TWICE DEAD (February 2010), and THIRD BLOOD (Fall 2012), follow the story of Kita Nekai, a kitten shapeshifter on the run from her clan and responsibilities, who is turned into a vampire and entangled in the supernatural underworld. The Alex Craft novels consist thus far of GRAVE WITCH (October 2010), GRAVE DANCE (July 2011), and GRAVE MEMORY (July 2012). The novels follow series title character, Alex Craft, who is a broke magic-eye for hire who speaks to the dead. In the first book, Grave Witch, a case with a sexy reaper, a dark cop, and a ghost-silencing killer has more than Alex’s rent on the line—it may cost her soul.
Kalayna draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her readings of classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery.

When not writing, she can be found reading for both pleasure and research, locked in her studio with a paintbrush, out in nature with her camera, or just about anywhere with a hula-hoop. Yeah, you read that correctly. Kalayna thinks hoop dance is about the most entertaining form of exercise on the planet, and has been known to hoop with fire.

Bibliography

Alex Craft Novels
Grave Witch – book 1
Release Date: October, 2010

Grave Dance – book 2
Release Date: July, 2011

Grave Memory – book 3
Release Date: July, 2012

Novels of Haven

Once Bitten
Release Date: January, 2009/re-release January, 2012

Twice Dead
Release Date: February, 2010

Third Blood
Release Date: Summer/Fall 2012

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Monsters: A Bloody Love Story by S.M. Reine-a review

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MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story by S.M.Reine -a review

MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story (The Bloodless) by S.M. Reine

MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story is an urban fantasy novella released June 2012. The storyline follows Julieta Moreno, a woman who (by day) works as a detective on the metaphysical task force studying the effects of vampire venom and (by night) as an assassin of the Bloodless.

At university, Julieta fell in love with the man of her dreams. Michael was everything and more-he was a god. But Juileta had always felt unworthy-a little overweight and of mixed race she never dreamed that one day Michael would ask her to be his wife. But her life hit rock bottom, the day Michael told her they were through.

Julieta was devastated. Numb from the pain of the break-up Julieta sought out the one person who could teach her how to be a better assassin. As the years went by, Gregor was able to hone Julieta’s skills to form the perfect killing machine. But life caught up with Gregor, and he had to move on. And soon, Julieta would meet Alec- a man who reminded her so much of Michael that it hurt to even look at him. And Alec was the epitome of death. With his physical power and ability to kill the Bloodless, Julieta had found a perfect companion and partner in Alec. But the day Alec told her that he loved her, was the day she walked away.

Several years later Julieta is stunned when Alec returns. Knowing she had made an error with Alec, Julieta was willing to open her heart once again, but the reality of Alec’s true identity would force Julieta to make a decision that would nearly end her life. Finding herself tortured and close to death, the man she once called a partner, is the only person willing to risk his life for her own. But someone from Alec’s past would once again force one of them to make a decision, and Julieta would find herself alone again.

Julieta put all of her efforts into training. Recovery from her injuries was taking its’ time, but her life as an assassin was one of the things she knew best. And training for her next encounter with the person who destroyed her life, not once, but twice, fueled her determination. But another goodbye was something Julieta could no longer afford, and the ultimate betrayal would force her to choose between the person she once knew and what he had now become.

MONSTERS; A Bloody Love Story is in interesting read. Told in first person POV from the mind of Julieta Morena, the story takes the reader on a dark ride through love and the HEA to the pain of betrayal and beyond. Like most urban fantasies, there is no warm and fuzzy ending, and the knowledge that Julieta had been betrayed on so many levels, tugs at your heart and your soul.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Once Bitten by Kalayna Price – a Review

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Once Bitten by Kalanya Price – a Review

Once Bitten by Kalayna Price is the first book in her Haven series., which is considered Urban Fantasy.  The heroine in this book is Kita, who is a cat shapeshifter, and she has been in hiding for years, from her clan and the clan’s leader, her father.  Kita, who shifts into a calico cat, ran away because she didn’t feel her little cat belonged with the larger cats, and she would be the heir apparent.    She lives and barely survives in a town called Haven.

