Archive for General
Marta Acosta is visiting She-Wolf Reads today. I write that very solemnly but inside, I’m squealing. You see, Acosta is one of my favorite authors. From the feisty Milagro of CASA DRACULA, to the lonely, practical Jane of DARK COMPANION, and, finally, to the geeky-awkward but wholly capable and kickass Jennifer (aka She-Hulk) of THE SHE-HULK DIARIES, Acosta never fails to write engaging heroines that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading the book. Of course I was geeked when she agreed to come on the blog today.
So, ignore me while I have my fangirl moment and please welcome Marta to the blog!
SWR: I’m a longtime fan of your CASA DRACULA series and just recently read DARK COMPANION. I loved it. The tone between the two series is different but the witty, smart writing is the same. Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration for the story and its unusual road to publication?
Hi, She-Wolf, and thanks so much for having me here! Charlotte Brontë’s JANE EYRE, which has been a favorite novel since childhood, and other gothic stories were the inspiration for DARK COMPANION. After writing comedy, I really wanted to return to a darker style. My story is a modern gothic about an abused orphan in the harsh foster care system who’s offered a full scholarship to an exclusive girls school in a wealthy enclave. She believes she’s escaped the violence and danger of the inner city, and doesn’t realize that she’s being manipulated by those more powerful.
I wrote the book ages ago, but my agent couldn’t sell it and then 
another agent couldn’t sell it. I think most editors were hungry for the teen paranormal romances that were the trend, but DARK COMPANION deconstructs the paranormal theme in a way that’s disturbing to many readers. They told me to forget about it and move on to other projects. I moved onto other projects, but my story was a labor of love and I couldn’t give it up.
I posted it as a free read on Scribd.com because it was important to me that people read it. When it became the top Young Adult novel on the site, I told my agent who shared the news with an interested editor. The popularity of the free read helped me get the book deal and DARK COMPANION was nominated as Best Fiction for Young Adults by the American Library Association’s YALSA committee.
SWR: I loved the gothic tone of DARK COMPANION and its Jane Eyre-esque story. The use of epigraphs at the start of each chapter was also effective at setting the tone. Did you do a lot research on Gothic literature prior to starting and what books or authors influenced you?
Originally, most chapters started with a “quote” from The Birch Grove Student Handbook and only a few of the epigraphs were taken from classic gothic literature. My editor suggested that I use more gothic quotes and I happily took them from stories I was studying.
I was influenced primarily by Brontë’s JANE EYRE and VILLETTE, Daphne DuMaurier’s REBECCA, and Barbara Michaels, who also writes as Elizabeth Peters. Her books are often called romantic suspense, but they’re an evolution of the gothic. I loved Edgar Allen Poe stories when I was young.
I’ve always been fascinated by gothic tropes: the isolated setting, a large building with mysteries, twinning of light and dark, supernatural elements, social class, blood, a vulnerable person who is being manipulated by someone with dark motives… I love the creepiness and sense of foreboding.
Eerie Victorian faery poetry, such as Charlotte Mew’s “The Changeling” also inspired the way I thought about Jane.
SWR: Don’t leave us hanging…will there be sequel to DARK COMPANION? (please!)
No, I wrote it as a stand-alone. However, I have started a gothic mystery featuring Jane’s best friend Mary Violet Holiday. I’m thinking of calling it MARY VIOLET & THE MYSTERY OF THE SILENT SONGBIRD. There’s poetry!
SWR: Masterpiece Theatre or HBO calls and they want to adapt DARK COMPANION for television. Who would you want to cast as Jane, Lucien, Mary Violet, and Jack?
These questions always perplex me. I never imagine my characters as anyone but themselves. I can see them in my imagination, but they don’t look like any celebrities. I see girls on the street who remind me of Jane, though: small, sharp-eyed girls who see everything.
SWR: Ok, THE SHE-HULK DIARIES! Please tell us how you got involved with such an iconic character?
My agent heard about the Marvel/Hyperion project and suggested me because, as she put it, “You can write chick lit in your sleep.” I was thrilled, but also nervous, because I was stepping into over three decades of canon—all written by men, by the way. Even though I was writing a humorous story, I wanted to give the character dimension, authenticity as a woman, and add my own spin.
SWR: Had you been a fan of the She-Hulk comic series before starting the book?
I wish! But as a kid, I didn’t have the money to buy comics, magazines, or books. A cousin would occasionally share whatever he had. I always grabbed any issue of MAD MAGAZINE because even as a child, I went for the laughs.
I could go to the library for free, and I devoured books. I’m a word person, and my preference is for words over images.
SWR: I just started reading THE SHE-HULK DIARIES and it has your trademark wit. How did you approach taking such an established series and making it your own?
She-Hulk is big, green, badass, and snarky, so she was a cinch for me. The challenge was giving depth and authenticity to Jennifer Walters, Shulky’s “painfully shy” human alter-ego. Jennifer’s also a top-notch attorney. How do you put those extremes together? Then I thought of a friend of mine who’s very shy and affectionate and also a complete brainiac. She’s a district attorney who would put on a Kevlar vest to interview murderers. She always speaks up for those in need.
I also considered the character of Mary Richards in the groundbreaking The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was a kind, affectionate, bright young woman who moves to the big city and develops a circle of eccentric friends.
SWR: What are the future plans for the She-Hulk series. Is this the first of many?
Let’s see how this one does first! I’m hoping readers will really enjoy this prose venture and want more.
SWR: Tell us about your upcoming projects.
