Monthly Archives: November 2012

Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane-a review

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Mr. Real (Code of Shadows #1) by Carolyn Crane

MR. REAL (Code of Shadows #1) by Carolyn Crane (Release Date October 30, 2012)

BOOK BLURB:  He finds the girl of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares.

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the super-sexy martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class three years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall – in the flesh – with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness – somehow.

But is superspy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

Review:

Alix never feels like she is enough. She feels like she is overshadowed by everyone, her over achieving sisters and her friends. She covers it up by hiding behind her “Crazy Alix” personality. And, she was devastated when Paul kicked her out of his martial arts class, and has pined away for him ever since. And, unbeknownst to her, he had also pined away for her.

The premise of this story is a solid one. Things were revealed about Paul’s traumatic childhood that should have enhanced the story. Instead, the way it was brought to the forefront seemed forced and didn’t flow into the story that had already been building. Sir Kendall was a “persona”, if you will, that Paul was forced to assume at the hands of his tortuous step-brothers. And how he ultimately dealt with it was, in a word, strange.

When Alix conjured up Sir Kendall, she had no idea that she had also conjured up another “character”……… And when they all come together at the climax of the story, it, in my opinion, fell short.

To say Alix is a little flighty would be slighting her. LOL!!!! Her thought process was laughable at times, but in the end she tried her hardest to make everything “right”. There were some funny moments in the story and some downright strange ones. However, in the end, there is a happily ever after. I understand that this is the first in a trilogy and hope that the next one “brings to life” something a little less chaotic.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Stephanie Queen-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

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Stephanie Queen-Interview with the Author

Some background information about Stephanie Queen from Website

Once upon a time, there was a young story teller in the kingdom…er, queendom. Then she grew up and… er, no… she never actually did grow up. That’s not to say she didn’t get old, or more old, but not terribly old, more like middle-aged really. Okay, so she was no longer short and cute.

But really, I always did like to make up stories. Still do. Still live in my own little world–where I’m Queen. Of the Queendom. Hence, the name. (Or whence the name?) Oh, what’s in a name anyway.

Now I’m sure you’re wondering how I manage to live, but I assure you I am quite competent. Except I couldn’t get the crown to actually sit on my head in the picture to the left. Still learning…

Oh, about me. I love cats. I have a girl cat, a princess technically. Named Kitty. No, I’m serious. Long story. No, I don’t have time. Or space. Okay, so I do not have the inclination.

More about me. I spend hours, days, weeks, months (you get the picture) sitting at my desk, looking out the window of my castle/bedroom and writing complete fabrications in a romantic whimsical vein. Alright, if you insist, you can call the writing quirky. But I do keep myself amused.

Yes, it’s true, and entirely believable, I do have a college degree. I’m not saying when I obtained said degree, however. Go UConn!

Where do I live (for real) you ask? Among the picturesque lake-filled hills and dales (not sure what a dale is) of New Hampshire (the Granite State) (Live Free or Die) (Tough choice, but there’s a lot of tough people around here).

What else do I do besides write presumably fabulous “R”omantic stories with noble heroes and amazing, warm heroines who you want to be just like? As if that’s not enough, I sometimes deign to teach, cook for the two gigantic very well-muscled sons and try to make sure Kitty doesn’t take over the house while I’m away in the Queendom. (That’s no joke. The cat’s a control freak.)

I actually have a very rich non-imaginary life. Right at the moment, however, I can’t think for the life of me what else it’s all about. Maybe I’ll think more about it later and get back to you…

**********************

TRC:  Hi Stephanie and welcome to The Reading Café.  Would you please tell us about The Scotland Yard Exchange Program series?

Stephanie:  It’s a romantic comedy suspense series that I dreamed up one day after watching the old black and white movie The Thin Man.

I said to myself, “What if I had an ex-detective and a dishy doll in Boston? And what if the detective was a rogue from Scotland Yard and he ended up back in Boston where he grew up as a kid. And what if one of his boyhood friends was the Chief of the Boston Police Department and he joined up with the BPD and became head of the a Scotland Yard Exchange Program?”

