I do believe that we read Romance Novels for escape from our every day world, for excitement and romance. But I think my main reason is to let my imagination fly where it may go!
I am currently reading a story that is giving me everything I want while reading. I love stepping into the shoes of the heroine. I love my growing attraction for the hero. I love that there hasn't been a dull moment since I opened the cover and started reading. You might be wondering about now what book I'm reading - don't worry, when I'm done reading I'll review it just not today.
I'm wondering what kind of heroines draw you in so intensely that you experience all that she's experiencing from what she wears, through her adventures whether in the ballroom or on a runaway horse. If you've fallen in love with a certain hero then you probably walked in his heroine's shoes so that you could be folded in his arms, kissed by his lips and experienced the thrill of hearing words of love and passion whispered in your ear.
I've always be drawn to the swashbuckler life. I love the idea of being a heroine who tosses aside her fancy dresses and fine things to take up a life on the sea. A heroine who is as tough as any man yet is willing to be all the woman her sea-faring man will ever need. But then again, being Miss Elizabeth Bennett to her Mr. Darcy isn't such a bad way to go either.
So I ask you this - if you could step into the shoes of a romance novel heroine, what kind of heroine would she be? Or if you have a particular heroine you most favor, who would she be? And why is she your choice?
Oh, don't forget there's still time to read my interview with author, Pamela Palmer - who creates some awesome heroines lucky enough to fall in love with some dangerous but oh, so sexy heroes - and comment for a chance to win your choice of any current Feral Warrior novel. Giveaway is open to everyone, US & International, but closes tonight, May 23rd at 11:45PM EDT, so hurry! Click Here for the interview! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
On Friday, I reviewed the soon-to-be released first book in Pamela Palmer's new Vamp City series, A BLOOD SEDUCTION. If you haven't read my review, please do - click here - but be sure to come right back because I've got the author, Pamela Palmer, visiting here with me today to talk about this extraordinary book and her new series. Plus she's got some Feral Warriors that she wants to find new homes for as well.
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 ...
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Truly, if you love dark stories about vampires, you've got to read this new paranormal series. Now without further ado, I'd like to welcome one of my all time favorite authors, Pamela Palmer!
Amy: Welcome Pamela, it's a real delight for me to have you here with us today. Perhaps you can tell us a little bit about yourself for the benefit of those who don't know you yet.
Pamela: Hi Amy! I’m delighted to be here. I’m the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Feral Warriors shape-shifter series, the Esri series, and the soon-to-be released Vamp City series. I have (or will have in about a week) fourteen books in print. I’m an ex-industrial engineer, avid reader, and daydreamer who lives with my family in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Amy: Fourteen books is quite an achievement, congratulations. I've read everything you've written, even your unique historicals under Pamela Montgomerie. Of course, I adore your Feral Warriors and enjoyed your Harlequin Esri Series immensely, so I'm intrigued by what inspires you. All of your stories have a touch of magic to them, what has been your greatest inspiration in your writing?
Pamela: That’s a good question and I’m not sure I entirely know the answer. My first passion as a child was dinosaurs. At the age of four, my favorite book was The Golden Book of Dinosaurs. I suppose I’ve always been drawn to the larger-than-life. In fifth grade, I discovered two things simultaneously: space (we did a science unit on the solar system) and Star Trek. I decided I wanted to be an astronomer, then switched to wanting to be an astronaut until I was nineteen and finally realized that the space shuttle was never going to take me to those strange new worlds. But I credit Star Trek with inspiring my love of all things weird and fantastical—Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Virtually the only television shows that interest me are sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal (Fringe, Game of Thrones, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, the Walking Dead, Spartacus (okay, I like hot, naked guys, too)). [Amy: Don't we all! *wink*] But when it comes to my reading, I’ve almost always turned to romance. If the book doesn’t have a strong romance, I’m bored. I adore paranormal romance and I love urban fantasy as long as it contains a strong, satisfying romance.
Amy: Your Feral Warriors are the ultimate in good guy heroes, bigger than life, and so admirable in their natural instinct to protect women. With that in mind, I'm curious about the muse that took you in a completely different direction when it came time to create your Vamp City series?
Pamela: Ha! Are you saying the vampire Arturo isn’t a good guy? : )
Here’s the thing about A BLOOD SEDUCTION (Book 1 in my Vamp City series)…it’s book one of five, and it’s going to take all five to tell Quinn and Arturo’s story. Arturo definitely doesn’t start out as the epitome of the romance hero. (A lot of early reviewers are calling him an anti-hero.) Then again, Jag (the jaguar shifter hero of Rapture Untamed) didn’t start out as much of a hero, either. At the 20% mark of Jag’s book he was still pretty much a dyed in the wool ass. I love a hero with a long way to go. Always, always, always, they must have a core of honor and goodness, but they don’t always know it…or, in the beginning…show it all that often. Damon in Vampire Diaries (at least the t.v. show) is a good example of this. I find men like this endlessly fascinating—men that have a lot to learn and a lot of ways they have to change and grow before they’re deserving of love and loyalty and a happily ever after. What I love about writing the Vamp City series, and the reason I wanted to write a multi-book romance, is that with five books I have room to develop the hero and heroine’s relationship slowly. Don’t give up on Arturo just yet. ; ) That vampire has a heck of a journey ahead of him. And Quinn is just the woman to make it worth his while.