I thought the story started a bit slow, as Price tried to lead into the story, introducing us to Haven, and its underworld, but it does pick up quickly.  Kita can sense hunters chasing her, and knows her father has sent them to find her, and return her to the clan, something Kita does not want.  When she needs to find a place to live, or food, Kita will shift into her cat, and live as someone’s pet.  But on this occasion, she finds herself in a bar as a human, and is drugged.  While running away to try escape, she is attacked by a hunter.  When she wakes up, a strange woman is trying to heal her.  She learns from the woman and the man who saved her, that she is now a vampire.  A shapeshifter, who can no longer shift, and now must drink blood to survive. 

Kita is not your normal heroine.  She is feisty, totally independent, and very difficult to control.  Nathanial, a vampire, who is known as The Hermit, is the one who turned her, but he did so to save her life from the Hunter.  He tells Kita that it was an accident, and he is sorry.  But as you will see, she gives him a hard time, not forgiving him, even if he saved her. Knowing she knows nothing of how to survive as a vampire, Nathaniel follows and stays with Kita throughout her upcoming ordeal.  He is enamored by her, which surprises him, as he is not known as the Hermit for nothing.

We also meet her ex boyfriend, Bobby, who shifts into bobcat, wants her to go home.  He also part of the entourage that follows Kita.  Things turn from bad to worse for Kita.  A Mage Judge appears out of nowhere to accuse her of being a rogue, and sentences her to an immediate death.   Nathanial convinces the judge to allow Kita to find the real rogue, and the judge gives her three days, or she will die.  He gives her a student scholar (Gil) to study her, while they try to find the rogue.  At this point, the story starts to get interesting, with a lot more action.  

This is a worldbuilding of cat and wolf shifters, vampires, vampire councils, mages, rogues, hunters, and other normal supernatural characters.  As we follow Kita, and her three other companions to find the rogue, before its too late, so many things happen along the way.  You get to enjoy the possible romance building between Kita and Nathanial, though Kita continues to treat him with disgust.  But Nathanial is determined to teach Kita how to survive, despite her stubbornness, and at times difficult behavior.   I liked Nathanial right from the start, and wasn’t crazy at times how Kita treated him, no matter how hard he tried to help her.  But there was a lot of action and at times it was funny to see how Bobby reacted to Kita being a vampire, and Gil’s reaction to anything.  These parts were fun. 

Kalayna Price does a good job creating these characters.  Kita is different then most heroines; she is strong, and way to stubborn, and refuses to admit to her growing feelings for Nathanial; you see her flaws, and yet you know her strengths.  In the action packed last third of the book, Kita fights to save herself, and the others.  She is a strong heroine, and the end was a wild ending.  Price leaves us with a cliffhanger, that forces us to get the next book, as Kita’s story continues.  What will happen with her and Nathanial? What happens with the Vampire council?  Will Bobby recognize that he will never have Kita?  Will Kita ever return to her father and their clan, now that she is a vampire?  Will Kita learn how to drink blood and survive as a vampire?  To find those answers, we need to read the next book….Twice Dead. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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HAUNTED (Women of the Otherworld #5) by Kelley Armstrong

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HAUNTED (Women of the Otherworld #5) by Kelley Armstrong

HAUNTED (Women of the Otherworld #5) by Kelley Armstrong

HAUNTED is the 5th novel in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. Haunted, told from varying POVs, focuses on Eve Levine and Kristof Nash-Savannah’s recently deceased parents. As both a witch and a demon, Eve has been summoned by the Fates to take down the Nix. Calling in a favor for saving Lucas and Page, the Fates demand that Eve pay up.

As a ghost, Eve is unable to communicate with Savannah, and the frustration continues when she secretly looks in from time to time on Paige and Lucas, ensuring that Savannah is all right. But making sure her daughter is protected has come at a price.

Nix is a demi-demon who thrives on chaos. Inhabiting the bodies of people on the cusp of a kill, the demi-demon pushes the people to murder, thereby ensuring chaos reigns. On the run after an escape from hell, the Nix is making trouble in the human realm and the Fates have ordered Eve to locate and eradicate the Nix. But trouble continues to follow Eve as the Nix now endeavors to locate those closest to exact retribution. All is not lost when an Angel offers his aid-and with the help of Trsiel, Eve will be reborn into something she never expected or dreamed.

HAUNTED is another fascinating storyline from the mind of Kelley Armstrong. We will meet Eve throughout the series, culminating in the final novel THIRTEEN. Even Trsiel will make a few more appearances. One may wonder why Kelley introduces various characters and storylines throughout the series, but all will be answered in the final instalment of THIRTEEN

Reviewed by Sandy

 

The Reading Cafe is continuing the Women of the Otherworld Challenge sponsored by Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf.  HAUNTED by  Kelley Armstrong is the July 2012 featured novel.

