Monthly Archives: September 2012

ARCHANGEL’S STORM (Guild Hunters #5) by Nalini Singh-a review

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ARCHANGEL’S STORM (Guild Hunters #5) by Nalini Singh-a review

ARCHANGEL’S STORM (Guild Hunters #5) by Nalini Singh

ARCHANGEL’S STORM is the 5th full-length novel (September 4, 2012 release) in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunters series. Some background information: Archangels sire vampires, who in turn manifest some of the inherent anomalies likened to their sires: Vampires are made when an Archangel chooses to save a human life or someone requests immortality, but a vampire can also sire one of their own kind. The struggle for power between the different Archangels as well as the hierarchy of vampire guardians and warriors often leads to death and destruction: The Cadre of 10 are the most powerful Archangels and the group of 7 (angels and vampires) answer to the Archangel Raphael.

Jason is one of the group of 7 and Raphael’s spymaster-the darkest of the angels, Jason is rarely seen, blends into the shadows and hides a painful secret about his past that no one knows. When the Archangel Neha’s consort is found murdered, Jason is sent to investigate the death, knowing that Neha’s history with her consort was as infamous as it was deadly. Neha demanded a blood oath and a promise, but Jason refused to tie himself to an Archangel who was once considered mad. His only recourse was to make a blood oath to Neha’s niece Mahiya-the daughter of the sister Neha was known to have murdered at the time of Mahiya’s birth.

Mahiya has known pain and suffering all of her adult life. With the knowledge that her mother was murdered, by her own sister for loving the same man, was made even more dangerous because of her blood connection to both. But Mahiya had an ulterior motive when she discovered that the spymaster was to be blood-bound to her and a motive that Jason would soon realize involved Mahiya’s request to escape the life she is living. But Jason and Mahiya’s search for the person responsible for the murder would lead then to an unlikely suspect and one that could force a war if Jason were to get involved. And the search for suspects would become more complicated as more vampires and angels would turn up dead and missing.

Nalini adds a secondary storyline that continues to grow on the previous relationship between Dimitri and his love Honor. Throughout the novel, we are witness to their wedding as well as Honor’s desire to join Dimitri as part of the family of vampires. Interspersed amongst the death and destruction of the primary story, Dimitri will bring forth a new vampire into the world of Angels and Vampires.

Jason’s has always believed that his early childhood experiences have left him cold and continuously on the edge of madness. He does not believe that he is capable of love or of being loved and in doing so refuses to make a commitment to the one woman who is slowly working her way into his heart. Although he is unable to openly express his feelings of love, in his own way, Jason will discover that Mahiya is the only woman, he will let into his heart and soul. Their similar pasts will show Jason that overcoming the pain will be easier when there is someone to love and show you the way. And protecting Mahiya from her own family will be paramount, when the woman who raised her has promised to make her pay for the fact that she was born. Vengeance and betrayal are bitter pills to swallow especially when family is involved.

ARCHANGEL’S STORM is a fantastic and captivating addition to the Guild Hunters series. Nalini writes a story full of sorrow, pain and passion that you hope that the HEA will be so welcome that you forget about everything that happened in the past-but-HEAs are found in fairy tales and fantasy, and at the end of Archangel’s Storm you know that their whole story has yet to be told.

Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paper Books
The Book Depository
B&N Nook and Paper
KOBO

Reviewed by Sandy

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An Interview with Joan Swan

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An Interview with Joan Swan


The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Joan Swan as our guest today.

Joan has just released Blaze, her second book in her Phoenix Rising series. We did an early review of Blaze yesterday. Joan is here to talk to us about Blaze, and to tell us a bit about herself.

Let’s meet Joan.

 

 

Joan, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. 

Joan: Really appreciate you having me!

TRC: Please tell us about yourself

Joan:  Um, I’m kinda boring. 🙂 Just an average American girl. Born, raised, educated, living and working in California. Married over 22 years to a veteran firefighter. Two beautiful daughters, one in college, one in high school. Work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center and write the rest of the time. A few of my rare hobbies are swimming, walking, photography, horses, knitting, scrapbooking…

TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing? 

