What's Up Wednesday is a little weekly post that I'm hosting. Just something short and sweet about what's new with me, the romance realm and what ever else strikes my fancy.
So, what's up with me?
Today's show is a bit different. It's Pimpin' Wednesday!!
OMG! Next Tuesday, September 6th, is a day I've been looking forward to all year! It's the day that my two favorite paranormal romance authors are releasing books!!!
Say hello to the two juicy reading delights that I'll soon be devouring:
YUMMMMMMM!!!!
Having journeyed with both these authors since their debut, they're releases have become special milestones marking the year. It's as though I've always got something to look forward to. Not only that, but I feel like they've both added substantially to my growth as a reader and as a reviewer. It was their books that made me want to get the word out on paranormal romance. In fact, one of my first early reviews was for Meljean's DEMON MOON. Don't go looking for it. It's heinous! And FYI, the one I posted on LMSR was a heavily revised version. Good luck finding the original! :)
Now, just because both these books release well into the depths of their series, don't be discouraged. In the case of DEMON MARKED, Meljean Brook has provided ample tools on her website for readers that haven't yet started the series and want to start with the latest release. In fact, her site in general is simply fantastic. Check it out HERE. And bonus, Ash, the heroine of DEMON MARKED, is very new to the world so really, this is a great place to become addicted. However, I do recommend checking out the whole series. Trust me, the Guardians series is a fantastic and worthwhile investment.
While ARCHANGEL'S BLADE is technically book four in the Guild Hunter series, I think this release is a very easy stand alone read. For one, the first three installments feature the same hero/heroine pairing so it's not like you'll be diving into the unknown. And two, Dimitri is a total mystery. Despite his many appearances, I have no idea who this vampire is beyond the fact that he's an archangel's second in command (that archangel being the luscious and otherworldly Raphael). For more on Dimitri and the Guild Hunter series, check out Nalini Singh's website.
What special reads are you guys waiting for and why?
Publisher:Eve Langlais Release Date: August 2011 Genre: Paranormal Romance
41,000 Words (Novella)
What’s a poor bear to do when all he wants is some sweet, bunny pie?
Bears and bunnies aren’t supposed to mix, or that’s what Chase keeps telling himself when his bouncy new neighbor won’t stay out of his business—and his mind. However, the more he gets to know his overly perky neighbor, the more he craves her—naked in his grasp—a desire worse than his addiction to honey and pie.
Miranda’s on a mission for the Furry United Coalition, and it involves secretly guarding one grumpy ol’ bear. Staying focused on the job isn’t easy when all she can think about is turning his frown upside down, a task made harder when she gets a glimpse of his passion. When she hears about his theory on woodland creatures and predators not mixing, she thinks all is lost, but she didn’t count on a bear’s curious nature—and possessive need.
When an evil force abducts Chase, Miranda unleashes her bunny in order to save him, but the revelation of her shifter side puts her in danger. Is one ornery bear enough to save her from a mad scientist? And if he does, can a bear forget her woodland creature status long enough to love her and make her his mate?
Warning: Pies were harmed in the making of this story and naughty references were made about honey that might offend some readers.
Eve Langlais is offering one copy of BUNNY AND THE BEAR to one lucky commenter. Here's how to enter:
*Comment with a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)*
**Contest Open to ALL**
***Must be 18 or Older to Enter***
****Contest Closes Thursday, September 1st at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen Randomly and Announced Friday, September 2nd****
Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince...and make him pay.
Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father's prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming--the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.
That was before the loss of her sister and her family's fall from grace--a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father's death, she's inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine's eccentric friends--the balance of her father's acting troupe--she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake--and make away with a fortune.
Resisting Jules's skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince...
Single Title/Series: A MIDNIGHT DANCE is a stand alone novel.
Cover Thoughts: Absolutely enchanting. I especially love how the image ties back to a moment within the novel.
Origin: I received an Advanced Review Copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
My Review:
The Plot:
Once prosperous beyond their means, Sabine Laurent and her misfit theater troop family find themselves in dire straights. Saddled with a hefty and ever increasing debt payable to the Crown, they all face eviction and life on the streets, if they're lucky, a debtors prison if they're not. Penniless with no available resources to help clear their enormous debt, Sabine is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. After her educated ears pick up on two privateers boasting in Italian about a recent capture of a king's ransom worth of silver coins, Sabine devises a plan to steal the silver from the privateers. She'll offer her innocence to the thieving group's leader as a rouse while her young cousins knock out the remaining men with tainted wine. Once they've all dispatched their charges to a dreamless sleep, they'll swipe the silver and disappear. The plan begins without a hitch until Sabine's Dark Prince emerges looking as devastatingly handsome as ever.
Nothing will stop Jules de Moutier from reclaiming his family's prestigious title as well as the lands that were wrongfully taken from them. Accused of conspiring against the Crown, Jules's father, the Marquis de Blaineville, was dropped from a hangman's noose while his sons were left to rot in prison. Jules and his younger brother Luc were eventually released but while Luc seems content with their fall from grace, Jules is determined to clear his father's name and see himself reinstated to the title befitting his true station. Planning to use the stolen silver as the means to that end, Jules is not about to let his guard down but when a beautiful woman with hair of spun gold enters his camp offering her luscious charms, he can't resist partaking in the carnal delights she promises.
Having blamed the Moutier's not only for the harsh taxes they once levied against her family, but beyond that, Sabine blames them for her twin sister's alleged death. Isabelle was her closest confident, her best friend, and her blood. It tore Sabine's heart out when her father sent her to work as a servant for the Moutier's. Despite the letter from the Marquis de Blaineville stating dispassionately that Isabelle perished in a fire, Sabine doesn't feel that she's dead and with the fortune they'll reap from the silver, she's determined to find her sister and save her family. But at this moment, all of Sabine's anger and despair wars with her acute desire for Jules; her Dark Prince. Having once peered longingly at him from behind the stage curtains of her father's grand theater, Sabine imagined countless times what it would feel like to kiss her Dark Prince. And now she has her chance.
Embarking on a lush and sensual journey, Sabine basks in the momentary bliss Jules provides with each and every explosive sexual encounter. Living vicariously through a made up persona - Elise - Sabine soaks up every touch and emotion that rages across her titillated senses. Loathing herself for the lies she's weaved, Sabine can barely fight off her sickening gut as each moment spent with Jules unveils a caring man within his often arrogant exterior. When her deception is finally discovered by a furious Jules, a much larger and deadly plot is unveiled spelling both Sabine's and Jules's demise. Interwoven betwixt Isabelle's death and the Marquis de Blaineville's hanging lies a dangerous predator waiting to finish the destruction he's started with one grand and deadly finale.
