Indie Book Review: The Unexpected Return (Elatia #2) by Jessica E. Subject

Author: Jessica E. Subject
Series: Elatia
Number in Series: 2
Format: PDF
Release Date: May 26,2012
Pages: 60
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction/Erotic Romance

Buy here:

All Romance Ebooks | Amazon |  Decadent Publishing  |  Smashwords

Synopsis from Goodreads

Looking to experience all the universe has to offer, Prince Aristides escapes from the kingdom of Tyto and travels through space to the Emerald Planet, Elatia. He yearns to partake in the activities the planet is famous for, and fulfill all his sexual desires, but loses his heart and soul to an Adamos apprentice. Unfortunately, she is Terran, and her people are sworn enemies of those from Tyto. If he can convince Xia to give up her dreams of becoming an Adamos, and travel back to Tyto with him, will his parents accept her, or condemn them both?

Abandoned as a toddler on Elatia, and raised by Kalara, an Adamos specializing in erotic massage, Xia decides to follow in her footsteps. But she remains conflicted as to whether she wants to service clients for the rest of her life, or settle down and raise a family. When she meets Aris, he turns the tables on her, and brings her as much pleasure as she gives him.

Will they have their chance to be together, or will their families tear them away from any chance of young love?

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     Prince Aristides has been set up to be married to a woman he despises. But he devises a plan to make sure his best friend gets her. He wants to leave his home planet to explore the Emerald Planet, Elatia. It is a planet known for its special “services”. He visits to experience what they have to offer. But on his first night there, the woman he is supposed to be with, Xia, is very new to her job. But neither one can fight their feelings for each other and they quickly find in love. But unfortunately, she is an enemy of his planet and his family would never accept her. But he is willing to do anything to be with her.

      Oh Jessica, how I love thee! What a beautiful story. Subject has given us yet another sexy and emotional story worth reading. I really enjoyed our characters. Aristides was a very smart man. I love how sets up his bride to be who is definitely not a woman I care to know. Xia is being trained in the art of erotic messaging. It isn't her calling to say the least. She is frightened out of her mind, but Aristides is nothing like how she thought he would be. I love how she doesn't immediately fall into this job, she wants more. But she thinks since she lives with and was adopted by a professional named Kalara, Xia feels this is all she has. I love that not only does Aristides want to be with her, but will help her get the life she has always wanted even though she is scared.

      This was such a great, little story. I like to think of it like a space version of Pretty Woman without a lot of comedy, a little family drama and kidnapping. And yes, I actually like Pretty Woman. Subject truly knows her characters and make us love them in just 60 pages. It never feels jumbled or overwhelming. I won't spoil anything on how this ends, but I definitely need more. That last sentence got my adrenaline pumping. So curious! I definitely plan on getting the three other books in the Elatia series. All done by three different authors. Oh I love it! What an amazing world, well worlds. An Unexpected Return is a fun and sexy little read. Highly recommended!

Rating:

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Check out the other books in the Elatia series

Forever Across The Stars (Elatia #1) by Azura Ice 

Courtesan Boot Camp (Elatia #3) by D.L. Jackson

Lethal Beauty (Elatia #4) by Sara Brookes 

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*This book belongs to the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Speculative Romance Challenge 2012

Dead Book Darling's The 2012 Short Story Challenge

Book Review: The Siren (The Original Sinners #1) by Tiffany Reisz

Author: Tiffany Reisz
Series: The Original Sinners
Number in Series: 1
Format: ARC PDF (Netgalley)
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Pages: 425
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Genre: Erotic Romance/Contemporary Romance/BDSM/Literary Fiction

Buy here:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |   IndieBound

Synopsis from Goodreads

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

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     The Siren is about an up and coming erotic author named Nora who wants to make a name for herself. She wants to be taken seriously in the book world and if her new work is great, she will be published. Her future lies in the hands of an editor who knows his job and is brutal with his authors and their work. He is so against working with her, he doesn't take her seriously. But he will give her and chance, but it won;t be easy. He wants Nora to redo her work so it can be the best it can be, all in a little over a month when he is set to leave New York for LA. The chemistry between them grows more and more everyday, but both of them have secrets that are dark and they are not particularly proud of. Not to mention their pasts continues to haunt them.

      Let me just say right now, this is one of the best books I have read this year. Now you all know that I loved Fifty Shades of Grey, this story is far better than that. The Siren is more raw, erotic, sexy, in depth and funny. Seriously, the dialogue alone between the characters is worth checking out. Our main character Nora has no problem saying what is on her mind and you can never guess what it will be next. You just know you won't forget it.

