Sunday Swag: Seventh Star Press

The Sunday Swag circle is getting bigger!
Froggarita's Bookcase has joined the fun!
Riverina Romantics  The Jeep Diva I Smell Sheep

Now you have 4 chances to get your swagger on

In honor of MystiCon yesterday, I am spotlighting Seventh Star Press. Author Stephen Zimmer is a major force behind the marketing of SSP. I met him at a con a couple of years ago and was impressed with not only how SSP does business and treats its authors, but the quality of the product they put out. You can get all their books through major e-retailers, but they offer beautiful special editions on their website along with the art work. Keep an eye out because they are working on many cool anthologies including The Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Seventh Star Press

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Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher located in Lexington, KY. SSP specializes in speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, and horror). The company was established in October of 2008.

Editors: Amanda DeBord, Louise Bohmer, Karen Leet, and Joshua Leet. 

Principle layout/art direction: Matthew Perry

Principle artists: Matthew Perry and Bonnie Wasson . 

Authors include: Steven L. Shrewsbury, Jackie Gamber, Michael West, Stephen Zimmer, D.A. Adams, R.J. Sullivan, J.L. Mulvihill, H. David Blalock, Eric Garrison, Selah Janel, and John F. Allen

Seventh Star Press

will add some sheep swag too!

Head over to these two blogs and win more Swag!

Book Review: The Darkening (Dawn of Ascension, #2) by Caris Roane

He thwarted connection of any kind…
Fearing that his newly emerged grayle power will kill innocent ascenders, Samuel Daman struggles to keep his distance from beautiful Vela Stillwell. But the breh-hedden has struck and her light floral scent tears at his restraint. When the enemy draws them both into the darkening, a place of secret travel for Third ascenders, will Samuel learn to control his power, or will he destroy what he desires most?

She hid from grief…
Vela Stillwell wanted a new life, away from Militia Headquarters, away from the reminder of all she’d lost when her husband died five years earlier. Seeking a more reclusive occupation, she finishes her last day of work only to have Samuel Daman and the infamous breh-hedden sweep through her life. Though trying to disconnect from her new emerging power and from Samuel, the call of the darkening pulls Vela into an adventure that both terrifies her, yet reveals the truth about her deepest desires. Will she succumb to the breh-hedden, or will her fears prevent her from living life to the fullest?

The Darkening, the second novella in Caris Roane's new Guardians of Ascension series, is a fast-paced, action-packed, sexy ride that will leave readers new and old wanting more.

Warrior Samuel has two big problems, the first being that his newly emerged, but deadly powers have been discovered (by whom?). The second is that the breh-hedden (a kind of bonding that begins with the affected pair being able to scent each other) has struck and is slowly taking over his thought process. He is the type of hero that really makes a romance thrive; the battered soul who, on the outside is deadly and fierce, but on the inside is lonely and unsure.

Vela Stillwell's plans for her future have been completely blown apart. On her last day at work the breh-hedden comes for her and the last thing she wants or needs is another warrior in her life. Widowed five years before, all she wants is a quiet, peaceful life away from men and the war that claimed her husband. She may seem like a quiet, reclusive female but she's more than willing to step out of her self-imposed exile if it means saving lives. She's gutsy, strong, and intelligent. Vela's strong reaction to Samuel is frightening to both of our leading characters, and with both Samuel and Vela fighting the breh-hedden, The Darkening adds an element of angst to action and romance.

What was truly enjoyable about this novella is that, like in the previous one, Brink of Eternity, there are a lot of details and there's a real story development in The Darkening. The pace of the story is fast but thorough, something that I've rarely found in novellas. Readers get a real sense of Caris Roane's style and are able to better judge if the full length novels are for them or not. In the past I have read and liked novellas by certain authors, only to be disappointed when I purchased a book by that author. Such is not the case here and that is something to consider when looking at these series.

As a new reader (this is only my second foray into the world Roane has created) I still found the terminology a little confusing but because I already knew the dictionary was located at the end of the book, reading went a little smoother. Still it is a little hard to keep up with the names of previous characters so I recommend reading the previous books before picking this one up.

Because Caris Roane has definitely piqued my interest with how detailed and complete her worlds are, I will (hopefully) be picking up all her previous books soon.

4 Sheep

Guest Reviewer: Adria
Adria's Romance Reviews Among Wildlings
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About the Author:

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I confess I've had a love affair with vampires for several years now, especially warrior vampires, the kind found in the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian and JR Ward. Though I've been published in Regency Romance under the pseudonym Valerie King--and yes one of my Regency Novellas features a vampire--one day I woke up knowing I had to create my own contemporary world of the warrior vampire.

For some mystical, magical reason, early in the process, my vampires appeared with enormous beautiful wings and it has been the most amazing experience to include flight in my novels, in both battle scenes and scenes involving spectacle. My special vampire world, published by St. Martin's Press, is introduced in the first book called, ASCENSION (12-28-2010). The second book, BURNING SKIES (May of 2011), opens up the world a little bit more. And even as I write this, I'm on the final draft of my third novel, WINGS OF FIRE (September of 2011). What a thrill it has been to live with my ascended vampires through the creation of this extraordinary, multi-dimensional world!

