Strange Candy Reviews

Review: My Love Eternal by Liz Strange (reviewed by Trudy Powders)

2011-11-13T17:05:00.001+08:00

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 631 KB
Publisher: Lyrical Press, inc. (January 28,2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004GHN4UQ
Available from: Amazon
Amazon UK
The Book Depository

Blood, sex and eternal life... What morecould a girl ask for?

Tall, dark, and sexy, as well as fabulouslywealthy, Giovanni is everything a girl could ask for in a lover. There's onlyone catch. He's been undead for more than three hundred years. When Rachel isdrawn into Giovanni's world, she learns that the rules of human existence meannothing in the world of vampires. This, however, is a fair price to pay for alove that will last forever.

Hunted by the Desmarais family, who carry acenturies-old vendetta, Rachel and Giovanni travel to the ends of the earth inorder to stay one step ahead. Can their love survive, or will their eternitytogether end?

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The lead female in this book is namedRachel, she works at the morgue and her roommates name is Shannon. Rachelenjoys her job and the quiet. After Rachel has a visit from a beautifulstranger she starts to have "episodes “of being in another place and time.His name is Giovanni. This book contains one of the sexiest Transformations Ihave ever read. The book flashes to ten years later. I'm having a problem withthese two vampires still killing to feed. Rachel follows Giovanni and becomes aprisoner of Giovanni’s maker .Giovanni tells Rachel to run and she leaves herlove behind. Rachel finds a young boy and gives him shelter and takes him home.They reunite Rachel explains about the boy and they choose to raise him, theyall live happily together until the evil Desmarais family attacks, Giovanni istaken and his maker arrives and becomes a companion to Rachel and her son Eli. Theyleave England and Rachel and Eli's relationship changes and the three of themare together trying to survive. Eli doesn’t kill when he feeds and is now incollege. Rachel misses Giovanni and has begun her writing again. Rachel who isstill heartbroken from the loss of Giovanni still seeks him out in the darkestof nights. I liked this book but was not impressed with the transformation ofEli. This book is for adult readers only.

I give this book 3 of 5 stars. BookReviewed by Trudy Powders for Strange Candy Reviews

Interview with Traci Harding

2011-10-28T07:50:00.002+08:00

Welcome to Strange Candy Reviews, Traci. Thank you for taking the timeto answer some questions.

Mypleasure, Jo-Anne. Thank you forpromoting Australian books and authors J

For readers who haven’t heard of you, can you give us a quick overviewof your books?

Gosh, I hopeyou mean the titles and not the storylines!

I’m an Australian science-fantasy author, who hasfifteen books in publication on the Voyager label of HarperCollins Publishers(four trilogies and three stand alone novels). My next book ‘The Light-field’will be released in Feb 2012, with another trilogy ‘The Timekeepers’ to follow.

My first book TheAncient Future has featured regularly on the Dymocks’ Top 101 Books. It also made the ABC’s Lists, ‘Most LovedBooks of All Time’, ‘Favourite Australian Book’ and has been reprinted over 35times. Along with my stand alone novel The Alchemist's Key, The Ancient Future has been published inComplex Chinese. The Mystique Trilogy is published in Russian, Czech, Slavic, andRomanian.

The AncientFuture Trilogy, Mystique Trilogy and the Triad of Being have been published in E-book format, and my secondTrilogy The Celestial Triad and thestand alone novels will be released on E-book in 2012.

TheAncient Future, Gene of Isis and Being of the Field are released in AudioBook format through Bolinda Audio and are available through iTunes and Amazonas a Digital download.

TheAlchemist’s Key iscurrently optioned to ‘Dragonlight Productions’ and is being developed as afeature film project.

Phew!

Have you ever had to do any kind of research for your books?

I have had to do all kinds of researchfor my books, everything from the ancient mysteries, esoteric, occult, andvarious religious doctrines, (including the Australian aboriginaldreamtime). I’ve also researched theancient cultures of the Celts of Britain, the legends of Atlantis, ancientEgypt, Rome, Sumeria and most recently … well, I can’t really say as that wouldbe a spoiler. All this research is dueprimarily to the reincarnating and time traveling tendencies of mycharacters. Most of my books are set, orvisit, other dimensions, galaxies, universes, the future and levels ofconsciousness, so there is also a huge amount of scientific research involved,particularly quantum physics.

What’s your favourite genre to write about?

Timetravel is a theme I toy with often in my tales, and as I cannot seem to stay onthis planet in the present day, science-fantasy is the only genre for me! When a reader opens one of my books theyexpect to be swept away on an adventure to another time and place entirely,have their concept of life and reality broadened by the experience, and have afrolicking good time in the bargain - I aim to deliver just that.

In your opinion what makes for great lead characters?

Given that my books have a spiritualundertone, I need a lead character who leads by example. Someone with good moral fiber, an open mind,respect for others and the heart and belief in themselves, to follow theirpersonal life quest, no matter how challenging.

What, for you, determines a characters personality? Are they everinspired by people you know or meet?

My characters are nearly always inspiredby people I know, have known, or wish to know. Their personality is determined by their past really, and many of mycharacters have a very long history.

Is there a certain type of music you listen to when writing?

Always! When I was in Celtic Britain it was Clannadand Loreena McKennitt – for Atlantis it was the Dead Can Dance - in space itwas Pink Floyd and Brian Eno and for the future, just about anythingchill. In my forthcoming book, ‘theLight-field’ I was actually granted permission to use lyrics from a song byLindsay Tomasic called ‘Starman’, who is one the characters in the book. We think this the first time a music artistand an author have collaborated at the book stage of a story! I say collaborated as Lindsay’s song actuallyinfluenced my storyline, so I had to use it J At present, I am listening to loads of …well, I can’t really tell you that either, as that would be a spoiler too!

NOTE: I listen to music to formulate thestory – when I’m in my car etc – but when I actually write I prefersilence. I find music invokes the story,so if I forget where the story was going, I’ll go back and listen to the musicand that will remind me.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating yourbooks?

Themost amazing thing my characters have taught me is that I create my ownreality. Not only that, but they taught me howto create a better life for myself, and according to my readers I am not theonly one they have influenced to make changes to their attitude, beliefs, job,religion, partner, life path etc for the better – my characters are a veryinspiring lot.

How did you feel the first time your book was accepted for publishing?

It was of course very exciting, but asthe late and very great Steve Jobs advised, “Never dwell on any of yoursuccesses too long – always be looking to the next project.” That is me to a T. When HarperCollins accepted my first book forpublication, it was a one book deal; so for me there was a real sense that itwas ‘game on’ if I washed to make a career out of writing. I was already halfway through writing thenext book by the time HarperCollins were asking me for more, and I haven’tstopped writing since! To make it as awriter in this country you have to have that kind of dedication, but then I doLOVE my work.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Well, I don’t know how many writersstrike up conversations with their characters, but I do it all the time. Much like a clairvoyant would invoke aspirit, I’ll call in one of my characters for a chat, and roll play a scene orconversation that I think needs to take place, or ask the character questionsthat might help sort out the plot. Obviously, this is a practice best left for when you are alone J

What do you like to do when your not writing?

Outside of writing I spend as much timeas I can with my children, doing the family thing. To keep fit I do a Pilates routine, at leastthree times a week, that was put together for me by a dear friend – thanks Lisa! The trouble with being self-employed is thatyou never really stop working – well, me anyway. As I mentioned above, no sooner have Ifinished one story than I am starting on the next one - or at least heavilyresearching for it - so I don’t get to do much pleasure reading either! Still, when I do, I like to read books bylocal Aussie authors. Some of those I’veread most recently are Kim Wilkins aka Kimberley Freemen, Belinda Alexandra,Grant Hyde, Christopher Ride, Jessica Shirvington and Kate Morton. I do manage to get a bit of socializing intomy schedule, and there is nothing I enjoy more than like together with a fewfriends over Strawberry Margaritas!

Thanks for the chance to chat,Jo-Anne. If your readers would like toknow more about me they can visit my new website : http://www.traciharding.com

Or the Traci Harding Message Boards atTrazling Castle :

http://www.trazling.net/Traci_Harding/fantasy.html

Or my Face book Pages -

Traci Harding Fans :

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Traci-Harding-Fans/192539780777816

Trazling on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trazling/137675699632860

The Alchemist’s Key Movie

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Alchemists-Key-The-Movie/221242557886502

I do have some special things happeningover Xmas this year in the lead up to the release of the third book of the Triad of Being - ‘The Light-field’ inFebruary 2012 – so if readers will check in with any of the above sites theywon’t miss out on any of the excitement!

Interview & giveaway with M.J Scott

2011-10-10T05:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Strange Candy Reviews, M.J. Thanks for joining us!

Thanks for having me on your blog!

For those who have not yet heard about your book, can you tell us a bit about it?

Shadow Kin is a dark fantasy. It’s about a half-Fae assassin who botches her current assignment. Because of that her world begins to fall apart.

How did you feel when your book had been picked for publishing?

Thrilled! I was at work and got an email from my agent that said we had an offer. I had to casually stroll off to a meeting room so I wouldn’t start jumping up in down in the middle of the office. Though by the time I got the final offer it was more thrilled and exhausted as it was a two week process that involved many sleepless nights!

What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you since your book was released?

Having a book launch a few weeks ago was lots of fun—there was a queue of people to get a signed copy. But really, just knowing that people are reading and liking the book is the most exciting part.

I love the world and characters you have created in Shadow Kin. How did the idea for it come about?

It was one of those books that sprang up from nowhere. I’d written two books in an urban fantasy series that was being shopped by my agent and another more futuristic urban fantasy and was trying to figure out what to write next, playing with a few ideas. Then one night I was lying in bed, almost falling asleep and a voice in my head literally said “revenge is silent”. At first I almost ignored it but then the voice said it again and I started thinking “why is revenge silent?” and started to get the first scene and had to get up and write for an hour or so. By the time I’d finished that scene I had my heroine and hero and the basics of the world. Which is a longwinded way of saying “I don’t really know with this one”.

Is there one place you'd love to go but have never been before?

I’d love to go to Tuscany. Whenever I see pictures of that region in magazines or movies, it just looks beautiful. I want to live in a villa in Tuscany and eat great food for a few months.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote my first stories when I was quite young…around seven or eight. I wrote stuff off and on throughout high school but then did the sensible thing and picked a sensible career. Because working writers were sort of fabled mythical creatures. But the stories never really went away and I decided I really wanted to give it another go about ten years ago.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I still have a part time day job, so it varies. On day job days I write after work (and sometimes on the train or at lunch if I really need the time). I try and do four pages or so on those days. On non day job days, I tend to write in the afternoons (and sometimes at night). My muse, like me, is not a morning person. I aim for more pages on those days.

What do you think makes a good story?

For me, it’s the characters. Give me interesting characters doing interesting things and make me care about them. Make them real and flawed and entertaining. If you do that and have good world building, I don’t mind the odd plot hole and will read away happily. But if you have a brilliant plot but boring characters (or worse boring characters and boring plot) chances are that book is not going to be finished.

If you could tell aspiring writers one thing, what would it be?

Listen to your stories to find what you really want to write, write a LOT, read a LOT, do whatever you can do to learn about writing and publishing and don’t give up.

Name five things you can't live without.

Books, my cat, my iPod, dark chocolate and a computer.

M.J Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her website is http://www.mjscott.net/.

Leave a comment with your email to win a copy of Shadow Kin from The Book Depository! Giveaway is international and ends 21st October! Just for fun, what are five things you can't live without?

Review: Montana Wildfire by Rebecca Sinclair

2011-10-06T17:17:00.001+08:00

Title: Montana Wildfire
Author: Rebecca Sinclair
Release date: June 9th 2011
Publisher: ePublishing Works
Available from: Amazon - Kindle edition
Amazon UK - Kindle edition
I received this book from the author.

LOSTIN HIS ARMS...
After her father's sudden death, lovely AmandaLennox had no money for the long trip from Boston to the ranch she'dinherited in faraway Seattle. When she sawa the advertisement for a"wilderness expert" to escort eleven-year-old RogerBannister III to Montana, the adventure-loving beauty jumped at thechance, never guessing that she'd end up lost in the wilds ofIdaho...with a twisted ankle. Then an arrogant halfbreed on apalomino stallion came to her rescue and comforted her with hishealing touch. Amanda offered him a chaste kiss in gratitude, but thesavage's sensuous gaze and rippling muscles aroused her maidenlypassion. Tomorrow she'd be back in the saddle, but tonight she'dsurrender to his fiery caresses and let him carry her over thethreshhold of ecstasy, lost in his wild, rapturous embrace!

LUREDBY HER CHARMS...
Rugged ranchhand Jacob Blackhawk Chandler knewfrom past experience that prissy white princesses meant trouble. He'dseen Amanda Lennox's type before-haughty and citified and utterlyunequipped to survive in the wide open country. He couldn't just rideoff and leave the lovely minx alone and hurt, but he sure wouldn't betaken in by that sweet come-hither smile! Then he lifted her from herhorse, laid her on the soft ground to tend her swollen ankle, andfelt a jolt of desire. Tomorrow he'd point her in the direction ofMontana, but tonight he'd kiss that luscious body from head to toe,capture her heart in a storm of passionate caresses, and show theBoston belle a night of ecstasy she'd never forget...no matter whatstate she was in!

