The BSP Tour Blitz Review/Giveaway Without Mercy by Belinda Boring

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 43 KB

Publisher: Moonstruck Media (July 7, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B005BR11LY

Lending: Enabled

Amazon

Book courtesy of Belinda Boring and The BSP Tours, click HERE for more information.

Amazon Summary:

What would you do if a simple errand takes a deadly twist, turning you from cautious prey to dangerous predator?

When Darcy's outing takes a turn for the worst and tests her to the point of breaking, she struggles to maintain her humanity. Where loyalty and pack mean everything, she surrenders to the inevitable and only an act of complete trust can touch her. When all is said and done, with memories flooding her mind, Darcy holds tightly to the only thing that makes sense - it was all a dream. Or was it?

Review:

When I found out this novella was going to be on tour, I quickly signed up and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. It drew me in from the beginning and kept me entranced to the very end. This book though short it delivered a massive punch. The only thing I hated was to see it end.

Darcy is my kind of girl, she would do anything to protect the people she loved and wow did she ever. I would have loved to see more of Mason, her mate and I hope we will in the future.

I am struggling with this review because I just can't find the right words to do this book justice even for as short it is and without giving away spoilers. I could just say I loved loved loved loved it- would that do ?? It honestly left me craving for more, So in my book that is a mark of a great author.

If you love werewolves which is quickly becoming tied with my first love then you must must check out this fantastic debut by Belinda Boring.

Rating:

To celebrate the very first release Belinda is giving away one copy to not just one Lucky winner but 2, All you have to do is leave your email and comment on this post to be entered. The giveaway is running from July 31st to August 7th, winners will be announced on Aug 8th!

About the Author:

A homesick Aussie living amongst the cactus and mountains of Arizona, Belinda Boring is a self proclaimed addict of romance and all things swoon worthy. When she's not devouring her latest read, you can find her celebrating her passion for book on her blog The Bookish Snob.

With all that excitement, it wasn't long before she began writing, pouring her imagination and creativity into the stories she dreams. Whether urban fantasy, paranormal romance or romance in general, Belinda strives to share great plots with heart and characters that you can't help but connect with. Of course, she wouldn't be Belinda without adding heroes she hopes will curl your toes.

Surrounded by a supportive cast of family, friends and the man she gives her heart and soul to, Belinda is living the good life. Happy reading!

Kelly's Review: Invincible

INVINCIBLE
Book 2 in the Chronicles of Nick

By Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published by: St. Martin’s Griffen, New York, www.stmartins.com
First Printing: March 2011
ISBN-978-0-312-59906-5
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads

Concept: “Nick Gautier’s Day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul.

His new principal thinks he’s even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to do things he can’t even mention, and the girl he’s not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him.

But more than that, he’s being groomed by the darkest of powers, and if he doesn’t learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them…” [From the inside flap from the book.]

Review: I wasn’t that big of a fan of the first Chronicles of Nick book, Infinity. I AM a fan of the second though. I really enjoyed this book and the Nick character. The story isn’t as dramatic as the summary makes it out to be. I thought the story was better. It was almost halfway through the book before Nick said “gah” (which really got on my nerves in the last book) and when he did say it, it was at completely believable points. I might even say “gah” if I were in that particular predicament.

At the beginning of this book, Nick and his mother are getting settled into a new job that Kyrian has arranged for Nick’s mom at Sanctuary which, if you have read the Dark Hunter books, you know to be the sanctuary where shifters go. Nothing bad goes down at Sanctuary, but all the bads hang out there. Nick tries to restore his school life after the zombie attacks from book 1 and, while doing so, he gets some lessons from Death himself. He also gets some lessons from his Uncle Ambrose who is suspiciously a lot like Nick himself. There are also some great supporting characters, Caleb and Nekoda, both demons that are sent to protect Nick. And of course, there’s Simi who is everyone’s favorite demon also from the Dark Hunter books.

Nick has some issues with a coach who wants him to steal personal items from schoolmates to use against them in an ancient spell which will kill them all. Nick is also being threatened by demons from all over the place that are trying to kill him before something awful happens. It’s a lot going on. Nick tries to cope with things as best as he can while trying to remain a good Momma’s boy and a good kid.

As I said at the beginning, this is a good story. It’s exciting and an excellent stepping stone to the next book. I’m now anxious to see what happens to Nick next and what will happen between him and the other characters I am now addicted to.

What I liked: I don’t want to keep saying this, but the story was really good. It was exciting and interesting. I really enjoyed it. The first book’s story wasn’t all that for me but this one not only carried me through this book, but it makes me want to pick up the third book.

What I disliked: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I disliked Acheron and Kyrian in this book. I felt like they weren’t part of the story, but placed there to link the Dark Hunter books. It just felt like it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t part of the story. It didn’t bother me enough to even take a rating mark away though.

My rating: 5 feathers



By Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway





This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Kely's Review: Never Kiss a Stranger

NEVER KISS A STRANGER
Book 1 in a Trilogy
By Heather Grothaus

Published by: Zebra Books, a Division of Kensington Publishing Corporation,
119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018
First Printing: March 2011eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-2246-6
eISBN 10: 1-4201-2246-0
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads

Concept: “SURRENDER – ‘Alys, do you want me?’ Piers asked, his voice low.

