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Friday, March 30, 2012
Review: Lover Reborn
Lover Reborn
Author: J.R. Ward
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Black Dagger Brotherhood #10
ISBN: 0451235843
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Hardcover (592 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.
When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquillity of the Fade—he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....
Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future…but can his heart let go and set all of them free?
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Lover Reborn, J.R. Ward's anxiously awaited title in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series was well worth the wait. I was on pins-and-needles throughout this title. Expertly crafted plot, with so many highs and highers, I felt as though I was on a roller coaster. By the time I'd reached the end, ask Mr. VampBard... I'd cursed Ms. Ward several times and threatened to write her hate mail. 'S all good, though. Feel me?
The first thing that I'd like to mention about Lover Reborn is that it's a painful title to read. It churned up a lot of emotions for me, and required Kleenex. Prolly Puffs Plus with Aloe. Watching the Brother, Tohrment, stuck in his grief, was even more difficult than in past BDB titles.
Lassiter continues to be a key player in Tohr's existence. There's a bit of an important factoid that comes out in this title: Wellsie isn't in the Fade... she, and the unborn child, are in the In Between. This place, where Lassiter was prior to his Maker giving him the option of guiding Tohr to do what was necessary for him to let go of Wellsie so that she could move on, is a dismal place – a personal purgatory. Tohr is led to believe, by the angel, that HE is the reason Wellsie and the young aren't in the Fade. He's told it's going to take blood, sweat & tears for her to be released from her prison... and Tohr had better hurry up, because she couldn't live in that place forever. Lassiter sums it up pretty well here, when he's talking to Tohr about why he was assigned to him, and where he stands about the assignment:
“I don't know... I guess I just want what your shellan does.” He shrugged. “End of the day, the quick and the dead are the same. Everyone's just looking for home. Plus... I don't know, you're not so bad.” (location 3083, Kindle edition)
Don't worry though. The angel provides a lot of comic relief during tense situations. Thank him for keeping the Kleenex consumption down to a mere box. Seriously.
Because he loved Wellsie with his entire being, looked forward to their son, Tohrment's devastation was utterly complete. His memories were so vivid and heart-wrenching for the reader, realizing that he was dwelling in the past. In this passage, Tohr has Wellsie's mating gown lain out on his bed in the mansion:
“Tohr slipped his palm down to the satin skirting. Closing his eyes, he imagined her warm, vital flesh filling out the gown once again, her breath expanding and contracting the confines of the bodice, her long, long legs holding the skirting up off the floor, her red hair curling down to the black lace of the sleeves.” (location 1200, Kindle Edition)
Because Tohrment had a serious turn-around, things do turn out alright for Wellsie and the young. Even after the reader experiences the major schtuff with Tohr, he does right by her in the end, after tap-dancing around all the REALLY difficult stuff. Traveling on this journey of healing with him was really what Lover Reborn was all about. I'm so glad I was able to set aside my reservations about reading this title, and was able to immerse myself in the Brothers once again.
No'One, Xhex's mom, is also an integral player in Lover Reborn. Not only is she building a relationship with Xhex, but she finds herself re-connecting with Tohr. She learns about Tohrment's life, since her death, by taking a peek into one of the peering/vision bowls of water used on the Other Side:
“No'One picked up the bowl, holding it with her palms, not her fingers. With barely perceptible movement, she began to circle the water, picturing Tohrment's back as clearly as she was able.
Soon enough, a story began to unfold, told in moving pictures that were russed in living color, and animated by love.” (location 2193, Kindle edition)
Here, we're able to re-live the love Tohr and Wellsie shared. The event, something we haven't seen previously: the moment Tohr found out Wellsie was carrying his young. Yes. This was one of those Kleenex moments. No'One understood that no one would ever replace Wellsie's place in Tohr's heart, especially the way he was feeling and reacting at this point-in-time. Especially the anger.
No'One evolved as a character in a substantial manner. Her transformation throughout the course of the book was spectacular. Around the 97% mark... yup. Get out your Kleenex again. I threatened hate mail to Ms. Ward if she didn't fix that part in a really, really good way (no spoilers!).
