THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is the 3rd installment of the Devil DeVere series and this time we get a real insight into the Devil DeVere himself. This is a series consisting so far of A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE and THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS by Victoria Vane. If you haven't read them yet and are curious about them, please click on the title of one or both to visit my reviews of the first two novellas. This is a series that shouldn't be missed especially if you're a fan of historical romance. Victoria has been kind enough to allow me to read an eARC of each of these in exchange for an honest and unscripted opinion. I have to admit that after reading each, I have yearned for the next in breathless anticipation so I think I get the better end of the deal.
Blurb for THE DEVIL YOU KNOW:
When dealing with the devil it's easy to be burned… especially when passion ignites the flames. Who can find a virtuous woman…
Beautiful, respectable, and dutiful, Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley has long resigned herself to her decade-long loveless and childless marriage to a feckless husband…until his gambling pushes them to the brink of financial ruin.
Sometimes the devil is in disguise…as a gentleman… Viscount Ludovic, "The Devil DeVere", is a man accustomed to taking what he wants according to his whim and heedless of the cost…until he encounters a woman who won't be had at any price.
When dealing with the devil, it's easy to be burned… When Diana discovers a secret that shatters the carefully built façade concealing her private pain, she seeks aid and comfort from the most unlikely place…the devil's arms. But will a single night of heavenly passion damn them both forever?
* * * * * * *
We first met Viscount Ludovic DeVere in A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE when he talked his pal, Ned Chambers and Phoebe Scott into a dare that results in them waking up in the King's bed. Then we followed his naughty influence on the incorrigible Vesta Chambers when he assists her in her plan to kidnap his own brother, Hew DeVere so that she may seduce him in THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS. All the while, we get hints that the Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley - cousin to Ned's first wife, Annalee and godmother to Vesta - has a past that connects her to Ludovic DeVere in a way that makes their blood boil whenever they are placed in the same room together.
In THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Victoria Vane we get the backstory of the steamy past that connects Lady Diana to the Devil DeVere. We learn that Ludovic is not totally immune to the emotional charms of a woman. We learn the reasons he holds women in such low esteem but enjoys them as his greatest pleasure. We also get hints of a darker side, of secrets he keeps even from his own brother and his undisclosed covet of his dearest friend Ned's loving marriage.
Ludovic DeVere is a man of means, a man of passion, and a man who can raise desire in any woman he sets his sights on. He carries a less than proper reputation but is, in fact, a loyal and caring friend to anyone who cares enough to call him friend. In THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, we get to know the Devil Himself and discover that his heart may not be as immune to love as we have been led to believe. This segment of the series, however, is not complete in its story-telling but rather a connector story that will help to tie all four novellas, that make up the Devil DeVere series, together. There is no happily-ever-after for DeVere or Diana in THE DEVIL YOU KNOW but rather a stay tuned for the conclusion ending yet to come in the final novella - THE DEVIL'S MATCH.
Victoria Vane writes her stories with a hint of reality floating beneath the surface of the backstory. Her tidbits included at the end of the novellas gives us an insight into the story behind the story which help bring her extraordinary characters to life. THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is the story behind the other stories. It's the answers to questions that have been plaguing us about the Viscount Ludovic DeVere and it paints the man as more human than he wants anyone to believe. Creative, steamy, insightful, and historically accurate, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Victoria Vane is extraordinary writing that fills in the blanks connecting Ned and Phoebe's, Vesta and Hew's stories together with Ludovic DeVere's past which is completely exposed in such a way that this series is mounting to be one of the most innovative, creatively beautiful and romantically drawn Georgian romances ever.
I highly recommend reading THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Victoria Vane as well as the first two novellas and specifically in the order in which they have been written. This series is extraordinary and literarily unique and shouldn't be missed by anyone who calls themselves a lover of historical romance. Each one unique and distinct yet better than the next even as I find myself eagerly anticipating the final one to come.
P.S. News just in - Victoria Vane has just announced that this series will not end at the fourth installment, THE DEVIL'S MATCH, but instead she will add two more after it plus a spin-off. Life is good!!
Happy Reading Everyone!
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, a Devil DeVere novella by Victoria Vane, Breathless Press, available now in ebook format.
When I first introduced you to Joan Swan, back in March of this year, she was a debut author with FEVER which if you haven't read yet, DO or at least check out my review before you say no! I love that book and I think you will, too. Well, now the incredible Joan Swan has ventured into self-publication so when she put out a call for reviewers of her self-published book, INTIMATE ENEMIES, I jumped at the chance. She was kind enough to allow me to read it and all I have to do is tell her what I think - somehow, I think I got the better end of that deal. *wink*
Blurb for INTIMATE ENEMIES:
She is on a quest for answers; answers that could just get her killed.
