Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Sabina

I’ll admit it right here and now: I’m totally in love with this series! The world Mrs. Estep has created is amazing, her characters hilarious, frustrating, scary, vivid and just utterly real, I’m constantly being swept away into her world and forgets everything else around me!

Kiss of Frost is the second book in the Mythos Academy series, and Gwen Frost is still not quite used to everything, and honestly, it’s a very different world than the one she grew up in.

Here’s the book blurb:

Logan Quinn was trying to kill me. My Spartan classmate relentlessly pursued me, swinging his sword at me over and over again, the shining silver blade inching closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his icy-blue eyes practically glowed with the thrill of battle….  

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior- in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart – the drop-dead gorgeous Logan, who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword – with Logan’s help – I just might die by the sword…  

In this book, the entire academy is going to the Winter Carnival for a weekend, a long tradition held for all of the different Myth schools. Daphne practically ordered Gwen she should go with them. “Even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming all the way down to the bus”; Daphnes own words :-) Gwen accepts (was there really any choice?), hoping she will get a decent weekend and that she will (somehow) forget about Logan (and Savanna).

Gwen still got a major crush on Logan Quinn, and it hurts to see him with Savanna, especially when Logan admits he feels something for Gwen. There’s this great, great scene where Logan acts all jealous and…no, I can’t tell. But, oh I really, really want to! Safe to say though, the Spartan has a huge secret that makes him act like a douche bag towards Gwen. When you learn his secret it will make you forgive him, because you really understand why.

But someone is after Gwen – again. Only this time, it’s worse. A car almost hitting her, an arrow sent after her at the Library of Antiquities, a Fenrir wolf and an avalanche – accidents, or something more sinister? Will Gwen make it this time – and now when her magic is growing can she use her new abilities to do good and save the day?

Gwen is tired of being hunted, feeling as if she sucks at everything. She just wants to be like all the other kids and she wants to prove to herself, her mom, her grandmother and to Nike that the Goddess chose well when she chose Gwen as her Champion.

I spotted the bad guy quite early – or so I thought. Jennifer Estep delivered such a curveball that I NEVER saw it coming! And then how everything came together in the end? Wonderful!

Being a Gypsy, Nike’s Champion and everything else is just dandy, but Gwen’s true character will come forth when her worst nightmare is being played out in front of her and all the truth comes out. I’m not sure I would have been able to handle it the way she did.

This series is definitely worth taking a look at if you like myths, magic, friendship, action, romance and secrets. The world Jennifer Estep has created at the Mythos Academy is wonderful, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one in this series, Dark Frost, which releases may 29.

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Chloe Neill has a contest on her website!

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Sabina

Hey guys!

I’m a big fan of Chloe Neill and yesterday this little tidbit of news dropped into my mailbox!

Chloe Neill has a contest on her website; two SIGNED ARC’s of Biting Cold AND two signed copies of  Charmfall (the third book in the Dark Elite series) PLUS “I survived Hard Bitten” buttons to sweeten the deal.

The contest is open internationally and closes may 21.

Here’s the link: http://www.chloeneill.com/?p=1804

Enjoy!!! :-)

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Book Review: Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Sabina

 

Book Blurb: VAMPIRES IN CHICAGO!   You’d think that a headline like that would have made the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we’re enjoying celebrity status and fending off the paparazzi, who are only slightly less dangerous than angry stake-wielding slayers. Don’t get me wrong: Joe Public isn’t exactly thrilled to be living side by side with the undead, but at least they haven’t stormed the castle…. Not yet….   But it might just be a matter of time. There’s a first-time reporter sniffing around vampire society, and if he uncovers the Raves – mass feeding parties, where vampires drink themselves silly – we could be in trouble. The fact that it’s majorly frowned upon by vamp society won’t make a difference to that kind of headline, or to a new reporter who’s out to impress his family.   So now my “master” – the centuries-old yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan – wants me to reconnect with my own upper-class family and act as a liaison between humans and vampires…. And use the opportunity to keep the less savoury aspects of vamp existence out of the media spotlight. Tough job, when it seems someone doesn’t want vamps and humans to play nicely – someone with a serious, ancient grudge….  

