Book Chick City

HAMMER REVISITED - Giveaway: The Best of Hammer Collection DVD Box Set (UK Only)

2012-02-08T14:08:00.000Z

GIVEAWAY!

I have THE BEST OF HAMMER COLLECTION to give away. This box set was purchased by me so you can experience the awesomeness that is Hammer!

Due to the difference in DVD formats, this giveaway is UK Only and ends 12th Feb 2012

From the vaults of the legendary Hammer Horror Film Productions come five classic movies, the cream of Hammer’s horror, science fiction and fantasy productions, featuring iconic performances from Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Bette Davis and many others. This definitive box set includes such renowned films as Dracula Prince of Darkness, The Plague of the Zombies, One Million Years BC, Quatermass and the Pit, Frankenstein Created Woman and The Devil Rides Out. With a legion of extras including audio commentaries, trailers, interviews and the full length documentary To the Devil… the Death of Hammer, this is a must for any Hammer fan. (Amazon)

To enter please follow instructions below

GOOD LUCK!

HAMMER REVISITED - Book Review: 'The Greatcoat' by Helen Dunmore

2012-02-08T06:00:00.001Z

Title: The Greatcoat
Author: Helen Dunmore
Publisher: Hammer Books
Publication Date: Feb 2012
Format: ARC, 208 pages
Genre: Horror, Ghost, Romance
Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by Carolyn

Amazon UK / The Book Depository

SUMMARY:

In the summer of 1954, newly wed Isabel Carey arrives in a Yorkshire town with her husband Philip. As a GP he spends much of his time working, while Isabel tries hard to adjust to the realities of married life. Life is not easy: she feels out-of-place and constantly judged by the people around her, so she spends much of her time alone.

One cold winter night, Isabel finds an old RAF greatcoat in the back of a cupboard that she uses to help keep warm. Once wrapped in the coat she is beset by dreams. And not long afterwards, while her husband is out, she is startled to hear a knock at her window, and to meet for the first time the intense gaze of a young Air Force pilot, handsome, blond and blue-eyed, staring in at her from outside.

His name is Alec, and his powerfully haunting presence both disturbs and excites Isabel. Her initial alarm soon fades, and they begin a delicious affair. But nothing could have prepared her for the truth about Alec's life, nor the impact it will have on her own marriage. (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

I was really looking forward to reading "The Greatcoat". I was hoping it would be an atmospheric, romantic ghost story, and although very different, written with the same richness and depth as 'The woman in Black' by Susan Hill (my favourite ghost story of all time). Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver.

"The Greatcoat" is a ghost story set in Yorkshire during the Second World War and the 1950s. It's a strange little novella in that to me it didn't have much of an atmosphere at all, which is what I expect from a ghost story. It wasn't eerie or creepy. I did, however, think the author managed to capture the essence of Yorkshire quite well and I could visualise the house and street where Isabel and Phillip lived.

Isabel and Phillip are married and move into a house with a rather grouchy landlady. Phillip is a doctor and is working long hours, leaving Isabel alone for long periods of time. The house is cold and one evening Isabel finds an old greatcoat, which she uses to keep warm, and thus begins the ghost story...

I felt that all the characters were very superficial, especially Isabel. They didn't have any depth to them and I didn't get to know them at all. Isabel's husband Philip and her lover (and ghost) Alec, were also a bit on the flat side and rather uninteresting. I didn't care about them, which made the reading of this novel slightly hard going. The character that did pique my interest was Mrs Atkinson, the landlady.

The romance between Isabel and Alec just didn't capture my imagination or my heart and unfortunately I didn't become emotionally attached to either of them. Half the time I didn't know who Isabel was and so I couldn't fully invest in their relationship.

Isabel's narrative was difficult to follow as it alternates between her true self and someone else entirely. I think I have an idea what the author was getting at, but ambiguity is not to my taste. There's also a fair amount of repetitiveness with Isabel doing and saying the same things again and again. The structure of the story is also irritating as it jumps about far too much, which made it feel disjointed.

Although I didn't particularly enjoy "The Greatcoat" I continued reading with the hope that the ending would make all the preceding pages worth while, but sadly the ending was abrupt and obscure.

VERDICT:

Unfortunately "The Greatcoat" wasn't what I expected, which was disappointing, and the writing style wasn't to my taste. I couldn't connect with the characters or their relationships with each other. However, this is just my personal opinion - you may love it!

RATING: 5/10 - take it or leave it

Helen Dunmore Online

Website | Goodreads

HAMMER REVISITED - Guest Author & Giveaway: Guy Adams

2012-02-07T08:31:00.000Z

Horror is one of my favourite genres, and as I was given the Hammer Horror Ultimate DVD Collection for Christmas, I thought it would be fun to host a special event to celebrate these horror classics. Not only that, this event will also be the launch of a new feature, where I will be reviewing a movie or book each month throughout the year.

Guy Adams id the author of "The World House" and its sequel "Restoration". Guy gave up acting five years ago to become a full-time writer. This was silly, but thankfully he's kept busy writing bestselling humour titles based on TV show Life on Mars or Torchwood novels The House That Jack Built and The Men Who Sold The World. He has also written a pair of original Sherlock Holmes novels, The Breath of God and The Army of Doctor Moreau as well as a biography of actor Leonard Rossiter and an updated version of Neil Gaiman's Don't Panic: Douglas Adams & The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Amazon: UK | US / The Book Depository

Guy Adams Online

They say you should never meet your heroes, they will invariably turn out to be the most grotesque creatures and you’ll never be able to love them again. As a writer, the heroes in question don’t have to be real people. In fact, they needn’t even be people at all.

I have a real obsession over Hammer Studios. First love was a movie called Vampire Circus, watched on videocassette while working as a babysitter for my english teacher Alan Heaven. Alan gets mentioned a lot when I talk about how my tastes developed as a child. He taught me Alan Moore, Fay Weldon, Norman Mailer, Angela Carter, Clive Barker and Garry Kilworth (one of the finest short story writers we have and now, I’m pleased to say, a good friend). He also paid me cash to look after his baby when he and his wife wanted to remind themselves what a social life was.

Vampire Circus was wonderful. It felt cosy with its familiar character actors and period costume and yet also illicit, bloodthirsty and sexy (though everything is sexy when you’re thirteen, just opening the video case probably got me excited). Twins of Evil followed and that was even better. Peter Cushing -- who was Doctor Who to me then, after his lovely performances in the Amicus Dalek movies of the 1960s -- combined with identical twins culled from the pages of Playboy whose clothes seemed magnetically repelled by their bodies, so frequently did they come flying off. Embarrassingly I do believe the Collinson twins may be the first completely naked ladies I ever saw. Is it any wonder I fell in love with Hammer Studios? If Alan had owned Caligula perhaps I would have grown up with an obsession for togas and centurion helmets.

Neither Vampire Circus or Twins of Evil are deemed examples of Hammer at its best. Towards the end of its life, in order to keep dragging audiences into cinemas, the studio felt compelled to up its game with violence and nudity, the better to match movies from other studios. Still, they were perfect for a thirteen year old boy and I adored them. They were as scandalous and thrilling to me as The Quatermass Xperiment had been to its 1955 audience, they felt like nothing else I had seen before, flavour of their very own.

Unlike some teenage obsessions this one has never faded. On a shelf just behind me are countless books about Hammer plus virtually every film they ever produced. Not just the gothic horrors but the thrillers, the war movies, the family adventures, the comedies... I love them all, even the ones that probably aren’t very good.

Which is why I was always going to say yes to novelizing some of the movies for Hammer Books, though I would be lying if I didn’t admit the prospect had worried me. Would the films stand up to that sort of treatment? A good movie doesn’t necessarily make a good book, the format makes different demands on characterization, plot, pacing... Was I going to end up contaminating my feelings towards the movies by getting too close to them?

Well, I’m two down with one to go and I’m having the time of my life.

I’ve taken some liberties, mind. Kronos (based on Captain Kronos written and directed by the masterful Brian Clemens) does not end in quite the way people might expect .My forthcoming version of Hands of the Ripper takes the unconventional step of transferring the film’s Edwardian setting to the present day. I haven’t done it just to be contentious, I’ve done it because it works and the central story, about two very haunted people can be just as powerful when played out in a house next door to you rather than cushioned by a hundred years of history. My final book, Countess Dracula, will take place during the advent of talkies in Hollywood, because a story about a woman desperate to hang on to her youth and beauty is just as interesting there as in a European castle.

Because what’s the point of a cover version if it sticks to every single note? The films will always be there, and they tell their story wonderfully. What Hammer Books have done is offer a list of alternative versions, remakes if you will, where a story can be seen from a slightly different perspective, all the better to be enjoyed afresh. One of those stories will be Vampire Circus, written by the brilliant Mark Morris, and I for one can’t wait to hear him tell me his take on the story that first made me fall in love with all of this.

