Bodice Ripper Revival (2): Review and International Giveaway

DEVIL'S MISTRESS

By Heather Graham

Publisher: Dell

ISBN: 0440117402

First Published: July 1986

If there was ever a devil who could lure and seduce the innocent, Lord Sloan Treveryan is that man. Captain of the Sea Hawk and bound to the king’s business, Treveryan may be a lord but he is no gentleman. Yet even he cannot ignore a lady in distress—or the temptation she provides.

Bewitched by Brianna MacCardle’s beauty, Scottish inquisitors have called her the devil’s own. Though Treveryan saves her from the witch-hunter’s clutches, how can she be grateful? He has carried Brianna off to America, claimed her, and taken her innocence. She vows that he will never capture her heart. But against her will she begins to fall in love—while swearing to reap revenge against the arrogant lord who has made her the devil’s mistress.

Bodice Ripper Spoiler Alert: I've tried to keep spoilers to a minimum in this review.  No major secrets/plot twists are revealed.  There are a few minor spoilers ahead...

Part One: Enter the Devil

DEVIL'S MISTRESS is set in Scotland and Colonial America in the late 17th century.  The book has an exciting beginning with Brianna on the run from a psychotic witch hunter on the streets of Glasgow.  She encounters sea captain Sloan Treveryan in a tavern and pretends to be a prostitute so that she may hide out in his room.  Of course, when Sloan discovers that Brianna was a virgin (up until he got her in his bed), he knows something is not right.  She confesses that she is the witch being hunted and wants to go to her family in England for help.  Sloan knows the witch hunter will easily find her there, so he ends up kidnapping Brianna and holding her captive on his ship.

Sloan is more than a Welsh lord and sea captain.  He's also a loyal supporter and informant of sorts for William and Mary of Orange, currently living in Holland.  He is one of many who want them to replace Mary's father, James II, as rulers of England, Scotland and Ireland.  Sloan intends to leave Brianna with Mary for protection.  Brianna will not hear of it, and escapes Sloan's ship only to be captured and nearly killed by the witch hunter.  Sloan saves her again, and though the two form a passionate relationship, he refuses to marry her.  Brianna is devastated and escapes from him again, this time running away to the Colonies with her cousin.

Part Two: The Devil in Salem

Of all the towns in the Colonies, Brianna chooses the worst one to settle in for a woman once accused of witchcraft.  Salem.  When the hysteria of the witch trials begins, Brianna's cousin urges her to keep quiet and hope that they avoid attention.  But, it's only a matter of time before both Brianna and her cousin are arrested on false charges.  The situation seems hopeless until Sloan comes looking for Brianna in Salem...

My thoughts:  Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I've always had a morbid fascination with the Salem Witch Trials, and I thought that the author captured the craziness and cruelty of that time perfectly.  The plot was suspenseful and fast-paced.  There were a couple of intriguing plot twists along the way to keep me engaged.

My main complaint was Brianna and Sloan's very tense relationship for most of the book.  There was plenty of passionate pledges of love, and then lots of bickering between them.  Most of the blame falls on Brianna.  Her behavior was so ridiculous and dramatic at times.  Sloan wanted to protect her and be with her, he just couldn't marry her.  Brianna's solution was to keep running away (even though she loved him) and nearly getting herself killed.  I wanted to smack her myself a few times.  In my opinion, Sloan was no "devil."  He was a good guy who got a raw deal in life that was out of his control.

Though DEVIL'S MISTRESS did not fit the typical "historical romance" formula, it was an enjoyable story worth reading.  It would definitely appeal to fans of old-school romances.

Bodice Ripper Elements: Kidnapping/forced seduction of the heroine; heroine hit/slapped a few times. 

Rating: 3.5 Bodices

Giveaway Details:

This post is part of the Bodice Ripper Revival, a new monthly event here on my blog and at Tanya's blog, Among the Muses!

For a chance to win a copy of either Devil's Mistress or the book Tanya reviews on Sunday, please leave a comment with your e-mail address on this or both posts. If you leave a comment on both reviews, you will get two entries!

The winner's choice of book will be shipped from The Book Depository, so the contest is open internationally. (Winner will receive the most recent edition of the book.) The contest is open until Monday, 8/1/2011, at 11:59 pm EST. Good luck!

Bodice Ripper Revival Weekend

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Among the Muses and Book of Secrets have partnered up to sweep you off your feet one weekend a month as we give our reviews on some of the old time romances known as bodice rippers. Yep, we love those kind of books!

So what is this weekend all about?

The last weekend of each month we'll alternate which blog is hosting the Bodice Ripper Revival. Friday will be the kick off day introducing you to the books of up for review and giveaway, Saturday the host's review post, and Sunday the partner blog will post her review of a different bodice ripper.

The best part of the event for you, the reader, is when you leave a comment on each of our reviews, it will count as one entry into a drawing to win either one of the books reviewed that weekend (depending on availability) or an eGC to a online store to purchase an ecopy yourself!

This Month's BRR Weekend Giveaway Rules:

• Leave a comment with your email addy on a Bodice Ripper review post at Book of Secrets (Saturday) and Among the Muses (Sunday) for one entry each. (Only one entry per review will count towards giveaway).

