Review: MURDER TAKES THE CAKE

By Gayle Trent

Cozy murder mystery. When the meanest gossip in Brea Ridge dies mysteriously, suspicions turn to cake decorator Daphne Martin. But all Daphne did was deliver a spice cake with cream cheese frosting--and find Yodel's body. Now Daphne's got to help solve the murder and clear her good name. Problem is, her Virginia hometown is brimming with people who had good reason to kill Yodel, and Daphne's whole family is among them.

Murder Takes the Cake is the first book in Gayle Trent's Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series.  Daphne has recently returned to her childhood home in a small Virginia town.  She's recently divorced from an abusive husband who is serving prison time for trying to shoot her.  Her fresh start in life is opening her own cake decorating business, Daphne's Delectable Cakes.  Unfortunately for Daphne, she discovers one of her first clients dead when she delivers her cake order.  The deceased happens to be a spiteful busybody who kept a journal full of the town's secrets.  When it's revealed that the victim was poisoned, fingers point to Daphne and her cakes.  Soon she's forced to solve the mystery in order to save herself and her business.

I've decided that cozy mystery is my new genre for 2011, and Murder Takes the Cake is the first one that I've read (unless you count the Sookie Stackhouse books).  Because I'm new to cozies, I can't compare this book to others.  But, I can say that I really enjoyed it!  The mystery itself was a fairly simple one, so in my opinion the book's strength came from the intersting characters and their interwoven relationships.  The author did a great job making the small town characters' quirky personalities pop off the page.  I loved Daphne, and I could really connect with her.  There was just the barest hint of romance between Daphne and her long lost boyfriend Ben who helps her solve the mystery.  The only thing that slowed the story down somewhat was the detailed descriptions of Daphne's cake decorating.  Some of it I enjoyed learning about, but it did take up a big chunk of the story.

Murder Takes the Cake is a quick and entertaining read fans of cozy mysteries and even chick lit would enjoy.  This book was first published in 2008.  The copy I reviewed is the March 2011 trade paperback edition.  Up next in the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series: Killer Sweet Tooth.

Waiting on Wednesday: BOUND BY MOONLIGHT

Bound by Moonlight

(Moonlight Series, Book 4)

by Nancy Gideon

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: July 26, 2011

Blurb:

Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making media news with her shape-shifter lover Max Savoie.  Knowing the reformed mobster is determined to be accepted by her peers, how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?

Going undercover to find the vicious serial killer who kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between the partner whose integrity she relies on and her fiercely possessive lover. In calling on Max to use his preternatural talents to aide a hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limits.

With his secret spreading beyond those he can trust, Max is forced to make dangerous alliances to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty he has is his love for his human mate, until the loyalties that define them threaten to divide them forever.

Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

HUNTING HUMAN Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Amanda E. Alvarez

I'm thrilled to welcome author Amanda E. Alvarez to Book of Secrets today!  She's here to answer some interview questions and to talk about her debut paranormal romance HUNTING HUMAN.

Hi, Amanda!

Describe yourself in six words or less.

Adventurous, goofy, easily distracted, cupcake aficionado.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I’ve come to the realization that I’m a writer in small steps. The first time I thought of myself as a writer was when I completed my first draft of Hunting Human. Up until that moment I wasn’t convinced that I could successfully finish a book – it had seemed like such an impossible, daunting task. As I started to go through the submissions process, the first rejection letters further added to the feeling that I was a writer because not only had I written a book but I was forging ahead to do something with it. I think the final pieces cemented for me when I sold the project and received the first look at my cover. But even now, I find myself still experiencing small realizations that I am a writer when I write guest blogs, give interviews or receive advanced reviews. I kind of like that.

Please tell us about your debut release HUNTING HUMAN.

My debut release, Hunting Human, is about a young woman desperately trying to outrun her past. Haunted by the memories of the savage attack that killed her best friend, Beth is doing her best to move forward... with Braden Edwards, a charismatic man that tempts Beth to embrace the present. But the past is closer than she realizes. An old enemy is fast approaching and Braden has been keeping secrets of his own. With suspicion at odds with their attraction Beth and Braden must learn to trust each other if they are to have a chance at a future together.

Why write about werewolves?

When I first began to sketch out the plot for Hunting Human I didn’t know that it was a book about werewolves at all. I only knew that a young woman was running from something and that if she was caught, the consequences would be dire. I realized shortly after that werewolves factored in and was a little perplexed. I’ve always enjoyed shifter books but I’d never seriously considered writing one. Then I realized that what was really fascinating me and keeping me up at night was wondering about how someone, with no shifter background, who had reason to hate werewolves with every fiber of her being, would deal with becoming one.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

I enjoyed writing all of the characters for very different reasons. Beth was interesting because she had such turmoil to deal with and so much to overcome, so balancing her fears and desires was a constant challenge. Markko was a blast to write because he’s the sort of villain that really embraces his dark side, he feels entitled to it, so my imagination could really run wild where he was concerned. But my absolute favorite to write was the sibling dynamic within the Edwards family. Those scenes were always fun and they always surprised me.