 

This is the second book in the Chicagoland vampires series, and honestly, I’m hooked. My fingers are twitching to buy the next book in the series; Twice Bitten. If I didn’t have so many other good books to read (cough, cough)…. :-)

Merit’s moving into the Cadogan House, and frankly she’s a bit scared. She knows she and Ethan will…have trouble reconcile their differences. But Merit knows she has to do it for the House. After all she stands Sentinel.

At the same time trouble is stirring. Raves are becoming a somewhat…. problematic situation. If the humans get a whiff of this all of the vampires will be in huge problems, starting and ending with the law. The reporter who’s on the story is an old friend of Merit’s and her family and to contain the story Merit must return to what she left over ten years ago. Return to her family and to Chicago Society. Something she has worked so hard to remove herself from and now she needs to get herself and Ethan into the game.

Merit’s known something was wrong with her transition into vampire for some time, but hasn’t told anyone. And who should she tell that she thinks she’s broken? That she constantly fights for control, that her vampire feels like a separate being?

The “relationship” between Ethan Sullivan and Merit keeps on twisting and turning. Neither likes each other and they both have trouble fighting their mutual attraction towards each other. It’s hilarious. Put the two of them into a room and lean back and enjoy. :-)

I sympathize with Merit, that the current situation forces her back into the Merit-fold, back to a society she worked so hard to get away from. Her father is still very unsympathetic and unlikeable. He’s too concerned about how he will look to others, keeping face and making connections, preferably wealthy, stable and good connections. He isn’t above much in his desire to gain what he wants. Well, maybe not murder, but anything else?

This book was filled with twist and turns I didn’t see coming, emotional bruises that won’t heal and past history that resurfaces, giving new wounds to mend.

So, will Merit make it out without getting to much hurt, will she chose the right path for her and will she ever get a chance to take a breath so she fully can adjust to her new life as a vampire, preferable BEFORE everything disappears or go to hell? I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

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Snippet from Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sabina

Hi everybody!

As you know, Laurie and I are HUGE fans of Thea Harrison, and when I saw this last night on Facebook, I just HAD to share!!!

It’s a snippet from the second chapter in Lord’s Fall, which will be released on November, 6. I can hardly wait!!! It will evolve about Pia and Dragos, finding new sentinels and Pia’s promise to the elven about visiting. Is it November yet?!

http://networkedblogs.com/xrri1

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Book Review: A Touch of Greek by Tina Folsom

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Sabina

Book Blurb: Selfish and gorgeous Greek God Triton is cast out of Olympus after seducing Zeus’ mistress and can only gain reentry if he finds a woman who loves him for his kindness and selflessness, not his beauty. When the mortal Sophia – recovering from an eye operation and virtually blind – needs a home healthcare worker, he takes on the role, hoping she will be his ticket home.

While defending Sophia from an unknown adversary, Triton’s protective instinct emerges. At the same time rivaling Gods do everything to doom him to failure. And even if Triton can win Sophia’s love, will he throw it away to return home, or will he lose his own heart to the only woman who truly sees him?

 

Triton (son of Poseidon) has truly done it this time. He found another woman to seduce, but not just any woman. No, it had to be Zeus’ own mistress. This time the God over all other Gods has had it. Triton doesn’t really appreciate how in trouble he is, he wants Zeus to be done with all his talk so he can get to the next woman he wants to seduce.

 

So when Zeus asks which punishment he wants, option one or two, Triton is lost. He turns to his two best friends; Eros and Hermes to get some help to chose before Zeus retracts the offer.

Triton chooses option one, which lands him on earth… In America to be exact, which is NOT what Triton wants!

 

Imagine: A Greek God, too gorgeous for his own good (and he knows it), with no scruples, nothing sacred to him, a “bit” shallow and desperate to get his powers back and return home. And he’s loose somewhere in America.

 

Triton and Sophia meet in a bar where’s Sophia’s been “lured” out by her best friend, Francesca. Sophia does lose common sense when she sees Triton, but she’s just sworn she would never, EVER date a gorgeous and shallow man again. There’s a great scene where Triton accidentally overhears the two girlfriends talk together where Sophia calls him a himbo. Triton’s offended and tries very hard the rest of the evening to prove her wrong. But he doesn’t get what he wants – a night with her.