I’m working on the Mary Violet young adult mystery and also another more serious project for Hyperion Books. I’m also venturing into self-publishing and have new ebook editions of my CASA DRACULA novels and NANCY’S THEORY OF STYLE, a romantic comedy set in San Francisco.
I’m also about to self-publish a guide on how to write a query letter. Aspiring writers often ask me to review their queries, and I thought there was a need for basic, straight-shooting information on the topic.
SWR: What was the last book you read that you would recommend to a friend?
I read an advance copy of the delightfully funny THE ROSIE PROJECT (to be released in October) by Graeme Simsion. It’s an odd couple love story and very sweet in the best way. I think it will be a hit with fans of The Big Bang Theory.
SWR: Finally, I’m a big fan of Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire series in which every family has a motto – the Starks have “Winter is coming” and the Lannisters have “Hear me roar!” What is the Marta Acosta motto?
Since I’ve been a writer, my motto is “Let the other person pick up the check.”
SWR: Thank you so much for the interview!
Thank you again, She-Wolf, for having me here to talk about my books!
Check out DARK COMPANION, which releases in paperback today, and THE SHE-HULK DIARIES, Marta’s take on the iconic Marvel heroine which also releases today. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!
Book Information
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.
They are.
The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?
As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove and what she would risk to stay there..because even the brightest people make terrible decisions when they are offered the things they desire most.
AMAZON | B&N | BOOK DEPOSITORY
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
JANUARY 1
CURRENT STATUS: No job, no boyfriend, no permanent place to live, no car, and most of my clothes are held together with staples and duct tape. Bank account almost wiped out. Many of my former associates have expressed a desire that I never darken their doorways again for legal and financial reasons.
She-Hulk got us got us kicked out of the Avengers Mansion. People keep posting videos online of her New Year’s Eve shenanigans: twirling, flaming telephone poles in Times Square, climbing the Empire State Building while dangling Anderson Cooper…
Saying there are two sides to Jennifer Walters’s personality is an understatement. When she hasn’t morphed into a 650-pound, crime-fighting, hard-partying superhero, she’s a single lawyer trying to get her act together. Hilarious and action-packed, The She-Hulk Diaries tells her story, as she juggles her intense legal career by day with battling villains and saving the world by night. Maybe bad guys will stop trying to destroy the planet so she can have a real social life and even meet a guy who isn’t trying to take over the universe.
AMAZON | B&N | BOOK DEPOSITORY
GIVEAWAY
Marta has been very generous in offering two giveaways today! Fill in the Rafflecopter widgets to enter.
About the Author
Marta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
Please visit MARTA at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Storm Force: An Eagle Named Robin
By Susannah Sandlin
After spending the last year writing about vampires, the winter of 2013 seemed like a good time to take on a new challenge. A high-octane paranormal thriller, for example, one that blends romance with equal doses of action. Maybe one that features a antiterrorism team of human Army Rangers and shapeshifters.
Which led to even more challenges, I realized as I set about developing what would become my Storm Force team. First, what kind of shapeshifters did I want to write about? I love wolves (waves at She-Wolf!) but if you’re going to write about wolves in this day and age, you need a new spin. What about big cats? Same thing…but I do love them. So yes, there are wolves and big cats in STORM FORCE, and they have their own twist, but they’re not the shifters I want to talk about today. (Shameless tease, I know!)
Instead, I’d like to introduce the character who became the very first member of my shapeshifter team: Robin Ashton.
Robin’s a petite little waif of a woman with a great big attitude (Omega Team leader Jack Kellison calls her “Razorblade Robin”). You underestimate Robin at your own risk. She’s got a sharp tongue, doesn’t mince words, and—oh yeah—she can shift into a Golden Eagle. She serves as the team’s tracker, with keen vision, a predator’s sensibilities, and the ability to fly. What’s not to like?
We get our first look at her in the opening scenes of STORM FORCE:
The midday sun glinted off the glossy reddish-brown wings of the golden eagle as it swooped over the smooth, murky water of the bayou. It landed with a harsh caw at the end of Kell’s dock, spurring Gator to rise to his feet and look up, asking permission to chase.
“Sorry, buddy. You don’t want to mess with that one. She can take you.” Hell, she could take both of them.
Gator sprang off the porch as the eagle strutted down the dock toward them. He approached the bird in a crouch, his growls echoing off the still water. Damn dog never did listen worth a flip. Kell leaned back in his chair to watch the show. With a screech and a blur of feathers seconds before Gator reached her, the eagle morphed into a petite, waifish brunette.
Make that a naked, waifish brunette with a snarky attitude. She arched an eyebrow as Kell’s vicious watchdog turn into a slobbering, tail-wagging fool, jumping up and down so vigorously his black-and-white spots seemed to blur. You’d think the hound saw birds turn into people every day.
If Gator went the crotch-sniffing route, Kell might have to die of pure humiliation.
Southeastern Raptor Center Van
I got interested in eagles through the Southeastern Raptor Center, which is located in my hometown. Other than fleeting, gross images of vultures feeding on roadkill as I sped past in a car, I’d never given birds of prey much thought before moving here. The Southeastern Raptor Center takes in injured wild raptors, rehabilitates them, and then releases them back into the habitat they originally came from if they’re capable of surviving. The ones whose injuries are too great are kept for educational purposes. I based Robin on the eagle named Nova—she had an injury that the vets felt would leave her vulnerable back in the wild, so she visits schools and does educational shows.
