Demon Bound - Meljean Brook

Demon Bound is part of Meljean Brook’s Guardians series. Follow this link to read all about what makes Meljean's world unique.

The series is defined by brilliant characterizations and intricate world-building. But don’t let the latter scare you – I find Meljean’s writing style wonderfully easy to read. If you want to check things out for yourself, the author has a ton of excerpts on her website.

Demon Bound is the story of Jake, one of the new and inexperienced Guardians, and Alice, an older (and rather creepy) Guardian. Alice keeps pet spiders. Yes, big, black, crawly spiders.

I’m going to be honest. When I realized Jake was the hero of DB, I was skeptical. Sure, he was cute in the other books, but a hero?*

Well, that’ll teach me to doubt Meljean. This book is wonderful! Not only is Jake a great hero, Alice is a brilliant heroine, spiders and all. I think what I love most about Meljean’s books is that her characters are all very unique individuals—and they remain true to who they are even as they grow and change through the books.

As well as the love story, there are some major developments in the overarching backstory—I’m hoping Meljean writes the next book really fast, ‘cause I want to read it right now!

Needless to say, Demon Bound is totally recommended!

If you haven't tried the series yet, I've got something to tempt you - leave a comment on this post about anything your heart desires, and I'll throw you into the draw for a signed copy of Demon Night, the previous book in the series...Drifter, mmm...

Plus, because it's November, I'll pick two more winners, one of whom will get Jessica Anderson's Night Keepers, while the other winner will get Robin D Owens' Heart Dance - both signed :-)

Comment away! Contest closes Sunday Nov 9th, 2008, midnight New Zealand time. I'll announce the winners next week.

*I wrote this up when I first read Demon Bound, but this morning, I saw this "What the hell was I thinking?" post by Meljean. *g*

It's November!

Where did October go? Seriously?!

What's everyone up to today? I've got a meeting with fellow members of Romance Writers of New Zealand, and I'm really looking forward to talking, talking, talking *grin*

I know for a lot of you, it's still Oct 31st, so Happy Halloween!

I Love Your Blog Award

Look, Bridget Locke gave me this cool I Love Your Blog award! :) I'm supposed to pass on the love, but that's a toughie - I have a seriously ridiculous number of blogs on my feed reader.

So after much umming and aaahing, here's what I have to say.

I love professional/writing blogs, but I have a special place in my heart for reader blogs - and in this category, I include writers and industry professionals who blog about books they enjoy. I love the energy that comes from reading a post written by someone who just loves books. It's thanks to reader blogs that I'm now addicted to Lisa Kleypas, and I've read or tried out countless other books after seeing a particularly passionate post on it by a reader.

So, to all of you who read and blog about books, I love your blog :)

OOTB Tour: The Darkest Touch - Jaci Burton

I've got an OOTB tour for you today. Check out the details below!
___________________

He’s a hunter, a savior, a seducer.

And she just can’t get enough…

THE DARKEST TOUCH by Jaci Burton

Ryder. The man was just as sexy as she remembered him:

Tall, lean and dangerous, a demon hunter with the body of a god…

But archaeologist Angelique Deveraux has little time for lust. She’s been hiding a gleaming black diamond, a prize everyone wants—including Ryder—and now she’s running for her life. Hot on her trail is Ryder, a legendary demon hunter she desires but can’t quite trust, a man with an insatiable need for danger and a few dark secrets of his own…

As sparks ignite between the rogue hunter and his latest prey, Angie’s world is rocked again when her twin sister vanishes, stolen away by the same dark forces stalking Angie and the black diamond. With Ryder offering protection— and more —suddenly a woman who’s never trusted anyone is falling for a man who isn’t afraid of anything…except losing his heart. Now, as an all-out demon war erupts and Angie’s family secrets unravel, Ryder’s demon-hunt and Angie’s quest to save her sister are about to collide. And when they do, it’ll send these two wary hearts on the wildest adventure of their lives—and maybe even save humankind in the process…

Excerpt: http://jaciburton.com/thedarkesttouch.html

ABOUT JACI BURTON

Jaci Burton was born and raised in Missouri but now lives on an acre-and-a-half in Oklahoma with her husband Charlie and five unruly dogs. Jaci loves to write about passionate relationships with sometimes stormy outcomes but always a happily ever after.

REVIEWS

~Romantic Times Bookreviews~ Gifted Burton adds more dark thrills and sexy danger to her well-paced story as these protagonists must fight to choose their destiny.

~Wild on Books~ THE DARKEST TOUCH is a brilliant addition to this saga that cannot be missed by fans of erotic paranormal romance!

Website http://www.jaciburton.com

Chat in 2 hours!

Sorry for the late notice everyone, but I'll be chatting at Coffeetime Romance at 9pm E.S.T., Tuesday 28th. (That's 2pm Wednesday for those of you on my side of the world). :)

Happy Diwali

Today is Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Wishing you all a Happy Diwali! :)

Q&A and Psy/Changeling Series Info and Writing

How about that long title? I decided to go for descriptive today *g*

The Q & A is almost over - I'll leave the thread open for questions until tonight my time (end of Sunday in the States), so if you've got something to ask, make sure you get it in before then.

Also, during the Q & A, several readers volunteered to collate general information about the Psy/Changeling series (did I tell you yet that I love you guys? :)), so I've set up a thread for that. Everyone is welcome to join in!

