About Me

My photo
I'm a total bookworm and a romantic at heart. I'm also a little bit of a paranormal nerd so I absolutely love books that are about creatures of the night and allow me to submerge myself into a world of fantasy.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Ravenous Romance and Home Shopping Network

Join Forces to Bring You

ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of four books we’ll be giving away!

Voyage to a distant land where fantasy and passion ignite. The Escape with Romance Exclusive 6-Book Collection is a fascinating compilation of stories filled with infatuation, excitement and of course, love. These tales will evoke the internal fires that burn deep within us all. Choose from the 3 collections; the romantically nostalgic Historical genre, the futuristic and supernatural of the Paranormal genre, or the modern-day heroines of the Contemporary genre. Plus, if you can't decide choose the Sampler, which includes 2 books from every genre, so you can get a little bit of it all. Suddenly, reading just got a lot more interesting.

More information on ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE here: http://electronics.hsn.com/escape-with-romance-exclusive-6-book-collection_p-5700283_xp.aspx?cm_mmc=rss*Browse*2*NA

Ravenous Romance Web Site: http://www.ravenousromance.com


Escape with Romance Exclusive 6-Book Collection Features:

Historical Genre:

  • "Land of Falling Stars" by Keta Diablo; 192 pages
  • "Force My Hand" by Em Brown; 192 pages
  • "Kiss of Scandal" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
  • "The Mercenary Bride" by Jamaica Layne; 192 pages
  • "Dark Desires of the Druids #1" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
  • "The American Heiress" by Roxanne Dent; 191 pages

Contemporary Genre:

  • "Ripping the Bodice" by Inara LaVey; 192 pages
  • "Nashville Heat" by Bethany Michaels; 192 pages
  • "Hot on Her Heels" by Monica Newcomb; 192 pages
  • "The Lady's Choice" by Trudy Doyle; 191 pages
  • "Once an Obsession" by Bella French; 192 pages
  • "Vital Signs" by Jamica Lane; 192 pages

Paranormal Genre:

  • "The Wolfpact" by Jo Atkinson; 191 pages
  • "Stilettos, Inc." by Lexi Ryan; 192 pages
  • "Twilights Edge" by Jo Atkinson; 208 pages
  • "Love in Space" by Lisa Lane; 192 pages
  • "Haunted Seduction" by Morgan James; 192 pages
  • "Loving Daylight" by Malia Sutton; 192 pages

Sampler:

  • "Land of Falling Stars" by Keta Diablo; 192 pages
  • "Kiss of Scandal" by Isabel Roman; 192 pages
  • "Stilettos, Inc." by Lexi Ryan; 192 pages
  • "Twilights Edge" by Jo Atkinson; 208 pages
  • "Ripping the Bodice" by Inara Lavey; 191 pages
  • "Nashville Heat" by Bethany Michaels; 192 pages

Reader reviews from the Home Shopping Network Site:

“I found these books to be well written and recommend them to anyone who loves romance.” Joan, Kentucky

“These books kept me up at night! I bought the Paranormal series and I loved them.” Karen, New York

“Some of the best romance books I've ever read! Every one is a page-turner.” Nightchick, California

“Historicals are my favorite genre. When a friend who frequents HSN told me about this, I had to order them.” Christinereader, New Jersey

* * *

Force My Hand by Em Brown

Independent and always in command, Miss Darcy Sherwood holds her own among the cads and rakes that frequent the dubious gaming hall where she works. When she has the opportunity to exact revenge upon the man who wronged her sister, she intends to provide the arrogant Baron Broadmoor the biggest set-down of his life…by requiring him to be her suitor.

But when the Baron begins to play his role too well, can Darcy resist falling for the man she’s supposed to hate above all others?