Perhaps -- and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I hope this will be the case -- a thirteen-year-old will even pick a copy up and be as thrilled by it as I was of that old videocassette. The range may not be aimed at children (in fact the list is as broad and inventive as Hammer were themselves, from page-turning romps to chilling brain-food) but as someone who knows only too well how exciting that first taste of darkness can be, I can only hope.

GIVEAWAY

I have FIVE (5) copies of Kronos to give away, courtesy of Hammer. To enter please follow instructions below.

This giveaway is UK ONLY and ends 10th Feb 2012

GOOD LUCK!

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HAMMER REVISITED - Movie Review: "The Plague of the Zombies" Directed by John Gilling

2012-02-06T13:00:00.000Z

The Plague of the Zombies (1966)

Directed by John Gilling

REVIEW

"The Plague of the Zombies" is a very outdated film, with inferior make-up and special effects compared with today's standards, but if you can get past all that then you're in for a treat. "The Plague of the Zombies" is such a fun movie, and although not particularly frightening, still has lots of tension and that distinct Hammer atmosphere.

The main characters are all so delightful and charming - I just love the old-school acting, overally exaggerated to the point of laughable (I was giggling to myself the whole way through the movie), although I'm sure this wasn't the intended outcome.

A letter arrives at the home of medical professor, Sir James Forbes (André Morell), from Peter Thompson (Brook Williams) a former student who's the doctor of a quaint little town in Cornwall. After reading the letter, the professor realises it's dreadfully important and leaves with his daughter Sylvia (Diane Claire). Sylvia is happy to accompany her father as her friend, Alice (Jacqueline Pearce) is Peter's wife and so sees at as an opportunity to catch up with her friend.

When they arrive they feel something isn't quite right in this sleepy village - there have been lots of unexplained deaths and after a bit of sleuthing, Sir James digs up the graves only to find the coffins are empty! Meanwhile, Sylvia's friend, Alice, is acting very strangely and one day Syliva decides to follow her friend to see what she's up to only to get the fright of her life!

Central to the plot is the mysterious, wealthy squire, Clive Hamilton (John Carson) who lives in a large house. He's very much into voodoo and witchcraft... The zombie's are of the old tradition of voodoo creatures who are slaves rather than the cannibalistic monster's we're used to today, due to the first Romero movie, 'Night of the Living Dead'. Is there are connection between the two? ;D

Although the plot was fairly predictable, there were one or two scenes which surprised me, such as the gruesome decapitation of a main character and the potential of gang rape. So although this film is a little dated, it's still has provocative events which gives it depth and weight.

VERDICT

Other than a few plot threads that needed further explanation, "The Plague of the Zombies" is a great old-fashioned zombie movie. So if you haven't watched it yet, I recommend you do - a fab addition to your zombie repertoire!

RATING: 7/10

Hammer Films | Amazon UK | Amazon US

HAMMER REVISITED - Giveaway: 'Twins of Evil' DVD

2012-02-06T09:16:00.000Z

GIVEAWAY!

To start things off for HAMMER REVISITED, I have FIVE (5) copies of TWINS OF EVIL DVD'S to giveaway, courtesy of Hammer!

Due to the difference in DVD formats, this giveaway is UK Only and ends 10th Feb 2012

Note: Cover may be different

In nineteenth century middle-Europe, orphaned teenage twins Maria and Frieda go to live with their uncle Gustav Weil, who heads the Brotherhood, a vigilante group trying to stamp out vampirism. But their methods are random and misplaced and the only result is a terrorised populace. The real threat lies with Count Karnstein, and although the twins seem outwardly to be identical, Frieda finds herself much more drawn than her sister to the Count's castle dominating the skyline.

To enter please follow instructions below

GOOD LUCK!

HAMMER REVISITED: Announcement Post & International Giveaway!

2012-02-04T15:53:00.000Z

Horror is one of my favourite genres, and as I was given the Hammer Horror Ultimate DVD Collection for Christmas, I thought it would be fun to host a special event to celebrate these horror classics. Not only that, this event will also be the launch of a new feature, where I will be reviewing a movie or book each month throughout the year.

I have loved the Hammer Horror Movies ever since I will little. Some of the really old ones are horror classics in my opinion, from Dracula, the Prince of Darkness and The Plague of the Zombies to The Reptile and The Horror of Frankenstein plus many, many more.

Arrow is reissuing the original films as well as books written by many of today's top horror writers, such as Twins of Evil by Shaun Hutson and Kronos by Guy Adams, they are also adding new books to the Hammer list including The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore.

During the special week long event that begins Monday (6th February), we have two AMAZING guest authors: Shaun Hutson and Guy Adams!!! A few giveaways, as well as book and movie reviews. I hope you enjoy! :D

GIVEAWAY

I have an ARC of The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore to giveaway away!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends Friday 10th Feb 2012

To enter please follow instructions below

GOOD LUCK!

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Husband Trap' by Tracy Anne Warren

2012-02-01T12:00:00.000Z

Title: The Husband Trap (The Trap Trilogy #1)

Author: Tracy Anne Warren

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publication Date: March 2006

Format: Ebook, 384 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Review copy from publisher

Buy Your Copy
Amazon: UK | US

Reviewed by Laura

SUMMARY:

Here comes the substitute bride... Violet Brantford has always longed for the passionate embrace of Adrian Winter, the wealthy Duke of Raeburn. Problem is, he’s set to marry Violet’s vivacious, more socially polished look-alike twin sister, Jeannette. But when Jeannette refuses to go through with the ceremony mere minutes before it is to begin, soft-spoken Violet finds herself walking down the aisle and taking vows in her sister’s place.

Soon shy Violet is a high-society wife, trying to keep her real identity a secret while living out the fantasies of her wildest dreams. Adrian thinks he knows exactly what he’s gotten himself into: Jeannette may be flighty and, well, a bit self-involved, but she’s the picture-perfect wife to carry on the Winter name.

Yet this marriage of convenience brings the groom more than he bargained for when he finds his sweet, innocent wife surprising him at every turn. And though he never planned on true love, Adrian is definitely in danger of losing his heart.

REVIEW:

Twin identity swapping stories always seem to make me think of Disney's 'The Parent Trap' (the original is so much better) or Pascal's Sweet Valley High series which I so loved as a girl. There is of course nothing new about the concept, I find I sometimes like the stories, and other times not so much. 'The Husband Trap' thankfully fell into the first camp.

It begins with a wedding. Adrian, Duke of Raeburn waits for his bride, however it is not the woman he thinks it is walking down the aisle, it's in fact her twin sister Violet. In love with her sister Jeanette's fiancé, when Jeanette refuses to go through with the wedding, to avoid the terrible scandal Violet agrees to marry Adrian in her sister's place. The problem is Jeanette is a society princess and party lover and Violet is a shy, retiring bookworm.

This book is a sweet, easy-reading romance. I immediately endeared to Violet, maybe it was her love of books! But I enjoyed the fact that she was clever and shunned society norms. By contrast Jeanette is a spoiled brat who was guaranteed to set my teeth on edge.The love story between Violet and Adrian is warm and cosy like a lovely winter duvet. It builds nicely throughout the book, making it believable. You of course get the ultimate revelation and subsequent fall out, but you always knew that was coming and it just adds to the tension and glow of the romance.

Adrian isn't your typical alpha romance hero, in fact he's not that much alpha, more gentlemanly. But still dreamy enough to pull off the title of hero. I also became very fond of Adrian's brother Kit and the secondary plot and friendship that developed between him and Violet. It added a fun undertone to the story.

I did have a bit of an issue with the twins names in the book. Violet's full name was Janette Violet and of course the sister she swapped places with is Jeanette. Now ok, I get that the spelling and pronunciation is slightly different, but essentially they both have the same name. Would anyone really ever do this to their children? This felt like a very obvious and unbelievable plot device to get around the legality of the swapped marriage.

VERDICT:

A really nice, well written regency romance that paces the love story nicely, with characters you love, and characters you love to hate.

RATING: 7/10 - Very good, would definitely recommend

Tracy Anne Warren Online:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Books in Series Order:

1. The Husband Trap

2. The Wife Trap

3. The Wedding Trap

This book counts towards the following BCC Reading Challenges:

Book #1 100+ Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

Post Your Reviews: Speculative Romance Challenge 2012 - February

2012-02-01T05:20:00.000Z

Post Your Reviews - February

Speculative Romance Challenge 2012

*This is not the sign up page*

If you'd like to sign up for this challenge, click HERE.

Please Remember: Add your DIRECT URL to your review post, not your blog url!