And, this quote came across one of my writers' groups the other day and I had to share.

"Many people hear voices when no-one is there. Some of them are called mad and they are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same."(Meg Chittenden)

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend :)

Psy/Changeling Series - Reader-Collated Info

I'm setting up this thread as a result of a discussion in the recent Q & A, where several readers volunteered to collate some general information about the Psy/Changeling series ie. things like when a character was first introduced, how he or she is related to other characters, and any other relevant facts.

So this thread is for things already established. If you'd like to speculate on future books or storylines, swing by the Hostage to Pleasure Spoiler Thread.

Everyone is welcome to join in! :)

Q & A

As promised, I am now open for questions. The Psy/Changeling series, the Guild Hunter series, writing related questions, it's all good.

To kick things off, I have a question AND answer for you.

Which Psy/Changeling book is now available for pre-order?

Branded By Fire!

I'll leave this thread open all weekend, and answer directly in the comments, so all the info will stay in one place.

Writing

That's what I'm doing today. :) What about you?

Reader Interview: Katy Brand on Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

It's time for this week's reader interview - focusing on books readers of this blog consider absolute keepers. If you'd like to participate, you can find all the details here.

Also, if you'd like to read previous interviews, click on the Reader Interviews Part Deux tag at the bottom of this post.

Today's interviewee is Katy Brand! (And she's talking about a book that's among my personal favorites, too!)

Katy Brand on Pamela Morsi's Simple Jess

a) What's the book about?

It is the story of a man named Jess who lives in a small community in the Ozarks and his developing relationship with a local widow. It's hard for Jess to learn things and you see examples of this throughout the story, but he is also a man of common wisdom. The story revisits a community where other stories have been written, so you also get lots of side tales and old friends to meet again.

b) What do you love most about this story?

I love the realism of this story. Jess isn't the brightest, but he has learned strategies and routines throughout his life and he uses them to make the most of his life. He sets out to win the girl, but goes up against men who have seemingly much more to offer. I love the fact that he's not a superhero or mega-rich or a genius. He's just an ordinary man with drawbacks and with strengths. The heroine is also someone trying to make her way in life. She is a mother and has realistic view on life. She and Jess's relationship is a struggle that has you rooting for them the whole book. It's hard to describe why I love this book so much. It just feels so pure and fun and wonderful to me. It makes me want to meet these people and visit this town.

c) How many times have you read this book?

Too many to count. At least once every couple of years since it was released. I still keep it in my nightstand drawer in case I want to pull it out and re-read it again.

d) Who would you recommend it to?

I recommend it to any and all!

e) Anything else you want to add?

Though this book is different from Nalini's, I think that one of the things I like about both is the well developed characters. They have quirks and faults. They have idiosyncrasies. They also have a sense of community and justice.

:) Katy Brand

RNTV & Contest Links

I'm helping to celebrate Halloween over at RNTV today :)

Also, a couple of contest links! (These widgets are pretty nifty.)

First up, a contest being run by Dear Author, SBTB & Erin McCarthy.



I'll be posting about Demon Bound soon (great book!). Check out the contest Meljean is holding prior to its release.

Lisa Kleypas

I blame the bloggers in romancelandia for my new addiction. I admit it – I’d never read a Lisa Kleypas novel until about two weeks ago. In my defense, I’m really, really choosy about my historicals, so great as Ms Kleypas’ books looked, I wasn’t convinced they’d work for me.

Then she came out with Sugar Daddy. A contemporary. I resisted. If I’m choosy with historicals, I’m downright picky about contemporaries. Then she wrote Blue-Eyed Devil, and I swear, I couldn’t go to most of my favorite blogs without tripping over a glowing review for this book.

It was too much. I had to know what everyone was talking about!

I opened it one Saturday, proceeded to ignore every other person in the house, took it with me to dinner, then to bed. Needless to say, I was hooked.

Next, I got my hands on Secrets of a Summer Night, wondering if I’d like her historicals even half as much. Shall we just say that I went through Autumn, Winter and Spring in rapid succession, and am now waiting to devour A Wallflower Christmas (Marcus is my favorite by the way).

I also have Sugar Daddy (calling to me in a seductive whisper saying read me, read me...). I’m an addict. I hope all you LK bloggers are happy *grin*

The awesome thing about coming late to the party is that Ms Kleypas has a delicious backlist. So, help me feed the addiction – which Lisa Kleypas book should I read next?

NYT!!,Transcript & Catchup

First, some news! The Magical Christmas Cat hit #21 on the New York Times Extended Bestseller List!! :)

Also, the transcript from yesterday's fabulous chat is now up.

So, what're you all up to this weekend? (I'm hoping to check out the Diwali Festival in my neck of the woods.)

Chat Reminder

Interrupting the cover love to bring you a reminder about tomorrow's today's chat!

Location: The Knight Agency Chat Room (Enter a username and login. Easy!)
Time: Thursday 16th, 9 pm E.S.T.

I've done some timezone conversions:

Berlin, Germany: Friday 17th – 3 a.m
Bangkok,Thailand: Friday 17th – 8 a.m
Sydney, Australia: Friday 17th – 12 noon
New Zealand: Friday 17th – 2 p.m.

If you’re in another timezone, go to www.timeanddate.com/worldclock, choose the Meeting Planner option, then put in your city, and New York (which is on Eastern Standard Time). You’ll get a side-by-side chart that’ll let you work out what time it’ll be in your timezone

For those of you who can’t get to the chat

There will be a transcript, and I’ll also be doing a question and answer session on the blog from the 24th to the 26th of October.

