Edge of Darkness Anthology by Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne & Lori Herter-a review

EDGE OF DARKNESS Anthology by Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne & Lori Herter-a review

Edge of Darkness

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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date August 4, 2015

Dark Crime by Christine Feehan

Blaze knows who killed her father and she has merciless plans for payback. Until a phone call from a seductive stranger pleads with her to wait. Retribution is in his blood, too. Now, he and Blaze will be united in the blood of the guilty. Tonight, vengeance is theirs.

REVIEW: DARK CRIME is the latest installment (26.5) in Christine Feehan’s CARPATHIAN paranormal romance DARK series and reads like a full length storyline. This is Carpathian Maxim Volkov and bar owner Blaze McGuire’s storyline. DARK CRIME can be read as a stand alone (with some difficulty) but if you are not familiar with Ms. Feehan’s DARK series some background information may be necessary for cohesion and familiarity with the Carpathian history. The storyline takes place in Chicago, Illinois.

Christine Feehan introduces several new characters to her series with Maxim and Blaze’s storyline. Maxim is an ancient, who along with his fellow Carpathians Tariq Asenguard and the triplets- Mataias, Lojos and Tomas- find themselves on the hunt for a master vampire whose minions are wreaking havoc with business owners, the homeless and missing children. Blaze and her best friend Emeline are the vampire’s next intended victims.

DARK CRIME is an erotic paranormal romance with scenarios of graphic violence involving women and children, as well as the usual vampire blood shed, death and destruction. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic-another ancient Carpathian has found his lifemate following hundreds of years of no emotions and no color; the romance is very quick to build and easily accepted by the storyline heroine; the revelation of the master vampire brings with it a former enemy who has made a pact with the devil.

Sadly, I do have an issue with Christine Feehan’s lack of originality when it comes to her storyline character’s names. This has been a major bone of contention for me throughout all of her series as well as using the same names between series e.g. Stefan has been used 3 times in the DARK series, as well as in 3 of her 4 other series. Duplication of names and their derivatives is a constant in the DARK series: Matias twice; Matt /Matthew 4 times; Henry and derivatives 4 times; John 4 times; Paul 4 times; Peter 4 times; Robert or Roberto 5 times; Tom/Thomas 5 times; and the list goes on). Maxim is a name that has been used twice in the DARK series for major characters-once for an ancient Carpathian-Maxim Malinov- who turned vampire and was killed, and now with Maxim Volkov in Dark Crime. The duplication can lead to confusion, especially with the similarity between surnames as well.

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Dead by Twilight by Maggie Shayne

Bloodsuckers may be an accepted minority but one of them is getting away with murder. Until a female vamp teams with a mortal detective to end the killing spree. Now the night belongs to them—and so does every pleasure and danger lurking in the shadows.

REVIEW: DEAD BY TWILIGHT is Maggie Shayne’s latest novella in her Wings in the Night: Reborn paranormal, romance series. This is vampire/cop Chloe Madison, and Officer Shepherd Daniels storyline that focuses on the formation of the Vampire Crimes Unit and the hunt for a rogue vampire on a killing spree throughout the town.

Chloe is a reluctant vampire; turned on the night of her senior prom in 1955; and a woman who refuses to be a predator in a world where vampires are at the top of the proverbial food chain. When Chloe and Shep are tasked with investigating a series of killings by a rogue vampire, Chloe knows that to reveal her true nature would mean the end to her career and a potential target on her head.

Maggie Shayne invites the reader into her entertaining world of vampires with a little bit of humor and romance; mystery and suspense. The storyline covers about 24-48 hours in the life with a prologue that looks at Chloe’s initiation into the world of vampires and blood.

•••••••••••••••

Cimarron Spirit by Lori Herter

While excavating an Anasazi ruin, archeologist Annie Carmichael uncovers the resting place of a centuries-old vampire who finds in Annie the liberating mate he has longed for. But how much is Annie expected—or willing—to surrender for the man she now desires?