Post Your Reviews: Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2012 - February

2012-02-01T05:15:00.000Z

Post Your Reviews - February

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2012

*This is not the sign up page*

If you'd like to sign up for this challenge, click HERE.

Please Remember: Add the DIRECT URL from your review post, NOT your blog url!

Post Your Reviews: Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2012 - February

2012-02-01T05:10:00.000Z

Post Your Reviews - February

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2012

*This is not the sign up page*

If you'd like to sign up for this challenge, click HERE.

Please Remember: Add the DIRECT URL of your review post, NOT your blog url!

Post Your Reviews: Zombie Challenge 2012 - February

2012-02-01T05:05:00.000Z

Post Your Reviews - February

Zombie Challenge 2012

*This is not the sign up page*

If you'd like to sign up for this challenge, click HERE.

Please Remember: Add your DIRECT URL to your review post, not your blog url!

Post Your Reviews: 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012 - February

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000Z

Post Your Reviews - February

100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

*This is not the sign up page*

If you'd like to sign up for this challenge, click HERE.

Please Remember: Add your DIRECT URL to your review post, not your blog url!

BCC's Top Picks for February 2012

2012-01-31T12:00:00.000Z

Our top picks from this month's new releases. In no particular order.

SHADOW HEIR by Richelle Mead
(Dark Swan #4)
2nd Feb 2012, Bantam (UK) | Zebra (US)
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

Goodreads

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

SHAEDES OF GREY by Amanda Bonilla
(Shaede Assassin #1)
16th Feb, 2012 - Signet
Amazon UK | Amazon US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind—an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD by Darynda Jones
(Charley Davidson #3)
2nd Feb, 2012 - Piatkus (UK | St Martin's Press (US)
Amazon UK | Amazon US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

Charley Davidson—grim reaper extraordinaire, private investigator ... meh—is practicing her profession under the influence, caffeine and copious amounts of it, due to an extreme desire to induce insomnia. Every time she closes her eyes, Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan, is there. Only thing is, he’s a tad peeved. She did bind for all eternity, so it’s hard blame him. But 13 days without a wink is bound to bring out the crazy in a girl. So, when a man hires her to find his wife, Charley accepts the job with one goal in mind: Put the man behind bars, and not the wet kind. She can sense the guilt waft off him and vows to find the woman’s body and prove he’s a murderer.

In the meantime, Reyes is back in prison and none too happy about it... so Charley thinks, until she is carjacked by the dark-haired rake, who swears the very man he went to prison for killing is not only alive, but close by. And he wants Charley to find him.

While a visit to her old friend Rocket sheds no light on Reyes’s situation, Charley finds out the man’s wife is still alive and time is running out. Finding her before she dies would be a miracle, but she has to try. Together with the help of a fashion-impaired receptionist named Cookie, Charley sets out to bring the bad guys to justice. She just hopes Reyes is not one of them. And that she’s not hallucinating from her self-induced bout with insomnia.

ANGEL'S FLIGHT by Nalini Singh
(Guild Hunter Anthology)
28th Feb, 2012 - Berkley Sensation
Amazon UK | Amazon US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

Angel’s Wolf ~ a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

Angels’ Judgment ~ a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...

Angels' Pawn ~ a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...

Angels’ Dance ~ an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.

WITCHFUL THINKING by H. P. Mallory
(Jolie Wilkins #3)
28th Feb, 2012 - Bantam (US)
Amazon UK | Amazon US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

TO WALK THE NIGHT by E. S. Moore
(Kat Redding #1)
13th Feb, 2012 - Kensington
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.

Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity…

A SLIVER OF SHADOW by Allison Pang
(Abby Sinclair #2)
28th Feb, 2012 - Pocket Books
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

GRAVE DANCE by Kalayna Price
(Alex Craft #2)
2nd Feb, 2012 - Berkley UK
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

"Memories hid in every cell of the body. Memories that my grave magic could unlock and give shape as a shade. Of course, that depended on having enough of the body at my disposal for my magic to fill in the gaps."

After a month spent recovering from a vicious fight with a sorcerer, Grave Witch Alex Craft is ready to get back to solving murders by raising the dead. With her love life in turmoil thanks to the disappearance of FBI agent Falin Andrews and Death's shocking 'L word' confession, Alex is eager for the distractions of work. But her new case turns out to be more of a challenge than she was expecting.

The police hire Alex to consult on a particularly strange investigation in a nature preserve. The strange part? There are no bodies, just leftover pieces. With a probable serial killer on the loose and no way to raise a shade without a body, Alex will have to rely solely on her ability to sense the grave to lead her to the dead. But with the strain of overusing her magic, this might be the last case Alex ever solves...

A PERFECT BLOOD by Kim Harrison
(The Hollows #10)
21st Feb, 2012 - Harper Voyager
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth — a would-be creator is determined to make his (or her) own demons. But it can’t be done without Rachel’s blood.

As a bounty hunter, Rachel has battled vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more. But humanity itself might be her toughest challenge.

I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER by Sophie Kinsella
16th Feb, 2012 - Bantam Press
Amazon: UK | US
The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
Goodreads

I've lost it. :( The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!! :)

A couple of glasses of bubbly with the girls at a charity do and Poppy's life has gone into meltdown. Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she's lost her phone too. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number with the hotel staff. It was meant to be!

Except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn't agree. He wants his phone back, and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, phone messages and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, can things get any more tangled?

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE READ-A-LONG: Joint Review & Discussion - 'Dead Until Dark' by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #1)

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000Z

We have wanted to review the Sookie Stackhouse series for a while now, so we decided to do something more than just a review, we want you to get involved too!

Each month we will be reviewing a book in the series as set out below, as well as offering up some discussion questions which you can answer in the comment section.

So if you haven't read the series yet then why not read right along with us, and if you have then feel free to stop by and join in the discussion!

Read-a-long Schedule

30th Jan - Dead Until Dark

27th Feb - Living Dead in Dallas

26th March - Club Dead

30th April - Dead to the World

28th May - Dead as a Doornail

25th June - Definitely Dead

30th July - All Together Dead

27th Aug - From Dead to Worse

24th Sept - Dead and Gone

29th Oct - Dead in the Family

26th Nov - Dead Reckoning

31st Dec - Deadlocked

Remember, we will only be discussing each book in series order so please refrain from any spoilers.

BOOK #1: DEAD UNTIL DARK

by Charlaine Harris

Publisher: Gollancz (UK) | Ace (US)

Publication Date: 2009 (UK) | 2001 (US)

Paperback: 312 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: Own copy

SUMMARY

Sookie Stackhouse is a small time cocktail waitress in small town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much - not because she's not pretty - she's a very cute bubbly blonde - or not interested in a social life. She really is... but Sookie's got a bit of a disability. She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable.

And then along comes Bill: he's tall, he's dark and he's handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting all her life for. But Bill has a disability of his own: he's fussy about his food, he doesn't like suntans and he's never around during the day... Yep, Bill's a vampire. Worse than that, he hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind. And then one of Sookie's colleagues at the bar is killed, and it's beginning to look like Sookie might be the next victim...

REVIEW & DISCUSSION

LAURA

"Dead Until Dark" is the story of waitress Sookie who has what she refers to as a 'disability', she can read people's minds. Because of this disability, she struggles with personal friendships & relationships and rarely dates. Nothing worse than knowing what your date is thinking of you!

Living in a small Southern town, Sookie is a mix of endearing naïveté, strong morals and a good share of guts and determination. Working at Sam's bar, she is waitress, and takes pride in her work. Her relationship with her grandmother, whom she lives with is lovely and written with real, believable warmth. And her promiscuous and selfish brother, while infuriating at times is still engaging.

CAROLYN

I agree, all the characters are interesting and quirky. I especially love Sookie - she's a warm, down-to-earth kind of gal and not the type of urban fantasy heroine I'm used to reading. I really like the TV show, but I must say I like the books more.

LAURA

If you watch the TV series, you will notice the distinct absence of best friend Tara in the book, in fact she's not even mentioned. While Sam and fellow waitress Arlene are important friends, Sookie does not have a best friend in the book. This adds to her overall isolation and loneliness, brought about by her telepathic ability.

Then enter vampire Bill. Bill's mind is delightfully and blissfully blank and Sookie is immediately fascinated. But with the arrival of Bill, the town suddenly becomes the victim of a serial killer and young women keep turning up dead. Before she knows it, Sookie ends up caught in the middle of the deadly game.

CAROLYN

I must admit I was put off reading this series basically because of the TV show. I do enjoy 'True Blood' but I've never really got on board with Anna Paquin and I was worried that this would rub off on the books. When I started "Dead Until Dark" I did unfortunately see Paquin as Sookie, but after about fifty or so pages, the Sookie of my own imagination started to push through and I began to enjoy the book a lot more. In fact I had difficulty putting it down.

