GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ I Smell Sheep: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Comic Review: THE VALIANT #2 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]

I am on a mission to make all the non-comic reading flock members into comic book lovers. Discover how the right combination of art and words can create absolute magic! Plus there are sexy action heroes <G>.

THE VALIANT #2 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]
Written by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT

Art & Cover by PAOLO RIVERA
Valiant Next Variant by PAOLO RIVERA & TOM MULLER
Interlocking Variant Cover by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT
Variant Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

From comic book superstars Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera – the year’s most epic new adventure ratchets up the stakes as Bloodshot is drafted into the eons-old war against mankind’s oldest, darkest enemy!

The Immortal Enemy has crawled out from the black depths of history to destroy this generation’s Geomancer and send Earth back to the Dark Ages! Now…the Eternal Warrior, Ninjak, and Kay McHenry must overcome their worst nightmares before the unlikeliest of white knights rides in to save the day. Will he be enough to battle back the unyielding evil that threatens to plunge the Valiant Universe into the darkness?
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On sale JANUARY 21


Issue #2 in the universe shattering The Valiant [Valiant Next] brings in two more Valiant characters: Ninjak and Bloodshot. I haven't read either of these series, but they are on my must read list now because they are both sexy bad ass action heroes. Check out how Ninjak dispatches the two guards...
The Geomancer, Kay, is running for her life from The Immortal Enemy and guess who comes to the rescue? Bloodshot! I like the way the creators handled the artwork differently for Kay's flashbacks of a book her father read to her when she was young. Seems The Immortal Enemy knows your greatest fear and can become it.
This is a perfect series to pick up for an introduction to some of the more popular Valiant Comic series. If you have never been in a comic book store or know where one is, don't worry. You can get digital comics now and read them on your tablet. Plus the digital versions are cheaper.

ComiXology is a great place to find them (you can also find free comic books to check out too)


Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 1,500 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond.

A Second Opinion Book Review: Burned (Fever Series Book 7) by Karen Marie Moning

Burned
Fever Series Book 7
by Karen Marie Moning
Paranormal Romance 
Hardcover, 512 pages
Published January 20th 2015
by Delacorte Press
Plot:
It’s easy to walk away from lies. Power is another thing.

MacKayla Lane would do anything to save the home she loves. A gifted sidhe-seer, she’s already fought and defeated the deadly Sinsar Dubh—an ancient book of terrible evil—yet its hold on her has never been stronger.

When the wall that protected humans from the seductive, insatiable Fae was destroyed on Halloween, long-imprisoned immortals ravaged the planet. Now Dublin is a war zone with factions battling for control. As the city heats up and the ice left by the Hoar Frost King melts, tempers flare, passions run red-hot, and dangerous lines get crossed. Seelie and Unseelie vie for power against nine ancient immortals who have governed Dublin for millennia; a rival band of sidhe-seers invades the city, determined to claim it for their own; Mac’s former protégé and best friend, Dani “Mega” O’Malley, is now her fierce enemy; and even more urgent, Highland druid Christian MacKeltar has been captured by the Crimson Hag and is being driven deeper into Unseelie madness with each passing day. The only one Mac can depend on is the powerful, dangerous immortal Jericho Barrons, but even their fiery bond is tested by betrayal.

It’s a world where staying alive is a constant struggle, the line between good and evil is blurred, and every alliance comes at a price. In an epic battle against dark forces, Mac must decide who she can trust, and what her survival is ultimately worth.

Karen Marie Moning is the best-selling author of the Highlander and Fever series. Burned is book 7 of the Fever series, which features MacKayla Lane who is a sidhe-seer with immeasurable power and a witty and quick temper personality. Moning delivers again with some in-depth looks at other characters in the series such as Ryodan and Dani O’Malley. Throughout the Fever series there are so many questions that have been left unanswered Burned finally addressed some of those long awaited mysteries.

This is a must read! If you haven’t read any of the other books in the series you really need to first or you will be lost and won’t enjoy the book. Loved the way the story line continued on from the previous books but still included lots of new twists, turns and explosive surprises. Was equally happy to see this wasn’t the end of the Fever series but there should be many more books to come.

Giving this 5 sheep






DeniseB


Friday, January 30, 2015

Ewe won't believe this...PNR author Anita Cox

Grace McGovern is the Lycan Princess in Anita Cox's latest release Saving Grace (Shifter Chronicles Book 1) and she has a story to tell about her author, Anita, and a conversation they had over drinks...

Ewe won’t believe this…

Anita Cox and I were sitting down over her favorite adult beverage, the espresso martini, chatting about where she would take my character.

