Gini Koch unveiled the latest of her gorgeous covers yesterday. Behold... Book 3 in her Alien series - Alien in the Family:
(image copyright Daniel Dos Santos)
I have to say, Ms. Koch has really been blessed by the cover gods - these are some of the best covers out there. Daniel Dos Santos does amazing work!
This was a series I was reluctant to start reading. I tore through the first book and now I'mm impatiently tapping my toe waiting for the December 7th release of Alien Tango, the 2nd book in the series. Now, thanks to this amazing cover, I'm excited about Alien in the Family too!!! (That releases April 5, 2011 if anyone's keeping track :D) I've got to know what Kitty and Jeff are up to....is it here yet? . . . How 'bout now? . . . No? In the meantime, observe the other fabulous covers in this series:
From the author's website: Human Sexuality Professor, Myrna Evans, wants nothing but a weekend of hot, no-strings-attached sex with Sinners' sensual lead guitarist, but Brian Sinclair is looking for something more permanent than a one-night stand. Unable to compose music for months, when Brian makes love to uninhibited Myrna, he hears exquisite guitar riffs and finger-burning solos. In Myrna, he's found his muse.
_______________________
Excuse the pun, but this book rocked! (ahhh, I crack myself up :D) I am lovin' the Sinners on Tour!
Seriously though, Backstage Pass was hot. Brian Sinclair is a rock guitarist for a popular metal band: The Sinners. He meets Myrna Evans (I know, her name is awful - they even address it in the book, LOL) in a hotel bar where he's drinking with his band mates. She's there for a conference - she's a professor of human sexuality. They immediately hit it off and they both figure "what the heck, a fling would be fun" but it turns into more. After an extended weekend with Brian and the band, Myrna heads home to work on grant funding and Brian mopes. One thing leads to another and Myrna ends up on the road with the band studying groupie behavior. Of course they have some obstacles to overcome, namely a history that has Brian wanting a serious relationship and Myrna wanting to keep it casual.
I should have known this book was going to be good, the first sexy scene was in chapter 3 and it was amazing - *spoiler* He wrote a song on her naked body while they were having sex! *end spoiler*. I liked these two together, their chemistry was explosive and their strengths and weaknesses fit together like yin and yang. Myrna is actually a few years older than Brian, which I don't usually like, but I was able to ignore it for the most part. And the sex - Whoa - I'm surprised this book doesn't come with a mandatory fire extinguisher. There's a little something for everyone in here :) I didn't like the ex-husband storyline, but I understand how it was supposed to provide background for Myrna's thoughts and actions.
I also really, really liked the other band members - I'm thrilled they're all getting their own books because I didn't get enough of them in Brian and Myrna's story. Their personalities leaped off the page and by the end of the book I felt like I knew them all.
Backstage was sexy and funny; trust me, this is one you're not going to want to miss!
The back blurb: Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover. In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.
Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
_____________________________
Simply Irresistible is the first book in Ms. Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. This was a fun, fast read. I liked Maddie right from the beginning of the story. She was someone I could easily identify with: she was sort of a pushover but didn't want to be. This was especially evident when we learn that her last boyfriend was an abuser. She's come out to Lucky Harbor ready for a fresh, new start. Her two half-sisters do not share Maddie's opinion that this inheritance could be the start of something wonderful, they just want to sell and go. Jax is a wonderful hero, I liked him from the start too: smart, sexy, honorable, good with his hands... *sigh* He instantly falls for Maddie, whom he meets through a very funny series of events; I should probably add "forgiving" to his list of endearing qualities :)
I laughed a lot while reading this book - I mean come on, the town's cafe was named "Eat Me". The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were cute and a good reminder about why the sisters were at the inn: their free-spirited mother. While I did guess one or two of the plot points in advance, the storyline had enough twists to keep me interested. The interaction between Maddie and Jax was hot any time they were near each other, which makes me happy as a reader. I didn't like Maddie's sisters very much, but by the end of the story they had grown on me. While I liked Jax's friends, their interaction felt a bit forced for me. Ever the romantic, I am hoping that they end up with Maddie's sisters somewhere in this series...
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Forever Release Date: September 28, 2010 ISBN-10: 044657161X ISBN-13: 978-0446571616
My Rating:
This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rules: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog. *Post a link along with your post back to this blog. * Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
I just finished reading Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning and OMG it is hot! This excerpt is from Page 56, however, I chose not to use the 5th sentence but picked one with a bit more "spice":
"Bath?" Brian asked, looking up at her. She cupped his cheek and leaned her forehead against his. "It'll wash off your song.""We've got that one on paper. I'm hoping I'll need a blank slate to write a new one."
Seriously, I'm fanning myself just thinking about it!!!
