Wind Warrior Giveaway Finalists

The five finalists for Cynthia Roberts' Blog Tour Giveaway from my blog are:

1. Kara
2. Martha E.
3. Carole Spring
4. Dani
5. Barbara (Himilika)

Congratulations!  They will be moving on to Cynthia's final drawing.  I will be contacting the winners by e-mail.  Good luck!

Review: DEMON'S FALL

By Karalynn Lee

Blurb: 

When Kenan, an incubus, finds a caged angel for sale in the Hellsgate marketplace, he sees her as a challenge. Certain that his skills in seduction will work as well on a heavenly creature as they do on mortal women, he buys Jahel, intent on having her soul as a novelty in his collection.  Knowing he must gain Jahel's trust if she is to come to his bed willingly, Kenan treats her more as his guest than as his slave. When she reveals what brought her to the mouth of Hell in the first place—retrieving the soul of a young girl she was guarding—he even offers to help her complete her mission.  Though he has promised Jahel freedom, Kenan soon realizes she has captured his heart instead. And as their passion for one another grows, they find themselves caught in a struggle between Heaven and Hell, one that will lead them to the very edge of the apocalypse...

oOoOoOo

In Demon's Fall, Karalynn Lee has cleverly woven together a classic fairy tale and sexy paranormal romance.  Jahel is the guardian angel of a young princess.  The girl's vain stepmother is told by her demon-mirror that the princess is far more beautiful than she is.  The evil queen orders a huntsman to kill the girl, but before that happens her soul is stolen by a hellhound.  We find out early that Jahel is not the most reliable guardian angel, but she is determined to find the girl's soul.  Jahel travels to Hellsgate, the town just outside of Hell proper and a place where angels are obviously unwelcome.  She finds herself locked in a merchant's cage at the Hellsgate marketplace.  An incubus demon named Kenan buys her from the merchant in hopes of adding a priceless angel's soul to his collection.  After hearing her story about the princess, Kenan decides to help her in her quest, and Kenan realizes it is her love he wants, not her soul.  Their happiness is short-lived when they discover that Jahel is not the only angel loose in Hellsgate, and the other has his mind set on bringing about the apocalypse.

What I loved most about Demon's Fall was the well-crafted story using parts of the Snow White fairy tale and solid world-building.  We're told about several realms: Heaven, Heavensgate, the Mortal Realm, Hellsgate, and Hell.  There's even another place forbidden to both demons and angels, a place mortals can choose if they don't to go to Heaven or Hell in their afterlife.  I really enjoyed the cast of characters living in Hellsgate, from a demon steed of the Four Horsemen to an evil demon-mirror causing mischief in the mortal realm.  There were parts of the book I felt could have been better.  The dialogue between the characters was a bit flat at times, and the chemistry between Jahel and Kenan lacked the emotional "fire" that I would expect between an angel and a demon.  I was quite pleased with the ending because I wasn't sure what the compromise between an angel and demon would be.  The last scene was a fitting end to Jahel and Kenan's story, and it even gave me a few chills.  I hope the author has plans to revisit her world of angels and demons in the future.

Review copy courtesy of NetGalley.

Two Lethal Lies Blog Tour: Book Feature and Giveaway (US/Canada)

A love to die for...On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives.  But when a series of shocking murders hits their newfound home, the trail leads straight to Mitch.  With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn--until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer.  There's a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease.  As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child.  But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game.  And the price of losing is the child--and the future--they could both share...

About Annie Solomon:

A native New Yorker, RITA-winning author Annie Solomon has been dreaming up stories since she was ten. After a twelve-year career in advertising, where she rose to Vice President and Head Writer at a mid-size agency, she abandoned the air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps of her professional life for her first love—romance. An avid knitter, she now lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter.

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Two Lethal Lies to give away!  Contest open to residents of the US and Canada.  No P.O. Boxes, please.  Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail.  To enter, please leave a comment to this post with a way to contact you.  Contest is open until Friday, 10/1/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette.  Good luck!

Teaser Tuesday

Badge By: Jessica Rabbit's Corner

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, but got the idea from Minx at Loose Knickers & Window Lickers.  Anyone can play along!  Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read.

~ Open to a random page.

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

My teaser is from His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone.  I randomly chose page 82 on my eReader:

Jagger's fingers bit into her soft flesh, his grip hard, and God help him but he enjoyed the small whimper of pain that escaped her lips.