• Contest is open INTERNATIONALLY, shipped via The Book Depository (as long as it ships to the winner's country), and the winner will be able to pick from either reviewed selection as her/his paperback choice.

• Contest will run from the first Saturday post until 11:59PM EST the following Monday night.

• Winner will be chosen using Random.org and notified by e-mail. 

This month's feature reads are:

Saturday at Book of Secrets:

DEVIL'S MISTRESS
By Heather Graham

If there was ever a devil who could lure and seduce the innocent, Lord Sloan Treveryan is that man. Captain of the Sea Hawk and bound to the king’s business, Treveryan may be a lord but he is no gentleman. Yet even he cannot ignore a lady in distress—or the temptation she provides.


Bewitched by Brianna MacCardle’s beauty, Scottish inquisitors have called her the devil’s own. Though Treveryan saves her from the witch-hunter’s clutches, how can she be grateful? He has carried Brianna off to America, claimed her, and taken her innocence. She vows that he will never capture her heart. But against her will she begins to fall in love—while swearing to reap revenge against the arrogant lord who has made her the devil’s mistress.

oOoOoOo

Sunday at Among the Muses:

FIRES OF WINTER
By Johanna Lindsey

Lovely and dauntless, abducted by invaders from across an icy sea, Lady Brenna vowed vengeance -- swearing no Viking brute would be her master...no barbarian would enslave her noble Celtic heart.


Yet Garrick Haardrad, the proud and powerful son of a ruthless Viking chieftan, claims her with a primitive abandon that leaves her breathless, igniting fires of passion that blaze through the cold Nordic nights and forge the unbreakable bonds of a fiery, eternal love.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Review: HAUNTED HEART

HAUNTED HEART

By Carolyn Rosewood

Format: eBook; 354 pages

Publisher: Etopia Press

Release Date: July 1, 2011

Source: From the author

All Rowena Sommers wants is a quiet life away from Hollywood gossip and her vicious Oscar-winning ex-boyfriend Brett Fontaine. Her career and reputation in a shambles, thanks to Brett, Rowena returns home to restore her ancestral home and soak up some familiar, hometown sympathy. But having won a twenty-million-dollar defamation suit against Brett hasn’t endeared her to the hometown fans, and the man she’s hired to restore the old home is none other than the ex-jock who used her cruelly in high school to win a bet. And now a paranormal investigator is telling her the place may be haunted.

Van Whitney is no stranger to gossip. He's been struggling to keep his family's restoration business afloat, and when he agrees to restore Rowena's home, he vows to keep their relationship professional. His childhood friend has become a beautiful, sexy woman, but she attracts gossip like flies to honey. When strange things start happening at the house, Van discovers secrets upon secrets, and a plot that may be other than it seems. But his attraction to Rowena might be more dangerous than anything from the past…

Haunted Heart is a touching and romantic story about forgiveness and starting over.  Carolyn Rosewood is a new-to-me author, and I really enjoyed her writing style.  She has a talent for bringing the reader into her characters' lives.  The heroine of the story is Rowena Sommers, a costume designer from Los Angeles.  Rowena is in a very bad place in her life.  She has just won a lawsuit against her cheating actor boyfriend who destroyed her career.  In an attempt to escape the gossip magazines, she returns to her small hometown in Ohio.

Unfortunately for Rowena, she does not get the warm "welcome home" she was hoping for.  Just about everyone in Creek Ridge sees her as the uppity Hollywood-type who just won a truckload of money from a rich actor.  Everyone except contractor Van Whitney.  Van and Rowena were childhood friends until Van pulls a hurtful prank in high school driving a wedge between them.  Now she's back in town, and Van is hoping for her forgiveness - and a job restoring her aunt's house.  She reluctantly agrees to hire him for the job, but forgiving him is another matter.

The situation becomes more complicated when a ghost hunter shows up at Rowena's door pressuring her to let him investigate the house.  Rowena doesn't believe in ghosts, but when some unusual and unexplainable things start happening in her house, she is very concerned.  In addition, her ex-boyfriend Brett Fontaine continues to add grief to her life.  The only person she trusts to turn to for help is Van.

The title of this book fits perfectly with the story.  Haunted Heart is more than just the mystery surrounding the eerie happenings inside Rowena's house.  On a deeper level, it's about Rowena and Van being haunted by their pasts, and their own hearts being burdened with a lot of pain.  I really got pulled into the story by these two characters.  Their relationship felt very real given their history and the current situation.  Despite their rocky past, Rowena and Van had passionate chemistry between them.  As a bonus, Van turned out to be my favorite type of hero - strong and sexy, of course, but with just a touch of vulnerability underneath it all.  Irresistible.

Haunted Heart is a very sexy romance, suspenseful mystery and a touching "second chances" story.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

Jacquelyn Frank Interview and Giveaway

I'm thrilled to welcome Jacquelyn Frank to Book of Secrets today!  Her latest release is SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES, the second book in her Three Worlds series.  Hi, Jacquelyn!

How would you describe yourself using five words only?

High stressed crazy cat lady :)

Please tell us a little about your background.

