A Review of and Falling Fly by Skyler White

.5


and Falling, fly by Skyler White is an intellectual playground of paranormal romance and urban fantasy like nothing you've ever read before. It blends elements of mythology, psychology, neuroscience...it's a wild ride full of riddles, love, desire and read between the lines meaning.

I was hooked from page one.

and Falling, fly is a literary roller coater ride in an alternate world where Hell is a steampunk hotel underground in Ireland and vampires are angels of desire, sexual without the ability for intercourse and the truth is spoken in riddles by a serpent. The damned, lost and reborn or in White's words "the damned, cursed and misbegotten" walk among us humans, always feeling different and left out- but can find their place in L'Otel Mathillide.

Blurb:

In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels-turned- vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must put medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts...but at what price?

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless...and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O'Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L'Otel Mathillide-a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

In this fractured Hotel of the Damned, Olivia and Dominic discover the only force consistent in their opposing realities is the deep, erotic gravity between them. Bound to each other finally in a knot of interwoven freedoms, Dominic and Olivia-the vision-touched scientist and the earth-bound angel, reborn and undead-encounter the mystery of love and find it is both fall...and flight.

This visual masterpiece has the qualities of a cult favorite, a book that the intellectual will love because of its visual qualities, its deep meanings both hidden between the lines and in the riddles of the words all encased in a story that is is so dynamic. It questions love, desire, myth, heaven and hell...

This book really made my brain work and even after I finished the book I kept questioning what I had read. I like books that do that- that make me think.

Some of my favorite quotes come from the serpent:


from page 226

"Push man into woman and find oneness once more," it whispered. "Lose yourself in another, and find yourself in love."

from page 230

"You get pretty close don't you?" The serpent's sibilant voice whispered in Dominic's mind as much as in his bleeding ear. "Touching heaven and gutter, orgasm-blind seeing self and other? Your recreational re-creating of creation procreates. Sex apes God, and creates life."

"And pushes us into duality again." Dominic whispered.

The whole book is a dark and unique look at desire, love, self worth and the damage that lives inside us all. The things we have to overcome to love, to accept, to be what we were meant to be. Completely intriguing.

I can honestly say this probably isn't a book for everyone.

If you want a simple uncomplicated read that is purely escapism this is not the book for you but if you are interested in an intellectual read that combines PNR and UF in ways you've never expected then you might enjoy this book. You'll have to keep your mind open and be ready to expreience a trippy alternate universe.

I look forward to reading more from Skylar White.

If you'd like to learn more about Skyler please drop by for her interview here at Fang-tastic Books on March 10. Until then you can visit http://www.skylerwhite.com/

Interview with Nicole Peeler, Win a Copy of Tempest Rising

Today we have the fun, witty, and completely charming (in a naughty sort of way) Nicole Peeler, author of the new Jane True series. Her first book is Tempest Rising, after the interview you have a chance to win a copy.

Welcome Nicole. Thank you for joining us today.

Thanks for having me! Great to be here!

Q: So Tempest Rising is your first book, how did it come about?

A: It all happened very quickly, for me. I was inspired to write a sort of "real woman" character by reading Charlaine Harris's Dead as a Doornail. Then I figured out the type of woman I wanted Jane to be, then stitched together her world out of my own interests in mythology. I had a rough draft of Tempest Rising after only a few months. It was a very surreal experience, even for me.

Q: So why Selkies? That’s something I find very unique, I have heard of them and read some books where they are mentioned but this is the first book I’ve come across where the main character is a selkie. That’s pretty different in the current vampire obsessed world.

A: I just always loved the mythology. It's so tragic, and you know it can't end well. Plus, there are so many facets to the stories. Everyone focuses on the selkie and his or her human lover, but I always wondered about the children they produce. Jane is a product of such ponderings.

Q: Can you tell us about the mythology of selkies ?

A: Basically, selkies are human/seal shapeshifters. But they don't so much shift shape as they do take on or off their seal skins, like one would a coat. If their seal skin is captured, then they are trapped in human form and beholden to whomever stole their skin. Male selkies are sort of your typical supernatural casanovas, running amok seducing and fertilizing human women. But female selkies often have very tragic myths involving a human male who (either accidentally or on purpose) steals their skin. The human man ends up with a beautiful young wife, who bears him many children. They're happy, until one day the skin is found (often by one of the children) and returned to the mother, who--despite her love for her human family--always loves the sea more and leaves.

Q: Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow, squeeze it in when you can?

A: Unfortunately, I have to make time when I can. During the summer and on breaks, I work in the mornings. But during the semester--I'm a college professor--I have to literally snatch whatever time I can.

Q: So which is harder working with teenagers and young adults or trying to get a book published?

A: I think that both of my careers are very similar in that the more you put into them, and the more realistic you are about your expectations for yourself and for the people you work with, the more successful you will be.

Q: What was your road to publication like? Long, hard, fast, surprising?

A: Fast and surprising. I still get the giggles some nights when I think about the fact I now have fans. That just tickles me pink.

Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?

