Unwrapping: Review of A BLOOD SEDUCTION: A Vamp City Novel by Pamela Palmer

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.

                                                                 

Unwrapping: FOR LOVE AND HONOR, an anthology in honor of our military

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.

                                                              

Unwrapping: Review of RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson

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.

                                                               

Unwrapping: THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR by Elyse Mady

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?

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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.

Hester is expelled from her meager lodgings, faces loss of income, and disgrace as well as an actual attack on her by Robert's fiancée's father and a crowd of onlookers. Injured and disgraced, Robert's landlord, Thomas Ramsay rescues her from the mob and takes her into his home for care and safety only adding more disgrace to her reputation for she is now a single woman living in an unmarried man's home without protection. At first she does everything to persuade him to allow her to take cheap lodging near Newgate Prison so that she might be close to her brother but Thomas refuses to allow her to live on her own in such a disreputable manner.

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.

                                                            

Unwrapping: Review of UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands

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?

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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. : )

                                                               

Interview with Georgian Romance Author, Victoria Vane

A while back I reviewed the book A FORTUNE'S SON by Emery Lee. I expressed my disappointment that this incredible historical fiction had been marketed as a historical romance and because of that marketing, I had been disappointed in it as a romance read. Imagine my surprise when I received an email from the author thanking me for my honest review and offering me the opportunity to read her newest work, a historical romance novella set in Georgian England. She promised me all of the romance that had been missing in A FORTUNE'S SON. Victoria Vane promised me romance in A BREACH OF PROMISE and she delivered two-fold. I became an instant fan so when her next foray into the world of romance came along in A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, I couldn't wait to read it and I wasn't disappointed.

A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE by Victoria Vane which releases TODAY is the first in The Devil Devere series and is bursting with rollicking bawdy good fun and enough steamy romance to make the pages smoke with the heat! It's TOM JONES meets MOLL FLANDERS with a hint of THE HANGOVER thrown in. If you'd like to read my review of this must read novella, please click HERE.

Blurb for A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE:

What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake? WITH THE DEVIL IN CHARGE ... THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY...

She’s a lonely lady down on her luck... Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a struggling Covent Garden actress with a bruised heart and a closely guarded secret.

He’s steadfast and eminently respectable... Sir Edward Chambers, Ned to his intimates, is guilt-ridden over his beloved wife’s death and avowed to live out a rustic and mundane life … of celibacy.

With the devil in charge — there will surely be hell to pay. Devil in disguise, Viscount Ludovic DeVere, is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind blowing passion after which “dull dog Ned” awakes to find himself in the King of England’s bed!

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I am honored to have as my guest today, the author of this exciting new series from Breathless Press, Victoria Vane!

Amy:  Welcome Victoria, it's a real pleasure to have you here with us today.

Victoria:  Thanks Amy! I appreciate the opportunity to chat!

Amy:  Perhaps you can tell us a little about yourself for the benefit of those who don't know you yet.

Victoria:  Well, let's see. I guess I'll start with the basics. I have been married for twenty-nine years to a wonderful man (My own Ned) and have two sons aged 17 and 20. I have been a horse, history, and romance lover all my life (elements that combined in my very first novel, THE HIGHEST STAKES written as Emery Lee). I play the Celtic harp (but only for myself due to severe performance anxiety!) I love Baroque music, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and am a caffeine addict. I am also claustrophobic, acrophobic, and have an intense dislike of pigs and clowns.

Amy:  LOL!! I can see that I appreciate more about you than just your writing, Victoria, for I too love Ferrero Rochers and have no use for clowns!
It's obvious you have a great love of history as illustrated in your writing. Is it that love of history or something else that inspired you to write?

Victoria:  In truth, history has served as inspiration for everything I write - even in my erotic stories! While they say to write what you know, I say write whatever you are passionate about – you can learn the rest. I have always loved history but when I decided to write my first book set in the 18th century turf world, I realized I knew very little about my specific subject matter so I applied myself devoutly and wholeheartedly to learning everything I possibly could. I did this through research that included not only mounds of history books, but art, music, letters, memoirs, diaries and stage plays. This well-rounded approach has allowed me to both understand the mindset of the Georgian era and also to emulate the "voice" of the time period in which most of my stories are set. As each of my stories has evolved, I have endeavored to incorporate different elements that bring my characters' world vividly to life whether it be horseracing, gambling, arranged marriages and mistresses or the stage. I also have a book in the near future featuring 18th century science, exploration and high seas adventure!

Amy:  Indeed, your incredible research has been well worth the effort for when reading your works, the reader does get a definite sense of having been transported through time. A BREACH OF PROMISE was your first Historical Romance and for those of you who haven't read it, I highly recommend it.
Victoria, what inspired you to shift your writing to the Romance side?