LAURA

I read the first three books in this series years ago and for some reason didn't get around to reading the subsequent books. Unlike Carolyn, I read them before 'True Blood' hit our TV screens, so I wasn't put off by the TV show. But as I started re-reading them I couldn't help make a few comparisons as I wrote my review.

CAROLYN

I really enjoyed the southern setting and the way that everyone spoke - I'm a big fan of the southern drawl anyway, so it just made this book even more enjoyable for me. The fact that Sookie is just an ordinary girl (apart from her supernatural abilities), working in a bar as a waitress, making an honest living rather than a gun-wielding, martial arts expert, gave this urban fantasy a fresh twist.

LAURA

"Dead Until Dark" is aneasy read. Charlaine Harris has a unique writing style, which I reallyenjoy. She often focuses on the detail, but in a way that adds richnessto her story rather than coming across as tedious.

Thereisn't much to fault with this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If I hadjust have one tiny complaint, I did feel that Sookie and Bill fell inlove just a little bit too quickly. I could understand it from Sookie,but maybe not from a several hundred year old vampire.

VERDICT:

CAROLYN: "Dead Until Dark" is a fun and entertaining urban fantasy. It's pretty light compared to some of the other UF series out there, but it's still definitely worth a read. Harris has a great relaxed writing style that made this book a quick and easy read, as well as hard to put down. The characters are great and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

LAURA: A fun and even delightful supernatural mystery set in a small town in the deep South. Sookie is a refreshing and charming lead character. She's not your normal tough, ass-kicking urban fantasy heroine, but I actually loved her even more because of it. As for the TV show... I much prefer the book! :-)

CAROLYN'S RATING: 8/10 - Brilliant, couldn't put it down
LAURA'S RATING: 8/10 - Brilliant, couldn't put it down

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What were your first impressions of Sookie? Did they change as the book progressed?
2. Do you agree with us and think Dead Until Dark is a great first book to a series?
3. What do you like most about the world Harris has created?
4. Were you put off reading this series by the TV show or do you love both?
5. How did you get on with Harris's writing style, as it can be very detail focused? Quirky and quaint or sometimes slow going?
6. Were you sucked in by the Sookie and Bill love story?

Charlaine Harris Online

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Books in Series Order

1. Dead Until Dark

2. Living Dead in Dallas

3. Club Dead

4. Dead to the World

5. Dead as a Doornail

6. Definitely Dead

7. All Together Dead

8. From Dead to Worse

9. Dead and Gone

10. Dead in the Family

11. Dead Reckoning

12. Deadlocked

BOOK REVIEW: 'Reckoning' by Jeaniene Frost

2012-01-27T08:54:00.000Z

Title: Reckoning (Night Huntress #0.5)

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: November 2011 (originally part of Unbound Anthology published in September 2009)

Ebook: 100 Pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: My own copy

Reviewed by Laura

SUMMARY:

In New Orleans, a pair of undead serial killers are about to turn Mardi Gras into a horror show--unless the immortal hitman Bones can hunt them down first. From Jeaniene Frost comes a thrilling prequel novella featuring characters from her New York Times bestselling Night Huntress series. Originally appeared in the anthology Unbound. (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

'Reckoning' takes place before 'Halfway To The Grave' the first book in the NightHuntress series, before Bones and Cat have even met. It's a novella set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The book sits firmly in the urban fantasy/horror genre, with Bones on the trail of two gruesome ghoul serial killers.

The book focuses mainly on Bones, I enjoyed learning more about Bones before he met Cat. But at the same time it was a little strange seeing him not only without Cat, but dating someone else. The writing did not quite have the spark of the Night Huntress books and I think this is merely because I simple missed the romance and spark of Cat and Bones' relationship. I actually think if you haven't read the books you're better off picking up the first in the series initially and then reading this novella retrospectively as it was written.

Also with the Night Huntress books there is always a slight air of mystery around Bones, you don't always know what he's thinking and what clever plan he's going to come up with, and that wasn't there in this book. And because of this, I hate to say it, but he came across a bit less cool. Although of course he's still Bones, so he is still awesome, but perhaps not quite as awesome as normal.

We meet a new character Ralmiel, whom I loved despite the fact he was trying to kill Bones! Several times throughout the story he just made me grin. I do hope he makes an appearance at some point in the series books.

The ending is equal parts sad and gruesome, if you don't like a little gore you might want to skip some pages!

VERDICT:

A nice novella if you like Bones, not as good as the Night Huntress books, but a quick read for fans of the series.

RATING: 6/10 - Good

Jeaniene Frost Online

Books in series order:
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave's End
4. Destined for an Early Grave
5. This Side of the Grave
6. One Grave at a Time

This book counts towards the following BCC Reading Challenges:

Book #2 100+ Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

Book #1 Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2012

Piatkus to Launch New eBook Romance Imprint!

2012-01-26T17:09:00.001Z

Whether you're lucky in love or still waiting for The One, we've got something guaranteed to inject a little romance into your Valentine's Day this year...

February 14th sees the launch of Piatkus Entice, their brand new eBook-first romance imprint. With new titles each month from authors including Eloisa James, Laura Wright, Sarah MacLean, Mariah Stewart and many more, Piatkus Entice will be a one-stop-shop for romantic fiction, offering readers everything from virile vampires to fairytale endings, ravishing rakes and so much more besides.

The website is now live at www.piatkusentice.co.uk. Have a look around the site, then follow them on Twitter and Facebook, or sign up to the Entice newsletter for the latest romance news straight to your inbox.

Check out some of the amazing new titles that will soon be available:

If you love romance, then I'm sure you're drooling right about now - I know I am! To sign up to their newsletter then check out their fab new website dedicated to Entice.

www.piatkusentice.co.uk

Laura and I are really excited about Piatkus new Romance imprint and we can't wait to start reading, so watch out for our reviews coming soon! :D

Follow Piatkus Entice

Bagabook Review & Giveaway!

2012-01-25T11:28:00.000Z

Bagabook Review

by Laura

As well as my love of books, I also have a bit of an obsession with stationery. Pads, crisp pretty paper, neat organiser files and pens... Don't even get me started on pens! I got two lovely ones for Christmas this year alone, adding to my growing collection.

It says so much about me that when I first discovered I was pregnant, the first thing I bought for baby (well, ok for me!) was a designer Orla Kiely file & notebook to keep everything together. So when Bagabook started following me on twitter & I checked out their website I nearly squealed in excitement (yes my stationery addiction is super geeky)! Stationery for books, there was no way my credit card or I could avoid this purchase.

Bagabook is a really neat little concept, giving you a slick cover for your book. I like this on two levels, first quite simply the fact that it's pretty, but also when you're commuting or reading in public, I particularly like the fact that no nosy types can see what you're reading. This perhaps is a greater issue for me when I'm reading romance books with some of their ghastly cover designs. But I've talked about this before...

It's also handy if you're a regular traveller and don't want to worry about dragging your book in and out of your bag, and like me nearly tipping all of the contents on the train floor. The carrier has a handle and some even a nifty shoulder strap so you can carry your book around separately without worrying about it getting wet, damaged etc.

Bagabook

It does have some drawbacks and the major issue is inevitably going to be size. Bagabook has done its best to be a size that covers most book formats. But, unfortunately books aren't a standard size. So you'll find that smaller paperbacks get somewhat lost in the cover and most hardbacks are just too big for it. Also for any Kindle lovers out there, it does fit my Kindle. But to be honest I will probably stay with my Amazon Kindle cover rather than switch as I think that it works better.

Small paperback

Standard paperback

Hardback

Kindle

There are some things that I think would make it better. Firstly I need reading glasses, so when I'm out and about I don't just have to pull a book out of my bag, but my glasses too. It would be great if the carrier included an integrated glasses case.

The case includes a bookmark but it's kind of boring and just a black ribbon, as you can see from our bookmark of the month feature, we like a good bookmark here at BCC! So I think this most certainly needs a prettier one, maybe one that matches the Bagabook pattern.

And finally, I have a weakness for leather covers (and handbags and shoes), all of my Filofaxes are leather (yes I have a few of those too!), and I would have personally have preferred to purchase a luxury leather version rather than the faux-leather bagabooks currently available.

Other than that, I think this is a really nice idea. What do you think?

Bagabook Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

We have been in contact with Bagabook and they have kindly offered to give away a bagabook of your choice! This is an amazing prize as I'm sure you'll agree.

They are also offering 20% discount to all Book Chick City readers who would like to purchase their own Bagabook (just quote reference BCC20 - this is a worldwide code that can be used on the website) :D

This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE and ends 1st Feb 2012

To enter please follow instructions below

GOOD LUCK!