Nova
Raptors (not only eagles, but owls, falcons, hawks, and vultures) are birds of prey—they eat rabbits, snakes, rats, smaller birds, and even an occasional fox.
Jack Kellison (aka Kell), who’s still not convinced this whole human-shapeshifter thing is going to work out, gives his teammate Nik, also a human Army Ranger, a hard time about spending time with Robin:
Nik shrugged. “She relaxes me, and she says such outrageous stuff it makes me laugh. Plus, she goes out flying all night, so I have plenty of privacy. God only knows what she does out there.”
Kell arched a brow. “Don’t eagles hunt down rats and eat them, tail and all? I bet she has rat-ass breath.”
He better be glad Robin didn’t hear that comment!
The Golden Eagle is the largest raptor, with golden-brown feathers and an average wingspan of from 7-8 feet—sometimes much larger. They are aggressive, tenacious hunters, with sharp vision, and although their “cruising speed” is about 30 miles an hour, they can dive or spurt up to 120 mph. Faster than a hurricane!
This comes in handy when Robin has to track the environmental activist, Mori, who’s suspected in the bombing of a Houston high-rise:
The farther Mori got from the city, the more she was convinced her sanity might be in question. She could swear that as she stopped and started and stopped and started with the traffic, she’d seen the same golden eagle sitting on fences, perched on power poles, or flying overhead. Eagles were a rare sight in the concrete habitat, and the idea one might be following her was preposterous.
Finally free of the worst traffic, Mori floored it—just in case the eagle was tailing her. Who knew what Homeland Security had at its disposal? Mechanical spying eagles might not be outside the realm of possibility.
Through the centuries, various cultures have either revered the Golden Eagle for its grace and power or hunted it down because of its reputation for killing livestock and domestic animals. Yet it is the least vocal of the raptors (Robin apparently didn’t get this memo).
One more interesting thing about Golden Eagles? They are monogamous, and often mate for life. So Nik needs to be careful about courting Robin’s affections. She’s not likely to let him walk away unscathed.
Do you have a favorite bird shifter, or are you more partial to fur than feathers? Leave a comment for a $10 gift card to your online retailer of choice (international, equivalent choice of book from Book Depository).
***
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE: Storm Force (Omega Force #1)
AUTHOR: Susannah Sandlin
PUBLISHER: Montlake Romance
PUBLICATION DATE: Mar 19/June 18, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781477807576
PURCHASE BOOK:
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
As leader of the elite counter-terrorism team Omega Force, former army ranger Jack “Kell” Kellison is always focused on getting the job done. So when a Houston high-rise is bombed and the governor killed or missing, Kell’s mission is clear: infiltrate the group suspected of the bombing and neutralize the threat by any means necessary. But once Kell meets beautiful chief suspect Mori Chastaine, he realizes there’s more to this case than meets the eye. And more to Mori than any man—any human man—could imagine.
Mori Chastaine is running out of options. Suspected for a crime she didn’t commit, forced into a marriage she doesn’t want, she sees no escape—until Kell walks through her door. A lifetime hiding her true nature warns her Kell might not be who he seems. But he could be the only one able to help save more innocent humans from becoming pawns in an ancient paranormal power play. If Mori reveals her secret, will Kell join her fight? Or will she become his next target?
NOTE: To be released first as a Kindle Serial beginning March 19, 2013. Print and audio and full digital editions to be released on July 9, 2013.
About the Author
Please visit SUSANNAH at her favorite spots:
**A review copy of the first four episodes of this serial was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. The complete serial was purchased by the reviewer for this full review.**
TITLE: Storm Force
SERIES: Omega Force #1
AUTHOR: Susannah Sandlin
PUBLISHER: Montlake Romance
PUBLICATION DATE: Mar 19/June 18, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781477807576
PURCHASE BOOK:
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
As leader of the elite counter-terrorism team Omega Force, former army ranger Jack “Kell” Kellison is always focused on getting the job done. So when a Houston high-rise is bombed and the governor killed or missing, Kell’s mission is clear: infiltrate the group suspected of the bombing and neutralize the threat by any means necessary. But once Kell meets beautiful chief suspect Mori Chastaine, he realizes there’s more to this case than meets the eye. And more to Mori than any man—any human man—could imagine.
Mori Chastaine is running out of options. Suspected for a crime she didn’t commit, forced into a marriage she doesn’t want, she sees no escape—until Kell walks through her door. A lifetime hiding her true nature warns her Kell might not be who he seems. But he could be the only one able to help save more innocent humans from becoming pawns in an ancient paranormal power play. If Mori reveals her secret, will Kell join her fight? Or will she become his next target?
NOTE: To be released first as a Kindle Serial beginning March 19, 2013. Print and audio and full digital editions to be released on July 9, 2013.
She-Wolf Review
Susannah Sandlin is one of my favorite authors. I was borderline obsessed with her Penton Legacy series and I’m in love with her Sentinels of New Orleans series, which she writes as Suzanne Johnson. Pretty much any book this woman writes, under whatever name she chooses, I will read. When I was given the opportunity to review the first four episodes of her new Amazon serial, STORM FORCE, I was thrilled to get a taste of something new from her. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the remaining installments so I could finish what started out as a very promising new series. For those of you who read that first review, did you wonder what I thought of the rest of the story? Well, here goes: As expected, I loved it.
