Tynga's Reviews: Jess Haines

Showing posts with label Jess Haines. Show all posts

Friday, July 11, 2014

Enslaved by the Others by Jess Haines

Forsaken by the Others, the previous book in the H&W Investigations series, ended with a bang and this installment starts right where we left off. Shia is now in custody of Max and her future is most uncertain. Royce has absolutely no idea where she is, so any hope of rescue is out the window. She will have to step up her game if she wishes to be free again, but can she do it on her own?

I am a big fan of this urban fantasy series, and miss Haines' writing, and I was pleased once again with this new installment. Despite Enslaved by the Others being the sixth book in the series Haines managed to keep things fresh by completely out-rooting Shia. She is taken away from her allies, planted in the middle of no-where, in the grasp of her worst enemy so it's completely different from previous set up. I enjoyed witnessing her take matters in her own hands and do the best she can to get out of trouble.

Arnold finally makes a new appearance in this installment, and I was extremely happy. I've been waiting for so long to see more of him! Thank you Jess :) On the other hand, Royce is once again pretty absent from the premises, so I hope book seven will show more of Shia and Royce and their growing relationship. On that matter, Kensington hasn't bought more books for the moment, but it's probably only a question of time before it's a done deal. I urge you to purchase this novel to increase the sales and the chances of getting anymore novels in the series!

The plotline was steady and gripping and I enjoyed meeting new characters. The conclusion proved to be satisfying if not terribly surprising. If you haven't started this series yet, I strongly suggest you do. And please, don't let the not-super-appealing covers put you off, those are great novels!

by Tynga at Friday, July 11, 2014

Adult, Hamp;W Investigations, Jess Haines, Kensington, Kensington Books, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, Vampire Leave your mark

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

SS: Interview with Jess Haines + Giveaway

Today I have the honour to have my friend Jess Haines here on the blog! She is the author of the amazing urban fantasy series, H&W Investigations and she accepted our invite to celebrate the upcoming release of Forsaken by the Others, 5th book in the series. Please welcome her warmly, and stick ‘til the end for a giveaway!
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1- Forsaken by the Others is the 5th book in the H&W Investigations series, is it the final one? If not, how many more books have you planned?

I'm contracted for a 6th book in the series. I've got plans brewing for more, but I can't promise anything yet since they aren't under contract. Shiarra's adventures will continue, one way or another.

2- I've always had this strong feeling that your series is not getting all the praise it should, it's such an amazing UF with great characters, what would you say to those out there who haven't read it yet?

Oh, thank you! I'm blushing over here. *g*

I know some people have been put off by the covers from earlier books. Some Hunted By The Others (H&W Investigations, #1) thought it was just another paranormal romance. Others that vampires are so overdone, yawn.

Honestly? I understand where they're coming from. What I would like to say is that I have worked hard to write an urban fantasy series that was not all about pantsfeelings or a heroine who starts out as a kickass supernatural with awesome powers. Shiarra Waynest is a human woman in a paranormal world, with all of the problems that entails--both mundane and supernatural. She's got a failing business, bills to pay, and prejudices and phobias involving Others that she has to face. If you're expecting Anita Blake or Sookie Stackhouse, you're not going to find it in my books. Nothing against paranormal romance (I write those, too) but that wasn't the audience I was looking to cater to with the H&W Investigations books. My vampires don't sparkle and my werewolves aren't teddy bears in disguise.

In short, if you're a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files or Kim Harrison's Hollows/Rachel Morgan series, I hope you might like my work, too.

3- Shia is stuck between the werewolf and the vampire world, will she finally pick a side (or be forced onto one?)

Ahh, that's for the author to know and readers to find out. *g* Book 6 will see a lot of unanswered questions and some strings you may have forgotten about from earlier books tied up.

4- You ended Stalking the Others with quite a bomb, what was the feedback from your readers and what can they expect in book 5?

I got a great deal of fans fanning themselves and wanting to know when Stalking the Others (H&W Investigations, #4) the next book was coming out. *g*

Forsaken by the Others is coming soon, my pretties, and the game is changing for Shiarra. With all the heat coming down on her for her vigilante actions in book 4, Stalking the Others, she's no longer safe in New York. For her own safety, Royce is sending her to Los Angeles, where she'll meet some karaoke-loving fringe-hobo vampires, giant werewolves who may or may not want to eat her face, and a necromancer with a whole mess of zombies and a grudge. Friends and enemies both old and new are going to surface, and it's going to be up to Shiarra to find out how to deal with the zombies and their master.