The Heroine:
Sabine Laurent's radiant beauty and innocent demeanor may have many falling into the trap of underestimating her, however, beneath her stunning looks lies a resourceful, cunning and quick-witted woman who will do whatever is necessary to save and protect those she loves.
After years of suffering the tarnish and loss of poverty, Sabine's soul clings wearily but steadfastly to life. Forced to endure the near crippling blow of loosing of her beloved sister, Sabine's heart and mind have hardened to everything but the task at hand. To think beyond would only open herself to the cascade of heartbreak and defeat that already looms with a dire sense of inevitability on the horizon. The lights have burnt out for Sabine until Jules and the gift of his demanding passion opens her eyes and more importantly, her heart. While in his strong arms, Sabine watches the walls of her ever enclosing fate drop away to reveal the light of their combustible and all consuming passion. It is Jules de Moutier that reawakens Sabine to the world and the tempting possibility of hope.
The Hero:
Suffering the vile humiliation of toppling from the aristocracy to the title of outcast and betrayer, Jules de Moutier thinks of nothing but the injustice and wrongful persecution of his beloved father and noble family name. Despising his career as a privateer when he was once a privileged member of the Royal Navy, Jules is within clutching distance of reinstating his family to their former and noble glory.
Distrustful not by nature but by experience, Jules is hardened to any plight outside his own but then fate handed him Sabine. No matter if she's deceiving him as Elise, enraging him as Sabine, or eventually taming him with her loyal and loving heart, Jules was captured completely the moment she stepped foot into his camp and turned his life upside down. Breaking through the barriers wrought by his grudging anger, she floods his heart and soul with much needed light while her cunning perseverance keeps him on his toes and her wild passion enraptures him to a point of no return.
My Final Thoughts:
A MIDNIGHT DANCE is a lush and exotic retelling of its fairy tale inspiration: Cinderella. Enchanting the reader with steamy sexual delights and the titillating breath of danger, Lila DiPasqua weaves her magic much like the Fairy Godmother, gifting her characters with layered depths and a plot that never lacks for momentum.
Jules de Moutier is a wonderful and captivating hero. A man of sin and beauty his arrogance is balanced only by his instinctual kindness. Dark and lethal, he commands loyalty and allegiance from his thieving band of privateers as well as respect and deference befitting his rightful station, outcast or not. Matching wits with the lovely and daring Sabine Laurent is utterly engrossing and pages of fun. Heartbreaking and endearing, Sabine and her plight can and will charm even the most critical of readers.
DiPasqua especially shines with her titillating and explicit love scenes. Marvelously detailed with sinful language sprinkled throughout, DiPasqua takes her characters on a sexual journey that leaves you hot and breathless while never crossing the line into the land of crude or offensive. From the moment you open the pages, passion overflows. Think Lisa Valdez. You got it? Oh yeah.
A MIDNIGHT DANCE is a smooth transition for DiPaqua from anthologies to full length novels. You'd think she's been doing this all her life. Seriously. So why not five stars? Well, there are two moments within the novel that Sabine seemed to act out of character, one which was pivotal but unfortunately necessary within the construct of the plot. Seems tedious, I know, but they were each moments that caused me pause and the distinct thought that Sabine's actions were contrary to her character. Otherwise, loved, loved, loved this novel.
Thank you everyone for the outstanding participation. You guys are awesome! And a BIG thanks to the wonderful Lila DiPasqua for participating in my interview and for providing the fabulous giveaway!! (((hugs)))
Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince...and make him pay.
Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father's prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming--the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.
That was before the loss of her sister and her family's fall from grace--a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father's death, she's inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine's eccentric friends--the balance of her father's acting troupe--she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake--and make away with a fortune.
Resisting Jules's skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince...
What's Up Wednesday is a little weekly post that I'm hosting. Just something short and sweet about what's new with me, the romance realm and what ever else strikes my fancy.
So, what's up with me?
Well, I'm still dealing with holes in my mouth from my teeth being pulled but every day they look smaller and feel less tender.On my follow-up appointment, my doctor gave me this syringe thingy with a curved nozzle and I'm supposed to flush out the holes every day. I'm telling you, it's the weirdest feeling sticking that nozzle tip into the holes. Ugh, I'm so not liking this whole thing! Hopefully in another week I'll be back to normal and God won't it feel like bliss. I can't wait!
Weekend Movie Review!
"Priest" featuring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, and Maggie Q, is a post-apocalyptic Sci-fi thriller set in an alternate reality. After centuries of war between humans and vampires, all that remains upon the desert blown landscape are the crumbling skeletons of once and mighty human cities. After the last Vampire War saw the extermination of nearly all vampires with the remaining few living within guarded reservations, humans, having nearly been wiped out as well, reside within the walls and rules of the church beneath coal darkened skies. A warrior Priest (Bettany) lives in obscurity amongst the population having completed his mission for the church. Born with special and otherwordly fighting capabilities, Priest was recruited by the church to join others like him to fight the vampires and fight the vampires they did. With the wars over, the church, fearing the power of the Priest and his brethren, forced the warriors to live not as heroes, but as scourge. When Priest is told that his brother has been murdered and his niece abducted by rogue vampires, he breaks his vow to the church and resumes his warrior ways to search for the last of his family.
I didn't quite know what to expect of Paul Bettany as a super hero. At first glance, he just doesn't seem hero material but every time I see him in these types of roles (think "Legion") the man wins me over. Bettany, upon film, exudes a sexy otherworldliness that is completely unexpected but utterly engrossing. While there's not much in terms of plot with regards to "Priest" and much is easily predictable, Bettany definitely captured and held my attention like a moth to a flame. In fact, I'm adding him to my on-screen boyfriends. Seriously, the man is quite yummy when he's on a deadly mission. Rating: 3.5 Stars
Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince...and make him pay.
Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father's prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming--the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.
That was before the loss of her sister and her family's fall from grace--a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father's death, she's inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine's eccentric friends--the balance of her father's acting troupe--she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake--and make away with a fortune.
Resisting Jules's skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince...
To read a scandalous excerpt of A MIDNIGHT DANCE click HERE:
Hi guys! Please welcome Historical Romance author Lila DiPasqua to Lovin' Me Some Romance!
About the Author: Lila DiPasqua writes wicked & witty historical romance for Penguin/Berkley. She lives with her real-life hero husband and three children and is a firm believer in the happily-ever-after. She loves history and enjoys traveling. She has been to four continents so far. To learn more about Lila and her books, visit http://www.liladipasqua.com/.
