Archived Events

[Archive] Spotlight, Review, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway with Kelley Grealis_5.20.13

5/20/13
FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT

Spotlight, Review, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway

for…

Kelley Grealis

Hey everybody!

LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very happy to have Kelley Grealis with us today!

Kelley Grealis was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She has a B.A. in Accounting from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Masters of Businss Administration from Cleveland State University.

She has loved all things vampire since she was a little girl, and it was that passion combined with thirteen years of Catholic schooling, that inspired her to write The Descendant.

Kelley lives in a Cleveland suburb with her husband.

Connect with Kelley online at her Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, on GoodReads, at her Blog, or at the Independent Author Network.

As mentioned, Kelley is the proud creator of The Descendant, THE DESCENDANT VAMPIRE series book #1, which was released on 5/24/13. We’re here to help Kelley celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the release! Book #2, The Search, will be coming soon… :)

For those of you that haven’t yet heard about Kelley’s ‘Vampire Tale of Biblical Proportions’, here is everything you need to know:

The Descendant
Book #1 of THE DESCENDANT VAMPIRE series

Buy from Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | B&N

Allison Carmichael wakes from a car wreck with no memory of the past three years. She doesn’t recall her husband’s death or how she alienated her friends, and she definitely doesn’t remember anything about her new boyfriend Vincent Drake – a charismatic man with a penchant for rare and unique possessions. In fact, the only things familiar to Allison are her seemingly common ailments – insomnia, lack of appetite, erratic body temperature – which have gone undiagnosed and are worsening.

But Vincent knows exactly who, and what, Allison is – a mortal descendant of the first vampire. He is a vampire who has watched over Allison and her ancestors since the biblical times of Cain and Abel ensuring their secret is kept. Once he realizes Allison’s symptoms are accelerating and transforming her, he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

Allison discovers that she is a descendant and the first of her kind to exhibit signs of vampirism. She must decide between risking her mortal death if she cannot control her symptoms or fully transforming into a vampire and damning her soul for eternity. A decision made even more difficult when Allison discovers that Vincent has manipulated her life, and everyone in it, so that he can have the one thing no one else in the world has – the first descendant-turned-vampire.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
I keep saying that I hate doing this - making comparisons to other series and shows - but I seem to be doing it more and more often in my reviews lately if the thought strikes me upon finishing a book, only because it just seems like it would be helpful for readers, and references to well known others is a decent way to do it. Obviously this is all just my opinion… With that said, this story had a very Vampire Diaries (the show), meets Twilight (for grown-ups), meets the Marked series ‘feel’ for me. HOWEVER, it was incredibly unique in its history and set up; I’m only referring to the ‘feel’ of the read.

Kelley introduces the vampires in this story as having ties to Biblical figures, and I found that fascinating. In addition, the plot was interesting, and the mystery, suspense and intrigue were well written.

Our heroine begins the book thinking she’s going through a massive mid-life crisis and nothing seems to be filling the hole she feels in her soul. While dealing with that and some major health issues that the doctors just can’t figure out, her life starts to turn upside down and her mercurial moods are affecting things at work and at home. And then things get really good…

She wakes up in the hospital having fragmented memories of both her past and what happened to get her there, but with the help of her best friend and our hero, Vincent, she starts to regain the life she’s lost. Only things aren’t quite adding up the way she thinks they should in her head, and the weirdness just keeps multiplying.

I would love to tell you more but I just can’t without spoilers, so I can only tell you to take the plunge and read The Descendant. A side note: this book is not a fluffy vampire tale. I found myself angry for most of the story, and would say that Kelley can make a reader tap into a character’s feelings of betrayal like no other. ;)

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Descendant 4 Skulls and would recommend it if you’re a vampire lover looking for a refreshing spin on the norm.

Sounds good, yes!? Make sure you check it out. For now though, in celebration of the 1 year anniversary of the release of The Descendant, we let Kelley take over the site for the day. Let’s see what she had to say…

AUTHOR AMBUSH BY KELLEY GREALIS:

Happy 1st Anniversary to The Descendant – Let’s Celebrate with a Margarita!

Time flies! I can hardly believe that one year ago this week, I published my first novel, The Descendant (A Vampire Tale of Biblical Proportions). And in typical Kelley fashion, once that book was published, I wondered if I could do it again. The answer is YES as The Search, Book 2 in The Descendant Vampire Series, will be published later this year.

I was asked to kick off The Descendant Anniversary Blog Tour with a guest post. You’d think that being a writer, I could come up with a topic, but I couldn’t. I kept thinking – what would readers and fans want to know about me? So I asked them on my Facebook author page! The following post contains some topics that my fans suggested!

Why did I become a writer & why did I choose to write about vampires?

I’ll answer the first part of the question here; the second part will be answered in an interview that will post later this week.

I wrote a lot when I was younger, mostly poetry. Somewhere between the 6th and 8th grades I attempted my first novel but I didn’t make it past the first five pages. Fast forward to 2009; it was a combination of events that reignited my passion for creative writing.

In 2009, I was going through what I now call my career midlife crisis. I realized that professionally, what I did for my day job, simply didn’t fulfill me. At that same time, I had just finished reading a popular series of books, the premise of which was so simple that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it myself. I stewed over this fact for a couple of hours before declaring to my husband that I was going to write a book. And I’ve been writing ever since.

How long did it take me to write The Descendant and what were some major milestones?

2009
June - Started writing The Descendant

December - Finished writing The Descendant. Queried literary agents in hopes one would land a publisher for me

2010
January – March - Received rejection letters from literary agents. Scratched head and realized something wasn’t right

April - Attended writing clinic. Realized I wasn’t the grammar queen I thought I was. Realized I wasn’t formally trained in the craft of writing

May – August - Attended creative writing classes

September - Rewrote The Descendant

October - Rewrote The Descendant

November - Rewrote The Descendant

December - You get the picture :)

2011
May - Hired an editor

June – August - (im)Patiently waited for my edits

September – October - Worked on edits and further rewrote the story

November – December - Queried agents…AGAIN

November – December - Received form rejections…AGAIN

2012
January - Attended a writer’s conference in NYC. Learned startling statistics about my odds of landing a literary agent. Decided to self-publish my book rather than it sit in a drawer and collect dust

February - Hired a graphics designer to create cover. Hired people to format my paperback and ebook files (I’m soooo not tech savvy)

May 24 - The Descendant was published in paperback!!!!

What is my favorite margarita recipe?

A fan asked therefore I shall deliver! This recipe is compliments of Cabo Wabo Tequila (thank you, Sammy Hagar!) & is one of my favorite recipes! Cheers!!

2 oz. Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila

2 oz. Lime Juice, freshly squeezed

1 oz. Triple Sec

Combine the ingredients in a shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into salt-rimmed glass.

Thanks for stopping by this leg of the anniversary tour! Check out the tour schedule and I hope to see you at the other stops. I’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment using the link under the Rafflecopter widget over on the Author’s Corner page!

Have a fang-tastic day!!

CONTEST:
Kelley is giving away the following prizes on her tour:

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon gift card & signed paperback of THE DESCENDANT

Runners-up: TWO (2) runners-up will receive an eBook of THE DESCENDANT plus a Descendant can koozie & bookmarks

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for Kelley’s Event over on our Author’s Corner page (or at any of the other Tour stops), follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck, and as always… HAPPY READING!

Make sure to follow along with the rest of Kelley’s Anniversary tour as well:

5/20- Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

5/20- LITERAL ADDICTION (guest post & review)

5/21 - Wicked Readings by Tawania (spotlight & review)

5/22- Romance Junkies (interview)

5/22- The Reading Cafe (spotlight & review)

5/23- Jocelyn Dex Blog (spotlight & review)

5/23- Musings From An Addicted Reader (spotlight & review)

5/24- Books-n-Kisses (interview & review)

5/24- Urban Girl Reader (interview)

5/25- Paranormal Book Club (spotlight)

5/26- Page Flipperz (Spotlight)

[Archive] Spotlight, Review and Giveaway for Barb Hendee_5.19.13

5/19/13
FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT

Spotlight, Review, & Giveaway

for…

Barb Hendee

Happy Sunday everyone!

We are very happy to be promoting for the fabulous Barb Hendee again today to help get the word out about her new series, THE MIST TORN WITCHES. Book #1 of the series was just released on 5/7/13 and is already receiving rave reviews, including ours!

Like most writers, Barb worked at many jobs in her life, including teaching pre-school until she completed her master’s degree in Composition Theory. Between 1993 and 2006, she taught college English while writing fiction on the side, some independently and some with her husband and life-long partner J.C.

Over the years, they’ve lived in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, and now moved just south of Portland, Oregon. She loves the Northwest, and says it’s a great place to write.

They have a lovely and talented daughter, Jaclyn, who lives in Houston, Texas along with their wonderful and talented son-in-law, Paul.

The duo sold “Dhampir”, book #1 of their NOBLE DEAD SAGA in 2001, which changed their lives considerably. It was published in January 2003, and they’ve published a book in the Noble Dead Saga every year since. In May of 2006, they were both able to quit their teaching jobs and move into full time writing.

In 2008, Barb sold the idea for her VAMPIRE MEMORIES series to their editor, Susan Allison, at Roc Books. She’s very grateful that their books have found an audience because they love to write fiction more than anything else in the world… and Barb says she’s not really good at anything else. :)

Now, Barb is bringing us the new MIST TORN WITCHES series, which takes place in the Noble Dead world, but with new and amazing characters like she gave us in her VAMPIRE MEMORIES series.
For those of you not yet familiar with Barb’s work, once again we HIGHLY suggest that you check out her entire backlist, but for today, we’re going to tell you all about The Mist Torn Witches…

The Mist Torn Witches
Book #1 of THE MIST TORN WITCHES series

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | BAM | iBookStore | Penguin

National bestselling author Barb Hendee presents a dark, fascinating new series set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga… the story of two sisters who will discover they have far more power than they ever envisioned…

In a small village in the nation of Droevinka, orphaned sisters Céline and Amelie Fawe scrape out a living selling herbal medicines in their apothecary shop. Céline earns additional money by posing as a seer and pretending to read people’s futures.

But they exist in a land of great noble houses, all vying for power, and when the sisters refuse the orders of a warlord prince, they must flee and are forced to depend on the warlord prince’s brother, Anton, for a temporary haven.

A series of bizarre deaths of pretty young girls are plaguing the village surrounding Prince Anton’s castle. He offers Céline and Amelie permanent protection if they can use their “skills” to find the killer.