Here, have a taste...

I cleared my throat. “I guess we’ll—ah—we’ll just be going—”

“No.”

Ha, that was funny. For a second there, I thought he said no.

“Come inside. I want to talk to you.”

Oh. I hadn’t imagined it.

The Viking stood up, towering in the doorway, his towel slipping lower on his hips. Feeling a tad ill, I lifted my hands, not quite sure if it was meant to be a negative gesture or a please-don’t-hurt-me supplication. Sara and I stumbled back, fetching up against a big oak tree shading the yard and some of the street. He moved towards us, and the bark cracked under my fingertips as I clutched at the tree.

He stopped when he was close enough to touch, both of us staring up at him like we were staring down Death come to claim us.

Then he engulfed us in a hug. I’m pretty sure I left a chunk of skin behind on that tree when he pulled us away. I didn’t start screaming and flailing because, much like Analie, he didn’t seem to have any concept of his own strength when he crushed us against him.

The only reason I knew I wasn’t about to die was because the six-foot-plus terrifying werewolf warrior wearing nothing but a towel was crying all over us.

God damn, my life was getting weirder by the day.

(To answer a question I've been getting a lot, yes, this book can be read on its own. I strongly suggest reading Stalking the Others first at a bare minimum, but there is currently a deal for Nook and Kindle readers to get all four of the earlier books in a bundle deal.)

5- Do you have plans for a new series when Shia's adventures are over?

I've got a couple of projects brewing in the background, but nothing else sold. I don't want to talk up a series that might never see the light of day, but I do have some ideas for a few high fantasy and paranormal romance novels that I'll be taking some time to work on as soon as I'm done with H&W book 6.

6- The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, thus the shortest night, are your characters celebrating it?

Shiarra is most likely counting her lucky stars since it means the fanged, bite-y things of the night are spending more time keeping very much to themselves. She'd probably celebrate with a stiff drink.

Sara (Shia's business partner) and her boyfriend Arnold (a mage) are going to enjoy every minute of daylight together and most likely spend much of it at the beach or enjoying a party and barbecue.

Chaz the werewolf would be too busy looking for ways to get back into Shia's good graces (ha!) to celebrate much.

Royce the vampire would be annoyed at the lack of time available to get any work done and how much business he'd likely be losing since his restaurants and nightclubs would have to open later/wouldn't draw as many patrons without the actual vampires present to draw a crowd.

The White Hats (hunters of supernaturals) would be throwing a party to celebrate the shortest night of the year.

7- Have you ever celebrated midsummer? If not, do you wish to some day?

I haven't done anything official, though I have gone to beach and pool parties to celebrate. Most of the crowd I hang with are pretty chill about that sort of thing now, so we don't usually do much to pay any mind. It would be nice if that changed, but I don't see it happening anytime soon with the way my friends' schedules look these days. For myself, I'll enjoy the extra sun, maybe go out for a walk, and toast the sunset with an eye for the changes to come...

Thanks again so much for having me! I hope you enjoy Forsaken by the Others!

-----------------

Thank you so much Jess for stopping by <3 It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about Forsaken by the Others:

The Others–vampires, werewolves, things that go chomp in the night–don’t just live in nightmares anymore. They’ve joined with he mortal world. And for private investigator Shiarra Waynest, that means mayhem…

Have a one night stand with a vampire, and you can end up paying for it for eternity. P.I. Shiarra Waynest, an expert on the Others, knows that better than most. Yet here she is, waking up beside charismatic vamp Alec Royce with an aching head…and neck. Luckily, Shia has the perfect excuse for getting out of town–namely, a couple of irate East Coast werewolf packs who’d like to turn her into a chew toy.

On Royce’s suggestion, Shia temporarily relocates to Los Angeles. But something is rotten–literally–in the state of California, where local vampires are being attacked by zombies. Who could be powerful enough to control them–and reckless enough to target the immortal? Following the trail will lead Shia to a terrifying truth, and to an ancient enemy with a personal grudge…

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Previous books in the series:

Hunted by the Others (H&W I...

