Michelle Hauf – Guest Blog & Giveaway

  Today we are happy to have Paranormal Romance author Michele Hauf here with us to celebrate the release of A Vampire For Christmas, an anthology in which her story Monsters Don’t Do Christmas is featured! Alongside Michele’s story, there are also stories by Alexis Morgan, Laurie London and Caridad Pineiro, so this is one HOT paranormal anthology you won’t want to miss! Here’s the book info.

• Mass Market Paperback:384 pages
• Publisher:HQN Books; Original edition (Oct 18 2011)
• Language:English
• ISBN-10:0373776446
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776443

Book Description:

“All they want for Christmas is you…

It’s the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow.

And they don’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice.

Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there’s no place like home for the holidays, and these dazzling vampires can’t wait for an invitation.”

See what I mean? Definitely a book to err… keep you warm for the holidays! 😉 Michele has written up a guest blog to tell us about the two books she has out this month. There’s also a giveaway at the end of the post! So I’ll pass the reins over to Michele for a bit.

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What a busy month!  With Halloween just around the corner, as an author, it’s kind of a thrill to have a vampire book out this month.  But I happen to have two books out this month, which is a strangely cool abundance of vampy delight.  Both are novellas featured in anthologies with three other authors.  The first, Monsters Don’t Do Christmas, is in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS.  I know, a bit early, right?  But it’s never too early to start dreaming about what you’d like in your Xmas stocking, and if it has fangs all the better, yes?  This story introduces two new characters to my Beautiful Creatures world, the hero being a newly-turned vampire who is still struggling with the whole ‘monster-ness’ of what he’s become. 

The second story, Cruel Enchantment, is in CRAVE THE NIGHT, and isn’t holiday themed, but rather most of the stories are set in the authors’ current world.  Mine features Revin Parker and Sabrina Kriss, who appeared in Her Vampire Husband.  I’ve been wanting to write a little more on Bree for a long time, and knew she would eventually get together with Rev, but that it wouldn’t be easy for either of them.  Bree is a faery, and if you’ve read books in my world, you know faeries and vampires don’t really make for the best match, seeing as faery dust is addictive to vampires.  But can you become addicted to a person?  I think it’s possible, and so, explored that as well.

If you’re new to my world, you can pick up any book and read it, and it stands alone.  You don’t have to read one book before another to understand what is going on.  And if you like a character and want to find out if they show up in other stories, stop by Club Scarlet for all the details and terms from the Beautiful Creatures world.

So tell me, are you wishing for that vampire in your stocking?  Or maybe you prefer something a little more wolfish? 😉

Michele

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  Thanks Michele!! 🙂

Giveaway Details:

Michele Hauf has been gracious enough to supply a copy of her book, A Vampire For Christmas to one of my lucky readers! Contest is open to Everyone. I’m not sure if Michele will be popping by to respond to comments or questions as she’s a super busy lady, but if you have any, I’ll be sure to pass them on.

Question: So tell me, are you wishing for that vampire in your stocking?  Or maybe you prefer something a little more wolfish? Tell us which is your preference and why.

For one entry: Please leave a comment with the answer to the question.  (+1 entry)

For extra entries:

I’m going to streamline this, so for each follow on twitter, facebook, goodreads or subscription to my blog, you can add an extra entry but be sure to let me know in your comment along with your username at each of them.

If you tweet about this contest, post it on facebook or post about it in your blog, for each link you provide, you get an extra entry. Please post all your links and/or info into one comment if you can.

• Contest is open to Everyone and will run through November 7th until 11:59pm. The winners will be posted here on November 8th.
• Please leave your email addy in your comment for me to contact you if you’ve won, but please post it like wilmaflinstone(at)boomshakalaka(dot)com so you don’t get any spam. If I haven’t heard back from the winner in 7 days, a new winner will be drawn from the eligible comments. Winners will be chosen on www.random.org  by a random number generator. Good Luck everyone!

SVR – News & Updates

As some of you  may know, I celebrated a “milestone” birthday this last weekend. Yup, I turned 40. I pulled out the trusty old “melon cat” picture because it about sums up my feelings on the matter, lol. My emotions have been a fairly even mix of up and down about it, though I can honestly say  that as far as birthdays go, this one was pretty darn ok. I got some major love over on FaceBook, which was really awesome. I was taken out to dinner to one of my favorite places to eat. I was given enough gift cards to get me some majorly “wanted” books and to go and buy Thor on dvd when it hits stores on Tuesday!