Six months after the mysterious yacht explosion that killed Cassie Christo’s mother and stepbrother, authorities still have no answers to the cause. Searching for closure, Cassie returns to her childhood home on the Pacific Coast of Baja, Mexico, where she launches her own investigation into the accident. She never expected to find an adversary in the man who had once touched her heart with kindness in her darkest moment.
Rio’s been fantasizing about reconnecting with Cassie for months. But not here and sure as hell not now. As an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he’s working the biggest sting operation in all of northern Mexico, and he definitely doesn’t have time for the wild attraction he feels for Cassie.
Not only is his cover on the line, so is his heart. Because as the end of a yearlong operation draws closer, Rio knows if he tells Cassie the truth about who and what he is, it won’t only jeopardize his mission, it may result in him losing her forever. And if he doesn’t, his lies and deception could get them both killed.
* * * * * * *
Oh my goodness, where do I start? This book was incredible! *grin*
Cassie Christo has stumbled into more danger than she knows. Determined to discover some kind of dirt on her stepfather, Saul Flores, so she can get him away from the only thing she has left by which to remember her mother and stepbrother, Terra del Mar. Cassie begins asking questions regarding her stepfather's business dealings and the involvement of the dangerous and incredibly sexy, Rio Santana.
Rio Santana is not what Cassie thinks he is. He's the only one she has no reason to fear yet she refuses to trust him even as she can think of nothing more than seducing him. Rio must desperately fight his own desire to give in to her charms. Oh, the steam between these two - ooops, my thoughts started to wander to a certain alley scene.
Danger is the name of the game in Ensenada, Mexico. Cassie has more than warring gangs and kidnapping threats to worry about. She has more to worry about than the unknown threat her stepfather has made to get rid of her permanently if Rio doesn't keep her under control. Her greatest danger is falling in love with a man who she doesn't know, who won't tell her the truth, and who she doesn't trust yet she craves more than water in the dry desert.
INTIMATE ENEMIES is gritty, action-packed from the first page to the last, and sexier than anything before it. Joan Swan has topped herself which honestly I doubted she could do after FEVER - that book gave me such a Teague Creek addiction that I read it twice in one month! You know I had plenty of other reading to do! INTIMATE ENEMIES is even better than FEVER and that's saying a lot. Now I've got a RIO addiction. *wink*
Okay, one fault with the book - I had a little problem with the formatting in the epub digital as the font size kept changing but even at that, the words kept me going so that after a while I hardly noticed it anymore.
INTIMATE ENEMIES by Joan Swan is writing at its best. It's romance at its steamiest. It's action and suspense that will have you holding on for dear life while Joan takes you on the ride of your life through danger lurking behind every next page. She picks you up and sets you down in the hot, dry desert air that surrounds you constantly except when she allows you a brisk breeze floating in from the ocean. You almost feel the hot Mexican sun, the sounds of the marina and the smell of enchiladas cooking at Miguel's. You feel the pain of loss, the pain of need and the pain that comes on with the danger that ensues. I can't say enough because INTIMATE ENEMIES by Joan Swan has to be read to be experienced. Simply said: INTIMATE ENEMIES is brilliant. The question now, will Joan be able to surpass this one? I'm betting she will because she's only getting better.
Get it, you won't be disappointed or if you'd like a shot at winning a copy, be sure to come by next Wednesday when the incredible Ms. Swan will be here for a Wacky Wednesday interview & giveaway!!
Today is my mother's birthday! She was born 87 years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was the youngest of three daughters and raised by her father as her mother died when she was only a year old. She married my father in 1948 and they are still together. Yes, if you do the math, they've been married for 64 years this past April. Awesome, huh?
Over the centuries, mothers have given their daughters and sometimes, their sons, advice on love and marriage. Some more pressing than others. My mother is no different only her advice was simple:
Don't do anything in the moment that you may regret the rest of your life.
She told all five of us kids that she only cared that we fall in love and fall in love with someone who will truly love us for ourselves. Simple but so wise. Of course, she also told us girls that it was just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one - geez, I must not have been paying attention when she spilled that gem. LOL!!
The usual advice from mothers leans toward some variation on these 3 themes -
1. Don't marry for money, marry for love.
2. Don't settle.
3. Love him as you want him to love you.
So what was the best advice gem your mother gave you on love??