Sophia has an accident in her home, which is currently under construction to be a B&B, which leaves her pretty much blind and Triton grabs his chance when he hears that she needs a healthcare worker.

 

This book was a really great read, I truly enjoyed it. To see how a man like Triton – and we all know his type – could change that much, was amazing. Whenever Sophia and Triton are around each other sparks would ignite and it led to very interesting things to happening! When someone tries to harm – even kill Sophia, Triton finds himself feeling things he never thought he would experience and he can’t explain why. Both are in denial and so the game begins.

 

Just throw in some plotting Gods, changing of rules,a deadly accident and lots and lots of secrets and you’ll have a read that you will have trouble putting down! I absolutely HAVE to look into the second book in the series; A Scent of Greek, featuring Dionysus, the wine God. From the look of the blurb from the book he’s gotten himself into some well deserved revenge.

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Brenda Novak Hosts HUGE Auction To Benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research

Posted on May 1, 2012 by L. Blanchard

 

Brenda Novak has a special place in my heart. Not just because she has written more then 35 books in 18 years (predominantly romance and/or action), has won every  book award out there including RITA’s. Not just because she is a local Sacramento girl and is active in the community. But also because she puts her children first and continues to do so and every May. In honor of her son who was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes as a young child, Novak holds the author auction to end all author auctions.

Novak has raised over 1 MILLION Dollars by way of her online fundraising auction. Last year alone she raised over $ 280,000. This auction is THE writerly auction to get in on. Well this one and Patrick Rothfuss’s online auction which I kicked myself for missing.

Novak’s prizes are everything from books signed by authors, to critiques by editors and sucessful authors to day trips with famous authors in their home towns, to trips to Italy. There are things like 2 tickets to a Celine Dion Concert WITH a meet and greet afterwards, but good luck with that, it is already almost 3ooo.oo!

It’s all over the place. Low end to high as it gets.The things this woman gets donated to her cause…all I can say is she has some serious clout to get the great gifts we all have the chance to bid on. She even has enabled proxy bidding like on Amazon, where you set an amount that is the highest you are willing to go, but it only raises the bid over the last bidder by a few dollars at a time. This is a professional well run fund raising machine.

So its for a good cause, and the gifts are spectacular and you won’t believe how many there are.

You have to register  and add your credit card if you are thinking of bidding. Please go to http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/, and good luck! If you win something, please consider coming back here and letting us know what you won!

 

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World Weaver Press-New Publisher Looking For Submissions

Posted on May 1, 2012 by L. Blanchard

I thought I would share the following press release I received in my inbox today.

WORLD WEAVER PRESS OPENS FOR SUBMISSIONS

NEW PUBLISHER BEGINS ACCEPTING QUERIES TODAY, TUESDAY, MAY 1

World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced that they will begin accepting submissions today, Tuesday, May 1st, for speculative fiction and non-fiction. Guidelines and instructions for submission are available atworldweaverpress.com/submissions/.

 

“The 2012 open submissions window is an exciting time for us,” commented Wiedbrauk. “It allows authors to come directly to us with projects we’d otherwise be unaware of. We hope to find several writers with great projects to join the ranks of our already announced World Weaver Press authors.”

 

World Weaver Press recently released Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories by Susan Abel Sullivan, a young adult speculative fiction short story collection featuring witches, werewolves, limericks that can change fate, and a sinister vine bent on murder and the destruction of Alabama. The digital edition of Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories can be purchased online at Amazon.com andBarnesandnoble.com.

 

Details of forthcoming novel-length fiction will be announced shortly.

 

World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction, dedicated to producing quality novels, novellas, collections, and anthologies of short fiction. As a small press, World Weaver Press seeks to publish, market, and distribute quality fiction that engages the mind and ensnares the story-loving soul.