A: Invite criticism. Get as many reasonable people to tell you what is wrong with your project as you can. No project is perfect, and yours will have flaws. If you can tackle the huge ones, you have a shot.

Q: What is the strangest source of inspiration you’ve had? Maybe something weird that ended up in one of your books or short stories.

A: I think my whole life has been inspiration for this moment. The sort of epiphanic moment of inspiration definitely goes to Charlaine Harris, for showing me that UF heroines don't have to kick-butt. But I have threaded up so many of my interests, inspirations, etc., in these books, that they're like a quilt of moi. ;-)

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

A: I don't actually read all that much urban fantasy. I'd like to, but I'm too busy with the day job.

Q: What are some of your hobbies besides writing?

A: I do a lot of weight-lifting and yoga, and I belly dance rather badly. I also love traveling.

Q: Why the paranormal? Have you always been attracted to “the dark side”?

A: I have, in some ways, a very cynical nature so I think I love the pure escapism that paranormal genres offer.

Q: For those not familiar with your Jane True series can you give us a super quick description

A: The Jane True series is a bit like Harry Potter, for adults. But with a lot more sex. And swearing. Both of which I excel at.

Q: Tell us a bit about Tempest Rising?


A: Tempest Rising is Jane's coming out story, as it were. She has no idea of her supernatural heritage until she discovers a body during her nightly swim. But soon enough she's thrown, head first, into a world populated with the origins of human myths and legends. That her guide is both handsome and a bit of a Don Juan makes everything that much more exciting . . . and dangerous.

If you're as yet unconvinced, there's a first chapter posted on my website, and Hachette Book Group has the first three chapters posted on their website.

Q: Could you tell us about your current work in progress? And what’s next for Jane? How many books do you have planned for the series?

A: Right now I'm editing book three, Tempest's Legacy. Jane's come a long way, baby! All together, I have six books planned for the series although we've only sold the first three as of right now.

To find out more about me, Jane, or Tempest Rising, go to http://nicolepeeler.com/ . Thanks!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Nicole it’s been wonderful having you as a guest here at Fang-tastic Books.

What's Next for Nicole Peeler and Jane True?

Jane True Book 2: Tracking the Tempest July 1, 2010

Jane True Book 3: Tempest's Legacy January 1, 2011

Nicole has offered one lucky reader a chance to win a copy of the first book in the Jane True series, Tempest Rising.

Would you like to be that lucky winner?

Then just leave a comment on this post with your email contact info.

US Shipping

Contest Closes Tuesday March 2 Midnight EST

Winner Announced on Wednesday March 3

+5 entries for being a Fang-tastic Books Follower

+5 entries for blogging about this contest

+5 entries for including a link to this contest on your blog, twitter, or Facebook

+5 entries for adding my link back button to your blog

+5 for being a @RoxanneRhoads Twitter follower

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Naomi Clark

Ayla Hammond has come home.After years as a lone wolf in a self-imposed exile she’s rejoining the pack and trying to mend fences with her parents.She’s convinced them to accept her girlfriend, but can a lone wolf change her ways?As if homecoming wasn’t hard enough, Ayla also can’t help getting involved in a missing person case.With pressure to solve the case mounting from the pack alphas, Ayla is starting to question where her loyalties lie –
and if a return to the pack she left behind is really what she wants.

In the world of my novel, SILVER KISS, werewolves and humans are separate species living alongside each other. But even though my werewolves never started out as human, they still have some very human habits, and hobbies. One of my characters, Vince, is a fan of unusual beers, for example, and spends a lot of time forcing everything from banana beer to chocolate beer on his friends.

Another werewolf, Glenn, spends his nights dressed up as Gloriana and belting out classic jazz and swing numbers in the local gay club. My heroine, Ayla, has a weakness for pulpy novels about demons and vampires, and would secretly love to believe such creatures really exist. And of course, all my werewolves appreciate a good hunt through one of the parks and gardens around the city, preferably followed by a nice, juicy steak.

My werewolves like good restaurants and family dinners, need hospitals and police stations, just like the humans they live with. After all, you can’t spend all your time running around on all fours, can you? And hey – werewolves need hobbies beyond chasing rabbits and deer around, right? Particularly one of my werewolves – Joel. Joel has a pretty unusual phobia for a werewolf. But you’ll learn about that in SILVER KISS…

Or if you’ve already got a theory, I’ve got a great contest for you. There’s an ebook for a winner at the end of today and everyone who enters now will also be in the running for winning a signed print copy of SILVER KISS drawn at the end of the week.

Just answer this simple question in your comment to be entered into both competitions:

What do you think Joel’s phobia is?

Follow the SILVER KISS BLOG TOUR (http://www.queeredfiction.com/silverkiss.htm) for more chances to win. Check out the itinerary and join me on the next step of the tour. And there are even more prizes on 1st March, the official SILVER KISS release day and I’m live for a Twitter Release Party #silverkiss.

Visit the Silver Kiss page at http://www.queeredfiction.com/silverkiss.htm for a reading as Naomi Clark reads from Wolf Strap! (Released in parts over the course of the blog tour!)