As it turns out, Scotland Yard–or as they call it in real life, The Metropolitan Police–does have an exchange program with the New York City police department. So I said “What the heck? Why not Boston? It could happen…”

TRC: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A MAD WOMAN is the prequel in the series.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Stephanie: This is the prequel in the sense that I created a place–a milieu– characters and a tone. Some of these characters, most of them, appear in the series books. But technically, there’s no Scotland Yard or British connection in this one. Here’s the Snap:

Madeline Grace was always expected to do great things, but she discovers the price of destiny means running for governor–against a man who was once her lover.

TRC: THE THROWBACKS is the most recent release.  Would you please tell us about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Stephanie: THE THROWBACKS is book 1 in the Scotland Yard Exchange Program Series. Here’s the snap:

Vivacious young decorator Grace Rogers sets her sights on that picket-fence life she longs for with the unlikely world-weary British exile, the not-so-young David Young. The ex-Scotland Yard detective joins the Boston Police Department to salvage his career. He hires Grace to decorate his Beacon Hill townhouse—and salvage his life.

But this rogue detective’s plans for a new beginning are threatened when he can’t resist the seemingly unseemly romance with his too-young bombshell decorator. Grace turns out to be a key witness in his high-stakes kidnapping case–and like Kryptonite to his career and his well-being with her romantic notions of family life.

David puts his life on the line to save her from the kidnappers, but now is Grace willing to put her dreams on the line to save her real-life superhero from himself?

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Stephanie: I’m planning a minimum of three, but I’ll keep going until I run out of fun.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges (research, logistics) did you encounter writing this particular series?

Stephanie: My big challenge is that I’m not a Scotland Yard detective. Or Boston detective. Or involved with police work in any way shape or form.
Otherwise, I talk to people. I ask questions. I get around. Boston is my town.

TRC: PLAYING THE GAME was your February 2012 release.  It is a contemporary romance.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?


Stephanie: The story of Barry and Roxanne is a little chicklit with a bit of intrigue:

Roxanne, an irresistible down-on-her-luck socialite is accused of murdering her wealthy husband. She meets Barry Dennis, the “Priest of Basketball”, who’s so high on his superstar pedestal that any misstep seems fatal. He’s not allowed to be human. But Roxanne compels Barry to give his attention to more than a ball. That is, until her tarnished reputation drags him from the top with a crash that could destroy them all.


TRC: THE HOT SHOTS is the latest release in your contemporary romance line. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Stephanie: THE HOT SHOTS is Book 2 of the Scotland Yard Exchange Program series and will be released in mid-November.
The snap on the story:

Would you jump off the USS Constitution into Boston Harbor with a perfect stranger? You would if that stranger was hot shot Scotland Yard detective Chauncey Miller, the usual tall-dark-handsome type, especially since he has an assassin with a score to settle who just caught up with him…

Decorator Sophia Alano’s career gets side-tracked from the moment she meets hot shot Chauncey. He’s on the run from a madman terrorist out for revenge when Sophia ends up targeted too. Now he must protect this spitfire while they’re hunted wherever they go. They escape to London to outwit the madman. But once Chauncey catches their would-be killer, how do they go back to the lives they had before?

TRC: Writer’s block is a very real phenomenon for many authors.  How do you handle the stress and anxiety of writer’s block?

Stephanie: When I run into the writer’s block, I just sit on it and write.

TRC: What five things would you like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Stephanie: 

1. I want to become an Audiobook Queen! I heard the job was open.
2. That’s only one thing, but it’s one really big thing, so I’m counting it double.
3. Ten years should give me enough time to write 30 or so books
4. One of them is bound to turn into a movie–if I play my cards right (and if I write some great action scenes).
5. Most important of all, I’d love to accomplish Grandmotherhood in the next ten years. Of course a lot depends on my two sons. (I know–you’re gonna tell me I’m too young…pish-posh!)

TRC:  🙂

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Stephanie: Right now–or a minute ago before I was interrupted to do this interview–I’m writing a 10 minute play for my Playwriting class called “Two Pink Lines”. I’ll turn it into a mini-audiobook later. Much later.

But I’m also brainstorming the plot for the next Scotland Yard Exchange Program book where Joe Dellario, the governor’s body guard goes to London for a special detail in royal protective service.

