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2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
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7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Review: Dreaming of the Wolf
Dreaming Of The Wolf
Author: Terry Spear
Release Date: Dec. 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Werewolf Series Book 8
ISBN: #978-1402245558
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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A fierce hunter…
Alicia Greiston is a no-nonsense bounty hunter determined to bring a ring of mobsters to justice. Her dogged pursuit of the crime family has forced her to avoid relationships—any man would only become a target for retribution. Luckily, Jake Silver is more than a man, and his instincts are telling him to stop at nothing to protect her.
An animal passion…
However, the mob isn’t entirely human either, and soon Alicia must flee for her life. When Alicia and Jake’s passion begins to spill over into their dreams, Jake learns he will have to do more than defend her—he’ll have to show his mate the way of the wolf.
What B is talking about:
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Driven by the recent loss of her mother, Alicia Greiston is determined to bring the men responsible for her murder to justice. No sacrifice is too high a price to see them behind bars, even if the cost is her own life. Unprepared to meet a man she was certain could never exist in her wildest dreams, the intervention by the sexy stranger turns her world inside out.
Jake Silver thinks his quick fascination with the pretty woman he spies outside an upscale restaurant is purely sexual. He’s a werewolf, after all, and the human he’s determined to get to know a little better could be just what he needs—at least for the night. But, when he’s compelled to do anything to keep her safe, even if it means defying his own pack, he realizes she’s much more than what she seems.
Alicia and Jake are a great match for each other from the beginning, and due to both her resignation to her fate, and the urgings of his wolf, they fall into one another early on in Dreaming of the Wolf. Jake is one of the more perfect males I’ve pleasure of reading yet, having a keen enough intelligence to balance his alpha-male impulsiveness, as well as keeping his affections sweet and comfortably easy throughout. The mutual need he and Alicia share is tender, yet incredibly sexy as well.
Spear takes her time letting us get to know Alicia and Jake in the beginning of the story, but once Alicia is turned, Dreaming of the Wolf really starts to take off. The random pieces and connections begin falling into place with increasing speed, and ratcheting up the tension for the remainder of the novel.
Dreaming of the Wolf proves, yet again, that Spear is very capable of weaving the many elements of a paranormal romance series into her tales, while ensuring each novel is strong enough to stand successfully on its own. Spear’s wolves are welcoming, devoted, clever, and loving. The chemistry between Alicia and Jake shines from the beginning, and doesn’t fade as their story progresses. Though a happy ending is a guarantee, getting there is a happy, sexy adventure that will likely appeal to all fans of werewolves, and the feisty mates that win their hearts.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
FOR CHANCE TO WIN THIS SEXY BOOK, please see the guest post from author Terry Spear HERE.
Purchase Info
For complete series order, please visit HERE.
Labels:
3.5 stars,
paranormal romance,
reviews,
Sourcebooks,
Terry Spear,
Werewolf Series
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Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Terry Spear
Hello Readers! Today I have a special guest, Terry Spear, author of Scottish Medieval Romance & Urban Fantasy. Terry also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She received Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year in 2008 for Heart of the Wolf. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry is a librarian by day. She lives in Crawford, Texas. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, to include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors’ books. When she’s not writing or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses.
Please help me welcome Terry to That’s What I’m Talking About. And be sure to check out the end of Terry’s post for a special giveaway! Take it away, Terry...
What’s Your Favorite Holiday Ritual?
Family means everything, and I’ll be gathering the pack for the big celebration. Only the pack has expanded a bit, no pups yet, but a couple of mates were added to the family!
So here we go. Despite all the hustle and bustle of a blog tour for Dreaming of the Wolf for the month of December, which in light of the Christmas spirit, I’m giving a copy away to one commenter, and trying to decorate for the holidays, clean house, work a full time job, and help my daughter with her bridal pictures in a couple of weeks and make teddy bears for orders as they come in, it’s hectic.