A Review of Serpent Moon by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

If you are into the complex hierarchy of shifters- this book is for you.

A new spin on shape shifters- The Sazi- this series of books takes complex world building to a whole new level.

The authors have turned the world of shifters into a complex system of politics, military and scientific experimentation rolled into a story line that includes drama, suspense, murder, and romance- an urban fantasy world like no other.

Now I feel a little out of the loop since this is the first book of the Sazi that I have read. It looks like there are 7 before it though in the front of the book it said this one is based on a minor side character and a brand new character but that it answers a lot of questions and completes a couple story arcs.

Ugh. I feel like I received the answers to the test but not the actual test. No real big deal though- it was still a fabulous story full of action, adventure and yes...some romance. It was a great book and this series is now on my to- read list. I am going back and starting from the beginning.

Here's more info about this book:

"Lions and tigers and bears. Oh MY!"

Shapeshifters live among us, their very existence a secret they're willing to die . . . or kill, to protect. Welcome to the world of the Sazi, a dangerous world of passion and intrigue where human and animal natures clash in a continuing struggle for dominance.

Serpent Moon Book 8, Tales of the Sazi
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Pub. Date: March 2010

Eric Thompson has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, the Alpha of the Canadian werewolf pack. While he has strength and speed and a howl that can truly make his pack whole, he doesn’t have his brother’s viciousness—and the pack wasn’t worth either of them dying. To Eric, a leader should lead wisely and well, and his brother has done neither. So he left to become a lone wolf.

Holly Sanchez has likewise lived in the shadows. A full human born to the Omega of the Boulder pack, she was attacked and turned into the very thing she had come to hate. Worse still, she became an alphic healer—except that as a wolf, she now terrifies the very animals she’d hoped to one day treat as a veterinarian.

But as the world goes mad and species begins to attack species, Holly and Eric learn that they may only have their special gifts, and each other, to rely on to hold together the fragments of what was once a mighty shapeshifter population.

For She has finally come, and the world will never again be the same.

Click here for an excerpt.

Winner Wednesday

Lexie & Stephanie are the winners of

Catch of a Lifetime by Judi Fennell

Each will receive a copy

Congrats Ladies!

500 Follower Giveaway

So far here's what is in the 500 Follower Prize Pack

One lucky follower will win: A Fang-tastic Books tote bag and t-shirt, signed copies of my books Eternal Desire and Insatiable, Blood Ties Season 2 DVD set, Blood Price by Tanya Huff, Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro, Mr Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange and Marked by Passion by Kate Perry.

I also have a stack of author swag including: postcards, bookmarks, trading cards, stickers and buttons (some of this stuff is signed). I have stuff from Lara Adrian, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Michele Hauf and several other authors.

To win all you have to do is be a follower but if you want extra entries and a chance to close this contest faster then you can do these:

+5 entries for commenting on this post

+5 entries for blogging about this contest

+5 entries for including a link to this contest on your blog, twitter, or Facebook

+5 entries for adding my link back button to your blog

+5 for being a @RoxanneRhoads Twitter follower

+5 for becoming my friend on Facebook

Please include your contact info in comment along with added up entries and links to your posts

Contest is open until we reach 500 Followers then a winner will be chosen

Until 500 Followers is reached new items will be added to the prize pack from time to time

Books added May 5, 2010

Here's what I've added to the 500 Follower Prize Pack

A brand new copy of Vampireology, a slightly used copy of Death's Daughter by Amber Bensen

and a slightly used copy of

A Flash of Hex by Jes

Monday Musings February 22. 2010

So I had a busy weekend, mostly writing and at night watching the first season of True Blood on DVD. I have to admit I am totally hooked. I am bummed the second season doesn't come out on DVD until May. It's a very interesting show, kinda odd, really quirky and totally addicting. It makes me want to get HBO. So where are they on the seasons? Has the third season already aired or is currently airing now or about to start?...

Kim Harrison's Black Magic Sanction is officially released tomorrow! Woo Hoo! I hope to go to one of her signings this coming weekend, she's actually coming to Michigan! I want to go Friday to the one in Ann Arbor but it all depends on my husband's work schedule. Hopefully he can make it because I am not driving that far alone.

This week at Fang-tastic Books Naomi Clark will be here as part of online book tour and Nicole Peeler will be here for an interview on Friday.

Plus I have a few announcements and reviews that will be going up this week. Hope you all enjoy.

A Review of Flirt by Laurell K Hamilton

.5


Flirt was probably one of LKH's shortest books, a super fast read and I do mean fast. I read it cover to cover in 3 hours. It was a surprise book in the series that came to LKH after dining out with some flirtatious friends. The whole story of the inspiration appears at the end of the book.

I liked it, it was a nice side step from Anita's normal everyday dealings with master vampires and power struggles- not saying that this book lacked the violence or sex that she is known for though it was a little soft on the sex compared to many books that have been sex scene after sex scene. This one was actually filled with drama and sexual tension, not just sex. And it all had nothing really to do with Anita's regular menagerie of men.