Joan:  I started writing over a decade ago out of boredom and impatience. Before then, I’d been one of those voracious readers we authors love, and had finally devoured all the books I could find from my favorite authors. I did try branching out and found some new voices that I enjoyed, but more often, I found myself unwilling to settle. To keep myself distracted while I waited for one of my favorite authors to release something new, I started to play with the stories in my own head.

Once I started writing, I just kept writing. At first, it was just for fun. But before long I realized that writing allowed me to express myself in a way other creative outlets didn’t. That’s when I started taking my writing seriously and looked into the publishing process.

TRC: Was Fever your first book ever published? How did it feel to see your first book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble?

Click HERE for our review of FEVER

Joan:  The publishing process is a very long process and we are exposed to the book at every stage.  We see the cover many months before release. Then we get the cover jackets for promotion. Then the ARCs come. Then the actual book. THEN they’re on shelves. So by the time the book is actually available for purchase, I’ve seen the book so many times, read and revised and edited it so many times, that seeing it on the shelves is more relief than anything. 🙂

TRC:  Your Phoenix Rising Series began with Fever. Can you please tell us the premise of the series, and how you came up with the idea?

Joan:  A mysterious explosion at a military warehouse injures a team of seven hazmat firefighters, killing one.  The contents of the building, chemicals used by the Department of Defense, have inflicted the team with various paranormal abilities.  Abilities the government wants to study covertly.  Abilities the team wants to understand and expose.

Each book in the series focuses on different member(s) of the team and their struggle with the aftermath of the explosion. And as the group delves deeper into the incident and uncover pieces of the puzzle, their personal issues are complicated by a powerful enemy trying to keep its secrets.

The idea for the series developed incrementally. FEVER was originally written as a straight romantic suspense, but because RS sales had slowed considerably in the market at that time, I added a paranormal element to the story, and it sold.

TRC: Blaze is the second book the Phoenix Rising series, which was released today.   Can you give a brief description of this story.

Click HERE for our review of BLAZE

Joan: In FEVER we uncover the surface of a conspiracy, we see the strength of the enemy and discover who is being manipulated and why. We learn of the first member of the team adversely affected, his struggle to overcome and outsmart the bad guys and his discovery of love in the most unusual place during that process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In BLAZE we peel back the next layer, and discover the extensive and bold moves this enemy will take to keep its secrets from exposure.  My hero and heroine in BLAZE are members of the original firefighting team. In love and involved at the time of the explosion, the after affects tore them apart.  In this book, they’re brought back together to face a formidable enemy who they discover has taken far more from them than ever realized.

TRC:  How many books are planned for the Phoenix Rising series?

Joan:  I’ve agreed to continue the series with Kensington through book 4. Book 3, RUSH, releases October 2013 and Book 4, untitled, releases April 2014. I can currently envision 7 full novels in the series and 2 novellas.  Though, new and intriguing characters keep cropping up…so…

TRC: Intimate Enemies, which you recently released, is a different story.  Can you tell us about the premise of this story, and is this a standalone book.

Click HERE for our review of INTIMATE ENEMIES

Joan:  Yes, INTIMATE ENEMIES is a straight romantic suspense. The manuscript finalled in the RWA Golden Heart twice, but still needed to be rewritten to match up to my current writing abilities. The rewrite made the story deeper and the characters richer.

INTIMATE ENEMIES is the story of a woman whose family was killed in a mysterious yacht explosion off the coast of Mexico. When no cause is found, she takes on the investigation only to be hindered by a man she’d once believed she could trust.  Even while the two grow close, physically and emotionally, they continue to pursue opposite goals and their individual secrets threaten to kill them both.

This is the first in a new series—the Covert Affairs series.  So there will be many more tense undercover ops and sexy heroes and tough heroines to come in this series.

TRC:  You like to write Romantic Suspense.  But you mention that you like to dabble in Paranormal.  Do you have any desire to write a paranormal series?