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Montana Wildfire is a little slow to start off, but don't give up or you will be missing out on a great read. Jake and Amanda have serious chemistry right from the get go, but they spend most of the book dancing around each other. You can almost cut the air with the tension these two generate. I loved Amanda's spunk and stubborn streak, although it gets her into a bit of trouble. She's not afraid to stand up for herself and has a tendency to speak before she thinks. Jake is majorly swoon worthy. His character is a force to be reckoned with, but as much as he tries to hide it, you get to see his vulnerability and it adds to his appeal. He is sex on legs and Amanda has a hard time dealing with him. Montana Wildfire is such and apt name for this book as these two set the pages alight! I think my Kindle almost short circuited! The setting is a great backdrop and conjured images of the wild west for me. I'm not a huge fan of historical romances, but if there are more like this then I'll definitely be reading them! So if you are after a steamy, sexy read grab a copy of Montana Wildfire.

4/5

Win a signed copy of the Goblin King by Shona Husk!

2011-10-04T06:49:00.001+08:00

I am meeting Shona Husk this Saturday, so I thought I'd have a giveaway. To win a personalised signed copy of the Goblin King just leave your name and email in a comment. It's international and ends midnight Friday my time. You won't get any extra entries, but I would be grateful if you helped spread the word!

BBA host for October

2011-10-01T16:06:00.001+08:00

This month at the Book Bloggers Anonymous Goodreads group we are reading Working Stiff by Rachel Caine. If you'd like to join in, click on the BBA button on my sidebar that will take you directly to the Goodreads group. We will be reading Working Stiff from 1st - 15th October, then we have chapter discussions at BBA. As I am hosting this months BBA on my blog here, I'm hoping to have some fun stuff up over the next month, so stop by and I hope you'll join in!

Interview & giveaway with Rebecca Sinclair

2011-09-28T19:00:00.001+08:00

Here at Strange Candy reviews, I was lucky enough to interview Rebecca Sinclair. Rebecca is the author of 13 romance books. I have been lucky enough to be sent a review copy of Montana Wildfire, which has been released as an ebook.

Welcome to Strange Candy Reviews, Rebecca. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions.

Hi and thank you for asking me, it's great to be here! :)

For readers who haven’t heard of you, can you give us a quick overview of your books?

Sure. I've written 13 historical romances of the hot, sexy, steamy variety. Some are set in the 19^th century American West, some in the 16^th century on the turbulent Scotland/England border. I know that sounds strange, the two time periods/settings being so dissimilar in just about every way, but I thrive on the variety.

Have you ever had to do any kind of research for your books?

Tons! I do an abundant amount of research for each and every book. Only by thoroughly and immersing myself in whatever time period/setting I'm writing in do I feel I can do the same for my reader. It is my job to make my reader, say, feel the crisp, dry paper crackling beneath his fingertips, smell the layers of dust and disuse in the air. The only way I can only do that sometimes is if I know what these things feel and smell like myself, and for many things, the way I find out is research. Going to libraries, museums, taking house tours or traveling and visiting scenic areas. Often times we plan vacations around places I need to research for my current book. Or I plan my books around upcoming research/vacation trips.

Lately it seems urban fantasy/paranormal romance books have taken over. Why do think that is and would you ever consider writing one?

They really have. Isn't it great? Speaking in terms of romances, I think that in a good paranormal it is exactly those paranormal elements that bring a sense of the unearthly and magical and impossible to life in the reader's mind, providing a light of deep escapism in the otherwise dark and dreary tunnel of day-to-day existence. And is it any wonder? With the current wars, gas prices topping $3.00/gal, and the American economy tanking, a deeper form of escapism in the shape of some good, and solid paranormal/fantasy you can really sink your teeth into seems like just what the doctor ordered. Who couldn't use a dose of that right about now?

As for your second question, I did. I wrote two. The first is a sexy historical romance time-travel (I consider time-travel to be only the fringe of paranormal, btw.) The manuscript is on my agent's desk. I'm also proud to have completed my first contemporary YA (much more paranormal in nature), which, of course, is sitting right next to my time-travel on my agent's desk. Both are as yet untitled.

I really enjoyed Jacob & Amanda’s characters from Montana Wildfire. In your opinion what makes for great lead males and females?

Thank you for saying so, that means a lot to me! :) For lead characters I am drawn to three qualities: strength, humor and flaws. Strength is a character's storyteller, it speaks in word or deed where the character has been, how much the character can endure and where their breaking point is. Humor is intrinsic to every human being at birth, real or fictional—so if a character has entirely lost his sense of humor, I guarantee there's an intriguing story there. It is flaws, I think, that really define a lead character for me. Flaws intensify every aspect of a character; their speech patterns, mannerisms, how they react to things, how they think. Flaws can affect something as simple as preparing a meal. In one book, I had a heroine who had been burned in a house fire and who, even years later, was still tormented by the event. Imagine her cooking around an open campfire! That this character was an excellent cook—very calm, very precise, and fearless around the flames--spoke volumes about her.

What, for you, determines a characters personality? Are they ever inspired by people you know or meet?

Using “real” people could potentially cause too many legal headaches. Besides, it's much more fun to steal an interesting quirk in someone' real's personality and imbue it in one of my fictional characters. It could be a main flaw, a hidden weakness, or—you decide! What really matters is how the character I create slowly grows around the borrowed trait. Or despite it. That growth is part of their own personal journey through the book.

There are several things that determine a character's personality for me. The book's time period/setting, plot, theme, tone, etc. are very important. Also, in a romance, I need to know and gauge the personality (and wants, needs, and secret desires) of their perspective mate. That adds into the equation. I believe in HEA, so I know at the end of the book these two people are going to fall in love and end up together. Forever. Forever's a long time, so their personalities damn well better be compatible in more ways than just really great sex!

Who or what inspires your writing and why? Is there a certain type of music you listen to when writing?

Music inspires my writing, definitely. I really can't specify what type of music because it varies depending on the book I'm writing. They're like your own kids; they're all different. Visuals, OTOH, now they really inspire me. I have two cork boards hung near my work computer , eye level to where I sit so I can see them at all times. On them I have pictures of people—lots and lots of pictures! I don't know about you, but I'm the sort to embarrass hubby by snipping pic out of magazines in the doctor's office. I'll print out one I like from the Internet. Anywhere I spy a picture that speaks to me, and I think I can get away with it, I snag the pic and sneak it home. I'm not particular. These pictures can vary widely in content. Some are the expected glam shots of the hottest new celebrities (male, female, old, young, a historic figure, someone contemporary in the news), while others are the ads for the latest-greatest perfumes or sports coats. So long as the picture pushes my emotional buttons and somehow wordlessly conveys the feel, deep at the bottom of my stomach, for the book I'm working on. Each book has its own cork board. The pictures aren't recyclable.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That there was really a town called Pony in Montana in 1878. Pony! Who’ve thought it! I'd pulled the name out of a hat with every intention of making the town up. No one was more surprised than me to find an actual town on the map with that same name, located in approximately the same place I'd decided, pre-research, to set down my Pony. It was back to the research books for me—if there was a real town named Pony, I was going to use it, so I'd better know about all about it. For another book, I found out the number of people who actually died on the Overland Trail crossing their way to the California gold mines (or to “see the elephant”, as some called it); the total was heartbreaking because it was so high. I can honestly say, for each book I've written, I've learned at least one exciting new something.

Do you still get excited when your novels are accepted for publishing?

Every. Single. Time. :) Honestly, I'm crazy. I'm like a small child on her birthday that got the gift she secretly wanted but wasn't expecting: excited, emotional, deliriously happy … and at the same time scared so bad my knees shake when it really dawns on me there people other than myself and a select few reading my book.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I wasn't sure about this, so I asked hubby to help me out. After refusing to print his first response, here's his second. “She likes to listen to weird music over and over again, constantly, constantly, on repeat, so much that everyone in the house is sick of it to the point where we beg her to please, please, wear your headphones. The Sarah Brightman Incident comes to mind. Ahem.” My reaction? Humph!

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love spending time with my family. I also love the Internet. A lot. Keep in mind I've been online since the '80s. I cut my teeth on the big three: AOL, GEnie, and CompuServe. Modern day social networking sites like G+, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, which a lot of writers think are time-sinks, I enjoy. Depending on what you use them for, those sites can be a smart way to keep your mind limber and your writing sharp when taking a break.

Growing up did you always know you were going to be a writer and did you have favorite genre you liked to read/write about?

No. Growing up I always wrote, but I never thought I could be an actual get-paid-to-do-it writer. Things like that happened to other people, and I was fine with that. Then, in my early 20s, after a series of personal tragedies, as I was writing through my feelings one day, a light bulb turned on. I suddenly realized there was absolutely no valid reason I couldn't be a real writer. The only thing holding me back was me. I knuckled down and wrote specifically for publication from then on, and I haven't looked back since.

I don't really have a favorite genre. I strongly favor historical, but also enjoy paranormal. I favor romances, but also enjoy classics (Dickens is a favorite). I favor Young Adult, but I also an occasional have been known to pick up a Sci-Fi. Basically, I'll read anything. If I'm stuck in the car while hubby pumps gas, I'll soak up the car's owner's manual; in the grocery store in the long checkout line, I'll scan the nutritional value of a can of beans, or evaluate the unpronounceable ingredients in a Snickers Bar. Also, I'm very much a product of my generation. While I can entertain myself endlessly by mentally juggling characters and plots for my books, outside of that I get bored easily. When I am writing a book, however, hubby tells me I often stare off into space for so long he wonders sometimes if I'm in need of medical attention. In reality I'm holding an imaginary casting call for characters, or letting dialogue trickle like fish in a stream, or untying an unexpected plot twist. In the end, though, whether it's what someone else has written for me or what I have written for someone else, it all boils down to two things: My incessant fascination with words, and, as in the case of this interview, my blatant disregard for word count. <Wince>

Again, thank you for having me! Your readers are invited to stop by my new Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/RebeccaSinclairBooks) and say hello, “like” me if they don't mind, and just get a general feel for the layout Heather Powers so skillfully set up for me. In the very near future I'll be running contests, giving away free books (traditional and e-pubbed), and doing all those things authors do … so stop back often! :)

Leave a comment with your email to win a book! Giveaway is international and ends 8/10.

Review: Blood of the Demon

2011-09-11T17:27:00.000+08:00

Title: Blood of the Demon (Demons of Infernum book 1)
Author: Rosalie Lario
Release date: August 2nd 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Available from: Amazon - Kindle edition
Amazon UK - Kindle edition
Book Depository

I received this ebook from the publisher.

Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment.

Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon’s Most Wanted List.

And no one wants her more than Keegan’s father.

Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’ll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the far deadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.

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Blood of the Demon has cemented its self as one of my favourite books of the year. Keegan is the oldest of four sexy demon brothers. He's strong, complex and very alpha. He does have a tendency to close himself and put his brothers before himself. I really enjoyed his protectiveness over his brothers and how he was willing to do anything to keep them safe. Then along comes a woman that tempts like never before. Too bad she's the key to the apocalypse. He does everything in his power to avoid falling for her. Brynn is feisty and not afraid to make her opinions heard against a group of pushy, overbearing males. I think she handles her new position as the key to the apocalypse pretty well. Sparks fly between her and Keegan immediately, and their interactions are fantastic. I also enjoyed Keegan's brothers and can't wait to read about them in their own books. Their father is evil to the core and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. You can't help but feel for his sons and what he put them through. I'd love to bring one of them home and look after him.

The story is great, with plenty of action, drama and sizzling between-the-sheets antics. If you're a fan of Larissa Ione or Eve Silver, then Blood of the Demon will be right up your alley.

4/5

Guest post by Rosalie Lario

2011-08-11T21:29:00.001+08:00

WhyI Love Paranormal Romance

In honor of my recent release, Blood of the Demon, aparanormal romance featuring four sexy, half-demon brothers, Ithought I’d talk today about some of the reasons why I loveparanormal romance.

I've been fascinated with the paranormal ever since my childhooddays of watching reruns of The Munsters on television. Talesof vampires, werewolves, and witches thrilled me almost as much asthey terrified me. Even better were the less traditional horrorbaddies like mummies, trolls, or goblin kings. There was something sofun about being able to pretend that these beings actually existed.

That childhood fascination never died off for me. In the 80s it wasmovies like The Lost Boys and Labyrinth. In the 90sGhost and The Mummy (still one of my all-time favorites).I also loved the paranormal in books, going from Bunnicula toAnn Rice (and yes, I know what a big jump that is).

Then I discovered romance, and a whole new love was born. Paranormalcreatures as heroes instead of villains? Swoon! I’ve been addictedever since. There’s something about taking a tortured supernaturalhero and giving him a HEA that I cannot resist. Maybe it’s the ideathat every being needs love—or the thought of everlasting love—thatmakes this concept so irresistible to me. Whatever it is, my love forparanormal romance (like so many of the genre’s heroes andheroines) will not die.

I discover new and wonderful paranormal romance authors all the time,but some of my current favorite are Jeaniene Frost (especially herNight Huntress series, which features the most swoon-worthy hero I’veever read about), Karen Marie Moning (her earlier Highlander series, has some super-hunky Alpha heroes), and Larissa Ione (hot demonsrunning a demon hospital).

