Win 2 Vampire Romance Audio Books from AudioLark

Today I have a special treat- something completely new to Fang-tastic Books- audio books.

AudioLark has generously offered to give away 2 of their popular vampire romance audio books to one lucky winner

Plus they have dropped their prices of these two audio books for today only to only $3.49 a piece

Vixen

by Mina Carter

The only vampire warrioress in existence, Vixen has spent most of her life proving herself in a man’s world, but she’s never been able to squash some very feminine thoughts where fellow warrior Kalen is concerned. Kalen however, has sworn off love, prefering to deal in lust instead.

But a passionate encounter blows their carefully constructed indifference to each other and when Vixen is kidnapped will they be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to give their love a chance?

Vampiropolis

by Selena Illyria

Welcome to Vampiropolis, where visitors take a break to brush up against the things that go bump in the night.

Nevada comes to Vampiropolis looking for fun and relaxation and gets more than she bargained for in the form of sexy vampire Lucian Sandros. When her trip comes to end does that mean the passion they found has to stop?

When Xavier Hideo drops back into Lida Sandros' life, he brings danger with him. Will he leave her again just as they find the love that Lida thought was lost?

Magda had to make a choice between her obligations and her love for Renato. Years later their worlds collide and she's faced with yet another choice between family, and the man she loves.

Vamp City -- where anything can happen... after dark!

retail price $12.99

Information about AudioLark and AudioMinx:

AudioMinx is the erotic romance division of AudioLark Audio Books.

AudioMinx carries erotic romance audio books in a variety of genres from contemporary to paranormal. Look for new releases weekly and great Tuesday specials.

They love to get feedback from potential and current customers so feel free to write to jennifer@audiolark.com to let them know

what authors/genres/titles you'd like to see in our catalogue

(feel free to tell them you'd like to see books by me- Roxanne Rhoads in their catalogue :-)!

So you want to give audio books a try?

Then leave a comment to enter to win these 2 titles from AudioLark

A winner will be announced next Wednesday

Peter Pauper Press Has Beautiful Gifts for Readers and Writers

I was recently introduced to Peter Pauper Press and their wonderful products.

I had no idea they were the ones behind most of the spectacular gifts you see in book stores and other little boutiques.

They offer quality journals, gift books, bookmarks, pens, and so much more.

They sent me the vampire journal and wolf bookmark to review (which my daughter is going to snag as soon as she sees them, I'm going to have to get another set for myself :-).

I was so impressed with their products that I checked out their site to see what else they have. They have a Moon Goddess journal that is absolutely beautiful and they have a great selection of journals for any taste.

I think my favorite is definitely the vampire journal, it fits my tastes perfectly. Here's a description from their site:

''For those who love time is eternal.'' —William Shakespeare. This romantic
Gothic Vampire Journal features a detail from the painting Guardian Angel by
world-renowned fantasy illustrator Victoria Francés, accented with silver foil
and glossy highlights. An added feature: coordinating interior art—images of
roses—in the upper corner of each right-hand page. This convenient small-format
journal diary provides lightly-lined pages for your personal reflection,
sketching, or jotting down favorite quotes or poems. 160 lightly-lined writing
pages. Interior art: images of roses in upper corner of each right-hand page.
Acid-free archival paper that takes pen or pencil beautifully. Inside back cover
pocket. Elastic band keeps your place. 5'' wide x 7'' high; fits in most purses,
backpacks, and totes.

The wolf bookmark is very nice. I almost want to put it away and keep it safe since I have a bad habit of losing my bookmarks. I think I usually leave them in the book once I am done so I bet half the books on my shelf have a bookmark somewhere in them.

Peter Pauper also has a vampire bookmark to match the journal. That's going on my wish list.

Peter Pauper products are available in bookstores and other fine stores.

You can also find many of their products at their online store, like this ultra cool skull pen.

Some products are even available on Amazon.

I am off to add more Peter Pauper products to my Amazon wish list. I just wanted to share some of their awesome stuff with you.