My Interview:
A MIDNIGHT DANCE features a twist on Cinderella, the timeless classic. How is your novel different and similar to the original tale?
Great question! A MIDNIGHT DANCE is similar in that I have all the elements we love about the classic fairy tale: an impoverished beauty; a “Prince Charming”; a stepmother (or in this case, the heroine’s late father’s long-time mistress and her two spoiled daughters as “stepsisters”). I also have a ball, a glass slipper and a fairy godmother in form of a loveable, yet highly opinionated an apothecary.
What makes mine different: I took those elements and gave my Cinderella retelling a fresh, unique twist. This Cinderella is out for revenge against Prince Charming. She blames her family’s fall from grace and her losses on Jules de Moutier and his powerful family. This book is steamy, fun, romantic; did I mention steamy? *smiles* (There’s serious chemistry between Sabine and Jules). And there’s plenty of intrigue, twists and a surprising villain keep you turning the pages. . . until the romantic climax.
Our cinder-girl, Sabine was once the daughter of a prominent playwright. She’s lost her father, her lovely home, her father’s prestigious theater and worse still, her beloved twin sister, Isabelle. Though it’s been five years, Sabine is the only one who thinks Isabelle is still alive. Sabine is in dire straits and desperate. She, and what’s left of her eclectic family—that includes the balance of her late father’s acting troupe—an eccentric bunch!—face debtor’s prison.
To save them from this fate, she intends to steal a fortune from Jules. All she has to do is pretend to be a harlot named Elise, seduce the rake and feed him the tainted wine. Easy, right?
Ah, no.
What she didn’t count on was her attraction to her old girlhood flame was still very much alive, despite her contempt for Jules. You see, she had a mad crush on him as a fifteen year old girl and would worship him from afar as he, then nineteen, attended her father’s theater. Today, Jules de Moutier is even more devilishly handsome . . . and a lot more carnally talented. *winks*
Why Cinderella? What is about the tale that moves you as an author and as a reader?
It’s my favorite fairy tale. And probably the first romance I ever read. ;) I think I’m drawn to historical romance because of it.
Jules and Sabine, your hero and heroine, have sex within the first few pages. Are these types of scenes easy or more difficult to write when they occur so early in the book?
I don’t plan for a sex scene to land at the beginning, middle or at the end. They happen whenever it feels natural and right in that particular story. In this book, having the hero and heroine have sex at the beginning was right. She is, after all, pretending to be a prostitute in order to get close enough to steal from Jules. Thought she wasn’t supposed to actually sleep with him, given that she was once so attracted to him, and that this is the first time she’s seeing him in eight years, I felt it was the natural thing to happen. And it certainly complicated things right off the bat. ;)
Speaking of sex, girl, you write it well! *fans self* What's your imaginary and writing processes for choreographing such scenes for I imagine that it would be necessary to move through the act frame by frame given that there is so much...ehem...movement? In other words, how do you make it all flow?
First of all, thank you for the compliment! To answer your question: I don’t know what this says about me, but I just *see* it all in my head. LOL. No sex scene in my books is written just so the hero and heroine can have sex. Every love scene is there to up the conflict and advance the romantic plot. Because there’s that complexity to ever sexual encounter, I tend to write the act itself first. Left hand here. Right arm there. That kind of thing. There’s plenty of dialogue during my love scenes, and that really helps to add heat. Once it’s choreographed, I layer in the emotions. With each sexual encounter, I assure you that Sabine and Jules, grow more and more emotionally vulnerable to each other.
Your characters aren't shy when it comes to naughty language. I must say, your novels have a distinct tone whereby the words don't come off as derogatory or offensive but rather seem very appropriate. How do you walk that fine line between appropriate and offensive? Do you think there's a line at all?
I think there’s definitely a line. Anything in excess feels vulgar to me. My heroes are usually a lot more sexually experienced than my heroines, and so, I make sure to show that the heroine is receptive and not offended by the bedroom talk. I think if the reader sees that the characters are comfortable, they feel more comfortable, too.
Also, it’s paramount to create likeable characters. If the reader likes the hero, she won’t mind it if his language is a tad blunt in the heat of the moment. :)
Jules de Moutier is a beautiful yet arrogant hero. He's also smart and distrustful. What was your experience writing his character?
I really enjoyed creating Jules! He may be arrogant at the beginning, but he’s also loyal—and down to his very core, decent and honorable. I wanted to show that even though he’d been born into high society, had wealth and privilege, deep inside, he’s no different than Sabine, who’s of common birth. His temper was fun to play with, too. The sparks between him and Sabine was just such fun to create.
Sabine Laurent is a very beautiful heroine with hair like spun gold. Jules thinks she’s a combination of many different types of women including an innocent, a seductress and all the faces in between. What was your experience writing her character?
I love writing about strong women—a woman who, like many women, has a tremendous amount of responsibility to shoulder, all on her own. Sabine has a tough, strong exterior, but it’s Jules who sees how broken she feels inside without Isabelle. Only when she learns to see herself through his eyes, can she finally feel whole and healed.
This isn’t a story about a damsel in distress who is saved by her Prince Charming. This is a story of two people, thrown together by fate, who defy the odds against them, and, despite their different social class, save each other—and find a lasting love.
I love your character’s names. Do you labor extensively over the perfect name? Which comes first, the character or their name?
I absolutely CAN’T start to write a book, or even write the synopsis until I have a name for the hero and heroine. Only then do they take shape in my mind. It’s very important to me to have a name first.
A MIDNIGHT DANCE is your first full length novel. How was this writing experience different from your novella compilations? Which is easier?
I don’t think one is easier than the other. I think each has its challenges. Every author wants to deliver an entertaining read. If you have only 120 pages to do that in a novella, then you’ve got to come up with compelling characters and storyline that has a resolution that feels satisfying to the reader.
With a full-length book, you’ve got the challenge of coming up with a more complex plot that can be believably sustained for 350 pages or so. To do that you’ve got to keep the conflict rising until the climax (black moment). I shoot for a page-turner each time. :) If you don’t keep upping the conflict, then you have a slow-moving book with a saggy middle. And no one wants that.
And finally, what’s next for Lila DiPasqua?
I can’t give any details yet, but there will be a couple more Fiery Tales . . . and a secret project I’m very excited about. :)
I’m very excited to show you the brand new book trailer for A MIDNIGHT DANCE! Done by Book Candy Studios [ http://www.bookcandystudios.com/ ], it’s so breathtakingly beautiful, hot and romantic….and so perfect for this book!
