Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

I've been waiting for a new Sarah Addison Allen book for what seems like forever. I'm a huge fan of her books and all her books are definitely worth reading, including this one. I love the way that she writes realistic stories but includes a little supernatural without over doing it. The magical realism genre is probably one of my favourites because you don't quite know what's real and what's magic. The combination is subtle which makes it mysterious and interesting, while still reading a heartfelt story. Like one of the characters in the book says, "Magic is what we invent when we want something we think we don't have."

LOST LAKE, is about finding one's self, and many of the characters, if not all, end up "waking up" in one way or another. Kate, the main character, is first encountered after she "wakes up" a year and a day after her husband's death. She ends up doing something random, breaking her mother-in-law's rules by taking her daughter on a road trip to visit the place where she had her best summer ever, where she spent her last summer as a child. Kate's vulnerability and insecurity after losing her husband makes her a realistic character, and a likeable one at that. We see her get stronger not only as a person but as a mother and a friend.

The magical realism elements are more subtle in this book than her other ones I think, or at least come later on in the book and creep up on you. I don't want to reveal too much because I strongly believe this book needs to be read with an open mind, without any spoilers.

The setting of the book couldn't be more perfect. Lost Lake is a sort of old cabin/camping ground that used to be an amazing place to spend the summer but has been lost and forgoteen by many except for a few lost souls. The slew of original and eccentric characters add life and energy to the novel and it's kind of wonderful a that they end up finding each other.

If you're looking for an easy, yet heartwarming story, you can pick up any Sarah Addison Allen book. LOST LAKE just happens to be her most recent novel. Personally I hope she keeps writing only stand alone books because I can't see her doing anything else. The ways she builds stories and invents characters, they're only made to be visited once because their mysteriousness would simply be gone if they were to be expanded on event more. One thing is for sure, this author has been on my auto-buy list since she first came out with GARDEN SPELLS. I just hope I can convinced a few more people to pick up her books because I can't be the only one that finds her stories so wonderful.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:22

 Macmillan, magical realism, Paranormal, Purchased, Review, St. Martin's  3 People left their mark

Novella November: The Last Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

When Jenn came up with the idea of November Novella, I jumped at the chance to read and review THE LAST STORMDANCER before reading the newest book of the series. I fell in love with this series last year when I read STORMDANCER which when, after only one book, Jay Kristoff gained a spot on my auto-buy list.

In my opinion, THE LAST STORMDANCER didn't really do his series any justice and he shouldn't be judged on this novella alone. I also wouldn't read this book as an introduction to the series because even if it’s set 100 year before the first book, there is so much information lacking. I would only use it as a add on to book 1, to gain more background information about Thunder Tigers and Stormdancers, and to learn more about their history, only grazed in STORMDANCER.

Thunder Tigers are griffin-like beasts, while the Stormdancers are the humans that ride upon their back. This novella is about a blind boy who strongly believes that he (or someone from his grandmother's progeny) will save the world from the exploding industrial age that is causing death of so many with the pollution it has produced and will undoubtedly continue to produce. He befriends a Thunder Tiger and together, they set off to stop humanity from causing the death of more humans and other creatures of the world. Political warfare is a major part of this novella as it also tell the tale of twin brothers who fight for the Four Thrones of Shima upon the death of their father, one who wants to end the industrialization, the other who wants to promote it's growth.

Like any good novella, the pace is super fast which keeps you interested throughout. THE LAST STORMDANCER is still a wonderful story despite my overall disappointment with it. It still has all the wonderful aspects the other books have, like historical Japanese stuff, samurais, steampunk, mythology and political warfare. If you're tired of the repetitive Victorian steampunk, this series will definitely bring you on a new ride and entertain you with its cleverness and original concept. A series I highly recommend.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:55

 Japanese, Jay Kristoff, Macmillan, Mythology, Novella November, Review, St. Martin's, steampunk, The Lotus War, young adult  Leave your mark

The Trouble with Fate by Leigh Evans

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 368 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release date: December 24, 2012

Series: Mystwalker #1

Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

My name is Hedi Peacock and I have a secret. I’m not human, and I have the pointy Fae ears and Were inner-bitch to prove it. As fairy tales go, my childhood was damn near perfect, all fur and magic until a werewolf killed my father and the Fae executed my mother. I’ve never forgiven either side. Especially Robson Trowbridge. He was a part-time werewolf, a full-time bastard, and the first and only boy I ever loved. That is, until he became the prime suspect in my father’s death…

Today I’m a half-breed barista working at a fancy coffee house, living with my loopy Aunt Lou and a temperamental amulet named Merry, and wondering where in the world I’m going in life. A pretty normal existence, considering. But when a pack of Weres decides to kidnap my aunt and force me to steal another amulet, the only one who can help me is the last person I ever thought I’d turn to: Robson Trowbridge. And he’s as annoyingly beautiful as I remember. That’s the trouble with fate: Sometimes it barks. Other times it bites. And the rest of the time it just breaks your heart.

Again…

I have seriously mixed feelings about THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. There are things I really admire about Evans' debut and there are things that really bugged me. I don't often have such strong love/hate feelings about books so I'm a little confused about how to react to this book. But any book that sparks strong feelings -- even polarizing ones -- is definitely worth talking about!

Let's start with the good. There is some great worldbuilding in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. Hedi is half-Were, half-Fae and it makes for some interesting inner turmoil. Hedi pretty much denies her Were heritage and she's not a very strong Fae, except when it comes to mystwalking. She's good at that, though untrained, but it's a dangerous power and she has no one to teach her since her family is pretty much all gone. I really like stories that have the main character(s) discovering things about themselves and Hedi's journey with respect to her powers was quite interesting.