But it all comes down to family. The wolf pack. Presents are nice. But it’s really the gathering, of sharing meals, and of playing games. Of seeing the Christmas lights and swapping stories. Of family.
Everyone’s coming in from various places the day before Christmas Eve, so no plans before that but to do all the above before everyone gets here. Although in my werewolf pack, the family and pack members would help decorate, clean, and prepare all the good meals together.
I will be working the morning of Christmas Eve and the day after for a few hours while everyone is abed! That’s to help out my fellow coworkers at the library because the day following a 3-day holiday will be awful if I don’t do something with all the books and movies turned in.
But I’m sure I won’t be missed at home while everyone has their nightcaps on still and are dreaming of sugar plum fairies.
I’ll be taking off the week after to spend time with my family before they all head off and I’m not able to see them again for a long time.
In a werewolf pack, the families stay close to their pack. But in the case of some jobs, my son is a navigator in the AF going to his first assignment, it’s impossible to stay near the homestead.
Now, my question is, are their wolves in Nebraska? Wolf reserves? I must check it out before I visit him!
So sometimes we must let our pups go so they can make a pack of their own. But they will always be part of the original pack and always much cherished.
We’ll open one gift on Christmas Eve, not sure about our Christmas Eve dinner yet, turkey for Christmas, (this time with a working oven!)….hey, diversity makes the experience even more memorable. Last year after my son helped me get the bird in the oven, he said a couple of hours later, “I don’t smell any turkey smells.” He was right. The dead turkey was sitting in the dead oven. So he carved it up until he could fit half of it in a countertop convection oven. The turkey tasted delicious! Even if it was not all in one piece! We will remember that Christmas forever!
But this year, I have a new oven! And first thing Christmas morning with coffee cups in hand, while everyone else is drinking coffee, I drink green Mandarin tea, and we will open presents, play Christmas music, and hopefully will smell the aroma of roasting turkey!
Then we’ll have turkey and following that we’ll play games.
What are some of your Christmas traditions?
May your holidays be truly special! And thanks again, Jen, for having me on your blog today!
Thanks for stopping by, Terry.
GIVEAWAY: Terry is graciously giving away one (1) copy of her newest release Dreaming of the Wolf. Please tell Terry about your Christmas/holiday traditions by leaving a comment for her by Friday December 9, 2011, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open to US mailing addresses only. If your email address is not part of your profile, please leave it so I may contact the winner. Thank you to Terry for this fun giveaway!
About the book:
Jake Silver doesn't believe in fate or dream mating, despite the fact his brother and other family members have been afflicted with this strange notion. But when dreams begin to plague him about a woman so seductive, he wakes up in a sweat and he's losing way too much sleep over it, he seeks to learn the truth. Can dream mating be a reality? Is the woman real?
Alicia Greiston doesn't dream. Not ever. So when a man visits her in the first dream she's ever had, she's startled, pleased, then alarmed. He's not going away, and the dreams take a sinister turn. He's in trouble, and if the dreams are a foreshadowing of the future, she has to save him.
For more about Terry’s latest, Dreaming of the Wolf, come back later today for B’s review.
You can find Terry at:
Monday, December 5, 2011
Review: Fate's Edge
Fate’s Edge
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: Nov. 29, 2011
Publisher: Ace
The Edge #3
ISBN: #978-0441020867
Genre: Urban Fantasy Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (372 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...
Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...
What Una is talking about:
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There are a few authors that are on my “must read” list. No matter what it is they publish, I will read it. These are authors who have never disappointed me; who always write stories with characters that stay with me long after I have finished reading them and write books that are forever on my rereading list. Ilona Andrews is one of them. This writing team is unbelievable (if you check out their website listed above you’ll find it’s a husband and wife writing team). Fate’s Edge in the imaginative world of The Edge series is no exception – it is fabulous!
If you haven’t read this series, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning with On the Edge. Not that you couldn’t just jump in, but you would miss the introduction of the characters if you don’t start from the beginning. The novel is richer and just better if you understand the connections between the characters and the back-story.