Already a fan of Sophie Jordan, I was quite pleased when Avon Romance asked me to read an eARC of LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE. It is the second book in the Forgotten Princesses series and I am remiss in that I haven't read the first book, WICKED IN YOUR ARMS yet but plan to catch up on that one especially after reading this one. Worried that I needed to read the first one before this, I'm glad to say I didn't need to and was not disappointed. I'm glad I was allowed to read it ahead of its scheduled release date of July 31, 2012 so that I could give all of my dear friends a heads up - this is one you'll want to put on your To Be Read List.
Blurb for LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE:
A life can change in an instant . . .
No one knows this better than Miss Cleopatra Hadley, who went from poverty to plenty when she discovered one of England's richest men was her true father who wanted her to share his wealth . . . if she married into the upper echelons of Society. A high price to pay for someone whose mother taught her just how dangerous a marriage could be.
An imposing yet impoverished Scots nobleman, Lord Logan McKinney knows he must wed some vapid title-hunter with a substantial dowry in order to restore his once-thriving estate. Having the vibrant Cleo nearby, however, makes his task even more unpalatable - for she tempts him like no other woman . . . just as he's precisely the sort of man she most fears: exciting, unpredictable, fiercely passionate. But when attraction proves too powerful, they succumb to a kiss that quickly leads to lessons too scandalous for even the darkest nights . . .
*** **
Cleo Hadley's been rescued from poverty and the oppression of her stepfather by a wealthy newfound father but she hasn't left behind the fears and worries that she's carried all of her life along with the heartache of lost siblings. If there's one thing she's learned growing up in the life she knew it was that there are no promises kept, no love of a man worth sacrificing a life for, and that she would always live her life the way she chose not the way a man chose for her. Her father, Jack Hadley, is seeking a higher standing in ton society and is determined to use his illegitimate daughters to gain it. Knowing Jack wants her to marry UP, Cleo sets her cap for the elderly and ill Earl, Lord Thrumgoodie much to the chagrin of his inheritors. Cleo chose the old man even with his reputation for lechery because she knew that with him she would never have to be a true wife. She would never have to fear getting with child or suffering through childbirth, the death of a child or the risk of her life. All the things, she'd watched her mother suffer through over and over - each time, Cleo fearing it would be her mother's life that is forfeited in the name of loving a man.
Lord Logan McKinney, a Scotsman unafraid of what others think, needs a wife. He needs a wife with money so that he may restore McKinney Castle and provide well for his younger siblings. He hopes to be fortunate enough to meet a woman that will stimulate him both with mind and body. He's nearly given up hope of finding such a woman and is about to settle for Lady Libba, Lord Thrumgoodie's granddaughter when he discovers Cleopatra Hadley. He sets out to win her over and claim her heart as well as her fortune. Cleo, however, is determined to discourage him even as she craves his kiss and more.
From the beginning pages of LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE by Sophie Jordan, the reader is caught by heart-tugging images and carried through Cleo and Logan's turbulent yet irresistible relationship. The pages seem to turn themselves as the story moves forward. Sophie Jordan touches on the greatest fear that plagues nearly every woman at some time in her life - the dangers that accompany the wonder of childbirth. Sophie created a strong yet frightened character in Cleo that most readers will feel themselves connecting with on many levels. Nature cannot be ignored. In Logan, she created a strong, family-oriented man that we easily fall in love with just as Cleo does only we are more easily able to acknowledge it. When tragedy strikes, readers will find themselves holding their breath till the outcome even though we know deep down there must be a happily-ever-after or hope anyway.
I highly recommend LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE by Sophie Jordan - it may be a tad predictable but you are treated to delightfully touching moments, heart-tugging images and emotions that will carry you through the pages with joy, touching romance and some steamy scenes that will have you panting for more. Not only all that but you get to visit ton society and get treated to a robust highlander who will have you begging to move North even though the winters are too cold. Sophie Jordan has done it again with LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE.
Happy Reading Everyone!!
LESSONS FROM A SCANDALOUS BRIDE, the Forgotten Princesses series by Sophie Jordan, Avon Romance, release date - July 31, 2012, print and ebook formats.
I WISH I HAD ANOTHER COPY OF LOVE STORY TO GIVE AWAY
SINCE ONLY TWO PEOPLE ENTERED THIS GIVEAWAY
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AVON ONLY GAVE ME ONE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VISITS! I'M THRILLED
THAT THE BLOG WILL BE 10 MONTHS OLD NEXT WEEK
AND IT JUST PASSED 50,000 VIEWS YESTERDAY MORNING!
