October 30, 2012

Release Day Euphoria: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

at 10/30/2012 12:15:00 AM 2 comments

Today's the day!!!!!! Fourth Grave comes out today!!! My best guy friend, the Devster, has already bought my copy (as an early Christmas present). I also pre-ordered a copy for a giveaway. I am so excited to read this book. The release date of Fourth Grave is today and it's just in time for Halloween! Several reviews have been popping up on Goodreads with a lot of good reviews from loyal readers and fans of Charley Davidson. At last! The continuation of the adventures of Charley Davidson and company! Since after emotionally scarring conclusion to book 3, Charley has been dealing with the aftermath of the events of book 3. But she's Charley Davidson so you know this won't keep her down for long. She's up and about with a new case because she's Charley freakin' Davidson and she gots bills to pay. But here's a pic and synopsis to wet your whistle.



Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.
 
In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans. 


There you have it! I hope my copy arrives soon! I also signed up for a trial period of Audible to get the audiobook to listen to during class when I'm supposed to be paying attention. Let the fun begin! As soon as I finish 4th Grave I'll be posting a review so keep a lookout! Go out and get your copy today! Also make sure to enter my giveaway for 1 copy of Fourth Grave and it ends soon!!!

October 22, 2012

Book Haul #1: I Blame the Steamy Covers

at 10/22/2012 11:02:00 PM 0 comments
I like many Americans with a credit card, will spend money at a drop of a hat, though I never really felt the need to wear a hat. I was walking through the mall after my shift at work and went to my comfort zone. The mall I work at used to have a Borders near the food court, but after they went bankrupted and sold their item dirt cheap (which I shamelessly took advantage of). It was then converted to a Crown Bookstore, which basically picked up where Borders left off. They sell mint condition books of all types for cheap prices. I make a beeline for the Romance section was a little disappointed at the lack of item, though I did find a couple of good ones. Seeing as how I'm already tight on funds at the moment, I limited myself to 3 paperback and promised the other ones that I'd come back for them...eventually. So I grabbed Tempt Me with Darkness by Shayla Black, Estasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter, Renegade by Lora Leigh. Each of these books are from established series...which I have never read before. I have read other books from these authors, but I have yet to read these series yet. Shayla Black is a new author for me. I read the synopsis on the back of her book and it was intriguing. Here's a pic and synopsis of each book left to right:


New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the abilityto manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .


He's an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction....
As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray's dark windswept hair and burning violet eyes, he's sure they've met in eons past. He's felt her soft gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own hard powerful body...Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur's warriors, has endured a terrible curse cast upon him when he spurned the witch.
She's a modern woman about to discover ancient magic....
Olivia shares a mystical -- and irresistible -- connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful -- and intimate -- than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna's hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy all magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love -- with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren -- can save them.

As a bridal shop owner, Mikayla Martin helps make women’s wedding dreams come true. Her own life, however, has become a nightmare since she witnessed a murder—and got an up-close-and-personal look at the killer. What’s worse: She knows she knows him. But the police, after doing an alibi check, don’t believe her. It’s up to Mikayla to prove them wrong…and do whatever it takes to solve the murder by herself.

Elite Ops agent Nikolai Steele, code name Renegade, is asked to pay an old comrade a favor. This friend swears he’s no killer—and Nik believes him—even though he’s been mistaken as one by Mikayla. So Nik goes to set her straight…but the moment he lays eyes on the fiery and determined beauty, he knows he’s in too deep. A woman this irresistible can only mean trouble and, sure enough, after sticking her nose in one too many places, someone wants Mikayla dead. Now Nik must find a way to keep her safe, clear his friend’s name, andfind the real killer, who remains on the loose…

As you can see, I'm a sucker for a broad back >.< So, I have already made some headway in Renegade and so far it's the usually Lora Leigh steaminess. It's a good thing I was reading it at home. >.> The plot is actually interesting in a similar way to Arthur Miller's The Crucible, in some aspects. I can't wait to read the other books I bought and to go back to the bookstore and get the other books. :]