Now I must preface this by saying that Anita scares the hell out of me. She’s all about pushing the envelope and torturing her characters…just a bit. But I’m a tough Lycan Queen. I can take it. So I thought.

She takes a sip of her martini, places it on the coffee table and leans back pulling her fingertips together. “I was thinking,” she starts.

My heart starts racing. She’s been thinking again…the late night writing and obscene amounts of coffee combined with sleep deprivation sometimes give her really crazy ideas. This is usually when I choose to climb into some shadowed forgotten part of her brain until she’s rational again.

“What if I gave you a dick?” she asks.

I can tell from the look on her face, stern and ravenous, that she’s dead serious and has given this a lot of thought. My face reddens but my curiosity is at its peak. “What? Like a strap-on?” I look up at the ceiling as I try to imagine the delicate predicament I’ll have to enact.

With a giggle and a wiggle of her left brow she leans forward. “No, like a real penis.”

“Since girls don’t have penises, I’ll assume you’re changing the main character to a man.” Great, now I’m out of a job.

The maniacal laugh gives me goose flesh.

My stomach churns when she shakes her head. She plans to give me, Grace, a man-sausage, a pole, a chicken-to-choke…a tube steak.

“Oh it’s just for one scene,” she waves her hand in my face and commences to slamming the rest of her martini.

So, I’m going to be sporting a cock. How did I get this job again?



Saving Grace (Shifter Chronicles Book 1)
Anita Cox
January 15, 2015
237 pages
Already struggling with her royal status, Lycan Princess Grace McGovern faces the challenge of accepting a mate. The very sexy Roman LaRossa, is already infatuated with Grace. He’s also her pack’s Beta. As Grace’s was raised in the human world, she is determined to bring Lycan women’s rights up to speed, bringing them equality and protection for the violence they face from the Scottsboro pack’s supernatural puppy mill. Can Grace succeed in her goals or will the Scottsboro pack win by kidnapping her and using her to breed her royal blood into their pack until there’s nothing left of her?

Jagger Merrell, Alpha of the Scottsboro pack, takes great pride in his need to bring an end to the Lycan Clan and will do anything and everything he can to bring it and their too independently minded Princess, Grace McGovern to her knees. Will he finally rule the Kingdom of Lycan and tame this odd Alpha Princess once and for all?

Roman, the Belfast Pack’s Beta, has always loved Grace but will his chauvinist and controlling ways cause her to refuse him as her King?

Can Grace find love with Roman? Can Roman save her from Jagger? Who will win this battle of wills to rule the Kingdom of the Lycan?

Content Notes: M/F, Trans, M/F/H, Menage, F/F, Violence but not for titillation

About the Author:
Anita has been writing general fiction, under her given name, for nearly a decade. In 2012 she strapped on a new name for a new genre and dove head first into writing erotica. Anita Cox's erotic debut series Dirty White Candy was picked up by Liquid Silver Books in 2013,but this wasn't her beginning. Under her given name she has written crime fiction (some with paranormal elements,) paranormal romance and suspense novels. In 2014, she became a Director for the Erotic Author's Guild. Her altruistic nature found its purpose, assisting other erotic authors with issues specific to the genre.​ With a busy home life, Anita manages to ferret out enough time for each hat she must wear, though secretly, she wants to shut the world out and just write.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Author SM Blooding's Zombie Apocalypse Bug-out plan (Whiskey Witches Book Tour)

Having a zombie apocalypse bug-out plan is so crucial. I have my bug-out bag ready to go. Well, okay. Let’s be serious. It’s still a work in progress, but, whatever. I have my plan, where to go first, who’s on my team, who I’ll bring for fodder—even though they all said no, which saddens my little rock heart—the alternate routes to take to our hunker location. I mean, we’ve got the plan. Seriously. It’s only a matter of time before Mother Nature pulls the pin on our over-population grenade.

The people who initiated the bug-out bags on my team are heavy into fire making and protection. I don’t think any of them want to eat, change clothes, or drink water. So, I’m tweaking our plan so we can do all that and shield ourselves from the environment since we’ll be heading north. I believe their plan is to scavenge, which is fine, but we still need to have the ability to bring some of that with us.

On my real-life plan, we have two protectors, a medic, me (who…*shrug*…is going to do what? I don’t know. It would suck if it turned out I was the fodder.), two to four teens, and two tiny ones. This bus is full.

However, if I could make just a handful of my characters real to join my team, that would be awesome.

Dexx Colt would be the first person. He’s a demon hunter in Whiskey Witches, so hunting zombies isn’t going to be an issue for him. He’s not your typical demon hunter, either. He’s not the dark, mysterious, ooberly perfect male hunter with supernatural abilities. Oh, no. He fumbles. He bumbles. He trips. It all makes him better able to think on his feet.