Which do you think is more important in your book, plot or characterization?

I tried to balance both equally. To me characters act, grow and change through the circumstances the plot provides, so in order to get the most out of my characters I wanted to ensure that the plot challenged them. On the flip side, characters are (at least to me) what draws a reader into the story so I tried to give all of my characters individual identities, passions and fears and most of all I tried to make them really struggle for the changes and realizations that would ultimately make them happy.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

That blue moons are real occurrences and have absolutely nothing to do with the color of the moon. A blue moon is actually a full moon that happens twice in the same month and only occurs once every few years. I finally understand where the expression ‘once in a blue moon’ comes from.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

Too many to name. For one thing, I seem almost entirely incapable of writing from home. When I’m in a heavy writing phase Starbucks and several local cafes get to know me really, really well. I also can’t write in silence, I’ve always got my iPod going. I write best in the evening and always try to have Twizzlers or M&Ms within easy reach (brain food!).

What was the last amazing book that you read?

I read a lot and because I read as an escape it is rare for me to dislike a book. But to call a book amazing it has to keep me up at night days after I’ve finished it. The last book that did that for me was Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. It was a wonderful, thought provoking read.

Other than writing, what are some of your passions in life?

Trying new things! I never tire of trying new things (it’s how I discovered writing.) In the last couple of years I learned to play tennis, tried surfing, and taught myself to sew just to name a few. This year a friend of mine and I have gone rock climbing and we plan to try our hand at fencing and the flying trapeze!

What can readers expect next from you?

I’m currently working on a new romantic suspense project that I’m starting to get really excited about. I’m also brainstorming and fully fleshing out the next book in the Edwards Family Saga.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Here at my website: www.amandaealvarez.com

Here on facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaealvarez1

Follow me On Twitter: @amandaealvarez


About the Book:

HUNTING HUMAN
(Carina Press, B&N, Amazon)

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within and love a man who embodies everything she fears?


Giveaway Details:

Amanda is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one person who leaves a comment on her book tour. Click HERE for Amanda's tour schedule. The more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning! Please leave a way to contact you in your comment. Good luck!

SWEPT AWAY Book Tour: Interview with Historical Romance Author Marsha Canham

I'm thrilled to be a host on Marsha Canham's SWEPT AWAY Book Tour.  Thank you for being with us today, Marsha!

Describe yourself in six words or less.

Loyal, sarcastic, fun, stubborn, hard-working, straightforward.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I suppose I first thought of myself as a writer when my grade 11 English teacher had me read aloud the short story I had written for an assignment. She was a little on the dark side, for a teacher, with slightly goth makeup and a way of interacting with other teachers that suggested she would prefer to stab her ear with an ice pick rather than read another story about billowing clouds and twirping birds.  So I wrote a story about the sun rising and filled it with sexual innuendo, so much so that while she listened to me reading it aloud, her eyes were closed and all the other students in the class listened with their mouths gaping open.

Please tell us a little about your book SWEPT AWAY.

When the editor asked me to write a book set in the Regency period, all the little hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.  I didn't mind reading them, but for me to write one?  I was used to writing about bows and arrows in Sherwood forest, or swinging from the rigging of a pirate ship, or Highlanders charging across a battlefield.  Finding a way to keep my style and voice was a challenge, but I think I managed it well.  I filled the book with spies and traitors and assasins.  I gave the hero amnesia and a heroine who thought as much about proper manners and social niceties as I did. *s*

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Oh...Aunt Florence by a long shot.  She was modelled after my ex husband's real aunt, a lovely old feisty broad (meant in the nicest way) who used to thwack people with her cane to get their attention.  She was never afraid to call a fool a fool to their face, and she fit the story so well, I can only hope I did her character justice.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

I like to find obscure facts, people, events in history to base my books around and Swept Away was no different.  I found a tiny mention in an article somewhere about an attempt by Napoleon Bonaparte to escape his final imprisonment by switching places with his brother, who was close enough in appearance to fool those who did not know them well.

What was your favorite scene to write?  Why?

Any scene with Aunt Flo was fun to write because I so seldom get to deliberately write humor into a book.

What books have most influenced your life?

Hmm..good question.  Gone With the Wind, I would have to say, read for the first time when I was still in grade school, influenced my choice of genre to write in:  historical romance.  War and Peace, Winds of War, and Mila 18 all influenced my using history and action/adventure in the telling of a story.

What are some of your passions in life?