‘I do.’ She brought her fingertips to the clasp at her throat and undid her cloak. “I’ve wanted you since the night you came to me in the Foxe Ring.”

No sooner had the whisper escaped her lips than Piers claimed her mouth with his own. He wrapped his arms around her and half lifted her off the floor, as if trying to absorb her.

His mouth was slick and cool and wet, and she met his passionate need with one of her own every bit as fiery and demanding…”

[From the book.]

Review: This is the story of a rather tenacious 14 year old girl whom, after a tantrum that results in her taking away a pet monkey from her potential mother-in-law, runs away from her sisters’ rule. Her sister is arranging a marriage that she doesn’t like and so she runs to some sort of mythical “ring” where she coincidentally meets a man that she considers herself married to. There the story starts. The man (Piers) has his own problems, and doesn’t want to be saddled with this 14 year old. Alys (the 14 year old) doesn’t really care and latches on to Piers for his journey to London. The story is about the relationship developing between Piers and Alys and about their adventures both along the way to London and prior to getting to their meeting point.

The story started out fast, then slowed tremendously, almost to the point of being boring, and then got rather exciting at a point where the couple came across “tree people” that helped them and then their climactic London arrival was exciting and satisfying as well. But, I found the ending to be rushed and the entire build up of the romance between Piers and Alys was a huge let down once they got down to the deed. There was no romance in this book except that so that was a let down for me as well.

The story will continue with what I understand is to be a trilogy, I assume the story of the three sisters. I’m not sure if I will read the second installment. I don’t know if I care enough.

What I liked: I truly enjoyed the banter and dialogue in the book. It brought the characters to life for me in a way that not many authors are very good at. The writing itself was excellent and I would definitely read more from this author, perhaps outside of this series.

What I disliked: The monkey. I wasn’t really crazy for Alys either. She was an annoying 14 year old that was very much like your average 14 years old. When I thought of that, imagining her with Piers made it difficult for me. I think she needed to be older and wiser and then I might have been more apt to pull for her in the story.

My rating: 3.5 feathers


Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway






This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Virtual Book Tour Review of Dark Magick by Steve Trinity and Stacey Thompson Geer

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 167 KB

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Wicked Nights (June 23, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B0057Z2HTA

Lending: Enabled

The Gatekeeper Series

Amazon

Book Courtesy of Steve Trinity, Stacey Thompson Geer and Bewitching Book Tours for more information on Bewitching book tours click HERE

Book Description:

The world has changed, we have changed. The world we once knew has fallen away and left us in a wasteland of Magick. Powerful witches and underworld gods control our lives. The past comes back in ways we are not prepared for. The Gatekeepers are our only hope. The question is if we can get to them first.

Review:

This book far different than I have read in a long time in fact I think this is a first for me. I don't ever recalling a book written in two point's of view- Lynn and Rhea, the main female characters in this story. So you can imagine I was a bit thrown off at first.

I have to admit that there was times I was a bit confused like with the back-story instead of doing a prologue of how they ended up where they were fighting the government and such it was blended in with the story in flashbacks. so at times I found myself wishing they would have maybe done a prologue instead.

But once I was able to settle into the story, I enjoyed this refreshing tale of war between the government and the witches. As I continued to read I more times than I can count I kept thinking this had to be just how the witches in Salem felt so many years ago being hunted down because of their abilities.

What through me for a loop so to speak was the ending? I couldn't believe it ended the way it did? I'm not saying it was bad it wasn't just I think I am still shocked it ended like that.

So if you like witches and are in the mood for a different type of story , writing wise as well as story-line this book is for you.

Rating:

About the Authors:

Stevie Trinity

Stevie lives in Wyoming with her family. She loves the wide open space There is nothing better than sitting out on the prairie looking out at the stars, or driving less than an hour to the Mountains and climbing trees, and yes she still climbs trees! :)

Stevie started to write short stories when she was 12. She loves poetry and started to write poems when she was 13. She then stopped writing in her early 20s, due to raising a family and focusing her attention elsewhere. When she was 30 she started to write again.

A couple of years later the Gatekeeper series emerged. She and her co author spent many hours talking about and discussing the world they created. Stacey really encouraged Stevie to write again.

Currently Stevie is working on a historical romance about the old west in a time of amazing change! She is also working on the second book to the Gatekeeper Series.

Stacey Thompson-Geer

Stacey is a wife and mother of three. She started writing in High School with horror short stories. One of her first is now published through the kindle - Silver Bullet. When she's not dreaming up her next story or novel, she can be found hanging out with her kids or reading one of her favorite authors. She is also an avid Facebooker and Twitter user. Stop by her website to see what she's working on and any of her backlist work.

The BLB Blog Tour Guest Post with Jason Beymer

Please give a warm welcome to Jason Beymer, Thank you Jason for stopping by today.

