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

GUESTS

• Rebecca Roland, author of, Shards of History, writes about her writing space.
• Bethany Griffin, author of the young adult post-apocalyptic novel, The Masque of the Red Death, stops by to answer a few questions in this month’s author interview.

REVIEWS

• 4.5 Star Review – Awakenings by Edward Lazellari
• 4 Star Review – Rivers of London by Ben Aaranovich
• 3.5 Star Review – Brave (2012) (Friday Film Review)
• 3.5 Star Review – Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands (Alternative Romance)
• 3.5 Star Review - The Silent Touch of Shadows by Christine Courtenay
• 3.5 Star Review – Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
• 3 Star Review – Damnable by Hank Schweable
• 2.5 Star Review – 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
• 1.5 Star Review - Sunrise at Sunset by Jaz Primo

OTHER POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup - Ebooks Overtake Print Sales, Jennifer Lawrence Hunger Games Pay Deal, Sherrilyn Kenyon Interviewed & A Book Made Handbag
• New Series Alert: Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

CAROLYN’S ROUNDUP

I started out the week finishing the last volume in the DARK SOUL series by Alexandr Voinov. My review will be up in the next couple of weeks for our Alternative Romance feature (posted every Saturday), so I won’t go into too much detail here, but just let me say that this was definitely a new experience for me. It’s a gay erotic romance that’s incredibly intense with great characters, Stefano and Silvio, which were the two main reasons I continued reading. There’s lots of very explicit sex scenes and situations that were written so graphically I honestly didn’t know if I should continue reading. It was tough to carry on at times, but I wanted to finish it to see how it all ended, as I was emotionally invested in the two main guys. Did I like it? Hell Yes! and Hell No! But you will find out more of what I thought when my review is posted

I’m now reading FULL BLOODED by Amanda Carlson. I read the prequel to this book, Blooded, a few weeks back (review) and really enjoyed it. I loved Carlson’s writing style and the main character, Jessica. So far I’m loving it but I’m only a few chapters in.

In other news I’m sad the Olympics have finished. I loved going and I loved watching, it was awesome. BUT, I have been able to keep myself occupied with a new member to our family. We picked up our new little kitten this week. His name is Bumble  and he’s a little sweetie, and a little rascal, alternating between the two in the blink of an eye. He’s twelve weeks old and into everything, but he’s also very affectionate and loves a fuss, he also has the loudest purr I’ve heard for such a small kitty Isn’t he just gorgeous?

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

This week I have thoroughly submerging myself back into the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. I am now reading book number five LOVER UNBOUND, which is V’s story. I think I may have said this for each of the books, but this is my favourite so far. V is getting a special place in my heart and his back story is darkly fascinating and heart-breaking. Let me say this now, he better get his happy ending or heads will roll I tell you!

On audiobook I have started listening to the first in Nora Roberts’ Brides Quartet, VISION IN WHITE. I haven’t read any of Nora Roberts work for a while and I’m a fan, I just love her style and the richness of her characters. I also haven’t read any straight contemporary romances for a while, so it’s refreshing to switch up genres every now and then.

At home, it’s been crazy with the arrival of our gorgeous puppy Florence. She’s very cute, but she’s also very naughty! Our son loves her and squeals in delight whenever she’s running around. Now I just need to convince them both to sit very quietly in Mummy’s reading time LOL!

BECS’S ROUNDUP

Another great week of reading. I finally picked up REBEL HEART by Moria Young, I’ve been waiting to read this for a while after enjoying the first book in the series Blood Red Road. I also read IMMORTAL CITY by Scott Speer, it’s a little twist on guardian angels and I loved it! Both reviews to come shortly.

I’m on a book buying ban until I’ve cleared some of my 80 books in my TBR pile. So only one new book for me this week PRINCE OF WOLVES (The Grey Wolves series) by Quinn Loftis as it’s free on Kindle.

With the start of the football season this weekend, I’m going to the Emirates for the first game of the season. I hope we do well this but I’m not holding my breath. At least I’ll get some extra reading time travelling to and from London. Next week I hope to finish EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington, LAST MAN STANDING by David Longo and DREAMLESS by Josephine Angelini.