Writing, of course.  My grandchildren--three incredible little people who give me such unconditional love and support even when life tries to beat me down.  I enjoy travelling and the lifelong friendships I've had.  For relaxation I enjoy working with stained glass, making windows and panels, examples of which can be seen on my Facebook page. *s*

Places to find Marsha on the web:

Website: www.marshacanhamebooks.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/marsha.canham
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marshacanham
Blog: http://marshacanham.wordpress.com/

About the Book:

When a woman who's ready for love meets a dangerous, passionate man, she can easily get Swept Away....

Bestselling, award-winning author Marsha Canham's breathtaking new novel transports readers to Regency England as a young woman rescues a mysterious man, only to find love, danger, destiny....

"They have to know the truth. Before it is too late." Those were the half-naked stranger's only words as he opened his eyes, looked into her soul, then lost consciousness in the shallow tidal pool. Annaleah Fairchilde, heiress and noblewoman, soon learned the identity of the man she saved: Emory Althorpe, adventurer, accused traitor, and Napoleon's spy. Even as she bound the dangerous scoundrel's wounds, she fell deeper under the spell of a man handsome as the devil, sent to her by fate.

He remembered nothing. Only the need to escape. Emory Althorpe was wanted for treason, yet his only hope was a shadowy memory hovering just beyond his grasp, and beautiful Anna, who aroused unexpected passions. He had no choice but to abduct her, needing her to gain access to London's ballrooms, where he could prove his innocence. Together they raced into the face of danger, determined to find the key to his past and live—or die—together, as destiny decreed....

SWEPT AWAY is available from Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks so much!

Meet My New Guest Reviewer: AsianCocoa

I am very excited to announce that AsianCocoa is joining Book of Secrets as a guest reviewer! We share a similar taste in books, so I am thrilled she will be helping out with reviews.  She is active on Goodreads and Twitter.

ABOUT HER:  "I'm a lover of Smut, Books, Movies & Music. Movie version of books are never as good as the books they're based on. I also like to go on long runs and drink vodka martinis. I'm a healthy lush!"

Look for her first review next week.  Welcome, AsianCocoa!

Waiting on Wednesday: WARRIOR OF THE ISLES

By Debbie Mazzuca

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Blurb:

Bound By Duty: In a time of raids and ransoms, Aidan MacLeod is responsible for a formidable Scottish keep and all the people within. Yet the fearless Highland laird never forgets his charge to shield his young half-brother from the grave consequences of his tragic birth.

Linked By Fate: But an alluring stranger known only as Syrena could undo all of Aidan’s defenses. For Syrena has vowed to bring Aidan’s brother to a realm far from the Scotland of their understanding. To succeed, she is at Aidan’s mercy.

Divided By Desire: Ignoring his attraction to the beautiful Syrena is pointless. But if Aidan lets himself trust the enchanting woman who has so quickly captured his heart, he’ll be forced to risk everything he has sworn to protect... 

Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

Review: DEVIL'S DESCENT I: PURGATORY

DEVIL'S DESCENT I: PURGATORY

by Claudia D. Christian

Format: eBook

Length: 46,133 words

Published: July 2010

Julian Douglas exists solely for the night he finds his human pet Lily.  Lily Walker exists solely for the night she finds peace from the nightmare that is Julian Douglas.  Julian finds Lily.  Lily suffers Julian.  In the end, who finds freedom?  The master who is a slave to his pet?  Or the pet who never wanted to run away from her master?

My Thoughts: Julian and Lily's grim love story was a painful one to witness, but that was the point.  This book is meant for angst-junkies who crave characters full of pain, self-loathing and despair, and characters who thrive on relationships where the line between love and hate is blurred.

  

Devil's Descent I: purgatory (A Dark Love Series) feels like the middle of Julian and Lily's tale, which seems accurate given the name of the book.  Isn't purgatory a middle ground, one trapped between a beginning and an end?  We're told that Lily was at one time the Resurrector for a very unique place called Vickery Hill.  Julian, a pureblood vampire, was one of the town's residents.  Lily and Julian were lovers until something violent and horrible happened to change everything (this event still remains a mystery), and Lily flees from Julian.

Two years later, Julian has tracked her down in Montreal, no longer a Resurrector, but just a mortal woman.  We get to see first hand Julian's sociopathic behavior as he tries to claim his living doll for his own once again.  And Lily is as twisted as he is, because she craves the pain he gives her.  I enjoy angst-filled characters who take me on an emotional roller coaster, and Julian and Lily fit the bill perfectly.  I hated them and loved them as the same time.

The whole book has an erotic feel to it minus any traditional romance, with a bit of a twisted Master/pet element.  I've said before that I would describe the author's work as erotic horror.  Parts of the story were a bit hard to follow because not much back story was given about what happened in Vickery Hill.  A few secondary characters were mentioned that I assume were part of their previous life, but details about them were fuzzy.  Devil's Descent II: impure (A Dark Love Series) was recently released, and the blurb sounds like the prequel to book one.  I'm hoping it will reveal some answers...like who exactly is Ian?