      The characters in this book are phenomenal. Nora is one of the best leads I have come across. She is such a complex and enticing character, you are immediately drawn to her. The story she is trying to write is her own personal story and I love how passionate she was about getting her story out there. It is a story about her life as a submissive to a man simply named Soren. She is now a Dom, but she can't escape the pull to Soren and her past with him. 

     Zach, her editor, has his own problems to deal with. He is going through a separation with his wife Grace. He is still desperately in love with her, but doesn't know how to get back what they lost. We do find out the core of the issue between them and it is definitely a painful journey. Won't spoil it, but it makes a lot of sense the pain they share. My favorite character though was Wesley. He is a young man that lives with Nora. He is only 19 years old. Of course, this leads to a lot of speculation, but it isn't what people think. He was adorable and cared for Nora (maybe more than he should) and like with Zach, the dialogue between them always makes me laugh. They felt like really good best friends.

      I love the story of a woman just trying to get her story out their to the world. She knows if anyone can get it to be the best it can be, it is Zach. But I love how much we learn about her and her life behind the scenes. I love the chemistry between them even if Zach tries to fight it. I love the battle of him trying to keep things professional with Nora and still craving his wife. Soren plays a huge role in her life because he was her first everything. Trust me, you will feel uneasy when you learn the story. Don't say I didn't warn you. We are kept in the dark of who is and then when we finally meet the man that has shaped Nora into the woman that she is, you will be shocked to say the least. I shouted, “Oh shit!” Reisz really knows how to build suspense, that is for sure. 

     Soren is definitely not like any character I have come across. Everyone is on edge around him and you start to see why. Everything he says and does has a meaning. You never know what he is planning on doing, just that it will effect you one way or another. He is overwhelming to say the least. But like I said, meeting him is a very important part of this book. We also have the story between Nora and Wesley that I loved. I don't want to give a lot away, but I will say it had me screaming in the end.

      Like I mentioned, this is similar to Fifty Shades of Grey in that there is BDSM. There is an entire club that caters to it actually in the book. It is definitely something I won;t soon be forgetting. Again, more uneasiness. We actually see more of how Soren still has his claws in Nora. Even if she is a Dom, she will always be his submissive and you are not going to like how this goes down. I had to stop and take a breather during one particular scene in the club. You just keep thinking, “She didn't do that, did she? No she wouldn't dare?” You'll know it when you see it.

      I could go on forever about The Siren. It is a specular read. Reisz will leave a mark on you for sure. This is a masterpiece. She is not afraid to go there and boy does she go there. Her characters are memorable and larger than life. The story will stick with you and want you begging for more. Seriously, another ending that had me reeling. It was great, but goodness! If you are an adult and don't mind books that are a bit explicit, pick this up now. You won't regret this.

 

Rating:

*This book belongs in the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

Winner of the Waiting For Daybreak Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big congratulations to Fiery Na! You won the ebook copy of Amanda McNeil's Waiting For Daybreak. I have sent you an email, please respond within 3 days to confirm or the prize will go to the runner-up. Thanks to all who participated. Huge thanks to Amanda for visiting my blog and throwing this awesome giveaway, You all have been great. Congrats again Fiery!

Indie Book Review: Love's Prophecy (The Prophecy Series #1) by Brenda Dyer

Author: Brenda Dyer
Series: The Prophecy Series
Number in Series: 1
Format: PDF
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Pages: 313
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Buy here:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  CreateSpace  

Synopsis from Goodreads

In the depth of time...

Lucifer vowed to destroy humans and take the Earth from The Creator. In secret, vampires were brought about to thwart Lucifer's plan. Locked in a battle centuries old, vampires guarded The Creator's children against annihilation from demons. But the era of a new breed of warrior needed to turn the tides of war has come. The time for the fulfillment of the Vampire Prophecy begins.

Dark warriors of might...

For Mel, a deadly vampire warrior sworn to hunt and kill demons in the dark streets of Vancouver, the mystery surrounding the Vampire Prophecy deepens when he meets Breeana, a human woman who not only bears the mark of the prophecy, but resembles the unknown woman haunting his dreams. A powerful link pulls him to her, overriding his willpower to stay away. When a vengeful demon spies Breeana in his arms, she is marked for death. To protect her, he must take her from the world she knows until he can eliminate the threat. But the real danger is the role Breeana must play in fulfilling the prophecy and the intense feelings she brings out in him. Mel is forced to choose between his obligations to his kind, the world, and the woman he loves.