REVIEW: CIMARRON SPIRIT is part 1 of Lori Herter’s paranormal Cimarron Series. This is five hundred year old vampire Rafael de la Vega, and archeologist Annie Carmichael’s story-a story of forbidden love with a slight love triangle premise.

Annie is an archeologist who has been excavating an ancient Anasazi site near Phoenix, Arizona but what Annie uncovers is nothing short of unbelievable. While living and digging on Brent Logan’s ranch, Annie finds herself torn between what is safe, and what it is she wants. Rafael de La Vega, Brent’s closest neighbor and the man with whom Brent has been in a legal tug of war, is a vampire who calls to Annie’s heart.

CIMARRON SPIRIT introduces the major characters of Lori’s Cimarron series, Rafael’s history, his years as a lone vampire, and his need for Annie Carmichael. Annie is a divorcee who was about to settle down with a man she did not love until Rafael showed her what it was like to be a part of his world.

CIMARRON SPIRIT is part one in Lori Herter’s paranormal Cimarron romance series and thusly ends rather abruptly without explanation. To read about what happens to our storyline couple Cimarron Secrets –part 2-will be released August 7, 2015.

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EDGE OF DARKNESS looks at three distinctively different writing styles from three paranormal romance authors. Feehan and Shayne offer up works from existing series, while Herter introduces a new series about vampire Rafael de la Vega. Christine Feehan’s DARK CRIMES is infinitely more detailed, and sexually graphic with scenarios of violence against women and children; Shayne and Herter barely touch upon the sexual aspects of their storylines.

I will admit my interest in this anthology has everything to do with Christine Feehan’s DARK CRIMES-a series I have been reading for a number of years. Shayne and Herter’s novellas add some quick, light reads for those that enjoy a little bit of paranormal romance without the sexually erotic factor.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Cover Reveals-May 6, 2013

Cover Reveals-May 6, 2013

The Deepest Night Aug 13

 

TITLE: The Deepest Night

AUTHOR: Shana Abe

SERIES:  The Sweetest Dark

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

the hunter June 2013

 

TITLE: The Hunter

AUTHOR: Monica McCarty

SERIES:  Highland Guard

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

Uninvited Mar 2014

 

TITLE:  Uninvited

AUTHOR:  Sophie Jordan

SERIES:  Uninvited #1

RELEASE DATE:  March 2014

 

 

 

Storm Warrior Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Storm Warrior

AUTHOR: Dani Harper

SERIES: The Grim Series

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Destiny May 2013

 

TITLE: Destiny

AUTHOR: Maggie Shayne

SERIES:  The Immortal Witches

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

Wild Darkness Nov 2013

 

TITLE: Wild Darkness

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

SERIES:  Bound by Magick

RELEASE DATE: November 2013

 

 

 

Winds of Salem Aug 13 YA

 

TITLE: Winds of Salem (YA)

AUTHOR: Melissa De La Cruz

SERIES: Witches of East End

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Hostage July 13

 

TITLE: Hostage

AUTHOR: Kay Hooper

SERIES: Bishop Special Crimes Unit

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Unscripted Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Unscripted

AUTHOR:  Jayne Denker

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

Endless Octo 2013

 

TITLE: Endless (re-release)

AUTHOR: Jessica Shirvington

SERIES: Violet Eden

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Deadshifted-Dec 13jpg

 

TITLE: Deadshifted

AUTHOR: Cassie Alexander

SERIES:  Edie Spence

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

 

 

 

Up From the Grave 2014

 

 

TITLE: Up From The Grave

AUTHOR: Jeaniene Frost

SERIES: Night Huntress

RELEASE DATE: 2014

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COVER REVEALS – January 5, 2013

COVER REVEALS-JANUARY 5, 2013

Recalled Feb 2013

 

TITLE: Recalled

AUTHOR: Cambria Hebert

SERIES:  A Death Escort Novel

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

 

Seduction May 2013

 

TITLE: Seduction

AUTHOR: M.J. Rose

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

Avenging Angel May 13

 

TITLE: Avenging Angel

AUTHOR: Cynthia Eden

SERIES: The Fallen

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

Guardian Ranger Feb 13

 