————————————————————————————-

I may have mentioned a time or 2000 that I’m struggling with my own Urban Fantasy novel. I thought it was interesting to read about this new publisher. I wrote to ask if they were epub only or would be printing books as well and quickly received the nice email below which I thought I would also share.

Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing this news.
A number of factors go into deciding if a title is going to be ebook only or ebook and print including project length, marketability, and available rights. Each project is unique. All of our projects are initially released as ebooks, and some of them will be released as print-on-demand trade paperbacks as well.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
All the best,
X (I don’t want to share the person’s name without their permission but I thought it was very polite and thoughtful note and I appreciated it and wish them the best of success with their new venture.)
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So, if you like me are thinking about looking at agents or publishers in the near future, here is a fledgling publishing company that might be a good way to get your foot in the door. Of course with a new company you have no idea how they will be to work with and as always one must be aware and be careful. I usually prefer to wait and read Editors and Predators to find out who to look at and who to avoid but I wanted to share this with you anyway as it seems worth looking into. It is always good to be informed of your options as an author.
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Book Review: Graceling by Kirsten Cashore

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Sabina

This book took me by total surprise and I ended reading for almost 9 hours straight, despite kids, dinner, finals and everything else. The cover did say it would slake the thirst of (desperate) twilight fans…. Well, yes and no. Let me tell you right now – it’s NOT another Twilight. Some Twilight fans will love the story – others will not. There are no vampires, but plenty of drama, romance and suspension for everyone who loves that. :-)  But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you a little of the world Cashore has created;

There are 7 Kingdoms ( The Middlums, The Leinid, The Sunder, The Estill, The Wester, The Nander and the Monsea).

Once in a while a child is born with a Grace. Being Graced means you’re exceptionally good at something. Their gift could be as simple as the ability to do something small and do it exceptionally well like whistle or swim, but it could also be to excel in a lethal ability to fight or always hitting your target with a bow.

These children, the Graced ones are known by their eyes – they have two different colors. Usually when it becomes clear that the child is Graced, the king sends for the child.

The Grace can be years in developing, so nobody truly knows what kind of Grace the child has. If the Grace is valuable to the king – then he keeps the child in his service. If not – the child goes home. People usually mock the Graced ones (depending on the kingdom), and keep their distance.

In Graceling we meet a regiment of wonderful characters, each one more wonderful, hilarious and infuriating then the one before! I will get back to a few of them, but first I want to introduce the main characters: Katsa and Po. Both with a Grace.

Katsa is the niece of King Randa of the Middlums. Katsa’s Grace is killing. Something she’s not exactly proud of, but makes the best of it. Her uncle has used her for years and Katsa is tired of being feared. Everytime someone crosses King Randa, he sends his niece and her reputation alone is frightening. Katsa is the kind of person you scare your kids with if they don’t behave. But she is so much more underneath her though-ass image. Katsa has created a Council that her uncle doesn’t know anything about. This council works under the radar, helping where they can.

Po is also Graced, but his Grace is fighting – or so he claims. Po is actually short for Prince Greening Grandemalion, and he is the grandson of a Leinid that Katsa has rescued earlier. This is how they meet – Po arrives at King Randas court. He’s officially looking for his grandfather, even though he knows that Katsa had something to do with his rescue from a dungeon – they “accidently” run into each other. It’s a great, great scene, where a huge piece of Katsa’s personality is shown.

Po and Katsa becomes friends, something Katsa’s isn’t used to. She doesn’t have many friends, because of her Grace. People fear her.

Even though Po’s grandfather been saved, there’s still a puzzle to solve, because, who ordered him kidnapped in the beginning?

There are SO many great sidecharacters in this book – from Katsa’s cousin (Randa’s son), Raffin, who loves his experiments (medicin), Giddeon, who “secretly” loves Katsa, princess Bitterblue, a strong, strong little girl (Po’s little cousin), captain Faun, who helps our travelers out when they’re in need, all of Po’s family and many, many more!

The story about Katsa, who’s been greatly misused by her uncle and how she rises from her chains is amazing. How she turns mistrust to trust and defeat to hope and does the most impossible thing – bringing Po’s little cousin to safety…. It was AMAZING! I was sitting with my eyes glued to the computer, turning page upon page and being more and more stunned as the story played in front of me. I was practically biting my nails when the big showdown between Katsa and her uncle came, fervently cheering on Katsa, cheering for her release from her uncle. And almost crying when the story ended.