See some of you at the chat! :)

Angels' Blood Cover!!

I love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Merry

These Snarkface greeting cards made me laugh. Enjoy!

Reader Interviews: Mariana Arias on Cry No More by Linda Howard

It's Tuesday and time for a reader interview - focusing on books readers of this blog consider absolute keepers. If you'd like to participate, you can find all the details here.

Also, if you'd like to read previous interviews, click on the Reader Interviews Part Deux tag at the bottom of this post.

Today's interviewee is Mariana Arias!

~

Mariana Arias on Linda Howard's Cry No More

a) What's the book about?

Milla Edge and her doctor husband are now living in Mexico where he is posted. She is a first time mother that truly loves her child. On her way to the market she is attacked and her child vanishes.

This is a story about a mother's fight to make sense of a gigantic loss; her struggle to find her son at the cost of everything. Milla becomes obsessed with finding what happened to her son. She founds a company, Finders, that reunites lost ones with their family; to help those in her same circumstance. In her search, she receives a line that may lead to her son. In her investigation she meets dangerous and silent Diaz. Will he help or hinder?

It is the story of determination and a mother's true love.

b) What do you love most about this story?

I love this story because I can understand the need to ensure a child's safety no matter the cost. I love that Milla is strong and determined. I love that Diaz loves her as she is and still can underestimate what her son's well being means to her. I love that I can still read this story and be moved by it.

c) How many times have you read this book?

I have bought this book in all it's formats and have read every format multiple times; don't know the count though.

d) Who would you recommend it to?

I recommend this book to everyone; those I know and those I see in book stores :)

e) Anything else you want to add?

I asked a friend to read this and she said she doesn't like books where children are harmed or exploited. There are many that feel the same, and I get that. But I feel this books is beyond that. Love is central in this book, between the characters themselves; and I feel between the writer and the characters.

Monday Links

Here are some fun links to start off the week.

Amanda Ashby has just put up her fantastic cover for Zombie Queen of Newbury High (isn't that an awesome title?!)

RNTV has given THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT a great review. The reviewer had this to say about Stroke of Enticement -"I absolutely, positively loved this novella." :)

And staying with RNTV, they're kicking off their fabulous 13 Days of Halloween extravaganza this Wednesday - with guest authors, contests and prizes, so don't forget to swing by!

What are budgie smugglers? Guess. Then click over and read this article on Australian English. So, who got it right? *g*

Bollywood Break

We haven't had any Bollywood on the blog for a while, so today, I give you Hrithik. This man can dance!



Here's the trailer for the movie itself (it's about the cat and mouse game between a master thief and the cop out to catch him.) It's a really great movie - action, romance & some very cool stunt-work.



Hope you're all having a good weekend!

Interview

I've got an interview up at Christina Phillips' blog. Follow the link to read :)

Mercury's War - Lora Leigh

I'm a huge fan of Lora Leigh's Breed books - I haven't managed to get my hands on the entire series yet, but I think Mercury's War might be my favorite Breed book to date.

I closed it with a sense of complete and utter satisfaction, and this gut-deep sense that Mercury and his heroine would make it, that they were absolutely meant to be together. Happy sigh :)

What've you been reading this week? Any books coming out soon that you're looking forward to?

OOTB Tour: Red Fire - Deidre Knight

I've got an OOTB tour for you today. Check out the details below! Spartan warriors? I'm so there! I've been wanting to read this since I first heard about it.

RED FIRE by Deidre Knight
Out Now!

“Powerfully sensual and mind-blowing,”* Deidre Knight’s novels have set the standard for boldly erotic paranormal romance. Now she unleashes an electrifying new series in which seven Spartan warriors, immortal protectors of humankind, battle their passions—a collective weakness that could lead to their downfall.

Eternity has become a prison for Ajax Petrakos. Centuries after he and his Spartan brothers made their bargain for immortality, Ajax struggles to maintain his warrior’s discipline. His only source of strength is his hope that he will soon meet the woman once foretold to him—the other half of his soul, Shay Angel.

Ajax searches for his destined mate on the haunted streets of modern-day Savannah, but he isn’t the first to find her. Shay, the youngest of a powerful demon-hunting clan, can see the monsters that stalk the steamy Southern night—an ability that draws the deadly attention of Ajax’s worst enemy.

As she and Ajax race to solve a chilling prophecy—one that could spell Ajax’s death if they don’t succeed—a fated passion arises, threatening to sweep away everything in its path.

*Romance B(u)y the Book

Excerpt

ABOUT DEIDRE KNIGHT

Deidre Knight is president of The Knight Agency, which she founded in 1996. Since that time, she has grown the agency to national prominence, landing authors on every major bestseller list. Deidre began her writing career at age nine, when her award-winning essay on Barbie was published in her hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She has been writing in one form or another ever since. After nearly a decade of working with Knight Agency clients, helping them discover their creative potential, her fiction debut with NAL in 2006 marked the fulfillment of her own lifelong writing dream. She is excited to embark on yet another new and fulfilling creative journey.