The overall story of Fate’s Edge was just fantastic. The on-going war against the Hand and the intimate war between Kaldar and Audrey were beautifully woven together. With several subplots going on, the transitions felt seamless and were easy to follow. I absolutely loved seeing more of George and Jack; they were enthralling as children in On the Edge and I was ecstatic to see so much of them in Fate’s Edge. The richness and idiosyncrasies of the three worlds just adds to the overall enjoyment of the series.
However the most enrapturing elements are Kaldar and Audrey themselves. I cannot convey to you how much I loved them together. Their banter is unmatched. They are unbelievably fabulous as a team…the war between them and the inner battles of attraction to each other that they fight. Each is well suited to the other and they are compelled to each other and yet they fight using sarcasm and wit. It’s just fabulous reading! The sexual tension steams off the page and draws you in until nothing in the real world exists, only the world of the Edge!
Seriously, I could go on and on. The way magic works, the hierarchy of the worlds of the Edge and the Weird, it is just so mesmerizing. Coupled with the characters, the world truly blooms to life on the page. The adventure and intrigue along with the romance between the Audrey and Kaldar is gripping. If you haven’t tried this series, I urge you to run out and give it a shot. There will be a Sunday Snippet coming up – I encourage you to check the out the humor that is indicative of this series. Fate’s Edge and the whole Novels of the Edge would be a great holiday gift to give yourself (or a friend if you care to share)!
Una’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Books in this Series
Labels:
4.5 stars,
ACE,
Ilona Andrews,
paranormal romance,
The Edge Series,
urban fantasy
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December Book Giveaway
Hello readers... It’s the most wonderful time of the year... Yep! Go get out your aluminum poll and air your grievances. It’s FESTIVUS! (If you haven’t heard of Festivus, please google it, or watch THIS CLIP from Seinfeld.) OH, and it’s also time for my DECEMBER Book GIVEAWAY! How do these titles sound?
Set #1
Slade by Sarah McCarty
True Shot by Joyce Lamb
That Old Black Magic by Michelle Rowen
Set #2
Seductive as Flame by Susan Johnson
An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson
Recklessly Yours by Allison Chase
Set #3
Acquainted with the Night by Piper Maitland
The Cross by Sean McCabe
Left Hand Magic by Nancy A. Collins
Three lucky winners will win some great December releases.
The Rules: To be entered, please leave a comment with your favorite holiday treat/cookie - recipes are welcome! AND which book set (1, 2, or 3) you prefer if you win. You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it always appreciated. Contest is open from December 5, 2011 until Friday December 9, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. If your email is not part of your profile, please leave it so I may contact the winners. One entry per person. Contest is restricted to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. Three (3) winners will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sunday Snippet #87
Visions of Skyfire
Author: Regan Hastings
Signet
October 4, 2011
He yawned hugely, stretched his arms over his chest – the better to display his impressive rippling muscles, no doubt. Then he gave her a grin and reached down to stroke himself. His very impressive cock leaped to attention. “I got something for you right here, babe. You coming back to bed or what? ‘Cuz if you don’t want it, there’s plenty others who do.”
No respect, she thought in a sudden fury. This insignificant male thought to bring her to heel? To threaten her with his pathetic human whores? Irritation spiked. Just another pitiful symbol of how badly her day was going, this male was, as the humans often said, the last straw.
In her mind’s eye, Kellyn indulged a whim and imagined the man’s eyes exploding. She could see his skin peel from his bones. Hear him whimpering, pleading for mercy.
Some of what she was thinking must have shown on her face because he immediately shifted gears. “C’mon, baby. Let me take you on another ride. Let me show you something new.”
Slowly, that flash of irritation drained away. Nothing to be gained by killing him now. If she did, she’d have to change hotels and then be forced to spend who knew how many hours finding another lover. And the next one might not be so well endowed. No, she wasn’t finished with this one yet.
