{Giveaway and Book Tour} Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P Waldrop

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Welcome to the Ties to the Blood Moon Virtual Book Tour hosted by Bree @ The Magic Attic. Today, I have the privilege of showing you the first excerpt from the first installment of Robin P Waldrop's enticing tale about mythical creatures and ancient lore. 

Excerpt - Prologue

Aunt Bev kept telling me it wasn’t my fault. But, if I had waited one more day before leaving to spend spring break with her in Alaska, I would have been home to pull my mother from the burning house. I knew my aunt meant well, but it hadn’t helped with my dreams for the past two weeks. Or should I say, nightmares?

As soon as I lay down and closed my eyes, the same scene filled my mind over and over again. Almost like a memory. I was in the woods just outside my house and helplessly watched a huge ferocious dog-like creature circling my house while it burned. At first glance the animal appeared to be red, but as I continued to stare, the color of his fur shifted like dancing flames. My home was on fire and I looked helplessly on, listening to my mother’s screams coming from somewhere inside. I knew I had to save her, but I was afraid.

“Mom,” I screamed, and started to rush for the house when the beast noticed me and snarled. I froze, unable to move. His yellow eyes glowed as if they reflected the fire behind him and I saw his blood-stained fangs.

I quickly ran away from the house. Away from saving my mother from the hungry flames that consumed her. I glanced to either side as I ran and saw the faint reddish glow of several other dogs through the trees. They had joined the first dog in the pursuit of his prey.

My lungs burned as the woods ignited behind the dogs, forcing me to run faster or be consumed by the same fire that claimed my mother’s life. I skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff and spun around to face the pack of wild beasts as one by one they emerged from the burning trees and approached me. They appeared to be almost smiling.

I had two choices—each of them a death sentence. I chose the latter and leaped from the cliff. The dogs peered over the edge as I fell away from them. They seemed disappointed with my choice. As they moved away out of sight I looked below and saw the ground rushing up at me.

Right before impact I woke up and realized I was still falling. I hit the hardwood floor beside my bed and cried out.

That's enough to make you want to read the book...right? Well, were not done yet...check out this awesome book trailer and then enter for a chance to win an ebook of Ties to the Blood Moon.

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Destined by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Title: Destined
Series: House of Nights #9
Author: PC Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
November 8, 2011

Synopsis:

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him…

Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him – and everyone – from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

 

Website ǀ Facebook ǀ Goodreads ǀ Amazon ǀ Barnes & Noble

Destined may be my favorite House of Night books to date. The wait for it was unbearable after all that happened in Awakened. October and November have been filled with so many great book releases that it was hard to choose what I would read and when. Lucky for me, Destined, won the vote.

I have seen review after review complaining about Heath being thrown back into the mix. If you read Awakened then you knew this was going to happen. I loved his role as Aurox and can't wait to find out what happens next. Like every House of Night book, there was a huge cliffhanger causing much pain and nail-biting until the next release.

As the book begins, we find Zoey and Stevie Ray getting ready to return to the House of Night with their entourage. If you know anything about this series, you know that this cannot be a good thing for anybody. Nyx has stepped in and forced Neferet to let this group of misfits return to the school. Neferet is up to her usual no good. To amp up her usual trouble making, Neferet decides to throw a few humans in the mix. It is about time for her to get caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She continues to get away with too much. This book focuses on exactly that.

As the story progresses, we learn a lot more about Rephaim and his relationship with his father, Kalona. This may be one of the biggest surprises to come out of the House of Night Series. Stevie has a really hard time accepting the fact that Rephaim still loves his father even though he really doesn't want anything to do with him. 

There is not a lot of action in this book. There is a lot of turmoil between the group leading up to a ritual that takes place at Grandma Redbird's farm. One of the things I love about these books is that there are laugh-out-loud moments scattered among cry-my-eyes out moments. Ms. Cast uses an unusual approach with the point of view. If we are seeing Zoey's point of view, that part will be written in first person. When she shifts the point of view to someone else, she writes it in third person. I personally love this technique. I love the fact that we are able to see the story from so many points of view.

Anywhoo...I loved this book as I have every other in this series. Go forth and enjoy.

Interview with Nichole Chase - Author of Mortal Obligations

Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule. For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs. Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic toddler, three dogs, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

I would like to welcome Nichole Chase, author of Mortal Obligation, to Better Read Than Dead today. I am happy to be participating in the Mortal Obligation Virtual Book Tour. I hope you stopped by on November 9th to check out the review and entered to win an E-Book of Mortal Obligation. If not, you can find it HERE.