TITLE: Guardian Ranger

AUTHOR: Cynthia Eden

SERIES: Shadow Agents

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

 

Whiskey Beach apr 13

 

TITLE: Whiskey Beach

AUTHOR: Nora Roberts

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

Infinity Jan 13

 

TITLE: Infinity

AUTHOR: Maggie Shayne

SERIES: The Immortal Witches

RELEASE DATE: January 2013 (re-release)

 

 

 

Bang

 

TITLE:  Bang

AUTHOR:  Lisa McMann

SERIES: Visions (YA)

RELEASE DATE:  October 2013

 

 

 

 *********************

Styxx and Acheron

 

For all of the DARK HUNTER series fans of SHERRILYN KENYON:

Sherrilyn Kenyon
Styxx launch update. The release date for Styxx has not changed. It’s still set for 9/3/13. But those who attend the launch party at DragonCon (you do *NOT* have to purchase a DragonCon membership/pass to attend the launch party, but Sherri will be attending DC that entire weekend+Monday and will be hanging out with fans and appearing at additional signings, the parade and on various panels throughout the weekend) can get the book early on Aug 29, 2013. So the Styxx launch party is Aug 29, 2013 in the Marriott Marquis on Courtland in Atlanta, GA. The Styxx tour will begin on 9-3-13 with the official on-sale date for the book. We don’t have the cities where Sherri and Dianna will be yet during the Styxx tour, but will post those as soon as we have them.

2013 is the year of Styxx (and that is the title of the book) and those who loved Acheron, won’t want to miss this book as Acheron is a HUGE part of it from beginning to end. You will see a lot of scenes with Ash and Styxx, along with the Atlantean and Greek gods, that have never appeared in previous books and this includes a lot about Ash’s and Styxx’s childhood, both together and separate. And like Acheron, the book is huge in size. And it answers a lot of questions about the series and some of the more complicated relationships. Like Ash, Styxx is a very complicated character and we will be having snippets and other fun tidbits in the months leading up to the release of the book. Sherri will be making appearances online to answer questions about the twins soon, too.

So to reiterate the release of Styxx is Tuesday, 9-3-13, but the release/launch party with prizes, costume contest, characters, etc. is Thursday, 8-29-13 in Atlanta at the Marriott Marquis.

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Cover Reveals-January 3, 2013

COVER REVEALS -January 3, 2013

Die for Me

 

TITLE: Die For Me

AUTHOR: Cynthia Eden

SERIES: The Valentine Killer

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

 

Midnight Frost

 

TITLE: Midnight Frost

AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep

SERIES: Mythos Academy

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Eternity

 

TITLE: Eternity

AUTHOR: Maggie Shayne

SERIES: The Immortal Witches

RELEASE DATE: 2013 re-release

 

 

 

Her Warrior's Three Wishes

 

TITLE:  Her Warrior’s Three Wishes

AUTHOR:  Carrie Ann Ryan

SERIES:  Dante’s Circle

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

No Strings Attached

 

TITLE:  No Strings Attached

AUTHOR:  Jaci Burton

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE:  February 2013

 

 

 

The Prince's Gamble

 

TITLE:  The Prince’s Gamble

AUTHOR:  Caridad Pineiro

SERIES:  Romantic/Suspense

RELEASE DATE:  February 2013

 

 

 

Any Duchess Will Do

 

TITLE:  Any Duchess Will Do

AUTHOR:  Tessa Dare

SERIES:  Spindle Cove #4

RELEASE DATE:  May 2013

 

 

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COVER REVEALS

COVER REVEALS

 

 

TITLE:  The Eldritch Conspiracy

AUTHOR  Cat Adams

SERIES:  Bloodsinger #5

RELEASE DATE:  January 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Blood of the Sorceress

AUTHOR:  Maggie Shayne

SERIES:  The Portal #3

RELEASE DATE:  January 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Oath Bound

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

SERIES: Unbound #3

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Frost Burned

AUTHOR:  Patricia Briggs

SERIES:  Mercy Thompson #7

RELEASE DATE:  March 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Mating Instinct