Still, he needed to learn just who was in charge around here.
Kellyn lifted her right arm, pointed at him and clenched her fist. Instantly, the insolent male’s eyes bugged and his mouth dropped open. He lifted both hands to his throat and clawed at whatever was closing off his airway. Desperate, his eyes snapped to her as his skin mottled and his choking, gurgling groans sang into the room like the sweetest of music.
Slowly, she walked toward him, taking her time. She dropped her robe and felt the chill kiss of the air on her skin as she stopped alongside him. She flicked her fingers at his neck and he wheezed in his first easy breath since Kellyn had closed off his throat. Gasping, choking, he bent over at the waist, gulping in air.
As he did, she ran her fingertips down his spine, over the curve of his behind, until she cupped his balls in the palm of her hand.
He went absolutely still.
To make sure she had his attention, she gave a single, hard squeeze. He whimpered, but didn’t move. Smart boy.
“Show me what you’ve got, then,” she said, leaning in until she could lick the top of his ear. “But do yourself a favor and don’t speak again.”
Carefully, he turned his head, looked into her eyes and gave her a sharp nod. When she released him, he followed her into the bedroom like a well-trained puppy.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Reviews: 2 Stories by Seleste deLaney
Of Course I Try
The Ghost of Vampire Present
Author: Seleste deLaney
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Blood Kissed Series
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-books
Book Source: Author
About the books:
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Of Course I Try
Blood Kissed #1
Release Date: August 2010
Love is a wonderful thing. Unless you don't get a choice in the matters of your own heart...
Jocelyn has loved Max since the day she met him. Even when he scares her enough to leave, she can't resist going back. No matter how many times she tries to break free from him, she ends up in his arms and bed again.
Not this time. Jocelyn needs to be free, and Max isn't going to stop her from walking away -- no matter how hard he tries.
The Ghost of Vampire Present
Blood Kissed #2
Release Date: October 2010
Between the ghost and the vampires, this Christmas is going to suck...
Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind. Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve, Jocelyn's a bit more concerned about the other guests on the agenda. She'd prefer to never see another vampire, and the ghost tells her to expect not one, but three.
When the one from her past shows up even though he's supposed to be dead, she decides she's dreaming and suffers through the night. By the time dawn breaks, she's not so sure anymore.
But if it's not a dream, that means her nightmare is far from over.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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I was provided with both Of Course I Try as well as The Ghost of Vampire Present for my review of this neat little short story by deLaney. It was very helpful to have the 20-page PDF of the first short to have the full background prior to reading Ghost of Vampire Present. I'd suggest reading them in order for the full effect!
In Of Course I Try, Jocelyn finds Max, the dark, mysterious hottie that is totally not her usual type while on a girls' weekend. Yup. They hook up eventually, and while Jocelyn keeps trying to end the relationship, she finds herself compelled to remain with Max. The sex is H-O-T (get a tall, cool drink to read this one!), and extremely satisfying for Jocelyn, so she's really not sure why she wants to leave him. She doesn't actually do it. She finally figures out some secret he's been harboring - he's a vampire - and she calls him out on it. Story ends with a bang and I was definitely left wanting more.
When Jocelyn's dead Grandmother showed up in The Ghost of Vampire Present to warn her that three would visit her & she could only trust one, the images that played in my head were A Christmas Carol meets Interview with a Vampire meets Twilight, and I was a bit deflated. Visiting in whatever state Jocelyn was in that night was Max - her former vamp lover. It was OBVIOUS that Jocelyn still had feelings for Max, and he fed from her. Her next visitor was her current BF, Chad. They got it on, but to me, it felt tainted by Max's visit not long before. There was some biting - conveniently on the other side of her neck - and he asked HER to bite him as well. Hrm. Curious.