With little choice, the sisters enter a world unknown to them — of fine gowns and banquets and advances from powerful men. Their survival depends on catching a murderer who appears to walk through walls and vanish without a trace — and the danger around them seems to grow with each passing night.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review

Let me just start out by saying that the writing of Barb Hendee never fails to amaze me…

Mist Torn Witches combines the same type of incredibly vivid characters and heart that I’ve come to know and love from Barb’s Vampire Memories series, with the superb fantastical world, danger & action that I seek out & devour in Barb & JC’s Noble Dead Saga. The combination in this series debut was an utterly compelling & captivating new Fantasy with characters I can’t wait to follow for a good long time, & an intriguing & mysterious world I will happily get lost in again & again!

Our leading ladies, Celine and Amelie, are exactly what I love in my heroines - they’re independent, strong, perfectly flawed, and despite the fantasy, undeniably ‘real’ and relatable. Following their journey as they each followed their head and/or their heart, as they made mistakes and learned from them, as they loved and lost and grew as people was wonderful. You couldn’t help but feel what they felt and root for them at each turn.

The story was steadily engaging with the perfect arc and never a lag. It had just the right amount of twists and turns, a wonderful number of surprises, and plenty of action. And while it is a fantasy series, there was no cliffhanger. It wrapped up nicely, but left a world of possibilities for the next books; exactly what a good serial debut should do!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Mist Torn Witches 5 Skulls. I am so happy to have another Hendee obsession to follow. :)

We certainly hope that we’ve got a bunch of you adding this amazing book to your TBR lists and ordering it from your favorite booksellers! We also hope that we’ve got you all checking out the rest of Barb’s amazing work as well.

You can keep up with Barb online at her Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, at her Amazon Author Page, and on GoodReads!

CONTEST:
In celebration of the release of The Mist Torn Witches, we are giving away a copy of the book with a clear, signed bookplate from Barb.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for today’s Event over on our Author’s Corner page 5/19 - 5/24, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good luck, and as always… Happy Reading!

[Archive] Series Spotlight, Reviews, & Giveaway for Delilah S. Dawson_5.10.13

5/10/13
Series Spotlight, Reviews, & Giveaway
for…
Delilah S. Dawson

Hey gang, TGIF!

We are very happy to be promoting for the beautiful and talented Delilah Dawson today!

Delilah S. Dawson is a native of Roswell, Georgia and the author of the paranormal romance BLUD series for Pocket, including Wicked As They Come and Wicked As She Wants, plus two e-novellas, The Mysterious Madam Morpho and The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance. Her short story The Three Lives of Lydia will be in Gallery’s Carniepunk anthology in July 2013. Her first YA, a creepy paranormal called Servants of the Storm will be available in 2014 from Simon Pulse. RT Book Reviews has called her “a wonderfully fresh new voice!” and “on the fast track to the top of the genre!” and awarded Wicked As She Wants the May Seal of Excellence.

Delilah is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Georgia Romance Writers and is Associate Editor at www.CoolMomPicks.com and www.CoolMomTech.com. She’s a geek of all trades, a synesthete, and the sort of person who saw Spawn in the theater and made other people angry by laughing.

You can keep up with Delilah on her Website, on Amazon, on Tumblr, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Pinterest and on GoodReads. Bring cupcakes! ;-) Full backlist can be found HERE.

We’re here today to help Delilah celebrate her entire BLUD series, and especially the brand new release, Wicked As She Wants, book #2, which was just released on 4/30/13.

For those of you new to the series, here is all the information you’ll need to get all caught up…

Wicked As They Come
BLUD Book #1

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

First in a steampunk-tinged paranormal romance series in which a woman is transported to a world filled with vampires and magic.
When nurse Tish Everett forced open the pesky but lovely locket she found at an estate sale, she had no idea she was answering the call of Criminy Stain, from the far off land of Sang. He’d cast a spell for her, but when she’s transported right to him, she’s not so sure she’s ready to be under the spell of another man. (It didn’t go so well last time with controlling, abusive, domineering Jeff.) If only Criminy wasn’t so deliciously rakish….

Half the inhabitants of Sang are Pinkies—human—and the other half are Bludmen, who in Tish’s world would be called vampires. But they don’t mess with any of the bat/coffin/no sunlight nonsense. They’re rather like you and me, just more fabulous, long living, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.) But when the evil Mayor of Manchester (formerly Bludchester) redoubles his efforts to rid Sang of the Bludmen once and for all, stealing Tish’s locket in hopes of traveling back to her world himself for reinforcements, Criminy and Tish must battle ghosts, sea monsters, wayward submarines, a secret cabal, and thundering Bludmares to get the locket back and allow Tish to return home…but has she found love with Criminy? Could she stay in Sang forever?

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Guest Reviewer - Tanya C:

Wicked as They Come is the first book in the Blud series by Delilah Dawson.

I was instantly drawn into the wonderfully magical world Delilah Dawson has created. I loved the character of Criminy Stain who was like a steampunk version of The Mad Hatter from the classic Alice in Wonderland.

The story itself was very well paced and did not lack action and intrigue at all. The way the two worlds in Wicked as They Come were so intertwined was what really hooked me, and quickly made me a forever fan.

LITERAL ADDICTION’s Guest Reviewer gives Wicked As They Come 5 Skulls and would definitely recommend it.

The Mysterious Madam Morpho
BLUD Book #1.5

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

Taking place after Wicked as They Come, this original eBook features a mysterious lady and a reclusive mechanical genius who find love and danger in a traveling circus.

An elusive woman arrives at Criminy’s doorstep with a steamer trunk, begging for a position in the caravan to perform her unique new act. She opens her trunk to reveal a menagerie of brilliantly colored butterflies. The woman, who calls herself Madam Morpho, is on the run from a dark past in London, where she was forced to leave her equipment behind and abscond with only her tiny performers. Playing a hunch, Criminy hires Madam Morpho on the spot. Taking her down to meet Mr. Murdoch, the reclusive talented engineer who keeps the carnival’s clockworks running, Criminy instructs them to work together to design and build a groundbreaking new circus for the butterflies. Amid the magical ambiance of the circus and the hint of danger from Madam Morpho’s pursuers, she and Mr. Murdoch soon find that their scientific collaboration has produced chemistry of a more romantic kind.

Our review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

The Mysterious Madam Morpho takes place after book #1 of the Blud series, but can be read as a stand-alone story. Delilah does a fantastic job of explaining this unique world so that first time readers are able to get a mental picture & then just enjoy the tale…

The story revolves around our leading lady, the very mysterious & guarded Imogen, who has come to ask Criminy if she can join his Clockwork Carnival. Once his wife Tish Sees a glimpse into Imogen’s future, she’s welcomed into the caravan and sent to work with the hermitic Mr. Murdoch - the brilliant creator of the Carnival’s Clockwork creations - to get her act ready. Each with their own datk secrets, they are ultimately forced to deal with some incredibly intense situations and end up developing an amazing bond.

Even as a novella, the story was very well rounded and had a fabulous pace. Sangland is an amazing world, and Delilah delivered a tale so fantastically vivid you feel like you’re part of the magic; the characters will ensnare you instantly, and the dialogue will keepsyou wanting more even after the last page is turned.

This was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Mysterious Madam Morpho 5 Skulls. I can’t wait for more… :)

The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance
BLUD Book #1.6

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

A lady with a penchant for pets meets a sexy fireman in this magical and saucy steampunk eNovella from the author ofWicked as They Come.

In a world ruled by blood, live pets are rare and kindness rarer still. London pet shop owner Frannie Pleasance has a mysterious way with animals and keeps her charges (and heart) locked in a veritable Eden. She thinks Casper Sterling is just another stray…until she takes in the troublesome lodger (and unwelcome suitor) and becomes the victim of a series of strange and dangerous occurrences.

When an unexplained fire threatens to destroy Frannie’s carefully guarded world, firefighter Thom Maccallan is there to extinguish the blaze and help gather the lost creatures. The heat between Frannie and Thom begins to burn, but someone’s still after the lady. Could it be Casper himself, or is Frannie’s new lodger just another victim of fate? Will they be able to figure out who’s pursuing Frannie—and stop them—before she loses everything?

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Aloha - Michelle L. Olson:

The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance was another great story by Delilah Dawson.

While slightly different from the ‘usual’ Sang world, it was still chock full of wonderful characters, mystery, and romance.

I’m assuming that even though ‘technically’ this was Frannie and Thom’s story, it will serve as a necessary segue for Wicked As She Wants, Casper’s full-length story (Blud book #2), given the focus on Casper’s character in this novella.

I’m hoping for, and expecting, a great next book, because there are definitely some secrets to be unveiled where he is concerned, as well as some redeeming to be done!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance 4 Skulls. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming full length novel!

Wicked As She Wants
BLUD Book #2

JUST RELEASED 4/30/13!

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

The second book in the darkly tempting Blud series, featuring a vampire princess who embarks upon a dangerous journey to claim what is rightfully hers.

When Blud princess Ahnastasia wakes up, drained and starving in a suitcase, she’s not sure which calls to her more: the sound of music or the scent of blood. The source of both sensations is a handsome and mysterious man named Casper Sterling. Once the most celebrated musician in London, Sangland, he’s fallen on hard times. Now, much to Ahna’s frustration, the debauched and reckless human is her only ticket back home to the snow-rimmed and magical land of Freesia.

Together with Casper’s prickly charge, a scrappy orphan named Keen, they seek passage to Ahna’s homeland, where a power-hungry sorceress named Ravenna holds the royal family in thrall. Traveling from the back alleys of London to the sparkling minarets of Muscovy, Ahna discovers that Freesia holds new perils and dangerous foes. Back in her country, she is forced to choose between the heart she never knew she had and the land that she was born to rule. But with Casper’s help, Ahna may find a way to have it all…

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

*eARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review

I was wondering how I would like this book after seeing a significant range of early read ratings and comments online by Blud fans, wherein there didn’t seem to be quite the amount of enthusiasm as there was for earlier installments. I personally thought it was absolutely incredible, and my only guess as to why my opinion differed slightly from other Blud series lovers is that I started the series with book #1.5, not with Book #1, and didn’t actually read Criminy’s story until after Wicked As She Wants.

With that all said, Delilah’s series is unlike anything I’ve read before and each new story just sucks me in further!

Readers are introduced to Casper Sterling, a.k.a “Maestro”, in book #1 of the series when he’s involved with Tish (who ultimately becomes Criminy’s wife). Casper’s story and elaboration of his tortured character are further elaborated in book #1.6, The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance. Finally, the enigma that is the Maestro is unveiled in Wicked as She Wants, and what a tale it is!