Title: THE UPSTARTS
Book 3 in the Scotland Yard Exchange Program series

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Chocolate (I don’t care if it’s cliche)

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate (duh)

Favorite TV Show: The Closer (Thank you soooo much!)

Favorite Movie: It’s between Cassablanca and Gone in 60 Seconds (what do you mean ‘odd’?)

Last Movie You Saw: Something with Meryl Streep in it (adore her!)

Dark or Milk Chocolate: MILK (I don’t care how good dark chocolate is for me)

TRC: Thank you Stephanie for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on a great start to your writing career.

Stephanie: Thanks a million for the interview, Sandy, and taking the time to look at all my books!

Stephanie is offering a $10 AMAZON gift card to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a registered 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 does not allow for email addresses.

3. You must post a comment answering one of the lightning round questions.

4. Giveaway is OPEN internationally.

5. Giveaway runs November 3 to November 6, 2012

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Between a Rock and a Mad Woman/The Throwbacks by Stephanie Queen-2 reviews

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Between a Rock and a Mad Woman/The Throwbacks by Stephanie Queen-2 reviews

Between a Rock and a Mad Woman by Stephanie Queen

I was actually quite surprised with this book. When I read the first couple pages and found it was about a political election, I was feeling the beginning pangs of doubt if I was going to like the book. So the story is about Madeline Grace and Peter John Douglas in which they are running against each other for governor; but what is interesting about this political rivalry is that they have a history together. The history is that they were engaged to be married 6 years ago. I mean can you imagine the tension and having to run against your ex-fiancé? Awkward…

So the election race is pretty much an adventure in itself. The stakes are even raised higher when Madeline and their party decides to run independently. Madeline and PJD provide such entertainment when they push each other’s buttons by politically means. At times Madeline would pull ahead on votes while PJD would pull ahead. They ran a close race. On top of all this political intrigue, there is some steamy action going on in the book and for some reason Stephanie somehow made politician sex well…hot.

Judging from the steamy scenes between Madeline and PJD, you can definitely tell the fire and chemistry is very much there. Once you get past the halfway mark, it is hard to put the book down. As the election approaches, things get very interesting and well there is a twist! A good read and one I would recommend.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Reviewed by Xtina X.

*********************************


The Throwbacks by Stephanie Queen

This is another book I enjoyed though I felt like I enjoyed Between a Rock and a Mad Woman a little bit more than this one but I still liked this book.

The Throwbacks is about decorator Grace Rogers and David Young who is a detective from the Scotland Yard on exile. A huge turn of events where a false murder has taken place and artifact smuggling is going on throws David, Grace, Dan and other characters together in an effort to crack this case. As they work together to get leads, the stakes are raised to keep the case from reaching the public and then David’s career is put on the line.

Like any other story, when Grace and David meet each the chemistry instantaneous. As they go on the crack the case, they get more and more entangled with each other no matter how much David keeps pulling away from her and Grace continually putting herself out there. The thing is David keeps pulling away due to the fact that he thinks Grace is too young for him since he is close to 50 is and she is about 30. Grace has always dreamt of having a husband, children, and a white picket fence type of home and David is always afraid with his line of work that he can’t give her want she wants.

The whole hot and cold thing going on with Grace and David’s relationship did create a frustration for me but kept me on my toes when David would let go of his baggage and commit to Grace. At times I felt like the chase was very one sided at times where it seemed like Grace was always the one who did all the chasing only to be told by David what he thought was good for her. It was only then that he spoke with his friend’s wife that he realized he can indeed make things work with Grace after he treated her so coldly. One thing that really stuck out to me was what the wife of David’s friend said which was, “Nothing worthwhile is easy.” So true every relationship is going to have a hardship and the fight to keep it upright it is worth it. The mystery was also a lot of fun to follow as well. Not only did I fall in love with Grace and David but all the characters involved. If you love mystery laced with a little mystery then this book is worth trying.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Copy supplied by author

Review by Xtina X

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Gena Showalter and PC Cast-Interview and Giveaway with the Authors

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Gena Showalter and PC Cast – Interview with the Authors

October 23, 2012 saw the release of the AFTER MOONRISE anthology written by Gena Showalter and PC Cast. We would like to welcome both Gena and PC to The Reading Cafe.  And pay close attention-these ladies are truly gifted in the humor department.