Radcliff Barrington, Baron Broadmoor, has no intention of quietly submitting to Miss Sherwood – even if she does hold the deed that could ruin his family. He intends to turn the tables on Miss Sherwood. She must surrender the deed or surrender herself…

Passions flare to erotic heights as Darcy and Radcliff struggle to see who will submit to whom. And all bets are off as to who will win…

Dear Readers,

I'm thrilled to be able to share this story with you. I had a lot of fun writing it and hope you have fun reading it. My inspiration for Force My Hand was the lighthearted Regency era stories of Georgette Heyer (though the hero in my story is a little darker along the lines of a Bronte). If you're not a fan of historicals I hope you might give Force My Hand a try anyway. There's plenty of tension and steamy sex scenes for the adventurous, modern woman. And feel free to leave comments at my website,

Happy reading, Em Brown,

http://www.em-brown.com


* * *

Land of Falling Stars by Keta Diablo

“If you haven’t read Keta Diablo you haven’t lived!”—Crave More Romance

Diablo has penned a beautiful, haunting love story full of passion, deception, and danger that will leave you breathless and longing for more!—Night Owl Romance

About Land of Falling Stars:

Penniless, her parents and brother dead, Sophia Whitfield struggles to save her beloved childhood home during the Civil War. Another bluecoat staggers down the hill, but before Sophia allows him to rob and pilfer like the others, she shoots him. How was she to know it was Gavin, the dark knight of her youth, carrying secrets too horrific to imagine and a passion that ignites her deepest desires?

Greetings friends,

I can’t tell you how honored I am that Land of Falling Stars was selected to participate in ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE through the Home Shopping Network. Here’s wishing each and every one of you a blessed Holiday season. May all your dreams for 2010 come true.

Namaste, Keta Diablo

http://ketadiablo.blogspot.com

Love in Space by Lisa Lane

"Lisa Lane delivers a wonderfully intriguing, suspenseful and highly erotic romance novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more even after the novel ends." Talk About My Favorite Authors (5 stars)

"Ms. Lane embraced all that we love about sci-fi fantasy and heated it up to super-nova proportions. My question for Ms. Lane is, is this a long-term mission? If so, I'm applying for a boarding pass."Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews (4.5 "cherries" and Best Book of the Week pick)

About Love in Space:

Captain Nora Bradley has full intentions of keeping her relationship with former classmate, and now First Officer, Robert Smith, purely professional when she hires him. Things begin to change, however, after bodiless invaders seduce the crew in their dreams, the entire ship becomes infected with a space flu that leads to orgiastic frenzy, and encounters with new alien races challenge all they know about sexual identity and social ideals.

As the crew endures, Nora can't help but profess her feelings for Robert… but can their love endure a mix-up with shape-shifters, the unexpected takeover of their ship, and intergalactic war?

Greetings! I’m so glad you could stop by. My most sincere thanks to those who have taken the time—blog hosts, peers, and readers alike—to support so graciously Love in Space and its fellow HSN releases. Love in Space is a sweet, highly romantic sci-fi space adventure, one I feel honored and privileged to be able to share with all of you. I am an avid fan of pulp science fiction, as well as the episodic space adventure (i.e. Star Trek and Red Dwarf), and it is with great pleasure that I come today to share my tiny contribution to these genres with all of you.

Lisa Lane

http://www.cerebralwriter.com/index.html

* * *

Ripping the Bodice by Inara LaVey

"This pleasing story bears some resemblance to Northanger Abbey, with the heroine’s love of bodice rippers paralleling Austen’s heroine’s love of gothic literature."-- Romantic Times

"If you're looking for a big dose of fun to go along with your romance, look no farther than Inara Lavey's Ripping the Bodice. This story positively sparkles with wit and humor...Along with that humor, Ms. Lavey has given us an absolutely addictive cast of characters who are colorful and well-developed and almost larger than life."--Bookwenches.com

About Ripping the Bodice:

Got sex and romance on the brain? So does Cassandra Devon. She also has hard-boiled
private eyes, dashing pirates, jet-setting super spies and other sexy rogues entertaining her in her surprisingly explicit subconscious. All these erotic daydreams make it hard to stay focused on Cassandra's current dilemma: namely, rebuffing the advances of Connor, a wild Irish rascal who wants to play the starring role in her fantasies. Cassandra is only interested in getting together with Raphael, the tall, dark and handsome man of her dreams. May the best romance hero win!


Hi, all! Ripping the Bodice was originally written as a screenplay back when my best friend and I thought we could make our own movie. Years later, I have three video tapes of footage and my book to show for it! I was (and still am) absolutely delighted to have Ripping the Bodice as part of Ravenous Romance's HSN ESCAPE TO ROMANCE collection. Watching Holly and the HSN hostess/product demonstrator holding up my book during one of the promotional spots is a definite high point for my year! I hope you enjoy all of the books in the collections, as well as the rest of Ravenous Romance's extensive and diverse collection of spicy romances for sale on the website!

