Interview and Giveaway with Author Claudy Conn

Please join me, WildAboutBones, in welcoming author Claudy Conn as we talk about her ShadowLove Stalkers and other goodies.

Tell us about yourself?
Putting pen to paper came easy. I needed to write—I loved to write, thus, writing was a given. Going through the process of creating a story—putting it together into a first novel and then presenting it to the world—quite another thing. Just out of school and painfully shy (and I really still am) knocking on doors and asking someone to read my book was (for me) a death defying feat.

I loved English—Irish—Scottish history and had traveled just enough to know the ‘look and feel’ of their beautiful countries. Hence, my regencies such as "Spring Gambit", "Sunday’s Child", and “Myriah” were born. Out of my regencies came my larger and sexier historical romances, such as “Cassandra”, “Blades of Passion”, and “Fire & Desire”, most of which were published by Fawcett. Many of my other titles can be checked out when you go to the links listed below.

I am a multi-published author of more than 40 mass market bestselling regency and historical romances. Took a break that lasted a few years and when I came back it was to the genre of paranormal/fantasy. Love it!

While I have a fanciful imagination, I am a Capricorn—‘sure and steady’, and the obvious conflict leaves me jumbled. I have a computer, yes (invaluable), but I still jot down ideas on a scrap piece of paper, or a napkin in a restaurant. My imagination follows me wherever we go and sees so much more than meets the eye, and very often my husband will ask, ‘where are you now, baby?’

My dad was the one who clicked into my brain early on, and opened my mind to a world where a girl/woman could be so much more than ‘pretty in pink’. He told me to soar, and soaring for me, was writing.

We love horses and riding and when we migrated from New York to North Carolina we brought our barn with us—and yes, I’d rather muck out a stall than clean a house!

My Irish, blue-eyed husband had to have a wolf and so we brought in our little hybrid wolf pup to our home. She is ¾ wolf/ ¼ German shepherd (honey colored), and we named Cherokee. Her 3 yr. old son (Rocky) is huge and eats everything and anything he can find and weighs more than 170 pounds!

Do you have a process or any special rituals in your writing routine?
I day dream and everything I see turns into a story in my head.

What is/are your favorite type(s) of paranormal character(s)?
I love the Fae of Ireland and there is a world of information about the history/legend of their coming to Ireland.

You write several different genres. Which is your favorite genre to write and why?
A few years ago, I would have said historical. Now, contemporary paranormal/fantasy is what I am in love with. It allows so much more creativity.

How did you come up with the idea for ShadowLove Stalkers?
It is funny because people will ask me that question and the truth is, when I write, I start with researching a subject such as vampires, vampire movies, etc. and when my research comes together and begins to click off different scenarios in my mind…a story is born. I don’t make an outline, but I have characters who tell me who they are and then I let them be who they are as the story evolves.

There are quite a few intriguing characters in this book. Can you tell us a little bit about what’s next for this series? Who, from the book, might get the lead in upcoming books?
Damon has the lead in the next book, Shadowheart-Slayer which will be out in September. He and the heroine Nikki are very strong characters at the opposite end of the poles…he is a vampire, she is a slayer.

Out of the books you’ve written so far, do you have a favorite hero or heroine? If so, who and why.
Yes, I love Prince Breslyn and he appears in a few of my Legend series. Why—you will have to read my Legend books, Spellbound and then Shee Willow and then you will know why. He is the ultimate male in every imaginable way. I will, in fact, be giving him his own series. He has insisted I tell his story which spans the centuries, and I have agreed to allow him to author only the Prologue of each of the 4 novellas I will write about him! LOL

Are you working on anything else right now you can tell us about?
Yes, I am just finishing up Free Falling-Legend which is scheduled for October release, working on Breslyn’s novellas and I have a book called, Darklove which The Wild Rose Press will be releasing in November. Very exciting year.

Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books? And which has made the biggest impact on your writing career?
I love Karen Marie Moning, her Highlander series and her Fae series. I love Georgette Heyer and her regencies. Nora Roberts is a master author. Dean Koontz, S. King and James Patterson. I am all over the board.

Is there something you’d like to tell your fans that no one ever asks you in an interview?
Yes—I love them—hearing from them, finding out what they like best, so yes, want them to know and whenever they want they can contact me at my email: claudyconn@centurylink.net or get my news at my website, http://claudyconn.embarqspace.com

Some quick fun questions:
What are you currently reading? Witch Born by Aimee Maguire
What’s the first book you remember reading? Nancy Drew
What’s your favorite cartoon character? I like the old Disney movies…and of course Daffy Duck.
What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Easy, I would work as a zoo keeper.
Dog, cat or ferret person? I love dogs and have a wolf and her son who is half German Shep. Love cats and just lost my 22 year old sweetie. Have horses and love to ride.
Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? I am coffee in the morning, maybe tea in the afternoon especially if you offer a pastry to go with it.

Boxers, briefs or commando for your hero? I like boxers…black for my hero. But hey, commando ain’t bad.

What’s your favorite movie of all time? Hmmm. Hard one, because I love the classics—so many of them, but as a series, I adore the Harry Potter (I have never grown up). I loved the Twilight books and I thoroughly love the movie series as well. The Pirates of the Caribbean, Scent of a Woman…I love the Ghost and Mrs. Muir and always cry…

What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Wow—that is difficult because I always know the name as soon as my character presents his resume to me! But, I will tell you that I love the name Storm for a hero and haven’t yet decided to use it. Will, I think though, soon… Would love suggestions for hero names!

Thanks so much, Claudy, for taking the time for this interview.