However, if I didn’t allow Paige Whiskey along, he wouldn’t stay with the group. She wouldn’t be bad. She even has a zombie apocalypse plan. She’s a hunker-planner, instead of a bug-out planner, and she intends on hunkering down in the city, which is an issue for me. But she’s handy with a handgun, knows how to actually fight with a knife, and is pretty decent in hand-to-hand.

The only problem with her, though, is that we would have to bring Leah, her teenage daughter, with us. So we’d be up two [real] protectors, but we’d have two to five teenagers. Slave labor? *shrug*

All of my other characters would be lucky to survive by sheer temerity alone. Though, my characters from Dream Killers survived an apocalypse of a different sort, they still would be nothing more than fodder for this one. Which is sad.

Whiskey Witches is on sale for $.99
byS.M. Blooding
Length: 394 pages
Detective Paige Whiskey comes from a long line of witches. They may not all be the most powerful, but they are outspoken and supportive of their community. She alone has no gifts. She can’t summon fire, can’t read minds. She knows the arcane. She’s studied it. That, along with her connection to the Whiskey Witches, lands her some pretty strange cases. Like the sacrificial murders of St. Francisville, Louisiana. There’s a killer on the loose, choosing people in a vain attempt to raise a demon. Not just any demon, though. A man born long ago, made a demon in order to protect the Gate to Hell. Together with demon hunter, Dexx Colt, her kitchen-witch grandmother, and her paranormal investigator brother-in-law, they unravel a conspiracy far bigger than a few simple murders, and re-discover Paige’s gift. She’s a demon summoner and she’s key to the killer’s plan.
About the Author:
Facebook /Twitter /Website
SM “Frankie” Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Jack the Bird. Jack has refused to let her to take up the piano again, but is warming to the guitar. It might help that Frankie has learned more than two strings. She’s added a few more Arabic words to her vocabulary, but don’t invite her into conversation yet—unless, of course, you’re willing to have a very . . . slow . . . conversation. She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers
and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories. She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Book Review: In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2) by Maya Banks

In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2)
by Maya Banks

432 pages
January 27th 2015
by Harper Collins
#1 bestselling author Maya Banks continues her suspenseful and steamy Slow Burn trilogy with this second book-a twisting tale featuring a strong yet vulnerable heroine in danger and the sexy alpha hero who must save her.

Abandoned as a baby to a young wealthy couple and raised in a world of privilege, Arial has no hint of her past or who she belonged to. Her only link lies in the one thing that sets her apart from everyone else—telekinetic powers. Protected by her adoptive parents and hidden from the public to keep her gift secret, Ari is raised in the lap of luxury, and isolation. That is, until someone begins threatening her life.

Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the strange. As the head of Deveraux Security, he’s more than familiar with the realities of physic powers. So when a family friend approaches him about protecting his daughter, he’s more than ready to jump on board. What Beau isn’t prepared for is the extent of his attraction to his beautiful and powerful client. What began as a simple assignment, just another job, quickly turns personal as Beau discovers he’ll do anything at all to protect Ari. Even if it costs him his life.


Have you ever just followed the rules all your life and the one time you don’t all hell breaks loose? That’s what happened to Ariel. All it took was one petrifying moment when her attacker was coming in for the kill, the final moment she saw it in his eyes. She had no choice but to unleash her physic powers. These powers have not been used since she was a little girl. Now that her powers have been revealed a whole new world has come to light. Nothing was what she thought she knew and now she is in trouble. She turns to Devereaux security for help, but can they help her.

Beau 
Devereaux got on more than he bargained for when he took on Ariel’s case. Not only has his work now been turned upside down and trust me he is used to crazy and strange. What he is not used to is his reaction to Ariel. He will do anything to protect her even if that means his heart and soul.

The story was action packed and heart felt all the way through. The love you felt between two people that you only read about in books, well you really do only read about it in books and this just nailed it. It was not just the love between Ariel and Beau, but the love between Ariel’s parents is what got me. I think they were my favorite.

Ariel had to go through some harsh realities about her parents and the world she thought she once knew. It was time to put on her big girl pants, she was so used to following the rules an relying on her parents that she was having some difficulty at first coping with what she had to do. Watch out though because when it came down to it she rose to the occasion and kicked some butt and it all came crashing down, literally.

This is a must read, I may have written more about the romance, trying not to give the story away but the action had me on the edge. What was going to happen next will they survive.

The only way to know is if you read it, I highly recommend it.