Amy: I'm hoping Arturo does come through as Quinn's hero! A BLOOD SEDUCTION can't really be called a traditional paranormal romance in the sense that it's obviously an ongoing story but it also leans more towards paranormal/urban fantasy. How did you ever convince Avon Romance to take a chance on such a unique and severely dark series with such a, for now, anti-romance hero?
Pamela: LOL. To be honest, I was surprised when Avon wanted to buy my Feral Warriors series, which is quite dark, though not as dark as Vamp City. At the time, Avon had a reputation for publishing primarily light historicals, which is definitely no longer true. Jeaniene Frost paved the way for me with her Cat and Bones series, which is also a multi-book romance, straddling the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When I told my editor (whom I adore) that I wanted to do a bigger story, a multi-book, she was all for it. I sent her a brief proposal of the Vamp City series, a 2-3 paragraph synopsis of each of the five books, giving her the big picture. She loved it. She’s always let me do pretty much whatever I wanted with my stories.
Amy: And we are so very thankful that you've been given such freedom with your writing. It's obvious that Quinn, Arturo, and I assume, Zack, will be reappearing throughout the Vamp City series. I can feel a sense of underlying good guy in Arturo Mazza even though he is most definitely one of the most manipulative characters ever created. Without giving away too much, can you tell us how long it will take for him to come to the realization that his emotions for Quinn are stronger than just lustful desire for her to belong to him?
Pamela: Your assumptions would be correct. : ) On all counts. Arturo does have a lot of honor in him, but he’s a lot like Damon Salvatore (if you’re a Vampire Diaries fan) in believing that life as a vampire is easier if you push aside the morality and embrace what you are. How long will it take for Arturo to start to realize Quinn matters to him? Well, even in book 1, she’s getting under his skin. By the end of the book, he’s done several things, things that could (and will) cause him trouble, for her. No vampire thwarts Cristoff and gets away with it.
Amy: Cristoff terrifies me as he should and although Arturo helps Quinn knowing they both will suffer, he also knows she will be the one to suffer most. True Bad Boy, that one. It's obvious that there is a question about Zack that is brought to our attention at the end of A BLOOD SEDUCTION - will Zack become a hero presence in the series and will poor Lily ever be rescued from Vamp City?
Pamela: Ha! Not telling. : )
Amy: Rats! I thought I could coerce you into giving us a little preview! How many books will we be seeing come to us in the Vamp City series?
Pamela: The Arturo/Quinn arc will be five books. After that, we’ll see. There are other characters who may get their stories told.
Amy: I hope so, especially Zack, we see him gain real maturity in this first book. I found A BLOOD SEDUCTION to be one of the darkest stories I've ever read. It's Stephen King meets Anne Rice with some psychological thriller from Dean Koontz thrown in for good measure. It's BDSM meets horror and leaves the reader (at least it did me) with nervous anxiety and an unwillingness to turn out the light and go to sleep. Of course, I'm a fan of scary movies and books so I truly didn't mind. Knowing from experience how involved a writer becomes in their own characters and the worlds that we create, I wonder how, while writing this novel and those that will come, do you keep from terrifying yourself. Does living with these cruel and dominating vampires give you nightmares?
Pamela: Honestly, no. The wonderful thing about being the creator is that I’m in control, more or less. My characters might argue that point, and they’d be right—they wind up driving the action more often than not. The scariest part of violence and fear is the unknown. And when I’m the writer/creator, I know what’s going to happen, more or less. I don’t watch horror movies, not the slasher flicks designed to scare. But if I did, I’m sure I’d find they’re never as scary the second time you see one, because they’ve lost the scare factor. You know what’s coming. So while my vamps might be scary, ultimately, they all answer to me.
Amy: Glad to hear that and I hope you keep that Cristoff under control because I wouldn't want to meet him on the streets of Georgetown. *wink*
I usually finish with the question: If you could be ANY character in ANY book, which character would it be and why? But once upon a time, I was given the opportunity to ask you which of your characters you would most want to be and you answered, that it was Faith from ECSTASY UNTAMED because she can fly.
So, I'm going to go in a different direction: Of all of your characters, including those in A BLOOD SEDUCTION, which is the one most like you and why?
