The hero and heroine from the award winning novel BLUE MOON, Jessie McQuade and Will Cadotte, return in a short adventure.
Sent to a small Wisconsin town to investigate a sudden rash of insanity, Jessie and Will meet a mad scientist who has invented a new kind of werewolf--one that silver can't kill.
My Thoughts :
I don't even want to think how long ago I read Blue Moon. So it wasn't very surprising to find that I couldn't remember Jessie and Will at all. Of course I remember the concept and series but each book is about a different person/couple so it isn't easy to keep them all fresh in your mind. However knowing who Jessie and Will were and their history wasn't very important when reading this short story.
The novella may fit into the Nightcreature series as #11.5 but it wouldn't matter much if you read it first. It would actually be a very nice short story to read to see if you like the idea, style and get a general feel for the series. Actually it is interesting to see how much the author manages to fit into such a quick read. Not only did she do a little recap on the main characters but she also did a good job of catching the reader up on the back story.
All in all a very quick but impressive story. A nice read but over too quickly with a few things that could have been expanded on. As mentioned this would be a good, quick and cheap way to try the series before committing to the full length story although the novels have more romance in them. I am enjoying the series again and can't believe I took such a long break. It is good to catch up and I hope that I will manage to keep more up to date with the Nightcreature series because Lori Handeland writes some amazing werewolf stories.
When a demon comes calling Megan Murphy's bar blows sky-high, and she's suddenly on the run with her klutzy day shift bartender, the exceedingly gorgeous Quinn Fitzpatrick.
Quinn has been in love with Megan from the moment he saw her. Too bad he's living a lie. He isn't as klutzy as he makes out, nor as human as she believes. Quinn was sent to protect Megan from anything that slithers.
But there's danger afoot, and the best place for them both is one that’s far, far away. A place Quinn Fitzpatrick once called home. Ireland--land of fairies and gargoyles, shape-shifters, dragons and more.
There they will dance with demons, and Megan will uncover every secret Quinn has.
My Thoughts :
A long time ago there was this really good series by Lori Handeland. The Phoenix Chronicles was original and fascinating but the series, as all good things do, ended. While checking out the author on Goodreads I came across this novella and decided it needed to be read asap. The series is not very fresh in my mind but this short story doesn't really have a lot to do with the main story in the Chronicles. It does fit into the series but goes off on another tangent and you actually don't really need to read the previous books to read this one. Although it does have some spoilers.
There isn't much to say about the story, which is short but full of fantasy. Different and unusual it is only a short romance with a nice paranormal twists. Some great characters that I would have liked to get to know better and a story that is, like every novella, over too quickly.
It was a nice trip back down memory lane and I will have to make sure that the Phoenix Chronicles get read again someday. At least I will be able to read them all in one go and enjoy the goodness in one gulp. If you haven't tried the books yet then I suggest you do. A great Paranormal Urban Fantasy with a great heroine and a wonderfully engaging plot.
Gina O’Neill will do anything to hold on to her beloved ranch that has been in her family for generations. Enter Mateo Mecate, an archeologist whose greatest wish is to dig there. Prepared to despise Matt—and to thwart his agenda—Gina cannot deny the shocking desire she feels for him.
Matt believes that the Nahua Springs Ranch holds an important key to Aztec history—one that will restore his standing in the archeological community. But he never expects to go head-to-head with the maddeningly sensuous owner, Gina. The ranch seems to have cast a spell on them both…
When Gina and Matt delve into the secrets of this ancient place, they awaken something unspeakably evil—a shapeshifter who is centuries old. A werewolf with vengeance on its mind. A sorcerer of incredible power. Can Gina and Matt defeat this enemy—even as their conflicts deepen…and their attraction grows more dangerous?