Jess is offering 2 tour-wide giveaways!

Simply fill the forms below to be included :)

US ONLY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERNATIONAL:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

The author has over 6 years freelance experience in technical writing, editing and screenplays. More recently, this repertoire has expanded to include short stories and a series of urban fantasy novels in progress.

Visit Jess

by Tynga at Tuesday, June 18, 2013

giveaway, Interview, Jess Haines, Kensington, Supernatural Solstice 5 People left their mark

Forsaken by the Others by Jess Haines

Forsaken by the Others (H&W Investigations, #5)

Forsaken by the Others by Jess Haines

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban fantasy
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zebra
Release date: July 2, 2013

Series: H&W Investigations #5

Source: NetGalley

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The Others–vampires, werewolves, things that go chomp in the night–don’t just live in nightmares anymore. They’ve joined with he mortal world. And for private investigator Shiarra Waynest, that means mayhem…

Have a one night stand with a vampire, and you can end up paying for it for eternity. P.I. Shiarra Waynest, an expert on the Others, knows that better than most. Yet here she is, waking up beside charismatic vamp Alec Royce with an aching head…and neck. Luckily, Shia has the perfect excuse for getting out of town–namely, a couple of irate East Coast werewolf packs who’d like to turn her into a chew toy.

On Royce’s suggestion, Shia temporarily relocates to Los Angeles. But something is rotten–literally–in the state of California, where local vampires are being attacked by zombies. Who could be powerful enough to control them–and reckless enough to target the immortal? Following the trail will lead Shia to a terrifying truth, and to an ancient enemy with a personal grudge…

Trouble follows Shia around like a dog and its tail, and Forsaken by the Others is no exception. She just avoided turning into a werewolf (or did she really?) and found Royce for comfort. After getting what he craved since he met her, he has to let her go for her own safety. Did he really think she would be safer away though? I bet he didn’t foresee an army of walking dead!

First, let me say that this book was just as amazing as the previous ones and that fans of the series won’t be disappointed! There was a very drastic split at about 25% of the book, moment when Shia and Sara went away to LA, supposedly to stay safe. The first part is all about Royce and I was really surprised. If you remember, at the end of book 4, Shia finally gave in and had sex with Royce. Forsaken by the Others starts the next morning, when she has to face what she did. At first, she’s scared and distrustful and I was knocked off my chair by how easily she gave in to him in the end. By the time she leaves for LA, I’ll dare say she’s almost clingy. It felt really anticlimactic to what I’m used to from her, but it wasn’t bad either, I mean, they have been dancing around each other for four books already. I am really sold to Royce despite everything and I’m afraid to say he is practically absent from the rest of the book and I missed him.

Part two is all about Shia and her best friend Sara forced to investigate a case of zombie attacks against the vampire hosting them at his home. He is hiding things from them and the girls bit off more than they could chew. The action was non stop, Forsaken by the Others was a real page-turner. I was also really pleased to see old friends and heart-broken that Arnold is still not back on the roster. When will Arnold be back Jess? *begs on her knees*

The plot line was smooth and surprising and there’s a particular scene with zombies swarming the highway that particularly felt bigger than nature. Kudos Jess! The end was a real slap in the face and would’ve knocked me on my behind if I weren't already sitting. I never expected it and I am that much more excited for book six. What will happen to Shia in the aftermath? Will she or will she not turn into a werewolf? Will she finally have a somewhat normal relationship with Royce. And more importantly, will we see Arnold again??? lol

I know the covers of the first books in the series aren’t particularly attractive, but this series is a serious case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. H&W Investigation series is an amazing urban fantasy series and I am convinced fans of the genre will fall in love with its action and its characters. On a side note, Jess Haines is also made of awesome and I love her very much <3

by Tynga at Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Jess Haines, Kensington, Review, Vampire 4 People left their mark

SS: Interview with Jess Haines + Giveaway

1- Forsaken by the Others is the 5th book in the H&W Investigations series, is it the final one? If not, how many more books have you planned?

Oh, thank you! I'm blushing over here. *g*

In short, if you're a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files or Kim Harrison's Hollows/Rachel Morgan series, I hope you might like my work, too.

