Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey
Bared to You by Sylvia Day
What makes a book successful
The Grass king’s Concubine by Kari Sperring
Ten Ruby Trick by Julia Knight
Tag: Ten Days of Yule
Ten Days of Yule: Anticipated 2013 releases
I have a bunch of books that I am waiting for in 2013, and but these are the books I am the most eager to read. The links are if you want to pre-order them at Amazon.
Second Chance Cafe by Alison Kent
I loved her Love in Bloom, and Love Me Tender, and I cannot wait to read this one. Unfortunately it published by Amazon Montlake, so I’ll have to buy it from Amazon
Fixed by LA Kornetsky
This is the sequel to Collared, and November 2013 cannot come fast enough for me.
Heart of Briar and Soul of Fire by LA Gilman
This is Laura Anne Gilman’s next Urban Fantasy series, and the snippets she has posted makes me twitch with impatience to read.
Night Blade by JC Daniels
This is the sequel to Blade Song, and it is so good. I have it on pre-order, and I plan to request it when it is up on Netgalley.
Jar of Dreams by Liz Flaherty:
It is Liz Flaherty. Do I need to say anything more?
Mountain Echoes & Walker Paper 9 by CE Murphy
sob The last two Walker Papers. I hate that the series are ending, yet I cannot wait to read them.
Death and the Madwomen by Kari Sperring
This is the sequel to the Grass King’s Concubine, and I cannot wait to find out how the Brass City, and the Silver City, reacts to the Cadre and the Ferret sisters.
Ten Days of Yule ARC review: All for you by Dana Marie Bell
The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, Carina Press, available as e-book
The Source: ARC from Netgalley
The Grade: B
The Blurb:
Someone—or something—is stalking Abby Marcheson. Luckily, she has her brother’s hunky friend Seth to keep her safe. Abby falls easily into her protected life, with Seth constantly by her side, and when he asks her out on a date, she’s eager to accept.
Someone—or something—is stalking Abby Marcheson. Luckily, she has her brother’s hunky friend Seth to keep her safe. Abby falls easily into her protected life, with Seth constantly by her side, and when he asks her out on a date, she’s eager to accept.
But Seth is much more than he seems. A Nephilim, a son of Angels with wings of his own, Seth is bound to spend his life hunting the Shemyaza, evil descendants of Angels. He’s kept his wings hidden from Abby in order not to frighten her, but as her stalker becomes bolder, Seth begins to suspect that a Shem has Abby in its sights…
As their flirtation escalates into full-blown passion, Seth is torn. Should he reveal his true
nature to the beautiful, trusting Abby? Will she accept him, wings and all, or will Abby
flee her guardian angel and fall prey to the sinister force that wishes her harm?
nature to the beautiful, trusting Abby? Will she accept him, wings and all, or will Abby
flee her guardian angel and fall prey to the sinister force that wishes her harm?
The Review:
When I saw this on Netgalley, I requested it on the spot. And I am glad I did.
This was a refreshing change from her Halle Shifters books. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series.
The world was intriguing, and sucked me in. I loved the different abilities that each Nephilim had, and how they couldn’t do everything. The differences between Nephilim and Shemayaza fascinated me. Nephilim do their best live peacefully among humans. Working with them, earning money, paying bills. Shemayaza on the other hand despised humans. The different attitudes added another layer of tension to the story.
Following Seth and Abbie from being acquainted to each other, and attracted, to a relationship was enjoyable. It was amusing to watch the banter between Abby and her brother, especially considering how they had suffered when Doug attacked Abby. In general, the love and friendship for their families and friends were a read thread in the book, and it kept their spirits up when things went dark.
The plot was fast paced, and filled with unexpect twists. I enjoyed how everything that happened raised the suspense, and helped build up to the final confrontation. I loved the mystery and suspense that crept through the novel, making it almost impossible to put down.
That said, there were one thing that I didn’t like. Abby sometimes acted like she was an extra in a horror movie.It was a bit annoying, but I loved how the author handled it.
Midwinter’s Eve Hop: Enchanted Ever After by Robin D Owens
This giveaway is also part of Ten Days of Yule. Please check out the other posts, among them are reviews of the books ( the All for you review goes live on Dec 24th) and a guest post by Robin D Owens 🙂
For this giveaway I am giving away one trade paperback copy of Enchanted Ever After.
Magic was just around the corner….
Kiri Palger knew the difference between reality-new house, hard work and not too many friends-and fantasy-the fun she had playing online games. So when the chance to work for the best gaming company in the world came up, giving her a chance to merge business with pleasure, how could she not apply?
Suddenly she has more friends, interesting neighbors and an intriguing love interest. But when the game begins to awaken something inside her, Kiri is shocked by the talents she never knew she had… and an evil she’d never imagined.
Her nice, safe life is imploding around her-and if she takes up the mantle of her powers, it will never be the same again….
AND One e-book copy of All for you by Dana Marie Bell
He will keep her safe, no matter what it takes.
Someone—or something—is stalking Abby Marcheson. Luckily, she as her brother’s hunky friend Seth to keep her safe. Abby falls easily into her protected life, with Seth constantly by her side, and when he asks her out on a date, she’s eager to accept.
But Seth is much more than he seems. A Nephilim, a son of Angels with wings of his own, Seth is bound to spend his life hunting the Shemyaza, evil descendants of Angels. He’s kept his wings hidden from Abby in order not to frighten her, but as her stalker becomes bolder, Seth begins to suspect that a Shem has Abby in its sights…
As their flirtation escalates into full-blown passion, Seth is torn. Should he reveal his true nature to the beautiful, trusting Abby? Will she accept him, wings and all, or will Abby flee her guardian angel and fall prey to the sinister force that wishes her harm?