                                     

Me: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live?

Nichole - I'm a stay at home mother to one rambunctious toddler who keeps me on my toes. I live in Savannah, Ga. (which for those of you who don't live in the US, it's on the southeast coast) and absolutely hate the humid, hot summers, but love the culture and history. If I could pick a place to live forever, it would be somewhere in the Smoky Mountains. I imagine that the beautiful scenery would keep my muse busy for years.

Me: What is the name of the your most current book?

Nichole - Mortal Obligation is my debut novel and the first book in The Dark Betrayal Trilogy. It is a young adult, urban fantasy set in my home town of Savannah, Ga. Mortal Defiance, the second book of the trilogy will be out in December of this year.

Me: Who is your favorite character from you book and why?

Nichole - That's a tough question. I love my protagonist, Ree, because she is under stress that most people would never dream of, yet still wants to do the right things. Of course, I also love Paden, because of his inner turmoil. It makes him so much fun to write. And I can't forget Roland, who never needs prompting to come to life on the computer screen.

Me: Do you feel like you put parts of yourself in your characters?

Nichole - I think it's impossible to write a book and not leave your fingerprints all over the pages. No character is really a replica of me and my feelings, but there are many instances where I have used scenarios from real life in the book. Little tidbits of conversation or reactions. I'm lucky to have some friends that are hilarious, so little things they say often crop up in my work.

Me: Will there be a sequel or do you have another project in the works?

Nichole - Mortal Defiance, is the second book in the trilogy and will be out in early December. The third novel, will be out in March of 2012. I have several projects to come after these books, but they are still in the planning stage.

Me: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Nichole - Everywhere. The most insignificant looking object, person, or action can set my overactive imagination into overdrive. Music also inspires different scenes. If my muse isn't feeling cooperative, I can turn on some music and she will be singing in no time.

Me: Do you have any “rituals” when you write?

Nichole - Rituals... Well, I like for the house to be clean. That way I don't have anything nagging in the back of my head, telling me I have stuff to get done. Of course, sometimes, I just have to sit down and write no matter what kind of mess my toddler and husband have created. On the weekends that my husband doesn't have to work, I get to escape to a local coffee shop to write. I always order a peppermint cafe mocha. Also, I have a favorite table to sit at and write. I can see out all of the windows, but it's far enough out of the way that people aren't constantly walking past me. That makes me sound antisocial, but to be honest, when I'm writing I AM antisocial. I want people to leave alone, so I can get lost in my story. 

*I can certainly relate to that. My husband and kids hate me when I am trying to write. LOL.*

Me: If you couldn’t be an author, but anything else…what would you be?

Nichole - Honestly, being an author is my dream job. If I couldn't be an author, I'd like to host a travel show. I love to travel!

Me: Independently published or commercially published?

Nichole - Independently published

Me: If independent…did you attempt to get commercially published?

Nichole - Nope. Never queried an agent or sent my manuscript to a publishing house. To be honest, I hated the thought of working on a novel, pouring my heart and time into my work for it to sit on someone's desk for God knows how long. Or worse yet, for someone to discard my work because they weren't having a good day, or didn't necessarily like the genre I had written. When I realized that being independent was a viable option in today’s market, it was as if the clouds cleared from the sky and sunlight shot down to illuminate the possibilities. Okay, that's a little dramatic, but I liked the fact that my work would go directly to the readers for them to decide if it was any good. It would depend on how much work I put into my finished product and whether the readers enjoyed my voice. So, I worked my tail off to tell the best story that I could and sent it to beta readers, proofreaders, and an amazing editor.  

Me: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

Nichole - Read every day. Stop thinking about writing your book and DO it! If you decide to go the independent route, make sure that you have an editor, and a great cover.

Me: What is the most useful advice you received while writing any book?

Nichole - To write every day. Even if it is only a few sentences, it keeps you in the habit of putting something down. Distraction can be an author’s biggest enemy.

Me: When did reading and writing become important you?

Nichole - I can't remember a time when reading wasn't important to me. I'm not just saying that, either. I really can't remember a time that I didn't enjoy sitting down with a book. Even when I was very little. As for writing, I wrote my first 'story' in elementary school and gave it to my grandmother. She kept it until a few years ago when she gave it back to me to keep. Even back then I was coming up with my own stories.

Me: How long did the entire process from writing your current work to getting it published take?