Casper has a lot of issues and even more secrets, but at his core he desperately wants to redeem himself, and he’s truly a good man. He cares deeply for his charge Keen- a young orphan that he took under his wing, and even though she tried to kill him upon their first meeting, he decides to do everything in his power (and really whatever it takes) to help the Princess Ahnastasia.

Ahna is the Feodor of Freesia, rightful bloodman heir to the throne, and a truly fascinating character. She’s haughty, oftentimes nasty, sometimes naive, and surprisingly vulnerable. She has an innate strength & kindness, but her circumstances have never taught her how to properly portray those qualities. She and Casper together learn countless things about themselves and each other and the growth of character is fascinating to read.

Wicked as She Wants was action packed, thrilling, and sexy, and I can’t wait for Wicked After Midnight. 5 Skulls!

Are you ready to join the Bludbunny Brigade!?? They really are spectacular and we highly recommend them. :)

CONTEST:

In celebration of the release of Wicked As She Wants, we’re giving away winner’s choice of book from the BLUD series in either Kindle or Nook format.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for today’s Event on our Author’s Corner page 5/10 – 5/14, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good luck, and as always… Happy Reading!

[Archive] Series Spotlight, Reviews, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway with Jocelynn Drake_5.8.13

5/8/13
Series Spotlight, Reviews, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway
with…
Jocelynn Drake!

LITERAL ADDICTION is very proud to welcome the incredibly talented Jocelynn Drake back to our site today!

Jocelynn, the eldest child from a Midwestern family, began her writing future at the tender age of 12, re-writing and recording the entire story of Robin Hood as she thought it should be told in the tattered remains of a notebook. Since then, life has taken many twists and turns, but the one constant has been her love of writing and desire to tell an incredible tale, and we, as fans, are certainly grateful for that!

She is a New York Times bestselling author, and has captured fans attentions and hearts with her DARK DAYS series as well as her work in the “Unbound” anthology that she collaborated on with several of our other favorites.

To the great sadness of her readers, after just 3 years, DARK DAYS came to a close with book #6, “Burn the Night” in June of 2011. Now, however, Jocelynn has brought us the amazing ASYLUM TALES series, and it just keeps getting better and better!

We strongly suggest that you check out Jocelynn’s entire backlist HERE, but for today’s Event, we’re going to concentrate on the ASYLUM TALES series and its new release, “Dead Man’s Deal”…

The Asylum Interviews: Bronx
ASYLUM TALES #.5 

Released 7/3/12

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBookstore | Google eBooks

*Read LITERAL ADDICTION’s Review HERE

In Low Town, where humans walk and work side-by-side with elves, vampires, ogres, and all manner of creature, it’s understandable that people occasionally need a little help in their lives. Whether is love, work, or … other, tattoo artists are there to try to help turn the odds into your favor. When Gage’s friend Parker needs help with his love life, tattoo artists Gage and Bronx are only too happy to help. But the incubus ends up getting more than he bargained for with his new tattoo, and his friends are forced to scramble to fix the mess they’ve created before someone gets hurt.

The Asylum Interviews: Trixie
ASYLUM TALES #.6

Released 9/4/12 

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBookStore | Google eBooks

*Read LITERAL ADDICTION’s Review HERE

The second of two prequel stories to Jocelynn Drake’s Angel’s Ink.
Gage’s ex-girlfriend is back in town and needs help escaping a master vampire. While not the easiest of tasks, he certainly didn’t count of getting help from a mysterious woman with a few secrets of her own.

Angel’s Ink
ASYLUM TALES #1 

Released 10/16/12

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from Amazon | B&N | iBookStore | BAM | Powells | Book Depository

*Read LITERAL ADDICTION’s Review HERE

Buyer beware …

Looking for a tattoo-and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of true love, or even a hex on an ex? Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town. Using his unique potions-a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks-to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart’s desire. But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has its price.

No one knows that better than Gage. Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Tower where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him the right to practice magic. And if he disobeys, his punishment-execution-will be swift.

Though he’s tried to fly under the radar, Gage can’t hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead-or the secrets of his own past. But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage just might make it through this enchanted world alive.

Blood By Moonlight Anthology
Includes ASYLUM TALES #1.5 

Released 11/12/12

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBookStore | Google eBooks

Just in time for the scariest season of all, three popular paranormal authors come together to tell original tales of romance where Anything can happen under a Halloween moon …

Tempers flare and passions rise in Jocelynn Drake’s Of Monsters and Men as the local werewolf pack clashes with the Winter Court’s Wild Hunt …

In Terri Garey’s The Ghoul Next Door, a witch and a warlock battle it out for possession of a haunted house, but the ghost may have her own agenda …

And, in Trick or Treathen by Caris Roane, a master vampire struggles to stay away from the mortal woman who enflames his very soul.

Dead Man’s Deal
ASYLUM TALES #2 

Released yesterday, 5/7/13!

Add to your GoodReads Shelf

Buy from Amazon | B&N | iBookStore | BAM | Powells | Book Depository

Dead Man’s Deal by Jocelynn Drake continues the dark and dangerous adventures of a magical tattoo artist begun in Angel’s Ink.

In a gritty urban fantasy world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart’s desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price.

The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions. Too bad if innocent humans and monsters—entire cities—get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

*eARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Jocelynn Drake delivers another mind blowing read with the 2nd installment of The Asylum Tales, and continues some of the most fantastic world building I have ever encountered!

As the conflict between the Towers and the rest of the world escalates, Gage and his loved ones are once again caught up in the midst of the chaos. Per usual, loyal, selfless, protective, absolutely lovable Gage lays everything on the line to protect those he loves and the lives of the innocent. Jocelynn is so in tune with her leading man and writes so vividly, that as he fights tooth and nail and sacrifices just about anything & everything he can, you can’t help but be caught up in the story and cheer him on, feeling as if you were right there with him.

The tone and pacing of the plot were fantastic, and the arc of the story is evolving spectacularly. Amidst the magic and mayhem we get some delicious sneak peeks into what might be, as well as some delightful regressions into what was, all adding up to a fast paced, action packed Urban Fantasy that is also incredibly touching and full of heart.

I am thoroughly obsessed with this unique and gripping series and highly recommend it! While Dead Man’s Deal can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest reading the 2 prequel novellas and Angel’s Ink beforehand. The added history and character development story you will gain will make Dead Man’s Deal just that much more enjoyable (and that’s saying a lot).

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Dead Man’s Deal a well earned 5 Skulls.

Do we have you hooked!? We certainly hope we’ve turned some new readers on to this wonderfully unique Urban Fantasy series that will have you wanting more and more , and we always like to remind fellow Jocelynn Drake superfans why we love her so very much. :)

Make sure to add them all to your TBR lists if you have not done so already, and get your copy of “Dead Man’s Deal” today! For the rest of today though, let’s see what Jocelynn had to say when we let her take over the sites for the day and give us the top 10 reasons why you should read Dead Man’s Deal:

AUTHOR AMBUSH
BY..
JOCELYNN DRAKE

Top 10 Reasons to Read Dead Man’s Deal
By: Jocelynn Drake

10. A male narrator – Urban fantasy has more than its fair share of kick-ass heroines who are keeping all the scary monsters in line. But what about the men? To help do their part, Gage Powell (former warlock, now tattoo artist) is lending a hand. While occasionally frustrated and always sarcastic, Gage is fighting the Low Town monsters so you don’t have to while giving some interesting insight into the male mind.

9. Meet Gage’s family – In the short stories and Angel’s Ink, you’ve met Gage’s friends and enemies. With Dead Man’s Deal, you finally get to meet the family Gage was forced to leave behind.

8. Take a peek into an Ivory Tower –Want to know what it’s like in one of those Ivory Towers but are afraid of running into a witch or warlock? In Dead Man’s Deal, Gage gives you a brief tour of a Tower, taking you closer than ever before.

7. Meet a Lorialet –The world of the Asylum Tales is filled with strange creatures, many of whom don’t often appear in urban fantasy books. One strange creature is the Lorialet, who manages to help and completely irritate Gage. Stop by and meet Lori while discovering how he knows Trixie.

6. Bronx is back –The charming troll who is friends with Gage and works at Asylum is back! He’s developed an impressive following among readers and I’m happy to say that he’s back and still trying to keep Gage from getting himself killed.

5. Training in the Towers – Ever wonder what training was like for the young apprentices in the Ivory Towers? Gage finally offers up details on his childhood spent in the Towers. This ain’t Harry’s Hogwarts.

4. See a new floor of Chang’s Black Market Warehouse – Gage has visited his black market connection on several occasions but it’s always been to the same floor in the subbasement. Ever wonder what’s on the other floors? Walk down a new floor with Gage in Dead Man’s Deal and see what other hidden treasures Chang has in his warehouse.

3. Magical Tattoos – Tattoos have gained in popularity during the past several years so that you either have one or know someone who does. And even if you don’t like body art, it’s hard not to appreciate a magical tattoo. Want some ink that keeps you looking young? How about some ink to give you good luck or love? How about ink that helps you stay at your perfect weight no matter what you eat? Gage and the artists at Asylum can help you out.

2. Find out what it takes to tempt Gage to leave the woman he loves – After pining for Trixie for years, he finally has her, but a new and unexpected temptation crosses his path. What is it? Is it enough to lure him away?

1. Discover Gage’s real name – When Gage was taken away from his family at the age of 7, he was forced to choose a new name, a new identity as he left his old life behind. Get a glimpse of that old life, starting with Gage’s birth name.

You want to read it even more now don’t you!!? :) Well, how about we give you a chance to win a signed copy…

CONTEST:

Jocelynn is offering up a signed copy of “Dead Man’s Deal” to a US RESIDENT winner from today’s Tour Stop.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for today’s Event on our Author’s Corner page 5/8 – 5/12 follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck and as always, Happy Reading!

[Archive] Series Spotlight, Reviews, Interview with the Cast of MARK OF THE VAMPIRE and Giveaway for Laura Wright_5.7.13

4/7/13
Series Spotlight, Reviews, Character Interview and Giveaway for Laura Wright!

Hello everyone!

We are very excited to have the fantabulous Laura Wright on our sites again for her ETERNAL DEMON Blog Tour and to help celebrate today’s release of Eternal Demon, MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #5, and the recent release of its predecessor, Eternal Beauty, MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #4.5, which just came out on April 2nd.