Enticing First Lines

I love starting a book that has an enticing first line.  That first sentence can be short and simple or long and descriptive.  It can be sexy, funny, sarcastic, distressing, or philosophical - anything really, but there's just something about it that grabs your attention.  Here are just a few of my favorite first sentences I've come across recently (in no particular order):

Have you ever wanted to put yourself in the hands of a man whose sole purpose is to give you pleasure?

- Wicked Ties by Shayla Black

The first day of my captivity was like being born...or dying.

- Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas

My philosophy is pretty simple - any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book.

- Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

The summer I discovered the world was not black-and-white - the way I liked it - but a host of annoying shades of gray was the summer a lot more changed than my vision.

- Blue Moon by Lori Handeland

Julie Stanford took a deep breath before shoving aside the curtain to walk into the massage room where Nathan was laid out in all his glorious, naked splendor.

- Sweet Seduction by Maya Banks

When Patricia descended to investigate the noise in her antique store, she found a man with a broken wing stretched unconscious across the floor.

- Mortal Temptations by Allyson James

She made certain they didn't have bodies to bury.

- Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield

It had obviously been one hell of a night if I couldn't recall why I was waking up in a Dumpster.

- Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles

The unmistakable sound of a woman being pleasured echoed through the woods above the village of Carbrey.

- Rampant by Saskia Walker

Have you ever been spanked?

- Bound to Please by Lilli Feisty

I was standing there naked when a dead man sauntered into my bathroom.

- Dark & Disorderly by Bernita Harris

There are so many great first sentences.  Do you have any memorable favorites?  Please share with us!

Review: LAST TO DIE

By Kate Brady

Blurb:

A ruthless killer hides in plain sight, someone no one believes is capable of murder. Within a week, six women will be murdered, all punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down this serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to a photography foundation and the renowned photographer Mitch Sheridan, a man she she fell in love with years ago but has tried to forget. Dani and Mitch are instantly attracted to each other again, though their troubled pasts keep them from getting too close. Together, through the course of the investigation, they unearth a dark chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think.

oOoOoOo

Last To Die is a thrilling romantic suspense that had me hooked from the opening scene.  Dani Cole and Mitch Sheridan were once teenage lovers torn apart by grief and pride.  Eighteen years later, Dani, now a police detective, and Mitch, a photojournalist, are reunited to stop a serial killer targeting teenage prostitutes.  When the murders are linked to Mitch's Foundation for Photojournalism, Dani and Mitch uncover a black market adoption ring and a web of deceit, heartbreak and lost innocence.  With time running out they must stop the killer before Dani becomes the last victim.  I want to keep my plot summary very brief because I don't want to reveal any spoilers of this suspenseful story.  The plot was well-crafted with exciting twists and subplots that kept me turning the pages.  Even when the killer's identity was revealed about half-way, the sad and chilling motivation behind the murders wasn't revealed until the end. 

Along with the exciting plot, the characters and their complex relationships were compelling.  Even secondary characters including the deceased girls had great depth.  No one was just glossed over.  Dani and Mitch are both flawed individuals haunted by tragic events from their childhoods and much of their adult lives.  When they come together again after 18 years apart, the chemistry between them is tangible, yet it takes awhile for them to break down the walls they've built to protect themselves.  Dani was the highlight of the story for me.  She was damaged yet very strong, determined and smart.  At the same time, she wasn't afraid to show her softer side to Mitch and allow him to help her.  And the killer...dreadful, deranged, evil, psychotic, yet at the end, when everything came out, in a small way I actually felt bad for this individual!  I certainly became submerged in the lives of these people, and I hated to see the story end.  Last To Die is the follow up to Kate Brady's first book One Scream Away, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel without problems.  I have not read the first book yet, and I never felt lost.  Since I loved this one so much, I will be reading One Scream Away very soon.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

Completed: 2010 Summer Romance Challenge

Hosted By: Book Chick City Goal: To read 8 or 16 romance novels from any subgenre between June 1 - September 30. 