TRC:  Hello ladies and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to congratulate you on the release of AFTER MOONRISE.

For our members who do not know about Gena Showalter or PC Cast, would you please tell us something about yourself?

PC-I love wine, Oklahoma, and typing “the end.”

Gena-I have three dogs I treat like children—even though one of them is as big as a horse and all three reward me by farting in my office.

TRC:  OK..let’s switch it up. Would you please tell us something about each other that we may not know?

PC –about Gena: She cheats at pillow fights and sheds enough hair to make a hair rug.

Gena-about PC: She would totally win at Dancing with the Stars/Dirty Dancing Edition and success hasn’t changed her. Proof: she still teases me about my amazing hair rug—even though I spent three days weaving it for her.

TRC:  😉

TRC:  AFTER MOONRISE is new anthology (October 2012 release). Would you please tell us about the premise for your contribution to the book?

PC-POSSESSED-My fabulous hero, Kent Raef, is a psychic detective who can follow negative emotions and track killers through them. He spends a lot of time dealing with the underbelly of life, so he’s not very good at positive emotions, like love and happiness and pleasure. It’s only after he accepts a job tracking a killer, who is also psychic and who preys on negative emotions, that Raef realizes for the first time in his life he has to tap into the gentler side of his gift, which leads him to opening himself to love during a murder investigation… There’s a twist and a ghost and a lot of heat!

Gena-HAUNTED-My antisocial hero, Detective Levi Reid, is missing big chunks of memory. Like, he’s not sure how he ended up living in a flea bag apartment, suspended from duty, with a best friend/former partner who won’t speak to him. Then, in moves the innocent and haunting Aurora Harper who thinks she’s witnessed a murder so brutal she’s repressed the memories, only to sleep-paint the scene. They’re drawn to each other in the most magnetic way—and as they help each other, they begin to realize just how entangled their lives really are.

TRC:  What was the decision behind participating in an anthology? Have you ever collaborated with an anthology before?

PC-My decision to participate in a duology with Gena is because she and I have collaborated on two other anthologies. I loved playing in the sandbox with her!

Gena-PC said, “Want to do a book with me?” I was screaming “Yes,” before she finished the sentence.

TRC:  Most storylines in anthologies are novellas or short stories. Which do you find more difficult to write-full length novels or short stories where the premise, plotline and character development come to fruition at a much more rapid pace?

PC-I’m most comfortable writing long. I like to have plenty of room to world build!

Gena-And see, I would love to write an entire book in a single page. <== true story.

TRC:  Have either of you considered working on a co-authored collaboration with each other?

PC-We have! And I definitely would again! I heart me some Gena!

Gena-PC has been one of my dearest friends for the longest time (and that doesn’t mean we’re getting old! We’re young. Young, I tell you.) She’s a dream to work with!

TRC:   PC-ACCIDENTAL MAGIC (September 2012 release) is a combination of two of your short stories. Would you please tell us something about the premise of each storyline?

PC: My ACCIDENTAL MAGIC stories are from the anthologies Gena and I created several years ago. They’re set in Mysteria, Colorado, a supernatural town filled with vampires, witches, werewolves—and lots of sex! Here are the premises:

In Candy Cox and the Big Bad (Were)wolf, five-time divorcée Candice Cox is burned-out and lacking in love. But when a friend’s spell presents Candice with the young werewolf lover of her dreams, she starts to rethink her commitment to swearing off men. While the age difference throws her at first, Justin is exactly what Candice needs to kick-start her stalled love life…

In It’s in His Kiss, strict vegetarian Summer Smith has always had a hard time giving up control—especially since her magic is unpredictable at best. But when she meets a dark, gorgeous vampire named Colin, Summer suddenly finds herself wanting to let loose and experience the new appetites awaked by Colin’s kiss…

 

TRC:  PC- HIDDEN is the latest installment (October 2012) in the House of Night. Would you please tell us something about the premise? Do you see an end in sight for Zoey and the House of Night series?