Pamela: I remember that question! And it’s a lot easier than this one. Lol! Each of my heroines (and truly, most of my heroes) have a part of me, some piece of my personality whether it’s my stubbornness or persistence or sense of fair play. But they’re each their own person, too. So much of who we are is formed early in our lives. Who would Kara (in Desire Untamed) have been if she’d been encouraged to follow her dreams instead of pressured to remain home with her mother, a woman who knew the danger Kara was in even though Kara did not? Who would Delaney (Obsession Untamed) have been if her mother hadn’t been murdered, driving her into the FBI to catch the ones who got away? Who would Skye (Passion Untamed) have been if she’d grown up within the safety of her family instead of the captivity of the soulless Mage? In some ways, they’re all me, or the me I would hope to be if I were put in the same situation. But in other ways, each is a unique individual and not like me at all. So who is most like me? I have no idea. Sorry!
Amy: I guess that's how it should be then. Just as your characters grow and change so do you. We're glad of that since with change comes more characters. Pamela, thank you so very much for taking time from your busy schedule to spend time with us today. It's been a delight and a very special treat for me as I hope it has been for our visitors. Congratulations on the upcoming release of A BLOOD SEDUCTION and I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Pamela: Thanks so much for having me, Amy! And thanks for the good wishes on the upcoming release. : ) I have a question for all of you. I’ve given you an idea of the types of television I like to watch. What are you watching and loving these days? I’ll let Amy choose two winners to receive a signed copy of one of my Feral Warriors books, winners’ choice. And if you have any other questions for me, ask away!
Amy: Well, you heard the dear lady, what are you watching and loving most on television these days?
For me, it's GAME OF THRONES and THE BORGIAS but next month, I'll be in 7th Heaven when TRUE BLOOD returns on June 10th. Yay! That's my prize since I'm not eligible to enter the giveaway but you are, so:
For a chance to win a Feral Warriors Novel, please answer Pamela's question- What are you watching and loving most on television these days? - leave it in a comment WITH your EMAIL ADDRESS because, remember if I can't contact you, you can't win! Two (2) eligible and very lucky commenters will be chosen at random. Those two lucky people will be able to choose which of the Feral Warriors they'd like to have come live at their house - in book form, of course. This Giveaway is open to EVERYONE (US & International) and will run until 11:45PM EDT on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS FOR VISITING!
If you'd like to learn more about Pamela Palmer and her fabulous series, please visit her website - click here to travel there. Happy Reading Everyone!
A BLOOD SEDUCTION, a Vamp City novel, by Pamela Palmer, Avon Romance, release date, May 29th, 2012, available in print and ebook format.
I am a huge fan of Pamela Palmer's writing so when Avon sent me the ARC for the first novel in her new Vamp City Series, I was more than excited, I was ecstatic. Pamela's writing has always been amazing and her paranormal stories have always been filled with magic, larger than life heroes and passion, passion, passion. I expected to find the same in this new series, so imagine my surprise when I read A BLOOD SEDUCTION by Pamela Palmer.
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 ...
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Quinn Lennox has always felt a little out of place so when her clothes and hair change color inexplicably and when she see Shimmers in Georgetown, she just pushes it from her mind. But when she begins to see another world overlaid on the real world, she begins to wonder if she's going mad. The last thing she expects is to find herself and her brother, Zack, pulled into this dangerous and dark netherworld called Washington, V.C. - V.C. for Vamp City. A copy of Washington, DC circa Civil War era that was magically created as a place where vampires can hunt, play, and exist without being hunted or condemned for their lifestyles. This dark nightmarish world exists alongside the real Washington, DC but the magic that holds it is beginning to fail. Bursts of sunlight are starting to break through and threaten the vampires' existence and their world.
Arturo Mazza is not a typical hero type. He's handsome, of course, he's even charming but he's also very dangerous and very manipulative. When he comes to Quinn's rescue, he's surprised to discover she might be just what he's been looking for to save Vamp City. He believes she may be the sorcerer who's needed to restore the magic that will save himself, his fellow vampires and Vamp City. As much as he knows that Quinn's only desire is to find her brother and their friend, Lily, then get their butts back to the real world, Arturo can't let her go, he can't assist her, and he must turn her over to the vicious and even more dangerous, Cristoff who plans to end her life as soon as the magic is restored.
Quinn is strong in nature, strong in conviction, and determined to free herself and her brother from this hell in which they've accidentally stumbled. She knows Arturo has lied to her, she knows he will continue to lie to her for as he tells her often, he cannot help what he is. Despite her knowing that Arturo can't be trusted, it's him she's drawn to, it's him she continuously asks assistance from and it's him that continually plagues her dreams and thoughts. Quinn isn't the only one not immune to the growing relationship between this dark master and his prisoner. Arturo wants her to be his but even more than wanting her to be his, he desires her to want him and not to fear him. Even though he feeds on fear, he has no desire for Quinn's fear. It's this aspect of Arturo that keeps him from being a complete anti-hero.