Please come visit me at my website and blog at www.danafredsti.com.

Happy reading! Inara LaVey

* * *

Nashville Heat by Bethany Michaels

"The heroine of this superb story leaps off the page with intelligence, drive and a full range of emotions. Michaels has a wonderful ear for dialogue, a knack for writing her heroine into slyly clever predicaments and an equally apparent talent for writing some of the most arousing sex scenes you'll ever read." Romantic Times (4 1/2 stars)

"Ms. Michaels' talent as a writer amazed me and had me so enthralled, I could not put this book down. If I could give this novel a higher rating than 5 cups, I would; it will just blow you away! The romance is hot, the sex is sizzling, and the overall storyline is a must-read, cannot-miss story for everyone!" Coffee Time Romance (5-cup review)

About Nashville Heat:

When Sydney Stratton moved to Nashville to follow her dream of making it big in the country music business, she never counted on meeting Dex Wilder, Music City's bad boy country star, let alone hooking up with him!

But just as lust begins to turn into something deeper and Sydney gets to know the man behind the tabloids, revealing photos and a devastating secret surface, threatening any future Sydney and Dex might have together.

Greetings! When I moved to Nashville three years ago, I discovered that it is a city of contrasts. It has a load of old-fashioned Southern charm in the form of honky-talks and Civil War battlefields, yet supports a thriving art and music scene with a metropolitan sophistication. It's down-home friendly, yet diverse in its population. It's a tourist destination, yet a place where people immediately feel at home. I've tried to share some of the places and things that make Nashville such a unique city in Nashville Heat and hope ya'll will be coming to Nashville in 2010 when we host RWA's national convention!

Bethany Michaels
www.bethanymichaels.com

* * *

Dark Desires of the Druids (Murder and Magick) by Isabel Roman


The characters in this book have very strong wills and it was difficult for them to acknowledge the desire for each other's help in the time of need....I am looking forward to reading the next book in this seri
es.- Literary Nymphs

About Dark Desires of the Druids I: Murder and Magick:


Raven Drake wants the freedom to explore all that is restricted to a Victorian lady. Malcolm, Lord Preston, desires her from the moment he sees her, and doesn't allow society's rules to stand in his way. Their tryst is a welcome distraction from witch hunters and political maneuverings. But can it overcome the weight of another man's ring on her finger?


About Kiss of Scandal:

Countess Katria Markova finds her perfectly ordered life, irrevocably altered when a dear friend is murdered. Count Nikolai Orlov will do anything to clear his brother's name, except put Katria in harm's way. From the snowy streets of St. Petersburg to the River Neva's icy depths, they search for the answers to clear Nikolai. But in their search, will they lose each other?

Being a part of the Home Shopping Network's Escape with Romance has been absolutely wonderful! I'm so happy and thankful to have this opportunity.

Isabel Roman

* * *

Loving Daylight by Malia Sutton

Dearcritique says:

"...a great, enjoyable read.... Malia writes with a simple style that keeps the story moving fast and the reader interested in what's coming next.” -- Dear Critique

About Loving Daylight:

Vampire Avenir LaFramboise is over one hundred years old, but he still carries a torch for his first love. When he travels back to Mt. Desert Island, Maine, to meet her descendant, he is swept away by the stunning Sienna. But Sienna's family hides a chilling secret, and if Avenir wants to win her heart, he must help her discover the truth...

Greetings Friends,

Being part of The Home Shopping Network's ESCAPE WITH ROMANCE adventure with all the other talented writers at ravenousromance.com, has been the experience of a lifetime for me. I'd like to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous holiday season and all the best in the coming New Year.

Malia Sutton

http://maliasutton.blogspot.com


As mentioned yesterday escape with romance will be GIVING AWAY FOUR BOOKS (of the seven reviewed by the home shopping network) To participate in this great opportunity to receive one all you have to do is leave a comment about the blitz along with your email address. I would like to give a special thanks to Keta for making this blitz possible. Come back tomorrow to here about her book, Land of Falling Stars!!