If Your Characters Actually Came to Life

I don't draw. In kindergarten, I unintentionally specialized in abstracts. I couldn't color,paint, or form anything that resembled a circle. Still, my teacher always gave me a patronizing pat on the back and said, "Gooood, Jason! Ooh, that's wonderful!" And I would smile toothlessly at her, thinking, "Have you been eating the paste? This drawing stinks!" When I drew characters, they had big, misshapen heads. If any came to life, people would either flee in terror, or point and laugh. Physics wouldn't keep my drawings alive long anyway. Their heads would be too heavy for their bodies and they'd end up dragging them like lead, eyeballed weights. And they wouldn't be able to breathe, since mouths were never my forte (lips usually resided on the left or right cheek).

Now, give this boy a laptop and a sturdy keyboard and he'll fly. And if the characters I conjured in my novels came to life, they would be scary in a different way. You wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley. Doban, the main character from Rogue's Curse, would slit your throat, steal your wallet, and likely touch you inappropriately (but he'd tell a funny joke while doing it). And you wouldn't want to meet anyone from Nether, except the miniature dachshund, Pearl. Pearl might eat you, but at least she'd provide some nice conversation.

Luckily my characters only live inside my books. And (not coincidentally) both Nether and Rogue's Curse are available now!

I hope you'll give Nether a read.

Here's the blurb:

One suburban night. One stubborn corpse. One golden opportunity.Burklin had it all: a spacious two-story house, a shapeshifting wife, a wide open future. That is, until his father ripped out his soul and trapped it inside an opinionated dachshund. Now he's lost everything, leaving him a slave on mop-up duty for a homicidal teenage demon. His father is sleeping with his ex, the possessed dachshund won't stop talking, and the cleanup jobs keep getting messier. Burklin would give anything to have his life back--even if it means turning against his manipulative father and destroying their chance of winning the Nether's Demon Lord Sweepstakes.

Opportunity knocks with a dead woman's hand. When the demon's latest victim won't stay dead, the rules of life and death change. Freedom lies within Burklin's reach, but to get it he'll have to defy his father, the ex-wife he still loves, and the Nether itself.

Just how far is he willing to go?

To Read My Review of Nether click HERE

Where You Can Buy Nether:

Amazon

About the Author:

A permanent fixture at his local coffeehouse,Jason Beymer hunches over his laptop in a caffeine-induced frenzy, jowls slick with muse. He injects comedy into the urban and traditional fantasy genres like a squeeze of lemon into ice water: tart, yet refreshing.

When not pounding on his keyboard, Jason worships at the feet of Ray Bradbury, and engages in an unhealthy obsession with Grace Park and Tricia Helfer.

Links:

Nether: http://www.beerandtv.com/nether

Website: http://www.beerandtv.com

Twitter: @beerandtv

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jasonbeymer

Email: jason@beerandtv.com

The BLB Blog Tour Review Nether by Jason Beymer

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 693 KB

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc. (May 15, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B00514GSBU

Lending: Enabled

Amazon

Book courtesy of Jason Beymer and The Book Lovin' Bitches Tour, for more information on the BLB click HERE

Amazon Summary:

One suburban night. One stubborn corpse. One golden opportunity.


Burklin had it all: a spacious two-story house, a shapeshifting wife, a wide open future. That is, until his father ripped out his soul and trapped it inside an opinionated dachshund. Now he's lost everything, leaving him a slave on mop-up duty for a homicidal teenage demon. His father is sleeping with his ex, the possessed dachshund won't stop talking, and the cleanup jobs keep getting messier. Burklin would give anything to have his life back--even if it means turning against his manipulative father and destroying their chance of winning the Nether's Demon Lord Sweepstakes.

Opportunity knocks with a dead woman's hand. When the demon's latest victim won't stay dead, the rules of life and death change. Freedom lies within Burklin's reach, but to get it he'll have to defy his father, the ex-wife he still loves, and the Nether itself.

Just how far is he willing to go?


Warning: This title contains sex, violence, human cuisine, a smart-ass dachshund, teenage demons, and fun with corpses.

Review:

This book was definitely different than I have been reading, To be honest when I first started to read this book I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. The characters were a lot different than I am used too. I hate to admit I am used to the strong hottie bad boy or even good boy hero and with this guy he was weak( I know due to his father ripping out his soul) but still I kept wondering if he was ever gonna grow a backbone. I also knew there was more than meets the eye so to speak when it came to his 'father' and ex-wife. What I did like was imperfections of the characters, far more than any other book I have read lately. I also loved Pearl, the smart assed dachshund added humor to other wise a very dark story. I can honestly say I really couldn't tell who was bad and good in this book other than Burklin, which is why I found this book intriguing.

There was times in the story I was bit confused and found it hard to keep up with the many plot points but overall this book was a good read. Would I recommend? If you like the deep dark world of demons with an interesting twist for how Demon Lords come to be. This book is for you.