 

  

Book Review: Demon's Curse (Imnada Brotherhood #1)

Demon's Curse (Imnada Brotherhood #1)
by Alexa Egan

She holds the key . . .

One of the mythical race of shape-shifting Imnada and a member of an elite military unit, Captain Mac Flannery suffers under a ruthless curse. As the result of a savage massacre on the eve of Waterloo, he and the men he served with are forced to live the hours of darkness trapped as their animal aspects. Now one of them has been murdered, and Mac suspects the existence of the Imnada may finally have been discovered. His only link to unearthing the truth—Bianca Parrino, the beautiful actress whom every man desires.

. . . to his forbidden desires
Forging a new life for herself after escaping the clutches of her abusive husband, Bianca is again drawn into violence when a dear friend is brutally murdered and she becomes a suspect. Forced to place her trust and her life in Mac’s hands as they flee a determined killer, Bianca cannot deny she is falling for the mysterious soldier. But will his dark secrets tear them asunder? Or will love be the key to breaking even the cruelest of spells?

Mac Flannery is in trouble. A lot of it. As a member of an elite military unit, he's used to having to fight for survival and is good at what he does. However, when night falls he is forced to shift into his animal form. He is an Imnada, a member of a shape shifting race who's survival depends on secrecy. Cast out of their clans after he and his friends are cursed by a Fae, Mac becomes a loner. When one of his cursed friends is murdered, Mac begins a quest for answers that lead him to Bianca Parrino, an actress with secrets of her own.

Bianca can't seem to run from her violent past fast enough, but just when she thinks she's found a safe haven, her friend is murdered and she finds herself the suspect in his murder, then later she is caught up in a war between the Imnada and the Fae. It's enough to break a woman, but not Bianca. She's tough, stubborn and brave, just the type of woman a man like Mac needs. The attraction between the two is almost instantaneous but it takes a while to develop, all the while creating some serious sexual tension.

Demon's Curse is packed with details, action, suspense, mystery, and of course, romance. Author Alexa Egan made sure that the story had enough details to capture the reader's attention and created vivid scenes without slowing down the pace of the story. Her hero is an unwilling and tarnished knight trying to save the  beautiful damsel from the clutches of evil, while the damsel does some  fighting of her own and isn't as demure as she might seem.

There is so much magic and shape shifting going on that at times I forgot that Demon's Curse is actually a historical paranormal romance and not just a paranormal romance. Readers who shy away from historical romance shouldn't pass this book up, and fans of paranormal romance will love the heavy paranormal element.

My only issue with Demon's Curse was the number of characters who were in and out of scenes throughout the whole book. There are almost too many to keep track of and that could confuse readers or turn them off completely. At times I had to stop and take notes to make sure I didn't confuse characters. Sometimes these interesting but largely superfluous characters took too much attention away from Mac, Bianca and the problem at hand.

Overall, Alexa Egan did a good job of setting up her Imnada series. She created a solid world to place her characters in, giving them a powerful adversary that at times seemed to have them beaten and making sure she didn't skip out on the sexy chemistry between Mac and Bianca.

Be sure to check out Alexa's visit to the Alpha Male Diner, She shared her recipe of Captain Mac Flannery 

4 Sheep

Guest reviewer: Adria

Romance Reviews Among Wildlings
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About the author:
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Alexa Egan lives in Maryland with a husband who’s waiting impatiently for her fame and fortune to support them in a new and lavish lifestyle, three children for whom she serves as chauffeur, cook, nurse, social secretary, banker, and maid (not necessarily in that order), one cat, one dog … and twenty-seven fish. You can find her at her website on Facebook or on Twitter.

Comic Reviews: Snapshot #1 (of 4)

Snapshot #1 (of 4)
Story by: Andy Diggle
Art By: Jock
Price:$2.99
Diamond ID:DEC120505
On Sale:February 06, 2013
Series:Snapshot
Image Comics

Jake Dobson is your typical nerd; works at the Near-Mint Rhino comic-book store in San Francisco. But when he finds a lost cell phone, he's horrified to discover it's full of snapshots of a murder victim. Suddenly he finds himself hunted by a vengeful hitman who wants his phone back... and Jake in a body bag! And then things start to get *really* complicated...
Don't miss the first ever creator-owned thriller from the team behind THE LOSERS and GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE!

I read The Losers a couple years ago, which I found so much more enjoyable than the film it inspired, and figured I should keep an eye out for more work from Andy Diggle and Jock. Well, Snapshot is just what I was waiting for, apparently. 

Centered on a young man named Jake who works at a comic book store, his world is turned on its ear when he finds a discarded smart phone in Golden Gate Park on his way to work. While hanging out with Steve, chubby comic nerd and Nearmint Rhino's best customer, Jake decides to have a peak at what's on the phone before he tries to sell it for a quick buck. What he finds scares the hell out of him, as he's not used to seeing dead guys--dead guys with bullet holes in their forehead. 