Giveaway Details:
Thanks to Lila DiPasqua, two random commenters will win their choice of AWAKENED BY A KISS *or* THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED *or* A MIDNIGHT DANCE, AND a glass slipper! Giveaway open WORLDWIDE.
To enter to win: Watch the book trailer for A MIDNIGHT DANCE and tell me one of the review quotes found there. HINT: There are 3, (one from Fresh Fiction, The Romance Dish and NYT Bestselling author, Elizabeth Hoyt). You only need to give me *one* in your comment.
*Comment with your answer to Lila's question:*
**Comment with a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)**
***Contest Open to ALL***
****Must be 18 or Older to Enter****
****Contest Closes Thursday, August 25th at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen Randomly and Announced Friday, August 26th****
Sexy warrior Jarvis Swain has spent the last 150 years tortured by a deranged witch, but what continues to torture him is the brother he was born to protect has gone MIA, and without his brother, Jarvis can’t control his temper, and will slowly turn into a powerful and deadly threat to humanity. But the only person who can help him save his brother has some issues of her own…
Reina Fleming is the enterprising gal who works for Death himself, and is the only one who can save her sister from a particularly nasty creature. Reina’s terrified, reeling under the pressure of having her sister’s life in her hands. When Death presents an ultimatum to her that’s beyond Reina’s capabilities to accomplish, Reina knows she needs to call in someone who can make it happen for her. Someone so powerful that even she can’t screw them up… Who better than a bad ass warrior on a mission? Jarvis Swain is the ruthless, confident aggressor she needs at her back, and she knows if she can enlist his help, he can make anything happen...
Single Title/Series: TOUCH IF YOU DARE is book two in the Soulfire Series and can very easily be read as a stand alone novel.
Cover Thoughts: I'm really lovin' the consistent feel and tone of the covers for the Soulfire Series. Not only do these titles have a similar flow and font type, but each cover manages to portray the powers of each warrior in a consistently recognizable pattern that would leave little question of what series each subsequent title belongs to. Oh yeah, it all scores major points with VFG. :)
Origin: I received an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My Review:
The Plot:
Touch Jarvis Swain if you dare. Not only does the giant warrior come part and parcel with one hell of a massive sword that's a seamless extension of his own body, but the man is the Guardian of Hate. Oozing the putrid black slime of all the word's hatred, Jarvis is an infection that'll taint any fool foolish enough to touch his skin. And while all of this dark mojo lends Jarvis one badass reputation, the poor guy has an expiration date that he's managed by sheer force of will to extend by a hundred years. Jarvis isn't ready to explode and yes that's his end game, to explode. With determination to survive not only for survival's sake but to watch the backs of this fellow warriors, Jarvis isn't ready to go down without one last fight to save the world. With mere days separating him from his super nova finale, Jarvis needs to find his brother Cameron, the Guardian of Love, in order to stabilize the Earth from the aftereffects of his demise. There's one tinsy little problem: his brother has been hired to reap by Death in some convoluted bid for world peace.
Reaping souls would be a whole lot easier if Reina Fleming actually had some minuscule desire to kill. Instead, the girl is pure heart but reaping her first soul is the final step towards being promoted to Reaper status and the powers she desperately needs to save her doomed sister. After a nasty Deedub with a sweet fetish bit and tainted her mother and eight sisters, Reina has been forced to watch each and every one of them die. Now, with only one sister left - and she's showing the deadly signs of her impending demise - Reina is determined not to fail her like all the rest. Desperate to achieve the killing edge, Reina agrees to help Jarvis Swain - a warrior with no qualms about killing - retrieve his brother from Death and in return, he'll help her save her sister. There's one tinsy little problem: Reina has sworn to never give her heart to another doomed soul; she just can't take any more loss. With Jarvis scheduled to explode, Reina tries to hold back her heart from falling in love but the warrior is making that endeavor impossible. Honestly, what girl wouldn't fall for a guy willing to kill for her?
For one hundred and fifty years, Jarvis hasn't been able to lay a finger on a single being for fear of tainting them with his hate. Sex, therefore, isn't much of a pleasurable task for no sooner does he get his rocks off before the woman is screaming mad with hatred. Being the Guardian of Hate is an absolute sucker punch on Jarvis's love life. But by some miracle, Jarvis's black touch doesn't infect Reina. In fact, touching her and her reciprocating that touch seems to hold his impending implosion at bay. He's still scheduled to die of course but she gives him a few precious moments more of time. But no matter the hunger Jarvis feels for Reina's touch, he can't ever feel deserving of it. He's hate and she's heart. How in the world can they ever make it work? They can't, at least that's Jarvis's thought and his constant self flagellation isn't making him feel any better.
Reina knows that beneath Jarvis's badass exterior is a man in possession of a heart for she feels and sees his love in all his endeavors. He's a born protector, a man that would lay his life down in a minute not only for her but for his friends and even for his conceited brother. But no matter her arguments that run contrary to Jarvis's own belittling view of himself, her protests that he's a good and kind soul fall upon stubbornly deaf ears. Jarvis is a man that sees the world in black and white with him being the inky black. For Jarvis, hate isn't some monster lurking beneath his skin, Jarvis is hate, he is the monster and the sooner Reina understands that, the better. But he does soon appreciate Reina's determination to convince him otherwise. Having a female fight for him to see the good within himself is a previously unknown concept, one that has him falling head over heels for his little grim reaper. But this Happily Forever After is doomed. With so many out of control happenings, Reina and Jarvis are in for the ultimate fight, one that will test their very souls.
The Heroine:
Incredibly brave and utterly selfless, Reina Fleming takes care of those she deems as hers. Having failed her mother and seven of her sisters, Reina is determined to save the last of her family. There's just the pesky little problem of having to reap her first soul. Simple fact is that she can't do it and she can't do it because she can't stop herself from hopelessly loving others. Reina's heart has become a huge liability.
If there's one person out there that can help Reina become a cold-hearted murderer, it's Jarvis Swain. He's the meanest; most menacing warrior Reina has ever encountered so is it weird that he makes her heart flutter with desire? Maybe, but Reina's willing to be at Jarvis's mercy if it helps save her sister. Funnily enough, Reina feels no fear in the face of Jarvis's hate. While it's likely sensible to be afraid, Reina can't muster that specific emotion. Lust however, well she's feeling that in abundance. The thing is, Reina can sense a deep loyalty beneath Jarvis's frightening exterior. He can't be hate straight through to his soul. He just can't! If only the man didn't have to explode...