Rating:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html

Review of Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 453 KB

Print Length: 352 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312381220

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)

Sold by: Macmillan

Language: English

ASIN: B0031R5JSW

Source: My Own Copy

Amazon

Amazon Summary:

He is magnificently strong—and dangerously seductive. One of the fiercest of his clan, Lucan MacLeod is a legend among warriors, inspiring fear in man and woman alike. For three hundred years, he has locked himself away from the world, hiding the vengeful god imprisoned in his soul. But then, a young lass caught in a raging storm awakens his deepest impulses…and darkest desires.

Cara doesn’t believe the rumors about MacLeod castle—until the majestic Highland warrior appears like a fiery vision in the storm, pulling her into his powerful arms, and into his world of magic and Druids. An epic war between good and evil is brewing. And Lucan must battle his all-consuming attraction for Cara—or surrender to the flames of a reckless, impossible love that threatens to destroy them both…

Review:

I have been wanting to read this series for awhile now, I have seen many good reviews and they have been on my wishlist/TBR for what seems like forever. I finally bought this one out of whim one day. Not sure why hot cover, story called to me but I am sure glad I did. My only regret is that I didn't start or buy this book sooner.

This book combines both of my favorite genres in one, paranormal historical. I was certainly surprised just how fast I read this book, I read this book in one day- I just couldn't put it down. May I point out first and for most I loved the characters that is a must for me, to be able to connect to them which I did wholeheartedly.

As much as I loved the main characters, I equally loved the side characters. I loved the relationships not only with Lucan and Cara but with the brothers as well. I loved how despite all they had been through they stuck together as a family should. What I found especially nice was how welcome they made this girl feel at home though there was a few tense moments.

The backstory was very easy to understand and not once did I feel confused or that it dragged on too long. Overall this book captured my attention and held it to the very end. I can't wait to read Fallon's book which is next in the series, Forbidden Highlander.

Rating:

Series's Reading Order:

Dangerous Highlander

Forbidden Highlander

Wicked Highlander

Untamed Highlander

Shadow Highlander(coming soon)

And The Winner of Jane Was Here Giveaway is....

Thank you for all that entered this giveaway, keep checking back for more fun giveaways in the future. Now on to the winner ....

Sandy Ruth

Congrats Sandy she chose ebook as her choice, Email has been sent, the winner has 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is chosen.

Review of Vampire Bites by Katie Salidas

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 549 KB

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC (April 18, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B004X6TIKA

Lending: Enabled

Amazon

Book courtesy of Katie Salidas and The Bookish Snob Promotions Tour, for more information on the The BSP tours click HERE

Amazon Summary:

Enjoy three novella-length stories of love, lust, and vampire bites.

House of Immortal Pleasures:
Blindfolded, and kidnapped by her friends, Daphne is whisked away to the famed, House of Immortal Pleasures, a Vampire-run Brothel in Pahrump, Nevada.

Sometimes the only way to mend a broken heart is to get back in the saddle. At least that is how Daphne's friends see it. And since Daphne isn't showing any signs of letting that happen, they take it into their own hands. With a few shots of liquid courage, a pat on the ass, and a donated gold card, Daphne is unwillingly sent to meet her creature of the night, Connor.

Karma & Melodies:
Ten years after she was stolen from the mortal world, Kendra runs into the man she had always loved. But she's not longer a human and he's a popular musician on tour with his band. Can they find a way to make love work?

Halloween Fantasies:
Touted as the sexiest party of the year, the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball is the one place a girl can let loose and succumb to her wildest fantasies. Disguised as a sexy vampire huntress, Sasha captures the attention of Dante, a real life creature of the night. And this sexy vampire has a few fantasies to share.

These stories contain consensual sexual situations and strong language. Adult readers only.

Review:

This book consists of 3 short novellas,House of Immortal Pleasures,Karma & Melodies and Halloween Fantasies. First up is:

House of Immortal Pleasures was a really quick hot read, Sometimes novellas for me seem rushed but I didn't feel this way with this first story. I really liked Daphne and I could definitely relate with being done with men at least for the while that is until her friends wisk her off to this vampire brothel. Conner the vampire she is introduced to help her, I could relate to as well, He is a 'sex' slave as his punishment for killing a human.

I loved this story, for several different reasons, the characters were well written, the back-story was quick but didn't leave you confused,the hot scenes were hot but sweet one thing. And finally the story was tied up all neatly with a Happily Ever After. Only thing I can think of is I would love to read more of Conner and Daphne. This book was a great start to the three novellas in this book.

Karma & Melodies
This is the second story in this book and I have to say it grabbed my attention almost right away. It combines both loves of mine vampires and rock music. This time around the Vampire is a newly turned only about 10 yrs old and escapes her evil master to find the man she had a crush on before she was turned.

I really enjoyed this story as well it was a bit different, teases of hotness set the pace for this one, it was more about how Kendra though she really wanted to be with Marcus she was afraid to be. One thing about this one there that I felt Katie did really well with I really didn't like a couple characters in this book one being the evil master, Hector and two being Mike who just didn't want to give Kendra a chance no matter what she had said. I credit Katie for wonderful writing for me to feel so angry towards these characters.