So don't go into this book expecting any character development from the other men in her life. Anita does come to an emotional breakthrough point (maybe several) which are long overdue.

Flirt is more like the books when Anita goes off with Edward and leaves her men behind, in this one even Edward was missing and an entire cast of new characters-which will probably never be seen again save for one- were introduced.

I must admit I am really beginning to miss Jean-Claude and Asher and would love to see more of Nathanial and Micah.

All in all it was a great book, true Anita at her finest.

Guest Blog and Catch of a Lifetime Giveaway with Judi Fennell

Hi and thanks so much for having me back to talk about my Mer series. The third story, Catch of a Lifetime, hits the shelves this month and has all the characteristics of previous stories: groan-worthy clichés that I hope make you laugh while you groan, puns galore, talking animals, humor, adventure, life-and-death scenarios, and romance.

"Romance?" you ask. "How can you have romance with all the rest of that going on?"

Believe me, I ask myself that question all the time.

See, I never started out writing humor. Trust me, if you ask anyone I went to school with if I was the class clown they'd laugh at you. Me? Funny?

Hardly.

So it was quite the surprise to see that my stories had more than a slight element of humor in them. I love getting the emails or reading reviews where the reader says that parts of my books had them laughing out loud. That makes me laugh. Because, really, I still have to sit back and shake my head at some of the stuff that comes out of my head.

How do I do it? The honest answer is, I have no idea. I've written and re-written this blog post over and over, trying to analyze it and I've realized that I better stop trying to analyze it. I was delving too deep into my own psyche and, really, it can be scary in there.

Just kidding.

Seriously, though, you know the old adage, if it's not broken, don't fix it? Yep, pretty much the same for my writing.

I don't know why what I write is humorous, other than to say that I write the stories I like to read and in a way I find enjoyable. Before my editor offered me a contract, I had no idea if anyone else found the same things funny. When she called me and told me how much she enjoyed the story and had laughed while reading it, it was a "hallelujah!" moment. Someone else had the same screwy sense of humor I do!

Turns out there are a lot of us with this wacky sense of humor. I love getting the emails where readers quote their favorite lines to me. Besides being really nice to hear, it's also incredibly validating. So many times, we're alone, sitting in front of our computer screen, staring at that blinking cursor, wondering, "Okay, what's next?" We have no idea if it's any good/sad/funny/touching/terrorizing/romantic/etc. until someone reads it and lets us know.

Thank you for letting me know that you've enjoyed the first two books in the series, and I hope you enjoy Angel and Logan's story.

Here's a sample:

***

“Okay, Angel, I know all about needing to prove yourself. But do you have any qualifications for child care? References?”

Oh did she. Sadly, they were all Mer-related. “One of my degrees is in child studies.” Human child studies, to be precise, but she knew better than to make that distinction. “As for references, well, word would get back and that would defeat the purpose of not calling, wouldn’t it? But I do have them.”

“One of your degrees? How many do you have?”

Angel headed down the length of the dock to where Michael was impatiently waiting for them.

“Just three. Child studies, Humanol—um sociology, and biology.”

Logan’s long legs caught him up to her quickly. “Hence the field study.”

“Correct. Oh, and a minor in basket-weaving.”

He stopped and grabbed her arm again, laughing. “Basket-weaving?”

“Yes. What’s so funny about that?” This time she didn’t need a reason to yank her arm from his hand. She’d worked damn hard to get her degrees. That course had opened up a world of information about textiles and early Human craftsmanship. “It’s quite fascinating.” She shoved off with the right foot, toes providing momentum. Or was it the ball of the foot? Damn, he’d made her forget the biomechanics.

“If you find basket-weaving fascinating enough to study it, as well as have all the drive to earn all those other degrees, I might have you tutor Michael instead of babysitting him.” This time when he caught up to her, he didn’t put a hand on her, thank the gods.

“Tutor? I don’t think that would be—”

“Relax, Angel. I was only joking. Michael’s looking forward to hitting the books when school starts.”

Now it was her turn to stop him. “You hit books? Why?”

Logan’s eyebrows went up. “You’ve never heard that expression?”

Oh, fish. She really had to watch her step—all of them. She plastered a smile on her face. “Now who’s joking?”

“Touché. So, we’ll work out a schedule for your field study and my work. Sound good?”

It sounded more than good. It sounded perfect. “Yes. Thank you, Logan. I won’t let you and your wife down.”

“My wife?”

“Rainbow? Michael’s mother?”

Logan rolled those brown eyes. “Rainbow, that is, Christine, is certainly not my wife, and if she hadn’t signed the birth certificate she pinned to Michael’s shirt before she took off, I’d be hard-pressed to call her his mother. Trust me, Angel, letting her down is the least of your worries.”

Michael stomped down the steps, his red sneakers flapping loudly on the planks. “Why do grown-ups always walk so slow? Rainbow never wants to hurry.”

Logan muttered something about Rainbow being in a hurry to get out of town, but low enough that Michael didn’t hear him.

Angel was sorry she had.