The Hero:
Jarvis Swain knows what he is: he's hate. Period. It's not as simple as a monster lurking beneath his skin like Reina believes. But God does it feel good to have her proclaim otherwise. Prior to Reina, females in general were bad news in Jarvis's opinion, having been tortured by them and all for well over a hundred years. Nothing like an insane bitch of a black magic wielding witch to turn you off to the female sex. But there's something so pure and genuine about Reina that's stirring up all of Jarvis's protective and possessive instincts.
Blinded from seeing his true self by the hate that consumes him, Jarvis, like Reina, is utterly selfless and would quickly sacrifice himself if meant that those he's deemed as his are safe. He's natural protector, one that has been protecting since the day he condemned himself to the life long servitude of an evil witch so that his brother, the Guardian of Love, could be safe. He's a good, worthy warrior. Too bad he's a ticking time bomb...
My Final Thoughts:
Superseding its predecessor in both plot and characterization, TOUCH IF YOU DARE is an entertaining and endearing paranormal thrill ride. Achieving a much needed harmony between both the action and the romance, Stephanie Rowe has made a fan out of me with this latest and greatest installment in her Soulfire Series. Here's to second chances!
Jarvis is very much a hero but one that definitely feels undeserving of the title. But let's look at the facts. One, he's a man that literally carries the fate of the world within him as the Guardian of Hate and he values his responsibility. Two, he sacrifices his ever weakening grip on Hate when any one of his band of warriors needs his powerful energy to heal or kill respectively. Three, he's constantly on guard and maintains distance so as not to inadvertently taint those he cares about and strangers alike. And finally, he's willing to do whatever is necessary to help Reina save her sister. I mean this is a man that selflessly gives to those around him without a thought to what he's forsaking in his soul to do so. This, my friends, is a hero.
Reina is the perfect pairing for Jarvis. She's the light to his darkness. Selfless in her own right, Reina gives her heart to everyone, human, immortal, or animal. Within Jarvis, Reina sees him for all the good that he his and she's convinced that he can overcome his battle with Hate by recognizing that very goodness within himself. It's this love, this unwavering ability to believe in people, to believe in hope that makes Jarvis admire Reina and ultimately to love her as well. She's a fun heroine and woman that readers can root for.
TOUCH IF YOU DARE embodies its share of action but the action flows very nicely with the romance, unlike its predecessor. Nothing overwhelms Jarvis and Reina. This is their show. Perhaps Rowe was able to focus more on the romance with TIYD because KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK (book 1) covered so much ground with regards to the world building. Also, I really enjoyed that there were reasons and evidence to substantiate the powers Jarvis and Reina wield. Things were explained to a much higher degree and that lent a more believable feel to the world and its characters.
A rompin' good thrill ride that any paranormal romance lover can appreciate, TOUCH IF YOU DARE is good fun. And I'll definitely be grabbing book three upon its release with every expectation that it'll prove to be even better.
New start, new love. That's what Honor Sontag needs after her life falls apart, leaving her reputation in tatters and her head all over the place. So she flees her native America and heads for Brighton, England. Honor's hoping for a much-deserved break and the chance to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby. What she gets is an entanglement with a mysterious male whose family seems to have a finger in every pot in town.
Martyn Mayfair has sworn off women with strings attached, but is irresistibly drawn to Honor, the American who keeps popping up in his life. All he wants is an uncomplicated relationship built on honesty, but Honor's past threatens to undermine everything. Then secrets about her mother start to spill out ... Honor has to make an agonising choice. Will she live up to her dutiful name and please others? Or will she choose freedom? From the bestselling author of Starting Over, this novel has great charm and a cast of unforgettable characters.
What's Up Wednesday is a little weekly post that I'm hosting. Just something short and sweet about what's new with me, the romance realm and what ever else strikes my fancy.
So, what's up with me?
I am so FREAKIN' sore!!! Nothing, and I mean nothing prepared me for the pain I was going to experience from having my four wisdom teeth pulled. Seriously, the doctor's description of the pain was grossly underestimated.
So last Thursday was my surgery and everything went great the day of. By the way, nitrous oxide has found a new friend in me. WOW! That stuff is amazing. It was funny, the nurse sets me up on the nitrous while she administered the IV for the anesthesia and we're talkin', well I'm slurring and she's talking, and I keep waiting for the count down. You know count down from ten and you never make it past eight because you're under. Well, there was no countdown so all I remember is babbling along and then pow I'm awake and freezing cold which I'm told is a common reaction when coming out of the anesthesia.
Having never been put under, I'm a little shocked by the lost time. There's roughly an hour of my life where I have no idea what was said or done to me. Even stranger, I woke up in a completely different room so that means at some point, someone had to lift me out of the operating chair. It's a little freaky to think people were touching me and I have no recollection of it ever happening.
Friday morning rolls around and I feel great. I mean I'm thinkin' I have this whole thing nailed. No real pain, no real swelling and at this point, I'm seriously scoffing the pain medication they prescribed to me but then Friday night hits me like a sledge hammer. Those pain pills, the ones I was scoffing at earlier, they became my single source of relief. Basically I was in a percocett haze for all of Saturday and half of Sunday. The pain, I'm telling you, was astronomical and the most horrific that I've ever experienced in my life to date.
Crazy thing about pain medication. At first, I couldn't really tell what the hype was all about. Yes, they relieved me of the pain and made me drowsy but what's the fun in that. Ooooooh let me tell you, I soon figured out why people became addicted to the stuff. I quickly realized that one pill had the ability to get me drunk faster and easier than any actual drink would or could and bonus, I experienced no nausea and no stomach pains. It was brilliant! Even thinking about the pills right now makes me hunger some more for that simple bliss and the comfort of sheer relaxation. Needless to say my husband has locked the remaining pills in the safe for I was and still do scare myself with my desire for more. You'll be happy to know I'm off the percocett and have been since Sunday but now I can totally sympathize with those that become addicted because it is soooooo easy.
So, it's been nearly a week and I'm still suffering from jaw stiffness and pain at the extraction sites but it's been manageable with Advil. Night is the worst most specifically the early morning hours of 3 and 4 a.m. Right now I'm dying for a cheeseburger but with gaping holes in my mouth, I'm sticking with my baby food-esque diet. Sigh...
Weekend Movie Review!
"Rio" featuring the voices of Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenburg. I'm a total sucker for animated films. I won't see them at the theater for obvious reasons but at home, they're pure enjoyment. Bright, colorful, funny and entertaining, "Rio" is a rompin' good time. Blu (Eisenburg) is a rare blue macaw that was hijacked from his Rio de Janiero homeland by poachers but ends up making life long friends with a little girl. For fifteen years he lives happily with Linda in small-town Minnesota but when a bird activist from Brazil with hopes of saving Blu's dwindling species arrives on their doorstep, Blu's life changes forever. Oh, and did I mention that Blu can't fly? That's whole plot really but so skillfully done. Rating: 4/5 Stars
Were any of you, like me, recently blindsided by historical romance author Christine Wells launching the new author name Christina Brooke? Well I was. I'm not sure why an announcement wasn't put on the Wells' site but for any of you fans who have been wondering what happened to our fave author, she's back! - and with a new a name...