Friday, November 6, 2009


Hey everyone sorry I've been MIA for awhile been dealing with some personal issues regarding the opposite sex, which hasn't really put me in a romantic mood lol. But I'm back now!! An to kick it off tomorrow I'm hosting a blog blitz with Escape with Romance through the Home Shopping Network! They will be giving away four books for those who comment on the blitz tomorrow, so please stop by and check it out, following the blitz (on Sunday) I will be posting a review of Land of Falling Stars by Keta Diablo. :)

Saturday, October 17, 2009


Chloe Neill is the author of the Chicagoland Vampire series. I recently read Some Girls Bite and was very impressed, I can't wait to read Friday Night Bites.

RH: How did you come up with the story Some Girls Bite?

CN: I knew that I wanted to write an urban fantasy series starring a female vampire--which, at the time, seemed like a new concept. I wanted to write about the kind of heroine I might want to be, and I was also really interested in exploring the vampire House structure, and all the rules and regulations that entails.


RH:How many books do you plan to write for this series?

CN: I have about eight planned, and there are four currently under contract.

RH:Do you already have the series planned out?

CN: I have the general arcs for the growth of the characters mapped out. I know where Merit starts, and where I'd like her to begin. Ditto for most of the other secondary characters.

RH:What made you decide to have different houses for the vampires?

CN: Because vampires had been assimilated with humans for so long, I figured they'd have organized themselves into some kind of secret society. I also wanted my vampires to have an allegiance to something--allegiances that could be beneficial or negative, and which would be tested along the way. Houses seemed like a logical way to meld the two ideas.

RH: Will Merit always be the main character? If so, will it always be told from her point of view?

CN: Yes. Merit will always be the main character of the CV novels, although I have considered novellas and short stories featuring other characters.

RH: Are we ever going to find out Merit's first name?

CN: Yes. And that's all I can say about that. :)

RH: Why was it that all the girls who were attacked looked somewhat alike?

CN: Sorry--I can't answer that one. ;)

RH:When vampires commit a crime against humans, like murder, do they just get a slap on the wrist or are more severe measures ever taken?

CN: It depends on the vampire and their relationship with the Greenwich Presidium, the governing counsel for North American and Western European vampires. We learn more about that process in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.

RH: Why is not drinking, or drinking, from humans considered such a big deal now that vampires no longer have to worry about keeping their existence a secret?

CN: Because some vampires believe that their safety is dependent upon humans not being afraid of them. And vampires figure that humans are less likely to be afraid of beings that are like them. Thus, vampires fear that if all vampires drank, they'd be seen as monsters, and would not be safe from attack (or research...or internment) by humans.

RH: Is every house required to have a sentinel, if not then why have one all of the sudden?

CN:Each House must have a Master; without a Master, there would be no House. But other than that, the Master can decide how to organize his or her House as he or she pleases. Sentinel was an historic position, generally seen not to be necessary during the modern age. Ethan, however, figured that he might as well use Merit's "fame" as a Merit to his advantage...

RH: Which character was the most fun to write about?

CN: Mallory! Her dialogue is so fun to write.

RH: Can anyone be turned into a vampire?

CN: Theoretically, any human can be made a vampire, assuming they can find a vampire willing to convert them (or a House willing to convert and Commend them).

RH: Can anyone be born a vampire?

CN: Sorry--that one's a bit of a spoiler, too. (But it's addressed in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES).

RH: Which male character did you fall in love with?

CN: Oh, definitely not touching that one. :)

RH: About how long did it take you to write the story?

CN: Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites and Twice Bitten probably each took about four to six months of writing, although the most intense writing was conducted during the last two months of those periods.

RH: What type of environment do you enjoy most for writing?

CN: On the couch, laptop in my lap, NCIS on television. Or bad scifi movies if it's a weekend, maybe with a little rain outside. Bad weather = better writing.

RH: Did you always want to be a writer?

CN: Not even slightly. I used to hate writing, and wrote my first novel in 2005. Some Girls Bite was my second manuscript.

RH: Do you plan to do any signings in Georgia soon? I'd love to get my book signed. :)

CN: I don't have anything planned at the moment, but feel free to talk to your local bookstores and see if they'd be interested in having me! :)

Thank you Chloe so much for the interview!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009


Synopsis:

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

Review:


Some Girls Bite is a great blend of suspense, action, emotion, and sci-fi. In the beginning humans have just found out about the existence of vampires, and to some level are informed about their society. The structure of the vampire world was a completely new take that really made the story more interesting to read. The house system reminded me of a sorority or fraternity, you have to take oaths to get in and once you're in the other members become your family. What really surprised me about the house system is that each house is run by a master "Liege", and he/she is the only one who is allowed to turn humans into vampires. The rest of the world was, ironically, realistic. For the exceptions of a few minor things, like the actual time that the vampires came out, the story sucked me in. I could see the world Neill was creating playing out in my head.