October 21, 2012

BLP #7: Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

at 10/21/2012 01:25:00 PM 9 comments
~*~Theme Song of the Day: A Little Taste by Skylar Stonestreet~*~

Alright peeps, today's the last day of my blog launch party and I want to thank everybody who posted a comment, tweeted, or helped spread the word about my humble blog. I also want to mention that I do have a sister blog though its main focus is about shoes; one of my other obsessions. :] It's currently under construction at the moment, but I will have it up and running again in no time. Anyway, today's review is on Death and the Girl Next Door written by Her Awesomesauceness, Darynda Jones! (clapping) ^.^ I have been a fan of DJ's since I read her first book of the Charley Davidson series. Though this book is of the young adult genre, it still has all of the qualities that I love about DJ's writing and imagination. So the story goes like this...




Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?

So there's the synopsis for you. Once I got my hands on this book, I started to read it immediately, chemistry homework be damned. This book's leading lady is Lorelei McAlister, a seemingly normal high school girl with the powers of psychometry (visions through touch). She and her two best friends Brooklyn and the Glitch. So much playful banter in the book! I love it! So much cleverness in between 274 pages. Now, on to the male leads. First up is Cameron Lusk, the boy bad around town, who hasn't shown any interest in Lorelei until recently. He begins stalking her, watching her from the shadowed corners. Then comes the new boy in town, Jared Kovach. Both hot guys focus on Lorelei and the tension was so well written I actually felt it. 


Jared, being the new kid at school, is the center of attention, and it's not because of his good looks. ;) He and Cameron immediately hate each other and nearly came to blows several times. Lorelei and Jared get closer and the chemistry between them is magnetic and sweet. This is not all there is in the book. There's also an exorcism, a no holds barred brawl, kidnapping, and visions of the past with a surprising twist at the end. I really liked this book and I am totally looking forward to the next one, Death, Doom, and Detention, which comes out on March 5th 2013. That is, if the world doesn't end on 12/21/12 :D Since I am already giving away a copy of this book, I will be raffling a copy of book 2, since I already pre-ordered several copies. Same rules apply, and since it's a long way from March 2013, entries will be short and to the point for now, but as 2013 comes closer more entry options will be made available. I am an advocate for instant gratification (did you get that reference?)  so I will also be giving away a $10 Barnes and Noble giftcard. Thanks again to everyone who helped yo make my blog launch party a success! >3< mwah!



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October 20, 2012

BLP #6: Cindy McCune's Guest Post and Giveaway

at 10/20/2012 12:38:00 AM 8 comments
Hello there all! It's time for Round 6 of the blog launch party! :D Today we have a guest post from the woman with all of the hook-ups, Cindy McCune! 

I realize we are fast approaching Halloween, a day I personally love!!! But saying that, right around the corner there will be the BIG one: Christmas! So I would like to offer a book from one of my favorite authors: Terri Garey!


Silent Night, Haunted Night! A fun addition to the Nicki Styx series, which could be subtitled, Nicki's Nightmare Before Christmas. The fourth in this series starts out in the bedroom...sadly for Nicki, it's because she's being visited by three sisters: Kate, Mara and Selene, otherwise known as The Fates, who work to make Nicki's life a living hell. Selene works through dreams and manipulations to ensnare seduce and steal Dr. Joe Bascombe, Nicki's love interest, from her, making it a blue Christmas for our favorite pink-haired psychic.


Once again, Nicki is thrust into the uncomfortable position of examining her life and relationships through the kooky view provided by her "special gift." Nicki and Joe are still together, but insecurities and hidden desires bubble beneath the surface of their relationship; this provides just the chance Selene needs to work her magic on Joe. Evan and Butch, are along for the ride, helping Nicki and giving her the well deserved kick in the a$$ she needs so she doesn't give into despair. Nicki's struggles gives more insight into her quirky character. Sammy Devine also known as "The Devil" you all know and love is along for the ride. I found myself looking for him as I read the book and love that this Devil has a soul that makes you cheer for him, even as he's showing why he IS The Devil, not just another horny demon. Terri Garey and Nicki Styx once again deliver a fantastic, fun read! I have a new copy of Terri Garey's "Silent Night, Haunted Night" that needs a loving home!