REVIEWS

“White-hot immortal warriors, heart-pounding romance, and thrilling action. It doesn't get any better than this!” --Gena Showalter, New York Times Bestselling author of The Darkest Pleasure

"Deidre Knight has created a fascinating world of gods, demons, and immortal warriors. Her heroine, Shay Angel, is both strong and sympathetic, a woman discovering powers she never knew she had. Legendary Spartan Ajax is handsome, seductive and haunted -- a hero to inspire delicious dreams. I can't wait for more!" –Angela Knight, New York Times Bestselling author of Master of Dragons

“Hot Gates, hot men, myth and magic in modern day... Red Fire flies above the rest. Sign me up for more Gods of Midnight!” – Jessica Andersen, bestselling author of Nightkeepers

"Scorching hot with a pace that never lets up." --Christina Dodd, New York Times Bestselling author of Touch of Darkness

“Knight provides an intriguing new twist to both Greek mythology and legendary Spartan warriors with this searing new series, as she sets up an alternate world that begs to be explored.” – Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“Here is a story as rich and as vibrant as any myth, and for those who are interested in the paranormal, Red Fire is a real feast for the hungry and a no holds barred winner.”—RomanceAtHeart.com

Website http://www.deidreknight.com

http://www.godsofmidnight.com

Release Day! & Website

Oct 7th is the official release day of THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT, so let's celebrate!

If you haven't checked out the excerpt for "Stroke of Enticement", follow the link above.

Both the anthology and Stroke of Enticement have been getting great reviews. Check out some of the review links below!

"I have loved every story in Nalini Singh’s PSY/CHANGELING series so far, but I do believe that Zach and Annie’s story is my new favorite! Everything about this tale totally worked for me." ~ Wild On Books

"And, can I say, OH MY about this hero. I wanted to lick him all over." ~ Gwen for TGTBU

"Honestly? It made me want a Leopard Changeling of my own." ~ Book Binge

"Zach is the kind of hero I love to read and dream about – devastatingly handsome, charming, intelligent, protective, and slightly mischievous...made me sigh and wonder where I could find a hero like him. ~ Shayna for Joyfully Reviewed

"Verdict: I love Nalini Singh’s love stories, and specially her male protagonists – the changelings that are so strong and yet so ready to die (and to kill) for their mates." ~ The Book Smugglers

"STROKE OF ENTICEMENT has sizzle, snap, and genuine joy." ~ Sarah W for Romance Junkies

"The Magical Christmas Cat is a fantastic holiday anthology...I absolutely adored getting to visit all these different worlds with all their different types of characters in one book." ~ ParaNormal Romance

Also the website has been updated with lots of great new info, especially on the Psy/Changeling Behind the Scenes page. The links for the BRANDED BY FIRE and ANGELS' BLOOD excerpts accidentally disappeared off the front page, but they'll be going back on. :)

Hope you're all having a great start to the week!

Novella Love

Today's post is over at the Down Under Desirabelles blog. Come on over and join me! :)

Claiming His Runaway Bride - Yvonne Lindsay

Reading this book really brought home to me all the reasons why I've always loved category romance - the intense focus on the romantic relationship, the raw emotional power of a story when it's done well, and the sheer un-put-downability factor. This book had all of them.

Here's the blurb:

He Didn't Want Her To Remember...

The accident that had taken Belinda's memory had provided Luc with the perfect means for revenge. His beautiful bride had no recollection of fleeing her groom on their wedding day...or the real reason behind their union. All she recalled was the unbridled passion they still shared--and the steely-eye mogul planned to take full advantage of it.

Full disclosure - Yvonne is a very close friend of mine and she sent me a signed copy as a gift, but the instant I started reading, all I cared about was the story. I curled up in a chair, opened it to the first page and didn't get up again until I'd turned the last page. I had to see if these two would manage to heal their relationship, but not only that, if their HEA (Happy Ever After) would be believable.

I'm happy to say that by the end, I really felt that Belinda and Luc had come through the fire and would make it. For me, the pivotal point was Luc's realization in the final part of the book about an integral aspect of his nature and how it had affected his relationship with his wife - it was a very, very powerful emotional moment, and something you rarely see in these hard-edged alpha heroes.

So needless to say, this is highly recommended! You can read an excerpt on Yvonne's website.

Any other category fans? Who are your favorite authors? Favorite types of category stories?

Weekly Catchup

It's Friday already!! This week has just zipped by (though lazing in bed suddenly seems like an excellent option *grin*). I've been working on the proposal for the next Guild Hunter book (Angels' Blood will be the first one), plus the first draft of the next Psy/Changeling book. I'm also looking forward to the Oct 7 release of The Magical Christmas Cat.

What've you all been up to? Any weekend plans?

Jaci Burton's Riding Temptation & A Birthday!

A little bird told me it's Christine's birthday - hope you're having a great day, Christine! :)

~

Today, I've got something special for you. An exclusive excerpt from Jaci Burton's October 7 release - RIDING TEMPTATION! This is the second book in Jaci's Wild Riders series. If you like bikers, serious heat, and a dash of action, this one will fit the bill.

Here's the backcover blurb:

He’s a biker working undercover for the Feds. She joined the Wild Riders for reasons of her own. Together, they’re burning up the asphalt and tearing headlong into danger and passion…

Naked under leather.

Ever since runaway Jessie Matthews teamed up with the gang of special ops bikers, the Wild Riders have thought of her as their kid sister. Except for Diaz Delgado. Over the past few years he’s been watching the budding of a ripe young woman. Jessie’s glad somebody finally sees her for who she is—and she’s thrilled it’s Diaz. His dark good looks and killer body have tempted her since day one.