We all know it's going to happen. Tohr and No'One hook-up. Initially, Tohr thinks that he'll just be able to let someone else in enough to get Wellsie on her way to the Fade, do a bit of feeding so he appears to be on the road to recovery. No. Dice. This plot line takes some serious ups & downs...maybe like a 12-step program...hairpin turns... cork-screws... 180-degree turns. All. Over. The. Place. Sometimes, I didn't know what way was up; I surely enjoyed the ride, however. In this passage, Tohr finally gives in and sees No'One through fresh eyes. It's a start:
“And No'One, in spite of her opinion of herself, was a hell of a lot more attractive than root vegetables...” (location 4809, Kindle edition)
No'One's involvement, however, doesn't come without a price to herself. She has to face her abuse at the hands of the sympath that raped her before she can allow herself to become physical with Tohr – even to allow him to feed.
There's some conflict with JM and Xhex this go-round. I really like the way Tohr makes a connection with JM in this passage, typical WARD snark:
“In the wake of No'One's pissed-off departure, Tohr decided that short of the fact Jonh Matthew hadn't managed to cut himself on the hand and foot thus far tonight, it looked like Tohr and the kid had a lot in common: Courtesy of their tempers, both were now dressed in the Captain Asshole costume – which included, for no extra charge, the cape of disgrace, the booties of shame, and keys to the F*(k Up mobile.” (location 1925, Kindle edition)
And...this passage also shows how 'up-a-creek-without-a-paddle' the boys find themselves. JM even gets his butt-in-a-sling with the other two members of the New Troika.
“No,” Blay cut in. “This is not okay. You cut the shit, John – you let him come with you. I don't care if you're going to be with Xhex or not. You owe this to him (in reference to Qhuinn). (location 2994, Kindle edition)
While JM is going through some issues with the marital bliss thing, he's also still mourning Wellsie. I loved the way Ms. Ward relayed John's inner turmoil over her loss:
“Goddamn it, she was never going to know that he'd made it through his transition, or that he was a halfway decent fighter, or that he'd gotten mated. If he ever had a child of his own, she'd never hold it in her arms, or see a first birthday, or get to witness first steps or first words.
Her absence made his own life seem less full, and he had the awful feeling that was always going to be true.” (location 10398, Kindle edition)
Qhuay fans will be happy to know that they have some continued heat... and there's a brief Blay/Sax scene... Um. And there's some surprising stuff going on with Qhuay. My jaw hit the floor in a MAJOR way.
Ah, the villainhood in Lover Reborn, besides JM and Tohr for being complete jerks at times, fell to the Band of Bastards. This troop of vamps from the Old Country are led by Xcor, son of Bloodletter, and his second-in-command, Throe. Interesting dynamic here. I'm absolutely positive we will see the BoB in the next installment of the BDB. Too many unanswered questions. Oh, and the DRAMA these boys cause... I'm pretty sure that soap opera writers couldn't do any better. **dramatic eye-roll** We do, however, learn that Xcor may not be as he appears on the surface. Interesting. Veeerrrryy interesting. Yeah, he still wants to over-throw Wrath, but the conflict provides the reader with LOTS of action, for those that enjoy the battles. Not so much going on with the lessers in this title, however (yay).
I am able to safely say that I truly enjoyed Lover Reborn. Even with all the cranking-up of the conflict to unimaginable heights that caused laughter and tears, I enjoyed the story. I may have cursed Ms. Ward several times throughout reading the book. I still have utmost love for Tohrment. I was satisfied with the ending, even though several times toward the end, I nearly threw down my Kindle and didn't finish, feeling that the author was not going to allow the conflict to resolve to my satisfaction. Never fear, J.R. Ward delivered.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews of series titles:
Twimom’s Thoughts on Lover Reborn (4 Stars)
Labels:
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Contest Winner - Shadowman
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my AAD Feature Author Spotlight and interview with Erin Kellison, and I want to specially thank Erin for stopping by and for graciously donating a copy of Shadowman for the giveaway.
Every person that commented was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
Kim H
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I am emailing the winner. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address so that Erin can mail you the book directly. If I do not hear from the winner by Tuesday April 3, 2012 by the end of the day, I will select another winner.
Thank you all so much for coming by and Happy Reading!
Quickie Review: Unwanted Mate
Unwanted Mate
Author: Rebecca Royce
Release Date: Feb. 23, 2012
Publisher: Decadent
Decadent's Edge Series
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Short Story (4K word count)
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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For years, shapeshifter Gunther West has known Judy is his mate. His little human isn't so sure. When a tragedy brings her knocking on his door seeking comfort, Gunther is more than ready to provide it. Neither can deny the sparks that fly, but are those sparks enough for forever?