3- Shia is stuck between the werewolf and the vampire world, will she finally pick a side (or be forced onto one?)

Ahh, that's for the author to know and readers to find out. *g* Book 6 will see a lot of unanswered questions and some strings you may have forgotten about from earlier books tied up.

4- You ended Stalking the Others with quite a bomb, what was the feedback from your readers and what can they expect in book 5?

I got a great deal of fans fanning themselves and wanting to know when Stalking the Others (H&W Investigations, #4) the next book was coming out. *g*

Here, have a taste...

I cleared my throat. “I guess we’ll—ah—we’ll just be going—”

“No.”

Ha, that was funny. For a second there, I thought he said no.

“Come inside. I want to talk to you.”

Oh. I hadn’t imagined it.

The Viking stood up, towering in the doorway, his towel slipping lower on his hips. Feeling a tad ill, I lifted my hands, not quite sure if it was meant to be a negative gesture or a please-don’t-hurt-me supplication. Sara and I stumbled back, fetching up against a big oak tree shading the yard and some of the street. He moved towards us, and the bark cracked under my fingertips as I clutched at the tree.

He stopped when he was close enough to touch, both of us staring up at him like we were staring down Death come to claim us.

Then he engulfed us in a hug. I’m pretty sure I left a chunk of skin behind on that tree when he pulled us away. I didn’t start screaming and flailing because, much like Analie, he didn’t seem to have any concept of his own strength when he crushed us against him.

The only reason I knew I wasn’t about to die was because the six-foot-plus terrifying werewolf warrior wearing nothing but a towel was crying all over us.

God damn, my life was getting weirder by the day.

5- Do you have plans for a new series when Shia's adventures are over?

6- The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, thus the shortest night, are your characters celebrating it?

Sara (Shia's business partner) and her boyfriend Arnold (a mage) are going to enjoy every minute of daylight together and most likely spend much of it at the beach or enjoying a party and barbecue.

Chaz the werewolf would be too busy looking for ways to get back into Shia's good graces (ha!) to celebrate much.

The White Hats (hunters of supernaturals) would be throwing a party to celebrate the shortest night of the year.

7- Have you ever celebrated midsummer? If not, do you wish to some day?

Thanks again so much for having me! I hope you enjoy Forsaken by the Others!

-----------------

Thank you so much Jess for stopping by <3 It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about Forsaken by the Others:

The Others–vampires, werewolves, things that go chomp in the night–don’t just live in nightmares anymore. They’ve joined with he mortal world. And for private investigator Shiarra Waynest, that means mayhem…

Have a one night stand with a vampire, and you can end up paying for it for eternity. P.I. Shiarra Waynest, an expert on the Others, knows that better than most. Yet here she is, waking up beside charismatic vamp Alec Royce with an aching head…and neck. Luckily, Shia has the perfect excuse for getting out of town–namely, a couple of irate East Coast werewolf packs who’d like to turn her into a chew toy.

On Royce’s suggestion, Shia temporarily relocates to Los Angeles. But something is rotten–literally–in the state of California, where local vampires are being attacked by zombies. Who could be powerful enough to control them–and reckless enough to target the immortal? Following the trail will lead Shia to a terrifying truth, and to an ancient enemy with a personal grudge…

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Previous books in the series:

Hunted by the Others (H&W I...

Jess is offering 2 tour-wide giveaways!

Simply fill the forms below to be included :)

US ONLY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERNATIONAL:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

Visit Jess

by Tynga at Tuesday, June 18, 2013

giveaway, Interview, Jess Haines, Kensington, Supernatural Solstice 5 People left their mark

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Daring You To Read...Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines

This week, I'm daring you to try HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, the first book in Jess Haines' fantastic urban fantasy series from Kensington. Tynga's reviewed the entire series so far but I wanted to share a bit of love for the books, too, so I'm using my dare this month to do so! =)

The series, H&W Investigations, follows Shiarra Waynest, a human detective who gets sucked the paranormal world in an alternate New York. In HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, Shiarra finds herself in the midst of a giant power struggle between vampires, werewolves, and more (those Others that keep getting mentioned), and she's terrified. It doesn't keep her from being resourceful, snarky, and brave. She also gets a bit of help from a sentient vampire hunting belt, some new friends, and some old ones.