1. Soul Deep by Lora Leigh (Paranormal Erotic)

2. Anchor and Storm by Kate Poole (Historical Erotic)

3. Her Wolf by Rebecca Royce (Paranormal)

4. Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque (Paranormal)

5. The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary (Romantic Suspense)

6. Dark & Disorderly by Bernita Harris (Paranormal Mystery)

7. Heiress to a Curse by Zandria Munson (Paranormal)

8. Captured By Moonlight by Nancy Gideon (Paranormal)

9. Chased By Moonlight by Nancy Gideon (Paranormal)

10. Black Magic by Cherry Adair (Paranormal)

11. Bond with Me by Anne Marsh (Paranormal)

12. This Side of Heaven by Fallon Blake (Paranormal Erotic)

13. Claimed by Zoe Winters (Paranormal)

14. Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph (Contemporary Erotic)

15. The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros (Historical)

16. Last To Die by Kate Brady (Romantic Suspense)

My favorite: The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Last To Die Blog Tour: Book Feature and Giveaway

A ruthless killer hides in plain sight, someone no one believes is capable of murder. Within a week, six women will be murdered, all punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down this serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to a photography foundation and the renowned photographer Mitch Sheridan, a man she she fell in love with years ago but has tried to forget. Dani and Mitch are instantly attracted to each other again, though their troubled pasts keep them from getting too close. Together, through the course of the investigation, they unearth a dark chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think.

Five Fun Facts from Kate Brady about Last To Die:

1. Mitch Sheridan, the hero in Last to Die, was originally the hero in a romance I wrote when I was still an author-in-search-of-a-genre.

2. When investigating the possibilities for an acid for a villain to use, I had to “come clean” with colleagues in the department of chemistry at the university where I teach, and reveal that in my other life, I write novels.

3. I didn’t intend to have a dog in this book but gave one to Dani, the heroine, after my own beloved and elderly dog passed away. Dani needed a softer side, I was apparently feeling lonely for her, and besides, what better way to show heart than to adopt a beat-up pit bull?

4. The physical building on which the JMS Foundation is based is an actual castle in the town where I grew up. When I was a kid, it was a family home, and we were in awe that it had a legitimate ballroom. Now, it’s a fine arts facility known as The Arts Castle.

5. Mitch’s car, a pearl-white 1968 Barracuda, has been sitting in my garage for years. It’s the project-car I bought my husband for our first anniversary. He works on it whenever time allows — about every other Father’s Day.

For more information about Kate, visit KateBrady.net.

Giveaway Details

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Last To Die to give away!  Contest open to residents of the US and Canada.  No P.O. Boxes, please.  To enter, please leave a comment to this post with a way to contact you.  Contest is open until Monday, 9/20/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette.  Good luck!

Waiting On Wednesday: HAUNTED BY YOUR TOUCH ANTHOLOGY

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Haunted By Your Touch

by Jeaniene Frost, Shayla Black and Sharie Kohler

Release Date: October 26, 2010

Synopsis from BN.com:

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost seduces readers into a forbidden new world as she teams up with romance stars Shayla Black and Sharie Kohler for a sizzling collection of original novellas featuring fallen angels, anarchistic demons, warrior wizards, and irresistibly dangerous creatures of the night.

Enter the dark realm of Nocturna in Jeaniene Frost’s redhot tale, where blisteringly sexy Raphael dominates the demons of a lawless dimension and tries to help a beautiful young woman avenge her cousin’s disappearance.

In the shadowy world of Shayla Black’s Doomsday Brethren, magical warrior Raiden vows to protect his woman and their unborn youngling from evil—and deliver her safely to another man. But once he’s saved her, can he let her go?

Lycans rule the night in Sharie Kohler’s suspenseful story, as a fiery woman stalks mysterious Luc, the undeniably hypnotic being she believes can save her from turning . . . if she kills him.

Danger beckons in these captivating paranormal tales that will tempt readers to the edge and leave them begging for more.

Yes, please!  All three stories sound fantastic.  I'm looking forward to this anthology!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, but got the idea from Minx at Loose Knickers & Window Lickers.  Anyone can play along!  Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read.

~ Open to a random page.

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser is from Kate Brady's Last To Die.

She took a step forward, curling her fingers into his shirt and rising up on tiptoe.  She kissed him feeling every muscle in his body tighten with restraint as he stood and let her set the tone and intensity, gently parting his lips to invite more.