I also got a message from my bestie in Australia that she wants to fly me out there next year, all expenses paid!!! OMG! So between being really excited and then not so excited or more like terrified about a 20-something hour-long flight to get there, lol, I’m kinda in shock. I am a smoker, (yes, I know it’s a disgusting habit), so that many hours on a plane tends to get me biting my nails in stress. I may have to self medicate for that flight, lol. Hello muscle relaxers! Trying to sleep for the majority of it is about the only way I would survive it, but then my pal would have a zooed out “Judi” to contend with when I get there, ha ha ha. I can just picture it now! 😀 Oh, the stories I will be able to tell. Or not. (Insert evil grin here)

So, the birthday-o-rama this weekend explains the case of the missing blogger here on SVR. Now I have to buckle down and get back to posting all my reviews, news, guest blogs and giveaways.

I’ve come across a couple of really great books that support causes that mean something to me, so I wanted to share some info about them here.

First up, we have a whole bunch of talented Young Adult authors telling their stories about bullying in the newly released Dear Bully. I really think that this book is very relevent in this day and age of bullying being taken to a whole other level with cyber bullying. It breaks my heart when I see kids bullying other children and when I see parents of a child who was bullied so badly that they either attempted suicide or they did it. So terribly tragic and hopefully someday, more avoidable. I believe that talking about this rising epidemic is one way to help battle it.

Also, a portion of the book’s proceeds will go to STOMP Out Bullying, a national anti-bullying and cyber bullying program for kids and teens and a partner of The Jed Foundation and MTV’s Love Is Louder campaign.

For more information about Dear Bully, visit the book’s official Facebook page and website, www.dearbully.com, where you’ll find videos of celebs like Ben Folds, Justin Timberlake, and the cast of Glee speaking out about bullying and cyber bullying.

“ENTANGLED is on sale now IN ALL e-FORMATS at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and All Romance Ebooks. This is the 11-author paranormal anthology featuring NYT bestselling authors. 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. If you have an e-reader and $2.99 to spare, please support the cause and buy a book. And please pass this on to family and friends! Thank you!!” (I’m passing this message on via Nancy K. Haddock on FaceBook).

Product Description:

“Ghosts, vampires, demons, and more!  Entangled includes ten suspense-filled paranormal short stories from authors
Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Edie Ramer, Lori Brighton, Michelle Diener, Misty Evans, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, and Michelle Miles, plus a Seven Deadly Sins novella by Allison Brennan.

Stacia Kane contributed the  foreword. Formatting and cover art were also donated to the project by Lori Devoti and Laura Morrigan.

All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

Nocturnal – Spotlight & Review

Nocturnal  by Jacquelyn Frank, Kate Douglas, Jess Haines & Clare Willis

Paperback: 532 pages

Publisher: Zebra – Kensington; 1 edition (Aug 24 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1420109871

ISBN-13: 978-1420109870

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Anthology

Book Description & My Thoughts:

“The Phoenix Project” by Jacquelyn Frank. Held captive, Amara is subjected to bizarre experiments that test the limits of her sanity. But nothing prepares her for being locked away – naked – with a sexy ex-cop…after they’ve been pumped full of drugs that increase their sexual appetites to animalistic intensity…”

Whew, I had to check the spine to see if this book was Erotica or just regular Paranormal Romance after reading this first story. The chemistry between these two is HOT. Nick and Amara are great characters and I absolutely loved the story. Very original and I am hoping that Ms. Frank will write more about Morphates and this world she’s created. Dark, sexy and a roller-coaster ride of danger and suspense.

“Crystal Dreams” by Kate Douglas – When Lemurian Guard Darius chases a demon spirit to Earth, he faces a lethal battle between good and evil. His ally is Mari, a breathtakingly beautiful human who unknowingly holds the key to victory. But before the war is over, Darius’ desire for his mortal companion threatens to erupt – and could cost Mari her life…”

 This tale is told in the same world that Kate Douglas introduced us to in her novel, Demon Fire, her Demon Slayers series. I am in lust with Darius and want a Lemurian of my own, thanks! 😉 Mari is a sweetheart and I really enjoyed the progression of her relationship with Darius. Really cool world building paired up with interesting characters and a great plot & pacing. I know that I will be following forthcoming books in this series.