In this series, the Others came out after 9/11, when they offered to help search the wreckage, stabilize the economy, and more. Shia doesn't hate the Others but she certainly doesn't want to have anything to do with them. Unfortunately for her, the books would be pretty boring if she didn't get pulled into their world, and so she ends up taking a job with a giant payday against her better judgment. Danger and hijinks ensue.

Jess Haines has created a great world for this series. I love the way she sets up the mythology of the series and she's populated her books with some truly interesting characters. Royce, the vampire in question, is one of those guys whose motives you'll constantly question but you can't get enough of. Chaz, Shiarra's werewolf ex-boyfriend, is also on the scene, giving Shia some romantic turmoil. (She broke up with him after he decided to tell her about his true nature by transforming right in front of her without warning. And some other less-than-great-boyfriend stuff.) Shia's best friend, Sara, is a real treat. Another human, she adds some balance to all of the supernatural stuff and she puts the "H" in H&W Investigations. There's also Arnold, a mage from The Circle, who Shiarra meets through the case.

I'm not caught up on the series but I really like the directions it's going in and I can't wait to see what happens next. And if that's not the hallmark of a good Daring You To Read... candidate, I don't know what is!

Want more? I bet you do! Here's the cover copy for HUNTED BY THE OTHERS:

They are the Others-the vampires, mages, and werewolves once thought to exist only in our imaginations. Now they're stepping out of the shadows, and nothing in our world will ever be the same again...
In A Town Like This, Being A P.I. Can Be Murder
Shiarra Waynest's detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm-if it doesn't kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York's most powerful vampires.
As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend-a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing-and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren't always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil-whether she likes it or not...
Tynga's thoughts
Read an excerpt
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's the rest of the series. Click on the cover to see what Tynga thinks of each book!

The series (so far) is also available as an e-bundle and it's a great deal:

Daring You To Read is a weekly feature here on Tynga’s Reviews where we dare you to read some of our favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). All the books/series we choose to feature are titles we adored and think you should give them a shot! We think it’s a super awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

What do you think? Have you read this series? Are you willing to accept my dare?

by jenn at Thursday, March 14, 2013

Daring You to Read, Jess Haines, Kensington, Vampire, werewolf 5 People left their mark

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Stalking The Others by Jess Haines

Stalking the Others (H&W Investigations, #4) Stalking The Others by Jess Haines

Book Stats:
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Release date: July 3, 2012

Series: H&W Investigations

Source: ARC sent by Kensington

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Vampires, werewolves, mages–the Others are very real, and wreaking havoc in Shiarra Waynest’s life. But now, she’s returning the favor…

Once, she was one of the good guys–or as close as a New York P.I. can get. Then Shiarra Waynest was drawn into the world of the Others. Every faction has its own loyalties and agenda. And Shia’s recent betrayal by her ex-boyfriend means that she may be on the verge of becoming a rogue werewolf at the next full moon.

Of course, with all the threats against her, Shia’s not sure she’ll live long enough to find out. The enigmatic vampire Royce wants her back in his clutches, as do two powerful werewolf packs, along with the police. Instead of going into hiding, Shia is enlisting the aid of her enchanted hunter’s belt and every dirty P.I. trick she knows. If she’s going down, she’ll take out as many of her enemies as she can–and hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left…

Shia is now facing her worst nightmare after being possibly contaminated by a werewolf. She has until the next full moon to discover if she’ll turn furry and she won’t waste a minute. Uniting with the questionable White Hats, she will hunt down Chaz and his pack, looking for revenge.

Before I get on with my review, I just want to disclose that I am a cameo character in this novel, Cindy Bacon, a werewolf. It doesn’t influence my opinion as I have been a fan of the series since the first book, but I thought it only fair to mention it.

Now let’s get down to business! Stalking The Others was as entertaining and as action-packed as the previous books of the H&W Investigations novels, but I found that Shia was really lonely. The White Hats are backing her on her quest, but I felt like she was all on her own, with only Isaac (her magic belt) to keep her company. It wasn’t an issue really, but I missed Arnold and Royce. On the other hand, her loneliness allowed her some growth, which is always appreciated.

