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2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Review: Waking Nightmares
Waking NightmaresAuthor: Christopher Golden
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Ace
The Shadow Saga #5 (Peter Octavian Novels)
ISBN: #978-0441020171
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): paperback (352 pages), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
When chaos erupts in the small coastal town of Hawthorne, Massachusetts, former vampire-turned-mage Peter Octavian and earthwitch Keomany Shaw arrive to investigate.
Years ago, Octavian helped expose the secret existence of vampires to the world, dismantling the Vatican's sorcery corps in order to save his fellow shadows from destruction. But without the Vatican sorcerers, the magical barriers they spent centuries constructing to keep the forces of darkness out of our world are beginning to fail, and things are slipping through.
Now an ancient god of chaos is awakening in Hawthorne, its influence spreading...and it's Octavian's fault. If he can't stop it, the blood of all human kind will be on his hands.
What B is talking about:
Peter Octavian is a former vampire who has, quite literally, been through Hell and back and is now not only mortal, but the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Believing that he bears responsibility for the dark forces threatening our world, he has become mankind’s champion, determined to do what he can to save humanity.
Waking Nightmares, the fifth novel in The Shadow Saga, was a difficult novel for me. Although it was a well-written book, it was more “horror-fantasy” than Urban Fantasy in my opinion. And while I have a serious soft spot for Paranormal Romance, as well as a growing appreciation for Urban Fantasy, I’ve never been able to really enjoy Horror as a genre.
With that in mind, I have to say I didn’t care for Waking Nightmares. It was gory, there is no trace of a happy ending, and there is at least one sex “situation” that I found fairly awful. The novel definitely had me turning pages as fast as I could read them, but I realized at some point that my compulsion to keep reading was born of the hope that the characters were going to catch a break soon, rather than a real anticipation of what Golden might have in store next.
To be fair, if I was a fan of horror novels I’d probably like this book a great deal. The story was truly well-written and would have been a good read, I think. Golden’s prose is solid and competently edited. I can’t think of any glaring typos or language foibles that distracted me from the narrative. The brief depiction of his take on the origin of vampires is unique and daringly unconventional, as well.
I’ve never thought novels with a forced happy ending were particularly satisfying, so the lack of one wasn’t what put me off the book. I’m perfectly content with a “hopefully ever after” if the story as a whole makes a believer of me. In Waking Nightmares, however, any bit of hope the characters are given to cling to is quickly stripped away. I do think that Golden has a gift for storytelling and making his ideas come alive with ghastly clarity. His books have received many good reviews, and I can see why, but I found Waking Nightmares to be a disturbing, and sometimes brutal novel.
B's Rating:
Finished it, didn't hate it - take it or leave it (C)
Labels:
Monday, March 28, 2011
ARC Review: Eternal Rider
Eternal RiderAuthor: Larissa Ione
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Lords of Deliverance Book #1
ISBN: #978-0446574495
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (432 pgs), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.
Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.
What I’m talking about:
Although new, the Lords of Deliverance series is set in Ms. Ione’s amazing DEMONICA world. Many of the characters and locations from her previous series are present and active participants of this new book. The mythology and rules follow suit. It’s a great continuation for fans of the Demonica series, but it’s also a wonderful place to “jump in” if you are new to Ms. Ione’s work.
The series centers around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill retelling. Ms. Ione creates here own version of these biblical characters, two of which made an appearance in Larissa’s fifth Demonica Series book, Sin Undone. In fact, this book takes place shortly after the conclusion of Sin Undone.
Eternal Rider features the second horseman, Ares aka “War.” He is over 5,000 years old and has been living a fairly quite existence along side his sister and brothers after being cursed to carry the Seals of Armageddon. In Sin Undone, the Seal of the first horseman, Pestilence, broke, turing Ares’ fun-loving brother into a pure evil demon hell-bent on breaking the Seals of his siblings, therefore bringing about the end of days. Each horseman has an “Achilles heel” that can cause his/her Seal to break. For Ares, it happens to be the life of a human woman, Cara.