BOOK REVIEW: 'Guilty Pleasures' by Laurell K. Hamilton

2012-01-24T12:00:00.000Z

Title: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake #1)

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Publisher: Headline (UK) | Penguin (US)

Publication Date: 2009 (UK) | 2002 (US) - First published 1993

Format: Paperback, 326 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: My own copy

Reviewed by Carolyn

Amazon US | Amazon US

SUMMARY:

Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law—as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees—with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting—to help figure out who and why.

Trust is a luxury Anita can't afford when her allies aren't human. The city's most powerful vampire, Nikolaos, is 1,000 years old and looks like a 10-year-old girl. The second most powerful vampire, Jean-Claude, is interested in more than just Anita's professional talents, but the feisty necromancer isn't playing along—yet. This popular series has a wild energy and humor, and some very appealing characters—both dead and alive.

REVIEW:

I've actually already read books one through ten, but that was many years ago, and I loved them. I've wanted to get up to date with the series for so long, but felt that I should re-read the series to really get back into the story again. I was nervous reading "Guilty Pleasures" again after ten years, but I shouldn't have worried. Hamilton is still the great writer I remember and Anita Blake is still my favourite urban fantasy heroine.

"Guilty Pleasures" is an exciting read from start to finish. The first page draws you in immediately when you meet Anita Blake talking to a low life vampire. It oozes atmosphere and Anita is an instantly likeable character.

Anita is hired by Jean-Claude, the vampire master of the city, to find out who is behind several vampire murders. Her first contact with Jean-Claude gave me the chills as it did the first time I read it and the darkness of Anita's world combined with cruel vampires makes this a gritty urban fantasy.

I really love Hamilton's writing style too. It's very easy going but incredibly descriptive. I love how she gives all her characters a back story, which makes every one of them interesting and real. Hamilton is one of the best urban fantasy writers who has the knack of drawing me in to the action scenes and keeping me completely absorbed - it's action-packed, graphic and ever so slightly gruesome.

Although I did notice some slight repetition, such as Anita having the same thought in the span of two pages, it really wasn't enough to take away my love for Anita Blake. She's so snarky and I just love her one-liners - she makes me smile. I love her wit and her strength and her hard-as-steel attitude, but you know there's something more going on deep inside. Anita cares and I love that about her. Do you get the feeling I love her? LOL

"Guilty Pleasures" really is one of the best starts to a series I have read and has one of the best endings. Here is the last sentence, and don't worry, nothing is given away...

I know who and what I am. I am The Executioner, and I don't date vampires. I kill them.

When I read this line for the first time all those years ago it gave me goose bumps, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book, 'The Laughing Corpse' and went straight on Amazon and bought the next five or so books in the series and read them back to back within a week. Anita Blake is a true urban fantasy heroine and one of the best.

VERDICT:

"Guilty Pleasures" has everything you could possibly want from a dark urban fantasy. An amazing lead heroine who's tough and complex, a dark world full of all your favourite paranormal creatures combined with an action-packed a story that keeps you entertained until the very end. A true classic in the urban fantasy genre.

It's the very first urban fantasy book I read and the book that introduced me to this fantastic genre, makes it very special indeed. Also, just for interest, this is the cover of the edition I read back in 2001, published by Orbit - I wish they kept going with this artwork as I think it's great!

RATING: 10/10 - One of the best books I've ever read

Laurell K. Hamilton Online

Books in Series Order:

1. Guilty Pleasures

2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. The Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade
18. Flirt
19. Bullet (Laura's Review)
20. Hit List (Laura's Review)
21. Kiss the Dead

BOOK REVIEW: 'Wickedly Charming' by Kristine Grayson

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000Z

Title: Wickedly Charming (Fates #7)

Author: Kristine Grayson

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: March 2011

ARC: 352 Pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by Laura

SUMMARY:

Cinderella's Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead-end in his career, so he opens a bookstore and travels the land ordering books and discovering new authors. Still handsome and still charming, he has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future.Mellie is sick and tired of being called the Evil Stepmother. She did her best by her stepdaughter Snow White, but the girl resented her to no end and made all kinds of false accusations.Neither of them believes in happily ever after anymore, but both of them believe in happily for the moment... (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

This is an imaginative and fun take on a fairytale. Our two main characters are Charming, the Prince Charming of Cinderella fame. Who is now a beleaguered father of two, middle aged and bespectacled. Who has reinvented himself in the Greater World as a bookseller and renamed himself Dave. He is also the father of two girls who have been abandoned by their selfish mother and Charming's ex Ella. Our heroine is Mellie, Snow White's evil stepmother, who is on a campaign to clear her name and that of other evil stepmother, because it certainly wasn't her that fed Snow the poisoned apple!

The book starts off with Charming at a book fair, because he is a total book geek and runs his own book store (personally I don't see anything wrong with this!), where Mellie is campaigning against the misrepresentation of fairy tale characters in novels. Sparks fly as Charming is horrified at Mellie's wish to censor fiction. The pair are like chalk and cheese with Charming quietly bookish, although gifted of course with magical charm, and Mellie outspoken, yet insecure all at the same time. It's not long before Charming convinces Mellie there maybe a very different approach to improving the perception of wicked step mothers, after all look at vampires - everyone loves them now! Cue an unlikely partnership.

As a lover of happy endings and fairytales, I did have to get over the fact that Prince Charming and Cinderella are divorced, but not only that but Cinderella is the baddie. The horror! ;-)

This isn't a hot and sizzling romance, more like a warm and fuzzy one, or a hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on the top. But I wouldn't say there were lots of sizzle and sparks and the love story itself is a slow burner.

The pace of the book is also sedate. I liked the world creation of the Greater World (our human world) and the magical kingdoms where fairytale characters really exist in separate kingdoms. The story is however, slow moving at times. There are some really witty scenes, a fab coffee shop sequence springs to mind and there are some parts that unfortunately dragged. Which meant the overall flow of the book could have done with a bit more speed and a little less detail. For example, we meet some characters briefly, never to see them again.

This is the first book I have read by Grayson, but I've since discovered she has written a series of these fairy tale adaptations. While I enjoyed the story and its gentle chiding at fairytales, I probably wouldn't want to read lots of them. But perhaps that is more to do with my love of fairytales and happily ever after, than a criticism of the writing, because I did enjoy it never the less.

VERDICT:

A fun take on what happens after happily ever after with our favourite and not so favourite fairytale characters. A gentle love story that will probably appeal to people who like less spicy romances.

RATING: 6/10 - Good

Kristine Grayson Online:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Books in Series Order

1. Utterly Charming

2. Thoroughly Kissed

3. Completely Smitten

4. Simply Irresistible

5. Absolutely Captivated

6. Totally Spellbound

7. Wickedly Charming

BCC's Reading Challenges 2011 Wrap Up!

2012-01-23T08:14:00.000Z

BCC's Reading Challenges 2011 Wrap Up!

2011 is now over and so are all my 2011 reading challenges! Thanks to all of you who signed up, congratulations to all of you who succeeded and completed the challenges and for those of you who couldn't quite manage to finish all of them (like me!) don't worry, you have plenty of opportunity to sign up for more challenges in 2012!

CAROLYN

These are the challenges I set myself in 2011...

100+ Reading Challenge 2010 - FAILED!

I only managed 74/100 books in 2011, but this was partly due to a really bad reading slump in October which lasted for weeks, but I'm determined to reach 100 in 2012! 2012 Sign up HERE

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011 - FAILED!

I only managed to read 5/12 in 201... this was better than the year before, so I am improving LOL but I'm looking forward to beating this challenge in 2012 - it's not going to get the better of me! 2012 Sign up HERE

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2011 - COMPLETED!

I managed to complete this challenge and then some, reading 51/24! This is why I added another level to the challenge this year, just to make it a bit harder! Hope I do just as well this in 2012! 2012 Sign up HERE

The Vampire Chronicles Challenge - FAILED!

Oops - I didn't even get started on this one. I have read the first 4/5 books but many years ago, so it was really a bit of a re-read. I loved these books so I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get around to them...

Summer Romance Reading Challenge - FAILED!

I only managed to read 5 of the 12 books I set myself, but as I will be bringing this challenge again this summer, I hope to do much better in 2012, especially as I'm reading a lot more paranormal romance.

2011 Stephen King Challenge - FAILED!

Didn't get started on this challenge either, which is a real shame as I do enjoy Stephen King books. I might bring this challenge back at some point to have another go - maybe a mini challenge later in the year... ;D

LAURA

Well, I signed up for three reading challenges in 2011, and I didn't do too bad, completing two of them.

100+ Reading Challenge 2010 - FAILED!