Joan:  Actually, I do. I currently have a long paranormal proposal with my agent, the first of a new series and I hope to have good news about that series soon!

TRC:  What are you working on now?

Joan:  I’m finishing up Book 3 in the Phoenix Rising series, RUSH. This is Quaid and Jessica’s book, a heart-wrenching, action packed, twisting suspense novel.  This book has a deep and moving emotional current running within, and I adore the characters and the changing landscape of the government conspiracy plot.

TRC:  Who is your Muse?

Joan:  No muse. I believe if you show up, the words will come.

TRC:  You work at a busy Medical Center, which you say is intense and helps give you ideas.  How do you manage to write, work, and take care of your family?  

Joan:  I don’t clean, cook, have any hobbies or get to the gym. 

Just kidding…sort of.

If I were honest, I’d tell you I’m pretty imbalanced in comparison to your average person. Then again, I’m of the belief that one works hard for what one wants, that one reaps what one sows, and that great progress takes great sacrifice.  I could also tell you I’m a little…neurotic…sometimes.

My daughters are older, 16 and 20, and I don’t have to take care of them in that draining toddler way anymore. But, honestly, their issues just change (and get bigger), the girls don’t get any easier to raise. 🙂 

My husband is also a huge help. He is a career firefighter, and amazing at helping around the house and pitching in with the girls. Plus, he’s super easy going, so when I don’t get to the house or the laundry or the grocery shopping…he doesn’t fuss. (He could also be scared of me, but it sounds so much better the other way).  But, um, I really don’t cook.


LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD: Fruit or chocolate…hard decision.

FAVORITE DESSERT: Fruit or chocolate…hard decision  🙂

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE: Milk…dark makes me pucker.

FAVORITE AUTHOR: I’m going to have to invoke my author’s 5th amendment here.

FAVORITE BOOK: And, yep, going to have to invoke my author’s 6th amendment here.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (not your own): Dexter…you know, the cartoon Dexter? The child-chemist who saves the world and has the sister Didi. “Oooo, what does this button do?”

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW: In the Cold Light of Day

TRC: Thank you, Joan for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Blaze.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

Joan:  Thanks so much for having me!

If you would like to learn more about Joan, you can visit her at the following links:

Website: http://joanswan.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:
Pinterest:

 

                                Joan has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Blaze.

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 Hi to Joan.

4.  Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada Only

5.  Contest runs from September 25th – 27th.

 

Joan Swan’s BLAZE Blog Tour Schedule

Tour runs from September 17 – October 6

 September 17 – Grave Tells – http://gravetells.com/

September 18 – Book Reader Addicts – http://bookreaderaddictsgiveaways.blogspot.com/

September 19 – Pearl’s World of Romance – http://pearlsworldofromance.wordpress.com/

September 20 – Under The Covers – http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.ca

September 21 – Reading Between The Wines –             http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

September 22 – Riverina Romantics  – http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

September 23 – Reading on The Wild Side – http://readingonthewildside.blogspot.com/

September 24 – United By Books – http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

September 25 – My Keeper Shelf – http://mykeepershelf.blogspot.com/

September 25 – The Reading Café  – http://thereadingcafe.com/

September 26 – Ramblings From This Chick – http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

September 27 – I Smell Sheep – http://www.ismellsheep.com/

September 28 – Paranormal Haven – http://www.paranormalhaven.com/

September 29 – Just Romantic Suspense – http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/

September 30 – Just Romantic Suspense – http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/

October 1 – Close Encounters With The Night Kind – http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

October 2 – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction –

            Book Monster – http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com/

            Literal Addiction – http://www.literaladdiction.com/

October 3 – Books-n-Kisses – http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

October 4 – Readers Confession – http://www.readersconfession.com/

October 5 – Book Lovin’ Mamas – http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//

October 6 – Cocktails & Books – http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

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Joan Swan – Biography/Booklist

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Joan Swan – Biography/Booklist

Biography

I was never a star English student or a Literature buff, but I’ve always had a creative soul and an active imagination. Writing was a natural culmination of those two talents.