Victoria:  In truth it wasn't completely by design! As you already know by having reviewed it, my second novel, FORTUNE'S SON (also written as Emery Lee) is a work of romantic historical fiction. Although this is a story in which history and romance play equal parts, my publisher chose to package the book as historical romance. This automatically branded me as a romance writer, even though that was not precisely how I saw myself. My agent at the time was also pushing me to tone down the history and write romance. It wasn't what I really wanted, but I decided to give it a go and wrote my first romance novella as an experiment in that direction.
The result was A BREACH OF PROMISE, a witty and fun story inspired by a play I had read by Georgian era playwright, Hannah Cowley. When I finished, I sent several query letters out to publishers, got several rejections and then wrote it off as a "failed" experiment. A couple months later, to my surprise, I got an email from an editor at Ellora's Cave expressing interest as long as I would be willing to make some changes in the "heat level" of the story. With no other manuscripts under contract I really had nothing to lose, so I accepted. This, however, created a problem with my first publisher who feared I would destroy my "author brand" by writing for an erotic publisher. They insisted that I should write under a new pseudonym- so my sex writing evil Victoria Vane was born!

Amy:  Well, I love the sex writing evil Victoria Vane and am very glad she's come to be! A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE is your newest release and it is surely the most fun a reader can have in about 100 pages without getting arrested. I envy you your ability to give us so much story in so short a word count.
Do you prefer writing your Romances in the form of novellas rather than full-length?

Victoria:  Emphatically YES! Not only are novellas growing exponentially in popularity, I have discovered I have a unique ability to pack a good punch in this abbreviated format. What I adore about THE DEVIL DEVERE series is that it is the best of both worlds for both me and for the reader, as it is comprised of four stand alone novellas that combined read almost as a serial novel. I really think this is going to be a huge hit.

Amy:  I know I plan to read them all and am hoping all my friends read them, too! Y'all won't be disappointed, trust me! I love that you've introduced us to characters that we will most likely meet again in the rest of The Devil DeVere series including the Devil Devere himself, Viscount Ludovic DeVere.
Without giving away too much, will he play prominently in each of the next three stories or just hover in the background?

Victoria:  DeVere is one of those bigger than life characters that comes along once in a lifetime! He plays prominent secondary roles in the first two novellas, A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE and THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, but then becomes the primary protagonist in both THE DEVIL YOU KNOW (a prequel) and THE DEVIL'S MATCH which wraps up the series. Although he's the quintessential rake in the first two books, the third and fourth will slowly reveal the man behind the mask and the woman who finally brings him to his knees!

Amy:  Brava! I so enjoy the settings of your stories. What is it about the Georgian era that you love most and inspired you to set your stories there?

Victoria:  Many people ask why I chose the Georgian era when the Regency is so much more popular. My answer is that I adore both the naughtiness and the elegant decadence of the time. I am fascinated by the paradox this age presents – the mask of politesse hiding the licentiousness beneath. It's such wonderful fodder for a novelist!

Amy:  It always struck me as a much more naughty time than Regency with all of it's polite rules and control of the ton. I love your settings.
I'm always curious as to what inspires an author to create a set of characters and since The Devil DeVere series is a set of Romance stories that are intertwined, who, or what, was the inspiration for your characters, particularly Viscount DeVere?

Victoria:  Again, I go back to history on this one. About three years ago, I read about Frederick Calvert 6th Baron Baltimore, an extremely dissolute man who squandered a vast fortune and kept a private harem. He was also tried but acquitted for abducting and raping a young Quaker woman. While obviously, no model for a romance hero, I was still fascinated that he lived as he did and got away with so much. I used him in part as inspiration for DeVere. In fact, DeVere himself has an unusual obsession with the life of Lord Baltimore which is actually written into my story. Baltimore's entire scandalous life is recounted by DeVere in THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
As for my other characters, Phoebe was inspired in part by the actress Mary Robinson who had a torrid affair with George IV when he was an 18 year old Prince of Wales.
Banastre Tarleton inspired my idea for Hew though their characters are quite different, and lastly, my all time favorite heroine Vesta just came out of nowhere!
After reading a few chapters, my Beta reader asked if she was anything like me. After giving it a bit of thought I realized Vesta is VERY much like I was at eighteen years old!

Amy:  We do meet Vesta at the very end of A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE. The minute you meet her you just know she's going to be trouble. LOL!!
You once told me that writing A BREACH OF PROMISE was a writing experiment. Well, you've more than proven to this reader that your experiment was a great success. So now that you've proven yourself as a talented author in this genre, what is your favorite part of writing Historical Romance?

Victoria:  I love the challenge of pairing different characters and finding ways for them to fulfill one another as that is truly what romantic love is all about. As far as the "intimate" scenes go, I find those a great challenge as well, to try to make each scene fresh and different but without adding any kinky elements. I prefer to think of my love scenes as "hot vanilla" as they are monogamous, heterosexual, and are most definitely part of a developing romantic relationship. Although my love scenes are very explicit, I don't think of them at all as gratuitous.

Amy:  Your love scenes are by far some of the best I've ever read and hot vanilla is a perfect term for them. They are tasteful and deliciously naughty but fit so well into the setting of your works.
Have you another era of history that you enjoy and have you ever considered setting a story in that era?

Victoria:  The Georgian era will probably always be my favorite but I do have plans to write something completely different (and very soon). I have a well developed idea for a paranormal romance (timeslip not vampire!) that will likely have a late Victorian setting. I may also write at some point in the Edwardian/ gilded age.

Amy:  Wonderful. You know I'm excited about whatever era you write in. When it comes to reading, do you have any favorite authors or genres that you prefer and have they had any influence on your writing?

Victoria:  I always hate to list favorite authors for fear of forgetting someone I love, but my preferred authors usually tend to be those who incorporate strong historical and/or adventure elements. Examples are authors such as Diana Gabaldon, Jennifer Blake, Judith James, Pamela Clare (Mackinnon Rangers!) For historical romance, I favor Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Madeline Hunter, Jane Feather, Mary Balogh. Also a new discovery is a fabulous fellow Georgian junkie, author Lucinda Brant.
As far as my writing influences go, I adore authors who write great characters and witty dialogue. My all time biggest is Georgette Heyer for dialogue and over the top characters. For erotic romance, I admire Robin Schone, Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for her creative vision in melding history with eroticism.

Amy:  With those authors as inspiration and influence, it's no wonder your writing is so exceptional.
Victoria, I've one last question for you. If you could be ANY character in ANY book, not necessarily your own, which character would it be and why?

Victoria:  If I could choose, it would be Claire in OUTLANDER just so I could have Jamie Fraser! He's the best hero ever, but I'd like to shake her until her teeth rattle!

I would also like to modify that question just a bit and say who I think I would be.

The answer is spoiled, self-absorbed, petulant, willful, impetuous, and passionate, Vesta Chambers from THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS. As I mentioned earlier, Vesta is undoubtedly a mirror of myself 30 years ago and who I would have been had my parents been rich and spoiled me rotten!

Amy:  LOL!! I can't wait to read THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS which will be coming to us in June.
Victoria, thank you so very much for sharing your busy schedule with us and it's been an absolute thrill to have you here today. Congratulations on the release of A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE! I hope you've enjoyed your visit as much as we enjoy reading your stories.

Victoria has graciously offered an ebook copy of A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE to one lucky commenter. Answer Victoria's question correctly and remember to include your email address (no entry without it) for a chance at winning this fabulous book!! This Giveaway is open to EVERYONE and will run until 11:30PM EST Sunday, April 29, 2012.

Victoria:  What is the heroine's stage name in A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE?

Hint: The answer is in the blurb above but if you'd like to read an excerpt from A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE and learn more about Victoria's amazing stories, feel free to visit her website - click HERE. Remember to include your EMAIL ADDRESS or you won't be entered because I can't contact you. Good Luck and

Happy Reading Everyone!  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE by Victoria Vane, novella available now from Breathless Press in ebook format.   

                                                             

Wacky Wednesday: Georgian Men On The Loose!

Well, it's Wacky Wednesday and I think I really need it this week. Since we will be meeting the author of fabulously sexy Georgian era writing, Victoria Vane, on Friday, I decided to go in that direction for today's fun. Besides that, it's my sister Maureen's birthday and so I wanted to give her something to drool over.  So Happy Birthday Sis!!

When I think Georgian Era men, I think long hair pulled back in a queue or Colonial looking hotties, how about you? Perhaps some of these will inspire your imaginations just as A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE inspires a rollicking Georgian good time.  (Read my review of this wild Georgian novella by clicking HERE.)



More gorgeous long-haired men - Georgian style!!  ENJOY!

Be sure to come by on Friday and meet Ms. Victoria Vane, she'll be talking about her new Georgian series - The Devil Devere and I believe she's going to be giving something away, too! I promise, this new series is as much fun as a you can get from between the pages of any book without getting arrested.

Happy Reading Everyone and Happy Birthday Maureen!!

Unwrapping: Review of KISS OF PRIDE by Sandra Hill

I apologize for not bringing you this review yesterday as planned but illness kept my brain from giving me the concentration it took to write it. Since TODAY is the actual release date for KISS OF PRIDE - a Deadly Angels Book by Sandra Hill, it's only fitting that I give you the review today. Fate has a funny way of leading us in the right direction, doesn't it? Or perhaps it's a guardian angel or vangel as in KISS OF PRIDE from Avon!

Blurb for KISS OF PRIDE:

Some men are too bad to be true . . .

Is he really a Viking with a vampire's bite? An angel with the body of a thunder god? A lone wolf with love on his mind? Alexandra Kelly, his prey, thinks Vikar Sigurdsson is either flat-out crazy or he's trying to maneuver her into his bed—which is hardly where a professional reporter should conduct an interview, tempting as that prospect might be.

And some men are too good to be true . . .

Until Vikar does something a teensy bit unexpected, and Alex begins to wonder whether her mystery man could really be everything he says he is: a Viking Vampire Angel on a thousand-year-long mission with his pack of sinful brothers—and a man who's finally found the woman of his dreams. By then, Vikar is already wrapping his chiseled arms around Alex's body . . . and sinking his wicked fangs right into her neck. If this is sin, why does it feel so good?

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When I received this book in my goodie box from Avon, I was doubly excited. One, it's a book by Sandra Hill and no one does Vikings like Sandra Hill. Two, it's a new paranormal series about Vikings by the author who does Vikings with more flare, fun and sex appeal than any other.

Vikar Sigurdsson is a brawny, extraordinarily handsome Viking who died over a thousand years ago but is now taking up residence in Translyvania, Pennsylvania. Yes, you read that correctly. Vikar and his six brothers were found guilty of each committing one of the seven deadly sins - wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. Vikar's sin was pride. Sentenced to do penance as a vangel (vampire/angel) and acting as God's warriors against Lucifer's Lucipires (vampires) with Michael the Archangel as their general, they have been traveling through time to protect innocents from being bitten by Lucies and taken to Hell before they have a chance to repent.

Vikar has been brought to present day Pennsylvania and ordered by Michael to restore a castle in Translyvania (a small town who has redesigned itself as a the home of the vampire totally unaware that real vampire/angels now live and walk among them). The last thing Vikar expects is to have a reporter show up on his doorstep who has the distinct smell of sin about her. Instead of turning her away, he invites her in, bites her neck and proclaims she must stay until the cleansing is complete. Simple, right? Not for poor Vikar. He's drawn to this modern woman who is unlike any woman he has ever known and who has brought back to life thoughts and desires that he has fought for too long and that has already cost him too many years added to his sentence.

Alexandra Kelly is looking for a story to keep her occupied both physically and mentally. Her mind is on the trial of the two evil men who killed her husband and daughter. Her thoughts run to murder if she doesn't get justice through the courts. When her boss sends her to this silly town that lives and breaths vampires, she sees it as a good opportunity to distract herself from her own evil thoughts. Believing she has an appointment to interview Lord Vikar, the man said to be restoring the rundown castle on the outskirts of town into a grand hotel, she finagles her way to the front door. When someone finally answers her persistent attempts to gain entrance, she is greeted by the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen - ever.  Even more surprised after learning that this Adonis is Lord Vikar Sigurdsson, is being surprised at having this Viking god bite her neck and then claim he is a vampire/angel or vangel as he and his brother vangels refer to themselves.

As Alex struggles to understand what kind of weird cult like situation she's fallen into, Vikar struggles with his desire for this headstrong redhead. Sex is forbidden for the vangels and so he and Alex resort to near sex or acting like horny teenagers. While fighting their feelings for each other, each struggles with their own demons. For Alex, those are the demons that dwell within her broken heart and for Vikar, they are real life demons who threaten Alex, himself and his family. As each slowly begin to acknowledge their feelings for each other, Alex's demons begin to wane and Vikar begins to understand the consequences of his original sin - pride.

Sandra Hill writes with humor especially tongue in cheek humor which abounds in this unique departure from her usual. A blending of her virile Vikings with vampire and angels makes me very happy. KISS OF PRIDE is the first in the series, Deadly Angels, and I am looking forward to the rest after reading the first.

KISS OF PRIDE by Sandra Hill is a humorous, quirky, and yet adventurous story with action, sexual tension abounding, laugh out loud moments and times when you just say, awww.  If you're a fan of Lynsay Sand's Argeneaus (btw, UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON is now available, too) you'll fully appreciate this series. If you haven't read anything by Sandra Hill yet, start here and have some fun! If you already love Sandra Hill's sense of humor and her Vikings then, please do, try out this uniquely fun and intriguing new paranormal series. Even if you're not a big fan of paranormal, these Vikings will have you smiling in no time and not minding the demons too much. I highly recommend anyone looking for a fun read with sexy, quirky Vikings, read KISS OF PRIDE by Sandra Hill.

Happy Reading Everyone and Happy Release Day to all the authors with new books today!

KISS OF PRIDE, A Deadly Angels Book by Sandra Hill,  available now from Avon Books in print and ebook format.