Cara’s solitary life is going nowhere, and she is a shell of her former self. When she happens to get mixed up with a hellhound and mistaken for a demon, her life is forever changed. Soon she comes under the protection of Ares and his “good siblings,” for her death would mean the fall of the second horseman and rise of War. As Cara learns about the paranormal world she never knew existed, she regains her inner strength and becomes more alive.
Ms. Ione has another winner with Eternal Rider! She takes the already magnificent world from her Demonica Series and adds more layers without creating unnecessary rules or confusion. The mythology flows naturally from one series to the next. For those that haven’t read the Demonica Series (YOU SHOULD!), there may be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to the terminology and characters, but it is worth the time (she even includes a handy glossary in the front).
One thing that I love about Ms. Ione’s writing is that she doesn’t follow any “preset patterns” for paranormal romances. For example: Ares and Cara are a great couple. One thing that I adore about them is that they are not a pre-destined pair. They meet, they get to know one another, they deal with life-and-death situations and they fall in love - even though neither of them is looking for it to happen. And I adore Ares wonderful sense of self-humor. I love his self-berating diatribes over his sometimes silly teenager-like obsessions over Cara.
Another example of how this story goes it’s own way is found in “turned” brother Reseph aka “Pestilence.” He. Is. Evil. In a genre filled with “happy endings,” I kept hoping, like the siblings, the Reseph would have a moment of compassion, but there are no redeeming qualities to this demon. Pestilence is to Reseph what Angelus is to Angel (from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series): a pure evil soul trying to wipeout the memories of the “good guy” he once was. A character you truly hate.
This tale is full of fast moving action and steamy romance. A warning - there is some graphic violence, but it’s not added for shock value--it’s an intricate part to the telling of the story. And I will admit, for most of the book I felt the smex wasn’t on par with the erotic tellings in the Demonic books, but Ms. Ione comes through in the end with some steamy stuff! *blushes* This story is a MUST for Demonica Series fans and worth the read for anyone else!
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday Snippets #51
Sneak Peek from Magic on the Hunt by Devon Monk
Roc Publishing
April 5, 2011
**NOTE: this except comes from an uncorrected ARC copy of the book**
“We headed out. My phone rang. Zay. Again.
Seriously, couldn’t the man catch a hint?
I answered. “Beckstrom.”
“Where’s everyone off to?”
I scanned the street. Zay was standing on the corner across the street, Shamus behind him, leaning against the building, smoking.
Oh, for Pete’s sake.
“Nowhere.”
“That so? Looks like you’ve got a hunt on your hands.”
“It was a meeting.”
He started across the street. The light hadn’t changed, but somehow traffic seemed to move in rhythm to his stride, a perfect path opening up as he moved across the street toward me, not once taking his eyes off me. Man walked like a goddamned god.
“Who are they hunting? What are they hunting? What are you up to, Allison, my love?”
He was across three lanes, one more before he was in front of me. That is, if a bus didn’t hit him.
“None of your damn business,” I said sweetly into the phone.
And then he was there, in my space, so close, I could smell the pine and anger rolling off him. He was power, magic, sex, raw, brute force. A thunderstorm embodied.
I gave him a disinterested look.
The corner of his lip quirked up.
“How about I say please?” he said into his phone. Even though there was less than six inches separating us.
“Hound business is Hound business,” I replied.
“Don’t make me drag it out of Davy.”
“Fuck you,” Davy laughed. “I’m not your girlfriend.”
Zay put his phone down. Thumbed it off. “Who are you hunting girlfriend?” he asked.
I saw no reason to keep it a secret. Well, besides the fact that he could Close me or Davy with the flick of his fingers. “Dane. For shooting me.”
He searched my eyes. Must have caught the hint that I didn’t give a damn what he thought about that.