First of all, STORM FORCE introduces us to a compelling cast of characters. Central to this cast are Jack Kellison, an injured ex-Army Ranger and leader of the special ops team called Omega Force; and Mori Chastaine, an environmental activist accused of committing an act of domestic terrorism – the bombing of a Houston office building. Jack is sent undercover to investigate her and sparks fly. These two have chemistry but they also have secrets. What I love about Jack is he’s this kind of lone wolf character, not many friends, not much family, never wanting to ask for help but does when he needs to; he’s strong but vulnerable, not wanting to reveal his physical pain from an injury that could put his life in danger given his line of work. Mori is also a great character though she could get a bit frustrating. She’s hiding a big secret and I just wanted her to trust Jack. She thinks she’s protecting him but she’s not. When you find out her secret, it’s not hard to understand her trust issues but I still wanted her to get over her stuff and take a leap of faith. Also, the bad guy in this story is a real ass and Mori tended to frustratingly underestimate just what an ass he could be. But what was great about her arc is that, in the end, Mori became pretty kick ass and I loved her transformation from appeasement to kickassery.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the rest of Omega Force. This special ops team is special in more ways than one. They’re skilled and trained but more importantly, Omega Force is made up of both human and supernatural operatives. The supernatural half of the team includes Robin, an eagle shapeshifter, and Archer and Adam, brothers who are shapeshifting jaguars. We also have Nik, Jack’s closest friend, who is human but with a special gift – he can touch an object or a person and get images that tell their history; and finally, there’s the tech genius, Garrett. The interactions between the team members are spot on. I especially like the awkwardness between Robin and Jack. They respect one another but may not like each other. Robin is full of sass and I would love to see another story that focuses on the budding romantic relationship between her and Nik.
Atmosphere and a sense of place. These are the things that always stand out to me in Sandlin’s work. You can feel the humidity of the Bayou, the danger of a brewing storm coming for Houston, the streets, the river, the land…I always feel firmly placed in the environment of her characters. And she always writes from what feels like an insider’s knowledge. With STORM FORCE, there’s a pivotal scene in which Mori and Jack are trying to get to his cabin before a monumental hurricane hits and Sandlin did a great job of describing this race against the storm. There was a palatable sense of tension that doesn’t really give up, even when you think they’ve made it.
STORM FORCE is a great new series with endless possibilities. I’m looking forward to seeing where Sandlin decides to go next with this team. The book ends with the opening for a new mission, but also with some heartache. I hope I see more from these guys because I need to know what happens next to this motley cast of characters.
A strong recommendation.
**A review copy of the first four episodes of this serial was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. The complete serial was purchased by the reviewer for this full review.**
About the Author
Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch, and always fancied herself living in Cornwall (although she’s never actually been there). Details, details. She also is a fan of Stephen King. The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana. Her novel Redemption won the paranormal romance category in the 2011 Chicago North RWA Fire and Ice contest, and is the first of three in a series that debuts this year.
Please visit SUSANNAH at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
**A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
TITLE: A Cursed Embrace
SERIES: Weird Girls #2
AUTHOR: Cecy Robson
PUBLISHER: Signet Eclipse
PUBLICATION DATE: July 2, 2013
ISBN: 0451416740
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Book Depository
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twentysomething girls—with one tiny exception: They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird.…
After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.
To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters.
She-Wolf Review
A CURSED EMBRACE is the second book in Cecy Robson’s Weird Girls series. This is one of those series that kind of charms you into a tizzy with its action, fun, and wit. At least that’s what it does for me. This second installment was equally as fun as the first, though darker, with some heartache, some adventure, and some serious Wird sister sass. While I admit that I got a little nitpicky on a couple of issues, A CURSED EMBRACE was a good read and a solid follow-up to a series, and an author, with a secure position on my auto-buy list.
Robson definitely took us into some darker territory here. Bodies are showing up all over the Tahoe area. Bodies of women with their abdomens torn apart. These gruesome murders are the result of breeding demons and the visuals are so dark, the crimes so gruesome that Robson successfully establishes the pure evil of the enemy and then proceeds to raise the stakes even higher for both the wolves and the Wird sisters. What’s at stake is not only the human world, but also the order of the supernatural world. This battle of light versus dark equals some kick ass action, which Robson always does so well, in addition to truly emotional moments that make you wonder if everyone is going to make it out alive by book’s end.
I feel like Robson does this nice sleight of hand where she gives you action, darkness, and violence and then very deftly switches it up with pockets of brightness as seen through the sisters and their relationships with each other. The sisters are hands down my favorite part of this series. They each have unique personalities and powers; they are a tight unit and the best thing about both books is the interaction between the girls which never fails to make me laugh.
Central to A CURSED EMBRACE is the relationship between Aric and Celia. For those of us who desperately wanted more of them, Robson gives it to us. And then some. I feel like I can’t say more without spoilers but, boy, does Robson put us through the wringer with these two.
I think one of my bigger issues with this second installment really has to do with my expectations. I expected an overall story arc to emerge about the girls and the origins of their powers. The source of their powers is a mystery and I so want that mystery to be solved. I didn’t feel like we got any closer and wondered if we ever would. Also, while I love Celia, I wanted some POV from the other sisters. Shayna and Kodo reach milestones in their relationship, as do Taran and Gemini. In fact, the sexual tension between Taran and Gemini is so built up that, I’ll be honest, I kind of wanted to be there for that moment of resolution. It’s moments like these when Celia’s viewpoint alone just didn’t cut it for me. In fact, by book’s end, I felt like if I don’t get a book from one sister in particular, who I shall not name (read the book and you’ll know what I mean), I might have to get crazy up in here.