Alright, let's get down to business! For this post, we'll do things a little differently. Instead of a rafflecopter, we'll be picking a winner at random via blog comments. Be sure to leave a comment (with your e-mail) about this book (if you've read it), about this author if you love the author or post a comment about how awesome this post was. This particular giveaway ends October 29th 2012.

October 19, 2012

BLP #5: Heather Schrocker's Guest Post/Giveaway

at 10/19/2012 09:49:00 AM 6 comments
It's a Blog Launch Party! 
Everyone give The Consummate Reader a big welcome to the blogoverse!
Here's to you Lisa. We wish you lots of success and happy reading!!
In honor of Lisa's launch, I wanted to share a review and a giveaway! 


The murder of a dark arts warlock. A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose. A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate. Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch.



Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world. When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim.



Enter Knight Vander, a sinfully attractive investigator sent from the Netherworld to work the case with Dulcie. Between battling her attraction to her self-appointed partner, keeping a sadomasochistic demon in check, and fending off the advances of a sexy and powerful vampire, Dulcie’s got her hands full. As the body count increases, Dulcie finds herself battling dark magic, reconnoitering in S&M clubs and suffering the greatest of all betrayals.


My Review
Dulcie is a kick butt heroine! I really liked her snarky style. The story was good, full of action and suspense. And full of HOT men! You have Bram sexy as sin vampire, Quillan her smexy boss who is Elven and Knight who is supermodel gorgeous (who is also a Loki)! We never really find out what a Loki is, but I'm hoping we get a little more about Knight in the next book! This book has murder, mysterious creatures, and mayhem. It has a few places with gore, not for the easily queasy! I loved this book and will be reading the next one, A Tale of Two Goblins!




GREAT BOOK!



Since you can download To Kill A Warlock FREE, I will be giving away the next book, A Tale of Two Goblins Kindle Edition! 



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October 18, 2012

BLP #4: Darynda Jones Q & A/ Giveaway

at 10/18/2012 01:18:00 AM 39 comments

Ahoy there mateys! It's day 4 of my blog launch party and today's post is an interview with none other than the most awesome sauce of all awesome sauces, Darynda Jones! (fan girl squeal). First off, I want to thank Darynda for taking the time out of her busy, busy, busy schedule to answer a few questions for me. :D Now, on to the good stuff!

1. Describe your writing style using just one sentence.


Darynda: My writing style is fast, crisp, and sarcastic.

2. You have this ability to use humor in your stories that take it to the next level, but also deepen characterization. Is this a natural gift, or do you have to rewrite a few times to make these sections come alive?

Darynda: Natural gift? Hmmmm. I have an inner smarty-pants that has been with me my whole life. Often her commentary was kept silent for fear of retribution from others, but her inner dialogue has always been there. The more I write Charley, the easier it is for me to give voice to her character. I believe what has helped me give voice to that humor is my love for certain television programs. For instance, I love The Gilmore Girls. You would be surprised how watching episodes of that show will give inspiration to Charley's viewpoint and sense of humor. I don't spend lots of time rewriting the humorous bits. I feel those generally either work or they don't; I don't want the humor to feel forced, and I often have to cut the ends. There is a fine line between funny and annoying. For me, the shorter, the shaper, the faster, the funnier. Most of the time, anyway.

3. For readers who have never read your work before, what book would you suggest they read first? Why?

Darynda: I am always going to steer the reader to the very first title in my series. I write my books as stand-alones, for the convenience of any reader, but I feel it is always best to begin at the start of the characters’ arc. It helps the reader obtain a better grasp of the pacing and movement through the series’ as it is built.

4. What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real lover of books?

Darynda: To me, a reader enjoys reading well enough, but will often find other things to occupy her time, saving reading as a last resort to allay boredom. A lover of books is voracious. Her appetites can change with her mood, but she is a loyal fan of her favorite authors, and she looks forward to their new releases like others look forward to air. She simply cannot get enough of the written word.


