Hi Guys! Hope you’re having a great weekend. Here’s the low down on what happened at BCC this week…

GUESTS

• Larissa Ione, author of the Lords of Deliverance and Demonica paranormal romance series, stops by for an interview.
• Nico Rosso stops by to talk about his new novel, Night of Fire, and what makes Steampunk sexy. There’s also a chance to win an eARC of Night of Fire.
• This week’s Debut Author Spotlight is on Sheri Fredricks, author of paranormal romance, Remedy Maker.

REVIEWS

• 5 Star Review – Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson
• 5 Star Review – The Troupe by Robert Jackson Bennett
• 4 Star Review – Blooded by Amanda Carlson
• 4 Star Review – Unlocked by Courtney Milan (Alternative Romance)
• 3.5 Star Review – Pretty When She Dies by Rhiannon Frater
• 3.5 Star Review – Magic Mike (Film Review)
• 3.5 Star Review – The Hunter and the Hunted by Kelley Armstrong
• 3 Star Review – Beyond the Time series by Elizabeth Marshall
• 3 Star Review – Hater by David Moody
• 2 Star Review – Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank

OTHER POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup - Anne Rice & Erotica, Jesse Petersen New Book Deal, Tweet Your Way Into A Book & Zombify Yourself!
• UK Cover Art: Dearly Beloved by Lia Habel
• US Cover Art: The Lost Prince by Edward Lazellari
• Gemma’s Top 10 Horror/SFF Movies

CAROLYN’S ROUNDUP

This week I read BLOODED by Amanda Carlson, which I really enjoyed (review). It’s a short novella featuring Jessica McClain and a prequel to Carlson’s debut urban fantasy novel, Full Blooded, released this September. Now I’ve had a taster, I really can’t wait to read it. Luckily I have an ARC of this one, so I will be getting to it very soon. I also read THE BLUSHING BOUNDER by MelJean Brook, which is a short story from the WILD & STEAMY anthology (Kindle freedbie at the mo). It was actually quite good and the review of this one will be up soon.

I’m now reading DOG BLOOD by David Moody. This is the sequel to Hater (review), which I mentioned in last week’s roundup. Hater wasn’t the best book I’ve read by Moody, and at present I still prefer his awesome zombie series, Autumn, but it had such a great twist that I had to continue the series with DOG BLOOD. It’s started out pretty good, and so far I’m enjoying it. I will probably read the next book in the series, THEM OR US, when I’ve finished this one.

I was a naughty girl this week and bought a lot of books… I went a bit mad actually. Most were on kindle, but there were a few paperbacks too. I won’t list them as there’s too many but I will just say there were a few urban fantasy novellas, a few erotic romances, a couple of paranormal romances and an historical romance anthology. I promptly recycled all boxes before the hubster got home from work *innocent eyes*

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

I’ve read a few novellas this week, first up was UNLOCKED by Courtney Milan (review) and then I read the first three in Elizabeth Marshall’s Beyond Time series. HAUNTING GRACE, SAVING GRACE and CHANGING GRACE (review). I am now reading ALL TOGETHER DEAD book number seven in the Sookie Stackhouse series, ready for our Sookie read-a-long at the end of July.

I’ve purchased (if that’s the right word!!) some Kindle UK freebies, feel free to search them out, you might grab a bargain too! BEWITCHING THE WEREWOLF by Caroline Hanson, FURY by Anya Bast, BRIEF ENCOUNTER by Alice Gaines and SLOW RIDE by Lorelei James.

I’m on my one week countdown until I start work again after ten months maternity leave *gulp*! Can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I shall be making the most of it with time with my son and hopefully some sneaky reading in his nap-time too, who needs a clean house?!

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

This week, as part of a joint review with Carolyn and Laura, I read KITTEN-TIGER AND THE MONK by Carolyn Crane, from the Anthology WILD AND STEAMY. For a short it was really rather good and showcased the authors talents really well. I think the series that this short is part of may go on my wish-list.

I also started TARNISHED by Karina Cooper. I’m about a third of the way through and am really enjoying this fresh new take on the Steampunk genre. My review should be up soon, but let’s just say that I can foresee me missing some sleep to keep reading this!

After I finish this book, I think I will move on to RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aarronovich. I’ve been dying to read this since the person behind the cash register said it is as good as Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series.

By the time you read this, I will have seen The Dark Knight Rises. I was looking forward to this film, but the tragic events in Colorado have tainted the excitement I felt at going to the cinema. The review for the film should be up in the next few weeks.