WildAboutBones' Review of ShadowLove Stalkers

Claudy Conn's website

Purchase Claudy's Books

GIVEAWAY
Giveaway and Contest Policy
Giveaway open August 20 - 22, 2011 (midnight)

Claudy Conn will be giving away a PDF copy of her eBook Spellbound-Legend, the first of the Legend series, to a lucky winner. This is an International giveaway.

To enter, be a follower and make a comment and/or ask Claudy a question, along with your email address so we can contact you if you win. Good luck, everyone!

Review of RAJMUND, Vampires in America #3 by D. B. Reynolds

RAJMUND (Vampires in America #3)
Author: D. B. Reynolds
ImaJinn Books Publisher
Published July 30, 2010
ISBN: 9781933417097
Paranormal Romance
Novel, ebook, 260 pages
Provided by Author for review

Buffalo, New York—Thundering waterfalls, great sports teams . . . and a treacherous Vampire Lord who is slowly losing his mind.

New York City vampire Rajmund Gregor is the undisputed master of The Big Apple. He bows to no one but his Sire, the Vampire Lord Krystof, who has ruled the Northeast for hundreds of years. But when Krystof summons Rajmund to his headquarters in Buffalo, Raj finds his master slowly descending into madness and his territory crumbling around him. Raj is the only one of Krystof's children strong enough to seize power, but he’ll have to save his master before he can destroy him. Several women have gone missing and the local police are convinced a vampire is behind it. Is Krystof so lost to reality that he’s capturing and murdering human women? Is a rogue vampire moving into Krystof’s territory for the kill? Or is it something far more insidious, something that could threaten the existence of vampires everywhere?

Sarah Stratton is living a lie. Her past holds a secret she shares with no one—not even her good friend Cynthia Leighton, the West Coast vampire lord’s mate. It's a secret that could destroy her carefully constructed life as a professor at a Buffalo university. It’s also a secret that could save the lives of the missing women. To save them, however, she must enter Buffalo’s vampire community and put herself into the care of Rajmund Gregor. But can she trust Raj, the dangerously seductive vampire who wants to lay claim to far more than her secrets?

Before I get started, I would like to take this moment to apologize to Ms. Reynolds for my tardiness in posting this review. My delay is inexcusable and in no way reflects on Bitten By Paranormal Romance blog as a whole.


My Ratings:
Review

Sexual

There was one thing I didn’t like about RAJMUND – the cover. Out came my trusty, imaginary pencil and presto….. Chris “Thor” Helmsworth. Aahh…much better.

Raphael and Cyn make a brief appearance in the beginning to meet with Rajmund (Raj) in NYC to take care of “business”. While they are there, Cyn wants to meet up with an old friend, Sarah, who is currently living in Buffalo. It’s during this NYC get-together when Sarah and Raj first meet and the sparks start to fly. Don’t expect the same type of characters (hero and heroine) in Rajmund and Sarah as you find in Raphael and Cyn. These two are just as alpha and independent in their own way.

Sarah is psychic and it has come back to haunt her dreams. Instead of letting them destroy her, she uses them to find the kidnapped girls. Yes, she doesn’t want anyone to find out who she really is because of what happened in the past and she doesn’t want to live through that nightmare again. Yet, she can’t stand by and let young women die because no one will believe her. So, she takes action on her own.

Raj is a very powerful vampire who basically rules NYC. He is strong enough to overthrow his Sire - if and when the time comes. Rajmund is the alpha who radiates self-assurance, supremacy, and intellect. He truly cares that his children and human assets are well taken care of and all of their needs are seen to.

However, when Rajmund and Sarah start to work together on finding the missing girls, things really start to heat up. The playful banter, serious sharing, and, oh, the sexual tension. And then the big misunderstanding, which breaks both of their hearts and mine too. Fear not, missing girls still need to be found; Sarah still needs to be rescued; girls need to chat.

A shout-out for Emelie: Rajmund’s lieutenant has a few tricks up her sleeve. I like her; I really do!

Ms. Reynolds’ Vampire in America Series is one you must put on your TBR and/or Keeper Shelf. I started reading the series a bit backwards; reading the last book, SOPHIA, first and then continuing on in the correct order. I have rated all of the books ‘5 An Alpha Howl’, but RAJMUND, gets the Top Bite Award. Move over Raphael, there’s a new Lord in town.

Stolen Destiny Book Trailer.wmv

Interview and Giveaway with Author Clarrissa Lee Moon

Please join me, WildAboutBones, in welcoming author Clarrissa Lee Moon as we talk about her Nightwolves Series and other goodies.

Clarrissa's Bio:
Clarrissa Lee Moon would like to live like a tumbleweed going from different states often. An avid reader and owner of more books and DVD’s then any used book shop; she also enjoys Martial arts, swimming, riding Harleys and raising pure bred Japanese Chins. She has written as a journalist for two E-magazines. Author of Memoirs of The Nightwolves Series and Celeste Nites Novelettes. She considers herself unique, unusual and unconquerable!

Would you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a single mom of three boys who are all grown now. Still single and loving it? I stay active with my dogs, swimming and martial arts. I have a lot of hobbies such as making jewelry, painting and dancing. I plan on doing a lot more traveling now and seeing more of the world. Especially tropical places?

Do you have a process or any special rituals in your writing routine?
I have to play a computer game to relax my mind. I need my coffee, some snacks and my player music list of specific songs, in order, to get me in the ‘mood’.

How did you come up with the idea behind the Nightwolves series?
The year I started writing novels in a more serious manner, I was bored out of my mind. I had bills and a whole host of things going on in my life that just weren’t very fun. I was playing a computer game, but the other half of my mind was thinking about some grand adventures I would rather be doing. If I was a vampire what would I do? Who would the bad guys be? How would I defeat them? Would I have partners? Night after night, the story grew in my head and then I decided to write it out in my word program. That’s when it all flowed out like water. Nightwolves Coalition and Nightwolves on the Prowl were written in the month of March 2010. And now the adventures continue!