5. If I were to ask Charley if you are telling the true story or leaving out parts, what would she say?

Darynda: Well, she did get upset that I left out her romp with the chess club when she was in high school. Apparently, “it was a night that will live in infamy.” (Her words.) But I told her I’m not writing erotica. I can only keep so much of her story. Sheesh. There are some other parts of her life that I really want to bring in someday. Can you imagine what it would be like to grow up the grim reaper? She got herself into many a bind, let me tell ya. Some of the stories are hilarious and some are heart-wrenching. I hope she lets me tell them someday.

And there you have it! Thanks again for answering the questions we're dying to hear. On another note, as this is also a book tour post I want to introduce the next book in the Charley Davidson series. Seeing as how I am a huge fan of both Darynda and Charley, I was so ecstatic to be apart of the book tour for Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet! 



Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans. 


I, like many of you (I'm sure), have already pre-ordered this book; but for those who haven't yet have the chance, you can go to AmazonBarnes & Noble, or BAM!. It's release date is set for October 30th; just in time for Halloween! :D It also happens to be the same release date as Karen Marie Moning's ICED; the next book of MacKayla Lane series, but the store mainly centers around the youngster readers love, Dani "Mega" O'Malley. I'll get to this book later on, this post is all about Darynda and Charley. Since this is a blog launch post, there will be giveaways galore! And in the spirit of Darynda's awesomesaucyness, I will also be giving away a copy of Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet! :D So many chances to win a copy! Pre-order your own copy today or leave it up to Fate, you might win a copy, who knows?


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In all of her awesomesaucyness! :D

For reasons known only to the Big Guy upstairs, NYTimes and USA Today Best Selling author Darynda Jones won a Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance with her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT. But even before that, she couldn’t remember a time she wasn’t putting pen to paper. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press, the Charley Davidson series and the Darklight Trilogy. She hopes you enjoy reading them as much as she enjoys writing them. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

*~*~*NOTE: Author biography and pic from author's website, here~*~*~







October 17, 2012

BLP #3: Dana Alma's Guest Post/Giveaway

at 10/17/2012 12:23:00 AM 11 comments
Hi everyone!

I'm hanging out with my blogging bud, today!



Lisa, thank you so much for having me over. 


 Today, I have a review for Two Week's Notice by Rachel Caine 


and a Giveaway for one of your lucky winners.


Enjoy!




Book 2
Revivalist Series

After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost. Thankfully, some things have changed for the better; her job at the rechristened Davis Funeral Home is keeping her busy and her fragile romance with Patrick McCallister is blossoming—thanks in part to their combined efforts in forming a support group for Returne addicts. But when some of the group members suddenly disappear, Bryn wonders if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…

I gave this book a 
      
Two Week’s Notice by Rachel Caine is morphing into a motley of undead twist and turns! Fabulous follow up to Working Stiff, book 1 in the Revivalist series. Bryn is back  and is coming to grips with her life as one of the undead. She knows that she is just one step away from becoming maggot chow if she doesn't keep taking Returné, the drug that keeps her among the living dead. She has joined forces with Patrick, Manny, and Joe and has begun a new life, one in which she no longer has to answer to Pharmadene for her daily fix.  Just when she thought she was making head way, wouldn't you know that Pharmadene rears it’s ugly head. Bryn will now help those who have just joined the ranks of the walking, talking, dead. Bryn still believes she will find her sister, who was kidnapped, but we still have unanswered questions.  Caine takes this story to new heights with new details emerging and keeps things steamy with Bryn and Patrick. I can’t wait for the next book in the series coming out in February, “Terminated”.    Excellent story, a must read, for fall.

The first book in the Revivalist series is titled



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Giveaway!

Win Two Week's Notice fill out the form below!


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October 16, 2012

BLP #2: Enchantress of Books' Guest Post/Giveaway

at 10/16/2012 12:19:00 AM 12 comments
I'm glad to be here as part of the "Consummate Reader"'s Blog Launch Party!! Congratulations and best of luck!!!

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite authors and series the "Eternal Guardians" by Elisabeth Naughton.


As unrest in the Underworld threatens, seven warriors descended from the greatest heroes in all of


Ancient Greece may just be mankind’s last hope.








I love these men, I mean books!! The series is enthralling! It has it all and it's perfectly balanced!