Nichole - I had roughly 10,000 words written by January of this year and it took me another four months to finish the first draft. After that, there were revisions, beta reads, proofreading, professional editing and formatting. I uploaded Mortal Obligation to Amazon and Barnes and Noble on July 29th. It was a lengthy process, but I haven't regretted it once.

Fun Stuff

Me: The apocalypse is coming…what do you do?

Nichole - Dig a trench around my house and guard my stock pile. Really. You should plan ahead too.

Me: If you were stranded on an island, name the 5 things you could not live without?

Fresh water (I'm practical, okay?)

sunblock (I burn terribly)

Chapstick (I'm addicted to the stuff)

books (duh)

a knife (I'm just covering my bases here.)

Me: What 5 things are within your reach right now? No cheating?

Cell phone

throw blanket (It was cold this morning)

Buzz Lightyear Doll (I mentioned that I have a toddler, right?)

Rubber band

puzzle pieces (I'm sure you can guess why.)

Me: Favorite book ever?

Nichole - I really don't have one. Pride and Predjudice is my favorite classic, but that's as close as I get to narrowing it down. (Harry Potter is a given, right? How could anyone not love that series?)

Me: Ultimate bad boy crush? (TV, Movies, or Books)

Nichole - Jace from The Mortal Instrument Series.

*Completely, 100% agreed!*

Me: Ultimate good guy crush? (TV, Movies, or Books)

Nichole - Honestly? Right now, I am in love with Paden from my books.

Me: Favorite food?

Nichole - Homemade burritos. My husband says that I American-ize them too much, but I love 'em!

Me: Favorite Movie?

Nichole - Love Actually, Willow, Legend, Star Wars, the list goes on and on.

Me: Favorite TV show?

Nichole - I hardly have time for TV anymore. When I do have time, I watch episodes of Doc Martin (A BBC show) on Netflix.

Me: Favorite Song?

Nichole - This change daily, but right now it is Super Bass by Nicki Minaj. It's so much fun to listen to! But, my tastes are very eclectic. My playlist right now has: Nicki, Adele, Barlow Girls, Lady Antebellum, Dropkick Murphys, Skillet, Sarah Mclachlan, Sia, and Three Days Grace. Yeah, I'm a well-rounded music lover. 

*You should see my playlists, talk about weird mix. It’s good to be eclectic.*

Me: Favorite singer or band?

Nichole - See above answer. I am so indescisive!

Me: One food you would never try?

Nichole - Bugs. Or worms. I saw a show on the Travel Channel where the guy ate fried worms. NO WAY!

 *I have seen that too…I’m not trying it either.*

Me: The most exotic food you have ever eaten?

Nichole - Wow. I'm thinking about this and realize that I'm pretty boring. I went to this amazing restaurant in Atlanta, Ga., called Honey Pig. It is Korean BBQ. Sound's crazy, right? It was one of the best things ever! The kimchi was delicious, but my favorite was the beef. I've never had anything like it.

Me: Day on the beach or snow skiing down a mountain?

Nichole - Can't I do both? On different days, that is? 

*Absolutely*

Me: Campfire with smores or curled up in front of the fireplace?

Nichole - Well, I love spending time with my family so I would say a campfire with smores. Then when we got home, I'd curl up in front of the fireplace (if I had one...) with a good book.

Me: If you could move anywhere on this Earth, where would it be?

Nichole - Hand's down, it would be the Smoky Mountains.

Me: Health nut or junk food junkie?

Nichole - A healthy mix of junk and good stuff.

Me: Two books you think everyone should read. (Yes, you can and should include yours.)

Nichole - Pride and Predjudice, by the great Jane Austen

                               Mortal Obligation, by ME! Ha!

Me: Are there any blogs or websites you frequent?

Nichole - Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter are my normal hangouts. I'm pretty easy to find on all of them!

Me: Places my readers can stalk you?

www.nicholechase.com

http://www.nicholechase.blogspot.com

@NicholeChase (Twitter)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/nicholechase.author

http://www.facebook.com/#!/author.nicholechase (fanpage)

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5074162.Nichole_Chase (Goodreads)

Synopsis:

Ree will face the darkest form of betrayal before the year is out.

Seventeen year old Ree McKenna has three goals: get through high school, convince her crush she is more than his best friend’s little sister, and save money for college. Fate, though, has other plans for her. After the untimely death of her older brother, Ree is haunted by dreadful nightmares and terrifying visions. To make matters worse, Ree has started to suspect that something dangerous is stalking her from the shadows.

A night full of frightening surprises leaves Ree with unsettling news. Gifted by the gods with unusual powers, she must devote herself to a battle that could very well lead to not only her death, but the demise of everyone she knows and loves. After all, Ree is the only mortal standing between the Earth and utter darkness.

