Congrats! Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize! If you didn't win then make sure you find yourself a copy of Paula's books! They are amazing reads!
Next up was author Lori Devoti. She was giving away a surprise package which will definitely include one of her books.
So who will be able to tell us what exactly the prize was when they receive it? Well done to -
Bethany C.!!
If you didn't win this time then don't worry! They are more contests coming and the Monthly Giveaway is coming up too! Keep trying!
How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
This week I managed to get us a little testosterone here on Amberkatze's book Blog! Author Anton Strout is well know for his Urban Fantasy series (doesn't he look too innocent to write Paranromal in his photo?) featuring Simon Canderous. Now even though I am a little behind with the books I do have them on my to be read pile. Do you?
Dead Matter, the third book in the series is out now and it has gotten some amazing reviews! Deader Still and Dead to Me, the first two books in the series, is where you need to start if you want to get to know Simon better. So make sure you enter this weeks contest because Anton is going to send one lucky winner their choice of book from the series.
So get reading and maybe even win a book!
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your Simon Canderous Series?
Anton – Sure! The first three books in my series follow the adventures of an ex-art thief in New York City who is trying to turn his life around. Simon possesses the power of psychometry- the ability to read the history of an object. After a brush with the law, he now works for NYC’s Department of Extraordinary Affairs- a clandestine and terribly underfunded agency that deals with red tape and policing the paranormal. Their proud motto is “Fighting evil, under budget.”
Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the Simon Canderous series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Anton – Simon came to me basically because I missed Ghostbusters and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I like the idea of a guy with powers he had trouble controlling trying to change his life for the better, and having lived in New York City for fifteen years, I wanted to explore it. The idea of a man with magic hands was based on a short story within John Irving’s The World According to Garp, about a man with hands that could perform miracles when he wore his magic gloves but he couldn’t feel. That got me thinking about the price of magic and Simon was born.
Amber - Are you anything like the main character Simon Canderous? Are any of your characters based on people in your life?
Anton - I think some of Simon’s laughing in the face of danger defense mechanism is a bit like me, but other than that, I don’t think he’s that heinous trope of a glorified version of the author. I think all my characters have bits of people I know in them, but no one specific. I do tend to throw in the names of friends as background characters though.
Amber - What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything interesting or is the research boring?
Anton – I have a book due a year, so I try to minimize my research on my first pass of my manuscript. Otherwise, I’d get totally caught up in all the coolness of historic New York and reading my Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. I tend to Wiki things so my narrative has the correct flavor regarding certain details, and only when I get to certain things do I allow myself to get totally immersed in the details.
Amber - The third book in the Simon Canderous series came out in February. What can readers expect from Dead Matter?
Anton – Monsters trashing supermarkets, secret and mysterious buildings dotting the New York skyline, ghosts, mountains of paperwork, and some villains I can’t talk about lest I ruin the book for your smart and sexy readers
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Anton – Sometimes I just feel them. Other times they have some significance. My favorites are the last names Canderous and Wesker, both from video games I adore. The first is from the Stars Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the second comes from Resident Evil.
Amber - How many more books will there be in the Simon Canderous Series? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Anton – I just turned in book four to my editor. I have plans for a fifth book in the series, but it’s not under contract yet. I have three or four other ideas, ranging from some modern day zombie tales to a young adult Dickensian steampunk idea I’ve been letting stew in my brainmeats.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?
Anton – I always dabbled with writing, but I meandered about with it up until a few years ago. My friends and I started the Dorks of the Round Table writing group so we’d actually have accountability partners to keep us motivated. I didn’t set out to write urban fantasy. I was just writing about a guy and his problems, and in the end there were ghosts and vamps and powers and zombies… didn’t see THAT coming!
Amber - I am sure that being an author has its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?
Anton – It’s a very bipolar career. You spend a year alone crafting something, then you edit it for another year once it’s turned in, the people get to read it and you finally connect with them. You get people who love what you do which is awesome, and then you have people who don’t love your work and it’s gutting to hear. The highs are incredibly high and the lows are just as intense.
Amber - How do you relax? Do you have any hobbies?
Anton – I read a lot and I’m a gamer by heart. Although being mobbed by zombies in Resident Evil 5 and Left 4 Dead right now aren’t terribly relaxing. In fact, I seem to twitch a lot.
Amber - Alot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music influenced your books?
Anton – I love music playing when I write, but I don’t have set soundtracks. I tend to write to either classical music or else techno/electronica. On a perfect day, The Matrix soundtrack is in the background. I also like all the Star Wars music and several video game soundtracks as well, such as Final Fantasy and the original Metal Gear Solid.
Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?
Anton – I’m all over the place. I’m a huge fan of Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman, the DC Comics Fables Series, Planetary, Hellblazer… but most of all I adore most of what Stephen King writes.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Anton – I would, of course, be a werejaguar. I made it up when on a panel with Jim Hines at Gencon a few years back, then suddenly he and a whole lot of people sent me Happy Werejaguar Day cards one day. Meow.. rawr!
Amber - Thank you for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back for another visit in the future!
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Contest Time!
The winner this week is allowed to pick on of Anton's three books! So if you haven't started the series yet you can start with Dead To Me! Or maybe you have been waiting for the new book? Then you can get Dead Matter!
How to Enter
Anton is a gamer. Are you? Tell us what you like to play. Maybe a computer game? An online game or just a normal board game?
No Game = No Entry
Earn more entries for each place you link this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your info in one post.
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Amazon link below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 6th of June 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
Cleveland's Garden View Cemetery has a lot of residents. However only one of them used to be a President of the United States. James A. Garfield has his own memorial and with the anniversary of his birth and death coming up, there will be a special commemoration for him.
This where reluctant tour guide and medium Pepper Martin comes in. Assigned to help plan the event she is annoyed to hear that she will have to work with know-it-all volunteer Marjorie Klinker. The woman maybe a good source for Garfield information but she also thinks she is related to the late President.