What I’m talking about:
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Want a quickie? Decadent Publishing’s THE EDGE series is just what the doctor ordered! Unwanted Mate is less than novella length - a short story, at only 4,000 words. It’s more of a vignette than plot-driven book.
The tale revolves around an alpha shifter, Gunther, and the human who is destined to be his mate, Judy. They both know the mating is there, yet - she avoids him, and he waits patiently so as not to push her away forever. Gunther’s break happens one night after Judy witnesses a friend die. She comes to him for comfort, knowing she will walk away with much more from the evening than hot sex.
Unwanted Mate is a romantic, sweet, albeit extremely hot encounter between Gunther and Judy. The story is their initial sexual encounter. It's hot, but I wouldn't classify it as erotic. The reader is treated to both Judy and Gunther’s POVs, and we are party to the seeds of romance bound for a happily ever after.
Honestly, the story is so short that it's hard to write much. There was no time for deep character or plot development, but the emotions in and purpose of the story comes through to the reader, regardless of the length. Really, there wasn’t need for much else -- it works. If you want to escape for a few moments (and can get past the names Judy and Gunther), give Unwanted Mate a go.
My Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Review: Arrow to the Heart
Arrow to the Heart
Author: Arlene Webb
Release Date: Feb. 8, 2012
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Dr. Cu has no doubt that love at first sight happens only in fairytales. He knows intimately that it takes a unique blend of chemicals to force two hearts to beat as one. A world-renowned player, he’s accepted his fate. As a God of Love, he’s doomed to remain lonely. But when he opens his eyes and his gaze takes in a woman in need of assistance, he’s shocked to find himself falling, exactly like his many victims.
Naturally, when an arrogant legend is smitten, happiness comes at a price. Cu must fight the powerful Goddess of Love, his controlling mother, in order to protect the mortal who’s captured his fancy.
When his love betrays him, Cu learns how hard a God can hit rock bottom. If he can’t put down the bow and wrap his hand around humility and forgiveness, his destined love will remain a myth.
What I’m talking about:
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Dr. Cu is an renowned psychologist with an uncanny knack for bringing two people together and finding love. The story opens with Dr. Cu interviewing a female police officer who has killed off one too many bad guys when not necessary. It is evident from her reactions upon seeing his identity that not only is Dr. Cu infamous, but so is his socialite mother. What no one seems to know is that Dr. Cu is also apparently Cupid, and he uses a bow and arrow to make his perfect matches. However, the one perfect match he can never make is his own.
The premise of Cupid as a psychologist and matchmaker in the real world is fun. His parents - Goddess of Love and God of War, are equality notorious, but for what I’m not entirely certain. What is unclear (and I guess not that important) is if the humans around them know there are “fallen” gods, or if they just think these people are wealthy, famous celebrities.
The story was a take-it-or-leave-it for me. Since it is a novella, I read the whole thing; however, had it been a full-length novel, I probably would have DNF. The premise of the story is entertaining - Cupid sets up couples all of the time, but is destined to never have a love for himself. Of course, he finally finds the woman of his dreams in Cheia and must win her over without his usual fanfare.
The dialogue between Cheia and Cu was at times sweet, but more often it felt cheesy and contrived. They spoke in metaphors and innuendo, never really articulating complete thoughts and sentences.
Cu’s mom and dad were over the top for me. Sure, they are petty gods, but I just didn't get it. They were jerks, and I felt it didn't really add to the story - other than to humiliate Cu.
Anyhow, it is a fun premise and not bad to read in between hot and heavy novels. But don't expect more than fluff from this novella.
My Rating:
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Finished it - take it or leave it (C)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Review: Magic Without Mercy
Magic Without Mercy
Author: Devon Monk
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: ROC
Allie Beckstrom series #8
ISBN: #978-0451464484
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (358 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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We knew as soon as we stepped out on those streets, we were walking blind into a war. All of us were going to bear the pain for the magic we called upon. And I was going to have to bear the pain for carrying a weapon that made me face what I had become. A killer.
Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic, but she’s never faced anything like this.
Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority–the secret council that enforces magic’s laws–wanted by the police, and unable to use magic, she’s got to find the cure before the sickness spreads beyond any power to stop it.