The characters in this book blew me away! I loved Merit she's an independent-stubborn- I won't take any crap from anyone-girl. Even though her world has been completely turned upside down she doesn't fall apart, she decides to deal with it...but on her terms. The only issue I had with Merit was that she had trouble letting go of the past, I understand that her life didn't go how she planned but I felt that after the initiation she was somewhat OK with it. An that she just kept bring up that this wasn't what she choose to make some sort of point in her book. As far as Ethan is concerned I'm a little conflicted. I kept altering between loving him and wanting to break a large object over his head. He seems incapable of loosening up, and I felt that he expected Merit to adjust to her new life with no problem. He didn't seem to show much sympathy to her situation, he mostly came off as arrogant and had a "holier than thou" attitude. The other characters of the book were just, if not more, as exciting to read about than the main characters.

My two favorite characters had to be Jeff and Morgan. Jeff was an adorable little horn-dog, he's the character that you can't help but smile when you see his name cross the page. Morgan, on the other hand, seems to be everything Ethan refuses to be. He's loyal, humble, and somewhat stable. My favorite part of the book was when he and Merit are facing off, it was so clever and perfectly played I couldn't help but laugh at how Morgan "diffused" the situation. Unfortunately, I think he's the character that is forever the friend and nothing more.


The story was told from Merit's point of view, which I surprisingly enjoyed. Normally I don't care for first person stories, I feel like I'm being jipped of the other characters point of views. But Neill more than made up for that with great dialogue: witty and sarcastic with a great balance of humor. There was nothing that was drawn out or felt unnecessary in Some Girls Bite, the author never veered away from the story. I love Neill's writing style and I can't wait for book two, Friday Night Bites.

Cover: 3.5

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4

Overall: 4.1

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

This stylish space saving corner unit helps organize all of your clutter. The unit can be attached to the wall in any corner of the house. A modern way to store and display your favorite belongings!

Features:

  • Maple finish
  • Attach to ...

Beautiful and efficient

By Danni from Atlanta, GA on 10/10/2009

4out of 5

Pros: Quality Construction, Supports Weight, Displays Books Well, Very easy to assemble

Cons: Poor weight distribution

Best Uses: Displaying Books, Decoration, Shelving & Storage

Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper

Primary use: Personal

This is a wonderful bookshelf for my dorm, I needed something that could go in the corner but not take up floor space and this is exactly what I needed. It was very easy to put together but when I was carrying it to my room, since there is poor weight distribution, I was worried it might break. The wood is beautiful and not heavy. Overall it is a wonderful shelf and I was very satisfied.

(legalese)

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Saw this posted at the romantic scholar's blog. I thought it was a cute idea so I decided to do it as well. Anyone who's interested feel free to give it a try. :)

Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Describe Yourself: Dark Slayer
How do you feel: Dead Until Dark
Describe where you currently live: Hidden Currents
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Lair of the Lion
Your favorite form of transportation: Anchor and Storm
Your best friend is: In Over Her Head
You and your friends are: Companions of the Night
What's the weather like: Shiver
Favorite time of day: Burning Wild
What is life to you: Dark Curse
Your fear: Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress
What is the best advice you have to give: Some Girls Bite
Thought for the Day: Daddy by Surprise
How I would like to die: Murder Game
My soul's present condition: Rapture

Your Life Is a Book was created by: Words For Teens

Wednesday, September 23, 2009


Vamps in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

I'm currently reading the first book in this series, so I decided to look this one up as well. It sounds like it picks up where Some Girls Bite left off, I'm not usually one to stop reading halfway through the series (especially when the books are about the same character) so I can't wait to see what happens in book two!

Waiting on Wednesdays was created by: Breaking The Spine


Tuesday, September 22, 2009


Synopsis:

Kat Petroski has a weakness for swoo. That indescribable charm guys from the wilder side have. Not that falling for it has worked out for her, since she-s a twice-divorced mother of two. So she-s got an early-warning swoo alert. Then Jack Treadwell walks into her life.