All in all, A CURSED EMBRACE is a satisfying read. It has the action, romance, and sisterhood shenanigans that I loved from the first book while it added more depth to the relationships we’ve come to love, particularly in terms of Aric and Celia. And while the end kind of left my mouth hanging open, Robson hit us in the heart and I love her for it. Hopefully, we’ll get more from each sister and we’ll get more about what the heck the Wird sisters are. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the ride.
3.5 HOWLS – STRONG but I got bit nitpicky!
**A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
GIVEAWAY
This giveaway includes a signed copy of A CURSED EMBRACE in addition to a bookmark, a rack card, A CURSED EMBRACE magnet and lip balm, and a signed postcard!
About the Author
Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is an author with Penguin’s SIGNET ECLIPSE. She attributes her passion for story-telling back to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing her Urban Fantasy Romance Series, Weird Girls, in May 2009. THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella and SEALED WITH A CURSE are now available. A CURSED EMBRACE, releases July 2, 2013 followed by A CURSED MOON: An eSpecial Novella December 2013, and CURSED BY DESTINY, January 2014.
Please visit CECY at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Today, I’m excited to have Damon Brock, the star of Kait Ballenger’s new novella, SHADOW HUNTER, on the blog today. Through this story, Ballenger introduces us to the tough supernatural world of Rochester, NY and the hunters that help keep us safe from the monsters that go bump in the night. These hunters are part of an elite organization, Execution Underground, and Damon is one of the best. I didn’t think I’d get him on the blog today — he’s the strong, silent type — but Ballenger managed to wrangle him into answering a few questions about supernaturals, his new team of hunters, and the words he lives by. His motto really should be a bumper sticker.
Please welcome Damon to the blog!
SWR: Welcome to the blog, Damon! Thanks for being here.
These interviews are necessary for the survival and success of the Execution Underground, or so my author says.
SWR: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a part of the Execution Underground?
I’m what the Execution Underground refers to as a legacy. I come from a long line of supernatural hunters. I knew from the time I was a child that once I turned eighteen, I was going to be recruited into the Execution Underground—and like my father, and his father before him, I would be vampire hunter.
SWR: The EU sounds like a powerful organization with an honorable mission but I can’t help but wonder…are there any good supernaturals out there, ones who mean no harm to humans?
There are certain supernatural creatures that are not harmful toward humans, and thus, are not hunted by the Execution Underground. An example: the Fae are a species of creature whose natural enemy is demons. Demons prey upon humans. The Fae are not hunted by the Execution Underground, because they eliminate demons, which are a threat to humanity. But benign supernatural creatures are uncommon. We only hunt supernaturals that are an immediate threat to humanity, like rogue werewolves killing humans, or supernaturals who are intrinsically evil, like vampires. There is no such thing as a good bloodsucker. They all feed on human blood. Creatures like werewolves and shapeshifters who don’t feed on human flesh by nature are only hunted when they step out of line, but they do so frequently. It’s in their animal instincts.
SWR: Also, why the heck aren’t there any female members?
The Execution Underground was founded centuries ago in a time where women were not considered capable of being hunters. The tradition has continued throughout the years. Personally, I have no qualms with the possibility of female hunters, but I don’t see the organization changing their ways any time soon.
SWR: Tiffany…she almost kicked your a**. This isn’t really a question per se but do you care to comment?
There’s no “almost” in hunting or battle. You either make the kill, win the fight, or you don’t. Nevertheless, I have no shame in being near bested by Tiffany. She was trained by my hunting partner, her older brother Mark, who was one of the best hunters the Execution Underground had to offer. Tiffany is an excellent fighter technically, but is no match for my strength. It’s difficult to fight a female when I don’t want to hurt them…especially Tiffany.
SWR: Is there ever an HEA for two people like yourselves who lead such dangerous lives?
I don’t believe in happily ever after’s.
SWR: Damon, what brought you to Rochester, NY? It’s a city that doesn’t seem like it would be supernatural central.
I came to Rochester to avenge the death of my friend and fellow hunter, Mark Solow. Previous data showed that there wasn’t enough supernatural activity in Rochester to warrant a division, but after I arrived in the city we found supernaturals had migrated to the area. A division was needed, so I was mandated to start one.
SWR: Tell us about your new EU team. Who are they and what can we expect from each of them?
I’ve hired five new hunters to complete the division. A werewolf hunter named Jace McCannon, who is a royal pain in my ass. Jace rarely follows orders, smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish, and speaks with the vocabulary of twenty drunken sailors, but he gets the job done, so I keep him around. A Jewish demon hunter and exorcist named David Aronowitz, who aside from being Jace’s right hand man keeps in line, follows orders well, and does his job, but is a bit of a smartass. Dr. Shane Grey, occult specialist and professor from the University of Rochester, who mainly monitors the witch covens in the area, and assists with all the divisions technological needs. Ashley Devereaux, who goes by Ash is a slow speaking ghost a medium from Louisiana. Despite his issues, he’s excellent at his job. Lastly, Trent Garrison, a hunter who specializes in non-werewolf shapeshifters and is a perfect killing machine.
SWR: Anyone annoy you yet?
Hunters all have problems. It comes with the territory. Any time you get a large group of men together all of whom are headstrong and aggressive, there’s bound to be pissing contests. Jace is my only legitimate troublemaker.
SWR: Ok, here’s one for the ladies out there – questions that will help us get to know what Damon Brock likes:
I don’t have time for these sorts of activities now that I’m a hunter, but I’ll answer from what I liked when I was younger.