To Enter, just leave a comment with your name and e-mail, and which book you would like to win.
Ten Days of Yule ARC review: Enchanted Ever After by Robin D Owens:
The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, Luna, available in print and e-book The Source: Netgalley
The Grade: B
The blurb:
Magic was just around the corner….
Kiri Palger knew the difference between reality-new house, hard work and not too many friends-and fantasy-the fun she had playing online games. So when the chance to work for the best gaming company in the world came up, giving her a chance to merge business with pleasure, how could she not apply?
Suddenly she has more friends, interesting neighbors and an intriguing love interest. But when the game begins to awaken something inside her, Kiri is shocked by the talents she never knew she had… and an evil she’d never imagined.
Her nice, safe life is imploding around her-and if she takes up the mantle of her powers, it will never be the same again….
The Review:
I have waited for this book. First, I waited for it to become available at Netgalley. Then I waited for my request to be either declined, or accepted. And there was much rejoicing when it was accepted..
And.. I devoured it. It was one of those books where you sit down to read, thinking I’ll just read a chapter, and the next thing you know you are on chapter 8.
I enjoyed meeting the inhabitants of Mystic Circle again, and seeing them from Kiri’s totally human perspective. While I was familiar with the intriguing world of the Mystic Circle series, Ms Owens managed to make it feel brand new to me. It was fascinating, to get a glimpse of how Waterfolk lived. Both the weaker elementals, like naiders and naiads, as well as the Mer. The interaction between them gives a glimpse into the danger of angering someone at court.
The plot was intriguing. I loved how they used a VR world to gradually introduce Kiri to the existence of magic. The gradually increasing sense of danger, even before Kiri transformed, kept me reading. I also enjoyed how Kiri struggled with her decision to transform, and the sense of uncertainty of what she would transform into. Kiri’s struggles with adapting to her new life afterward added another touch of believability to the story.
Kiri and Lathyr’s romance was sweet, and I enjoyed following it from their first meeting, and to their HEA. That said, sometimes their romance felt too… subtle. It was there, but it felt like it got buried in all the other things that happened.
Ten Days of Yule: Guestpost by Robin D Owens
Please welcome Robin D Owens, she is here to tell us about her latest release in her Mystic Circle series.
Thank you so much for having me! Now a little bit about the Mystic Circle Series:
A dwarf at the door, brownies in the garden, and a merman in the koi pond…strange things are happening in the magical cul-de-sac of Mystic Circle in Denver, Colorado…
Enchanted Ever After is the third in the Mystic Circle series. In book one, Enchanted No More, I had a half-human, half-Lightfolk djinn (magical fire person) as a heroine, Jenni Weaver. She was also a game designer.
In book two, Enchanted Again, I focused on people who were descended from Lightfolk and humans and had personal magic, particularly Amber Sarga, a cursebreaker…and for every curse she lifted, she aged.
With Enchanted Ever After, I have a completely human heroine, Kiri Palger, who wants to leave her tough computer help-desk job to write games. So gaming is an element. This really came about due to, of course, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and the movie The Last Starfighter.
Writing about a game (Transformation) that could physically change a person has intrigued me for a long time and finally gelled for me in Enchanted Ever After. In this case it changes Kiri from human to Lightfolk…to Waterfolk.
Of course she has a man – unbeknownst to her, a merman – in her life. Lathyr Tricurrent can sense the potential of full humans to become magical Lightfolk beings.
A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to write something contemporary, and set in Denver, but with fantasy components – thus Mystic Circle and the Lightfolk were born. The Lightfolk are magical beings, four major groups and four minor groups according to elemental magic: Djinn (genies)/Firesprites for Air; Dwarves/Brownies for Earth; Elves/Airsprites for Air; and Merfolk/Naiads for Water. I wanted magical creatures limited, so there are only these eight groups – and a few crossbreeds :). Humans with a touch of Lightfolk in their family trees can be more diverse.
Oh, and these Lightfolk are not “native” to Earth, but came through a dimensional portal that closed millennia ago, their magic has diminished…until an unusual event in Enchanted No More.
I DO have “native” magical beings, Treefolk and Dryads. Aric, my first hero, is one of these.
I’ve always been a sucker for architecture and houses. My first manuscript (which will forever remain in the drawer) had a sentient house, as does my Celta series. For Mystic Circle, I have a cul-de-sac of nine different styles of houses with a park – and a koi pond – in the middle.
I’ve enjoyed writing the books, toying with magic and brownies who love embroidered shoes and CHOCOLATE, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy the time you spend in Mystic Circle – watch out for firesprites!
Robin
Ten Days of Yule: Recommended Christmas reads
This is the most hectic period of the season, so I thought I would list some of my favorite holiday themed short stories and novellas here.
Understood by Maya Banks
This one of my favorite Maya Banks stories. It is touching and filled with hope.
Home for Christmas by Kate Davies
It is possible that several of you already have this one, since it was a Samhain freebie last year. This was a charming story about a second chance at love.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
This was the first Shannon Stacey story I read, I think. It is a heart warming story about family, and love, and unexpected christmas gifts
All she wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
This is the first novella in the Kent brother series, and I highly enjoyed it. It is about forgiveness, and trusting your heart.
Upcoming: Ten days of Yule
So, the year is almost over. And, I am planning it to go out with a bang. Between Dec 17- 27th, I have a lot of fun things planned.
There are guest posts ( my first ever! 🙂 ), Giveaways and a lot of Best of 2012 post, as well as books I am looking forward to in 2013. And reviews of course.