Small warriors of light...

Veterinarian, Dr. Breeana Spencer is tired of being disappointed by love. Although love and a family is her greatest desire, she decides her career, friends, and romance novels are all she needs. But when she meets a mysterious stranger, she's drawn to him by a connection so forceful it shatters all reason, leaving her incapable of resisting him. Yet there's more to him than smoldering good looks and a rock-hard body. As she's drawn deeper into his danger-filled world, she learns she's part of an ancient vampire legend. Breeana fears her future is no longer hers and will not include Mel. A life altering choice is before her—one that will take all her courage and love to make.

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      Now, you know my love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. That series has started my love for Paranormal Romance. And being a fan, I would love to introduce to you its cousin who is just as badass and sexy might I add. Dyer has given us an amazing new take on vampires and it was so good, I have every intention on getting the next book as soon as possible.

      Breeana and Mel are just amazing together. Even though this is a paranormal romance, they feel like a real couple. When Mel tells her what he is, her reaction was epic. She love vampire romance novels and only her best friend knows that. So she immediately believes her friend has pulled a candid camera moment on her. You couldn't help but smile at this moment. It is probably a reaction I would have too. I would definitely believe it was a prank as well. I love Mel so much. He was a great complex character that was so buried under guilt, all he knew was fighting. He didn't really live. And given his backstory, you can see why. It will have you in tears. I love his scenes with Breeana, you can truly feel that weight getting lifted off of him every time they are together. Dyer really knows her characters and really knows how to draw you in. You feel a connection to them instantly.

      I am also very curious about her other characters specifically Kal. Kal and Mel are best friends. They are always hanging out. Kal is the joker. He is such fun and I love the bromance between him and Mel. Kal may seem like a guy who only cares about video games and women, but he cares for Mel and can see what is brewing between him and Breeana. I love how much he looks out for him. There are more men in the house and we only get snippets, but I can't wait for more especially their captain Roarik. Goodness, he is scary. I would love to see him and Wrath in a fight. Just saying.

      I couldn't put this book down. I love how protective Mel was of Breeana. He doesn't want that crazy she-demon coming after her especially given that Breeana is the only connection to the prophecy. I love how Dyer has thought that up and I can't wait to see what is to come. I love the connection between vampires and religion. Dyer has done an amazing job creating this story, it was brilliant to say the least.

      I won't spoil anything, but I love where this book went and how it developed. Again, fans of BDB will adore this. This is a love story I intend to reread again. It was beautifully written. There was laughing and a lot of badassry. The romance feels real and will keep you turning the pages because you have to know how things will end. It is just too good not to. Not to mention, this book really stands on its own. It may remind me of BDB, but the characters and the world shine a different light on PNR and vampires as a whole. Highly recommended. This is within my top 5 favorite reads this year. It has made my vampire-loving heart very happy.

Rating: 

*This book belongs to the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Speculative Romance Challenge 2012

The Color Of Snow Blog Tour - Indie Review: The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

Author: Brenda Stanley
Format: ePub
Release Date: May 28, 2012
Pages: 281
Publisher: Tribute Books
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary/Romance

Buy here:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Synopsis from Goodreads

Can a troubled young girl reenter society after living in isolation?

When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.

Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.

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     Wow! To say this book took me by surprise is an understatement. The level of tragedy is heartwrenching, but so profound. From the first page, you are immediately sucked in. How deep this story goes is amazing and will leave you breathless.

      The Color of Snow follows a young girl named Sophie whose lived a very sheltered life. She has been brought up differently. All she does is read, draw and do chores around the house when her father isn't home. Her father keeps her in their home away from people because he warns her that they could hurt people. He says they are both cursed. But Sophie is always daydreaming about having human interactions with others especially the boy she has been in love with since she was eleven. Of course, dad never knew, but things change one day that could stop her from seeing him forever when it seems the curse has made an appearance. But Sophie doesn't know the true extent of who she is and whether her father or the people who claim to be her lost family are lying to her.

      Goodness, this book was hard to read, but in a good way. It is so heartbreaking, you do need to stop and catch your breath a few times. I love Sophie and the emotional rollercoaster she puts us on. A girl who has been told one thing all her life, kept isolated most of her life thinking she is cursed. I love that even though she is told these things, she wants to be more. She is brave and strong, but she doesn't know it. You relate to her a lot and root for her to find her own answers and herself. She learns how to do more of that though through her "kind of" cousin Stephanie. Meeting her is one of the best things that happens to Sophie. You will love her, trust me.