The novel takes place within a one month’s period of time but it really felt like time flew by. Between Shia’s worries, insecurities, violent episodes and her different quests, she kept really busy and we didn’t have time to get bored.

The crescendo leading to the end was simply amazing. It was highly dramatic yet hilarious in a way. It’s like madness right before the inevitable and I truly enjoyed it. Shia’s final encounter with Royce was extremely surprising and oh-so-satisfying!

We get to know in this novel if Shia turns or not, but I have this tingly feeling that things aren’t as simple as they seem. I’m sure Jess Haines still has a trick or two up her sleeve and I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole thing hit us like a brick wall in the next instalment.

On a side note, I wasn’t a fan of the first covers in this series (I actually disliked them), but I like Stalking The Others’ and I can’t wait to see the next one.

Forsaken by the Others is due next year I think, and I can’t wait to read it!

Read an Excerpt

by Tynga at Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Jess Haines, Kensington, Review, Vampire, werewolf 3 People left their mark

PSC: Camp Story & Giveaway with Jess Haines

Jess Haines is a formidable person and an amazing author, so whenever I organize an event close to one of her release date I must invite her! Her characters are always volunteer for interesting stories, so make sure you don’t miss that one, to celebrate Stalking The Others’ release!

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Guest Post: The H&W Gang Talk About Summer Camp
By Jess Haines

Hello there! Jess Haines here. I'm the author of the urban fantasy H&W Investigations series (HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, and the recently released STALKING THE OTHERS).

The H&W Investigations team are going to discuss their memories of summer camp. Take it away, guys!

______________

Shiarra: I remember the first time I went to summer camp. I was covered in ticks by the end of the first day.

Sara: Eww, yuck! I never went to that kind of summer camp. It was always ballet or painting or deportment classes for me.

Arnold: Your parents didn't know anything about you, did they?

Sara: Not really. They were both business professionals and didn't have a lot of time for me or my sister.

Chaz: My dad tried to get me into one of those sports camps once, but when I started showing signs of turning Were, he had to pull me out.

Royce: We never had such a thing when I was a teen. Most of my summers were spent tending crops.

Shiarra: You? A farmer?

Royce: Is it that hard to believe?

Arnold: Never took you for the type to get your hands dirty. Not that way, anyway.

Chaz: He probably wouldn't now. These days, I bet you couldn't get him to touch a potted plant with those manicured hands of his.

Royce: At least I wouldn't piss on the ornamental tree in the corner to mark my territory.

Chaz: HEY--

Shiarra: Boys, boys, boys! Enough!

Sara: We're supposed to be talking summer camp, not snarking at each other.

Arnold: Vampires and werewolves. Cats and dogs. Need I say more?

Chaz: Nobody asked your opinion, sparky.

Arnold: Hey, you don't like being called a dog, I don't like being called a spark. We clear?

Chaz: Yeah, yeah.

Shiarra: Now. Summer camp. Ahem.

Sara: I always wanted to tell ghost stories around a fire. Never got to do that as a kid.

Arnold: It's overrated. Those stories never scared me.

Shiarra: S'mores are pretty good, though.

Royce: S'mores?

Shiarra: I keep forgetting you never would have tried modern food. That's a real tragedy. S'mores are these godly little finger foods you make by the campfire. Toasted graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.

Sara: Oh, man. Now I'm craving some.

Royce: I can eat small amounts of food, but I don't know that they taste the same to me as they do to you. Nor do I get any nutrition out of it.

Arnold: My, I feel so educated and enriched. My day is complete.

Royce: I don't appreciate your sarcasm, mage.

Sara: Well, I didn't know, so I don't mind. It's not like vampires talk about this kind of stuff every day.

Shiarra: It's sorta gross if you think about it. I mean… where does it go?

Sara: Um.

Chaz: What?

Royce: I'm not quite sure I understand what you're asking.

Arnold: Do we really want to understand what she's asking?

Shiarra: Oh, shush. Royce, you said you don't get any nutrition out of it, right? I mean, vampires drink blood. Duh. So… uh… what does your body do with it?

Royce: That's not exactly a conversation for polite company, Ms. Waynest.

Arnold: Okay. Campfire story material right there.