______________________
Exciting news: I read on Jeaniene Frost's website yesterday that she's coming to New Orleans over Halloween weekend!!! She's coming for the Memnoch Resurrection Ball and is planning a signing, although she doesn't know the time or date yet. Anyone in the area planning to go? I'm going to ask her to sign Chapter 32!
From the Author's website: Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.
______________________________
It's official: Bayou Moon is one of my favorite reads this year! I have a confession to make. Sometimes when I read UF, I'm not always able to follow along with all the plot specifics. I get characters or their motivation confused, especially if there are similar names or the plot is too complicated. This book was beautifully penned - I feel like Bayou Moon was written specifically for me. The characters and settings were wonderfully and descriptively composed, I could see each character in my mind's eye as I read the book. The plot moved along at a quick pace, but I was able to follow and understand what they were doing and why. I liked the way one thing led to another but it made sense and didn't jump all over the place.
Cerise is a fabulous heroine - she's strong and compassionate. Family oriented. Smart. All the things I look for in a heroine. While I liked her from the get-go, it was near the end that I just sat back and thought, "Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for writing such an amazing heroine." Let's just say she's a woman of her word and doesn't run from anything. William, *sighs* oh William, I heart you so much! I really liked William in The Edge (my review here), and was glad he was getting his own book. He's definitely a broken hero: he's feeling sorry for himself since Rose left with Declan, combine that with his horrible childhood and he has a very low perception of himself, except where his fighting skills are concerned. He's attracted to Cerise, not exactly at first sight, but when it happens - BAM!
The wild in him lost its head, clawing at his insides. Want. Want the woman. "Lord Bill? She asked. His thoughts tumbled in a feverish cascade. Want. So beautiful...Standing so close and so beautiful. Want the woman. "Earth to William?" She was looking at him with those beautiful dark eyes. All he had to do was reach for her and he could touch her. No. Wrong. She hadn't given him permission. If he touched, he would take her. Taking women without permission was wrong. William pulled himself back, regaining control. The wild buckled and snarled and screamed, but he reeled it in, forcing it deeper and deeper. Remember the whip? Right, everybody remembered the whip. Everybody remembered being punished for kissing a girl without permission. The scars on his back itched, reminding him. Humans had rules. He had to follow the rules.
Page 82, Bayou Moon
Strangely enough, the thing that did it for me regarding William was not related to Cerise at all. I'm not giving away spoilers, but it was his actions on pages 247-249 that did me in. Of course, when you add that to the overall hotness of his character and the way he understands and interacts with Cerise....book boyfriend status was inevitable. The back and forth between Cerise and William was riveting (and humerous) - especially when Cerise's family stepped in to "help".
I know I'm gushing about the awesomeness of the hero/heroine, which is important, but the secondary characters were great too - I liked Cerise's family. They were a very eclectic group and had their own weird ways of showing their love and support for Cerise.
Now, on to the bad guys - they're bad ass. They're pretty gross, actually. They've got all this extra "stuff" that makes them almost impossible to defeat. Luckily William has a history that involves knowledge of their "extras" and how to deal with them.
Bayou Moon is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I think Ms. Andrews gives enough background at the beginning of the story that you would have no trouble jumping right in. Bayou Moon should go straight from your bookstore to "Now Reading", let it skip the TBR pile, you won't be sorry!
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages Publisher: Ace; Original edition (September 28, 2010) ISBN-10: 0441019455 ISBN-13: 978-0441019458
My rating:
This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
From the author's website: Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?
__________________________
Raised by Wolves started off by grabbing my interest and holding it for almost the first half of the book. Then it lost me. I liked the premise, a human girl raised by a pack of wolves. I liked the secondary characters - from her Alpha, Callum, to her adopted human mother, Ali, and her best friend, wolf Dev. She's a spunky kid who constantly pushes her boundaries.
Callum is hiding a secret, and once she figures out what (who) it is, she's determined to get answers to questions she's been holding inside since she was four. She's immediately drawn to Chase, a bitten wolf. And that's where things start to get out of control.
I loved the first half of the book - Bryn was a cute heroine, her pack dynamics were interesting, and I liked her best friend, Dev. Then she meets Chase, and I was still into the story. But then Ms. Barnes hurries the story along, where I was enjoying the characters and scenery and the plot was slowly unfolding, suddenly things rush forward and it felt hurried and disjointed from the beginning of the story. It almost felt like two different people wrote the first and second half of the story - I didn't care for her friend Lake, and Dev, who felt like such a huge part of the beginning of the story, disappeared and then suddenly reappeared in time to fight the villian. The end was nice and I was glad the author let us see into Callum's motivations for his actions, but I would have liked to see more about how the principal characters were adjusting than just a general status report.
I'd be curious to revisit these characters in a few years and find out how things turned out.
Book blurb from the author's website: YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE… The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.
It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever.