      I love how the book alternates between Sophie's POV and her father's. It really builds up the mystery of the story more. You really can't stop trying to get to the bottom of it all. We see Sophie flashback to when she first met Damien and all that has happened to them to this point which lead to strange people knocking at her door. She is definitely scared and all she wants is to go home. Just imagining a girl being sheltered and then thrust into another family in less than a day is just overwhelming. You share those feelings with her. I love following her journey to discover the truth. It is such a significant part of the story and her life as a whole. Then her dad's story of his love for a girl he shouldn't be with because her dad saw him as nothing but a mule. The pain they both share is intense, but more so with her dad. His story is where the actual romance comes in, not much with Sophie. But the things that follow are just...goodness, I can't say it.

      Another review that is difficult to write because it is so good and I don't want to reveal too much. Stanley has done such a beautiful job with this book. She handles topics in this book that most avoid and does it in a way that feels real and not like propaganda. This is one of the freshest YA books I have read. It packs a punch and the fact that this is Contemporary is surprising given that this book isn't as paranormal as it sounds. You are good Stanley. Seriously, this book feels so real, but you wouldn't have guessed that it wasn't paranormal. But even with my unconditional love for all things paranormal and fantasy, this book managed to feed into that without actually having it (that made sense, right?) The Color Of Snow is one of those reads that when you finish it, it will stick with you for a while and probably have you crying for sometime too. This is a very thought-provoking read that I believe everyone should be reading. Okay, I am stopping here, spoiling is becoming too tempting. Read this pronto!

Rating:

*This book belongs to the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2012

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About Brenda Stanley

Brenda Stanley is the Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Portneuf Medical Center. She is a former television news anchor and investigative reporter for the NBC affiliate in Eastern Idaho. She has been recognized for her writing by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Hearst Journalism Awards, The Idaho Press Club and the Society for Professional Journalists. Brenda is the author of four books that have been sold to publishers. Three are novels and one is a cookbook. Brenda is an adjunct professor at Idaho State University in the Mass Communication department. She is a graduate of Dixie College in St. George, Utah and was valedictorian of her class at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She is the mother of 5 grown children, including two sets of twins (born 20 months apart- yes, 4 kids under the age of 2). And she is now a grandma. Brenda and her husband Dave, a veterinarian, live on a small ranch near the Snake River with their horses, sheep, chickens, and dogs.

Follow Brenda Stanley here:

Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Official Website  |  Twitter  

Release Day Review: If I Were You (Inside Out #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Series: Inside Out
Number in Series: 1
Format: ARC PDF (Netgalley)
Release Date: August 24, 2012 (Original/Ebook) | March 12, 2013 (Updated/Paperback)
Pages: 313
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books
Genre: Erotic Romance/Contemporary Romance/Mystery

Buy here:
 Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  The Book Depository  |  Books-A-Million  |  Google Books  |  iBooks  |  IndieBound  |  Kobo  |  S & S  |  Sony  

Synopsis from Lisa Renee Jones

The steamy first installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

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      I have always heard of Lisa Renee Jones, but I have not had the pleasure of starting her work. Until now. And I am kicking myself for waiting this damn long. Goodness, this was amazing. When I saw Fifty Shades of Grey meets Basic Instinct, I knew I would be reading this. I definitely have no regrets and I want more like yesterday.

      Our main character Sara is a smart school teacher. She lives a very sheltered life when her best friend Ella leaves a journal at her home. The journal along with many other things belong to a woman named Rebecca whose storage unit was just auctioned on by Ella. The various journals that Rebecca's life has been turned upside down. She has met a man who has her doing things she never though she would do. I love how Sara feels an instant connection to Rebecca even though she has never met her. Rebecca has also lived a sheltered life, but her love for art has led her somewhere very dark and that is how Sara's life turns. She too has a love for art and since it is her summer vacation, she goes to find Rebecca and ends up getting a job at the gallery she works at. But the owner, who is a very powerful and sexy man may be the one who might have something to do with Rebecca's disappearance. Or it could be the sexy artist that Sara can't stop thinking about. Either way, Rebecca is in trouble, but no else seems to think so.