I write what I like to read: romantic suspense. I write for entertainment and escape–the same reasons I love to read. I prefer real-life language, so you’ll find profanity in my work when it fits the character. I prefer open-door sex, so my love scenes are typically hot and steamy. And because my stories involve suspense, you’ll often find violence, mystery and an inside look at the intricate world of forensics. Occasionally, I like to dabble in the lighter side of paranormal as well.

I am agented by the fabulous Paige Wheeler, founding partner of Folio Literary Management in New York. My debut novel, FEVER, releases from Kensington Brava in April 2012. Book 2 in the series, BLAZE, releases fall 2012. My editor at Kensington is the wonderful Alicia Condon, Editorial Director for Brava.

A triple RWA Golden Heart finalist as well as a double Daphne Du Maurier finalist, I am a lover of craft and closet-hoarder of writing craft how-to books.

In my day job, I work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center, a location with an intensity that makes me slightly insane…which works well with the writer in me. Not to mention all the character material I have access to–and I’m not talking about the patients (well…mostly).

I have been married twenty years to my own personal hero, a veteran firefighter, we have two beautiful daughters and are blessed to live in the heart of wine country on the gorgeous Central Coast of California.

 

Booklist

Phoenix Rising Series
FEVER – Book 1

Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…

But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with a ripped body, a determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…

Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

Fever Purchase Links:

Kensington / Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / B-A-M
Book Depository / Chapters / IndieBound / Powell’s 

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

 
BLAZE –Book 2

 The hotter they come, the harder they fall…

With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. Sheneeds to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.

Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / B-A-M / Book Depository
Chapters / IndieBound / Powell’s

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

 

Covert Affairs series

Intimate Enemies – Book 1

She is on a quest for answers; answers that could just get her killed.

Six months after the mysterious yacht explosion that killed Cassie Christo?s mother and stepbrother, authorities still have no answers to the cause. Searching for closure, Cassie returns to her childhood home on the Pacific Coast of Baja, Mexico, where she launches her own investigation into the accident. She never expected to find an adversary in the man who had once touched her heart with kindness in her darkest moment.

Rio’s been fantasizing about reconnecting with Cassie for months. But not here and sure as hell not now. As an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he?s working the biggest sting operation in all of northern Mexico, and he definitely doesn?t have time for the wild attraction he feels for Cassie.

Not only is his cover on the line, so is his heart. Because as the end of a yearlong operation draws closer, Rio knows if he tells Cassie the truth about who and what he is, it won?t only jeopardize his mission, it may result in him losing her forever. And if he doesn?t, his lies and deception could get them both killed.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B & N | Smashwords

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MYSTIC CITY (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence-a review

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MYSTIC CITY (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence-a review

MYSTIC CITY (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence

MYSTIC CITY is the first storyline (October 9th, 2012 release) in Theo Lawrence dystopian young adult Mystic City series. When 18year old Aria Rose awakens in a hospital from a drug over-dose, she has no recollection of ever taking the drug or of her fiancé Thomas Foster. Set in the futuristic dystopian Mystic City and Manhattan, the political minefield centers on the two ruling and rival families-the Rose’s and the Foster’s and their hatred of one another. The merging of the two families is seen as a political coup in the privileged families, but Aria has no memory of ever dating Thomas. The rumors swirl that prior to her over-dose, they were meeting secretly behind everyone’s backs, but something doesn’t add up, especially when she finds a locket, a note telling her to REMEMBER and secret letters hidden away. When a rebel mystic saves her life, not once but twice, Aria suspects that she has connections to the mystics and this man, that no one wants her to remember.

Mystics are a group of people from the Depths of New York who have a power that is both feared and used by those in control. Considered the lowest of the low, mystics are, by law, forced to register and to have their powers drained until there remains only a shell of their former selves. But there is an underground faction of rebel mystics who are trying to make everyone aware that those in control are using these powers for illegal, unethical, immoral purposes and financial gain. And when a staged series of demonstrations become deadly, the mystics are targeted once again.