“Spark of Temptation” by Jess Haines – Blackmailed into taking a treacherous case, P.I. Sara Halloway is thrust into a demon war. Sara seeks guidance from a charismatic mage, but their hunger for one another soon becomes a deadly distraction…and the danger surrounding them only makes their urges more powerful…”

This novella happens between book one, Hunted By The Others, and book two, Taken By The Others, in Jess Haines’ H & W Investigations series. Sara is the partner of Shiarra, who is the main character in both the books. It was awesome to read a story in Sara’s P.O.V. that was filled with characters from the books. Sara takes a job from Royce, a bad-a$$ vamp, and action, danger, conflict and some romance ensues! Sara & Arnold make a great team and I was really happy to read their story!

“My Soul to Take” by Clare Willis – New Orleans native Dr. Maggie Dillon thought she left her past behind her – until she’s enraptured by a handsome patient who has been possessed by a malevolent spirit. To find a cure, Colby revisits her magical roots – and unleashes a primal lust too vital to ignore…”

Maggie Dillon meets her soul mate in a patient who truly is possessed! Derek is handsome, talented & tortured by the malevolent spirit residing in him. Maggie has to call her sister Eve, who is a Voodoo Priestess in New Orleans to come and help with Derek. A fun read with engaging characters.

 

     

Buy NOCTURNAL at:

Chapters

Amazon

The Book Depository

Death’s Excellent Vacation – Spotlight & Review

Death’s Excellent Vacation – Anthology

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Ace (TRD); 1 edition (Aug 3 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0441018688

ISBN-13: 978-0441018680

Genre: Urban Fantasy – Anthology

Book Description:

“The editors of “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns” deliver a new collection-including a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story.

“New York Times” bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devoured “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns.”

With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.”

My Thoughts:

As with any anthology with several authors, there were a few stories that I LOVED, some that I really liked, some that were just ok and a couple that just didn’t do it for me, but all in all it was a good read. I also found a couple new authors that I’ll be looking into, so that’s always a bonus!

Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse short, Two Blondes, was excellent and the only thing wrong with it was that it was too short, lol. A full length novel about Sookie is too short for me, I can never get enough of these characters! Sookie and Pam go away for a weekend and while attending an unexpected business meeting they come across unexpected complications.

Jeaniene Frost’s – One For The Money: Cat & Bones’ vacation is interrupted when her uncle needs them to do him a favor. As always, any story about Cat & Bones, it was filled with suspense, danger, action, some smexy time, and great characters including Cat’s mom and Fabian the ghost. I always love a Cat & Bones adventure!

Meanwhile, Far Across The Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower is about a young aspiring writer/journalist. He takes an entry-level job at a non-fiction publishing house and interacts with some pretty eccentric characters. There’s a surprise at the end.

A. Lee Martinez – The Innsmouth Nook  Two men open up a bed and breakfast in a small strange town and strange things occur that lead to a completely unexpected ending. Creepy creatures, that’s all I can say without spoiling it.

Jeff Abbott – Safe & Sound  A self involved TV journalist uses the disappearance of a college student in an attempt to boost her career. They all travel to the tropical island where he disappeared, despite a rude awakening of the paranormal kind, she never lets up in trying to put a self promoting spin on things up until the end.

L.A. Banks – Seeing Is Believing A young woman who has the gift of “sight” goes on a working vacation to New Orleans to gather supplies for a werewolf problem at home. She meets a young man who is able to help her and finds out just how special he really is.

Katie MacAlister  – The Perils Of Effrijim Aisling Grey’s demon Effrijim or “Jim” as he likes to be called is sent off to be taken care of or supervised, while Ash & her family go on vacation. Calamity ensues when her caretaker’s apprentice banishes him to Akasha. Hilarious!

Christopher Golden – Thin Walls Aman who lost his wife a year ago goes on a “farewell” tour of all the places she loved as a tribute to her. He’s kept awake half the night at the hotel he’s staying at by, shall we say, some overly enthusiastic people in the next room. This story plays out in a surprise ending.

Lilith Saintcrow – The Heart Is Always Right A gargoyle saves a woman that he’s attracted to and then finds out that she’s very special. He’s very conflicted with what he knows he has to do with her and with his feelings for her. As always, Saintcrow’s writing and characters had me enthralled right up to the end.

Chris Grabenstein – The Demon In The Dunes A Man reminisces of a long ago summer when he was in his teens and on vacation for the summer with his family and friends. About a night where he & his friends snuck out to meet some girls and he saw a demon in the dunes. Interesting twist.