The readers and writers in your life might love some of these wonderful and unique gifts.

Interview with Melissa de la Cruz, Win a Copy of Blue Bloods Book 4 The Van Alen Legacy

Please welcome Melissa de la Cruz author of the YA vampire series The Blue Bloods. Thank you for joining us today at Fang-tastic Books.

Q: Melissa can you start out by telling readers a little about yourself?

A: Thanks for having me! I'm the author of the Blue Bloods series, and I have been writing YA now for a decade.

Q: So you write adult and YA books, both contemporary and paranormal? Which books do you enjoy writing the most?

A: Definitely the paranormal. I'm just better at it, more of a natural fit. My paranormal books are like the books I loved to read as a kid.

Q: Out of all the stories/books you’ve written, which is your favorite?

A: Probably Masquerade, the second book in the Blue Bloods series, only because it was so easy to write. It is the only book so far that I have written that came pretty much straight from my outline with very little deviation. Just a straight shot. I always hope the book I'm writing currently will be like that again, but so far none of them have been like Masquerade. Sigh.

Q: Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created? One that is especially close to your heart?

A: I love them all, so it is really hard to choose. I love them all differently but equally. I do think that I have a soft spot for Mimi only because so many other readers don't like her. I always like the ones no one else likes.

Q: Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

A: I treat it like a job. Before I had a kid, I could pretty much write at night, and pull all-nighters, and be a lot more flexible. But now my life has to be more disciplined, more steady because the kid's got to go to school, got to have her lunch ready. I can't stay up until four AM writing anymore and be a good mom. So I write at my husband's office. He has a desk for me there and I write from 10-5pm every day, with a break for lunch. I usually can get about 2,000-3,000 words a day on that schedule. Sometimes it's more like 500 words though! My goal is to write about 10,000 words a week to get a first draft done.When I'm on deadline, as in the deadline is a month away I also start working after dinner from 8pm - midnight. And then the final week I usually do pull the all-nighters.

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: Inspiration comes from everywhere, my book Angels on Sunset Boulevard came from a midnight run to In-n-out Burger on Sunset Boulevard. I was just struck by all the different kinds of people there: all these kids from the West Side with their Porsches and their highlighted hair, with all the grungy skaters from Silver Lake, then all these immigrant families with some off duty cops. It made me think of writing about something that would attract all these kids from different sides of the goth/grunge/glam spectrum--like what if there was a cult that they were all part of? So I wrote Angels from that.

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

A: Hmm. Maybe that I'm not as into fashion as I seem to be. I can really take it or leave it. I like it, but it doesn't define me or my life. I enjoy it as a hobby.

Q: What are some of your hobbies besides writing?

A: Fashion is one. I like to keep up, just because I used to be part of that world. Other than that, I really have no hobbies. Maybe museums and gallery hopping and art collecting. But mostly I just write, I hang out with my kid, throw dinner parties for friends. We're active in the LA art scene. I read a lot, but to me that's not a hobby. More like breathing.

Q: What made you decide to write about vampires?

A: I've always loved vampire books. As a kid I loved Lestat and Salem's Lot. Those were the two books that always stuck with me. And so when my editor asked me if I wanted to try my hand at doing horror, I immediately thought, 'vampires'! I love putting my own spin on it. I feel like I am very steeped in vampire culture so I could reinvent it. Of course now there are all these reinventions, which is interesting. I think it's a generational thing.

Q: Can you tell new readers a little bit about your Blue Bloods series?

A: The Blue Bloods series is about a group of elite NYC teens who discover they are fallen angels, cursed to live their immortal lives as vampires on Earth and to suck blood to survive. The vampires are immortal and invincible, or so they think--until an ancient nemesis begins to hunt them. Right now there are four books out: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations and The Van Alen Legacy. Next up is Keys to the Repository, which is like a summary of what's come before, explaining the mythology, and character descriptions and new short stories. I'm writing book five, Misguided Angel now.

Q: In addition to the Blue Bloods series you are working on a BlueBloods spin off -the first book is titled Wolf Pact, so is the new series about werewolves?