Finally, in a case of a Double Dare, Carolyn has challenged me to read a zombie book. I’ve decided to take that challenge and read both THE FIRST DAYS by Rhiannon Frater and MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES by Jesse Petersen. In exchange, Carolyn is going to give FIREBRAND by Gillian Philip a shot. If she doesn’t like it, I’ve promised to read both the above, plus another zombie book and watch the first Alien film. The pressure is high! Laura and I are also trying to sort out the details of each other’s Double Dare challenge! Should be interesting! Comfort zone, get ready to be shaken up!

VICKIE’S ROUNDUP

OK, as I am a slack Alice I didn’t do a weekly post last week, so time to catch you up. I have been really good and haven’t bought anything new, however I did downloaded a couple of review ebooks to take a look at via NetGalley. I downloaded IMMORTAL SURRENDER by Claire Ashgrove, MARK OF THE WITCH by Maggie Shayne, CAST IN PERIL by Michelle Sagara, and SOUL WEAVER by Hailey Edwards.

Last week I read GIDEON by Jacquelyn Frank, which was ok, (review) but I am still holding out for Elijah’s story. After that I moved on to IMMORTAL HOPE which is the first in The Curse of the Templar Knights series by Claire Ashgrove, and it was fabby. You can see my 5 star thoughts here. So then I pounced on Immortal Surrender, (Templar Knights #2), which I whizzed through and you can see my review on Book Chick City soon. Just have to say that I loved it!!!

I am now reading SAMURAI GAME, Ghostwalkers #10 by Christine Feehan which is making for very interesting reading. CF’s a very descriptive author which can sometimes make the book drag a little, and you find yourself skimming a little, but it’s not something I have found myself doing this time, and I am about two thirds of the way through. When I am done with this, and been a really good girl and written my review, I am going to move on to ELIJAH by Jaquelyne Frank, and I CAN’T WAIT.

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME by Sarah MacLean, an exciting historical romance that will be featured soon in our Alternative Romance feature! It is definitely worth a look if you enjoy historical fiction, as the characters are really well developed, and the plot is great too! I also read ENCHANTING THE LADY by Kathryne Kennedy, a paranormal romance and the first in the Relics of Merlin series. This book was good, but not overly thrilling, my review will be up soon.

I have now moved on to reading DARK SHADOWS: ANGELIQUE’S DESCENT by Lara Parker, and so far I’m a bit disappointed as the book is really dragging, I just can’t find the motivation to continue. I will persevere and see if it turns around!

Outside of reading this week I went to see Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, which I have to say is a great movie, and I really enjoyed it! (I’m totally not a big child or anything…)

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

I thought I had been super productive this week but looking back I am sorely disappointed in my weekly reads.

I found the latest Blood Destiny book, BLOOD REDEMPTION by Connie Suttle. It kind of looks like she is finishing the series but then there was a bit at the end about the ‘next adventures of…’.  I was hoping it was finishing as while I liked it, it had gone on long enough. I also found the next Sierra Dean book KEEPING SECRET.  This is one of those series why I can’t figure out why I keep reading them. I think the main character is a silly girl who jumps into the sack with both love interests at the same time because ‘they are mated’ and she is conflicted. Well, I have news for her… there are names for girls like that!

I have let THE BANDIT KING slip in favour of books I am about to review including THE SILVER BOUGH by Lisa Tuttle and AWAKENINGS by Edward Lazellari. Reviews of these are to follow so I am not going to give anything away.

I am so trying to finish STRANGENESS AND CHARMS by Mike Shevdon. This one has a lot of scenes with a super, whiny teenager and as I was one of those I don’t really feel compelled to read about one. The Hubinator informs me it gets better so I am biding my time.

Finally, I am still super excited that Robert J Bennett mentioned my review of The Troupe in his blog. That is a mega thrill for me as I have discovered that there is a big difference between reading a lot and reviewing a lot and the latter doesn’t come as easy.

Next week its play catch-up with my reading.  Wish me luck!

BECS’S ROUNDUP

What a poor week from me! I’ve only finished one book this week, PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES by Rhiannon Frater (review). I’m currently reading THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas, it’s good so far. That means next week I hope to read all those titles I missed out on this week such as THE TAKER by Alma Katsu, 172 HOURS ON THE MOON by Johan Harstad, and SHATTERED DREAMS by Ellie James.

This week shows less stress on my purse as I only bought two books, ASCEND by Amanda Hocking, as I wanted to replace the self-published version I own, it is currently cheap on kindle at £0.69, and I CAN MAKE YOU THIN by Paul McKenna, totally unrelated to my normal reads but much needed ;)

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