“Shame and I will go with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“More feet on the ground. That’s what you said, right?” He turned toward Davy. “How are we doing this?”
“Talk to the boss.”
He turned back to me. “Well, boss?”
“Sigh spells. Light. We’re just looking for his signature. If he’s found, I’m to be contacted. No engaging.”
“And after you are contacted?”
Oh, I did not want to tell him that I had planned to follow the rules and call him and Victor. “I’ll take care of it.”
Anger flashed through is eyes, brown gone much, much too gold.
“We got it covered, Jones,” I said airily. “Don’t really need more feet on the ground.”
He reached out, grabbed my arm. Davy pushed off from the car he’d been leaning on.
Zay pulled me in and kissed me.
Oh. My. Sweet. Heavens. A rush of heat enveloped me, and I tasted his anger – and his amusement. He was hot, turned on. He liked it when I took charge.
Before I could do more than register his need, before I could exhale the pressure and heat his touch, his kiss, planted in me, he pulled back.
“So where do you want me?” he asked.
Memories of his naked body, lowering over the top of me, flashed through my mind.
No. No way. I would not be distracted by him.
“Fine. If I can’t get rid of you, then take the south-west side of town. Sight. Mile radius. Don’t trip the grid. Think you can handle that?”
“Well, I’m not Hound,” he said, “but I’ll see what I can do.”
“If you find him- If you find anything, call me.”
He gave me a grin. “I don’t think you’re paying me to call you.”
“If you’re on this hunt, you’re on the payroll.”
“Yeah? How much”
“I’ll buy you a beer.”
He shook his head. I started walking towards Davy’s car.
“She buying you a beer?” he asked Davy as we passed by.
“Yup. About a thousand of them.”
Friday, March 25, 2011
Review: Edge of Moonlight
Edge of MoonlightAuthor: Stephanie Julian
Release Date: May, 2010
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Lucani Lovers Series Book 3
ISBN: #978-1419927911
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotica
Format(s): Ebook
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
Etruscan wolf shifter Kaine Giliati has longed for John Simmons since he willingly agreed to wipe all memory of her from his mind. The pain in her heart is only magnified by terror—the ability to call her wolf appears to have deserted her, as well.
For months after he and his sister escaped a crazed kidnapper, John has been dreaming about a beautiful woman he’s never met but who seems so familiar. A woman he’s shocked to find in a dark bar one night. A woman who agrees to come back to his apartment for raw, passionate sex.
One erotic, stolen night reopens old wounds, uncovers buried memories and sets Kaine and John on a path filled with danger, magic and potential heartbreak.
What B is talking about:
Kaine Gillati is supposed to be one of the strongest of her kind. She is “Sicari”—an elite assassin for the king of the Lucani himself. Now she’s faced with a new discovery about her family that could cost her the only home she’s ever known. John Simmons is determined to protect and shelter his sister and avenge her kidnapping. But when the woman of his dreams becomes real, he learns that nothing is as it seems, and the fight to hold on to her may be his toughest yet.
Edge of Moonlight is another enjoyable installment in the Lucani Lovers series. The stories continue to build on one another as the plot becomes more engaging. Julian stays with what has worked in the other books in the series and uses the conflict, and eventual resolution, Kaine and John face as part of the larger story, while keeping the other characters she’s introduced relevant in the process.
Kaine and John have several very sexy encounters during the course of Edge of Moonlight. Rather than making their sexual discovery one of delicate appreciation turned to passion, or the acceptance of multiple partners, as in the first two novels in the series, these two practically collide with one another in near frenzies, both unable and unwilling to miss any opportunity they find to connect with one another. As soldiers in the midst of their own conflict, the approach works well.
Edge of Moonlight is yet another sound addition to the Lucani Lovers series. Julian sticks to a familiar path in this novel, so there were no surprises, but I think Kaine and John work well as a pair. I was sorry to see Kaine lose so much of her inner fire during the earlier part of the story, but glad to see the spark and steel make a return towards the end. As a continuation of a series I’m becoming attached to, Edge of Moonlight did not disappoint, and I maintain my opinion that the cumulative nature of Julian’s novels is one of their greatest strengths.