It was one thing to have to look at him clinically as a Human subject.

It was quite another to see him as a man.

© Judi Fennell, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2010

***

And I hope you enjoy the genie series that releases in January 2011, with I Dream of Genies. But, never fear, as I've said to my editor, it's a big ocean out there, and Mariana and Pearl are already chatting up their stories to me, so I hope to get those written in the future.

About the Author

Judi Fennell is an award-winning author. Her romance novels have been finalists in Gather.com's First Chapters and First Chapters Romance contests, as well as the third American Title contest. She spends family vacations at the Jersey Shore, the setting for some of her paranormal romance series. She lives in suburban Philadelphia, PA. For More information, and a chance to win a romantic ocean getaway, visit www.judifennell.com.

Contest Time

2 copies of Catch of a Lifetime are up for grabs to US and Canada residents

Just leave a comment on this post with email info

+5 entries for being a blog follower

+5 entries for following on @RoxanneRhoads

Beauty's Beast by Ann Cory

Ann Cory was scheduled to guest blog today but she hasn't sent anything in or gotten back to me. I am not sure what happened. I heard through the grapevine that she was very ill, so she may still be sick- I hope she is OK and will be feeling better soon.

I decided to go ahead and post some info about her newest book- Beauty's Beast.

Blurb:

It takes a strong woman to love a beast.

After a planned week away goes bust, Mercedes Black takes to the road. Years of unexplained memory lapses have ruined her relationships with men and left her future uncertain. That is until a good-looking stranger appears along the desolate highway, and she offers him a ride. The moment he enters her car, an internal switch is turned on and her body craves his touch.

Figuring she has nothing left to lose, besides her memory, she gives in to her impulses.

Nox Messina has never been the same after volunteering for what he thought was advanced medical research. For years he has been on the run. Tired of being hunted, he decides to take down the doctor who ruined his life, and to insure that no one will stand in his way again. His plan for vengeance gets sidelined when an exquisite beauty offers him much more than a ride, and he can't refuse.

As their feelings deepen for one another, they discover the man Nox plans to kill plays a crucial role in their future. Not only does he want the beauty for himself, but he wants beauty's beast out of the way for good.

You can read an excerpt here or purchase the book here.

You can get her free read- Sex in a Suit here.

Isn't the New Design Great?

So what do you think of the Fang-tastic Makeover the site has received?

I think Barbara did a superb job especially since she had to work with me and boy am I picky.


I really, really love what an amazing job she has done, it is so pretty.


I am still moving around stuff and trying to get it exactly how I want it so it is nice and clean looking but it is so much better now than it was, much more professional looking. I love it.


Please grab a link back button for your site. Let me know if you post one on your site so I can exchange links with you.

I know I'll be grabbing some from a few sites that I frequent so I can add them here now that everything is done.

I am off to bounce around and do the snoopy dance since I am so happy with my site makeover.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Barbara for creating such a beautiful site for me!

Review of Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Five Fangs for Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Wow! I have a new favorite author, really. This series is going on my must read, must have list.

Nicole Peeler has taken an old myth, added a new twist and tossed in some pop culture references and steamy sex and created a totally new and refreshing series in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre.

One Jane True thinks she's just a weird misfit in her small town of Rockabill, Maine then suddenly after finding yet another dead body in her favorite swimming hole she is thrown into a world of paranormal creatures she had no idea existed, especially among those people she interacted with on a daily basis. And to top all that off, Jane learns her mother, that disappeared when she was 6, is a selkie (seal, human shifter) and that Jane is half selkie. That explains her strange swimming habits.

After Jane learns a little about the supernatural world that exists side by side with her own an investigator comes to town to find out who or what is behind the murder. The investigator turns out to be a hottie baobhan sith (vampire) named Ryu (pronounced Roo?) that Jane instantly develops a crush on and much to her surprise he seems as equally taken with her.

Nicole Peeler has done an excellent job at building a new and exciting paranormal world based on old myths and legends, updated with new twists and extreme sexiness. Her take on and Jane's amusing attraction to succubi and incubi is hilarious. Oh and I can't forget the genie- he's the type you shouldn't rub his lamp...unless you want some very interesting results.

Then there's Anyan, the dog/barghest. I knew instantly there was more to this big canine that meets the eye and was glad to see my suspicions, at least part of them were confirmed towards the end of the book. I see him playing a huge role in later books, but that's just a prediction from me, I don't know for sure.

This book just blew me away. As soon as I started reading it I was hooked, totally hooked. I did not want to put it down at all. I had to force myself to go to bed two nights in a row.

I just love Peeler's silly and snarky personality that shows through in her writing and through Jane's character and I love the pop culture references (which I think puts Peeler in my age range considering she mentions both MC Hammer and the Wu Tang Clan, hello 80s and 90s).

I also love that Peeler is an academic which also shines through from time to time, from her use of big and unusual words to her mentions of some higher level literature (not books the average paperback reader might have on their shelves).

This new series is a must read. I predict Peeler is going to be one to watch in this genre, her writing is unique and incredible.