Ok, so I miserably failed at this one, reading a mere 65 books in 2011. Which is even less than 2010 when I managed 67. I'm seeing a pattern here! The year got off to such a good start too. I'm going to try again for 2012, fingers crossed! You can view my list of books HERE.

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2011 - COMPLETED!

Just! Completing the 24th book just before new year. This is one of my favourite genres though. You can view my list of books HERE.

Summer Romance Reading Challenge - COMPLETED!

I challenged myself to read the 8 books and I did even better reading 13. Shame I didn't manage to double it and get to 16. Maybe this year? You can view my list of books HERE.

So, how did you do in 2011? Did you succeed or fail miserably?

If you're up for more challenges in 2012, just click the challenge buttons on the sidebar or the menu tab 'Challenges' to sign up!

Debut Author Spotlight: James R. Tuck 'Blood and Bullets' (Deacan Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter #1)

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000Z

'Debut Author Spotlight' is a new feature here on Book Chick City. We will be showcasing a debut author each month from the genres of horror, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. We will give you all the relevant book information as well as an insight into the author.

This month's spotlight is on debut urban fantasy author...

James R. Tuck

James R. Tuck is the author of the Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series from Kensington. Book one, BLOOD AND BULLETS will be available everywhere on February 7, 2012 and will be preceded by the e-novella THAT THING AT THE ZOO on January 12, 2012.

James is a former bouncer and has been a professional tattoo artist for over 15 years. His tattoo work has been published in national tattoo magazines and he owns Family Tradition Tattoo in Marietta, Ga. He lives near there with a wonderful wife, three wonderful children, and six dogs of varying degrees of wonderfulness.

James R. Tuck Online

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog

A FEW FACTS ABOUT JAMES

• James is a professional tattoo artist with 16 years of experience. I own Family Tradition Tattoo in Marietta, Ga. He's had his tattoo work published in national tattoo magazines.

• James is a former bouncer and has worked in music clubs, bars, and gentlemen's clubs around Atlanta.

• BLOOD AND BULLETS is the first novel he wrote.

• With no previous publication history, Kensington Publishing signed him to a multi-book contract for the Deacon Chalk series based on the strength of the manuscript for BLOOD AND BULLETS.

• Before the first book has been published Kensington Publishing has also signed him to a multiple E-novella contract set in the Deaconverse. This is a first for Kensington Publishing as they have never contracted a series of e-novellas before. The first of these will be available January 12, 2012. It is titled: THAT THING AT THE ZOO (a nod to Jim Butcher)

• James's zombie short story "He Stopped Loving Her Today", which appeared in the e-anthology ONE BUCK ZOMBIES by One Buck Horror Publications, is in development for a short film treatment by Atlanta's own Coopa-Cabra Productions and should begin filming Spring of 2012.

Incidentally, this is the first short story he ever wrote.

• The first book has garnered high praise from well-respected and talented authors like Faith Hunter, Jeanne C. Stein, and Jenna Maclaine.

• James accomplished all of this while remaining unagented.

BLOOD AND BULLETS (Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter #1)
Released February 7, 2012 from Kensington Books

He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities help him take out any kind of supernatural threat. But now an immortal evil has this bad-ass bounty hunter dead in its sights…

Ever since a monster murdered his family, Deacon Chalk hunts any creature that preys on the innocent. So when a pretty vampire girl “hires” him to eliminate a fellow slayer, Deacon goes to warn him—and barely escapes a vampire ambush. Now he’s got a way-inexperienced newbie hunter to protect and everything from bloodsuckers to cursed immortals on his trail. There’s also a malevolent force controlling the living and the undead, hellbent on turning Deacon’s greatest loss into the one weapon that could destroy him…

Blood and Bullets is Available for Pre-order:

Amazon UK: Paperback | Kindle
Amazon US: Paperback | Kindle

TAKE TWO REVIEW: 'Shadow Bound' by Erin Kellison

2012-01-19T12:00:00.001Z

Carolyn first reviewed 'Shadow Bound' back in 2010 - here's Laura's take...

Title: Shadow Bound (Shadow Series #1)
Author: Erin Kellison
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Company
Publication Date: July 2010
Paperback: 336 Pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by Laura

SUMMARY:

Death
Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.

Wraiths
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.

Segue
Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.

Twilight
This is the place between life and what comes after - a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door. (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

The story of 'Shadow Bound' wasn't really what I expected looking at the cover and reading the back slip. I expected it to be more of a traditional fantasy I guess. There were some things that really worked for me, but at times I got frustrated with the pace and found myself not quite looking forward to picking it up again.

The world building is clever and I like that Kellison has created a unique set of baddies and supernatural beings. Our heroine is Talia, the daughter of a mortal woman and the 'shadowman'. Talia knows nothing of her heritage until at the age of twenty six two wraiths come to kill her and she goes on the run.

The prologue is great and builds the element of mystery around the 'shadowman' well, I was really quite fascinated by the romance between him and Talia's dying mother and actually wanted to read more. But unfortunately after the prologue, this part of the story is left alone. However, I am excited to see that book three in the series looks to be their story.

Talia's abilities are interesting and I liked the fact that they were different to those I have encountered in books before. Talia does seem to run away a lot and I do like my heroines with a bit more gusto to them, but she does gets braver towards the end of the book.

Adam the male lead and romantic interest is a complex character and probably my favourite of the two, from his relationship to his brother, his role in the battle against the wraiths and also all of his pent up rage he makes him quite fascinating.

VERDICT:

Overall this is a good debut book by a new author and start to the series, it didn't totally hook me in, but it's got a lot of potential and I think the second book can only improve.

RATING: 6/10 - Good

Erin Kellison Online

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Books in series order:
1. Shadow Bound (Carolyn's review)
2. Shadow Fall
3. Shadowman

Laura's Top 10 Urban Fantasy Series

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000Z

LAURA'S TOP 10 URBAN FANTASY SERIES

Anita Blake - Laurell K Hamilton

Anita has to be one of the first and ultimate heroines of urban fantasy. The early books are just awesome. I love the fact she is as tough as nails and the books combine horror with gritty action.

Mercy Thompson - Patricia Briggs

Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and VW mechanic, who has the uncanny ability to get herself into trouble. The first few books are compulsive reading, gritty and at the centre have a fantastic love story.

Women of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong

'Bitten' is the first urban fantasy novel I ever read and opened my eyes to fantastic new worlds. I read it in a day and rushed out to buy the sequel 'Stolen' straight away. My favourite novels of this series has to be the ones on Elena and the werewolf pack, followed closely by Paige the witch.

Night Huntress - Jeaniene Frost

There isn't very much I can say here other than Kat and Bones! It's the relationship between these two characters that makes these books, as full of humour as it is with sizzling chemistry and bloody battle scenes.

Kate Daniels - Ilona Andrews

First of all Kate has a wicked sword! Second, welcome to Atlanta, a place that is at one time dominated by magic and the next by technology, giving us an absorbing new world to suck our imaginations into. Then there's the very sexy Beast Lord, Curran. But perhaps the best part of these novels is Kate herself, a gutsy, tough heroine - just the way I like them!

Fever - Karen Marie Moning

Karen Marie Moning has created a vivid and unique world in her Fever series. With unbearable cliffhangers at the end of each book. It will take you to the depths of despair until you miss hours of sleep in your desperation to reach its conclusion.

Sookie Stackhouse - Charlaine Harris

The books that gave us the TV series 'True Blood'. I adore the innocence and wholesomeness of Sookie combined with the darkness of the vampire world she gets sucked into. Small town America has never been so fascinatingly macabre.

Shifters - Rachel Vincent

Faythe is a character that goes on an immense journey throughout this series. A werecat surviving in a world where women are scarce are expected to marry and bear children she is fighting for independence. And I defy you not to at least sniffle at the unbearable love triangle.

Downside Ghosts - Stacia Kane

Chess is an incredibly different character, a drug addict that borders two worlds the respectable world of the church, and the underground world of violence, drug dealers and prostitutes of the downside. This series also has the most unusual hero, there are very few writers brave enough who write an ugly one and make it work.

The Hollows - Kim Harrison

Meet Rachel Morgan, witch and runner for the Inderland Services until she finds herself unscrupulously fired. Starting up her own business with living vampire Ivy, Rachel is slightly calamitous. She also must have the best sidekick in urban fantasy in the shape of Jenks the pixie, guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Some other series that did not quite make my top ten, but are still worthy of a special mention:

Kitty Norville - Carrie Vaughn

Meredith Gentry - Laurell K Hamilton

Weather Warden - Rachel Caine

Dark Swan - Richelle Mead

Dante Valentine - Lilith Saintcrow

Signs of the Zodiac - Vicki Pettersson

Bookmark of the Month & Giveaway - Jan 2012

2012-01-17T15:39:00.000Z

CAROLYN'S BOOKMARK OF THE MONTH

I love these little magnetic bookmarks - I've bought a bunch of them. They come in all sorts of themes from horror (below) and travel to cookery and murder mystery - there's a theme suited to everyone's tastes. Just check out the link below to see what other themes are available.