THANK YOU - I LOVE MY READERS!!
NOW FOR THE WINNER:
bn100
THE WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL SO PLEASE CHECK YOUR MAILBOX & SPAM FOLDER. YOU'VE GOT UNTIL END OF THE DAY FRIDAY, JULY 27TH TO RESPOND OR I'LL GIVE IT TO THE OTHER ENTRY.
HAPPY READING EVERYONE AND THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!
In 1970, Erich Segal published the hit novel, LOVE STORY and on December 16, 1970 the movie was released to acclaimed reviews and became a huge hit. That was the year I was in junior high (aka known as middle school these days). I read LOVE STORY when it was first released and later that same year when the movie released, I saw that too. Recently, Avon Romance sent me a copy of LOVE STORY by Erich Segal re-released on May 29, 2012. I thought about re-reading it but then I remembered how I felt about it the last time I did read it. By the way, I've read it more than once and seen the movie a couple of times, too. Yes, it's been around that long.
I was 12 years old the first time I read LOVE STORY and thought it the greatest romance story ever written. I thought it as tragic as ROMEO AND JULIET. I thought the characters were as destined for one another as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler but never destined to live our their lives in bliss. I loved the book so much that I eagerly anticipated the film and wept at the end when Jennifer lay dying in her hospital bed looking like the supermodel that she really was. It's easy to get that past adolescent girls.
I was in my thirties when I came across my original copy of LOVE STORY by Erich Segal and opened it to delve into the undying love that I remembered between Jennifer Cavilleri and Oliver Barrett III. When I finished, I thought - what a bitch! Some time later, I came across the movie on HBO or such and sat down to watch. I cringed at the dialogue, I cringed at Ms. McGraw's look-down-her-nose attitude and I wanted to punch Ollie in the gut and tell him to man up!
LOVE STORY by Erich Segal is a classic and something I believe every woman and every man should read so that they may learn from it.
Women will learn that THIS is not the way to treat a man who is willing to walk over hot coals for you, treats you like you're the most precious thing on earth, and tolerates your constant berating. THIS is NOT the way to ROMANCE any man. I've seen it many times over the years - a really nice man, a truly kind, generous man who any other woman would kill over to claim as her own completely and utterly controlled by a vicious, denigrating bitch of a wife who has no idea what a great guy she has and doesn't particularly care as long as she is in complete control. This is Jennifer Cavilleri.
Men will learn that THIS is not the kind of woman you want in your life. Oh yes, the opposites attract theorem is fabulous in Romance Novels, the I hate you but can't resist you sexual draw that we love to read in our novels but disdain in real life. You have to truly like each other and respect each other to fall in love with each other. Only a masochist would even wish to be married to a woman who denigrates you constantly, expounding on how much smarter she is, how her less than wealthy roots makes for a better person, calls you 'preppie' every minute of the day when not referring to you by your last name and even orders you away from her death bed.
What were we thinking when we thought this a love story?
It's still a great read despite my seeing it now with wiser, more experienced eyes. It will make you think and perhaps make you sigh for it still has the best first three lines ever - What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach, the Beatles, and me?
I'd like to give my new copy away to someone who hasn't read LOVE STORY yet. Is that you?
Blurb for LOVE STORY:
Oliver Barrett IV, a wealthy jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a
Harvard degree and a career in law . . . Jenny Cavilleri, a sharp-tongued,
working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe . . . Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny are kindred spirits from
vastly different worlds. Falling deeply and powerfully, their attraction to one
another defies everything they have ever believed—as they share a passion far
greater than anything they dreamed possible . . . and explore the wonder of a
love that must end too soon. One of the most adored novels of our time, this is the book that defined a
generation—a story of uncompromising devotion, of life as it really is . . . and
love that changes everything.
**** *
GIVEAWAY - Comment (any comment will do - I love hearing what you have to say) and leave me an EMAIL ADDRESS to be entered for a chance to win my copy of LOVE STORY by Erich Segal. This Giveaway is OPEN to US RESIDENTS ONLY! You will be entered only if you leave an email address in the comment - Remember, to enter:
COMMENT + EMAIL ADDRESS = ENTRY!!
Giveaway will run until 11:30PM EDT, Friday, July 20, 2012. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced in a special Saturday post. Good Luck!
Happy Reading Everyone!! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
LOVE STORY by Erich Segal, Avon, re-release date May 29, 2012, available in print and ebook formats.