Well, I am currently living in North Carolina, but once I open my mouth its a given that I'm from New York. I have 4 sisters and 10 kitties and no memory whatsoever. I have been writing romantic fiction ever since I picked up my first teen romance at about 13. I hated the lameness of the teen romances of the time and set out to do a better job. Before I became a published author I was a Sign Language Interpreter and substitute teacher, I try to be a powerful advocate of reading and writing whenever possible.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In my heart I have never really done or been anything else. I didn't approach being a writer the way that everyone else did. I sort of backed into this whole she-bang. I have always loved to write, but very privately. Only close friends and family ever read my work.

One day I saw a contest, the Brava contest, on Lori Foster's website. The kind where you select three pages from any work and send them in. The winner then gets to send that whole finished work to the editor to be read. So, I contemplated over the idea of entering for some time. At that particular time in my life the fear of rejection was outstanding. Once I finally decided to enter the contest (okay my girlfriends threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't!) came the issue of which three pages to choose.  Well, I didn't think they would want anything I already had because it didn't fit in their guidelines so I wrote an entire novel just to find those three pages. After agonizing over that and finally choosing, I sat there with my finger hovering over the send button. My girlfriend came up behind me and pushed my finger down onto the button. I then went into the bathroom and vomited.

Well, I finaled in the contest, but didn't win.  So I was shocked when Kate Duffy from Kensington called me and asked for a full manuscript. Which I sent. Then hearing editors had huge slush piles and it could take months before I heard anything, I politely waited a year before calling her and asking..."um, did you ever get...?" She said no and I was crushed. She told me to never mind and send her my best. I said, oh no, my best wasn't anything she'd be interested in. She said send it anyway. So this time I sent JACOB. I waited on pins and needles for a response and when it came I couldn't even believe what I was hearing. She loved JACOB and wanted to submit it for publishing right away. She began throwing ideas at me for a series and she thought I should write NOAH next. I said..."Well, umm, I was thinking GIDEON." She was like, "Okay, that's good too!" "Well, what if I told you it's already written?" She was like "Really? Send it to me!" Then I nervously asked... "What would you say if I told you that I had a total of 5 books in the Nightwalkers series already written?" And she said "I say I think you need an agent!" And the rest? Well, I think you know what happened. ;)

Please tell us a little about your latest release.

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES brings us back to the adventures of the Interplanetary Militia in the Three Worlds universe. Rush “Ender” Blakely is part of the ETF, an Extreme Tactics Force, that aids in policing these worlds, helps in keeping the peace and seeing that everyone lives a reasonably happy existence. But when the Emperor of Allay dies, and a culture threatens to unravel, Ender finds himself in an impossible situation. He is cut off from his team with traitors amongst him, he is forced to rely only on his ETF training and Tarian heritage to protect the princess from those who would see her killed. All the while he is hiding his own secret that once exposed could threaten all that he holds dear.

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

As always, a dream. I can't tell you any more specifics, cause it would spoil it. Perhaps later I'll share. :)

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Ambrea. She reminds me of a favorite character in history that I idolize.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

Ambrea. And her hero. They were equally challenging because I was determined to make them true to who they were, their disparate cultures and experiences, and occasionally struggled with my editor over it.

What makes your book stand out from others in the same genre?

It's a cross between sci-fi (although not purist sci-fi AT ALL) fantasy, historical and paranormal all in one. Sort of a smorgasbord of genres.

If you could trade places with one of your characters (from this or previous books), who would it be and why?

Daenaira. From RAPTURE. Cuz I want me some Magnus. And she's a tough, sassy little cookie. And even though she goes through some terrible tragedies, they make her who and what she has to be in order to earn her blessings.

What is the best part of being a writer? What is the most difficult part?

Having my kitties all around me. Having my kitties all around me. (They think they can write. In the middle of a sentence they jump on the keyboard and write pages and pages of stuff, so when I come back I have to undo it all.)

What is your writing process like?

I start out WITH hair and end up WITHOUT hair.

Do you have a formula for developing characters?

No!!! You just said the "F" word! In public!!! Straight to my face!! How dare you! ;)

LOL!  How about this one: Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names?

ACK!! You did it again! You used the "F" word!! Names are whatever my brain makes up or whatever has crossed my path. It's basically whatever leaps up, smacks me across the face and says "COOL NAME!"

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

Like any genre is will eventually ebb, but it will never die. Paranormal has thrived since NOSFERATU and DRACULA...even since hieroglyphs. It's all about telling the new idea. Not beating the cash pony to death. I'm not doing this because it's in fashion, or because I can make good money at it and milk the public. I do this because I want to try to do what others aren't doing.

Why do modern women still crave the alpha male in romance novels?

They crave a modernized Alpha male. They want the "Get over here!" but when they get there they crave the, "Let me care for you."

What was the last amazing book you read?

Chicken Soup for the Soul. A Cat's Life. *sheepish grin* I don't have time to read novels anymore.

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

Animal rescue. Especially cat rescue. Keeping feral and diseased populations down. It is incredibly uneducated to neglect your pet or sit and whine about feral populations. There are low cost resources out there! Just start asking and people are eager to tell you.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

My on going affair with Ben & his brother Jerry. I am in love with Pistachio Pistachio ice cream. Shoe shopping at Taloni's and real New York style pizza.

http://www.jacquelynfrank.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/authorjacquelynfrank

Giveaway Details:

Jacquelyn is giving away a copy of SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES to two lucky commenters!  (US/Canada)  To enter, please leave a meaningful comment on today's post along with a valid e-mail address.  The contest is open until Friday, 7/29/2011, at 11:59 pm.  Good luck!