There seem to be several different themes, conspiracies and other things going on in each book, how do you keep track of them all?
Once all seven books are written you’ll see where it all actually ties into one grand conspiracy. It’s just separate sections all working towards the same goal. New World Order. There are sub-theme and plots going on because life itself isn’t just black and white. In real life, there are many things going on where some are affecting the job and some are just taking up time, but this is real life. Rarely is there just one thing going on in a person’s life. I wanted Nightwolves to seem as real to life as possible, so I added many complexities to the storyline.

What you think readers will like best about this series?
Oh I hope they like it all actually. The main thing? The fact that there are sub-plots talked about that aren’t in most mainstream books. Issues that some people really do have to deal with such as homosexuality, alternative life-styles and tolerance for different beliefs systems. This series isn’t your run of the mill series. Sure there is action, violence, sex but there, under it all, are real little known about problems some have to deal with and I hope Nightwolves can enlighten those who aren’t familiar with these situations.

Of the Nightwolves series books you’ve written so far, do you have a favorite hero or heroine? If so, who and why?
Wow, hard to pick just one. Each has their own personality traits that makes them stand out from one another. Cat is absolute in her protection of her children. Demitri is absolute in being there for Cat, no matter what else is going on. Antonio understands her mental issues and does everything he can to heal the mental wounds. Andre is always watching her back or her children. Her Kla’ din mates too, are always there for her in their own special ways. O’Hara has his own brand of honor which is very admirable. Shamus is crotchety but serves Cat with every ounce of his powers. It would be really hard top pick just one above all. Each of them is very special in their own ways.

I love that Cat, the female lead, is in her 40s. Please tell us another quirky thing about her.
Because she is in her forties, mentally speaking now (since the vampirism brought back her youth) most 40 something’s have a soapbox they like to get on and Cat is no different. Luckily, her soapboxes are interlinked with the whole New World Order thing, but we don’t find that out until later in the series?

What is your favorite scene in the series which you would never consider cutting?
In Nightwolves on the Prowl, Cat just got done fighting Ja’ Callum and O’Hara is baiting her. He says she cheated, she disputes it. It’s a very funny scene and should always be kept in there to show the camaraderie between the two leaders.

Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some favorite books you’ve read?
I have a very eclectic taste in reading. I read everything from sci-fi to paranormal to text books and news articles around the world. But for the sake of this question I will pick my favorite author in the paranormal industry which is Sherilynn Kenyon and her Dark Hunter series. I also enjoy Charliane Harris (everything she has written) and Christine Feehan, her Dark Carpathian series.

What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit for yet?
I have such a huge cast of characters that this has not been an issue?

Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re working on next both with the Nightwolves and Celeste Nites series?
I am working on Nightwolves Dawn to Dusk- The Semi Prequel which has been a real challenge. I use a slightly different writing technique in each book but NDTD is especially challenging because it goes from past to present often. It is very hard to keep the sub-plots flowing evenly and keep track of who did what, when and how exactly it is affecting one another. Once you read this particular book you’ll understand the ‘echo’ effect. It has made this book very hard to write and very complex- more so then the first three books.
Celeste Nites Second Trilogy is almost done! Celeste is pushed up against the wall in some of her decisions and has to flee to France in the hopes of getting some help. She still doesn’t believe her current lovers are up to the task. In trying to find help she actually gains more problems. And her love life gets even a bit more complicated. And steamier….if THAT’S possible after the infamous limo scene in Hunting Celeste LOL It’s a very exciting trilogy both in the loving department and action!

Fun Questions:
Spoilers or no spoilers in reviews? I think spoilers are great actually. They are like snippets which can get someone interested in the series if it’s a scene that’s intriguing enough!
Boxers, briefs or commando on your hero(s)? Oh Commando most days, but those silk briefs can be very sexy too. Andre likes those from time to time?
Prefer Cats, Dogs or Ferrets? Dogs.
What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? I love pirate romances the best. I have a fantasy of being abducted by a pirate and making love in the captain’s quarters- oh yeah!
What are you currently reading? I am actually re-reading my own work and writing down the sub-plots so I can tie up loose ends nicely. I am trying to find time to read the latest Sookie Stackhouse book by Charliane Harris.
What is your favorite movie and/or TV show? Kung Fu Panda! Underworld trilogy, The Mummy’s Trilogy and Indiana Jones Trilogy. For TV…it’s been banned in protest of the greedy profiteering gluttons and lying news casts. I haven’t paid for cable for over 10 years now. I use the money instead to buy the DVD seasons and watch with no 20 minutes of irritating commercials to get me out of the mood of watching a show. HA!

What do you do to unwind and relax? Read a book! Have my coffee, make cookies!
Do you have a favorite food or place to eat? Sushi Gardens is the bomb! I also enjoy very rare meat!

Thanks so much, Clarrissa, for taking the time for this interview.

WildAboutBones' Reviews of Clarrissa's Books:
Nightwolves Coalition
Nighwolves on the Prowl
Nightwolves Siren Song
Celeste Nites

Videos: http://clarrissaleemoonauthor.webs.com/apps/videos

Find Clarrissa at/on:
http://www.clarrissaleemoonauthor.com
http://clarrissamoon.blogspot.com
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/clarrissaleemoon.htm
http://www.authorsden.com/clarrissalzamora

Clarrissa's Books Purchase Links:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ClarrissaLeeMoon
World Castle Publishing: http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/adultonlywebstore.htm#747912341
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Clarrissa+Lee+Moon&x=0&y=0
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=clarrissa+lee+moon&x=0&y=0
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/clarrissa-lee-moon

GIVEAWAY
Giveaway and Contest Policy
Giveaway open August 19 - 21, 2011 (midnight)

Clarrissa Lee Moon will be giving away a copy of her Nightwolves Coalition eBook to three (3) lucky winners. This is an International giveaway.