Halloween Fantasies
Holy hotness! Is pretty much how I can summarize this steamy story. Angela and Sasha go to the hottest Halloween Party of the year hoping to find the man of their dreams or fantasies as it may be. I will say this is my favorite out of the three, though I loved them all this one had me sticking my head in front of the A/C to cool off.

Sasha is my type of girl a bit unsure of herself but on the inside longing for the dark and dangerous which she finds with Dante and let me say Dante is my type of Vampire as well put these two together and you have a hot fantasy filled adventure.

Overall this book was a fun, hot steamy read and I read it all in one day, only bad thing it ended it too soon. I definitely say this is a must read for Vampire lovers looking for a quick hot read. I haven't had a chance to read Katie's books til now and let me say she has a new fan in me.

Rating:

The BSP Tour Guest/Giveaway Post with Katie Salidas Author of Vampire Bites

Here's a big warm welcome to Katie Salidas, Thank you Katie for stopping by BLH today.

Balancing the writer within you against being a mom and wife.

I am Super Mom!

Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics,cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime... And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can't even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. I wish I were super mom. I wish I were super author. I try so hard to do it all, and at the end of the day I fall face forward into the couch.

Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch. It’s a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter. There are many mornings where I wake up to the sound of my 7 year old daughter yelling, “Mom slept on the couch again!!!”

Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch. It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.

Writing is my passion. It’s a part of me. More than just a hobby, it’s a compulsion. I have to do it. If I don’t do at least one writing related thing each day I get cranky. But to be able to write, I need a certain type of quiet. Hence the dilemma.

For my family’s sake, it gives the illusion of balance. While the family is home, they have 100% of my attention. I’m there ready and willing to take care of the things they need. Once I have tucked them into bed or when hubby is at work and my daughter is at school, then I can start my “job.”

So, as you can see, while writing is something I take very seriously and look at as my job, it almost never happens during the “day.” I can often be found bleary-eyed, late at night, clicking away at the keys of my laptop. Even us “Housewives” have day jobs. I’m a write-at-home-mom! The house doesn’t clean itself (oh God how I wish it did though), the laundry won’t fold itself … okay, you know where I’m going with this. Seriously though, daytime is when I work on the household stuff, do my critiquing group critiques and posts, and take care of business related things for Rising Sign Books.

So let’s start with that. I work nights. My shift starts promptly at 8pm. Until recently (we just found out we are expecting baby #2) I would crack open a can of redbull (the 12 oz one), open up my current manuscript, and get started. Now that baby #2 is on the way, that can of redbull has been exchanged for a more pregnancy-friendly beverage, water. And let me tell you, my writing production had gone way down since caffeine was removed from my diet. But, alas, we must soldier on!

As many of you writers know, once you have the muse working, it can mean hours upon hours of writing time. Which is why I said that “balance” is illusion. Sometimes those bouts of inspiration and writing turn into an all-nighters. That leaves me so spent that if I don’t end up sleeping on the couch, I end up crashing shortly after I drop my daughter off at school.

We all have to sleep sometime.

Not every night goes this way, but many of them do while I’m feverously working on a project. So far, I’ve been able to write and publish 5 titles in the last few years. I write a mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Surprise, surprise, all of my titles involve vampires. There must be some connection there between writing about those creatures of the night and the time of day I use for writing.

If you’d like to check out any of my work, including Vampire Bites stop by www.katiesalidas.com and read a sample or two. If you like what you see, all of my novels and novellas are available in every ebook format!

Search for me on any of your favorite ebook retailer’s website.

Amazon.com

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

About the Author:

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write. And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

LinkedIn

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

Twitter

http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

I almost forgot in my excitement, Katie has generously offered a ebook copy of Vampire Bites to one Lucky Winner, all you need to do is leave your email so I can contact you if you win and and leave some kind of comment, if you can't think of anything to say answer this question What is your favorite paranormal creature and why? The giveaway will run from July 24th to Aug 1st, The winner will be announced on Aug 2nd

Next Stop on the Vampire Bites Tour is Poisoned Rationality and be sure to continuing hopping on this tour for your chance at the end of tour giveaway.

Kelly's Review: Playing Easy to Get

PLAYING EASY TO GET
By Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black and Kresley Cole

Published by: Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Printing: February, 2006
ISBN-10: 1-4165-1087-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-1087-1
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads

Concept: [From Amazon…] “New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and rising stars Jaid Black and Kresley Cole unlock the pleasures and perils of embracing the boldest and most powerful of lovers -- 100% alpha males -- in three sensually erotic tales. Discover the physical rapture of his muscular arms.... Become a prisoner of passion, swept away by an encounter with his primal side.... And get lost in the all-consuming thrill of white-hot pursuit by a relentless stranger who may be your most dangerous foe, the best lover you've ever had -- or both.

Let your fantasies run wild with these unforgettable novellas where bigger is most definitely better -- and playing easy-to-get is the only way to go!”