Review: IN A TREACHEROUS COURT

IN A TREACHEROUS COURT

By Michelle Diener

Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: August 2, 2011

Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

One of the King's courtiers and commissioned artist Susanna Horenbout uncover secrets that could mean the end of the King Henry VIII's reign.

John Parker is one of Henry VIII's most useful courtiers- utterly merciless and completely loyal. But one small favor for his King pulls Parker into a deadly plot against the throne: one that will test his courage, his resolve, and most especially, his heart.

A commission from Henry VIII should have been the crowning achievement of Susanna Horenbout's career, but before she even sets foot in England, the talented artist finds herself in possession of a secret that could change the country's history. With Parker as her only protection against killers who will stop at nothing silence her, Susanna has to trust the dangerous, enigmatic courtier. She's used to fighting in a man's world, but she never expected to be fighting for her life.

IN A TREACHEROUS COURT is Michelle Diener's exciting debut novel.  The story is set in the court of Henry VIII when he was still married to his first wife Catherine of Aragon.  John Parker, one of the king's most trusted and loyal courtiers, is sent to meet the king's new court painter arriving by ship from the Netherlands.  He is surprised to learn that the Flemish artist is a young woman named Susanna Horenbout, and that she was the witness to the murder of a spy.  The secret message for the king that the dying man whispered to Susanna has put her life in grave danger, and it's Parker's duty to deliver her to Henry safely.  Soon Parker and Susanna become entangled in a plot against the king, and they must find who's responsible before Susanna becomes the next victim.

IN A TREACHEROUS COURT is an interesting blend of historical fiction, mystery, suspense and romance.  I love stories set in the Tudor period, and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of this time and place, both the beautiful and the cruel.  Henry VIII is one of history's more intriguing rulers, so I loved that he was a character in this book.

The main characters were also based on actual historical figures.  Susanna Horenbout was a Flemish artist who is thought to have worked for the king at one time.  John Parker was the King's Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and his Yeoman of the Crossbows.  They seemed well suited for each other since the story tells us neither were traditional players in Henry's court.  Their romance blended nicely into the story as a whole.  My favorite character was Parker, who could be ruthless yet compassionate when needed.

The mystery surrounding the plot against the king, including the major players involved, was well researched and very convincing.  The book started out strong, but the pacing did slow down in the middle.  However, the ending was very suspenseful - there were plenty of nail-biting moments.  This is the first book in a series, and I will definitely be reading the next installment, KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS.

I would recommend IN A TRECHEROUS COURT to fans of historical fiction/mystery who like a good romance included.  I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Mailbox Monday (1)

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Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page,

is being hosted this month by Gwendolyn at A Sea of Books.

This is my first "Mailbox Monday" post.  I'm excited to take part this time!  I'm planning to participate on the last Monday of each month.  The books below are ones I've received over the past few weeks that I will review next month:

  

In a Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener

Saint's Gate Carla Neggers

Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

  

Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter

Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend

A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady

  

Pleating For Mercy by Melissa Bourbon

Tout Sweet by Karen Wheeler

Haunted Heart by Carolyn Rosewood

Guest Post by Christine Merrill and International Giveaway

Romance writers take a lot of heat for being unrealistic because they want happy endings in their books. Real life, and hence worthy fiction, is at worst a tragedy and at best random with a good chance of misery.

Real life leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why so many people seek out happy endings when they want to read, relax and escape. The most popular defense is that we are just giving the readers what they want. They majority of people seem to desire justice and happiness for the main characters, which is why romance is the best selling of all fiction genres.

But it’s not like we were the first ones to come up with the idea.

And in The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde describes a novel where "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means." And he seemed to agree, since his play is a deliciously fluffy confection and with multiple happy endings.

I learned in college that his editor made Charles Dickens add a happy ending to Great Expectations, for the sake of the audience. They preferred that Estella reform from her shallow ways and discover that Pip was a hottie. Dickens might have saved his ending for the English classes of posterity. But he knew what side his bread was buttered on and sold out to make sales.

But these are both well loved classics. “All’s well that end well,” does not always hold up under close scrutiny. Today, while researching Regency theater for an upcoming book, I learned not all of Shakespeare’s plays were automatic classics. Old Will ripped off plots from every classical source he could find. But Nahum Tate did him one better and began stealing from him in the late 1600’s. Only Nahum decided to improve on the originals.

In 1681, he rewrote Richard II as The Sicilian Usurper, changing it to be "full of respect to Majesty and the dignity of courts". But apparently he didn’t do such a hot job. It ran three performances and was then suppressed for being too political.

He also fixed Romeo and Juliet to give it a happy ending.

His version of King Lear, which had no fool, fewer deaths and more marriages, was so popular that it was still playing in the Regency. The famous actor Edmund Kean tried to bring back the Shakespeare version, saying that the audience would "have no notion of what I can do till they see me over the dead body of Cordelia."

The critics loved it. The audience did not. So he went back to Tate’s version.