Review: SUICIDE DOLL

By Claudia D. Christian

Blurb:

Narcissus was once given a little doll named Lisette. He enjoyed making her do depraved things for his selfish amusement. One day Narcissus pushed Lisette too far and he found her dangling from a cord. He tried to fix what he had broken but Lisette no longer belonged to him. Narcissus kept after his doll, chasing it through the centuries, begging to put all the pieces back together. Will Narcissus ever earn her forgiveness or will Lisette keep breaking for his punishment?

AUTHOR'S WARNING: If you are not an angst-junkie who enjoys visiting a world where depravity is mistaken for love, and obsession is the only hope a man can have against hatred, then this may an uncomfortable tale for you. This is a dark, unconventional love story meant for readers who prefer morally ambiguous tales. There is explicit content within and is not suitable for minors.

oOoOoOo

"I will die without you, Narcissus."

The quiet pledge caused him to look over his shoulder.  Her swollen eyes, flaming cheek, and broken demeanor pleased him greatly.  He saw it as exactly what she deserved.  Narcissus flashed a wicked grin.

"You would die without me, Lisette?  Very well.  Prove it to me, my pet."

Narcissus is a demigod, the son of a beautiful, vain man who shares his name and the nymph Echo.  As a child, the gods give Narcissus a human girl named Lisette as a toy, a living doll to amuse himself with.  They grow up together, and eventually become more than playmates.  Being the selfish and depraved monster he is, Narcissus abuses Lisette, degrades her, makes her a whore, but in his own perverted way, he loves her.  And despite it all, Lisette loves him until the night the abuse goes too far.  She begs him to end the debauchery, but he only hears the tirade of an irrational girl.  He threatens to send her away, insinuating he cares not whether she lives or dies.  With hate marked on her soul, she hangs herself in the attic, the ultimate revenge against him.  Losing Lisette makes Narcissus even more obsessed with her.  He spends the next few centuries chasing after her soul as she is reincarnated over and over, only to kill herself each time to torture him.  She tells him that his punishment will continue "until the things that can't be forgotten are forgiven".  But before that happens, Lissette will make him suffer...just like she did.  Finally in early 2003, Narcissus has found the soul he has been searching for in an underage stripper named Chessie.   What must he do to posses her again?

Suicide Doll is a complicated and grim love story, with a very fine line between love and obsession.  It's about searching for redemption when it seems like a hopeless pursuit.  It's about discovering that the life you thought you had was a lie.  The characters are dreadful and seductive at the same time.  I've had a difficult time categorizing this short story.  It is a dark love story, yes, but certainly not a romance in the traditional sense.  I might call it erotic horror.  The author has written this dark tale so beautifully.  Her language is sophisticated, almost poetic.  I will warn you that it is not for everyone.  It contains disturbing subject matter like suicide (obviously) and even necrophilia.  In any other book I would say "absolutely not" to something so horrific, but for these twisted characters, it fits perfectly.  There were a few times I wanted to cover my eyes and scream "don't do it!" but I couldn't look away.  Suicide Doll is perfect for "angst-junkies" as the warning mentions, and also for anyone looking to read something outside of their comfort zone.

oOoOoOo

On a side note: The Narcissus (Sr.) in this story is the same one from Greek mythology, the man cursed to fall in love with his own image because he was so vain in real life.  He would spend hours staring at his own reflection in a pond because nothing compared to his own beauty.  According to myth, he was seduced by a nymph named Echo.

Review copy courtesy of the author.

 

Review: PLEASING SIR

By Delilah Devlin

"...her mouth opened and a breathless 'How may I serve you, sir?' floated from her lips."

One adventurous little submissive is just what the bosses need… Raelie might be a submissive in search of just the right Dom, but she’s not the kind to sit back and wait for the right man to happen. When she gets the chance to fill in as Bryce Caldwell’s executive assistant, she decides some subtle seduction is needed to see if he dominates the bedroom the same way he does the office.

oOoOoOo

The fiery and seductive Raelie Wood is filling in for Bryce Caldwell's executive assistant while she is on her honeymoon.  But Raelie wants to be more than Mr. Caldwell's secretary.  She wants to submit to him body and soul, and Bryce is quick to pick up on her signals.  The commanding Bryce would love nothing more than to be her Dom, but he's also a generous man and likes to share - his subs - with his closest friends Morgan and Billy.  The thought of pleasuring three sexy alpha males is a huge turn-on for Raelie, but she's hesitant to fulfill Bryce's every wish too quickly in fear that he will lose interest in her like her last Dom.  However the temptation of a menage full of carnal delights is far too great, and Raelie decides it is worth the risk.

