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

GUESTS

• Caris Roane, author of the paranormal romance series, Guardians of Ascension, lists her top ten secrets of her writing life for our Authors Top 10 feature.
• Lia Habel is this week’s Debut Author Spotlight

REVIEWS

• 4 Star Review – Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig
• 4 Star Review – Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
• 3.5 Star Review – Kiss the Rose by Kate Pearce
• 3.5 Star Review – As You Wish by Gabi Stevens
• 3.5 Star Review – Cursed by Benedict Jacka
• 3 Star Review – Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton
• 3 Star Review – Hollow Pike by James Dawson
• 3 Star Review – Men in Black 3 (Film Review)
• 2 Star Review – The Lady Most Likely (Alternative Romance Review)

GENERAL POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup
• Our Monthly Recs for June
• Cover Art: Portlandtown by Rob DeBorde
• Cover Art: Inhuman by Kat Falls
• New Series Alert: Fever World by Karen Marie Moning
• A Tour of Rebecca’s Bookshelves

CAROLYN’S ROUNDUP

Over the last few weeks I’ve been struggling through NIGHTSHIFTED by Cassie Alexander, so after reading 142 pages I decided to put it aside for good. Sadly I just couldn’t connect with it.

This past week I’ve been on my hols in the Lake District and in between walking in the mountains, evening dinners out, afternoon teas and lots of shopping, I managed to read two books. The first was a contemporary with an element of fantasy and magic, THE TIME OF MY LIFE by Cecelia Ahern. I adore her books and this was another fabulous read, I really loved it and my review will be up soon. The second book was HATER by David Moody. I have been really enjoying his Autumn zombie series so thought I would try his Hater series. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t come close for me with regards to tension and characters, and so I haven’t been enjoying this book as much, but it’s still an ok read. My review will be up sometime in the next couple of weeks.

I’m now reading WICKED BUSINESS by Janet Evanovich, the second book in her Lissy and Diesel paranormal romance series. I thought the first book, Wicked Appetite, was a good read, but I wasn’t totally smitten. I’m hoping this next instalment is better.

Quite a few of my pre-ordered books arrived while I was away, so along with my piles of review books, I also had a pile from Amazon waiting for me when I got home. I love coming home to lots of parcels!! Ok, so here’s the list of books I bought: WICKED NIGHTS by Gena Showalter, the first in a new paranormal romance series, ANGEL OF DARKNESS by Cynthia Eden, HANDS OF THE RIPPER by Guy Adams and X THE UNKNOWN by Shaun Hutson, both Hammer horror books that I can’t wait to read and lastly EVEN WHITE TRASH ZOMBIES GET THE BLUES by Diana Rowland. I have the first book in this series so ordered the second so I can read them back to back, I’ve heard it’s an awesome series.

I also received a surprise pressie from Gemma, CORALLED by Lorelie James, who she thinks is a fab writer of contemporary romance and wanted me to give them a read. Thanks, Gem! x

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

After finishing the fabulous ONCE BURNED by Jeanine Frost, I wasn’t quite sure what to read next. You know that feeling you get after really enjoying a book? If you missed it, you can read my review here. I decided to try and catch up with Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series and read DEADLOCK which is book number three, I’m currently reading it at the moment. I’d forgotten how good this series was, the chemistry really does sizzle in these books and Alec is a brilliant wolfish hero. I like how the stories manage to mix romance with real gritty story lines. Review coming soon…

I have been book buying this week. Hurrah, and I have finally gotten around to purchasing the next two Black Dagger Brotherhood books. LOVER REVEALED and LOVER UNBOUND by J. R. Ward. I really cannot wait to get back to them. I’m also seriously debating Karen Marie Moning’s new graphic novel starring Mac and Barrons. In general I’m not really a fan of graphic novels, so would usually give them a miss. But…. it’s Moning whom I love and Mac and Barrons. I can’t decide, anyone read it, is it good?

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

Well, I picked up two books this week. One was FIRST BITTEN by Samantha Towle and THE LINGERING DEAD by J.N. Duncan. The reason being, I have found I can read e-books on my mobile, when I am travelling in the car. So, I managed to polish off FIRST BITTEN pretty quickly, during my commute. It wasn’t the best book I’ve read, but you will see why in my review coming soon.