- Favorite book? American Psycho.
- Favorite quote? Don’t have one.
- Favorite band? Classical music is a guilty pleasure.
- Favorite movie? The Godfather 2.
SWR: Finally, I’m a Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire fanatic. Every family has a motto. The Starks have “Winter is coming” and the Lannisters have “Hear me roar!” (or, more popularly, “A Lannister always pays his debts). What’s the Damon Brock motto?
Kill vamps first, ask questions later.
SWR: Thanks for speaking with SWR today. Be careful out there!
There’s no such thing as careful when hunting vampires…There’s always blood involved.
Check out Damon’s story in this month’s new release, AFTER DARK, coming out June 25th!
Book Information
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BACK COVER BLURB FOR SHADOW HUNTER:
Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.
About the Author
Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.
Please visit KAIT at her favorite spots:
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I am delighted to participate in this release day promo for Jaye Wells’ new book, MERIDIAN SIX. As soon as I saw the synopsis, I knew I had to read it. Can’t wait to get my hands on it! (or get it in my e-reader but you know what I mean).
Check out the synopsis below and the enter the giveaway for your chance to win a copy of MERIDIAN SIX!
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | GOODREADS
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Meridian Six remembers the days before the Troika enslaved humans. She also remembers her mother, a freedom fighter who was murdered in the final battle between humans and vampires. But it is her mother’s final words that have haunted her:
Never stop fighting, Carmina. Red means life.
In the years since her mother’s death, Meridian Six has been used as both a propaganda tool and a blood slave by the Troika. She withstood their indignities because they were better than breaking her bad in a labor camp or bleeding our in a blood camp. But when the abuses finally go to far, she decides to run towards freedom and her mother’s red light.
On the other side of the light, she finds the Sisters of Crimson. They helped her like her mother promised, but they also handed her to the human rebels, who have their own plans for the daughter of the human race’s famous freedom fighter. The vampires used her famous name to keep human slaves biddable, but now the humans want to use it inspire a revolution.
Meridian Six is about to learn that when the world is at war, freedom is a luxury paid for with blood.
Release Day: June 6, 2013
BN ID: 2940016592008
Publisher: Jaye Wells
GIVEAWAY
Please check out the other blogs participating in the MERIDIAN SIX Release Day Promo!
Booked & Loaded
Coffee and a Book Anytime
http://coffeeandabookanytime.
I am, Indeed
Urban Girl Reader
http://www.urbangirlreader.
Why I Can’t Stop Reading
http://whyicantstopreading.
About the Author
After several years as a magazine editor and freelance writer, USA TODAY Bestselling author Jaye Wells finally decided to leave the facts behind and make up her own reality. Her overactive imagination and life-long fascination with the arcane and freakish blended nicely with this new career path. Her Sabina Kane urban fantasy series is a blend of dark themes, grave stakes and wicked humor. Jaye lives in Texas with her saintly husband and devilish son. Her work is represented by Rebecca Strauss of DeFiore and Co.
Please visit JAYE at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
**A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
TITLE: Dark Companion
SERIES: n/a
AUTHOR: Marta Acosta
PUBLISHER: Tor
PUBLICATION DATE: July 3, 2012
AISN: B007IM0H06
PURCHASE BOOK:
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GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.
They are.
The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?
As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there…
She-Wolf Review
It’s a mystery to me why extraordinary young women insist they are normal.
I don’t know where to begin with this review. Let me say now that I loved DARK COMPANION. I truly loved this gothic tale of an orphaned girl making her way in the world. And while I had some issues with how DARK COMPANION ended, that really didn’t undermine my complete fascination with this story and with its heroine, Jane Williams. I think my difficulty comes with trying to organize and articulate my thoughts, so bear with me.
I like science and math because they’re always reasonable, logical, and fair. The rules apply no matter who you are, or who you know. They make sense.
Let’s start with Jane. She comes from the wrong side of the tracks, has been raised in the foster care system, and pulls herself out of a horrific group home by winning a scholarship to Birch Grove Academy, an elite private school for girls that dangles the promise of future success in front of her, and seems to be a way out of the rough life she’s experienced so far. Jane is an incredibly compelling YA heroine – orphaned, tough, completely independent, smart, driven, and ambitious. But she’s also lonely and, while she might not admit it, she wants to be accepted. She wants to be loved. Jane has a completely rational, scientific perspective on the world, yet this driving need for acceptance and love and finding a place in the world where she fits in, makes her accept some irrational things; leads her to make some questionable choices.
This is particularly true of her relationship with Lucien, the headmistress’s son, who Jane is tutoring. She is infatuated with him and it’s this infatuation that makes the rational, smart, independent Jane start to lose herself and ignore the signs that something isn’t completely normal about their relationship and about the things he is asking her to do. I wanted to shake Jane. My heart went out to her and it’s a testament to Acosta’s writing that she was able to craft such a compelling young woman who feels old and young, strong and totally vulnerable in a very real way, all at the same time.
Other aspects of the story that worked for me were the dialogue and the relationships with the supporting cast of characters. Her interactions with Jack, the headmistress’s oldest son, are cryptic, witty, and crackle with electricity. She wants to punch him but you know she probably wants to kiss him, too. I also adored Mary Violet, Jane’s best friend at Birch Grove. Mary Violet is hilarious, has a romantic outlook on life, and genuinely cares about Jane. She wants to “funnify” Jane, which is fitting since she provides some of the funniest lines in the book, particularly her French translations.