Recently as an Avon Addict, I was asked by Avon Romance to read and review an eARC of THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde. I was a bit apprehensive about reading it because I had not been a fan of her last novel THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE but - and that's a big BUT - I was delightfully surprised by THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS. I started reading
expecting to be disappointed but instead found myself smiling as I started to
recognize the theme behind this one. As a huge fan of the movie ROMAN HOLIDAY, I
immediately saw the heroine as the Audrey Hepburn character and even though the hero wasn't quite
Gregory Peck, I certainly wouldn't throw this sexy cowboy out into a cold winter
night without a place to sleep.
Blurb for THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS:
Brady Talmadge was a cowboy with five unbreakable rules: 1) Never pick up
a pretty hitchhiker 2) Avoid damsels in distress 3) Never order chili at a
truck stop 4) Always trust your gut 5) Never tell a lie . . .
This is what happened when he broke all his rules . . . and got into a whole
lot of trouble!
On the run from an arranged marriage, Princess Annabella of Monesta dons the
guise of a hitchhiking cowgirl. But when she finds herself drenched, alone, and
hungry, she has no choice but to trust the tall Texas horse whisperer who offers
her a ride. He's like no one she's ever known—a strong sexy man who says just
what he thinks. And when one wild kiss leaves her breathless, she quickly
realizes she'll give up everything to spend a lifetime of night times in his
arms. But how can there be happily-ever-after with palace guards hot on her
trail?
* * * * * *
Annie Coste (Princess Annabella of Monesta) is adorable,
fresh and innocent. It's a joy to watch her experience things that we recognize
as common place for the first time, including a relationship with a man - a real
man.
Brady Talmadge is charming and incredibly sexy with his gentle ways and swooning
manner. He makes a wonderful match for a princess because he's quite the Prince
Charming.
I would love to tell you more about this adorable couple and their romance but so much happens in the first chapters of the book that if I did - well, I might give away too much and thus ruin the story for you.
THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde might not be the steamiest
romance for it would probably carry a PG rating but it's delightfully full of
fun and romantically addicting. I admit that I had the ending figured out long
before I reached the middle of the story but I didn't mind - I actually couldn't
wait to find out if I was correct.
I highly recommend THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde to anyone who
loves true romance, sweet talk, good friends who'd you'd like to have as your
own, and seeing the world through fresh eyes.
Happy Reading Everyone!!
THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde, Avon Romance, release date - July 31, 2012 in print and ebook formats.
I want to thank Pamela Palmer once more for allowing me the privilege of combining my writing talents with hers to create the post for this awesome Giveaway! You are not only a fabulous author but a wonderful friend and true lady of grace. Thank you! xoxo
I also want to thank everyone who joined in the fun and bravely told their stories - we definitely DON'T think any of you are nuts! Thanks again for visiting the blog and entering for a chance to win 1 of 4 copies. All of you are such nice people that I wish I had a copy for each of you but unfortunately, Avon didn't give me enough to do that so only 4 of you can win. Of course, any that go unclaimed will be given to a second round of randomly selected winners from the original entries. ; )
The Lucky Winners of A BLOOD SEDUCTION by Pamela Palmer are:
TANYA
PHYLLIS M
SHELLEY B
GLORIA
All of the Winners have been notified by email so please check your mailboxes including SPAM folders so you don't miss it.
You've got until the end of the day on Friday, July 20th to contact me or I give your print copy away to one of the other entries.
As a big fan of paranormal romance, I would be remiss if I had not read at least some of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress novels and although I enjoy them immensely, I thought - no, I knew - I was going to enjoy her Night Prince Novels even more. Having read an excerpt of ONCE BURNED some time ago, I was very excited about the Dark Prince, Vlad Tepesh - the most feared vampire of all time - having his own time in the spotlight. So when Avon Romance sent me a copy of book one in the Night Prince series - ONCE BURNED - I was ecstatic -- and not disappointed!!
Blurb for ONCE BURNED:
She's a mortal with dark powers...
After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...
He's the Prince of Night...
Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.
* * * * * * *
If you've read any of the Night Huntress series, you may have already met Vlad Tepesh. He's the most dangerous and most feared vampire ever to walk the earth. He's the vampire who inspired the tale of Dracula - a name he most definitely despises and which he would easily burn you alive for calling him. He's nothing like the vampire portrayed by Bram Stoker but don't think him all peaches and cream either. He's a fearsome man and he has enemies.
When we first meet Leila Dalton, she is known as Frankie and is working with a dwarf vampire named Marty in a carnival act. Marty knows her secret and helps her control it. He also knows another secret about her that even she doesn't know but it comes out later so I'm not going to tell.
