Well the winners had a week to claim their prize but only one out of three contacted me! That means that there are two new winners for the Jocelynn Drake contest! Both new winners will get a copy of Jocelynn's new release 'Pray for Dawn'. Hopefully the new winners will claim the great prize!
So the two new winners are -
Stella!!!
&
Jackie!!!
Congrats to you both! You have till Sunday to claim your prizes! Just e-mail me your details - Amberkatzes_book_blog@gmx.net
She is the most feared assassin in the South but when she isn't out killing people she is busy cooking in the Pork Pit. She is a Stone elemental and has some Ice magic running through her veins. She is the Spider and she is a professional killer.
Double-crossed and out for revenge, Gin a.k.a The Spider, is ready to kill anyone who gets in her way. Gin only takes out the bad guys, the ones who deserve it, and these guys really need to be put down. But there is trouble and that trouble is the law. Donovan Caine has reluctantly agreed to help Gin but he is also a bit of a distraction. Battling a magic that is more powerful than her own, the last thing Gin needs is for her mind to wander, especially when the detective is one of the people who wants to see her dead.
So I heard from friends that this was an amazing read. I got the book a while back but it has been struggling to keep itself on the top of my to be read pile. Finally this book saw the light and got picked up yesterday and within a few chapters I was kicking myself for not getting around to this one earlier.
Yes this book is so good that you will be annoyed with yourself for not reading it sooner. I was hooked within pages and already looking to see if there was a second book by the time I was halfway through. When pay day comes I think the next part in the series, Web of Lies, is accidentally going to find its way into my hands. I need to know what happens next.
Spider's Bite is original and has a lot of depth. I was totally taken by surprise seeing as my previous encounter with this author was very different. A superb plot and amazing characters all came together and made this a read to remember. Brilliant urban fantasy and so unusual and new. I was in my element and scared to take a break.
There was a little cliffhanger ending that really has me itching to read more. If you are looking for some with thrills, kills and a kick-ass leading lady then look no further. I may have made a late start with this series but I am going to be catching up with it up real soon.
Author Cynthia Eden is one of my favourite authors and must be a big fan of Amberkatze's Book Blog because this her 4th visit!!! The first time Cynthia was a guest she talked about her book Immortal Danger. The next time she came and told us about Midnight's Master. The third visit, just before Christmas, was all about Eternal Hunger.
Now Cynthia has another new release out! I'll Be Slaying You officially goes on Sale on Tuesday and it is another super hot and exciting read.
So read the interview and find out more about Cynthia's newest release and then enter the contest and you may win a copy! Oh and make sure you enter the monthly giveaway for another chance to win a copy of I'll Be Slaying You.
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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is always great to have you here as a guest! Maybe you start things off by telling us a little about your new release, I'll Be Slaying You?
Cynthia – Thank you so much for inviting me back, Amber! :)
I’LL BE SLAYING YOU is the second book in my paranormal Night Watch series. It focuses on Sandra Dee Daniels (Dee), a woman who spends her nights hunting vampires…until she becomes the one who is hunted.
Amber - Does 'I'll Be Slaying You' play in the same world as your previous books? Will fans recognise some of the characters?
Cynthia – Yes, fans will definitely see some familiar characters. The other Night Watch hunters (Jude, Zane, and Jason Pak) who appeared in ETERNAL HUNTER are also back to help out in this story.
Amber - How did you come up with the ideas for your books? Are you already planning the next one as you are writing one? Or do you finish one and then see where the next fits in?
Cynthia – The whole Night Watch series started with one sentence for me. “Sometimes it takes a monster to catch a killer.” I wanted bounty hunters who were, well, a bit more than men. They’re monsters—shifters, demons—but they are the good guys. Well, semi-good. For the Night Watch books, I had basic ideas for the three primary stories from the beginning. So it was all about building the details to link the books.
Amber - How do you decide what to throw at your characters? The plot? Do you brainstorm? or just got with the flow?
Cynthia – I plot, I brainstorm, and I go with the flow. Depending on the book, I do different things. For I’LL BE SLAYING YOU, I just let Dee and Simon take me wherever they wanted to go—and I had a fabulous time with them.
Amber - I have certainly enjoyed all of your books so far. Can we expect more played in the paranormal world you have created? Are you working on any other projects?
Cynthia – I actually recently turned in a fallen angel story to my lovely editor at Kensington. My hero in this book is a fallen angel of death, and the heroine is a vampire. If my hero wants redemption (and his wings back), then he just has to do one thing…kill the heroine.
Amber - Don't you find it hard to write the steamy scenes? Do you have inspiration for the romance side of the books?
Cynthia – The steamy scenes are the hardest to write! I’ve heard some people say that they think those scenes must be easy for writers—they’re not! It’s often a challenge to balance the emotion with the physical aspects of a sensual scene. But I like challenges, so I’m all about finding new ways to bring my characters, um, together.
Amber - What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything interesting or is the research boring?
Cynthia – Oh, the research is always fun. I learn about vamps, ghost hunters, criminal psychology…I think the most interesting research that I have done has been on bounty hunters. Bounty hunters actually have a LOT of power out there.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Cynthia – I usually research the meaning of a name before I give it to a character; however, with “Sandra Dee Daniels”—I just woke up one day and knew that had to be her name. It was a fun name that I knew she would probably hate, so I had to go with it.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal genre?
Cynthia – Yes, always. When I was a kid, I wrote fairy tales and now, I like to think I just write grown-up fairy tales. I love writing in the paranormal genre because it allows me such incredible freedom. Anything can happen in a paranormal story (and it usually does!).
Amber - Lots of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music influenced your books?
Cynthia – I don’t have an entire soundtrack, but for Dee, I think her theme song must be “Bodies” by Drowning Pool (Let the bodies hit the floor…) because she is totally kick-ass. And, yes, as I wrote the action scenes, I did find myself humming that song—and it’s an odd song to hum.
Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?
Cynthia – So many favorites! I love reading all romance sub-genres, though paranormals are my faves. Some of my top authors include Jayne Ann Krentz, Christine Feehan, Larissa Ione, Angela Knight, Kresley Cole, Shannon McKenna…oh, I have way too many to list.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Cynthia – Tough question. I will pick a vampire. Being young and living forever—how could I refuse?
Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest again! I hope you will come back for more ;)
Cynthia — Thank you, Amber!! I loved answering your questions!
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Contest Time!
Cynthia is very giving away an autographed copy of I'LL BE SLAYING YOU to one lucky commenter!
Oh and make sure you enter the monthly giveaway for another chance to win a copy of I'll Be Slaying You.
How to Enter
Which Cynthia Eden book cover do you like the most? I mean they are all pretty hot & sexy but everyone is going have their favourite and I want to hear your views!
No Cover = 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 Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 4th of July 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.
My guest last week was author Jackie Kessler and she was here telling us a bit about her newest release and her upcoming projects. She was also giving away a copy of Black and White, the first book she wrote together with author Caitlin Kittrege.
It was fun reading about your favourite superheroes! But who is the lucky winner? Congrats to -
Legatu!!
If you didn't win this time then make sure you enter the Monthly Giveaway! If that doesn't take your fancy then stay tuned because a new author interview and contest is coming up!
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.
Support the contests by using the Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
New York in a world where werewolves, vampires and magi have made themselves known. After 9/11 the humans needed help and the Others came and did everything they could. People have accepted them but it isn't easy living with the Others and of course there are those who would like to see them all dead.
Shiarra Waynest is a PI and runs a detective agency with her wealthy friend Sara. Both usually stay away from the Others and don't really know everything about them. It is just that Shiarra needs money and doesn't want her partner to pour more of her own money into the business. So when the receptionist sets up a meeting with a magi she reluctantly goes along to at least see if the case is worth her time or not. With the offer the magi make her she can't help but say yes.
The case isn't exactly simple but the mage has offered enough protection and money to make Shiarra take the chance. Finding out if the ancient vampire businessman Alec Royce does indeed has some strange artifact shouldn't been a problem. However the tables get turned and Shiarra finds herself thrown into the middle of a huge Other power struggle. Now there is no way out of the deal unless she becomes one of the victims herself.
This book has been on my to be read pile for a while. I believe I got hold of a copy not long after it came out but for some reason or another (usually other books...) I only just managed to sit down and start this one yesterday. I immediately liked the story and knew this was one I was going to enjoy till the end. As a debut this was well written, thought out and very exciting. However there were a few little bits and bobs that I hope will have more depth in the sequel.
The main character was a refreshing change to the norm. Not only did Shiarra have no idea with what she was dealing with but she also wasn't your typical fight and ask questions later heroine. Sure I like a strong main character who knows what she is doing but sometimes the 'I know it all' attitude gets a little old and it was nice to come across someone who needed guidance and wasn't stubborn about listening to it. On saying that though, don't be surprised if you also find it a little frustrating. Just like a bad horror movie, I found myself wanting to scream 'don't do that'.
In conclusion this series has made a great start and I hope it continues and improves. Different enough to stand out with a good selection of the paranormal, Hunted by the Others, was a good read and I am looking forward to more. I have already added the second book, Taken by Others, to my list and will definitely be taking a look at it when it comes out in January.
It is nearly the end of the month again! Isn't the year just flying by? This month has been a good reading month and it was really hard to choose which five books to offer you guys! I hope you can choose 1 from the 5 that are up for grabs ;)
Just go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book. Here is a little info about each book on offer. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -
Well in the sidebar <--- there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. I pick a name from the subscibers list and that person wins the book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for! To subscribe to Amberkatze's Book Blog all you have to do is use the box in the sidebar <--- or at the bottom of this post. Everyone who is already subscribed will be entered in the contest as well as new subscribers. If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The poll will stay open for votes until Sunday 4th of July 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced later than day.
For more chances to win -
Post about this giveaway somewhere on the internet eg. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter etc. Make sure you post the link here so I can confirm your extra entry.
Email your friends about this giveaway. Make sure you add my email address so I also get a copy and can confirm your entry. Amberkatzes_Book_Blog@gmx.eu
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog where ever you can ;)
Nurse Merry MacKenzie is finally moving away from home. A lovely apartment awaits her even if her dad would like it if she stayed home with him. Her brother is impressed by the new place though, especially when he finds out who lives there. The famous baseball pitcher Jason Falco not only has the whole penthouse to himself but owns the whole building. A nice new place of her own and a sexy landlord. Life in Boston is going to be good.
Within days of being in her new place, Merry notices that the other residents are slightly strange. It doesn't take long for her to realise that the two women upstairs are actually witches who run a phone sex business and can communicate with the resident ghost. Then there is the shape-shifter across the hall and the werewolf on the next floor. Oh and don't forget the squatter in the cellar, a vampire, who has managed to make a secret lair for himself.
The unusual supernatural mix can be a recipe for disaster but it is the humans who seem to cause the most trouble. A reporter sneaking around looking for the scoop she needs to keep her job is a pest they need to get rid of fast. However the nosy aunt who has no idea that her husband is more than human who lives in the building could be the hardest one to keep calm when things start going wrong.
When I saw the cover for this book and read the blurb, my first thoughts were 'looks like a cute read'. Well Strange Neighbors was just what I expected and just a little bit more. Paranormal fun and mayhem all the way and some extremely hot steamy sex scenes had me hooked from the beginning. The story doesn't give everything away at once but offers small bits and pieces which build up to make a well thought out and satisfying read.
Sure there were a few little details that bugged me about this book but they were things I could get over. The quickness of Merry's and Jason's relationship made me cringe a little at first but in the end I have to admit that the love at first sight thing can happen. My main problem was the long chapters. There were perfect opportunities to start a new chapter. For example two weeks had passed. However the chapter continued. However after the first half of the book I was too into the story and plot to be extremely bothered about this.
All in all a very entertaining and delicious read. The new twist, a paranormal feast of characters and a chick-lit like style, made Strange Neighbors addictive and desirable. Fans of Lynsay Sands or MaryJanice Davidson should take a look at this new kid on the block. I have already found the next book in this series, The Werewolf Upstairs, and added it to my pre-order wish list. Another new author that has been added to my long long list!
So where are those winners? Jocelynn Drake was giving away three copies of her latest book and so far only one winner has come forward and claimed her prize. Check out the details here and see if you are one of the lucky people! You only have till Sunday to stake your claim!
Also don't forget to enter this weeks contest! Author Jackie Kessler is giving away a copy of Black & White. She wrote the book with author Caitlin Kittredge and it is a brilliant read. Make sure you enter the contest before 4pm (Central European Time) on Sunday.
Keep a look out for the Monthly Giveaway! It will be coming up sometime over the next few days!
Lillie St. Claire is a Talent, one of the rare few who can permanently dispatch the spirits of the dead that walk the earth. Her skills are in demand in a haunted country, where a plague of ghosts is becoming a civic nuisance.
Those skills bring her into conflict with frightened citizens who view Talents as near-demons. Her husband has come to see her as a Freak; so when Nathan dies after a car crash, she is relieved to be free of his increasingly vicious presence. Lillie expects to be haunted by Nathan's ghost, but not to become Suspect #1 for her husband's murder and reanimation.
But what's most surprising of all is the growing attraction between her and psi-crime detective John Thresher. He thinks that Lillie killed Nathan-and Nathan must agree, because his zombie is seeking revenge. Now she and Thresher must work together to solve her husband's murder-before his corpse kills her...
The Review -
This debut book from Bernita Harris is a breath of fresh air. Spooky and unusual this delightful new look on things paranormal is a stimulating read. Think Sookie Stackhouse but instead of vampires and werewolves there are ghosts and other things that go bump in the night. Instead of being able to read minds, Lillie can get rid of the ghosts who cause trouble. Dark and Disorderly brings mystery and mayhem with a level headed main character who manages to pick through the clues and finally come to the right conclusion.
With so many new books/series joining the paranormal genre family, it is hard to know what to try and not to touch. Dark & Disorderly is definitely one that should be picked up. Unfortunately this little treasure is only available as an e-book. However if you own a e-book reader or one of those Kindle things then you should really check this out. This has potential and if there is more to come then I will be giving it my full attention.
Being different can sometimes be good but in Elphame's case she is so different that she stands out from the crowd. Part-human and part-centaur, Elphame has attempted to hide her hooves all her life. Special because she is the daughter of The Chosen of Epona, she craves to be different for another reason.
So Elphame decides to take on a task. She has dreamt of restoring MacCallan Castle and how it should look. Now after a century of laying derelict it is time for the historical place to be returned to its former glory. With the help of her brother, Elphame begins the tedious but rewarding job of cleaning up what the evil Fomorian creatures left behind all those years ago when they attacked and killed all who lived there. Finally she feels she has found her true calling but something else is also waiting for her.
After reading the first three novels in the Partholon series I needed a little break from the magical world. However I couldn't keep myself away too long and Elphame's choice found its way into my hands quicker than I thought it would. The pull of the world P.C. Cast has created was too great and I needed to see what happened next.
Anyone following the series knows about the MacCallan Castle and the horrible things that happened there in the first book, Divine by Mistake. So going back there was a little scary and I was worried about what could happen. I wasn't prepared for the story that unravelled itself as the book paced along but I was happy with the result. Another Partholon visit to praise!
Now I still have Brighid's Quest to read but will take another short break before I pick it up. After the fifth book in the series I believe there will be no more Partholon novels so I want to stretch it out a little. Anyone who has read anything by P.C. Cast should be sure to check out this series. Fantasy, romance and adventure all mixes up with the typical writing style I have come to enjoy from this author and makes a special reading experience. A series and a world that should not be missed.
At twenty-one, Savannah Levine-orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer-considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with an impressive knowledge of and ability to perform spells. The only problem is, she's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult. She's working as the research assistant at the detective agency they founded, and when they take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge, Savannah finds herself itching for a case to call her own. (She's also itching for Adam, her longtime friend and colleague, to see her as more than just a little girl, but that's another matter.)
Suddenly, Savannah gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman's dead, and on closer inspection small details point to darker forces at play. Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with signs of supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious- and far more dangerous-than she realizes.
The Review -
Waking the Witch is the eleventh book in the Women of the Otherworld series and fans will not be disappointed. At first it was difficult to see little Savannah all grown up and comprehend that she was now twenty-one. Her personality and traits however haven't changed much over the years and the girl I have come to know throughout the series came through loud and clear within the first couple of chapters. Savannah likes to be heard! ;)
Savannah taking the reins in this new edition to the series was a surprise and a wish come true. She has had her fair share of coverage in the books but until now she has always just been a character associated with the books. Spending time on the sidelines or just making a cameo role appearance was obviously going to get boring for the mouthy teen and it was great to meet her in Waking the Witch as an adult.
All in all this was another amazing novel to add to my permanent collection. Wonderfully written, exciting and powerful this is a super edition to an already solid Urban paranormal series. Twists and turns kept me reading just one more chapter until suddenly I was near the end. The case had me guessing till the very end and just like Savannah I didn't see 'it' coming.
So bravo to Kelley Armstrong for another perfect read. Keep them coming and I will keep reading them. This author is a must buy for me and should be for any other lover of the genre. Waking the Witch comes out end of July/beginning of August (date depends on where you look) and I suggest not waiting for the paperback. After all the hardbacks look nicer on your bookshelf and you will want to keep this one and read it again.
This week one of my author guests is Jackie Kessler. Well known for her 'Hell on Earth' series starring succubus Jezebel, Jackie has also teamed up with author Caitlin Kittredge to produce a very unique series. Black And White was the first book about the Icarus Project and now Shades of Gray is about to be released. Superheroes are back in fashion and any comic book fans will love these books.
Enjoy the interview and make sure you enter the contest! Oh and keep a look out for Jackie's new YA novel. It looks very nice!
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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 the Icarus Project?
Jackie – Thanks, Amber! I’m happy to be here. :)
The Icarus Project is the dystopian superhero series that I write with Caitlin Kittredge. I write in the point of view of Jet, the superheroine who works with Shadow; Caitlin writes in the point of view of Iridium, the supervillainess who works with Light. I’m the tortured hero; she’s the evil genius. Of course, she gets all the great lines. ;)
Amber - It has been a year since Black and White came out. Now Shades of Gray, book two, is finally here! What can readers expect from the new instalment?
Jackie – More battles, more points of view, more history and much more danger.
Amber - How did the Icarus Project come about? Was it your idea or Caitlin's? ;)
Jackie – Actually, we both came up with it. We’d agreed way back before either of us had been published that one day, when we both had book contracts, we would collaborate on a superhero story, since we both grew up reading comic books. So in April 2007, after Hell’s Belles was published and she’d sold Night Life, we started thinking about what we jokingly called Project Spandex. And after brainstorming and such, we wrote Black and White in 10 weeks.
Amber - What is it like working with Caitlin? Or even writing with another author? It must be weird after writing alone?
Jackie – Very different, yes. But it’s awesome. We’re on the same page when it comes to the story, and the gist of the characters. Because we wrote in rotating POVs, there was very little worry about who had creative control: we both did. We both offered suggestions/changes on each other’s chapters, but ultimately, it was up to each of us to decide what changes in our own chapters to make.
Amber - So how does the writing process work? Do you each write a different character? Or write back and forth?
Jackie – Yes to both. :) We rotated chapters/points of view. In Black and White, we literally went back and forth with the chapters; she’d write a chapter and send me the manuscript; I’d write the next chapter and send her the manuscript, etc. About halfway through, we created NOW and THEN sections for better flow. And about 2/3 of the way through, we created one-line summaries of all upcoming chapters to ensure we were tying everything up.
It was a little different for Shades of Gray because of timing and other deadlines. When I had more free time, I wrote a number of chapters, and then when Caitlin got the manuscript she’d write the chapters in between. But it was the same basic idea: I wrote my sections, and she wrote her sections, with both of us keeping the overall story in mind as we wrote.
In Shades, I wrote in the POV of Jet, Angelica, Night, and Garth; Caitlin wrote in the POV of Iridium, Vixen, and Luster/Arclight.
Amber - Black and White was very different to anything you or Caitlin have written before. Did you always want to write something for younger readers? Do you prefer superheroes to the paranormal?
Jackie – We didn’t write the books aiming specifically for teens, but we both agree that teens and adults who love superhero comics would probably love Black and White and Shades of Gray. (That being said, my debut YA novel, HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler, hits the shelves in October 2010 — that’s about an anorexic teenage girl who becomes the new Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Caitlin’s debut YA, THE IRON THORN, comes out in February 2011. Preorder your copies now!)
It’s not a question of preferring superheroes to paranormal. It’s a matter of flavor. Some days, I want chocolate covered pretzels; other days, I want mint chip ice-cream. Both are yummy. But they’re not the same. :)
Amber - How long will the Icarus Project last? Have you both decided on an ending or will it keep going till something makes you stop?
Jackie – We sold Black and White in a two-book deal to Ballantine Spectra. What happens after Shades of Gray remains to be seen.
Amber - I really loved your Hell on Earth series. Are we likely to see anymore from Jezebel? Are you working on any other projects?
Jackie – Thanks! There’s lots of Hell going on. Right now, I’m serializing the fourth book, Hell to Pay, on my website every Tuesday, I’m posting a new chapter. This will go through the last Tuesday in December 2010. Completely free. Enjoy!
There will also be four new Hell short stories coming out in 2011, including “Hell’s Fury” in The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance and “Hell Bound” in Those Who Fight Monsters. I’ll be posting this on my website after everything has been finalized. And the third book, Hotter Than Hell, will be reissued as a mass market paperback in September 2010. (Daun!)
As I mentioned before, my debut young adult novel, Hunger, comes out in October 2010. The second book of The Riders’ Quartet, Rage, will come out in spring 2011. I’m currently working on the third book, Loss.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Jackie – Usually. Jezebel...well, how could I not name a succubus Jezebel? Jet was named for her power over shadows. The main character for Loss, Billy, was definitely picked for a reason that I can’t get into. :)
Amber – A lot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music influenced your books?
Jackie – Oh, I love music, especially with the Hell books. If you’ve read The Road to Hell, there’s a scene where Jesse summons the demon Daunuan. As I wrote that scene, I played Depeche Mode’s “Pimpf” again and again to help me with the mood. There’s actually a Music section in the Hell portion of my website, which gets into some of the music I use in the series.
No music for me for the Icarus books, and very little for Hunger. But for Rage? Yes indeed. Lots of Nirvana, among other songs.
Amber - What have you been reading and watching lately?
Jackie – I’m reading a whole bunch of things. I recently finished Shannon Delany’s 13 to Life, which I adored. Ditto Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade and Stacey Kade’s The Ghost and the Goth. The multi-talented Michelle Rowen’s The Demon In Me was fabulous. I’m eagerly anticipating A.S. King’s Please Ignore Vera Dietz, as well as Heather Brewer’s Twelfth Grade Kills. And next year, look for Ty Drago’s The Undertakers.
Lately, I’ve been watching episodes of Angel back to back.
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?
Jackie – I’m on Twitter pretty frequently, and that updates my Facebook status. I blog consistently at the Deadline Dames every other Tuesday. I try to blog on my own sites, but lately it’s been tough finding the time.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Jackie – That’s easy: I’d be a god. (Clearly, as an author, I have a god complex as it is...)
Amber - And what superhero powers would you want? Or would you be a villain?
Jackie – This changes daily. Today, I’d have the ability to fly, because I think that would be awesome. And as much as I’d love to be a villain because they get the cooler clothing and the better lines and seem to have a lot more fun...I’d probably be a hero. (Sigh.)
Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back again ;)
Jackie – Thanks so much, Amber!
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Contest Time!
Jackie is very kindly giving away a copy of BLACK AND WHITE.
How to Enter
Tell us who your favourite Superhero is!
No Superhero = 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 Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 27th 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.
An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic.
Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world. Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever.
My Review -
The third and, as far I know, last book in the Glass trilogy is a spectacular read. I have come to expect nothing less from this amazing author who has, over the last couple of years, entertained me with her wonderful books. First I followed Yelena and now I have finished my journey with Opal. What comes next is a surprise but I know it will be good.
I don't want to give too much away because this is a book I know a lot of people have been waiting for. What I will tell you is that all the characters we have come to know and love are all seem to play a part, large or small, in Spy Glass. Readers will be rewarded yet again with a tale full of excitement and mystery. Things are never what they seem in Snyder's land filled with magic but some of the twists in this story are ones you won't see coming.
If you have enjoyed Maria's other books then you can't miss this new installment. I hope that there will be more stories about this wonderful fantasy land because I fear I will miss it. A must read and a series I have been lending and buying for friends and family at all opportunities. I am hooked, they are hooked and I guarantee you will be hooked too. Maria's Previous releases -
This week I had two authors guests both giving away some amazing prizes! Now both are closed for entries and it is time to find out who won!
First up was author Stephen Zimmer! His prize package consists of a signed copy of Storm Guardians, with the new 9 card set of art cards, bookmarks, 14X20 poster of the cover art, a 14X20 art poster (choice of Celestial Woman or 3-Headed Dragon designs), and glossy 8X10 cover art. And the lucky winner is -
Starlight!!!
Then my second guest was author Jocelynn Drake! She was very kindly giving away three copies of Pray for Dawn, her new release which is due out on the 29th of June. So who are the lucky winners? Congrats to -
Natasha!
Midnight Princess!!
Kt!!!
Well done to all the winners! Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize. If you didn't win this time then don't be discouraged! There are new contests every week and the monthly give away is coming up as well!
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.
Support the contests by using the Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
Sandra 'Dee' Daniels is on a mission to get rid of all the supernatural monsters that prey on the innocent people of Baton Rogue. Since her family was slaughtered she has been working for Night Watch, a bounty hunting agency that specialises in hunting down paranormals. Her main focus is vampires, after all they are the scum who killed her loved ones and left her behind with the awful memories.
Rumour has it that a Born vampire is coming to town and he is out to paint the town red with blood. Sandra is on the case but a guy keeps getting in her way. Simon Chase is strong, sexy and has a past like Sandra's. He makes her body very excited but he has a secret in his past, one that will change Dee's life. Now she just has to stay alive long enough to find out what that secret is.
I'll Be Slaying You is the newest offering from author Cynthia Eden and it really lives up to its title. Romantic, action packed and sexy this was a roller coaster ride of emotions that not only hit the characters but also me, the reader. So many feelings are awakened by Cynthia's books and it isn't just the heat of the story that gets my pulse racing, the power pulls me into the book and just don't let go till the very end.
While this new book is set in the all too familiar paranormal world that this author has created, it, like its predecessors, can be read without reading any of the other books. This is one big plus for me. It is hard to keep up with every series and the little details and plots. Here in this world I can slip back in, another character taking the reins, and sit back and enjoy. No need to rack my brains to remember who is who or what happened before.
Cynthia Eden's books are extremely enjoyable and I look forward to each one. I'll Be Slaying You releases on July 1st (according to Amazon.de) and if you are looking for something sexy to sizzle in the sun too this Summer, then look no further. Lay back in the warmth and soak up this paranormal delight.
Bednita Harris is a new author to me but the blurb for her debut book, Dark and Disorderly, made me want to invite her over to Amberkatze's Book Blog.
So enjoy this guest blog and drool over the gorgeous cover!
Dark and Disorderly is due for release on the 28th of June. Make sure you check it out! I know I will be!
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Dark and Disorderly - Bernita Harris
When Amber offered me a guest post on this blog to promote my debut novel Dark and Disorderly, to be released June 28th by Carina Press--Harlequin's new digital imprint--I was naturally elated by her kindness and generosity. Then I re-read the list of famous authors who have been reviewed and interviewed here and quailed.
A new and unknown author has only one chance to make a good impression and here I am, my wee behind naked to all the world. Just like my heroine in the novel's opening line:
I was standing there naked when a dead man sauntered into my bathroom.
Dark and Disdorderly--The Adventures of Lillie St. Claire--has been described variously as a paranormal suspense/mystery/thriller/romance. Once, perhaps because of the zombie who appears only briefly, as paranormal horror. Also as magic realism/urban fantasy--but D&D is not about vamps and shifters, it's about other paranormalities, mainly ghosts, an epidemic of them, and the difficulties they cause when they suddenly appear.
I wanted to explore those difficulties. Specters on streets and highways causing drivers to veer into ditches and over sidewalks. Spirits affecting property values and impeding development of new subdivisions. Pathetic, haunting shades showing where the bodies of missing children are buried...
Some spirits would be disorderly and some would be dark and dangerous. A society thus afflicted would demand exorcism; but, naturally, pro-spirit and anti-specter factions would emerge to bedevil any exorcist, perhaps with violent protests.
Lillie St. Claire is the offical exorcist and ghost-buster to the town of Waredale. This is her world. She is both helped and hindered by a Doom Dog named Dumbarton ("Dummie," for short) a banshee who frequently the local laundromat, and by big, ugly psi-crime detective John Thresher. Because, while Lillie just wants to do her job, someone or some thing wants Lillie dead.
Here's the official blurb: Lillie St. Claire is a Talent, one of the rare few who can permanently dispatch the spirits of the dead that walk the earth. Her skills are in demand in a haunted country, where a plague of ghosts is becoming a civic nuisance.
Those skills bring her into conflict with frightened citizens who view Talents as near-demons. Her husband has come to see her as a Freak; so when Nathan dies after a car crash, she is relieved to be free of his increasingly vicious presence. Lillie expects to be haunted by Nathan’s ghost, but not to become Suspect #1 for her husband’s murder and reanimation.
But what’s most surprising of all is the growing attraction between her and psi-crime detective John Thresher. He thinks that Lillie killed Nathan—and Nathan must agree, because his zombie is seeking revenge. Now she and Thresher must work together to solve her husband’s murder—before his corpse kills her…
If you would like to explore Lillie's world--where the paranormal has become normal--- Dark and Disorderly is available for pre-order from Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes& Noble and all the usual places where ebooks are sold.
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Things should only get better but instead they go from bad to worse. Alexia manages to accidentally kill a vampire which results in Lord Maccon being sent to investigate. Loud, messy and gorgeous the alpha werewolf Lord Maccon seems to love to hate Alexia and believes she is out to annoy him whenever possible. So being thrown together because of an investigation is the last thing either of them want.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing Alexia fears that something strange is going on. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Oh and can she keep her nosey family in the dark about everything?
When I first heard about this series I was sure I would get around to trying it at some point. No rush. Then I was got sent a copy to read and review and when it arrived the other day I was just going to add it to the bottom of the pile until I could get around to it. However my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a go straight away. I am glad that I did.
Soulless is set in Victorian London and is full of werewolves, vampires and lots more paranormal goodness. Quirky, delightful and proper, this book had me smirking and giggling on more than a few occasions. Alexia is a feisty and demanding main character whose independent attitude makes her stick out like a sore thumb in Queen Victoria's London. It is no wonder than Lord Maccon can't stop himself from falling for her.
The author has built an impressive paranormal world set in a time where people still spoke the Queen's English and had manners. British and wonderfully written this is a series I think I am going to enjoy a lot. Thankfully I have the second book waiting for me because otherwise I would have ordered it about halfway through this first book.
Cozy mystery, romance, comedy and the paranormal are mixed together to make one superb book. The start to a new series, Soulless is the first in the Parasol Protectorate and I think the author is onto a winner. So I now have a new author to add to my list and another series to put on the must buy list. However I am left fighting the urge to read Changeless the second book in the series. Maybe I will just take a peak...
Touch of Dead is a collection of five short stories about Sookie Stackhouse and her world of vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches, fairies and more. The first short story is called Fairy Dust and featured in the anthology Powers of Detection. The tale is about Claude and Claudine's triplet and how she was killed. Sookie helps find out who killed their sister and why. An interesting story that ties up a few questions about the fairy sister we never met.
Dracula Night from Many Bloody Returns is about Dracula's Birthday. The day is celebrated by vampires all around the world and Sookie is invited to Fangtasia to party with Eric and Pam. Eric hopes that Dracula himself will make an appearance at his event but not everyone is convinced.
This second story in this collection is quite cute. The idea that Eric would go to so much trouble for someone and be so naive is quite amusing. I have to admit this one gave me a few giggles and I really enjoyed visiting Fangtasia.
Third up is One Word Answer from the anthology Bite. In this story we find out more about Sookie's cousin Hadley, her death and how she died. This story paves the way for the plot in Definitely Dead. I think the best bit about this story has to be Bubba. Any story with him in is good.
Next up is Lucky taken from Unusual Suspects where Sookie teams up with Amelia to help Greg Aubert, Sookie's insurance agent, find out who is breaking into his office. Not the best story in the book but nice to have a the two gals solving a case together.
Last up is Gift Wrap which was featured in Wolfsbane & Mistletoe. It is Christmas Eve and Sookie is all alone and feeling a little depressed. Of course Sookie doesn't manage to stay alone long and ends up saving a wounded werewolf. Suddenly Sookie finds herself having an evening of paranormal excitement but is she in danger? This a lovely story that has a nice twist to it. A great ending and certainly the best story in the book.
A Touch of Dead is a great trip into the Sookieverse and a must buy for any fans. While I have read all of these short stories in the anthologies they were released in, I really did enjoy visiting them again. It was however a little sad at times because some of the characters involved in these tales are no longer in the books for one reason or another. However they are all wonderfully written and as good as any full length Sookie novel.
I chose to listen to this on audio book and still love the narrator. She really captures Sookie and the other characters so well. I have to make sure that I get hold of Dead in the Family on audio too. However I have to add that I will be getting a copy of this book for my Sookie book collection.
This is a must read and there is no need to really read this short stories in any particular order. Of course if you are not familiar with the series and haven't read all the books these small chapters in Sookie's life may spoil future events for you.
Lily Ivory is not your average witch. She runs a vintage clothing store called Aunt Cora's Closet and has the magical ability to sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry. Lily is also known for her mystery solving skills and even though she is new to town she is finding herself in high demand.
So when students are spooked at the San Francisco School for the Arts, Lily is called in to search for paranormal activity. Her assistant Maya is one of the students who has heard things going bump and is finding it hard to concentrate on her studies. With the promise of a closet full of old clothes to go through, Lily is happy to go have a look at the school. However she doesn't find a ghost but the dead body of a wealthy patron.
This second Witchcraft Mystery has sealed the deal for me. This is a series I will continue following and is now on my must buy list. Not only is the main character a lovely person who I would love to call a friend but the paranormal element involved is just thrilling. Demons, witches and some other characters who I, like Lily, am still not sure about really make this series interesting and exciting.
In this sequel to Secondhand Spirits, we start to find out a little bit more about the other characters involved. Things are building up and there are so many things I can't wait to hear more about. While there is a little snippet of the next book at the back of this one, there is no name given for the third part in the series. It is however a long wait till Lily will be solving another murder. June 2011 is the given release date. However there is another series on the horizon. If Walls Could Talk: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery is advertised for release in December and I have already added it to my pre-order list.
If you a cozy mystery fan then you will love this series. If you like the paranormal and want to try something a little less hardcore then this is the way to go. Very spooky and special, this is a unique series that I can highly recommend. If you like Madelyn Alt and Terri Garey then you have to buy this book.
I have a second author guest for you this week. Jocelynn Drake, I am sure, is an author you all know or have at least heard of. Her Dark Days Novels have made her a New York Times Bestseller and fans will be pleased to hear that not one but TWO new books in the series will be released this Summer.
Book four in the series, Pray For Dawn, is due out on June 29th and book five, Wait for Dusk comes out only a month later on July 27th. Aren't we lucky!!!
So enjoy Jocelynn's Guest Blog and make sure you enter the contest for your chance to win one of three copies of .......! You will have to read the blog first to find out ;)
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A Different Point of View by Jocelynn Drake
When writing a series or a single novel, a writer has a set of goals in mind that he or she wants to accomplish. Sometimes these are just a set of major and minor plot points that the person wants to reach while writing the novel. Other times, it could be that the writer wants to evoke a certain emotion from the reader such as anger, sadness, joy, and/or surprise.
Since I first started writing the Dark Days series with Nightwalker, one of my personal goals has been to tell one of the stories from point of view of Danaus. I have always considered the series as having two main characters: Mira and Danaus.
Mira’s voice has rattled around in my brain for years. She’s a strong character with a very strong voice. She is generally self-confident to the point of being cocky. She’s intelligent, witty, and just generally fu to play with as a writer. I’ve enjoyed telling the stories from her point of view because in many ways, the focus has been on her world – the nightwalkers.
However, Danaus is brought into the story as a very enigmatic character. For a long time, you don’t know his past or even what he is until the second book, Dayhunter. Furthermore, you only get hints of his feelings toward Mira besides him just wanting to kill her purely for the fact that she’s a vampire. The driving question when it comes to Danaus is: What’s really going on in that man’s head after everything that he has seen and done?
I hope to answer a lot of those questions in the fourth novel, Pray for Dawn, as this is the first book in the series that has been told exclusively from his point of view. This was more than a little tricky for me, because it mean trying to climb inside the head of a reticent and stubborn man that didn’t like to give away secrets about himself. It was also more than a little tricky trying to guess how a man thinks, when as a woman, I’m not naturally privy to those intimate thoughts. How would a man that’s nearly two millennia old think? What memories would come to mind that would haunt him during certain situations? Is there something that’s holding him back from finally coming around to understanding Mira’s point of view?
These are some of the questions that I strived to answer when I was writing from Danaus’s point of view. Furthermore, Pray for Dawn also gave me the opportunity to delve into the question of who was the actual owner of Danaus’s soul. This book becomes a fight for his freedom and raises the question of what you are willing to give up and/or risk for that freedom?
Meanwhile, one of my favorite moments in the book is the slow process of Danaus realizing how much Mira means to him. The nightwalker has a few interesting moments of her own as she makes a bad decision out of a growing fear that put both Danaus and Mira at odds with each other. It’s only under that growing strain that Danaus begins to realize that Mira has taken over a larger part of his life than he had previously known.
In the end, Pray for Dawn proved to be a great challenge to write, but of the six books that I have now completed for the series, it still stands as my personal favorite.
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Contest Time
Jocelynn is very generously giving away three copies of Pray for Dawn which comes out on June 29th. So three lucky people will get a nice new copy of the fourth book as soon as it comes out.
How to Enter
Who are your favourite main characters? Male and Female? Eg. Sookie Stackhouse & Harry Dresden!
No Characters = 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 Bookdepository.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 20th 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.
Well the winners had a week to claim their prize but only one out of three contacted me! That means that there are two new winners for the Jocelynn Drake contest! Both new winners will get a copy of Jocelynn's new release 'Pray for Dawn'. Hopefully the new winners will claim the great prize!