B’s Rating:
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
ARC Review: Magic on the Hunt
Magic on the HuntAuthor: Devon Monk
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Roc
Allie Beckstrom Series #6
ISBN: #978-0451463913
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
I received a ARC copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
There aren’t many girls who can say they’ve gone into the realm of death and lived to tell the tale. But to restore her lover Zayvion’s soul, Allison Beckstrom had to pay a bitter price–and things are about to get worse….
It turns out the leader of the Authority, the council that decides what can–and can’t–be done with magic, is being held hostage. But when the trail leads Allie and Zayvion to the secret prison where the Authority locks away magical criminals who are too dangerous to be held anywhere else, they find more than they bargained for. An undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners, and he wants his freedom–and then some. Now Allie and Zayvion are the first line of defense against the chaos he’s about to unleash on the city of Portland….
What Una is talking about:
Sadly, I am writing this review on my own. Poor Gikany is ONLY on book 2 and will not, hmmm, corrupt herself by skipping ahead to read this one. So it is my pleasure to read and review this book for all of you (and Gikany) because she has already been sucked into this refreshing series and it’s driving her nuts that I know what’s happening….*grins evilly*
***Please note that if you haven’t read the whole series, there may be spoilers in the following review. You have been WARNED!
After finishing book 5, Magic at the Gate, I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of this book. Ms. Monk does not disappoint with this fascinating urban fantasy. We pick up a few days after the previous book ends. It seems that Zay and Allie have had a much deserved break and rest. However, that break is short lived once Dane enters her home, knocks out Zay and shoots Allie. He does this to force her father, whose soul still stubbornly resides in her body, to reveal where Sedra is being held by Jingo Jingo.
Magic on the Hunt has an explosive beginning and a faster pace than the previous novels. I was completely sucked in as the story unfolded, adding to the other ongoing plot lines that have been carried over. There were several twists and turns I did not expect, and because of them, I was completely glued to the pages. I found myself reading when waiting at a red light because I had to know what happened next. Especially when considering that by book six, these major characters have become so real to me. Ms. Monk is quite talented at making these characters three dimensional, with all the lovely quirks and personalities that keep you on your toes.
In this novel, Allie continues to grow and find her place. Caught between her own independent streak, her love of Zayvion Jones, caring for the Hounds, and finding her role in the Authority, Allie tries to figure it out on her own. It is because of this, Allie is almost real to me, her constant inner struggle to do right even when it forces her to live with the tough choices she has made. To watch her inner battle as she sees how the Authority protects, and how she deals with the hard choices that come with such a great responsibility. Allie truly has carved out her own niche and is doing her best to make the most of it and find her path.
However, as always, Ms. Monk is a great tease, for lack of better term. I keep waiting to see if Allie is ever able to reclaim her “flame” of magic, if she will ever be rid of her father, will Cody ever truly be healed, will Shamus and Terric ever be whole? These questions continue to burn in me along with a few others that come out of the ending of this book. But, I respect the fact that maybe, just like real life, these questions do not have answers. Sometimes experiences are just experiences that help you grow and do not lead to a happy or restorative ending. I am starting to realize that, like life, once a sacrifice is made, you learn to live with that loss. In that, I am truly humbled and amazed by this series. Yet, with everything that happened in this book, so much remains to be answered even with that which was resolved. I look forward to continuing to read this gritty, fresh and tantalizing series.
Una’s Rating:
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Contest Winners - It Happened One Bite
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my review of It Happened One Bite and my interview with author Lydia Dare. I especially want to thank Jodi and Tammy (the writing team of Lydia Dare) for stopping by for the interview and Sourcebook Publishing for generously donating two (2) copies of Lydia’s newest release, It Happened One Bite, for my giveaway.
Every person that commented on the review or interview was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winners were selected using random.org.
The Winners:
tetewa
Pamela (Spaz)
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I’m sending both winners a message; please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address so Sourcebook can send you the book! You have until Saturday March 26, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Review: No Rest for the Wicked
No Rest for the WickedAuthor: Kresley Cole
Release Date: October 2006
Publisher: Pocket Star
Immortals After Dark #3
ISBN: #978-1416509887
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (384 pgs), e-book
From the author’s website:
A vampire soldier weary of life…
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire—a nightmare in his mind—against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.
A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him…
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow—accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings—particularly lust—emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill.
Become competitors in a legendary hunt…
The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity--as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world--to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?
What I’m talking about:
Picking up just after the end of the previous book, A Hunger Like No Other, this story opens with Valkyrie Kaderin the Cold-Hearted hesitating to kill a vampire. Something that she hasn’t done in over a thousand years. But as she looks into the eyes of the once-human-turned-vampire, Sebastian Wroth, she sees something more than vampire. Within minutes, Sebastian’s heart is beating and both realize that Kaderin is Sebastian’s destined Bride. Desire overtakes Kaderin - the first feelings she has experienced since the death of her sisters a millennia ago.Ashamed by her lustful indiscretion with Sebastian, Kaderin quickly leaves and heads for her London flat to prepare for the Talisman’s Hie, a “deadly, immortal version of The Amazing Race.” Kaderin is reigning champ 5-times running. Upon arriving at the games, she is shocked to see Sebastian. He also enters the competition with hopes of wooing Kaderin. The two begin a love-hate relationship, working their way through the challenges of the Hie.
The third installment of the IAD Series is an action-filled roller coaster ride! With the setting of a deadly immortal adventure game, this story has a quick pace and full of intense action. Having so many paranormal species together also gives the reader further insight into Ms. Cole’s exciting world.
At the heart of the story are Sebastian and Kaderin. He is one of the long-lost warrior brothers of Myst’s husband, Nikolai (“Warlord Wants Forever”). She is a cold-hearted Vampire assassin who has been “blessed” with a curse that leaves her void of all emotion. Their initial meeting right at the start of the book set the stage for a powerful attraction and romance. I enjoyed the “lust at first sight” aspect - that they were destined to be, but then the couple took time finding their way. The development of their relationship and love was well paced. They both had much to overcome: her fears, his frustrations, so the pace of their connection seems “natural” for a paranormal setting. They had many “little moments” that made my heart leap or my eyes tear up.
One of the things I like about Ms. Cole’s mythology is that it isn’t a “good” thing when your destined mate is from a different paranormal species. The fact that both Myst (first story) and Kaderin have to overcome ridicule and embarrassment, and that they are willing to do that once they realize that they are in love, creates an added dimension to the story lines. Kaderin is conflicted, and how she deals with it is well played out. I shed a tear or two as I read this book.
The action in this book made for a fast-paced story. I loved the humor and bits of lore presented during the Hie competition. I am very interested in where the overall story is going - especially what will happen to Bowen.
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday Snippets #50
Lover Awakened by JR Ward Signet Eclipse
September 2006
“I want to kiss you here,” she said. “All right?”
He nodded and licked his lips.
The moment her mouth made contact, his body jerked like someone had yanked all of his arms and legs at once. She didn’t stop. She sucked the piercing in and twirled her tongue around it.
Zsadist moaned, the low sound a great rumble in his chest; then he inhaled with a hiss. His head pitched back into the pillow, but he kept it at an angle so he could keep watching her.
When she flicked the silver hoop, then tugged on it a little, he arched off the bed, one leg bending up, his heel digging into the mattress. She tickled his nipple again and then again until he balled the comforter in his fist.
“Oh... fuck, Bella...” He was breathing in a hard, raw rhythm, heat radiating out of him. “What are you doing to me?”
“Do you want me to stop?”
“Either that or do it harder.”
“How about a little more?”
“Yeah... a little more.”
She worked him with her mouth, playing with the ring, driving him until his hips started to swivel.
Friday, March 18, 2011
IAD Discussion: No Rest for the Wicked
Hello friends and welcome to the this month’s Immortals After Dark 2011 Reading Challenge Discussion. The idea is for this to be an “open thread” to discuss the third IAD story (second book):No Rest For The Wicked
I’ll list a few questions to kick it off, then please follow with your own points, additional questions and general comments. PLEASE keep the discussion the this book or the prior two stories and NO future stories.
ALSO - IF YOU HAVE A REVIEW for No Rest for the Wicked, please include a link below in the comment section! I will be posting my review either later today or over the weekend.
Lastly... Note to those that have not read No Rest for the Wicked: Spoilers *may* be listed below, so beware!
1) Sebastian and Kaderin... what do you think? Did you like how they met? Their “courtship?” Treatment of one another? Did they have an emotional impact on you?
2) How did you like the action in this book? What did you think of the Hie?
3) What was/were your favorite and/or least favorite parts? What open-ended question or character are you most looking forward to reading about coming up in the series?
4) Anyone else wonder about the mythology... The mothers of the Valkyrie were warrior women that died in battle, brought back to life by gods, then have a daughter(s) who are immortal. What about the moms? What happened to them?
5) Another “general” thought I had when reading this book... Vampire’s and their Brides: in the first story, Myst claimed that she had been the Bride to several vampires before she killed them. And in this book, Nikolai jumped to the conclusion that Sebastian was going to claim Myst as his Bride... Does it “bother” anyone else that a vampire can “fall” for a Bride that isn’t his destined mate?
Okay folks... discuss away... I’ll be back to answer the questions later!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Author Interview & Giveaway - Lydia Dare
Today I have the honor of bringing to you author Lydia Dare. Lydia is the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. Both Tammy and Jodie are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and live near Raleigh, North Carolina. Their next two books will also feature gentleman vampires: In the Heat of the Bite (July 2011) and Never Been Bit (September 2011). Please help me welcome Lydia toThat’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Lydia, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Lydia (both of us): Thanks for having us.
Twimom: Lydia is a pseudonym for two writers: Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. How long have you been writing together and how did you start? What are your inspirations?
Lydia (Jodie): We started writing together in October 2008, not that I’m counting.
Lyda (Tammy): Oh, she counts. Don’t let her fool you. X number of pages until I don’t have to deal with Tammy anymore. Then we decide to write another book. As for inspiration, I think we both get inspired by our side-characters. They walk into a scene and then we just have to tell their stories. That’s how William Westfield and Prisca came to be. And all the coven witches. And Dashiel. Dash was such a bad boy that he just had to be redeemed.
Twimom: Your new release, It Happened One Bite, is the first book in your new romance series featuring gentlemen vampires. What first attracted you to telling vampiric tales?
Lydia (Jodie): Well we started off telling wolfish tales, but after four Lycan books we wanted a little change. However Tammy is in charge of all things paranormal, so I’ll let her field that question.
Lydia (Tammy): The witches of the Coig were so strong in their own right, that I just felt like they could handle the super-sexy undead gentlemen. We had actually tossed around the idea of vampyres when we first started mapping out our Regency paranormal world. But we decided Lycans would be fun, too, and we wrote them first. The vampyres are a good addition to our world, and we hope the readers like the twist they bring with them.
Twimom: Well, I for one agree that the vampyres are an excellent addition to your Regency world! Can you tell my readers more about your future plans for this new series?
Lydia (Jodie): I’m really trying not to give too much away in the form of spoilers. So I’ll simply say in It Happened One Bite we get to meet James Maitland, Baron Kettering, an Elizabethan era vampyre and his maker Matthew Halkett, the Earl of Blodswell, a former knight in the Crusades who is then the hero of In the Heat of the Bite. There is something special about these men, but I can’t say more than that.