AUTHOR:  Katie Reus

SERIES:  Moon Shifter #3

RELEASE DATE:  March 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE: South of Surrender

AUTHOR: Laura Kaye

SERIES: Heart of the Anemonie

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Born of Fury

AUTHOR: Sherrilyn Kenyon

SERIES: League

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 


TITLE: Nameless

AUTHOR: Lillith St. Crow

SERIES: Tale of Beauty and Madness

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

 

 

TITLE: Undone

AUTHOR: Sara Humphreys

SERIES: The Amoevo Legend #4

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

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MARK OF THE WITCH (Portal #1) by Maggie Shayne – a review

MARK OF THE WITCH (Portal #1) by Maggie Shayne-a review

MARK OF THE WITCH by Maggie Shayne

MARK OF THE WITCH is the first full-length novel (October 2012 release) in Maggie Shayne’s new Portal series. The series focuses on three witch sisters who were sentenced death over 3500 years ago, promising they would return. Mark of the Witch is Indira’s story. The story switches between Indy’s first person POV and third person.

Indira’s nightmares were becoming worse. Three sisters accused of witchcraft in ancient Babylon were executed along with the youngest sister’s lover, and Indy continued to relive the experience night after night until finally she would awaken with ‘marks’ and a fading tattoo. Hoping to find an answer, Indy, a former wiccan, sought council with her best friend, wiccan high priestess and partner in a Manhattan law firm Rayne Blackwood. On her way home from a protection ceremony, Indy would find herself batter and bruised in her own bed without any knowledge of what had happened.

Father Tomas was 29 years old and had reached a crisis of faith. His mentor Father Dom told of the prophecy of the return of the Demon from the Underworld on Samhain Eve and Father Dom believed that he and Tomas had to find the witches who would release the Demon from his prison. But when Tomas found the witch, something familiar fell into place as though he knew her from before. And he could not believe that this beautiful woman would cause the destruction of the world.

Indy’s nightmares and visions were becoming a reality. During the day she would find herself having visions only to awake with more markings and ancient script across her body. And now there were images of others, her ‘sister’ Lilia with messages to remember-to help him. And Father Tomas was now ‘witness’ to her daily traumas and their aftermath. Hoping to help Indy, Father Tomas took her to New York only to find Father Dom had plans of his own. Father Dom believed Indy had made a pact with the Demon. But Indy’s visions would reveal that she and Tomas has a connection in a previous life. Knowing someone who could help with the cryptic messages, Tomas took Indy to a friend at Cornell.

Rayne would once again come into play, when Indy asked for help. A surprising twist would force Indy to look closely at her friends and she believes that Tomas has lied to and betrayed her. Keeping a journal was Rayne’s idea and before long Indy would put all of her visions and dreams to paper. But a walk to the lake would bring Indy one step closer to the portal and possibly one step closer to Tomas and the truth about the identity of the Demon behind the portal.

MARK OF THE WITCH is a passionate storyline about lost love, sacrifice and the redemption. Maggie Shayne blends Christian dictates, wiccan rituals and the power of love to bring about a storyline that will fascinate anyone who believes.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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LEGACY OF THE WITCH (The Portal Series 0.5 ) by Maggie Shayne-a review

LEGACY OF THE WITCH (The Portal Series 0.5) by Maggie Shayne-a review

LEGACY OF THE WITCH (The Portal Series0.5) by Maggie Shayne

LEGACY OF THE WITCH is the prequel novella to the new PORTAL series by Maggie Shayne. Released September 1, 2012 Legacy of the Witch introduces the backstory to 3 witch sisters born in the Middle East over 3,000 years earlier and their re-birth into a modern time.

In the 1970-80’s Amarrah was a young 13 year old girl from Iraq who was fascinated by the stories told by her aging grandmother. Since the time she was 5, Amarrah has listened to the tales about three beautiful sisters- Indira, Lilia and Magdalena-and their love for a young slave girl with the same name as Amarrah. And these stories were all too familiar, as though she had lived the life alongside the young girl. On her death bed, Amarrah’s grandmother would admit that the tales were not false, but the memories from a long line of women who have protected a sacred object that at some time in the future would be returned to its’ rightful owner and Amarrah would vow to keep the object safe. But it was during the first Gulf War that Amarrah was sent to live with relatives in America and the object was confiscated by airport security. It would be 10 years before Amarrah would ever see the object again.

Throughout the years, Amarrah would continue to dream about a slave girl who had fallen in love with a young Iraqi soldier named Harmon, but the dreams seemed all too familiar. The dreams became more life-like when one of the three witch sisters was rumored to be involved with a man outside of her relationship, and the sisters were suspected of being witches, and the young slave girl would be told a story of a sacred object that would one day hold the key to the witches return.

Today’s Amarrah would find the object on a television broadcast of antiquities and oddities. Tracking down the owner would bring Amarrah face to face with a former US soldier who had been stationed in Iraq during the war. But there is a familiarity between Harrison and Amarrah that cannot be denied, and it is with the familiarity that the past will meet the future, and the lives of the three witches will be put into the hands of another for safekeeping.

LEGACY OF THE WITCH is a short story that introduces the premise behind Maggie Shayne’s new PORTAL series. The story is told through a series of dream sequences, visions and first hand experience from 3000 years ago to the late 1990’s. An interesting storyline that could only come from the mind of Maggie Shayne.

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Portal Series by Maggie Shayne Promotion

THE PORTAL SERIES by Maggie Shayne Promotion

The Portal Series, from MIRA Books, is Maggie Shayne’s brand new Paranormal Romance series featuring three Warrior Witches and the men they must tame; The Priest, The Player, and The Demon.  The women have reincarnated from their lifetimes in Ancient Babylon, and while there are several segments about those lifetimes, the books are contemporary romances.  Here’s what you need to know about this series, and about this site!

▪ The Portal Series launches with a FREE ebook prequel, LEGACY OF THE WITCH on September 1st, 2012.  You’ll be able to download this free prequel for Kindle and Nook (and others, I hope) or from Harlequin.com. Legacy of the Witch is the story of young Amarrah, the slave girl to the slave girls.

▪ Book 1, MARK OF THE WITCH goes on sale on September 18th, 2012.  It is the story of Indira, who’s having visions of execution, and the priest who has come to save her–or maybe, to kill her.

▪ Book 2, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELLCASTER hits the stands on November 20th.  It’s Magdalena’s story.  She’s single and pregnant by a player she mistook for a prince, Magdalena is determined not to trust him again.  But it might be the people she does trust who pose the biggest threat to her child, and the demon who thinks he needs its body in order to live again.

▪ Book 3, BLOOD OF THE SORCERESS releases January 20th.  Lilia didn’t reincarnate lifetime after lifetime as her sisters did.  She remained in an in-between state, watching over things, waiting for the right time to save her cursed lover from his underworld prison, to restore his lost humanity and the missing pieces of his soul.  But if she fails, it’s her life on the line.

▪ THE MAGICK OF THE WITCHES: Maggie’s non-fiction book about witchcraft, magick, how and why it works, with spells and rituals to enhance anyone’s practice, will be available in E and print editions on Halloween 2012.

▪ MAGGIE’S MAGICK ONLINE: The Online Book of Shadows right here on this site includes real spells and lessons on the Craft of the Wise, along with suggested holiday rituals and more.  We’ll be adding to that page as we go forward.

▪ Collectible Trading Cards: They are in the process of creating a full set of collectible, full color trading cards featuring the characters found in The Portal Series.  Their hope is to have a set of at least 9, and possibly as many as 13 cards.  They’ll be released one at a time, in extremely limited editions, and they’ll always be free for a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

▪ They will have much more, including excerpts from each book as they become available, a big contest just prior to the launch of Book 1, video trailers for each of the books, and more.  They hope you’ll visit often, and take a walk inside…

SOURCE: Maggie Shayne-The Portal

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