Set in Savannah, Ga, Mortal Obligation is the first book of The Dark Betrayal Trilogy.

Be sure to leave a comment on one or more of the tour posts to enter for a chance at one of two Grand Prizes!

Check out Me, My Shelf, and I on Monday November 14th to see what they have for you on the next stop of the tour.

Teaser Tuesday - Destined by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Teaser Tuesday is a bookish type weekly MeMe hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate by doing the following -

• Grab your current read 
  
• Open to a random page 
  
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
  
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
  
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: Destined
Series: House of Night #9
Authors: PC Cast and Kristin Cast

My Teaser:

"Zoey did kill some of us!" Dallas shouted, and I was sure I heard the hum of electricity in the lines above our heads that fed the school. 

I haven't participated in Teaser Tuesdays in a while but I love this series and decided to share a line or two from it! I hope everyone is having a great week!

Author Interview with Áine P. Massie

 Áine P. Massie, Author of Blood's Voice and Blood Bound

I would like to welcome Áine P. Massie to Better Read Than Dead today. She has been kind enough to swing by for a great interview. Also, Aine has been kind enough to provide us with a delicious scene revolving around a Wiccan ritual...The Silent Supper. Be sure to check it out. It brought tears to my eyes.

Kristin: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live?

Áine: I’m originally from Florida, USA.  I now live in Wisconsin, happily away from the sun poisoning and heat J.  I live with my four younger children while writing, playing, and enjoying life with mini-monsters.  I have always loved books and, in particular, vampires, mythology, and the ‘unusual’.  I spend most of my time either with my children or writing.  When not doing that I’m reading, working on training, my healing stones, or ritual.

Kristin: What is the first book that really caught your attention?

Áine: The first?  I can remember The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.  I’m a big fan of Seuss… not just for his wacky kids’ books but because of his life story.  If anyone can teach perseverance, it’s Seuss.

When I was older Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire captured my interest and I started reading anything vampiric I could find.  That tapered off as family became more of a focus.  There are so many good books out now that I don’t even know about much less have read. 

Kristin: Did you read much as a teenager?

Áine: Constantly.  I loved to read!  I had a large bookshelf and was enamored with books.  I preferred paranormal even then.

Kristin: If you couldn’t be an author, but anything else…what would you be?

Áine: Well, I’m not just an author.  I am first and foremost a mom.  I have 6 bio-kids and one step and LOVE them all terribly.

*I love that you always place your kiddo’s first.*

Kristin: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Áine: Reality, dreams, personal experiences, books, etc.  Inspiration comes from all parts of life, or at least it does for me.  Everything from my friends that either are or were closeted to the horrors on the news, or even short lived shows that I loved… it all blends in the mind and heart and comes out on paper.

Kristin: What’s the name of your most recently published book?

Áine: Blood Bound is my current to-be-released (release has been delayed a week L ).  So my only published is Blood’s Voice, published June 1, 2011.  So far, it’s been a terrific experience. I’ve gotten some very positive feedback on the book and met a lot of wonderful people in the blogosphere.

*I’m sorry Blood Bound got delayed. I have read it and it is phenominal!*

Kristin: Who is your favorite character from this book and why?

Áine: I would have to answer the same as last time.  Even though the books are written from Anya’s POV – so far – my fav character is Declán.  He’s just so laid back and yummy.

*Ah, Declan. I love him. He is so loving and caring, strong and sensual. The perfect gentleman.

Kristin: Independently published or commercially published?

Áine: Indy Published.

Kristin: If independent…did you attempt to get commercially published?

Áine: Not on this book.  I would love to have both books re-published commercially but at this time don’t have an agent.

Kristin: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

Áine: Write what you love and let yourself love what you write.  We often get so caught up in what others say about our work that we forget that they are only a small voice and possibly not the target audience.  Take the good from the negative and ignore the rest.  Keep writing, that’s the most important thing.  Keep writing and stay true to your vision.

Kristin: What is the most useful advice you received while writing any book?

Áine: “Let me see more of the love building.”  At one point I had taken out a lot of the lovey/relationship stuff, fearing it dragged the story down too much and thankfully I was smacked and told to put it right back where it belonged, lol.  The story wouldn’t have been ‘real’ without the love.  TY guys J

*Oh, I am so glad you chose to leave the love and relationships in the book. I am also glad that you built on the original relationship. So intense and unique.*

Fun Stuff

Kristin: The apocalypse is coming…what do you do?