Chaz: Yeah, I'm with you on that. Ugh.

Sara: Nightmare material. I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight.

Shiarra: Sorry. Sometimes my mind wanders to weird places. It's like that thing with hotdogs and hotdog buns.

Chaz: You lost me.

Arnold: Me too.

Shiarra: Oh, come on, you know that old mystery about why hotdogs come in packs of ten and buns come in packs of eight? Didn't you guys ever wonder that when you were sitting around the fire at summer camp?

Sara: Oh, yeah. Why is that?

Arnold: Beats me.

Chaz: I never noticed.

Royce: You people think about the strangest things.

Chaz: Not “you people”. Maybe they do.

Sara: I don't mind being considered a “you people”. I'd rather think about weird stuff than never question anything about my environment.

Shiarra: The down side to that is a complete inability to turn off the questions that should probably never be asked.

Sara: Amen to that.

Chaz: How come you never asked me anything about what it's like being a werewolf, then?

Shiarra: Probably because I never had the chance to after I found out. With all the weird crap going on and you lying to me all the time, I didn't exactly trust you to tell me anything about yourself or your pack.

Arnold: Burn.

Chaz: Stay out of this!

Arnold: Hey, just sayin'.

Royce: Werewolves are a shifty lot. Better not to put your trust into them.

Sara: Ha! I see what you did there.

Shiarra: Hehe. That was pretty clever.

Chaz: Oh, yeah. Laugh at the vampire's jokes. Just wait. He'll turn on you. Walking corpses always do.

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Err, right. As you can see, these guys probably wouldn't do so great sharing a bunch of s'mores around a campfire together. Did you ever go to summer camp and share stories around a campfire? What were your favorite scary stories as a kid?

Visit me on the web:

www.JessHaines.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JessHainesAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/Jess_Haines

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines

Thanks again for having me, Tynga!

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More about Stalking the Others:

Vampires, werewolves, mages–the Others are very real, and wreaking havoc in Shiarra Waynest’s life. But now, she’s returning the favor…

Once, she was one of the good guys–or as close as a New York P.I. can get. Then Shiarra Waynest was drawn into the world of the Others. Every faction has its own loyalties and agenda. And Shia’s recent betrayal by her ex-boyfriend means that she may be on the verge of becoming a rogue werewolf at the next full moon.

Of course, with all the threats against her, Shia’s not sure she’ll live long enough to find out. The enigmatic vampire Royce wants her back in his clutches, as do two powerful werewolf packs, along with the police. Instead of going into hiding, Shia is enlisting the aid of her enchanted hunter’s belt and every dirty P.I. trick she knows. If she’s going down, she’ll take out as many of her enemies as she can–and hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left…

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

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giveaway

Kensington is offering one copy of Stalking The Others to one lucky winner!

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

Open to US & Canada

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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More books by Jess:

“I'm a displaced New Yorker with a penchant for the silly, the obscure, and the fantastical. Los Angeles is home for the time being, since it consistently meets my daily quota of strange. I'm currently working on the H&W Investigations urban fantasy series. Find out more about Shiarra Waynest, drop me a line, or join my mailing list at www.jesshaines.com!”

Website | Facebook | Twitter

by Tynga at Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Guest Post, Jess Haines, Kensington, mage, Paranormal Summer Camp, Vampire, werewolf 24 People left their mark

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

FF–H&W Crew discuss fairy tales.. and Jess Haines “supervises”

**Today on Dark Faerie Tales Clay and Susan Griffith talk about faery tales and offer the book, Rift Walker**

Jess Haines is one of my favorite author, and I always strike the funniest conversations with her on twitter. It was a given she’d have to be part of the event, and her characters made to best out of it LOL

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Hello there! Jess Haines here. I’m the author of the urban fantasy H&W Investigations series (HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, and the recently released DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS). I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to some of the cast—Shiarra Waynest, the lead character, Chaz, her on-and-off werewolf boyfriend, Alec Royce, a vampire Shiarra meets in the course of her adventures, Sara, Shiarra’s business partner, and Arnold, a mage and Sara’s boyfriend.
In honor of Tynga’s event, they’re going to discuss fairy tales today. Over to you, Shia!
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Shiarra: Which fairy tale were we supposed to talk about again?
Sara: I dunno.
Royce: Beauty and the Beast?
Everyone Else: No.
Chaz: Little Red Riding Hood?
Everyone Else: No.
Arnold: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?
Everyone Else: …
Arnold: C’mon! Shiarra rescued Royce like Zelda, and… uhh…
Royce: Is that a real legend? I’ve never heard of this.