Action: 7 badass Argonauts that believe in duty and honor. They are sworn to protect their realm from threats of the Underworld and in turn also protect the humans who are oblivious to what is going on around them.

Great Characters: 

Heroes: The heroes are your typical Alpha warriors. Hot, Sexy, Smart and they all have an issue or two. There are personal and professional obstacles that each must overcome and how they do that is all part of the story.  Some are sarcastic (Titus! Sigh! Cannot wait for his book to get to know him better). Some are distant, keeping others at bay for their own good. While others are downright mean. However, there's a reason, I promise, and when you read the series it all fits into place.

Heroines: The girls are SMART and STRONG. Yes I will say this now, for those that may not know or haven't figured it out from my review: I DO NOT like whiny, weak, pathetic heroines. Give me one that knows her self worth, is intelligent, can hold her own and you have my attention. I understand that the heroines can 'grow' or have potential, but unfortunately, if you end up wanting to smack the sh... ahem, sorry I mean, smack the hell out of your lead female character, then there's a problem. THANK GOODNESS Elisabeth doesn't do that in this series. All the heroines are not only likable but you can relate to each one of them as well. Even the ones that may seem meek or as if they would wither away with a dark stare, have a backbone and let the guys and world have it when it counts.


VillainsYou have your selfish Greek Gods who wish to be the true leader and they will do anything to reach their goal. As with any good story, you have your layers (story arc) and this is true with characters as well. The top layer of Villains, in this case Hades wants to rule the entire world. Then you have your other layers (sub-story arc) Demi-gods and daemons. Each have their own plans to rule the world and outsmart each other and defeat the Argonauts.


World Building: Elisabeth has created this magnificent world filled with Greek mythology with a new twist. A breath of fresh air in the genre of PNR. For those that love/enjoy Greek mythology you will definitely enjoy the series and it keeps true to it. If you're not familiar with Greek mythology, Elisabeth does a fantastic job telling you the stories without it being boring or giving you a flash back to your history class.


Romance: The Argonauts were cursed by Hera, Queen of the Greek Gods as punishment to her unfaithful husband Zeus. A curse of "True Soulmates". Each of the Argonauts have one, they just don't know who they are. To make things more interesting, its not just a matter of having a Soulmate, but the fact that they are considered to be the Argonauts' weakness and their total opposites. So, needless to say, they aren't out there searching for their one true love. On the contrary, they all "seem" fine to be without their other half, as I mentioned before, they are honor and duty bound. However, when boy meets girl - watch out!!


Can you tell that I absolutely LOVE this series?   Head on over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books for the complete post.


Author Bio: 


I was never one of those people who knew they wanted to be an author at the age of six. I didn't have imaginary friends. I didn’t write stories in my journal or entertain my relatives by firelight after Thanksgiving dinner. For the most part, I was just a normal, everyday kid. I liked to read, but I wasn't exceptional at it. And when my teachers complimented me on my writing abilities, I brushed them off. I did, however, always have a penchant for the unique and absurd. And as my mother told me all throughout my childhood, I should have been an actress—I was a drama queen before my time.

Years ago, my husband bought me Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With The Wind. If you ever saw the book, you know it’s a long one. I sat and read that thing from cover to cover, and dreamed of one day being a writer. But I didn't actually try my hand at writing until years later when I quit my teaching job to stay home with my kids. And my husband? After that week of reading where I neglected him and everything else until I finished Scarlett, he vowed never to buy me another book again. Little did he know I’d one day end up sitting at a keyboard all day drafting my own stories.


To read her full bio, please visit her website.

You can also find Elisabeth at GoodreadsFacebook Page, and you can follow her on Twitter! Oh, the guys have their own Facebook Page, Eternal Guardians.

Have you read the series? What did you think? What is it about the Argonauts that have us coming back for more? Can't wait to hear your thoughts!!


Now for the fun and goodies!! This is a party after all!! I was going to give a way "Marked" book #1 in the series, but it turns out its "FREE" on SmashwordsiBooks, Amazon, Kobo. Instead, I'm giving away "Eternal Guardian" SWAG (Character Cards, 1 bk marker, 1 temporary tattoo) and 1 copy of "Tempted" (paperback) book #3. Fill out the Rafflecopter below!!