Áine: Live what life I have to the fullest with all those I love and cherish.

*Agreed* 

Kristin: If you were stranded on an island, name the 5 things you could not live without?

Áine: I would say my kids but I’d never want them stranded anywhere.  My books, laptop, caffeine!!!, cell, oh, and all the cords and electricity needed to run them. ;)

*Definitely caffeine. And good thinking on the kids. Better they are safe.*

Kristin: What 5 things are within your reach right now? No cheating?

Áine: My laptop; a stack of books to be read; mp3 player playing a mix of Godsmack, Muse, Blue October, and Three Days Grace; my cell; and a picture of my 7 yo daughter receiving a reading award.

Kristin: Favorite book ever?

Áine: That changes too often.  I love books, most all books… I don’t have a favourite.

Kristin: Ultimate bad boy crush? (TV, Movies, or Books)

Áine: Louie from Interview with the Vampire, the book.  The movie was good but I love the book!

Kristin: Ultimate good guy crush? (TV, Movies, or Books)            

Áine: Seeley Booth, Bones.  Sexy, sweet, heroic, yet venerable and flawed…

*A woman with great taste. I love Seeley. I have missed him dearly over the last few months. The season premiere is Thursday! Yippee!!!

Kristin: Favorite food?

Áine: Sagg Paneer

Kristin: Favorite Movie?

Áine: Princess Bride.

Kristin: Favorite TV show?

Áine: Probably Bones.  Followed closely by Dexter. (No pointing out the irony there, lol.)

Kristin: Favorite Song?

Áine: Voodoo by God Smack

*I went to a concert once upon a time. It was a spur of the moment thing and something I didn’t typically do. It was so much fun though.

Kristin: Favorite singer or band?

Áine: Right now?  Muse.

Kristin: One food you would never try?

Áine: Chitterlings.

Kristin: The most exotic food you have ever eaten?

Áine: Alligator probably.

Kristin: Day on the beach or snow skiing down a mountain?

Áine: Snow skiing, hands down.  I love snow and the mountains, plus the last time I spent any real time at the beach I ended up with sun poisoning – not fun!

                                                                                       

Kristin: Campfire with smores or curled up in front of the fireplace?

Áine: Curled up in front of the fireplace, preferably with a nice cuddle-buddy.  :D

Kristin: If you could move anywhere on this Earth, where would it be?

Áine: Ireland.  I would love to at least visit if not outright move there. 

Kristin: Health nut or junk food junkie?               

Áine: Honestly?  Depends on the day.  I am a vegetarian and try to eat healthfully but I do so love BBQ chips and cappuccino, lol.

Kristin: Two books you think everyone should read. (Yes, you can and should include yours.)

Áine: Blood’s Voice + Blood Bound

Anything by Dr. Seuss… (does anyone else notice a theme here, lol)

Kristin: Are there any blogs or websites you frequent?

Áine: Better Read than Dead, of course.  Love it here!

Readinista, Intoxicated by Books, Laced Little Muffin’s, Earth’s Book Nook, Darlene’s Book Nook, The Writer’s Voice, Breaking Bookshelves, Book Breathers, Close Encounters of the Night Kind, Throwing Books, Geeky Girl Reviews, and too many others to think of right now.  I love blogs!

*Ahhh…thank you so much. I love having you here! You are always so kind to comment on different posts. I love hanging around your blog too. So much fun stuff going on over there.

Kristin: Places my readers can stalk you?

Blog – http://housemillar.host56.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/BloodsVoice

Twitter – http://twitter.com/#!/AnyaMillar
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/115857487824411469639/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/anyamillar
e-Mail: anya.millar@gmail.com 

Áine, thank you so much for stopping by for a visit! I have really enjoyed our visit today. I hope you will stop by again soon. Be sure you read The Silent Supper.

Tour Recap

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

Title: A Hidden Fire
Series: An Elemental Mystery
Author: Elizabeth Hunter
Copyright 2011 by Elizabeth Hunter
Released: October 13, 2011
The Elemental Mystery Website
Elizabeth on Twitter
A Hidden Fire on Goodreads
A Hidden Fire at Amazon
A Hidden Fire at Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

"No secret stays hidden forever."

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he’d abandoned years before.  He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract.  Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted.

A Hidden Fire is a paranormal mystery/romance for adult readers.  It is the first book in the Elemental Mysteries Series.