Laura Wright (AKA - Writer Lady) is the creator of the phenomenal MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (MOTV) and BAYOU HEAT series, as well as, some great standalone novels (for a complete list of Laura’s standalone romance titles click HERE). In case you’re not familiar with Laura yet, here’s her bio so you can learn some more about her:

Author of the Bestselling Mark of the Vampire series, Laura Wright spent the early years of her life immersed in the worlds of singing, acting and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she’d found her true calling. Laura lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, two children, three dogs, two frogs and two fish. She’s been thrice nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and loves hearing from her readers
.
Connect with Laura:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

As most of you already know, we’re HUGE fan girls of Laura and her MOTV series. If you have not yet read this series, we highly suggest that you do. Laura created an original and creative spin on the vampire world and every book grabs you from the beginning and leaves you counting down the days until the next release.

For those of you that have not read the series yet, we have posted all the books below in reading order plus their synopses, some quick buy links, and our reviews of the last several books to get you all caught up:

MARK OF THE VAMPIRE series

Eternal Hunger
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #1

Buy from Amazon | B&N | iBookStore | Indiebound

FEAR IS IN THE BLOOD

Alexander Roman wants nothing to do with the controlling rulers of his vampire breed or the family he escaped from a hundred years ago. But as a new threat to the pureblood vampires emerges, Alexander’s ties to the past are forced upon him again, and without warning, he finds himself - disoriented, terrified, and near death - at the door of a stranger.

TRUST IS A RISK

Dr. Sarah Donohue is dedicated to removing the traumatic memories of her patients - like those of the stranger at her front door. But what he tells her of his past is too astonishing to be anything more than the delusion of a madman. Yet she has seen his flesh scarred by the sun and witnessed his inhuman strength. And never more has she felt so connected to a man, by both fear and seductive excitement.

LOVE IS ETERNAL …

But as their worlds collide, Sarah and Alexander are bound by something even stronger, as one becomes hunter and the other prey. And Sarah’s only chance of survival is to surrender to the final - and most unimaginable - desire of her life.

Eternal Kiss
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #2

Buy from Amazon | B&N | iBookStore | Indiebound

Sacrifice will be their downfall. And their resurrection.

Family is blood.

His father unknown, his mother dead, Nicholas Roman was raised by the vampire Breed with one wish: to live as a normal vampire. But once he’s transformed against his will into a gifted immortal, Nicholas now has one goal: to stop the Eternal Order of vampires from controlling his life and from transforming more males from his bloodline for their vicious reign. Then comes a beautiful stranger with a startling secret.

Vampire Kate Everborne claims she’s sheltering Nicholas’ long-lost son. If this is true, then who is the mother? And how endangered are they if, indeed, Nicholas does possess the bloodline so coveted by the Order? These are questions that with every seductive whisper, every silken touch, draw Nicholas and Kate intimately closer and nearer still to the truth. But aroused too are Nicholas’ fears that this tantalizing woman has even more secrets—both dangerous and provocative—she has yet to share.

Eternal Blood
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #2.5

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Gray Donahue is crippled by the guilt he feels for his father’s death. An Impure vampire cursed with the ability to hear the thoughts of others, he indulges in blood and sex to stave off the pain of his existence. He is then abducted by the Eternal Order of Vampires, who subject him to a nightmarish ritual. But when he is rescued by the icy pureblood vampire Dillon, he finds something that is worth living for, dying for, killing for….

*Check out L.A’s Review HERE

*Check out BMR’s Review HERE

Eternal Captive
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #3

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Since feeding her his blood, Lucian Roman has struggled with his obsession with Bronwyn Kettler-fighting an uncontrollable desire to kill her, if he has to, and the vampire she has sworn to wed. But when a dangerous enemy threatens Bronwyn, only Lucian can save her life. Even if it means sacrificing his own…

*Check out L.A’s Review HERE
*Check out BMR’s Review HERE

Eternal Beast
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #4

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo

A Taste of Blood

Ever since his abduction by the Eternal Order of Vampires, Gray Donohue has finally found his true calling: vengeance. He will stop at nothing to bring his fellow Impure vampires the freedom they deserve. Now if he could just release his primal need for the beautiful vampire who saved his life—and rules his thoughts and desires…

After nearly killing the senator she was assigned to protect, Dillon is now in mortal danger. The jaguar within her has been unleashed, and she can no longer control it. Sex is the only thing that can tame her shift. And Gray is the only man who can make her surrender to a passion strong enough to overpower her inner beast. But she doesn’t want to surrender—she wants her life back. Because she is determined never to belong to anyone, especially not Gray—the male whom destiny claims is her mate…

Well, now that we’ve got you all online downloading and buying this outstanding series, let’s see what Laura did for us when we let her take over our sites for the day…

*Check out L.A’s Review HERE

Eternal Beauty
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #4.5

JUST RELEASED 4/2/13!

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo

He is captivated by the one who saved him from death—until he finds out who she is…

When his lover is murdered by evil vampire-beast, Cruen, the grief-stricken Synjon Wise believes his life over. Enraged, he flashes her away to a remote spot in South America to give his beloved’s body a proper burial. But when the sun blazes overhead and takes her body before his eyes, Synjon’s mind completely unravels. Mad with the need to join her, he walks into the sun a morphed male, prepared to die.

He awakens to find himself amongst a breed known as Shifters. As he is nursed back to health by Petra, who saved his life, Synjon feels no gratitude—only anger and guilt that he is still alive. But this female is strong and refuses to let Syn waste away. For the bond that will form between them will be enduring: as nurse and patient, male and female, savior and saved.

Betrayer and betrayed…

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

Eternal Beauty is an intense & sexy novella!

As the series has been subtly doing, with the growth of the cast, the world has been expanding as well, and this novella takes a journey into yet another new corner of the wonderful MARK OF THE VAMPIRE world.

Eternal Beauty gives us a wonderful peek into the dark and revenge-bent mind of Syn, and some more in depth knowledge of where Petra has been all of these years.

I’m very excited to read more about Syn and Petra and see how things play out with their insinuation into the rest of the Roman/Impure/Mutore society. This couple is sexy as sin (forgive the pun) and this is a story that cannot be missed for all MOTV fans!!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Eternal Beauty 4 Skulls.

Eternal Demon
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #5

JUST RELEASED today – 5/7/13!

Buy from Amazon | B&N | Kobo

When Erion’s son is kidnapped by the evil vampire Cruen, Erion vows to stop at nothing to find his hideaway—including intercepting the traveling party of Cruen’s beautiful bride-to-be. But instead of a vulnerable caravan, Erion is met by a feral band of female demons that includes Hellen, the bride—a creature of dark magic and darker passion.

Though the safety of his son is foremost, Erion can’t deny his unexpected connection to Hellen—inflaming a manic desire as primal as it is irresistible. As their bond intensifies, they move toward an inevitable and terrifying battle. With time running out, Erion realizes he must not only find and rescue his son but protect Hellen from Cruen and the underworld forces waiting to destroy her for her betrayal.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

*eARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Eternal Demon is another incredible installment to a series I will forever be grateful I discovered.

Fans of the MARK OF THE VAMPIRE series know that as the series has progressed, the world has been expanding along with the growth of the cast. Eternal Demon adds yet another realm to the incredible world Laura Wright has created for her readers, and with the introduction of this realm and new cast members, Laura embraced the darker side of her imagination and I absolutely loved it!!

Our hero, Erion - a vampire Mutore hybrid - is on a mission to rescue a child kidnapped by the villain of our series, Cruen.

Our heroine, Hellen, is one of the Devil’s daughters. She has been betrothed to Cruen in order to form an alliance between the vampires and demons, though there are more nefarious purposes in play that Hellen is unaware of.

In order to draw Cruen out, Erion kidnaps Hellen and there is an instant connection, even though neither quite understand it at first. They have a ton of things in common, and yet it’s more than that. As the two end up working together to save Ladd, their connection grows even stronger.

Laura created a perfect match for Erion in Hellen. They bring out the best in each other, help each other forgive the things they can’t get past on their own, and remind one another that they’re special and worth loving. They also come alive on the page and have fantastic dialogue. As I mentioned earlier, Eternal Demon is quite a bit darker than the previous books of the series, and in compliment, the dialogue is a bit darker, and the humor more dry as well. it worked perfectly with Erion and Hellen, and made reading their transition from lust to love utterly entertaining.

I want to tell you SO much more about the plot of this amazing book but I can’t without spoilers, so I’ll simply tell you that in my honest opinion, this was a beautifully written and incredible addition to the MARK OF THE VAMPIRE series full of intrigue, action, danger, and romance. I love the additions to the cast, the expansion of the world to the Hell realm, and the darkness that Laura is tapping into in order to mesh it all together.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Eternal Demon 5 Skulls and definitely recommends it. I do, however, suggest that you read the previous books of the series - including the eNovellas - first, to get the most enjoyment out of the book. Eternal Beauty (the eNovella right before Eternal Demon) is especially needed to understand the Epilogue of Eternal Demon, which is the draw dropping segue into book #6 of the series. I cannot wait!

Eternal Sin
MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Book #6

COMING 11/5/13!!

Pre-Order from Amazon | B&N

Love and Vengeance…

The violent attack left Synjon destroyed and his lover dead—at the will of the evil vampire Cruen. Syn’s passionate savior was Petra. When she became pregnant with his child, it should have been a blessing—until Syn vanished after discovering the truth: Petra was the daughter of the man he despised above all others. The daughter of Cruen.

When Petra’s health begins to decline, she contacts Syn to help save their baby. Though reluctant to see Petra, he cannot turn his back on his own innocent child. But night after night, as his feelings for Petra are rekindled, Syn becomes increasingly torn.

Although everyone assumes that Cruen is dead, Syn is not convinced—and is still hell-bent on finding and destroying him once and for all. But will his thirst for vengeance keep him from seeing what is really worth living for before it is too late?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Well, now that we’ve successfully turned some new readers on to the series and have you all building up your TBR lists and staking them out from your favorite booksellers, and reminded long-time MOTV fans why we love this series SO very much, what do you say we let you in on our BIG surprise for today?? We have the transcript of our long awaited meet and greet with the Cast of MOTV for you! *Woot* May we present, the cast of MARK OF THE VAMPIRE…

WARNING:

This interview contains some small spoilers for events that happened in earlier books of the series!!

O.K, so this is an interview over 2 years in the making. One that we desperately hoped to have one day, but weren’t sure we’d ever get the chance to do. So, as we sit here about to get started – a little bit nervous, A LOT excited, and desperately trying to contain our inner fangirls (pffssh, yeah right!) – we wanted to give you all a little bit of background into how this meet and greet came to be, and just how important it is to us.

Laura Wright and the Roman brothers are pretty much how your dynamic duo came to be. It was May of 2011 and we were having a Live chat with the lovely Writer Lady about her boys and her books, and that was the day the two of us officially met online. About 2 weeks later we did our first joint Event together and the rest, as they say, is history.

Laura is a repeat offender on our sites and the very personification of a “V.I.P” to us. We’ve been mutually squeeing fangirls since before we even met, and would read the damn phone book if Laura wrote it. And then there are the Roman brothers… yeah, our hearts will forever hold the mark of those vampires! *sigh* However, as those of you who read the books know, it’s not easy to pin those boys down for a Q&A! Jeesh. We’re relentless though, and after mucho groveling, promises, and finagling, we were finally able to secure a date to meet the gang up close and personal. So, without further ado, here’s the transcript of our once in a lifetime day with the cast of MARK OF THE VAMPIRE:

[After finally nailing down the specifics (and yes, having minor heart attacks) we headed off to the Compound in SoHo. The place was huge and beautiful – even from the outside - but also very obviously under construction. The gang was in the process of merging the Roman Credenti with the Mutore Credenti next door so that they could have one huge sprawling estate, and the evidence of that was there for us to take in while we waited for someone to meet us at the gate and grant us entrance.]

[As we chatted excitedly with one another we saw a couple coming towards us from the house on the left. Two women, one with long dark brown hair and the other with long blonde hair, walked towards us laughing with each other. It looked like we were about to meet Sara and Kate.]

[With big welcoming smiles the ladies opened the gate for us and gestured us inside…]

Carla: *Reaching out to shake hands* Holy crap! Er, sorry… I’m just a little bit excited to meet you guys. *laughs* I’m Carla from Book Monster Reviews. Thank you guys so much for letting us come out here today to talk with you all. This is incredible.

Chelle: *Smiles and shakes hands as well* Yeah, you’ll have to forgive us. We’re a bit starstruck. *laughs* But she’s right. Thank you so very much for taking time to talk with us and letting our readers get a bit of the inside scoop. We really appreciate it. I’m Michelle from LITERAL ADDICTION, but everyone calls me Chelle. It’s so good to meet you.

Sara: *Shakes both womens’ hands* We don’t normally allow humans inside the compound, but of course you two are special. O Positive, right?

Kate: *sniffs, then grins* Definetly O Positive. The boys’ favorite. What a great welcoming prezzie, by the way :)

[We walked with the ladies up to the house making small talk, and followed them inside the Compound. The place was amazing - huge, and yet instantly inviting. Even from just inside the front door we could hear the murmur of a good number of voices from the other room and our excitement grew.]

Chelle: *looking around in awe* So… who all is joining us today?

[The comment is cut off by a very large man with a military haircut, deep red eyes and key shaped brands on his cheeks sweeping into the room to plant a big kiss on Sara. Looks like we get to meet Alexander.]

Carla: *Looking over at Chelle* Well I guess that answers the question of whether or not Alex will be here. *laughs*

Alex: *puts his arm around his mate* Welcome, Ladies. My beautiful veana here is a spectacular hostess. Just make sure she doesn’t tire herself out *He touches her growing belly*

Sara: *laughs* I’m fine and so is your balas. Kicking and punching, just like a true Roman.

[As we were chatting we made our way into the great room where everyone was sitting around talking, drinking, and laughing. Kate had already made her way over to Nicholas and was sitting on his lap sharing an intimate private smile. Lucian was over by the fireplace holding Lucy, and Bronwyn was nearby in one of a reading chair set talking with Synjon Wise. We did a double take at Erion sitting on the floor playing with Ladd because at first we thought it was Nicky, and Dillon and Gray were sitting on a nearby loveseat arguing playfully with one another. It looked like the whole gang was pretty much here. We were really only missing the other Mutore.]

Synjon: *Looks up* Who the bloody hell is this?

Lucian: *grins* Lunch.

Bronwyn: Not in front of Lucy, Luca. I refuse to let her grow up into a sarcastic, tough little—

Dillon: *laughing* Too late.

Gray: *stands, gestures to a leather couch* Ladies, please sit. I promise all those with fangs will keep them tightly leashed until you depart.

[We took our seats on the open couch and glanced around the room in a bit of a daze.]

Chelle: As we told Sara and Kate at the gate, thank you all so very much for taking time to talk with us today. Our readers are going to be ecstatic!

Carla: Yes, thank you all. It’s truly an honor to be here. We promise not to take up your entire day, but we definitely wanted to talk to each of you who Laura’s featured in a book a bit to allow our readers a little ‘behind the scenes’ treat.

Nicholas: *nods* Ask away. We have nothing to hide.

Lucian: *snorts* You of all people did not just say that.

Nicholas: Shut it, Luca.

Synjon: *growls* Yes, Frosty. We all like you better when your trap is shut.

Brownyn: *turns and growls back at him*

Synjon: Stand down, Veana.

Carla: O.K, so first up is Alex and Sara. How has the adjustment been with the growth of the family as of late, and what are your thoughts on growing the family in a more personal way in the not too distant future *winks*?

Alexander: I can’t wait to be a daddy. And I can’t wait to see my beautiful mate be a mother. She’s going to be outstanding.

Sara: *blushes and smiles at him*

Alexander: *reaches out and stroked her belly*

Chelle: Nicky, it had to have been an adjustment meeting your twin after all of those years. Can you explain the feelings?

Nicholas: *his gaze shifts to Erion, then back to Chelle* I feel like I got a raw deal. Being a twin and not knowing it…you always feel as though something’s missing, and you have know idea what it is. You know, I have hopes that over time, we can get some of that back.

Erion: *nods* Definitely.

Chelle: And Kate, it had to have been a relief to you to be able to keep Ladd with you, and now he has an entire huge family to help care for him. What’s that been like?

Kate: *her eyes are a little sad* I can’t imagine not having Ladd in my life. He’s so special to me. I can’t help thinking of him as partly mine.

[Ladd comes running over and throws his arms around her. Her sad eyes shift to utter happiness.]

Carla: So Luca, the new Breeding Male huh? *shakes head* It must be a huge relief for you to have Bronwyn by your side to help balance things out though, and now you have Lucy to spoil rotten. *smiles* How did you two get through it all up to this point without going crazy?

Lucian: *his eyes narrow* I may be the Breeding Male by blood, Carla, but I am Bronwyn’s Male through and through. She doesn’t balance me, she turns me upside down and inside out, and fuck, it rocks!

Brownyn: *grins broadly* I love you, Luca, but please don’t say ‘fuck’ in front of our child.

Chelle: Gray, how are things going with the Impure Resistance initiative?

Gray: *his expression is completely impassive* That’s classified, Ladies. But let’s just say, Times are a changing.

Chelle: And Dillon, how’s the new job? *winks*

Dillon: *Smirks* I fucking hate it. *she turns to Bron* Sorry about that Bron. I know you don’t want anyone saying ‘fuck’ in front of the kid.
[Everyone laughs]

Carla: Erion, where are your other brothers? Make sure to tell them ‘hi’ from us…

Erion: *nods* I will. They work on the home next door. Creating a new world for us on the roof. Perch for Phane, pool for Helo..

Carla: *gesturing to the happy little boy playing on the floor* You’re so good with Ladd! *smiles* How has it been having him in your life along with your twin?

Erion: Strange, yet surprisingly wonderful. He is a solid, intelligent, hardworking young male.

Chelle: *grimacing* Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive Cruen for what he did to you and the other Mutore?

[The room gets quiet. No one speaks for a moment. Then..]

Dillon: No forgivness. Ever. There is no one who deserves it less.
[Everyone nods solemly.]

Carla: Speaking of Cruen… Syn, how goes the hunt? How are you holding up?

Synjon: *He says nothing, just stares at Carla with a watchful, solemn gaze.*

Chelle: We wish you all the very best and hope that things calm down very soon! Now that we got all of the serious stuff out of the way, *smiles* we always like to end our interviews by asking our guests to dish a bit about one another. So… *laughs* Who’s the hardest to live with?

The Entire Room: Luca.

Bronwyn: Hey! Not true.

Carla: *laughing* Oh boy, we’ve started it now! *shakes head* But, since we got you all rolling, how about this? We’re all a bunch of saps on BMR and LA, so for those of you with your mates present, what do you love most about each other (unless you’d like to tell us what you love or hate most about someone else in the room)? *snickers*

Sara: Alexander is the most loyal and loving male in the world.

Kate: Nicky is my other half. No one knows me like he does.

Nicholas: And no one ever will, my sweet.

Lucian: My mate should get a medal for what she has to put up with from me.

Bronwyn: But all I want is your heart.

Lucian *grins, kisses Lucy’s head.*

Dillon: I refuse to be sappy, but you know, I love the guy to death. And I mean exactly that.

Gray: Thanks, Baby.

Chelle: *still smiling* So, what’s up next for you guys? We know we get to read about it when the lovely Writer Lady gets the stories out there, but can any of you give us a hint or two?

Lucian: *knock his chin at Synjon* Brit Boy here gets a book of his own. Can’t wait for that insanity.

Syn: Fuck you, Frosty. *turns to Bron* Sorry about that.

Carla: Well this has been awesome! Thank you all so much again. We brought Swag from the sites for the ladies to thank you (don’t worry, we have awesome stuff, nothing useless) *laughs* The guys may even get some use out of some of it, but don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. *smiles*

Chelle: Yes, promise, your secrets are safe with us! Well… admittedly not all of them, after all, we’re sharing your answers from this interview with thousands of people. *laughs & bounces a bit on the couch* I can’t wait to let our readers take a peek!

Sara: Thanks for coming. And for not being afraid to bring that fresh, human blood with you.

Kate: We’ll walk you both out.

[As the thanks wind back down to small talk and chit chat around the room, we share a look with each other and a knowing smile. This has really been a dream come true. We’ve had some incredible trips to meet cast members from different series, but getting to meet the gang that brought us together initially is an interview we’re not soon to forget!]

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In celebration of the release of Eternal Demon, Laura is hosting a great giveaway on the Tour:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Grand Prize: One winner will receive a Kindle ($69.00 Value)

Runners-Up: FIVE (5) runners up will receive their choice of eBook from either the MARK OF THE VAMPIRE Series or the BAYOU HEAT Series.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget on our Character’s Corner page (or at any of the other tour stops), follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck!

Don’t forget to follow along for the rest of Laura’s tour as well!

5/05 - Under the Covers
5/05 - Cocktails and Books
5/06 - My Secret Romance
5/06 - Book Lovers Hideaway
5/06 - Reader Girls
5/07 - Book Monster Reviews
5/07 - Literal Addiction
5/07 - Books-n-Kisses
5/08 - The Reading Cafe
5/08 - Bookin’ It Reviews
5/09 - GraveTells
5/09 - Wicked Readings
5/10 - Froggarita’s Bookcase
5/10 - I Smell Sheep
5/11 - Book Lovin’ Mamas

[Archive] Spotlight, Review, and Giveaway for Larissa Reinhart_5.2.13

FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT
5/2/13
Spotlight, Review & Giveaway
for…
Larissa Reinhart

Hey everyone!

LITERAL ADDICTION is very happy to be promoting for Larissa Reinhart today to help promote and celebrate her latest book, “Portrait of a Dead Guy”.

About Larissa:
Larissa Reinhart loves small town characters, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (May 2013) is the second in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series. The first, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. Expect HIJACK IN ABSTRACT and a Cherry Tucker novella in THE HEARTACHE MOTEL out in November and December 2013.

She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website; her expat blog; or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook; at her Facebook page; Twitter; and Goodreads.

For those of you that are just now hearing about “Portrait of a Dead Guy” and Larissa’s CHERRY TUCKER MYSTERY series, here’s some info to get you all caught up…

Portrait of a Dead Guy
CHERRY TUCKER MYSTERY Book #1

Buy now: Amazon Kindle | B&N Nook | Kobo | Amazon Paperback | B&N Paperback

In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than kudzu climbs telephone poles — but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry find herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.

Our Review by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

Portrait of a Dead Guy is a delightful, light-hearted Southern mystery with lovable characters, fantastic dialogue and a truly fun story!

Beyond the fun mystery, my favorite part of the book was the undeniably ‘real’ cast - A strong, independent and quirky leading lady who will make you shake your head at the binds she gets herself into without even trying, the two men after her heart - the heartthrob rocker who may or may not be adorably clueless, and the sexy rich boy who may or may not have a heart of gold underneath the spoiled brat facade, Cherry’s loving yet dysfunctional family, and the delightful residents of the small town who round out the charming setting perfectly.

The story itself is fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns, and yet steady enough to not cause confusion. I did ultimately figure out the ‘who-dun-it’ myself, but it was gradual, and completely enjoyable as each new secret was unveiled. It was also incredibly refreshing, unique and engaging from the very beginning.

While I generally don’t like to do comparisons, especially if the book was beautiful in its own right (which this one was!), I think it might help readers… The book had a bit of a ‘Stephanie Plum’, or Lexi George (without the paranormal) feel.

Portrait of a Dead Guy really has everything a good book should have and I would definitely recommend it.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives book #1 of this exciting new series 4 Skulls.

In celebration of “Portrait of a Dead Guy”, Larissa is doing a great tour Giveaway…

CONTEST:
Grand Prize: (1) $20.00 Visa Gift Card
Runner-Up : (1) eBook of Portrait of a Dead Guy

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for Larissa’s Event on our Author’s Corner page (or at any of the other tour stops), follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.
Good Luck!

Make sure to follow along with the rest of Larissa’s tour as well…
4/28- Love in A Book
4/29- Bianca2b
4/29 - Fandom Fanatic
4/30- Book Monster Reviews
5/02- Literal Addiction
5/03- Books-n-Kisses
5/04- My Book Addiction
5/06- Mad Hatter Reads
5/07- Salacious Reads
5/08- United by Books
5/09- The Jeep Diva
5/11 - Froggarita’s Bookcase

[Archive] Series Spotlight, Reviews, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway with Karina Cooper_4.30.13

4/30/13
FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT

Series Spotlight, Reviews, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway

with…

Karina Cooper

Hello everyone,

LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very happy to welcome the wonderful Karina Cooper back to our sites today!

Karina has a great ‘unofficial’ bio on her website so we thought we’d borrow it for today’s Event:

“After writing happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, Karina Cooper eventually grew up (sort of), went to work in the real world (kind of), where she decided that making stuff up was way more fun (true!). She is the author of dark and sexy paranormal romances, steampunk adventures, crossover urban fantasy, and writes across multiple genres with mad glee. Her award winning steampunk series, The St. Croix Chronicles, is the RT Reviewers Choice Awards recipient for Best Steampunk Novel 2012 and has been nominated for an RT Seal of Excellence.
One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain’s wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, a severe coffee habit, and the fantasy of a dog. Visit her at www.karinacooper.com, because she says so.”

Karina’s the proud creator of the DARK MISSION Paranormal Romance and the ST. CROIX CHRONICLES Historical Urban Fantasy series.

We’re here today to help Karina promote and celebrate the final release of the DARK MISSION series, “One for the Wicked”, which was just released TODAY – 4/30/13!

We also wanted to remind you about the DARK MISSION Novella, “Wicked Lies” that was released on 3/5/13, where all proceeds are going to support the It Gets Better Project – a charity and community dedicated to communicating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and creating and inspiring the changes needed to make it better for them. Karina has an AMAZING and beautifully personal article about why she decided to do the Charity event over on her website. You can check it out HERE.

For those of you not yet familiar with Karina’s DARK MISSION series, here are all the covers, blurbs, quick buy links & our reviews of “Wicked Lies” and “One for the Wicked” to get you all caught up:

“Before the Witches”
DARK MISSION Book #0.5 

Buy from Amazon | B&N

In America, they didn’t care about witches. But all that was about to change.
Katya Zhuvova fled a country that feared her gifts, but her escape to Seattle left her at the mercy of a ruthless man. With no one left to turn to, Katya hatches a desperate escape plan. Undercover Detective Nigel Ferris is determined to bring down a prostitution ring, whatever the cost. In order to the get answers he needs, he attempts to win the trust of one of the prostitutes involved—but one look at the deceptively sultry Katya and the cool, objective cop disappears. Before either can put their plans into place, Mother Nature shrugs: a cataclysm rocks Seattle, and life is turned upside down.
Brought together by chance, Nigel and Katya are in the fight for their lives. Surrounded by death and fear, shattered by immeasurable loss, they have only a bond forged in fire to cling to as they struggle to survive in a world gone straight to hell.

“Blood of the Wicked”
DARK MISSION Book #1 

Buy from Amazon | B&N

When the world went straight to hell, humanity needed a scapegoat to judge, to blame … to burn.
As an independent witch living off the grid, Jessie Leigh has spent her life running, trying to blend in among the faceless drudges in the rebuilt city. She thought she was finally safe, but now she’s been found in a New Seattle strip club—by a hard-eyed man on a mission to destroy her kind.
A soldier of the Holy Order, Silas Smith believes in the cause: trawling the fringes of society for the murderous witches who threaten what’s left of the world. Forced into a twisting web of half-truths and lies, he has to stay close to the most sensuous and electrifying woman he has ever seen and manipulate her into leading him to the he witch he has to kill: her brother. Silas doesn’t know that Jessie’s his enemy, only that he wants her, needs her, even as he lies to her… and must protect her until his final breath.

“Lure of the Wicked”
DARK MISSION Book #2 

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Naomi West was plucked from one prison and placed undercover in another: the gilded cage that is Timeless, New Seattle’s premier spa and resort, where owner Phinneas Clarke—the most seductive man Naomi has ever met—may be hiding a killer. She’s an agent of the Holy Order, trained to hunt the guilty and render justice. But while she’s tracking down a rogue agent on a killing spree, Phin is determined to uncover her most damning—and dangerous—secrets. Whatever the cost.

“No Rest for the Witches”
DARK MISSION Book #2.5 

Buy from Amazon | B&N

New Seattle is changing. Witches and witch hunters have become allies, and the Order’s grip on the city is slipping. But they won’t go down without a fight…
After the disastrous end to their last mission, Jessie, Silas, and Naomi regroup at their sanctuary far beneath New Seattle. But their brief rest is shattered when Jessie “sees” two of their own attacked topside. Dodging bullets and black magic, they risk it all on a treacherous rescue mission. Already stretched to the limit, danger waits in unexpected corners. If the Holy Order finds them, the team is as good as dead. But they can’t hide forever…

“All Things Wicked”
DARK MISSION Book #3 

Buy from Amazon | B&N

The third book in Karina Cooper’s blisteringly hot and breathtakingly original Dark Mission paranormal romance trilogy, All Things Wicked returns readers to the author’s stunning dystopian world of witches and witch hunters, of repressive rules and forbidden desires. Fans of J. R. Ward, Kresley Cole, and the smash hit HBO vampire series True Blood will adore the story of Caleb Leigh, suspected murderer and one of the most powerful magicians on the planet, as he seeks redemption from the only woman he’s ever loved: Juliet, who blames him for the death of her sister and now wants revenge.

“Sacrifice the Wicked”
DARK MISSION Book #4

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Parker Adams has always done what’s expected of her … until a double agent with nothing to lose ignites a passion she doesn’t dare give in to.
Mission Agent Simon Wells is everything Parker Adams has been trained to fight: manipulator, murderer, spy… witch. But for her, what makes Simon most dangerous is his mesmerizing sexual magnetism, powerful enough to tempt even the famed ice queen of the Mission. Though she knows better, each encounter with the deceptive agent leaves her craving more.
Simon isn’t a man to let go of what’s his, and his pursuit forces Parker, a woman he can’t get out from under his skin, to make a stand that could destroy her. If they can work together, they might survive the politics that have enslaved their devastated world—or fall victim to the pitfalls of desperation, bone-deep mistrust, and a hunger that threatens to consume them.

“Wicked Lies”
DARK MISSION Book #4.5 

Buy from Amazon | B&N
*ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT!!

In this Dark Mission novella, Jonas Stone emerges from the shadows into his own story, and finally allows himself to have the same shot at love he’s given his friends.
Jonas Stone has been given his first independent operation: rescue the insurrection leader’s imprisoned grandson from the Mission. Getting the job done means more than getting Danny Granger out—it means staying with him while he heals. Staying too close, for way too long.
Danny is everything Jonas isn’t: confident, optimistic, honest—a man to be reckoned with. If only it didn’t mean going against everything Jonas has planned. He’s kept his secrets for years, hid behind a mask no one could see through…until now. Danny isn’t the kind of man Jonas deserves. But he might be exactly the man he needs…

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Wicked Lies was an incredibly moving novella by the fabulous Karina Cooper & to make it even better, all proceeds are going to support a great Charity - the It Gets Better Project!

I love me some nerd, so when Karina had mentioned that Jonas’s story would be coming up in a previous chat, I was very excited. In this crazy world of Supernaturals vs. the Church (where things are NEVER black and white), Jonas is the heir apparent for the tech genius spot of the rebel force, even though he used to be employed by the Church…

When the Rebellion leader’s grandson is kidnapped and tortured, Jonas is called upon to help Danny escape. While on the brink of death, yet still holding out, Danny hears this voice on the other end of a comm and gains some hope. He instantly feels a connection and dubs Jonas his “angel”. The interaction between Danny and Jonas during the escape was amazing; abstract and yet incredibly touching and emotional.

In true dark and gritty Karina Cooper fashion, however, there are no easy ‘happily-ever-afters’. While Danny knows that he’s gay and isn’t shy about the fact that he is very interested in Jonas, he’s got a long way to go both emotionally and physically to get over the trauma of his ordeal. Jonas on the other hand struggles with his sexuality because of the time he spent with the church, and has his own personal demons outside of that which he battles. This creates quite the wall between the two, and makes reading their struggles and surrender even more heart-felt.

This relationship pairing is stellar! Jonas and Danny are both similarly (yet opposing) tortured men, thrown into an action packed and intense situation and required to rely on only each other despite their hangups. It was awesome to see the give and take between the two, and the growth of character in just a short novella was nothing short of incredible.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Wicked Lies 4 skulls and would definitely recommend it. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but the rest of Karina’s DARK MISSION series is certainly worth checking out!

“One for the Wicked”
DARK MISSION Book #5 

RELEASED 4/30/13!

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Dr. Kayleigh Lauderdale possesses the only cure for what’s killing the city’s witches. Desperate to acquire it, the resistance sends their best agent, but Shawn Lowe has his own agenda and it doesn’t include saving anyone-least of all, the daughter of his sworn enemy. He has to ignore the blistering attraction he feels the instant they meet, because he can’t give in until he gets what he wants. He just never counted on wanting her…
Kayleigh can’t believe how out of control Shawn makes her feel. He lies to her with one breath and excites her beyond reason the next. A reckless encounter could steal her heart, while the danger hovering over the city may prove too much for either of them to handle. When the world turns upside down, it will take everything Kayleigh and Shawn have to hold on… to life, to hope, to each other.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Oh Karina, way to go out with a bang! So intense, so HOT, so…absolutely amazing!! While I am super sad to see the series end, I am beyond honored to have been able to enjoy the ride, and thank you for leaving us all with this epic piece of your imagination. :)

So, how to sum up for those reading this review who have yet to take the DARK MISSION plunge? The series is set in a delightfully dark & somewhat dystopian world where it’s church against ‘other’ and prejudice and bias have left the witches fighting for their lives. However, it’s so much more than just the church bigots and the witches, and each and every book of the series revealed more and more complexity, mystery, and mayhem - all thrown together with some seriously emotional moments and incredible romance.

Our hero has been hell bent on revenge against our heroine’s father - the man solely responsible for turning his life upside down sixteen years previously, so when he’s presented with the opportunity to use his enemy’s daughter as leverage, he jumps at the chance.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as all that… Kaleigh and Shawn have an instant attraction, and no matter how much either of them fight against it, knowing that giving in goes against everything they’ve respectively been taught throughout their lives, nature takes its course and shakes things up (in more ways than one).

So how does it all end? Oh come on, I can’t tell you that! You’re just going to have to read it for yourself. I CAN tell you that Karina wraps things up beautifully with a strong couple who fights hard for their HEA while fighting just as hard to stay true to themselves, she brings back previous characters, which allows the reader necessary closure and ties up some lose ends from earlier installments, and she delivers it all in an action packed, intriguing, romantic, emotional, and utterly entertaining read that she should be very, very proud of.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives One for the Wicked an easy 5 Skulls and would highly recommend it. And while the books can be read as stand-alones, I do strongly suggest that you read the series from the beginning - in order - starting with the prequel novella, Before the Witches. Trust me, it makes things even better! :)

Oh, and random side note…I will never look at my studded leather cuff bracelets the same way ever again! ;-) [Now if that didn’t make you want to read it just to see what the heck I’m talking about, I don’t know what will!] Take the DARK MISSION plunge, you won’t be disappointed.

How amazing do they all sound!!? They are absolutely fantastic and we highly suggest that you check them out. We are very sad to see the series come to an end, but we are incredibly thankful for having been allowed along for the amazing ride, and we cannot wait to see what Karina has in store for us next! For the rest of today though, how about we see what Karina had to say when we let her take over the sites for the day (she got a little cheeky on us) :

One for the Wicked: Exclusive Excerpt!
With One for the Wicked finally wrapping up the Dark Mission series, I thought you might like a glimpse between the covers. Ahem. Not that kind of glimpse! I mean a look into what’s between Shawn’s legs.
Wait. Uh, I mean the trouble he gets up to with… A look at…
You know what? Here’s an excerpt from the final book. Make of it what you will!
What? You think this is a tease? You think there’s no possible way I’d spoil anything in an excerpt reveal?
Maybe.
Then again, maybe I shall spoil all the things. (Don’t worry. I don’t. I just ruin Shawn’s day, is all…)
~Karina

Making a Point
Hectic color stained her cheeks. Sweat plastered tendrils of her hair against her forehead, caught a strand against her mouth. He wanted to tuck a finger against the corner of her lips and stroke the glint of gold away.
And then he wanted to taste that bit of skin with his tongue. Follow the curve of her lower lip and find out if she was as indifferent to him as he should be to her.
He wasn’t. Maybe that other guy would have been, but Shawn definitely wasn’t. He’d proven that already.
Her shoulders tilted as she shoved at his chest. “I said—“
“I know what you said.”
Those eyes flashed. “I’m warning you.”
“I know you are.”
Panic twisted her mouth, swam behind her eyes. Another shudder slammed through her. He felt it sweep through her body, felt the way her body shivered into his. “Shawn, don’t…”
One knee slid between his legs, her thigh suddenly tucked even closer against his rapidly hardening erection, and he hissed in a breath.
She froze.
“Fact is,” he managed somehow through the jolt of sudden, adrenaline-fueled lust spiking through his senses, “I didn’t expect this. Any of…” His gaze skimmed to her mouth, to the gaping neck of her blouse. “This. Maybe I should have.”
That color deepened in her cheeks. Swept across her forehead, her jaw. “You had your chance,” she said, unsteady, trying so hard for angry.
He deserved angry. “I know. Believe me, Doctor, this—” Because he had no other name for it. “—isn’t what I want.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“Well, you can’t—” Her husky denial broke as his thumb dug into the soft skin just behind her ear. Her eyes flared. “You shouldn’t…”
When she trailed to silence, wild gaze glittering as it shifted away from his, Shawn almost groaned outright.
This wasn’t part of the plan. It had never been part of the plan, in any incarnation. He’d never imagined that his dick would find the concept of Kayleigh Lauderdale worth considering, much less thickening for.
Until she’d turned to him in her car. Until she’d kissed him. Now, as her weight shifted—as that leg pressed hard against him and she swallowed a wary, awkward sound—he wondered if her mouth would be cool and remote if he tried to kiss her again. If she’d respond the way she had in that car, a whole other lifetime ago.
Murderer, the vicious part of his brain whispered. She came from a line of them.
It didn’t help. The blood leaching out of his brain arrowed right for the greedy flesh between his legs, and he needed to reverse the flow. Now.
Only he didn’t want to.
“Wait—” The hand at his chest stiffened.
Too late.
He hadn’t even realized that his fingers curled into her hair. That he’d wrapped the tousled length of it around his fist. “Okay,” he murmured.
Her lashes flared, delicate fans around the wild panic in her eyes. “Shawn, stop.”
He wouldn’t. Not until he absolved himself of this temptation, this ridiculous need to taste her again. Mark her, brand her with his kiss as if he could burn it out in one go, get it the hell out of his system and off his mind.
It wouldn’t work. Shawn didn’t care.
Adrenaline surged as he tugged her closer, inexorably closer, until the wide shape of her diamond pale eyes filled his vision and her breath puffed against his mouth in rapid, shallow alarm.
“Just one.” A promise, a threat to his unruly body, each syllable ghosting over her lips as he framed the words. Her mouth parted on a gasp; she shuddered in his grip.
Just one fucking kiss.
Her leg jerked.
Pain lit up the inside of his skull like a blown fuse.
“Fuck!” A snarl, a wheeze, and then he couldn’t hang onto her anymore, too busy balancing the dual need to vomit with bone-deep agony spiraling up from his brutalized testicles. She flung herself backwards, wrenched out of his lax grip and crab-walked so fast, grit skittered out from her flailing limbs.
“Never,” she swore. A promise, an accusation. “Never again.”
He didn’t—couldn’t—answer, every inch of his body fighting the urge to go fetal, wrap around the soft flesh she’d jammed her knee into. Fucking hell. It’d been a long time since he’d let himself get caught that badly by anyone, much less a woman.
Much less this woman.
Racked by Kayleigh Lauderdale. For fuck’s sake.

CONTEST:
In celebration of the release of “One for the Wicked” and the end of an amazing run, Karina is offering up winner’s book of choice from the series to one lucky person from each site (International residents, eBook only – Kindle or Nook format).

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for today’s Event over on our Author’s Corner page 4/30 – 5/4, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck!

[Archive] Spotlight, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway with Deena Remiel_4.29.13

TODAY’S OTHER FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT

4/29/13
Series Spotlight, AUTHOR AMBUSH & Giveaway
with…
Deena Remiel

Hey everyone!

LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very happy to have Deena Remiel back with us today to help promote and celebrate her new book, “Demon A La Mode”, which was just released on 4/26/13.

About Deena:
It was the mystique of Arizona’s history and landscape that called to Deena and catapulted her career as an author. When she’s not writing romance and urban fantasy in the wee small hours of the morning or in the deep, dark of night, Deena teaches language arts to middle school students. She currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband and two children, but New Jersey will always tug at her heartstrings. She believes in angels and loves connecting with her fans, so find her at deenaremiel.com.

Connect with Deena:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

For those of you that are just now hearing about “Demon A La Mode” and Deena’s THE BOOK WAITRESS series, here’s some info to get you all caught up…

The Book Waitress
THE BOOK WAITRESS Book #1

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

Camille Dutton learned early in life Satan was not to be trifled with. Escaping his evil clutches as a child, he’s come back with a vengeance for her now.

Derek Galloway’s inquisitive nature has led him to be an award-winning investigative reporter and straight into the path of pure evil.

When a child vanishes from a sleepy island town, Camille, its subdued librarian, becomes embroiled in Derek’s investigation. A satanic cult has plans for the child, while Satan has plans for Camille and the rest of the world. Amidst evil of the most supernatural and human kind, Derek and Camille find a shred of light and goodness in the form of their budding relationship.

First in the Book Waitress Series, the portal between Hell and Earth will be torn asunder, and it will take everything Camille and Derek have and then some to close it. Satan won’t go down easy, but nothing worth everything comes without a price.

Devil Du Jour
THE BOOK WAITRESS Book #2

Buy from: Amazon | B&N

The Book Waitress, Camille Dutton, has luck on her side. Good and bad. On the upside, she narrowly escaped death and Satan claiming her soul. On the downside, a portal has been opened, and she can feel every time a creature from Hell crosses over to our world.

Derek Galloway is one tenacious man. His curious nature won’t let him rest until he closes Hell’s portal and finds a cure for Camille’s affliction. Satan will have one helluva fight on his hands if he tries to claim her again.

Camille and Derek, an unlikely couple, have found each other in the darkest of times. Will they find the answers they need to free her and the world from Satan’s grip? Or are they in for the longest, darkest battle of their lives?

Demon A La Mode
THE BOOK WAITRESS Book #3

Buy from: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | iTunes

Camille Dutton thinks she can save the world. But a rogue ice demon has no intention of letting her. At least not the way she’s planned. Forced to hide out from Satan, they find much in common even though they couldn’t be more different. Sparks fly as an undeniable force draws them together and they find out just how necessary he is to Camille’s life.
Complications abound as they return to the library. Derek and friends are none too pleased with the new addition to their group. With Hell’s portal opened and beasties passing through every day, there isn’t time to soothe emotions. Can the ice demon be trusted? Will this fragile group fall to pieces and allow Satan to gain control over the world? Or will they rise up stronger and with new resolve?

How fantastic do those sound!!? We know!! We certainly hope that we’ve turned some new readers on to Deena’s THE BOOK WAITRESS series, and we highly suggest that you check out her entire backlist as well!

For now though, let’s see what Deena had to say when we let her take over the sites for the day:

AUTHOR AMBUSH BY DEENA REMIEL

“Top 10 Things Readers Should Know About The Book Waitress, Camille Dutton”

10. Camille has a photographic memory, so she can recall, with frightening accuracy, any page she’s ever read.
9. Camille has issues with going to church.
8. Her favorite ice cream flavor is Moose Tracks.
7. Her favorite TV shows are Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, House Hunters/International, and any show with Gordon Ramsey.
6. She prefers red wines.
5. Camille’s never learned how to swim.
4. Ghosts interact with her and it doesn’t faze her at all.
3. Satan wants her so very badly.
2. She used to be a meek, mild-mannered, sheltered, and socially awkward young woman.
1. Camille Dutton is the Book Waitress, and she kicks demon ass!

In celebration of the release of “Demon A La Mode”, Deena is doing a great tour Giveaway…

CONTEST:
Grand Prize:
1. Promotional T-shirt
2. Free eBook of Demon a la Mode
3. Signed cover poster
4. Fan club bracelet

Runners up:
2nd place: signed cover poster and fan club bracelet
3rd place: signed cover poster

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for Deena’s Event on our Author’s Corner page (or at any of the other tour stops), follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck!

Make sure to follow along with the rest of Deena’s tour as well…
4/29 - Book Monster Reviews
4/29- Literal Addiction
4/29 - Mythical Books
4/30 - Confessions of the Paranormal
4/30 - Nette’s Bookshelf
5/01 - Sassy Book Lovers
5/01 - Kristina’s Books & More
5/02 - Close Encounters With The Night Kind
5/02 - Urban Girl Reader
5/03 - United by Books
5/03 - Page Flipperz
5/04 - Toot’s Book Reviews
5/04 - Delphina Reads Too Much
5/05 - Salacious Reads
5/05 - Book Lovin’ Mamas
05/05 - Darker Passions

[Archive] Series Spotlight, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway for Robin Perini_4.29.13

4/29/13
FEATURED AUTHOR EVENT

Series Spotlight, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

for…

Robin Perini

Hey literal addicts and book monsters! LITERAL ADDICTION & Book Monster Reviews are very happy to be promoting for Robin Perini today!
National Bestselling and award-winning author Robin Perini sold seven titles to publishers in one year after winning the prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award in 2011. Her writing’s motto: “When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe.” An analyst for an advanced technology corporation, Perini is also a nationally acclaimed writing instructor and enjoys competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting. She makes her home in the American Southwest.

Connect with Robin:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Robin in the proud creator of the MONTGOMERY JUSTICE series, and we’re here today to help her promote and celebrate the newest release, “Behind the Lies”, book #2, which was just dropped on 4/23/13.

For those of you new to the series, here are the covers, synopses, some quick buy links, and our review of “Behind the Lies” to get you all caught up:

In Her Sights
MONTGOMERY JUSTICE Book #1

Buy Now: Amazon | B&N | Audible

Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT’s only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor’s daughter, Jazz’s world begins to crumble around her.

Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

Behind the Lies
MONTGOMERY JUSTICE Book #2

Buy Now: Amazon | B&N | Audible

Of the six Montgomery brothers, Zach has always walked on the wild side. He rocketed to fame playing a hero in a movie, but offscreen he’s living in the shadows. Zach’s dark secret: he leads a double life as a CIA operative. When a mission to stalk a terrorist goes horribly wrong, Zach’s cover is blown. He’s on the run and fighting to stay alive long enough to discover whom he can trust—and who betrayed him.
Jenna Walters thought she’d married the perfect man—until she unearthed his terrible secret. Now, desperate to escape his crosshairs, she and her son take refuge in Zach’s secret hideaway. Sparks fly between Zach and Jenna even as danger explodes around them.
From Afghanistan to Turkey to the mountains of Colorado, assassins track them and are closing in. Not only is Zach’s life at stake, but now Jenna and her son are targets in this high stakes game.
Golden Heart Winner and seven-time finalist, Robin Perini offers up another page-turner.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review
I’m not generally a Romantic Suspense reader (I read Paranormals, Fantasy, Horror & Mystery). In fact, Behind the Lies was only the 3rd RS I’ve read. Ever. With that said, it was like the best action/drama movie on paper and utterly thrilled!

Zach, oour hero, is the assumed slacker & wild child of the Montgomery clan - a well known actor, but also an infamous CIA Agent. His cover gets blown, there’s a price on his head, and things just wtart to spiral out of control.

Our heroine is an abused wife and devoted mother trying desperately to find a way to make a new life for herself and her son. in attempting to escape her psycopathic husbamd she ends up in her superstar neighbor’s pool house, irrevocably meshing their fates.

Behind the Lies was ‘Truth, Justice and the Montgomery way’, where blood is always thicker, and rules were meant to be broken! :) it was tense, action-packed, and thrilling, and while I did see some of the outcomes, it was no less fun getting there.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Behind the Lies 5 Skulls and would definitely recommend it!

While you’re making sure that they’re on your electronic bookshelves and thinking of where you want to buy them from, how about we share the trailer and an excerpt!??

You can view the book trailer HERE.

BEHIND THE LIES EXCERPT:
She’d give the FBI one last chance.
“Fallon.” The crisp voice on the other end of the phone didn’t calm her as it had in the past. In fact, he sounded shaken.
No more out of sorts than she. “He knows.”
“Jenna?”
“One of the bugs is in pieces. I’m telling you, he knows. I’ve got to get out of here. Now. I don’t know why he hasn’t already killed me. Probably because he couldn’t find a babysitter on such short notice.” The forced laugh didn’t hide the panic in her voice.
Who was she kidding? She shoved underwear into the bag and yanked open another drawer.
“Wait a minute, Jenna. Let’s think this through. We can salvage the operation.” He didn’t sound like himself. Something was wrong. The gut instinct that abandoned her when Brad had swept her off her feet revved into overdrive.
For months after her dad had died, she’d survived on the streets, instinct and desperation her only allies. At fourteen she’d kept herself safe by trusting her gut.
Right now, every fiber in her being told her that the man on the other end of the phone was lying to her.
She couldn’t afford to doubt. Besides, why should she be surprised that another person she’d trusted was a liar?

Awesome yes!!?? :) We know! Hopefully we’ve turned some new readers on to Robin’s work. And to make that even easier, how about a contest?

CONTEST:
Robin is offering up the following on her tour…

Grand Prize: $100.00 gift card to Amazon or B&N
Runners up: Two (2) Runners-up will each receive a $25.00 gift card to Amazon or B&N

2nd Runner-up: Runner-up will receive an autographed complete collection of Robin’s books which will include Finding Her Son, Cowboy in the Crossfire (2013 RITA Finalist), Christmas Conspiracy, Undercover Texas (Carder Texas Connections) and In Her Sights and Behind the Lies (first two Montgomery Justice Novels)

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for Robin’s Event on our Author’s Corner page (or at any of the other tour stops), follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck!!

Make sure to follow along with the rest of Robin’s Tour as well:
4/19 - Curling Up With A Good Book
4/20 - Toot’s Books Reviews
4/21 - Page Flipperz
4/22 - Cocktails and Books
4/23 - Romance Junkies
4/24 - Book Lovin’ Mamas
4/25 - The Reading Café
4/26 - Riverina Romantics
4/27 - Deal Sharing Aunt
4/29 - Book Monster Reviews and LITERAL ADDICTION
4/30 - Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway
5/01 - Books-N-Kisses
5/02 - Beach Bum Reads
5/03 - Books, Books and More Books
5/04 - Books A La Mode

[Archive] Spotlight, Cover Reveal & Giveaway for Stacey Kennedy and CLAIMED_4.26.13

4/26/13
Spotlight, Cover Reveal & Giveaway
for…
Stacey Kennedy
and
CLAIMED!

Hello everyone!

LITERAL ADDICTION is happy to be promoting for the fabulous Stacey Kennedy once again today (we love her as a repeat V.I.P!)

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

CONNECT WITH STACEY:
Website - http://www.staceykennedy.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy
Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy

We’re here today to help Stacey unveil the absolutely delightful cover for her upcoming book Claimed, Book #1 of her CLUB SIN series. Check it out…

“Claimed”
CLUB SIN Book #1

Publisher: Loveswept
(Random House Publishing Group)
ISBN: 9780345548306
Release date: August 5, 2013

Add it to your GoodReads Shelf!

Pre-Order from: Amazon | B&N

A novel of erotic discovery and forbidden desire that goes beyond Fifty Shades of Grey.

Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies … and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.

Presley is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in Dmitri far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon, igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.

Claimed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Contest:

Stacey is offering up winner’s choice of eBook from her backlist click HERE to take a look through her entire backlist.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget for today’s Event on our Author’s Corner II page, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

Good Luck!