Cashore has created a world that truly is amazing and I can barely wait to go into it again and read more!!

Graceling was released in 2008, followed by Fire in 2009 – a prequel to Graceling. Fire takes place 30 something years before Graceling.

In May 2012, Cashore’s third book, Bitterblue is released, and is the story about princess Bitterblue – 8 years after Graceling.

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Snippet And ARC Contest From Ilona Andrews

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Sabina

SABINA: Hi everybody, I saw this the other day, and both me and Laurie agreed: this was something for you guys!

Ilona and Gordon are masters in teasing their fans with snippets from their new books. Edge 4 is not far away, and we get little snippets here and there; I’ll put in a link to their latest:

http://www.ilona-andrews.com/snippet-writing/snippet-from-the-edge

Ilona and Gordon have sheared some snippets by now and this book seems very different than the others. Not bad in any way, but different. But please read it and let us know what YOU think!

LAURIE: We both love Ilona and Gordon’s writing so much. We’re excited about the idea of Jack and Lark being grown up and (hopefully) having a relationship. I really don’t know what book four is about. Initially I was worried a book set in the Weird could end up being a magical Regency Era type novel given all the old style kingdom rich people in gowns and horses running around. Not that I have anything against that, I’ve actually thought more books like that would be awesome. I could see how having to deal with English type aristocracy could drive Jack out of his mind. I read an earlier snippet and it was more of the kick ass and take names later kind of thing we’re used to, so I can’t wait either way. I love Kate and Curran’s world so much, I really didn’t think I could get into The Edge, given it was 3rd person it took me a little while but I fell desperately in love with it. Especially book two, Bayou Moon which is now right up there as one of my favorite Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance books of all time. It was so layered. I love these characters so I can’t wait for book four. I was just a little surprised by all the fashion in the snippet. It was kind of funny though, Lark having to worry about ball gown colors with Jack roaring around being grumpy.

SABINA: Oh, and guess what? Here comes the very good news…. Ilona Andrews has an ARC contest for Gunmetal Magic on their blog! :-D They’re giving away 3 copies!!! YAY!

LAURIE: They’re throwing in a copy of the Kate Daniels Novella they put out for just a few days as a christmas present last year, so if you missed your chance before to read Magic Gifts, enter the contest.  I want one. Badly. I keep hoping one will magically arrive in my mailbox. Which could actually happen, if I wish hard enough. Its magic.

SABINA: All you have to do is comment on their blog (I’ll put in the link below) on what e-book you would like them to do next – oooh, choices, choices!!! Which one would you like to read, Laurie?

LAURIE: Wow, where to start. Another Curran POV for sure. If the next edge book is Lark and Jack grown up, then I want George to have his happy ever after. That poor kid deserves one and I love all the Edge Characters so much. I’d also love to see a book focus on Derek and Julie more grown up. THAT (and it has to be them together don’t you think?) will be awesome. But I’m excited as all get out to read Gunmetal Magic, so I can be patient about books to come.

http://www.ilona-andrews.com/give-away/win-an-advance-review-copy-of-gunmetal-magic

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Thea Harrison hosting a ‘Create An Elder Race Character’ contest-winner’s character to appear in next novella!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by L. Blanchard

Hey folks,

You know how Sabina and I love all things Thea Harrison. Sabina brought it to my attention today that Ms. Harrison is having a contest on her blog. Basically you have until the end of the month (which isn’t long so I suggest you do it now) to go by her website at www.theaharrison.com, and put your idea of an Elder races character up.

To enter the contest, comment on her blog and in ONE paragraph give Ms. Harrison four things:

1. Character name

2. Which Elder Race this character is, or if he/she is human.

3.  An age for the character.

4. Tell her whether this is a male or a female.

The winner of the contest will have their character appear in her next Novella (#4). Ms. Harrison stated in her blog that the character might be good or bad…which is fun!

Good Luck!

 

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