Review copy courtesy of the author.

Wanted: Guest Reviewer

© Karen Roach | Dreamstime.com

I need help!  I'm buried in books, and I can't read my way out. Okay, that's not such a bad thing, but I need assistance. Would you be interested in being a guest reviewer on Book of Secrets?

The ideal candidates:

• Would accept digital books.
• Would read a variety of romance sub genres, including erotic romance.
• Would read books from indie authors.
• Would be active on Goodreads.
• Would be able to post reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and possibly B&N.
• Would be able to provide at least 3 reviews per month.
• Would be able to read and review a book in one week's time.
• Would write honest reviews without snark or being disrespectful to the author.
• Would not have their own blog.

At the moment, I have a backlog of review requests I need help getting through.  After we're caught up, the number of books you would receive will depend on how many new requests I get in. Right now I have a freeze on new requests, but I will open that up if the current list gets under control!  (If you have a US address, I would be able to send some paper books too.)

How it will work: You will send me your review in the body of an e-mail or word document.  I will handle the actual post.  I will put "Guest Review" in the post title, and also add a graphic at the bottom of the post with your screen name so everyone knows you wrote the review!

Digital Book Policy: You must agree to never sell or share a digital book sent to you for the purpose of review.

If you're interested in applying for the position of Guest Reviewer, please contact me at bookofsecrets(at)yahoo(dot)com. Please tell me a little about yourself (including your country of residence), and send me a sample of a review or a link (like to a Goodreads review).  If the arrangement simply is not working out or there are not enough books to review, I reserve the right to terminate the arrangement, and of course, if you're unhappy you may quit at any time, no hard feelings!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Review: TREASURE ME

By Robyn DeHart

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

oOoOoOo

After finding her fiance in a compromising position with another woman, the scholarly Vanessa Pembrooke abandons her wedding plans and heads to Scotland in search of proof that the Loch Ness monster once existed.  After a precarious situation at a local pub, Vanessa suddenly finds herself "accidentally" married to Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore.

Graeme is a member of The Men of Solomon's, a secret group of treasure hunters who study myths and legends.  Graeme's quest is to find The Stone of Destiny, and Vanessa is thrilled to discover her new husband shares her love of adventure.  Hot on their tail is a dastardly treasure hunter called The Raven who has his sight set on acquiring the precious stone himself - at any cost.

Treasure Me was an exciting Victorian-era adventure with plenty of action, danger and a bit of romance along the way.  Vanessa was truly the star of the book.  She was smart, skilled and independent.  She was a scientist and a scholar, determined to be taken seriously in a man's world.  You have to respect a woman who sees calling off her wedding over a cheating fiance as more free time to search for fossils!  The story's main focus was on the quest to locate The Stone of Destiny, and Vanessa and Graeme's romance was somewhat overshadowed.  Still, there was a strong connection between the two characters, and it only grew stronger.

A fast-paced plot and interesting characters blended with Scottish legends made Treasure Me an enchanting tale.  This is the final book in Robyn DeHart's Legend Hunters trilogy, though it can be read stand-alone.  I have not read the first two books yet, and I never felt lost.  Of course, because I enjoyed this one so much, I have some catching up to do with the rest of the series!

Interview and International Giveaway with Alayna Williams

Welcome to this stop on Alayna Williams' ROGUE ORACLE Book Tour!  Alayna is here to answer some questions about her latest release.  After the interview, look for details on a chance to win a paperback copy of Rogue Oracle! 

Hi, Alayna!  Thank you for being with us today!  Please tell us about your new release, Rogue Oracle.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen.

If you had the ability to see the future, is there one thing you'd love to know?

I wonder which Philip K. Dick dystopia will come to pass: Blade Runner, Minority Report, or Total Recall. We already have clear raincoats and LED umbrellas: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/d163/

But, seriously, I wonder what I'm making for dinner. That's probably at the top of my list.

Do you have a special formula for creating character names?

I tend to choose names that have a symbolic tie to the story. "Tara," for instance, means "star"...and the Star is a card in the Tarot deck. Her last name, "Sheridan," means "searcher." I thought that would be a perfect name for a criminal profiler.

Her romantic interest, Harry, has a name that means "leader of an army." And his last name, "Li," is roughly equivalent to "reason" or "logic." Harry is a skeptic, and he makes a good foil to Tara's intuitive powers.

In your opinion, what is the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance?

Paranormal romance requires that a romance be the primary plot structure. A happy ending is also generally expected.

UF plots can include romance, but romance is in the backseat. And a happy ending isn't required.

What are a few of your guilty pleasures in life?