Pepper wishes that Marjorie was dead but it seems she isn't the only one. Marjorie had managed to get herself mixed up in something that has deadly results but with so many suspects and not much evidence Pepper isn't sure who did it or why. With the help of a dead President, Pepper finds herself once again looking for a killer.
The sixth Pepper Martin mystery is, like the previous books in the series, a wonderful read. I always enjoy these books about the cemetery working medium and love visiting Pepper. She never fails to surprise me and it is a pleasure to be invited into her life. Pepper is just a normal gal trying to get by in her normal job. The fact that she can see ghosts makes her different but she handles it well and isn't dramatic about it. Amusing, feisty and clever, Pepper is someone I can relate to and would love to have as a friend.
A cozy mystery with a paranormal twist, this series keeps getting better and better. Always well written and with a plot that keeps the reader guessing till the end, the series is a guaranteed fun and easy read. This time around I was happy that the ghost involved wasn't looking for a killer but helping for another reason. It was also nice to have Pepper's love life come into view now and again. What I also enjoyed in this new mystery is finding out about an American President I knew nothing about. It is always nice to learn something while reading!
What else can I say without giving the plot away? Nothing! I will just tell you that this series is a must buy for me. I couldn't go without reading a Pepper Martin book and already want book seven! I was lucky enough to be sent this ARC from the Penguin Group and feel sorry for those who have to wait till July 6th for the release. However now I have to wait even longer for the next book in this fantastic and original series.
Jace Valchek is an FBI profiler. After being pulled into an alternate world she finds herself confronted with vampires, lycanthropes and golems. These fantasy creatures from her world actually make up 99 per cent of the population in this new one. Eager to go back home, if that is even possible, she has managed to make a life for herself even if she is only human.
A murder investigation turns into a race against time when 'comic book' characters start turning up dead. Jace finds herself up against a killer who may be using a bizarre combination of ancient magic and comic book heroes from her world to kill some of the most powerful vampires and lycanthropes and steal their power. All the friends/work colleagues she has made since being in this new world all seem to be involved somehow. Jace now has to figure out how it all ties together before it is too late.
Back in August last year I read the first book in the Bloodhound Files, Dying Bites. I remember enjoying the new and totally unique debut and of course I have been waiting eagerly for the next book in the series. Death Blows came out the other week and I couldn't wait to start it and dived straight in.
Of course it has been months since I read Dying Bites so I expected that I would need a few chapters to get back into the swing of things. However it took me at least half of the book to really feel at home again in the world where Jace has landed. However Jace herself seemed to be right at home, even though this is only the second book.
Maybe finding my way back into this series wouldn't have been too hard if it wasn't for the detailed plot. I have to admit I am not a huge comic book fan but I did enjoy the angle the writer brought into the case. However there was way too much information and maybe it was just me being over worked and tired this week but I have to say that I had some trouble keeping up with things.
By the end of the book I found myself understanding everything a little more clearly. There are still a few areas that I am not sure about but the last hundred pages really made things easier to understand and stuff started to fit together. While I had problems with this second installment I still want to read book three, Killing Rocks, when it comes out at the end of this year.
Why? Because this series really is unique. A different world with not only vampires and weres but also golems makes this an interesting read. Quirky little 'otherworld' ideas made me smile and a really nice set of characters who guided me through the book are ones I want to meet up with again.
So give this a try and see if you like it. Sure this book left me wondering at points but the concept is brilliant and the style has a certain kick to it.
Back at St. Vladimir's it is time for Rose to graduate. After a long and emotional journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose is happy to be back at the Academy and with her friends. Especially Lissa, who she hopes, despite the rules she has broken, will still be the Moroi she will guard when she becomes a full fledged Guardian. However Rose still yearns for Dimitri and he keeps sending her letters. Can Rose use the information she got in Siberia to free Dimitri from his Strigoi life?
With Lissa's help, Rose hopes to find more information about turning a Strigoi back. It will be hard to get the details they need and yet again the students will have to break a lot of rules. However Rose is determined, even if it means people will get hurt and she may not get the future she dreamed of.
Book five in the Vampire Academy is as suspense filled and addictive as the previous books. I know a lot of you won't have read this yet, so I am not going to give anything away. However what I will tell you is that the story is as thrilling as always, full of twists and surprises as usual and hard to put down.
I will admit I did find this book a little lengthy. There were moments in the story where I thought, 'this would have made a good ending', and wondered why there were still hundreds of pages left. However the cliffhanger that the author leaves the reader perching upon was a perfect, if not horrible, way to end things. What happens next is a story we all have to wait for, again.
All in all this was, like the previous installments, a brilliant read. Rose has grown up but is still the feisty girl we have all come to know and love. It is great to catch up with all the characters, good or bad, and see how well this world is evolving. The story was full of different adventures that all came to a very surprising conclusion. Spirit Bound has a lot happening in it and you won't see it all coming.
While this is aimed at Young Adults this is a series that all ages will enjoy. For the younger reader there is some violence and sex but nothing too over the top or in depth. Actually the author pushes safe sex! So this is a must read for me and I am sure for many more of you out there. If anyone hasn't tried this, or the authors other series, then I highly suggest you do. Richelle Mead sends a breathe of fresh air into every book she writes. She is one of the best Urban Fantasy writers out there and is not to be missed.
About a couple of weeks ago I read Amazon Ink by Lori Devoti. It was an amazing read and one of the first things I did after finishing it was contacting the award winning author. Lori Devoti was happy to hear from me and instantly said she would love to be a guest on the blog.
So today I welcome Lori to Amberkatze's Book Blog and hope you all enjoy the interview answers she gave me to post. Make sure you check out her books and also check out the contest below (US & Candada only!).
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling my readers how you came up with the idea for your Amazon series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Lori - It came in bits and pieces. I'd been thinking of doing a story on Amazons for quite a while before I actually started writing. Amber - Will there be more books in the series? How long would you like to see things continue? Do you see an end in sight?