To enter, be a follower and make a comment and/or ask Clarrissa a question, along with your email address so we can contact you if you win.
Good luck, everyone!

Review of TEMPTED, Eternal Guardians #3 by Elisabeth Naughton

TEMPTED (Eternal Guardians #3)
Author: Elisabeth Naughton
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Date: September 6, 2011
ISBN: 9780505528735
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Novel; available in digital and paperback
Provided by Publisher for review

DEMETRIUS—He’s the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it’s best to keep everyone at arm’s length.

Isadora is missing. The words pounded through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius had done all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she was gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he’ll have to go to the black place in his soul he’s always shunned. As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.

My Ratings
Review

Sexual

Ms. Naughton has taken the Greek Argonaut myth, turned it on its head, and OWNED it! In TEMPTED, she includes all the elements of an extraordinary mythological tale: gods, goddesses, monsters, witches, and heroes saving the heroines! Just to name a few.

From the very beginning, I was hooked by the tough and cocky attitude of Demetrius. An act he has played for so long to distance himself from Isadora. He does everything he possibly can to keep that distance because of the ‘darkness’ inside of him would ruin Isadora. But that coldness is sorely tested when they are stranded together and he has to save Isadora’s life a few times.

Isadora doesn’t remain a spoiled Princess for long. As she becomes a strong, independent woman, Isadora eventually sees through Demetrius’ false pretenses and realizes he’s hiding something. Each time Demetrius turns away from her, it just steels Isadora’s spine even more. Although Isadora may not know Demetrius’ dark secrets, I like the fact that Ms. Naughton doesn’t keep the reader in suspense. It makes Demetrius all the more heroic as he battles his love for Isadora and doesn’t want to see her ruined.

Now, don’t be fooled, there is so much more going on in this book! Yes, the sex is hot and, at times, you may get as frustrated as Isadora. All the Argonauts are present along with Callia and Casey. Hades makes an appearance just to aggravate Isadora. Orpheus plays a major/big/humungous part this time around and he has some of the best lines. Where would we be without the big evil herself, Atalanta? Yeah, she’s really causing havoc this time around. And this one last surprise, I did not see this coming! Poor Nick! Although, I knew something was up way back in MARKED Book #1. You’ll have to read to find out.

While it isn’t necessary to read the first two books in the Eternal Guardian series, they will provide back story and make it a bit easier to catch on. Be sure to refer to glossary in the back of the book before you start to read. The definitions listed there are a great help.

TEMPTED is a rip-roaring good time - the best one of the series by far! Although it has left me with more questions. But that is a good thing. More books about these luscious Argonauts!

Guest post with paranormal romance author Kristin Miller

Please welcome author Kristin Miller

Thanks so much to Laurie, for asking me to guest blog today. I’m thrilled you reviewed and enjoyed Intervamption, my paranormal romance from Avon Impulse, and I can’t wait to share it with your readers!

One of the questions I get asked most is “What inspired you to write Intervamption?”

The initial concept struck me when I was half-writing my last novel and half-listening to The History Channel. I heard “Behold! I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves!” and thought how cool it would be to write a shapeshifting hero assigned to shift into a vampire—an incompatible life form—to infiltrate a haven during a paranormal war. Slade was born. He’s unabashedly Alpha, strong and protective in the sexiest way. What better heroine to match him than Dylan, a hard-working and dedicated woman? Someone who refuses to stand in the shadow of her man. Their chemistry sizzled off the page.

Once I had the characters, the story created itself. You see, the vampires of Crimson Bay are sneaky suckers. They invaded my dreams, swearing up and down the stake that they’re not bad…they’re simply born with a genetic abnormality that changes their feeding preferences during adolescence. They’re not monsters, at least not the variety their shapeshifting enemies would trick me into believing.  They slide under the radar, serving in their havens during the day, drinking in private rehabilitation centers, like ReVamp, at night. It wasn’t long before I’d created an underground society of vampires and shapeshifters who were at odds, fighting for survival.

Throw in some wicked hot sex, violence that leaps off the page and a myriad of villains playing each side, and you have Intervamption.

It wasn’t so much a concept or conflict that inspired me to write the story...the characters inspired me. (Or, rather, they threatened to consume every waking thought until their story was told.) And now they live among us, lurking in the shadows of Crimson Bay.

Blurb:

Slade, a fallen assassin, has been given a second chance. Called back into action for an unknown task, Slade must shift into what he hates most: a vampire. When he awakens, an instant attraction ignites between him and his sexy vamp teacher, Dylan, who’s been assigned to show him the ropes. Dylan’s orderly life blew up recently when a rogue vampire killed himself right before her eyes. On top of that, her pride and joy, ReVamp --or the Rehabilitation Facility and Management Program for Vampires--is in major trouble. She's been accused of providing infected blood to the locals, weakening them and making them easier prey for their enemies, the shape-shifting therians. Forced to question long-held allegiances, Dylan and Slade have no choice but to trust in each other as mayhem reigns around them.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=intervamption

~Amazon is offering the first chapter free.

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intervamption-kristin-miller/1103176649?itm=1&usri=intervamption&fmt=1000

Books on Board: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1073531

Vampires of Crimson Bay #2 will release from Avon Impulse December 6^th, 2011.

Bio:

Kristin Miller has had a passion for language and literature her whole life. Born and raised in Small Town USA, she often made up stories about faraway places and edge-of-your-seat adventures. 

After graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in psychology, Kristin realized there is no scarier place than the warped human psyche. Wanting to combine her love of writing with her desire to paint twisted villains, Kristin wound up in the unlikeliest of places—the classroom. She taught high school and middle school English before giving in to the desire to create her own world, where villains can be sympathetic and heroes can be devilishly good.