I'm in LOVE with these covers. These are first two installments of Brooke's Ministry of Marriage series, HEIRESS IN LOVE is already available for purchase with MAD ABOUT THE EARL releasing January 3, 2012. The excerpt for HEIRESS IN LOVE already has me hooked. Can't wait to try out this new series!
New start, new love. That's what Honor Sontag needs after her life falls apart, leaving her reputation in tatters and her head all over the place. So she flees her native America and heads for Brighton, England. Honor's hoping for a much-deserved break and the chance to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby. What she gets is an entanglement with a mysterious male whose family seems to have a finger in every pot in town.
Martyn Mayfair has sworn off women with strings attached, but is irresistibly drawn to Honor, the American who keeps popping up in his life. All he wants is an uncomplicated relationship built on honesty, but Honor's past threatens to undermine everything. Then secrets about her mother start to spill out ... Honor has to make an agonising choice. Will she live up to her dutiful name and please others? Or will she choose freedom? From the bestselling author of Starting Over, this novel has great charm and a cast of unforgettable characters.
Please welcome Contemporary Romance author Sue Moorcroft to Lovin' Me Some Romance!
About the Author: Sue Moorcroft writes romantic novels of dauntless heroines and irresistible heroes for Choc Lit. Combining that success with her experience as a creative writing tutor, she’s written a ‘how to’ book, Love Writing – How to Make Money From Writing Romantic and Erotic Fiction (Accent Press). Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles and courses and is the head judge for Writers’ Forum. She's a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner.
All of Sue’s Choc Lit novels and Love Writing are available as paperbacks and ebooks. Her early stuff is available in ebook format.
Guest Post:
Mission Important
When I began Love & Freedom I knew that Honor Sontag was an American who travels to England in search of her English mother. I knew that she’d be looking in the Brighton area. And I knew Martyn Mayfair’s job.
And that, pretty much, was all.
Giving one or more of the characters a mission or quest works well as a story basis. If I can give the other central character a conflicting goal - well that’s a good way to make hero and heroine butt heads! But that didn’t work out, this time. So I set out to make Honor aggravate Martyn whenever possible, to jolt him from his customary über-cool, exasperate him to the point of rudeness. And make him want her like crazy.
Whenever I plot, I’m also looking for ways to deepen conflict and give myself other rolls of the plotting dice, so Honor’s mission isn’t straightforward.
I gave Martyn a stalker, Robina, an aging hippy. Martyn had to treat Robina as the professionals recommend – ignoring her, not engaging, not responding. So wasn’t she the ideal person to send Honor to go and work for? And, whilst she was at it, I made Honor take under her wing 14-year-old Rufus, Robina’s son. I’m so glad I did that because Ru really needed somebody. And it wound Martyn up a little more …
Honor’s my kind of gal, a lion heart in a small body. She takes on the local bully armed only with fish and chips, she slams the door in Martyn’s face when he lets his temper get the better of him, she manages the hard-to-manage Robina as if she’d known her forever.
And all the time, she’s keeping secret what she’s running from in America.
It’s quite a big secret, too.
Giveaway Details:
Sue Moorcroft is offering one copy of LOVE & FREEDOM to one lucky entrant. Here's how to enter:
*Comment with your answer to Sue's question: What makes a good hero/heroine combination?*
**Comment with a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)**
***Contest Open to ALL***
****Must be 18 or Older to Enter****
****Contest Closes Thursday, August 18th at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen by Sue Moorcroft and Announced Friday, August 19th****
What's Up Wednesday is a little weekly post that I'm hosting. Just something short and sweet about what's new with me, the romance realm and what ever else strikes my fancy.
So, what's up with me?
UGH! I'm getting my four wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow and I am TERRIFIED! I know, I know, I'm a wuss. Nearly everyone today gets their wisdom teeth pulled but I've never ever had any type of surgery, I've never been put under and the recovery doesn't sound fun at all.
Here's the deal, my bottom two wisdom teeth are impacted. Here's how badly. When I went in last week to have my x-ray and consultation, three staff members couldn't stifle the "WOW" that escaped their lips when that they saw how badly impacted my right lower wisdom tooth is. Yeah... That certainly didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. UGH!
But I've got plenty of things to keep me occupied until T-time at 9 am tomorrow. After nine hours of work I'm going to CVS to stock up on ibuprofen and ice packs. Then I'm headed to the grocery store to stock up on soft foods like yogurt, broth, Ensure.... Then the best part. The hubs said we're doing a movie marathon tonight to help keep my mind off the tooth pulling showdown that'll be happening in the A.M. Ain't he the sweetest! It's doubly sweet too because the poor man threw his back out over the weekend and despite consecutive visits to the chiropractor, he's still in an enormous amount of pain. At least he has tomorrow off from work to hang out with my soon to be decrepit ass. :)
Weekend Movie Review!
"Cowboys & Aliens" featuring my on screen boyfriend Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde. I've been dying to see this movie for several reasons. One, it features Daniel Craig and oh my is he delicious in all his blue-eyed, dusty, dirty cowboy hat wearin' glory! Two, this is a mash up of genres that's uber hard for me to resist. I mean, who isn't intrigued by a Sci-fi Western?! And three, "Cowboys and Aliens" is directed by Jon Faverau, a total favorite of mine 'cause the guy doesn't skimp on humor, plot or action. While the movie by no means is the greatest I've ever seen, I don't think that's the film's overall goal. The goal is to provide the audience with one hell of a good time and wow does it deliver!