Aria continues to struggle with her memory loss, and her visits to the doctor both help and hinder with the struggle. Her relationship with Thomas feels forced and fabricated, and her parents desire for a perfect union, is nothing short of a nightmare. Hoping to discover the truth, Aria sets out on a path to uncover the mystery and the truth behind the lies she has believed all of her life. And an upcoming election will pit family against family, and mystics against everyone else.

Throughout the storyline Aria begins to fall in love-not with Thomas-but with a young mystic who shows her the truth about the world in which she lives. And there are others, who will help Aria understand the pain and sorrow that engulf the mystics who have become slaves in a world of bigotry, racism and hate. But Aria has been betrayed by the people who profess to love her and with little time left, Aria will discover there are people who are willing to help, but she is no longer sure whom to trust.

MYSTIC CITY is a fascinating tale of love and betrayal, discrimination and hate. Theo Lawrence builds up a world that will both fascinate and repulse, and the character development is amazing. Almost immediately you know that something is amiss. A fantastic start to a new series that is filled with non stop action and a heroine who wants to make everything right. I am looking forward to Mystic City #2. Congratulations to Theo Lawrence on the release of Mystic City.

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER:
The Book Depository
Amazon Books
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook and Paper

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blaze by Joan Swan – a Review

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Blaze by Joan Swan – a Review

 

Blaze by Joan Swan, is the second book in her Phoenix Rising series.  The first book in this series, as well as Swan’s debut book was Fever.  Fever was a very good book, but Swan has taken Blaze to another level.  From the start to finish, this book is a page burner, you cannot, and will not put this down until you finish this exciting story.  Blaze has everything..action..suspense..excitement..intensity..love..sex (hits the wow factor), and constant danger.

The heroine in Blaze is Keira O’Shay, and she is one of the best kick ass heroines I have seen, and I have seen quite a few good ones.  Luke is the hero in this story, and we remember him from Fever.  Until the end of Fever, we did not really like Luke.  But almost from the start, that changes and he is equally as great a character as Keira.  I loved them together, and loved Mateo, the young boy in this book, who added so much to the story.

One of the best things, besides Keira and Luke, is that we get to spend a lot of time with the team we got to know in Fever…..Teague, Alyssa, Mitch, Seth, and the remaining of the Firefighting team.  Joan Swan does such an excellent job of creating unforgettable characters, and also the villains, like Dargan, who is back in full force.

Keira, ran away from Luke and her friends, a few years ago, and became an agent.  When the story picks up, she is one of their best agents, and a sharpshooter also.  Keira, who is afraid of commitment and family (she distances herself so not be hurt again losing family), is the lead on an assignment, and discovers that her ex, Luke, working for another division (ATF), is also on the same assignment. Though the years have passed, they both have never gotten over their love for one another. 

The story immediately is filled with intense action, with Luke and Keira in the middle of it.  Keira finds Mateo, a young boy she saves during the mission, and for some reason, she is drawn to him. She must protect him from the experiments being done to him and others.  Which brings Keira back to the friends she tried to avoid, in order to help her keep Mateo safe.  

DARPA is the enemy, as we saw in Fever.  Dargan is the villainous leader, and she is the one organizing the experiments on children creating enhanced abilities, as well as trying to eliminate the Firefighter team, who also now have enhanced abilities.  Keira can hear thoughts and things far away.  Luke, whose powers, strengthen with Keira near him, can withstand fire, bullets, etc. We know Teague is a healer, and young Mateo, who is only 5 years old, also has a great ability, as do the rest of the team.

Blaze is filled with so much action; you cannot sit back and relax.  But the crux of the story is the wonderful romance between Luke and Keira.  You know how much each loves one another, and the flaw in Keira, who had a rough childhood, and is afraid of commitment, even if she loves Luke with all her heart.  As I noted earlier, there was this long hot steamy sex scene that was so well done by Swan.  Just when you think, finally they will make it  together, all hell breaks loose, and changes things again. 