My Thoughts :
I haven't visited the Nightcreature series for a while but my Kindle got updated and it was a pain to find anything on their this morning so I just picked a book at random. Crave the Moon won and I am happy to say it was a good choice. The series has been going for quite a while now and Lori Handeland if a great storyteller. Her stories have depth and she really goes to great lengths to build her work around a topic that is not only interesting but one that will capture your attention.
This time around the theme was Aztec. I am not a big history buff but I think the author, once again, did her homework and researched the topic well before using it for this book. It was a nice theme and it had me hooked within a few chapters. I was eager to find out how it all fit in with the common subject in this series, werewolves.
The main characters were lovely from the get go and I was cheering for them the whole way. Of course, as with any romance, it is obvious how things will end but how the couple get there is the big question that keeps people reading till the last page. However the whole book was interesting enough to keep me reading till the end and I remembered how much I like this series. This wasn't by far my favourite but it was still a great read and an easy one.
Crave the Moon is the eleventh book in the series but the books, if I remember correctly, can all be read out of order. I am sure it is better to read them in order just in case but looking back over my Goodreads page it seems I haven't read book ten but it wasn't a problem.
Well worth reading if you like Paranormal Romances. The lovey dovey aspect isn't too heavy except for near the end and the characters are nice to get to know. If you like werewolves then this is also a nice series to follow. It has a lot of history built into it and there is a mystery angle too so there is a bit of something for everyone.
The Lori Handeland Contest is now closed! It is time to find out who won the complete collection of the Phoenix Chronicles!
Thanks for all the great entries! There were quite a few historical figures mentioned that I would also like to see go Paranormal!
Now time to announce the winner! Who is the lucky entrant? Congrats to -
Faefever25!!!
Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
If you didn't win this time then make sure you check out the Monthly Giveaway! Also there is a new contest and author guest coming up later today!
Also I wanted to apologise for not posting any new reviews this week. I haven't been feeling very well and haven't picked up a book all week. Yes I am that sick! I hope to get back into the swing of things this week!
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How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. 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.
If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)
Has anyone read How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf? I am halfway through (been ill this week so sadly not much reading being done!) and I am loving it! Make sure you get yourself a copy if you didn't win!
So who is the lucky winner? Congrats to -
Dovile!!!
Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
If you didn't win this time then make sure you keep entering the contests! The Lori Handeland Contest is still open for entries. You have until Sunday to enter! The February Monthly Giveaway is coming later this evening! Make sure you are a newsletter subscriber to be entered!
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How to claim your prize!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. 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.
If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)
Lori is published world wide in several genres--historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy and historical fantasy. You may know her for her Nightcreature Novels and The Phoenix Chronicles!
Any fans of either series will find the following interview interesting! Also anyone wanting to try and win a set of Lori's books should make sure they enter the contest! Plus check out the new Nightcreature Novel! Book #10, MOON CURSED, is due out this week!
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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! You have a new book out on March 1st. Can you tell us a bit about the story in Moon Cursed?
Lori - Great to be back. Thanks for having me.
In Moon Cursed Kristin Dainels is the host of the television show HOAX HUNTERS. She's traveled to the ends of the earth to explore, and expose, life's most enduring myths. Now she's bound for Scotland where she intends to get to the bottom of the Loch Ness Monster legend once and for all. But once in the quaint village of Drumnadrochit, on the shores of the loch, she encounters not only the local "keeper of the loch" the seductive Liam Grant, but many unanswered questions. Edward Mandenauer shows up for a creepy conversation, and before Kris knows what's going on, she's involved in murder, mayhem and mystery.
Amber - It is so great to see the Nightcreature novels back. Why did they take such a long break?
Lori - The Nightcreature Novels were a victim of the vagaries in publishing. They weren't selling as well as they should have and were put "on hold" while I was asked to write another series. But now they're back and I couldn't be happier.
Amber - Was it hard to go back to writing the Nightcreature series? Did you already have the new books written?
Lori - I was concerned it would be hard, but it wasn't. I was able to slip right back into that world, thank goodness! I did not have the new books written.