Mini-Marks

LAURA'S BOOKMARK OF THE MONTH

Happy new year everyone! After a bit of googling to find a new year bookmark, for which I had no luck, I discovered that 2012 was the Chinese year of the dragon. So I have decided to go for a dragon themed bookmark this month. I came across this one which I thought was really unusual, I'm loving the scaly effect.

Bead Workshop

Now it's down to you guys to vote for your favourite bookmark. Is this month's winner Carolyn or Laura? You decide ;) Also, the winning bookmark will be put up as a giveaway next month! :D

NOVEMBER'S BOOKMARK WINNER!

November's winner is...

WINNER: Deranged Pegasus

Congrats! Please CLICK HERE to claim your prize!

BOOKMARK GIVEAWAY!

The winning bookmark for December was Laura, who beat me significantly (66% to 34%). So, to win this lovely snowflake bookmark just follow instructions below.

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends 31st Jan 2012

GOOD LUCK!

TAKE TWO REVIEW: 'Frostbitten' by Kelley Armstrong

2012-01-17T12:00:00.001Z

Carolyn first reviewed 'Frostbitten' back in 2009 - here is Laura's take...

Title: Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld #10)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: September 2009
Paperback: 339 Pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Own Copy

Reviewed by Laura

SUMMARY:

Smart, sexy, supernatural—the men and women of the Otherworld live and love, fight and die, among us. Unseen and unsuspected, this realm of witches, ghosts, and werewolves is now threatened with exposure by a brutal series of bizarre murders that has left even the supernatural world baffled—and cold with terror....

Being the world’s only female werewolf has its advantages, such as having her pick of the Otherworld’s most desirable males. And Elena Michaels couldn’t have picked a more dangerously sexy and undyingly loyal mate than Clayton Danvers. Now their bond will be put to the ultimate test as they follow a bloody trail of gruesome slayings deep into Alaska’s frozen wilderness.

There’s nothing the werewolf community dislikes more than calling attention to itself. So when a pair of rogue man-eaters begins hunting humans, it’s up to Elena and Clayton to track down the predators. But any illusions their task would be simple are quickly dispelled. For even in werewolf terms, there’s something very disturbing taking place in the dark Alaskan forests. A werewolf more wolf than human and more unnatural than supernatural is on the hunt—a creature whose origins seem to spring from ancient legends of the shape-shifting Wendigo.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, Clayton and Elena find themselves confronting painful ghosts from their pasts — and an issue neither of them is eager to discuss. For one of them has been chosen to become the new Pack leader, and as every wolf knows, there can be only one Alpha. They’ve always been equals in everything. Now, when their survival depends more than ever on perfect teamwork, will instinct allow one of them to lead...and the other to follow?

REVIEW:

Without a doubt the werewolf books in Kelley Armstrong's 'Women of the Otherworld' series are the best. If I were able to get a chance to talk to the author herself I would ask whether she enjoyed them writing them more, as it certainly comes across that way in the narrative.

For those of you that have not read any of the previous books in the series I would recommend you read them first.

The books follow the life of Elena Michaels. In a world where werewolves are very real, the condition passed on through a hereditary gene from father to son. Very few humans have ever survived a werewolf a bite and certainly never a woman, which makes Elena the only female werewolf in existence.

In this fourth instalment in the series, Elena and her tempestuous mate Clay are now parents and are a little older and a touch wiser. Chasing a stray mutt and investigating a series of mysterious wolf deaths they end up in the frosty Alaskan wilderness.

Alaska is great setting for the novel, its remote and somewhat alien landscape adds to the mysterious and deadly beat of the storyline. As Clay and Elena tackle unsolved crimes, murder, stray mutts and mysterious mythical creatures it made me remember just why I love this series.

It's the intense relationship between Elena and Clay that always makes the books and it doesn't fail to deliver again in 'Frostbitten'. They are are independence, willfulness and strength twinned their all consuming passion for one another is delicious, believable and enough to make women the world over drool.

As we've seen in previous novels, being the partner of one of the pack's most notoriously terrifying werewolves and enforcer comes with its problems and this is no exception. And it is Elena's time to prove that she is not in fact Clay's weakness, but his partner in every right. Delving into her childhood in foster care, she has to face up to some old issues in order to face up to future responsibilities.

We see the arrival of some new characters that I hope to see again in later books as well as some faces from Clay's past we saw introduced in the 'Men of the Otherworld' novellas.

There's a lot more Elena than Clay in the book as well as a twist about Elena's future that I really didn't see coming.

My main criticisms of the book are, I would like to see have seen more of the pack, it is mainly centred around Clay and Elena and I missed the witty interactions between them and other pack members that on times make me laugh out loud, and their relationship with the long suffering Alpha Jeremy.

I was also disappointed not to see more of their twins in the book and how they were coping as parents, instead they were conveniently at home being looked after Jeremy, giving Elena and Clay free run to frolic, hunt and fight as normal. Which if I'm honest felt like a touch of a cop out.

VERDICT:

Despite my criticisms, the book is a great fast, action packed, page turner that kept me up last night reading to the finish. I continue to be a huge fan of the series which I'd heartily recommend to any urban fantasy lover.

RATING: 7/10 - Very good, would definitely recommend

Kelley Armstrong Online

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Books in Series Order:

1. Bitten

2. Stolen

3. Dime Store Magic

4. Industrial Magic

5. Haunted

6. Broken

7. No Humans Involved

8. Personal Demon

9. Living with the Dead

10. Frostbitten (Carolyn's review)
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spell Bound
13. Thirteen

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE READ-A-LONG: Details & Giveaway! (Open to All)

2012-01-16T12:18:00.000Z

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE READ-A-LONG!

We have wanted to review the Sookie Stackhouse series for a while now, so we decided to do something more than just a review, we want you to be involved as well.

Each month we will be reviewing each book in the series as set out below, as well as offering up some questions which we can discuss in the comment section of the blog post.

So if you haven't read the series yet then why not start now and read right along side us throughout the year, if you've already read the series then please feel free to stop by and join in the discussion!

Read-a-long Schedule

30th Jan - Dead Until Dark

27th Feb - Living Dead in Dallas

26th March - Club Dead

30th April - Dead to the World

28th May - Dead as a Doornail

25th June - Definitely Dead

30th July - All Together Dead

27th Aug - From Dead to Worse

24th Sept - Dead and Gone

29th Oct - Dead in the Family

26th Nov - Dead Reckoning

31st Dec - Deadlocked

Please remember we will only be discussing each book in series order so please refrain from any spoilers.

GIVEAWAY!

I have a fantastic prize to give away! A Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set (Books 1-10) worth £79, courtesy of Gollancz!!! :D

The perfect gift: all ten Sookie Stackhouse paperbacks in one sexy boxset with brand new artwork. A must have for fans of HBO's TRUE BLOOD series!

The must-have novels which inspired HBO's hit series TRUE BLOOD! Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in a little bar in Bon Temps, a small town deep in Louisiana. She's funny and pretty and well-mannered, but she doesn't have that many close friends - mind you, that's not so surprising when you consider how few people can appreciate her abilities as a mind-reader. It's not a quality that has the guys beating down her door - well, unless they're vampires or werewolves or the like... but they're not just supernatural freaks, some of them are friends, even family...

The box contains: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family.

This giveaway is open to all and ends 29th Jan 2012

To enter please follow instructions below

GOOD LUCK!

Cover Crush: 'Darkride' by Laura Bradley Rede

2012-01-16T06:51:00.001Z

LAURA'S COVER CRUSH

Ok, so with this cover you cannot escape the obvious association, and of course that must be deliberate. But the idea of a grown up Red Riding Hood style story appeals, and the asymmetrical use of the girl's face adds a sinister edge to the picture.

Darkride - Darkride Chronicles #1

Release Date: Dec 2011

Publisher: Indie Published

Artist: Unknown

Summary

Ander McNair used to be the favorite son of a great monster-hunting family – until he was bitten by a werewolf and the hunter became the hunted. Now anything that makes his pulse race, even a kiss from his girlfriend Cicely, is enough to turn him into a monster. When he finally gets a chance to earn his cure by killing a vampire prince, he finds he has to choose between his own past and the future of the girl he loves. Can a guy who’s not even human learn what it means to be a man?

Luke Marianez used to be an immortal vampire prince – until the witch he loved betrayed him and cursed him with the ability to die. Now he lives in the world of vampire blood bars, where the waitresses are the drinks, and dreams about killing the last of the witch’s line so he can live forever. But revenge doesn’t just mean breaking the curse. He wants to break the girl’s heart, too. Can Luke seduce Cicely without falling in love himself?