Between his motorcycle and his adventure-seeking attitude, Jack has all the trappings she can-t resist and should. Still, is that the real Jack? Something tells her he may be more dentist than biker. But is he father material? Because swoo aside, Kat-s a mom first. And the man who wins her heart must first win over her boys.

Review:

This book started off interesting enough, I liked the characters and storyline. Yet I never felt the love between Jack and Kat, in fact up until the last two chapters of the book they continued to refer to each other as strangers. Neither one viewed the other as "the dream", living up to their expectations. I also had hoped that Kat's sons would have had a bigger role in the story, yet Jack can't stand children? Though the author did a wonderful job showing how much Kat loved her boys it seemed that she was continuously shipping them off to her friends houses.

I love reading stories where both the hero and heroine have shared a past life together, but I didn't like that I didn't know this was going to happen and the author did not announce it at all. I went from reading about how the heroine went to sleep to turning the page reading about a completely different character. It really confused me.

I liked that at the end of the book all the characters worked out all the issues that were holding them back. Jack surprised me the most, I honestly didn't see him coming around the way he did. I really felt that Kat let her ex's walk all over her for no reason, but was glad that at the end she finally stood up for herself. I think this book is for anyone who knows what it's like to grow up in a somewhat dysfunctional family.

Cover: 4

Plot: 3

Characters: 3

Writing: 3.5

Overall: 3.4


Friday, September 18, 2009


Christine Feehan is New York Times #1 bestselling author. She is most well known for her Carpathian novels, Dark Slayer is #20 in the series. I was so grateful for the interview!

RH: First of would you please give a summery of Dark Slayer?

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer—a woman—who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived a century without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by the habit of the hunt and the custom of the feeding. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.


RH: What inspired you to write the Dark series?
CF: The death of my oldest son. I always told him stories of the Carpathians and decided to write them, expanding the theme after his accident. I needed something to bring me back to life because I definitely felt as if I’d lost all the color in my world.

RH: The Carpathian world has expanded so much over the years, and so have the characters. Who, character wise, has touched you the most?
CF: Darius always has a special place in my heart. He was willing to give up everything for his lifemate, to give up what he was and grow old and die with her rather than risk her. Razvan and Ivory from Dark Slayer are my most beloved and magical to me with their courage and unswerving loyalty to one another.

RH: So far it has always been a female psychic who is lifemate to a male Carpathian, can your readers ever look forward to a reverse?
CF: Well it certainly can happen. A female could turn a psychic male, but she can’t bind him to her. Only the male can do that, so it would be interesting!

RH: As the Carpathian world becomes more complex, will you write more about the werewolves and shape shifters?
CH: I had planned to bring in werewolves from the beginning, in fact I almost started with werewolves, but the Carpathians became stronger in my mind. I have no idea if I’ll fully develop that storyline or not. I’ve written a lot of these books and keeping them fresh and exciting is a challenge.

RH: Do you already have the series planned out? Or do some of the turns it takes surprise you?
CF: The threads of the Carpathian culture and society are planned out, along with their troubles as a whole. The individual storylines are always a surprise—and a welcome one. I like the adventure of writing and following the twists and turns just as I would when reading a book.

RH: I've noticed that ever since Dark Celebration the Dark books have been released as hardbacks, is this a permanent change?
CF: Yes, the Dark books will be released in hardcover and the mass market will follow.

RH: About how long does it take you to complete a book? Is it difficult to focus on only writing one? Or do you work on several at once?
CF: I would never write more than one book at a time, but I do have other stories that try to push their way into my mind and I have to be totally disciplined and not allow that. I’ve been writing for many years now and have learned to make the pushy, strong characters wait their turn. I prefer four months to write a book, but have a three month schedule at this time which is tight for me.

RH: What do you consider the best writing atmosphere?
CF: My office, sitting in a recliner with my laptop and my four Maltese all sprawled out around me.

RH: What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment?
CF: Hands down, my children.

RH: What's a question you wish people would ask but never do?
CF: In all honesty, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. My favorite question is what I’m reading, because I love to read all kinds of books and like anyone else, love to share my favorite authors or stories with others. In this case, I’m reading C.L. Wilson’s Queen of Song and Souls which will be out in October.