Amber - Moon Cursed is the tenth book in the Nightcreature series. How many more can we expect to see? Do you have some way you want to end it or will you keep writing them as long as the fans keep reading them? ;)
Lori - I will keep writing them as long as I can.
Amber - Away from the Nightcreatures and to the Phoenix Chronicles. Can we expect to see Liz again?
Lori - That is up in the air right now. Publishing again.
Amber - Can you tell us a little about your book Shakespeare Undead? I keep seeing it on Amazon but haven't quite managed to get it in my basket yet.
Lori - Shakespeare Undead is a mash-up in the tradition of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. In my book, Shakespeare is a vampire and the dark lady of his sonnets a zombie hunter. They must join forces to save Queen Elizabeth and London from a zombie horde. Along they way they fall in love. I have just begun writing the follow up Zombie Island, my take on The Tempest, and the further adventures of Will and Kate.
Amber - What is next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?
Lori - Once I complete Zombie Island I will begin a new venture that I'm very excited about. I will be writing western historical romances under the name Lori Austin. I began my career writing westerns so I'm thrilled to be able to do them again.
Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?
Lori - I have always wanted to be an author, or at least since I was 10 when I figured out that was a job! I ended up in the paranormal genre eventually because that was what I enjoyed reading.
Amber - What other paranormal creatures would you like to write about besides the ones you've already written about?
Lori - I'm open to pretty much anything. I never know what kind of creature is going to pop out once I begin writing.
Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?
Lori - Names are hard. I have to have just the right one and have been known to change the name after I've begun the book. I'm not really sure how I get to the "right" name. I just keep looking through baby name books until one strikes me as "the" one.
Amber - Would you ever be able to write a book together with another author? If yes, which author would you like to work with and why?
Lori - I have written a series with another author (my friend Linda Winstead Jones, w/aLinda Devlin)-alternating books in the same town--called The Rock Creek Six. (Basically the Magnificent Seven, with six) We had a great time and I'd be happy to do any other project with her at any time.
Amber - A lot of authors are writing now in both adult and YA genres. Have you considered writing a YA book?
Lori - I did write a proposal for a YA book. Unfortunately it didn't sell.
Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?
Lori - After I work all day I like to spend my evenings watching TV. My new favorite show is BEING HUMAN. I also love Castle, V, Fringe,Supernatural, Dexter, Medium, Bones. I can't listen to music while I write, but on my ipod I have quite a collection for when I jog--from Guns n Roses to John Denver.
Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?
Lori - Perhaps a fairy. Flying would be cool. Magic. Pixie dust. I could use that.
Amber - Thanks for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog again!
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Contest Time
Lori is giving away a set of The Phoenix Chronicles! Yes! One lucky winner will get all four books in the Phoenix Chronicles!
How To Enter
Which historical figure would you like to see go Paranormal?
No answer = No Entry
Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.
Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.
Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site!
The contest will stay open until Sunday 6th of March 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.
As far as rogue agent Alexandra Trevalyn is concerned, the werewolf hunters known as the Jäger-Suchers have gone soft. In her book, you don’t treat werewolves with kindness; you kill them. Unfortunately for her, she makes an enemy out of Julian, and he enacts his revenge by turning Alex into a werewolf. Though he hates her, she’s now part of the pack. And as much as Alex hates to admit it, she finds a passion with Julian and an understanding that true evil walks not on four feet but two.
My Thoughts -
I didn't think that we would see anything new in the Nightcreature series ever again. Wasn't I surprised when I saw Marked by the Moon pop up on my Amazon recommendations. I was so happy that there was going to be a new Jäger-Suchers story but I had to wait a while to get hold of this. For some reason this wasn't available to me via Kindle. It seems this publisher doesn't like overseas Kindle readers!
Anyway I did get a copy for Christmas and I have been eager to read it and decided to make it the book for my bag this week. Well what I thought would be a week long read on the tram and underground turned into a couldn't put it down and have to read it at every possible moment read! I just couldn't get enough of this one and finished this as quickly as I started it.
The first few chapters were interesting enough and then things went a little weird for a few more chapters. At first I thought that the author had lost touch with this series but it seems she was just warming up. Within a hundred pages I was hooked and the author had me under her spell. By the end it was clear, Lori Handeland has worked her magic again and has given us a great new Nightcreature novel.
Now I love the paranormal but I don't really need the romance. However this series hooks me everytime and makes me want to read only werewolf based books. If you are a fan of this series or this author then you really want to read Marked by the Moon. Oh and Luckily it looks like there are a few more Nightcreature books coming out this year so I don't have to worry about getting my fix. Keep them coming and I will keep reading them!
And which subscriber has won the book? Congrats to the person with the email address beginning with -
saulpaugh.chelsea
Well done! Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
If you didn't win this time then maybe you will be lucky next month! Also make sure to enter the weekly author contests. This coming weekend I am have two authors visiting and both of them are giving away some lovely prizes!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address.
If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe
Help support these contests by using the following banner to order your books!
It is not the end of the world yet but Doomsday is always near. Elizabeth Phoenix has been fighting to stop Armageddon and on the way she has had to do a lot of things she isn't happy with. A few weeks ago she had no choice but to kill one the men she loves. She still sees Sawyer in her dreams but it isn't enough. Now Liz is prepared to do anything she can to get the powerful Sawyer back from the dead.
A special gift later and more powers than she thought she had, Liz, is on the way to save the world again. Chaos rules again as Liz tries to put things right while getting things wrong. Will she be able to head off Doomsday again? Despite the outcome, Chaos Bites.
Let me just start off by saying that I love this series. Unusual and always surprising I never have a clue what is going to happen next and enjoy each and every minute! Lori Handeland has always been a favourite of mine and this series shows how good a writer she is. Action packed, surrounded by romance and always a twist to everything, this series keeps me guessing and captivated.
Emotions fly high in this one and from the first chapter the sexual elements push off. However there is a great balance in the story and the romantic and steamy elements are always part of the story and not just some way to drag out the story. All the paranormal creatures you can think of come into play and some that you haven't yet thought of. There is nothing about this series that is bad and there is a lot of it that is good.
If you haven't already tried this series then I suggest you give it a try. If you are already addicted, like myself, then go out and get this new one because you won't be disappointed. Danger, sex and action will keep you reading while the excitement, uniqueness and amazing plot will keep you hooked. I can't wait to see what happens next and I welcome the chaos that this author brings.
It is time for the Monthly Giveaway to open! Last month there was a trick and a treat winner but this month there will just be the usual one winner.
How does the monthly giveaway work? Well in the sidebar <--- there is a poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. I pick a name from the subscibers list and that person wins the book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!
To subscribe to Amberkatze's Book Blog all you have to do is use the box in the sidebar <--- or at the bottom of this post. Everyone who is already subscribed will be entered in the contest as well as new subscribers. If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The winner will be announced on Sunday the 6th of December at 4pm. The poll will stay open for votes until 4pm on Friday 4th of December (all times are in Central European Time). What books are up for grabs this month? Vote for one of the following new releases -
Bound to Shadows by Keri Arthur - I haven't read this yet but the latest Riley Jenson is bound to be good!
Apocalypse Happens by Lori Handeland - Just read the third book in this amazing series and I can't wait for more! Demon Ex Machina by Julie Kenner - A great new edition to the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series. Not to be missed!
Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding - After seeing the blurb for this one I couldn't resist ordering it. Keep a look out for my review as I haven't read this yet.
Tainted by Julie Kenner - This author makes two appearances in this months poll because she has so many new releases out! I haven't read this one yet either but the review should be coming sometime this week!
As one of the only few people around who can battle the demons who have escaped from the darkest level of hell, Elizabeth Phoenix, knows she isn't winning the battle any day soon. However Liz is determined to stop Doomsday even though she knows how difficult it is going to be. People she thought were dead aren't dead anymore and there are things that want to destroy Liz and the people she loves.
The upcoming Apocalypse has Liz looking for help all over the place. She and her ex-lover Jimmy Sanducci have some personal problems they have to sort out but together they are fighting against one common enemy. Then there is the Navajo shama Sawyer who Liz wants to trust but isn't sure if he should be trusted. Also on her side, or so she thinks, is a fairy and a Lion shape shifter. The Apocalypse is growing close and Liz is finally starting to find out more about herself and the people she thought were her friends. Will they survive or perish together?
The Phoenix Chronicles are a must buy for me. Lori Handeland has been a favourite of mine for a while and this series is a treat. I needed a few chapters to get back into Liz and her world but after that I was hooked as always. These books are just like the cool TV Series Supernatural but with a kick-ass heroine in the lead instead of the two brothers.
This series is a different kind of Urban Fantasy for me. Where as most series keep to one paranormal element and maybe invite others in now and again, the Phoenix Chronicles has everything and isn't shy about mixing things up a bit. All kinds of legends, fantasy and myths all come out to play in this nail-biting series that has me on the edge of my seat.
What will happen next? I wish I knew! There was a bit of a cliffhanger but the next in the series Chaos Bites is due out in April. So there isn't a long wait! If you haven't tried this yet then I really suggest you do. Hard, deep and dark this series kicks, bites and throws punches all over the place and doesn't take any prisoner's! Just the way I like it ;)
So the poll and contest have closed and it is time to pick some winners! Seeing as there were 110 votes there will be two winners picked. The first winner will win the book with the most votes and the second winner will win the book that came second in the poll.
So first lets see how many votes the books got!
5th place -
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby 13% (14 votes)
4th Place -
Spell Games by T.A. Pratt 14% (15 votes)
3rd Place -
Ghost of a Chance by Kate Marsh 17% (19 votes)
2nd Place -
Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton 23% (25 votes)
1st Place -
Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland 34% (37 votes)
So the two winners of the contest will be getting either Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland, which was the winner of the poll! Or Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton which came in second.
So who won?
The randomiser has spoken and the winner of Doomsday Can Wait is -
Pam P
And the winner of Surviving Demon Island (which is actually signed by the author - Lucky winner!) is -
Chris J
All the winners should contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. I will pick a new winner if the prize isn't claimed. 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.
Also I would like to say thank you to everyone who voted in the first poll here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I think I will start adding a weekly poll to give you all something to have your say about ;)
Liz Phoenix has always had premonitions but she didn't know the real reason for them until recently. Liz is one of the few people on Earth who has psychic powers to fight the evil forces trying to wipe out the human race. There have been attempts since the beginning of time but now doomsday is closing in again and Liz is the new leader of the federation who can stop it.
Her only experience against the beings is her first and only battle a few months ago. Since then things have been quiet and Liz has been hoping to replenish her troops. Unfortunately most of them are dead or in hiding so she has to rely on he ex-lover Jimmy, a fairy called Summer and a skinwalker called Sawyer. With doomsday just around the corner, Liz is up against something alot darker and malicious than before. Is Doomsday too close for Liz to stop it? Or will Doomsday wait for Liz to be ready?
This is book two in the Phoenix Chronicles and another great read written by Lori Handeland. I loved Any Given Doomsday so I was extremely excited about this latest release. However now it is over I just want part three to come along, the sooner the better. This was a great read but it felt like it was just filling the gap before the next better book in this series comes along. While alot happened and more things became clear this book was just building things up and there is more amazing things to come and I want to know now!
Very dramatic with fantastic paranormal elements this is an action packed roller coaster reading experience. I love the characters, even though I feel I need to get to know some of them more, and the writing style is perfect. Hot in the places it is needed and fast and furious when demanded this is nothing like any other series out there and I can't wait to see what happens next.