A BLOOD SEDUCTION took me by surprise. I'm well acquainted with Pamela's ability to weave stories where worlds of magic coexist alongside our Human world and it's one of the things I love about her books but this world is darker and more dangerous than anything she's ever created before. From the minute that Quinn and Zack enter Vamp City, they are fighting for their lives. This nightmarish world is full of dangers, tortures and lacks even the minutest moment of softness or light. Humans are food and toys to the vampires. Humans are slaves to cruel and uncaring masters who not only feed on their blood but their emotions as well. Some, like Arturo, feed on the fear that they instill in their victims but others, like Arturo's creator/master, feed on the pain that they inflict on their victims. Torture is common place in Vamp City. Unspeakable tortures that inflict the greatest amount of pain possible so that these monster vampires can indulge themselves in the delights of feeding on this strongest of emotions. I have to say that I am quite shocked and amazed that Pamela even thought up some of the disturbing means of torture that were used by the vampires.
When I read FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, I snickered at the level of BDSM used in the book and thought the hoopla was all overrated - well, folks, A BLOOD SEDUCTION makes FIFTY SHADES OF GREY look like a fairy tale. But just as the first in the E.L. James series couldn't be called a true romance, the same holds true of A BLOOD SEDUCTION. We have to keep reading. We have to follow Quinn's journey back into the darkness and watch as her attraction for Arturo, and his for her, guides their relationship and their romance. I have no doubt that like a few other Bad Boy heroes, Arturo's heart will lead him down the path to acknowledging his conscience and his humanity. It's just going to take some time and probably be an uphill battle.
A BLOOD SEDUCTION by Pamela Palmer is not for everyone. I found this book extraordinary and unique. I also found it greatly disturbing at times. I found no respite from the dangers, the terror, the constant fear that the heroine finds herself living with and as far as romance goes ... well, I'm waiting for the rest of the series. There is no happily ever after for the story isn't over. At times, I found myself liking Arturo very much and other times, wishing he would go away and leave Quinn to her own methods. Like other Bad Boys, the goodness that exists in Arturo shows through enough to give you hope.
With A BLOOD SEDUCTION and as always, Pamela has proven herself the writer extraordinaire. She has created a world so dark, so terrifying, and so nightmarish that you may think twice about ever visiting Washington, DC again. I know that I will be reading on in this series now that I know what to expect. I need to know what happens. There are too many questions left unanswered at the end of this first book not to continue on. My curiosity has been piqued, I am totally hooked, and like any addict, I have a need for more.
I can only recommend A BLOOD SEDUCTION by Pamela Palmer to those who enjoy the darkest of dark stories, who are looking for a taste of the true vampire horror and are willing to continue on into the series for resolution. This is not a book for the faint of heart or for those who are looking for a passionate, true love romance that culminates in passionate embraces at the end of the book. A BLOOD SEDUCTION is a unique, extraordinary, and exquisitely mind twisting paranormal that will have you thinking about sleeping with the lights on - if you sleep at all.
Happy Reading Everyone and please come by on Monday, May 21st when the author, Pamela Palmer, will be here to talk about this fabulous new series and give away some Feral Warriors! Can it get better than that?
A BLOOD SEDUCTION, a Vamp City novel from Avon Romance, release date, May 29, 2012, available in print and ebook format.
Coming out on May 29, 2012 is a new anthology from Avon Impulse. It features novellas from Cathy Maxwell, Lynne Hinton, and Candis Terry. All of the stories feature military men and it's being published in honor of anyone and everyone who has ever worn a uniform, is wearing a uniform and will ever wear a uniform. Happy Memorial Day to our troops!
Story Blurbs for FOR LOVE AND HONOR:
Three military heroes . . . fighting to protect their countries, their homes, and the women they love.
In New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell's THE BOOKISH MISS NELSON, it's the duty of daring Army Captain William Duroy to escort Miss Pippa Nelson through enemy territory, bringing her safely home to England. But can he resist falling in love?
In Lynne Hinton's LETTERS FROM PIE TOWN, a New Mexico town couldn't be prouder of its very own Raymond Twinhorse, injured while fighting in Afghanistan. So Trina Lockhart gathers letters from Raymond's friends and family, hoping their wishes will help to heal the man she loves-and bring him back home.
In Candis Terry's HOME SWEET HOME, Lt. Aiden Marshall returns to Sweet, Texas, after facing the devastation of war. With the help of the entire town-and a tail-wagging companion-the woman he's always loved makes her hero's homecoming all the more sweet.
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FOR LOVE AND HONOR, an anthology featuring works by Cathy Maxwell, Lynne Hinton, and Candis Terry is a touching tribute to all those who have ever worn a uniform or ever will. It's a thank you that will touch your heart and have you wishing to extend your thanks to every man or woman in uniform. I read all three stories plus the excerpts for these three authors' other works in one evening.