If you love paranormal/urban fantasy books you are going to love this one. It has your vampire (though he's very different than many current vamp guys in books right now) yet you also have something very new and exciting to sink your fangs into.

You can learn more about the Jane True series and author Nicole Peeler at http://www.nicolepeeler.com/ and be sure to drop by for her interview here at Fang-tastic Books on Feb 26.

Contesting for your Fang-tastic Pleasure

Check out the new Spring contest over at Skhye Moncrief's blog.  Ends March 17

Win a Hummer gift set over at Amanda Young's blog.  Ends March 14

Enter the contests over at Fresh Fiction before the end of February.  Lots of goodies up for grabs.

Rebecca York has a Winter contest posted.  Win signed copies of New Moon and Eternal Moon.  Enter by March 13 and subscribe to her newsletter.

Carly Phillips is giving away a gorgeous bracelet in celebration of Valentine's Day.  Enter before the end of the month.

Enter at Goodreads for all the books being given away.  They end at different times.  Chances of winning are somewhat slim, but somebody's gotta win, right?

Gena Showalter is throwing a party for the release of Kresley Cole's Pleasure of a Dark Prince.  Daily contests going on here.

Big contest for followers with lots of winners over at Storywings.  Check it out here.

Up to 6 books being given away over at Sidhe Vicious' blog courtesy of EOS/HarperCollins.  You can win Kim Harrison's Black Magic Sanction, Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter by A.E. Moorat or Robin Hobb's Dragon Keeper.  Ends February 21

Amy J over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf has her weekly giveaway posted.  She's giving away a set of Katie McAllister's Aisling Grey books, used but still a nice prize.  Ends February 22

Interesting contest over at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.  Go here to enter by Thursday.

The Story Siren is giving away a copy of The Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis.  Ends February 19

Enter by February 20 at All Things Urban Fantasy to win a copy of Lesley Livingston's Darklight.

There ya go, thirteen contests for you guys.  Sorry I was MIA last week, life has been super crazy.  I've put in my resignation at the library where I work and have had lots to do.

Winner Wednesday

Drum roll please....

And this week's winners are:

Virginia C wins a copy of Last Vampire Standing by Nancy Haddock

Lily. wins a print copy of Rhinehoth by Brian Niskala

RKCharron wins a pdf copy of Rhinehoth

Welcome Guest Author Courtney Breazile

The Immortal Council Series:

In my new series I introduce readers to a world of Immortals that live, unknown, so close to human civilization. My immortals are all born, not created from humans and so interaction between the mortals and immortals is not a large part of my series.

It starts with Blood Visions, which is a short story from Extasy Books, out now.

In this story you meet Zyra, a vampire who is looking for her mate, Tarquin, a werewolf who is looking for an end, and Paxton, a vampire who is obsessed with Zyra.

Their interactions are the catalyst for all the subsequent novels and they appear in the others as well.

If you want to see more of these characters you can see Zyra blogging every Monday at www.naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com and tweeting at www.twitter.com/zyrazyra

Blurb:

Zyra is dating a Vampire who is completely obsessed with her, but now that the newness has worn off she realizes it’s nothing more than great sex. She wants more. She wants the true love she knows will last her throughout her immortal days and nights. Tarquin has been living on instinct for far too long, it is his time to die, and he knows it. Can the patience of his beautiful enemy give him the will to control himself, and can they find a way to pure ecstasy together in bed?

Excerpt:

“Zyra, you have been feeding again.” Paxton fell into step beside her, seemingly out of nowhere. A vampire could move faster than the human eye could see, a reason why rumors were rampant that they could fly or teleport, something only those psychotic Elves could do, that she knew of.

“Paxton, you know I have to feed at least once a week. I am just too young to be a mommy, too irresponsible by far.” Zyra spoke with a light teasing tone and ran her finger suggestively along the front seam of his pants. “So now that I am all pumped on human blood, why don’t we go somewhere and fuck?”

Paxton hissed and grabbed her hand in a punishing grip. “No more games Zyra, I can smell the magic. You went out deliberately looking for a Blood Vision didn’t you? Are you really so unhappy in your life with me?” His voice turned pleading and so sad. He dropped her hand and turned away.

“Oh Paxton.” Zyra laid a hand on his shoulder. “You know how I feel. I never misled you in any way. You just chose to believe what you wanted.”

Paxton stiffened and Zyra could smell his anger intensifying. “That’s bullshit and you know it.” He whirled back to look at her, his eyes burning bright red in his anger. “I can’t make you stay, but I don’t have to let you live in peace without me either.”

With those foreboding words he was gone, moving so fast that a couple hookers down the street had to look twice and rub their eyes to try and make sense of the man who had seemingly just disappeared right in front of them.

Monday Musings February 15, 2010

I am a little late posting this today since the kids are home from school and I didn't have to get up early this morning.

So how was every one's Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year? Year of the Tiger! Rarrgh...

Hubby and I went to dinner and to the movies. While everyone else was cramming themselves in to see Valentine's Day and Dear John we watched The Wolfman.