___________________________
I don't think it's any secret that I have much, much love for this series. Faythe is one kick-ass chick. Is her personal life a mess? Yeah, you could say that. Does it bleed into her professional life? Yeah, it kinda does. Is that fair? No, but Faythe is honorable enough to own it and accept the consequences. If you thought Faythe did some growing up in the previous books, it's nothing compared to the growing she does in Alpha:
When my dad finally stopped and faced me, I made myself meet his gaze. Long gone were the days when I would stare at the ground and whisper confessions like a naughty little girl, even if that's exactly what I felt like. I'd made a very adult mistake - which necessitated a very adult decision I had to make.
Alpha picks up shortly after the events in Shift. There's going to be a vote for a new US leader. Faythe, Marc, and Jace are going as part of her father's entourage. Calvin Malone is determined to come out victorious and Faythe's proof that he's been more involved in previous issues than he'll admit to is iffy at best. Things don't go as well as they'd planned, and Faythe suffers loss in this book like never before, in more ways than one. Once again, Ms. Vincent doesn't pull any punches; I cried more than once - both times I read it.
Faythe, Marc, and Jace are dealing with revelations from Book 5, Shift. Mark is angry and hurt and lashes out at Faythe. Jace and Marc are constantly on edge around each other and Faythe is frustrated with her own inability to choose between them:
The tears fell faster, and a truly pathetic sob followed. "I love them both, and they both love me, but neither of them will even hold my hand, and I'm more alone now than I've ever been in my life and it's all my own fault." I sniffled, my nose running from the cold and from the tears. "It's not supposed to be like this. Love isn't supposed to break your heart. Or anyone else's."
Finishing this book is like walking from an air-conditioned house into the hot sweltering August heat - you want to turn right around and go back inside, quickly. I know authors can't make all readers happy all the time, but I think Ms. Vincent really nailed the ending - it was perfect! (I wouldn't mind a short story in the future, a sort of epilogue, if you will, just to let us know how things are going.) This is my favorite book in the series.
If you're one of those people who likes to wait until a series is finished before you start reading it - get thee to a bookstore and buy the whole series at once - you won't be sorry!!!
Other books in this series: Stray Rogue Pride Prey Shift
Alpha Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages Publisher: Mira; Original edition (October 1, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 077832818X ISBN-13: 978-0778328186
My rating:
I first read this book back in August. Since that time, one song has been in constant rotation on the radio: Impossible by Shauntelle. Every time I've heard this song in the last two months, it's made me think of Alpha. When you finish reading the book - listen to this song... if you listen to it as not only Faythe's thoughts about her feelings but also her actions towards others, it's so perfect for this book!
This e-book was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yay - huge fangirl squee-ing over here! I think it's pretty obvious that Molly Harper could write a book about how to properly clean your shower and I would buy it. I'm a huge fan of her Nice Girls series and loved her contemporary romance, And One Last Thing...
I knew from her website she had another paranormal series coming out - this time it's werewolves - and today she released the covers!!!
Taken straight from her blog: Even in Grundy, Alaska, it's unusual to find a naked guy with a beartrap clamped to his ankle on your front porch.
But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham-who has been openly critical of Mo's ability to adapt to life in Alaska-has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble. For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it's love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he's worried that he might be the violent canine in question.
If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen. Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. But if he's not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do, anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated.
Again from her blog: Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack Alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite in the butt.
What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried Alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley.
With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous...
I've been craving some Cowboy Romance lately; I've found a few authors but their backlists are huge and I've been overwhelmed as to where to start. I hate starting in the middle of a series and not knowing who the secondary characters are.
Today I bit the bullet and stopped at the bookstore between errands. I looked at these books and decided I could give a trilogy a try. I picked up Linda Lael Miler's Montana Creeds trilogy: (book descriptions from the author's website)
After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family’s neglected ranch… to have kids of his own proudly bearing the Creed name.
Divorced mom Briana Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan’s kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana—and the folks of Big Sky country—just what he’s made of.
Hailed as “rodeo’s bad boy” for his talent at taming bulls and women, Dylan Creed likes life in the fast lane. But when the daughter he rarely sees is abandoned by her mother, Dylan heads home to Stillwater Springs ranch. Somehow the champion bull rider has to turn into a champion father—and fast.
Town librarian Kristy Madison is uncharacteristically speechless when Dylan Creed turns up for story time with a toddler in tow. The man who’d left a trail of broken hearts—including her own—is back… and this time Kristy’s determined to tame his wild ways once and for all.
Whether winning championship belt buckles or dealing with Hollywood types for endorsement deals, former rodeo star Tyler Creed can handle anything. Except standing on the same square foot of land as his estranged brothers. Yet here they are in Stillwater Springs, barely talking but trying to restore the old Creed ranch—and family.