      As I said, Sara is a smart woman. I loved her because even when surrounded by powerful men, she holds her own and is very witty. I love how Jones creates this connection between her and Rebecca. The way how the simple act of finding her turns into her almost living her life. The main men in the story are Chris and Mark. Mark is the owner of the gallery that Rebecca worked at and he is relentless to say the least. Very sexy, but brutal. Chris is more laid back and very charming. But there is a lot of tension between Chris and Mark and this does not pass Sara's notice. She is very into Chris which makes me happy because he is stiff like Mark. But she does sometimes feel like she is a piece in a game they are playing. And it does feel that way sometimes. You don't know what it is until the very end really and even then there is more to be uncovered about both of the men.

      This book starts off so innocently and quickly becomes a very intense and thrilling ride. Sara wants to find Rebecca and she goes to the gallery she worked at. Everyone is giving her the same lame excuse, “She met a hot guy and they took a vacation to Paris.” Sara doesn't it and she quickly jobs at the chance for the job to get more info, but she loves the world. Things get more interesting when she meets Chris, a famous artist whose work she loves. They have a lot of chemistry, but he is a contradiction. He is super rich, but doesn't look or act like it. He is charming and sweet, but he has a dark side which holds a lot of mystery in this book. He is the main focus, not Mark, but given the last couple of chapters in the book, I have the feeling he will have a bigger role. If I Were You is truly about working out of your comfort zone and that is what the bulk of this was. Sara finding herself while temporarily in another woman's shoes.

      This starts off as a mystery, but it is more about discovery. I loved that. But I must say, this is more of a getting your feet wet. I think we will get more of that Basic Instinct feel in the next book, but the mystery will have you on the edge of your seat especially with that cliffhanger ending. I love the things we learn about Chris and yet it doesn't feel like we have scratched the surface. I love the amount of complexity Jones has put into her characters. This book is sexy, intense, suspenseful and quite the page-turner. You will not be able to put this down. I am dying for more and I know you will be too. Highly recommended.

Rating:

*This book belongs in the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2012

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Lisa Renee Jones Bio:

Booklist says: Jones' suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann. Alpha, military, and paranormal romance readers will want Jones' entire series. (About the Zodius Series -- Storm that is Sterling)

In 2003, award winning author Lisa Renee Jones sold her Austin, Texas based multi-state staffing agency and has since published over thirty novels and novellas across several genres. Her staffing agency LRJ Staffing was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Her debuts with Blaze and Nocturne hit Bookscan's Top 100 list and her Blaze Hotzone trilogy made a showing on the list in 2011 also. With a new Blaze trilogy, a short story for Spice, the third book in her Zodius series published with Sourcebooks, as well as an rapidly growing indie following, 2012 will bring many new stories to her readers.

Follow Lisa Renee Jones here: 

Amazon | Facebook |  Goodreads  | Official Website | Twitter

Cover Reveal: The Vampire Bride Series by Rhiannon Frater

Oh boy! I am sooooo excited for this. Huge thanks to Rhiannon Frater for having me on board. I love working with you. Another huge thanks to Deanna (Sacredmoon) for getting me into this series in the first place. Love you ladies. Okay babbling, here are the new covers for Frater's amazing Vampire Bride series. Enjoy!

Goodreads

Goodreads

Credits for these beautiful covers goes to:

Cover Artwork: Claudia McKinney (Check out interview HERE)

Photographer: Helena Cruz

Model: Megan Young

Typography: Ashley of The Bookish Brunette Designs (Check out her blog HERE)

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Check out my 5 (+1) review for The Tale of the Vampire Bride (The Vampire Bride #1) HERE

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About Rhiannon Frater

Rhiannon Frater was born and raised a Texan. Though she has lived in various towns all over the state, she finally settled in Austin, Texas where she met her husband and worked as a governmental consultant.
During her travels for her job, she was inspired to write the story of two women fleeing into the Texas Hill Country in an attempt to survive the zombie apocalypse. Originally published as a serial online under the title AS THE WORLD DIES, she later self-published the series in three novels to satisfy the many fans of the story. The first novel in the series, THE FIRST DAYS, won the 2008 Dead Letter Award for Best Book (Fiction). The second book, FIGHTING TO SURVIVE won the 2009 Dead Letter Award in the same category.

The AS THE WORLD DIES books were purchased by Tor in 2010.The first book, THE FIRST DAYS, was released in July 2011 and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The second, FIGHTING TO SURVIVE, was released on November 8, 2011. The third book, SIEGE, will be released in April 2012.

She is also the author of THE LIVING DEAD BOY AND THE ZOMBIE HUNTERS, PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES: A Vampire Novel and two novels in the Vampire Bride Series (THE TALE OF THE VAMPIRE BRIDE and THE VENGEANCE OF THE VAMPIRE BRIDE). All her works have been optioned for either TV or film.