HIDDEN is book 10 of the House of Night. Yep, I plotted 12 HoN books. I totally know what’s going to happen to Zoey and the gang!

 

TRC:  Gena-BEAUTY AWAKENED is the February 2013 installment in your Angels of the Dark series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Gena:  Beauty Awakened features Koldo, who is scarred, powerful, and known for his control legendary. He lives only for vengeance, determined to punish the angel who viciously removed his wings (AKA his mother. Yes, he has slight mommy issues). But if he yields to the forces of hatred, he will be kicked from the heavens and eternally damned. His last hope is the fragile Nicola Lane, a human born with a defective heart. Yet she shows surprising strength as demons stalk her every move, determined to end her. She is the key to Koldo’s deliverance…and his downfall.

TRC:  Gena-DARKEST CRAVING (Lord of the Underworld #10) has been schedule for release in July 2013. Would you please tell us something about the premise? How many books do you have planned for the series?

Gena:  I wish I could, but I haven’t yet gotten permission from the publisher to post anything about the book. (Mostly because the rough draft isn’t done, and my stories can change so much between one stage and another) All I can tell you is that it features Kane, the keeper of Disaster, he’s in a terrible mental and emotional place considering all the bad stuff that went down in The Darkest Seduction. He needs a woman to shine a little light into his life asap.

Right now, I have two more books contracted in the Lords of the Underworld series. The next one might just belong to Cameo.

TRC:  Many authors bounce ideas with other authors, family members and friends. With whom do you bounce ideas and why?

PC-I brainstorm with my editors and my agent. I trust their instincts and love the different slants they bring to the writing process. I also babble to my wonderful man. (Yes, he reads my books!) He doesn’t so much brainstorm with me, though, as he does give me a sounding board. But sometimes he says stuff like, “Why don’t you just shoot that character?” The last time he said that was while I was writing POSSESSED. I told him he was brilliant – kissed him – and then I did, indeed, shoot the character. Ha!

Gena-I love to bounce ideas off fellow author Jill Monroe, as well as have her read my drafts in chunks. She’s honest, hilarious and isn’t afraid to tell me I need to chop the first hundred pages because I started in the wrong place. What I don’t like is having to say, “You’re right.”

TRC:  What difficulties or challenges have you faced as a writer?

PC-The first half of writing every single book makes me want to leap off a tall building.

Gena-Having more than one project due at the same time, in different stages.

TRC:  Do you still fear rejection from a publisher?

PC-I don’t really think about publisher rejection – or at least I don’t think about it after I’m under contract. I obsess about writing the best book I can every time I write – so I suppose the rejection I fear most is of my own making.

Gena-I hate fear and won’t let myself entertain it for anything! I used to make myself sick worrying over the silliest things. Now I’m learning to resist it in all its varying forms, and oh, I love feeling it flee. (You can probably picture me fist pumping and shouting, “Freedom!”)

TRC:  Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the stress of writer’s block?

PC-Well…I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe that not everyone who begins a book can finish one. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a veterinarian, but when I volunteered at a vet clinic I realized I didn’t have what it takes to be a veterinarian. I didn’t have vet block; it just wasn’t the right job for me. I don’t look at writing as a nebulous, Muse-driven thing. I look at it as a job. It’s a cool job. I love it. But it’s a job, and that means that sometimes, whether I feel like writing or not, I write. It’s just like when I was teaching high school. I didn’t always feel like teaching class, but it was my job, so I showed up and did it to the best of my ability whether I felt like it or not. Because writing has been romanticized for so long I think people tend to forget that a successful professional author is a professional.

Gena—I don’t believe in writer’s block, either! And like PC, I see writing as a job. It takes discipline to force myself to go into my office, shut the door, and sit down at my computer when I’d rather stay in bed – and rather not be enveloped by the pungent aroma of dog fart.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

PC-Right now I’m working on answering this interview – thereby procrastinating and not writing the House of Night novella that’s due next month and is soooo not close to being done…

Gena-I’m currently working on the rough draft of The Darkest Craving, copy edits for Beauty Awakened, page passes for Last Kiss Goodnight, and plotting Through the Zombieglass. “I will succeed,” she says with another fist pump.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

PC-Yep – a big wave to my paranormal romance fans! It was a pleasure to write for you again!