I’m not going so far out into left field as to suggest that Lear would be better if it wasn’t a tragedy. And I feel deeply for poor Edmund, trying and failing to take Lear back to its tragic roots.

But I have to laugh, thinking of the audience leaving the theater and whispering, “Didn’t Cordelia marry Edgar the last time we saw this? I hate sad endings. Why did we come here?”

How about everyone else? Happy endings or sad? And which sad ending stories are so delicious that you are willing to make an exception?

Giveaway Details:

Christine is giving away a paperback copy of Miss Winthorpe's Elopement and Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess to one lucky commenter!  The giveaway is open internationally.

 

To enter, answer Christine's question: Happy endings or sad? And which sad ending stories are so delicious that you are willing to make an exception?

Please leave a valid e-mail address along with your answer.  The contest is open until Monday, 7/25/2011, at 11:59 pm CST.  Good luck!

Guest Review: FORBIDDEN BLOOD

FORBIDDEN BLOOD

By Felicity Heaton

Format: eBook

Release Date: June 18, 2011

Source: From author

In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark.

Exiled from his family and with only his duty to sustain him, Kearn has been on the trail of an elusive Source Blood abuser for three years. When he saves a beautiful human female from the vampire’s grasp, it turns out she’s the lead he’s been waiting for. Amber is a Source Blood and the perfect bait, but for who?

As they race to catch the vampire and survive the cruel games he plays, Amber is pulled deeper into Kearn’s world and discovers the painful secrets he hides behind his handsome but emotionless exterior—hurt that she has the power to heal if she is brave enough.

Forbidden Blood is book one in the Venator series and a dark, sensual tale of betrayal, revenge and a love that knows no bounds.

Reviewed By: AsianCocoa

Forbidden Blood is a paranormal romance full of conflict, mystery & suspense and action. The book opens up with Amber as she walks home from her going away party at a local London pub. As she is walking towards the Undergound station she feels like someone is following her. She gets cornered at the end of a narrow street by three evil-looking men. One of the men cuts his hand and forces her to drink his blood. He then cuts her neck and compels her to taste her own blood. She’s confused and afraid but can’t stop the urge to do as the man commands. But then another mysterious man drives up in his Audi to rescue her. She willingly gets into this stranger’s car to get away from the other men. Even though the evil man is still able to control her through her blood she knows she will be safer with her mysterious rescuer.

Kearn has been a Venator for the last 60 years. It’s his duty to punish vampires who abuse Source Blood which is rare human blood type that has drug-like affects on vampires. If vampires drink enough Source Blood their strength and powers are amplified beyond belief. Kearn is a vampire who has a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. After becoming a Venator he was disowned by his family and shunned by the vampire community. When we first meet him he is a broken, lonely man who shows little emotion and who feels his only purpose in life is to hunt down Source Blood abusers for the Vampire Sovereignty.

After saving Amber, Kearn realizes that she may be his only lead in catching an evil vampire that has eluded him for the last three years. He decides to use Amber as bait to flush him out. At first Amber goes along with it because she knows Kearn may be the only person that can keep her safe from the vampires that were following her. While working and living together, the two begin to fall in love with each other.

I liked how Felicity Heaton had me completely immersed in this story that took place almost exclusively within this strict vampire world she created. The reader is introduced to the hierarchy of vampire society and the different supernatural powers and strengths within it. Amber’s transition into this world as a human made her an endearing and likable character. She was afraid of all the vampires at first but when she finally realizes that Kearn was one too she accepts him and does her best to follow the rules and customs of the rigid vampire society. I also liked how Amber and Kearn could feel and gauge each other’s emotions through their blood connection. They could “speak” to each other through their blood. It made their love story that much more emotional. Their journey was a slow buildup but their bond was unbreakable towards the end of the book. The mystery and suspense kept me on the edge. The family secrets and betrayals made me gasp. And I was so surprised by the ending.

Forbidden Blood is the first book in the Venator series and I am looking forward to reading the next one. This fabulous paranormal love story gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Top Off Tuesdays (2): ANGEL OF DARKNESS

What better way than to top off a good book than with a great cover!  (I'm swiping the very cute button made by Missie too!)

Felicia from Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda from On a Book Bender and Christi from Smitten with Reading want to see the covers that made you swoon!

What girl could resist a brooding fallen angel?  Especially one with a cape and large...sword.  Okay, he does look a bit blond-ish, and like Felicia I prefer the dark-haired heroes.  However, I think I can forgive Keenan just this once... 

Angel of Darkness will be released in December!

Review and Giveaway: MORE THAN WORDS, VOL. 7

MORE THAN WORDS:

Volume 7

By Carly Phillips, Donna Hill

and Jill Shalvis

ISBN: 0373837631

Publisher: Harlequin

Source: From publisher

Each and every one of us has the ability to effect change—to make our world a better place. The dedicated women selected as this year's recipients of Harlequin's More Than Words award have changed lives, one good deed at a time. To celebrate their accomplishments, some of our bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing stories inspired by these real-life heroines.

In Carly Phillips's Compassion Can't Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.

Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman's dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it's never too late to form a loving family.

In Jill Shalvis's What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.