Leila suddenly finds herself fearing for her life when kidnapped by vampires set upon using her unique talents to track down and kill a vampire seriously more dangerous than themselves - Vlad Tepesh. Forced to use her mental abilities to locate him, what these foolish vampires don't know is that Vlad is able to connect with Leila mentally and promises not to harm her if she aids him in his retaliation against the kidnappers. She agrees. Vlad vanquishes all of the vampires except for one whom he plans to torture - uh, interrogate - to find out who or what is behind this attack.
Leila finds herself pulled into a battle between Vlad and his enemies. She discovers who Vlad really is and rather than fearing him, she finds herself falling victim to his charms and his promises. His greatest promise and the one she grows to resent the most - to never love her.
ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost is everything I expected it to be - exciting, edgy, dark and action-packed. It's non-stop storytelling brings the danger and excitement of Vlad Tepesh full front as we hoped would happen after meeting him in the Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones even make an appearance for the fans. If you've not read anything by Jeaniene Frost before, that's okay because ONCE BURNED reads excellently as a stand alone novel with a cliffhanger ending that will have you begging for the next book to be released.
Jeaniene Frost is a talented writer with a vivid imagination that she conjures through her multi-layered characters - the characters you meet in ONCE BURNED are no exception. Vlad is everything you want in an Alpha Hero who is surprisingly protective and loyal. Leila is everything you want in a heroine who can hold her own against Vlad, his vampires and the bad guys. You have to admire a heroine who slaps Vlad Tepesh and lives to talk about it.
ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost is an action-packed, fast-paced, dark and dangerous paranormal romance with sufficient blood, gore and vampire destruction to keep you on the edge of your seat but at the core of this story is Vlad and Leila. It's Vlad's growing attachment to this woman who he has claimed as his own yet cannot love and Leila, who has never known real love or a man. Leila, who has been fiercely independent and constantly on the run who is now determined to claim this fearsome vampire's heart. This is a romance that is going to keep us coming back for more until either Leila's heart is shattered or ours.
I highly recommend ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost to anyone who enjoys a romance born from the fires of danger, passion, loyalty and desire. If you love paranormal romance, if you love watching a man hard as nails and fierce as fire slowly begin to show the love that exists deep within then read ONCE BURNED and get hooked by the Night Prince series by Jeaniene Frost.
Happy Reading Everyone and don't forget that the A BLOOD SEDUCTION Giveaway is still running but will end tonight at 11:30PM EDT - so hurry if you want a chance to win 1 of 4 copies!
ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats - original release date, June 26, 2012.
It's Wacky Wednesday and have I got a GIVEAWAY for you!! It's a Multi-Giveaway of 4 copies of A BLOOD SEDUCTION, a Vamp City novel by Pamela Palmer!! Avon sent me plenty to share with you and so to add to the fun, I thought I'd do a little creativity of my own with Miss Pamela's permission, of course.
You might remember, I've featured this unique and extraordinary novel twice before, once in review and again in a fabulous interview with Pamela Palmer. She's such an awesome writer that I can't resist showcasing her and her works. If you're not familiar with A BLOOD SEDUCTION and Pamela Palmer, feel free to check out my REVIEW and my INTERVIEW but then hurry back because I've got some fun in store for you and that awesome giveaway!
Blurb for A BLOOD SEDUCTION:
Vampires live only for lust and pleasure in the eternal twilight of Vamp City. But the city's magic is dying. The only person who can restore it? A beautiful woman from the mortal world...one who knows nothing of the power she wields.
Quinn Lennox is searching for a missing friend when she stumbles into a dark otherworld that only she can see--and finds herself at the mercy of Arturo Mazza, a dangerously handsome vampire whose wicked kiss will save her, enslave her, bewitch her, and betray her. What Arturo can't do is forget about her--any more than Quinn can control her own feelings for him. Neither one can let desire get in the way of their mission--his to save his people, hers to save herself. But there is no escape from desire in a city built for seduction, where passion flows hot and blood-red. Welcome to Vamp City...
* * * * *
**The following creative excerpt is a combination of my creativity and Pamela Palmer's, I will in no way change the excerpt from the novel, A BLOOD SEDUCTION, I will only create the introductory lead-in. I hope you enjoy both parts and thank you, Pamela, for allowing me to do this.