Gena-Thank you so much for your support!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food

PC-wine
Gena-gourmet hamburger from my favorite restaurant, The Stuffed Olive

Favorite Dessert

PC-wine
Gena-sugar cookie from my favorite restaurant, The Stuffed Olive

Favorite TV Show

PC-currently The Big Bang Theory
Gena-New Girl

Last Movie You Saw

PC-The Avengers
Gena-What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Dark or Milk Chocolate

PC-Dark!
Gena-Dark

First book ever published

PC-Divine by Mistake (published originally under the title Goddess by Mistake)
Gena-The Stone Prince

TRC:  Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations to both of you on all of your success and the release of AFTER MOONRISE. We are looking forward to your new and future releases.

The Reading Cafe is offering a GIVEAWAY a copy of AFTER MOONRISE to one lucky member wherever The Book Depository delivers.

1. You must be a registered 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, please add your email address to your comment as Twitter etc does not allow for email addresses.

3. Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY wherever The Book Depository delivers.

4. Please answer one of the LIGHTNING ROUND questions.

5. Giveaway runs from November 2-November 6, 2012

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Beauty Awakened / Last Kiss Goodnight / Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

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Beauty Awakened/Last Kiss Goodnight/ Alice in Zombieland  by Gena Showalter

Beauty Awakened by Gena Showalter

 

FROM Goodreads: RELEASE DATE- February 2013

“Combining passion, humor, pulse-pounding action and just plain fun, Gena Showalter’s books are always a refreshing escape!” – New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with another captivating Angels of the Dark tale, as a tormented warrior is brought to his knees by the most delicate of humans…

His name is Koldo. He is scarred, powerful, his control legendary-and he lives only for vengeance, determined to punish the angel who viciously removed his wings. But if he yields to the forces of hatred, he will be kicked from the heavens, eternally damned.

She is his last hope. Nicola Lane was born with a defective heart, yet this fragile human shows surprising strength as demons stalk her every move, determined to end her. She is the key to Koldo’s deliverance…and his downfall. Though he fights duty, destiny and his first addictive taste of desire, his toughest battle will be the one for Nicola’s life-even if he has to sacrifice his own…

LINKS TO PRE ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

 

LAST KISS GOODNIGHT  by Gena Showalter

 

FROM Goodreads: RELEASE DATE-December 26, 2012

The breathtaking first novel in New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins, featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved…and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation…

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.

THE ULTIMATE PRICE…

Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test

LINKS TO PRE ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND by Gena Showalter

 

FROM GOODREADS: Release Date September 25, 2012

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO / Books a Million

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HIdden and Accidental Magic by PC Cast

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Hidden and Accidental Magic by PC Cast

 

From GOODREADS: Release Date-September 4, 2012

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night Series, P.C. Cast, presents two sexy, magical novellas set in Mysteria, Colorado, a supernatural town filled with vampires, witches, werewolves—and enough passion to awaken any creature of the night…

In Candy Cox and the Big Bad (Were)wolf, five-time divorcée Candice Cox is burned-out and lacking in love. But when a friend’s spell presents Candice with the young werewolf lover of her dreams, she starts to rethink her commitment to swearing off men. While the age difference throws her at first, Justin is exactly what Candice needs to kick-start her stalled love life…

In It’s in His Kiss, strict vegetarian Summer Smith has always had a hard time giving up control—especially since her magic is unpredictable at best. But when she meets a dark, gorgeous vampire named Colin, Summer suddenly finds herself wanting to let loose and experience the new appetites awaked by Colin’s kiss…

LINKS TO ORDER:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

HIDDEN by PC and Kristin Cast

 

FROM Goodreads: RELEASE DATE-October 16, 2012

At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet’s evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side — but she’s far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre world. First, a mysterious fire ravages the stables. Then, Neferet makes a devastating move that will test them all.