More Than Words, Volume 7 is a collection of three fictional stories inspired by remarkable real-life heroines dedicated to helping children.  Though short in length, each one had an uplifting message and a sweet romance.  Here's a brief look at each one:

Carly Phillips' Compassion Can't Wait is the story of two long lost loves, a hospital social worker and a famous baseball player, coming together to help a young teen in need.  This story was inspired by a charity called the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation.  They provide financial assistance to single parents of seriously ill children so they can be with them in their time of need.  What touched me the most about this story was that it focused on the healthy sibling of a sick child.  When a parent has one child who is very sick, that child becomes the parent's center of attention and understandably so.  This means that sometimes healthy siblings are pushed to the side when they too need attention.  In Compassion Can't Wait, Julia and Kyle are able to give that to a teen whose brother has leukemia.  This was an emotionally-charged story about compassion and forgiveness.  I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Donna Hill's Someplace Like Home was inspired by the Family Reconnect Program in Toronto, an organization that works to reunite troubled youths with their families.  Verna worked for Children's Services for many years, but left to start Someplace Like Home.  Home is a special residence for troubled teens being shuffled through the foster care system, a sanctuary in an unsure world.  Ronald is a high school guidance counselor who volunteers to help out.  Verna and Ronald have an immediate attraction, but their relationship becomes rocky over a complex and emotional dilemma with one of Home's residents.  Someplace Like Home was a touching story with a nice twist at the end.  I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Jill Shalvis' What the Heart Wants is probably my favorite of the collection.  It was a bit edgier, and I connected more with these characters.  This story was inspired by the Women's Expressive Theatre in New York that has a program for empowering at-risk teenage girls.  The main character Ellie benefited from this program when she was young, and now she runs her own organization for helping teenage girls.  Ellie and Jack were friends in high school who lost touch when he left town years ago.  Now he's back and running a self defense studio.  It happens that Ellie needs someone to teach her girls self defense when threats are made.  Enter Jack, the sexy bad boy who turned his life around.  I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ellie and Jack.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Giveaway Details:

I have one paperback copy of MORE THAN WORDS, VOL. 7 to give away!  Per the publisher's request, the book can be shipped to an address in the US or Canada.  To enter, please leave a meaningful comment on today's post along with your e-mail addy.  Of course, you are welcome to leave a comment even if you're not entering.  The contest is open until 7/20/2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Good luck!

Review: THE RESTORER

THE RESTORER

By Amanda Stevens

ISBN: 077832981X

Publisher: Mira

Release Date: April 19, 2011

Source: NetGalley

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

THE RESTORER is a chilling ghost story/murder mystery.  It was "now I have to sleep with all the lights on" spooky, and I devoured it!  This is the story of Amelia Gray, a cemetery restorer.  She's become a minor celebrity as "The Graveyard Queen" among taphophiles (cemetery enthusiasts).  What most people don't know about her is that she can see ghosts.  When she was a young child, her father gave her strict rules for dealing with ghosts: Don't acknowledge them; stay close to hallowed ground; avoid people who are haunted; and, never tempt fate.  Sounds like excellent advice to me!  Unfortunately for Amelia, she becomes entangled in a murder mystery that has her breaking all the rules and paying the price for it.

Amelia is hired to restore Oak Grove Cemetery situated on Emerson University property.  Soon after she arrives, the body of a woman very recently killed is found dumped in one of the graves.  This disturbing event brings her together with Detective John Devlin of the Charleston PD.  There's something about Devlin that draws Amelia to him, which is most unfortunate because...he's haunted.  It's not long before another murder victim is discovered, and both crimes may or may not tie in with a murder that occured 15 years ago under similar circumstances.  And, is the secret organization at Emerson known as the Order of the Coffin and the Claw somehow involved?  The police need Amelia's expertise in cemetery symbolism to help crack the case.  So here she is, breaking the rules her father set, and most definitely tempting fate.

THE RESTORER was a very well crafted paranormal murder mystery.  It was so creepy and so good.  I enjoyed the author's descriptive writing style.  I loved the cemetery setting, the spooky ghosts and the sense of foreboding I felt when I knew twilight was approaching.  I loved Amelia.  She was a smart and tough heroine with a very unique job.  I think it would be fascinating to research the history of old cemeteries and analyze gravestone carvings.  I'm a bit of a taphophile too, so I was really pulled into this story.

The Amelia/Devlin attraction was a bit unbelievable.  He was so pained and withdrawn, yet she wanted him the whole book.  But why?  Considering his history and who his ghosts were?  Eek.  Personally, I would not want to open that can of worms.  But then there would be moments where we'd get a fleeting glimpse of the man he used to be, and I'd think, "Is he redeemable?"  Maybe.  I'm very curious to see where the author takes their relationship in the next book.

While the main mystery in THE RESTORER is wrapped up nicely, we're left with many unanswered questions.  Are the members of the Order of the Coffin and the Claw good or evil?  Who was the private investigator giving Amelia tips, and what does he want from her?  Will Devlin ever be free of his spectral burdens?  I'm looking forward to finding out some answers in the second book, THE KINGDOM.

See also my review of THE ABANDONED, the novella-length prequel to THE RESTORER.

A Vampire Chef: Guest Post by Sarah Zettel and a Book Giveaway!

