Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Zoe Winters Release Contest



Zoe Winters is celebrating her release of Blood Lust with an awesome giveaway. And she is giving away a Kindle. There are a few ways to enter but it all ends on 9/4. Go here for more info.

Contest Links for 8/31

Guest Blog Contest - Ends 9/2

Amber's Giveaway at LE - Ends 9/2

Win Pray for Dawn/Wait for Dusk - Ends 9/3

Win Night's Cold Kiss - Ends 9/3

Win Vanquished/Labyrinth - Ends 9/3

Kelly Gay Book Giveaway - Ends 9/3
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Review - When Blood Calls



From GoodReads:

Sara Constantine is one of the country’s most tenacious prosecuting attorneys—and she’s just secured a well-earned promotion. At first she’s thrilled. Then she finds out her new job involves prosecuting vampires and werewolves. And nothing prepares Sara for the shock she receives when she meets the first defendant she’ll be trying to put away: Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius Dragos kisses the beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s only hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s following…and planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss to secure his cover ignites into a fierce hunger that leads to an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows Sara will do whatever it takes to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not the monster she thinks he is. And that might mean making the greatest sacrifice a vampire can make.

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My review:

Wow. It is a great start to a new series. Sara is a fast rising prosecutor who gets offered a great promotion. It just involves some slight changes in what she has always believed. Vampires, werewolves and the like so exist and those are now the cases she has to deal with.

Luke is a vampire Sara had a one-night affair with and who she now cant get out of her head and just happens to be in deeply involved in her first case.

The story had action, suspense, and romance. And they all blended together perfectly. Its a very interesting world that was created here. Very similar to what we consider normal but with the added effect of what type of creature really did commit those crimes we see everyday on the news.

I really enjoyed reading this and finding out about Sara, Luke and the world they live in and am looking forward to more Shadow Keeper books.

Its released today, August 31, definitely go and pick this one up. I really cant wait for When Pleasure Rules, I only wish it was coming out before September 28th.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Contest Links for 8/30

Win Linger - Ends Tonight

Win Matched or Beautiful Darkness

Win Maybe This Time - Ends 8/31

Win Echoes - Ends 8/31

Fall Book Bonanza Blowout - Ends 8/31


Birthday Giveaway: The Sequels - Ends 8/31

Win Dracula in Love - Ends 9/1

Win Matched - Ends 9/1


Win the Penguin 5 - Ends 9/2


Win Born to Bite - Ends 9/5

Win Sin Undone - Ends 9/7

Lu's 100 Follower Giveaway - Ends 9/7

200 Followers in 2 Months Giveaway - Ends 9/7


Win Eternal Hunger - Ends 9/20

Win Nightshade - Ends 9/26


50 Followers Blogoversary Giveaway - Ends 9/30

Scott Nicholson/Haunted Computer Books Blog Tour



From the Press Release:

Scott Nicholson's blog tour
Sept.-Nov. 2010
Click here for schedule


KINDLE GIVEAWAY BLOG TOUR

Author Scott Nicholson and Amazon are giving away two Kindles as part of his fall book blog tour from September through November. A Kindle DX will be given away through the participating blogs, and a Kindle 3 will be given away through the tour newsletter. A Pandora's Box of free ebooks will be given away through Nicholson's "hauntedcomputer" Twitter account.

"The digital era coincides with Act II of my career," Nicholson said. "The Kindle has broadened many people's horizons and given readers more power than ever, and this is an opportunity to celebrate them and the book bloggers who spread the word. "

Nicholson is author of 12 novels and three story collections, as well as four comics series and six screenplays. His paranormal thrillers "The Red Church," "Drummer Boy" and "Speed Dating with the Dead" have all hit #1 in the Kindle "Ghosts" category.

As a bonus, if Nicholson hits the Top 100 in the U.S. or U.K. Kindle Store during the tour between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, he will give away an extra Kindle 3 through the blogs. Sign up for the newsletter at scottsinnercircle-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to get daily links to the participating blogs. Winners will be selected at the Watauga County (NC) Public Library in December. No purchase necessary, and the contest is international. Co-sponsored by Kindle Nation Daily and Dellaster Design. Details at www.hauntedcomputer.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

Review - Live to Tell



From GoodReads:

He knows everything about you—including the first place you’ll hide.

On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working-class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father—and possible suspect—now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D. D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Danielle Burton is a survivor, a dedicated nurse whose passion is to help children at a locked-down pediatric psych ward. But she remains haunted by a family tragedy that shattered her life nearly twenty-five years ago. The dark anniversary is approaching, and when D. D. Warren and her partner show up at the facility, Danielle immediately realizes: It has started again.

A devoted mother, Victoria Oliver has a hard time remembering what normalcy is like. But she will do anything to ensure that her troubled son has some semblance of a childhood. She will love him no matter what. Nurture him. Keep him safe. Protect him. Even when the threat comes from within her own house.

In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner’s most compelling work of suspense to date, the lives of these three women unfold and connect in unexpected ways, as sins from the past emerge—and stunning secrets reveal just how tightly blood ties can bind. Sometimes the most devastating crimes are the ones closest to home.


*-*-*-*-*

My review:

This was my first book by Lisa Gardner and it will not be my last. It was well written and a great suspense novel. I am really looking forward to reading more of her books.

This is the fourth DD Warren book but it is not necessary to read the previous 3 first. And I say that as one of those people that go absolutely crazy with the thought of reading a series out of order. Sadly I just didn't have time to get my hands on the first three yet.

The summary is above so I'm not going to rehash it. But its a really well done story line where all 3 come together. While I was reading it wasn't obvious how they were going to connect until they practically did. It was great not being able to predict how a story was going to turn out. You really see how the case progresses with Detective DD Warren. And how she puts it all together.

While it is not a romantic suspense novel. I did enjoy the touches of romance included in the story. They helped to make the characters more believable and easier to relate too.

Detective DD Warren is an interesting character. I'm sure if I had read the previous novels I would know more about her. But even in just reading this one I got a well developed idea of her character and sense of who she is.

If you are looking for a good suspense novel. I highly recommend picking this up. You wont be disappointed.

You can order a copy from Amazon or most other major online booksellers.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Review - Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded

Hotly Bedded, Conveniently WeddedHotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded by Kate Hardy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I like the writing style. But never saw the point of the story. I didnt really feel for the characters or what their story was supposed to really be. Just seemed like standard story with nothing special with a HEA. I dont really feel like the characters grew at all or even really what they wanted. And the title so doesnt work.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Reading Teen Back to School Bash



Reading Teen is having a huge Back to School Giveaway Bash with a lot of great ARCs.

Go here to enter. Ends on 9/24.

Mockingjay Giveaway at BBB



Bitten by Books is giving away 5 copies of Mockingjay. Contest ends on 8/27. Go here to enter.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Review - The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress

The Maverick's Greek Island MistressThe Maverick's Greek Island Mistress by Kelly Hunter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Absolutely one of the best of this type of book I have read. If I had found this in a combo selection with another book, it would be a worthwhile purchase. The characters are well developed and interesting. And the storyline has meaning. Sometimes these type can be so short you feel the events were rushed. But I though this was paced perfectly for the story it contained. Great main and secondary characters that you want to spend time with and get to know more about. I will definitely read something by this author again. My biggest complaint is the title. I felt it was totally not fitting the story. And based on it alone I probably would never have picked it up and missed out on a great story.



View all my reviews

Review - Infinite Days

Infinite Days (Vampire Queen, #1)Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Read the ARC edition.



Great start to a new series. Really looking forward to what comes next. Interesting new take on vampires and how they act. I found that I grew attached to the characters. It was also a nice change of pace that while there was a love story within the story it was not an over emotional case and drama of which one should it be. The relationship storylines really added to the plot and overall story and why the characters acted like they did.



View all my reviews

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Larissa's Bookish Life Birthday Bash and Follower Giveaway

1027 Followers Giveaway

Larissa is having a huge blowout contest to celebrate her birthday and her followers. You dont want to miss this one. Go here to check it out. She is starting with 5 winners and there is the potential to end up with 11. Contest ends on Oct 11th.

Carol's Prints 7 ARC Giveaway - Extended



Carol's Prints 7 ARC Contest has been extended. It is now ending 8/15. Go here to enter.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday - Losing Faith



A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

Find out more at denisejaden.com

Contest Links for 8/11

Win The Body Finder - Ends 8/13

Birthday Contest - Ends 8/14


Win Torment - Ends 8/15

Choose Your Book Giveaway - Ends 8/15

Win Labyrinth - Ends 8/15

Blog Birthday Giveaway - Ends 8/15

Win Firelight - Ends 8/15

Mortal Devices Giveaway - Ends 8/15

Win Black Magic - Ends 8/15

Roast Mortem Giveaway - Ends 8/16

Win Almost to Die For - Ends 8/16

Roast Mortem Mega Giveaway - Ends 8/16

Roast Mortem Giveaway - Ends 8/16

Whose Your Match Giveaway - Ends 8/17

Win Infinity - Ends 8/17

Win Whisper Kiss - Ends 8/17


Win Seduced by the Wolf - Ends 8/18


International PreOrder Contest - Ends 8/19

Win Paranormalcy - Ends 8/31

Win Sucks to Be Me

Dracula, My Love Trailer

Waiting on Wednesday - Trance



From GoodReads:


It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling.
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is ...more It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling.
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things:
Someone she knows is about to die.
And she is powerless to stop it.

Release date - 10/14/10

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

RG Alexander Guest Post and Giveaway at BBB



RG Alexander is at Bitten by Books today celebrating a new release. Go here to check it out.

Guest Post - MJ Rose, Author of The Hypnotist

Today I have my first guest post. Below please see a great post from M.J. Rose on character inspirations. Her newest book is The Hypnotist which I cant wait to get my hands on.



____________________________

Inspiration is a crazy thing. I don't know where it comes from but I'm thankful it does come.

My characters are very elusive. They arrive like wisps of smoke. My first inkling about a new character comes as a question. A "what if".

"What if" a man was in an accident and woke up with memories that don't belong to him.

Then I start thinking of what kind of man would that be a conflict for. Who would hate that and fight it.

Slowly a person starts to emerge.

Then I work on their names - for a main character it can take me a month to come up with the right name. And all too often I think I have the right name - then start working on the book and realize I have the wrong name. In The Memorist I wrote the whole book with Meer's name being something else and she was wooden on the page. Then I changed her name and she came alive.

My real work with the characters is an evolution. For three months I don't write a word. Rather I do research and work on my main character's scrapbook. The very process of collecting her preferred poems, swatches of her favorite colors, and petals from the flowers she grows gives me time to find her.

I collect the ticket stubs for a performance of the Metropolitan Opera that she went to, a postcard from her mother's first trip to Europe, a piece of the red and white string on the pastry box from her grandmother's apartment: it's all in the scrapbook.

And only when I've found all the knickknacks of her life and I've done a fair amount of procrastinating do I even think about sitting down to write. And by then, I can't wait


Cheers,
M.J.

M.J. Rose - THE HYPNOTIST - An Indie Next Pick
Author (http://www.mjrose.com)
AuthorBuzz (http://www.authorbuzz.com)
Buzz, Balls & Hype (http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype/)

____________________________



Synopsis from MJRose.com

An FBI agent, tormented by a death he wasn't able to prevent, a crime he's never been able to solve and a love he's never forgotten, discovers that his true conflict resides not in his past, but in a…Past Life.

Haunted by a twenty-year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work as a Special Agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation—dedicated to the science of past life study—where, in order to maintain his cover, he agrees to submit to the treatment of a hypnotist.

Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to 19th century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history: the theft of a 1,500 year old sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

International bestselling author M. J. Rose's The Hynpotist is her most mesmerizing novel yet. An adventure, a love story, a clash of cultures, a spiritual quest, it is above all a thrilling capstone to her unique Reincarnation novels, The Reincarnationist and The Memorist.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Review - The Prince of Midnight

The Prince of MidnightThe Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Its a good story and the characters are interesting. I just though it moved a bit slow, especially at the beginning. Once it got going things picked up but there was a lot going on as well and at times it could be hard to follow. It was fun though seeing some interesting characters from history pass though. And I was fairly happy with the ending, although at times I couldnt explain how it got there. I will read another of her books though and see how it goes.

View all my reviews >>

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Cynthia Eden Interview and Contest at BBB



Visit Bitten by Books today for an Interview and Contest with Cynthia Eden. Contest portion ends on 8/5.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

A Most Improper Magick

A Most Improper Magick by @stephanieburgis is out in the UK today! Read the first 3 chapters here: http://bit.ly/Rmy1z

Choose Your Genre Giveaway

Books Obsession is having a cool Choose Your Genre Contest.

There are 4 prize packs and they are:

Paranormal Pack - Nightshade, Claire de Lune, Glimmerglass and Other
Historical Fiction Pack - The Bad Queen, Picture the Dead, and The Queen's Daughter
Romance Pack - After the Kiss, Caled + Kate, and The Expressologist
Suspense Pack - Num3ers and Arson
And Swag

If you like the sound of it, go here to enter. Deadline is 8/22.

Contest Links for 8/1

Guess Who? Week 19 - Ends 8/4

Once Upon a Week Giveaway - Ends 8/7

Win And One Last Thing - Ends 8/8

200 Follower Contest - Ends 8/14

Sizzling Summer Giveaway - Ends 8/20

Sizzling Summer Nights Giveaway - Ends 8/30

August Competition - Ends 8/31


Sizzling Summer Nights Giveaway - Ends 8/31

August Competition - Ends 8/31
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