I loved Blaze, and Joan Swan has outdone herself.  Phoenix Rising continues to get better, and I look forward to meeting all of these wonderful characters again, in the next installment of this series.  I am already anticipating who is going to be the next couple…so many to choose from.  Maybe Mitch, as he is a fun and great character. If you have not started this series, I suggest you do so. Kudos to Joan Swan for a wonderful second book

Lastly, I do not normally add quotes, but this one had me laughing for a bit. My choice for best quote of the year:
“She felt as if she’d fallen into an Indiana Jones movie or into an Elisabeth Naughton novel, in possession of a treasure everyone wanted, on a quest she didn’t understand, running a race for which she had no timetable, no map”

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

Blaze Purchase Links:

Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / B-A-M / Book Depository
Chapters / IndieBound / Powell’s

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

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KRESLEY COLE ♥ Poison Princess ♥ Promotion and Giveaway

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KRESLEY COLE  ♥ Poison Princess ♥  Promotion and Giveaway

Kresley Cole’s newest venture into the world of Young Adult literature will introduce the reader to The Arcana Chronicles with her first instalment POISON PRINCESS.

To help promote the series send off, Kresley Cole is offering a giveaway to 2 (two) lucky members at The Reading Cafe. Each giveaway winner will receive 2 signed books from her IMMORTALS AFTER DARK series.

Available for the giveaway are:

1. Kiss of the Demon King
2. Pleasure of a Dark Prince
3. Dream of a Dark Warrior
4. Demon from the Dark

To qualify for the giveaway and your chance to win 2 signed books from the IMMORTALS AFTER DARK 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 the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter, please post your email address along with your comment, as Twitter etc does not allow for email addresses.

3. Tell us which 2 books from the list you would like as a giveaway (we cannot guarantee you will receive the books requested, but we will make an effort).

4. Giveaway open to continental USA and Canada only.

5. Giveaway from September 23-27, 2012

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POISON PRINCESS (Arcana Chronicles #1) by Kresley Cole-a review

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POISON PRINCESS (Arcana Chronicles #1) by Kresley Cole-a review

POISON PRINCESS (The Arcana Chronicles #1) by Kresley Cole

POISON PRINCESS is the first storyline (October 2012 release) in Kresley Cole’s new YA Dystopian series The Arcana Chronicles. Focusing on Evangeline ‘Evie’ Greene, the storyline follows a young 16 year old Louisiana high school student told in flashback as she recounts, to a stranger, the hell and the apocalyptic nightmare she has endured before and after the ‘Flash’. While the voices in her head continue to cryptically talk about the future, it is the people and things she encounters on a daily basis that will make the biggest impression in a world haunted by nightmarish creatures and a young man who pledges to protect her with everything he is.

The storyline begins as Evie is drawn to a mysterious stranger and like something out of a dream she retells her tale of horror and loss. As she embarks on a new school year following a stint at a psyche facility Evie’s only hope is to blend in and fade into the background. But the voices in her head and visions pull Evie into another direction- one where she will become the center of a centuries old war between Death and the others. Evie has always had some special abilities that she has never shared with the world, but now those abilities will manifest stronger with each near-death experience she encounters.

Jackson Deveaux will become Evie’s protector and guardian but not before the build up of animosity and hatred between the pair threatens the forced and unhappy alliance. As an outsider at school, Jackson is both frightening and threatening, but his attraction to Evie can only be explained as the forbidden fruit. But 6 days later, enemies and friends become one when the earth is suddenly thrown into a catastrophic fireball that had all but been foretold through Evie’s strange visions and sights.

Along the way, Evie encounters ‘other’ voices that continue to direct and lay out a foundation for the future. A face will eventually to put to each voice as Evie and Jackson trek across the vast wasteland in search of Evie’s grandmother who may or may not be alive. And the threats against Evie will come from another source as it is revealed that only a handful of woman survived the Flash.