WHERE I FOUND THE NIGHTLIFE

By Sarah Zettel

You know the eternal question, right? “Where do you get your ideas from?” Authors get asked this constantly. We have a range of answers from the snarky to the serious. Sometimes we might even actually know. But I’m finding it a little strange to have to admit turns the root idea for one of the most fun projects of my writing career wasn’t actually mine.

A TASTE OF THE NIGHTLIFE started with a phone call from my friend, the author and humorist Esther Friesner. She said to me, “Sarah, two words; Vampire Chef.”

I said to her; “I’m in.”

Then I found out the idea wasn’t Esther’s, either. The late-great publisher and editor Martin H. Greenberg had walked into the office one day and said “Vampire Chef. Why has nobody done this?” And the inhabitants of the office all looked up at him and said. “YES! Why has nobody done this!” They then started looking for an author. First, they offered the job to Esther, but she was busy on her Princesses of Myth series. Esther brought up my name. You see, at the time, I was between projects. This is writer-speak for I was out of work.

In the interests of full disclosure, this almost never happens. Ideas go from the author to the editor, not editor to author. As a beginning, this was Not Normal.

But it happened, and I took the challenge, which left me with those two words. Vampire Chef. Now what? The setting, I decided, would be fairly simple, from an urban fantasy standpoint. The heroine, Charlotte Caine would not herself a vampire, she’d just cook for them. I’d place her in what is arguably the Foodie capitol of the US, New York, and make her restaurant into a place where humans and paranormals, such as vampires, can eat together without…unnerving each other. Hijinks could then ensue.

Now, to date, I’ve been a science fiction and fantasy author. This means I have mostly written about places no one can get to. That means I’m free to make up a great deal. But for Nightlife, I had a rock hard setting; New York City, and restaurant kitchens. My connection with professional kitchens is tenuous, but it is there. I worked “cold prep” at the student union kitchen when I was in college. In fact, my cheese trays have graced affairs given for then VP, George H.W. Bush. I have fed football prospects, and let me tell you THAT’s an adventure in excess. I’ve also still got a scar on my arm from when I banged the wrong part of the oven from the summer I worked at Pizza Hut. But all that’s a long way from a major kitchen during dinner hours. Research was clearly required.

Thanks to my friend Lisa, who is a local food writer and critic, I was able to snag a prime research opportunity. Chef Alex Young of Zingerman’s Roadhouse very kindly agreed to let me come observe the kitchen during Friday dinner rush. Armed with my, um, wealth of experience, I put on a light shirt (nothing flowing), black trousers, and comfortable shoes. I pulled my hair back and just in case, tucked my Tigers cap in my purse and headed out.

For the record, that night I spent 4 1/2 hours observing the line. During this time, my concept of a hard day’s work underwent some serious readjustment.

A working kitchen is not the clean, polite controlled sort of space you see on The Food Network. Fortunately, the Roadhouse kitchen is also not one of the dens of sin and iniquity that Anthony Bourdain delights in describing in KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. It’s a serious, cramped, crowded environment with everybody moving at top speed. With knives. And fire.

I mostly stood next to Javier, who worked the wood-fired grill (I will admit, of all the things I expected to experience, a trip to the woodshed was not one of them). It was Friday, so early on, Javier predicted it was going to be a burger heavy night. And he was right. It was burger after burger, with breaks for ribs, chicken and multiple types of fish, oh, and oysters. I didn’t know you could grill oysters. Javier had burns on his arms and asbestos fingers. He could also keep track of ten different orders put on the grill at ten different times while managing a wood fire.

At the beginning of the night, he had 8 tickets on his station. By the time 8 pm rolled around, 8 was clearly a low-water mark.

Next to Javier was the flat top where, from what I could see, was mostly used for toasting bread, but that could just be because there were so many of those burgers.

Near that, Chef Keirnon was hard at work, doing about a dozen different jobs at once. Between four and five he had enough time to show me around, and show me things like the board where they keep their projections and expenditures, so everyone knows what’s happening with the bottom line, and let me meet the farmer who was bringing in buckets of REALLY fresh really gorgeous ingredients like fresh potatoes, carrots, and heirloom tomatoes. Once rush really hit, at about 6pm, Keirnon got on the line and stayed there. Mainly, he was expediting, that is calling out the various orders, and getting the finished plates to the servers. He was also handling a lot of the plating and keeping track of what was going on up and down the line.

The cook top, what we at home call the “stove,” was Maria’s domain. Maria was amazing to watch. I didn’t get a chance to do more than say hi to her, she was too busy to chat with the audience. But what Javier did with the grill, she was doing with pans. She is said to be able to manage a dozen sauté pans at a time. I watched her get at least seven going at once, with greens, pasta, meats, all manner of sides, all begun at different times, all needed NOW. Oh, and did I mention the occasional four foot gouts of flame?

Then there was the man who was introduced to me as Charlie, but whom by the end of the night I began to think of as Mr. Charles. I didn’t get an exact job title for Mr. Charles. As near as I could tell his job was to do whatever it was that needed doing. If a container was empty, he was the guy who got it filled, so he spent a lot of time in the back. But when things got hairy, Mr. Charles was on the line too, assembling burgers, cleaning stations, organizing tickets, scooping, filling, plating, finding, fixing and generally making sure the job got done, whatever the job was.