You’re the crème de la crème. That’s French for “all that and a bag of chips.”
And,
Grand-mere calls me Marie-Violette and she’s always asking me about my beaux, which is French for “players with trust funds.”
Finally, the gothic atmosphere of the school and the Brontesque touches that call to mind Jane Eyre were all elements that worked very well in DARK COMPANION. If you are a Jane Eyre fan, like myself, you will have fun picking out all the nods to that story – orphan girl, tutoring, how she first meets Jack, etc. It all works together to create a dark atmosphere where nothing is what it seems. In fact, the overall mystery is compelling as well – the headmistress and her family are hiding something and what Jane soon realizes is that everything comes with a price.
The biggest negative for me came at about 85% into the book (I read it on my Kindle) where the main storyline is tied up but new questions are brought forward that feel less integrated into the plot. There was a sense that DARK COMPANION, in the end, wasn’t sure what it wanted to be – a paranormal mystery or a mystery? I’m really hoping there is a follow-up to this book so I can get an answer to that question.
The only reason I’m not giving a five howl rating is because of the ending – it needed to be stronger. But the writing is so smart on so many levels that regardless of the ending, I highly recommend DARK COMPANION for anyone interested in gothic tales with romance, mystery, and tough, complex heroines that steal your heart.
A strong recommendation.
**A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
About the Author
Marta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
Please visit MARTA at her favorite spots:
The Artist’s Den is a new feature here at SWR where I showcase something I’m obsessed about – fantasy art. This feature is inspired by my previous posts under the SHELF CANDY meme which was hosted by the wonderful Maria at A Night’s Dream of Books. I loved doing interviews with cover artists under that meme but found that I often wanted to feature the work of artists who had not done traditional covers but still did work related to fantasy and science fiction. While I realize this is not always going to be book related, I do hope you enjoy these posts as much as I do.
Please note that all images are subject to copyright protection and are property of today’s featured artist – Rebecca Guay.
***
Today’s Artist’s Den features the work of Rebecca Guay, a painter and illustrator known mostly for the fantasy work she’s done for such clients as DC Vertigo Comics, World of Warcraft, and Wizards of the Coast. Guay has also done quite a number of book covers in genre fiction and odds are you’ve seen her work. What brought me to her was the graphic novel A FLIGHT OF ANGELS. The cover blew my mind; the interior artwork was just as beautiful. All of the art was done by Guay. In fact, the novel was conceptualized by her; she contributed the artwork and a team of writers, including Holly Black and Bill Willingham,wrote the stories. The strong writing, atmospheric tales, and unique art make this a graphic novel not to be missed.
Please welcome Rebecca to the blog!
***
A FLIGHT OF ANGELS is beautiful, get yourself a copy!
Book Information
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GOODREADS SUMMARY:
The diverse mythology of angels is explored in this lushly painted graphic novel from high-profile fantasy authors including Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Bill Willingham (FABLES).Deep in the woods outside of a magical kingdom, a strange group of faeries and forest creatures discover a nearly dead angel, bleeding and unconscious with a sword by his side. They call a tribunal to decide his fate, each telling stories that delve into different interpretations of these winged, celestial beings: tales of dangerous angels, all-powerful angels, guardian angels and death angels, that range from the mystical to the mysterious to the macabre.
This original graphic novel spotlights the painted work of award-winning artist Rebecca Guay, whose other workds include the Vertigo titles VEILS and DESTINY: A CHRONICLE OF DEATHS FORETOLD, as well as World of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.
About the Artist
Rebecca Guay studied at the Pratt Institute in NYC where she earned a degree in illustration. She known for her fantasy work with such clients as DC Vertigo Comics, Marvel Comics, Wizards of the Coast, and Dark Horse Comics.
Please visit REBECCA at her favorite spots:
TITLE: Spellcaster
SERIES: Spellcaster #1
AUTHOR: Claudia Gray
PUBLISHER: Harper Teen
PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2013
ISBN: 0061961205
PURCHASE BOOK:
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GOODREADS SUMMARY:
When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed – and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.
Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.
Source: Purchased
She-Wolf Review
SPELLCASTER, by Claudia Gray, is a hard one for me to review. It’s one of those books that looked really great on paper, got good reviews from various sources I trust, and featured a dark New England town, witches, and angsty teens. With my recent YA obsession, I thought this was going to be a real winner. Blame it on high expectations but I came away with an overwhelming sense of, “meh” when I finished this one.
The strength of SPELLCASTER can really be found in its plot and its world of magic. Let’s start with plot. A young girl from Chicago, Nadia Caldani, moves to a small New England town, Captive’s Sound, with her father and her younger brother. Her mother basically abandoned them and Nadia is filled with hurt, bitterness and a fierce determination to take her mother’s place by protecting and caring for her father and brother. Nadia is also a witch and she immediately recognizes a darkness lurking underneath the small town exterior, a darkness that only seems to be growing stronger. Banding together with two unlikely friends, Mateo and Verlaine, Nadia decides to go to battle and use all her witchy strength to defeat evil and save Captive’s Sound. The plot moved at a good pace and there were several nice reveals that kept me turning the pages and reluctantly putting down the book at night.
However, by far the most original aspect of this story is its magic system. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this before. Witches can only be women, educated and empowered through female relatives and coven sisters. This adds another bitter pill to Nadia’s abandonment by her mother – without her, Nadia has little hope of advancing in her witchcraft. Here’s the real gem – spells are cast through pure memory and emotion.