Review: Keep Me Safe (Slow Burn #1)

5 Kick butt Sheep




TammyK


About the Author:
I live in Texas with my husband and three children and our assortment of pets. I’m more of a cat person, but my daughter became convinced she NEEDED a dog.

When I’m not writing, I love to hunt and fish with my family. We all love the outdoors and go on family hunting trips every year. We also love to travel.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of a writing career is getting to meet so many wonderful readers. There’s nothing better than dishing books with someone who loves the romance genre as much as I do. Romance readers are passionate and vocal. We love our books, love our happily ever afters, and we love to spend time talking to others about our favorites. THIS is why I love my job so much, and I’m so grateful to readers who gave ME a chance when I began my career. So thank you.

Book Review: CRAVED BY AN ALPHA, Eternal Mates Book 5 by Felicity Heaton + giveaway

Craved by an Alpha, the fifth book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Eternal Mates, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website and sharing sneak peeks of the book.

Find out how to enter the Craved by an Alpha international giveaway (ends February 8th) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 5 chapter sample of the novel:
Craved by an Alpha (Eternal Mates Romance Series Book 5)
Felicity Heaton
Having turned his back on his snow leopard pride, Cavanaugh has been counting the days until he’s free of a role he never wanted—one that separated him from his fated female and stands between him and the future he craves with her.

Just days from the night he will finally be free to be with the low-ranking beauty who stole his heart, she walks back into his life and threatens to destroy everything he’s worked towards in the five long years they’ve been apart.

Eloise has travelled across continents searching for the male who was once her best friend and so much more to her, but was now her pride’s true alpha. Desperate to fulfil a promise to her kin to save them from the tyrant he left in charge, she convinces Cavanaugh to return to his pride, but as they journey to Bhutan, doubts bloom and old feelings resurface, tearing her between duty and her deepest desires and impossible dreams.

Will Eloise be able to resist the burning need that Cavanaugh reignites in her and remember her place in the pride? And can Cavanaugh find a way to save his kin and claim the future he craves with the woman he loves.


Cavanaugh turned his back on his Snow Leopard pride in order to be with the female he loves, but before he can officially walk away from his duties, that same female shows up and blows his plans clear out of the water. Eloise is willing to sacrifice her happiness with Cavanaugh in order to save her pride from their brutal leader but what started off as a sure fire plan to bring Cavanaugh back as leader makes her question if what she’s doing is the right thing.

You know, for a novella, Craved by an Alpha sure does feel like a full length novel. There’s plenty of structure and plot building going on and a definite romance all in 50,000 words.

Cavanaugh and Eloise have a star crossed lovers vibe going and she’s willing to give up everything to make sure her pride is safe. Her selfless character was touching and throughout the story I could see what made her so special to Cavanaugh, she was a mix of sweetness, sarcasm and strength that I found endearing. Nothing remotely helpless about this woman except what is out of her control. Just my type of character. Cavanaugh brought out the fierce side of Eloise and Eloise brought out the tender side of Cavanaugh. These two balanced out each other perfectly and I just loved their romance.

Craved by an Alpha delivered a fast paced, erotic romance but it also brought some action and Snow Leopard politics into the story line. The sneak peek into Cavanaugh’s pride was a big bonus, and watching him battle it out with the cruel Stellan had me on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen (Or if the evil bastard would cheat).

If you’ve never read Felicity Heaton before or you’re new to the Eternal Mates series, then pick up Craved by an Alpha if you’re looking for a “sample” of what to expect. As darn good as this novella is, you’ll be even happier with the full length novels.

Sheep Rating: 4





Adria

Craved by an Alpha is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback. Find the links to your preferred retailer at:
Cavanaugh checked his watch. The coloured lights above the bar of Underworld flashed across the glass face in time with the thumping music, but didn’t stop him from seeing what he wanted. It was gone midnight. Four years and three hundred and fifty seven days had passed. In eight days, with the rising of the full moon, he would be a man without status.

He couldn’t wait.

It felt as if this moment had been too long coming, as if he had been waiting an eternity for it to pass. Pride politics and all the bullshit that came with the territory would cease to exist.

He would be free.

Cavanaugh leaned his backside against the corner of the black bar, tucking himself away from the lighted area off to his left where Sherry was flirting with another group of young fae as she served them their drinks, twirling her blonde ponytail around her fingers, and Kyter was stomping around looking as if he was chewing a wasp. Hard. The big sandy-haired jaguar shifter had been in a foul mood since his new mate, Iolanthe, had returned to her homeland of the elf kingdom to break the news to her parents. Apparently, Kyter had wanted to go with her, and Iolanthe had wisely decided to go alone. Cavanaugh had overheard her mentioning something about how he had threatened to kill her parents.