With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together — but that’s proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night’s former enemy, Kalona, has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limit. To top it off, Zoey is pretty darn sure she might be losing her mind. She saw something when she looked at Aurox through the Seer Stone that she can hardly explain to herself, let alone her friends. Is it possible that Heath has come back in a different form? Is that why Zoey’s so intrigued by Aurox, when it’s so obvious that he’s dangerous? And who would believe her if she told them? Zoey knows that following her instinct about Aurox might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she’s wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closest to her.

With the tension at a breaking point and friendships on the line, can the nerd herd come together to stop the spread of Darkness before it’s too late?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

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AFTER MOONRISE (anthology) by PC Cast and Gena Showalter-a review

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After Moonrise (anthology) by PC Cast and Gena Showalter-a review

AFTER MOONRISE –Possessed by PC Cast / Haunted by Gena Showalter

AFTER MOONRISE is an anthology (October 23, 2012 release) written by PC Cast and Gena Showalter. After Moonrise is a paranormal investigation agency and is the primary agency in both of the storylines. Norms are without any supernatural power (human) and Psys are those gifted with varying degrees of psychic ability.

POSSESSED is the first storyline written by PC Cast. At nine years of age, Kent Raef discovered he was a Psy. With his ability to feel only negative emotions Kent spent several years working for the military. Now State side and living in Tulsa Oklahoma Kent is a well-respected psychic detective working for the Tulsa branch of the After Moonrise Agency. Things are about to change for Kent when Lauren Wilcox enters his office hoping he will be able to help track her twin sister’s killer. But Lauren comes with a surprise-her sister’s spirit refuses to move on until her murder is solved. And it is Raef’s ability to see and communicate with Aubrey that pushes the detective in more ways than one.

Aubrey and Lauren Wilcox owned their own landscaping business and three months earlier Aubrey’s body was discovered at a job site-she had apparently been electrocuted on a dig. But Aubrey’s spirit refuses to move on and the sisters‘s relationship is slowly killing Lauren. It is not Aubrey’s choice to remain but a psychic killer who has the ability to keep her spirit alive.

POSSESSED is a well-written and fast paced storyline with a HEA but it was a difficult ending for me. I knew within the first couple of chapters that I would not like the outcome of this particular storyline. Aubrey’s bubbly personality made it obvious that she was the dominant twin and her attraction and playful attitude with Raef had the detective focusing more on the ghost than on the person. Lauren soon became nothing more than a second thought and a vessel for her sister’s spirit. What would you do for love?

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HAUNTED is the second storyline written by Gena Showalter. Oklahoma PD detective Levi Reid suffered blackouts and his most recent was a 7 day blank. Waking up in a new apartment, with new neighbors in a new neighborhood wasn’t what he had expected but when Aurora Harper stepped into his life he recognized a broken soul. On an extended leave of absence from the force, Levi would find himself in the middle of a missing persons investigation where the missing appeared to be alive and well, and he had more in common with Harper than he was willing to admit.

27 year old Harper, following a recent move into a new neighborhood, was also suffering blackouts and the feeling that she had witnessed a murder-a murder that she had somehow suppressed but her paintings, as she is an artist, have recently taken on a presence of their own. She is painting the image of a murder. And to complicate matters she could feel and taste the fear and horror, hear the screams of pain and something or someone was stalking her very existence. Along with her roommate Lana, Harper and Levi would embark on the long road to uncovering the truth behind the images Harper was painting and stopping a serial killer. But Levi suspected more than Lana let on when she disappeared and he discovered she was working for the Oklahoma After Moonrise Investigation Agency.

As the storyline continues, Harper and Levi develop feelings for each. Harper has a smart mouth and sexy attitude, and Levi is drawn to the spunky artist. But Harper’s painting will suddenly become personal and they will soon discover that their lives had taken a different path than they ever thought possible.

HAUNTED is another well-written, fascinating and amazing storyline from Gena Showalter. There is murder and mystery, as well as romance and sex. Gena draws the reader into the storyline and throws you a curveball at every chance. Our hero is sexy and sure, and our heroine has a take no prisoners attitude. Another wonderful story that will have you second-guessing the premise –you think you have it all solved until Gena changes the playing field.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

Reviewed by Sandy

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