Things get scarier when the phone rings and Jakes answers it. A man claiming to be a detective tells him the phone is part of an investigation and needs it, but when the man shows up, Jake winds up running for his life. And when he finds a real detective, things get even crazier. 

There is a quick-witted techno-thriller feel to the story, with a bit of the man-who-knew-too-much vibe. Jake and Steve have a great back-and-forth, short-lived though it might be once Jake is on the run. And the mystery surrounding the phone and the photos of the dead man on it are a real headscratcher, especially when the issue gets to the final page.

Andy Diggle's sharp dialogue and crisp pacing are just as good, if not better, than I remember. And Jock's artwork draws you hip-deep into each scene. I'm intrigued, that's for sure, but the story right now is a bit too convoluted. One too many twists to really get my footing. It's a four-part series, so I'm guessing things become much clearer in the second issue, which I will greedily devour as soon as I can.

4 Sheep

Guest reviewer: Gef Fox

Wag The Fox: a den for dark fiction

Book Review: Brink of Eternity (Dawn of Ascension, #1) by Caris Roane

Brink of Eternity (Dawn of Ascension, #1)(Guardians of Ascension #2.5)
only $.99 for the kindle

Guardians of Ascension novella, tracks vampire Militia Warrior Gideon, who is on the brink of becoming an elite Warrior of the Blood. The Militia Warriors strive to keep the peace on Second Earth while battling death vampires whenever they can. Brink of Eternity gives a glimpse into the Militia Warrior world as Gideon breaks all the rules to protect his ex-girlfriend, Elise, during her rite of ascension, a process that puts her directly in the path of a dozen lethal enemies.

I've never read Caris Roane's books before but I must say the idea of winged vampire warriors was intriguing. Brink of Eternity is a Guardians of Eternity novella, however it isn't like any novella I've ever read. While most seem to speed through details and tend to leave this particular reader unsatisfied, this was completely different.

Though it does fall into the novella category, Brink of Eternity has enough details to give readers a taste of what a full-fledged novel by Caris Roane is like. Gideon is strikingly handsome (though for some reason I kept picturing him as a dark haired hero even though he is clearly a blond, go figure), as well as fierce, deadly, and stubborn. He tries not to form attachments to anyone because of his job as a warrior, though once he starts to love, he doesn't do it in half measures. Elise is one of those silently strong heroines, meaning her strength isn't as obvious as the hero's but when it's tested, she more than matches up. She's a reasonable but not malleable female and that's a definite plus.

Readers meet Gideon and Elise about a month after they've broken up and it's immediately clear that these two characters are not over each other. Caris Roane definitely doesn't hold back on the sexual tension or sex just because it is a novella; this is definitely a mature, adults-only book.

There's quite a bit of action packed into the story and it keeps Brink of Eternity from becoming stale and ordinary. I enjoyed the overall pace and plot of the story, and the characters definitely worked for me. While marked as a paranormal romance, it contains elements of science fiction and fantasy as well and the story works to make everything more believable and exciting.

There was only one point of contention for me throughout the story, and that was the immense amount of terminology used. Caris Roane definitely uses a lot of descriptive phrases and that's fine, but when it comes to a new reader picking this up, well, at times I was left a little befuddled and slightly disoriented. Words like breh-hedden and cadroen are a bit difficult to remember on top of all the other specialized terminology used. Another terminology problem for this particular reader is that words like "folding" don't mean what you might think; it's slang for dematerialization. So a good memory would be advisable unless you're a long time fan of the series then you've already got everything memorized.

Overall, Brink of Eternity was a very good read, with a strong story line, brisk pace, and steamy scenes. If author Caris Roane could just include a "For Newbies" type chart/dictionary at the end I'm sure that would help new readers a lot. As it stands, there is only a dictionary at the end which helps a lot, but I didn't know it was there until I finished the book. I would like to have had a bit of a primer on Mortal Earth, Second Earth and Third Earth for starters but I'm pretty sure that since I plan on picking up more of her books, I'll learn the differences in time.

3 and 1/2 Sheep

Guest Reviewer: Adria

Adria's Romance Reviews Among Wildlings
Facebook-Twitter 

About the Author:

website-fb-twitter-blog

I confess I've had a love affair with vampires for several years now, especially warrior vampires, the kind found in the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian and JR Ward. Though I've been published in Regency Romance under the pseudonym Valerie King--and yes one of my Regency Novellas features a vampire--one day I woke up knowing I had to create my own contemporary world of the warrior vampire.

For some mystical, magical reason, early in the process, my vampires appeared with enormous beautiful wings and it has been the most amazing experience to include flight in my novels, in both battle scenes and scenes involving spectacle. My special vampire world, published by St. Martin's Press, is introduced in the first book called, ASCENSION (12-28-2010). The second book, BURNING SKIES (May of 2011), opens up the world a little bit more. And even as I write this, I'm on the final draft of my third novel, WINGS OF FIRE (September of 2011). What a thrill it has been to live with my ascended vampires through the creation of this extraordinary, multi-dimensional world!