Lori - I would like to write at least one more, but for now, unfortunately, no more books are under contract. That doesn't, however, mean I might not go ahead at some point and write the book anyway. With the changes in publishing (growth of eBooks) that is something an author can actually consider even without a publisher behind the book.
Amber - Your main character has a few generations of family around her. Is family very important to you?
Lori - Family is important to me. I think I drew on the generations shown in Amazon Ink from my childhood. Unfortunately, my children don't get to grow up surrounded by multiple generations like I did.
Amber - What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything interesting or is the research boring? Lori - I enjoyed the research I did for the Amazon series. It was mainly a combination of researching real archeological digs of female warrior graves and Greek myth.
Amber - The Amazon books are your Urban Fantasy debut but you have written quite a few other books. Can you tell us a little about them?
Lori - My first two books were romantic comedies set in my home region of the Missouri Ozarks. When the popularity of romantic comedy took a dive, I switched to dark paranormal romance. I have six of those out with Harlequin Nocturne and a seventh coming out in July.
Amber - Why did you become an author and what drew you to the paranormal genre?
Lori - I became an author because I was at home with my kids and had the time. That sounds horribly unglamorous, but it's the truth. So far as paranormal, I have been a big fantasy reader for years. It was a natural move.
Amber - How much say do you have in the book publishing process? Eg. Do you get to pick the cover?
Lori - I get input on the covers, but I don't get to pick them.
Amber - What are the good times and bad times of being an author?
Lori - Good times are going out and seeing people or hearing from people who "get" your books. My bad times have all pretty much been when I was trying to write too much in too short of time. Not good.
Amber - What is next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Lori - I have a few things in the works. I have more Nocturnes coming out this year and next. I also have a paranormal young adult out with editors and am working on a new single title paranormal romance proposal. When I am finished with it, I have an idea for another urban fantasy I'd like to try.
Amber - There are alot of online sites taking up peoples time lately. Are you on Facebook or any other sites? Do you think the sites are useful or do they just take up too much of your time?
Lori - I'm on Twitter and Facebook. They can take up time, but you need some time away from writing and being an extrovert I need some outlet. I have over the years eliminated a number of things though that I felt were just time sucks--mainly loops.
Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?
Lori - Not really. I write in silence. I do watch a lot of reality TV. I love reality TV. I think you can get a lot of insight into how people think and act watching it.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Lori - I'm not sure. Maybe shift into a cat. I love the way they show their mood with their tails.
Amber - Thanks for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will stop by again!
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Contest Time!
Lori is going to send one lucky winner a surprise package. All she can guarntee is that it will include one of her books! Please note that this contest is only open to US & Canada mailing addresses!
How to Enter
Which of Lori's books would you most like to have?
No Book = No Entry
Earn more entries for each place you link this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your info in one post.
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Amazon link below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 30th of May 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
Devon was kind enough to offer THREE signed books up to three lucky Amberkatze Book Blog readers. So who are the lucky three?
Congrats to -
OneDayItWillBeAlright!
K_sunshine1977!!
Cait045!!!
Well done to all three of you! Make sure you read the instructions on how to claim your prize (see below)!
If you didn't win this time then just keep trying! There is a new contest already open with author Paula Brackston and a new contest coming up in the next hour with author Lori Devoti. Also keep a look out for the May Monthly Giveaway!
How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe
The creepy town of Nightshade is preparing to celebrate its 200th anniversary on Halloween and there is a lot going on. Psychic Daisy Giordano is doing as much as she can to help prepare for the celebrations but there seems to be more going on in the small town behind the scenes. Some of the paranormal residents are being blackmailed, a new school counselor is sticking her nose into places she shouldn't and a famous chef has descended on the town and throwing her weight around.
Meanwhile, Daisy is also trying to get her dad to understand she isn't the little girl he was forced to leave behind six years ago. Of course she realises that he is having a hard time adjusting to life back in Nightshade after being help captive by an anti-paranormal group and Daisy, like the rest of her family, is trying to give her dad some slack. However when he starts to come between her and her boyfriend Ryan she has to try and find a compromise or she could lose him.
There are a lot of secrets in Nightshade and Daisy has already uncovered quite a few of them. In this fourth book in the series there are even more surprises for the residents of the spooky little town. A hot spot for the supernatural and for unusual happenings, Nightshade, is the kind of kooky place you would love to live in yourself. There is never a dull moment and the people are extremely intriguing.
There are quite a few different plots to this new installment but there isn't anything difficult about them. Actually the plots are interesting and well put together, using characters from previous books as well as new characters. At some point I did realise where things were heading but it still didn't put me off reading this delightful Young Adult book in one gulp.
I really like this series and look forward to any more books the author will write about Daisy and her sisters. Nightshade is a wonderful place with unusual people and enough action to keep me reading. As well as the usual paranormal filled mystery there is always a little relationship problem and the author finds a good balance between the two. Not too over the top for younger readers but definitely realistic and well written.
Daisy is surely my favourite teen psychic! I feel sorry that you all have to wait till August to read this. I just hope that there will be more of Daisy in the future and that the wait between books won't be as long. Well worth reading if you need something light and a must read for those paranormal loving teenagers out there.
Over a year ago I met author Paula Brackston in Cardiff, Wales while visiting my family. I still believe it is fate that brought me to that particular book shop on that day. Otherwise I would have never met Paula and read her amazing 'Book of Shadows'.
Last year Paula was nice enough to take the time to answer some questions about 'Book of Shadows'. Now a year later her second book, 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey', is out and of course I couldn't resist inviting Paula back to answer some questions about this captivating new book.
Enjoy getting to know the author and please make sure you add her books to your wish list! I can only highly recommend them!
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Amber - It is so nice to have you on the blog again! Can you start things off by telling my readers a little about your new book 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey'?
Paula - The story is set in modern day and thirteenth century rural Wales. Laura is an artist who, with her husband, moves from London in the hope a more natural existence will help her conceive a longed-for child. She is an painter (Lamp Black is an artist's colour), and the landscape inspires some of her best work. The historical tale involves a young servant girl called Megan, and her relationship with the seer, Merlin. The two stories become connected in what I hope is a surpirsing and convincing way!