I’m also just over half way through THE LINGERING DEAD and so far it’s a return to form for J.N. Duncan after a lackluster second book in the Jackie Rutlidge series. Still pretty bummed that the publisher hasn’t optioned further books in the series. I have also started reading ETERNAL HUNGER by Laura Wright. Only 50 pages in but it shows promise and could be as good as the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Away from book reading, I went to the cinema three times in the last week. First time was to see the European Premier of Disney/Pixars new movie, Brave on Saturday 30th June. I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes and really only went to see Kevin McKidd (I did get to see him by the way.) It was a surprisingly good film and I really liked it. Full review will be up soon.

On Sunday I went to see Friends with Kids, starring John Hamm. Again it wasn’t what I expected. It was billed as funny as Bridesmaids, but really it’s a different film altogether and doesn’t have the same type of humor.

Finally on Friday, I went to see (puts on movie announcer voice) The Amazing Spiderman. I’ll leave my thoughts on that for the review. Let us just say that it was “Good” but not “Great”.

VICKIE’S ROUNDUP

YAY!! I have finally finished GIDEON, by Jaqueline Frank ….now can I have Elijah Carolyn…ppppllllleeeeaaaaassssseeeee??!!! It was one of those books that has taken me ages to read and as I am not one of these types that can have 6 books on the go at once (I get too confused and lose the thread too easily…add to that if I pick up a good book amongst those six, you just know that the dodgy ones aren’t going to get finished any time soon!) I have to stick at it and make sure I finish whatever it is I am reading. I am now going to head on into IMMORTAL HOPE, a paranormal romance by Claire Ashgrove. She is a new author for me so I am looking forward to seeing what she is all about

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished BLAMELESS by Gail Carriger, which was another great addition to the Parasol Protectorate series, and I’m really interested to know how this series will end. I’ve also read THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH by Bethany Griffin, which was an absolutely amazing book and is released in around a month’s time! My review will be posted soon, and I can’t wait to share my opinions on this book with you all

Recently I’ve started reading THE CITY’S SON by Tom Pollock, the first in a new urban fantasy series that will be out later in the year. I’m sorry to say that it hasn’t grabbed me so far, but I’m hoping it will pick up, as I’m not that far in yet!  Elsewhere it was my birthday on the 7th, and I was given the first series of Dexter on DVD, and I’ve only watched the first episode so far, but it’s brilliant! Have a feeling I will end up buying the other series now…

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

 So, this is my first roundup and I have been marginally productive this week. I gave this week a theme – New and Nostalgia.

For the new I read TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep and SWORD AND BLOOD by Sarah Marques, stay tuned for reviews to follow. I also came a across SHADOW’S EDGE the first in the Night Prowler series by J. T. Geissinger. I have no idea how I found this one but I quite liked it and look forward to the second instalment out later this year. In preparation for the ending of the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong (fellow Canadian who lives really close to where I grew up) I read THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED which included a short written from Clay’s perspective and was quite interesting as well as two from Eve’s. I also bought THE BANDIT KING by Lilith Saintcrow but haven’t manage to start it.

So for the nostalgia I decided to give LOTHAIRE by Kresley Cole another read through. When I read this the first time I thought he was a bit too mean to swoon over and this time I thought he was a down right jerk. I think that despite his hunkiness if he got me sent to prison for 5 years and death row I wouldn’t be so forgiving!  I then gave ABOUT A DRAGON by G. A. Aiken another skim through. These are surprisingly funny and can’t resist reading them in the bath. But my all time FAVOURITE read through was THE JANUS AFFAIR by Philippa Ballantine, and HURRAH I get to review it.

So for me this was a not my biggest reading week because I only got through a few new books but for once I have books on Kandy (my Kindle) that I haven’t even opened yet and for me that is a major achievement. Must also finish THE TROUPE by Robert Jackson Bennett! Well with so much left to read I better get going!

BECS’ ROUNDUP

Being new at Book Chick City I have loads of catching up to do, I’m super excited, and getting to know the other reviewers better is putting a dent in my bank account

This week I have read and reviewed HOLLOW PIKE by James Dawson (review) and THE IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa (review coming soon). I bought and read MESSENGER’S ANGEL by Heather Killough-Walden, ONCE BURNED by Jeaniene Frost and BEFORE I WAKE by Rachel Vincent, needless to say I’ve missed a few hours of sleep. I also bought books 1-7 of THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD series by Gena Showalter (a daily deal and I couldn’t resist) and DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward, I blame Vickie and Gemma for this one.

This week I’m looking to read CRIMSON GROVES and UNGUARDED both by Ashley Robertson and maybe DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward or SPELL BOUND by Rachel Hawkins.

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