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Magan Vernon Cover Reveal Change

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Magan Vernon My Alien Romance Cover Change

Magan Vernon has made a cover change on her My Alien Romance series, and she wanted to share it with us.  Both covers are a big change, and totally awesome. 

Direct from Magan:

The My Alien Romance series got a makeover. Steven Novak (Novak Illustrations) has created a whole new look to the series and who wouldn’t love a guy that is willing to photoshop in guyliner? The first ebook, How to Date an Alien, is still free on Amazon, Itunes, and Barnes and Noble so check it out today 🙂

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Grave Memory by Kalayna Price – a Review

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Grave Memory by Kalayna Price – a Review

Summary:
When the dead need to talk, Alex Craft is always ready to listen…

As a Grave Witch, Alex solves murders by raising the dead—an ability that comes at a cost, and after her last few cases, that cost is compounding. But her magic isn’t the only thing causing havoc in her life. While she’s always been on friendly terms with Death himself, things have recently become a whole lot more close and personal. Then there’s her sometime partner, agent Falin Andrews, who is under the glamour of the Winter Queen. To top everything off, her best friend has been forever changed by her time spent captive in Faerie.

But the personal takes a backseat to the professional when a string of suicides occur in Nekros City and Alex is hired to investigate. The shades have no memory of the days leading up to their brutal endings, so despite the very public apparent suicides, this is murder. But what kind of magic can overcome the human will to survive? And why do the shades lack the memory of their deaths? Searching for the answer might mean Alex won’t have a life to remember at all…

Review:

Grave Memory by Kalayna Price is the 3rd book in her Alex Craft series.  Grave Memory, which is futuristic and takes place in Nekros City, where humans and the supernatural live after the Magical Awakening, picks up not long after Grave Dance ended. For those of you who are not familiar with this series, Alex Craft is a grave witch, who can raise the dead.  She helps the police to solve crimes, but recently she finds herself on the outs with the Police.  Alex has her own detective agency, “Tongues for the Dead” (yes Price has a wonderful sense of humor), which she shares with her friend Rianna, who is also a grave witch.  But Rianna is now a changeling, unable to leave Faerie for long, because of her long time captivity by the Fae. Roy, Alex’s ghost friend, hangs around the agency to help her.

But things are never easy for Alex, as a grave witch, she does get the weirdest cases.  Now she has to solve the case of multiple suicides that are suspicious, and Alex will find out later extremely dangerous.  Someone is taking over the bodies of the victims, enjoying themselves for a few days, and then forces them to kill themselves, so they can then move to another unsuspecting body to live in. 

Alex uses all her friends, and even those not her friends to help find this rider, and must find a way to stop him, since he cannot be killed.  This entire story was totally exciting right to the very last page, and Kalanya Price does such a good job keeping the storyline flowing, with all the adventure, danger and twists along the way.  

There were so many other things also that I enjoyed about Grave Memory.  We learn more about Alex’s Fae ancestors, spend some time in Faerie land, and also meet a number of the different Fae courts, Alex’s fae ancestors, and things we get to know about Alex’s family.  Some of those are surprises.  Kalayna does a great job creating wonderful characters for this world of Alex Craft, especially the two men in her life.  We get to see Falin, the knight of the Winter Queen, who wants Alex for her court at any costs. But this story had a lot of Death (he is a soul searcher and she nicknamed him that), and after this book, I loved him.  Super character, super romance, and even though Falin is nice, his ties to the Winter King are hard on Alex.  But then again, who Death is, is also an issue. 

With her friends, Death, his co horts, Roy, his ghost friends, Briar… Alex fights the fight that is dangerously close to death for a few.  Very exciting, and Kalayna has such a wonderful imagination to create this story and the worldbuilding. I have totally become a fan of Alex Craft and Kalayna’s writing.  She is a fun heroine, and her future is unlimited. If she survives, as Alex is always putting herself in danger. This is a fun, exciting and action filled story, and I love that the Fae’s play a big part in this.  This book has me totally in Death’s corner, but as usual it has an interesting ending, that will ensure you buy the next book.

READING ORDER
1. Grave Witch
2. Grave Dance
3. Grave Memory

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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