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

GUESTS

• Lou Morgan, author of the soon to be released Blood & Feathers lists her top 10 heroes & anti-heroes for our Authors Top 10 feature. She’s also giving away a copy of Blood & Feathers to one lucky winner.
• This week’s Debut Author Spotlight is on Peter Heller, author of the upcoming post-apocalyptic novel, The Dog Stars.

REVIEWS

• 5 Star Review – The Dark Knight Rises (Film Review)
• 4 Star Review – Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
• 4 Star Review – Samurai Game by Christine Feehan
• 4 Star Review – A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah McClean (Alternative Romance)
• 3.5 Star Review – Wild & Steamy (Anthology) by Meljean Brook, Jill Myles & Carolyn Crane
• 3.5 Star Review – The Silver Bough by Lisa Tuttle
• 3.5 Star Review - Switched by Amanda Hocking
• 3 Star Review – Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy
• 2.5 Star Review – The City’s Son by Tom Pollock
• 2 Star Review – Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson
• 1.5 Star Review – Bitten by Samantha Towle

OTHER POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup - Outlander TV Deal, Daniel Radcliffe Gets Horny, Austen Meets Erotica & Book Laptop Cover
• UK Cover Art: Royal Street & River Road by Suzanne Johnson
• US Cover Art: Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey
• New Series Alert: The Dead Run by Jane Lovering (Paranormal Romance)

CAROLYN’S ROUNDUP

I’m still reading DOG BLOOD by David Moody, but I’ve had to put it on hold for a bit. It is good, but I’m finding it slow going for some reason and not sure if it’s me or the book – so I’ve decided to take a little break and come back to it in a week or so. I then started reading KITTY STEALS THE SHOW by Carrie Vaughn, which is the 10th book in the Kitty Noville urban fantasy series. So far it’s pretty good, and like slipping on a comfy pair of slippers. It’s good to be back with Kitty and her men.

I did start the week deciding I wasn’t going to buy any books, but then Gemma has to go and tell me Amazon had a Kindle sale, and of course I couldn’t resist. All books were under £2 – I bought: THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF STEAMPUNK Anthology, four urban fantasy’s, RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aaronovitch, HEART OF STONE by C. E. Murphy, HARD MAGIC and STAYING DEAD by Laura Anne Gilman. And lastly, two contemporary romances,  ALL I EVER WANTED by Kristan Higgins and SUMMER KISSES by Sarah Morgan.

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

I started the week by reading a novella from the WILD AND STEAMY anthology, which was VIXEN by Jill Myles. I then went on to write a joint review of the book with Gemma and Carolyn (review). It certainly was a slightly steamier book than I’m used to!

I am now reading book two in James R. Tuck’s Deacon Chalk series BLOOD AND SILVER. I enjoyed Blood and Bullets earlier in the year and so far the writing in this book is much tighter. Also, Tuck really knows how to open a book! Phew!

I have resisted buying any new books, in fact I’ve had a clear out! I am currently giving them new homes to friends and family. I had to, the books in my house have a terrible tendency to breed, and the bookshelves just get fuller and fuller until they can’t take it anymore .

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished TARNISHED by Karina Cooper. I really enjoyed the book and was a rather refreshing turn for the Steampunk genre. It looks to be a very promising series and I look forward to reading book 2 when it comes out. My review is forthcoming.

I have been gorging myself on urban fantasy, fantasy and paranormal romance, along with the sub-genres that go with this. So in an effort to take a break, Carolyn offered me TREMBLE by Tobsha Learner. Have to admit, its a bit of a surprise read. The first short story The Root, had me in stitches and even now I have a little giggle. Glad to say its getting me out of my over indulgence in all things dark and twisty.

After this book, I’m definitely going to read RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aarronovich. Sometimes you just need a change of pace.

Well, I failed epically in the no book buying ban. Amazon went and had a summer sale. I bought seven books. And that is AFTER I bought UN LUN DON by China Miéville on the recommendation of the assistant in Waterstones, when I went to pick up “13” by Kelley Armstrong.

Movie wise, you may have seen my Friday Film Review for The Dark Knight Rises (review) – all I can say is “AWSOME!” and I plan to go see it again. (Unheard of for me.)

That’s it for me this week. Hope you all have a good one!

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished reading DARK SHADOWS: ANGELIQUE’S DESCENT by Lara Parker, and I was kind of disappointed with this book, as I was expecting great things and the descriptive writing really let it down (more on that in my review). I then moved onto THE KILLING MOON by N. K. Jemisin, and I wasn’t overly impressed with this book either, but it was still a good read. I think it was more the setting and characters that weren’t really my usual type of read, but you’ll see what I mean when the review is posted.

I’m currently reading WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD by Stephanie Chong, and I’m only around a hundred pages in, but this book is really good so far! I’m really loving the characters and look forward to seeing where this book goes.

Outside of reading, I went to see The Dark Knight Rises this week, and I have to say that I totally agree with Gemma’s review, the film is FANTASTIC. I loved the chemistry between Batman and Catwoman, and the ending is perfect, a fitting conclusion for this franchise.

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

I had a relatively good reading week and only a few books away from hitting my Goodreads target. Hurrah!

I accidentally bought and read ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO A VAMPIRE by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. I think I was mesmerized by by the 72p price tag. I have decided I don’t like books where the extremely old vampire/god speaks like a Valley Girl from 1982. Excessive use of the non word ‘hawt’ is the sign of no ‘plawt’.

In better reading news I bought BEWITCHING THE WEREWOLF by Caroline Hanson after reading Laura’s Roundup last week. I quite liked it so I went on to read Hanson’s Valerie Dearborn series – LOVE IS DARKNESS and LOVE IS FEAR. I enjoyed this series as the evil vampire didn’t turn good after meeting the gorgeous girl. He was still cruel, mean and manipulative even up to the final pages. The only problem is that Hanson left me on a huge cliffhanger and I don’t know when the next one is due out.

In other good news I also finished STRANGENESS AND CHARMS by Mike Shevdon. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as his other two. Shevdon bases his plots around really obscure British ceremonies and when you finish the book and the afterword you can’t help thinking ‘that is sooo cool’.

I also pre-ordered a couple of goodies, as well as TALES FROM THE ARCHIVES which is a collection from my favorite series this year – Books and Braun. I am hoping for another good reading week and I am sure with the extra travel time courtesy of the Olympics I will be able to get through even more.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 22nd July 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 5th Aug 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 15th July 2012

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – 12th Aug 2012