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

Well, I finished RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aaronovich last week and have to admit I really enjoyed it. The book was a refreshing spin on the Urban Fantasy genre and I really liked the home grown feel to it. You can read my full review here.

I am just over half way through THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK by Jillian Stone and am not over enamored by the book at all. I was expecting a book with lots of action set in an alternative Victorian England, and what I’m getting is pretty much an Erotic novel masking as UF/Steampunk/PNR.I should finish that soon and my review will follow.

Next up, I’m being a true rebel and reading a book that I’ve been dying to read since finishing Bloodstone (review). Yep, I have book three in the Rebel Angel Series, WOLFSBANE by the fantabulous Gillian Philips. What’s more, I have been invited to the official book launch on Tuesday. I really can’t wait. I adore this author and she is really a hidden gem.

Non-book wise, I have managed to go see THE BOURNE LEGACY. It was a really good film, even though the character of Jason Bourne isn’t in it. (OK so the fact it’s the hunky Jeremy Renner, might sweeten the deal). Never the less, I really liked it and I hope they make a sequel with Bourne and Renners character crossing paths. My review should be up next week.

Book buying ban is still going well. Apart from two pre-orders, which were WOLFSBANE and THE KINGMAKERS DAUGHTER by Philipa Gregory. I only bought HALFHEAD by Stuart McBride. So far so good!

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

Well just back from a lovely holiday and thought I was really going to pile through the books. I didn’t get up to much so not sure what I was doing that meant I only read 5.5 books.

So what did I get through?  I started with THE SHIFTING PRICE OF PREY by Suzanne McLeod. I was lucky enough to get an eArc so a review will follow. I thoroughly enjoyed Lilith Saintcrow’s new steampunk series Bannon and Clare with the first novel THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR. Saintcrow creates the most kick ass female leads and I am really looking forward to reading more of these characters. I also read two books viewed by my fellow BCC reviewer Gemma.  I started with TARNISHED by Karina Cooper. LOVED IT! I can totally see why she gave it 5 stars but I can’t believe we have to wait until winter 2013 for the next installment. That is almost cruel. I also read DEADWORLD by J.N.Duncan which I liked enough to start the second one in the series VENGEFUL DEAD. I am not as keen with the second novel in this series so not sure whether or not I will continue with the series. I have said that before though!

I also tried out my first audiobooks and can’t say that I am enamoured. I bought the anthology DARK AND STORMY KNIGHTS audio book and listened to the first three stories. I don’t think I can get past the narrators not sounding like how I imagine the characters to sound like. I will persevere with this audio book though.

Finally, a short came out from one of my favourite series that has nothing to do with urban or fantasy. A CAT WAS INVOLVED by Spencer Quinn came out and I got to find out how my favourite canine PI Chet flunked police dog training.  and yes, a cat was involved! I am really looking forward to a FIST FULL OF COLLARS which is out soon. Back to work on Monday but before then I am going to keep the holiday mood going and go find my next book to read!

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week I finished off the giant book that was THE FINAL EMPIRE by Brandon Sanderson, and I have to say that I absolutely loved this fantasy novel, and can’t wait for my friend to lend me the sequels. It was wonderfully written, and I loved the revelations and shocking moments throughout, and really am hooked!

Next I read QUEEN OF THE WORLD by Ben Hennessy, an exciting debut fantasy book, with the main character being a mute. This actually worked surprisingly well, and I am now awaiting the sequel as there were so many unanswered questions that I want answers to!

RIPPER by Amy Carol Reeves was my next read of the week, and I have to admit, I do love anything featuring Jack the Ripper, so this book was a must-read for me. It was an interesting twist to the mystery as it mixes in paranormal elements, and I felt that it was quite a good read.

I have now moved on to reading THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook, and this has been on my to-read pile for quite a while, so I’m excited to actually get around to reading it. I’m only around 50 pages in, but it seems to be good so far and I’m loving the rise of steampunk novels recently! I’ll let you know my thoughts in next week’s roundup

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