As the size of their small family unit increases, so do Evie’s powers and foresight. But the vision of the ‘Tarot’ will turn frighteningly real, when Evie’s nightmares come into fruition and she no longer recognizes herself as the person she once was. And her feelings for Jackson will be tested on many occasions when another young woman forces doubts into everyone’s minds.

Evie is a strong protagonist, but like many young adult storylines, her tunnel vision and one tracked mind will place everyone in danger. Knowing that at any moment she and the others could become victims to cannibalistic humans and zombie-like hordes, Evie stays focused on reaching her goal, without any thought to the safety of herself or the others. It was frustrating at times knowing that reaching her grandmother, as altruistic as it is, was still the proverbial needle in a haystack. And the relationship between Jackson and Evie, once again, ran the usual young adult course, with the pushing and pulling away that most storylines involve. And we can’t forget the requisite love-triangle knowing that jealousy and mistaken beliefs will push one or both over the edge into the abyss of a broken heart and shattered soul from which they may never recover.

POISON PRINCESS is a well-written and interesting storyline from the desk of Kresley Cole. If you are a fan of her IAD series, do not expect the same style of storyline or HEA. Like all Dystopian series, there is no HEA only unanswered questions and broken hearts. The ‘Flash’ or apocalypse is never fully explained, but a major premise of the storyline will focus on Evie’s grandmother’s affinity to the Tarot which will, in itself, act as a portent or warning of things to come. The story is told from Evangeline’s POV although there are a few ‘introductory’ paragraphs and chapters told from the stranger ‘listening’ to Evie recount the events that brought her to his door. If you are not paying attention, the POV can be confusing in a couple of spots. And in the end we will discover that Evie was drawn to the stranger like she was to everyone else. Poison Princess is a welcome addition to the young adult storyline phenomenon.

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER:
B&N Nook and Paper books
The Book Depository
Amazon Paper Books
Amazon Kindle

Copy supplied by author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE FALLEN QUEEN (House of Arkhangel’sk #1) by Jane Kindred-a review

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THE FALLEN QUEEN (House of Arkhangel’sk #1) by Jane Kindred-a review

THE FALLEN QUEEN (The House of Arkhangel’sk #1) by Jane Kindred

THE FALLEN QUEEN is the first storyline in Jane Kindred’s new House of Arkhangel’sk’s series. The storyline follows Grand Duchess Anazakia, of the House of Arkhangel’sk and two demons-Belphagor and Vasily who have been commissioned to help Anazakia escape –to live in the world of Man-and away from those who meant to cause her harm. Anazakia’s spirit and body, her shade and shadow had been previously separated but when the demons accidently released her shade, Anazakia found herself mortally wounded and awash in blood with the memories of a horrific attack. The last thing she remembered was playing wingcasting- a game of chance- in Heaven and the next she didn’t recognize herself or her surroundings.

The storyline vacillates between first person POV (Anazakia) and third person, as well as from present to past using memoirs, recollections and stories. There is an enormous amount of reference to Christianity in the form of angelic definitions and pronouncements such as Seraphim and Ophanim, as well as looking at The Fallen and The Virtues, demons and angels. The reader is taken on a ride between Heaven, Hell and Earth and all places in between: different levels Angels, and demons, Houses and Kingdoms, elemental magic and power.

The world building and character development flow smoothly and yet on the surface the story outline is so very familiar and yet it is not. The reader is whisked into a fantasy world of angels and demons, and the plight of the lone survivor of an attack against the Royal House of Arkhangel’sk. The further the story develops the familiarity of the scenario burns brightly until you discover the re-telling, albeit flavored in more fiction and fantasy than the original tale, of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (Romanov) of Russia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II.

Jane Kindred has blended the fantasy of angels and demons with the telling of a story that is still shrouded in mystery today. There is a ‘love story’ of sorts between the angel and her two demon companions.  Sacrifices will be made when Belphagor is imprisoned and is at the mercy of those in charge.  And his freedom will come at a cost. The storyline contains some graphic violence and abuse. An interesting spin on a story, whether fabled or true, and one that still has the historians scratching their heads and wondering. 

Copy supplied by publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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