Review: This is a very old (well, it’s been out since 2006) anthology but for Ms. Cole’s part, is the prequel to the Immortals After Dark series that is extremely popular. I have held out and have not read any of the series waiting to get this book which I was able to get from my library after an extremely long wait. It was worth it. The story, “The Warlord Wants Forever” was so freaken good, I just cannot wait to read the next in the series. I am running to my shelf to start the next book (I had already purchased it quite some time ago). I love the world Ms. Cole created and the characters and for the first time in a long time, one of the erotic scenes in the book made my blood burn! Very hot stuff. For some reason, and maybe this is just me, but for some reason, this book sort of reminded me of a sexy Vampire Academy.

The middle story Hunter’s Oath by Jaid Black was interesting as well. I will definitely be checking out other books by Ms. Black too! The story was rather unusual in that a world was set with underground Viking mega hot dudes that kidnap women from the above ground but the kidnapped women love it etc. Our heroine was kidnapped after her brother dies and she goes to Alaska. It’s a good story. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Then finally, the first story, Turn up the Heat by Sherrilyn Kenyon was um, well, really bad. I hate saying that too because Sherrilyn is one of my favorite authors. This story is a B.A.D. novella and frankly, I seriously doubt I’ll be reading any of the others. It was a contemporary romance and the romance part was um, BAD.

So the star of this anthology is Kresley Cole’s book which thankfully is SO good, you won’t mind the bad Sherrilyn Kenyon that has top billing. Ms. Black’s story is a lovely little tidbit as well so all in all, it’s an anthology that you should read if for nothing else, but to get the beginning of the Immortals After Dark series.

What I liked: I loved, loved, loved the world that was in The Warlord Wants Forever. It was so exciting and dark and sexy. It’s such a great start to a series and as bait to get new readers, it’s perfect.

What I disliked: I just have to point to Ms. Kenyon’s story. It was just baaaaaaaadddd.

My rating: 4 feathers


By Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Kelly's Review: A Stolen Life: A Memoir

A STOLEN LIFE: A MEMOIR
By Jaycee Dugard

Published by: Simon & Schuster
First Printing: July 2011
ISBN-10: 1451629184
ISBN-13: 978-1451629187
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads

Concept: “In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.

For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story – in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.” [From Amazon.]

Review: Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped from right in front of her home in a quiet forest town by two truly sinister monsters when she was 11. She was forced to live with this couple and she became the man’s sexual plaything. She had to go through his sexual deviancy when he drugged himself up and eventually bore him two children. She was eventually rescued 18 years later and reunited with her mother who never gave up hope. That is the basics of this story.

What you learn from this book is that Jaycee is an amazing human being. She is forgiving and strong and loving and many, many good adjectives. I LIKE Jaycee a lot and I’m glad that I purchased this book so that it helps her cause. I understand too while reading this book, that these are Jaycee’s words and her thought processes and that she is still scarred from this tragedy and struggling o make her life better.

Unfortunately, I didn’t care for quite a few things in this book. I am reading some reviewers who state they couldn’t read the book, it was too difficult. I found it to be almost a bit of a sell out. I wanted more detail. I wanted to know all the awfulness of the situation. Jaycee seemed to focus a lot on her love for her kitties. There’s a journal and entries that talk mostly about her kitty that she was allowed to have. I understand that psychologically, these kitties may have been extremely important to Jaycee’s well being but to me, it was completely boring. If I were to write pages and pages about how much I love my dogs, you would be completely bored. Just because Jaycee went through a horrific ordeal doesn’t make me want to read about her kitties. It just flat out bored me to death. Questions that I had weren’t answered and maybe they weren’t answered for Jaycee either, but I think that the book could have provided some sort of explanations. In 18 years, Jaycee really felt that she couldn’t have escaped? That is barely discussed in her book. Her children are barely discussed and at times, I felt that Jaycee loved her kitties more than her own children. It just felt weird to me.

I am completely supportive of Jaycee and I sincerely pray that her family is awarded a katrillion dollars from the State for their lack of investigation into the life of the sex perpetrator that held Jaycee. I hope they are able to put their lives back together and I wish nothing but the very best for all of them. But this book wasn’t Jaycee’s finest moment. Perhaps a necessary one in her healing process, but there should have been more.

What I liked: I like Jaycee Dugard. She is a courageous and lovely young woman. I adore that she has such a passion for animals. As for the book itself, there wasn’t much about it that I did like. I’m sorry Jaycee. I wanted to like it. I just think it was silly and very self-serving. I guess I liked that it was written from Jaycee’s perspective. That made it feel like she was sitting down with me and telling me her story.

What I disliked: I feel like I got more from this story watching the Diane Sawyer interview. I feel like most of this book was just blabber and no meat. The single thing that bothered me the most though? Jaycee loves her animals. But when she was rescued, she took great pains in making sure her kitties were well cared for but gave up her dogs without much thought. That bothered me. Anyway, I am happy that I purchased this book for Jaycee’s cause, but as a book, frankly, it sucked.

My rating: 3.5 feathers


by Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Follow Friday # 17

This meme is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

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Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

Q. Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

My Answer:
This is really a hard question to answer I have so many author's I would love to talk with, Just three wow, okay here it goes.


Sherrilyn Kenyon- I could probably talk her ear off regarding her Dark Hunter Series.