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October 15, 2012

BLP #1: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

at 10/15/2012 05:46:00 PM 7 comments

~*~Theme Song of the Day: Anna Sun by Walk The Moon~*~

Hello again! Today is the first day of the Blog Launch Party for my bloggy! Yay! We have a great lineup which can be seen on my Upcoming Events tab. We have new giveaways every day so check in once a day to enter giveaways for awesome goodies! Now onto the good stuff. Today I will be reviewing First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones. It all started with an ad on Goodreads. I normally don't pay very much attention to ads unless they have shoes in them. And fortunately, the ad featured a pair of skull sandals. :] I requested the book at my local library and started to read. Darynda/Charley's witty dialogue and sass won me over by page 2! I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to anyone who are unfamiliar with the paranormal romance genre. I was already a fan of the paranormal romance genre, but I had never heard of Darynda Jones. The cover looked interesting and the synopsis was intriguing. I am not very good with expressing emotions with words when describing a book or writing style of an author, but I will do my best. Darynda's writing was entertaining, humorous, with a big dose of "What just happened?!?!?!?!" Whenever I read a book, a mental picture of what the characters look like usually pop up by the middle of the book. For Charley, she was done by the first chapter. Other members of the cast are Cookie, Charley's sidekick/office assistant/bff, Angel, Charley's ghost partner, and Reyes, yummy blast from the past and love interest. There are more members of the cast, but these are the ones more mentioned. They all came to mind after a few more chapters. I find that Darynda's style of writing was simple (in a good way), easy to understand and easy to follow along. The plot was a steady journey through a homicide case which lead to a surprising twist. Oh and another thing. REYES FARROW! Every heroine needs a hot male co-star. :] He's gorgeous, sensual, hot, enigmatic, gorgeous, skilled, and did I mention gorgeous? :D




Synopsis: 

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.


Once I got the ball rolling and started reading, I could not stop reading. Despite the fact that I had a paper due in 24 hours, I kept on reading until I was at the end. I already reviewed this book on Goodreads, but I'm just rehashing the deets on this blog. Charley Davidson, the heroine of the series, is a PI living in New Mexico and she uses her gifts to seeing dead people to help out her uncle, a detective on the APD. I have conflicting problems about this part. Yes, I know that as he harnessed her powers for his own gain, but at the same time he brought justice to the lives lost to crime. Sigh, you see what I mean? It's conflicting to pick a side and stay on it. :( Charley talks about it like it's not a big deal, but she has feelings! Another plus about this book is the extremely male and hot! hero Reyes Farrow, the sexy dream man who has been visiting Charley in her dreams. Right off the bat, Charley tells us of the mysterious stranger that visits her dreams and as she puts it, "plays doctor with me." LOL. I love the witty banter that is Darynda's writing style. It's funny to the point where I could barely breathe from laughing too hard. The other characters in the Charleyverse, is Garrett Swopes, another hottie with a body. He works with the APD and is a skip tracer. He basically tracks people down either for jumping bail or on the run. Initially Swopes is a little bit of  a jerk in this book because of previous events, which include a lot of liquor and Uncle Bob's loose lips. Other characters include Charley's stepmother Denise, whose favoritism shows between Charley and Gemma, the older sister. Gemma is presented as a scholarly, ambitious type, who takes after Denise in her snooty attitude. Charley's dad is a retired detective who runs a bar, not much is mentioned about Charley's family in this book other than the strained relationships, but I'm sure more behind the scenes will be brought to light as the series progresses. 