Cicely Watson doesn’t believe in werewolves or vampires. She’s not even sure she believes in true love. But she’s about to discover what every werewolf knows: People change. (Goodreads)

Laura Bradley Rede Online

Website | Goodreads

SO, WHAT COVERS ARE YOU CRUSHING ON?

A Personal Tribute & Blog Update

2012-01-09T21:01:00.001Z

I realise that Book Chick City is a book review site but I wanted to post something personal today as a tribute to my father-in-law who was a lovely dad, husband and to everyone he met, a good friend.

Brian was diagnosed with cancer over the Christmas period and was told it had spread significantly. We thought there may be a chance of chemo but sadly he deteriorated and passed away early this morning. The family is of course devastated and we can't believe he was taken so soon. We only had two weeks with him but luckily we all managed to say our goodbyes and tell him how much we loved him.

Brian was a lovely man, and although not my dad was very special to me and I will miss him deeply. So this is my tribute to you, Brian, the best father-in-law a girl could ask for. You were kind, loving and always supportive of everything I did. You will always be in my thoughts and my heart. I hope you are now at peace and walking along the shore watching the ships sail by with Mickey up on your shoulders. I will miss you and love you forever... xxx

1937 ~ 2012

Due to our loss I will not be blogging for a couple of weeks and any dates scheduled for author guest posts will be rescheduled. However, there will still be plenty of content as Laura has lots of reviews and other goodies for you, which will resume next Monday.

Carolyn

xoxo

Short Hiatus

2012-01-07T08:01:00.001Z

To All,

Due to a family emergency there won't be any posts for the next few days, but I'm hoping to be up and running as normal next week.

~ Carolyn

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Renfield Syndrome' by J. A. Saare

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000Z

Title: The Renfield Syndrome (Rhiannon's Law #2)
Author: J. A. Saare
Publisher: Mundania Press
Publication Date: August 2011
Paperback: 212 Pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Own copy

Reviewed by Laura

The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

SUMMARY:

Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my.

Rhiannon thought facing off against a deranged child vampire was the most dangerous task she would ever have to undertake, but she’s about to discover making a deal with a demon is far, far worse. Sent forward into another reality, one in which vampires are now dominating nearly extinct humans, she realizes the sooner she returns to her vampire lover, Disco, the better.

Unfortunately, time changes a lot of things; including those most trusted around her. When she’s faced with a loss and betrayal unlike any she has ever known, her focus shifts from severing the debt between the demon that wants to kill her, to exacting a revenge that will bring forth consequences she never could have fathomed. By reaching out to the darkness lingering within her, she’ll find the strength to push forward despite the circumstances that would see her dead and buried.

After all, when it’s all said and done, all that she has left to lose is her soul. (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

**Warning this review contains spoilers for the first book in the series**

If you thought 'Dead, Undead, Or Somewhere In Between' couldn't get any better, then you're in for a treat. J. A. Saare has excelled herself in 'The Renfield Syndrome'. Taking off where the previous book left us, in a twist you couldn't possibly have foreseen.

Rhiannon finds herself one hundred and one years in the future, in a world ravaged by demons, vampires and werewolves. With humans fast becoming on the extinction list. She has a deal to deliver on and just fourteen days to do it, before a demon claims her soul. But the future is unlike she could ever have imagined, and she suddenly finds there are more things than just her soul to fight for.

Rhiannon is back in all of her kick-ass glory, and maybe just slightly less foul-mouthed! As much as she is occasionally outrageous, she has definitely grown up in this book, becoming a fantastic urban fantasy heroine. There are scenes when I thought my heart would break for her as she navigates through the new futuristic world and the implications of the decisions she has to make.

This book has so many twists and turns with characters doing things you do would not expect them to, that it keeps you completely on your toes. There are parts where it's completely un-put-downable. Some characters totally surprised me with their actions, some in a good way, others in an awful way. You will certainly look at Paine and Disco differently by the end of the story.

Saare has cleverly combined some of the latest literacy trends for dystopia in with classic urban fantasy. I was sucked into the new world and absorbed by her vision of a demon ravaged future. But it also added an unusual dynamic to the story. I've said before how much I love time travelling romances, but I think this is the first time I've read it in urban fantasy and I loved it. In fact, I loved the entire book. It's gritty, dark, action-packed urban fantasy. Just the way I like it!

VERDICT:

A superb second instalment in the Rhiannon's Law series, Saare has written an even better book than the first, which left me desperately wanting more. The last page arrived far too soon! Is 'The Ripple Effect' ready yet?!

RATING: 9/10 - Excellent, this will remain on my bookshelf forever

J. A. Saare Online:

1. Dead, Undead, Or Somewhere In Between

Books in Series Order:

2. The Renfield Syndrome

Speculative Romance Reading Challenge 2012 - Laura's Progress!

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000Z

LAURA'S PROGRESS

Ooh, loving the new challenge this year! I read quite a lot of romance so I'm feeling quietly confident about this one. I deliberated at what level I should go for, for this challenge and I've decided on Three Sexy Vampires - so that's 18 speculative romance books.

Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012

Rules: There are FOUR (4) LEVELS to choose from:

• One Sexy Demon: Read 6 Speculative Romance novels in 2012
• Two Sexy Werewolves: Read 12 Speculative Romance novels in 2012
• Three Sexy Vampires: Read 18 Speculative Romance novels in 2012
• Four Sexy Archangels: Read 24 Speculative Romance novels in 2012

For more details or to sign up click HERE

I'm going to go for Three Sexy Vampires!

JANUARY

1. Happily Never After - Jeaniene Frost

"Where Stories Are Made" with paranormal romance author, Jacquelyn Frank

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000Z

'Where Stories Are Made' is a regular feature showcasing a different author. It's where the author gives us a tour of their writing place, whether it be an office, coffee shop or park. They tell us about their daily routine along with a few photos! You can see a list of all the authors who have participated below.

Our guest today is paranormal romance author, Jacquelyn Frank...

Jacquelyn Frank is the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightwalkers series (Jacob, Gideon, Elijah, Damien, and Noah), the Shadowdwellers novels (Ecstasy, Rapture, and Pleasure), the Gatherers novels (Hunting Julian and Stealing Katherine), and the Three Worlds series (Seduce Me in Dreams and Seduce Me in Flames).

She lives in North Carolina and has been writing romantic fiction ever since she picked up her first teen romance at age thirteen.

Jacob (Nightwalkers #1) - Out now

Gideon (Nightwalkers #2) - Out now

Elijah (Nightwalkers #3) - March 2012

Jacquelyn Frank Online

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

This is the magical writing bed where a great deal of my writing takes place. Those are two of many magical writing cats...who often end up in the books in one way or another. :) I always start the morning off in here, getting some work done while Natalie settles in for the day inside.

You can see the iPhone that's always in reach, the Mac that holds all of the works past present and future, and the iPod which is either playing my books on audio (for reference) or one of my many playlists from I'm-gonna-cry; I-wanna-have-me-some-sex; or I'm-gonna-kick-me-some-ass music playing! I have to have music playing when I write! The iPod probably needs to be charged, as usual. Leaving it like that also invites one of the kittens to chew through the ear bud cords. (Been through like six pairs this year so far...) I could have made the bed before taking the picture but A) I don't do that and B) it's more authentic this way.  

This is the kitchen table AKA Natalie's office. (My assistant) I wanted to show you how hard she works. Those are stacks and stacks of mailings we do every week, piles of cards I get at conferences, both our laptops as we organize blogs and personal appearances and things like this, and receipts from my last conference. There are frequent cat visitors as well and she's often working her tail off while I'm writing or...

bottle feeding one of my orphans kittens! (WARNING: gratuitous cute kitty alert!)

This is my desk in my office which I didn't used to use so much but am now using more frequently because my physical therapist says it's better for my back and since it's much better these days I GUESS she's right. :P  Besides it's got a great view...

The nursery! The two white kitties are my youngest and they like to raise the bottle babies. They clean them, watch them, cuddle them and teach them all about how to be a cat...which I can't really do! 

So, this is the tour of my glamorous writing life. (snort) Yeah... well... anyway I have to get back to it! I hope you enjoyed seeing the real me in my natural habitat. Heh.

Hugs and Kitties, 
Jacquelyn Frank

Click HERE for more info about this feature and for full author listing

BOOK REVIEW: 'Hit List' by Laurell K Hamilton

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000Z

Title: Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #20)
Author: Laurell K Hamilton
Publisher: Headline (UK) | Penguin (USA)
Publication Date: 7th June 2011
Ebook: 320 Pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed by Laura