The sight of something wondrous, never before seen.
The breaking of a bond that should never have been broken.
Cold beyond desolation.
Loyalty beyond life.
In order to cast this spell, Nadia must call on memories that evoke these strong emotions and then feel them purely and deeply. Is that brilliant or what? This was such an original approach to magic that it made the paranormal aspects of SPELLCASTER feel very fresh.
Though well-written and plotted, the major weaknesses for me in SPELLCASTER were its main heroine and hero, Nadia and Mateo. They were so cardboard that it was hard for me to, well, frankly, care about them. Both are motherless, both dealing with adult size issues for such a young age, yet both lacked an evocative depth of emotion. Nadia shined when casting but other than that, I had a hard time connecting with her. It’s not a good sign when the side characters completely steal the show – Verlaine, the spunky, sharp, and funny friend; Liz, Mateo’s enigmatic best friend; and Asa, the demon, who is the major reason why I want to read the next book. All of these characters held my interest five times more than Nadia and Mateo. And the lukewarm romance between the two didn’t help.
I do want to give major props to Gray for giving us a diverse cast of characters. There’s color in this world and a non-traditional relationship with Verlaine’s two fathers. Though this was not a major part of the story, I appreciate Gray’s creation of a town that had a level of diversity not often found in many YA paranormal books.
With SPELLCASTER I vacillated between a two and three howl rating. I decided to give it three howls for two reasons – great magic and an ending that piqued my interest. A side character, Asa the demon, seems poised to play a bigger role and the mystery and conspiracy at the heart of the dark magic buried in Captive’s Sound hasn’t been fully understood, which does make me want to know what happens next. With these borderline reviews, the deciding factor is always, “would I read the next one?” The answer is, yes. But, honestly, I might borrow it from the library.
3 HOWLS – Good but with reservations.
About the Author
Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn’t choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn’t), because I’d always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven’t) or even because I’m hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.
I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I’ve been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.
Please visit CLAUDIA at her favorite spots:
**A review copy of this novella was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.**
TITLE: The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance
SERIES: Blud Series #1.6
AUTHOR: Delilah S. Dawson
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star Books
PUBLICATION DATE: April 1, 2013
ASIN: B008QY8YGY
PURCHASE BOOK:
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
A lady with a penchant for pets meets a sexy fireman in this magical and saucy steampunk eNovella from the author of Wicked as They Come.
In a world ruled by blood, live pets are rare and kindness rarer still. London pet shop owner Frannie Pleasance has a mysterious way with animals and keeps her charges (and heart) locked in a veritable Eden. She thinks Casper Sterling is just another stray…until she takes in the troublesome lodger (and unwelcome suitor) and becomes the victim of a series of strange and dangerous occurrences.
When an unexplained fire threatens to destroy Frannie’s carefully guarded world, firefighter Thom Maccallan is there to extinguish the blaze and help gather the lost creatures. The heat between Frannie and Thom begins to burn,but someone’s still after the lady. Could it be Casper himself, or is Frannie’s new lodger just another victim of fate? Will they be able to figure out who’s pursuing Frannie—and stop them—before she loses everything?
She-Wolf Review
This was another beautiful addition to Delilah S. Dawson’s wonderfully original Blud Series. In THE PECULIAR PETS OF MISS PLEASANCE, Dawson takes us out of Criminy Stain’s caravan and sets us in the London of the Blud world. Here we meet Frannie Pleasance, a pet shop owner, dealing with the loss of her family and trying dearly to protect a secret.
What I love about this series is the world. Every time I open one of Dawson’s Blud stories, it feels like sinking into a dream. The world is dark but whimsical, and through her characters there is always a tenderness and pure romanticism that is achingly beautiful. In this particular story, we see this through the budding relationship between Frannie and Thom Maccallan, a fireman that helps save her house and shop from burning down. He’s also Scottish and wears a kilt, which are always big plusses in my book. Their connection is immediate and he sees in Frannie someone who may need his protection and so begins the very sweet dance of two lonely hearts coming together.
In the background is Caspar, a side character in the first book in the series, who is also interested in Frannie. I was hoping that Dawson wouldn’t make this into a novella about a tired love triangle. What Dawson does is better and I love that Frannie knows her mind, doesn’t fall for the wrong guy, and is just so darned independent that it makes you smile and cheer for her.
Frannie’s desperate to protect a secret and when you find out what that secret is, it’s an enchanting moment, a bit of light in the murkiness that is Dawson’s London. In a way, I think you may have to read WICKED AS SHE WANTS, the first book in the series, to fully appreciate what Frannie is protecting only because in that book you get a better sense of the darkness that is the Blud world.
Someone is out to get Frannie and you’re not sure why. The novella is well-paced in uncovering the mystery of it, and opening up a new one, and the conclusion is definitely satisfying.
If you haven’t read this series, I really wish you would. I am honestly swept away by the whimsy and the darkness of this world every time I read one of its stories.
My Soulmate. May not be perfect, but it’s perfect for me.
**A review copy of this novella was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*
About the Author
Delilah S. Dawson comes from a long line of Roswell, GA natives. WICKED AS THEY COME is the first in her Blud series for Pocket/S&S, and a creepy paranormal YA, SERVANTS OF THE STORM, will be out with Simon Pulse in 2014. Delilah is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Georgia Romance Writers. Delilah lives with her husband, two small children, and two cats in Atlanta. Find out more at www.delilahsdawson.com.
Please visit DELILAH at her favorite spots:
