Friday Book Club

Archangel's Blade Countdown Quote
 

Taking out his cell phone, Dmitri glanced at Honor, using his gaze to caress lips he wanted to debauch and corrupt. "Try not to get killed while I'm making this call."

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I mentioned In Bed With A Highlander a little while back. It's now out, so check it out if you like Scottish historicals!

Excerpt link to Maya's website.

Your turn. What are you reading and loving this week?

Friday Book Club

Time to talk books!

I read an early copy of Maya Banks' In Bed With A Highlander (August 30th), and adored it! The hero is a gruff, tough Scottish laird, and the heroine a determined woman with a secret. Not only were they great characters, the wider cast was also wonderful.

It's one of my favorite reads for this year - I'm really looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.

Here's a link to the excerpt on Maya's website.

What about you? What have you read and loved this week?

Friday Book Club

Time to talk books! What are you reading and loving this week?

I want to mention a couple of new releases that I read as advanced copies and really enjoyed. 

 Lauren Dane's Mesmerized is an awesome futuristic, part of her Phantom Corps series. I read it not realizing it was part of a series, and had no problem following along - it definitely stands alone. I'm looking forward to diving into more of the Phantom Corps books. Link to backcover blurb and excerpt.
 
Maya Banks Sweet Possession is a wonderful hot contemporary that's part of her fantastic Sweet series, but like Lauren's book, it stands alone very well I think. Link to backcover blurb and excerpt.

Now, your turn!

The Darkest Hour - Maya Banks

I read an advanced copy of The Darkest Hour a while ago and was blown away. It's a new romantic suspense series from Maya Banks that focuses on the Kelly family. Here's the blurb from Maya's website:

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.

Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can’t…

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he's built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive. The Kelly Series

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

The raw emotion in this book really packs a punch. The romance was fantastic. I also enjoyed the interactions of the entire Kelly family as a whole. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! Very much recommended.

Here's the excerpt link!

Have you got your eye on any books coming out this month?

Writing Update, Maya Banks & Links

I've sent off the galleys for Bonds of Justice and the copy edits for Whisper of Sin, and am now back at work on the third Guild Hunter book. Right now I'm working on a scene that features a certain "dance."

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My friend Maya Banks' newest book, Sweet Tempation has just released! Maya writes super hot erotic romance, but always with a heart. I just love her voice.

This book is part of the series that began with Sweet Surrender and I'd recommend reading the series in order so you get a deeper sense of the relationships between the characters.

Compelling and intense, I have to admit Sweet Tempation pushed me past my comfort zone, but given that it is Micah's book, that was to be expected. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where Maya takes this series next.

Follow the links to read excerpts!

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Also, I've just set up a Fan Page on Facebook, complete with a discussion forum, so check it out if you're on FB. (I'm still happy to accept friend requests for my personal page, too).

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And check out this very funny post and giveaway by Devon Monk on Ilona Andrews' blog.

Countdown to Branded By Fire: 4 Days to Go!

Winners: The random numbers have spoken and the winners are:

Rob - Witch Fury by Anya Bast
Yogagrrl - Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Congratulations!
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I can't believe Branded By Fire will be officially out next week! Here's a snippet from a recent review by BookThingo:

The way Mercy and Riley’s relationship is unfolded, broken, repaired, strengthened and resolved is done so beautifully. Their conflict isn’t trivial, and the push-and-pull for control is both fun and excruciating. I was barracking for both of them the entire time, and not once did I feel like one should surrender to the other.

I hope you guys are all enjoying the cyber launch party. I thought it was time to pass around some drinks. (The pic's from my last dinner at the 2008 RAW conference).

Today, I'm celebrating by giving away a copy of Witch Fury by Anya Bast, and a copy of Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks.

Entry rules are the same as Monday. Leave a comment with your response to the day's burning question. Bring a friend or tell folks about the party and you get a second entry. (And don't forget to note if you already have one of the books).

And what is today's burning question? Since Branded By Fire kicks off with a love scene (!) - the first time I've ever begun a book that way, let's talk about heat: What makes a love scene work for you? Conversely, what would make you skip a love scene?

Friday Book Club

It's book club time - all about recommending books. Leave a note in the comments about a good book(s) you've read recently, and if you like, a line or two about why.

My reading this week was hot, hot, hot! You can blame Jaci Burton and Maya Banks for that. I read two novellas by Jaci (Unwrapped, and Unraveled), and an ARC of Sweet Persuasion (June) by Maya.

The stories were very different from one another, but one thing's certain - both Jaci and Maya know how to write heat with heart, never forgetting the romance in erotic romance.

To read excepts, check out Maya's site here, and Jaci's site, here.

Okay, your turn - what're your recs?

Edited to add: Maya is giving away a copy of Sweet Persuasion on her blog - contest closes soon, so be quick.

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!