The first story by Cathy Maxwell, THE BOOKISH MISS NELSON, is a delightful historical romance set in Spain during Wellington's battle against Napoleon. As his perceived punishment, Captain William Duroy has been ordered to escort Miss Pippa Nelson, the daughter of Sir Hew Nelson to Lisbon. Sir Hew is the British envoy to Spain and has left his book loving daughter at Wellington's encampment while he does his duty. Worried that he will miss the real fighting when the British go against the French, Captain Duroy tries to get his commanding officer to relent but fails. From the minute William meets the independent Pippa, they butt heads. Angry with the man in charge of her military escort for forcing her to leave her book laden coach behind, she decides no man, no matter how handsome, will tell her what to do. At the first opportunity, Pippa steals an innkeeper's son's clothing and riding alone sets out to return to Wellington's encampment where she believes her father will be expecting her to be. William is forced to go after her and when he finds her, they both find themselves in the middle of a French military unit. Their adventure together means being forced to hide from the French in a supply closet, then when Pippa discovers the French have taken her horse, Tatiana, she insists on getting her back. William's concern is greater. He's discovered the French have a train laden with ammunition and it will be coming in behind the British, meaning his fellow soldiers were in danger of being flanked on both sides which could mean certain failure and doom. He and Pippa set out to stop the train, retake Tatiana, and escape with their lives. Reading THE BOOKISH MISS NELSON by Cathy Maxwell was like reading a teaser, a teaser that left me wanting more, much more. I wish that it was a full-length novel instead of just about forty pages. It is a story that is truly meant to be told in its entirety not condensed. The second story by Lynne Hinton, LETTERS FROM PIE TOWN, had me reaching for a box of tissues very quickly. Told through a series of letters to be put into a care package to Raymond Twinhorse, a wounded soldier hospitalized in Germany. The letters are written by close friends, his father, and the girl he loves. We learn just how much they care about him and wish him to come home to them. We learn from them what a good man Raymond was even before he signed up to do the ultimate duty to defend our freedoms. They are all very proud of him not only for his doing his military duty but his duty as a son, a friend and as the beloved man who accepted a girl pregnant with another man's child. This compilation of letters is moving, endearing, and literally brought tears to my eyes.
The third story by Candis Terry, HOME SWEET HOME was definitely the most moving for me. Having just returned home from serving in the military, Aiden Marshall is a changed man. He's seen the horrors of war, the loss of good friends, and bears the guilt of a man who feels he doesn't deserve the right to have survived. Even though he's in love with the girl he left behind, Paige Walker, he feels she deserves better than him and walks away from her. However, Paige's love for him is too strong to let him go so easily. She invites him to become a partner in working the bed and breakfast that she took over from an aunt who had become too old to handle it anymore. While taking some time to consider Paige's proposition even after he'd disappointed her so greatly, Aiden is approached by the town to be a judge in the Sweet Apple Butter Festival's apple butter competition. Unable to turn down two blue-haired ladies who'd expended an enormous amount of compliments on him, he agrees. Aiden's guilt and overwhelming sadness isn't just about returning to Sweet, Texas without his buddies. It's also based in the knowledge that he'd abandoned the one buddy that had given him loyalty and love, unconditionally. His buddy, a dog named Renegade, that he and his buddies had adopted as one of them, the Musketeers, while in Afghanistan. He had confided this painful guilt he carries to Paige so she sets out to help ease his conscience. She and the town have a surprise for Aiden and it's not just the honor of being a judge or even the biggest welcome home party that he'd never expected. Paige gives him the ultimate gift other than her undying love even when faced with his stubborn idea that she deserves better than him.
Unknown to Aiden, she and the town have banded together and arranged for that buddy that was left behind to be the guest of honor at the festival. The buddy, Aiden felt he'd abandoned, the buddy that would never understand why he hadn't returned to him, the buddy that, when he saw Aiden, wagged his tail happily, licked his face and forgave him on the spot. This great gift lifts Aiden's heart, helps heal some of the guilt and opens enough space in his heart to allow himself to believe he deserves to be loved again. HOME SWEET HOME by Candis Terry is a sweet, touching, even heartwrenching story. She touches our hearts with the grief that soldiers bear after seeing the horrors of war but then goes one step further and adds the love and loyalty of an innocent animal caught up in the world of war. By the end of this story, I was bawling like a baby.
I recommend that everyone who has a sense of duty to family, country, and those who allow us to keep our freedoms by sacrificing themselves - mind, body, and soul - that everyone one of you should read this anthology, FOR LOVE AND HONOR. Just be sure to have a big box of tissues nearby when you do.
Happy Reading Everyone!
FOR LOVE AND HONOR, an anthology by Cathy Maxwell, Lynne Hinton, and Candis Terry, from Avon Impulse, available in ebook format on May 29, 2012.
Okay, okay, I've said it before that I am not a great fan of contemporary romance but every once in a while one comes along that takes me by surprise. Avon recently sent me an ARC of RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson and I have to admit that after reading her novella, CRAZY ON YOU, I wasn't overly eager to read this one. However, I started reading another ARC and it was a little tougher to get into than I expected so I set it aside and picked up RESCUE ME. In the mood of the book, I'll just say that I'm just tickled pink with it. I actually liked it very much and will even go so far as to say that I kinda loved it.
Blurb for RESCUE ME:
She’s 33, unmarried, and stuffed into a Bubble Yum pink bridesmaid dress. And the whole town wants to fix her up with anyone with a dental plan…
Who’s going to rescue Sadie Hollowell now?
Everyone in Lovett, Texas knows Sadie has always been a ‘notional’ kind of gal. She got a notion to leave town asap , and never visit her daddy (bless his heart). Now, she’s back and got the notion to invite a good-looking, hard-muscled, total stranger to her cousin’s wedding. Better a stranger than some of the losers she’s dated.
Vince Haven got his muscles the hard way—as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan. He’s staying in Lovett to visit his crazy aunt—the proprietor of the local Gas N Go. Before he can get the heck back out of the small town, his aunt makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Maybe he’ll stick around Lovett for a while. Maybe he’ll make a ‘go’ of the Gas N Go. Maybe he’ll rescue Sadie out of that pink dress!
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Sadie Hallowell has returned to Lovett, Texas begrudgingly. She's only come back long enough to be in her cousin's wedding and then plans to head back home to Arizona as soon as possible. Unfortunately, complications arise when her father is injured during the breeding of a mare. Sadie hadn't expected to remain in Lovett but she also hadn't expected to meet the tall, dark, and handsome wall of muscle named Vince Haven on her way into town. She also hadn't expected to have him give her one of the best times ever in the bride's room at her cousin's wedding. She fully expected never to see him again.
Vince Haven has come to Lovett, Texas to give his sister and nephew some quality time with her ex who has decided to come back into their lives and be a husband and father. Vince isn't happy about it but is willing to give them their space. He's come to Lovett to visit his aunt who owns the Gas 'n Go only to find that she wants him to buy it from her so that she can spend the rest of her days playing. He agrees and sets about remodeling the old place into something he can sell and make a profit. Having spent time as a Navy SEAL, lost friends, and now bears physical and emotional scars, he's not ready even after all this time to allow anyone too close to him. Meeting Sadie Hallowell seemed like a simple solution. He's attracted to her, she's attracted to him and neither wants anything but sex. Friends with benefits, you might say - well, actually it's what Sadie does tell herself that she and Vince have together. That it's the only thing that she and Vince have together. Great sex with no complications - or so she keeps telling herself as does he.
RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson is a great read. It's funny, it's real, it's believable. I laughed out loud several times. I appreciated the southern sayings since I'm a southern gal, too, even if not from Texas - southern is southern. I have to admit that I found myself in tears, not once but twice while reading this book. Dang it all, I enjoyed the dickens out of this book and it had me smiling like a schoolgirl on a picnic even as it brought tears to my eyes!
In RESCUE ME, Rachel Gibson has created believable characters, believable situations and heartbreakingly believable relationships. It isn't difficult to relate to Sadie as an independent woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. Vince is likable and sexy as all get out! The supporting characters are sweet as molasses just as you'd expect them to be and create an indelible image of this sleepy little town.
RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson is a fun-filled tear-jerker story that will have you giggling your way through Sadie's wearing a Bubble Yum colored bridesmaids dress, in need of a cold shower while reading the hot sex scenes, and reaching for a full box of tissue at other times. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a romantic comedy with a touch of tear-jerker thrown in to read this upcoming release from Rachel Gibson. It's so good, y'all can sweeten your sweet tea with it.
Happy Reading Everyone and congrats to the WINNER of UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands ... DJ/Deana!
RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson, from Avon Romance, release date - May 29, 2012. Available in print and ebook format.
I was recently asked to read and review a Historical Romance by an author that I have to admit I actually hadn't read anything by - yet! I am most certainly a fan of Elyse Mady now after reading THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR available from Carina Press on May 21, 2012.
It is amazing! Gorgeous cover, too, don't you think?
Blurb for THE WHITE SWAN:
London, 1810 After the tragic death of her beloved, Hester Aspinall vowed never to be ruled by her passions again. Still, she is drawn to her landlord, handsome adventurer Thomas Ramsay—but she doesn't fool herself that a man of his station would look twice at a poor tailor's sister.
With the sea for a mistress, Thomas has no intention of entering into matrimony. And yet, he can't get the plain-spoken and desirable Hester out of his mind, even though she's never tried to secure his attentions as other women do.
Everything changes the night Hester's brother is arrested during a raid on a gay brothel, the infamous White Swan. With no one else to turn to, and terrified Robert will hang for his crime, Hester accepts Thomas's offer to bear the cost of the defense. A true gentleman, Thomas expects nothing in return—but Hester can no longer deny her own desires... She may offer her body eagerly, but can she protect her heart?
* * * * *
Hester Aspinall was living a modest simple like with her brother, Robert in London until the morning Robert didn't join her for breakfast. She waited, her worry that something had happened to him that caused him not to return to sleep in his bed. Knowing what a courteous man her brother is, she concludes that he must have spent the night at his tailor shop after too much drink so she packs up a meal and heads to the shop. He's not there either. She soon discovers that her beloved newly engaged brother has been arrested in a raid upon a public house called the White Swan. He has been charged with having patronized this certain common, ill-governed and disorderly house in Claire Market and in this said house committed with sundry evil and ill-disposed persons all manner of dishonest conversation and unnatural acts. Robert was being charged with homosexual activity, a crime possibly punishable by hanging.