Itwas my love of demons as heroes that led me to create my DEMONS OFINFERNUM series. The demons in my world aren’t evil creatures fromHell, but a race of beings from another dimension. And let me tellyou, they are super hot!

InBlood of the Demon, Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evildemon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan tobring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers,interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are chargedwith capturing and delivering their father for punishment.

Artgallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to readmemories embedded in objects and drain people of their life forcemeans she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s alsothe key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on everydemon’s Most Wanted List.

Andno one wants her more than Keegan’s father.

Keeganmust protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’llhave to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the fardeadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the onewoman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks.The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.

Find out more athttp://www.entangledpublishing.com/blood-of-the-demonor at my website www.rosalielario.com.

Areyou a fan of paranormal romance? If so, what makes it so great foryou?

Rosalie Lario practiced law for fiveyears before finally admitting to herself that negotiating contractswasn’t nearly as fun as dreamingup stories. The first book in her Demons of Infernumseries, Bloodof the Demon, will be released August 2011.

Adrian Phoenix Giveaway.

2011-08-06T08:53:00.000+08:00

There was supposed to be a guest post from Adrian, but she is on deadline until the end of August, so she has kindly still offered to do a giveaway and will be back at the end of September with her guest post. (It's going to be a good one, too.)

Adrian Phoenix is one of the best dark urban fantasy writers around. If you haven't read her books, what are you waiting for? Sexy characters, plenty of action, awesome story lines and great settings.

Youcan read a chapter from the first book in The Maker’s Song series.Here’sa linkto the first chapter of ARush of Wings.

Here’sthe first chapter of BlackDust Mambo.(Hoodoo Book 1)

Andthe first two chapters of BlackHeart Loa.(Hoodoo Book 2)

BlackHeart Loa is also a Julyfeatured read on BN.com’sParanormal & Urban Fantasyonline book club. Feel free to join the discussion!

You can find me at:

Website, Facebook, FacebookFan Page, Twitter, MySpace, Goodreads

Dante'sClub Hell Forum

Dante'sClub Hell Yahoo Group

PocketAfter Dark

Adrian is giving one winner a signed set of the Hoodoo series (Black Dust Mambo & Black Heart Loa) and two winners will get a choice of any of Adrian's books.

So, what do you have to do to win? Well it's easy, just leave a comment with your email and tell me if you're a new follower or an old one!

Giveaway is international and ends 13th August.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-06-22T18:38:00.001+08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

The Goblin King by Shona Husk

Publication Date: October 1st 2011

Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

I have been neglecting this blog a little, but I am trying to catch up. So I'm starting with a new WoW post. I'm sorry to all my followers.

I read a novella by Shona Husk, and really enjoyed it. I can't wait until this is released. What are you waiting on?

Review: How to Breathe Fire by Shona Husk

2011-06-18T17:07:00.002+08:00

By: Shona Husk
Type: eBook
Genre: Fantasy, Sweet Romance, Angels & Demons, Magical Happenings
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Publication Date: 01-18-2011
Length: Novella
ISBN: 978-1-60928-334-6
Available from: Samhain Publishing
Amazon Kindle

Freedom comes with a blistering price…

For as long as she can remember, Camea has longed to explore the world beyond the island kingdom of Adar. It is an impossible dream, especially if she follows tradition and marries the farmer her parents have selected for her. But then, Camea has never been one to follow expectations. When the village witch announces she has been selected to be the Fire God’s next bride, Camea has no intention of sacrificing her life to appease the volcano. She plans to escape and follow the Stars to her dream. Matai, once a prince of Adar, now pays a fiery penance for seducing one of the Fire God’s witches. He must take a new bride each year, then kill her—or condemn Adar to the lava. Unlike his past brides Camea doesn’t shed one tear for her fate, nor does she beg for her life. In the face of death she sees the remnants of the man he used to be—and a way to save them both from the Fire God’s never-ending cycle of wrath. If Matai has the courage to trust his heart.

--------

How to Breathe Fire is a wonderful short read. I really liked the fantasy element, with our heroine being sacrificed to the Fire God who watches over her home. Camea is not like most other young women, she has big dreams and tries to concoct a plan to escape. She's a strong character, willing to fight for what she believes in and is willing to use her assets to get her freedom. She doesn't count on her feelings getting in the way of her plans. Matai has lived for hundreds of years and is tired of his existence. He's shocked when he takes Camea as his bride. She isn't like any of the others. Matai is literally smokin' hot and together they light up the pages. I find with novellas that I'm really getting into the story and characters then its over. It's hard to get too invested in them. Although How to Breathe Fire is one I recommend getting your hands on. I am looking forward to Shona's first full length novel later this year.

3.5/5

Review: The Vampire's Warden by S.J Wright

2011-06-09T11:26:00.001+08:00

Title: The Vampire's Warden - Undead in Brown County 1

Author: S.J Wright

Release Date: February 13th 2011

Available from: Amazon

Diesel ebooks

It was a flash in the moonlight, a blur of motion like I’d never witnessed before. No human had the capacity to move like that. When I found myself face-to-face with him there in the meadow, I knew without a doubt that the journal was authentic. I knew that my grandfather hadn’t been crazy at all.

Because a foot away from me stood a vampire.

Sarah reads her grandfather's journal in stunned disbelief. What was once her grandfather's responsibility has passed to her father and now to her. She has become the Warden. Her life will never be the same.

------------

This is a fresh and exciting new type of vampire story. The premise is nothing you've read before. While reading it was like I was actually there. Not many writers are able to capture that feeling but S.J Wright does it so well. Her characters are real and believable, like someone you've known for years. Sarah is strong, caring and loyal. I really enjoyed her character. The chemistry is almost instantaneous between her and Michael. He's not exactly someone you want to meet in the dark, and his personality and aura, I suppose, leap off the page. As soon as you read about him, you want more, even though you can feel he carries a darkness.

The only fault I found is that it wasn't long enough. I just wanted to keep reading. You'll want a copy if you're a fan of Sookie Stackhouse.

4/5

Giveaway on my sister blog!

2011-06-02T15:00:00.000+08:00

I recently started a YA blog - Cotton Candy Reviews and I am having a giveaway in celebration. Just click here to enter to win your choice of:

It's international & ends 30th June.

Otherworlds Publicity Blog Tour - Marion Webb-De Sisto

2011-06-01T19:50:00.000+08:00

For those readers who are not familiar with Marion's Angelic Chronicles trilogy, here are three excerpts and some information that might be of interest.

Samael's Fall: Book One - Meet the two angelic brothers, Samael and Seriel. One was the first and most radiant archangel, but is now falling from grace and becoming a dark soul. He’s handsome and charismatic, persuading many to follow him. The other is the loyal and courageous seventh archangel, who defends his brother even when he is betrayed by him. Both celestial siblings are rivals for Malkura’s devotion, but she has only ever loved Samael. Now, that affection is being destroyed by his cruel and devious nature.

Excerpt

The Shekinah stood up and moved in his direction. She observed, "I have offended you. Please let me explain why I withdrew my hands from yours. It was not because I dislike contact with you."

"That is not necessary, my lady. I understand your feelings. You love Samael and no other being would, or should, attract your interest." He retrieved the emerald from the table and offered it to her: "Here is your green jewel."

She pushed his hand away, declaring, "I do not wish to keep it with me. I pray you, dear Seriel; let it rest in your home. It brings me too much sadness."

"As you wish." He placed the emerald back on the table. "Shall I escort you to Inner Chaos? Where do you desire to go?"

"I believe your spiral is the place I should visit. What you have shared has set me wondering about many things."

"Then Seriel's Spiral it shall be." He touched the hilt of his crystal with his right hand and, extending his left hand to Malkura, he told her, "If you are not too aggrieved to do so, then take my hand and I will show you the magic of my light wand."

Without hesitation, she grasped his hand and asked, "What magic will you show me?"

Even as her thought was forming, Seriel was asking his crystal to take them to the spiraling spheres. Instantly, they were there and the Shekinah was looking around in utter astonishment. She exclaimed:

"That is wondrous magic! How did you accomplish such a task?"

"I did nothing other than to ask my crystal to bring us here. It is an amazing friend. Now, I will take my leave of you. May you remain within our parent's loving thoughts." Seriel attempted to release her hand, but she held on tightly as she told him:

"You have comforted me when I was in the depth of sadness. You also aided Gabriel when he was suffering. The Lord of Sorcery is truly a noble soul and I will cherish a memory of what we have shared while in your home." She gave a gentle smile and, pulling herself close to him for an instant, she thought-whispered, "I withdrew my hands because a strong notion to meld with you had come upon me. I was afraid you might sense my desire. Knowing your feelings about the sanctity of melding, I thought you would consider me to be both shallow and fickle." Malkura released her hold of him and flew deep into the heart of the spiral. Her parting: "May the Source forever bless you!" came back to him as she disappeared between some spheres.

Abbadon: Book Two - It's hell when you're exiled to Abbadon and are separated from your beloved. The continuing adventures of Samael and Seriel, who both adore Malkura, but are now outcasts with only fallen angels, demons and a golden dragon for company. Samael plots to bring Malkura to him and if he succeeds, can Seriel rescue her? This is a tale of adventure, romance and treachery instigated by Samael a.k.a. The devil. Are the brothers both doomed to live in exile?

Excerpt

While Shedim inspected the captives, Samael directed these thoughts to them: “You decided upon leaving my domain without asking for my consent. This has angered me greatly and must not happen again. Perhaps you were misguided into thinking that in this level all is choice as it was within the inner realms. Know now that is not so. I rule Abbadon and when here you will do my bidding.” He paused, and then asked, “What think you, demon?”

“They are not worthy of your pardon, master.”

“Shall we then set an example so that all will remember what I have decreed?”

“Yes, Prince Samael.” The shaitan began moving back toward Mulciber.

“Then choose an angel, Shedim. Show these wayward souls the folly of underestimating my power.” The first archangel sat back down in his ornate chair and folded his wings around his body once more.

The shaitan reached Mulciber and grasped the chain that bound her wings. He pulled her up into a standing position and declared, “I choose this one, master.” Shedim stood as tall as the female angel and was well-able to stare threateningly into her eyes. She looked straight back at him, but there was a hint of apprehension in her expression. The demon leader brought one hand up to her face and slowly dragged a long talon down the side of her cheek. Mulciber winced in pain as a deep claw mark appeared where he had scratched her. A light oozing of essence glistened along the injury line. The shaitan moved his face close to the angel’s cheek and eagerly licked the escaping fluid with his long tongue. He announced:

“This one is definitely my choice. Her essence is truly sweet.” Shedim attempted to lick the wound, again, but the angel pulled back and kicked out at him. In answer to thisendeavor, the demon’s long tail uncurled its length from around his leg and quickly wrapped itself about her legs. This forced Mulciber to lose her balance. However, she did not fall because he held her tightly by the arms. Leaning over his victim, Shedim then clawed the metallic tunic away from her shoulder with one hand. He looked toward the first archangel with the eyes that were set in the back of his head and asked:

“Now, master?”

Samael nodded his agreement and Shedim opened his mouth.

Final Retribution: Book Three - Life as the powerful ruler of Abbadon is becoming intolerable for Samael. The exiled archangel is lonely, embittered and bored. He has lost Malkura's love and even Seriel, his loyal brother, is gone from his side. Yet into this hellish existence comes the beautiful and compassionate Angel Manah. Will she deny the increasing love she feels for this condemned soul, or can he persuade her to join him in endless damnation? This final book of the trilogy explores the ultimate retribution of the radiant archangel who fell from grace.

Excerpt

Samael’s hand moved up to her hair and removed the comb. As her long tresses draped around her shoulders, he informed, “I have no desire to further discuss the Source. Instead, let me show you how pleased I am to have you back here with me.” He tilted her chin, brought his face close to hers and thought-whispered, “Do you know how to kiss, Angel Manah?”

Now, pure panic took hold of Manah. Angels had told her about the different ways in which humans expressed affection, and she had seen Toa and Belu kiss. Therefore, she knew it was an intimate action. The seraph squirmed away from the archangel, pushing against his arms and wings, trying desperately to get off his lap. “Let me go, Lord Samael! I know how humans kiss and I do not want you to do that to me.”

He kept a tight hold on her with one hand while he cradled her head with the other. As his face drew close, Samael declared, “But I wish to kiss you, my little angel.” He slightly tilted his head and his lips touched hers. At first she could barely feel any contact, and then suddenly there was probing pressure. Manah wanted to fight against this unfamiliar intimacy, but as it continued she became a part of it. She pressed her mouth against his and was consumed by waves of unleashed emotion. Her lips parted, as did his, and she felt his tongue exploring the contours of her mouth. The angel’s consciousness screamed at her to stop, but she had never before felt so blissful. Manah was trapped by the closeness they were sharing.

The ardent kiss continued on until the archangel finally lifted his mouth from hers and, looking steadily into her eyes, he remarked, “That was even more pleasurable than I could have imagined. I believe I have awakened a passion within you, little angel. We are well-suited to be companions.”