* * * * * Quinn's thoughts had not swerved from the task at hand even as she worked to appear normal as her fellow humans moved in blissful ignorance around her. She'd gathered information and supplies but now waited for the right time to return to Vamp City to find Zack. The guilt of leaving him behind to whatever circumstances he might be suffering made her insides roil to the point of nausea. She had to get back to him. She had to find him and lead him back to the real world. The real world which once upon a time seemed filled with dangers, worries, and evil but now only seemed tame in comparison to the horrors that she had faced in Vamp City.
"This is Amanda Raven with breaking news regarding the number of unusual disappearances that are now coming to light in Washington, DC." The pretty brunette news anchor remarked from the flat screen television. Quinn had been staring past the pedestrians on the street below who were strolling along totally unaware of the dangers that lurked nearby. She'd forgotten she had left the television on as she watched for shimmers.
"Kate Landers, the Chief of Police for the city of Washington, DC is about to address the situation, one it seems that no one has been aware of - until now." Quinn glanced at the screen just as the picture shifted from the pretty Amanda to a blond-haired woman in a white uniform standing at a podium. She had black epaulets and a gold badge pinned above her left breast pocket. Quinn recognized her as the Chief of Police.
Quinn folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the windowsill as she listened to what the woman had to say. "It's come to our attention that over the past few months there has been an increased number of reports concerning tourists that have gone missing while in the city. In the past, we give these reports a normal investigation time but when nothing is found to indicate foul play or any other criminal behavior, it's usually assumed to be a case of the person having gone missing voluntarily. We've long had a history of visitors to our fine city coming here specifically to blend into the citizens and disappear for whatever may be their own reasons. However, the number of tourists and private citizens who have been reported missing has increased three-fold and is now becoming a matter of concern to all of us."
A grumble rose from the group of reporters in attendance as they attempted to ask questions but Chief Landers raised her hand. The group quickly quieted and waited for her to continue. "We have no actual evidence of any criminal activity or foul play in regards to those who have gone missing." She took a deep breath before she continued. "The missing are every day persons who simply don't return from work, shopping, a luncheon date with friends and in one case, a young woman who disappeared from the street in front of her house when she took a bag of trash to the dumpster."
Another annoying grumble rose from the group but again Chief Landers quieted them with a raise of her hand. "Until we know more about these disappearances, we ask all citizens, visitors and day workers to please be on alert to anyone or anything strange and if you witness anything at all suspicious, please alert the authorities as soon as possible. We'd like to get to the bottom of these disappearances and wish to keep our citizens, visitors and residents safe. Thank you. I've no further information at this time. I'll turn it over to ..."
Quinn clicked the off button on the remote. The screen went dark and the Chief's voice disappeared. She dropped the remote into a nearby chair, turned to face the window once more and sighed. She ran her fingers through her loose hair and cringed. -- Amy Valentini
Staring at the traffic on the street below, she wondered for the umpteenth time if she shouldn't call the FBI. After all, she knew where those missing people had gone. She could tell them exactly what had happened to them. She could send them in to rescue them all, including Zack.
Except she wasn't an idiot. They'd never believe her, at least not until she pulled one of them through a sunbeam. The bigger problem was that she knew vampires well enough by now to know that no human could possibly be a match for them. No one. Taking others with her into that world was as good as signing their death warrants. Or consigning them to slavery for the rest of their lives. At least she knew how to get in and out. She'd gotten Zack into this mess. It was up to her to get him out. And Lily, too, if she could find her.
If only the damn worlds would open again!
---- Pamela Palmer, A BLOOD SEDUCTION, page 81.
About the Author: Pamela Palmer grew up in an Air Force household as her father was an Air Force pilot. She dreamed of being an astronaut as a child. She graduated Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering and began working for a major computer manufacturer. She eventually turned to writing after having married and given birth to two children. She has also written under the name Pamela Montgomerie. As Montgomerie she writes historical time travel romance novels, while as using her real name, Palmer, she writes dark paranormal romance. For more information about her and her books, please visit her website.
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!
Having read my contribution and then Pamela's excerpt from A BLOOD SEDUCTION, I am wondering if YOU have ever experienced or known something that you wanted to tell the authorities or anyone about but feared being thought of as having a screw loose, crazy or frivolous??
I'll start it off by admitting that some months ago, I was out with the dog one night, it was raining slightly and the sky was very cloudy. I noticed that there were the first of the fireflies flitting around in the trees and sparkling in the darkness. I glanced up toward the tops of the trees. There I saw a bright light that I thought was a firefly only the small light suddenly expanded into a very large, very bright capsule (pill type) shape that was solid brightness with no blinking lights. Just as I wondered what it was, it suddenly sped off into the clouds. I looked to the other side of the house but it was gone. It was then that I realized there had been absolutely no sound either. I told my hubby, he told me it was probably a helicopter. I know it wasn't a helicopter because shortly thereafter, the choppers started flying around as if they were looking for it. I thought about calling the sheriff's dept, or Quantico Marine Base since it's just north of us but then decided not to as they would probably never believe me.