Here's the link to my review of Dark Slayer: -Review

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Synopsis:

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer—a woman—who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived a century without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by the habit of the hunt and the custom of the feeding. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.

Review:


Dark Slayer is defiantly unique from the rest of the dark series, it was very action packed. I loved the descriptive battle scenes against the vampires, so detailed that I could see the action playing out in my head. I was so shocked that Ivory was the same women that the De la Cruz brothers helped raise, and believed dead. Ivory was a change from the normal Feehan heroine's. To sum it up she was a complete bad ass. I was fascinated that any person could survive being hacked to pieces yet live to tell the tale. She's a strong no-nonsense warrior, and has more than earned the respect of her people. Of course the average Carpathian male can't comprehend that any women can rival them....in anything, especially battle. So they left her no choice but to put them in their place, lol I have to say that was my favorite scene.

Razvan, long believed to be a traitor to his people, has been tortured for centuries by Xavier. Yet has never given in to the curse of the men in his species to turn vampire. He, also, was a change to Feehan hero's, he was not arrogant or macho to the extreme. He was calm an actually looked to Ivory for how to defeat the vampire (that's never happened before in the Dark series). Ivory and Razvan fit together wonderfully because the understood what the other had gone through, better than anyone else could have. An I don't think that understanding came only because they were lifemates, it went deeper than that. I guess that saying "the strongest bonds are forged in the fires of Hell" is true. The only issue I had with their relationship was that they seemed to trust each other way to soon, perhaps because they had too? I really admired how they always had each others backs.

There was so much more to the story then what was between the two main characters. Several characters from the previous books had important roles in the story. Especially Gregori. Not gonna lie he's never made a huge impression on me, his "women should tend the home an have babies and that's it. Period." philosophy really irritates me. Yet, this book upped my opinion of him...slightly lol. He actually opened up a little and became more than a macho robot. The dialogue between the characters was so much fun to read, ranging from sarcasm, to witty, to emotional.

Ivory's wolves were another first in the series, what a great idea! I never considered that animals could be changed, Feehan continues to surprise me. It all came together an proved to be all I had expected. Yet, as far as romance goes I felt Dark Slayer was lacking. Apart from the few "steamy" scenes I feel that any romance that may have been there was overshadowed by all the action, and Razvan and Ivory's need to destroy Xavier.


Overall, Dark Slayer is a great read, but not for the faint heart. While some of the books in this series can be read as somewhat of a stand alone, I don't recommend it for this one. I suggest that any reader at least read Dark Celebration, Dark Possession, and Dark Curse to avoid being confused lol. I can't wait until the next book comes out! Feehan continues to introduce more characters, so hopefully the series won't be ending any time soon. :)

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 5

Characters: 4

Writing: 4

Overall: 4.4

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I've seen this book on several different blogger wish list's, so I decided to check it out. The author, Mary Wine, has a beautiful website and her books sound amazing. I could not find a description for this book to post, but there is an excerpt at marywine.com for anyone who's interested. Apparently this book is the second in the series, so I'm going to have to get the first before I can read this one lol. I have plenty of time, though, since In the Warrior's Bed does not come out until Jan. 26, 2010. :)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by: Breaking The Spine

Monday, September 14, 2009

So my first contest just ended, thanks to all of you who entered. I used random.org to calculate the winners. Here they are!!

First place:

Marie

Second place:

Eli

Third place:

Etriv

The winner who comes in first place will have the choice of which two books he/she would like. Second place gets to pick from the remaining two. Third gets the final book. Congrats to the winners!!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

More exciting awards to pass around!

I received the Zombie Chicken Award from StephanieD at Misfit Salon. Thank you girl!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken-- excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all." I bestow it upon:

Bookalicious
Novel Addiction
Scrounger's Online Library
Shooting Stars
Sticky Pages

I received the Lemonade Award from Jen at Sapphire Romance Realm. Thank you! :)

Here are the rules:The Lemonade Award is a feel good award which shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules:~Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.~Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.~Link your nominees within your post.~Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.~Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are my nominees:

Tina's Book Reviews
Writing Roller Coasters
Michelle McLean's Writer Ramblings
Princess Scatterhart
The Tainted Poet
Starlight Blog
Shalonda's Blog
Outlandish Dreaming
Sweetsue
Tales of Whimsy