Suddenly, a full realization of what had just happened filled Manah’s thoughts. She had revealed her inner desire for this evil archangel. He now knew she felt drawn to him and it could prove disastrous. She must try to convince him that what she had offered was not genuine, but was instead a result of some form of sorcery by him. Manah almost thought-screamed, “Let me go! You have beguiled me with your archangelic magic. I cannot imagine anything more repulsive than kissing such an evil being. You must have cast an enchantment upon me.”

Author Marion Webb-De Sisto

Fiction - Adventure and Romance with a Devilish Twist.

Non-Fiction - Helpful Information on Crystals, Crystal Skulls, Healing and the Spirit World.

Website - www.marionwebb-desisto.com

Blog - http://marionwebb-desisto.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marion-Webb-De-Sisto/e/B002A06PMK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

FaceBook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=671911733#!/pages/Marion-Webb-De-Sisto-Author/121238787930802

AuthorsDen - http://www.authorsden.com/marionwebbdesisto

Alternative-Read - http://www.alternative-read.com/aamarionwebbdesisto.htm

AuthorIsland - http://www.authorisland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=748&Itemid=602

Review - Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

2011-05-31T08:05:00.001+08:00

Title: Burn Bright - Night Creatures book 1
Author: Marianne de Pierres
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: March 1st 2011
Publishers: Random House Australia
Available from: Amazon (kindle edition)
Dymocks

Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength.

In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.

But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?

Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?

Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.

..........

Burn Bright immediately drags you in and doesn't let you go. As soon as I started to read it, I knew it would be a page turner that would have me up all night. The world in which Retra first inhabits seems dull with an underlying darkness, and when she arrives in Ixion - a world of artificial light, pleasure and non stop parties, the dark is even more terrifying. She has grown up in sealed environment where everything is a sin. She escapes her home to find her brother, who already escaped to Ixion. Retra braves the pain of an obedience strip and finds her self on the ship bound for Ixion. To say she doesn't fit in is an understatement. Retra is so far out of her depth, it's not funny. She knows she doesn't belong, but she has an inner strength she doesn't realise. This strength helps her to survive and adapt. You think you've got her character down, but she always did something to surprise me. Ixion seems like the ultimate party place, but it hides so many secrets. My imagination ran wild with Burn Bright. Marianne de Pierres has created an epic sci-fi/fantasy realm that is full of sinister and mysterious characters that you don't know who to trust. Compelling, intriguing, and utterly fantastic, if you haven't read it I highly suggest you do. One of my favourite books this year.

5/5

Review - Magical Gains by Nicola E. Sheridan

2011-05-24T20:30:00.000+08:00

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 304 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Eternal Press (a division of Damnation Books LLC (March 2, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004QGYCBC
Purchase Info:

Eternal Press

Barnes & Noble

Diesel E Books

Imran is sexy. He is available, but taking anything from him is illegal and could land you in prison or, at the very least, with an extraordinarily large tax bill. Imran is a Genie and Primrose a government employee, and in a world where magic is heavily governed to ensure equality for all, their relationship appears doomed from the start. When Primrose finds herself the unwilling mistress of a hot male Genie, her stifling suburban lifestyle is shattered. Thrust into the steamy Free Zone, filled with lascivious Satyrs and treacherous Sirens, Primrose discovers that three wishes can give her anything she needs, but can they give what she truly wants?

------------

I stumbled over Nicola E. Sheridan's debut Magical Gain's, and hit her up for a review copy. I was happy to see she was a fellow West Australian, too.

It was a little strange reading about parts of my own city, but man did she do it justice! The alternate universe she has created is similar yet different. Magical Gains Tax is applied to anything magical, and when Primrose becomes the unwilling owner of a genie lamp and it's sexy occupant, she is perturbed to say the least.

Primrose is a little shy and unassuming. She has some serious self confidence issue thanks to her overbearing ex. I did find her character a little weak, but I was always rooting for her. She had this naivety about her, and she somehow keeps it through the whole story even though she grows and gets a little tougher by the end. She also seemed very real. There are a few moments in the book that had me cringing, and thinking that it was something I'd do, or thats what would have happened to me.

Imran is way yummy, and tries so hard to help Primrose. In the beginning he is out for himself, but then he sees how her fiancée treated her, and realises that he can help her. I loved Imran from the get go. I definitely wouldn't mind finding him in a bottle. He always made such an effort to help bring Primrose out of her shell and help her realise what a beautiful person she was. Inside and out.

Magical Gains is a different paranormal romance, a nice change from the usual. I really enjoyed the story, and thought the idea of a tax on magical creatures and the like a great idea. It make's you think how would all us normal people react the having the extraordinary 'come out', so to speak. Magical Gains get really interesting when they end up in a Free Zone, where magic isn't policed. Primrose finds herself in a spot of bother with some Satyrs. Then we meet Imran's brother and find out about their dark past.

If you're looking for something inventive and new in the PNR genre then give Magical Gains a go. It's a fresh, funny, fantastic read with a healthy dose of sexy thrown in. I can't wait for the second book in the series, Magical Creations.

I give it 3.5/5.

I met Rebecca Lim!

2011-05-22T17:05:00.000+08:00

On my last day in Melbourne I was lucky enough to meet Rebecca Lim, author of Mercy and Exile. She signed my books and I even got a photo with her. She was lovely and I wish I had more of a chance to talk to her, but I had to rush off to catch a plane.

(Please ignore my face, I was talking at the same time.)

Signed Mercy.

Signed Exile.

Winners from my blogoversary!

2011-05-12T21:51:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone. Thank you to all the wonderful authors and all those who took part in my 1st Blogoversary! I am now going to announce the winners. So without further ado:

$50 Book Depository giftcard winner is MARY!!!

Signed copy of Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione is KARLA VOLLKOPF!!!

Copy of either Deadly Heat or Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden is LISA DUNICK!!!

Please contact me within 48 hours via email, to claim your prizes. Thanks again to everyone who entered.

While your here you may want to know that H.P Mallory has all her ebooks on sale for 99 cents! If you haven't read them, then now is the time to grab a copy of each. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. This is only for the next 4 days so you better hurry.

Interview with Nicola E. Sheridan

2011-05-08T07:39:00.000+08:00

Forthose who haven’t heard about your book, can you tell us a bitabout it?

“MagicalGains” is my debut novel, and was released in March this yearthrough Eternal Press. It’s a paranormal romance between a womanand a Genie.

Basically,it’s set in an alternate version of our world, where all Magicaland Mythological Beings are real, and merely considered to beminority groups. To keep things running smoothly, the government hasdeveloped departments to help assimilate Magical Beings into everydaylife. To do this they created “Magical Gains Tax” – to stopMagical Beings and humans making illegal financial advancementsthrough magical means. This means that when my rather repressedheroine finds herself the mistress of a gorgeous Genie, she’scompletely unwilling to take his wishes. Then all the fun and gamesstart!

Howdid the idea for your story originate?

Well,a few years back there was a television advertisement for chocolatebiscuits. In it there was a woman who appears to be the mistress ofan attractive Genie – but all she wants is a packet of biscuitsthat never ends... I wouldn’t have wished for biscuits if he weremy Genie... Anyway, it got me thinking that if the magic was real,the Government would definitely tax it – after all it tax’s justabout everything else! That’s when the Magical Gains Tax was born,and subsequently Primrose and Imran’s story. You can check it outhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkTFrwnL5eA

Haveyou always wanted to write?

Yes.I can remember writing elaborate stories from quite a young age. Thenat high school I used to write fantasy stories for my friends toread. I absolutely thrived on their enthusiasm and the stories gotwilder and more ridiculous from it. It was then I knew I eventuallywanted to be a published author.

Whydid you choose paranormal romance as your genre?

Iloved fantasy as a kid, and as an older teen I adored Anne Rice’svampires, but I just wanted more romance in the stories. Then Idiscovered Laurell K Hamilton and although I don’t read her newstuff, her early Anita Blake’s were great for romance and sexualtension. So after a writing a tweenie fantasy, and failing tocomplete a manuscript about an Incubus, I saw the advert mentionedabove and I was inspired to write about Genies and wrote “MagicalGains”, “Magical Creations” and my current WIP “MagicalRedemption”.

Doesyour writing schedule ever affect your family routine?

Iseriously try to not let it – but at times it seriously does.Generally when I’m writing, I try do it now when no one is home orat night. On school holidays however, it poses a problem and I’mcurrently behind in my writing because I feel constantly guilty aboutnot spending time with the kids and my husband! Writing can be hardmistress!

Didyou do any research for you book? Was there anything interesting youdiscovered?

Ido research for my books, particularly locations andmagical/mythological beings. I always try to use locations I’vepersonally been to. So generally, I’ve prowled all the placesmentioned in the books, making sure the colour of the street lamps iscorrect etc. With regards to the mythological beings, my favouritenew discovery is the Chupacabra, a “modern” mythological beast/cryptid. I’m sure it’s fairly common knowledge in America/SouthAmerica, but most people here haven’t heard of them. I love stufflike that!

Whatinspires you to write?

Almostanything! For the Genie series, it was initially that TV advert andmy intrigue about how our world would work if magical beings werereal. Where would a Manticore live? Who would employ a Harpy? Thosekinds of questions amuse and inspire me. After I finish with Genies,I have an idea for another book that’s been inspired by my veryweird cat.

Doyou write for yourself or for readers?

Iwrite for myself. I write about things that interest me, but livingin the hope they might interest and titillate other people. If theydon’t...well, at least I’ve had great fun writing it anyway!

Howexciting is it to have your book published?

Itis exciting, but daunting. It’s moved writing out of my privatesphere into a very public one, and for a while I didn’t know how todeal with that. I have always written and entertained myself withstories. Suddenly when I got my first contract I started feeling likeI hadtowrite, instead of wantedtowrite. It very nearly crippled my writing all together! I was onlywhen I resolved myself to write whatI wanted, whenI wanted that the words flew again. I don’t want writing to ever bea job, I want it to be what it always has been, a fun enjoyable thingthat I do whenever I can make time.

Isyour book part of a series or stand alone? How many books will therebe if it’s a series?

“MagicalGains” is one of a three part series. The second in the series is“Magical Creations” which is due for release on the 7^thof October. “Magical Creations” is based on the sub-character ofOmar from “Magical Gains,” so if you thought he’d been left ina rut you can find out how he gets his HEA! I am currently working onthe third and final in the series is “Magical Redemption”, basedon the sub-character of Lucian, from “Magical Creations”.

Doyou try to reach a quota everyday? How do you meet it?

Nope.No daily quota’s here. That would make it too structured and rigidfor me. Nothing scuttles my creative drive than havingto write something. So, I write whenever I can find a spare moment,or if I’m particularly inspired will ask my husband to wranglechildren and leave me alone whilst I pump out as many words as I can.It’s really shamelessly disorganised I know, but still it’samazing how much you can get done!

Wasthere any inspiration from actors/models for your characters?

Notinitially, however when I spotted the Turkish actor/model BurakOzcivit - oh my! He is my ideal Imran for sure. Google him, it’swell worth your time!

ThanksJo-Anne!

*sigh* Isn't he gorgeous?

You can find out more about Nicola by visiting her website.

Day 11 - Guest post by Adrian Phoenix

2011-05-06T20:08:00.000+08:00

MyFirst Hurts-So-Bad-It-Must-Be-Love Crush

Ididn’t know love hurt. That it was a constant, yearning ache, onethat would tie my heart into knots, one that would saturate everythought with him, and make me think of him with every breath I drew.He’s breathing too, right this very second. Doeshe think of me? Has he even noticed me? We both gotta breathe, sure,but I can pretend we’re breathing together.

Oh.My. God. Thirteen sucks. Thirteen is when you discover the meaning ofbitter-sweet and gawky and heartsick. (And the rest of your familydiscovers the meaning of self-absorbed, brooding, and melodramaticand you can agree on one thing: thirteen sucks.)

Iwould babble about this boy at meals, every word spilling from mylips was all about him, My mother dismissed me as boy-crazy, andwhile crazy was accurate since that was how I felt, I was only crazyfor one boy.

Iwas in eighth grade in junior high school and his name was John. Hehad dark hair and dark eyes and seemed so mysterious. He was quietand usually traveled around the school with an entourage of two malefriends. He wasn’t one of the popular boys or a jock or even anoutcast. He was a regular boy and I thought he was the cutest boy inthe universe. I would’ve delivered up my heart on a platter (stillquivering) if he would’ve even looked my way.

Weoften took the same short cut home across the field after school, andI would trail behind him and his friends. I would study every toss ofhis head, feel weak at the sound of his laughter. I think all Ireally wanted from him was to just look at him, to be near, to beable to laugh with him and maybe, just maybe, hold hands. I don’tthink I even thought about a kiss, just his company and holdinghands.

Oneday, he dropped a glove as he walked home and, heart pounding,delirious, I picked it up. I took it home, thinking I would give itto him in class the next day. I could only hope I wouldn’t faintwhile doing so.

Inever found the courage to give him the glove. I think a part of menever intended to. I kept it under my pillow. A keepsake. A promise.A way to be close to him. I often wished I could walk up to him,smile, and say, “Hey, John” and make him look at me with the sameyearning I felt twisting like ivy around my heart whenever I walkedpast him without a word or a glance, my cheeks blazing as if he couldread my thoughts. (Hopefully not about the glove hidden beneath mypillow!)