He sighed and rolled his shoulders to ease the ache building in them, born of a punishing workout session that had lasted over half a day. The closer he came to the day he had been waiting for, the tenser he became and the only release he had found was unleashing hell on the gym Kyter had set up in the back of the nightclub Cavanaugh called home.

His boss had suggested finding a female to slake his needs, but Cavanaugh wasn’t interested in the women who frequented the club, or their attention. He could probably have his pick, but there was only one woman he wanted in this world.

His fated mate.

He palmed the right pocket of his black trousers, feeling the wallet there, his thoughts with the faded photograph it contained. The image was seared on his memory, burned there by countless hours spent lying on his bed in his small apartment in the back of Underworld, holding the old picture above him and staring at it.

Countless hours filled with regret.

Countless hours in which he had wondered how different things might have been.

He was trying to make that difference happen. He was trying to change the paths they had somehow ended up treading and bring them back together.

The methods he had chosen hadn’t been the best, but he couldn’t change things now. He had made his choice and he had lived with it, through the fight that had almost claimed his life to the pain of realising the mistake he had made to the close to five years of separation that had broken part of him.

That part of him had been fractured before he had set in motion the series of events that had brought him to Underworld.

It had been a constant source of pain since that fateful night back at his pride’s village and he had been doing his best to stem the flow of it, feeling as if he was trying to hold back a tsunami with his bare hands. Every night since then, he had patched up his heart as best he could and fought for the strength to keep walking forwards, his eyes fixed on the future he wanted, determined to make it happen.

Determined to turn all the mistakes he had made, and the pain and the loneliness he had endured, into something glorious.

Having his mate in his arms.

A commotion near the entrance of the nightclub off to his left caught his attention and Kyter’s too. Cavanaugh stared beyond the sandy-haired male, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The crowd was too thick, the club jumping tonight, making it impossible to catch anything other than a flash of a tattered grey coat hood and a backpack. It looked as if someone had rolled into the wrong place.

They were dressed for a damned expedition, not a nightclub where most of the patrons wore little and worked up a sweat on the dance floor, and in the shadowy alcoves.

A female flagged him, waving her hand as if he was a slave and she could order him around. Cavanaugh shot her a black look but she persisted, flashing him a come-get-me smile that made him cold inside.

No one could smile as she could.

Her smile lit up the world.

It made even the coldest reaches of his heart warm.

The smile she wore in the picture in his wallet, her arms wrapped around his neck and her rosy cheek pressed against his. She had hurled herself into his arms when her mother had offered to take a photograph of them to test out the camera he had bought for her as a present from his latest trip down the mountain to the nearest big town. He had been gone for a week and gods he had missed Eloise in that time.

Gods he had missed her since fleeing the village five years ago, his pride in tatters but resolve burning in his heart.

Hope that he might be able to carve out the future he wanted, escaping the one he had been born into and forced to accept.

He was about to give up and serve the female still frantically trying to get his attention when the hooded trekker moved closer. His gaze zeroed in on them over the heads of the patrons lining the busy bar.

It was a woman. Average height. A little too thin even with the thick coat. She stumbled into a group of five male demons near the edge of the dance floor off to his left and waved her small hands around, flashing scars that circled her wrists.

When one of the burly demon males lightly pushed her shoulder, barely touching her, she staggered back and almost fell but recovered herself. What was wrong with her?

Was she a homeless person, on drugs, or maybe drunk?

She was unsteady on her feet as she backed away from the demons, heading in Cavanaugh’s direction, towards one group of the thick black columns that rose up on either side of the dance floor to support the high ceiling of the club. The demons followed her, exchanging glances and wicked smiles that made Cavanaugh wonder what the female looked like. Her hood obscured her face, hiding it from him, but he guessed she was pretty because the demons looked as if they wanted to party with her.

She waved her hands again as she moved directly in front of Cavanaugh, clearly trying to deter the males, and he sensed the fatigue rolling off her. Not drunk or on drugs. She had stumbled because she was weak.

His dark grey eyes began to widen.

He could sense her fatigue?

Her scent hit him hard, knocking him back a step, and he had to grab the edge of the black bar top in front of him to steady himself. He stared at her, unable to take his eyes off her, his head and heart reeling.

It couldn’t be.

The demons tossed her black scowls when she flashed them something. A small square of paper.

The tallest of the group pointed towards the bar.

She turned.

Cavanaugh’s heart stopped.

Wavy dark hair spilled from beneath the hood, the lights from the club playing over the lower half of her face, turning her pale skin different colours as she searched the length of the bar.

Eloise. 


Craved by an Alpha is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback.