Diaz’s unbrotherly urges have been hard to fight but the last thing he’d want to do is hurt Jessie and break up the gang. But when they both go undercover to infiltrate a group of killer survivalists, he knows it’ll be hard to keep his distance—especially when the mission takes a risky turn. Now Diaz has no choice but to open himself up to the one woman who may be strong enough to take him on.

Onto the excerpt! Don't combust now ;)

Excerpt - Jaci Burton's Riding Temptation

Diaz cursed when he heard the knock at the door. He pushed back from the too small desk, cursed again when he bumped his leg, and hobbled to the door, mentally letting loose another string of obscenities when he saw who it was through the peephole.

Jessie.

He unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open.

“What?”

She arched a brow. “Wow, you’re grumpy. Do you need a nap?”

“No. Just some solitude.”

“Too bad.” She slid her way past carrying a bag and two cans of soda, which she laid on the nightstand next to his bed. “I brought dinner, figuring you wouldn’t order anything since you had some sort of research to do.”

She kicked off her sandals and climbed onto his bed, pulling one of the pillows out from the bedspread and tucking it behind her back. “Hope you like turkey.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Weren’t you listening? I brought dinner.” She opened the bag and laid two sandwiches on the nightstand, then popped open the top of one of the soda cans. “I’ll take care of setting things up, so, don’t let me disturb you.”

Too late. One look at her and he was distracted. One whiff of her as she passed by, her breasts brushing his chest, and he was definitely disturbed. Deeply, profoundly disturbed. She smelled like sunshine, outdoors, and Jessie. He wanted to lick her neck.

How the hell was he supposed to work with her in the room?

“Are you hungry yet?” she asked.

Yeah, he was hungry all right. But not for a turkey sandwich. “No.”

“Is that a laptop?”

He took the chair and resumed his spot at the desk again. “Master of the obvious, aren’t you?”

“Smartass. I didn’t know you brought one. What are you doing?”

“I told you. Research.”

She slid off the bed and came up behind him. He tried not to breathe her in, but he couldn’t avoid it. The scent of her was right there, as was her body as she leaned over him.

“The Devil’s Skulls have a website?”

“Yeah,” he managed, though he wasn’t concentrating on the screen anymore. “Most of the prominent groups have their own websites so they can show off pictures, list their activities and where they’re going to be. I figured if the Skulls were big enough, they would, too.”

“Show me.”

He flipped through the pages of the website, showing her pictures of bike rallies and fundraisers, lists of their officers and members, some of the charities they gave to.

“Do they have a calendar of events?”

“Yeah.” He clicked on it. “It brings up the current month as well as future months and what’s happening.”

“It says they’re going to be at the rally.”

“Yup.”

“Hmm. Wonder why they weren’t there today?”

“No clue.”

She laid her hand on his shoulder, leaned farther in, her breasts pillowed against his back. For the love of God, the government could use her as a torture device. She could break a man in less than ten minutes rubbing her breasts across his back. His balls were already twisting up in a knot.

Diaz always prided himself on his self-discipline. Torture him? Fine. He could handle it. He had a high threshold for pain, could tune it out and focus inward on something else. There wasn’t much that could faze him once he decided to power his concentration on the task at hand.

He tried that now, focusing his attention on the computer screen, trying to cull as much information as he could about the Skulls so they could come into the group well informed.

It wasn’t working. Jessie was devastating to his senses and the information on the laptop was a total blur.

“Well, this is surprising,” she whispered, her breath warm against his neck.

“What is?” He hoped he hadn’t missed critical information. How would he explain something right in front of him? I’m sorry but your breasts distracted me?

End of excerpt...but if you follow this link to Jaci's site, you might just find that the chapter continues. Enjoy!

Book links!

So I was scrolling down my blog feeds and I found some links I thought you all might be interested in.

The Knight Agency (my agency!) is giving away 10+ titles by its authors to two lucky winners - you just have to swing by and drop your name in the hat.

Silhouette Nocturne is giving away a free Caridad Pineiro novella. Details on how you can download the story available here.

Also, available for download are the first 11 pages of (Patricia Briggs') Mercy Thompson comic Homecoming. Full details at Urban Fantasy Land and Dear Author.

OOTB Tour: Veiled Truth by Vivi Anna

I've got an Out of the Blogosphere tour for you today. Check out the details below!

VEILED TRUTH by Vivi Anna

(Silhouette Nocturne, October 1, 2008)

Five years ago, virginal Lyra Magice had fled powerful dhampir Theron LeNoir's advances. But now an ancient text the dhampir possesses holds the key to solving murders that have plagued Necropolis. When another body is found and evidence points to the Mistress of the city, duty dictates that Lyra work with Theron—a man she regards as haughty, arrogant and immoral—to translate the symbols left at the crime scenes. But with their forced alliance comes darkly sensual dreams that leave her feeling wanton and achy….

Unwilling to reveal his dark past, the dhampir soon discovers that Lyra—a witch of great power—is to be the sacrificial virgin in a demonic scheme to open a portal to hell itself. Salvation will come only if Theron can win Lyra's trust—and her heart.

Excerpt: http://vivianna.net/veiledtruth.php#excerpt

ABOUT VIVI ANNA

Canadian author, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in the Amazon jungle, an apocalyptic future, or the otherworld city of Necropolis, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

She writes for Silhouette Nocturne, Kensington Aphrodisia, Avon Red, and epublishers - Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Loose Id and Whispers Publishing.

