Lyon – Spotlight & Review

Lyon by Elizabeth Amber

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Aphrodisia ( Jul 29 2008 )

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0758220413

ISBN-13: 978-0758220417

Blurb from the back cover of Lyon:

“The last in a fabled line of otherworldly aristocracy, the Lords of Satyr are born to wealth, power, and a talent for sensual delight that mere mortals only dream of. Commanded to marry, these passionate men will travel to Rome, Venice, and Paris—and along the way will explore desires both shamelessly wicked and blissfully divine…

HE IS ON THE PROWL . . .

The youngest of the Satyr brothers, Lyon enjoys working in the family’s Tuscan vineyards,caring for his menagerie of animals and bedding beautiful women. But he knows he must fulfill his destiny of taking the last daughter of King Feydon as his bride. And so he travels to Paris to wed the infamous Juliette Rabelais . . .

FOR HIS MOST LUSCIOUS PRIZE . . .

A celebrated courtesan noted for both her culinary–and carnal talents, Juliette is a voluptuous beauty with a body meant to tease. And with a full moon only days away, Lyon is quickly aroused. But after a night of intimacy, Lyon wonders if Juliette is truly a mistress of sensual pleasure or whether his sexual mastery will be her undoing . . .

WARNING: This is a REALLY HOT book. (Sexually Explicit)”

The third book in Elizabeth Amber’s  Lords Of Satyr series, this book is definitely smoking hot! Lyon and Juliette’s story is captivating and had me flipping the pages to see what would come of them as well as rooting for their happily-ever-after. A wonderful mix of historical details, great storytelling, myth, danger and erotic  romance.

The first two books in The Lords Of Satyr series are Nicholas and Raine. The fourth book, Dominic, was just released this month.

 

M.I.A.

Melon-Head Cat says Sidhe will be back on track soon! Book reviews will be written and posted this weekend. A Flu wiped me out, a dead car for 2 days and having to prepare as a witness for a hearing cut into my computer time. Many awesome books have been read though, so bear with me dear readers. Reviews, Wishlists and updates to the blog are coming.

Thanks for your patience readers, authors and publishers.

Dante & Ciara – Interview Round 1

I’ve been enjoying this and thought I would share, with permission, of course. Enjoy! 🙂

Since Dante Baptiste (of Adrian Phoenix’s A Rush of Wings and In the Blood) and Ciara Griffin (of Jeri Smith-Ready’s Wicked Game and the upcoming Bad to the Bone) are from two different worlds, it seemed likely (and sad) that they’d never meet.

 

But then the dimensional fabric between their worlds thinned for a brief time, so that they could share a few (okay, make that a lot of) drinks at the Bar Between the Universes (not to be confused with the Restaurant at the End of the Universe—the Bar only serves basic pub grub) and got to talking: 

 

ROUND ONE

 

Dante (drinking Absinthe King Gold):  Hey Ciara, bon soir.  We’re the only ones in the club, and I’m content to play bartender.  Name your poison.

 

Ciara: Hmm, given your choice of words, I’ll take a Coke.  In the original container.  Unbroken seal. 

 

Dante: (snorts) So you’re saying that the drink used world-round to clean car batteries is safer than anything I’d pour for you?  Oh-kay. (Hands Ciara an ice-cold short bottle of Coke.  Unopened.  Offers her a bottle opener.)

 

Ciara: Hey, I’m new in your world.  Lots of scary-ass folks, including nightkind.  Always gotta watch out for numero uno, right?  Trust no one.  Well, almost no one.

 

Dante: C’est vrai, but you gotta trust yourself, yeah?  It gets old always watching out for Numero Uno.  You never know when he’s gonna blindside you with a flying tackle. I ain’t trying to be cold, but I think it’s time Numero Uno was told he ain’t with the Saints no more.  D’ya think there’s an assisted living center for delusional ex-football players? 

 

Ciara: (blinks)

 

Dante: Oh.  Wait.  You meant numero uno as in (points a finger at Ciara’s chest, then points at his own). Gotcha!  See, there’s this . . . never mind, ain’t important.

(Downs his drink)

 

So I read Wicked Game. 

 

Ciara: And you told all your friends, right?  Maybe talked about it onstage?  Been my ever-lovin’ pimpalicious baby?

 

Dante: (pouring himself another tumbler of Absinthe King Gold) Oui, I told all my friends about WVMP and its vampire DJs, and I think I mentioned you.  And Shane.  And all the hot sex.

 

(A smile tilts his lips)

 

I even told them there was another book on the way full of action, hysterical one-liners, deadly fanatics, and – oh, yeah – more hot sex.  I ain’t mentioned it onstage, but where do I sign up to be your ever-lovin’ pimpalicious baby?  What are the perks?

 

Ciara: Gold chain medallions, ankle-length leather coat with arctic fox trim.  The standard pimp accoutrements.  I think you’d look cute in one of those big purple hats.

 

Dante: (chokes on his drink. Turns around so Ciara can lean across the bar and pound on his back as he gasps for air.)

 

Ciara: Anyway, I’ve read both of your adventures, A Rush of Wings and In the Blood, which puts me one ahead of you.  I’ve even read the sections you didn’t narrate, which means I know seeeeeecrets.  Which I’m willing to sell.

 

Dante:  Secrets?  To sell?  How much?  (works hand into pocket of leather pants, then his gaze lights on the cash register.  He grins and pulls his hand free of his pocket.)

 

Ciara:  Actually, I’m not sure I want to be around when you find out some of those not-so-fun facts.  Maybe I could mail them to you and you could wire the money to one of my offshore accounts.  After I’m far, far away.  Out of “unmaking range.”

 

Dante: (blinks)  Offshore accounts?  What, are you Le Chiffre from Bond?  Does that make me Bond or the Bond chick?  And I ain’t one of those ‘unmake the messenger’ types, p’tite. 

 

Ciara: That’s good to know.  So where was I?  Oh yeah, your books.  I tell all my friends about your antics, and once I have some free time in between all the not-getting-killed, your stories will be the first ones I review on our dormant website.  Because they officially rock. 

 

Do people still say things “rock”?  Sometimes I worry I spend so much time with Nineties Boy, my slang gets out of date.

 

Sorry.  You were saying.  Or maybe I was saying.  Who was saying?

 

Dante:  (reaches over and yanks the bottle of Coke out of Ciara’s hand.) You’ve had waaaay too much caffeine, p’tite.  Choose a non-caffeinated drink.

 

Ciara: (sighs) Okay.  Give me a Smithwick’s.  That’s Shane’s favorite beer.  But again, sealed, please. 

 

And when you get a chance, come sit with me.  You hovering behind the bar feels too much like a shrink with his patient.  Unless you feel threatened, in which case, hover all you want.  I know better than to threaten a vampire.

 

Dante: (snorts) Threatened.  (Moves in a blur of latex and gleaming steel and sits on the stool beside Ciara, unopened bottle of Smithwick’s in hand, which he extends to her.) You still have the bottle opener, yeah?

 

Ciara: (gapes) Uh…yeah.  (presses cold bottle against neck to cool off)

 

Dante: I’m impressed by how you’ve been able to play the book off as fiction, but given your skills in the persuasive arts, not surprised.  You got any other promotions for WVMP coming up?

 

Ciara: (recovers at the mention of marketing activities) You bet!  We had a rockin’ Halloween party, and then a Happy Hell-iday celebration for Christmas.  Eight fanged reindeer pulling Santa’s coffin, devil horns on my elf costume, and of course, the classic holiday songs like “Little St. Nick” by the Beach Boys, and “Christmas Sucks” by Tom Waits and Peter Murphy. 

 

(pops top of beer bottle)

 

See, some annoying people insisted we were going to hell, so we decided to milk it.  Ratings, you know.  You can read all about it in my next adventure, BAD TO THE BONE, coming out in May, in stores everywhere!

 

(looks around for someone to hand a bookmark to, sees no one, is deflated)

 

Dante: Leave some bookmarks on the bar, I’m sure people will pick ‘em up.  I’d like one, too.

 

Ciara:  So what about you?  How’s the Inferno tour going?  Any more onstage, um, episodes like the one in Seattle that Heather told us about in IN THE BLOOD?  That looked pretty rough.  I’m not surprised people thought it was a stunt.  Tabloid rumors really sell concert tickets!  But seriously, I hope you’re feeling better. 

 

(reaches out to pat his shoulder, thinks better of it)

 

Dante: People thought what happened on stage was a stunt?  Wow.  I didn’t know that.  Tabloid rumors . . . hell, I didn’t even think about that!  I don’t even remember what happened, to be honest.  But I’m good, merci beaucoup for asking.

 

Ciara: Good.  I want to keep you around for those next two books I hear are coming down the pike.  You know anything about them?  Any hints for your cutest fan?  (bats eyelashes)

 

Dante:  Shane’s here??  Oh.  You meant cutest female fan. (Wicked smile.)  Umm . . . well, the title is BENEATH THE SKIN.  And the series now has a name – THE MAKER’S SONG.  I can’t really give you any hints because it might spoil ITB for those who ain’t read it yet.  I can say there’ll be fights for survival, sex, love, blood, oh, and a fight for sanity.  I know . . . generic.  (Shrugs.) Can’t be helped, p’tite.

 

Ciara: Ooh, your series has a name.  I’m jealous.  But congratulations—it all sounds very intriguing.

 

Dante:  Your turn.  List the DJs in order of hotness.  I think it’s a given Shane’ll be numero un.  Gotta admit, I think he’s hot too. 

 

Ciara:  Why, thank you.  In order?  Definitely Noah is second—he’s got a kind, gentle soul, and OhMyGod the dreadlocks.  I also like that he sometimes wears glasses, though of course he doesn’t need them.

 

Dante: Dreads are smokin’ for true.

 

Ciara:  Then probably a tie between Spencer and Monroe.  They’re both so aloof and magnetic, although Spencer, frankly, is a major tightass.  But he has piercing eyes, so point in his favor.

 

Dante:  Oui, I’d say piercing eyes earns points, tightass loses points, so maybe Spencer’s a wash, yeah?

 

Ciara:  Overall, yeah, but he’s good to have around.  At least the sanest patient is running the asylum.

 

Back to the hotness rankings.  Last would be Regina and finally Jim.  Not that they’re not gorgeous, but their personalities are kind of a turnoff.  Regina’s a bully, and Jim…well, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.  He’s definitely committed “bad touch” with me more than once.  I’d give anything to be able to haul off and whack him upside the head, but that’d probably get me killed. 

 

Shane put him in his place, though, in BTTB.  He totally drank his milkshake.  Well, he took a sip, at least.

 

Am I talking too much?  Do I seem nervous?  Don’t answer that.

 

Dante:  I never really got that “I drink your milkshake” line in that “There Will Be Blood” movie.  I mean, what the hell was that movie even about?  Um…excuse that digression. 

 

(C&D speak over each other)

 

Ciara: I didn’t actually see it (I spent most of that December trying not to get killed).  But these days, the catch phrase is enough to fake one’s pop culture awareness. 

 

 

 

 

Dante: You seem a little nervous, yeah.  But I ain’t gonna do any “bad touch” stuff or let anyone else bother you – if anyone should walk in, that is, which they won’t.  Club’s closed.  Just you and me, chere.  Whoops.  I wasn’t supposed to answer that, yeah?

 

 

Ciara:  Answer what?  Huh?

 

Dante: (pours fourth Absinthe King Gold and waits for her to catch up)

 

Ciara: Anyway, instead, answer this: What’s your favorite song you’d never cover onstage?  A secret guilty pleasure, like REO Speedwagon or Barry Manilow, perhaps? 

 

Dante:  My secret guilty pleasure (but it ain’t secret anymore) is Justin Timberlake.  I’d love to do a cover of “Cry Me a River” that song’s just brimming with rage, but the guys would probably tie me up and stuff me head first into a laundry hamper full of smelly athletic gear.  My other secret (dammit…not anymore!) guilty pleasure would be Kelly Clarkson’s “Addicted.”  That song cuts to the core.  But…the guys would probably tie me up, stuff me into a laundry hamper, etc.

 

You next.  What song or band is your secret guilty pleasure?

 

Ciara: Does Coldplay count?  I’m told they’re not cool, but they’re my musical Valium.  Except for their new album, which I hate.  Now that they’ve been praised for reinventing themselves, they’ll do it every time, and I’ll never get my mindless soothing Brit Pop melodies back.  Ah well.  There’s always Snow Patrol.

 

Dante: Oui, Coldplay counts.  The reinvented Coldplay is too generic to be worthy of secret guilty pleasuredom.  (Clinks his tumbler against Ciara’s beer bottle).  Hey! While we’re starting to feel no pain, it’s the perfect time to indulge our secret guilty pleasures, yeah?

 

(Dante jumps to his feet, blurs back behind the bar, much clinking, clanking, and muttering ensues.  He straightens, shaking his hair back from his face, a triumphant smile on his lips.  He thumps a karaoke machine on the bar.)

 

Le voici!  Ain’t never done this, but I think it’d be fun, yeah?  Just you and me and any song we’d never sing in front of an audience.  I can set this up, we can take turns singing in the Cage or on the bar!  I totally want to sing “Like a Virgin!”  Whatcha wanna sing?  We can flip a coin or arm wrestle or kiss or something to decide who goes first!

 

Ciara: Ooh, I know—let’s start with a duet!  Like maybe… (flips through karaoke book)  Perfect!  (programs machine and hands Dante a mic)  First one to laugh has to sing anything the other one chooses.

 

Dante: D’accord.  And drink anything the other one pours.

 

(We hear the opening strains of the world’s tenth cheesiest vampire song: Ozzy Osbourne and Lena Horne’s “Close My Eyes Forever.”  Fade out as Dante laughs.)

To read my reviews, click on the links! A Rush Of Wings, In The Blood and Wicked Game. Cick on the covers to buy.  I’ll post Round Two next week!

     

Gettin Some Love…

Amber over at Ambertkatze’s Book Blog nominated me for a Your Blog Is Fabulous award. Thanks so much Amber! I think your blog is absolutely Fabulous too! 🙂

Here are the rules:

List five things you are obsessed with/addicted to and nominate five fabulous blogs to pass this award on to!

5 Obsessions/Addictions

1.) Umm… Books! I am most assuredly addicted to books. I love to read them, collect them, buy them, re-read them, talk about them and moan about not having enough money to buy all the ones I want, lol. Even though my TBR pile is threatening to topple over I still want MORE!

2.) TV/Movies – I have several shows that I watch religiously and I’m a DVD addict too. The 2 for $20 or 3 for $24 sales at Block Buster and Rogers are my second favorite place to shop after I’ve cleaned out the bookstores.

3.) Chocolate & Cheesecake – I never met one that I didn’t like. Enough said! 😀

4.) Tea – and I’m not really talking about all the various flavours, etc. I just want my regular Orange Pekoe/Tetley tea and I’m saying I suck that stuff back like it’s heroine all day long! If I could put it into myself intravenously, I would. There just is not enough caffeine in the world to keep me awake.

5.) My two guilty pleasures/addictions are the American Idol auditions and So You Think You Can Dance auditions. Totally entertaining, hilarious, and a lot of second-hand embarrassment!

5 Fabulous Blogs that I love to visit:

1.) Literary Escapism 

2.) Patricia’s Vampire Notes 

3.) SciFi Guy

4.) Ruthie’s Book Reviews

5.) Yankee Romance Reviewers

ETA March 10th

Jackie over at Literary Escapism has just given me The Proximidade Award! Thank you Jackie, I’m honored. 🙂

This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kinds of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.

My eight bloggers I’d like to pass this along to are: Amberkatze’s Book Blog, Bitten By Books, Vampire Wire, Cherie Pie’s Books, Suburban Vampire, Lady Vampire’s Lair, Reading With A Bite, & Fang-tastic Books!

Hunted – Exclusive Book Trailer

I’ve been a fan of P.C. & Kristin Cast’s House Of Night series since the beginning, so when I recieved an email today with the awesome trailer for Hunted, asking me to share the excitement, I was happy to oblige. (Although an ARC would’ve had me doing fan-girlish squeeing around the house, lol) 

The House of Night is a thrillingly engaging book series from St. Martin’s Press. The series follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird, who gets “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the Change into an actual vampyre. 

For the first time in hardcover, with a huge initial printing, HUNTED finds Zoey Redbird at her most powerful and in her most important role yet.

View the Trailer HERE  (Sorry, WordPress won’t allow me to embed it)

You can READ The First Chapter!

HUNTED is the 5th book in the series and here’s the pertinent info.

 

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Griffin; 1st edition edition ( March 10 2009 )

Language: English

ISBN-10: 031237982X

ISBN-13: 978-0312379827