Delilah Devlin knows how to write a scorching hot short story!  Fans of erotic romance will enjoy this one.  Pleasing Sir has light bondage and spanking, a few sex toys, and a whole lot of sizzling multiple partner action.  The plot basically involves Raelie's seduction of Bryce, and her ultimately becoming the play thing of three delectable men.  I loved Raelie's character the most.  She is submissive, yes, but she's also very spirited and gets what she wants.  From the blurb, I expected the story to be more focused on Bryce and Raelie and their relationship as Dom/sub, but that wasn't exactly the case.  It was more of a multiple partners and menage story with light BDSM scenes.  There is a wickedly delicious twist at the very end that I don't want to give away.  I'll just say that Raelie is one lucky girl!

Interview and Giveaway with Anne Marsh

I'm very excited to welcome paranormal romance author Anne Marsh to my blog today!  Anne is the author of The Hunt, and her latest book is Bond With Me, filled with devilish fallen angels.  (See my review of Bond With Me HERE.)  Bond With Me was released in digital form last month, and it will be published in trade paperback next Spring. 

Welcome, Anne!

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Anne: During the daylight hours, I’m a professional technical writer—which means I translate Engineering into English, writing all those lovely online helps that no one reads. After a series of ups and downs (read: got laid off from my dream job and was therefore at home with the task of reinventing myself), I decided I was going to write something someone would read. Better yet, I was going to write something I wanted to read. I started seriously moonlighting with romance novels four years ago. It took some time to figure out how not to write a book (that was the easy part—no surprise) and then even more time to figure how to write a book and now here I am.

2. When did your passion for writing begin?

Anne: I’ve always had a thing for words. I remember getting pulled out of class in middle school by the school librarian who had decided to mentor me in creative writing. In what was probably a terribly indicative moment of my future, I also remember rushing to write something for her at the very last minute as my deadline was suddenly here and I was out of time. All I remember now is the lined paper I was using. I spent most of high school and college doing the angsty literary magazine thing, and also dabbled in playwriting. I did some young playwright festivals, won a trip to NYC (went the wrong way on my way to the theater and ended up in what appeared, to my young eyes, to be a porn district), and distinctly recall defending romance novels and happily-ever-afters to a fellow festival member.

3. Could you tell readers a little bit about your current release, Bond With Me?

Anne: Bond with Me is a very sexy paranormal set in Moscow in the near future. The year is 2090 and Russia has become a dark world in which humans have become increasingly aware of their paranormal neighbors and of the power those neighbors exert. My hero and heroine meet in a club, surrounded by the pounding rhythm of the music and the erotic possibilities of strangers meeting, touching—and slipping away from each other. Brends Duranov, of course, spots Mischka Baran as soon as she sets foot in his club and decides instantly to pursue her. Before the night is over, he’s made her a darkly seductive offer: bond with me. In exchange for her soul, he’ll grant her one favor. Any favor at all. Surrounded by the pulsing beat of the club music and the hotter heat of the Fallen angel bracing her against the wall as he whispers his dark offer, Mischka Baran is tempted.

4. In your opinion, what does the future hold for the paranormal romance genre?

Anne: Oooh… crystal ball time. Honestly, I have no idea. From what I’ve heard and seen (not to mention read lately), paranormal is still going very, very strong. I know that what draws me to the genre are the strong, alpha males and the world-building: there’s just such a delicious difference between the authors. Vampires are here to stay; fallen angels are gaining steadily in popularity (woot!); and I’ve seen my first zombie romances, which an editor once swore to me would never, ever take off (I believed her). One of the things I’ve personally enjoyed is the new variety in shapeshifters. I love me my cats (after all, the hero of THE HUNT, my first book, is a feline shapeshifter), but there are so many other shifters out there now—it’s fabulous.

5. What are your writing quirks?

Anne: Quirks? I’m supposed to admit to quirks out loud? Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never really watched anyone else write, other than the story group at Pixar. And that was more of a “Listen to them yelling because my desk was right outside their conference room” kind of a thing (excited yelling, though—not angry, so the script must have been going well). I certainly talk to my laptop. And I like to be absolutely surrounded by books (so no ereader for me). Plus, my Siamese is excellent for pinning me in place to make my word count for the day.

