Interview with Kristine Grayson, author of Utterly Charming

Please join me in welcoming author Kristine Grayson to Caught in a FAB Romance! Ms. Grayson's latest release, Utterly Charming, is out now.  (More info after the interview)

First the obvious question: Where did you get the idea to take a traditional fairy tale and “change it up” to modern times?
I never quite know where the ideas come from. One of my favorite editors asked me to write a short story about Battle Wizards—fights and magic—and somehow I came up with a story called “The Strangeness Of The Day.” I wrote it under my real name, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and the story won all kinds of awards, including a really prestigious French Fantasy award. (You can find it in my collection of award-winning stories, Recovering Apollo 8 or as a stand-alone e-book.) That story featured the opening of Utterly Charming—the fight with Blackstone and Ealhswith, all from Nora’s point of view. When I finished, I felt really uncomfortable. What about poor Emma? And then my husband (and first reader) said, “This is a novel, you know.” So I wrote it, and it came out as romance, which made me happy, because I love the genre.

If you would, please tell us a little bit about Utterly Charming.
I always tell people the high concept: Prince Charming falls in love with Sleep Beauty’s lawyer. In some ways, though, it’s about falling in love as an adult versus as a kid. Blackstone—my Prince Charming—fell for Emma—Sleeping Beauty—as a boy. He falls for Nora as a grown man, and isn’t sure what to do, because he’s been protecting Emma for all of these years.

I love that Sleeping Beauty was ticked off when she woke up. Do you plot out the stories ahead of time or wait and see where the writing takes you?
I let my stories take me where they want to go. I kept thinking that if I had missed 1,000 years of life, I’d be really mad. So Emma woke up mad, and stayed that way. After all, all the burdens fall on her—a new world, new language, new life, plus her guy is 1,000 years older than she is. Not romantic at all, in my opinion.

If they turned Utterly Charming into a movie, who do you imagine would play your characters? 
I have trouble envisioning this with modern actors. I suppose George Clooney would have to play Blackstone and Danny DeVito (or the guy who just won the Emmy for Game of Thrones) would be Sancho. But Emma? There aren’t a lot of black-haired beauties in Hollywood, so she’d probably have to be an unknown. And Nora? That’s the real tough one, because she’s short and perky and not traditionally beautiful. I actually prefer thinking of the casting this way: Rosaline Russell as Nora (I know, she wasn’t short, but a real Tough Gal) and Cary Grant as Blackstone, with Audrey Hepburn as Emma. That’s the perfect casting for me.

What kinds of books do you like to read when you’re not writing? What are some of your favorites?
I read in all genres, which explains why I write in all genres under different names. Long-time favorites—books I reread every year—are The Great Gatsby and Rebecca. But I pretty much read everything. I do a recommended reading list every month on my blog, www.kriswrites.com, and discuss books from nonfiction to Regency to hardboiled noir to science fiction.

What made you pick romance as your genre to write?
It picked me.

Do you have any input in your covers? They’re gorgeous – I fell in love with the cover of Wickedly Charming the first time I saw it, and Utterly Charming and Thoroughly Kissed are also stunning!
Sourcebooks asks me for scenes and cover recommendations, but other than that, I don’t have a lot of say. I’m happy with that because I’m not a visual person. I love what they’re doing with the covers. Wait until you see the cover for Emma’s story, Thoroughly Kissed, coming in June. (It’s on my website, www.kristinegrayson.com) It’s spectacular.

I see that you also write under Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Kristine Dexter. How does that work, keeping the pseudonyms separate? Does it help with keeping the series separate?
I also write as Kris DeLake (upcoming) and Kris Nelscott (mystery), and a bunch of names I can’t tell you for contractual reasons. On my original work, I use the pen names to help my readers. Kristine Grayson books are light and fun; Kris Nelscott books are so dark that I’m pretty sure my hero (Smokey Dalton) has never ever cracked a joke. As a reader, I like to know what I’m getting. I want to pick up a book and know that no one will die or no blood will be shed. I have nightmares, so my bedtime reading is always romance. It used to be romance and YA, but then YA got really dark, and you couldn’t tell by the cover. I read a great YA book with a really graphic rape scene right in the middle and got upset. If I had read that over lunch it wouldn’t have bothered me, but I read it in bed. I was up for another three hours. I don’t want to do that to my readers.

Do you have anything new in the works or is there something else you’d like to spotlight while you’ve got the floor, so to speak ;)
I’m doing a bunch of side stories about characters in the Kristine Grayson universe. If you liked Wickedly Charming (from last May), you might want to look up Standing Up For Grace, which follows two side characters in an adventure I couldn’t put in the book. Right now, the book is e-only, but it’ll be in trade paper soon. And there will be more, including some light mysteries set in the same world. Those will come out of a new company, WMG Publishing, who also do my short fiction.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions and congratulations on the release of Utterly Charming!
Thanks for asking me! It’s been fun.