Ipined over John for a long time. Wrote maudlin poetry and moped. Alot. I think I’m fortunate no one in my family smothered me in mysleep (with the glove). LOL. During the year of my crush, John saidhello to me once and smiled. I blushed so hard that I’m surprised Ididn’t burst into flame. I stammered something, probably, “Uh.”But the unrequited love affair of the century began to wane when Johnwas asked to read aloud in class. As he struggled with each word inthe book, I realized he didn’t read much. Well, okay, we couldaround that. But when he pronounced Chicago as chick-a-go, I knew wewere doomed.

Inever had a crush as intense and painful and (one-sidedly) romanticas that one. I don’t think I would’ve survived another. My familywould’ve made sure. LOL.

Andspeaking of firsts:

Youcan read a chapter from the first book in The Maker’s Song series.Here’sa linkto a sample chapter of ARush of Wings.

Andthe first book in my Hoodoo series. Here’s a linkfor the first chapter of BlackDust Mambo.

Thanksso much for having me! It’s been a blast. You can also find me at:

Website Myblog Facebook FacebookFan Page Twitter MySpace Goodreads

Dante'sClub Hell Forum

Dante'sClub Hell Yahoo Group

PocketAfter Dark

Day 10 - Guest post by Tracey O'Hara

2011-05-04T05:36:00.000+08:00

Since this is Strange Candy’s first anniversary I was asked to talk about one of my big firsts. Now I could think of many first things. My “first” time, which was totally forgettable. My first love who I married, who also fathered of my first child (and my second). Or I could talk about my first book, or my first cover, of my first release.

Instead I decided to talk about another “first” I embarked on this year with my husband, we bought our first house.

Now I never knew how time consuming and stressful it is, but it’s also a bit like getting a book published in a way. First there is the idea, then the research, the plotting, the planning, the making it happen and finally the payoff when you have finished and move into the new house.

For years my family has been living in a rented house unsuitable for our needs and our size. I commandeered one of the bedrooms for my office so my adult sons had to share a room which also acted as their games room. I didn’t realise how cramped we had been living until we move into a place where everyone gets a room and there is room left over to set up my office and the boys games room.

So my big first this year is my first house.

Leave a comment and your email to be entered!

Day 9 - Guest post by Erica Hayes

2011-05-03T06:37:00.000+08:00

Myfirst manuscript

No,not the first one I got published. The first I ever wrote. Back inthe dim, dark nineties when no one had ever heard of paranormalromance or urban fantasy.

Iread a lot of big fat fantasy, so that's what I tried to write. Itwas this rambling tale of a nun, who was also a doctor, who discoversthat the gods she's worshipped all her life are actually a gang ofdemons intent on taking over the world. I was pretty clueless aboutworldbuilding at the time. I liked the idea of a four-month-long,dark winter, so I put it in the deep latitudes of the south. And Ithought it'd be cool if, instead of swords and bows, they hadflintlock pistols. So I shunted it out of the Middle Ages into a kindof quasi-Civil-War era. And the romantic hero was a rabid villain whodid horrible things to innocent people for fun, until the heroineshowed him the error of his ways by driving him insane (literally).

Yeah,it was terrible :) But I had a lot of fun. I revised it about ahundred times. Even submitted it a few places, to editors who sighedat how awful it was and patiently sent me form rejections.

Buthey, you've got to start somewhere! And when I look at thatmanuscript now, the themes that pop out are surprising. Stuff that atthe time, I didn't even really know I was writing about.

'Good'and 'evil' as fluid concepts that warp in the eye of the beholder.People who are one thing on the outside and quite another on theinside. Dual personalities, demonic possession, voices in your head,the war against the darkness within you.

Thenagain, maybe those themes aren't so surprising. I look at mypublished books, and I see the same things. I write charming demons,evil angels, 'good' as the lesser of two evils. And every single oneof my books has characters with twin personalities or voices in theirheads. For instance, Joey in POISON KISSED is a shape-shifter with adark and hungry creature inside him, and Mina is possessed by hermagical voice. And Ember, the heroine of my upcoming book BLOODCURSED, is haunted by the apparition of the stronger, tougher,no-nonsense self she wishes she could be.

SeemsI have some deep-seated need to write about insane people! But theidea that writers have a 'core story' – one they tell over and overagain, in different forms – is well-known. Mine is 'the darknesswithin', and I embrace it. It pops up everywhere, whether I mean itto or not. And it started before I knew anything about writing orpublishing, way back in that very first manuscript.

Remember: comment and email or you don't get entered. $50 gift card from Book Depository!

Day 8 - Interview with Noah Mullette-Gillman

2011-05-02T06:57:00.000+08:00

Welcometo Strange Candy Reviews Noah, thank you for stopping by.

Canyou give us a little information about your book/s?

Ihave three titles available. First, I have a novella called The WhiteHairs. It’s an unusual story about a white furry creature namedFarshoul. The story begins with him participating in a ritual withhis people. He is learning how to leave his body and travel in thewind and the snow. When he returns to his physical self, despite whathe has experienced, he is told that he failed. He never left his bodyat all. Farshoul is left with no choice. He has to discover the truthof his experiences on his own, without any help from his society.It’s a gently moving philosophical story.

Ithen published a short story called The Song of Ballad and Crescendo.It’s available for free on Smashwords (99 cents everywhere else.)This is a love story and a fable. It takes place in a mythicalforgotten time when the sky used to be covered with stone andeveryone had to whisper so that massive rocks wouldn’t fall andcrush them. The story is illustrated with a series of my photographs.

Luminousand Ominous is my first full-length published work. It’s an end ofthe world horror and science fiction story. Henry Willingham getsthree days warning that an alien vegetation has invaded the world. Hehas to decide which friends he saves and what supplies he gathers.There isn’t enough time. Some terrible decisions get made. Then,after a year or so underground, Henry and two other survivors walkthrough the transformed ruins of upstate New York, past alien treesand alien animals trying to survive.

Whendid you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Earlyon, I think I saw all arts as one. When I was a child, there was noreal difference between drawing a picture or telling a joke orwriting a poem. By the time I got to high school I wanted to writeand draw comic books. But I reached a point when I discovered that myreal talent, and my real passion was for writing.

Istarted with comicbook plots, then poetry, then I sang in some bandsin Boston and wrote all of my own lyrics. Then eventually I startedwriting short stories, then movie scripts, and then finally novels. Isee my work as having really evolved from fully-gilled fish to woollyland walker. My hope is that the next stage will be when my workstarts to glow in the dark. 

Howlong does it usually take you to write a book?

I’mnot yet at the point when I have written enough books to know whatnormal is. I wrote my first novel in a month. My second took twoyears. I then started and abandoned a few. Luminous and Ominous tookme a few months. Since I published that, in late November, I havebeen hard at work on two novels and a novella. When I’m “in thegroove” I think 3,000 words is a decent day.

Whatwas the hardest thing you've had to research?

Withoutcompetition, that was my senior project in college. I went to BardCollege, in upstate New York. I graduated with a multidisciplinarydegree in Philosophy and Creative Writing. My senior project was onthe expression of experiences.

Thatsaid, I do a considerable amount of research for my writing. I amworking on a science fiction novel about magicians now. To preparefor this I have read about the Hermetic magicians, the alchemists,Emperor Rudolph II of Prague, John Dee and Edward Kelly’scommunications with angels, etc, etc. I’ve read several books onthe history of stage magic. I don’t approach a book about magic asa Dungeons and Dragons-esque opportunity to just make up a story offof the top of my head. I take it seriously.

Whatis your work schedule like when you're writing?

Farmore chaotic than I wish it were. Life isn’t simple. I do alsoteach. I have a lot of other responsibilities. Also, the fact that Ido do so much reading and research for my books means that a largeportion of the time that I spend on my stories doesn’t immediatelyresult in any pages at all. But, all of that being the case, I amstill hoping to publish four books in 2011.

Doyou think you have an interesting writing quirk?

“Quirk?”I don’t think of my work as quirky. I hope that there’s a lotabout the way I approach my work which is interesting, at least. Onething that readers might want to know is that I do give a lot ofthought to the symbolic meaning of the events in my stories. Thesymbolism is never the point. The plot must always be paramount, butif you see a snake in my story, I will have considered what snakesrepresent on the psychological level and how this symbol relates tothe others in the story.

Wheredo you get your information or ideas for your books?

Iput a lot of intentional work into inspiring myself. I carefullyselect the books I read, movies I watch, music I listen to. The walksin the woods, the drives across the country, the hours spent walkingthrough the streets, the time I spend abroad… It’s all intendedto generate ideas.

Thereis a myth that authors and creative people are simply gifted theirideas like Christmas presents which require no work or effort. Thereis nothing harder than keeping the fire burning.

Whatwas one of the most surprising things you learned in creating yourbooks?

ThatI could have a single coherent thought which went on for hundreds ofpages.

Whatdo you think makes a good story?

Ha!Is that all you want to know? I’ll tell you what I aspire to. Ilike to be imaginatively competitive. However original my ideas havebeen in the past, I always want to surpass them. Whenever I read abook or watch a movie and the ideas amaze me, I see that as achallenge to be more original than they are. I never steal anyoneelse’s ideas because my stated goal is always to try to outdo them.I wouldn’t be satisfied with any work wherein I wasn’t at leasttrying to accomplish this.

Butof course, writing is even harder than that. We need to make peoplecare. We need to move them. We need to be of psychological use. Weought to be honest. AND we have to catch all the typos…. I’mtelling you, writing is hard!

Whydid you choose to take the self published route?

Idid seriously consider submitting Luminous and Ominous to agents andpublishers. Here’s why I didn’t. If I were to submit the book, Icould expect to wait 6-9 months for a reply. IF I were lucky enoughto find someone right off the bat who was interested in my book, Icould then expect to wait another year or more to see it actuallypublished.

Instead,I published the book with very little delay. It’s done. It’s inthe world. More than 500 people have read the book in a little overfour months. I have moved on and am working on a sequel and otherworks. I’m getting a modest check every month. I continue to ownall of the rights to my work and I enjoy 100% creative control. Ihave begun to build an audience, and I have earned a 4/5 star averageof reviews on Amazon.com with 26 reviewers. I’m off to a goodstart!

Doyou have any advice for others who are thinking of self publishing?

Edit.Take the time and catch all the typos. Also, spend some time thinkingabout if the book is the best it can be.

Thendo it.

Namefive things you can't live without.

Input: Movies, music, books, ideas, conversation. Deep thought.
Output. I need to write and create.
Friends and animals.
Rain.
Cheese.

Day 7 - Guest Post by Marianne de Pierres

2011-05-01T16:03:00.000+08:00

My First Story Proofs

If I had to pick one of the highlights from my life, one would be the day I got my first set of proofs. These were for a children’s chapter book I published years ago, called Dylan’s Magic Cards. And funnily enough it wasn’t seeing my story typeset that was the exciting thing, it was the internal illustrations and cover rough that made it so memorable. For me, nothing beats seeing how a story you’ve written is interpreted by an artist (whether it be an animator, videographer, film maker, painter or whoever). The sight of those pictures in Dylan’s Magic Cards was worth a million dollars to me – and more. Someone had breathed another kind of life into my words.

Leave a comment and your email for another entry to win the $50 gift card from Book Depository!

Nerdscape for Kevin Hearne's giveaway!

2011-04-30T21:43:00.000+08:00

This is my second entry into Kevin Hearne's Hounded giveaway. This nerdscape is titled 'The battle for the all-spark continues'. Optimus Prime faces down his Decepticon enemies alone......

Day 6 - Guest post by Jaye Wells

2011-04-29T19:06:00.000+08:00

This Is the First Line of the Rest of Your Life
By Jaye Wells

Inspiration can strike at strange times. Talk to a dozen writers and they'll give you a dozen odd locations where they've had an idea--in the shower, on the toilet, eating a bagel, at a funeral, etc. But for me, the most important piece of inspiration I've had so far hit me while I was driving down the road. 

I remember very clearly cruising down Beltline Road in Addison, Texas. I was approaching a stoplight and thinking about a story I needed to write for a friend's flash fiction contest. At the time, I was just another aspiring writer. The contest in question was a for-fun event my friend hosted on his blog a couple of times a year. He'd post an image that would serve as the jumping off point for all the stories entered. 

For this contest, he'd posted a picture of a full moon peeking from between clouds. Since I already wrote paranormal fiction, this image was perfect. But the pressure was on. I didn't want to write just another paranormal story. Which is why, on that sunny afternoon, I was thinking about what I wanted to write as I ran errands. 

I was about 100 yards from the light when a voice spoke in my head. "Digging graves is hell on a manicure," the female voice whispered. 

The car might have swerved--or maybe I'm just imagining it did. But that one little line, that one perfect little line, grabbed me by the throat. I pulled to a stop at the light and tore my car apart looking for a piece of paper, a pen, anything. I didn't want to forget it. But of course, I wouldn't forget it. How could I? A character that would say something like that was someone I wanted to get to know. 

"Digging graves is hell on a manicure," ended up being the first line for that flash fiction piece titled, "I Can Dig It." The 250-word story was about a vampire who was burying a body when she is discovered by another vampire who threatens her and ends up dead, too. The story got a lot of great feedback in the contest. So great, in fact, that I decided to write an entire novel about this intriguing female vampire with the ironic view on life and a violent streak. 