Thomas Ramsay's first love has always been the sea but upon meeting Hester Aspinall when her brother leases a shop from him for his tailoring business, he's immediately smitten with the stoic young woman. Rescuing her from the mob and then from herself as well as offering aid to Robert in prison, Thomas hopes to win over the brave and stoic young Hester. Unknown to him is that Hester fights her own mounting attraction to the handsome and considerate Thomas even as her brother orders to her to leave the man's home and take lodgings elsewhere.
Elyse Mady has taken a true life person in the name of Robert Aspinall and created a fictional world for him. She tells us that there was a real Robert Aspinall who earned a living as a tailor and who was, in fact, arrested in a raid on the White Swan and charged accordingly. Elyse has woven a wonderful story incorporating the real-life arrest, ultimate incarceration, and trial along with a fictional family background and future. Her characters are written with depth and her story is told in an incredible voice that invites the reader to feel as if they are actually in London, 1810, with all the sights, sounds, and smells. Her characterization of the times, the people, and what it would have been like to be charged with a crime and subsequently locked away in Newgate Prison was exceptional and eye-opening.
I highly recommend reading THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR by Elyse Mady. It's an extraordinary historical romance that will take you on a journey through the worst of what London could be in 1810. The loyalty of a sister to a brother and a brother to a sister pulls at the heart. A woman's sacrifice of her own reputation so that she may experience the love she wishes to be her own. Her sacrifice believed to be in gratitude for the assistance the man gives her and her brother further tugs at the heartstrings until the resolute declaration of their love for each other. Even the love between two men brings a sense of romance that cannot be ignored. If you love learning new bits of history, if you enjoy a tale that will keep you glued to page after page, and a romance that brings a tear to your eye, THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR by Elyse Mady will fill your every desire. I plan to experience more of her tales now that I know what an extraordinary writer she is. Thank you, Elyse, for a fabulous journey into the darkest parts of London.
Happy Reading Everyone!
THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR by Elyse Mady, from Carina Press, available May 21, 2012 in ebook format.
I'm always assured that when I pick up a book written by Lynsay Sands that I will enjoy it and probably laugh a bit, too. UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON, an Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands is no exception to the rule. This is the 16th book in the Argeneau series and probably one of the most unique so far. It's Christian's love story and takes place in, of all places, St. Lucia in the Caribbean - you got that right - vampires (immortals) in the tropics! UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands available now from Avon Romance is a wonderful way to take a vacation and never leave your reading chair.
Blurb for UNDER THE VAMPIRE MOON:
When Vampires Go On Vacation ...
Escaping a horrible marriage, Carolyn Connor has no desire to think about men -- a vow she's determined to keep while on vacation in St. Lucia. She'll take the Caribbean sun and sea and plenty of tropical drinks with those cute umbrellas poolside, thank you. She absolutely does NOT need male company, no matter how tan and rock-hard his body may be.
Easy enough, but then Carolyn meets the charming Marguerite Argeneau, who is infamous among her family for her matchmaking prowess ...
Christian Notte has well known the power of finding a life mate. He's seen enough of his Argeneau relatives taken down for the count, but he never imagined he'd let himself fall in love -- until he meets the enthralling, charmingly skittish, and oh-so-mortal Carolyn. But how will he reveal what he is and still convince this once-bitten mortal to trust him with her heart ... and her forever?
* * * * * *
Carolyn Connor has come to St. Lucia for a much needed vacation with her friend, Bethany, who was once upon a time her roommate and good friend from University. Having rekindled a long lost friendship, the two are meeting their other dear friend, Genie, who works at the resort where they're staying. Genie has remained a dear close friend in spirit if not in physicality and knows the misery that Carolyn has spent in the marriage from hell with soon-to-be ex-husband, Robert. Almost immediately upon arriving at the resort, Bethany falls ill leaving Carolyn pretty much on her own amidst honeymooners and other assorted couples. Genie has to work so Carolyn is rethinking her vacation plans when she suddenly finds herself engulfed in the charming friendship of Marguerite Argeneau and her new husband, Julius Notte. Unknown to her, Marguerite immediately recognizes Carolyn as the potential life mate for her five hundred year old son, Christian. Of course, he doesn't look five hundred years old but more like twenty-five and amazingly HOT - too young and too hot for Carolyn who is feeling older and less attractive by the minute.
Christian is immediately smitten upon meeting the older woman and sets about winning her over but Carolyn is resistant from the start. She's not a cougar, she tells herself and this gorgeous young violin playing hunk of a man can't possibly be interested in her, a forty-two year old woman whose marriage was a failure and whose husband wasn't even attracted to her.