Find all the links, a fantastic 5 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the giveaway and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website: 


Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series:
Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat – Coming February 17th 2015
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon – Coming March 10th 2015


About Felicity Heaton:
Website-Blog-Facebook
Twitter-Tsu-Goodreads

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Spotlight: DEADEYE: The Mutant Files by William C. Dietz + giveaway

DEADEYE: The Mutant Files

by William C. Dietz
Paperback, 304 pages
Ace Mass Market
January 27, 2015
The national bestselling author of the Legion of the Damned novels, "a must-read for any fan of Mil Fic," (Archaeologist’s Guide to the Galaxy) begins a brand new science fiction police procedural series...

In the year 2038, an act of bioengineered terrorism decimated humanity. Those who survived were either completely unaffected or developed horrible mutations. Across the globe, nations are now divided between areas populated by “norms” and lands run by “mutants”…

Detective Cassandra Lee of Los Angeles’s Special Investigative Section has built a fierce reputation taking down some of the city’s most notorious criminals. But the serial cop killer known as Bonebreaker—who murdered Lee’s father—is still at large. Officially, she’s too personally involved to work on the Bonebreaker case. Unofficially, she’s going to hunt him to the ends of the earth.

In the meantime, duty calls when the daughter of Bishop Screed, head of the Church of Human Purity, is kidnapped by mutants and taken into the red zone to be used for breeding. Assigned to rescue her, Lee must trust her new partner—mutant lawman Deputy Ras Omo—to guide her not only through the unfamiliar territory but through the prejudicial divisions between mutants and norms.


DEADEYE is the perfect mix of science fiction and police procedural, which should appeal to fans of both J.D. Robb, as well as James S.A. Corey. I’ve included a NetGalley widget below for your consideration, but if you would like a physical copy, I’m happy to send one along! Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need more information, or would like us to sponsor a giveaway.


About the Author:
I fell in love with books at a very early age, typically read two or three a week, and should have been paying more attention to school! Because by the time I graduated I had very low grades, and with no jobs in the offing, had little choice but to enlist in the Navy as a way to support myself.

It was later, while sitting in the chow hall one day, that I came to the realization that I wanted to write for a living which meant going to college. So after being discharged from the Navy I entered a junior college and subsequently transferred to the University of Washington where I earned a degree in Communications (Radio & TV) in 1971. I was going to major in Journalism--but a guy in a bar talked me out of it.

That led to a series of writing related jobs, first at KOMO TV in Seattle, then at Rockwell International in Dallas, and a large telecom company where I worked in public relations, marketing communications, and employee communications before retiring in 2000.

My fiction career began in 1984, when after years of promising myself that I would write a book by the time I was forty, I realized I was thirty-nine and hadn't started yet. So I wrote a space opera called WAR WORLD, now called GALACTIC BOUNTY, and much to my amazement it sold the first time I sent it in. From then on I wrote at least one novel a year.

I write full time at this point--and feel very fortunate to do so.


GIVEAWAY
Publisher is giving away three copies of Deadeye!

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Interview: Claire Ashgrove (Cursed to Kill: Inherited Damnation Series Book one) + giveaways

Hello Claire and welcome to the flock *hands Claire a moonpie and some Kool-Aid* You are a new to me author, even though I have been drooling over The Curse of the Templars covers for a while. After stalking your website, I really don’t know where to begin! You have at least two other pen names (Tori St. Claire, Sophia Garrett), run an editing house (please tell me you aren’t silently editing this interview in your head), raise Arabian horses, and have two boys…I’m tired just thinking about you <G>. We will start with obvious I guess…
Claire: Laugh!
Sharon: Are you related to Superman? You’ve got to be…

ClaireNo. I wish I were though. Well, actually, I’d prefer to be of the mutant kind. Storm or Wolverine…yeah!

Sharon: Inherited Damnation is an eight book series being rereleased. Have there been any changes to the original books? Why are you rereleasing them?
ClaireI have made only minor changes to the books – cleaning up the mistakes of a ‘baby author’. Inherited Damnation has always been a series I really enjoyed writing, but unfortunately, its release paralleled the Templars release, and I never felt it got the attention it deserved. So, I’ve repackaged, and we’ll give it a second whirl!

Sharon: How do you pronounce your hero’s name from book one: Cian?
ClaireIt’s pronounced “Kee-an”

Sharon: There are eight siblings carrying the curse. How many are female vs male? Do you have a preference for writing from a male or female POV?
ClaireThere are three sisters: Rhiannon, Isolde, and Brigid. Do I have a preference? Hm. It really depends on the particular book. Some start in my mind as “So-and-so’s story” and depending on who that ‘so-and-so’ may be, that person is far easier to write. In this particular series, an example would be Isolde – Doomed to Torment. It was always “her story” not so much Angus’s, although he is integral to it. As a result, she was easier to write than Angus. But Belen’s story, Destined to Die, began as “his book”, and he was far easier to work with than Faith.