Rhiannon continues to live in Austin, Texas with her husband and is now a full-time writer.
She is represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry Literary + Media agency. 

Follow Rhiannon Frater Here: 

Facebook |  Goodreads | Official Blog | Twitter

Indie Book Review: The Tale of the Vampire Bride (The Vampire Bride #1) by Rhiannon Frater

Old cover

Author: Rhiannon Frater
Series: The Vampire Bride
Number in Series: 1
Format: Kindle
Release Date: December 7, 2009
Pages: 328
Publisher: Library of Horror Press
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Gothic/Horror/Paranormal Romance

New cover

Buy here:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  | IndieBound | Smashwords

Synopsis from Goodreads

All Lady Glynis Wright ever wanted was the freedom to live her life as she pleased. Unfortunately, her aristocratic parents want her to marry well and settle into a life of luxury.

When her family becomes guests to one of the most fearsome and powerful vampires of all time, Glynis finds her fate is far more terrible than an arranged marriage. Trapped in the power of her new master, she fights for freedom, revenge against her creator, and the chance to be with the one she truly loves.

Bloody, horrific, romantic and rich in gothic atmosphere, The Tale of the Vampire Bride is sure to thrill fans of the terrible, yet romantic vampires of literary past.

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      This is a story about a young woman named Lady Glynis Wright. Her and her family are off to meet the husband that her family has chosen for her, Prince Vlad Dracula. He comes off as a gracious host who would want nothing more than to have Glynis for his wife. He is so taken by her beauty. But she refuses him because she knows there is something wrong about him. She doesn't know just how deep her refusal effects him and pays for it tenfold. She soon becomes one of Dracula's wives (the unwilling one). Glynis may be trapped and and has become something she detests, but she will fight for those she lost and her life.

      Wow! Just holy crap! This is what I am talking about! Frater has taken the original story of Dracula and given it a facelift. Just the feel of this book is breathtaking. It is dark and haunting, the setting sends chills up your spine and sets you on edge. Even if vampire stories have never been your thing, I believe this would change your mind.

      Lady Glynis was such a great lead to follow. Her drive and determination to find a way from Dracula made me have a connection to her quickly. Her family was a bit oblivious, but she felt it from the beginning and fought. I love her stubbornness and some of her childish antics. It reminds you that she just entered her marrying age and has always been under her parents thumb until being whisked off to Dracula's home. I love that she isn't just instantly going into her womanly role like a good girl should. It made her more believable for me. And seeing where she starts and where she ends up is such a rewarding experience when reading this book. Her journey is filled with so much pain, blood, and tragedy. The other wives; Cneajna, Elina, and Ariana, will scare you just as much as Dracula. Cneajea was the only real likable one, but she definitely had a few issues.

     Then there is Dracula. Goodness, Dracula. This is how I always imagine Dracula like. He is scary, detached from humankind completely, violent beyond belief, arrogant, selfish, but you really can't help but be intrigued by him. Seriously, I couldn't help but imagine Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman as Dracula. He frightens you to your core, but you just can't look away. Frater has done a great job capturing that quality about Dracula. I have seen many representations of Dracula that were just atrocious (2004 Van Helsing anyone?) and I love that Frater truly understands characters. Her take on Dracula was quite frankly...flawless.

     This is like a revenge and coming-of-age story all rolled into one. Glynis doesn't necessarily accept her role as Dracula's wife (actually his favorite wife), but she endures and takes her time. Dracula is very intelligent and has covered all bases in case anyone has any ideas of escaping. Glynis waits and waits until the opportunity rises and she not only gets help, but she also finds someone who is willing to fight for her. But there are no dull moments. Seriously, this book won't let up and even when you get to the end, you know the story has just scratched the surface.

     I can't say one bad thing about this. Frater gives her characters such complexity and beauty, it is staggering. There is so much suspense and emotion in this book, you will have to stop to catch your breath, like I did. The Tale of the Vampire Bride is not for the faint of heart,there were times I had to put this book down because there were scenes that were too difficult for me. Frater packs a punch and I swear, there will be tears. It brings back the original vampire legend and delivers. The Tale of the Vampire Bride is brilliant, plain and simple.

Rating:

+1

*This book belongs to the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Speculative Romance Challenge 2012 

 

Interview with Tracey Sinclair, author of Dark Dates

Hello my amazing Vagabonds! Today I have with me today author Tracey Sinclair. She is here with me today to talk about herself and her amazing paranormal romance, Dark Dates. Her book just released in April and she has been nice enough to drop by and give us some insight. So sit back and relax and enjoy the ride.