Set in Arizona Territory 1873, Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig (by the way, I loved the names in this movie. They're so thought out and make perfect sense for each character)), awakens in the desert wearin' one strange contraption on his left wrist and no memory of how he got it or even who he is. The audience soon learns however that he has no qualms about killing which begs the question: is Lonergan a good guy or a bad guy? Stumbling into the rough town of Absolution, Lonergan learns many things quickly. One, the town is cow-toed by cattle rancher Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford (don't you just love the name?!)). Two, Dolarhyde's son is a spoiled brat and three, Lonergan is a wanted man for some pretty bad crimes. But none of these revelations compare to the space ships that zoom in and rope the citizens of Absolution right off their feet! When Lonergan's wristlet starts beeping and reshaping into a mighty weapon, he doesn't hesitate to use it against the strange and deadly newcomers and it doesn't take Absolution long to recognize wanted man Jake Lonergan as its salvation. Rating: 4.5 Stars
"Jane Eyre" featuring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender and Judi Dench. Having never read the book nor having any inkling about the story, I had no idea what to expect but the preview showcased a gothic historical romance so naturally I was sold on purchasing. Jane Eyre (Wasikowska) is a beguiling character of little words but when given the chance to speak her mind she's immediately recognized as an intelligent creature with strict morals and a strong sense of self-worth. Orphaned and rejected painfully by her aunt, Jane is educated to become a governess. After completing her education, she's installed at Thornfield Hall with her petite French charge. Enjoying her new residence by making friends for the first time in her life, Jane is happy but caged. Fearing that she'll never know the talk or touch of man, her dreams are ironically made true when the master of the house arrives. Lord Edward Rochester (Fassbender) is an austere enigma who soon becomes intrigued with Jane. They share a soul deep connection that both recognize but do not immediately act upon. There's something terribly wrong too with Lord Rochester but Jane ignores her suspicions not only regarding the manor's strange ongoings but the fact that Rochester is willing to go beneath his exalted station and propose marriage. Jane's suspicions are soon realized in the most heartbreaking of ways when Rochester's secrets are revealed. Gloomy but mesmerizing, "Jane Eyre" is a must-see for any gothic historical romance fans or period movie fans. Rating: 4.5 Stars
What's new in romance!
BEAUTY DATES THE BEAST by Jessica Sims (aka Jill Myles)
Midnight Liasons Series Book 1
Releases October 25, 2011
Who knew that shifters due in fact place want ads? Snarky fun here I come!
A new paranormal series from romance mastermind, Joey W. Hill, gun-totting, magic-wielding Ruby Night Divine is running from a ruggedly hot sorcerer that has the power to bring her unruly heart to its knees.
Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires that feeds off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman’s madness will drive her into a world that few people ever see – or even know exists…
Shortly after she picked up a guitar, Miranda Grey conquered the Austin music scene with a newfound ability to psychically manipulate her audience’s emotions. But as her powers outgrow her control, her mind is increasingly invaded by haunting secrets and overwhelming sadness. Unable to look anyone in the eye, Miranda is fast approaching the edge of insanity – with no one to catch her fall…
When he outlawed killing humans, David Solomon ignited a civil war among Austin’s vampires. As Prime of the South, his sympathy for mortals angered the old guard who refuse to control their violent urges. David has his hands full with the growing insurgency, but he takes in a broken-down woman, a musician in need of supernatural guidance. Little does he know that Miranda Grey has the power to change his world as well…
Publisher: Ace Release Date: August 31, 2010 Review Format: Mass Market Paperback Genre: Urban Fantasy
400 Pages
Single Title/Series: QUEEN OF SHADOWS is book one in The Shadow World series.
Cover Thoughts: So, so, so in love! The heroine is pegged spot-on with her jewel-toned red hair, glowing pendant, and gothic-bohemian clothes. The backdrop captures the haunting aura that encapsulates the story and its setting. Having caught my eye from the very moment it made its debut, I'm still drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Way to go Ace Art Department!!
Origin: I purchased this book for my own reading enjoyment.
My Review:
The Plot:
Weighted helplessly by a dark strangling noose of despair, Miranda Grey doesn't even bother to fight the gang rape that drops her soul straight to rock bottom. All her fear, all her failed attempts at a normal life have led her to this moment and while the blissful emptiness of death beckons, she drags forth from the pit of her soul a dark malevolence that promises retribution. Driven within a hair's breath of insanity by the voices and emotions of others, Miranda makes one final bid at harnessing her uncontrollable empathic power to kill those that gloried so much in torturing her. Stripped, clawed, and bloody, Miranda turns all her dark swirling rage into a weapon of death and rains the putrid fire of her emotions onto the men who made her their prey and onto herself for her own pathetic acquiescence to their brutal assault.
David Solomon, Prime of the Southern Vampire Community, has a soft spot for damsels in distress. More to the point, he has a soft spot for Miranda Grey. A local Austin, TX musical talent with an empathic ability beyond what he's ever seen, David is acutely aware of the danger that surrounds Miranda. As a human with no control over her powers, he instantly recognizes the anguished path she walks and the inevitable death at road's end. Finding her in a dark alley nearly broken and surrounded grotesquely by a group of dead men, he protectively shields her mind from the cacophony of voices and emotions that plague her and takes her somewhere forbidden to humans. He takes her to the Haven, the Prime's vampire stronghold, to heal from her psychological and physical wounds. David, however, is completely unprepared for the thrall she will soon weave about his soul. And he will never despise the burden of the Signet, of being Prime, as he does when it threatens his second chance at love.
Clawing forth from the shadowed depths of her fear-choked nightmares, Miranda takes a tenuous hold of her second shot at life. Frightened by the deafening silence that now fills her head, Miranda is left with no choice but to reclaim her own thoughts and find herself amidst the yawning emptiness. Aching and bruised, the simplest tasks quickly tire her body making her a virtual prisoner within the bounds of her plush room in the unknown fortress she now inhabits. Taking the news rather well that her protectors are vampires, David, the Prime and Miranda's temporary shield from all the madness, begins teaching her how to contain her rampant powers in order to live some semblance of a normal life. Strangely, while Miranda is consumed by fear in the presence of any other male, she finds comfort and protection rooted deep within David's shield. With each passing day in his presence, Miranda's connection to David grows stronger and soon rumors burn through the Haven that the Signet, the glowing pendants worn by primes and their queens, may soon chose her as the Queen of the Southern Vampire Community.
The very last thing David can afford to think about is Miranda and the growing force of their connection. As the first vampire Prime to enforce a no kill law of humans, it's been a revolving door of murder and mayhem. But the situation has become even more dire as an extremist group known as Blackthorn resurrects from the shadows and dust they'd once been dispatched to by David himself. Infiltrating the trusted core of David's Elite, the Prime's warriors, Blackthorn is after more than just the right to kill humans, they're after the Signet and they'll find any means to destroy the community David's created including Miranda. Believing that putting distance between himself and Miranda will save her, David severs the tenuous threads that bind them and steers his focus upon what's most important: the protection of the humans and vampires alike in his territory. But he never imagined that Miranda would haunt his every thought. She's become as necessary as blood and her call will not go unheard.