A: Yes and no. My wolves aren't like any werewolves out there. They are like the Blue Bloods, a reinvention. My wolves are my own creation. I didn't want to do anything that came before, and in a way, they're wolves in name only.

Q: Could you tell us about your current work in progress?

A: Misguided Angel is the fifth book in the Blue Bloods series. It follows Jack and Schuyler's journey in Europe to continue the Van Alen Legacy. Meanwhile, back in New York, Oliver and Mimi discover a new threat. A new character, Ming Chen arrives in NYC to help them with it. Part of the book also tells Allegra's background story in fifteenth-century Florence.

I'm also working on Wolf Pact, the first book in the Blue Bloods spin off starring Bliss Llewellyn and a new cast of characters. And Witches on East End, which is my new adult series, about a family of witches in the Hamptons.

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your newest (or upcoming) release. Feel free to share an excerpt.

A: KEYS TO THE REPOSITORY comes out this June! Here is a fun excerpt from a short story that shows Jack and Schuyler's first meeting at the apartment.

Feeling reckless and giddy, and just a tad plucky—like the kind of
girl who tramped around the marshes in the dark, Schuyler scribbled a note and slipped it under his door.

Mr. Darcy, I will be there as requested. –
Elizabeth

Thank you so much for joining us today, Melissa.

Sure thanks for having me!


Melissa has offered a signed copy of The Van Alen Legacy to one lucky winner

Would you like to receive it?

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

US Shipping

Contest Closes Tuesday March 9 Midnight EST

Winner Announced on Wednesday March 10

+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

A Review of The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

If you are into vampire romance then you have to read this anthology of 25 vampire tales by some of the hottest authors in the genre.

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance has stories from top vampire authors including: Colleen Gleason, Jenna Maclaine, Kerri Arthur, Susan Sizemore, Vicki Petterson and others who have popular vampire series that are now on my to-read list.

I have read all of Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles so I was thrilled to read a little something extra since the series is now over. "In Which a Masquerade Ball Unmasks an Undead" might even have been a deleted scene from one of the books but I don't care, it was like crack to an addict, I got my fix. It occurred sometime after Victoria discovers she is a Venator but before she marries Phillip.

Kerri Arthur's Riley Jensen series is one that is currently on my must read list, in fact I have a bookmark of hers next to my computer so I can get all the books at once. "Dreams" gave me a taste of Riley's world and her vampire lover Quinn. I have to admit I am thirsting for more.

I am a big fan of Jenna Maclaine as well and her story "The Righteous" is a prequel to her Cin Craven series. If you've read the Cin Craven novels you might want to read this, it gives a nice background on how the Righteous came to be and how the whole thing may evolve in future novels.

A few stories didn't do much for me like "Fade to Black" by Sherri Erwin. It was OK but not thrilling, "Viper's Bite" by Delilah Devlin was sad, "Coming Home" by Lilith Saintcrow didn't really hold my interest, and "Overbite" by Savannah Russe left me confused.

Stories in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance that I did enjoy include: "Fangs for Hire" by Jenna Black. I like the vampire hit woman with a conscience. The voice and feel of the story worked for me; "Knowledge of Evil" by Raven Heart was interesting gotta love the thirst for knowledge; "Love Bites" by Kimberly Raye was awesome, even if it was a cliche' theme, poor vampire hunter just can't hack it and falls for the vampire; "Dancing with a Star" by Susan Sizemore was a nice romance, nothing spectacular but nice. It worked; "Play Dead" by Dina James was also pretty good.

Shiloh Walker's stories sometimes seem to follow a formula, young girl hunting monsters that killed her family or someone she loves then she falls for a good guy who turns out to be one of the monsters. Hmmm... Not that it was bad, it was a good story just the same formula over and over...Anyway "Hunter's Choice" was like a spin off from her series where the wronged woman turned vamp slayer falls for a guy who happens to be a vampire and a "hunter".

For the most part this is a collection not to be missed for vampire romance fans.