But when a Death magic user seeks to destroy the only antidote, Allie and her fellow renegades must stand and fight to defend the innocent and save all magic…
What Una is talking about:
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I am hooked on the Allie Beckstrom series. It is really great gritty urban fantasy. Life isn’t pretty; sometimes decisions are hard and have long lasting consequences. Ms. Monk does not disappoint in her latest installment -- Magic Without Mercy is another nail-biting thriller.
Please note that if you haven’t read the previous novels, there will be spoilers in this review. This is a series that really needs to be started from the beginning. Each subsequent novel builds on the last and much will be lost if you try to jump in.
Allie is on the run from both the police -- after being framed for embezzlement, and from the Authority -- for killing Bartholomew. However, she is not without friends or support. Zayvion and Shame, along with others who realize the Authority has turned its back on its mission, are working with Allie to find out how magic has been poisoned and how to fix it – if that is even possible. With the continuing support of the hounds, Allie works to try to find out what is going on, only to be faced by the Authority who want to stop her from succeeding.
Seriously, I could not put down Magic Without Mercy. Ms. Monk has created a character that I am just drawn to. Allie is fascinating. She struggles with both the weight of the decision she made to kill Bartholomew and the knowledge that her friends walk beside her – risking their lives for her. She is still unable to use magic, yet she can see it as clearly as day. Allie’s internal struggle is real and the reader can easily place himself in her shoes.
However, there are still many questions from the previous novels that still puzzle me. Will she ever regain her small magic she was able to keep inside? Will she ever be able to use magic again? Will she ever be able to exorcise her father from her head? As frustrating as these lingering questions are…the fact that sometimes questions linger gives a foundation of reality to the series and keeps me reading.
From the huge cliffhanger, one major question may be answered in the next novel: are Leander and Isabell in cahoots with her father? Needless to say, I cannot wait until the next novel. I wonder when Allie might get not only a break, but find out about why she is so special.
Una’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews of Books in this Series:
AAD Author Spotlight: Nicole Peeler
Hello Readers! Today I bring you author of the entertaining Jane True Series, Nicole Peeler. Nicole received an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Boston University, and a PhD in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. She’s lived abroad in both Spain and the UK, and lived all over the USA. Currently, she resides outside Pittsburgh, to teach in Seton Hill’s MFA in Popular Fiction. When she’s not in the classroom infecting young minds with her madness, she’s writing Urban Fantasy for Orbit Books and taking pleasure in what means most to her: family, friends, food, and travel.
Nicole is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Also, keep reading to learn more about Nicole’s upcoming release, Tempest’s Fury (Book #5 in her Jane True Series).
Please help me welcome Nicole to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Nicole, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Nicole: Hey lady! Great to see here and can’t wait to see you again at AAD.
Twimom: Jane True is a half-human, half-selkie living in a world she never knew existed. Will you please tell us more about your exciting series?
Nicole: They’re fun, sexy, a little crazy. Jane’s not your usual urban fantasy heroine—she’s half seal, after all. So she brings a freshness to the series, I think.
Twimom: What is next for Jane and her friends?
Nicole: Book five is coming out this summer, and I’m writing Jane’s sixth and final book. It’s been a great run, and I can’t wait to bring her adventures to a close. She’s going out with a very Jane bang, I think. ;-)
Twimom: Oh, I am intrigued! Do you have plans to write any other series or genres?
Nicole: I would love to write all sorts of things. Right now I’m sort of obsessed with cozy mysteries, and I have a great idea for a paranormal cozy. But who knows where the winds will take me!
Twimom: You have attended Authors After Dark in the past and are a featured author in 2012. Why AAD? What are your favorite aspects of AAD? What are you looking forward to most in NOLA?
Nicole: I really liked how intimate AAD was last year. And NOLA really sealed it for me, as far as attending this year. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities on earth, and I can’t wait to be back. Beignets!
Twimom: I haven’t been to NOLA and cannot wait! I’ll look to you for food and drink advice!
I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read in 2011?
Nicole: My memory is like a sieve, so I’m not sure I can go back that far. It’s pathetic! But right now I’m reading LOADS of Elizabeth Peters and Victoria Laurie, and loving every book.
Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?
Nicole: Probably Danny Marks YA Velveteen. It looks so dark and crazy, and I can’t wait to see how his take on the genre.
Twimom: Nicole, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you. I look forward to seeing you again in New Orleans!
Nicole: Can’t wait see you, too! Café du Monde here we come!
You can find Nicole on line at
More on Tempest’s Fury (Orbit/Hachette, July 2012):
Jane’s not happy. She’s been packed off to England to fight in a war, when she’d much rather be snogging her new boyfriend. Unfortunately, Jane’s enemies have been busy stirring up some major trouble—the kind that attracts a lot of attention. In other words, they’re not making it easy for Jane to get any alone time with Anyan, or to indulge in her penchant for stinky cheese.
Praying she can pull off a Joan of Arc without the whole martyrdom thing, Jane must lead Alfar and halflings alike in a desperate battle to combat an ancient evil. Catapulted into the role of the most unlikely hero ever, Jane has to fight her own insecurities as well as the doubts of those who don’t think she can live up to her new role as Champion.
Along the way Jane learns that some heroes are born, some heroes are made, and some heroes are bribed with promises of food and sex.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Review: The Bigger They Are...
The Bigger They Are...
Author: Stephanie Julian
Release Date: March 23, 2012
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Lovers on the Fringe #2
ISBN: #978-1419939549
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Andy Lohani is in a serious funk. The Yeti shifter is looking for love, or at least some loving, and when he meets Jenna Durham one dark night, sparks fly. She’s beautiful, sexy and hot for him. Getting her in his bed is job one. Unfortunately, she’s Normal and he’s really…not.
Accountant Jenna Durham doesn’t believe her brother’s crazy theories about Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. But she agrees to check out a bar in northern Pennsylvania where her brother says Bigfoot hangs out. At least she’s getting an expenses-paid weekend away.
When Jenna meets seven-foot blond and blue-eyed hunk Andy, she realizes she owes her brother one hell of an apology. Because she has a huge crush on the Abominable Snowman. And what he can do between the sheets is not something a girl could soon forget. But if she wants to keep him, she might have to give up her Normal life for one on the Fringe…
What I’m talking about:
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It seems to Jenna Durham that she is always helping out her twin brother, Joss, when he needs money, and he always needs money. So when instead, he asks her to check out a remote location in Pennsylvania because Bigfoot may live there, she isn’t certain what to do. She adores Joss, but isn’t quite ready to believe that the supernatural world is real.
Jenna decides to take up Joss’s job offer and finds herself in the middle of nowhere, sitting in her car, parked in front of a rundown shack. When Andy, a giant blond god, strolls out of the structure and up to Jenna’s car window, she is ready to follow him anywhere. And Andy wants two things 1) to get Jenna away from the building that doubles as a bar for the “Fringe” beings (supernatural creatures) and 2) to get Jenna into his bed.
Overall, The Bigger They Are... is an enjoyable and fun story that doesn’t take itself seriously. The novella is full of quirky sci-fi references (which bodes well for a nerd-girl like me!), sexual innuendo, slap-stick humor and more pop culture references than I can count.
The first half of the story primarily focuses on Andy and Jenna getting to know each other via light banter. Although the humor had me chuckling out loud and the pop culture references were fun, after a while the constant references to comics, movies and TV programs began to crowd the flow of the story. And since I didn’t know all of the references, I felt like a third-wheel in their discussions.
However, the flow of the story changes about midway through the book when Andy and Jenna sleep together. First - they are HOT! I love Ms. Julian’s ability to write a sexy, erotic scene. Then, with the introduction of Joss’s friend, Mike, the storyline really picks up. And the uncovering of the “truth” to Jenna is highly entertaining (Andy is a Yeti shifter after all!). I breezed through the second half of the story and wanted to continue on. (Did I get a hint that maybe Joss’s story would be coming up soon?)
The Bigger They Are... is a FUN read! The story is full of humor and is highly entertaining. I recommend you pick up both novellas from the Lovers on the Fringe series for an amusing and enjoyable time! I will leave you with one of the many humorous pop culture references in this story (and definitely my favorite):
She was a clone living with other clones on the Death Star while Andy and his friends hung out on the much cooler Millennium Falcon.
My Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Reviews from the Series
Size Matters
Size Matters
AAD Author Spotlight: Erin Kellison
Hello Readers! Today I bring you Erin Kellison, author of the Shadow Series. She describes her work as dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Stories have always been a central part of Erin's life. She attempted her first book in sixth grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and she still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction.
Erin is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Also, keep reading to learn more about Erin’s release, Shadowman, and enter to win a copy! GIVEAWAY details are below.
Please help me welcome Erin to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Erin, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Erin: Thank you so much for having me!
Twimom: I want to put this out there for everyone - I have not yet read your fantastic books, but I most certainly want to... The realm of ghosts and shadows you have created fascinates me. Will you please tell us more about the Shadow Series and the world you’ve constructed?
Erin: In my Shadow series, Shadow is magic and it has just started seeping back into the world from a place between the Earth and the hereafter called Twilight. It is the realm of the fae, who look with longing across the divide and they take every opportunity to attempt to cross. The Segue Institute, a research center dedicated to researching the element, meets the creatures of faerie head-on. They combat the ones that seek power or do violence, and they are seduced by those intent on beauty and passion.
Twimom: You have a new series, Shadow Kissed, set in the Shadow world (Fire Kissed, July 2012). Where will the new series take readers? Will the Shadow Series continue on its own path?
Erin: The Shadow Kissed world takes readers inside ancient mage Houses—families with Shadow in their blood. As the world darkens with Shadow, the supernatural powers of the mages quicken. They scheme to lead the world into what they call the Dark Age. Alliances are formed in the bedroom and out. I’m having a lot of fun superimposing old world structures on contemporary life. The original Shadow series focuses on characters that recognize the magic for what it is—beauty, power, and possibilities. The Kissed series amps the effects and explores what the world will become.
Twimom: Do you enjoy writing genres outside of the dark fantasy and paranormal genre?
Erin: Yes! I’d love to write historical and romantic suspense, and just recently I dipped my pinkie toe into science fiction romance with an anthology called, Hotter on the Edge, which is free at Smashwords in all e formats right now with promo code UW37U (elsewhere $0.99). I hope to have fun in other subgenres as well. I just need more time!!!
Twimom: Ooooh! Thanks for the heads up on the promo code! Your books have their own website named for the Segue Institute of your series. (Access the website HERE.) Did you create the site solo or work with someone else to create this fun?
Erin: Well, it just so happens that I have an in-home web professional at my mercy, my husband. He is very supportive and enthusiastic about my books and went crazy with the Segue site—I couldn’t stop him if I tried. I’m pretty sure he’s cooking up something for the launch of my Shadow Kissed series in July.
Twimom: You have attended Authors After Dark in the past and are a featured author in 2012. Why AAD? What are your favorite aspects of AAD?
Erin: I had a great time at AAD last year, which is why I am back. AAD is the opportunity to hang with people who love books like I love books. Who basically have the same crazy that I’ve got. I get to talk about my books, which is a great reason to go, but before I was an author, I was a reader. So I get to meet authors I love in person and discover new ones as well. It’s a great time.
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 2011?
Erin: See? I get to be a reader even on this blog. I enjoy all sorts of books, mostly genre fiction, though. I studied literary fiction at college, but I don’t get that I-must-gobble-this-book-right-now feeling when I read it. I read UF, Fantasy, SF, and PNR mostly, though I do enjoy mysteries and thrillers as well. Loved Moning’s Shadowfever. And A Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Ruthfuss..
Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?
Erin: Patricia Briggs’ latest Alpha and Omega book, Fair Game, came out this month. Read it the day it auto-downloaded on my kindle. Loved it.
Twimom: Erin, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you. I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!
Erin: Was awesome to stop by and I can’t wait to meet you too!
You can find Erin on line at
More on Shadowman (Zebra books, Sept. 1, 2011)
Ghosts
They haunt the halls of the Segue Institute, terrifying the living, refusing to cross over. But one soul is driven by a very different force.
Love
It survives even death. And Kathleen O'Brien swore she would return to those she was forced to leave too soon.
Shadowman
He broke every rule to have her in life; now he will defy the angels to find her in death.
The Gate
Forging it is his single hope of being reunited with his beloved, but through it an abomination enters the world. Leaving a trail of blood and violence, the devil hunts her too. Pursued through realms of bright fantasy and dark reality, Kathleen is about to be taken...
GIVEAWAY Thank you, Erin, for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Erin is graciously giving away one (1) copy of Shadowman. Please leave your comments for Erin by Thursday March 29, 2012, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so I can contact you. Thank you to Erin for this fun giveaway!
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