tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53329908710597501762012-01-28T19:16:14.568+01:00Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.comBlogger9931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-10241933046683062002012-01-28T19:11:00.001+01:002012-01-28T19:16:14.578+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Rivers-of-London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Rivers-of-London.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. <br /><br />Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden . . . and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair. <br /><br />The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying. Which, I don't mind telling you, would involve a hell of a lot of paperwork.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />This book has been on my wishlist for a while. I was extremely unsure about it and once or twice I know I had a copy in my hand and ended up not buying it. Now I wish I had. I finally got a copy through Audible and couldn 't wait to start listening to it. At first the narrator annoyed me but different headphones made his voice easier to hear and understand. Despite this little technical problem I have to admit that this story had me hooked within minutes and had me laughing out loud on the street. I haven't had this much fun with a book for a long time.<br /><br />Maybe it was the complete and utter Britishness that had me addicted to Rivers of London. I am from the UK and understood all the little quips, jokes and strange remarks made about the police and the British in general. It made me feel a little homesick and at the same time make me thankful for not living there anymore but it made for bloody good entertainment in conjunction with this unique story.<br /><br />Paranormal Fantasy with a huge dollop of mystery awaits the reader in this fabulous start to a new series. I couldn't stop listening to this one and found myself not bothering with any other books all week. Actutally I think this audiobook was listened to quicker than any audiobook I have had so far and before even getting halfway through I downloaded the sequel.<br /><br />The style may just be a little too British, hectic and unusual for some people but I just found it witty, entertaining and well thought out. The story had lots of surprises and twists which meant I never knew what was going to happen next or how it may end. The characters were a lot of fun to get to know and read about and I am looking forward to getting to know them better. They definitely have some more secrets to tell.<br /><br />What more can I say? I loved this book! Unusual, unique and a riot! I plan on listening to the next book straight away. I have to know what comes next and what else the author has up his sleeve!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1024193304668306200?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-17509633051794562942012-01-27T21:24:00.001+01:002012-01-28T18:55:43.506+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304024127l/8803932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304024127l/8803932.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies. <br /><br />But the next scream might be for Kaylee. <br /><br />Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either. <br /><br />But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life. <br /><br />Anything.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />Soul Screamers number five and I was wondering if the series was going to keep me interested and excited. I liked the last couple of books but they didn't wow me as much as the first two. I did want to buy If I Die as soon as it was released but with so many books to read I decided to add it to my wishlist and hope for it to be under the Christmas Tree. Seems I was good because Santa did bring me this one and it didn't take me long to find a day to read this in.<br /><br />Well that is a little lie. I nearly finished this book in one day, it was that good, however Sunday run out and Monday came along and was followed by a very long week. This evening I finally sat down and read the last 30 pages and wished I had had time sometime during the week to find out how things ended. It was a spectacular ending to a very emotional and wonderful story.<br /><br />Knowing you are going to die in a few days must be hard and I can't even start to imagine what runs through ones mind when you know the end is coming. Kaylee handles it surprising well and goes about stopping a nasty paranormal from killing young girls while she is waiting for the inevitable. This isn't to say that she doesn't take her impending death seriously. She manages to make some decisions I didn't see coming and her actions are definitely those of a person who knows that time is running out.<br /><br />The whole tale was written with the fantastic engaging style that I have come to love and enjoy. Rachel Vincent has an excellent talent and I love what she has done with this series. This book really went above my expectations and I am really excited about the next book. Things are seriously going to get interesting now. <br /><br />If you haven't tried Rachel Vincent's work and like Young Adult then you really need to give this series a go. It is unique, fresh and well written. If you aren't in to Young Adult but really want a good paranormal read then you need to go look for Rachel's other books. She has some great stories to tell and I love reading them.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1750963305179456294?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-41768737969884342142012-01-26T13:41:00.000+01:002012-01-26T13:41:00.800+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/burned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/burned.jpg" /></a></div>It is guy time here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! This week I have two author guests and both of them are male authors! <br /><br />The Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre boasts a lot of female writers but there are also a few men out there! So make sure you check out the interviews and enter the contests! But most of all try the books!!! <br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-james-r.html">James R. Tuck Interview & Contest</a>!!<br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/special-interview-contest-with-author.html">J. F. Lewis Interview & Contest</a>!!<br /><br />You have till Sunday to enter the contests so don't delay and enter today ;)<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT></center><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4176873796988434214?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-37183396027984252302012-01-25T13:36:00.000+01:002012-01-25T13:36:00.121+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" /></a></div>My author <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-casey.html">guest last week was the wonderful Casey Daniels</a>! I hope you all enjoyed the interview!<br /><br />Casey was giving away a copy of her new release, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a>. Apologies for not posting the winner earlier! But here it is! Better late than never! <br /><br />So congrats to : <br /><br /><br /><i>Kristina Parmenter!!</i><br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br />Didn't win this time? Keep trying! The latest author contests are in the sidebar ---><br /><br />Oh and make sure you check out Casey's books! You really should give them a go! I love them!<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br />Pepper Martin Series<br /><br />#1 - Don of the Dead<br />#2 - The Chick and the Dead<br />#3 - Tombs of Endearment<br />#4 - <a href="http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/01/22-night-of-loving-dead-by-casey.html">Night of the Loving Dead</a><br />#5 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/10/183-dead-man-talking-by-casey-daniels.html">Dead Man Talking</a><br />#6 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/05/75-tomb-with-view-by-casey-daniels.html">Tomb with a View</a><br />#7 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/53-hard-days-fright-by-casey-daniels.html">A Hard Day's Fright</a><br />#8 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a><br />#9 - Supernatural Born Killers (Due out in September)<br /><br />Button Box Mystery Series<br />(Writing as Kylie Logan)<br /><br />#1 - Button Holed<br />#2 - Hot Button (Due out in June)<br /><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3718339602798425230?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-56334710020327331492012-01-24T13:57:00.007+01:002012-01-24T13:57:00.534+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1292644655l/9504214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1292644655l/9504214.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like. <br /><br />Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess. <br /><br />Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea. <br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Ghost and Goth. I actually wanted to get this sequel, as soon as it came out but it either isn't available on Kindle or just isn't available to me, in Europe, on Kindle. So this went on my wishlist and was under the tree at Christmas. I nearly started reading it straight away.<br /><br />The Ghost and the Goth had quite a huge surprise factor to it. It was totally different to what I expected and the cover really gave the wrong impression. I was curious how the author would continue Alona and Will's story and at first I thought it was just going to turn into a boring 'sorting out ghost problems' book. How wrong I was!<br /><br />There are some huge exciting twists and turns in Queen of the Dead and I didn't expect any of them. Will finds out that his dad was part of a group who track and hunt ghosts. Alona fails to come to terms with her death even though her family has. She ends up doing something very drastic that has some huge consequences and has the book ending on a pretty interesting cliffhanger.<br /><br />The story may be about teenagers and told by teenagers but it isn't your typical childish Young Adult. There is more to this series than meets the eye and where the covers look cool they do send out a different vibe than the author does in her well written and honest stories. <br /><br />Definitely worth checking out. I am hoping that the third part comes out on Kindle so I can read it as soon as it comes out. This would be a must pre-order if it was available. Shame I am not buying physical books anymore...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-5633471002032733149?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-464873502632716762012-01-23T13:50:00.004+01:002012-01-23T13:50:00.146+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325917393l/11019938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325917393l/11019938.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />The homicide beat in Louisiana isn't just terrifying, it's demonic. Detective Kara Gilligan of the supernatural task force has the ability to summon demons to her aid, but she herself is pledged to serve a demonic lord. And now, people who've hurt Kara in the past are dropping dead for no apparent reason. To clear her name and save both the demon and human worlds, she's in a race against the clock and in a battle for her life that just may take her to hell and back.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />Amazing! I have to start my review with that just incase I get side tracked by how much I absolutely love this series. I have always liked this series but Kara Gillian and Diana Rowland have really added the sugar to the top in this fourth book. I am in love and can't wait for more.<br /><br />Ever read the Jenna Black Excorist books? Well this series is my replacement for that but much better. Jenna managed to get me into demons back then but I never really found anything else that met her style and sophisication. However Diana Rowland is now my first port of call for demon delights. Full of fun, mystery and depth this is a series that really knows what it is talking about and doesn't go over the top or ruin things with complicated romances.<br /><br />Sins of the Demon is the best yet. The other three books were great reads and this series became a must buy because of them but this fourth installment definitely has more bite and something special. This was the super story the last books were paving the way for. Things are getting even more interesting. The foundations have been laid and finally the house is starting to take shape.<br /><br />I won't go into details about the plot because this is one I really don't want to ruin for anyone. You need to enjoy all the twists, turns and surprises without being pre-warned. However if you haven't started this series yet I suggest you go and catch-up first.<br /><br />Super style, wonderful characters and a story you can really get your teeth into. I can't wait to see what happens next. I am so there!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-46487350263271676?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-10028856188027164092012-01-22T17:32:00.001+01:002012-01-22T17:33:27.842+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/kensington/graphics/james_r_tuck_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="167" src="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/kensington/graphics/james_r_tuck_sm.jpg" /></a></div>This weekend is male author weekend! It isn't all romance and girly stuff! There are a lot of female writers in the Paranormal and Urban Fantasy genre but there are a few guys out there too. <br /><br />My second male author guest this weekend is <a href="http://www.jamesrtuck.com/books.html">James R Tuck</a>. He is new to the scene and his debut release, <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/3-blood-and-bullets-by-james-r-tuck.html">Blood and Bullets</a>, is due out at the beginning of February. He is also friends with <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/special-interview-contest-with-author.html">my other male guest this weekend, J.F. Lewis</a>. <br /><br />Take this opportunity to get to know the author and his debut in the following interview. Enjoy! And don't forget to enter the contest! James is giving away a copy of <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/3-blood-and-bullets-by-james-r-tuck.html">Blood and Bullets</a>.<br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog!  It is great to have you here again as a guest!  Could you start things off by telling us a little about your debut book, Blood and Bullets?<br /><br />James - Thank you for having me!<br /><br />BLOOD AND BULLETS is the first book in the Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series. It follows the story of a man (Deacon) who hunts monsters for a living. One of them sets him up and tries to kill him which sends him on a long night of tracking down who it was and trying to kill them right back. It's a dark and bloody ride that pushes him to the brink. I tried my best to give the reader an action-packed book that didn't pull back. It's like a summer blockbuster action/horror movie.<br /><br />Amber - How did you come up with the idea for Blood and Bullets?  Was it a long process or did it just come to you? <br /><br />James - Well, the character of Deacon Chalk came to me one day. He kind of stepped into my mind completely ready to kick some monster ass. I also had the basis of the plot that became BLOOD AND BULLETS, although in the writing that had a lot of changes occur.<br /><br />My motivation for actually writing a novel came from reading. I love urban fantasy. It is tied with crime fiction as being my absolute favorite genre. I love the action mixed with the scares that urban fantasy has. However, I do find that a lot of books in UF tend to pull back at the last minute. To soften the horror that would occur if monsters were real in the world. I didn't want to do that. I wanted to push right to the edge and then some.<br /><br />Amber - Deacon Chalk is a kick-ass character.  How did he come into existence?  Is he based on someone or is he more of a superhero you would like to be?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314319371l/11843017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314319371l/11843017.jpg" /></a></div>James - Well there is a lot of me in Deacon. He is the closest character to how I think. I also drew on a lot of my life to write him. No I never hunted monsters and my family is still (thankfully) whole, intact, and alive, but he still shares a lot of my thought process. But Deacon is THE alpha male that you find in UF and sometimes that makes him  a little bull-headed and stubborn. Plus, because of his past, his first reaction to almost any situation is violence. And he has a death wish. He misses his family and wants nothing more than to die and go be with them, but being Catholic, he can't take his own life. So instead, he throws himself at monsters waiting for the day that he is just a little bit too slow, a little bit not strong enough and then he can see them again. For all of the simplicity of his view on monsters (Kill them.), he is a complicated, damaged character... which is what I think someon who would make a life killing monsters would be.<br /><br />Amber - In Blood and Bullets you go into depth about quite a few of the weapons Deacon uses.  Did you research all this or was it something you know from experience?<br /><br />James - I am a die-hard gun fan. I love them. The fun of going to the range and shooting is hard to describe if you haven't ever done it. And I think guns are beautiful. Not all of them, but there is some serious artistry that goes into the design of some firearms. I also have a permit and carry a gun every day. Mostly because I am old and have a family as well as a home and business that I have to protect. Yes I live a peaceful life, but the world is filled with those who don't. If our paths intersect, I like being prepared.<br /><br />Amber - If Blood and Bullets was going to be made into a TV series or Film, who would you like to see playing the main characters?<br /><br />James - BLOOD AND BULLETS  would make a GREAT movie! Deacon Chalk would be played by the unreplaceable Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He is the man I picture when I think of Deacon. Robert DeNiro for Father Mulcahy. Edward Norton could swing Larson. Scarlett Johansson for Kat. I would be tempted to cast Natalie Portman for Tiff, but she doesn't feel quite right. Charlotte is Angela Bassett.  Amber Heard is Blair after her turn in Drive Angry. Longinus could go to Clive Owen or John Barrowman and I would be happy. And Appollonia is Eva Green. She was the bright spot in a show called Camelot that was on starz. I watched her rendition of Morgan Le Fey and it was like watching my character on the screen.<br /><br />Amber -  How do you pick the names for your characters?  Do they have any special meanings?<br /><br />James - Deacon Chalk came from always liking the word Deacon as a name and then pairing it with cool sounding words that had a tenuous connection to the supernatural. The second I spoke the two words together, they became a name and the character stepped out. Father Mulcahy is a nod to the show MASH which I loved growing up. Larson is a nod to a radio show I used to listen to hosted by a man named Bob Larson. It was a crazy show with witches and demons and all kinds of things going on. I think Charlotte's name is an obvious nod, but you gotta read the book to see what I mean. Every one else, their names just fit the character.<br /><br />Amber - Despite Deacon's bad ass attitude he sometimes shows a soft side.  Will we see more of that in future books?<br /><br />James - Well, it is a hard, hard life in the Deaconverse, and as I said before, Deacon is a damaged hero. He isn't inhuman though. We will see more of the softer side in future books, and a bit more humor also. The series starts on this particular night because finally after five years of hunting monsters Deacon has healed enough for there to be a change. There are characters introduced in this book that will bring that change out. But be warned...no one is safe. No one.<br /><br />Amber - When will we see more of Deacon?  Are you working on any other projects?<br /><br />James - At this point readers can find both THAT THING AT THE ZOO which is a .99 cent e-novella set about six months prior to the events in BLOOD AND BULLETS. There will be another e-novella this summer called SPIDER'S LULLABY and then book two hits in August. It's called BLOOD AND SILVER and we get to see more about how lycanthropy works in the Deaconverse. It will be crazy.<br /><br />The series will continue. It is contracted for three novels and three e-novellas and I have plans for the next ten books.<br /><br />The list of future projects is huge. You will see me dabble in some crime fiction as well as paranormal romance, more urban fantasy, a touch of sword and sorcery and I even have two YA books in my wheelhouse. All that is still to come and should be a blast!<br /><br />Amber - What is it like being the new author on the block?  Lots of parties? ;)  <br /><br />James - I love it! Everyone has been really nice and receptive. I have met some great folks. Authors, bloggers, and fans. It is awesome. Some of my fellow writers have been truly great. Faith Hunter, Jeanne C. Stein, Jenna Maclaine, Annabel Joseph, and Adrienne Wilder read my book and loved it. They were all kind enough to give me blurbs. <br /><br />Amber - How about being one of the only males in a female dominated genre?  Do you guys stick together?<br /><br />James - Yes, we have each others backs. lol. Well, I have become good friends with J.F. Lewis. He is awesome. If you aren't reading his books then shame on you!. Larry Correia is super awesome, and Jonathan Maberry was very nice. Matt R. Jones of the Hollywoood Vampires series is about one of the nicest folks you could meet. And David B. Coe and S. A. Swann were awesome to panel with at Dragoncon.<br /><br />Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?<br /><br />James - The writing bug didn't hit me until 2010. I had dabbled before that, but 2010 is when I got serious and wrote BLOOD AND BULLETS.  I chose Urban Fantasy because I love it so much.<br /><br />Amber - In Blood and Bullets you mention a few other characters from other books in the genre.  What authors/books do you like reading?  <br /><br />James - Oh man. I am a huge reader. Huge. I read a lot. I pretty evenly split between crime and Urban Fantasy, with some other stuff thrown in for fun. My must buy list includes Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series, The Dresden Files, and Lilith Saintcrow's Jill Kismet series. I am sad to see it go, even though the last book kicked complete ass.<br /><br />Amber - What have you been watching lately?  What is your favourite paranormal series/film?<br /><br />James - There are some shows on series record on the Tuck family DVR. The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural are on there. Doctor Who tops the list. Major Who love going on here. Hell, I have a Dalek tattooed under my arm! The Closer is a favorite along with Project Runway. I am also burning through 24 on netflix at a rapid pace. And that is about all the time I can squeak away from my writing.<br /><br />Amber - What about music?  Is there any music that influences your writing? Any bands/songs in particular that you listened to while writing Blood and Bullets?<br /><br />James - I love country, blues, and late eighties cock rock. For those of you who are unaware, cock rock is also known as hair metal and consists of bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, and Cinderella. Country is what I grew up on and what I listen to the most, but my love is the blues. I listen to a lot of blues writing about Deacon. They are blues books, probably because of the nature of Deacon and his past.<br /><br />Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?<br /><br />James - Hmmmm. I would be a Were-unicorn just because that would rock my face off. lol.<br /><br />Amber -  Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog again!  <br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2Fc4b245d9-201b-40cb-816f-cec2c83fa1a4&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br />Mr Tuck is giving away a signed copy of Blood and Bullets to one lucky winner! Sorry only open to US and Canada only!<br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />What other male authors do you enjoy reading and can recommend?<br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Sunday 29th of January 2012 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1002885618802716409?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-26522384990650898292012-01-21T19:41:00.001+01:002012-01-24T21:49:24.910+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/author-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="250" width="167" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/author-photo.jpg" /></a></div>This weekend I have a couple of male author guests to show you that it isn't all just romance and girly stuff! The Paranormal and Urban Fantasy genre is very female writer dominated but there are a few of the guys out there too. So I hope you will enjoy getting to know two of them.<br /><br />First up is author <a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/">J.F. Lewis</a>. He is not new to the scene and has been a guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog a few times. His fourth book in the Void City series, Burned, has just released and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. <br /><br />You all have the chance to get to know one of the best characters in the series. Greta, as you will see, is different to the vampires you come across. This interview will definitely give you a chance to see how cool, unusual and awesome this series is. <br /><br />Enjoy! And don't forget to enter the contest at the end!<br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />Amber - Hello Greta! Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for my blog readers. How was your Christmas?<br /><br />Greta - I ate a pony and Dad let me drive Fang through a chicken farm. That was awesome, though very feathery.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/burned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/burned.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - And how did you see in the New Year?<br /><br />Greta - We went to Disney. It was really awesome even though Dad wouldn't let me eat anyone we didn't know. It was kind of like brown bagging it through Paris or something, but I maxed out my score on the Buzz Lightyear ride, so I'm a Galactic Champion or whatever.<br /><br />Amber - Did you make any New Years resolutions? <br /><br />Greta - To find out what the hell Dad is hiding from me.<br /><br />Amber - How is your dad doing? Keeping you busy?<br /><br />Greta - Yes, I told you he's hiding stuff from me, but I'll figure it out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/crossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/crossed.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - I heard there is a new book coming out about you and your dad Eric. What will this story be about?<br /><br />Greta - (Pauses and looks confused. Talbot walks over to her and whispers something in her ear.) Talbot says to tell you that I'm Greta from between Crossed and Burned, but if you ask me, if I were in a book, the next one would be about me figuring out what the heck Dad is trying to hide from me and why.<br /><br />Amber - What is it like working with Jeremy on the books? Does he ask you about your point of view on things?<br /><br />Greta - (Talbot walks up again. whispers. Greta nods.) It's more like he's a documentarian following me around and writing about whatever I do, then editing it together with his observations on my Dad so that it forms a narrative.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/revamped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/revamped.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - If the books were going to be made into a film or TV series who would you like to see playing your part?<br /><br />Greta - If I were in a movie, I'd like to be played by someone thin, but not too thin... Callista Flockheart maybe? No, she's too old. Nobody fat though. Oh! They could CGI me! Yes! And then Andy Serkis could perform me. I loved him as Gollum!<br /><br />Amber - Void City seems to be a very interesting place to live. How do you like it?<br /><br />Greta - It would be a lot more fun if Dad just let me kill all of the annoying people, but he won't so it's cool, but not as awesome as it should be,<br /><br />Amber - What do you like to read, watch and listen to? Any recommendations?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/staked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.authoratlarge.com/Assets/Images/staked.jpg" /></a></div>Greta - Lately, I've been watching the Brimstones. It's on Demon TV. You know, like how sound radio stations are heard one way, by humans and another by the supernatural? It's kind of like a demonic version of the Flintstone. But I also like House, Downton Abbey, and Mythbusters.<br /><br />Amber - What's your favorite paranormal movie of all time?<br /><br />Greta - The Wizard of Oz! I sooo want to land a house on someone someday.<br /><br />Amber - What comes next? Another book? Do you have any plans for the future?<br /><br />Greta - I've been thinking that maybe I should travel, if that's what you mean, but I don't like to go places by myself and taking Dad somewhere can be problematic. He's sort of a homebody. I think I'd like to find a friend and take them with me to kill lots of people in new and interesting places. Maybe Dad will let me borrow Fang!<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F9c03fffe-de24-477d-8cce-e15501a99516&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT></center><br /><br />Void City Series <br /><br />#1 - Staked<br />#2 - <a href="http://http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/12/319-revamped-by-j-f-lewis.html">Revamped</a><br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/02/19-crossed-by-jf-lewis.html">Crossed</a><br />#4 - Burned<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br />Mr Lewis is giving away a copy of his latest release, Burned, to one lucky winner! Sorry only open to US entrants! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />Greta wants to travel! What about you? Where do you want to visit someday?<br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Sunday 29th of January 2012 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-2652238499065089829?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-64521762635943891342012-01-20T14:28:00.049+01:002012-01-20T14:28:00.771+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415s2N1crcL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415s2N1crcL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. <br /><br />Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I am really enjoyed Kimberly Derting's Body Finder series and when I saw she had another book out I had to give it a go. Although it sounded totally different to her other series I decided that her work had been so good that I had to check this one out too. Some authors just make an impact on you and you just need to read more.<br /><br />From this start this story caught my attention. It was miles away from the Body Finder books and was on another level completely. The post-apocalyptic aspect of The Pledge made itself know pretty quick and the small details the author kept throwing in to add depth to the world stuck with me and had me grabbing for more. I was pretty much hooked within a few chapters and couldn't wait to see where the author took this Maria V. Snyder/Suzanne Collins mix.<br /><br />Where as the story started off being interesting, exciting and extremely cool it started losing its appeal towards the middle. Things started to get predictable and certain parts of the story began to annoy me. Then all of a sudden I started to wonder how the author would tie things up. as the audio book was nearly running out. It felt close to an end but I felt like there should be more. Then all of a sudden it was over and I was left feeling unsure about the whole thing.<br /><br />There were certainly a lot of good things about this book and the unique idea of languages splitting the people and a young girl with the power to understand them all was only the tip of the iceberg. However this lacked the superb writing style that I have enjoyed in the Body Finder series. Also the story always seemed to stay on the same level. It never really reached a wow and hardly managed more than a Ahhh...<br /><br />All in all this was a very impressive story but it left me slightly disappointed. I have now seen that this is set to be a series and I am curious to how that will proceed because for me this could have been a one off. Everything that could have happened did happen with a nice happy ending. Yes a tiny part was left open but it wasn't enough for me to be hoping for a sequel. Will I bother with the next part? Most likely. I am sure my curiosity will get the better of me but I won't be rushing out to get a copy.<br /><br />Worth checking out if you like the author and this kind of story. I particularly liked the audio version and thought the narrator did a very good job.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-6452176263594389134?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-48957425385082802892012-01-19T20:27:00.000+01:002012-01-19T20:27:30.711+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" /></a></div>My lovely <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-casey.html">author guest this week is Casey Daniels</a>.<br /><br />I am a huge fan of her Pepper Martin books and love having her on the blog. I thoroughly enjoyed her latest release,<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html"> Wild Wild Death</a>, and I hope the next part in the series comes out soon! <br /><br />Maybe you want to win a copy? Well Casey has one to send out to one lucky person! Just read the interview and answer the question to be entered.<br /><br />You have till Sunday to enter and the winner will be announced the next day. So make sure you enter and then check back in to see if you won!<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Pepper Martin Series<br /><br />#1 - Don of the Dead<br />#2 - The Chick and the Dead<br />#3 - Tombs of Endearment<br />#4 - <a href="http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/01/22-night-of-loving-dead-by-casey.html">Night of the Loving Dead</a><br />#5 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/10/183-dead-man-talking-by-casey-daniels.html">Dead Man Talking</a><br />#6 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/05/75-tomb-with-view-by-casey-daniels.html">Tomb with a View</a><br />#7 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/53-hard-days-fright-by-casey-daniels.html">A Hard Day's Fright</a><br />#8 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a><br />#9 - Supernatural Born Killers (Due out in September)<br /><br />Button Box Mystery Series<br />(Writing as Kylie Logan)<br /><br />#1 - Button Holed<br />#2 - Hot Button (Due out in June)<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4895742538508280289?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-55629391636949996632012-01-18T14:19:00.025+01:002012-01-18T14:19:00.696+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513nmmXtckL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513nmmXtckL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death... <br /><br />Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention. <br /><br />But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I have been enjoying the Dark Elite series and was really looking forward to this third part. Chloe Neill is a brilliant writer and I love her Chicago Vampires series and have to say I admire her for stepping into the Young Adult world. With a super new and unusual concept this series really got off to a great start. Would this third offering really be a charm? <br /><br />Charmfall needed some getting used to. It feels like forever since the previous book in the series came out and while it has been a year since I read <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/10-hexbound-by-chloe-neill.html">Hexbound</a> it has only been a matter of weeks for Lily. I felt a little lost at first and needed to get used to the atmosphere again but the author didn't really offer as much help as I needed and the book lost some of its appeal.<br /><br />The story is still unusual and different but the plot this time around was not as exciting or amazing as the previous books. I felt bored at times and slowly began to not care what happened to the lost magic. I knew it was going to come back by the end of the book and nothing surprised or wowed me. <br /><br />All in all not the best in the series so far. A nice try but there was a whole lot of something lacking from this third book. At some points it felt like the author didn't really have her heart in it and maybe, like the characters in the book, someone had stolen her magic? Definitely not what I expected and a slight disappointment. Despite that the author stays on my must read list and I hope that the fourth book in this series is better and comes out a lot sooner.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-5562939163694999663?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-74345857360435681632012-01-17T13:03:00.019+01:002012-01-17T13:03:01.244+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324860023l/13261096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324860023l/13261096.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn't mean that it's smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab's funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland's most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />If you haven't read the previous book in the Elemental Assassin series then you really don't want to read Thread of Death. Actually the blurb already gives away a lot of spoilers about <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/08/109-spiders-revenge-by-jennifer-estep.html">Spider's Revenge</a> and the contents of this novella. <br /><br />Thread of Death is #5.5 in the series and is a short story taking place between <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/08/109-spiders-revenge-by-jennifer-estep.html">Spider's Revenge</a> and the upcoming sixth book, By a Thread. At only 100 pages it is a quick read to tide you over till the new book but it does hold some very interesting bits of information that may just be important later on.<br /><br />The Elemental Assasin series is amazing and this short story is just as good but too short. I definitely prefer the full length novels but I have to say Gin is just too good to pass up on. Worth reading if you love the series and are up to date on the story. It is full of the usual action and wit that you would expect just not as in depth as usual. Anyone not up to date with the series should really catch up. Things just keep getting better and better in this series. <br /><br />*** Due for release on the 31st of January ***<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7434585736043568163?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-80848199073575853592012-01-16T13:55:00.003+01:002012-01-16T13:55:00.780+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310265762l/11018862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310265762l/11018862.jpg" /></a></div>My author guest this week was Kimberly Frost. Her new release <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a> is now out and I hope you will all give it a try! It is a worthwhile read!<br /><br />Five lucky people will read the new release sooner rather than later because Kimberly was giving away five copies of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a>. The contest is now over and it is time to see who the lucky winners are! <br /><br />So congrats to :<br /><br /><br /><i>elaing8!!<br /><br />NoraA!!<br /><br />Birgit!!<br /><br />Starr K!!<br /><br />Dovile!!</i><br /><br /><br />Keep reading to see how to claim your prize! <br /><br />Didn't win this time? Check out the new author contest in the sidebar ---><br /><br />Make sure you take a look at Kimberly's books!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Southern Witch Series <br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/05/91-would-be-witch-by-kimberly-frost.html">Would-Be Witch</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/09/171-barely-bewitched-by-kimberly-frost.html">Barely Bewitched</a><br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/02/21-halfway-hexed-by-kimberly-frost.html">Halfway Hexed</a><br /><br />Etherlin Series <br /><br />#0.5 - First Light<br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a><br />#2 - All That Falls<br /><br />---------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-8084819907357585359?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-68378509847927323062012-01-15T17:43:00.001+01:002012-01-24T21:27:00.631+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/9/Y/-/-/caseydaniels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="160" src="http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/9/Y/-/-/caseydaniels.jpg" /></a></div><br />I have been following <a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/#">Casey Daniels</a>' Pepper Martin books since the series started and I love each and every one of them. <br /><br />The eighth book in the series has just been released and I couldn't resist asking Casey to come back to Amberkatze's Book Blog to talk about <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a>. <br /><br />So enjoy the interview, get to know Casey and Pepper and check out the books! Oh and make sure you read to the end and enter the contest! <br /><br />----------------<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/wild-wild-death-150x241.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your new Pepper Martin book, Wild Wild Death?<br /><br />Casey - Readers will remember that at the end of "A Hard Day's Fright," Pepper lost her job. Good thing! She's going to need some extra free time. A friend of hers has been kidnapped, and she has to travel to New Mexico to arrange the ransom. Sounds easy until she realizes she's got to dig up a dead body and take the bones with her! Things only get more complicated from there. The bones get stolen, bodies start dropping, and there's a hunk of a Pueblo police chief who's making it hard to concentrate. As always, Pepper manages with her own special brand of panache!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/aharddaysfrieght.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="236" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/aharddaysfrieght.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Wild Wild Death is the eight book in the series. How do you decide what Pepper is going to be up against next?<br /><br />Casey - Well, book #9 is already written and will be out in September. It's called "Supernatural Born Killers," and like all ideas, it morphed from what I originally intended. I was thinking about doing something based on a classic book (I won't say what since I want to use the idea in the future!) but instead, I have Pepper back in Cleveland and dealing with a whole world she's not familiar with--comic books. Superman originated in Cleveland, you know, and she's about to find out a whole lot about the Man of Steel!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tombwithaview-150x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tombwithaview-150x241.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Pepper has had a lot of ghostly encounters. How many more do you think she will have?<br /><br />Casey - I'd like to think she'll have many, many more. That remains to be seen. Publishing is a fickle business.<br /><br />Amber - What famous person could be Pepper's twin?<br /><br />Casey - Oh my...I don't know much about famous people. I'm afraid I have no idea!<br /><br />Amber - Do you get much say in the way the finished book looks? For example do you choose the cover? Title?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/deadmantalking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/deadmantalking.jpg" /></a></div>Casey - I have always chosen the titles for the Pepper books. As far as the cover, my editor and I talk about the book, about what scenes I'd like to emphasize. I send pics of Pepper's outfits. For instance, for "Wild, Wild Death," I love the fact that Pepper gets to buy a pair of cowboy books while she's in New Mexico and I found a picture of the perfect pair online. Pepper loves these boots and I was so glad they were included on the cover!<br /><br />Amber - What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?<br /><br />Casey - A tough question. Just getting published in the first place is a very big deal. Staying published for 20 years (yes, it's 20 years in 2012!) and having more than 40 books under my belt is a pretty big deal. It's a tough business, and it's not easy for any writer to keep his/her head above water. The fact that I've been able to make my living at this crazy game is something I'm very proud of.<br /><br />Amber - A lot of authors are writing now in both adult and YA genres. Have you considered writing a YA book?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nightofthelovingdead-150x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="241" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nightofthelovingdead-150x241.jpg" /></a></div>Casey -I have written YA! Back in the day, I wrote a trilogy called Year of the Cat as Zoe Daniels. I also write the Blood Moon trilogy as Connie Laux. They were great fun and I loved doing them.<br /><br />Amber - What made you want to be a writer? Were there any books or authors that had an influence on you?<br /><br />Casey - I've always loved words and it's only been recently that I think I figured out why. All four of my grandparents were from Europe and spoke only broken English. I think one of the reasons words interest me is that they didn't have the words. I had to find them for myself, and learn what things were called. Of course, I knew the normal things. For example, I knew birds were called "Birds" (duh!) but I had to learn all the variety of birds' names. It was that sort of thing that made me want to know all the words, all the time, to describe everything. I also think that being naturally nosey is a big asset for a writer. And being a write gives me the perfect excuse to eavesdrop!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tombs-of-endearment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="243" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tombs-of-endearment.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - What comes next? More Pepper? Other projects?<br /><br />Casey -As I mentioned, Pepper #9 is done. I'm currently working on book #3 in the Button Box msytery series I write as Kylie Logan. Book #1 was "Button Holed," and that was out last September. Book #2 is "Hot Button," and it will be out in June. In addition, I've got a new series starting next year.<br /><br />Amber - What have you been reading and watching lately? Do you have any recommendations for us?<br /><br />Casey - I haven't had much time to read anything lately. I'll blame that on the Christmas holidays! As for watching, I love "Bones." Good mysteries, and great personal interaction. I've also just discovered "Hidden City" on the Travel Channel, all about the dark underbelly of famous cities. That ones kind of fun. And of course, the old stand bys, "Ghost Hunters," "Ghost Adventures," "Psych" (those guys crack me up!).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/thechickofthedeadfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="248" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/thechickofthedeadfull.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - What's your favorite ghost movie?<br /><br />Casey - Hmm... not sure I have one. I scare very easily, so I never, ever watch scary movies. I remember loving "The Canterville Ghost" as a kid. Haven't seen that one in years, wonder if I'd still like it.<br /><br />Amber - If you could be any famous person, alive or dead, who would you be? and why?<br /><br />Casey - I can barely handle being myself! Not sure I'd want to be someone else. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in plenty of other peoples' lives. I love reading about history and the people who lived in other times and places. I've recently gotten interested in genealogy and I love, love, love doing research.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/donofthedead_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="243" width="150" src="http://www.caseydaniels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/donofthedead_full.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Thank you for being on the blog again! I hope you will be back again soon!<br /><br />Casey - Thanks, Amber. It's always a pleasure!<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br />Pepper Martin Series<br /><br />#1 - Don of the Dead<br />#2 - The Chick and the Dead<br />#3 - Tombs of Endearment<br />#4 - <a href="http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/01/22-night-of-loving-dead-by-casey.html">Night of the Loving Dead</a><br />#5 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/10/183-dead-man-talking-by-casey-daniels.html">Dead Man Talking</a><br />#6 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/05/75-tomb-with-view-by-casey-daniels.html">Tomb with a View</a><br />#7 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/53-hard-days-fright-by-casey-daniels.html">A Hard Day's Fright</a><br />#8 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a><br />#9 - Supernatural Born Killers (Due out in September)<br /><br />Button Box Mystery Series<br />(Writing as Kylie Logan)<br /><br />#1 - Button Holed<br />#2 - Hot Button (Due out in June)<br /><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F178a4a7b-731c-4ea8-b6c6-b067de69ab74&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />---------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br />Casey is giving away a copy of her latest release, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/6wild-wild-death-by-casey-daniels.html">Wild Wild Death</a>. Sorry only open to US entrants! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />What famous ghost would you like to talk to? Help solve their death? <br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Saturday 22nd of January 2012 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-6837850984792732306?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-85251887115670941222012-01-14T20:26:00.000+01:002012-01-14T20:26:58.368+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304429856l/10290243.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304429856l/10290243.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I read some great books in 2011. After painstakingly narrowing down my favourites to just 10 books <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">I asked you guys to vote for which book you thought deserved to win</a>. <br /><br />However that isn't that much fun....so I also decided to give a copy of the top three books away to three lucky Amberkatze's Book Blog newsletter subscribers! <br /><br />So the <a href="http://poll.fm/3gclo">votes</a> are in. It is time to see what books did well and which ones didn't do so well...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>8th Place - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/14-body-finder-by-kimberly-derting.html">The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting </a>was a super read but with only 1.69% of the vote it just couldn't win against the big names. <br /><br /><br />7th place - This one was in my top 5 favourite reads but it seems you guys are fans. <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/102-sympathy-for-devil-by-justin.html">Sympathy for the Devil By Justin Gustainis</a> comes in second from last with only 2.54% of the votes!<br /><br /><br />6th Place - Even if it only got 6.78% of the vote I hope you will still try <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/36-forsaken-by-jana-oliver.html">Forsaken By Jana Oliver </a>. This is a really special series and I can't wait for more.<br /><br /><br />5th Place - Not a lot of Steampunk fans here? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/94-heartless-by-gail-carriger.html">Heartless by Gail Carriger </a>is full of paranormal wit and fun but it only got 8.47% of the vote. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Joint 4th Place - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/152-silver-tongued-devil-by-jaye-wells.html">Silver-Tongued Devil By Jaye Wells</a> & <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/34-how-to-flirt-with-naked-werewolf-by.html">How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf By Molly Harper</a> both got 10.17% of the votes. Two great reads but miles apart from each other. Definitely worth reading!<br /><br /><br />Joint 3rd Place - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/08/106-working-stiff-by-rachel-caine.html">Working Stiff By Rachel Caine</a> & <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/96-my-life-as-white-trash-zombie-by.html">My Life As a White Trash Zombie By Diana Rowland</a> both got 13.56% of the vote. If I had to pick an overall best read for 2011 I do believe I would go with the White Trash Zombie. So I am glad it got to 3rd position.<br /><br /><br />2nd Place - A big name in the genre and a well deserved place in the top 3 with 15.25%! <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/51-gathering-by-kelley-armstrong.html">The Gathering By Kelley Armstrong</a> was a brilliant read and I can't wait for the sequel to come out later this year. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>1st Place - And the winner is...<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power By Maria V. Snyder</a>!!!! Wooohooo!!! I can't say I am surprised that this amazing read made it to the top three but I didn't expect it to win over all the others! Well done Maria! You are the Best of 2011!!! <br /><br />Congrats to all the authors! And thanks to all of you for voting! I hope all the books have either found their way onto your reading pile already or are on your wishlist. They really are the ones you shouldn't miss out on.<br /><br />However now it is time to announce the winners of the giveaway! <br /><br />As promised I am giving away a copy of the top three books! Because third place was a tie I am allowing the winners to pick which one they want from the top four books. Working on a first come first served basis. So if your name is one of the three winners picked...be fast and email me your choice ;) <br /><br />So congrats to the newsletter subscribers with the emails beginning with :<br /><br /><br /><i>naomi.chino!!<br /><br /><br />samnstacy!!<br /><br /><br />quixoticdreamer!!</i><br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize! <br /><br />Didn't win this time? Check out the Monthly Giveaway! Once a month I let you vote and win! Sign up for the Newsletter and you won't miss out on an opportunity.<br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-kimberly.html">The Kimberly Frost contest</a> is still open! Win one of five books! <br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-8525188711567094122?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-21726095044297599862012-01-13T14:04:00.014+01:002012-01-13T14:04:01.132+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315175727l/7954556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315175727l/7954556.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit. <br /><br />Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />For some unknown reason I decided to give this book a miss when it was released. The Night Huntress series used to be a must buy for me but something kept me from snatching this one up when it came out. So while using my Audible credits I came across it and decided I would give listening to Cat and Bones a chance.<br /><br />The story, plot and characters were as I remembered and expected. Well written, exciting and lots of action. I really enjoying this installment in the series and can't believe I missed out on reading it when it came out. Of course the wait didn't hurt me too much and despite it being a great story I think I appreciated it more after having such a long break from the vampire husband and wife duo. After all they can be a bit much at times.<br /><br />The audio version was well read and the narrator was as usual not the voice I was expecting when it started. After a while I got used to the voice and she became Cat and I liked her. However being British I have to say I am not a fan of her 'Bones' voice. Although living in Austria I have to admire her German take on things. <br /><br />This series is a must read. Yes I didn't buy it when it released but it still stays on the must read list. One Grave at a time was a good addition to the series and maybe I won't wait as long to catch up with Cat and Bones next time. Maybe I will visit them on Audible again...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-2172609504429759986?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-21875574070906614762012-01-12T18:49:00.000+01:002012-01-12T18:49:10.220+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/allthatbleeds-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/allthatbleeds-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>Author <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-kimberly.html">Kimberly Frost is my guest</a> this week and she is giving away five copies of her new release, All That Bleeds!<br /><br />Have you entered the <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-kimberly.html">giveaway</a> yet? You have till Sunday to enter!<br /><br />Oh and the <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">Best of 2011 Giveaway</a> is over. I will be posting the results either tomorrow or Saturday. Make sure you check in to see if you won!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Southern Witch Series <br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/05/91-would-be-witch-by-kimberly-frost.html">Would-Be Witch</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/09/171-barely-bewitched-by-kimberly-frost.html">Barely Bewitched</a><br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/02/21-halfway-hexed-by-kimberly-frost.html">Halfway Hexed</a><br /><br />Etherlin Series <br /><br />#0.5 - First Light<br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a><br />#2 - All That Falls<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-2187557407090661476?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-38052428654655105182012-01-11T13:00:00.022+01:002012-01-11T13:00:16.776+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511lflm3lgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511lflm3lgL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Her job has been cut, she's low on cash, and her detective sometime-boyfriend refuses to even talk about her ability to see the dead and solve their murders. So Pepper is most certainly down for a vacation to get her spirits up. But when her cute scientist friend Dan is kidnapped, Pepper soon stumbles upon another deadly mystery that brings her to New Mexico. And she's after a clever murderer—one whose idea of Boot Hill has nothing to do with Jimmy Choo.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />Pepper Martin and me go back a long way. I have enjoyed every book in the series and Casey Daniels has been on my must read and must pre-order list since I read the first Pepper story all those years ago. So when this one appeared on my Kindle I knew I would have to read it as soon as possible. The way things were left in book #7 meant that Pepper was up for some hard changes in her life. I couldn't wait to see what she got up to this time.<br /><br />As plots and stories go 'Wild Wild Death' was first class. While I have enjoyed each and every book in the series this one really was an amazing read and some how far better than all the previous books. Pepper seemed more grown up somehow and less moan and groan. She got on with things and pieced together the mystery as quickly as possible with what she had to go on.<br /><br />This time around Pepper found herself going a little further away from home and I loved having a new location. This is the second book in the few weeks that I have read where the mystery has to do with Native Americans but to be honest I kind of like the history and tales surrounding it. The author mixed it into the story well and kept the theme light and didn't take the focus away from the star. <br /><br />Also Pepper gets a new love interest in this eight book. I wasn't expecting it and I don't think she was but it was nice to see her finally getting a little action with no big problems. The relationship didn't end how I expected but I am pretty sure it won't be the last we hear of it. Actually the ending of this book was pretty cool in some ways and yet again I am left looking forward to the next installment.<br /><br />I love this series and it has to be one of my favourite Paranormal Cozy Mysteries. The story is always well written and exciting while the characters are like old friends you enjoy meeting up with when possible. The ghosts are always fun and the stories always have a slight humour to them as well as some serious sleuthing and action. <br /><br />A series definitely worth reading but if you haven't tried the series yet you should start at the beginning. You could ruin some on-going Pepper history if you don't read the other books first. If you already met and loved Pepper then you shouldn't wait too long to get this new addition to the series. It is very wild and one of the best yet!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3805242865465510518?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-42153546879883182512012-01-10T17:03:00.000+01:002012-01-10T17:03:44.332+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" /></a></div>I hope you are all enjoying 2012 so far! <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">My first guest this year was author Nancy Holzner</a> and she was here talking about her Deadtown Series! <br /><br />Reading her interview had me reaching for my copy of the latest release, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/1-bloodstone-by-nancy-holzner.html">Bloodstone</a>. It was a brilliant read and I can't believe I didn't get hold of a copy as soon as it came out. Now I am looking forward to book #4!<br /><br />Haven't started the series? Missing a book from the deadtown series so far? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">Well Nancy was giving away a signed copy of one of her books, winners choice! </a> And the contest is over and it is time to see who won!<br /><br />So congrats to :<br /><br /><br />Teressa Oliver!!<br /><br /><br />Well done! Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br />Didn't win this time? Keep trying and add Nancy's books to your wishlist or to read pile!<br /><br />Maybe you won the <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">Best of 2011 Giveaway</a>? Winners will be announced soon!<br /><br />Kimberly Frost is giving away FIVE books! <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-kimberly.html">Read in the interview and answer the questions for your chance to win!</a><br /><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><br />Deadtown Series <br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/01/12-deadtown-by-nancy-holzner.html">Deadtown</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/1-hellforged-by-nancy-holzner.html">Hellforged</a><br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/1-bloodstone-by-nancy-holzner.html">Bloodstone</a><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4215354687988318251?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-70714281637057816022012-01-10T13:00:00.000+01:002012-01-10T13:00:04.409+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275798040l/6594497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="193" width="127" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275798040l/6594497.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Vampire hunter Anita Blake has crossed the paths of the worst St. Louis has to offer - and now they want her out of the picture for good! But Anita isn't the type of person to go down without a fight... and she's going to make sure it hurts something fierce! <br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />Well once you read the first part you really want to read the second part. So after finishing the 'Animator' part of this graphic novel I decided to move on to the 'Necromancer' part. I was still impressed by the artwork and story and it is clear to me that the series is much better written this way. It has more substance and meaning. It really helps the story make sense where as the books are sometimes a little hard to understand.<br /><br />My only peeve here was that I was under the impression that this was the second and last part of the 'Laughing Corpse'. However it seems that this book has been split into three parts and I am now left stuck without the conclusion. This is a super graphic novel and I want to finish it but it is not something I am about to rush out and buy. They are after all a little expensive.<br /><br />So the end of this story will have to wait. I remember vaguely how it ends but I do look forward to concluding this great story some other time.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7071428163705781602?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-12457947297538763852012-01-09T14:00:00.002+01:002012-01-09T14:00:12.484+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="97" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" /></a></div>Did you vote yet? Have you entered and eligible to win? <br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">The Best of 2011 Giveaway</a> ends on Tuesday so you don't have long left to enter! <br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">How to enter the Best of 2011 Giveaway!</a> <br /><br />Here is a little info about each book on offer (in no particular order!). Just click on the book title and author to see my review - <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/152-silver-tongued-devil-by-jaye-wells.html">Silver-Tongued Devil By Jaye Wells</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power By Maria V. Snyder</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/08/106-working-stiff-by-rachel-caine.html">Working Stiff By Rachel Caine</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HvolE6IkL._SL160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="97" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HvolE6IkL._SL160_.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/96-my-life-as-white-trash-zombie-by.html">My Life As a White Trash Zombie By Diana Rowland</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/51-gathering-by-kelley-armstrong.html">The Gathering By Kelley Armstrong</a> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/14-body-finder-by-kimberly-derting.html">The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting </a>(Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/102-sympathy-for-devil-by-justin.html">Sympathy for the Devil By Justin Gustainis</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296352021l/6261522.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296352021l/6261522.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/34-how-to-flirt-with-naked-werewolf-by.html">How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf By Molly Harper</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/36-forsaken-by-jana-oliver.html">Forsaken By Jana Oliver </a>(Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/94-heartless-by-gail-carriger.html">Heartless by Gail Carriger </a> <br /><br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1245794729753876385?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-45354550409980645862012-01-09T13:00:00.011+01:002012-01-09T13:00:03.666+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266480728l/6052502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="278" width="185" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266480728l/6052502.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Anita Blake is back in the second volume of Marvel's comic adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton's bestselling series of novels! What would you do for a million dollars? Would you resurrect a two-and-one-half-century old corpse? Harold Gaynor poses just that question to Animator and part-time vampire hunter, Anita Blake... Plus, some crime scenes are even too horrible for a vampire slayer, and the worse they are, the more questions they raise.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I gave up on the Anita Blake books a long time ago. They were good at first but like most people, I couldn't put up with the series after the 7th or 8th book. However I have to admit I love the graphic novels. I came across them by accident and they impressed me a lot. It has been a while since I have read one of them but a lazy hour is all you need to enjoy this piece of art.<br /><br />The story is one I know. The Laughing Corpse is still one of the good books in the series and is only the second book about Anita. Good plot and an exciting storyline this is where we get to know more about an animator's work and what it all entails. So I guess that it is no surprise that this first collection of the comics is called 'Animator'. <br /><br />However this isn't just about the story. This is about the artwork too. I don't consider myself a graphic novel expert but this for me is one of the best drawn I have seen. The artists have really captured Anita and the whole story well and I enjoy these books because of the super artwork. I have to say I don't see why Jean-Claude is always showing his chest off in this one but I hope later he will manage to do those pesky buttons up. <br /><br />Well worth checking out if you haven't read the series but want to try. Also a must have item for any Anita fans or graphic novel lovers. These are books to keep or pass on to someone else who will appreciate them.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4535455040998064586?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-2225268275056946792012-01-08T18:15:00.001+01:002012-01-15T17:38:36.618+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/kimberly_july2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="220" width="170" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/kimberly_july2011.jpg" /></a></div>You may know author <a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/">Kimberly Frost</a> for her fun, witty and magical Southern Witch series. Well Kimberly has something new out and it is totally different from her previous work. Darker, more Paranormal and definitely worth reading.<br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a> released last week and I can only recommend you all give it a try. Kimberly has come up with a fresh new world with some interesting characters and I am looking forward to book two when it comes out.<br /><br />So I invited Kimberly to Amberkatze's Book Blog to talk about her new baby so you can all get a better look at what <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a> is all about. Make sure you read till the end because Kimberly is very generously giving away FIVE copies of her new book! <br /><br />------------------------------<br /><br />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 us a little about your new book, ALL THAT BLEEDS?<br /><br />Kimberly – Thanks so much for having me. It’s always wonderful to visit here!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/allthatbleeds-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/allthatbleeds-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>ALL THAT BLEEDS is the first novel in my Etherlin series. The new series is paranormal romantic suspense and within the backstory for the series there’s an event in the 1950s—a vampire “plague”—that changes the course of human history. The Etherlin stories feature archangels, human-vampire half-breeds, and descendants of the ancient muses.<br /><br />Merrick, the love interest in ALL THAT BLEEDS has a very dark background. It’s impossible to intimidate him and for most people, it’s impossible to get close to him. When he meets Alissa he’s a syndicate enforcer who’s sent to kill a demon. Since they should never have met, their relationship grows in secret. He sends her gifts. She writes him letters. They’re star-crossed lovers with no apparent hope of ever really being together. But when she’s abducted and lands on his side of the wall that separates them, their romance begins. The fact that she’s in danger creates an opening for the “wrong man” to become the right one. <br /><br />Amber - Where did you get the idea for <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">ALL THAT BLEEDS</a>? Did the idea just come to you? Or do you have a muse to help you?<br /><br />Kimberly – A lot of things probably contributed. Some characters that I wrote about when I was a teenager inspired me to create Merrick and Alissa. I don’t have a live muse. It would be great if I did! I tend to think there’s a muse who lives in my subconscious. She helps me dig up the plot twists that I can never plan ahead of time.<br /><br />Amber - Except for the obvious, it hasn't really been done before...Why Muses? <br /><br />Kimberly – As a writer, I’ve always been interested in where creativity comes from and what influences our ideas. I’ve also always loved stories from Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology as well as various legends. At some point when I was thinking about writing a darker series, I flipped through a lot of my reference books including one on mythology. It occurred to me that modern muses might make interesting characters.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ALL_THAT_FALLS-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ALL_THAT_FALLS-Cover.jpg" /></a></div>Amber – <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">ALL THAT BLEEDS</a> introduces a new world and some new paranormals. What exactly is the Etherlin? <br /><br />Kimberly – It’s a pristine community in the Rocky Mountains that was founded by a group of muse descendants when they realized that their supernatural powers of inspiration were more potent when they were in close proximity. Because members of the “fallen” crave the muses’ blood, a wall is erected around the Etherlin and an elite security force is assembled to guard the Etherlin muses.<br /><br />Amber - Alissa is obviously very pretty. Which famous person would you say she resembles?<br /><br />Kimberly – There’s a Dutch model named Doutzen Kroes who comes to mind. She was the example I sent with the character description to the publisher when they were preparing to talk to the cover artist.<br /><br />Amber - What kind of research did you do for ALL THAT BLEEDS? Anything interesting or was it totally boring?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tiedwithabow-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tiedwithabow-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>Kimberly – I did a fair amount of interesting research, especially the history of post-war America during the time of the Red Scare. <br /><br />I think my favorite research was on cocktails. Part of Merrick’s backstory is that his first job was as a bartender, and when the story opens he’s living in a penthouse apartment in the same building that houses his club, Crimson. I wanted his world to be very stylized and cool. And because he’s smooth, I pictured him mixing Alissa a distinctive drink. <br /><br />While doing that research, I ended up on the website of a popular men’s magazine. It had a ton of colorful descriptions and historical anecdotes about various cocktails. The drink I had Merrick make Alissa is called a Maiden’s Prayer. The site also hypothesized that Hemingway invented the Scotch Lime, which is what I have Merrick drink.<br /><br />Amber - A new book means new names. How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?<br /><br />Kimberly – I don’t spend as much time considering name meanings as many writers. I do use baby-naming websites to troll for character names, but I care more about how a name sounds and whether it feels right for the character than the actual historical meaning.<br /><br />Amber – A lot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music that influenced this book?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/wouldbewitch200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/wouldbewitch200x300.jpg" /></a></div>Kimberly – I don’t create soundtracks for the books, but I do tend to listen to music that “feels like the story” while I’m writing. For ALL THAT BLEEDS, it was rock because Merrick’s pretty bad to the bone. <br /><br />More interesting was the music research I did while writing the second Etherlin novel, ALL THAT FALLS. I watched YouTube videos of great violin and guitar players. Have you ever seen David Garrett? He’s a gorgeous and extremely talented German violinist. He plays things like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on violin. I recommend checking out his rock symphonies. <br /><br />I also read some nonfiction works about Eddie Van Halen, George Gershwin and his contemporaries, and Kurt Cobain. Music and dance are important parts of ALL THAT FALLS and doing the research was so interesting since that’s not a world I knew much about.<br /><br />Amber – Will ALL THAT BLEEDS turn into a series or is it just a one off?<br /><br />Kimberly – So far there are three stories in the Etherlin series: <br /><br />TIED WITH A BOW Holiday Anthology – 11/1/11<br /><br />“First Light” Novella (Etherlin #0.5 – Prequel to the novels)<br /><br />“First Light”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/barelybewitched200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/barelybewitched200x300.jpg" /></a></div>Investigative reporter/muse aspirant Kate Devane has had recurring dreams of a gorgeous stranger ever since she found a battered antique ring. When she comes upon the dream guy half-buried in the snow, she’s anxious to find out who he is. Unfortunately his memory’s a blank slate. He doesn’t know who he is…or why the world’s most dangerous creatures are hunting him.<br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">ALL THAT BLEEDS</a> (Etherlin #1) – January 3, 2012<br /><br />He’s the darkness she can’t resist…<br /><br />In a glittering community in the Colorado Rockies called the Etherlin, the descendants of the ancient muses live behind a wall that separates them from the world and the dangerous creatures who crave them.<br /><br />Alissa North is inspiration made flesh, so she should never have met Merrick, a deadly half-vampire enforcer, but when they do meet, the connection is instantaneous, and an illicit flirtation is born. He sends her secret gifts. She writes him secret letters. <br /><br />The long-distance friendship was never supposed to go any farther. But when she is kidnapped and thrown briefly into his world, everything changes. Now Alissa realizes he’s the only person she can trust, and Merrick finds he’ll do anything to protect her, even risk his life by crossing the wall. <br /><br />As both worlds close in on them, Alissa knows that getting caught with Merrick could cost her everything she’s ever cared about, but giving him up proves harder than she ever imagined…<br /><br />ALL THAT FALLS (Etherlin #2) - Scheduled for June 2012<br /><br />(The blurb and an excerpt will be available on my website soon.)<br /><br />Amber - What are you listening to and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/halfwayhexed200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.frostfiction.com/wp-content/halfwayhexed200x300.jpg" /></a></div>Kimberly – In terms of other types of storytelling, I’m pretty into series television. I actually need to catch up. I turned off my cable and put my Netflix subscription on hold when I was swamped with deadlines last year. I’m only just now starting to catch up. For comedy, I loved the first three seasons of The Big Bang Theory. Psych and How I Met Your Mother also crack me up. <br /><br />I recently watched the first season of Justified, which I enjoyed a ton. In the opening scene, Timothy Olyphant’s character reminded me (in the way he stares people down) of Merrick. All great writing, even if it’s well outside my genre, inspires me. <br /><br />Amber - If you could be any famous person, alive or dead, who would you be? And why?<br /><br />Kimberly – Wow, I’m not sure I want to go there. I’m just getting the hang of living my own life. <br /><br />Amber - Are you working on anything else at the moment? Will Tammy Jo be coming back any time soon?<br /><br />Kimberly – I just turned ALL THAT FALLS in to my publisher. My plan has been to do a Southern Witch novella next and to release it electronically as soon as it’s polished so that fans of that series don’t have to wait two years to see Tammy’s next adventure. I’m hoping to have the novella finished in time for a spring 2012 release, but that will depend on my schedule. Any of my readers who want to be sure that they don’t miss a release should sign up for my newsletter at <a href="http://frostfiction.com">my website</a>. That’s the way that I announce new releases.<br /><br />Amber - Thank you so much for being on the blog! I hope you will come by again sometime!<br /><br />Kimberly – It was great! Thanks so much for having me. And I never like to come empty-handed, so if people visit the comments and tell me either (a) what their favorite cocktail is or (b) who their favorite dead author is and why, they’ll be entered to win a copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">ALL THAT BLEEDS</a>. 5 commenters will win.<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F52ea2cfc-c943-4f69-99a3-88cd70cdd451&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Southern Witch Series <br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/05/91-would-be-witch-by-kimberly-frost.html">Would-Be Witch</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/09/171-barely-bewitched-by-kimberly-frost.html">Barely Bewitched</a><br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/02/21-halfway-hexed-by-kimberly-frost.html">Halfway Hexed</a><br /><br />Etherlin Series <br /><br />#0.5 - First Light<br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a><br />#2 - All That Falls<br /><br />--------------------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Yes you read correctly! Kimberly is giving away five copies of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/153-all-that-bleeds-by-kimberly-frost.html">All That Bleeds</a>!! That means there will be five winners this week! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />Answer one of Kimberly's questions to be entered. Answer both for an extra entry! <br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Saturday 15th of January 2012 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-222526827505694679?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-72121149497930316442012-01-07T13:56:00.001+01:002012-01-07T13:58:06.176+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314319371l/11843017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314319371l/11843017.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities help him take out any kind of supernatural threat. But now an immortal evil has this bad-ass bounty hunter dead in its sights… <br /><br />Ever since a monster murdered his family, Deacon Chalk hunts any creature that preys on the innocent. So when a pretty vampire girl “hires” him to eliminate a fellow slayer, Deacon goes to warn him—and barely escapes a vampire ambush. Now he’s got a way-inexperienced newbie hunter to protect and everything from bloodsuckers to cursed immortals on his trail. There’s also a malevolent force controlling the living and the undead, hellbent on turning Deacon’s greatest loss into the one weapon that could destroy him.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />The Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre is dominated by female authors and it is always great to see a new guy on the scene. Sure the women writers manage to deliver the goods and weave some amazing stories but the guys come in with all kinds of guns blazing and don't pussyfoot around things. So when I read the blurb I had to give this one a try. Sometimes more testosterone isn't always a bad thing. <br /><br />However after finishing Blood and Bullets I am left undecided on how I really felt about this book. There was the kick-ass Deacon Chalk who can fight like a pro and has enough weapons to start a small war. Although he sounds sexy and showed some emotion now and again I didn't really find myself too interested in him. He was cold and distant, all talk about fighting and killing. There was promise of more to come from him but in this first book he left me thinking he was a bit of a show off.<br /><br />The book had enough paranormal coolness inside to it keep me reading till the end. The story was full of action and there was never a dull moment. On saying that though I got the feeling that sometimes the author was trying too hard and going too fast. The author also paid a lot of attention to detail where weapons and such were concerned. A nice style but totally lost on me, the person who just knows a guns shoots bullets. I found the names, descriptions etc a little boring but have to give the writer kudos for obviously doing his homework.<br /><br />Dark, deep and very raw this book really didn't hold back on much. Rape is mentioned and used to make the baddies sounds even worse. There is a lot of bloody violent scenes which take up the majority of the story. This is not exactly my favourite kind of thing to read but I did enjoy it for what it was, a well written paranormal thrill of a read. It could have done with being toned down just a little at times but it definitely packed a huge punch.<br /><br />So my review is quite conflicted. There were a lot of things I liked about Blood and Bullets but there were also parts I wasn't totally happy with. I can't really say if I would read the sequel but I think my curiosity may just get the better of me because I could see myself trying it. More Deacon Chalk the Occult Bounty-Hunter has some appeal to it whichever way I look it. <br /><br />A mixture of Simon R. Green and Mario Acevedo this also had a hint of J.F. Lewis to it. Definitely one to try if you are looking for something more hardcore and to the point. Not the one to read if you want a story with depth and the occasional action scene.<br /><br />***Blood and Bullets is due for release on the 7th of February***<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7212114949793031644?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-79876441854199121282012-01-06T14:41:00.000+01:002012-01-06T14:41:19.383+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zR4YR02tL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zR4YR02tL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Olivia Kiskey needs a change. She’s been working at the same Nodaway Falls, New York, waffle house since she was a teenager; not a lot of upward mobility there. She’s been in love with Tobias, the cook, for the last four years; he’s never made a move. <br /><br />Every Saturday night, she gathers with her three best friends—Peach, Millie, and Stacy—and drinks the same margaritas while listening to the same old stories. Intent on shaking things up, she puts her house on the market, buys a one-way ticket to Europe, and announces her plans to her friends . . . but then she meets Davina Granville, a strange and mystical Southern woman who shows Olivia that there is more to her life than she ever dreamed. <br /><br />As Liv’s latent magical powers come to the surface, she discovers that having an interesting life is maybe not all it’s cracked up to be. The dark side of someone else’s magic is taking over good people in town, and changing them into vessels of malevolence. Unwilling to cede her home to darkness, she battles the demons of her familial past and her magical present, with those she loves at her side . . . and in the cross fire. <br /><br />Can the most important things in life—friendship, love, magic, and waffles—get her through the worst that the universe can throw at her?<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />A little Night Magic caught my eye because of its bright unusual cover and cool title. The blurb does give away quite a bit of the first few chapters but it had me thinking this could be a nice easy, fun and interesting read. It also came across as a story that doesn't need to much concentration and thought. A bit cozy, a little paranormal and maybe just a smidge of romance. It turned out to be all that and slightly chick-lit but don't hold that against it! It was well worth reading.<br /><br />Liv was a nice woman to get to know and I think a lot of readers will be able to identify with her. In love with someone who doesn't want her and stuck in a sleepy town she decides to give it all up and travel. While most of us have wanted to do this the large majority don't. So I admired Liv for buying the ticket and making the decision. Of course, as the title and blurb tell us, magic becomes involved in Liv's life and it was refreshing to have her not accept it straight away. She takes some time to deal with it and doesn't go on a mad witch spree. Even more reasons that made me like Liv.<br /><br />The magic aspect of this story has its own unique twists to it and isn't over the top. The other characters are nice, friendly and worth getting to know. The plot is easy going with some nice complications and surprises. All in all it was a quick read that made me giggle and at one point even brought a tear to my eye. A little Night Magic left me happy and satisfied, happy that I had taken the chance on this book and satisfied with the way things worked out for all involved. <br /><br />Although I would like to hope that this was a first in a series I believe this is just a one off story. Everything is done and dusted by the end and nothing is left open. Maybe the author will write another book based in this world with the same concept. I certainly would read it. <br /><br />If you like Molly Harper's or Linda Wisdom's books then A little Night of Magic is worth adding to your wishlist. It won't be making my best read of the year list but I will be looking out for more work by the author. <br /><br />*** A Little Night Magic releases on the 31st of January)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7987644185419912128?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-40391014196099183172012-01-06T08:21:00.001+01:002012-01-06T08:22:43.193+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" /></a></div>To start off the New Year I asked author <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">Nancy Holzner to come on the blog</a> and talk about her amazing Deadtown series.<br /><br />I also decided to bring in the New Year by reading Nancy's third book in the Deadtown series, <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/1-bloodstone-by-nancy-holzner.html">Bloodstone</a>, and I loved it. Maybe you want to win a copy?<br /><br />Nancy is giving away a signed copy of one of her books. The winner decides which book so you can start the series or get the latest release. <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">All you have to do is enter the contest</a>. You have till Sunday to enter and the contest is open to everyone.<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" /></a></div>Also don't forget to <a href="http://http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">enter the Best of 2011 giveaway</a>! Vote and win one of my best reads from last year. There will be three winners and this contest is also open to everyone.<br /><br />You have till Tuesday to <a href="http://http://polldaddy.com/poll/5801676/">vote</a> for the book you would like to see win.<br /><br />To enter all you have to do is subscribe to the Amberkatze's Book Blog newsletter. Also make sure you confirm you subscription. Unconfirmed entrants do not qualify to win.<br /><br />Oh and once you entered the giveaway you are automatically entered for every Monthly Giveaway! Just make sure you stop by and check to see if you are winner.<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4039101419609918317?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-72547317221498073032012-01-03T13:52:00.000+01:002012-01-03T13:52:08.400+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Boston’s diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer—dubbed the South End Reaper—uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there’s no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston’s human and inhuman residents. <br /><br />As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood… <br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />To start off the new year I decided to go with a book I have been dying to read for a while. Bloodstone is the third part in the Deadtown series and funnily enough the second book, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/1-hellforged-by-nancy-holzner.html">Hellforged</a>, was my first read in 2011. Also Nancy is my author guest this week so it seemed totally fitting on many counts to read Bloodstone.<br /><br />When I read <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/01/12-deadtown-by-nancy-holzner.html">Deadtown</a> a few years ago I was impressed by the detail and depth the author had gone to house her cool kick-ass heroine. The unique angle on the usual paranormal story really made me love this series from the start and with its Welsh connections I was sold.<br /><br />Now three books into the series I am still hooked. Bloodstone could actually be my favourite in the series so far although it is hard to say that for sure because all three books have been amazing reads. The world this author has created is spectacular. I can really feel it and understand why Boston has been divided in the way it has. The author paints a great picture of what it would look and feel like to live in Deadtown and Victory is a super leading lady. <br /><br />There are so many things I like about this series. I can't really can't find any faults in it. I love the style, the atmosphere and the characters. The idea, story and plot are original and exciting. Things are developing nicely and I am eager to see what happens next. Hopefully another trip to Wales, maybe Tina will be more active next time around, Maria could turn out to be a great angle and well I fear but love Mab.<br /><br />A fantastic mix of paranormal, action and mystery. I can only highly recommend trying this series because it certainly is one of the best Urban Fantasy series out there. Maybe the author would even expand on this series and write something from another Deadtown perspective. I think Dead has a lot more stories to tell and I want to read them all. <br /><br />*** Want to win a signed copy of one of Nancy's Deadtown books? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">Enter the contest</a>! ***<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7254731722149807303?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-53868384284172729842012-01-02T12:12:00.001+01:002012-01-06T08:09:55.339+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" /></a></div>My last author guest in 2011 was <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">Jesse Kimmel-Freeman</a>. <br /><br />Her new book Bella Notte has vampires, werewolves and lots of fun little twists. Did you read the <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">guest blog</a>? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">Enter the contest</a>?<br /><br />Three lucky people have won a copy of Bella Notte! The contest is over and it is time to see who the winners are! <br /><br />So congrats to :<br /><br /><br />Mistee!<br /><br />Cassandra!<br /><br />&<br /><br />Margay!<br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br />Didn't win this time? Still check out Bella Notte! <br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Want to enter more contests? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-giveaway.html">The Best of 2011 Giveaway is now open</a>!! <br /><br />Nancy Holzner is giving away a signed copy of one of her Deadtown books! <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/01/author-interview-contest-with-nancy.html">Have you entered yet</a>? <br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-5386838428417272984?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-19144686158813986362012-01-01T16:58:00.001+01:002012-01-01T17:19:05.557+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1294515253p5/2184228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="215" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1294515253p5/2184228.jpg" /></a></div>Happy New Year! <br /><br />I hope you all had fun last night and don't have any huge headaches keeping you from reading today! :) <br /><br />I thought it would be great to see the new year in with an author interview and I decided to ask Nancy Holzner to do the honours. <br /><br />If you haven't already tried Nancy's Deadtown series then you really need to catch up and get reading. The 3rd book in the series, Bloodstone, is near the top of my TBR pile and I can't wait to curl up with it.<br /><br />Get to know the series and the author by reading the interview and then enter the contest and you may just win a book! <br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br />Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your third book in the Deadtown Series, Bloodstone ?<br /><br />Nancy – Thank you, Amber. And thanks for inviting me! It's always a pleasure to visit your blog. As you mentioned, Bloodstone is the third book in my Deadtown urban fantasy series. The series is set in Boston, after a plague has turned two thousand citizens into zombies. The former quarantine zone is now Deadtown, the paranormal district. (Deadtown's zombies aren't exactly the kind you see in horror movies; they can talk and think, and they retain their human personalities.) In Bloodstone, a series of ritual killings has Boston on edge, and tensions are high between the human and paranormal communities.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300575252l/10573557.jpg" /></a></div>Vicky Vaughn is a shapeshifter who kills other people's personal demons for a living. She thinks her biggest problems are tracking down her missing vampire roommate and introducing her werewolf boyfriend to her sister's suburban family. Then the killer targets Vicky, and she becomes drawn into an ancient feud that could change the fate of the world. And her problems are only beginning...<br /><br />Amber - How did you come up with the plot for Bloodstone? Was it easy to decide what to throw at Vicky this time?<br /><br />Nancy – The plot followed from several story lines that have been developing in the previous books. As the series continues, plotting becomes . . . not easier, but more natural. When I'm writing a book, I jot down notes about how an event in this book might affect the developing storyline. Hellforged ends with questions about two characters: Vicky's roommate Juliet and her demi-demon nemesis, Pryce. So I started Bloodstone with those questions in mind about what happened to them.<br /><br />That said, I do have a goal for where the series is headed. But each book offers surprises and twists and turns along the way. That part of writing is the most fun for me.<br /><br />Amber - How long on average does it take you to write a book? Do you have a process you follow? or do you just start at page one and see what happens?<br /><br />Nancy – It's funny you ask this question just now, because I'm working on a novella (outside of the Deadtown series) and am figuring out how to get started. I usually begin by coming up with the main characters (in a series, of course, this is easier after the first book) and then sketching out the main plot points—there might be 5-7 of these. This breaks the novel down into manageable chunks and gives me goals to write toward. But the outline is loose enough that those surprises can happen along the way. I've written a novel in as little as two months (for the first draft) to as long as two years (for a very polished draft). Average is probably six months to produce a draft that's pretty close to the finished product.<br /><br />Amber - Will there be more books in the series? How long would you like to see the Deadtown series run? Do you already have an ending ready?<br /><br />Nancy – Book #4, Darklands, will be out next summer. I hope to continue the series for 2-3 books beyond that. I do have an idea about an ending. It surprised me when it popped into my head, so I hope it will surprise readers, as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311703478l/8202714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311703478l/8202714.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - If the series was going to be made into a TV series or film, who would you like to see playing Vicky?<br /><br />Nancy – This is a hard question for me, because Vicky is a very distinct person in my mind. It's kind of like asking who I'd pick to play my best friend—it's hard to look at an actress and see that person. But when I see pictures of them with short hair, I think either Keira Knightley or Emma Watson (in a few years) could play the role. But I figure a casting director would do a far better job of finding an on-screen Vicky than I ever could!<br /><br />Amber - How much say do you have in the book publishing process? Eg. Do you get to pick the cover?<br /><br />Nancy – The text belongs to me. My editor will suggest changes, and usually she's right. But sometimes I don't agree with her suggestion, and I've always been able to convince her of my point of view. For covers, my editor will ask me for ideas before they give the project to an artist. If I have comments about the resulting cover image, the publisher listens, but it's definitely their call. I've been lucky, though. I love the covers for this series. The artist, Don Sipley, is terrific.<br /><br />Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?<br /><br />Nancy – Well, Vicky's full name is Victory, which does have meaning. Before she was born, her father had a dream in which he was told to give her that name. Among her kind, a race of shapeshifters, there is a prophecy about someone who'll end the war between humans and demons. Is that “Victory?” She isn't sure.<br /><br />It takes me a lot of trial-and-error to find a name that sticks. I use baby-name books and websites, paying attention to sound, then meaning, then popularity. If I know a character's nationality, I'll use genealogy sites to find a surname. Sometimes I'll even browse the phone book. I'll write a scene with a tentative name (maybe several scenes for major characters) and see whether the name "sticks." If it doesn't feel right for the character, I'll look some more.<br /><br />Amber - How do you come up with the titles for your books? Do you always go with the first title or is it hard to come up with the right one?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312521483l/6591459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312521483l/6591459.jpg" /></a></div>Nancy – The original title of the first book was “Zombie Town” (which I still kinda like). The publisher wasn't thrilled with that title, though, and after coming up with a list of a dozen or so possibilities we settled on Deadtown. My working title for the second book was “Creature Comforts,” because the inciting incident takes place in the bar of that name. But my editor didn't think that sounded edgy enough, so I suggested “Hellforged,” which is the name of a dagger in that book. I liked the way that Deadtown and Hellforged fit together in terms of sound and length; it felt like a way to link books in the series. The next two books, Bloodstone and Darklands, fit the same pattern. So now, when I'm trying to think of a title, I think in terms of two-syllable, compound nouns. <br /><br />Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?<br /><br />Nancy – I've always loved to read, and yes, I've wanted to be an author for just about as long as I can remember. I got sidetracked into an academic/teaching career for a while, and didn't write creatively during that time. But the desire was always there, even while I was pursuing other goals. I decided to write urban fantasy because I was reading that genre almost exclusively. It was so much fun to read that I wanted to try writing one.<br /><br />My first published novel, though, wasn't an urban fantasy but a mystery. Peace, Love, and Murder was published by a small press several months before Deadtown came out, and I recently made it available in ebook format, as well. It's an amateur sleuth mystery set in a fictional version of the upstate New York college town where I live. It's got lots of action, some humor, and just a touch of romance—nothing paranormal, though. I'm hoping to write its sequel this year.<br /><br />Amber - Do you have any other projects you are working on? Have you thought about doing the Young Adult thing?<br /><br />Nancy – I'm working on a novella that's urban fantasy with a stronger romance element. As I mentioned, I'd like to write a sequel to my mystery. I have an idea for a series of paranormal YA books, but right now that's less fleshed out than my other back-burner projects.<br /><br />Amber - Are you a full time writer or do you have a day job? If yes, How do you divide your time?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280013449l/6616057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="171" width="128" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280013449l/6616057.jpg" /></a></div>Nancy – I'm a full-time writer, but a big chunk of my income comes from writing nonfiction. I've written how-to books, reference books, tech books, content for online courses (I used to teach English), and all kinds of things along those lines. My husband and I also own some townhouses that we rent out, so we spend time managing those. I tend to work on nonfiction in the morning and switch to fiction in the afternoon/evening, but lately I've been thinking I should try flipping that around.<br /><br />Amber - Who has been your biggest inspiration in life?<br /><br />Nancy – I've had lots of inspirations. My parents, who both worked hard while raising their kids in a loving environment and emphasized the value of education. Several teachers inspired me to challenge myself. Tons of writers amazed me with what the written word can do. My daughter found her way through some tough times and didn't give up. But my biggest inspiration has been my husband, Steve. He's an incredibly generous, loving, and smart person, and he made me believe I could succeed as an author.<br /><br />Amber - What have you been reading, watching and listening to lately?<br /><br />Nancy – I like to mix up my reading, so that I don't get in a rut reading the same genre all the time. I've been closing out the year reading some books on my literary TBR pile: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, and The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass. I'm ready for a good dose of paranormal to begin 2012, and I'm planning to start with Mind Games by Carolyn Crane and Witch Ever Way You Can by Deborah Blake. I'm always on the lookout for good ghost stories and atmospheric, neo-Gothic books—if you or your readers have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them.<br /><br />Amber - If you could live anywhere in the world. Where would you live? (I think I know the answer to this one...but we will see hehe)<br /><br />Nancy - “Hehe” is right. :) As I believe I may have mentioned to you, my dream is to have a cottage on the Welsh coast. I have the exact picture in my mind. It would be on a cliff overlooking the sea, with a path that winds down to the beach. And it would be close to a village with a good pub. Whether I manage to do that as a month-long writing retreat or my residence, that's my ideal. Wales is so beautiful, and I would love to live in view of the water. On the other hand, my husband wants to move to Hawaii, where he lived for a time as a child. So that will be an interesting coin toss. :)<br /><br />Amber - Thanks for stopping by again! Happy New Year!<br /><br />Nancy – Thanks again, Amber. Happy New Year to you, your family, and your readers, as well!<br /><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Fc1301e32-83e4-48a0-a9b2-e8400ebe158c&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><br />Deadtown Series <br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/01/12-deadtown-by-nancy-holzner.html">Deadtown</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/1-hellforged-by-nancy-holzner.html">Hellforged</a><br />#3 - Bloodstone<br /><br />--------------------------------<br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Take your pick! One lucky winner chooses their choice of Deadtown book signed by Nancy! So if you haven't started the series yet you can go with the first book. Missing the newest release? Get the new one! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />The first book you are reading/read in 2012 is?<br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Saturday 8th of January 2012 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1914468615881398636?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-76644158233383478152011-12-31T14:05:00.003+01:002012-01-12T18:48:14.926+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304429856l/10290243.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304429856l/10290243.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>2011 had a lot of good books in it. Unfortunately I didn't read as much as I wanted to and didn't meet my goal of 175 books. It was close though. Just had a few too many distractions and I hope 2012 will be a better year for reading.<br /><br />Now the year is over (as far as reading is concerned) and instead of a December Monthly Giveaway it is time for the Best of 2011 Giveaway! Here is your chance to win one of the top three books I read in 2011 and you all get to help choose which books were the best!<br /><br />I have spent quite a bit of time going through all my reads from last year and picked out 10 books that, for me, stood out and I would say were the best. Of course there are loads more I would have loved to add to this list but I have limited myself to ten and it wasn't easy! I would have given some honourable mentions but that list started to get very long. So if you want to see all the books I read in 2011 then check out the Goodreads widget at the bottom of this post. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Jonu8h5YL.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>What is the Best of 2011 Giveaway?<br /><br />I have picked ten of my favourite reads from 2011 (sorry no ARCs are included!) and now you guys <a href="http://poll.fm/3gclo">go to the poll </a>and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! <br /><br />If the book has (Series) next to it then the winner can also choose another book in that series if they are missing it (Unless I can't get hold of it from bookdepository or Amazon). I have done this because some of the books I read eg. Spider's Bite and Soulless were a part of a series that had more recent release in 2011. <br /><br />Remember! You may not actually win the book/series you voted for.<br /><br />Here is a little info about each book on offer (in no particular order!). Just click on the book title and author to see my review - <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/152-silver-tongued-devil-by-jaye-wells.html">Silver-Tongued Devil By Jaye Wells</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power By Maria V. Snyder</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/08/106-working-stiff-by-rachel-caine.html">Working Stiff By Rachel Caine</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HvolE6IkL._SL160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="97" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HvolE6IkL._SL160_.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/96-my-life-as-white-trash-zombie-by.html">My Life As a White Trash Zombie By Diana Rowland</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/04/51-gathering-by-kelley-armstrong.html">The Gathering By Kelley Armstrong</a> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/01/14-body-finder-by-kimberly-derting.html">The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting </a>(Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/102-sympathy-for-devil-by-justin.html">Sympathy for the Devil By Justin Gustainis</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296352021l/6261522.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296352021l/6261522.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/34-how-to-flirt-with-naked-werewolf-by.html">How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf By Molly Harper</a> (Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/03/36-forsaken-by-jana-oliver.html">Forsaken By Jana Oliver </a>(Series)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/94-heartless-by-gail-carriger.html">Heartless by Gail Carriger </a> <br /><br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F60127a77-672d-47da-be3f-5c1e3430c8fe&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />How does the monthly giveaway work?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312579417l/6329318.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 99px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312579417l/6329318.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Well in the sidebar <--- there is <a href="http://poll.fm/3gclo">this poll</a>. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Because this is the end of year giveaway I am actually going to give away a copy of the top three books! So the three books with the most votes will be the prizes. The winners get to pick which one they want from the three on a first come first served basis. So if your name is one of the three winners picked...be fast and email me your choice ;) <br /><br />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 Tuesday 10th of January 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced later than day. <center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309148956l/8356487.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 107px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309148956l/8356487.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br />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<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><br /><br /><center>Check out all the books I read in 2011<br /><!-- Show static HTML/CSS as a placeholder in case js is not enabled - javascript include will override this if things work --><br /><style type="text/css" media="screen"> .gr_custom_container_1325268133 { /* customize your Goodreads widget container here*/ border: 1px solid gray; -moz-border-radius:10px; -webkit-border-radius:10px; padding: 10px 5px 10px 5px; background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #000000; width: 300px } .gr_custom_header_1325268133 { /* customize your Goodreads header here*/ border-bottom: 1px solid gray; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: center; font-size: 120% } .gr_custom_each_container_1325268133 { /* customize each individual book container here */ width: 100%; clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; overflow: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; } .gr_custom_book_container_1325268133 { /* customize your book covers here */ overflow: hidden; height: 60px; float: left; margin-right: 4px; width: 39px; } .gr_custom_author_1325268133 { /* customize your author names here */ font-size: 10px; } .gr_custom_tags_1325268133 { /* customize your tags here */ font-size: 10px; color: gray; } .gr_custom_rating_1325268133 { /* customize your rating stars here */ float: right; }</style><br /><br /><div id="gr_custom_widget_1325268133"><div class="gr_custom_container_1325268133"><h2 class="gr_custom_header_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1234425-amberkatze?shelf=read&amp;utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" style="text-decoration: none;">Amberkatze's bookshelf: read</a><br /></h2><div class="gr_custom_each_container_1325268133"><br /><div class="gr_custom_book_container_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/176309477?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" title="Dead Bolt (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #2)"><img alt="Dead Bolt" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306957819s/10744349.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_rating_1325268133"><img alt="5 of 5 stars" height="15" src="http://d16kthk4voxb3t.cloudfront.net/images/layout/stars/red_star_5_of_5.png?1325184132" title="5 of 5 stars, it was amazing" width="75" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_title_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/176309477?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget">Dead Bolt</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_author_1325268133">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2924930.Juliet_Blackwell">Juliet Blackwell</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_review_1325268133"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="gr_custom_each_container_1325268133"><br /><div class="gr_custom_book_container_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/222026074?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" title="A Demon Does It Better (Demons #2)"><img alt="A Demon Does It Better" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301888200s/10841301.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_rating_1325268133"><img alt="4 of 5 stars" height="15" src="http://d2cnulzsnzwz8f.cloudfront.net/images/layout/stars/red_star_4_of_5.png?1325184132" title="4 of 5 stars, really liked it" width="75" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_title_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/222026074?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget">A Demon Does It Better</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_author_1325268133">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/128231.Linda_Wisdom">Linda Wisdom</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_review_1325268133"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="gr_custom_each_container_1325268133"><br /><div class="gr_custom_book_container_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/241042077?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" title="All That Bleeds (Etherlin, #1)"><img alt="All That Bleeds" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310265762s/11018862.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_rating_1325268133"><img alt="4 of 5 stars" height="15" src="http://d2cnulzsnzwz8f.cloudfront.net/images/layout/stars/red_star_4_of_5.png?1325184132" title="4 of 5 stars, really liked it" width="75" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_title_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/241042077?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget">All That Bleeds</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_author_1325268133">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1958136.Kimberly_Frost">Kimberly Frost</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_review_1325268133"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="gr_custom_each_container_1325268133"><br /><div class="gr_custom_book_container_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/200375520?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" title="Silver-Tongued Devil (Sabina Kane, #4)"><img alt="Silver-Tongued Devil" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697s/10094969.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_rating_1325268133"><img alt="5 of 5 stars" height="15" src="http://d16kthk4voxb3t.cloudfront.net/images/layout/stars/red_star_5_of_5.png?1325184132" title="5 of 5 stars, it was amazing" width="75" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_title_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/200375520?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget">Silver-Tongued Devil</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_author_1325268133">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1938234.Jaye_Wells">Jaye Wells</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_review_1325268133"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="gr_custom_each_container_1325268133"><br /><div class="gr_custom_book_container_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/154568638?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget" title="Destined (House of Night, #9)"><img alt="Destined" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512fWxINZIL._SL75_.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_rating_1325268133"><img alt="3 of 5 stars" height="15" src="http://d2owxupnsl35mn.cloudfront.net/images/layout/stars/red_star_3_of_5.png?1325184132" title="3 of 5 stars, liked it" width="75" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_title_1325268133"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/154568638?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=custom_widget">Destined</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_author_1325268133">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17015.P_C_Cast">P.C. Cast</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="gr_custom_review_1325268133"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br style="clear: both"/><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/"><img src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/widget/widget_logo.gif" alt="goodreads.com" style="border:0;" /></a><br /></center><br /><noscript><br />Share <a href="http://www.goodreads.com">book reviews</a> and ratings with Amberkatze, and even join a <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/group/">book club</a> on Goodreads.<br /></noscript><br /></div><br /></div><script src="http://www.goodreads.com/review/custom_widget/1234425.Amberkatze's%20bookshelf:%20read?cover_position=left&amp;cover_size=small&amp;num_books=5&amp;order=d&amp;shelf=read&amp;show_author=1&amp;show_cover=1&amp;show_rating=1&amp;show_review=1&amp;show_tags=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;sort=date_read&amp;widget_bg_color=FFFFFF&amp;widget_bg_transparent=&amp;widget_border_width=1&amp;widget_id=1325268133&amp;widget_text_color=000000&amp;widget_title_size=medium&amp;widget_width=medium" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7664415823338347815?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-78645150116932328192011-12-31T13:49:00.000+01:002011-12-31T13:49:10.620+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51A4sURIBgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51A4sURIBgL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />M.J. Holliday and her crew interrupt the frantic schedule of their reality TV show, Ghoul Getters, and hotfoot it to New Mexico, where a dreadful demon is waging tribal warfare. Same Whitefeather- M.J.'s spirit guide-urgently needs her help to stop this evil spirit from wiping out the descendants of his tribe. It doesn't take a psychic to predict that M.J.'s going to have a devil of a time making New Mexico a demon-free zone.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I have so many books to read but I couldn't resist this new release from Victoria Laurie. The sixth Ghost Hunter Mystery was the perfect read to see out 2011 and lived up to the style and expectations I have for this series. The author has done it again and written another fantastic book. <br /><br />This time we get to learn a lot more about Heath and his family. The TV show M.J, Heath and Gilly work on has to take a break and all three head off to New Mexico. There they are confronted with a different kind of spookiness that can kill. Of course this doesn't put off the team because this time it is a bit personal. A great plot and story which I enjoyed very much even if it wasn't the best in the series it was still a brilliant read.<br /><br />If you haven't already tried Victoria Laurie's work then I can only highly recommend you do. Her Psychic Eye series is very cozy but this Ghost Hunter series is becoming more and more Urban Paranormal. Hard, heavy and very spooky this book was full of action a trend I have noticed in the previous books. Things are definitely getting a little darker and deeper than they used to be and I like it. <br /><br />Can't wait for more!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7864515011693232819?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-34550007738095967272011-12-30T18:31:00.000+01:002011-12-30T18:31:21.697+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" /></a></div>My last <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">author guest this year is Jesse Kimmel-Freeman</a>.<br /><br />Have you already <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">read the guest blog</a>? <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">Entered the contest</a>? You only have one more day left to enter. The prize? Jessie is giving away three copies of her book, Bella Notte, to three lucky winners! <br /><br />So make sure you enter for your chance to win!<br /><br />Oh and keep an eye open for the Best of 2011 Giveaway! The poll will be going up soon!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3455000773809596727?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-36146474134835766262011-12-29T21:51:00.000+01:002011-12-29T21:51:08.885+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306957819l/10744349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1306957819l/10744349.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners who insist on sticking around- along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops...<br /><br />The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house, and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building-and her reputation-before it's too late.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I thought I enjoyed the debut in this series, If Walls Could Talk, but things only get better in this sequel. Dead Bolt was just what I needed. A super cozy mystery with a huge dollop of ghostly going ons. I was hooked within pages and I nearly finished this in one day. I loved it!<br /><br />What isn't to love? A great main leading lady who works restoring houses and attracts ghosts! The plot was mysterious till the end and I savoured the twists and turns the story took as Melanie went through the process of finding out what really was going on. Full of history and technical details the author really did her homework when writing this book. Which made it even more fun to read.<br /><br />I got goosebumps reading some of the more ghostly parts of the book but there is no need to be scared. Dead Bolt is a fun, interesting and intriguing read. Full of mystery, caked with the paranormal and decorated with some humour and love. I love the combination and it is a true winner for me.<br /><br />Hopefully there won't be a long wait till the next book. I really can't wait to see what Melanie ends up doing with her love interest and the fact that she is starting to be seen as a ghost whisperer. Roll on the next adventure! It is going on my pre-order must have list!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3614647413483576626?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-90530896871112081032011-12-28T18:12:00.000+01:002011-12-28T18:12:35.087+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-with-lia-habel-contest.html">Lia Habel was one of my author guests</a> this week and I was giving away a copy of her debut book, '<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">Dearly, Departed</a>'.<br /><br />The contest is now over and it is time to see who won! Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn't win please make sure you check out Lia's book, it is worth it! Also make sure you come back and enter the other contests! Maybe you will be lucky next time!<br /><br />So congrats to :<br /><br /><br /><i>Slb3334</i>!!!<br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-9053089687111208103?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-53092813649068279092011-12-27T17:22:00.001+01:002011-12-27T17:23:17.361+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301888200l/10841301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301888200l/10841301.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Lovely witch Lili Carter takes a job at a paranormal hospital where patients have been disappearing. There she encounters Jared, a dangerously sexy demon on a mission that gets Lili into a world of trouble. Lili can't avoid Jared for long and soon they find themselves creating a whole new kind of magick...<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />I loved Linda Wisdom's fun witchy books and even though the series has moved over to 'demons' and has lost the cool comic covers, it is still a hit with me. A Demon does it better is the newest installment and this time we get introduced to a witch called Lili and a demon called Jared. Both are mysterious and fun characters to get to know and their relationship throughout the book makes for great reading.<br /><br />What the author manages to do with the rest of the story is just amazing. She not only manages to create some super background characters but she also brings in yet another excellent side-kick. Fluff and Puff are obviously the best so far but Cleo holds her own as Lili's cat familiar. She definitely adds some giggles to the whole story and I loved her just as much as the main characters.<br /><br />The plot is very interesting this time around and with Lili being a doctor you are treated to a bit of Grey's Anatomy and House style drama mixed with the paranormal. The idea is once again unique and I love the way the author either brings in former characters or at least mentions them. Despite this being a new series the other witches that were mentioned back in the Jazz books are making themselves known here. So fans of Jazz really need to check out these new books.<br /><br />So in conclusion, don't be put off by the change of series name or cover style. This is Linda Wisdom at her best and expanding on the Jazz Tremaine books she is so well known for. Full of paranormal delights, mystery and romance there is also a lot of fun and laughs waiting inside this book. I can only highly recommend it and say how much I eager for more.<br /><br />*** A Demon does it Better is due for release on the 1st of January ***<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-5309281364906827909?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-86877895987126649452011-12-26T19:46:00.000+01:002011-12-26T19:46:18.805+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>One of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-contest-with-maria-v.html">my author guests this week was Maria V. Snyder</a>. Her new release <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a> is an amazing read and definitely one to buy with that money or book vouchers you got for Christmas!<br /><br />If you were lucky then you may have won a signed copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a> from Maria! The contest is now closed and it is time to see who gets the prize!<br /><br />Congrats to :<br /><br /><br />Brenda Demko<br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br />Didn't win this time? The <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-with-lia-habel-contest.html">Lia Habel</a> and <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-jesse-kimmel.html">Jesse Kimmel-Freeman</a> contests are still open for entries! Also the Best of 2011 Giveaway will be starting soon. Make sure you check in as often as possible or subscribe to the newsletter (see below)<br /><br />Make sure you check out Maria's Books! You won't be disappointed! <br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-8687789598712664945?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-8976073553194980752011-12-25T13:12:00.041+01:002011-12-25T13:12:00.648+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310265762l/11018862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310265762l/11018862.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />As the last heiress of the House of North, Alissa knows that striking up a secret friendship with a half-vampire enforcer is dangerous, but Merrick is a temptation she can't resist. But when Alissa is kidnapped, Merrick proves that he will do anything to protect the woman who tempts him with her very existence.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />I was extremely happy to see that Kimberly Frost had a new series coming out. I loved her Southern Witch series and I was eager to see what else the author could come up with. I was hoping for something like her previous work and was surprised at how All The Bleeds turned out. It definitely wasn't what I was looking for or expecting but it certainly was a good read.<br /><br />The Etherlin Series is something completely new and unique. Muses and half vampires are the main paranormals involved but demons and angels are also put in the mix along the way. The Muse aspect alone was enough to keep me reading. It wasn't something I have come across before and I wonder if it has done been done before. It was nice to have something different come my way and I have to give the author kudos for thinking up something just that little bit unusual and special.<br /><br />The main characters are engaging and brilliant narrators for the story. Alissa is strong and clever while Merrick is mysterious and devious. Their relationship and the way they deal with the events thrown at them makes for action packed, romantic and powerful reading. I enjoyed getting to know them and their circumstances as well as tagging along for the ride as the plot developed. Twists and turns kept things exciting and I found it hard to put down the book all the way through.<br /><br />Totally different to the Kimberly Frost the fans are used to, All That Bleeds, is more on par with Cynthia Eden's work and is far from the the fun chick-lit paranormal fun of Tammy-Jo's adventures. This book shows a completely new side to Kimberly's talents as a writer and I can't wait to read more about the Etherlin. <br /><br />All That Bleeds releases on the 3rd of January and you may just want to keep some of that Christmas money or book vouchers to get a copy when it comes out. I don't think you will be disappointed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-897607355319498075?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-34989793602820941062011-12-24T15:07:00.000+01:002011-12-24T15:07:48.441+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/6596604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="127" width="170" src="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/6596604.jpg" /></a></div>Christmas is here so I thought I would surprise you all with another author guest and contest!<br /><br />This time I have author Jesse Kimmel-Freeman guest blogging about her book <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107111">Bella Notte</a>! <br /><br />Read the guest blog and make sure you enter the contest for your chance to win one of three copies of the book! Also make sure you check out Jesse's books! I think there is a little of something for everyone in there! <br /><br />-----------------------<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.smashwire.com/bookCovers/2272b732fcd5c112d6a0e8f3071460e6f427d315" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://cache.smashwire.com/bookCovers/2272b732fcd5c112d6a0e8f3071460e6f427d315" /></a></div>Are you a vampire fanatic? Do you eat, sleep, dream, breathe vampires? Or maybe you just love the things that go bump in the night? Is it fangs or howls that draw you in? Are you team vampire or team werewolf? Does a full moon make you want to howl with joy? Do you love Bela Lugosi and Lan Chaney, Jr. ? Do you read Dracula religiously?<br /> <br />Bella Notte has vampires, werewolves and lots of fun little twists. Since it's the first book in the series, it's just the foundation being given to you. You get to know self-imposed social outcast Emma Hutchinson, home-schooled hottie Michael O'Shanold, and dreamy pretentious Dominic DeDominico.<br /> <br />There's a badass chick fit, a seriously near death experience, a prophecy, a ball, some coming of age drama, and all the usual nonsense that goes along with high school<br /><br />Read the blurb for it: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/6/1276714/8837579.jpeg" /></a></div>Vampires? Check. Werewolves? Check. Death prophecy to hang over your head? Double check. Seventeen year old Emma Hutchinson struggles to find her place in the world she has been born to as she tries to decide whether she should be with Michael, the boy she has been dreaming about since she was three or if she belongs with Dominic, her betrothed. <br /><br />Got your attention? Are you curious about Emma, Dom, and Mike? Good! The second book, Bella Vita, should be out in the next months too! So if you've got a thing for witches, some good and some horrid, then Bella Vita will be for you.<br /><br />In honor of the holidays, there's a free short story titled “<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108692">A Bella Notte Christmas Story</a>” up on <a href="http://www.smashwords.com">Smashwords</a>. Check it out. Who doesn't love a good snowball fight, right?<br /><br />I don't claim to have the best vampires out there- to each his own and all that- but my vampires are unique. In Bella Notte, you get to learn some of the traditional stuff- myths and legends are addressed. In Bella Vita, the real fun starts when you get to know about the natural talents some of these vampires possess. These books definitely have something for everyone.<br /> <br />Feel free to connect with me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jesse.kimmelfreeman">Facebook</a>, or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jesse-Kimmel-Freeman/114825577971">like my author page</a>. You can follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jkimmelf">Twitter</a>, too! Or you could follow <a href="http://bellanottethebook.weebly.com/blog.html">my blog</a>.<br /><br />A big thank you to <a href="http://www.amberkatze.blogspot.com">Amberkatze's Book Blog</a> for having me and taking the time, and a huge thank you to the readers! You guys rock my socks!<br /><br /><center><br /><OBJECT classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><PARAM NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><PARAM NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><PARAM NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <NOSCRIPT><A HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F889e5805-1bab-44fb-bc6f-a0201cc33c11&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />--------------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Jesse is giving away 3 copies of the eBook version of Bella Notte! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />Your perfect Christmas is...? <br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Saturday 31st of December 2011 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3498979360282094106?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-26932000922857044482011-12-23T20:54:00.000+01:002011-12-23T20:54:39.024+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" /></a></div>There are two contests open right now! Have you entered both of them?<br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-with-lia-habel-contest.html">Author Lia Habel was here</a> talking about her wonderful debut book '<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">Dearly, Departed</a>' and I am giving away a copy to one lucky winner! <br /><br />If you like Steampunk, zombies/vampires and a good Young Adult read then you can't miss out on '<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">Dearly, Departed</a>'. It was a super read and I can't wait for book two!<br /><br />Make sure you <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-with-lia-habel-contest.html">enter the contest</a> by Tuesday the 27th for the chance to win a copy! <br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>Also visiting this week is author Maria V. Snyder! Her new release,<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html"> Touch of Power</a>, is out now and I loved it! <br /><br />You have till Sunday to <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-contest-with-maria-v.html">enter the contest</a> where one lucky winner will get a signed copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a> direct from Maria!<br /><br />So make sure you enter both contests and be on the look out for the Best of 2011 Giveaway! I will be putting up the vote sometime over the holidays! Just have to decide which books were the best...<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-2693200092285704448?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-15788375262850224142011-12-21T14:49:00.000+01:002011-12-21T14:49:00.329+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>One of my <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-interview-contest-with-maria-v.html">author guests this week is Maria V. Snyder</a>!<br /><br />Her ninth book, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a>, is now out and it is an amazing read. If you are a fan of Maria's books then this is the one you want under the Christmas Tree. Any book vouchers from Santa need to be traded in for this first in a new series. <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">I loved it by the way</a> ;)<br /><br />Did you read the interview with the main character Avry? You have the chance to get to know the healer and a bit about the story. Also you could win a copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a> signed by Maria! <br /><br />You have till Sunday 25th December (Yes Christmas Day!) to enter! <br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT></center><br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1578837526285022414?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-16617286926754435932011-12-20T14:42:00.000+01:002011-12-20T14:42:42.611+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/liasurrender00727web-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/liasurrender00727web-1.jpg" /></a></div>With Christmas coming along I thought I would treat you to an extra author guest! <br /><br /><a href="http://liahabel.com/">Lia Habel</a> is a super new author and her debut book <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">'Dearly, Departed'</a> was a spectacular read. I asked the author some questions about her first published book, her writing future and some other stuff and here are her answers!<br /><br />I hope enjoy getting to know the author and her debut book. Make sure you read to the end and enter the contest. You could win yourself a copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">'Dearly, Departed'</a>.<br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />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 debut book, 'Dearly, Departed'.<br /><br />Lia - It's hard to describe, because so much goes on in it! Basically, it's set a few hundred years in the future, where a tribe has arisen calling itself the New Victorians. The NVs use high technology to style themselves and their society after the First Victorian age (not precisely - they know full well that they're the NEW Victorians), leading to the creation of things like digital diaries, sleek modern electric carriages, etc. A splinter group, known as the Punks, formed and was banished from New Victoria a generation past for their anti-aristocratic, anti-digital-tech views, and they've now formed their own society in the south. Into this setting, throw some zombies - a percentage of which keep their minds after reanimating - and everything explodes!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1318338359l/10048874.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - 'Dearly, Departed' is very original and was a great read. How did you come up with the idea? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?<br /><br />Lia - Thanks! The ideas really came to me in one moment of inspiration. I was actually on the bus when it happened! Looking back on it now, I really think everything that makes me Me - all the horror movies I've seen, the steampunk books I've read, the games I've played, the dresses I've coveted - came roaring out on the page. The book is totally a map of my brain. Of course years of refinement followed the original draft, but the basic ideas have remained the same.<br /><br />Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?<br /><br />Lia - Some do, some don't. Names tend to come to me on the fly, and it's not until later that I figure out what I was (subconsciously?) thinking of. The only exception is Nora - I chose her name just because I liked it. (It does derive from Honora, or 'honor,' which fits her well.) Meanwhile, Bram's name has about ten levels of meaning - originally I chose it with a sense of irony, since Bram Stoker is the father of the modern vampire, but it built up after that. For instance, there's a long tradition of good-guy zombies having names that begin with B (Bub, Bud, Big Daddy, Billy, Bobby...) so I thought a B name was apt, and it's short for 'Abraham,' and I've got a personal joke that Romero's Bub and Big Daddy are the Adam and Moses of the good-guy zombie world, respectively, so I wanted to throw an Abraham into the ring...it went on and on. <br /><br />It's when you get into the secondary characters that you start getting a lot of name meanings. Baldwin Samedi is obviously named after Baron Samedi of voodoo lore. Vespertine Mink's first name alludes to her shadowy, not-quite-light-not-quite-dark nature, and Mink is an homage to The Silence of the Lambs, wherein Hannibal Lecter is described as "a cemetery mink." Pamela's named after a book called Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. Victor and Elizabeth Dearly are named after the doctor and his love in Frankenstein. And on, and on...<br /><br />Amber - What came first? Dearly in the title or the surname for your character?<br /><br />Lia - They came to me simultaneously! Probably the title a little before - I wasn't trying to be clever, I just thought, "Oh, that's a good idea. I'll go with that."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dearlydepartedukcoversmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dearlydepartedukcoversmall.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Why did you decide to start writing? And how long did it take to get published?<br /><br />Lia - I started writing to amuse myself and my friends. I never thought the book would get this far! I had the idea during a period of unemployment (I had many of those), and I decided to write it for fun. It took me about 45 days to create the original draft, a little over a month to find an agent, and after that it was about two years to the release date. And I'm still in shock. <br /><br />Amber - Why Paranormal, Steampunk and why Young Adult? Were these the genres you always wanted to write?<br /><br />Lia - The paranormal and steampunk came from me, as I've said. I grew up loving monsters, and I adore all forms of Neo-Victorianism, so those were natural directions for my mind to wander in. The YA is the tricky part, because I would never have predicted I'd write a YA book. In fact, I tend to view the book as multi-generational, and it has a multi-generational cast - I'm not a fan of YA that does away with all of the adult characters, all of the parents and mentors and adult allies, because that's unrealistic. I did want this story to focus on young people, however - I felt like I wanted to explore those strong adolescent feelings, those feelings of passion and loyalty and mutual connection. Because this is a story that is very immediate, very centered in the present - because everyone knows how it will end. Especially for Nora and Bram. And yet, learning to look beyond the present is something Nora has to tackle.<br /><br />Amber - I noticed that the Kindle cover for 'Dearly, Departed' is totally different to the paperback. Which one do you prefer? Did you have any say about what covers would be used?<br /><br />Lia - I had little say in the US cover, none in the UK or German (those are the two foreign covers I've seen thus far). I got to vote for a little more hair on Nora, but that's it! Authors get very little input when it comes to visual things, I'm afraid - but they did a fantastic job. I love the UK cover, myself, because it has Bram on it! And they did such a good job with him!<br /><br />Amber - Will there be more books in the series? When can we expect to see more?<br /><br />Lia - There's a sequel coming out in 2012, entitled Dearly, Beloved. Hopefully there will be more - I'd like five(ish?) books to finish the series out the way I think it needs to be finished. With everything that happens in book one, the overall series has to be just as big - has to deal with heavy issues, complicated emotions. Even if I don't end up with additional publishing deals, I'll sit here at home and finish out the series and post it online!<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ddgermancoverdarklove-187x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="187" src="http://liahabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ddgermancoverdarklove-187x300.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - Are you working on anything else you would like to tell us about? Or do you have any cool ideas waiting to be put on paper?<br /><br />Lia - I'm working on two non-zombie projects now, but they both also involve monsters. They're unsolicited, so they don't have a home yet. I have to write for myself - I'm horrible at writing to prompt. I don't want to share too much, but the one's definitely weird, the other maybe a little fantasy-esque? (Which is unique for me - usually fantasy is the last genre I'll read. Just never been much into it.)<br /><br />Amber - I am sure that being an author has its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?<br /><br />Lia - Huge ups and downs! The best is definitely interacting with fans. (And it's really weird to think that I have fans. I prefer to think in terms of 'people who liked the book.' That seems less egotistic.) When I hear someone saying, "I'm considering naming my kid Bram because I read the book," or "I found this photo and it's just like the scene in your book!" that's absolutely amazing to me, that people would care that much. It's very moving. The worst part by far is the people who hit on me, though. When you're in public (and I've never been in the public eye before) you can get some creepers hanging around. And I hate saying that, because it sounds like "I'm so fabulous I have stalkers!" but it's not even remotely that exciting. Just creepy. (And yet, if a hideous monster in a nice suit walked up and introduced himself, I'd be hanging all over him - I have issues.)<br /><br />Amber - Alot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music that influenced your books?<br /><br />Lia - I have a ton! I like building huge soundtracks while I work, and then narrowing them down to 30 or so tracks afterward. I've done that for Departed, I need to do that for Beloved. I listen to everything from spirituals to metal to rap, and I change the 'main series theme' every week or so. My main series theme right now is 'This Is Not The End' by Clare Maguire, though I also love 'From My Hands' by VNV Nation. Warning: Prepare to bawl your eyes out at either one.<br /><br />Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?<br /><br />Lia - Almost all of my favorite authors are dead! I love gothic novels like Dracula and Jane Eyre. I love Alan Moore to death, especially The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the movie was HORRID - the source material is BRILLIANT) and other comics, like Mark Waid's Ruse. But I actually read much more nonfiction than I do fiction - Thomas Lynch, Mary Roach, Richard Dawkins. Nonfiction inspires me with tidbits about science and geography and religion, anecdotes about human nature - it's my favorite thing to read.<br /><br />Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?<br /><br />Lia - I think I'd be something that looked different, if nothing else. A faun, or a centaur, or some type of winged creature...I don't want to look human! Human is boring! Though I think I'd be a good zombie, personally. I'm betting on it if the zombie apocalypse ever happens - have you seen how whiny some survivors can get? I couldn't deal with that. I'm going to the dead side. They have more fun.<br /><br />Amber - Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog!<br /><br /><center><OBJECT classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" WIDTH="250px" HEIGHT="250px"> <PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><PARAM NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><PARAM NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><PARAM NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="250px"></embed></OBJECT> <NOSCRIPT><A HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8003%2F228196e9-3d9a-4b2b-b6d2-8a7e2b2ceab4&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />----------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />I am giving away a copy of <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/10/139-dearly-departed-by-lia-habel.html">'Dearly Departed'</a> to one lucky winner. <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />What books are on your wishlist for Christmas?<br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Tuesday 27th of December 2011 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1661728692675443593?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-44185183381374112432011-12-19T14:28:00.002+01:002011-12-19T14:28:00.137+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-guest-blog-contest-with-artist.html">My author guest this week was Artist Arthur!</a><br /><br />Artist was here talking about the weather which plays a big part in her Mystyx series. The upcoming book, Mesmerize, is book four in the series and releases in February. However all of you had the chance to <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-guest-blog-contest-with-artist.html">enter the contest</a> and win a copy now! <br /><br />So who won? Congrats to :<br /><br /><br />Marybelle!!!<br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize! <br /><br />Didn't win this time? Keep checking back for more contests!<br /><br />Make sure you check out Artist Arthur's amazing Mystyx series!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Mystyx Novel's<br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/04/52-manifest-by-artist-arthur.html">Manifest</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/11/157-mystify-by-artist-arthur.html">Mystify</a><br />#2.5 - <a href="http://ebooks.eharlequin.com/4AA9F00A-1821-47A7-B4B9-BF7D5E8F3938/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=1BA1C1E2-732A-409B-9CBB-22E8994AF293">Mutiny</a> (Free Download)<br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/101-mayhem-by-artist-arthur.html">Mayhem</a><br />#4 - Mesmerize (February 2012)<br />#5 - Majestic (August 2012)<br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4418518338137411243?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-6728416788300469412011-12-18T17:51:00.002+01:002011-12-18T17:56:16.232+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/Maria1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="220" src="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/Maria1.jpg" /></a></div>One of my favourite authors is <a href="http://mariavsnyder.com/">Maria V. Snyder</a> and when I heard she had a new series coming out I just had to ask her on to the blog again. <br /><br />I had the honour of reading <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a> already and I loved it. The new book releases this week and I can only highly recommend it! <br /><br />With the following interview you not only get the chance to meet Avry, the lead character in <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/149-touch-of-power-by-maria-v-snyder.html">Touch of Power</a>, but you also get to find out a little about the story. <br /><br />If you read till the end you can also enter this weeks contest and win a copy of Touch of Power!<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />Amber - Hello Avry! It is so nice to meet you! How are you feeling after your adventure in Touch of Power?<br /><br />Avry - Nice to meet you as well. I’m tired, but content for now.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>Amber - You travelled around a lot during Touch of Power. What did you miss most while sleeping in all those horrible caves?<br /><br />Avry – A soft mattress! If I never see the inside of another cave again, I'll be very happy. Mom's Lamp Post Inn was heaven and I'd love to return for a nice, long, quiet visit. Too bad it's not likely to happen. And she isn't my mother – mine died in the plague – but everyone calls her Mom.<br /><br />Amber - You had some really nice companions when travelling around. Can you tell us a little about them?<br /><br />Avry – Belen is a sweetheart – I gave him the nickname of Poppa Bear because he's tall and thick with muscles like a bear, but very protective and gentle around us. However, do not cross him or he'll tear your arms off. Loren and Quain are fun guys and very handy fighters. Belen calls them the Monkeys as they've had some misadventures prior to catching up to me. Flea is only 16 and the adopted son of the group. Poor kid has four fathers and I tend to mother him. And Kerrick. Hmmm.... I'd better not go there – I've been taught, if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.<br /><br />Amber - There were a lot of 'stews' ate in those caves. What kind of 'stews' were cooked?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/B&EInsideOut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="135" src="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/B&EInsideOut.jpg" /></a></div>Avry – While traveling, we can't survive on beef jerky...well, you can, but it's not appetizing night after night. During the day, Loren would shoot either a rabbit, a squirrel, or the occasional deer and we'd add the meat to water, spices, and vegetables if we could find them. It's easy to cook and only requires one pot.<br /><br />Amber - Being on the run for three years doesn't sound like it was much fun. Did you manage to have any good times while in hiding?<br /><br />Avry - Not really. I had to be very careful not to reveal who I was and so I was constantly worried. I couldn't relax or have a close friendship because I needed to be able to leave at a moment's notice.<br /><br />Amber - What is it like being a healer? Does it hurt a lot?<br /><br />Avry – When I assume an injury it does hurt, but not as long as if would hurt the person. I heal much faster than a normal person so pain doesn't linger. Also I have a high pain tolerance, and when I'm healing someone, I get a deep sense of satisfaction that I'm helping another.<br /><br />Amber - Do you think you will ever find any other Healers? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/B&EStormGlass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="211" width="135" src="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/B&EStormGlass.jpg" /></a></div>Avry – I hope so. We all went into hiding and I'm hoping someone will be brave enough to come forward.<br /><br />Amber - You have been to and seen a lot of places. Where would you most like to live? <br /><br />Avry - I think I'd like to live in Mengels, near Mom and her Inn – she's a caring soul and that matches my own gifts. I think we'd be able to do lots of good together. <br /><br />Amber - Never want to visit again?<br /><br />Avry - Tohon's castle in Sogra! I never want to be near Tohon again, either. <br /><br />Amber - What was it like working with Maria? Did you get on well or there were any problems with how she was telling your story?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/Poison-Study-ya-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="135" src="http://mariavsnyder.com/images/Poison-Study-ya-small.jpg" /></a></div>Avry - Well, you know Maria tends to be a bit of a Diva, and she just likes to write about action and dialogue, but once I got her on track and focused on the details, we worked well together. I also found out she’s a sucker for tea and donuts, so it was easy to bribe her into writing what I wanted. Or so I thought. Once the sugar and caffeine high wore off, she wrote in all those…difficult scenes anyway.<br /><br />Amber - What do you hope will happen in your future? Will you work with Maria on more books? <br /><br />Avry - I'm hoping my world returns to normal, but I don't think that will ever happen. If we find peace, it will be all different. Yes – I'm working with Maria on another two books.<br /><br />Amber - Thank you so much for coming on the blog. I wish you all the best for your future travels! <br /><br />Avry – Thanks for having me. If your readers would like to read the first chapter of my adventures – they can go <a href="http://www.mariavsnyder.com/books/top.php">here</a>!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F0aca4267-0752-443e-b77b-b633432d48d1&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />--------------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Maria is giving away a signed copy of Touch of Power! <br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />What power would you like to have? <br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Sunday 25th of December 2011 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-672841678830046941?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-18078218619705181732011-12-17T18:04:00.000+01:002011-12-17T18:04:00.765+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303504697l/10094969.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Life is looking up for Sabina Kane. Now that her scheming grandmother is dead, the threat of war has passed and the rulers of the dark races are about to sign a treaty to ensure ongoing peace. Her relationship with sexy mage Adam Lazarus is strong and all her friends are around her. Even her magic training is progressing further than she ever expected. <br /><br />The only two dark spots in her otherwise settled life are her guilt over her sister Maisie's fragile mental state and Sabina's own sinking sense that she's got unfinished business with Cain, the mysterious cult leader she let get away months earlier. When a string of murders rock the New York dark races community and threatens to stall the peace negotiations, Sabina finds herself helping to find the killer. <br /><br />Her investigation leads her down troubling paths that have her questioning everything - and everyone - she knows. And the closer she gets to the murderer, the more Sabina realises this is one foe she may not able to kill.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />All praise Jaye Wells! She is ruling my Paranormal Urban Fantasy world! I have been in love with this series since the first book, <a href="http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2009/01/26-red-headed-stepchild-by-jaye-wells.html">Red-Headed Stepchild</a>, and things just keep getting better and better. Sabine Kane has got to be my favourite leading vampire and I can't think of anything else on my to be read pile that I would have been happier reading than this book. <br /><br />Without giving away the plot I will try my best to convey how spectacular this book and the series is. You see it all sounds a little over dramtic when you read the blurbs, twin sisters separated at birth, half mage and half vampire, evil grandmother etc but the author really makes it work without it becoming totally stupid. Instead the result is a mystery filled, action packed, paranormal stuffed, super amazing read. <br /><br />Sabine is a character I can relate to and I find it hard to disagree with her actions. I respect her for what she is and what she does and can't help but wishing she was a friend I could call up any time and chat with. Her demon Gighul is a hoot and I love every scene he is involved with. He makes things fun, rude and sometimes a little too dirty but you can only admire the amazing touch it adds to the whole concept.<br /><br />The other characters involved in the story are all interesting to get to know. They aid the story flow by giving help, adding problems or distracting Sabine to a perfect degree. The author writes like an old pro even though this is only her fourth book. The depth and details she has added to the series really pays off. I love her style which reminds me of the big wow feeling I got when I first starting reading Kim Harrison and Jeaniene Frost. <br /> <br />This fourth part really mixes things up. There are some relationship problems for Sabine which the author manages to bring in without making them too dominating. Then there is the loss of a few characters and also a bit of a rearrangement as far as the leaders of the paranormals are concerned. All in all there is enough to get your teeth into without things getting complicated. Lots of nice twists, turns and surprises. <br /><br />Silver-Tongued Devil releases on the 1st of January and even though 2012 will bring a whole new load of books, unless book 5 in the Sabrina Kane series comes out, I doubt any other book will better this one next year. This is a must buy, must read and have to share series. Jaye Wells has definitely reached and earned a spot on the A-list in the genre.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1807821861970518173?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-47179790563943326532011-12-15T20:43:00.003+01:002011-12-15T20:49:38.272+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512fWxINZIL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512fWxINZIL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow. <br /><br />But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? <br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />I haven't given great reviews to the last few books in the House of the Night series. They were not on par with the amazing first four or five books and I actually contemplated giving up on the series altogether. Destined is book nine and I didn't look for it when it came out or add it to my must buy list. Instead I used my audible credit and got a copy to listen to when I saw it advertised. I knew I would regret it but hey...<br /><br />Anyway before I start my review of the actual book itself I have to say I was impressed by the narrator for this audiobook. She captured the characters really well and I loved her accents! I definitely want to listen to more books read by this girl. Not sure if I want to listen to this series but a big thumbs up to the voice on this one!<br /><br />So back to the plot. Well Destined didn't really have, imho, a huge plot. It was a book that seemed to basically fill in the time from Zoey's mom's death to finding out who killed her. Which in all was five days. These five days consisted of the typical Aphrodite bitchiness, Zoey's cluelessness, Stevie Rae's sickening love for Rephaim, Neferet trying to be nasty and everyone else trailing them all around like helpless puppies.<br /><br />While this sounds harsh I have to actually say that Destined was much better than the previous few books in the House of the Night Series. It seemed like things were getting back on track. Sure there was the usual death of a character and that stupid change of character perspective every few paragraphs but I actually enjoyed it a little bit. Destined has left me feeling like I want to check out the next book. This ninth book was not a waste of my time.<br /><br />On saying that, I really hope the authors don't decide to do what they seem to be aiming to do. Small Spoiler Alert! Someone died...leave them be and don't bring them back. Zoey was just imagining that person and it wasn't him. Please, please, please let him rest in peace. We do not need more love triangles and I certainly don't need Zoey to suddenly have the power to bring back the dead. She can do enough already.<br /><br />So in conclusion, this was not as bad as its last few predecessors. If you were thinking of giving up on the series then Destined may just win you back. However be warned that there are still three more books to come. Can you manage that? After all we have come this far! I seriously think I need to see this one right to the end but I can't wait for it to be over.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-4717979056394332653?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-31098876758484922792011-12-14T21:20:00.000+01:002011-12-14T21:20:56.377+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-guest-blog-contest-with-artist.html">My author guest this week is Artist Arthur!</a><br /><br />Artist has become a regular guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog and I have been eagerly following her Mystyx series. Go and check out her g<a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-guest-blog-contest-with-artist.html">uest post about the weather</a> and then <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-guest-blog-contest-with-artist.html">enter the contest</a> to win a copy of the upcoming new release from the series, Mesmerize!<br /><br />You have till Sunday to enter! Don't miss out!<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3109887675848492279?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-2042565199673475362011-12-13T14:13:00.000+01:002011-12-13T14:13:01.177+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319002741l/12764578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319002741l/12764578.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />It's Christmas time in Bigtime, New York, but society reporter Carmen Cole isn't in the mood to celebrate since her husband, Sam, has to go on a business trip and might not make it home for the holiday. But Carmen has plenty to keep her busy, since she moonlights as Karma Girl, a member of the Fearless Five superhero team. <br /><br />On Christmas Eve, Carmen, as Karma Girl, is assigned to guard toys, clothes, food, and more that are intended for needy children and their families. But an ubervillain also has his eye on the toys and plans to steal and then sell them to the highest bidder. Carmen will have to use all her empathic powers just to stay alive, not to mention make sure Christmas is a happy one for all the kids who are counting on her. It's all in a night's work for a superhero .<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />A Karma Girl Christmas is a short story that takes place after the events of Jinx, the third book in the Bigtime series. It can also be read as a stand-alone holiday story to get you in the mood for Holiday Season. <br /><br />Seeing as Jinx is the only book in the Bigtime series I have read it wasn't hard for me to get the feel for this series again. This novella also made me realise that I really need to go back and read the first two books in this series. The whole superhero concept is really cool and any regular readers of Jennifer's work will have noticed her mentioning these characters in her other books. <br /><br />Short but sweet this was not only a nice warm up for the holidays but also for anyone wanting to try the series. All the main details are dealt with and you can really get a feel for what a full length novel would be like. Any fans of the author should give this one a go and anyone wanting to try before they dive into the series will definitely enjoy this short look into another of Jennifer's amazing worlds.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-204256519967347536?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-38333288738449505422011-12-12T13:45:00.000+01:002011-12-12T13:45:00.051+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s200/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s200/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">My author guest this week was Juliet Blackwell</a>! She was here talking about her new release, Dead Bolt, the second part in her Haunted Home Renovation series!<br /><br />Dead Bolt is already on my Kindle and I can't wait to read it! I really enjoyed the first book in the series, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/12/167-if-walls-could-talk-by-juliet.html">If Walls Could Talk</a>, and can't wait to see what delights the author delivers in Dead Bolt.<br /><br />Did you read <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">Juliet's Guest Blog</a>? Did you <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">enter the contest</a>? Maybe you have won a copy of Dead Bolt? Time to find out!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" /></a></div>Congrats to :<br /><br /><br />Cindy McCune!!!<br /><br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!<br /><br />Didn't win this time? Keep trying and make sure you check out Juliet's Books! <br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><br />How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br />If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div></center><br /><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3833328873844950542?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-57537932981027781532011-12-11T17:15:00.001+01:002011-12-11T17:17:28.026+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/artistarthur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="312" width="200" src="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/artistarthur.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/">Artist Arthur</a> has become a regular guest here on Amberkatze's Book. <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/08/author-interview-contest-with-artist.html">I first invited Artist on to the blog</a> when I read her debut book, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/04/52-manifest-by-artist-arthur.html">Manifest</a>. Since then Artist has been on the blog quite a few times and I love inviting her back!<br /><br />So now it is nearly time for, Mesmerize, book 4 in the Mystyx series and to celebrate Artist is here talking about the weather. Anyone who has already read the books will know that the weather plays a big part in the story and I hope everyone will enjoy the blog and enter the contest! You could win a signed copy of Mesmerize!!! (Not due out till Feb!!)<br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mesmerize-200x312.jpg" /></a></div>What’s With The Weather?<br />By Artist Arthur<br /><br />People always ask me where I find my inspiration. And my answer is always, “I wake up each morning and watch everything and everyone around me.” Inspiration is everywhere, from the mood my seventeen year old daughter wakes up in, to the things my twelve year old daughter says on the cell phone with her friends. With that said, I watch the news a lot, too, just to see what people are doing. This year there’s been one recurring thought as I’ve watched, “What’s With The Weather”?<br /><br />During the summer, I was at work one day (my day job was at a law firm until about a month ago when I moved to the court house) on the seventeenth floor of a twenty-five story office building. While standing and talking to a co-worker the floor seemed to ripple beneath me. Now, because my mind is usually in the fictional world I’m immediately thinking that it feels like I’m sinking in quicksand or traveling through another dimension. In a few seconds my co-worker screeches because the floor has moved again and now if feels like the entire building is swaying around us. Can you say earthquake? In Maryland??? I was scared out of my mind as I tried to hurry out of the building.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/mayhem1-200x312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="180" src="http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/mayhem1-200x312.jpg" /></a></div>That night at home, I wrote a scene in Majestic, the final book in the Mystyx series. In the scene there was an earthquake and from the cracks in the earth an evil mist penetrated the earthly realm bringing with it…you’ll have to wait until August 2012 to see what it brings with it. :) <br /><br />Weather has continued to be an intricate part of the Mystyx series as that is the origination of the supernatural power Jake, Sasha, Krystal and Lindsey possess. In Mesmerize, Lindsey’s telepathic power has actually manifested into an empathic stage. With the increasing changes in weather patterns all of the Mystyx experience a growth in their powers. Luckily for me, it seems the real world is eager to cooperate with my fictional one as we continue to experience weather anomalies such as the city sized iceberg breaking off from an Antarctic glazier. I wonder what effect that could have on the Mystyx and their journey???<br /><br />Do you have any suggestions for how the weather could continue to hinder or help the Mystyx? Post your thoughts and be registered to win a signed copy of Mesmerize.<br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_f5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2Ff5897eae-886f-4a69-a6de-3cc83bfa4f2e&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />Mystyx Novel's<br /><br />#1 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/04/52-manifest-by-artist-arthur.html">Manifest</a><br />#2 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/11/157-mystify-by-artist-arthur.html">Mystify</a><br />#2.5 - <a href="http://ebooks.eharlequin.com/4AA9F00A-1821-47A7-B4B9-BF7D5E8F3938/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=1BA1C1E2-732A-409B-9CBB-22E8994AF293">Mutiny</a> (Free Download)<br />#3 - <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/07/101-mayhem-by-artist-arthur.html">Mayhem</a><br />#4 - Mesmerize (February 2012)<br />#5 - Majestic (August 2012)<br /><br />-------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Artist is giving away a signed copy of her upcoming release, Mesmerize!<br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />Artist asked a question at the end of her guest blog. Answer it ;)<br /><br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Sunday 18th of December 2011 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.</p><br /><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-5753793298102778153?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-10350519933879750692011-12-10T16:12:00.000+01:002011-12-10T16:12:30.894+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317629193l/10445208.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. <br /><br />Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />I am a huge fan of Maria Snyder's work and have been lucky enough to read and enjoy all of her nine books so far. If you haven't tried Poison Study yet then I highly recommend you do. It is one of the best books I have ever read. So when I saw Maria had a new series starting with the same subtle hints of the Study series, well I couldn't wait to get a copy. Luckily I got an ARC version!<br /><br />Touch of Power was one of those reads that you can't put down. It is the book you read on the bus and miss your stop because you are just pulled so deep into the fantastic story. I hated not having enough time to read this book in one go and kept grabbing for it at every opportunity. I was addicted within pages and couldn't let go.<br /><br />With an amazing range of characters in a strange new world, Maria has managed to once again leave me with that 'WOW' feeling. There are always books you like, want to read again etc but Maria's really have a magical effect on the reader. This powerful new series was special, emotional and extremely good. I loved every moment.<br /><br />The author manages to create a world with so much depth but doesn't go too over the top that you can't imagine how it would look. The characters were easy to get to know and within the first pages I was in love with Avry. Kerrick took some time to warm up to but his comrades felt like instant friends for me.<br /><br />I don't want to give away much about the story but I can tell you all that the concept is unique and fantastic. The story and plot flow nicely and the writing style is easy going but exciting. If you haven't tried this author before then it may just be time to give her a go. Oh and don't think fantasy isn't your thing because it wasn't my thing either. However Maria Snyder is definitely my thing and my friends and family love her too.<br /><br />Due for release late this month, Touch of Power is the book you need to start off the new year. However be prepared for all other books in 2012 not to reach up to the standard of the beautiful and powerful book. I can't wait for more from this series.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1035051993387975069?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-2263348241047864062011-12-07T14:33:00.001+01:002011-12-07T14:33:00.070+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s200/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s200/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">My author guest this week is Juliet Blackwell</a>!<br /><br />Juliet is here talking about her new release 'Dead Bolt' which is the second book in her Haunted Home Renovation series. I really enjoyed the first book, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/12/167-if-walls-could-talk-by-juliet.html">If Walls Could Talk</a>, and hope that my pre-ordered copy of Dead Bolt gets read sooner rather than later.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" /></a></div>So make sure you <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">stop by and tell Juliet all about your ghostly experiences</a> and you may even win a copy of her new book! <br /><br />You have till Sunday to enter so make sure you <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-blog-contest-with-juliet.html">check out her haunting guest blog now</a> and add your comment to be entered. <br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-226334824104786406?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-34618438616103753172011-12-06T14:13:00.000+01:002011-12-06T14:13:00.625+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320457175l/8865417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320457175l/8865417.jpg" /></a></div>The <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-monthly-giveaway.htmll">November Monthly Giveaway</a> is now closed and it is time to see what book you all wanted to win and who has won a copy of it! <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/145-courting-darkness-by-yasmine.html">Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn</a> came in last with only 9.52% of the vote! This result really surprised me.<br /><br /><br />In fourth place was <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/146-ghost-ship-by-p-j-alderman.html">Ghost Ship by P. J. Alderman</a> with 14.29% of the vote. It is really nice that this one didn't get last place. <br /><br /><br />With 22.22% of the votes, <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/142-last-breath-by-rachel-caine.html">Last Breath by Rachel Caine</a>, only made it to third place. Maybe you all got this one already?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310420615l/10421530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310420615l/10421530.jpg" /></a></div>Surprise, surprise we have a joint first place! <br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/144-drink-deep-by-chloe-neill.html">Drink Deep by Chloe Neill</a> and <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/140-kiss-of-frost-by-jennifer-estep.html">Kiss Of Frost By Jennifer Estep</a> both had 26.98%!<br /><br /><br />So this months winner gets to choose! <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/144-drink-deep-by-chloe-neill.html">Drink Deep</a> or <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/140-kiss-of-frost-by-jennifer-estep.html">Kiss Of Frost</a><br /><br />Who is the lucky Newsletter subscriber? Congrats to the reader with the email address starting with : <br /><br /><i>Janiecers!!!</i> <br /><br />Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize! <br /><br />Didn't win this time? Keep trying! <br /><br />In December I will be offering up the choice of my top ten reads of 2011 and there will be three winners! So make sure you check in at the end of the year to vote for the book you want!<br /><br />If you are a newsletter subscriber you are automatically entered to each <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-monthly-giveaway.html">Monthly Giveaway</a>! <br /><br />Make sure you check out the books that were on offer this month! Use the links below to buy your copy and help support the <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/october-monthly-giveaway.html">Monthly Giveaway</a>! <br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT></center><br /><br />----------------<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t7PAU1yXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t7PAU1yXL.jpg" /></a></div>How to claim your prize! <br /><br />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 won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!<br /><br />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. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296789716l/9815702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296789716l/9815702.jpg" /></a></div>If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</a> <br /><br />Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now! <br /><br /><center><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form></center><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img alt="The Book Depository" height="90" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" title="The Book Depository" width="120" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" style="border: 0;" width="1" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><div style="line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1" target="_blank"><img alt="Amberkatze's Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" style="border: 0;" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0; text-align: center;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></div><br /></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-3461843861610375317?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-15116897517213912742011-12-05T14:18:00.030+01:002011-12-05T14:18:00.209+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zYQKUCKDL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zYQKUCKDL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Trinity Monsour wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But that isn’t as easy as it seems. Trinity is different. She is special. She sees visions, and for those she’s seen, it’s already too late. <br /><br />Trinity arrives on her aunt's doorstep in New Orleans with virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She begins settling into life at a new school and even starts making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate; twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room. And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing, Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with what she's seen. <br /><br />But people believe that Trinity has information about Jessica's disappearance not because of a dream, but because she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica's ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario. <br /><br />Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues while searching for Jessica, including the surprising romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but the past that has been hidden from her.<br /><br />My Thoughts :<br /><br />The blurb for this one was quite promising but I have to say this book left me confused and frustrated. The actual idea was not bad at all but I don't think the author really knew what she was trying to achieve. This was definitely a young adult story but as a paranormal it was weak and as a mystery it was too muddled. Not bad for a debut but it didn't leave a very good impression.<br /><br />Actually Shattered Dreams started out extremely good but within a few chapters the story had jumped around so much that I had no idea what was really happening and who was who. Trinity seemed like a nice enough girl but I didn't really get the chance to know her. She was constantly having visions or getting caught up in weird situations that I found it hard to connect with her. <br /><br />Trinity's love interest Chase was extremely creepy. I was sure he was up to something the whole time and didn't believe for a minute that he wanted to be with Trinity for any other reason than to get her into trouble and/or mess up her head. The other characters were not worth mentioning and I can't really remember their names. Trinity's aunt was quite strange and the police men involved left a small impression but were also unusual. Dylan who rushed in to the story at the end was actually someone worth remembering. I just don't understand why the author brought him in so late in the book.<br /><br />There was a lot of things in this book that didn't make sense to me and when these items came along I found it easy enough to ignore them because they usually make much difference in the general plot. I felt very lost most of the time when reading this book but the concept was so intriguing that I kept going. By the time I realised things were not going to get better I just continued to end my curiosity about who did what and why. <br /><br />All in all this had promise but needed some better editing or revisions. With a little bit more time and input this could have been a great read but instead it lacked a lot of clarity and depth. I am pretty sure some young readers will like this but I wouldn't recommend it as it is.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-1511689751721391274?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-88540657716020751522011-12-04T18:57:00.001+01:002011-12-04T19:03:00.225+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvBd6TQQ3l4/TtuxgL4nzTI/AAAAAAAAC1A/MmoRKXITMTw/s1600/julietpublicity.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="175" width="117" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvBd6TQQ3l4/TtuxgL4nzTI/AAAAAAAAC1A/MmoRKXITMTw/s200/julietpublicity.bmp" /></a></div>After a little break it is now time to get back normal viewing and the weekly author guest spots!<br /><br />To start things back up is author <a href="www.julietblackwell.net">Juliet Blackwell</a>. I absolutely love her Witchcraft Mysteries but have to say that the debut of her Haunted Home Repair Mysteries really impressed me as well! <br /><br />A year after <a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2010/12/167-if-walls-could-talk-by-juliet.html">If Walls Could Talk</a> came it is time for part two in the Haunted Home Repair Mystery series. Dead Bolt is due out this week and I have it on pre-order because this author is just a joy to read! <br /><br />I hope you all enjoy Juliet's guest blog and will enter the contest to win your very own copy of her new release!<br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s1600/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUydJaUn2uY/TtuxlZFTXZI/AAAAAAAAC1M/2Ck7e_PzMQ0/s200/dead%252Bbolt.bmp" /></a></div>Thank you for having me on Amberkatze’s book blog! It was such fun to be here for an interview for my Witchcraft Mystery series, and an honor to be back with my Haunted Home Renovation series!<br /><br />I’ve always been a big fan of ghost stories. You know that kid who always wants “one more” scary story around the campfire? The one who sneaks in to watch the ghost-riddled gothic soap opera, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Shadows">Dark Shadows </a> even though she’s forbidden? That was me. <br /><br />My mother comes from the South, so when we were visiting relatives I didn’t have to look very far to find a cool, often gruesome yet romantic ghost story – I wonder whether there’s a single plantation standing that doesn’t sport a specter or two? But I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and to me California seemed hopelessly “new” -- no spooky swamps, very little fog, and not much gothic architecture. No place for ghosts to flourish. Or…was there? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XMRuAUHvOQ/TtuxtlAOaXI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/rq7_-Uz86ZI/s1600/Winchester_Mystery_House_-Winchester_Mystery_House-3000000043452-500x375.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XMRuAUHvOQ/TtuxtlAOaXI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/rq7_-Uz86ZI/s200/Winchester_Mystery_House_-Winchester_Mystery_House-3000000043452-500x375.bmp" /></a></div>Turns out, the fraught history of the slaughtered Native American Indians, the Spanish and Mexican colonial period, and then the strife of the Gold Rush and the vibrant Barbary Coast sets quite the stage for ghost stories. And I grew up not ten minutes from the famous <a href="http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com">Winchester Mystery House</a>, one of two historic houses in California that claim to be “certified” by the government as being actually haunted. (In fact, when I was a kid the Winchester House was even more intriguing than it is now. It was ramshackle and unkempt, its dark grey façade the true picture of a haunted house, and they let you run around on your own. Since they renovated it, the façade is not nearly as frightening…and the tours keep everyone together rather than letting you peer into every corner. The mansion is truly bizarre, though, and well worth the price of admission.)<br /><br />Now that I write my own ghost stories, I’ve hunted with ghost busters, attended séances, and been on just about every local ghost tour there is: The Chinatown ghost tour, the Pacific Heights ghost tour, the Haight-Ashbury ghost tour. There are stories of unpaid gambling debts; of a relative held in an attic who escaped to kill a visitor in the parlor with a machete; of a hotel in which a former resident is known for coming and covering guests in extra blankets; and of an unhappy fellow who attempted to escape his unhappy home life by running off to Chile, but perished while at sea and was returned to his front doorstep, his body pickled in a keg of rum. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lE-IUPpOFAk/Ttuxysp76JI/AAAAAAAAC1k/XVmY62i0kSk/s1600/atherton.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="139" width="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lE-IUPpOFAk/Ttuxysp76JI/AAAAAAAAC1k/XVmY62i0kSk/s200/atherton.bmp" /></a></div>In fact, that last story kicked off my imagination when I was thinking up a story for my latest Haunted Home Renovation book, Dead Bolt. I was researching the history of the <a href="http://www.haunted-places.com/san_francisco_most_haunted.htm">Atherton mansion</a> and its purported ghosts (I’ll let you in on a little secret: one of the best parts of being an author? Reading ghost stories, touring fancy houses, and hanging out in cool San Francisco neighborhoods in the name of “research”) and came across a story that seemed too crazy for fiction – in fact, my editor was wary about including the barrel of rum detail in my book! But of course I had to incorporate it into Dead Bolt. I added a very human murder, a little romance, and developed a mystery related to the history of the house, as well as the current occupants. <br /><br />All around, I’d say that the kid with a love of ghost stories has been pretty lucky…I grew up to live in a haunted house! Doors open and close, lights go on and off, and frequently I hear footsteps overhead when I’m the only one at home. But I’ve lived here for many years, and I’m certain the ghosts are benevolent. And one thing I’ve learned from researching the paranormal: the “veil” between the living and the dead might not be nearly as impermeable as we think. <br /><br />How about you? Do you believe in ghosts? Any experiences you’d care to share? Oh, and if you have a really good story…mind if I steal it for my next Haunted Home Renovation novel?<br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F44ed197f-9356-4015-a81d-e0bd14fe7e20&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT><br /></center><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Bolt-Haunted-Renovation-Mystery/dp/0451235304/ref=pd_sim_b5">Dead Bolt (Obsidian, December 6, 2011)</a> <br /><br />Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners who insist on sticking around- along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops... <br />The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house, and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building-and her reputation-before it's too late. <br /><br /><a href="http://julietblackwell.net/dead-bolt1.php">Read an excerpt </a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="125" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311704134l/7885220.jpg" /></a></div>Author Biography<br /><br />Juliet Blackwell is the nationally bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, which features a misfit witch with a vintage clothing store in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury neighborhood (Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, and In a Witch’s Wardrobe, coming 6/12). The Haunted Home Renovation series began last December with the release of If Walls Could Talk, also a national bestseller; Dead Bolt is second in the series. <br />Under the pseudonym Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover’s Mystery series with her sister Carolyn--including the Agatha-nominated Feint of Art. Arsenic and Old Paint is the latest in the series. <br /><br />A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked and studied in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France. She now lives in a happily haunted house in Oakland, California, where she is a muralist and portrait painter. She was a two-term president of Northern California Sisters in Crime. <br /><br />Praise for Dead Bolt:<br /><br />"Cleverly plotted with a terrific sense of the history of the greater Bay Area, Blackwell's series has plenty of ghosts and supernatural happenings to keep readers entertained and off balance." <br /><br />-Library Journal <br /><br />"In Blackwell's smooth, seductive second mystery featuring San Francisco historic house contractor Melanie Turner (after 2010's If Walls Could Talk), something otherworldly is interfering with Mel's work on Jim and Katenka Daley's 1890s Queen Anne Victorian. Mel must also contend with the elderly neighbor across the street, Emile Blunt, who's determined to buy the Daleys' house, even though it's not for sale. Mel's father, himself a former contractor, tries to smooth things over with the crotchety Emile, only to find him shot dead the next day. <br /><br />Desperate to save her character and her renovation from a murder, Mel may have to dig the truth up about yet another ghost before all is said and done. The return of divorced Mel's old crush, green building expert Graham Donovan, adds romantic interest. Cozy fans will want to see a lot more of the endearing Mel." <br /><br />-Publishers Weekly<br /><br />-------------------<br /><br />Contest Time <br /><br /><br />Juliet is giving away a copy of Dead Bolt (US Only!)<br /><br /><br />How To Enter <br /><br /><br />Juliet asked a question at the end of her guest blog. Answer it ;)<br /><br />No Answer = No Entry <br /><br />'Please enter me' posts will not be counted as an entry</p><br />Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter &amp;amp; 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 entries in one post.</p><p><br />Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest! </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 0; text-align: center"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/2" target="_blank"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" alt="Amberkatze&#39;s Book Blog" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.2.gif" /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: x-small; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=2" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p><p align="center"><center>Have you '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">Liked</a>' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?</p></center><br />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.</p><p>Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.</p><p>Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.</p><p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b"><img title="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="125" alt="Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/plain_genric_125x125.jpg" width="125" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="1" alt="" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=ba35a05b" width="1" /></p><p>The contest will stay open until Sunday 11th of December 2011 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.</p><div class="wlWriterHeaderFooter" style="margin:0px; padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;"><br /><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-8854065771602075152?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-75185125353435425492011-11-30T21:40:00.004+01:002011-11-30T21:52:54.284+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310420615l/10421530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310420615l/10421530.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-monthly-giveaway.html">The November Monthly Giveaway</a> is still open for votes! <br /><br />You choose the prize!<br /><br />I picked my five best reads from November and you <a href="http://poll.fm/3eaey">vote</a> for your favourite. The one you most want to win. The book that wins the vote is the prize!<br /><br />Everyone can enter!<br /><br />Just sign up for the newsletter (and confirm your registration!) and you are automatically entered for this <a href="http://www.amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-monthly-giveaway.html">months giveaway</a> and every other monthly giveaway! <br /><br />Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review - <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t7PAU1yXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="130" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t7PAU1yXL.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/144-drink-deep-by-chloe-neill.html">Drink Deep by Chloe Neill</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/145-courting-darkness-by-yasmine.html">Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn</a> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/146-ghost-ship-by-p-j-alderman.html">Ghost Ship by P. J. Alderman</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/142-last-breath-by-rachel-caine.html">Last Breath by Rachel Caine</a> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2011/11/140-kiss-of-frost-by-jennifer-estep.html">Kiss Of Frost By Jennifer Estep</a> <br /><br /><br /><center><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" WIDTH="400px" HEIGHT="150px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="150px" width="400px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fambsbooblo-20%2F8010%2F6c01bbc0-5589-4257-b437-833129388a82&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A></NOSCRIPT></center><br /><br />You have till Sunday to vote and enter! <br /><br />Please use the links around the site to buy your books and help keep the contests going!<br /><br />---------------<br /><br />For more chances to win -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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<br /><br /><center>Do you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amberkatzes-Book-Blog/127379867292777">'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!</a> </center><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" target="_top"><img src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/accounts/default1/banners/120-x-90_reversed.jpg" alt="The Book Depository" title="The Book Depository" width="120" height="90" /></a><img style="border:0" src="http://affiliates.bookdepository.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=Amberkatze&amp;a_bid=e6e0b461" width="1" height="1" alt="" /> <br /></center><br /><br />Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)<br /><br /><center><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/NFRm/~6/1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NFRm.1.gif" alt="Amberkatze&#039;s Book Blog" style="border:0"></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=l0dmh8f2pmgf5q3aagm2k8osi0&amp;w=1" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">&uarr; Grab this Headline Animator</a></p></center><br /><br />Never miss a contest or author event! Sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br /><center><form style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:3px;text-align:center;" action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/NFRm', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true"><p>Enter your email address:</p><p><input type="text" style="width:140px" name="email"></p><input type="hidden" value="blogspot/NFRm" name="uri"><input type="hidden" name="loc" value="en_US"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"><p>Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></p></form></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5332990871059750176-7518512535343542549?l=amberkatze.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amberkatzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14293195296967735059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332990871059750176.post-12718343720693598792011-11-29T16:55:00.000+01:002011-11-29T16:55:35.787+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b1%2BX%2BPdpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b1%2BX%2BPdpL.jpg" /></a></div>The Blurb :<br /><br />Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human. <br /><br />And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely. <br /><br />Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism. <br /><br />When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.<br /><br />My Review :<br /><br />Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a new author to me but looking her up now I see she isn't a new author on the scene. With quite a few books already under her belt I now look back at this book with a slightly different opinion to the one it left me with. Not a huge difference but some things now make a bit more sense. <br /><br />The blurb for Every Other Day was full with promises of a wide range of supernaturals, a demon hunting leading gal and lots of mystery. A huge selling point was also the lack of any male character mentioned in the synopsis. I am so fed up of the whole teen love thing and this book looked very safe. Thankfully all the promises were met and the lack of kissing and stuff made me love this book a lot. However towards the end, I changed my mind.<br /><br />From within the first chapters I was hooked. The concept was well thought out, different and definitely interesting. I liked Kali and her new friends, even if those friendships seemed to happen a little too fast. The writing style was a little jumpy sometimes but that said my version didn't always have chapters marked so I am not sure if I can really be sure of that. However I have to say there were some parts that didn't make sense. <br /><br />The chupacabra angle was a little weak at times and I needed some more information about that paranormal even though it played such a big part in the plot. All the other supernatural elements were really cool but towards the end the book began to feel too crowded. Too many creatures were packed into this one book and they all wanted out. They added to the structure of the whole world the author creates but it was a little over the top. However they all helped bring some action scenes together.<br /><br />All in all Every Other Day was a really good read even if the last fifty pages or so ruined it for me. The turn of events shocked me, which I am sure they were supposed to, but I felt like the author was being over daring or just stupid. It left me wondering if I would even bother with a sequel, if there is one, because a huge part of why I liked this story was suddenly gone. <br /><br />This is a book worth reading. There is no doubt about that. I enjoyed it and even if the end wasn't what I wanted other people m