Sharon: Outside of all your obligations (horses, writing, mom, editor) what is a guilty pleasure you indulge
ClaireHonestly, that’s the crux of it. Aside from wrestling kids into line and separating siblings who want to tear each other’s eyes out over something silly, my obligations are my hobbies. I’m blessed to be in a position where I get up every day and everything I do I’m passionate about. Sure, feeding chickens in negative temperatures isn’t something I am frothing at the mouth to accomplish, but once I’m out there, there’s a certain peace about it.

Sharon: What is something about owning horses that a regular person might not know? Do you have a favorite horse in your stable?
ClaireGosh, I’m actually stumbling over this one. I’m not really sure what a regular person wouldn’t know as most of the folks in my inner circle are horse people. And I’ve now sat here for at least 15 minutes staring at this one question. Laugh. So. Let’s change it to chickens because evidently I can tick things off in my head instantly.

Did you know that in the vast majority of chicken breeds, the color of the egg is determined by the color of the ear lobe?

As to whether I have a favorite horse in my stable…sadly, not at present. I have some I like more than others, but 2014 claimed both my first horse and my second horse, and when you’re talking bonds that ran 20 years or more, I’m having a bit of a time connecting with anyone else to that degree. I’m becoming exceedingly more fond of Baariq, a Spanish-bred Arabian stallion, who can be a pistol more often than not.

No pictures of the horses – most of them are “standard” pictures and not digitalized. But I do have one of my favorite rooster. His name is Ben, and in October, I had to (literally) teach Ben how to walk again. He’s now my indoor house buddy and does children’s events with me. He’s a purebred Buckeye rooster, which is a dual-purpose bird, with more emphasis on meat production.
Ben
Sharon: I had no idea chicken had earlobes…*off to google chicken earlobes* Ben is a very handsome rooster. I am sorry to hear about your loss. I can only imagine what that would be like.
ClaireThanks, Sharon. It’s part of being a pet owner as I’m sure you know. Someday you have to let them go. But this spring should help; I have several to break. Ben’s got a droopy tail—it’s a really iridescent green though, and I never thought I could be a “Bird Person”. I remember when I bought my property and was asking if I could have horses on it, and the relator said “You can put 200 chickens out there if you want, it’s unzoned.” And I said… “Uh. I’ll pass on the chickens.” Now here we are… LOL!

Sharon: You love to study ancient civilizations. Do you have a favorite or one you would most want to visit, if you got a hold of a Tardis?
ClaireAncient Celt all the way, baby! Put me in the middle of history’s barbarians and I would love it. Absolutely love it. Second to that – medieval. Right after the dark ages, around the time of William’s Conquest. You know…right around the time of my beloved Templars ;)
*We interrupt this interview for a moment to drool...*

Sharon: Funny, I had a dream about what the bathroom habits of the medieval time period would be like. It wasn’t a pleasant <G>.
Claire: Laugh, there were a lot of unpleasant things compared to us. I sort of equate it to “See that hole over there?” Heh.

Sharon: If you could own any piece of art in the world what would it be?
ClaireLaugh. It would not. I have no interest whatsoever in art. Unless you consider a castle art, or any hand-tooled item like ancient antiquities – IE an ancient piece of Celt jewelry. I have a Roman ring I adore, and it was carbon dated authentic. I don’t wear it much anymore. Not so much because it’s rare – Roman antiquities are rather a dime a dozen – but I’m reasonably certain it’s…well…possessed. ‘Nuff said.
Sharon: *looks at Claire and taps foot* Really? You drop something like that and then not elaborate? <G> Can you give us hint?
ClaireLaugh! Without getting into a lot of spiritualism, let’s just say that if I actually wear the thing horrible things start happening. Critters dying, relationships failing, finances tanking… no things that go bump in the night. I had a shaman look at it once and he confirmed there’s something attached to it. (in summary). But I also got the distinct feeling that I just shouldn't mess with it and try to send it off. So long as I don’t wear it… life is good.

Rapid Fire:
Sharon: Classic Hollywood or Blockbusters
ClaireBlockbusters

Sharon: Trail blazer or Stay on the path?
ClaireLittle of both.


