Favorite Scenes Friday: Bear Necessities

Too slowly. Tabby knew they were healing too slowly. He was still drained from saving Chloe. If he took a wound that was too deep, his visions would come true.

She tried to jump toward him, determined to protect him, when strong jaws clamped on her hind leg and dragged her back. She threw back her head and howled in pain, desperately hoping Alex would hear. If he didn’t come soon she was going to lose…–Bear Necessities by Dana Marie Bell

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Favorite Scenes Friday: Justice

A loud noise boomed and wood split in the living room. It sounded as if someone had kicked down the front door. She grabbed Justice’s hand to shove over his injury.

“Press here, hold it tight and don’t move. I love you.”

She grabbed the empty gun and reached into her shirt. Her hand smeared Justice’s blood all over her vest, shirt and breasts as she yanked out the clip. She slammed it into the empty chamber as she rose to her feet. She gripped both guns in her fists and spread her feed apart to plant them on both sides of Justice’s hips.

It was a bad place to be as far as tactical advantages went. Windows were all around them–a huge glass slider and the open archway that led to the living room. There was no cover. Justice was too heavy and too hurt to move. The fifth male would strike and she hoped he’d come from the archway since that’s where she’d heard the house breached.

Her eyes scanned the room frantically.–Justice by Laurann Dohner

Coming Soon: Shattered Souls by Delilah Devlin

Private Investigator Caitlyn O’Connell lost it all—her plum job as a detective for the Memphis PD, her partner and lover, and her own self-respect —to booze in an attempt to drown out the voices in her head. When her ex-partner drags her to a murder scene where she’s his only real lead, she knows it’s time to face her greatest fears and harness the inherited gifts she’s always rejected. That she’ll have a chance to prove she had damn good reasons for shutting Sam out of her life is just icing on the cake.

The last thing Sam Pierce wants is to revisit his painful relationship with Cait, but she’s the only lead he has. Sam doggedly follows Cait into a dark world filled with magick and unholy terrors as they search for killer wraiths and the demon who commands them.– Release date: Jan. 29, 2013

Books I Want: November 2012

Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti (Nov. 1, received copy from Netgalley)

A TIME FOR WAR…
A casualty of the war between the demons and the vampires, Jase Kayrs has been missing for six long years. His older brothers want answers—but they’re going to have to get them from an unlikely source. For when Kane Kayrs tracks down Amber Freebird, what he finds is a blonde, vegan pacifist who has no intention of using her skills in his war…

A TIME FOR LOVE…

Amber enjoys her life of chaotic freedom and has no intention of falling in line just because a sexy-as-sin vampire insists on order. Unfortunately, he discovers she may be the only hope they have of finding his brother, and there’s no way he’s going to let her go—even if it means mating her to gain her cooperation. The two are as different as can be, yet when the dominant Kane and the untamed Amber finally unite to rescue Jase, they just may find that opposites really do attract…

New TV Show: Defiance

Defiance will be shown on the Sci-Fi channel in April 2013; I can’t wait to watch.

Sweepstakes: Oct. 17, 2012

Enter once a day until Oct. 31 on Kensington’s Facebook page for a chance to win $100 American Express card in honor of the book Kill Switch.

Eastmans’ Hunting Journal is giving away a tent on its Facebook page that’s open until Oct. 22.

You could win a copy of Sylvia Day’s Reflected in You by entering Penguin Group’s Facebook giveaway before Oct. 19.

Coming Soon: Written in Red by Anne Bishop

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.—TBR March 5, 2013

Interview with Cassi Carver and a Giveaway!

Last year I was happy to meet Cassi Carver online and review her debut book, Slayer’s Kiss. I was taken into a dark world where women rule and sexy, alpha men serve them. It was filled with action and fan worthy sex. So when Carver asked me if I wanted a review copy of book two in the series, Shadow Rising, I jumped at the chance. I also asked if I could interview her for y’all. Carver said yes and sweetened the acceptance with the offer of a giveaway.

Scooper: How would you market the Shadow Slayers series to romance and urban fantasy lovers? What makes it different or stand out from other books?

Cassie: Hi, Stacy! Thanks for having me! I love reading both romance and urban fantasy, but sometimes when I’m reading urban fantasy I get frustrated when the heroines have little or no love life. I mean, what’s the point of saving the world if you can’t come home at night, kick off your shoes, and snuggle up with a warm and welcoming body? So when I came up with the concept for the Shadow Slayers series, I was trying to do something that hadn’t been overdone in urban fantasy: action-packed UF, full of romance, relationships, and plenty of hot sex!