That book, of course, turned into RED-HEADED STEPCHILD. RHSC was the first urban fantasy I ever wrote--before that I'd written romances that will never see the light of day. And that first urban fantasy novel became my first published novel.  

Today, I'm working on book five of the Sabina Kane series. It's the last book in the series, which is the first last book in a series I've ever written. My how life has changed since RED-HEADED STEPCHILD debuted. But looking back, I see how one small first--that one line--lead to a string of other firsts and how, at the end of the day, you never know when a simple car ride can change your whole life.

Remember to leave a comment and your email address for the chance to win a $50 Book Depository giftcard.

Day 5 - Guest post by Cynthia Eden + Giveaway

2011-04-27T19:29:00.000+08:00

You Never Forget Your First…

Happy Blogoversary, Jo-Anne! It’s great to be here at Strange Candy Reviews, and I sure amexcited to talk about my “first”—well, my first romance book,that is.

It’s been over twenty years since Ipicked up my first romance book at a local K-Mart. I was browsingthe aisles, a twelve-year-old girl who was looking for something new(yep, I started reading romances early), and I found a HarlequinRomance that caught my eye: THE ASKING PRICE by Amanda Browning.

I read the book eagerly. There wasangst. Romance. Betrayed lovers. Drama. And…a happy ending. Onebook, just one, and I was addicted. This book didn’t just changemy reading habits; instead, it changed my life. Suddenly, I knew(yes, at 12) what I wanted to be: a writer. I wanted to pen storiesthat ended happily. I wanted to write about love and danger anddrama—I wanted to have the thrill of creating stories and sharingthem with readers.

This book (that, yes, I still have onmy keeper shelf even though the pages have long since yellowed),changed my life. It made me happy. It made me dream. And it made mewrite.

Do you remember your first romancenovel? Share it with me! One random commenter will win her/hischoice of either DEADLY HEAT or DEADLY LIES (my romantic suspensenovels published by Grand Central’s Forever line—I promise,you’ll find danger and a happy ending in these pages!).

Thanks for checking out my post!

CynthiaEden

www.cynthiaeden.com

BOUNDBY BLOOD--.99 eBook Available Now

NEVERCRY WOLF—Available 6/28/11 from Kensington Brava

So leave your answer and email for your chance to win a copy of either Deadly Heat or Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden. All entries from this post are also entered into the $50 Book Depository gift card giveaway!

Day 4 - Guest Post by Kevin Hearne

2011-04-26T07:27:00.000+08:00

Completing my firstnovel changed my life.

It is an utterpiece of trash that will never, ever be published, but its importanceas milestone for me cannot be overstated.

For the longesttime—most of a decade—I couldn’t finish one, and I beat myselfup about it. How can I want to be an author, I asked myself, if Idon’t feel strongly enough about my work to complete it?

I think part of myproblem was taking those writing advice books to heart. I read toomany of them and it damaged my brain. All their guidance about how towrite, market, and sell your novel—sometimes with competingideas—banged around my head and had me writing things I didn’tcare about for an audience I truly didn’t know. I must haveabandoned ten different manuscripts trying to follow their advice onhow to write a bestseller.

What changed thingsfor me was when I decided to write for myself. It still took me sixyears, but I wrote some crazy shit about an eco-terrorist who usedthose Coleman propane lanterns to firebomb fast food restaurants. Themedia dubbed him the Green Lantern, and I thought the comic book jokewas funny. I threw in a history professor who was trying to find someAztec gold buried in Arizona five centuries ago. Oh, and he wasrunning from the Russian mafia too.

It made no sense.It’s truly awful. But it had a beginning, middle, and end, and Iwas highly amused while writing it. Most importantly, I learned thatI could finish a book, and that gave me the confidence tostart another one. I wrote my next book in half the time. My thirdbook was the one that got me an agent and a publishing deal—andagain, I wrote it to please myself. My fourth and fifth books werewritten in five and six months, respectively, and now I have theconfidence to say I can keep up that pace. I owe that confidenceentirely to just getting through my first book—my first,unpublished horror of a book. I will always look back on it fondly.

Kevin Hearne is the author of The IronDruid Chronicles, to be published in Australia by Voyager. You canvisit him at http://www.kevinhearne.comand follow him on Twitter @kevinhearne.

Remember to leave a comment and your email to win a $50 Book Depository giftcard!

Day 3 - Guest post by Eleni Konstantine

2011-04-23T22:58:00.000+08:00

The First Cover Design

Thanks Strange Candy Reviews for having me on your blog. Congratulations on a great first year.

I love a good blogoversary. It's a time to look back and reflect.

I’m a big fan of cover art. I love how colour, text, and images combine to entice you to open the covers to reveal the magic of the story within.

One day, I decided to enter the 2010 Little Gems cover contest run by the Romance Writers of Australia. I had been playing around with stock images and creating banners for my website, so I had wanted to take this one step further.

I had been going through a hard time (family health issues), which left me with the inability to concentrate on the written word. But working on this cover competition was exactly what I needed. So I decided to not worry about writing and instead concentrate on designing.

It must take incredible artistic skill to do a cover, right?

Well, yes and no.

You don’t have to be an artist to do a good cover. You see, I think you need the technical ability, and an eye for design. What I see myself in regards to book covers is that I’m a designer, not an artist. Yes, there are people who create artwork from scratch, but I wasn’t one of them in this case (one day, I hope).

I had burrowed through stock image websites, looking for images for the theme ‘Topaz’. I am an omnivore when it comes to art, enjoying a different range of styles and looks. The resulting ideas that flowed reflected this. From the more classic to the more abstract. From bright colours to dark colours, and even pastels. My mind spun with ‘what about this’.

I explored Photoshop Elements, making different mock-ups with an image(s) and font size. I adjusted lighting, contrast, colouring. I added layers with different features. I chopped, changed, and combined a number of elements together. I found out a little about printing, and I finally placed in my entries.

And won.

(Well technically, my alter ego won *grin*)

I can’t tell you what a huge thrill this was for me. Even more so, that one of my favourite designs was chosen. Being the first time I had ever done this, I didn’t think I would be successful. Oh, I hoped, but I was realistic. I was not an artist. But, like I said before, I was a designer.

This was the winning entry.

It represents a more ‘classic’ look.

I continued to learn more about design as I worked with the printer to get the best possible result. What a thrill to see it in print form at the launch at the Romance Writers of Australia conference last year, and to be awarded with my certificate.

It was the boost I needed at the time, to keep going with my creative pursuits. I haven’t spent as much time doing the designs I would like to do, but I do feel it helped me with my writing. They seem to balance each other out.

So, I can now say, I’m a cover designer and writer.

You can learn more about Eleni and her works by visiting her website.

Remember to leave your a comment and your email for a chance to win a $50 giftcard from the Book Depository!

Day 2 - Guest post by Diane Whiteside

2011-04-23T05:57:00.000+08:00

First Earrings

What does it saythat I came into a set of wheels before my ears were pierced? Well,for one thing, my parents were very conservative. As for the car,attending the only college which offered my chosen major meantcertain sacrifices – starting with distance from home and the swiftrealization that local bus service sucked. Enter one small, cheap,used car into my life shortly after I arrived at the dorms.

But earrings? Notso fast. No metal was allowed to pierce the flesh of my parents’child. Well, at least not for years. By then, I was paying my ownway through school and felt liberated. Liberated enough to dump thescrew-backed earrings I’d always loathed because they either felloff or hurt my ears if I tightened them enough to stay on.

The alternative waspierced ears. Ooh, dangerous thought – metal entering my flesh,exactly what always sent my parents into loud agonies ofsqueamishness. On the other hand, they couldn’t stop me and Icould have so much more fun shopping for pierced earrings thanscrewback or clip-ons. Ah, the retail therapy possibilities! Oh,the stretch on my tiny college budget! Oh, the pure joy of huntingjewelers’ booth for the right pair of earrings… And show off myindependence.

But I digress. Mymind was made up. As soon as I had the money, I’d get my earspierced.

That’s whentrouble hit. I got my year-end bonus in mid-December – just beforeleaving to spend Christmas vacation with my family. The localdepartment store had a fabulous sale on hoop earrings, including astainless steel pair which would be perfect for starting out. Thenurses where I worked were amazed my ears weren’t pierced and hadpromised to help.

The money burned inmy pocket. I took a deep breath and splurged.

It was a quietafternoon at the nursing home. Soon a half dozen nurses gatheredaround to approve my choice of earrings. They decided the head nursewould pierce my ears, after her second-in-command – an artist –selected the exact spot on my earlobe. Coffee and cookies werepassed around while my earlobes were thoroughly disinfected withalcohol wipes. (To hospital standards, thank you very much!) Wechatted and chuckled while the ladies told stories about how theirears and their daughters’ ears were pierced.

Then I got on theplane to visit my folks.

My mother washorrified when she saw me. She launched into a tirade about how I’drisked my health by assaulting my ears in that dirty fashion. Icountered by recounting who, where and how my ears were pierced. Myexplanation silenced her, at least around me. Privately, I keptreminding myself of all the great earrings I could buy for myself.

It was an edgy visitat first. My parents kept looking at me sideways and asking if myears hurt. (No, they didn’t, much to my parents’ continuedsurprise.) My folks gradually calmed down and started talking to meabout new and unusual topics, like politics.

We even wound upshopping together – for earrings. Yup, you heard me right. Motherand I both like pretty baubles but she prefers bracelets. We werekilling time in a jeweler’s store and she came over to see what Iwas looking at. She too started ooh’ing and ah’ing over piercedearrings and I thought, “Gotcha!”

When she fell inlove with a pair of earrings, I bought it. I still wear that firstpair of black and gold earrings, in honor of woman power andtogetherness.

What was your firstpair of earrings like? Do you have a piece of jewelry that makes youfeel alive and warm?

Learn more about Diane and her books by visiting her website.

You can read my review of The Shadow Guard here.

Remember all you have to do to enter is leave a comment, in this case Diane has asked a question, leave your email in case you win!

My first Blogoversary! with Christina Phillips

2011-04-21T22:32:00.000+08:00

Welcome everyone to my new blog thanks to Kayden McLeod. It's My first blogoversary,and I thought it would be a good idea to have some awesome authors stop by and tell us about one of their 'firsts'. To kick things off we have a guest post by Christina Phillips. My blogoversary runs from 22 April - 6 May and the major prize is a $50 gift card from the Book Depository! If I reach 350 followers by the 6th May I will also have a signed copy of Pleasure Unbound to giveaway thanks to Larissa Ione. All you have to do is leave a comment on each post. If you only comment on one post thats 1 entry if you comment on all posts (including reviews) you have more chances of winning. So lets begin..........

Congratulations on your first yearBlogoversary, Strange Candy! And thank you for inviting me onto yourblog to help celebrate!

As this is a party celebrating ‘firsts’I thought I’d share how I felt when I first held my debuthistorical romance in my hand. It had been a long time coming – tenyears in fact! During that time I wrote category romance, firstperson chic-lit and then paranormal romance. I worked with editors onrevisions and new ideas, caught the interest of several agents—butthere was never any cigar.

So I decided to try somethingcompletely new for me—erotic romance. My very first eroticnovelette sold! I had clearly, at long last, found my voice!

But as exciting as that first was, mytrue love has always been writing full length books, because I canexplore so much more in terms of world building and digging deeperinto the characters of my hero and heroine. And so, spurred on by mysales to a small e-publisher, I wrote my very first full lengtherotic romance. Somehow it also decided to be a historical romanceand if that wasn’t enough—seeing as I’d never attempted towrite a historical romance before—it turned out to be an ancienthistorical romance with hot Roman warriors and magical Druidheroines.

So there I was with an erotic ancienthistorical romance with fantasy elements which I loved to bits butseriously doubted would ever find a home in the market.

But within a month of querying agents Iaccepted representation from my dream agent at 11.30 pm one Fridaynight while we chatted on MSM. Not that it’s engraved in my memoryor anything! Three months later we signed a two book deal and sobegan a whirlwind of more ‘firsts’.

On 16^th August 2010 my earlyauthor copy of FORBIDDEN arrived. O.M.G. It was so pretty and shinyand the cover looked even more fabulous in real life! I might havekissed it once or twice and walked around the house clutching it likea cuddly kitty, and made everyone wash their hands before they wereallowed to stroke it. Much to my husband’s bemusement I even tookit to bed with me that night!!

Since then my second book CAPTIVE hasbeen released—and it was just as exciting the second time around asthe first!

Christina Phillips writes hot ancienthistorical romances for Berkley Heat.

FORBIDDEN:

"Setin the time of the Roman Empire, Phillips' wonderful story of theromance between a Roman soldier and a Celt is more than entertaining"

RomanticTimes BOOK Review, 4 Stars

CAPTIVE:

Phillips’second in the Forbidden series is just as hot as its predecessor.Readers will be held Captive by the magic between Druid priestessMorwyn and Bren.

RomanticTimes BOOK Review, 4 Stars

Christina’s Website

Christina’s Blog

Christina’s Facebook

Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win. Having my blogoversary button displayed will earn you an extra 2 points, so please leave a link if you put it on your blog.