She’s an active member of RWA, serving as President of her chapter in Calgary.

REVIEWS

RT TOP PICK

“A police detective in Necropolis, witch Lyra Magice works with Theron LeNoir, half-witch/half-vampire, to foil a demon’s plot to take power within the city. Not to be overshadowed by the supernatural storyline of Veiled Truth (4 1/2), the relationship between Lyra and Theron is full of chemistry. Vivi Anna’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the plot is riveting. This book will definitely hold readers’ attention.”

“Veiled Truth is a captivating, impossible to put down, story filled with mystery, intrigue, and passion that I totally adored.” – Lyonene, Joyfully Reviewed, RECOMMENDED READ

TOP PICK

“Another highly enjoyable urban fantasy romance from Vivi Anna! This series is consistently fun and fabulous—in a dark, crime-solving kind of way, of course”. – Kay, Romance Reader at Heart

Website: http://www.vivianna.net

Spoiler Thread & Chat

The Hostage to Pleasure Spoiler thread is now open, so discuss away!

Also, the date for the chat I promised you has been set.

Thursday October 16th
9 pm E.S.T. (Eastern Standard Time)
The Knight Agency Chat Room

I'll have the link to the chat room closer to the date. If you're in another timezone, you can use www.timeanddate.com/worldclock, to figure out the day/time of the chat in your location. (Use the Meeting Planner option). Because I love you all, I've worked out a few conversions:

If you're in Berlin, Germany, that's: Friday 17th - 3am (sorry!!)
If you're in Sydney, Australia, that's: Friday 17th - 12noon
If you're in New Zealand, that's: Friday 17th - 2pm

I'll post all this info again before the chat. And if you're having trouble with figuring out the time in your area, email me. :)

Sweet Surrender - Maya Banks

The one good thing about spending so many hours in transit is that I had a lot of time read, and I read some great stuff, so look out for a few book posts in the coming weeks.

However, Sweet Surrender was a book I read right before my trip. And I have one word for it - HOT! Seriously, it might be a good idea to invest in some gloves when handling this one.

Here's the backcover blurb:

Sometimes the first step in taking control is surrendering.

Under Faith Malone’s deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants. A strong man who’ll take without asking—because she’s willing to give him everything…

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner—and bring him to justice. So far, he’s found a link between the killer and Faith—and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.

Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she’s playing games. No way she would allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?

Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it’s no game she’s playing. She’s willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner’s killer has to be his first priority. Until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her.

What I liked best about this book is that Faith knows what she wants and she goes after it. Maybe she makes some mistakes in how she goes about trying to achieve her goals, but the important thing is that she doesn't sit at home and wait - she takes active steps to fulfill her needs. So even though this book is about a woman who craves submission, Faith is actually a very strong character. Gray is her perfect foil - he's just as strong, and he, too, knows exactly what he wants.

Overall - if you're looking for an erotic romance that might just singe your fingertips off, Sweet Surrender fits the bill! You can check out an excerpt on Maya's website.

What've you guys been reading? Hope everyone has a great weekend!

RAW Pictures Part II

As promised, more pictures from RAW, with some reader pictures too! (If I took a picture of you and it's not up, can you email to let me know it's ok to post it? Also, send me your shots! Some of mine didn't come out.)

We open today with a picture of me with Courtney (who posts on this blog with a Puss In Boots avatar), and Courtney's sock in progress. I now pass the mike to Courtney to explain the significance of this *grin* (Thanks for the photo, Courtney!)

Shiloh Walker, international woman of mystery.

With my dancing partners Brean & Sukhee. (Thanks for the photo, Sukhee!)

Lucy Monroe and her hunky pirate husband.

With Mermaid Carol - isn't her costume just gorgeous?!!

And to close, here's one of Naomi (who has promised to delurk on the blog) & Courtney knitting in the hotel lobby - which was the place to be to meet everyone :)

RAW Pictures & Winner

First up, the random winner of the signed copy of Devil's Bride is Frances (who had a question about CBI - the answer is on pages 297-8 :)) Congrats! Can you email me your details (nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com).

As promised, here are some pictures from RAW. (This set is mostly of the authors as I want to double-check with the reader attendees as to whether it's ok to post their pics up.)

I had the most wonderful time - the mood of the entire weekend was upbeat and fun. Getting to meet readers and authors I've only spoken with online before was the absolute highlight. :)

Now, onto the pictures! I have to start with a photo of me with Lora Leigh - I was a huge fan of Lora before we met in person, but now I'm an even bigger fan. She is just the loveliest person. It was so much fun chatting with her.

These next photos were all taken at the book signing on Saturday.

Jennifer Estep with a gorgeous poster of Jinx. I had total poster envy!

Jacki Frank with the cover of the first book in her new Shadow Dwellers series. Hot Gossip: Hypothetically speaking, I might possibly have misspelled Jacki's name when I signed a book for her. In return, she might possibly have added a few extra vowels to my name when she signed an ARC of Ecstasy for me. *grin*


Diane Whiteside with her awesome cover!

The lovely Mary Wine and Kay Stockham. I keep seeing Kay on dance floors - the last time we saw each other was at the Harlequin party in San Francisco. But we officially introduced ourselves to each other this weekend.

Now, I've got some photos from the Masquerade Ball!