Christian's quirky and adorable cousin, Gia, comes up with the solution. Christian needs to get close to Carolyn to get to know her so that he can eventually explain who he is and what he is and why they are meant to be together without making Carolyn run for the hills - Gia's solution? She tells Carolyn that Christian is gay and that the family wouldn't approve if they ever knew, so he needs a beard. Carolyn totally understands because she had played the beard for a very dear friend and fellow roommate while at University. Feeling sorry for this gorgeous young man who has to hide his true nature from his brother and cousins, Carolyn agrees even though she finds herself completely and inexplicably attracted to this younger man who was now totally off limits. And so the fun begins ...
UNDER THE VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands is a romantic comedy that delivers all the steamy sexiness that Lynsay Sands is so well-known for in her Argeneau series with a slight difference this time. Christian is forced to fight his own desires not because he's NOT interested in owning up to Carolyn being his life mate but because he's supposed to be uninterested in females altogether. He has so much trouble keeping his fiery desires under control that he nearly loses control several times which only adds to the humor of the story. Carolyn finds herself more and more attracted to this dear friend who has captured her heart not as a lover but as a companion to the point where she believes she's dream raping him even as she believes him totally uninterested in her.
I know a lot of you are NOT into paranormal but unlike other Vampire stories, Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series isn't really about vampires. The Argeneaus are immortals who are as normal in their problems and romances as any Mortal, maybe even more so because when they meet their life mates, they get kind of love crazy!! In the past novels, Lynsay has always explained to the reader at some point or another who the Immortals are, what they are, and how they came to be. I was surprised that in this one, the explanation only begins to come toward the end and in the end, Christian only just begins to explain it to Carolyn. This poses one problem - I've found throughout the series, that you could pick up any one of the novels and begin the series there as each did well as a stand-alone novel but UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON doesn't delve into the history much so only a constant reader of the series will already be familiar with the Immortals and their beginning. I'm not saying that you shouldn't read this one before reading others but if you do, be prepared to get hooked and recognize that you'll need to go back and read at least one of the past books to understand who the Argeneaus really are. However, if you've never read the Argeneau series and think you might be interested but don't particularily like paranormal then THIS IS THE ONE to read first.
UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands is a fast-paced vacation into the tropics filled with humor, sexual innuendo, and steamy hot sex play that will have you panting for a frosty lime margarita to cool you off. Lynsay Sands has done it again with her wonderful characters, her sexy men, and her delightful sense of humor that will keep you smiling throughout the story, closing the book with an even bigger smile, and a definite eagerness to read the next installment - which, by the way, is THE LADY IS A VAMP (Jeanne Louise's story) coming in August 2012. Even if you're not into paranormal, I highly recommend reading UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands. If you love her historicals, you'll love her paranormals. I promise!
Happy Reading Everyone!
UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats. A guaranteed tropical vacation without leaving home. : )
On Friday, I reviewed the soon-to-be released first book in Pamela Palmer's new Vamp City series, A BLOOD SEDUCTION. If you haven't read my review, please do - click here - but be sure to come right back because I've got the author, Pamela Palmer, visiting here with me today to talk about this extraordinary book and her new series. Plus she's got some Feral Warriors that she wants to find new homes for as well.
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 ...
Amy: Glad to hear that and I hope you keep that Cristoff under control because I wouldn't want to meet him on the streets of Georgetown. *wink*
Pamela: I remember that question! And it’s a lot easier than this one. Lol! Each of my heroines (and truly, most of my heroes) have a part of me, some piece of my personality whether it’s my stubbornness or persistence or sense of fair play. But they’re each their own person, too. So much of who we are is formed early in our lives. Who would Kara (in Desire Untamed) have been if she’d been encouraged to follow her dreams instead of pressured to remain home with her mother, a woman who knew the danger Kara was in even though Kara did not? Who would Delaney (Obsession Untamed) have been if her mother hadn’t been murdered, driving her into the FBI to catch the ones who got away? Who would Skye (Passion Untamed) have been if she’d grown up within the safety of her family instead of the captivity of the soulless Mage? In some ways, they’re all me, or the me I would hope to be if I were put in the same situation. But in other ways, each is a unique individual and not like me at all. So who is most like me? I have no idea. Sorry!
Amy: I guess that's how it should be then. Just as your characters grow and change so do you. We're glad of that since with change comes more characters. Pamela, thank you so very much for taking time from your busy schedule to spend time with us today. It's been a delight and a very special treat for me as I hope it has been for our visitors. Congratulations on the upcoming release of A BLOOD SEDUCTION and I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I'm always assured that when I pick up a book written by Lynsay Sands that I will enjoy it and probably laugh a bit, too. UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON, an Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands is no exception to the rule. This is the 16th book in the Argeneau series and probably one of the most unique so far. It's Christian's love story and takes place in, of all places, St. Lucia in the Caribbean - you got that right - vampires (immortals) in the tropics! UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands available now from Avon Romance is a wonderful way to take a vacation and never leave your reading chair.