Amber - How did you come up with the idea for 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey'? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Paula - At the time I was living in an ancient Welsh longhouse in the Brecon Beacons, and that is where I set the story. The house was built in the thirteenth century, and had no telephone or electiricty, so felt almost unchanged by the centuries. I always had the sense that there were echos of past lives contained in the smooth stone walls of the place, as well as in the hills and woodlands surrounding it. Both my parents are painters, and I've always had an interest in the legend of Merlin. He is thought to have started his life not far from here, so it seemed feasible that he could have spent a summer here.
Amber - What kind of research did you have to do for 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey'? Anything interesting or is the research boring?
Paula - I only write about things which interest me, so I'd never find the research boring. I grew up with oil paint everywhere and learned a good deal about art from my parents, so that was sort of stored up knowledge. Megan is a gifted healer of horses. I used to keep horses and work with them and often used ancient natural remedies, so again, this was familiar ground to me. I guess most of my research centered on gettting the historical details right. I found it quite hard to get information about such a long time ago. It was a very different experience from researching, say, the Victorian section in 'Book of Shadows' for this reason.
Amber - How do you pick your characters names? Are they names you like or from people you know?
Paula - Quite the opposite, in fact! I spend ages avoiding names of people I know. I researched the sorts of Welsh names that would have been used at the time. I was aware of the fact that non-Welsh speakers would find some of them tricky to read or pronounce, so that influenced my choices a little.
Amber - How much say do you have in the book publishing process? Eg. Do you get to pick the cover?
Paula - Snowbooks are renowned for producing fabulous covers, so I wouldn't dream of telling them their job. That said, they are always open to some author input. I think the cover for 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey' is gorgeous - really atmospheric.
Amber - What are the good times and bad times of being an author?
Paula - I'm not one of those tortured writers for whom writing is agony - I love the process of creating stories and getting them on the page and manipulating words to produce atmosphere and emotion. I'm always nervous that my work will fall short of my expectations, of course, and everyone is sensititive to crisitcism. You develop a pretty thick skin. And you have to be prepared to keep at it. I had written five complete novels before I got one published - over a period of nearly nine years!
Amber - What is next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Paula - Well, the American edition of 'Book of Shadows' is coming out this winter, so I've been working quite a bit on revising that for the new publishers, St Martin's. I also lecture in creative writing part time at the University of Wales, Newport, so that keeps me busy. Last month I was selected by the BBC for their New Welsh Writers scheme and whisked off for a four-day residential workshop, which was fantastic. Not sure what will come out of that yet. I'm currently working on a screenplay.
Amber - There are alot of online sites taking up peoples time lately. Are you on Facebook or any other sites? Do you think the sites are useful or do they just take up too much of your time?
Paula - I avoid them all. I just know I would lose too many valuable writing hours into them. I do think they help people feel connected, which is good when we live such separate and sometimes isolated lives these days. There are only so many hours in the day - you have to choose. I'd rather play with my children, take the dog for a walk, or do stuff to the garden.
Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?
Paula - I've always got at least three books on the go at any one time. One will be a novel (currently it's 'Skippy Dies' by Paul Murray - hilarious), and two books connected with writing projects (screenplay heroes and villains just now) or teaching (texts on gothic fiction -really enjoying that). I listen to music in the car (I drive over a hundred miles to teach every Friday) - always stuff connected to a creative project. I find it very helpful to see scenes in my head if they are set to music, whether I'm writing a novel or a screenplay. I don't watch much TV these days - I like stand up comedy at the weekend, or a really good movie, but I'm often disappointed.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Paul a- Heavens! Would have to be a werewolf. I've just completed a comedy-horror screenplay about a village full of Welsh werewolves, and some of them were lovely. And just think, you wouldn't have to bother waxing ever again!
Amber - Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog again!
Paula - My pleasure - thanks for inviting me!
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Contest Time!
Paula has very kindly said she will send one lucky Amberkatze's Book Blog reader a copy of her new book, 'Black Lamp, Wolf Grey'.
How to Enter
Have you every discovered an author by accident? Was it fate? Tell us your stories!
No story = No Entry
Earn more entries for each place you link this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your info in one post.
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Amazon link below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 30th of May 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
Allie Beckstrom is a Hound. A person who can track illegal spells back to the people who cast them. There is always a price to pay for using magic and in Allie's case the price is headaches, aches, pains and memory loss. Nobody ever said using magic was easy but things are about to get real dangerous.
There is a storm approaching Portland and when it hits, all the magic in the area will go haywire. There is no way to stop the magically front but there are ways to stop it from taking out the whole city. Allie and her lover, Zayvion Jones, have to help fight against what the storm may bring. However they both know that the price on the amount of magic they use could be much higher than it usually is.
Magic in the Storm is book number four in the Allie Beckstrom series. Just when I thought things couldn't get harder for Allie, they do. Actually so many things happen in this newest installment that would make any other grown woman just give up. Not Allie. She keeps fighting and doing what she needs to do, right to the very cliffhanger end.
I really like Allie and have done since the very beginning of this series. Actually all the good guys in these books are starting to really grow on me and I can't wait to meet up with them again. However the plot really does it for me. Twists, turns and surprises come from all over the place and it makes for a thrilling read. This is near perfect Urban Fantasy.
The magic in this series practically jumps out of the pages. Different, unusual and nothing like you have ever read before, this book and the rest of the series certainly makes an impact. Where the series will go next is clear from the cliffhanger ending (but I won't spoil things for you) but what will happen there is something we will have to wait till November to find out.
In Oklahoma and in Paratholon, Rhiannon and Shannon celebrate their birthdays by giving birth to a child. While giving birth Rhiannon recants her allegiance to the evil god Pryderi hoping that her daughter will be free of evil. Her daughter Morrigan is safe and grows up in Oklahoma knowing she is different but unsure what the voices she hears want from her.
As Morrigan comes of age learns of her heritage she is scared. Her grandparents know that one of the voices Morrigan hears could be Pryderi but they are hopeful that it is the goddess Epona. When Morrigan visits the Albaster Caverns she discovers her powers. One thing leads to another and Morrigan finds herself transported to Paratholon. She finally feels at home but will she listen to the right voices and be the Light Bringer she is destined to be? Or will she embrace Darkness?
I only finished Divine by Choice the other day but couldn't wait to read this third book in the Paratholon series. This book was set out slightly different. While I was already used to the switch from Oklahoma and Paratholon from the previous book, this book also switched between characters quite a bit. It wasn't too hard to keep track of but it was a little hard to adjust to at first.
That aside this book was amazing. I really had no idea what to expect from this next installment and I was surprised all the way. I loved visiting the world of Paratholon again and it was interesting to see it from another perspective. It was also intriguing to see where the author took the characters this time. She was quite brutal, killing a few off as the story unfolded. I have to say there were times when I had a tear in my eye but on the other hand there were also parts that made me giggle.
Emotional, magical and fantastic. This series has left a mark and I won't be forgetting it any time soon. Just as Maria. V. Snyders and Jeri Smith-Ready's fantasy worlds kept me hanging on for more, so does P.C. Cast's Paratholon series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Elphame's Choice. I am very curious to see what happens.
Well worth reading if you love the House of the Night series but I wouldn't recommend this for Young Adults. Although there isn't too much sex and violence, there is enough to give it 'Not Suitable' mark on the back cover.
I have been reading the new UK version of this series. The covers are beautiful.
As you all know, back in April, author Lana Griffin was a guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog. Well what you don't know is that Lana also interviewed me!!
Now the interview is up on Lana's blog so everyone can have a read. It is all about me, this blog and books! It was weird being on the side of things and I think I babbled on a little too much ;)
If you have time please go and take a look! I know Lana will be happy to see some Amberkatze Book Blog readers over there!
One of my author guests this week is Devon Monk! I have already started reading her new release, Magic on the Storm. However work has been taking up too much of my reading time this week and all I want to do is curl up with it!
Anyway! Devon is giving away three signed copies of Magic on the Storm to three lucky winners. So make sure you head over and enter the contest!
Interested in knowing which authors are going to be visiting soon? Check the schedule in the sidebar!
This week I have a second author interview for you all! Devon Monk also has a new release out this week and I am about to go sit down and start it.
The Allie Beckstorm series has really impressed me and the fourth release, Magic on the Storm, is sure to be another great read. So I couldn't resist asking Devon to stop by this week and tell you all a little about the series, the new release and herself.
Enjoy the interview and make sure you enter the contest! Devon is giving away three signed copies of her new release to three lucky readers!
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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest again! Could you start things off by telling my readers a little about the Allie Beckstrom Series?
Devon - Allie Beckstrom’s books take place in current-day Portland Oregon where magic is a resource anyone can use. The price for using magic? Pain. Allie Beckstrom is a Hound, and uses magic to track illegal spells back to their caster. However, when her powerful and rich father is killed, the darker side of magic is revealed. Allie must learn, quickly, who to trust, who to love, and how to survive in the dangerous high-stake world of magic.
Amber - The fourth book in the series, Magic on the Storm, has just been released. What does Allie get up to this time?
Devon - With a wild magic storm bearing down on the city, Allie not only has to fight alongside the Authority to stop the storm, but she also discovers that there are even more dangers threatening the people she cares about. Technology her father invented to make magic less painful has fallen into the wrong people’s hands. Things get pretty intense in this book, and Allie must make one of the hardest choices in her life to save the people she loves.
Amber - Allie has seen a lot of action so far. How do you decide what to throw at her in each book?
Devon - Well, it’s a nine-book series, which means there’s a lot of things that need to happen to tell the whole story. In order to cover everything, I don’t so much decide what needs to happen to her next, as just try to get it all on the page as quickly and well as I can so I can see how each event builds up to the next event. One thing I’m always hoping for is that each challenge Allie faces and each decision she makes helps her to grow as a person.
Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the series? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?
Devon - These books started out as a short story written for a themed anthology. The anthology asked for stories that blended magic and business. I thought about what would happen if everyone could use magic. What would we use magic for and what price we would pay to have it? Then I started thinking about the illegal things we might do with magic. Allie stepped up on the scene to help a little boy who had been hit by magic, and the story began.
Amber - Will there be more books in the series? How long would you like to see things continue for Allie ? Do you see an end in sight?
Devon - I do see this as a nine book series. I think everything that begins in book one will be answered by book nine. That being said, I wouldn’t totally rule out Allie getting into more trouble in the future. It’s a rich world, and Allie and the crew are a lot of fun to spend time with. So, who knows? :)
Amber - What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything interesting or is the research boring?
Devon - I don’t do a lot of research. I do make sure I get all my places and street names right. Even though the books are set in a magical “alternate” Portland, Oregon and I’ve taken some liberties with re-naming businesses, or settings, I want to make sure I get the real life basics correct. So sometimes I’ll take a quick trip to check out a chocolate shop I was thinking about mentioning, or to stroll through a cemetery to read the gravestones. Things like that.
Amber - How much say do you have in the book publishing process? Eg. Do you get to pick the cover?
Devon - I don’t get a lot of say about the cover, which is probably for the best since I am not an artist or a graphic designer. ;) I do offer a list of cover ideas so the artist knows Allie’s hair color, where her magic tattoos are, a few Portland land marks, and the weapons Allie uses. I feel so lucky to have the amazing artist, Larry Rostant, bringing Allie to life on the covers.
Amber - What are the good times and bad times of being an author?
Devon - The best times are when the words and story are flowing and I’m excited and surprised about where the book is going, and also when readers send an email or blog to say they enjoyed a part of the book. The bad times are when I’m pushing hard to hit my deadlines and feel like I’m falling behind in everything else, like brushing my teeth, and remembering to go grocery shopping, Lol!
Amber - What is next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Devon - My short story collection A CUP OF NORMAL* will be out this year through Fairwood Press. The stories are a little darker and more fantastical than the Allie Beckstrom books. Many of them have been published in magazines and anthologies, but there are a few new stories too. I hope readers will find a gem or two they enjoy.
I am also working on a steampunk series which I believe will come out 2011 and 2012. The first book in that series is tentatively titled, DEAD MAN’S MOON, and the idea behind it is: “In the steampunk America of the 1800’s where strange creatures, machines, and magic aim to claim the same scrap of land and sky, sometimes all a man can count on is his honor, his word, and his claws.”
*May Contain Giant Robots
Amber - There are alot of online sites taking up peoples time lately. Are you on Facebook or any other sites? Do you think the sites are useful or do they just take up too much of your time?
Devon - I am on Facebook and Twitter and also have a Live Journal blog, a web page, and I am part of the group web page The Deadline Dames. Oh, and I’m on the knitting site, Ravelry too! So, um, yes, I love all those ways to keep up with people. I do tend to answer questions and comments the quickest on Twitter and Facebook.
Are they a time sink? They can be. But I also find them to be a perfect quick break during my writing day.
Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?
Devon - I’ve had my head down for the last couple months, revising MAGIC AT THE GATE and writing book six, which is currently untitled. I guess I haven’t been very media influenced lately.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Devon - I love this question because it makes me imagine being a vampire, a werewolf, a ghost, a fae, and more. Imagining being something you’re not is one of the fun things about being a writer. But I can’t think of a favorite creature I’d want to be. I guess the creature I would most dislike being is a zombie. Rotting flesh and a steady diet of brains? I just don’t think I could pull that off with much panache, Lol!
Amber - Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog again!
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Contest Time!
Devon has been very kind and said she will send three winners each a signed copy of her new release 'Magic on the Storm'.
How to Enter
Allie Beckstrom has some really cool tattoos (see the book covers). My question this week is....Do you have tattoos? If Yes, how many, where and anything else you feel happy telling us! or if you don't what tattoo would you consider having done?
No Tattoo = No Entry
To make things even I will say...I have five. Stars around my left wrist, Stars on my right foot, leo sign on wrist wrist, Cool Cat on left leg and a 'family symbol' on my left leg. Would like to have at least 2 more...maybe more stars (seeing a theme here?).
Earn more entries for each place you link this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your info in one post.
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Amazon link below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 23rd of May 2010 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
This week author Tate Hallaway celebrated the release of her fifth Garnet Lacey book, Honeymoon of the Dead. Unfortunately it is also the last in the series and I have to say I will miss the witch and her goddesses!
Anyway I caught up with Tate to find out more about Honeymoon of the Dead and what she is up to next! I hope you all enjoy getting to know the author and if you haven't already tried her books that you decide to pick them up!
Enjoy!
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest again! Could you start things off by telling us a little bit about your Garnet Lacey series and what has happened so far?
Tate - Garnet Lacey is a witch who, in order to protect herself from Vatican witch hunters, bonded with the dark goddess Lilith. To try to escape detection, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she met the handsome, mysterious Sebastian Von Traum. Over the course of several books, they’ve had adventures and hilarious hijinx.
Amber - I have Honeymoon of the Dead, the newest installment, here ready to read. What can I expect from this fifth book in the series?
Tate – You can expect the sort of crazy adventures that Garnet tends to get involved in. Last book, it was the wedding from hell. This book, it’s the honeymoon.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Tate - Garnet clearly does. She’s named after the semi-precious stone, but there probably isn’t anyone in fiction more unlike the solid, earthy-ness of her namesake. Sebastian is a name I’ve had floating around in my head for years. I’ve told myself stories about a version of Sebastian since high school.
Amber - Will there be more Garnet books? And I saw on Amazon that you have another vampire series coming out??
Tate - Alas, the publisher has decided that Honeymoon of the Dead will be the last in the Garnet Lacey series. BUT, Tall, Dark & Dead will be coming out from Berkley Sensation in mass market paperback format in late 2011.
I have a young adult novel coming out in August that's the beginning of a new series. It's called ALMOST TO DIE FOR, and I'm hard at work on the second one already. :-)
Amber - Garnet has seen a lot of paranormal action so far. How do you decide what to throw at her in each book?
Tate - Honestly, I think about all the books I like to read and think, “what would I do if I could play around with that kind of paranormal creature?” I’d been planning one with fairies, which will have to be shelved for now, because I’ve read a bunch of fairy books and I’d love to add to the oeuvre.
Amber - I am sure that being an author has its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?
Tate - Probably the most difficult was becoming Tate. I used to be a science fiction writer, you know. Science fiction is a much tougher sell, so when my editor and I brainstormed about the next project he suggested a genre and name change. I find that my science fiction colleagues are a lot cooler to me now that I’ve established myself as a romance writer. I struggle with that a lot because science fiction is still my first love. But, as Tate I continue to be very successful, so I’m _so_ not complaining!
Amber - Honeymoon of the Dead has a new cover style. What happened there? How much say do you have in the book publishing process?
Tate - Very little. I’m sometimes asked for a scene that I might think would make a good cover, but I don’t sit in on cover committees, so, in the end, it’s more like: “Here’s the finished product! Hope you like it.”
I’m a bit disappointed that my publisher decided to try something new for the cover of the last book in this series. I don’t know about you, but I like it when I can instantly tell if a book is part of a series, the same package. The cover for Honeymoon has its lovely points, but I would have liked to see the same look all the way through.
Amber - Alot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music that influenced your books?
Tate - I’m not one of the cool kids. I actually tend to write to silence or an approximation there in, like the white noise of a busy coffee shop. If I listen to music at all, it will be a single song, on low, on a continual loops so that I’m not tempted to stop and sing along.
Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?
Tate – Currently, I’m really enjoying Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series. The first one being Working for the Devil. I also just finished Caitlin Kittredege’s first Black London novel, Street Magic.
Amber - There are a lot of online sites taking up people’s time lately. Are you on Facebook or any other sites? Do you think the sites are useful or do they just take up too much of your time?
Tate - I’m on them on, and I blog in a couple of places too. Are they time wasters? Sure, to some extent, but I also think readers expect to connect to authors on these kinds of social platforms. It’s just a new reality in the business. I’ll admit, however, that I’m probably too old to properly utilize Twitter. I find I like Facebook and blogging, but for some reason I’m still kind of baffled by Twitter.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Tate – Shape shifters have their appeal, but perhaps one of the faerie one’s, like a puca, perhaps, because I’d like to be immortal. I think some days I _am_ a zombie, but that’s only before I’ve had my first caffeine of the day!
Amber - Thank you for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog again! I hope you will come back again!
If you didn't win this time then make sure to check out the upcoming contest with author Devon Monk. Or just take the time to check in every week for a new contest.
How to claim your prize
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe
It is not the end of the world yet but Doomsday is always near. Elizabeth Phoenix has been fighting to stop Armageddon and on the way she has had to do a lot of things she isn't happy with. A few weeks ago she had no choice but to kill one the men she loves. She still sees Sawyer in her dreams but it isn't enough. Now Liz is prepared to do anything she can to get the powerful Sawyer back from the dead.
A special gift later and more powers than she thought she had, Liz, is on the way to save the world again. Chaos rules again as Liz tries to put things right while getting things wrong. Will she be able to head off Doomsday again? Despite the outcome, Chaos Bites.
Let me just start off by saying that I love this series. Unusual and always surprising I never have a clue what is going to happen next and enjoy each and every minute! Lori Handeland has always been a favourite of mine and this series shows how good a writer she is. Action packed, surrounded by romance and always a twist to everything, this series keeps me guessing and captivated.
Emotions fly high in this one and from the first chapter the sexual elements push off. However there is a great balance in the story and the romantic and steamy elements are always part of the story and not just some way to drag out the story. All the paranormal creatures you can think of come into play and some that you haven't yet thought of. There is nothing about this series that is bad and there is a lot of it that is good.
If you haven't already tried this series then I suggest you give it a try. If you are already addicted, like myself, then go out and get this new one because you won't be disappointed. Danger, sex and action will keep you reading while the excitement, uniqueness and amazing plot will keep you hooked. I can't wait to see what happens next and I welcome the chaos that this author brings.
The world of Partholon is full of goddesses, magic and intrigue. Shannon Parker may not have been planning to spend the rest of her life there but since she was pulled there she has made a life for herself. She has forgotten about her life on Earth and is content with her husband and the role she plays in Partholon. Then she gets a happy shock. Then she gets a nasty shock.
A burst of power pulls her back to Oklahoma and Shannon finds she can't return. Back in the world she grew up in she meets the man who is the mirror image of her husband back in Partholon. Can she trust him to help her after he brought her back to her old home? Meanwhile Shannon finds that her own mirror image, Rhiannon, has been up to a lot of no good. However what she didn't expect is that Rhiannon had managed to bring such evil over to Earth with her.
Of course I expected the second book in the Partholon series to involve Shannon going back to Earth somehow. It was strange to leave Partholon but it was obviously necessary. If the writer has ignored this angle I think I would have felt slightly cheated. However how it happened and the plot in general, surprised me greatly. I found myself once again pulled into this wonderful world and Shannon's new story and not being able to stop reading.
There were a few 'wow' moments in this book and I won't tell you what because I don't want to give things away. What I can say is that while you may think you know what is going to happen, you may be right but there is usually a twist. I think the author tries to keep the reader on their toes and she manages it successfully.
Overall this book reminded me of how I felt when I first started P.C's House of the Night series, eager to read more and full of respect. With such an amazing main character and an unusual world this is a winner. I feel lucky to have read this and can't wait to see what happens next.
Occult bookseller Garnet Lacey is finally married to vampire Sebastian Von Traum and it is time for the honeymoon. Sitting on a plane ready to take off for Vienna, Garnet, a goddess filled witch, notices something isn't quite right. It seems they have a bit of a frost demon problem. Needless to say Garnet decides they are better off getting off the plane.
So the newlyweds are stuck in Minneapolis. It isn't exactly what they had planned but they decide to make the most of it. After all it is where Garnet grew up and she is happy to see and share her old stomping grounds with her new husband. However, as it usually is, Garnet finds herself in trouble again. Hopefully her new marriage will be able to stand the tension.
I have always enjoyed this series and Honeymoon of the Dead was no exception. Unfortunately this fifth installment is also the last book in the series. I was very upset to hear this and actually felt sad while reading this. Garnet is one of those characters that you love from the beginning and it is a shame that she won't be around to read about any more.
It was strange reading this and knowing it would be the end. Certainly the finish didn't leave any cliffhangers but there are a few things I still would have liked to have heard more about. The ending was left open enough for more stories about Garnet but I doubt that will ever happen, such a shame.
Anyway I have enjoyed this series and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good witch! Garnet always manages to find trouble and I hope she enjoys the rest of her life with her vampire Sebastian. I also hope that the author will be bringing us more paranormal treats soon. Tate Hallaway has a wonderful writing style and hopefully something else is already in the works!
Forced to leave her home, Kestrel (don't call her Susan) is angry and about having to live in Jurupa with her aunt. The people there are stupid and the place is way too hot. So Kestrel puts all her energy into her training. She wants to be a witch and if she tries hard enough she knows she will be able to get her life back to normal.
It takes a while before she notices more about her Aunt Ariel and the other people around her. Life can be magical if you find friends and have a nice family but Kestrel is going to find out the hard way like most teenagers have a tendency to do.
I read Vampire High by Douglas Rees quite a while ago and remember being very impressed. So when I saw this book I couldn't resist getting to know this author again. Aimed at younger readers this story follows Kestrel while she goes through a difficult time. With her father ill and her mother unable to cope with the young witch, she is sent off to stay with an aunt she has never met.
Kestel's journey from being the strange new girl to the hero was very interesting and intense. However I did find myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion and had a fit of giggles when it came to the 'Stick Week'. Kestrel may come across as a spoilt brat at times but I could relate to her for most of the book. The plot took some time to evolve but by the end I was hooked and enjoying every chapter more than the next.
Douglas Rees obviously has a knack for writing cool young adult stories with paranormal elements. I have already gone and looked up what other books he has on offer and added a few to my wish list. Majix is a short, young but amusing read that I won't be forgetting any time soon. Well worth picking up if you find a copy when it comes out in July.
The Ardeur Contest is now closed! And one lucky person has won a copy of the collection of essays about the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series.
Congrats to -
Darcie K.!!!
Please keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
If you didn't win then don't despair! The Jaye Wells contest is still open and there are new contests each week! Keep coming back and entering! One day you will get lucky ;)
How to claim your prize
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe
Rowan's wife is ill and she can't be healed by doctors or drugs. The only way he can save her is to stop the magick that has connected her to the sadistic serial killer calling herself Mistress Miranda. However first her has to find her and that isn't proving to be easy.
The spell needs to be broken but Rowan isn't sure which spell. With the killer using a mixture of evil magick that he does not deal with. So he follows the leads he has to New Orleans and finds himself luring the killer closer to him and his wife. Will he be able to stop the bond they have before it is too late?
The End of Desire is book three in the Miranda Trilogy, a trilogy that is part of the Rowan Gant Investigation series. I have been dying to read this book for some time but this series isn't the easiest or cheapest to get hold of here in Europe and it was only last week that I managed to finally get a copy. I couldn't wait to dive in and finished this in record time.
It was nice to finally get to the end of this trilogy. It has been an interesting, exciting and scary story and I have enjoyed it immensely. However on saying that, I am ready to get on with the next story, away from Miranda. It was fun but I am, as Rowan is, glad it is over. Now I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series (which I already have) and finding out what happens next.
This series has got to be one of my favourites. Not only is this written by a male but also the main character is male. This makes for a welcome change. Also the writer obviously knows what he is writing about. There is an air of reality to the stories and Sellars must do a lot of homework to make sure he gets things not only right but interesting.
Well worth checking out. Definitely something worth reading if you like a bit of mystery and thriller now and again. This series is like a James Patterson book with magick, a brilliant combination that I have come to enjoy.
Sookie is trying to cope with the loss of some loved ones and friends. The Faery War left its mark on her life and she is hurt and angry. The only good thing in her life is vampire Eric Northman. Their relationship is holding and even though he has some vampire problems to deal with, he is there for her and she is there for him.
However, as is usually the case for Sookie, things are about to get complicated again. The first hint of trouble starts when the Shreveport pack ask to use her land on the full moon and find traces of faery. The doors to the Otherworld have been closed but it seems some are still left behind. Then a dead body and a blast from Eric's past all find themselves tied up in the situation and before you know it Sookie is yet again in the middle of a supernatural survival of the fittest. Hopefully she will win again and not lose anyone else close to her.
The long awaited tenth Sookie book, Dead in the Family, already had me worrying who was going to die next. Was the title a hint? Is this the end of Sookie or someone close to her? You will have to read it to find out for yourselves but I will say that I was surprised that the title didn't mean as much as I thought it would.
Between old friends, newer relationships and completely new characters, this book found space for nearly everyone we have ever met and wanted to meet. There were surprises and revelations and once again Charlaine Harris has given us what we want. Another part of the tale, a continuation of the series and the hope that more is on the way.
I love this series and hate waiting a year for a new installment and with this being the tenth book isn't it about time we started getting at least a new part at least once every sixth months? I am really happy that I decided to visit the whole series again via audio otherwise I believe I would have been a little lost at times.
All in all this was another brilliant read but there was something lacking somewhere. I can't put my finger on it but something dulled the story a little. Sure there were moments of 'wow' but they were not as amazing as usual. Despite this I loved the book and grabbed it at every opportunity. Even read the last few pages while out with friends because I just had to get to the end.
Fans must buy this. There is no need to wait. Beg, borrow or steal yourself a copy because it is hard not to know what happens next in Sookie's life. Now, as the new hit of the Sookie drug wears off, I am preparing for the year long wait for the next part. Trueblood series three is only in a month and the dvd's of season 1 and 2 will help. Maybe I will even listen to Dead in the Family in a few months as well. After all the narrator always does such a great job.
No blurb here! If you don't know about Breaking Dawn or haven't read it yet then look it up! I already read the book when it was released and decided to listen to the whole Twilight series on Audio book. Breaking Dawn is the last book in the Saga and finally I finished listening to it the other day. Looking back I can't remember the book being that long but listening to it was another story. If you have about 20 hours to spare. Then this is the book to listen to!
Despite the fact that I wanted to visit the Twilight books again, I didn't really want to listen to Breaking Dawn until after seeing Eclipse when it comes out in the cinema. However the book was there taunting me on Audible.com and decided now was just a good a time as any. In a way I am glad I listened to it now rather than later. Now when I walk out of the cinema after Eclipse I won't be trying to remind myself what happens next. It will be fresh in my mind.
As I already mentioned, this audio book is very long. It has taken me weeks to listen to it and I was, to be honest, getting bored and annoyed at it by the end. The previous books were much easier to listen to and not so drawn out. The only enjoyment I took in this book was the narrators. I have been impressed by Bella's narrator since listening to the first book and it was nice to have a new narrator on this book speaking the part of Jacob.
All in all this book has some highs but more drawn out lows. I am sure when I read this I enjoyed it but listening to this was a chore by the end. There are lots of things I could point out that I found wrong in the book but this review is more about the audio aspect than the story. So I will end in saying that the audio was well made and kudos to the narrators. It is a shame the book was so long winded and sometimes boring.
Last week there were two contests on Amberkatze's Book Blog! The first contest was with author Paula Brackston. She was giving away a copy of her new book 'Lamp Black, Wolf Grey'. 
Next up was author Lori Devoti. She was giving away a surprise package which will definitely include one of her books. 