Sharon: Basket of lizards or Basket of mice?
ClaireMice!
Sharon: Are you excited about mice or just “not” excited about lizards?
ClaireI really like mice. Always have. My son saved a nest of them from the chickens a month or so ago. We hand-fed them for a few days. Three escaped. We have one, and a domestic mouse he bought to teach it how to eat. Though the three that escaped…let’s just say about an hour ago I broke down and pulled the drawer out from the stove so the cats can go to town. I refuse to intervene this time.

Sharon: Bathed in moonlight or Bathed in sunlight
ClaireSunlight.

Sharon: Sexy ninja or Sexy librarian?
ClaireSexy Librarian

Sharon: Skinned elbow or Skinned knee?
ClaireKnee

Sharon: Coke or Pepsi?
ClaireCoke
Sharon: Aw, and I thought we were gonna be friends and all… <G>
ClaireLaugh. Call it rebellion. I grew up on Pepsi with nary a Coke to ever be seen in the house.


INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015.

Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls.

The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple.

The first volume, Cursed to Kill, is available now!
Cursed to Kill
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #1
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE Amazon AU / B&N / ARe
One of eight children born to an ancient Celtic priestess and sired by a demonic incubus, Cian McLaine suffers from a centuries-old curse. Though his immortality allows him to enjoy the pleasures of mortal life, he is plagued by the desire to kill. As long as he doesn't fall in love he can keep the compulsion at bay.

When Cian walked into her rare bookstore months ago, Miranda Phillips never imagined she'd lose her heart to the handsome playboy. Her reward for doing so was abandonment. Cian left as mysteriously as he appeared, in the middle of the night with no explanation, no goodbye. Now he's back, and passion flares just as hot. But Cian has secrets. If Miranda is to survive, she must uncover the truth and free his darkened soul.



Excerpt
Miranda had touched his mother’s spell book. Within those pages lay salvation.
The urge to drag Miranda close and kiss her senseless combated with the desperate desire to tear out her throat, both halves of his soul warring for control. It was the dark half, however, that reigned when he lifted his gaze to hers and tightened his hold on her delicate wrists. A low growl tore through his throat. “Where is the book?”

Fear flickered over her face, widening her eyes for a millisecond before she jerked out of his grasp. His gaze followed her hands as she rubbed the goose bumps from her arms. “It’s upstairs in my room.”

Damn, he hated scaring her. But the closer he got to Miranda, the more frequently that happened. It was why he’d had to leave. Even if he could fight the curse, his demonic half would still rise. Still hunger for her life. He’d fallen in love with her—there could be no other outcome.

He willed his voice to soften. “I want to see it. Get it?”

For a brief moment, he expected her to nod and head for the stairs that led to the second story and her private residence. Then she set her jaw. Bright fire settled into her eyes. Steely determination.

She shook her head. “I can’t right now. I’ve got to finish stocking these new books, and Susan is leaving early.”

It took all of his self-control not to grab her by the neck and shove her back against the bookcase. Squeeze her throat until her need for air forced her to agree. He closed a fist around the sick desire and clenched his teeth. “Miranda. Please.” He needed to see the book, needed to convince her into selling it to him. Whatever the cost—he’d pay it, or his siblings would pitch in. For too many centuries, they’d hungered for simple mortality, freedom from the dark blood their father passed to them.

Escape from the constant, oppressive urge to kill and the curse of falling in love.

He saw the indecision in Miranda’s expression, the struggle between doing him—the man who’d cut her heart to pieces—a favor and fighting her inner need for self-preservation. The heaviness to her breathing, the heat radiating off her body though they stood a good three feet apart clued him in to something else. Miranda wasn’t immune to him either. After all this time, she still suffered the desire that had once lit flames between them.

Her gaze flicked over his body, heightening his awareness of her, of the woman he knew more intimately than any who had ever shared his bed. Those big, soulful brown eyes lingered on his groin, and to Cian’s shame, he felt his cock begin to stiffen. Just as quickly, she jerked her focus back to his face, but the effect was the same. He felt as if she’d stripped him bare and it had been her hands, not her eyes that caressed him.

Damn. His heart twisted painfully. What he would give to fix things. To take back the six months of separation and return to the last night they’d spent together. The night he had felt love, powerful and consuming, surface in his soul. Seconds later, he’d found himself hovering over her sleeping body, pillow clenched in his hands, his dark blood urging him to press it over her face.


About the Author:
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.

In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.

INHERITED DAMNATION EXTRAVAGANZA Giveaway (1/27 – 7/18)
1 - $50 Amazon Giftcard
1 – Set of the entire Inherited Damnation series in eBook


INHERITED DAMNATION LEG #1 Giveaway info (1/27 – 2/18)
3 eCopies of Cursed to Kill
a Rafflecopter giveaway