Find me:

Website: www.kristinmiller.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KM_Miller

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1222405.Kristin_Miller

Bitten’s She-Wolf Pack Thursday Review for August - DESTINY UNITED by Leia Shaw

DESTINY UNITED (Shadows of Destiny #2)
Author: Leia Shaw
Date Published: July 4, 2011

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: ebook, 224 pages
Author Requested Review            
                                               

Erin Bolton knows her former foster sister is a sorceress and a witch, but she wants nothing to do with that world. Fear dictates her life, panic attacks disable her, and only alcohol gives her the freedom she craves. The day before her twenty first birthday, a tall, dark, and terrifying vampire, Marcelo, turns Erin's world upside down. He convinces her that he was sent to escort her to the safety of the Underworld, where her sister is waiting. But she wonders, who will keep her safe from him?

Marcelo postponed his eight hundred year search for his wife to perform a small favor for the Queen of the Underworld. When the errand turns into a week long journey across the country toting a fragile female, his life takes a turn for the unexpected. Especially when, on Erin's twenty first birthday, he discovers there is more to this girl than meets the eye. And now instinct claims she's his. His mate. Meant for him, and him alone. Forever.

Can Marcelo give up his dream of reuniting with his long lost wife to be with the woman his body yearns for? Can Erin conquer her deep-rooted fears and confront the destiny only she can fulfill?



Review Ratings

            



Kris’s Ratings

Review: 5 – An Alpha Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy

I really enjoyed this very suspenseful and romantic story. I should have read the first book first though. I will definitely go back and read it. I'm dying to know more about Sage. I loved Marcelo. He was a total alpha, but also extremely sweet after he realized Erin/Aila was his mate. Erin was a stitch. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her at the same time I was rooting for her to kick some butt. I loved the action in the story and enjoyed the world that she has created. Although there was a lot of action, there was also plenty of dialogue, romance, and time spent getting to know and care about the characters. I also really enjoyed the author's style of writing. I just wish that I didn't have to wait until 2012 for the next one!

Cynthia’s Ratings

Review: 2 – A Small Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy

I’m not quite sure where to begin with this because quite honestly there were more than a few things that didn’t sit well with me. So, just the highlights.

The tone of the story is too flippant. Marcelo and Erin/Aila seem to be constantly bantering with each other. Marcelo ‘chuckles’ and Erin/Aila calls him Ballsy. Erin has social anxiety and suffers panic attacks because she was raped; therefore, “no grocery stores, no restaurants, and no shopping malls.” I don’t understand why she would have a revolving door of boyfriends to do her bidding. When copulation finally occurs between Aila and Marcelo, this is their post-coital pillow talk:

“Holy fuck,” Aila said, breaking the powerful silence.
Marcel chuckled. “I’ll say.” He pulled her into his arms. “But there was nothing holy about it.” He kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers up and down her bare arm. Goose bumps covered her body. Would she ever be immune to this man?
“So, my god-kissed mate, what do we do now?” he asked.

Last but not the least, the central theme of the story, DESTINY UNITED, never came to fruition. While another, concerning Marcelo, was brought to the forefront and just stopped…right there…nothing more.

What I did enjoy was the undertone of a D/s relationship between Erin/Aila and Marcelo. Marcelo being the very dominating Vamp that he is and Erin the Timid; it was a natural that he would control and protect Erin/Aila as necessary. The dressing room scene was especially entertaining. Watching Erin sprout from the frightened human to the powerful fae was a delight.

Ollie’s Ratings

Review: 3 – One Good Howl
Sexual:  4 – Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

Destiny United follows Erin, a young college student desperately trying to make it in the world dealing with panic attacks and social phobia gets her world turned upside down by a vampire sent by her sister to bring back to the Underworld.

Marcelo didn't like that fact that his original mission had to be sidetrack by this little favor for the Queen of the Underworld but before he knows it, it turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to his undead life.

As Marcelo tries to escort Erin safely to the Underworld he not only has to fight of forces bent on destroying Erin before reaching the Underworld he at the same time tries to control his growing possessiveness and attraction to this timid young girl.

Marcelo was a delicious treat to read because he eluded such raw power and passion for Erin. When I say raw passion I mean this vampire offered more to Erin then she could handle in more ways than one. However, I found myself getting frustrated with Erin at several points in the books mostly because of her inability to trust Marcelo and going against him. She either didn't tell him everything, shot him to ran away from him and/or walk into danger when Marcelo knew she would be in danger.

The other aspect that bothered me was the whole destiny aspect surrounding Erin near the end of the book that never explained why she was chosen. The explanation lacked depth which could have been more thoroughly explored and could have provided more insight into her past and how it would lead to her future responsibilities.

WildAboutBones’ Ratings

Review: 3 – One Good Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy

I loved the story line! After all, what's not to love about the Underworld, sexy vampires, sorcerers, werewolves, the fae, a dragon shifter and a fae war with a romance in the middle of all of it?

Marcelo, an 843 year old vampire, is sent to find Erin by her sister Sage, the Queen of the Underworld. When he sees her the first time, he thinks date rape bait who has sexy down to a science.

Erin, human with a little extra, thinks of Marcelo, "he was sexy as hell", as soon as she gets over her panic attack. She has a debilitating social phobia that is only overcome by alcohol ... lots of alcohol.

When she hits her 21st birthday her life is turned upside down, well more than it already had been for the past couple of days. Is Marcelo her destined mate or is the fae, Unseelie prince Kieran?

"Let’s do the time warp again" a reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Gotta love it. Even though this is the second in the series, you'll have no problem with reading it out of order. I think the characters were a little bit flat and the story could have used more "meat" but again the story line was very good.

I think paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans may like this one.

Interview and Giveaway with Author Arial Burnz

Please join me, WildAboutBones, in welcoming author Arial Burnz as we talk about her recent books Midnight Conquest and Here’s Blood in Your Eye and other goodies.

Arthur Bio:
Arial Burnz has had a love of paranormal and fantasy fiction since childhood, scratching out her stories on her lined notebooks and getting in trouble in class for daydreaming. Today, she is an author of paranormal and fantasy tales, writing for young adults, children and adults. She lives in Southern California with her husband/romance novel hero (DeWayne), their two cats (Nicodemus and Cody) and their dog (Zeddicus Drool Zorander).

Would you tell us a little about yourself? Like most writers, I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I didn’t really take it seriously until I was in my twenties, and then life happens, and the next thing you know, it’s 20 years later. I now have a very supportive husband who allows me to write full-time and I also edit for an erotic romance publisher.

Do you have a process or any special rituals in your writing routine? Not really. Since I’ve been a writer in the corporate world for 15 years (i.e., training manuals, marketing materials, web design, etc.), sitting down and writing is a job for me. The challenge is being disciplined enough to sit and write and NOT surf the Internet!

You write several different genres. Which is your favorite genre to write and why? I actually like to say I write paranormal/fantasy. Everything I write has some kind of supernatural connection to it and it usually has history tied to it. The backdrops of my stories make them appear that they’re different genres. At least that’s my take on it. For instance, the western romance I have planned has magic and Norse mythology as the root of the plot. It’s more like an Indiana Jones adventure with mysticism and unknown powers. Bottom line, I love fantasy and paranormal.

Out of the books you’ve written so far, do you have a favorite hero or heroine? If so, who and why.
That’s a tough one!! MIDNIGHT CONQUEST (Davina Stewart-Russell) is the only published novel at this time, but I am concurrently writing two other books – Book 2 MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE (Cailin MacDougal – Davina’s daughter grown up) and WAR OF THE HEARTS (Katima Halstone) a fantasy novel in pre-history earth. I love all three heroines to death! However, if I had to pick one, I’d say Cailin is my favorite heroine right now. She’s a pretty feisty character who wields silver daggers at her side. A real spitfire!

There are quite a few interesting characters in Midnight Conquest. Can you tell us a little bit about what’s next for this series? Who, from the book, might get the lead in upcoming books?
Thanks for the compliment! It’s always wonderful to hear people find my characters interesting. As you know, in MIDNIGHT CONQUEST my heroine Davina has an eight-month-old daughter, Cailin. Book 2 is seventeen years later and readers will get to experience her love story. Cailin is a woman who is thrust into a life she didn’t choose – being the adopted daughter of Broderick MacDougal – and in order to survive the many attacks and attempted kidnappings by Broderick’s enemy Angus Campbell, she’s had to learn to fight like a man and is constantly guarded. A woman in the early 1500s of Scotland, for the most part, is the property of her father and eventually her husband…but Cailin is taught to think and act like a man through combat training. She WANTS a family and a normal life, but she is far from the model of a Renaissance woman who runs a household and embroiders. As such, she’s a strong character, feisty and rebellious, but she has a lot of insecurity issues in not feeling she deserves a family life.

How did you come up with the idea for “the prophecy” in Midnight Conquest?
I love reading a series where the overarching storyline stretches from book one through to the last installment, where you get to see the characters and the storyline progress one book at a time. I enjoy reading the beginning, middle and end of the current book AND see how that pushes the overall storyline along. The Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles started out as just a string of stories that had Broderick MacDougal in common with each one, and another element I’m not ready to give away yet. However, after establishing the string of stories, I looked back and saw the opportunity for a “big picture” storyline that could tie everything together. That’s when I saw the prophecy unfold. If I say any more, I’ll spoil it!

What character name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet?
Hrmmmm, not sure how to answer that. I derive the names of my characters, usually, from who they are, so names come last. For example, one person had asked me if Cordelia, Davina and Amice were historically correct. I focused on the meanings of their names versus historical accuracy. Cordelia actually has an unknown origin, and that plays into her role of the prophecy, but more importantly she is the daughter of Shakespear’s King Lear. Even though she was rejected by her father and sisters, she comes to her father’s rescue. Unfortunately, she is also captured and hanged by her sisters. She sacrifices much for what she believes in. Hrmmmm….I wonder how that plays into Cordelia’s role in the Bonded By Blood series? Davina means “beloved” and that is truly what she is to Broderick. They are soul mates and their love transcends the centuries and the obstacles they experience throughout the series. Amice, the old Gypsy woman who has become a replacement for Broderick’s mother…her name means “friend”, and that is an understatement for what she is to Broderick and Davina in Book one…and throughout the series. (I hope I understood the question correctly!)

Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books? And which has made the biggest impact on your writing career?
Anne Rice, by far, has made the biggest impact on my writing career. She is my motivation and inspiration for taking my writing seriously. I dedicated MIDNIGHT CONQUEST to Mrs. Rice and was fortunate enough to share a correspondence with her when I let her know this. I almost peed my pants when I got a response from her! I’ve read almost every book she’s written and read The Vampire Lestat four times.

Another inspirational author for me is Terry Goodkind and his Sword of Truth series. Though I am only a fan of the first 4 books in the series, it is his amazing ability to weave a story that thrilled me. He implants clues and details in the early books that SEEM insignificant, but later are essential to the overall plot of the series. I’ve read those first four books twice through, taking extensive notes on my second read. That is what inspired me to weave the prophecy through Bonded By Blood.

Is there something you’d like to tell your fans that no one ever asks you in an interview? No one knows to ask this, but my husband is actually a descendent of Clan MacDougal. When I first crafted MIDNIGHT CONQUEST 20 years ago and married to my first husband, I picked the name MacDougal because it means “son of the dark stranger”. I thought, “Ooooo! What a kewl vampire name!” (Although, now as an afterthought, I realize it may be an old Scottish name for ‘son of the milkman’.) Anyway, I chose the name 20 years before I met my current husband. When I met my father-in-law for the first time, my then-future-husband told his dad I was writing a book. When I mentioned the name of my main character, he said, “MacDougal? We’re MacDougals! A MacDougal married into the Henderson Clan, so we lost the name.” (Arial Burnz is my pen name.) That was just one more bit of evidence that told my husband and me that we were meant to be together.

The story line for Here’s Blood in Your Eye is such a cute, ironic one. How did you come up with the idea for it?
This is another story I wrote 20 years ago and I just revamped it this past year. Since I was so into vampires, I had played the “what if” game. “What if I was an author who wrote vampire novels and pretended to be a vampire in order to generate sales and hype?” One thing led to another and the story was born. The twist simply comes down to, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Are there any plans for a future book or short story featuring Marty, the sidekick, and/or Layla, the antagonist, from Here’s Blood in Your Eye?
No, this was simply written as a short story with a twist. However, both my friend HP Mallory and my husband insist I need to create a full-length novel from it and create a series. Hee hee…who knows! WildAboutBones agrees ... go for the full length novel and series. {grin}

Do you have a hobby or something to help you unwind and relax when you aren’t writing, if so, what?
My husband and I had a business where we did hand-crafted gift items, but the economy has been so bad, we had to close our doors this past year. I still wood burn and paint when I have an opportunity. You can see some of our stuff at www.EnchantedWoodz.com. Everything we did usually had a Celtic and/or fantasy theme/design and we still take special orders every now and then. It’s very therapeutic burning a design and smelling the burning wood, painting the various colors in the design to give it dimension, and then I accent it with glitter paints. I love it!
I also play Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering – a fantasy card game.

Are you working on anything else right now you can tell us about?
WAR OF THE HEARTS is the fantasy romance I mentioned above. I LOVE writing this story!! It has dragons and unicorns, faeries and elves, orcs and evil wizards. Any fans of romance AND high fantasy I think would enjoy this story. My heroine, Katima Halstone, has a special magic that can help get through the defenses of the evil wizard who has captured the hero’s sister. Talon Allman, our hero, has taken a long journey to the Bellan Valley to escort Katima to his homeland in Serena and rescue his sister who is a Draconic Heart and survival of their Dragon Clan. It’s a fun adventure story of forbidden love as Katima and Talon are different races and mating with each other is actually FATAL. I have pictures in my photo album on Facebook of how I envisioned my characters for WAR OF THE HEARTS, as well as MIDNIGHT CONQUEST AND MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE. It’s great to put a face to the names!

I’m using the WAR OF THE HEARTS storyline in a Dungeons & Dragons group we just started. I’ll be the Dungeon Master (DM), weaving the story for the characters playing the game. So far, their involvement has spawned new ideas for the series I’ll be writing, which is what I hoped. I’m pretty excited about it.

Fun Questions:
What is/are your favorite type(s) of paranormal character(s)? Another tough question! Right now, I’d have to say vampires. However, Book 4 in the Bonded By Blood series has werewolves and even though I have an age-old rivalry between vampires and werewolves, I’ve invented a completely different lore for their background based on Norse mythology. I’m pretty excited about that! Book 4 will have two spin-off stories from “Davina’s” brothers – a heterosexual romance and a male/male romance.

Boxers, briefs or commando for your hero? Well, since most of my heroes are in historical backdrops, they’re usually commando.

What are you currently reading? I usually read several books at once, so right now I’m reading: Brodie’s Bride by Amie Louellen, After Midnight by Sarah Grimm, Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton, The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the story within by Alan Watt, and Past Her Time by Melissa Jarvis. I think I have a few more I’m juggling, but those are the main ones I’m flipping between.

Dog, cat or ferret person? Cat, but we do have a dog.
Tea or Coffee or Soft drink? Coffee
Spoilers or no spoilers in book reviews? NO spoilers!!!
What’s your favorite movie of all time? Young Frankenstein! (Gene Hackman should have got an Oscar for his performance!)
What’s the first book you remember reading? I know I read many books before this one, but this is the first one I remember the name of as it was impactful: Ariel by Steven R. Boyett. It’s a book about a unicorn and it’s where I got my pen name.
What’s your favorite cartoon character? Bugs Bunny because he’s such a witty smart-ass.

Thanks so much, Arial Burnz, for taking the time for this interview.

WildAboutBones' Review of Midnight Conquest

For more:
Arial Burnz
Kami Cummings

Purchase Links:
Midnight Conquest
Here's Blood In Your Eye

GIVEAWAY
Giveaway and Contest Policy
Giveaway open August 17 - 20, 2011 (midnight)

Arial Burnz will be giving away a set of her Midnight Conquest and Here’s Blood in Your Eye eBooks (warning – both have explicit love/sex scenes) to two lucky winners. This is an International giveaway.

To enter, be a follower and make a comment and/or ask Arial Burnz a question, along with your email address so we can contact you if you win.
Good luck, everyone!

October's event is Paranormal romance characterfest. Runs 1-31st

October 1-31 is Paranormal Romance characterfest!

I hope your looking forward to October Paranormal romance characterfest. I know I am. As I’m getting these interviews in and reading them, I know you guys are going to have some awesome fun. I have a button on my sidebar if you like to add it to your blog for a reminder or to share with your followers.

How this is going to work? Each day there will be a different characters interview from the author. The author is also hosting a giveaway and they will have instructions on the interview on how their prizes can be shipped, so make sure you look carefully before entering.