Charlaine Harris- Because I am currently obsessed with the Sookie series.

Larissa Ione- Because I just love her Demonica series and would love to know if there is any more books in the future as well as talk about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

So what's your three?

Topic Thursday What Attracts Us To Bad Boys?

I know it's been awhile since we had done a Topic Thursday crazy real life just has to interfere with the fun sometimes. Anyway what shall we talk about this week? I think those bad boys is a great topic don't you think? What draws us to them? Why do you find them so interesting or more sexier? Why do we root for them to hook up with their HEA? Do you like the truly evil bad boy or do you like the bad boy with the hidden heart of gold? and Lastly who tops your list of all time favorite bad boys?

What Do You Think of This Bad Boy?

how's about this one? Zsadist

Or this one? Zarek?

I vote for all three and probably could have listed more, I am a sucker for the bad boy myself- preferably with the hidden heart of gold. What I love the most besides the devilishness hidden behind their gorgeous eyes is the sarcasm when these boys speak. And what really makes my heart melt is when they do fall in love watch out baddies they will defend their lovely ladies til they take their last breath. So Tell me what draws you to these sexy bad boys.

Review of Warrior Reborn by KH LeMoyne

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 591 KB

Publisher: Digital Crystal Press (April 15, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B004WSQFBO

Lending: Enabled

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes and Noble

Book courtesy of KH LeMoyne and The Bookish Snob Promotions Tour, click HERE for more information on the BSP.

Amazon Summary:

They are the Guardians of Eden—each created with a unique supernatural talent.

Having successfully hidden her abilities from humans for two hundred years, Briet quietly applies the gifts of cellular-level vision to help patients in need. Until she meets her human soul-mate, Jason Ballard.

Jason holds the reigns to the protocol Briet’s patients’ need for recovery. But can she trust a man all too human and grounded in his world to understand hers, much less believe her? When a deadly threat targets her patients, he is the only one she trusts to help stop an evil only the two of them can fight.

Jason has a perfect success rate for delivering of new drugs from test-to-market. Used to influencing people, rules and guidelines delineate every facet of his professional and personal life. The last thing he expects is to be tempted to waiver by the new spitfire doctor on his latest test team. Especially as she starts stirring up issues. Dangerous issues. Issues flagging jeopardy for the lives of the children in the test. Issues the drug manufacturer, his employer, would prefer be ignored. An unacceptable outcome, forcing Jason to walk a dangerous line between job and conscience as he plunges with Briet to ferret out the twisted scheme in time to save her patients.

Escalating to a final life-altering decision, Jason will risk every careful plan he’s ever made for the woman he learns to value more than life. For Jason and Briet, their final gamble will change destiny more than either could ever predict.

Review:

When I first read this blurb, I thought this was just up my alley though I hadn't realized this was the second book in this series until after I signed up for this tour. I became worried will I understand the back story for the guardians and though I was a bit confused at times , I found this book an enjoyable read.

First of all I love the unigue names of the characters. I always wonder how and where a author comes up with their characters names. Though her male lead character has a ordinary name, the female character is unique, Briet as well as her fellow guardians, one being her brother,Ansgar (who I hope has his own book in the future) I really liked him in fact I think he was one of my favorite characters, though overly protective at times and to Briet very irritating.

Briet, a guardian who uses her powers to help terminally ill children who finds her mate while working together on a drug to help these children. What I loved about Briet, was even though she knew her destiny she still made sure her independence shown through.

Jason, who is the typical playboy finds himself drawn to this doctor and I love how even though he struggled with his demons he came to realize just how much Briet meant to him.

Overall I did enjoy this book very much, in fact I want to go back and read the first book to read Mia and Turen and see if it would answer some of the questions I had with this book. Would I recommend yes, if you are looking for an unique tale of supernatural beings this one is for you.

Rating:

The BSP Tour Guest Post with KH LeMoyne Author of Warrior Reborn

Please give a warm welcome to KH LeMoyne!

Research Out-takes

I write romance and urban fantasy, and to feed the muse, I read and research a lot of mythologies, fables, and religious principles. I'm no expert on any of these subjects though! But I am a lover of taking tidbits and daydreaming about ‘what if.' Out of this process, I created the Guardians' world, the rules that govern them, their individual powers, their homelands, and many of their difficulties.

Each book in the series focuses on a different Guardian from Eden’s Sanctum: their struggle to win the hearts and respect of their mates, their battle against the evil intent on destroying them, and their effort to realign the Guardian covenant to provide protection for mankind’s evolution. They represent different geographic regions of the world and so I read a lot of information, and search through too many name databases to mention. Cool, but a huge stack of info. This is the reason I print most of my research and keep huge binders with lots of Post-it tabs.

Sound pretty dry? Not really. I run across wonderful information – most of which I’ll never use in the story, but no information is wasted on the imagination.

Here’s an example. One of the main secondary characters in Warrior Reborn is Tsu. He is the Guardian weapons and defense master, and he and his sister Quan originated a few hundred years ago from an eastern province of China.