Lily Kenyon knows all about family estrangements and secrets. The single mom has come home to set things right, to put down roots for her daughter. What she doesn’t expect is Tyler Creed, whom she’s loved since childhood. Now the handsome, stubborn cowboy who left home to seek his fortune just might find it was always under the Montana sky…
So, I'm ready to read about some cowboy livin' and lovin'. Has anyone read this series? Does anyone have any cowboy favorites?
Rules: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog. *Post a link along with your post back to this blog. * Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
I'm currently reading Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews:
William spun the pole and rammed it into the nightmarish mouth. Jaws locked on the wood, ripping it out of his hands. Round fish eyes fixed on him, expressionless and stupid.
I have to say, I'm quite a bit farther than page 56; I think this is going to be one of my favorite reads of this year, AND, I may have a new book boyfriend!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I'm over at The Book Vixen today talking about 10 books I didn't think I'd like and ended up loving. Stop by to say hi and tell me if you've been pleasantly surprised by a book recommendation.
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I'm waiting on Inside Out by Lauren Dane:
WORTH THE WAIT Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that left her nearly dead, she’s spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it didn’t mean she had to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.
Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidedly skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’d been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to her is different than any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Andy does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.
While Ella’s sure he’s just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly and re-ignites something deep inside her. Before long desire and love turn them both inside out.
(Above description from the author's website. Excerpt here.)
(Hannah, our SIL Brenda, and me at Charlaine Harris' book signing last October)
My sister-in-law and BFF, Hannah, whom I talk about occasionally here, is having a giveaway. Now, while she loves to read, she's not a book blogger. She's edgier and rantier and a whole lot more fun than I am. She's the one we tell the kids to ask when they have a "sex" question. Not "where do babies come from" type questions, more like "what's a lemon party" type questions. Why? 'Cause it's fun. (Disclaimer: we do NOT speak that way in front of the kids, but sometimes things are overheard that don't surface until the MOST inopportune time...like Thanksgiving dinner, for example)
Go say hi and enter her giveaway - There's books and swag, no hoops to jump through, no need to be a follower (although, trust me, you want to), just click here --->leave her a comment. That's it - easy peasy.
Last weekend, Writers for New Orleans, led by Heather Graham, was hosting a conference at the Hotel Monteleone with a book signing on Sunday. My SIL (and BFF) Hannah came down and we spent the night at the Hotel Monteleone with Cecile from All I Want and More.
Cecile and Hannah got to New Orleans bright and early. We walked around the French Quarter and had lunch, then went out for a few drinks in the evening. We had a blast talking about books and blogging and life in general. Here we are on Bourbon Street - okay, you can barely see us but I promise that's us...
(Cecile, Me, and Hannah)
It was Southern Decadence weekend, so we were expecting to see huge groups of over-the-top gay men, but we really didn't see as much as I thought we would. I tried to get a picture of the guy dressed in high-heeled boots, a feather headress and a boa, but my camera's pics came out too dark. I guess because I live here it didn't occur to me to take a lot of pictures; Cecile took a ton, so I'm looking forward to seeing her pics.
Then, Sunday was the book signing at the hotel, and beforehand we met two other bloggers for brunch at The Court of Two Sisters:
Our waiter was fun, and we had breakfast and mimosas! After breakfast we headed back over to the hotel for the book signing. There were several authors, but I mostly hung around Kathy Love's table, as she had several PNR books I was interested in:
I picked up a couple of books from her vampires in New Orleans series, and had her sign a contemporary I already owned. She was very sweet and fun to talk to.
I also met LA Banks, who was super-nice. She'd already run out of the first book in both of her series by the time I got there, so I didn't pick anything up as my book-OCD would not allow me to get the 2nd book in a series signed without having done so with the first book.
There were several baskets being raffled, and Hannah and Autumn each won a basked full of books and goodies!
After the signing, we stopped back in the hotel's Carousel Bar (it spins!) and had a drink before everyone headed home.
It was a great weekend and I hope we can get together again soon!!!
Just so we're clear, this (again) is not a review so much as a one-sided discussion...
Okay, so I just finished the 2nd book in Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series - Unholy Magic. I'm reallllly starting to feel the Terrible luv - OMG I just want to hug him. I liked the glimpse we got into the man behind the sideburns in this book.
I still like Chess, even though she spends most of her time rollin' balls - somehow she still seems to get the job done. I can only imagine how formidable she'd be if she were clean. We also get a bit of Chess' history, which so far has only been hinted at. While I do not condone drug use, I can sort of understand what happened in her case...
So, here's the thing: I had my son put a bunch of new songs on my iPod, and my daughters and I have been listening to the same few songs over and over (how else are we going to learn all the words? LOL). Every time this one comes on I think about Chess and Terrible:
So, yup, getting ready to start book 3, City of Ghosts, and planning to make it last because I don't know how long I'll have to wait for book 4 :)
(image copyright Daniel Dos Santos)