The plot of this story is a triple homicide which leads to a surprising turn of events. I really liked the flow of this plot. Usually a story has several revelations, a huge climax, and a resolution, with a few loose ends to be continued in the next book or left to be assumed. Darynda got it all done in one "swope." <---- HAHAHA did you get that? Anyways, this book is fantastic read especially from such brilliant imagination. This different take on the Grim Reaper certainly makes it more appealing since Charley has such big heart that's scarred from run-ins with human nature. All of her emotional suffering makes her more endearing and perfect for the job of reaper because she's sympathetic to the plight of others, despite her occasionally bouts of ADD. I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to dip their toes into the romantic paranormal genre. I'm talking to you N. Kunka! And you too, T. O'Bryan! :] So in honor of this wonderful book and the first day of celebration for my blog launch party I am giving away a $15 Amazon giftcard, which will be emailed to the winner so leave your email in your blog comments. Remember the rules of my giveaways! You have one week to claim your prize or I will give it to the runner up. Giveaway ends on the 23rd of October, so get your entries in ASAP!


Tomorrow we will have the lovely Viviana Izzo, the Enchantress of Books, guest posting a book review and giveaway. See you all tomorrow and thanks for joining the celebration! :]



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The lovely lady herself!

For reasons known only to the Big Guy upstairs, NYTimes and USA Today Best Selling author Darynda Jones won a Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance with her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT. But even before that, she couldn’t remember a time she wasn’t putting pen to paper. When she was five, she would pick up a pencil and notepad, scribble utter chaos onto the page and ask her mom to read her masterpiece aloud. Thankfully, her mother would play along.  Later, she wrote plays for the neighborhood kids, made up stories for her brother as he played cars, and fell in love with Captain Kirk. Those raging, seven-year-old hormones only fueled her imagination, prompting her to create fantastical stories for Barbie and Ken to enact with plots that were horridly inappropriate to repeat in polite company.
After years of being repeatedly sent to the principal’s office for daydreaming in class, she managed to make it to high school where she almost finished her first manuscript. Sitting with her BFF in a corner booth at the local Tastee Freeze for hours at a time, she wrote a post-apocalyptic story about a group of teens who bore a remarkable resemblance to the members of Van Halen and were trying to escape the tunnels of a huge government fallout facility decades after World War III had destroyed the surface of the earth. It was a science fiction version of The Warriors and destined to be a classic.
Life was good. Writing was good. Then she graduated and the real world came crashing through. She forced the dream aside in favor of sustenance and shelter, got married to a local rock star, and had at least two kids that she can think of, the oldest of which was born Deaf, probably to spite her. When he was five, she packed up her boys and moved to Albuquerque to put him in a Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program. The rock star stayed behind with the business, and they took turns going back and forth on the weekends to see each other for seven really long years.
While in Albuquerque, Darynda decided to see the cup half full and go back to college while she still had enough brain cells to make it worth her while. After graduating Summa cum Laude from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Sign Language Interpreting, she moved back to her hometown and got a real job. Several in fact, mostly teaching at a local college and interpreting pretty much everywhere. Based on personal experience, she does not recommend having more than three jobs at any given time.
But bit by bit, the desire to write needled it’s way back to the surface. Unable to squelch it any longer, she started writing seriously again in 2002 with one goal in mind: A publishing contract. Unfortunately, she sucked. Thank goodness practice makes perfect and three complete manuscripts later, she won that Golden Heart, landed an amazing agent and sold to St. Martin’s Press in a three-book deal.
She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press, the Charley Davidson series and the Darklight Trilogy. She hopes you enjoy reading them as much as she enjoys writing them. 
Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Me and Darynda at RWA 2012 Anaheim. I was so happy I almost burst into tears :]

*~*~*NOTE: Author biography and pic from author's website, here~*~*~



October 2, 2012

Release Day Euphoria: Death and the Girl Next Door

at 10/02/2012 10:02:00 PM 14 comments
yayyyyyy it's the long awaited release day for Darynda Jones' new young adult series, Darklight. The first book, which came out today, is called Death and the Girl Next Door. I received a copy today and I must say the cover looks a lot better in person.


Synposis:
Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?

Despite that fact that I am bogged down with so much homework from school, I took five minutes out of my day to read the first couple of pages. I loved it. The dialogue is sassy and witty. There's always a zinger somewhere and lots of "Ha!" In honor of this milestone for Darynda's writing career and the launch of a new series, I am giving away one copy of Death and the Girl Next Door. The giveaway starts today and ends on the 22nd of October. So spread the word and let's make this book a bestseller!


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