 

OBVB: Welcome to Offbeat Vagabond, Tracey! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

TS: Hi, thanks for having me! I’m a freelance writer and editor who lives in London, although I’m actually from Newcastle and so am very northern – down to earth, a bit blunt and with a dark sense of humour.

OBVB: When did you realize you wanted to become an author?

TS: I’ve always written – I literally can’t remember a time when I didn’t write stories, so that’s always been an ambition of mine.

OBVB: Any authors that influenced you? Who are you crushing on right now?

More info HERE

TS: It’s hard to say which authors I feel influenced me because I was such a voracious reader as a child it would be hard to pin down to just one. I have a ton of favourite authors – Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett, Mark Billingham, A L Kennedy, Hilary Mantel, Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, to name just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. At the moment though I am *totally* crushing on Madeline Miller, whose book Song of Achilles just won the Orange Prize. I totally fell in love with it and have recommended it to everyone!

OBVB: What genre would you love to write that you haven’t tried yet?

TS: The genres I’d like to try are the ones I probably won’t ever do: I’d love to write crime books, but I’m not that great at planning out all those twisty, clever plots and following police procedure, and history books, but I can’t imagine doing all that research. I also wish I had some artistic skills, because I would love to draw comics. (I’m such a geek!)

OBVB: Now I heard you are a Buffy fan, so am I. Are there any other shows/movies that you geek out for?

More info HERE

TS: Oh, at the minute the top one has to be Game of Thrones, which I just think it utterly gripping. I also love The Vampire Diaries, which is my guilty pleasure, and Supernatural, though I think this last series has gone off the boil a little. I love the kind of quality British drama the BBC does - I’m a huge fan of Sherlock. On the comedy side, Modern Family makes me laugh out loud. I love Cam and Mitch!

OBVB: Your latest book, Dark Dates, released in April, can you tell us what it is about?

More info HERE

TS: It’s the story of a British girl, Cassandra, who runs a dating agency that matches vampires to willing donors – and when someone starts killing off her clients, she gets caught up in the supernatural underworld of London. Of course there’s lots of action and romance thrown in, too…

OBVB: Where did the idea of Dark Dates come from?

TS: The idea hit me out of nowhere really – it started out as a short story I wrote for a friend, but I found I really liked the character of Cass and then I started to expand on her world, and add other characters and it sort of wrote itself. I think some of it was in reaction to the ‘Bella’ type swoony heroines I was seeing: I wanted to write about someone with a bit more to her, someone who wasn’t superhuman but could take care of herself. Someone smart and funny, who liked women, rather than seeing them as competition – the kind of woman you could have a drink with!

OBVB: Dark Dates is full of vampires, witches, werewolves and angels, what is your favorite supernatural creature?

WOOHOO!!!!

TS: Ooh, tough question – I think they can all be fun, depending on how they are written. I love the Damon Salvatore snarky vamp, I love Harry Dresden the wizard, and I love Castiel the angel (that he looks like Mischa Collins of course helps…)

OBVB: Did you have to face any challenges when writing and publishing your book?

TS: Writing I always find easy – it’s all the rest of it that’s tough. The main problem was switching from ‘literary’ fiction to genre fiction; I got a lot of people going ‘why the hell are you writing about vampires?’ And publishers and agents at the moment are very risk averse – they only want the next big thing. That’s partly why I decided to self-publish: I just wanted to get it out there and see what people thought.

OBVB: If Dark Dates were to become TV show/movie, who can you see as Cassandra? 

TS: Another tough one! I wanted Cass to be an ‘everywoman’ so I deliberately steered clear of too much physical description, so that makes it hard to cast. I’ve probably thought more about who would play Cain and Laclos, though admittedly that’s usually actors I fancy so I can imagine going along to watch the filming…

OBVB: Can you tell us about your other works Doll and No Love Is This?

More info HERE

TS: Doll is a very dark, psychological romance – it’s not for the faint hearted! No Love is This is a collection of short stories, many of which have been published in magazines: it was great getting a chance to pull them all together. They’re both very different from Dark Dates, but that’s what has made this such fun.

OBVB: Besides writing, what else do you enjoy doing?

TS: My other big thing is theatre – I’m lucky that in London we get some of the best theatre in the world, so I’ve seen some wonderful shows. I review for the theatre mag Exeunt which gives me the chance to see a lot of things that I wouldn’t normally get to – the most exciting of which was a production of Richard III in the actual Tower of London.