Scooper: Yep. That is so true. Nothing wrong with a little nookie. lol One thing I really want to know is how many books will be in the series?

Cassie: Great question! I’m not sure at this point, but it won’t be never-ending as some seem to be. My agent and editor also give me input into this, and for now, everyone is eagerly awaiting more books in the Shadow Slayers series. BUT I can tell you this, I’m currently writing book 3.0 (the fourth book including novella 2.5) , and after I turn this book in on November 15^th, I’m going to start working on another project my agent is excited about!

Scooper: That is good news. One of my pet peeves is getting into a series only to have it stop being published before the full story has been told. I like knowing the number of books in a series. On a different topic–have you or will you consider self-publishing your work? Why?

Cassie: I’m not considering self-publishing at this point—even though I have friends who are really enjoying it—and that’s mostly because I really love working with my current publisher, Samhain Publishing! They’ve been wonderful to me, so I’m eager to send more manuscripts their way. And the other reason I’m not considering self-publishing quite yet is that my writing schedule is fully booked in the near future. I don’t know when I’d find the time! But it’s definitely something I’m planning to try someday.

Scooper: Congratulations. I’m sure that has to feel awesome. Let’s have a bit of fun at your expense. 🙂 Do you have any writing rituals?

Cassie: Big-picture writing rituals for me are brainstorming and plotting a book before I get into the second chapter. I allow myself to play for chapter one, but then I need to know what’s going to happen. But as for rituals when I sit down at my computer…I’m neurotic, I think. I have to have everything just right. I keep supplies within arm’s reach, like Chap Stick and hand lotion, and I can’t write unless my all my supplies are present. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this! LOL

Scooper: I appreciate you taking the time to visit. I’ll even let you in on a ritual of my own. Every time I interview an author I end by asking the author one question. Do you eat while you write? What’s your go-to snack?

Cassie: This is the other weird thing for me…I don’t eat while I write. (And I mean I really don’t eat. I forget!) When a deadline is approaching and I’m heavy into the world, it can be hard for me to transition back into this one, and I’m not willing to get up to cook something no matter how grumbly my stomach gets. To help, the hubby encourages me to keep protein bars near my supplies so when I get to the “Wow. Am I going to pass out?” stage, I have food nearby. I’m pretty sure I could completely solve this problem by getting a mini-fridge for my office and stocking it with diet Dr. Pepper and raspberry cheesecake. I would never go hungry again! Christmas is coming, right? I think I’m going to put that on my list!

Thank you for having me, Stacy! I’m thrilled to share book two of the Shadow Slayers with the world this week, and I hope you all enjoy it! I’d love to give away the first two books in the series as a set—book one, Slayer’s Kiss, and book two, Shadow Rising—to a winner who comments below. Even saying hello is good enough, but what I really want to know is…what would you stock in your mini fridge?

Scooper: Check out Cassie’s Shadow Slayers series. Before you leave make sure to comment or ask a question to be entered in the giveaway. One entry per person and I’ll use a random number generator to select a winner on Oct. 5. I’ll post the winner on Oct. 6 and send an email to the winner.

Books I Want: October 2012

A Jaguar’s Kiss by Katie Reus (Oct. 1)

Owen Wright, alpha of his wolf pack, hasn’t seen jaguar shifter Gabriela Segura in nearly ten years. She was his first love—until he did something to drive her away just as their relationship was heating up. Now Gabriela has returned to Montana, and his craving for her is stronger than ever….

But a recent string of brutal attacks on humans have the wolves suspicious of the jaguars, threatening the tenuous peace between the packs. Before he can claim Gabriela as his mate, they must join forces to prove her family’s innocence and track down the true predator.

The Daemon Whisperer by Candice Bundy (Oct. 1; I was provided an author copy)

Meriwether Storm discovered the grisly remains of her parents on their living room floor when she was only fourteen, the result of a failed daemon summoning. Meri immediately swore vengeance on the daemon who’d killed her parents, but there was only one problem–she had no idea which one had committed the atrocity.

Before their untimely deaths her parents had trained her intensively in the arts, and Meri used her skills to follow in their footsteps, ever seeking the daemon’s name. Now, despite her years of searching, she’s no closer to the truth and her time is running out. Will she accept a deal from a daemon if it means finally learning the truth? When retribution is the only thing that drives you, how much are you willing to sacrifice before you lose yourself to the cause?