Oooh. Let's see...reality television. My favorites are Tosh.0, the Soup, and Man versus Wild. Eighties music. Spoiling my pets. Cheeseburgers. Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network. My Wonder Woman action figure collection. Comic books. Accruing fines on my library card.

My vices are varied and odd.

Thanks so much for having me! :-)

Alayna Williams aka Laura Bickle

About the Book:

The more you know about the future, the more there may be to fear.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen…

ROGUE ORACLE is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:

Alayna Williams has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she's never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses. Like the Pythia in Dark Oracle, she's been known to belly dance. Unlike the Pythia she'd never consider herself a professional.

Writing as Laura Bickle, she's the author of EMBERS and SPARKS for Pocket - Juno Books. Writing as Alayna Williams, she's the author of DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE.

More info on her urban fantasy and general nerdiness is here:
http://www.salamanderstales.com/

Laura/Alayna’s blogs:

http://www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com/
http://delphisdaughters.blogspot.com/

Alayna's Tour Schedule:
http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/01/alayna-williams-rogue-oracle-tour.html

Giveaway Details:

Alayna is giving away a paperback copy of Rogue Oracle to one random commenter!  Please leave a way to contact you in your comment.  Contest is open internationally.  Ends Tuesday, 3/15/2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Good luck!

Wilder’s Mate Kindle Contest hosted by Moira Rogers

About the Contest:

Want to win a brand new Wi-Fi Kindle 3? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you can have your chance! For more chances to win, visit the main contest page. Every participating blog you visit gives you another chance to win!

The fine print: This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo.  For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post.  Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.

Good luck!

Wilder's Mate
Bloodhounds, Book One

Digital Versions: Barnes & Noble, Amazon,Samhain Publishing, Amazon UK, Kobo

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

Treasure Me Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Robyn DeHart

Hello, Robyn! Thank you for being here today. Treasure Me is the final book in your Legend Hunters series. Please tell us a little about it. How is it related to the previous two books Seduce Me and Desire Me?

Well, thank you for having me and for participating in my blog tour. Well, I'm going to cheat and just give you the back cover blurb because it sounds so much better than any way I'd describe it myself. As for how it relates to the other two books, well, the series is about a gentlemen's club called Solomon's that is filled with men who hunt antiquities and buried treasures and other legendary items. In the first book, Seduce Me, you're introduced to Solomon's and you meet both Max and Graeme (the heroes in books 2 & 3) and you hunt for Pandora's Box, whereas in Desire Me, you're racing the clock to uncover a secret prophecy about the lost continent of Atlantis and here's what Treasure Me is about:

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon’s meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as enthralling as the Loch Ness monster . . .

TREASURE ME

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English crown. But his is an adventurer’s soul and nothing keeps him from his dream: finding a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands looking for traces of the legendary beast—not a husband. Yet when fate binds her to Graeme, it’s not all bad: he’s the first man ever to share her hunger for adventure. As their passion grows, so too does certain danger, and they’ll soon risk everything to keep the jewel out of a murder’s hands. But can they do so without losing the greatest treasure of all . . . their love?

What type of research did you do for this book? Have you traveled to Loch Ness?

I have never been to Loch Ness, never been to Scotland, though I have been to England and travelled to the lowlands which is just below Scotland. But mostly I just read a lot. And looked at pictures. There are great pictures of Loch Ness because it's so famous, lots from different angles and different times of day. I use the ruins of Castle Urquhart in the book as well so I had to read up on that. And the Stone of Destiny, the biblical relic that Graeme is after, well, the research on that is really what started the story line for the entire book. I just became fascinated with the story about the antiquity and it just snowballed into a great adventure romance. But for most of my books I scour used bookstores for interesting old books on British history or whatever specific piece of history I'm digging into. I have quite the collection now, and since I write in the same time period (Victorian era) I have a good stable of books on the basics of the time period. I've always loved history so I find the research aspect interesting.

Why do you think people are still intrigued with creatures like the Loch Ness monster today?

How could you not be intrigued? Nessie has always been a source of fascination for me. Loch Ness is a very deep lake and it wasn't always landlocked so it's entirely feasible that a large creature like a plesiosaur could have lived there. There's just something about the unknown and the possibility and there's a lot to be said for long-standing legends. For example, the sightings of the walter kelpie (as some call it) date all the way back to the 7th century. A story that lasts that long, there has to be some truth to it.

What is the best part of writing historical romances?

The happy endings! I love being able to write in a world where love triumphs and the bad guy always gets his comeuppance. And there's something inherently romantic about historical settings. Well, if you pretend that people bathed more often than they actually did. It's the ultimate dress-up game though, you get to lose yourself in an entirely different world where people talk a little differently and dress differently and men are dashing and a little bit dangerous without being scary and women are respectable (sometimes!) and wear beautiful dresses. I do love my job!

What books have most influenced your life?