The Heroine:
Upon first meeting Miranda, she's merely a husk of her former normal, sociable, college attendee self. Where a voluptuous redhead once stood she's now rail thin with pale bruised skin stretched frighteningly over sharp bones. Her green eyes which once danced protrude large and glossy like a drug addict in the midst of a high. Once upon a time that's what her gift yielded her, a high. And like drugs, it soon robbed her of everything.
Building a shoddy musical career upon her unique ability to manipulate the emotions of her audience through her voice and guitar, Miranda once loved the spotlight but her powers have grown so out of control that the stage has now become a potent addiction and the only outlet that keeps her sane. Unable to control the rampant emotions constantly cascading through her mind in every other situation except for when she's plucking the strings of her guitar, Miranda looses more of herself every day to the thoughts and feelings of others. Wanting the blissful quiet that only death can grant, Miranda does nothing to stop the brutal attack that nearly brings her to that which she hungers for most.
Saved by the very powers that have wreaked havoc over her life, it's an uphill struggle for Miranda to break free from the vile emptiness that nearly managed to consume her. With the help of David, Miranda learns how to shield herself from her powers while also strengthening them. But it's not until David severs contact that Miranda really starts to rebuild her life from the ground up. Her journey is long and arduous but when it comes time to make David rightfully hers, Miranda does it with flare, confidence, and absolute strength.
The Hero:
Not a reluctant hero but rather a careful one, David Solomon took up the Signet and became Prime of the Southern Vampire Community with acute zeal but the Signet soon wore heavily upon his chest and his soul. Burdened with the well being of thousands of vampires and millions of humans, David can only hope for a Queen, for a partner on this dangerous journey where death is the only release from the responsibilities he dutifully carries. Yet there's something within him that feels undeserving and there's also the fear of condemning a woman he loves to the danger he endures every minute of every hour of every day.
Miranda is the first woman in three hundred years to make David pause and wonder if she could be the other half of his soul. But the timing couldn't be worse. With the Blackthorn vampire faction terrorizing his city and his Elite, David isn't willing to risk Miranda's life. Believing that distance is the only key to Miranda's survival, David deprives himself and her of the love that's already blossoming.
My Final Thoughts:
QUEEN OF SHADOWS, reading more like a paranormal romance than urban fantasy, embarks on a gothic journey of peril and love with a fragile, diamond-in-the-rough heroine and an avenging hero who's a marvelous combination of techno geek and bad ass warrior.
Dark, turbulent, and beyond intriguing, Dianne Sylvan creates a world where death truly does lurk in dark shadows. Instilling a modern, technologically advanced element to her vampire myth, Sylvan mixes old and new to create an original concoction. While much of the vampire history is unexplained or labeled as unknown, this is both a curse and a blessing. Instead of strong world building, it's rather a soft structure but with plenty of room to grow in subsequent installments. QUEEN OF SHADOWS isn't just a vampire story, its decidedly Miranda's story and her character growth is as amazing as it is believable. Sylvan gifts her with the time necessary to change and evolve from a simpering, fear-filled woman to a powerfully capable warrior. Miranda takes control of her life, a process this reader enjoyed immensely.
David, while a complex hero to be sure, lacked the overpowering charisma one expects from a character of his title and bearing. He should be so large a personality that he practically leaps from the pages but it's Miranda that does this, not David. He never failed to appear young and absurdly pale in my mind's eye when my reader heart clamored for a more rugged and dangerous physique. Granted this is entirely a personal issue but for me, his flame just didn't burn nearly as bright as Miranda's. It bears noting though that their one sex scene positively burns your fingers right off the pages. Personally, my feeling is that David is at his best when he's jealous.
In addition to Miranda, Sylvan excels at capturing the musical and hip urban essence that is Austin, Texas. Undoubtedly a resident, she brings alive Sixth Street, the city's beating music heart. You'll feel the passing of the seasons from the lung-sucking humidity of summer to the blistering ice cold of winter (there's really no spring or fall). Having visited the city numerous times myself, it was wonderful entertainment to take a trip to one of my favorite cities via the pages of a romance.
A book that I've been peering at longingly for months from my mountain of must-be-read-for-review books, QUEEN OF SHADOWS didn't let me down when I desperately needed something good to read. For paranormal fans and urban fantasy fans alike, this is a fabulous start to a new addiction. Enjoy!
What's Up Wednesday is a little weekly post that I'm hosting. Just something short and sweet about what's new with me, the romance realm and what ever else strikes my fancy.
So, what's up with me?
This Sunday is me and Mr. VFG's seven year wedding anniversary. I'm a bit stupefied by this. Amazed by it really. Not because I didn't think we'd last but because looking back, I'm in awe by everything we've been through and experienced before making it to this point in time. And despite everything, my love for my husband has only managed to grow and evolve into something grander with each year. In fact, my feelings have changed so drastically that I can't even compare what I feel today with what I felt that very first day I realized I was in love.
One thing that I've noticed about break-ups these days is not a lack of love but the harsh erosion of change and its damaging effects. Let's face it, we all change as we age. I'm nothing like my 21 year old self. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to recognize her if I met her today. And while my husband has changed too, we haven't changed apart but rather we've changed all the more closer. And when I look down the road toward the future, there's no one else I want live these miles with.
Here's to Mr. VFG and I. ;)
What's new in romance?
Meljean Brook posted an excerpt for the highly anticipated Iron Seas release, HEART OF STEEL, on her website. AHHHH! I'm so excited for this release!!!
Hey Guys! As a refresher to regulars and for those that haven't participated before or are new to the blog, my monthly giveaways are not just a way to unburden my overflowing book shelves, but more importantly, it's a way to spread some love and thanks to LMSR's followers. You guys rock and your continued patronage of this blog is so very, very much appreciated.
For the month of August, I'm giving away three mini stacks of goodies for three separate winners. As usual, they'll be listed numerically, in this case they'll be Stack One, Stack Two, and Stack Three. Rank your most wanted stack to the least in the comments to enter. Here's our line up:
STACK ONE
A GENTLEMAN NEVER TELLS by Amelia Grey (ARC Edition, Excellent Condition) - REVIEW
THE SOLDIER by Grace Burrowes (ARC Edition, Excellent Condition) - REVIEW
LADY OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS by C.L. Wilson (NEW Condition)
Giveaway Details:
*Leave a Comment with a List of Your Choices from Most Wanted to Least. First Drawn Winner will get their Top Pick and Second and Third to Follow*
**Must Be a Follower with a Valid Email Address(Entrants who are not followers and/or do not leave an email address will be disqualified) **
***Contest Open to US and Canada Only***
****Must be 18 or Older to Enter****
*****Contest Closes August 31st at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and Winners will be Chosen Randomly and Announced No Later than September 6th*****