Shiarra: Whatever. I think that one gets a “hell no”.
Arnold: Damn it. I brought my ocarina and everything. It’s a certified replica!
Royce: I could share a few fairy tales.
Shiarra: You? Forget it. They’re probably filled with blood and bitey things.
Royce: Not everything has to be about death and blood with me, Ms. Waynest. I’d have thought you’d learned as much by now.
Sara: Whatever, I’m with Shia. I don’t want to hear about what kind of stories put the vampire to sleep as a kid.
Chaz: You know, I don’t think it actually fits, but I’ve got a great fairy tale!
Sara: I’m afraid.
Chaz: It’s about the guy who had to choose a bride by how she cuts the cheese.

Everyone Else: *snickersnortsplutter*
Royce: You can’t be serious.
Sara: Wow, I didn’t think vampires were allowed to laugh at fart jokes.
Royce: That one caught me off guard.
Chaz: Seriously! It was one of those Grimm fairy tales.
Arnold: Hehe. Cut the cheese.
Chaz: Dude, do you want to hear the story or not?
Shiarra: Not really.
Chaz: Aww…
Shiarra: Err. Well, I guess it can’t be that bad.
Chaz: Awesome! So this shepherd couldn’t choose which of three sisters to marry.

Arnold: Were they hot?
Sara: Arnold!
Arnold: What? It’s a legitimate question.
Chaz: Smokin’.
Royce: Why aren’t we talking about a real fairy tale? I can think of a few far more interesting than this.
Chaz: Shut up, dead man. Anyway, the dude’s mom tells him to give each of the girls a cheese. One didn’t cut off all the rind, one cut off some of the good cheese, and the third one was super careful when she was cutting off the rind on hers, and so he married that one.
Sara: …and then what?
Chaz: That’s it.
Shiarra: That’s… really dumb.
Royce: I concur.
Sara: Um. What was the point of telling us that story?
Chaz: It was the only one I could remember? I dunno. C’mon, I’ve been wanting to tell that one for years!
Royce: I could have regaled you with tales of Heracles and his great feats, stories of titans and forgotten gods, of giants and—
Shiarra: Hercules.
Royce: Excuse me?
Shiarra: It’s Hercules. Not Heracles.
Royce: Actually, his original name was Alcides and they’re both a slight bastardization of the original pronun—wait, why are you correcting me?
Sara: Haven’t you seen the movie? I like the pegasus.
Arnold: The satyr was dope. Danny DeVito was hilarious.
Chaz: I liked Hades. He cracked me up.
Shiarra: His hair being on fire was a nice touch.

Royce: That movie was about as historically accurate as Xena: Warrior Princess.
Shiarra: What? You watched Xena? No way.
Royce: This conversation is over.
Chaz: Damn. Next time, I’ll think of a better story.
Royce: Somehow I doubt that very sincerely.

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Well, that was… uh… enlightening. You can learn more about Shiarra and the rest of her friends in HUNTED BY THE OTHERS. What do you guys think of Chaz’s story? What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Thanks again having me and the gang over, Tynga!

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They're here, and they're real. . .werewolves, vampires, mages, and other creatures of the night. For New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest, taking care of Others business started out as a way to stay solvent. But now business is getting very, very complicated. . .

Shiarra's relationship with sexy werewolf Chaz may be somewhat unconventional. Still, after a few bumps, Shia is finally ready to get serious. That means meeting family—or in this case, bringing Chaz's entire werewolf pack along for a rollicking full-moon weekend in the Catskills.

Soon after they arrive, threatening notes appear, warning Chaz to go home. Then their cabin is ransacked. Shia starts digging to find out whether it's the work of upstart teenaged werewolves or something more sinister. Yet as rumors about her vampire connections arouse the pack's hostility, Shia has to contend with other dangers. Not just from an adversary about to make his fatal intentions known, but from a threat that's even closer than she knows. . .

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository