When Blood Calls – Spotlight & Review

When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Bantam; Original edition (Aug 31 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 044024577X

ISBN-13: 978-0440245773

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Book Description:

“Sara Constantine is one of the country’s most tenacious prosecuting attorneys—and she’s just secured a well-earned promotion. At first she’s thrilled. Then she finds out her new job involves prosecuting vampires and werewolves. And nothing prepares Sara for the shock she receives when she meets the first defendant she’ll be trying to put away: Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius Dragos kisses the beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s only hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s following…and planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss to secure his cover ignites into a fierce hunger that leads to an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows Sara will do whatever it takes to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not the monster she thinks he is. And that might mean making the greatest sacrifice a vampire can make.”

My Thoughts:

First of all, I am in love with this cover! Yes, the man is smokin, but what also works for me is the combination of colors, the crescent moon in the background, the cool glow coming from the ring, the lettering and the wisps of smoke. All together they combine to make for a really stand-out cover that really draws the eye, which is exactly what a cover should do. Mission accomplished!

Second, I could not put this book down! After having read a whole bunch of paranormal romances and urban fantasy, it’s a rare find that basically keeps me flipping pages all night, long past reasonable expectations. When Blood Calls was one of them. (Plus, Lucius Dragos is my new fictional boyfriend now, but that’s neither here nor there). I really liked the compelling  characters that J.K. created and the world in which she places them. Full of plot twists and turns, romance, suspense, action and danger.

When Blood calls is the first book in J.K. Beck’s Shadow Keepers series and after reading it, I say Bring On The Shadow Keepers! I haven’t been this excited about a series since I first started Kenyon’s Dark Hunters, Phoenix’s Makers Song series or Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. It’s a wonderful blend of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy which is in itself, intriguing because of the many layers woven into it. This book will remain on my “Keeper” shelf and this series has now become an “auto-buy” one for me.

       

Buy When Blood Calls at:

Chapters 

Amazon

The Book Depository

Find out more about J.K. Beck and what she’s working on at her website!

Waiting On Wednesday

I’m going to have a go at this weekly event which was started by Jill over at Breaking The Spine.

My first week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone

Jaguar Warriors  —  Book 2
HarperCollins
October 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780061808807
ISBN-10: 0061808806

Book Description:

“A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.”

I read the first book in this series, His Darkest Hunger, back when it hit bookstores in June and I was hooked! Awesome Paranormal Romance? Check. Super sexy alpha male jaguar-shifter and female protag that you’re rooting for the whole time? Check. Am I ready to read about more great romance between engaging characters in this world that Juliana Stone has created? Why yes, yes I am! 😀 

 

Radiance Book Trailer

Another book that was just released on August 31st, 2010 is Alyson Noel’s Radiance. It’s a new series that expands on Alyson Noel’s Immortal’s series by giving Ever’s little sister, Riley, her own series. Here’s the brand new book trailer for Radiance.

And here’s a bit about the book.

Format:Trade Paperback

Dimensions:192 Pages, 5.5 x 8.2 x 0.6 in

Published:August 31, 2010

Publisher:Square Fish

ISBN – 10:0312629176
ISBN – 13:9780312629175

Book Description:

“Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .”

September 2010 Releases

There are a whole bunch of awesome books being released out into the wild this month! Here are some shiny covers of a few of them that I am DYING to read. 😀 Check out my New Releases page to see all the books along with their release dates. (I’m still working on the title links).

     

     

     

     

Ahh my pretties, how I want you all. Hopefully I’ll get some Chapters gift cards for my birthday next week! 😉

Halo – Trailer

Another book that I have been highly anticipating is Alexandra Adornetto’s YA, Halo!

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (Aug 31 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0312656262

ISBN-13: 978-0312656263

Book Description:

“Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil?”

Check out the trailer.

I’ve always been fascinated with Angels, what about you?

March 2010 Book Releases

Otherwise Known As Sidhe’s Current Wishlist

February Releases I Missed:

Amber Benson – Cat’s Claw

Alexis Morgan – Defeat The Darkness

March 1^st

 Rachel Vincent – Shift

Susan Krinard – Bride Of The Wolf

Susan Kearney – Jordan

 Kathleen Nance – Dragon Unmasked

L.J. McDonald – The Battle Slyph

Stella Cameron – Out Of Body

 Anne Crompton – Merlin’s Harp

Lisa Childs – Mistress Of The Underground

Sean Cummings – Shade Fright

March 2^nd

 Alyssa Day – Atlantis Redeemed

Erica Hayes – Shadowglass

Vicki Thompson – Chick With A Charm

 Sophie Renwick – Velvet Haven

Chris Marie Green – Deep In The Woods

Thomas E. Sniegoski – Where Angels Fear To Tread

 Sherrilyn Kenyon – Dark Hunter’s Vol. 2 (manga)

Shayla Black – Delicious

Susan Squires – A Twist In Time

 Kate Douglas – Demon Fire

Sherrill Quinn – Taming The Moon

Eileen Rendahl – Don’t Kill The Messenger

 Mark Henry – Battle Of The Network Zombies

Victoria Laurie – Ghouls Gone Wild

Seanan McGuire – A Local Habitation

 Bianca D’Arc – Once Bitten, Twice Dead

Shiloh Walker – Broken

Angela Knight – Master Of Fire

 Skyler White – And Falling Fly

Addison Fox – Warrior Ascended

Rob Thurman – Roadkill

 Christine Warren – Born To Be Wild

March 9^th

 Danielle Trussoni – Angelology

Joss Ware – Abandon The Night

 Kerrelyn Sparks – The Vampire & The Virgin

Mario Acevedo – Werewolf Smackdown

Claudia Gray – Hourglass

 Rachel Hawkins – Hex Hall (YA)

Carrie Ryan – The Dead Tossed Waves (YA)

Thomas E. Sniegoski – The Fallen/Leviathon (YA)

March 15^th /16^th

 James Patterson – Fang (YA)

Kimberly Derting – The Body Finder (YA)

Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer – Wild Ride

Carrie Vaughn – Voices Of Dragons (YA)

March 23^rd

 Carolyn Crane – Mind Games

Jenna Black – The Devil’s Playground

Rachel Hawthorne – Shadow Of The Moon (YA)

March 30^th

 L.A. Banks – Never Cry Werewolf

Richelle Mead – Succubus Shadows

Patricia Briggs – Silver Borne

 Talia Gryphon – Key To Justice

Laura Bickle – Embers

 

As always, if anyone knows of any good books I haven’t listed, please leave me the info in my comments so I can add it to the list. 🙂