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey (Oct. 2)

The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly.

But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

Dark Storm by Christine Feehan (Oct. 2)

Awakening after all this time in a world of absolute darkness and oppressive heat, Dax wonders in how many ways the world above must have changed. But it is how he has changed that fills him with dread and loathing. Buried alive for hundreds of years in a volcano in the Carpathian Mountains, Dax fears that he has become the full-fledged abomination that every Carpathian male fears, a victim of the insidious evil that has crept relentlessly into his mind and body over the centuries.

But there are some things that never change.

His name is Mitro, the vampire Dax had hunted all these long centuries. Second in command to the prince of the Carpathian people he is the epitome of everything malevolent, and perpetrator of one of the most shocking killing sprees known to man—and beast. Even his friends and family weren’t safe from Mitro’s bloodlust. Neither was Mitro’s lifemate, Arabejila, an extraordinary woman with extraordinary gifts.

But now that Dax has re-emerged, so too has Mitro. The ultimate battle between good and evil has been re-engaged. Between Dax and Mitro, a violent game has begun—one that has marked Riley Parker, the last descendent of Arabejila, as the reward.

Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter (Oct. 2)

Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…

For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey.

Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.

Fury’s Kiss by Karen Chance (Oct. 2)

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir-half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing . . .Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he’s not an easy kill.It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.To find out what was done to her-and who is behind it-Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead.

Ironskin by Tina Connolly (Oct. 2; I received a copy from Netgalley)

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a “delicate situation”—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio…and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

Mate Claimed by Jennifer Ashly (Oct. 2; received egalley from Edelweiss)

Collared and controlled, Shifters are outcast from humanity, forced to live in Shiftertowns. But waiting within are passions that no Collar can contain…

As a wildcat Shifter and leader of his Shiftertown, Eric Warden knows his own kind. When he sees Iona Duncan, he realizes that although she appears human she is a half-Shifter wildcat living without a Collar—and that if she doesn’t acknowledge her true nature and her mating hunger, it may kill her…

Iona finds the mysterious and powerful Eric alluring, even though she has vowed never to reveal her Shifter side, lest her mother pay the price for hiding her all these years. But her mating hunger is rising, and with Eric so close, she may not be able to resist…and her desire may lead to the very doom they are fighting to deny…

Rev it Up by Julie Ann Walker (Oct. 2; received egalley from Netgalley)

He Never Misses A Target

Jake “the Snake” Sommers earned his SEAL code name by striking quickly and quietly-and with lethal force. That’s also how he broke Michelle Carter’s heart. It was the only way to keep her safe-from himself. Four long years later, Jake is determined to get a second chance. But to steal back into Michelle’s loving arms, Jake is going to have to prove he can take things slow. Real slow…

She Aims To Make Him Beg

Michelle Carter has never forgiven Jake for being so cliché as to “love her and leave her.” But when her brother, head of the Black Knights elite ops agency, ticks off the wrong mobster, she must do the unimaginable: place her life in Jake’s hands. No matter what they call him, this man is far from cold-blooded. And once he’s wrapped around her heat, he’ll never let her go…

Undenied by Sara Humphreys (Oct. 2)

Enjoy a taste of The Amoveo Legend in Sara Humphreys’ riveting paranormal romance short story expanding on the world of the Amoveo—beautiful, secretive shapeshifters whose very existence is threatened by an age-old enemy and warring factions within the clans.

In this free promotional tale, Boris Zankoff is a shapeshifter from the Tiger Clan who wants no part of the burgeoning civil war among the Amoveo, But when his human mate lands on his doorstep in desperate need of his help, apathy is no longer an option.

Running in the Dark by Regan Summers (Oct. 29; trying to get from Netgalley)

Santiago, Chile

After surviving a vampire turf war in Alaska, vampire courier Sydney Kildare is back behind the wheel and working under an assumed name in Chile. She doesn’t speak the language, doesn’t know the city and—worst of all—has to drive a crappy car.

What she does have is Malcolm Kelly, her sort-of boyfriend and manager of the city’s vampire population. But with Malcolm preoccupied by bloodsucker business—and a gorgeous vampiress from his past—Sydney feels more alone than ever.