6. What are your current writing projects?

Anne: I’m revising the second book in the BOND series—it’s tentatively titled HIS DARK BOND and it will be coming out in trade paperback from Kensington Brava early in 2012. After that, I’m writing the second book in the HUNTER’S MATE series, also for Kensington Brava. I’ve also just started a sexy contemporary that my agent is shopping right now (fingers crossed!). All in all, I’m pretty busy right now, but that’s great. I’m very grateful, given the current state of the publishing industry and all the shakeups at Dorchester, to have a new home for both of my series, plus a really amazing agent.

7. Besides writing, what are some of your other passions in life?

Anne: I garden, with an absolute obsession for day lilies. There’s a great daylily farm in Missouri that does mail order (Homestead Farms) and they keep tempting me with pretty pictures and I keep digging more holes in my yard. Fortunately, day lilies are terribly forgiving (even if you plant at the height of the California drought season). I’ve also got a horrible weakness for traveling to tropical destinations and never pass up an opportunity to snorkel. We were at Caesar’s Forum, in Vegas, the other weekend and we ambled past the huge aquarium they had there and I just wanted to hop on in. I strongly suspect Vegas security would have frowned on that—even in Vegas—so I restrained myself.

8. In closing, is there anything you would like to pass on to your readers?

Anne: Just a resounding thank you—it’s because of all of you that I get to keep on doing what I love doing most. I also appreciate all of the support and lovely emails I’ve received in the wake of the changes at Dorchester. When the publisher announced that Bond with Me would be coming out in ebook form on August 24th, followed by a trade paperback next spring, I was, frankly, disappointed. So I’ve appreciated all the support and all the people willing to try ebooks with me for the first time!

Thank you for being with us today, Anne!  You can find Anne on the web here: http://annemarsh.wordpress.com/ and on Twitter @sexygoblins. 

Here are the Goodreads summaries of her books:

Fallen angels… They rule Moscow’s seedy underworld, promising untold pleasure to the females who dare to mate them. That promise – and Brends Duranov’s own raw sexual power – has hopefuls mobbing the velvet rope outside his elite club G2’s.  But Mischka Baran has no intention of hooking up with one of the Fallen. Not even after Brends gives her an unforgettable taste of the sin and seduction he can deliver with those wicked lips. She’s after information, not a stint as some Goblin’s toy of the month. What she doesn’t know is that with a sadistic killer carving up his brethren, Brends is playing for keeps, hunting the one woman whose bloodline can end the mayhem, whose bond can restore his lost wings.

No matter how they try to flee, the virgins who enter the twisting tunnels of the Guardians are destined to be caught. Actually, most don’t try too hard. The stories of warriors who can take on Cat form, of lovers who can make a woman scream with pleasure, are just too enticing.  But Miu is no virgin, and she’s joined the Hunt with her own agenda. After she steals the moonstone necklace she’s been sent for, she has no intention of becoming some Cat’s tasty morsel. Too late she discovers these kitties have some deliciously kinky habits, and the dark hunter on her trail isn’t about to let impudent thievery go without punishment of the most exquisite kind.

Giveaway Details

Anne has offered to give away a signed print copy of The Hunt OR an eBook (digital copy) of Bond With Me to one commenter today (the winner will have her/his choice of book).  The contest is open to everyone worldwide.  To enter, just leave a comment about the interview, or let me know what you think the future holds for paranormal romance!  Also, please leave me a way to contact you if you are the winner.  Contest ends 9/14/2010 at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Good luck!

Sin Undone Blog Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Larissa Ione

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

I am so excited to have Larissa Ione here today!  Larissa is the author of the fantastic paranormal romance Demonica series.

Welcome, Larissa!

1. Briefly tell us about your latest release, Sin Undone, and how it ties in with the Demonica series.

Sin Undone is the story of Sin, a demon assassin, and Con, a dhampire paramedic who works at the underworld hospital run by Sin's newfound brothers. As a female Seminus demon, she's unique -- all Sems are male. She's been alone for most of her life, and allowing these new brothers into her life isn't easy. Especially because she's inadvertently caused a plague that's killing werewolves -- werewolves who are friends, staff, and family. Con has been charged by his clan to bring her to punishment, but when danger comes at them from all sides, punishment turns into protection, and these two unlikely people find themselves turning to each other even as they push each other away.