My Tsu loosely shares a name and some traits with Sun Tzu, from the Art of War fame. While the book, The Art of War, is a tangible item, there is mixed conjecture as to whether the Chinese general, Sun Tzu actually existed.

That said there are some fun mythologies and stories about Sun Tzu.

One being that King Ho-Lu tested Sun Tzu’s skills by ordering him to train the king’s harem as soldiers. Hmm, you can see this problem coming miles away. As the story goes, two of the King’s favorite concubines were positioned in command of the remaining hundreds of concubines. Ordered to perform their maneuvers, the concubines…giggled. To be fair, Sun Tzu gave them a second chance. The giggling repeated. Tzu had the two favorite concubines executed, beheaded. His resolve and judgment was tied to the idea that “If the instructions are not clear, if the orders are not obeyed, it is the fault of the general. But if the instructions are clear and the soldiers still do not obey, it is the fault of their officers.” The two women were replaced with a clear message sent to the troops and needless to say, further training efforts went smoothly.

That character profile didn’t fit with my Guardian Tsu character, but I loved the trivia and the notation remains in my series notebook – never know when you might be able to use, reuse, or
twist some detail.

About The Author:

KH LeMoyne was born into a naval family, experiencing total emersion in Spanish kindergarten in Rota, Spain. Her childhood of migrating up and down the eastern US seaboard, with hops from California to Arizona to Virginia, inspired her love of stories and myth. After fifteen years as an Information Systems professional, she now writes full time in romance: fantasy, futuristic and paranormal and straight urban fantasy under another pseudonym. She lives in Maryland with her wonderful husband and a pair of corgis. Much to her dismay, she rarely encounters supernatural beings other than on paper.

KH Lemoyne’s current series books Betrayal’s Shadow, Warrior Reborn, XX and Return of the Legacyare available in eBook, with paperback editions coming late summer. She is currently finishing the second in the Phoenix series, Shepherd, (due for release in August). You can find out more about her books at http://www.khlemoyne.com/ and her blog: http://khlemoyne.wordpress.com/

Be Sure to stop on by at the next stop on the tour at Bitten At Paranormal Romance And Don't forget about the End of Tour Giveaway!

Where you can buy Warrior Reborn:

Smashwords

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

And The Winner of the Intimate Betrayal Giveaway is ....

And the winner of both copies of In Between Lies and Intimate Illusions......

Chrisbails

Congrats!! An email has been sent and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Please check your spam box to be sure the emails didn't end up there.

Kelly's Review: ROOM

ROOM
By Emma Donoghue

Published by: Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group,
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
First Printing: September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-316-09833-5
Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Goodreads

Concept: “It’s where he was born, it’s where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack’s imagination – the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells, the imaginary world projected through the TV, the coziness of Wardrobe blow Ma’s clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it’s the prison where she has been held since she was nineteen – for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But Jack’s curiosity is building alongside her own desperation – and she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer.

Told in the poignant and funny voice of Jack, Room is a story of unconquerable love in harrowing circumstances, and of the diamond-hard bond between a mother and her child. It is a shocking, exhilarating and riveting novel – but always deeply human and always moving. Room is a place you will never forget.” [From cover sleeve.]

Review: In this world of Jaycee Dugard horrific tales, along comes Room which is fiction but honestly might as well have been written about Jaycee. Told from five year old Jack’s perspective, this story really will be one you will never forget. Jack’s mother has been kidnapped as a teenager and locked into a soundproof 11x11 foot room in a backyard. She has endured repeated rapes and as a result has had two pregnancies. One ended with the death of Jack’s baby sister. “Ma” raises Jack in this room, doing her best to teach him while giving him some sort of life. But it becomes more evident to her as each day passes that she is going to have to do something to save herself and her precious Jack. Together, they work out a plan and Jack does indeed save both of them with an account that will literally have you holding your breath.

The struggle from there to enter a world Jack has never lived in, to be introduced to relatives he never knew he had, indeed just meeting people other than his mother and the monster that held them hostage is part of the story as well. It’s a sad and uniquely interesting story and of course all the way through it, you are pulling for Jack and his mother with an intensity that may surprise you. There are times when you laugh at Jack’s antics and his attempts at understanding the world around him, and there are times when you just sit back and thank your lucky stars that you have some of the simple things in life that we take for granted.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget this story and my mind will return to it frequently I am sure. This was an unusual book in that I’m not sure if it was entertaining or exactly what level it was on, but it was a book that was well worth reading and one I would highly recommend to anyone.

What I liked: Somehow, at the end I was wondering to myself how this would end because Jack’s curiosity could continue forever. But the ending was sublime -- true literary perfection. It easily took me to an ending that I was comfortable with and I was able to close the book and know that Jack and his mother would be okay.

What I disliked: At times, Jack’s English got to me. Even though I understand that he has been locked away in this room, I still didn’t like how “the bed” became “bed” and “the wardrobe” became “wardrobe.” I had to keep reminding myself that these items weren’t simple nouns. They became destinations to Jack. But still, it was annoying at times.

My rating: 5 feathers


Kelly
for Book Lover's Hideaway


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.