5 Stars!!! *Adult Paranormal Romance

A Hidden Fire is saturated with mystery, intrigue, and romance. To be quite honest…this book will make my paranormal romance top ten list of 2011. The characters are enigmatic and brimming with charisma. Every character has a specific purpose in the story, they are important and multidimensional. The romance is slow and builds with a burning intensity throughout the book.  And the mystery…well, it just keeps going and going and going…and then at the end, it continues. The sequel cannot come out soon enough for me. A Hidden Fire is to say the very least…intense.

Let’s say hello to the characters, shall we?

• Giovanni Vecchio is an Italian god; at least he looks like one. Rich, sexy, and mysterious is a completely accurate description of Gio. His weekly trips to the Special Collections reading room at the Houston University library unearth a long lost collection of letters and poetry. This collection will complicate every part of Gio’s life…as well as others.

• Beatrice De Novo is beautiful and intelligent. She is snippy, sarcastic, and made me laugh so hard. Her job at the library entwines her fate with Gio’s. B, as she prefers to be called, has had a difficult life. Her father died when she was young and she is left the haunting feeling that he is still around. She is a strong heroin and will bring feeling to Gio’s heart.

• Casper appears to be Gio’s butler; however, the more you learn about Gio, the more you realize that Casper is family. Casper cares deeply about Gio’s well-being and attempts to help him find the life he has always deserved. I loved Casper because he tells it like it is. He doesn’t let Gio pull anything over on him and forces Gio to answer for his actions.

• Stephen De Novo found something he shouldn’t of. He paid with his life…in one form or another.

• Carwyn, a great friend to Gio, is probably my favorite character. He is a Welsh Priest who has lived a long time. Funny and flirtatious, he is able to give Beatrice some of the answers she is looking for. He believes that each person should tell their own story.  He and Beatrice are great as friends…he can read her like a book and knows exactly what to say.

• Isadora De Novo is Beatrice’s only living family member. She and Beatrice have become very close since her grandfather’s passing. Isadora has been keeping a huge secret that may bring much unwanted strife to Beatrice’s life.

• Tenzin remains a mystery to me. She is very old and powerful. A very close friend of Gio and Carwyn. She fights by their side to obtain something extremely important to Gio. Tenzin is an odd one, but I loved her.

• Lorenzo is the pain in Gio’s ass. He seeks power and seizes any opportunity to cause Gio discord.

Elizabeth combined the lore of elementals with the lore of vampires and created an out-of-this-world world. I was extremely interested in the creation of these immortal creatures. Being from Texas, I appreciated the location of the story and became more interested as she took her characters from Houston to Greece to Chili ending in California. The author did a great job of pulling local culture into each of these locations.

The romance that is portrayed is not immediate and overwhelming. It simmers slowly until it engulfs you in its entirety and leaves you a tad bit disappointed, not in the story or the romance, but in the situation. I wanted what Beatrice wanted…I wanted Gio to fight for her. I suspect he has his reasons for his actions, but it doesn’t mean I agree. Ugh…men.  There is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the book to leave you smiling right before the tears come.

For fans of vampires or elementals…I highly recommend A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter. I don’t believe you will be disappointed.

JUST IN - BOOK TWO WILL BE RELEASED IN DECEMBER. NO LONG WAITS FOR THE SEQUEL!

Two of my favorite quotes:

“Right,” she frowned. “Right. No one would believe me because vampires aren’t real.”…He chuckled in amusement. “Everyone knows that.”

Carwyn rolled his eyes. “Silly B, love is friendship…just with less clothes, which is far more brilliant.”

*I was given a free e-copy of A Hidden Fire by the author in return for my honest review.

Blood Bound by Aine P. Massie (Giveaway)

Title: Blood Bound
Series: House Millar #2
Author: Aine P. Massie
Independently Published
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Synopsis:

How many ways can a hearts true love be shared? After poisoning, near death attacks, consummated passions, and possible insanity visit Anya, Nicholas, and Declán they embark on their future. Or at least they try to. Jealousy can be a pain, in more ways than one.

Can Anya protect her lovers, find peace within herself, and lead the House Millar? With her loves and guards, Nicholas and Declán, she sets out to do just that. If only life, eternal life, were that easy.

Come take a walk with our loving family and witness the strange turns and twists as life, love, and passions collide with greed, politics, and evil.

4 Stars!!!

Blood Bound is the second book in the series House Millar. I have to say that I liked this book much better than its predecessor. Everything just seemed to mesh much better. The characters found themselves and fell into their lives in a more comfortable manner. The writing, while still formal, seemed to flow at a better pace and didn’t seem so stiff. It fit the characters. And the characters…wow. Áine added so many more wonderful characters.

Anya has so much going on in Blood Bound, by the end, I found myself hoping she would get some time to simply enjoy her boys and this wonderful new life she has made for herself and others. She is forced to spend much of this book establishing House Millar among the council and establishing her presence among the other Houses. And…does she ever make her presence known. Each time Anya, Declan, and Nicholas would go to a council meeting or other activity, I pictured Anya in front, flanked by two extremely sexy guys dressed in black leather…talk about hot. I would almost have wanted to trade places with her…except her life seems much too complicated for me. Like I said…she deserves some fun.

The chemistry between Anya, Declan, and Nicholas was still amazing, yet things were often stressed. Poor Nicholas…I just can’t understand the boy. He loves both Anya and Declan more than anyone in the world, but the minute anyone new steps into the picture…her freaks. Completely jealous…without cause. Declan is still Declan – kind, supportive, laid-back, and just lets things happen as they will. No stress…I would think as a guardian and a college student, he would be the one constantly uptight and worried. Nope, not Declan.

Speaking of new…Áine brought a whole slew of new characters to the table. Both questionably good and positively bad.  I think my favorite is Jason, a deaf vampire. Who knew, right? At first he seemed completely creepy but then he was much more fun and flirtatious. His role at House Millar is unique and important. Of course Anya welcomed him with open arms as she does everyone. I think the rest of the House is going to have to start trusting her opinion…she seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

The other new “thing” introduced in Blood Bound is a new relationship between Louie and…well, let’s just say someone in the House. This was a unique take on any relationship and made me so happy.

Áine gave me even more reasons than ever to love her strong and charismatic cast of characters. Each stepped up their game in the newest book. I will be looking forward to the next installment of House Millar, which I understand will not be from Anya’s point of view. Sounds interesting.

If you love a good vampire story…Blood’s Voice and Blood Bound are great choices.

I'm not going to give any favorite quotes this time; because, the copy of Blood Bound I read was completely unedited and what I might quote might not even make the cut.

Enter the Spooktacular Blog Hop to enter for a chance to win Blood's Voice and Blood Bound, $15 to the Book Depository, or a copy of Thin Air by Lynn Seresin. Three winners.

 

*I was given a complimentary uncorrected e-book by the author in return for my honest review.
 

Tour Recap

Night Walker by Lisa Kessler

Title: Night Walker
Series: The Night Series #1
Author: Lisa Kessler
Copyright 2011 by Lisa Kessler
Entangled Publishing
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Synopsis:

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She's haunted by dreams of her own death...

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.

They've waited in the shadows for centuries...

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

I don't remember where I first saw this book, but it is definitely one of those OMG-the-cover-is-amazing-I-need-to-read-this-right-now books. I am completely ecstatic that I did. Calisto left me dreaming sweet dreams all night long and Kate was an amazing protagonist. She was a little bit broken, but not so much that she was afraid to love again.

• Kate Bradley is the leading lady in Night Walker. She walked in on her professor fiance kissing a grad student. Ugh! Then he wanted to talk about it...what more is there to say? I was proud of Kate because she left him and didn't give him a chance to play the "it won't happen again" line. She is beautiful and a talented piano player. However, she knows her limitations and realizes she will never be great. She is happy teaching choir in a middle school.
• Tom is the cheating no-good-for-anything fiance.
• Edie, one of Kate's best friends, still lives in San Diego and attempts to help her move on with her life. She is supportive of Kate's decisions and proves to be an invaluable part of Kate's life.
• Lori, the third part of this trio of friends, she is a tad bit overprotective and mildly judgmental which annoys Kate.
• Calisto Terana is a philanthropist with secrets, very old secrets. He has been cursed to only walk during the night. After centuries he has finally found the reincarnated soul of his true love, Tala. Now that he has found her, he intends on making her his again...this time forever. Tall, dark, and handsome with an accent. I'm already on board.
• Bettina, or Betty, is the Director of Foundation Arts...Calisto's foundation. She has her sights set on Calisto and is not fond of Kate.

The story begins right as Kate is leaving Tom and goes back to San Diego to take care of her parents' estate. She had put this task off for too long and with the recent break-up, she needs some space. I was immediately drawn into the story, but became completely enraptured with Calipso as soon as he and Kate met. The book flips back and forth between the present and the past. Sometimes this method can cause the flow of the book to go awry; however,  I did not feel any of this confusion with Night Walker. Lisa does an amazing job crafting Calisto's world. The conflict between religion and true love is always something to ponder. I love internal battles because I believe we all engage in them more that we will ever realize. I also love a book that make you go...hmmm?