But Sydney has more than her love life to worry about. She’s got vamps on her tail, mysterious deliveries that leave death in their wake, and old enemies targeting her to get to Malcolm. Turns out he’s got a history more deadly than she ever imagined, and she’ll have to use every skill in her arsenal to stay alive…

A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang (Oct. 30)

Drinking from the waters of lethe and offering herself up as Faerie’s sacrificial Tithe . . . these just might be the least of Abby Sinclair’s problems.

Abby’s pact with a daemon—whether or not she remembers making it—is binding, so she’d better count herself lucky that (in the words of a daemon who knows better) there’s nearly always a loophole. But her friends’ reckless attempts to free her, well intentioned though they may be, set off a disastrous chain of events. In no time at all, Abby turns her incubus lover mortal, then gets herself killed, cursed, and married to an elven prince whose mother wants her dead. On top of everything else, she’s lost the Key to the CrossRoads to her mortal enemy, who promptly uses his restored power to wreak havoc on the OtherWorld and put its very existence in jeopardy. Only one person can make things right again, but to find her, Abby must place her trust in allies of mixed loyalties, and conquer her nightmares once and for all.

Black Lament by Christina Henry (Oct. 30)

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black deals with loss every day. But when tragedy touches her own life, Maddy will have to find the strength within to carry on…

Devastated and grieving, Maddy unexpectedly finds hope with the discovery that she is pregnant. But Maddy’s joy is short lived when Lucifer informs her that he wants the baby, hoping to draw on the combined power of two of his bloodlines. Maddy is determined that her grandfather will never have her child, but she’s not sure what she can do to stop him.

Being pregnant is stressful enough, but Maddy suddenly finds herself at odds with the Agency—forbidden from meddling in the affairs of the supernatural courts. When a few of her soul collections go awry, Maddy begins to suspect that the Agency wants to terminate her employment. They should know by now that she isn’t the sort to give up without a fight…

The Warrior by Margaret Mallory (Oct. 30; received copy from Netgalley)

From the Isle of Skye to the battlefields of France, Duncan MacDonald has never escaped the memory of the true love he left behind. Deemed unworthy of a chieftain’s daughter, Duncan abandoned the lovely Moira to prove his worth in battle. Now, when called upon to rescue her from a rival clan, one thing is certain: Moira’s pull on his heart is stronger than ever.

Bartered away in marriage to a violent man, Moira will do anything to ensure she and her son survive. When a rugged warrior arrives to save her, the desperate beauty thinks her prayers have been answered-until she realizes it’s Duncan. The man who once broke her heart is now her only hope. Moira vows never again to give herself-or reveal her secrets-to the fierce warrior, but as they race across the sea, danger and desire draw them ever closer.

Iced by Karen Marie Moning (Oct. 30)

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones (Oct. 30)

In Darynda Jones’s Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams (Oct. 30)

McKenzie Lewis has a gift. It allows her access to a world few have seen, and even fewer can comprehend. It’s her secret. And it exists in the shadows…

McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she’s a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. It’s a gift for which she has been called insane, one for which she has risked family and friends—and one that has now plunged her into a brutal civil war between the fae.

With the reign of the king and his vicious general at an end, McKenzie hoped to live a more normal life while exploring her new relationship with Aren, the rebel fae who has captured her heart. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she’s not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she’s tried so hard to save.

Kensington Sweepstakes Sept. 21

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any type of publisher or author sweepstakes so I looked up Kensington Publishing and compiled a list so you don’t have to. 🙂

1. In honor of book nine, Fear the Darkness, of Alexandra Ivy’s Guardian’s of Eternity Kensington’s Facebook page has posted a sweepstakes where you fill in your information for a chance to win $150 Sephora gift card.
2. Book four in Fern Michael’s Godmothers series (Deadline) was released in January of this year, but the publisher has posted a sweepstake which expires soon in which you can try to win a Harry & David Fall Tower of Treats and copies of the Godmothers series. You can also pop by the author’s website and enter for a chance to win a copy of Breaking News.
3. If you liked the spicy stories written by Sylvia Day Kensington is offering you a chance to look like one of the heroines by giving away a $100 Victoria Secret gift card.
4. Love your ereader? Check out the sweepstake sponsored by Kensington in which you can win a designer ereader case.
5. Take a shot at winning copies of Shannon McKenna’s books by filling out the short entry form. McKenna is also sponsoring a Kindle Touch giveaway on her website.
6. Think ahead to Christmas by entering the Kensington Christmas giveaway. You’ll have a chance to win Christmas romance books and a 2012 limited edition Lennox Christmas ornament.

This could be you when you win. But to win you have to enter!