I figured there would have been enough witches/warlocks and demons to fill a week but it didn’t happen so you find a couple of holes plugged in those weeks. Sorry. The shifters and vampires are fine. Also, I tried to get a different author for each day but that didn't happen either, there are two authors that are doubled up but they have different characters interview so you still get something different every day.

Here’s the line up:
Stacey Kennedy 1st
Leia Shaw 2nd
Karina Cooper 3rd
Rose Pressey 4th
Regan Hastings 5th
Gabrielle Basset 6th
Mysty Evens 7th
Mahalia Levey 8th
Felicity Heaton 9th
Brindle Chase 10th
Cynthia Eden 11th
Danielle Smith 12th
Ann Mayburn13th
S.K. Yule 14th
Dani Harper 15th
Sondrae Bennett 16th
Pamela Palmer 17th
Julie Benlfiled 18th
Juliana Stone 19th
Aimee Laine 20th
Trinity Blacio 21st
Arial Burnz 22nd
Bree Young 23rd
Liz Strange 24th
Gabrielle Bisset 25th
Felicity Heaton 26th
Alex Severin 27th
Linda Hilburn 28th
Eve Langlais 29th
Jess MaCallan 30th
Tina Folsom 31st

October's Paranormal romance characterfest event 1-31

It's about charaterfest time. Yep, its just around the corner and its filled with lot's of awesome character interview and giveaways.

So join us here Oct 1-31 to see what's out there that goes bump in the night that you haven't gotten to read yet.

ARC Review Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter

Title Lord of the Vampires (Royal House of Shadows #1)
Author Gena Showalter

Source Netgalley 

Genre: Paranormal romance- vampires
Format: Mass paperback
Release: date August 23, 2011 

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with a need for vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.

Nicolai the Vampire is renowned for his virility, but in a cruel twist of fate “The Dark Seducer” has become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remains is a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who can help him.

When the wanton vampire summons Jane Parker, she is helpless to obey. She's drawn to his dark sexuality and into his magical realm. But for this human, all is not a fairy tale. For saving Nicolai could mean losing the only man she's ever craved..

I don’t normally write reviews with spoilers but this review will have a few. Sorry!

I did like the story idea and the characters. I have also enjoyed all of Gena’s books until this one, but we can’t love them all.

I did like the connection between Nicolai and Jane. I just found Jane over the top so much so I found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of things she done. Here’s one instance. She still has injuries from a bad car wreck, then she has her back whipped into pieces but yet she made them both a place to get out of the weather and weapons, while in that kind physical shape. No freaking way... Then there’s the constant Jane takes everything in stride no matter what’s done to her. It drove me nuts reading it. No way would someone take on as much as she did. I like fiction but I do like it a little more realistic. Nicolai was ok I just didn’t care for this vocabulary. To me it read like he was Tarzan talking.

The coupling was good I did feel some between them, I just get tired of the fact these characters can be in all kinds of physical shape, but yet they are always up for nookie. LOL It takes them all I guess.

Then there was that one word that kept being said over and over and yet over again. Let me think what was it?? Oh yeah, "Mine" as much as I like that word, it can be carried away. I thought I was going to scream if mine was said one more time and don’t get me started with the loincloth issue being said over and over again either GRR.

Nope, I really like Gena I think she a great writer, but this one didn’t cut it for me. Sorry. Just make sure you read good and bad reviews before buying.

ARC review The World's Greatest Christmas Cookies: A Sweet Collection of Recipes, Tips & Decorating Ideas, and Inspiration for the Season by Rebecca Currington Snapdragon Group

Title: The World's Greatest Christmas Cookies: A Sweet Collection of Recipes, Tips & Decorating Ideas, and Inspiration for the Season
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Cookbook
Website
Release date September 1, 2011

Wonderfully unique, The World’s Greatest Christmas Cookies will delight your taste buds and make your Christmas season even sweeter! Featuring scrumptious cookie recipes, organized into fun categories including no-bakes, cutouts, and more—plus great cookie decorating tips and ideas—this big book has you covered for the entire Christmas season and beyond!

OMG! When I opened this book my mouth immediately started to drool looking at all of these fabulous pictures of cookies LOL. But. Yep, there's a but here (don't you hate that LOL.)I found the list of ingredients very lacking. I really hope it’s because I have an uncorrected proof. If it is there should be no problem with this book once it’s out in publication. But I found too many recipes that the ingredients needed to explained more. Take for instance the Pecan Care Bear cookies, it has pecans Ok, what kind? Whole chopped or crushed? Since I know they are small balls I know it should be crushed, but some may not know this. Then there is the butter, again here is it melted, softened or just cold? If you get this cookbook please use soften butter… This is a crucial step in just about every cookie. I wouldn’t mention this, but most of the book leaves out how to for the butter and other things. A few recipes had it, so I am really hoping they will fix this.

When you buy a cookbook you want clear instructions even if you have to go step by step. It just insures the product will come out even better. Plus not everyone is a master at baking and will get very frustrated if the product doesn’t turn out right, I know I have been there.
Now, the reason for my high rating is because the finished products that I made were outstanding and addictive. I also did find some different recipes that I haven’t come across, that’s kind of hard considering I have a lot of cookie cookbooks. Oh yeah, I LOVE COOKIES LOL



Pecan Care Bears
Before starting, make sure you use softened butter and crushed pecans. 
Once I put these in my mouth, I couldn't stop eating them LOL



2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
2½ cups pecans
Powdered sugar



Mix all ingredients except
powdered sugar. Form dough
into 2-inch balls. Bake on
ungreased cookie sheet at 325
degrees for about 15 minutes.
Cool slightly and roll in
powdered sugar.
Yield: 3 dozen