The cinematography was great and it was a well made movie...but there wasn't a lot of acting. To me most of the movie consisted on a wolfman rampaging around killing mindlessly. It was a brutal, vicious, bloody slaughter on the screen...repeatedly. I suppose that is what a true horror movie is but I expected more. I know it was based on the original Wolfman, even gave a nod to a Werewolf in London with him rampaging around and running across the rooftops in London.

So I guess The Wolfman was OK but I was disappointed by several things. First of all let me repeat what was great- the set, the filming, the makeup, the creepy Victorian era feel and the crumbling manor house with it's creepy gardens and the dark and brutal insane asylum, wow all very atmospheric- everything was well done and not cheesy. The whole tone of the movie was dark and had the true Gothic horror feel.

However what I would have loved to see more of was acting, especially from Benicio del Toro. He was cool and aloof in the beginning and didn't struggle enough with the beast inside him later. I wanted more struggle, more character.

Anthony Hopkins did an excellent job as usual.

And the love story? That was a joke. Seriously. The whole premise was "only love will save him". The love story was chopped and slaughtered with everything else. There was no love, no progression, just I don't know...it didn't work for me.

OK enough with my Wolfman review.

This weekend I also got to watch the first two episodes of True Blood... finally. I found it to be quirky, funny, strange and possibly addicting. I now await the second DVD from Netflix. I definitely must see more.

So onto this week at Fang-tastic Books. Author Courtney Breazile will be here for a guest blog tomorrow, Thursday Ann Cory will be here and Friday Judi Fennell will be here for a guest blog and giveaway.

The numbers of followers for Fang-tastic Books is growing remember that one of my goals for 2010 is to reach the 500 Follower mark here at Fang-tastic Books. So far I'm over halfway there.

Once I reach 500 Followers I am holding a contest which is open to all followers. I'm even offering international shipping.

Until I reach 500 Followers I am adding goodies to a Fang-tastic Books tote bag. If that gets filled up I'll grab a box to add goodies to that too.

So far the giveaway prize pack contains: A Fang-tastic Books tote bag and t-shirt, signed print copies of my books Eternal Desire and Insatiable, Blood Ties Season 2 on DVD, a copy of Blood Price by Tanya Huff, and a lot of promo goodies from various authors including bookmarks, postcards, pins, stickers, trading cards and more. Plus I have a stack of books I'll be sorting through to add to the prize pack.

So please spread the word and make sure to add yourself as a follower if you are not already.

Review of Catch of a Lifetime by Judi Fennell

Catch of a Lifetime is the third (and hopefully not final) book in the Mer series by Judi Fennell.

With Fennell's blend of wit, charm, humor and sexy romance it is no wonder this series has really made a splash.

In a book world dominated by vampires and werewolves sexy Mer Men (and women, as this book features Angel the mermaid) are something totally new and refreshing. From the very first book I was hooked and Fennell has continued to reel me in with her amazing characters and laugh out loud humor. I love how she so easily combines romance, suspense, humor and total sexiness into her books. (I am eager to see what she does with Genies in her new and upcoming series.)

In Catch of a Lifetime mermaid Angel Tritone (sister to the Mer Men in the previous books) is out to save the ocean and the rest of the planet by hoping to find a way to stop humans from polluting. While studying humans from afar she ends up on a hungry shark's radar. She has to hop into a boat to avoid becoming shark food and discovers a way to pursue her mission...if she can keep her identity a secret.

Which of course isn't possible and the hot guy in the book- Logan, to his surprise finds out what she is. Too bad there's more at stake than just secrets. Soon both their lives are in danger.

This is a great read filled with drama, underwater adventure and a fabulous romance. Logan and Angel have great chemistry that really sizzles.

While I love my dark paranormal romances and urban fantasies filled with fangs and fur Fennell's books are light refreshing reads that have opened me to the new and wonderful underwater world that is really worth reading.

I hope Fennell will be able to continue this series later, I know right now she is working on a new Genie series but has plans (keep your fins crossed) to continue the fishy tales of a few other mermaids.

A Review of Season of Love

Title: Season Of Love
Category: Paranormal Romance
Reviewer: Michele Rioli
Reviewer Email: Deseng@crown.net
Author: Susan Blexrud, Bill Haworth, Kate Hofman, Miriam Newman
Publisher: DCL Publications
Release Date: November 2009
ISBN Number: 9780984282838

Rating: 5 Fangs
Format: E-BOOK

MISTLETOE FANGS by Susan Blexrud is a fast, fun blend of vampire thrills and chills. Get ready to buckle in for a creepy, thrilling ride!

When Lauren mentions to her friend Meredith that she still hasn’t fully recovered from her kidnapping event, Meredith puts her in touch with a highly recommended psychiatrist called Dr. Erasmus Gephart. Lauren has pregnancy woes along with crying jags that come unexpectedly stemming from paranoia over her kidnapping event with the Mafia. Lauren’s visit with the psychiatrist goes smoothly on her first visit but he is rather odd. Her loving husband John, vampire vigilante, is concerned for her welfare. Does Lauren finally get some relief from her symptoms? Is Dr. Gephart who he says he is?