Mary Wine in a show-stopping costume - the picture really doesn't do it justice, it was so beautiful, from the fabric to the actual workmanship. Everything was authentic - down to the shoes!


The beautiful Anya Bast with a masked stranger *grin* This was my first time meeting Anya - she's an absolute sweetheart. Her new book "The Chosen Sin" looks really interesting. And the cover - yum.

This next picture was taken on Saturday afternoon.

Jennifer K (who used her hypno-eyes on me to get me to reveal all sorts of secrets!), author Jasmine Haynes/Jennifer Skully, and Sara, a lovely, lovely bookseller who gave me a wonderful guided tour of the city :)

I have more pictures, but I think this post is already ginormous enough! More tomorrow!

I'm Back!

And all I want to do is sleep...zzzzz

There'll be a more coherent post tomorrow (hopefully with pictures), but just quickly - I had a wonderful time at RAW! The attendees - authors and readers both - were fantastic. If any of you are thinking of doing this event next year, I'd totally recommend it.

So, what've you all been up to while I was away?

p.s. I'll also pick the random winner of Devil's Bride tomorrow.

The Hostage to Pleasure Spoiler Thread

This is the thread where you can freely discuss HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE and the previous books in the Psy/Changeling series. *SPOILERS* allowed, so if you haven't read HtP yet, click away! This link will take you back to the main blog.

So, if you're sure this is where you want to be....let the discussion begin!

Also, if you're looking for the Caressed By Ice Spoiler thread or the Mine to Possess Spoiler thread, follow the links.

For those of you who aren't bloggers, you can still comment - just choose the Anonymous option and sign off the comment with your name if you'd like folks to know who you are.

NB: This thread is for readers, so if you have a question specifically for me, email me at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com.

Off to RAW!

I'm heading off to Lora Leigh's Reader Appreciation Weekend (RAW), so the next blog update will likely be sometime late next week.

Hopefully, I'll have lots of photos to share with you all when I get back. But, until then, I have a great giveaway for you - a signed copy of the fabulous Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens.

I love the Cynsters, and Devil's Bride is the first book in the series. My own copy is very well loved and sits proudly on my keeper shelves. I was soooo tempted to keep this copy, too, but I decided I'd rather send it out so someone else could experience the magic.

If you like protective, possessive alpha heroes, and female leads strong enough to take on these gorgeous men, I think you'll enjoy Honoria and Devil's story. You can read an excerpt on Stephanie Laurens' website, but take my word for it - it's a wonderful book!

Leave a comment on this post by midnight, Tuesday 23rd September (New Zealand time) if you'd like to go into the draw for this copy of Devil's Bride. See you when I get back from RAW! :)

Reader Interviews: Daphne Dalle on "Wicked" by Jill Barnett

It's Tuesday and today we're kicking off a new series of reader interviews on books that the readers of this blog consider absolute keepers. If you'd like to participate, you can find all the details here. :)

Our very first interviewee is Daphne Dalle!

~

Daphne Dalle on Jill Barnett's Wicked

a) What's the book about?

It's a medieval romance between two very striking characters; Lady Sofia Howard and Sir Tobin de Clare. It's a story about young love, about being prideful, vulnerable, and out of your depth. We first meet Sofia when she is a fifteen-year-old ward of King Edward I, and terribly, achingly lonely despite her confident exterior. She sees Tobin across a crowded field and her pride takes a crashing fall when she's unable to stay away from him - in fact, she finds herself searching for him. Despite their youth, chemistry is instant, undeniable.

When Tobin cruelly breaks her heart that very same night, the lonely girl peeking out from Sofia's shell retreats, and she becomes flippant and cocky once more. Fast-forward two years, and Sofia is told that the King has arranged for her to marry Sir Tobin. For a girl that's independent to her very core, she feels cornered and helpless, yet unable to forget all the beautiful things Tobin made her feel. This is the start of a rocky relationship, and both Sofia and Tobin travel many miles and many years to reach their happy ending, but every step is beautiful in its own way, and the couple truly grow with each turn of the page.

b) What do you love most about this story?

I enjoy the fact that it employs several features I usually dislike - long separations, extreme pride, miscommunication - and I couldn't care less. In fact, these things contribute to such a beautiful story about human emotion and why we do the things we do that I wouldn't have it any other way. You see the characters make the worst possible decisions, but you immediately put yourself in that position and find yourself making the same choices. They didn't frustrate me, as headstrong characters tend to do, but they made me care and root for them. Which is all too rare, I think. And I absolutely adored seeing glimpses of Sofia's past, and just how much Tobin has been a part of her life. I don't much believe in destiny, but this couple might sway me, I think.

c) How many times have you read this book?

I first read "Wicked" when I found a copy in my college library - I think I was supposed to be researching themes of love and sex in the Old Testament, but I completely forgot about it as soon as I started reading. Right there in the library, I finished the book in one go. (For those of you who are curious, the assignment never got off the ground...) I ordered my own copy and have read it two more times since. I don't want to overdo it, because the book makes me so emotional that its quite draining. I think I'll read it once a year to get all my emotions out of the way (yes, I admit it, I'd be Psy if I had the choice! Don't judge me. *g*)

d) Who would you recommend it to?

Anyone that loves well-told stories with depth, and characters you can truly believe in. The prose is beautiful and the romance is memorable, with excellent supporting characters. (Nuns are cool. I said it.)

e) Anything else you want to add?