Review: The Shadow Guard by Diane Whiteside

2011-04-17T17:23:00.000+08:00

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Brava (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780758225191
ISBN-13: 978-0758225191
ASIN: 0758225199

Purchase from:

Click the Amazon link

The Book Depository

The Shadow Guard. They are the darkest of Black Ops. A force operating outside the sphere of the CIA or FBI. Taking their mandate not from the U.S. government, but from magic. And sex.

Sahir. Astrid Carlson is one of them, a mage on a mission. With her wispy blond hair and those long, long legs, she can make a man forget himself. Until it's way too late.

Kubri. Jake Hammond is the only thing she needs, the human conductor who can focus all her strength, bringing her to a peak of power, or shattering her completely. Yeah, she's got a hundred or so years on him, but who's counting when there's an unstoppable assassin to take down--and unstoppable chemistry to take on. . ..

*****

The Shadow Guard is a paranormal romance with a difference. There are no vampires or werewolves, but there is magic. And sex. Astrid works for the FBI, but she is unofficially undercover. In truth she’s a Sahir, a mage. She wields magic to help humanity. Astrid is strong, capable and isn’t afraid to push the limits her superiors set. With a killer on the loose she enlists the help of her online gaming partner, Jake Hammond, who also happens to be a cop. Jack is tall, dark and handsome. He’s also a Kubri, a human conductor. He strengthens her, to bring her to hit the highest point of her power. Although Astrid hides her true self from Jake, circumstances push her to reveal what she is, and what his role in her life now could be. A Kubri helps power a Sahir through sex. It’s electric between the two of them, but Astrid is afraid of losing someone else she cares for and, in the process she could destroy herself. Jake finds himself drawn to Astrid, and actually deals with the truth of who she and he are very well. He has faith. Together they work through the information they have to find and stop those responsible for the murder and an even bigger scheme, which I never saw coming. The battle at the end is quite spectacular. Astrid I really enjoyed the chemistry between Astrid and Jake. It was there from the get go, and never let up. They completed each other; the Sahir/Kubri relationship brought them even closer. The premise of Sahir’s and Kubri’s is very interesting, as I haven’t read anything similar before. There is definitely a lead on with two characters from this book, and I can’t wait to read their story.

There’s a lot of mystery woven into the story. It reads more like a paranormal romance detective story. Strange, you may think, but grab a copy of the Shadow Guard if you’re looking for a paranormal romance with a difference.

I give it 3.5/5.

This book was sent to me by the author.

5 & Under Wonder no2.

2011-04-16T13:07:00.001+08:00

The 5 and under wonder is meme started by Natasha over at A Great Book is the Cheapest Vacation.

This weeks 5 & under wonder is A Tale of Two Goblins by H.P Mallory at only $2.99! I love all H.P's books and if you haven't picked one up yet I suggest you do. They're awesome.

A Tale of Two Goblins is book 2 in the Dulcie O'Neil series. Here's a little more about it.

A Dreamstalker— a creature that stalks and kills its victims in sleep.

A fairy in law enforcement determined to stop him.

A potions smuggler who possesses something she wants.

A vampire with his own agenda.

And a partner who couldn’t possibly be sexier or more frustrating.

Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy working in law enforcement for the Netherworld.

When Knight Vander approaches her with a case regarding comatose victims, she agrees to help him, imagining the most difficult part will be combatting her attraction to him.

But, what Dulcie isn’t betting on is the fact that the case becomes personal when she learns all the victims are somehow linked to her.

When her best friend falls victim to the Dreamstalker, Dulcie must do everything in her power to ensure her friend’s survival, including associating with criminals and accepting the fact that desperate times do definitely call for desperate measures.

So head on over to Amazon to grab your copy today!

If you'd like to know more about H.P and her books, visit her website and Facebook.

Review: Blood Moons by Alianne Donnelly

2011-04-14T17:36:00.001+08:00

Product Details
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 401 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books (November 1, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004D9FYU0

Purchase Information

Amazon

They say no good deed ever goes unpunished, a sentiment Dara understands fully now that she is paying for a crime she didn't commit. It was stupid to call in a murder she didn't really see. But how could Dara have kept silent? Now a stunning -- scratch that, a dangerous -- man with a frightening secret of his own is telling her he can help. Yeah, right. A telepath knows better than to trust mere words.

The last decade of Tristan's life has been penance. All that time spent among the worst dregs of society might have made him begin to question his humanity, but he’s never felt so much like an animal as he does around this timid, delicate female. Her very presence stirs the beast within him; Tristan can feel it growing stronger every day. Any more time with Dara, and it might overpower him completely. But without her, he stands no chance at all...

*******

Dara Frost tried to stop a murderer by calling the police after ’dreaming’ the incident. Instead Dara has been sentenced to New Alaska, a maximum security prison planet. There she chooses wolf block, where the most dangerous of criminals are kept. For some reason it calls to her. There, she has to share a cell with Tristan Hunt, a big, scary, sexy alpha male. Dara finds him very attractive and struggles to keep her eyes off him. Tristan fights his baser urges and does his best not to get closer to her. Although a little afraid of Hunt, Dara feels safe with him. Hunt is trying to serve his time and has as little interaction with others as he possibly can. Dara’s arrival awakens a deep protectiveness in him. At first he is irritated with her presence and his reactions to her. To Dara’s surprise, Hunt takes her under his heavily muscled protection.

Both Dara and Tristan are telepaths and it adds an interesting aspect to their connection. Dara is a bit of a loner and considers herself broken. Tristan teaches her to harness her telepathy and this is how they form a unique bond. Although they both know a relationship of any kind between them is ridiculous under the circumstances, they can’t fight the pull they feel towards each other. I really enjoyed how their relationship starts out. Hunt is yummy, and I’d love to get my hands on him. He struggles with feelings she awakens in him, especially a stupid, fierce need to keep her beside him at all times. Dara feels he is just using her, and is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Tristan has undergone genetic experiments, which are playing havoc with his mind and body. His protective streak borders on obsessive, and when he begins changing her fights the feeling of wanting Dara close but also wanting to push her away for fear of hurting her. Dara is fascinated by his change and wants to help him in any way she can. When Dara heads back to Earth to help stop the true murderer, Tristan is beside himself with worry and fear. He tracks her down but the murderer catches up with Dara and kidnaps her. Tristan will stop at nothing to get her back. He utilizes all his new abilities to get her back.

Blood Moons is a sci-fi romance, with a little paranormal thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed the settings the author created, but I did find the futuristic aspects a little vague. It may just be the sci-fi nerd in me, but I found the closeness of some descriptions of items etc too close to what we have today, and it just didn’t ring true with the time era that was created. I could picture the entire story, with the vagueness letting my mind run wild with imaginings. Dara and Tristan seem so unlikely a couple but they work in the end. There wasn’t much, if any that I found annoying in either character. I just love Tristan! Lol. Blood Moons nearly kept me up past my bedtime, and if I didn’t have to work the next day I think I would have stayed up all night reading. It’s a sexy, exciting and intriguing read. Pick it up if you’re a fan of Rhyannon Byrd’s Primal Instincts or Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound.

I give it 4/5.

I received this ebook from the author.

Review: My Superhero Sister by Toni LoTempio

2011-04-12T18:31:00.002+08:00

Product Details

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 278 KB

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Toni LoTempio (January 25, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B004KZP1Q4

Purchase Information
Amazon
Smashwords
Holly Hamilton has always been perturbed by the way her older sister, Ellen, seems to get everything. It's especially tough living in the shadow of your sister's cape when she's a super heroine named Suprema!

With one super-parent and one not, it was inevitable that the girls would turn out different. Unfortunately for Holly, she takes after her earthling mother. Ellen has taken over their retired father’s role as Century City's reigning superhero, balancing school and super-duties with remarkable ease while it’s a struggle for Holly to get through her English class without mishap, not to mention those Cheer Squad tryouts!
The girls learn their father’s old nemeses, Anti-Hero, has escaped from his Space Prison, and they’re concerned – Anti-Hero nullified their father’s powers once – what else does he have in store for him and Suprema? When another teen superhero extraordinaire appears on the scene, they’re even more puzzled. Who is Magna Boy? Is he friend or foe? And does he have a connection to Anti-Hero? The appearance of two new guys at school, teen heartthrob Tad Barker and nerd Ed McGee, set Holly and her sister to wondering—and arguing—could one of them be the new super kid on the block? If so, which one?
Working with her friend Mona and her scientist uncle, Holly finally uncovers Anti-Hero’s dastardly plot – he intends to capture Suprema and Magna Boy and siphon their powers for himself! Before she can warn her sibling, however, Anti-Hero strikes and captures the superheroes. Now it’s up to Holly to use her ingenuity and prove to everyone, but most of all herself, that you don’t’ have to be a superhero for good to win out over evil…or to nab a super-boyfriend, either!

______________

My Superhero Sister by Toni LoTempio is a light, fun read. One you could probably read in one sitting. I loved all the aspects of a traditional superhero story, with the story not actually being about the superhero, but her very normal little sister. Holly is the focus of MSS, but she is a wonderful character. She’s smart, funny and has a little bit of an unusual hobby. She likes to collect bugs. Her fascination with them plays a pivotal role in the story too. Her and her sister Ellen have a normal sibling relationship, it’s just Ellen has super powers. Holly is of course sometimes slightly envious of her sister, but realizes being a superhero is not as fun as she thinks. She has a great relationship with her parents. Her mother is very loving and worries about her little half superhero family. Her father is a vet in his downtime, being the other superhero in their family. Anti-hero is the bad guy and is of course bent on world domination. He’s one of those smart-dumb people. You can't help but dislike him. It ends up being Holly who mostly saves the day with an unexpected transformation. She has the help of her best friend Mona, and Mona's uncle Professor Kane. I would say this is a book for younger readers, maybe the 10-15 year olds. The story is engaging and the characters are fun. There is a little romance, but it’s only G rated and is very cute and sweet. I found quite a bit of the story funny, it made me smile. If you’re after something for your younger readers then grab a copy of My Superhero Sister, you won’t be disappointed.

I give it 3.5/5.

The author kindly provided me with a copy of this ebook for review.

Don't forget that you can win one of two copies of My Superhero Sister, just by telling me who your favorite superhero is. Click here.

Character Interview: Holly & Ellen - My Superhero Sister + Giveaway

2011-04-10T13:13:00.000+08:00

An interview with: Hollyand Ellen Hamilton of MY SUPERHERO SISTER!

TLT: Welcome, girls! Andthank you for doing this interview!

Ellen: No problemo! I’mhappy to take time out of my daily patrol to help you.

Holly: And I’m alwaysglad to get out of English Class 

TLT: Ellen: What isyour favorite superpower?

Ellen: Oh, golly.There’s so many I like, but I guess I like my Expando-Breath. Itreally comes in handy at times, like if I have to get Holly somewherein a hurry.

TLT: What about you,Holly? If you were super, what would your favorite power be?

Holly: Flying,definitely. People tell me my head’s always in the clouds anyway 

TLT: What sort of personare you? Day or Night?

Ellen: That’s tough. I guess night. Flying up among the stars basking in the glow of themoon is really cool.

Holly: I’m day. That’s when I do my best experiments in Prof Kane’s basement!

TLT: Favorite Movie:

Ellen: Wow – any ofthe X-Men movies. They are supremely cool – and Wolverine is HOT!

Holly: I like The DarkKnight, but I’m also fond of My Super EX-girlfriend – especiallysince it was your inspiration for writing about us, LOL

TLT: what is one thingpeople would be surprised to learn about you?

Ellen: Wow – that I dohave a hard time with history. It’s not my favorite subject.

Holly: That I reallyprefer being mortal – honest! Even though I have a super-sister, asuper-dad, and now a super-boyfriend, I like to keep my feet firmlyon the ground.

TLT: What’s thecraziest thing you’ve ever done?

Ellen: Fly straightthrough a dam. I couldn’t stop in time. Boy, was I soaked!

Holly: Actually studyfor an English exam 

TLT: if someone coulddescribe you in one word, what would it be:

Ellen: that’s easy –SUPER

Holly: Normal Of course, that’s a relative term 

Thanks for letting meinterview you, girls!

Ellen: Thank you!

Holly: Yeah, and we hopepeople will want to read more about us in MY SUPERHERO SISTER! Thanks so much for having us!

Holly Hamilton has always been perturbed by the way her older sister, Ellen, seems to get everything. It's especially tough living in the shadow of your sister's cape when she's a super heroine named Suprema!

With one super-parent and one not, it was inevitable that the girls would turn out different. Unfortunately for Holly, she takes after her earthling mother. Ellen has taken over their retired father’s role as Century City's reigning superhero, balancing school and super-duties with remarkable ease while it’s a struggle for Holly to get through her English class without mishap, not to mention those Cheer Squad tryouts!

The girls learn their father’s old nemeses, Anti-Hero, has escaped from his Space Prison, and they’re concerned – Anti-Hero nullified their father’s powers once – what else does he have in store for him and Suprema? When another teen superhero extraordinaire appears on the scene, they’re even more puzzled. Who is Magna Boy? Is he friend or foe? And does he have a connection to Anti-Hero? The appearance of two new guys at school, teen heartthrob Tad Barker and nerd Ed McGee, set Holly and her sister to wondering—and arguing—could one of them be the new super kid on the block? If so, which one?

Working with her friend Mona and her scientist uncle, Holly finally uncovers Anti-Hero’s dastardly plot – he intends to capture Suprema and Magna Boy and siphon their powers for himself! Before she can warn her sibling, however, Anti-Hero strikes and captures the superheroes. Now it’s up to Holly to use her ingenuity and prove to everyone, but most of all herself, that you don’t’ have to be a superhero for good to win out over evil…or to nab a super-boyfriend, either!

Find out more aboutEllen, Holly and more of Toni LoTempio’s writing at her website: www.tonilotempioauthor.webs.com– her cat’s blog – www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

And friend her and thegirls on Facebook!

Giveaway:

2 winners will eachreceive an e-book copy of MY SUPERHERO SISTER (Smashwords coupon). Just leave a comment with your favourite Superhero! Don't forget to leave your email.

Ends 17/4/2011

Optional Extra Entries:

+1 follow the blogcatsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

+1 Leave a comment on theblog

+1 Tweet about thisgiveaway

+1 Friend Toni onFacebook.

(Please leave links so I can Check! Thanks)

New meme! 5 & Under Wonders.

2011-04-09T19:40:00.000+08:00

This meme was started by Natasha over at A Great Book Is The Cheapest Vacation. This meme is about supporting authors who are great, but maybe just not as well known. It's for books under $5! For my first 5 & Under Wonder I am going with Rose Pressey. I have her book to review, but I still thought I'd let you know about it, as she has a competition going to win an iPad 2! How awesome is that? So here's more about her book.

Romance can be a hairy business—especially when you’re a werewolf.

As the owner of Got a Mate Dating Service, Rylie is more than happy to step in and lend a hand to lonely lycanthropic hearts all over town. No matter how hopeless Rylie might be in finding her own soul mate, she has a knack for helping others find theirs.

Convinced that she is stuck with a family curse, Rylie is positive she will never find her true love. But when drool-worthy Jack Chandler shows up at her door, Rylie wonders if maybe the curse is finally broken.

But Rylie’s life is about to become complicated courtesy of the after-dark crowd. When she begins receiving strange notes and harassment from a jilted client, events careen out of control.

Jack knows she’s more hassle than he can handle. What he doesn’t know is whether she’s seriously in trouble . . . or simply delusional.

How to date a werewolf is available from Amazon for just $1.99! To find out more about the author, go to her website.

Review: Dragon's Heart by Nicki J Markus

2011-04-08T17:43:00.001+08:00

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 56 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Wicked Nights (February 7, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004MPRDGS

Amazon

All her life, Laoise has longed for adventure and daydreamed her days away. But the time for dreaming is past. Deep in the bowels of the earth a dragon wakes and the fate of her people and the entire world now rests in Laoise’s hands. Can she and her guide, Bearach, complete their quest to the Underworld in time or will her first real adventure also be her last?

Dragon’s Heart is a great little read. It’s only 33 pages long but it kept me reading. Laoise is a not-so-great Sidhe enchantress in training, who through her curiosity gets tasked with saving the world from a dragon that wakes every 500 years and must be fed. Bearach is a vampire from outside her city’s wall and is charged with escorting her to the dragons cavern.

The pace is set nicely and unfortunately the story ended before I was ready. There was a little romance thrown in and although it did feel a little rushed, it worked well with the storyline. Having characters grow in such a short story is hard, but Laoise grows from uncertain student to confident enchantress nicely. Bearach is the perfect partner for Laoise and although he almost loses her, comes through in the end. By the end of the story they have come to the conclusion that they may love each other.

If your looking for a quickie then grab a copy of Dragon’s Heart.
I give it 2.5/5.

The author kindly sent me this book for review.

It's my blogoversary on the 22nd!

2011-04-07T20:45:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone.

It's my 1st blogoversary on the 22nd of April! Yay. I can't believe I've been blogging for nearly a year now. I will have a button for the event up over the weekend. The party will run for two weeks and you will have a chance to win a $50 giftcard from the Book Depository! That's right, $50! So stayed tuned...........

Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

2011-04-05T21:11:00.000+08:00

Product Details

Paperback: 488 pages
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers (January 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1921829699
ISBN-13: 978-1921829697

Purchase Information

Amazon

Kobo

The first few days of year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks. But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder? Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship and, most of all, her development as a woman. Is it too late for Daisy to realize that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?

Friendship on Fire is a story about that awkward in between stage of no longer being a child/teenager, yet not quite an adult either. It’s about growing up and finding who we are and Daisy is doing just that. She’s in her final year of high school and is navigating its treacherous waters. Her story is real, it feels like you’re there, that this your story. Daisy is such a believable character, and her relationships with her family and friends help make FoF such a great story. I enjoyed her strength and uncertainty and the way she handled herself. Of course, she could have dealt with some things better than she did, but that is part of growing up. She has a quick temper, but is mature enough to realize when she needs to apologize. She learns some hard lessons about the intricacy’s of new relationships and the preservation of friendships.

Friendship on Fire brings back memories, or gives you an understanding of that time in your life when you have the world at your feet but aren’t quite sure where you’re going to place them next.

I give it 3/5.

Thanks to the author who provided me with a copy of her book.

You can also win a signed copy of Friendship on Fire by clicking here.

Guest Post by Danielle Weiler & Giveaway.

2011-04-03T08:03:00.001+08:00

Why I write YA novels/Why I write for teens?

I write contemporary young adult novels because it comes most naturally to me, like some kind of innate instinct. The thought of having to write anything else (like fantasy, romance, Kindy books) is foreign and scary. The fact of the matter is, for the most part, I remember everything about being a teenager, and, really, the teenager in me is still there, not so much lurking or watching from a distance, nor hiding or suppressed. It is in the very core and essence of me, only changed because I had to grow and develop into the working adult that everyone has to become. In a way, life and responsibilities beat the teenager out of you, but you still have fond memories of the certain sense of freedom you once had.

The stepping-stones of life are in the moments you can’t seem to forget: embarrassing and awkward conversations, the shifts and changes in friendships and relationships, the development of self through good and bad experiences: that boy/girl you shouldn’t have gone near, that boy/girl you wished you were more like instead of your ‘stupid boring self’ (not my words!), that random job you had to get yourself a bit of money to go to the movies, that stupid thing your parents said in front of your friends/boyfriend/girlfriend/
teacher/neighbour/anyone – you just remember how lame it was, all the hot chips you ate with friends on the beach during endless summers, discussing those big picture issues you thought were so clear-cut at the time but soon realised they weren’t at all and still aren’t.

Teenagers are in the throes of learning the biggest lesson of all: life isn’t simple, it isn’t always black and white. It’s multiple and varied shades of grey. If you mix these shades of grey you might end up getting close to black or white, but in the end, it’s the darkening of themselves around the edges and the ways in which they bend and break that will make young adults more wholesome and refined people; people that others will want to be around and who will contribute greatly to society when given the awesome opportunity.

I love the unabashed honesty of teenagers, the eyebrow-raising comments said with self-confidence and vulnerability mixed equally. They are passionate, opinionated, energetic people, and that is why it was easy to write Friendship on Fire. All I had to do was think about what I would have said, or would say, if I was still at that age. In some ways, it was a liberating experience. Teenagers are not only funny, self-deprecating, brave, and resilient, they are also very fascinating and versatile people to write about.

I hope teenagers who read my novel discover themselves a little bit more, and just how interesting they really are, in a grey, unique kind of way.

Danielle Weiler is an innovative history teacher living in Perth, Western Australia. She is inspired every day by teenagers who are trying to find their unique identity in life. A serial diary writer, Danielle attributes much of her writing to having a large family, with five older brothers who endlessly entertain her. She wrote her first story book when she was six years old.
Danielle is credited with being the editor of her university’s magazine as well as being president of her graduating class. Her writing encompasses the modern young adult and the difficulties of growing up in an unapologetic, competitive world. Danielle hopes this book will delight and satisfy the reader’s imagination.
Danielle is attached to a loving husband, who is the funniest and most patient person she’s met. She is owned by a very affectionate ranga cat named Toppy.
Danielle also has a passion for Redskins.

To win a signed copy of Friendship on Fire, just leave a comment with your email, telling me why you like to read YA novels? Giveaway is international and ends on Sunday 10th April.

Taking a break.

2011-03-20T09:07:00.000+08:00

I am just writing to let everyone know that I am taking a break from blogging until April as my Grandfather passed away. I have two great authors who will have posts up at the beginning of April, so I hope you'll stop by. It's also my blog's first birthday in April too, so hopefully while I'm away I can think of some cool stuff for it. I'll try and get some authors who would like to participate too!

Before I sign off the winner of the signed copy of Etched in Bone is (drum roll) Lisa R/alterlisa! I have emailed Lisa, so hopefully I can pass along her details to Adrian.

Regards,

Vampire Dating Tips by Adrian Phoenix & giveaway!

2011-03-10T18:10:00.001+08:00

Thanksso much, Jo-Anne, for letting me hang out with you and your readers.To celebrate the release of the fourth Maker’s Song book, Etchedin Bone, I thought a fewdating guidelines for vampires might be fun. Actually, it’s twosets of guidelines—one set for the vampire (nightkind) and one setfor the mortal who dates them.

Datingcan be awkward at best, but going out with nightkind offers whole newkinds of awkward moments—from the first date to the ones that(hopefully) follow when you reallystart getting to know each other. Here’s a quick guide to avoidblunders and faux pas while dating that sexy bit of nightkind.

DatingTips for Mortals:

1. Don’t make any daytime plans.Unless your date happens to sparkle in sunshine or has a specialring/potion/enchanted sunglasses or whatever, figure that allactivity will be taking place after sunset. Any dates before sunsetmight require a fire extinguisher. They are called nightkind for areason.

2. Be very sparing with perfume,cologne, and scented soaps. A vampire’s nose is sensitive and youcould easily block your own natural scent, the sexy fragrance that isall you. You know the date is on the wrong foot when he/she isfanning a hand in front of their face, eyes tearing, and you’restill three feet away.

3. When other people stare at yourdate or cast lustful and lingering looks at him or her, don’tengage in possessive or jealous behavior. Nightkind tend to bebeautiful and alluring (all the better to entice a quick meal intostriking range), so you should expect this kind of attention andoverlook it with grace. After all, youare the one going out with this beautiful creature. Those staring arenot. (Though they might eventually become meals.)

4. And speaking of meals, if diningout, be aware that you will need to choose the restaurant since yournightkind date’s appetite doesn’t include regular food and theytend to be poor judges of which restaurants offer excellent fare andthose that don’t—just as you wouldn’t know whose veins held arare and delicious vintage as opposed to the vascular version ofghetto wine.

5. When being intimate with yournightkind date, you can expect intense passion, biting, growling,some drinking of your blood (feel free to bite back), and your datewill be able to perform with breath-stealing intensity all night. Onecaveat: make sure you have finished before dawn. If not, you run therisk of Sleep claiming your nightkind partner in the middle of eventhe most intimate of actions.

Please feel free to post a commentabout your own vampire/nightkind dating advice.

Tocelebrate the release of Etchedin Bone, we’ve decided toadd a little to the prize—the winner not only gets a signed copy ofEIB, but a signed copy of any other book from The Maker’s Songseries: A Rush of Wings(Book One), In the Blood(Book Two), or Beneaththe Skin (Book Three).

Youcan read a chapter from the book that started it all. Here’sa linkto a sample chapter of ARush of Wings.

WithBook Four, Etched in Bone,Dante faces his destiny and searches for a way to accept it on hisown terms. To make his life, his own, at long last, and with Heatherat his side. The former FBI agent is more than his partner and lover,she is also his anchor, his beacon, guiding him back from the edge ofmadness when his shattered past rises up and swallows him. But inHeather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who couldforce Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer.

Here’sa linkto the first two chapters of Etchedin Bone.

Etchedin Bone is also a featuredread for March on BN.com’sParanormal and Urban Fantasy Book Club– which I’m very excited about.

Thanksso much for having me! It’s been a blast. You can also find me at:

Website:www.adrianphoenix.com

Blog:www.adrianphoenix.com/blog

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=615227655

FacebookFan Page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian-Phoenix/55403659403?ref=mf

Twitter:http://twitter.com/AdrianPhoenix

MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/adriannikolasphoenix

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/944594.Adrian_Phoenix

Dante’sClub Hell Forum: http://clubhell.yuku.com/directory

Dante’sClub Hell Yahoo Group:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dantes_club_hell/

PocketAfter Dark:http://pocketafterdark.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=23754464&as=159176

Do you have any tips for dating vampires? You could win a singed copy of Etched in Bone, PLUS a signed copy of any of the other Maker's Song books! Don't forget to leave your email in case you win. Giveaway ends Friday 18th of March.

Look forward to?

2011-03-09T19:00:00.000+08:00

It is my One Year bloggoversary next month and I was thinking about some ideas. In a comment leave two books you are desperately waiting to be released and I will tally the results to see which three books get the most votes. Then I may use them as prizes in a giveaway! So, what are you dying to read?
I am waiting on Lover Unleashed by J.R Ward and Deeper Than Midnight by Lara Adrian.