Chef Alex, who did me the great favor of letting me into his kitchen and who runs the show, mostly was in the back, but every so often he would come out to the line, and stand there, watching. Just checking in, just making sure everything was okay. And he’d do whatever it was that needed doing. He’d pick up empty containers, he’d bring in fresh plates, he’d check the stations to make sure they were well stocked and check in with Chef Keirnon to make sure he had what he needed. No shouting or rock n’ roll. No immaculate white coat heading out to press the flesh or any of that celebrity schtick. Just a calm manager, confident and in control enough to let his people do their jobs.

I went home tired, smelling of grease and smoke and entirely happy. It was the best kind of learning experience. It showed me a world I’d never seen, introduced me to nifty people I’d never otherwise meet, and helped me find the words to create the new characters for A TASTE OF THE NIGHTLIFE.

I hope you enjoy.

Book Blurb:

A TASTE OF THE NIGHTLIFE

(A Vampire Chef Mystery)

Charlotte Caine isn't called "the Vampire Chef" because she's a member of New York's undead community-she just cooks for them. Her restaurant, Nightlife, is poised to take the top slot in the world of "haute noir" cuisine.

But when a drunk customer causes a scene, a glowing review from the city's top food critic doesn't seem likely-especially when that customer winds up dead on Nightlife's doorstep. Now, with her brother under suspicion for the murder, Charlotte has to re-open her restaurant and clear her brother's name-before they both become dinner.

Giveaway Details:

Sarah will be stopping by throughout the day to respond to questions/comments from readers!

Thanks to Penguin Group, I have one copy of A TASTE OF THE NIGHTLIFE to give away.  Per the publisher's request, the book can be shipped to a US address only.

To enter the contest, please leave a meaningful comment on today's post. Of course, you are welcome to comment on the post even if you're not entering! Just be sure to leave your e-mail addy if you'd like a chance to win.

The contest is open until Friday, 7/15/2011, at 11:59 pm CST. Good luck!

Men in Kilts - eBooks for $0.99!

Men in Kilts - eBooks for $0.99!

(7/12/2011 - 7/18/2011)

Awaken the Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

A man from another time…

Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he’s not careful, she’ll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect…

Could be the treasure she’s been seeking all her life…

When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn’t dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan’s duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems…

Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine

He wants a wife he can control…

Connor Lindsey is a Highland laird, but his clan’s loyalty is hard won and he takes nothing for granted. He’ll do whatever it takes to find a virtuous wife, even if he has to kidnap her…

She has a spirit that can’t be tamed…

Brina Chattan has always defied convention. She sees no reason to be docile now that she’s been captured by a powerful laird and taken to his storm-tossed castle in the Highlands, far from her home.

When a rival laird’s interference nearly tears them apart, Connor discovers that a woman with a wild streak suits him much better than he’d ever imagined…

The Highlander’s Sword

by Amanda Forester

A quiet, flame-haired beauty with secrets of her own…

Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent, until her brother’s death leaves her an heiress. Soon she is caught between hastily arranged marriage with a Highland warrior, the Abbot’s insistence that she take her vows, the Scottish Laird who kidnaps her, and the traitor from within who betrays them all.

She’s nothing he expected and everything he really needs…

Padyn MacLaren, a battled-hardened knight, returns home to the Highlands after years of fighting the English in France. MacLaren bears the physical scars of battle, but it is the deeper wounds of betrayal that have rocked his faith. Arriving with only a band of war-weary knights, MacLaren finds his land pillaged and his clan scattered. Determined to restore his clan, he sees Aila’s fortune as the answer to his problems…but maybe it’s the woman herself.

Wild Highland Magic

by Kendra Leigh Castle

She's a Scottish Highlands werewolf, but no one's ever shown her how to use her powers…

Growing up in America with a father who hates his own nature, Catrionna MacInnes has always tried desperately to control her powers and pretend to be normal. Now her father has brought her and her sisters to Scotland to reunite with the pack they fled years ago…

He's a wizard prince with a devastating secret…

Bastian an Morgaine has found sanctuary among the MacInnes werewolf clan but no relief from the soul-searing curse that haunts him. The minute Cat lays eyes on Bastian, she knows she's met her destiny. In their first encounter, she unwittingly binds him to her for life, and now they're both targets for the evil enemies that are out to destroy their very souls…

Highland Rebel by Judith James

Amidst the upheaval of Cromwell's Britain, Jamie Sinclair's wit and military prowess have served him well. Leading a troop in Scotland, he impetuously marries a captured maiden, saving her from a grim fate.

A Highlands heiress to title and fortune, Catherine Drummond is not the woman Jamie believes her to be. When her people effect her rescue, and he cannot annul the marriage, Jamie goes to recapture his hellcat of a new wife...

In a world where family and creed cannot be trusted, where faith fuels intolerance and war, Catherine and Jamie test the bounds of loyalty, friendship, and trust...

oOoOoOo

A message from Sourcebooks:

There’s just something about kilts…Scottish Highlanders are among historical romance fans’ favorite heroes, and Sourcebooks has its own batch of tough warriors (with a soft side, of course) for readers to enjoy! This week we have a FABULOUS eBook deal: 5 of our readers’ favorite men in kilts, for ONLY $0.99!