Lydia (Tammy): The witches get to meet the gentlemen vampyres, who are much too gentlemanly too bite a woman without being properly introduced. These three men share a bond, much like our Lycans did. They’re a family of sorts, but you’ll have to read more to find out about it.
Twimom: Oh... Blodswell is the hero of the next book?! I’m so excited! (Readers - he is very dashing!). I’m very excited to read the upcoming books!
Your other series, The Westfield Brothers, features werewolves, and sets certain things in motion for your current series. Please tell my readers more about these interesting books.
Lydia (Jodie): I love that series, which you would expect, right? But I really do. The first book A Certain Wolfish Charm started it all. It is the tale of Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, and Miss Lily Rutledge. The pair has been charged with raising her nephew/his cousin who is beginning to show signs of the change. The second book actually takes place at the exact same time, but in Edinburgh – Tall, Dark and Wolfish tells the story of “broken” wolf Lord Benjamin Westfield who seeks out a healing Scottish witch, Elspeth Campbelll, to cure his ailment. And we finish of the trilogy with The Wolf Next Door which focuses on the middle, silver-tongued Westfield brother, Lord William, and their neighbor Prisca Hawthorne with whom he has a past.
Lydia (Tammy): Then we had a hero walk into The Wolf Next Door, disguised as a horrible villain at the time. But he had his own story to tell. That was the fourth book, The Taming of the Wolf, which came out last fall. In that book, we actually meet one of the vampyres, but I’m not sure many readers caught the reference. I hope they did. Because it sets the stage for the future of the rest of the coven.
Twimom: Readers, read my review of the most recent Westfield Brothers book, The Taming of the Wolf HERE.
And yes, I did catch that reference! :-)
Ladies, do you write any other genres?
Lydia (Jodie): We have each have individual projects we are working on. Everything I’ve ever written has been set in the Regency.
Lydia (Tammy): My favorite genre to read has always been Regency-set historicals. I like the society, the rules, the heroes and heroines, and I love the Regency rake. But writing with Jodie has been the only time I’ve actually written it. My own personal pursuits fall more toward the contemporary and suspense. Twimom: I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read in 2010?
Lydia (Jodie): I remember the days when I could devour a book a day, but those days are long since gone. Most of what I read these days are research books. I do however, always find time to read Sabrina Jeffries. And I adored The Truth About Lord Stoneville.
Lydia (Tammy): I don’t get much time to read, lately, but I do take the time to read the releases of all my friends from the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers group. I also like to read young adult novels, mainly because I have a teen and I like to see what he’s reading and what he’s most interested in. I am a big fan of fantasy and paranormal, and gravitate toward anything humorous and suspenseful.
Lydia (Jodie): Oh, I’m so glad you said that, Tammy. I read YA too, for the same reason – teenage son. Last year I was mesmerized by The Hunger Games trilogy!!
Twimom: What upcoming 2011 releases are you most excited to read?
Lydia (Jodie): Well, as soon as I have time I plan to read Jeffries’ How to Woo a Reluctant Lady and later this year her To Wed a Wild Lord. I’m also looking forward to Deb Marlowe’s How to Marry a Rake.
Lydia (Tammy): I’m waiting for the same ones as Jodie. I hope I get them first so I can hold the over her head after I read them. I have a large queue of books on my iPad from where I buy the new releases. I hope I have time to get to them soon!
Twimom: Jodie and Tammy, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourselves and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.
Lydia (Jodie): It was so much fun being here! Thanks again, so much for having us!
Lydia (Tammy): Thanks for letting us hang out with you today. We hope the readers love this new series as much as we do.
You can find Jodie and Tammy as Lydia Dare on line at
GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of It Happened One Bite to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com) for sponsoring the giveaway of Lydia Dare’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s interview or yesterday’s review of It Happened One Bite. Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from March 16, 2011until Monday March 21, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
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