So now it's your turn - I've told mine, you tell yours or just comment on the excerpt - either way, you will be entered to win one of four print copies of A BLOOD SEDUCTION, A Vamp City Novel by Pamela Palmer. That's 1 of 4 copies, folks. PLEASE leave a valid email address - if I can't contact you, you cannot win. COMMENT + EMAIL ADDRESS = ENTRY
This Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end Friday, July 13th (yep, you got that right!) at 11:30PM EDT. Four winners will be selected at random and notified by email (that's why the email address is important) and the winners will be announced in a special Saturday post. Good Luck!
Happy Reading Everyone! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who visited and entered. Good Luck. : )
A BlOOD SEDUCTION, a Vamp City Novel by Pamela Palmer, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook format, original release date, May 29, 2012.
It's that time of the month again and there are some FABULOUS new romances arriving today to grace your ereaders and shelves!
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is the 3rd installment of the Devil DeVere series and this time we get a real insight into the Devil DeVere himself. This is a series consisting so far of A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE and THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS by Victoria Vane. If you haven't read them yet and are curious about them, please click on the title of one or both to visit my reviews of the first two novellas. This is a series that shouldn't be missed especially if you're a fan of historical romance. Victoria has been kind enough to allow me to read an eARC of each of these in exchange for an honest and unscripted opinion. I have to admit that after reading each, I have yearned for the next in breathless anticipation so I think I get the better end of the deal.
When I first introduced you to Joan Swan, back in March of this year, she was a debut author with FEVER which if you haven't read yet, DO or at least check out my review before you say no! I love that book and I think you will, too. Well, now the incredible Joan Swan has ventured into self-publication so when she put out a call for reviewers of her self-published book, INTIMATE ENEMIES, I jumped at the chance. She was kind enough to allow me to read it and all I have to do is tell her what I think - somehow, I think I got the better end of that deal. *wink*
Today is my mother's birthday! She was born 87 years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was the youngest of three daughters and raised by her father as her mother died when she was only a year old. She married my father in 1948 and they are still together. Yes, if you do the math, they've been married for 64 years this past April. Awesome, huh?
In 1970, Erich Segal published the hit novel, LOVE STORY and on December 16, 1970 the movie was released to acclaimed reviews and became a huge hit. That was the year I was in junior high (aka known as middle school these days). I read LOVE STORY when it was first released and later that same year when the movie released, I saw that too. Recently, Avon Romance sent me a copy of LOVE STORY by Erich Segal re-released on May 29, 2012. I thought about re-reading it but then I remembered how I felt about it the last time I did read it. By the way, I've read it more than once and seen the movie a couple of times, too. Yes, it's been around that long.
I was in my thirties when I came across my original copy of LOVE STORY by Erich Segal and opened it to delve into the undying love that I remembered between Jennifer Cavilleri and Oliver Barrett III. When I finished, I thought - what a bitch! Some time later, I came across the movie on HBO or such and sat down to watch. I cringed at the dialogue, I cringed at Ms. McGraw's look-down-her-nose attitude and I wanted to punch Ollie in the gut and tell him to man up!
Blurb for LOVE STORY:
Recently as an Avon Addict, I was asked by Avon Romance to read and review an eARC of THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde. I was a bit apprehensive about reading it because I had not been a fan of her last novel THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE but - and that's a big BUT - I was delightfully surprised by THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS. I started reading
expecting to be disappointed but instead found myself smiling as I started to
recognize the theme behind this one. As a huge fan of the movie ROMAN HOLIDAY, I
immediately saw the heroine as the Audrey Hepburn character and even though the hero wasn't quite
Gregory Peck, I certainly wouldn't throw this sexy cowboy out into a cold winter
night without a place to sleep. 
As a big fan of paranormal romance, I would be remiss if I had not read at least some of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress novels and although I enjoy them immensely, I thought - no, I knew - I was going to enjoy her Night Prince Novels even more. Having read an excerpt of ONCE BURNED some time ago, I was very excited about the Dark Prince, Vlad Tepesh - the most feared vampire of all time - having his own time in the spotlight. So when Avon Romance sent me a copy of book one in the Night Prince series - ONCE BURNED - I was ecstatic -- and not disappointed!!