Ms. Blexrud delivers another great vampire adventure starring all the main characters along with a skeptical, weird doctor and his faery sidekick. The faery almost steals the show! When things unexpectedly take a turn for the worse, John calls in Luc to help him out. Ms. Blexrud does a superb job throwing in right and left curves and I was anxious to see what would happen next! MISTLETOE FANGS is a crazy, funny, sexy vampire tale with a lot of oomph!

THE OFFICE PARTY by Bill Haworth is the story of a Scrooge in a suit and a Christmas Eve miracle.

Fred Perkins, a charismatic sleaze ball but a sharp businessperson, commandeers a Christmas Eve party to celebrate his big promotion. Unfortunately, the coworkers get the full lip from him as he progressively gets drunker at his own party. Mattie, a pretty brunette and the secretary, makes her excuses to leave the party. Mr. Perkins, totally blasted, from excessively drinking, talks cruelly to Mattie about leaving his party early. She has had enough of his overt sexual advances on her. She wants to get home to her husband and kids. A phone call comes through from her husband, telling her that the weather is supposed to turn nasty and to leave as soon as possible. Just when she is about to leave, the caterer for the party calls to say they can’t deliver the food because the weather is dreadful. Mr. Perkins angrily protests at her leaving “his” party, asking if she can stay to help out, and boldly pronounces that only a miracle can save this party. In walks a little old office cleaning lady. Will she possibly save the day?

THE OFFICE PARTY plays homage to the rude, dude called the Scrooge of Christmas stories. It is a fast-moving story with bantering office employees, a scrappy boss, a pretty secretary and a very unassuming old cleaning lady. Bill Haworth expertly depicts teasing office employees to the hilt. The dialogue is peppered with smart-alecky innuendos and snappy comebacks. Mattie and the cleaning lady save the day with their sudsy-bubble optimistic attitudes, which brightens the whole story. You never know what will happen at an office party, let alone the one in this story that has an ending that delights and warms the heart!

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT by Kate Hofman is a luminous love story about the reunion of two lovers who are inexplicably torn apart by treachery and deceit.

Glenda St. George, a beautiful blonde-haired lady, is busily creating decorations with her two-year-old son Jason, a couple days before Christmas, when her door buzzer goes off. Whom could it be she wonders? She opens the door and is startled to see Alexandros Manitakis, her lover from three years ago, standing there. She goes white, as if seeing a ghost, and practically passes out but Alex catches her. She discovers that Alex’s office assistant, Nana Demos, was infatuated with him and wanted to marry him. Thus, she deliberately broke up their love affair with devious plans and lies. Will Alex win Glenda’s heart all over again? What surprises and battles await them?

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT is a touching story of love walking in again. Glenda and Alex unfortunately have their love tryst wrecked by a deceitful lady who is Alex’s assistant. After three years, Alex finds the woman of his dreams again, along with an unexpected surprise. Her two-year-old son is his. Ms. Hofman weaves a beautifully written romance story that tugs at the heartstrings. Ms. Hofman throws in some strong and unique secondary characters that add to the story’s appeal. Exquisite and stylish, A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT is a heartwarming romance and the risks we take for love.


PEACE ON NEW EARTH by Miriam Newman is a uniquely romantic futuristic tale of two different races cohabitating together on the same planet in the twenty-fifth century.

Avron, leader of a powerful tribe called the Megastes, has volunteered to undergo treatments to be vaccinated against a virus that has infected his tribe. Some have fallen ill and some even have died due to this illness, which was inadvertently spread to them through the colonists. The colonists are an advanced human race called the Terrans who are cohabitating with them on their planet. When Avron travels to their dome, he is surprised to meet the doctor. She is a woman with beautiful blonde hair who pleasantly stimulates his nose.

Jadelle Reid, a research med-tech doctor and specialist in antiquities, doesn’t get out much with the opposite sex since she is to busy with work. In fact, it seems most men don’t find her as suitable dating material. She spends a lot of time at home baking lots of cookies and breads to fill the void. When she meets Avron, she is immediately taken aback by his presence. What a handsome, muscular body, she muses to herself. She offers him a peace offering, a Christmas cookie. He helps himself to a second one after eating the first savory treat. Happy with herself, she secretly looks forward to spending time with him but then remembers to act professional. After all, if all goes well with the injections, maybe the Terrans and Megastes can cohabit peacefully. What does the future hold for these two and more importantly will the injections work?

PEACE ON NEW EARTH brings a new dimension to the futuristic genre in an enthralling tale that breaks down boundaries. When Avron and Jadelle discover there is chemistry between them on an aromatic level, things soon heat up from there. The clever story line of two different races trying to find peace amongst illness balances the plot out perfectly! A fascinating premise, strong characters and a powerful message make this a perfect ending to a collection of holiday stories.

SEASON OF LOVE, a brilliant diverse collection of holiday stories, with romance as the underlying theme, is at times scary, then refreshing, and sprinkled all over with good holiday cheer!