I also appreciated how real the stakes were in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. Evans doesn't shy away from serious (and sometimes gruesome) consequences and that's another thing I appreciate. Serious stakes suck me in and there are points in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE were folks were in serious peril and taking major damage.

Evans also injects some really humorous moments in the story, which was great. Comedy is always welcome in my world, particularly when there are so many serious scenes in the novel. And Evans strikes a nice balance between action, drama, and comedy, which takes a lot of talent. In fact, her writing style really worked for me and I did really enjoy THE TROUBLE WITH FATE as a whole.

And now for the not so good: There were points in the book where I really, really didn't like Hedi. She kept harping on how she's not the ideal size because she's plump and how she is much in the looks department and I found it really depressing. She hates how she looks, rather than embracing her different body type. I appreciate Evans featuring a character who isn't a statuesque, gorgeous creature but I'd much prefer it if Hedi wasn't always down on herself. There are curvy women in literature who embrace their shape, the most famous example probably being Anita Blake, and I much prefer Laurell K. Hamilton's approach to a curvy heroine, which is to say it's okay. Anita is admittedly not plump but she does have a refreshingly sensible approach to her body. There's enough stuff about bad body image in the media and I don't want a main character who's constantly putting herself down because she's not some sort of glorified ideal.

THE TROUBLE WITH FATE is very much the beginning of Hedi's tale and I'm looking forward to THE THING ABOUT WERES, despite my issues with aspects of Hedi's personality. The writing and overall story of THE TROUBLE WITH FATE is more than enough to have me curious about the next installment in the Mystwalker series, particularly since THE TROUBLE WITH FATE ends with something of a cliffhanger. (Main storylines are resolved but larger ones emerge, much like in a Secret McQueen novel.) I have a review copy of THE TROUBLE WITH WERES downloaded and ready to roll so you can be sure I'm going to dive back in Hedi's world. I can't wait to see what Evans has come up with next.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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Posted by jenn at 07:00

 Fey/Faeries, Leigh Evans, Review, St. Martin's, werewolf  1 Person left their mark

The Trouble with Fate by Leigh Evans

I have seriously mixed feelings about THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. There are things I really admire about Evans' debut and there are things that really bugged me. I don't often have such strong love/hate feelings about books so I'm a little confused about how to react to this book. But any book that sparks strong feelings -- even polarizing ones -- is definitely worth talking about!

Let's start with the good. There is some great worldbuilding in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. Hedi is half-Were, half-Fae and it makes for some interesting inner turmoil. Hedi pretty much denies her Were heritage and she's not a very strong Fae, except when it comes to mystwalking. She's good at that, though untrained, but it's a dangerous power and she has no one to teach her since her family is pretty much all gone. I really like stories that have the main character(s) discovering things about themselves and Hedi's journey with respect to her powers was quite interesting.

I also appreciated how real the stakes were in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE. Evans doesn't shy away from serious (and sometimes gruesome) consequences and that's another thing I appreciate. Serious stakes suck me in and there are points in THE TROUBLE WITH FATE were folks were in serious peril and taking major damage.

Evans also injects some really humorous moments in the story, which was great. Comedy is always welcome in my world, particularly when there are so many serious scenes in the novel. And Evans strikes a nice balance between action, drama, and comedy, which takes a lot of talent. In fact, her writing style really worked for me and I did really enjoy THE TROUBLE WITH FATE as a whole.

And now for the not so good: There were points in the book where I really, really didn't like Hedi. She kept harping on how she's not the ideal size because she's plump and how she is much in the looks department and I found it really depressing. She hates how she looks, rather than embracing her different body type. I appreciate Evans featuring a character who isn't a statuesque, gorgeous creature but I'd much prefer it if Hedi wasn't always down on herself. There are curvy women in literature who embrace their shape, the most famous example probably being Anita Blake, and I much prefer Laurell K. Hamilton's approach to a curvy heroine, which is to say it's okay. Anita is admittedly not plump but she does have a refreshingly sensible approach to her body. There's enough stuff about bad body image in the media and I don't want a main character who's constantly putting herself down because she's not some sort of glorified ideal.

THE TROUBLE WITH FATE is very much the beginning of Hedi's tale and I'm looking forward to THE THING ABOUT WERES, despite my issues with aspects of Hedi's personality. The writing and overall story of THE TROUBLE WITH FATE is more than enough to have me curious about the next installment in the Mystwalker series, particularly since THE TROUBLE WITH FATE ends with something of a cliffhanger. (Main storylines are resolved but larger ones emerge, much like in a Secret McQueen novel.) I have a review copy of THE TROUBLE WITH WERES downloaded and ready to roll so you can be sure I'm going to dive back in Hedi's world. I can't wait to see what Evans has come up with next.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Fey/Faeries, Leigh Evans, Mystwalker, Netgalley, Review, St. Martin's, Urban Fantasy, werewolf  4 People left their mark

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Book stats:
Reading Level: Young Adult
ARC: 224 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Psychological
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: June 11, 2013

Series: n/a

Source: Gifted

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

When you’ve been kept caged in the dark, it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees. It’s impossible to see anything, really. Not without bars . . .

Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself.

He’s part Win, the lonely teenager exiled to a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts all his classmates out, no matter the cost.

He’s part Drew, the angry young boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who spent a fateful, long-ago summer with his brother and teenage cousins, only to endure a secret so monstrous it led three children to do the unthinkable.

Over the course of one night, while stuck at a party deep in the New England woods, Andrew battles both the pain of his past and the isolation of his present.

Before the sun rises, he’ll either surrender his sanity to the wild darkness inside his mind or make peace with the most elemental of truths—that choosing to live can mean so much more than not dying.

I picked up this book expecting an intense werewolf novel. And while it was intense, it is perhaps the most unique werewolf novel I have ever read. At its heart, this story is a psychological mystery that had me begging for more. The story is honest, it’s powerful and harsh and true. It deals with insanity and problems and the concept of werewolves on top of everything in a mere 220 pages. It makes you want to bawl your eyes out when you turn the last page and the beautiful writing style really resonates with you. But it leaves you with a lot of questions and ninety percent of the time you have absolutely no clue what is going on. Sheer curiosity is what kept me going--that and the beautiful writing style--but if you don’t have a keen sense of curiosity and a desire to read perhaps one of the most unique books I have ever come across, this can easily be a DNF for some.

This book is told between alternating past and present perspectives of the same boy, but it is blatantly obvious that he is living two completely lives. Andrew Winston Winters is both Drew and Win. Put the two together and you have one seriously messed up kid whose story is captivating and his blatant desire to allow his inner wolf and darkness to escape is astounding. Drew is a young boy who is overwhelmed with anger and dark, inappropriate thoughts when he spends the summer with his older brother and cousins with his grandparents. Win is a lonely teenager at a boarding school who is hiding dark, horrifying secrets that shaped who he is today because of his unsettling childhood. He’s intriguing, complex, and disturbing--all of which combine to create this deliciously dark character whose mind is so interesting to be inside.

Never have I tackled a book who handled insanity in such a way. From the very beginning it’s clear that he’s disturbed and insane. He’s struggling blatantly in so many different ways. But you have to sit throughout the book and piece through his past and present, his odd memories and even stranger dark urges in order to figure out what is going on. Is this the way he was born? Does he have a real issue? Is the werewolf inside him waiting for his proper moon to come out turning him into a ruthless being? Is his life full of hallucinations or dark truths that nobody else is willing to acknowledge and conquer?

The entire point of this story is to discover who Andrew Winston Winters is. Boy, werewolf, psychopath, struggling and lonely teenager. So many different sides to dissect. And all the confusion and insanity found in the beginning of the book comes together in the very end to tell us who he really is, and it is shocking. It is earth-shattering, breathtaking, the tears are a-flowin’ unexpected and powerful. Andrew Winston Winters is one complex being and the eventual discovery in the last few chapters makes the confusion of the beginning so, so worth it. All questions are sufficiently answered and, boy, do you want to feel for this kid.

This book is one to look out for if you can handle a psychological mystery that can pull your heartstrings in all different directions. I was perhaps slightly put off at moments because I wasn’t expecting how dark this book could get. I had to put it down at times to ease my beating heart and take a few deep breaths because of the pain I felt for these characters. But, wow, is this a brave and unique debut. It will stand apart from so many other novels. And though it’s just short of perfect in my eyes, it was damn amazing either way.

The ending, guys. The ending of this book is what makes it unforgettable.

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Posted by Lili at 05:23

 Review, St. Martin's, stephanie kuehn, werewolf, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

I picked up this book expecting an intense werewolf novel. And while it was intense, it is perhaps the most unique werewolf novel I have ever read. At its heart, this story is a psychological mystery that had me begging for more. The story is honest, it’s powerful and harsh and true. It deals with insanity and problems and the concept of werewolves on top of everything in a mere 220 pages. It makes you want to bawl your eyes out when you turn the last page and the beautiful writing style really resonates with you. But it leaves you with a lot of questions and ninety percent of the time you have absolutely no clue what is going on. Sheer curiosity is what kept me going--that and the beautiful writing style--but if you don’t have a keen sense of curiosity and a desire to read perhaps one of the most unique books I have ever come across, this can easily be a DNF for some.

This book is told between alternating past and present perspectives of the same boy, but it is blatantly obvious that he is living two completely lives. Andrew Winston Winters is both Drew and Win. Put the two together and you have one seriously messed up kid whose story is captivating and his blatant desire to allow his inner wolf and darkness to escape is astounding. Drew is a young boy who is overwhelmed with anger and dark, inappropriate thoughts when he spends the summer with his older brother and cousins with his grandparents. Win is a lonely teenager at a boarding school who is hiding dark, horrifying secrets that shaped who he is today because of his unsettling childhood. He’s intriguing, complex, and disturbing--all of which combine to create this deliciously dark character whose mind is so interesting to be inside.

Never have I tackled a book who handled insanity in such a way. From the very beginning it’s clear that he’s disturbed and insane. He’s struggling blatantly in so many different ways. But you have to sit throughout the book and piece through his past and present, his odd memories and even stranger dark urges in order to figure out what is going on. Is this the way he was born? Does he have a real issue? Is the werewolf inside him waiting for his proper moon to come out turning him into a ruthless being? Is his life full of hallucinations or dark truths that nobody else is willing to acknowledge and conquer?

The entire point of this story is to discover who Andrew Winston Winters is. Boy, werewolf, psychopath, struggling and lonely teenager. So many different sides to dissect. And all the confusion and insanity found in the beginning of the book comes together in the very end to tell us who he really is, and it is shocking. It is earth-shattering, breathtaking, the tears are a-flowin’ unexpected and powerful. Andrew Winston Winters is one complex being and the eventual discovery in the last few chapters makes the confusion of the beginning so, so worth it. All questions are sufficiently answered and, boy, do you want to feel for this kid.

This book is one to look out for if you can handle a psychological mystery that can pull your heartstrings in all different directions. I was perhaps slightly put off at moments because I wasn’t expecting how dark this book could get. I had to put it down at times to ease my beating heart and take a few deep breaths because of the pain I felt for these characters. But, wow, is this a brave and unique debut. It will stand apart from so many other novels. And though it’s just short of perfect in my eyes, it was damn amazing either way.

The ending, guys. The ending of this book is what makes it unforgettable.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:23

 Gifted, Mystery, Paranormal, Psychological Thriller, Review, St. Martin's, stephanie kuehn, werewolf, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander

I was very excited when NIGHTSHIFTED showed up in the mail. (Thank you, Cassie!) I think it has an excellent premise – a secret hospital ward for supernaturals – that is just rife with possibilities. And the fact that Cassie Alexander is a registered nurse gave me hope that the setting would be exploited to the fullest. To a certain extent, it was, and I greatly enjoyed the scenes at the hospital. Edie works with an interesting team on the night shift and many significant events take place in Y4 and the rest of the hospital. There's a really great scene with a dragon shifter and we see some truly interesting patients in Y4. These were probably my favourite scenes in the book because it offers us a perspective we don't often see in urban fantasy or paranormal romance.

The bulk of the story, however, involves Edie's promise to the dying man mentioned in the cover copy. Edie quickly finds Anna but the events surrounding her success lead Edie further down the garden path and she's quickly sucked into vampire politics. (That pun was very unintentional, I promise you.) Cassie Alexander has created an interesting world and I enjoyed learning about the different supernatural races and hierarchies. She’s populated her book with a wide variety of supernaturals and it made the novel a lot of fun. I thought the Shadows and Anna were the most interesting and I hope to learn more about them in future stories. And I absolutely need to know what’s going on with the German-speaking CD player. (You’ll feel the same way after you finish reading, believe me.)

I also really liked the fact that Edie is just a regular person. She doesn’t have powers but she’s doing the best she can. Most of her decisions – even the ones that end badly – are made with other people’s welfare in mind and it’s nice to see a selfless heroine. (As an example, she took her job in Y4 because the powers that be promised to stop her brother’s drug addiction.) As a human surrounded by supernaturals, it would be easy for her to feel overwhelmed, which does happen, but she does her best to get through life and build relationships.

On the downside, there were a couple moments where the book fell flat for me. It's hard for me to pinpoint why but NIGHTSHIFTED didn't suck me in the way some of my favourite books do. I was reading it while travelling and I could put it down and go about my business without regret, which isn't the case with some of my faves. On the other hand, though, I was happy to get back into the story when I had time and I was curious to see what would happen to Edie and Anna. I also wasn’t sold on a zombie for a love interest at first. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Resident Evil? Don’t get me wrong, Ti (the zombie) is a well developed character with all the makings of a great love interest but I guess I’m more inhibited than Edie because I don’t think I could kiss a guy who can put himself back together with replacement parts. Intellectually, I know it’s probably no grosser than kissing a vampire, who’s also undead, but it took a while for me to come around to the idea. But I think it’s a very original idea and I love writers who do the unexpected.

Before I close, I’d like to take a moment to admire the cover. It really captures the spirit of the novel (complete with the dragonshifter I mentioned!) and so I wanted to heap some praise on the artist, whose name I can’t find. Kudos, anonymous artist. (Does anyone know who did the cover art? I’d really like to know.)

All in all, NIGHTSHIFTED has a lot of promise. It's not a perfect novel but the trilogy's world and characters have so much potential that I look forward to seeing what Edie gets up to next in MOONSHIFTED, which comes out in November.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Author, Cassie Alexander, Edie Spence, Macmillan, Review, St. Martin's, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  7 People left their mark

Wolf at the Door by Christine Warren

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 336 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
Release date: March 2, 2006

Series: The Others #9

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Library

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Sullivan Quinn didn't travel 3,000 miles from his native Ireland and his wolf pack just to chase rabidly after the most delectable quarry he's ever seen. Quinn is in America on a mission--to warn his Other brethren of a shadowy group willing to use murder and mayhem to bring them down. But one whiff of this Foxwoman's delicious honeysuckle fragrance and he knows that she is more than a colleague or a conquest…she is his mate.

Anthropologist Cassidy Poe is a world-renowned authority on social interaction, but the overpowering desire she feels around Quinn defies every ounce of her expertise. Working by his side to uncover The Others' enemies poses risks she never expected--to her own safety, to those she loves, and to her heart, as every encounter with Quinn proves more blissfully erotic than the last…

Now, with no one to trust but each other, Quinn and Cassidy face a foe that's edging closer every day, threatening to destroy the life they've always known, and the passion they've just discovered…

Sometimes, I like nothing more than an easy read that will probably have a good ending, especially when it comes with paranormal romance. WOLF AT THE DOOR caught my eye because the romantic story seemed like fun and because the paranormal story sounded intriguing. It lived up to my expectation and I thought it was an enjoyable and satisfying read.

I also picked up the book because the blurb at the back of the book said “Christine Warren’s spellbinding new series takes you into the enthralling world of the others…”, so I assumed it was the first book of a series. I was wrong. After reading a few chapters, I kept getting the impression some of the characters had had a story written about them already, and I confirmed this later by checking online. It’s actually the ninth book of the series. I felt a bit mislead by the back of the book since I usually like to read series in order, whenever possible. I think it has something to do with a marketing thing, this being the first book the publisher actually came out with, but still, the truth would have been nice right from the start.

Despite that little blunder, the book can absolutely be read as a stand alone. The story holds on it’s own and I really liked being introduced to the Others, which refers to any types of paranormal beings including vampires, weres, witches and demons. The main story focuses on the probable exposure of Others to the general human population. Others have always tried to live in hiding because of witch trials and other mass murdering events of the past. But now, since the human servant of a vampire has been kidnapped by fanatics trying to expose them as bad guys, some Others feel like it’s time to reveal themselves to human  in order to avoid as much bloodshed and prejudice as possible. Werewolf Quinn totally believes in the Unveiling and can’t wait to be able to live in an accepting society. However, anthropologist and Foxwoman Cassidy Poe believes revealing themselves to humans will be the Salem Witch Trials all over again.

Obviously their disagreement creates a lot of initial tensions but since Cassidy and Quinn are so attracted to each other, they try to work together to find out more about the kidnappers and their crazy fanatical sect. The scenes with Cassidy and Quinn are really fun to read because of their intense chemistry and their quirky lines. These scenes are definitively the highlight of the book, especially the scene where they first meet and they end up naked a few seconds later. I really liked how their relationship blossomed, and even if it felt a little quick, it didn’t seem forced despite their “animal instincts”.

Despite my initial confusion with the book, I think this series is definitively worth investigating. If the other books are anything like this one and have memorable characters like Quinn and Cassidy, I’m definitively in. There’s nothing like a good paranormal romance, and for a older release, this book was a good surprise.

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Posted by Unknown at 06:15

 Christine Warren, Review, St. Martin's, Vampire, werewolf  2 People left their mark

Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel

Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel

Book Stats:
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release date: January 29, 2013

Series: Vampire Queen #2

Source: Net Galley

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Lenah Beaudonte should be dead. But having sacrificed herself to save another, she finds herself awakening with strange powers that are neither vampire nor human—and a new enemy on her trail. In her vampire life, Lenah had thought that being human was all she ever wanted; but the human heart suffers pain, heartbreak and loss.

With her new powers growing and the dark force of the Nex after her soul, Lenah faces a choice: between the mortal love of gorgeous Justin, whose passion fed her human soul, and taking a different path to become the mistress of her own destiny, wherever that may lead...

Lenah Beaudonte did the ultimate sacrifice to save her beloved friend Vicken, she forfeited her life to give him back his humanity, or so she thought. But she survived the ritual, and so did Rhode when he performed it for her last year. Where has he been all of this time though? Also, how will human Lenah, Vicken & Rhode fight back the power-hungry vampires the ritual attracted?

It`s been a very long 2,5 years since the release of Infinite Days – a small eternity, really – and I have been highly excited and anxious for this sequel and I`m afraid I was disappointed. Maybe my expectations were to high? It`s a risk when you wait so long for a sequel. Or maybe my taste evolved? I find I`m not so fond of high school based set-up anymore. Or it might be because once the originality of a vampire wanting to be human fades away the plot lost its shine? Either way, Stolen Nights was a decent read, but not what I expected.

Rhode really made a strong impression on me in Infinite Days, even though he was present for such a short period of time, and when I started Stolen Nights I was thrilled to finally meet him. Yet this excitement quickly faded away as he disappointed me – which broke my heart! On the other hand, Vicken proved to be a happy surprise and he turned out to be my favorite element of the novel. I appreciated that Lenah somewhat grew and learnt some lessons. She also acted a lot less selfishly than she used to -  a plus side.

Plot wise, I wasn`t thrilled until about 75% of the book. Things picked up after a failed summoning spell and even though the end managed to surprise and engross me, I`m afraid it was too little too late to redeem the novel in my eyes.

All that being said, the end of Infinite Days was a killer and I`m sure you`ll want to pick up Stolen Nights if only to satisfy your curiosity. Hopefully you`ll enjoy this novel more than I did. It`s not bad but it just didn't meet me expectations. I don’t know if there will be a third book in the series, but I don’t plan on reading it unfortunately.

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Posted by Tynga at 07:07

 Rebecca Maizel, Review, St. Martin's, Vampire, young adult  3 People left their mark

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Hardcover: 307 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: August 16, 2011

Series: Charley Davidson #2

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans.

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.

While not as amazing as the first, Jones still manages to take us on an unforgettable and snarky journey with paranormal private investigator and grim reaper extraordinare, Charley Davidson.

The plot held me prisoner and I powered through this book without a problem. Charley manages several cases in this one that surround the disappearance of one of Cookie’s best friends, Mimi Jacobs. Amazingly, she managed to launch her own investigation in search of Reyes’s human body before time ran out that took us on a slightly humorous ride, even going as far as to introduce us to the president of his prison fan club, while hunting for Cookie’s friend. Charley can’t allow Reyes’s corporal body to die when all she wants is to continue seeing him in the flesh, so she ignores his continued warnings and acts on her impulses—a decision that can come to haunt her later in the series.

Littered with Charley’s sarcasm, this book seemed slightly more serious to me. There were so many investigations going on with some pretty hefty cases that there wasn’t much time for humor, but those spots where Jones was able to allow Charley her patented snark had me roaring with laughter once again.

It’s hard to elaborate on much in this one because it truly did live up to my expectations, though the first book set the bar so high that this one fell slightly below it. While the plot wasn’t as lighthearted at times, we did see amazing character growth in Charley’s amazing sidekick, Cookie. We learned more about Reyes’s past, which any reader will eat up, and we watched Charley grow and make more connections with her oddly disconnected family.

I highly recommend this series to any paranormal lover, especially those who like some forbidden romance thrown in, but this book isn’t a standalone and it is a must to read its prequel. Much like its predecessor, it’ll be everything you wanted and more and will take a place high up on my recommendations list. Jones weaves a story with so many twists and turns that I can’t even think straight!

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Posted by Lili at 06:00

 Darynda Jones, Grim Reaper, Review, St. Martin's  3 People left their mark

Why Whedonites will love STORMDANCER

Did I get your attention with my title? ;-)

Today's my birthday and Tynga has graciously given me free reign to write something a little different. (Thanks, T!) Instead of posting a review, I'm going to elaborate on a point I made when I first talked about Jay Kristoff's STORMDANCER: the idea that his writing reminded me of Joss Whedon's.

Here's what I said in my post last month:

Jay Kristoff's writing is Whedonesque. This is one of the highest compliments I can pay because I think Joss Whedon is absolutely brilliant. He writes beautifully complex female characters living in gorgeously imagined worlds where no one is safe and anything can happen. And you know what? Jay Kristoff does, too.

Don't believe me? By the end of this post, I hope to have you convinced. If nothing else, I hope this this will inspire all the fans of the Whedonverse to give STORMDANCER a try! I'm going to use Buffy as my main point of comparison but I'm pretty sure some Firefly references are going to sneak in, too. =)

Why Whedonites will love STORMDANCER

Strong, complex female characters

This is probably Joss Whedon's hallmark. He always writes great female characters. Some are physically gifted, others aren't, some are flawed, but they're always well developed, incredible women: Buffy, Zoe, Faith, River, Darla, Willow, Echo, Kaylee...The list goes on and on. With STORMDANCER, Jay Kristoff has created a wonderful lead character in Yukiko, and the supporting female characters are nothing to sneeze at, either. (I'm thinking particularly of Aisha, Michi, and Kasumi, who are all different but are all fierce and strong in their own ways.)

At first glance, Yukiko and Buffy may seem nothing alike. Yukiko is a teenager whose family hunts for the Shogun in a feudal, steampunk Japan. Buffy is a teenager who fights evil on the Hellmouth in modern day Sunnydale, California, at least in the early years of the TV show. (We're just going to pretend the movie didn't happen, no matter how much love I have for Donald Sutherland.) But you know what? They have a lot in common. They're both bold young women with special gifts -- Yukiko has a kenning and can communicate with animals, Buffy is the Slayer, in case you've been living under a rock -- and they both wrestle with their roles. (And don't forget about River and her whole I-can-kill-people-with-my-brain thing.) They make decisions with their hearts and they are sometimes reluctant leaders in their respective battles. They're also both capable of effecting incredible change in their worlds. (I won't say too much about this to avoid spoilers for those of you who weren't lucky enough to get an early copy or live in Australia, where it's been out for a week.)

Over the course of STORMDANCER, Yukiko learns to stand up for what she believes in, hones her talents, and becomes enmeshed in political change trying to help her country. There are parallels with a lot of coming-of-age stories, which includes Buffy's journey, growing up, trying to save the world from all sorts of evil, supernatural and otherwise. They're both isolated because of their gifts, forced to hide the abilities from some of their closest friends and family.

(To be fair, the men are also wonderfully written. Like them or hate them, the men in STORMDANCER jump off the page, just like my favourite male inhabitants of the Whedonverse.)

Great world building

I always love the worlds Joss Whedon creates (or adapts, in the case of The Avengers). My favourite is Firefly's setting -- a delicious world filled with cowboys, spaceships, Chinese curse words, and amazing cultural integration 500 years in the future. The Buffyverse is no less well developed, with rich mythology and tons of metaphors. Even the Dollhouse world is intensely creative, particularly in the Epitaphs episodes. STORMDANCER also takes place in a well crafted and inventive world. I love the use of Japanese mythology and social structure and the innovations that come with the steampunk spin.

Wicked cool creatures

I wasn't able to come up with a better title for this part. I suppose it's a subset of the world building but I think it merits its own section because the Whedonverse and STORMDANCER are populated with some incredible creatures of legend. STORMDANCER has arashitori -- super cool thunder tigers! I don't think I've read anything where griffins have played such a prominent role. And Buruu is a great example of a character who starts off seeming monstrous but ends up having a lot of depth. You see the same thing in the Whedonverse. Some of his creations are monstruous, like the Gentlemen, but there are also characters like Clem, who have intimidating outsides and squishy insides.

Of course, STORMDANCER also has monsters that are monsters, in the shape of oni, Japanese demons, which you don't see everyday in the literature. It also has monsters that don't look at all villainous, which you can see in a lot of the Joss Whedon programmes.

Outstanding writing

This last quality isn't really exclusive to these two men but it's definitely worth mentioning. You can have all sorts of neat ideas for characters and setting and plot, but it's not worth much to me if it's poorly delivered. I value strong writing and these two have that in spades. They bring crisp dialogue, beautiful imagery, and engrossing narrative in their work and it keeps you hooked!

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I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil STORMDANCER for anyone so I think this is a good place to stop. Have I convinced you? Are you pre-ordering your copies of STORMDANCER now? =) Let me know what you think in the comments or find me on Twitter. I'd love to hear your take!

For more info on the STORMDANCER blog tour, click here.

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The scoop of STORMDANCER:

The first in an epic new fantasy series, introducing an unforgettable new heroine and a stunningly original dystopian steampunk world with a flavor of feudal Japan.

A DYING LAND 
The Shima Imperium  verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST 
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT 
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Posted by jenn at 07:23

 Jay Kristoff, St. Martin's, steampunk  12 People left their mark

PSC Giveaway: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Sadly, Jay Kristoff was unable to join us in the event but he and his publisher were gracious enough to offer up one (1) copy of STORMDANCER to a lucky reader!

This book has what is probably the coolest cover of the year (which you can learn more about on Tor.com). Plus, STORMDANCER is a most excellent blend of Japanese-inspired dystopian, steampunk, and fantasy. How can you not want to read it?!

STORMDANCER comes out on September 18 in Canada and the US. (Lucky folks in the UK and Australia get it earlier.) Mark it in your calendars, folks!

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More about STORMDANCER:

The first in an epic new fantasy series, introducing an unforgettable new heroine and a stunningly original dystopian steampunk world with a flavor of feudal Japan.

A DYING LAND 
The Shima Imperium  verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST 
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT 
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

US/Canada only

Ends Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
(like all of our Paranormal Summer Camp giveaways)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jay Kristoff grew up in the most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.

He is 6’7 and has approximately 13,870 days to live. He lives in Melbourne with his wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell Terrier.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Posted by jenn at 06:13

 giveaway, Jay Kristoff, Paranormal Summer Camp, St. Martin's  53 People left their mark

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor / Thomas Dunne
Release date: September 18, 2012

Series: Lotus Wars #1

Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The first in an epic new fantasy series, introducing an unforgettable new heroine and a stunningly original dystopian steampunk world with a flavor of feudal Japan.

A DYING LAND

The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

There's a fabulous quotation from Patrick Rothfuss on the cover of the ARC that *hints* at the awesomeness that is STORMDANCER:

What's that? You say you've got a Japanese Steampunk novel with mythic creatures, civil unrest, and a strong female protagonist? I'm afraid I missed everything you said after "Japanese Steampunk." That's all I really need to hear.

-- Patrick Rothfuss

The great Mr. Rothfuss speaks the truth. I was intrigued from the moment I saw the cover and heard the words "Japanese steampunk" because, let's be honest, it's rare for authors to write steampunk outside of England, though there are some notable exceptions, like Devon Monk's Age of Steam, some of Meljean Brook's Iron Seas stories, and Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines. (I'd recommend Beyond Victoriana for more information about steampunk generally or steampunk in places other in England specifically because my tiny list is far from exhaustive.) Most of the steampunk I've read has been set at least partially in England and I don't think I've ever read any steampunk embedded in an Asian culture, let alone Japan, so I was beyond excited to give Jay Kristoff's debut a try. The end result? I was completely blown away by STORMDANCER. Yukiko and Buruu's story just about killed me because it was so intense and beautiful and epic. Jay Kristoff's writing is Whedonesque. This is one of the highest compliments I can pay because I think Joss Whedon is absolutely brilliant. He writes beautifully complex female characters living in gorgeously imagined worlds where no one is safe and anything can happen. And you know what? Jay Kristoff does, too.

The author has also created a fascinating world. The blend of steam technology with Japanese feudal tradition is a rich landscape that lets you know you're definitely not in Kansas anymore. I'm no expert on Japanese history but I feel like Jay Kristoff has really captured the essence of feudal Japan and made it even more vivid by adding steampunk elements like the airships and the technology used by the Lotus Guild. As a linguist, what I really loved was how he incorporated Japanese vocabulary into the story, using the Japanese terms for titles, weapons, creatures of myth, and more. It's a simple but highly effective way to embed the reader in the flavour of the world, and it really lets you know that this is not your typical steampunk. Japanese mythology is also woven into the story and I just couldn't get enough.

The characters in STORMDANCER are also wonderfully crafted. From Yukiko, our intrepid heroine, to the selfish Shogun, to Kin, everyone has a distinct personality. Everyone has layers and watching them peel back through Yukiko's eyes made the story quite gripping, especially against the backdrop of civil unrest. Yukiko learns some hard truths, and some exciting ones, over the course of the novel, and you won't be able to put the book down until you know what's really going on behind everyone's masks.

The take-home message? STORMDANCER is a gorgeous novel that sets the stage for what is sure to be an epic series. It's beautifully written and full of evocative images and I can't wait to spend more time in this world. Preorder your copy now if you love amazing storytelling and original worlds!

Read an excerpt

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Posted by jenn at 06:03

 Jay Kristoff, Review, St. Martin's, steampunk  8 People left their mark

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Mass Market Paperback: 315 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: July 5, 2011

Series: Charley Davidson #1

Source: Personal shelf

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper.

 Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

Honesty, I am at a loss for words while I write this review. This is Darynda Jones’ debut novel and she certainly exploded onto the scene. This story is laugh-out-loud hilarious and will pull you in from the get go while you wonder why it took you so long to pick up this book. I can’t even begin to express how hard it is for me not to include spoilers for this one.

Undoubtedly, what makes this novel worth reading is the protagonist: Charley Davidson. Yeah, you heard me right! That’s really her name and she pulls it off well! She’s slightly crazy and will stop at nothing to get what she wants, making it incredibly easy to fall in love with her despite her habit of walking straight into near fatal situations. Charley is beyond snarky and has an infinite flow of insulting come backs that’ll make you double over with laughter. I’m seriously considering taking some of them for myself so I can throw them back in other people’s faces and watch them stand there in shock from the sheer awesomeness of them all. They’re that good. Charley brings a level a humor to this novel that I have not encountered in a while.

While this story focuses on her helping to solve a murder mystery—is that really a surprise? She’s a grim reaper, after all—a very huge back-plot of the story evolves around the love interest. Discovering his identity, his connection to her past, and what he is truly capable of is like an addictive drug. You get a taste and you just want more. Who is this mysterious Entity that makes Charley quake with pleasure? Why is he so important? I wish I could tell you, but I couldn’t even begin to explain their connection and the amazingness of it all. Jones had me flipping pages like no tomorrow to figure everything out for myself.

Jones weaves a tale rich with plot twists while Charley works with her ghostly and human friends, “Angel” sidekick, the police force led by her uncle, and the mysterious Entity that stalks her dreams to uncover secrets that are all part of a complicated web of lies and hidden truths. Part mystery and part romance, this novel will satisfy any reader and is definitely worth picking up.

If you’re anything like me, your only complaint would be that you weren’t smart enough to buy the entire series at the same time so you could continue Charley’s story and see what journey this snarky heroine will take us on this time.

Just because this story is so hilarious, I wanted to share one of the first quotes that made me laugh. Located only on page seven, it'll set the tone for the humor throughout the rest of the book even when faced with near death experiences.

"You rented the apartment with a dead guy in the corner?"

I shrugged. "I wanted the apartment and I figured I could cover him up with a bookcase or something. But the thought of having a dead guy hovering behind my copy of Sweet Savage Love gnawed at me. I couldn't just leave him there. I don't even know if he likes romance."

Read an Excerpt

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Posted by Lili at 06:30

 Darynda Jones, Grim Reaper, Review, St. Martin's  11 People left their mark

"When I'm not writing" with Donna Grant + giveaway!

Our guest today is Donna Grant. She's the author of several series including Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and Dark Kings. With so many novels under her belt, it's hard to believe she actually has time to do things other than writing. =)

Keep reading to find out what Donna does when she's not crafting her next novel and make sure to stick around for the DARKEST HIGHLANDER giveaway! It's the sixth book in Donna's Dark Sword series, which is centered on Druid magic. (Woo!)

I get asked a lot what I do when I’m not writing. I saw a quote the other day by the playwright Eugene Ionesco on Facebook that summed it up pretty nicely: “A writer never has a vacation. For a writer’s life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.”

It’s very, very true. Just ask my family. ;)

Despite that I’m always thinking about my characters/books – or maybe because of it – I read a lot. Not as much as I used to because of deadlines, but I’m always buying books. My husband is a huge reader, and so is my 13 yo daughter and 9 yo son. The bookstore loves when they see me come in because they know I’m going to be spending a lot of money. ;)

There isn’t an ereader between the four of us, because we all love holding our books and turning the pages. Not to mention the smell of books. How I love that smell. But I also love to show them off. My husband is always building bookcases for one of us. My daughter doesn’t like to give away any of her books. My son isn’t so attached, but his favorites don’t ever leave him. My husband also likes to keep every book he’s ever had. Even the ones that are falling apart he’s read them so much.

I periodically go through them and send boxes of books to the military deployed overseas. It makes my shelf bare, but not for long. Though there are some books I simply refuse to let go. Those books I go buy a second copy of and send to our troops. (as you can see by the bare shelves, I just sent off several boxes)

As much as I love my books, I’m addicted to movies and TV series. We’re huge movie buffs and have a rather large collection of our favorite movies/shows. The kids have their own collection. Some of my favorites are Lord of the Rings, the extended versions, of course, Immortals, Thor, and Underworld (all of them!).

My husband got me addicted to Game of Thrones. I’m dying to read the books after watching season one. And my daughter and I are watching Buffy from the first episode to the last, and then it’s on to Angel.

Something else I love to do is collect swords and weapons. This began a couple of years ago. Here’s a picture of my swords, but I have yet to hang up the Scottish shield, axe, and pick that I got while in Scotland. Hmm…something I need hubby to rectify soon.

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Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to visit us, Donna!

For more information about Donna and her books, check out her website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Here's the scoop on DARKEST HIGHLANDER:

In the acclaimed Dark Sword series, the darkest, fiercest warriors of Scottish legend finally meet their match—in the brave, fiery hearts of the women they cherish…

For years, Broc has watched over her, protected her—and hidden his love for her. But when his beautiful Sonya, finds herself in a hopeless situation, the Highlander flies to her side to save her. Unfortunately, before the Druidess can thank him, Broc is captured by his enemy and destined for eternal pain…

Sonya vows to help her noble warrior, though he is imprisoned in a mountain of pure evil—bound in chains of the darkest magic. With Sonya’s own magic fading, she must summon the greatest power of all to save the man she loves. But even if these two hearts are united, will they be strong enough to defeat the heart of darkness? Or will their undying love doom them for all eternity…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Here's the rest of the series:

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Donna is generously offering one (1) copy of DARKEST HIGHLANDER to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

Open internationally

Ends Monday, May 28, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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Posted by jenn at 07:10

 giveaway, St. Martin's, When I'm not writing  50 People left their mark