Oh wow, what a great question and one that could allow for a very lengthy answer so I'll try to stick to the highlights. I can't talk about my relationship with books without mentioning Judy Blume. I know I'm not the only girl who grew up in the 70s that cut their teeth on her books, she was an icon of my generation and I'm so happy that kids today are still reading her books. I must have read Are You There God, It's Me Margaret a million times. I still have my copy and it's ratty and torn and very well-loved. When I was in high school I grabbed one of my mom's romance novels, it happened to A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss and it was my first adult romance and to say my life changed forever in those pages might sound a bit dramatic, but it's the truth nonetheless. Reading that book was like finding the lighthouse. It was as if I an audible click could be heard in my head and I just knew that *that* would be what I did when I grew up. I had always known I wanted to be a writer, but I wasn't sure about what to write, but within those pages I found my answer. And well, here I am still writing historical romance and loving it. There have been plenty of other books, but I can't mention them all. I feel as though I should mention the Harry Potter series, not because it shaped my writing career, but because of how much those books mean to me. When you become a writer reading becomes more difficult sometimes, you notice things in stories that you might not have before and it is often more difficult to become lost in a story. But when I picked up that first book (and this was way back before the hype when only books 1&2 were out) I was utterly enchanted (pardon the pun). The only thing I can equate it to is that reading that back made me feel like I did when I read as a child, completely absorbed in the story world. That's magic. (okay can't seem to stop the puns)

Besides writing, what are your other passions in life?

Spending time with my husband. He's my best friend and we have a great time together. I don't get to do it very much, but I love to travel. I also love to scrapbook. And well, I really love to read, I'm passionate about books whether I write them or not.

Thanks again for having me.

http://RobynDeHart.com/

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Treasure Me to give away! To enter, please leave a comment with a way to contact you.

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.

Contest is open until Saturday, 3/12/2011, at 11:59 pm Central Time. Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette. Good luck!

Review: LUCANI LOVERS: KISS OF MOONLIGHT

By Stephanie Julian

Blurb:

Plagued by nightmares. Stalked by kidnappers. Tamra McMillan needs a safe haven. When tattooed bad-ass Kyle Rossini steps into her life, she didn't expect to find sanctuary from her demons or hot sex. But appearances can be deceiving. His tender touch and the hunger in his eyes brands her his for life. But otherworldly forces are afoot and death hovers… Etruscan werewolf Kyle Rossini is a loner. The king’s assassin with a killer’s instincts. The last thing he needs is a mate.  Until he meets the one woman who needs him more than he needs his solitude. When Tamra stumbles into his world and his bed, she captures his heart. And nothing will keep him from her.

oOoOoOo

Kiss of Moonlight is an exciting introduction into Stephanie Julian's world of Etruscan shapeshifters and ancient magic.  It is an emotionally gripping story as well.  Tamra is a young woman struggling to heal from a violent rape.  Hiding from the world for the past six months, she ends up living alone in a secluded cabin once owned by her great-grandfather.  The closest neighbors to her cabin are Kyle Rossini and his teenage daughter, Cat.

Despite the pain and mistrust she carries as a result of her attack, Tam is drawn to both of them - Cat as a friend and confidante, and Kyle as the first man to stir her libido she thought was permanently damaged.  What Tam doesn't know is that Kyle and Cat are wolf shifters, a secret revealed to her by accident when Kyle saves her from a kidnapping attempt.  Tam is the first woman to ever touch Kyle's heart, and he is determined to protect her at all costs, especially when it is discovered that the people after Tam have ties to the magical community.

The characters really sucked me into this story.  I loved that Kyle was the father of a 15-year old girl.  Being a parent added more depth to his character, and we could see just how loving and protective he was underneath the alpha exterior.  I thought his daughter Cat was an important addition to the story.  Even though Cat was a shifter, she was also a bright and spirited teenager.  She was there to help nudge Kyle and Tam together, because they were both hesitant to get close to someone else.  And, wow, Tamra's backstory was heart-wrenching.  But this was not a case of the hero saving a broken heroine with his prowess in bed (which Kyle did have!).  No, Tamra was a strong survivor.  She came to Kyle on her own terms because she was ready to take the next step in healing.

Kiss of Moonlight sets a solid foundation for the Lucani Lovers series.  We are introduced to the major players of the Etruscan world and learn about their lore and history.  The plot was fast-paced with an element of suspense as well as plenty of steamy sex.  My only complaint was that the book ended on a big cliff-hanger, and the major conflict in the story was not resolved.  I wanted to learn a little more about the villain(s) than what we were given.  I'm hoping to find out more in the next book Moonlight Menage.  I am a devoted fan of werewolf stories, and this is a promising start to an intriguing series.

BLOOD, SMOKE AND MIRRORS Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Robyn Bachar

Hello, Robyn, and welcome to Book of Secrets! Please tell us about your background. What's this about your love of Role Playing Games?