Lisa tells Calisto's and Kate's story using third person omniscient. The story shifts between Kate's and Calisto's points of view, pulling you into each of their experiences. Calisto's strong emotions for Kate brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Night Walker contained the perfect balance of romance and action and fantasy.


I think one of my favorite things about this book was the level of maturity of the characters. I read a lot of YA and while I deeply enjoy a good love triangle, I also love to divulge in the confidence of adult romance. Even though Kate had been hurt, she didn't really question her feelings for Calisto...she just went with it. Don't get me wrong...this wouldn't have been such a captivating novel if there was an absence of complications. Wow...the complications in this romance were near debilitating, but our two lovers fought until the very end.


Okay, so I could go on and on and on, but I will stop there. This book is amazing and I cannot wait for the next installment of the Night Series.


Favorite Quotes:

• He watched her mouth, waiting to hear her voice again. He ached to touch her. It was the sweetest torture he'd ever known to see her alive once more, and not be able to hold her in his arms, to kiss her soft lips. Fire licked at his heart, awakening passion he had long ago forgotten.

•  Calisto was lost. Lost in her arms, in her kiss, lost completely in loving her. The rapid pounding of her heartbeat and the feel of her body pressed tightly to his brought his hunger to life. But it wasn't a hunger for blood.

Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Title: Hurricane
Series: Hurricane #1
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Publisher: Divertir Publishing LLC
Copyright © 2011 by Jenna-Lynne Duncan
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Add it to your TBR here

Excerpt:

"I anxiously looked around, my heart palpitating, just in time to see an alligator slink into the green algae covered water that was on either side of us. I swallowed hard, and my heart raced even faster. Alligators were a different type of predator—the one thing I was afraid of. Now I was on my own personal swamp tour. What if my kidnappers left me in the middle of a swamp with five of them creeping up on me? I’ve had that nightmare before and—oh no, if my dreams really are a sign of the future—I couldn’t breathe now."

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see the potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou. Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her? Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future? Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

Jenna-Lynn Duncan begins Hurricane several days before Hurricane Katrina destroys New Orleans. The prologue had me hooked and I found each page full of exciting events and trivia about New Orleans’ culture. I have always wanted to visit New Orleans and now I know I have to, and yes I know this is a purely fictional tale. The characters brought this story to life, allowing you to fall into the story.

• Adriana is a seventeen year old young woman who suffers from loneliness and the insecurities of feeling out of place in her normal world. She begins having precognitions the night before the first day of school which will prove to be true.
• Nikki is one of Adriana’s only friends – a boy-crazy friends at that.
• Marie is another friend of Adriana’s that makes a couple of appearances in the story.
• Hayden Boudreaux is one of the sexy brothers  juswhot moved into town. He has every girl swooning when he walks by. When it comes to Adriana he runs hot and cold…you never know what to expect.
• Luke Boudreaux is the second half of the brotherly duo and it doesn’t sound like he lacking in the looks department either.
• Elizabeth and Christopher are Luke and Hayden’s parents. They look fondly on Adriana, welcoming her openly into their family of mystery.
• Marie Laveau is the Voodoo Queen who cursed generations to a life of murder and immortality.

I fell in love with this mysterious and haunting tale from the very beginning. The prologue is written from one of Adriana’s kidnappers point of view. This took you into the middle of the story so even if the beginning seemed to drag a little – you had to keep reading. This is one of the best uses of a prologue that I have seen in a long time. Bravo to you Ms. Duncan.

New Orleans is one of those places that is naturally surrounded by mystery and culture…from Voodoo to Mardi Gras. The events that took place in Hurricane transported you into that mysterious culture. There were points that I was completely creeped out and points that I wanted nothing more but to get in my car and drive there. And the description leading up to Hurricane Katrina…well it took me back to that time. I felt like I was the one preparing to evacuate.

The Boudreaux brothers are anything but the boys next door. When their attention falls on the wallflower, Adriana, she becomes extremely curious. Not that they gave her any answers, but she asked her questions all the same. I really liked Adriana as a protagonist, she was strong – not in a kick your butt sort of way…but she didn’t whine and she just went with the flow. Once she figured out who she could trust, she was loyal without question or concern.

This is a highly recommended book that will transport you to another place.

*Important note – a part of the proceeds from this book go to the Habitat for Humanity – New Orleans.

*I was given a free e-book by the publisher of Hurricane in return for my honest review.