OBVB: Last but not least, do you have any other projects lined up that you are working on or plan on working on?

TS: A sequel to Dark Dates! I’m hoping to get that out by the end of the year.

Thank you so much for visiting Offbeat Vagabond! Hope you come by again.

*********************************************

 

Tracey Sinclair Bio:

 

Tracey Sinclair is a writer and editor. Her novel and collection of short stories (Doll and No Love Is This, respectively) have been published by independent publisher Kennedy & Boyd,and her new paranormal romance, Dark Dates, is now available.

Her work has appeared in magazines as diverse as Sky, Printer’s Devil, Yours and Woman’s Weekly, as well as having been performed on the radio . Her first play, Bystanders, was premiered as part of the New Writing Season at Baron’s Court Theatre earlier this year. She also a regular contributor to online theatre magazine Exeunt (www.exeuntmagazine.com) and writes the Fangirl Unleashed column for www.unleashthefanboy.com

Her blog http://bodyofageekgoddess.blogspot.com was shortlisted for this year’s Cosmopolitan Blog Awards.

Follow Tracey Sinclair here: 
Goodreads | Official Website | Twitter 

Indie Book Review: The Soul Seekers by Amy Saia

Author: Amy Saia
Format: ePub
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Pages: 173
Publisher: WiDo Publishing
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal Romance

Buy here:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble  |  WiDo Publishing

Synopsis from Goodreads

When Emma's father dies, she and her mother move cross country to a small, boring town. Now the only constant in Emma Shay's new life is him. Beautiful, silent, him: the mysterious guy at the library she secretly calls Superman because of his dark, good looks. But Emma is puzzled and intrigued by his behavior. He speaks at her but never to her. He comes up to touch her hair and then suddenly leaves. And then one day an impulsive meeting between them uncovers a strange truth about William Bennett.

Set in Southern Indiana during the summer of 1979, The Soul Seekers is about one girl and the future she tries to deny. Can she save William from his purgatory, or is she doomed to share his fate?

*********************************************

     The Soul Seekers is about a young girl named Emma. Her father has recently passed away and she and her mother are moving to live with her grandmother. Emma feels tossed aside since her mother is drinking and she doesn't know anyone in the new town of Springvale, Indiana. While there, she gets a great job at the local library and notices a strange guy sitting in the library. He doesn't say anything to her and she doesn't say anything to her. But he is always there in the same spot everyday. One night of wondering has her stumbling on a coin that is oddly freezing cold. She soon uncovers that the little town of Springvale holds secrets that she couldn't have imagined and the mysterious guy might be the center of it all.

    I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was a great mystery. I was very invested in the story. I liked the character of Emma. I like that she had a special power, but it wasn't something that she let run her life. She really was just a regular girl. Although I won't lie, she sort of annoyed a few times in the book. She was a bit too trusting to be honest. There were just some signs that I can't believe she missed specifically when it came to the other guy Jesse. He was a tad bit flaky and Emma was just too trusting with him even when she says something was off about him. But I won't be too hard on her about this because it actually works for her in the end. But I did like Jesse. He was the hot-bad-boy-in-a-band type. Jesse and Emma actually spend more time together in the book and I liked them the most together to be honest. Then again, I just like my bad boys. I loved the mystery guy named William. We find out who and what he is and Emma truly is the only one that can save him. But he doesn't want her too because the result could be devastating for both of them.

     The story was amazing. The story is actually set in the late 1970s which gives it a really nice feel. I love the whole small town feel as feel. And most of all, I love the idea of a whole town made up of some sort of cult. I do wish we got a bit more information on how they came to be and how they were able to take control of the city. It was quite interesting, but that would have been a nice addition.

    I had a lot of fun with this book. The story definitely held my attention and I really cared for the characters. The ending was quite surprising, but I saw a little bit of it coming. It was also rather sad. There is a sacrifice made and it completely changed my outlook on the character and like Emma, it was unfair. And definitely left me with some tears in my eyes. Dammit Saia, why did you have to do that? I understand the reason, but why that person?! Nonetheless, this is a great read. Saia gave us a great mystery worth sinking our teeth into.

 

Rating:

*This book belongs to the following challenges* 
Babbling About Books and Stuff's Ghostly Reading Challenge 2012 

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012
BCC's Speculative Romance Challenge 2012 

Dead Book Darling's The 2012 Short Story Challenge