Thank you for having me today, it’s a pleasure to be here. I’m a paranormal and fantasy romance writer from Chicago, and yes, I am addicted to role playing games. I own a lot of dice, and I’ve played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons. My husband and I met at a role playing game, and it was a match made in geek heaven. My writing doesn’t leave me a lot of time for gaming now, but I try to sneak in a few hours of World of Warcraft every so often.

Has being a gamer influenced your writing? If so, how?

Oh, it definitely has. I watched too many great characters die and good plots go down in flames based on a bad roll of the dice. There are no guarantees in gaming that your characters will survive to see the end of the story. I’m a control freak, and I want to know that a story I’m involved in creating will end with the good guys winning, the bad guys losing, and the hero and heroine living happily ever after. That’s why I decided to write my own stories and leave my dice on the shelf.

Please tell us about your book Blood, Smoke, and Mirrors. What was your inspiration to write it?

Blood, Smoke and Mirrors was born out of my first experience with National Novel Writing Month. Though I had no plot whatsoever, I decided to give NaNo a try…the month before my wedding. There’s a story about it here on the NaNo site, which boils down to me wanting to write vampire fight scenes instead of working on my wedding program. As it developed it became a mix of my favorite things: Chicago, urban fantasy, evil vampires, angsty witches, and pancakes. Yes, pancakes.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

The working title was Smoke and Mirrors, but as the book developed I realized that Blood needed to be included as well. When interviewed about his role in “Sweeney Todd” Alan Rickman joked that there was so blood in the movie that it became its own character. That’s a bit how I feel about blood in this book. It’s important to the world building, and thanks to fight scenes and hungry vampires blood has a starring role, and that’s how it ended up in the title.

Favorite scene to write: steamy sex scene or action/fight scene? Why?

Fight scene! I love including fight scenes. I don’t always love writing them, but once I get over the initial choreography angst I enjoy it. I’m a Joss Whedon fan. I enjoy heroines who kick evil’s butt.

Do you have any writing quirks you'd like to share?

I can’t write in silence. I know many writers enjoy listening to music, but I’m more likely to put something on TV while I work. My favorite thing to write to is Ghost Hunters. I have every season on DVD, and when I start a new book I throw in a season and let it run. The TAPS team helped me through many scenes in Blood, Smoke and Mirrors.

Can you share a little of your current writing project with us? What are your upcoming releases?

In May my novella The Importance of Being Emily will be released from Samhain. The story is somewhat of a prequel to Blood, Smoke and Mirrors, and it follows three of the characters who appear in the book. I’m continuing to work on more books in the series, as well as developing a fantasy romance series.

About the Book:

Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.

Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father’s reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.

Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She’d rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.

Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian—until now. The lingering guilt over Cat’s exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.

Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex’s protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe…and win her back. If they both survive.

Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.

Excerpt:

“Now, Merrideth, I just told you that this young lady is under my protection, so if you and your people don’t turn around and walk away, we’re going to have a problem.” Lex slipped his hands into his duster, reaching for whatever weapons he had concealed beneath it and sending a clear message to the crowd that he meant business.

“Maybe I should kill one, Duquesne, just to set an example,” Tybalt suggested.

“Don’t even think about it, Silverleaf. Just cut ’em off at the knees, that’s always fun.”

Apparently they took offense to that idea, and without another word they attacked, moving in a dark blur that was hard to see. As the vampires swarmed him Lex drew his weapons in a quick flash of bright metal, swinging a short sword in each hand. Guess that answered the question of why wear a long black coat in June, because swords were a tad hard to conceal without it. The guardian moved with inhuman speed as the fight boiled into the street. I couldn’t spot how he was wounding them, but I smelled the stale scent of vampire blood in the humid night air.

Tybalt’s rapier appeared in his hand and his clever human disguise vanished as he abandoned all pretense of hiding his true nature. The vampires around him hissed in surprise, and he launched himself at them, moving in a dark blue blur I couldn’t follow. I felt pretty useless inside of my safe little bubble, but there wasn’t anything I could do to help. I wasn’t trained as a fighter, and thanks to my witch upbringing I didn’t know any offensive spells. Best I could do was hurl harsh language.

A vampire fell away from the fray in the street, stumbling and then scrambling about searching for something on the ground. After a moment I realized it was looking for the rest of the severed arm that had rolled under a parked car. My stomach heaved and I swallowed hard, looking down at my feet and trying to shove that image out of my brain.

“C’mon now, that had to hurt,” Lex teased the armless vamp. “Why don’t you just take your hand and go home?”

“Only a flesh wound,” the vampire growled as it stretched to reach beneath the car.