The third visitor was Creepy Old Guy. This is where my Interview with a Vampire and Twilight sensors went off. Creepy Old Guy shows up and talks about how she was the little secret kept from him, blah blah blah. The physical description not only reminded me of Louie from IWAV, but his behavior did as well. THEN...he starts talking about how Jocelyn's blood is supposed to taste so good. *beep*beep*beep* Twilight sensor... la tua cantante.
Ultimately, I hope to see the next short confirm/deny the presence of vampires in Jocelyn's life, versus portray her as a lush that has awesomely vivid dreams when she drinks too much wine. I felt as though I was left hanging, and the story had no resolution. While some may construe her friend's analysis of her 'dream' as resolution, it didn't sit well with me. Nor did the 'normal' scene with her BF, Chad, at the end. While the sex scene near the end was warm, it didn't sizzle like the scenes with Max, IMHO.
deLaney is an extremely talented author. I was completely in love with her totally hot love scenes, bordering on erotica, from reading Of Course I Try, and missed the 'hotness' in The Ghost of Vampire Present. I think she found a great heroine in Jocelyn, as well as a strong hero in Max. I do hope that in future stories we see more of them together. I'm not quite as convinced that Chad is 'all that and a bag-of-chips', however. I'm speculative and hopeful about the direction deLaney might be going in her short story installments of Jocelyn's trials and tribulations, as well as her sexploits >:)
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Read for a Cure:
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Thursday, December 1, 2011
Review: Immortal Rider
Immortal Rider
Author: Larissa Ione
Release Date: Nov. 22, 2011
Publisher: Grand Central
Lords of Deliverance #2
ISBN: #978-0446574471
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (414 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured…and plotting revenge.
Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath – and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul…and her heart.
What I’m talking about:
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Immortal Rider is the second book of Ms. Ione’s Demonica Series spin-off series, Lords of Deliverance. This series tells of the pending apocalypse by following the Four Horsemen as they struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil. Each is cursed with carrying one of the four Seals of Armageddon (if all four break... hell on earth). Immortal Rider focuses on the only female rider, Limos, aka Famine. Limos is betrothed to the evil Lord Satan, who can claim her if she ever gives in to lust for another. In a moment of weakness she does just that - kissing Arik as she never has any other. This sends Arik to the demon realm to be tortured, and sets of a chain of events which ultimately could break Limos’ seal, setting free Famine.
As events unfold and our hero and heroine are brought together, I am amazed at the intricacy of the storyline and richness of the characters. Ms. Ione has added a whole new level onto her already amazing Demonica world. And unlike the first book, Eternal Rider (review HERE), there isn’t a steep learning curve in Immortal Rider, so the book is less confusing and a smoother read.
One thing I love about this story is that the players are gritty and raw - even the heroes/heroines aren’t always good. This gives the characters complexity and intensity. Limos is a prime example. As a horsewoman raised by demons in the underworld, she longed to marry Satan and bring about the apocalypse. Even after meeting her brothers, she continues to work to bring them down, but over time, she learns to love them and chooses not to marry Satan. Yet, even in the current day and age, when she is “good,” she continues to lie and hurt those around her. She has to own up to her mistakes, which creates a more emotionally driven storyline.
Arik and Limos are HOT. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of Ms. Ione’s work... Well, have a fan, ice water, cold shower, etc. near by. But it’s not all about the hot smex (really, it’s not!). The bonds created around these two characters heightens the emotional satisfaction and HEA conclusion. And let me tell you... it wasn’t just them. I am already head-over-heels in love with Thanatos (aka Death) and Regan... what a cliff-hanger of sorts. Their story comes up next in Lethal Rider (June 2012).
There really wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy about this story. I did feel that there are a few too many “I’m not gay, not that there is anything wrong with that” references, but it didn’t diminish the overall enjoyment of the book. There is some graphic violence, but once again, it’s value-added for the story and not filler for added action. I highly recommend Immoral Rider to all paranormal fans... but I do suggest you start with Eternal Rider first.
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
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