Sin Undone ties in with the Demonica series as the fifth book, and it ties up loose ends and completes some of the running subplots and arcs. It also introduces a new plot, which will continue in the spinoff series, the Lords of Deliverance, the first book of which, Eternal Rider, will release next April.

2. In your opinion, what does the future hold for the paranormal romance genre?

Endless possibilities! I see vampires being popular for a long time, and I think we'll see even more variety in the kinds of paranormal beings and settings in the future. I also see a lot of apocalyptic paranormal fiction cropping up, as well as an upsurge in lighter, mood-lifting paranormals...and romances in general.

3. What are your writing quirks?

I really only have one -- I need a big chunk of time in order to write. I'm not one of those people who can sneak in a few sentences here and there. I need to know I have a big block, or it's just not going to work.

4. Do you have any works in progress you can share with us?

I do! :) I'm currently working on finishing up Eternal Rider, which I mentioned above is the first book in the Lords of Deliverance series, about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The hero, Ares, will become War, second Horseman of the Apocalypse, if his Seal breaks, and he's doing his best to prevent that from happening. The heroine, a human named Cara, is the key to his Seal either breaking or staying whole, and the fate of the entire world rests on both their shoulders. I'm super excited about this series!

5. Besides writing, what are some of your other passions in life?

I love animals, reading, watching movies, bowling, and camping. I also love to travel -- I would spend half the year in Europe if I could! :)

Thank you so much for having me! It's been a pleasure!

Thank you for being with us today, Larissa!  Where to find Larissa around the web:

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  Join the Fans of Larissa Ione on Facebook
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  Follow @LarissaIone on Twitter
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  Friend Larissa on MySpace
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  Visit LarissaIone.com

Giveaway Details

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 5 copies of Sin Undone to give away! To enter, just leave a comment to this post with a way to contact you. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. or Canada. No P.O. Boxes, please. Winners will receive their book directly from Hachette Books. Contest ends Tuesday, 9/7/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time. Good luck!

Giveaway Event: Cynthia Roberts' Wind Warrior Blog Tour

Cynthia Roberts, author of her debut historical romance, Wind Warrior, has something pretty darn dynamic for all of Book of Secrets' visitors, friends and subscribers ... one of the largest blog tour promotional giveaways ever attempted.

Breaking into the world of romance fiction is a challenge unto itself but more so, when you’re a newly published author.  I am excited to participate in this venture with Cynthia and help introduce Wind Warrior to the world of romance readers. 

The bonus … everyone has the chance to compete for not one, but five pretty extraordinary prizes which will include:

Romantic Two-lid willow picnic basket with service for two

($125.00 value)

Succulent Godiva Chocolate Tier

($75.00 value)

Exquisite Pearl & Crystal Necklace

($50.00 value)

Two Amazon Gift Certificates

($25 value each)

To read further descriptions of the prizes, visit her website:
http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com/

Contest Rules/How to enter:

1. Leave a comment at the end of this post with a way to contact you (e-mail address, Twitter name, etc.)

2. Tweet the following text: Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts. A story of longing, wanting & a love so strong it conquers human evil. On sale now at Major Book Retailers.  (Please leave a link.)


3. Post the same tag on your Facebook and/or Myspace Profile. (This step is optional.)


4. Become a fan/follower/subscriber of the blog you visit. (This step is optional at Book of Secrets.)


5. The list of participating blogs are registered on Cynthia’s website and you may enter to win on every one, however, only one family member may do so in a household.


6. Open to ALL not just the US & Canada.


7. Each participating blog will randomly choose five entrants to compete for the grand prize pool where the final 5 winners will be randomly selected.


8. Winners will be chosen on Sept. 30th and notified via email by Cynthia.


9. All finalists must provide their email, name and official delivery address at the time of finalist selection to Book of Secrets.


10. All prizes will be shipped no later than Oct. 30th directly from the distributor.  Cynthia Roberts is responsible for providing all prizes to the winners.


11. The steps above will be checked to determine your eligibility.

Wind Warrior

The Iroquois Series, Book One

by Cynthia Roberts

ISBN# 978-1-61663-162-8

Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep. Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own. Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s. It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.

On Sale Now at Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Nobel.  Read more than a dozen reviews on her website at HERE.