Like the worst part of a horror film, it was morbidly fascinating, and I couldn’t help but watch. They were stronger, faster and outnumbered him, but somehow Lex held his own. While the vampires were slashed and bleeding, the guardian didn’t have a scratch on him. Yet.

“Come out and play, little Cat,” a new voice crooned. Turning my attention away from the fight, I found four strangers pacing around the edge of my shields. Necromancers, from the awful smell of them. They circled me like hungry sharks, searching for a weak spot in my shields. Yeah, good luck there. It’d take a lot more than four necromancers to get through my shields, as long as I stood still and concentrated. Unfortunately I couldn’t stand there all night, and it’d be a real long walk to my apartment with them trying to sabotage me the entire way. Not a happy thought.

“No thanks, I like it here.”

“What’s wrong? Afraid?”

Oh, please. Like that was going to tempt me into throwing a temper tantrum and let them jump me. I wasn’t falling for that lame trick. I put my hands on my hips and smiled again, more confident this time as I glanced over the speaker. Another sad fashion disaster dressed in black from head to toe, the necromancer reminded me of one of the many reasons why I hate the goth trend: it was created and nurtured by vampires. The woman wore a ridiculous getup of black lace and vinyl complete with spider-web hose and a corset top, doing her best to look dark and mysterious. She’d make a fabulous vampire stereotype when they killed her.

“I’m real scared of that outfit. Was there a sale at Hot Topic?”

Apparently I hit a nerve and she snarled at me. I opened my mouth to toss another witty insult at her, but was interrupted by a distinctly male sound of pain cutting through the tumultuous noise of the fight, too deep to be a faerie’s voice. My panic level rose as I smelled the scent of strong magical blood. Lex had fallen to one knee.

Charging into the fray, I rushed to Lex’s side. My shields bent perilously inward for a heartbeat before rebounding and hurling vampires out of the way like undead bowling pins. When I reached him my shield stretched and enveloped Lex. My brain paused for a heartbeat to wonder about that bizarre detail, because really it should’ve bounced him out of the way as well since I hadn’t had the good sense to drop them before reaching his side. Deciding to ponder that later, I focused on the set of claw marks slashed across his midsection as I hauled him to his feet.

“This qualifies as distracting me,” he growled in annoyance.

“What? You’re hurt, you need help.”

“Barely a scratch. Ol’ no thumbs there, now he needs a medic.” He nodded at a nearby vampire who was indeed missing his thumbs and most of his fingers, which were scattered around his feet like fat, pale worms.

My stomach bolted up near the back of my throat and I realized we were in trouble, because I was sure I couldn’t shield and retch at the same time. “I think we should let him set an example.” I nodded at the faerie-sized blur darting in and out of the mob.

“No, we’re not, and I was doin’ fine on my own.”

“We need a new plan.” Poking at his wound, I tried to gauge how severe the damage was, accidentally coating my fingers with his blood in the process.

“Had to call a guardian and your pixie buddy, eh witch? Not strong enough to defend yourself,” another new voice commented. I spun around to watch in morbid fascination as the limb-impaired vamp reattached his severed arm.

“And you? Needed a hand?” Lex drawled. “Now you, stay here,” he ordered as he glared at me. He lunged toward the vampire, and the two circled each other in a frenzied dance. “You tired yet? You’ll run outta blood ’fore I even break a sweat,” he taunted the vampire.

“Kitty!” Tybalt called out to me as a vamp landed with a thud at the faerie’s feet.

“What?”

“Better idea. Conjure sunlight!”

“What?”

“Just do it. Invoke Apollo, trust me,” the faerie ordered.

I shrugged, not sure where Tybalt was going with his request, considering sunlight doesn’t hurt vampires like it does in movies. Instead of burning them into a pile of ash it gives them severe sunburn, but hey, I didn’t have much else to do while inside my shields, so I decided to run with it. Grabbing my lighter, I held it tight in my right hand, and after sorting through the collection of symbols hung around my neck, I found my sun medallion and clutched it in my left. Holding the button down on my lighter, I turned the flame up to its highest level and held it aloft.

“Great Apollo, drive your chariot hence,

Burning bright for our defense.

Life from light, push back the night,

Chase the darkness from our sight.”

Honestly, I wasn’t quite expecting the result I got. I figured the spell would give me a little bit of sun like the one that had illuminated the room beneath the faerie mound. Instead a small supernova formed from the fire in my hand, a bright white light that blinded me for a moment with its pure intensity. I squeezed my eyes shut as piercing inhuman howls split the summer night. The awful scent of burnt flesh and toasted vinyl filled my nostrils, and I flinched at the heat building up in my grasp. My brain warned me that it would be a smart idea to drop the lighter a split second before it exploded.

Giveaway Details:

Robyn is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to one person who leaves a comment on her book tour. Click HERE for Robyn's tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning! Please leave a way to contact you in your comment. Good luck!