Sharon Newman – Home From America A great story of a fourth generation Irish man wanting to go to Ireland to find his roots. He ends up going with his whole family for a family reunion and is in for a big surprise!

Toni P. Kelner – Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park A newly turned werewolf returns to her favorite childhood vacation spot to be alone & come to terms with her situation. She comes across a vampire who is the owner of the Pirate themed amusement park she loves and the sparks fly!

     

Buy Death’s Excellent Vacation at:

Chapters,  Amazon, Penguin.ca or The Book Depository

Eternal Lover – Spotlight & Review

Eternal Lover – Anthology by Jackie Kessler, Hannah Howell, Lynsay Sands & Richelle Mead   April 2008 by Kensington Paranormal Romance

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Kensington ( Mar 17 2008 )

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0758225113

ISBN-13: 978-0758225115

A Hell Of A Time by Jackie Kessler

(from back cover) “Jesse’s immortal life as a soul-stealing succubus is over. And now that she is human, she longs to tempt her lover with all her persuasive powers of total sexual seduction…”

I enjoyed this short story about ex-succubi Jesse and her boyfriend Paul. The story opens with a wicked tense scene that had me hooked from the get-go! It continues on like a runaway freight train and takes you on a heck of a ride. Jackie Kessler does not dissapoint and I can hardly wait for the next book in the Hell On Earth series Hotter Than Hell, which is scheduled to be released July 29th, 2008.

The Yearning by Hannah Howell

(from back cover) ” Alpin has lived for centuries with a lust that can never be quenched with mere physical pleasure. And then he meets Sophie whose own search for lasting love binds them together in a cloak of shimmering sensuality”

This was a fun paranormal historical romance. Sophie’s ancestor Rona cast a curse on the MacCordy clan and centuries later Sophie feels the need to attempt to break the curse as it has not only cursed the clan of the man who jilted Rona, but also their own family. Sophie and Alpin are both intriguing characters and I really liked their story.

City Of Demons by Richelle Mead

(from back cover) ” Seth cannot resist the intense sexual allure of his demon lover Georgina. Yet their love reaches beyond the physical, into a place of complete untamed surrender…”

I love the character of Georgina and the story was great! Fast pacing, great plot, fun as sin characters and you really get to relate to Georgina. I personally, wish the ending had been a bit different, but that’s just me. I’m hoping that subsequent books in the Georgina Kincaid series will give me the ending I’m looking for! The next book in the series,  Succubus Dreams is scheduled to be released in October 2008.

Bitten by Lynsay Sands

(from back cover) ” Keeran’s existance as a vampire has taught him to accept a life without love… until he saves Emily from certain death. And suddenly he discovers the soul-searing passion he thought he’d lost forever…”

Also a historical vampire story, but as always, Lynsay Sands pens a wonderful tale that takes you to the time and place she sets her story in. Emily and Keeran steam the pages up as they give in to their desires, and break your heart because they fear giving in to them. Both having had rotten turns of luck in life, find each other to be the salvation they are searching for.

All in all, I really enjoyed this anthology, with four great authors. I’m not usually much for short stories, but this falls into one of the better ones I’ve read. I prefer novel length, or even a series of books with the same characters, but that again, is just my personal preference. As far as anthologies go, Eternal Lover gets two thumbs up from me.

( Moved over from my original blog )

Comic Book Store Find

• Mood: happy

It’s always a good day when I go to my local comic store, I picked up issue #8 of the Anita Blake Guilty Pleasures comic. I’m a huge fan of Laurell K. Hamilton, and am loving the comics based on her Anita Blake novels.

 

The bonus find of the day was a graphic novel called Favole 2. Set Me Free by Victoria Frances. Published by Heavy Metal. WOW, this lady’s illustrations/art work are amazing!! I haven’t finished reading it yet because I am so awed by her drawing. I’m going to surf around and try to find the first book online after I post here.

Yesterday was a pit-stop into Chapters and I found a new romance/fantasy Manga to check out. ( I’m a total newbie to Manga) Mark of The Succubus by Ashly Raiti. Looks interesting. I also found an anthology called Murder By Magic, edited by Rosemary Edghill. Some of the authors include: Carole Nelson Douglass, Mercedes Lackey, and Susan Krinard, all good authors in my books, so I’m looking forward to reading that as well. 

   

(Moved over from my original blog)