I don't say this lightly, but I reckon this book is about as close to perfect as you can get. And if I'm honest, I'm a little jealous that I didn't write it. :D

Video Interview!

While at the RWA conference in San Francisco, I was interviewed by the lovely Morgan Doremus for Romantic Times BOOKreviews. That interview has now gone live (in four parts).

I've embedded one of the segments below - where I talk about my writing process, particularly in relation to Slave to Sensation, but you can see the other three parts, as well as interviews with a number of other authors, on the Romantic Times website. :)

p.s. See - I don't have an accent!

Thanks! & Catchup

Thank you all so much for the comments and congrats - you all rock. :)

Today, I did some work on the book after Mercy's. Can't tell you who it's about yet, but I think you'll be intrigued. *g*

I've also already got a couple of great keeper book interviews! Put your thinking caps on everyone and send me some more.

We haven't done a weekly catchup for a while, so tell me what you're up this weekend, or how the week's gone!

USA Today & NYT!!!!!!!!!

Hostage to Pleasure hit both the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller lists, coming in at...

#20 on the NYT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone who bought the book! You guys are completely awesome!!!

New Reader Interviews - Keeper Books

I posted the final reader interview I had in my inbox a little while back, so thought we'd change up the questions and run the interviews once more! (If you sent me an interview and it hasn't been posted, email it through to me again :) ).

So, here's the new format. I thought we'd do it on Keeper Books. If you'd like to participate, you can do the interview in one of two ways.

1. Pick a book that you consider an absolute keeper, and tell us all about it, and why you love it so much.

or

2. Pick a book that you consider an absolute keeper, and answer the following questions about it.

a) Title and author of the book?

b) What's the book about?

c) What do you love most about this story?

d) How many times have you read this book?

e) Who would you recommend it to?

f) Anything else you want to add?

Whichever style you choose, please also note the following:

1. I need you to sign the interview with whatever name you'd like it posted under.

2. You can send me as many interviews as you'd like (we love hearing about keepers!), but please send one email per book.

3. Paste everything directly into your email. ie. Don't attach a file with the info.

4. If the covers are available online, you can send me a link - but again, no attachments.

5. Send it to nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com, with Reader Interview in the subject line.

6. Open to all. If you're a writer, just put on your reader hat :)

7. Most important rule of all - have fun!!

Any questions?

CL Wilson & Scavenger Hunt Heads-Up

A couple of links for you tonight. First up, author C.L. Wilson is answering questions over at the RT boards.

AND

Two Lips Reviews is holding an online scavenger hunt to celebrate their second birthday. If you'd like to do a little hunting, follow the link for full details! :)

Winner: Hostage to Pleasure Release Contest

Thank you to everyone who entered the HtP Release Contest. I had fun reading who you'd like to hold hostage and vice versa.

And now, without further ado, the random winner of the US$75 gift certificate to an online bookstore of her choice is:

BRIDGET LOCKE

Congratulations, Bridget!

How about we give Bridget recommendations for which books she should buy with her winnings! :)

Interview and Q&A

I've got a fun interview up over at the DIK blog. If you've got any questions of your own, feel free to ask in the comments over there!

Promo & Favorites

We're talking promo over at Dionne Galace - swing by and let me pick your brains :)

And I'm still being held hostage over at the Desert Island Keepers blog - and this time, it's all about heroes and favorite books. Oooooh...

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Taken Hostage!

I've been taken hostage by the ladies over at the DIK blog. Come and save me (or not - they have hot men on that island of theirs *grin*).

I hope you all have a fabulous day!

Who Can Resist the Cuteness?

Loving Alpha Heroes

I'm over at the RNTV blog today, talking about why we love alpha heroes. Come on over. You know you want to :)

Couple of things

I'm chatting over at The Phade messageboard. Drop by if you're a member and say hi :) Chat's now over. But don't worry if you missed it - I'll be doing another Q & A later this week.

Also, I figured we'd open a spoiler thread for Hostage to Pleasure around Sep 20th. How's that sound? Do you all want to do a chat around that time as well? Let me know and we can set something up.

Hostage to Pleasure Release!!

Hostage to Pleasure is officially out!!!!

Excerpts Up!

The excerpts from BRANDED BY FIRE and ANGELS' BLOOD are now live. Enjoy!

The Hostage to Pleasure Release Contest

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

To celebrate the upcoming (September 2nd!) release of Hostage to Pleasure the 5th full-length entry in the Psy/Changeling world, I'm running a fun contest all about being hostages to pleasure *grin*

What's up for grabs?

The winner, chosen at random, will receive a US$75 gift certificate from the online bookstore of your choice :)

What do you have to do to enter?

(a) Do a post on your blog, livejournal, myspace, facebook or website etc, where you answer at least one of the questions below. You can do all three questions if you like!

* Which fictional hero (from books, tv, movies...) would you most like to hold hostage?

* Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by?

* Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in?

(b) link back to this post & mention the contest
(c) post the cover of Hostage to Pleasure if possible; and
(d) leave a comment here with a link to where you've posted your entry (if, for some reason, you can't comment, email me the details at nalinisinghwrites @ gmail.com (without the spaces))
*NOTE: If you're leaving a Myspace link, please leave a link to your profile - the direct links to the blogs aren't working.
(e) do all this before midnight September 5th, 2008, PST.

And most of all - have fun!!