Utterly Charming 
~Kristine Grayson 

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 
Publish Date: October 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1402248512 
ISBN-13: 978-1402248511 
ASIN: B005EU50K6 

From Goodreads:
Bestselling author Kristine Grayson's fairy tale romances bring the classic stories into the present day, where fairy tale characters must grapple with the complexities of modern life as well as their own destinies.

This time when Sleeping Beauty wakes up, she wants nothing to do with the man who kissed her. Consoling Alex Blackstone, the rejected suitor who is a brilliant magician but inept when it comes to women, falls to modern career woman and lawyer, Nora Barr. Nora now has to deal with Beauty's evil stepmother, and the discovery that Alex just might be her own personal Prince Charming...

About Kristine Grayson: 
Kristine Grayson always wanted to be a romance writer when she grew up. She became one in the late 1990s with the publication of her first romance novel, Utterly Charming. Since then, she has published five more novels. Her next, Wickedly Charming, will appear from Sourcebooks in May. 
Her work has won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and she has been nominated for several other awards. Publishers Weekly has called her work "a delight," and Best Reviews labeled her "the reigning queen of paranormal romance."

Pam's Review and a Giveaway: Riversong by Tess Hardwick

Riversong
~Tess Hardwick

Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Publish Date: March 30, 2011
ISBN-10: 1935961144
ISBN-13: 978-1935961147
ASIN: B004WDRYVE

From Goodreads:
Author Tess Hardwick assembles a colorful cast of endearing small-town characters and takes you on a journey that will make you believe in the possibilities of life - even in the face of overwhelming adversity and unimaginable grief. 


Lee Tucker is the kind of woman you find yourself rooting for long after the last page is read. When her husband commits suicide,he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother's dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh tart. Lee's resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband's debt as her business blooms. 


A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food, Riversong entertains while reminding you of life's greatest gifts.

Lee Tucker grew up in a small town with an agoraphobic drunk for a mother. Anxious to leave her house, Lee takes off for college early and heads to Seattle, following her dream to become an artist. Fast forward; Lee is now in her thirties and her husband just committed suicide. Turns out he secretly borrowed money from a loan shark and saw no way out; now that loan shark is coming after Lee for his money, money that she doesn’t have. To top it all off, Lee just found out that she is pregnant, something that was not planned. She decides to run back to her house where she grew up, the one that was left to her when her mother died.

Going back to her hometown brings back unpleasant memories. But Lee is determined to make enough money to pay off the loan shark so she will not have to live her life in hiding. She decides to fix up and sell her mother’s, now her, house, and while she is waiting for that to be finished she gets a job. She starts working at a restaurant as a consultant, trying to figure out what to do to bring in more money for them. On Lee’s journey she finds love, makes true friends, and finds some long awaited answers.

My Thoughts:
This was a great book! I couldn’t believe it was Ms. Hardwick’s first novel. It starts off a little dark with Lee growing up feeling like she isn’t wanted, to having her husband leave her by shooting himself. But it lightens up along the way.

The characters are so real; it was so easy to lose myself in the story completely. Lee’s neighbor, Ellen, is like a second mother to her when Lee returns home. Ellen is in her seventies, but is still young at heart, and in body. Ellen makes sure Lee has good meals to eat when she comes home from work, is there to lend an ear when Lee needs to talk, and even helps Lee out by bearing arms a time or two.

Tommy, a musician who plays at the restaurant Lee works at, and a local EMT, has the ability to see Lee and connect with her on a level that no one has before. This scares Lee for a few reasons, and even makes her feel guilty because her husband has not been deceased for that long. I really liked Tommy’s character; he had his own mishaps in life and there was something really soulful about him.

From when a bear is climbing up the side of Lee’s house, to when she is finding love again, this book never has a dull moment. Let me be honest with you, when I first looked at the cover of this book I wasn’t a fan, but I am so happy that I read the synopsis and in turn, gave the book a chance. I guess what they say is true to never judge a book by its cover. This was truly a great read, one that I will be passing on to my family and friends.
My Rating:Pam
And now for the giveaway:  Thanks to Melange Books, we have a copy of Riversong to give away!  To enter, leave a comment about a book cover you've loved (or hated).  US Only, ends Oct. 20*.  
*The small print:  Caught in a FAB Romance is not responsible for books lost or stolen in the mail.
Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review and A Giveaway: Chosen by Paula Bradley

Chosen

~Paula Bradley



 Paperback: 334 pages

Publisher: Fiction Studios (August 16, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1936558106

ISBN-13: 978-1936558100

ASIN: B00551ASGK



From Goodreads:

Shy and introverted Mariah Carpenter has concealed a hidden talent from childhood that, according to her mother, would brand her a freak. Now a fateful encounter has caused her secret skill—an extraordinary psychic ability—to become greatly enhanced. Suddenly, she has a purpose for her gift, as her vision gives her the ability to find kidnapped children telepathically. But is this a blessing or a curse? When Mariah’s fourth finding is filmed by the FBI and the recording is stolen and sold to a broadcast journalist, Mariah’s worst nightmare becomes a reality. She is acclaimed worldwide as a saint and messenger from God—and vilified as the Antichrist whose powers must be quelled. Meanwhile, another government agency has its own covert agenda for Mariah…. In the midst of all of this, Mariah has a series of horrifying nightmares, culminating in the discovery of an ingenious serial killer, one who somehow prevents Mariah from finding out who and where he is. Locating this murderer before he kills again becomes Mariah’s obsession, one that threatens to consume her––and could even destroy her. Chosen introduces readers to a remarkably complex, achingly human, and absolutely unforgettable heroine. Bursting with tension, danger, and the thrill of the unexplained, Chosen is a singular reading experience.

Mariah swallows almost two dozen Restoril pills with the intention of killing herself. She is stunned when she wakes up the next morning, very much alive. However, something happened to her while she was sleeping, something she refers to as the ‘visitation.’ As she confides what happened to her friend, he thinks that this was something miraculous and prompts her to talk to the minister of his church. Michael, the minister, also thinks that this was God’s doing, a miracle. And soon Mariah finds a new home in the church along with singing in the choir. A short while after the ‘visitation’ another unusual occurrence happens that leads Mariah on a psychic sort of journey to find a kidnapped victim. When these psychic like episodes continue Mariah really does not believe that God is behind these events after all….



My Thoughts:

Well, I can definitely say that this book is unique and I have never read anything like it before. It was a good story that kept me interested most of the time, but there were some parts that didn’t fit, and some things that were missing. For instance, Mariah tries to kill herself, and what happens? People think it’s a miracle that she survived, but no one addresses the problem of her wanting to end her life! I just couldn’t fathom it. If my friend tried to kill herself, even if I thought it was a miracle she survived, you better believe I would call a close family member and make her get professional help. Also, sometimes there were too many people for me to keep track of, and the friend that she confided in about her suicide doesn’t get mentioned a second time until so much later in the book that I didn’t remember who he was.




On to the positive; I cannot figure out what is on the cover of this book, and it really creeps me out, which I believe is the intention. As Mariah’s psychic abilities increase, she begins to have different sort of dreams, and some of them even made me scared reading them by myself at night. It takes some pretty good writing to have that kind of frightening effect on me. Also, as mentioned before, this story is definitely one of a kind. You’re not going to read it and have it feel familiar to you.



If you’re looking for a different sort of story, one that may frighten you at times, while at the same time keeping you wanting more, then you should give Chosen a try.

 My Rating:

Pam

Thanks to the lovely ladies over at Media Muscle, 

we have a copy of Chosen to give away to one lucky reader!  Simply leave a comment stating you want to win this book.  

US addresses only.  Contest ends 9/22.

Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review and Giveaway: Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Love Story
~Jennifer Echols

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: MTV
Publish Date: July 19, 2011
ISBN-10: 1439178321
ISBN-13: 978-1439178324
ASIN: B004G8QU7E

From the author's website:
SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.
Learn more here.
About the author: Jennifer Echols is the author of romantic dramas for MTV and romantic comedies for Pulse. She currently lives in Birmingham. Visit her on the web at www.jennifer-echols.com.

Erin Blackwell is a Kentucky horse-racing princess.  Or rather, she was a princess, until she told her grandmother that she wanted to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a novelist instead of majoring in business so she could come home and run the family farm.  Now Erin is attending school on an academic scholarship, working jobs to support herself in New York City while she goes to school.

Hunter Allen has been a fixture on Erin's grandmother's race horse farm since Erin and Hunter were both 12 years old.  Hunter's father is a stable hand, and Hunter works in the stable too.  Now Hunter is going to the same college to major in business and will become the heir to the farm.

Erin figures they probably won't see much of each other, until he transfers into her creative writing class on the day she's written a story to share with the class about a young girl and her affair with a stable boy.  Now she's afraid Hunter thinks she's in love with him, and worse, that he'll say something to the other students or the teacher that will affect her chances at an internship she desperately needs.  Hunter promises he won't say anything, because he doesn't want his new friends to know he was a stable hand, but he's already spoken about it with his two roommates.  Then, after a dorm party that both Erin and Hunter attend, Hunter's story for the class is about the party.  In the story, he talks about both Erin and a girl he was with at the party.  This leaves their friends (Hunter's roommates and Erin's roommates) speculating about Hunter and Erin's feelings for each other.

My thoughts:  I thoroughly enjoyed Love Story!  I love the idea of two people working out their histories through creative writing.  Each story, while different, was an interesting and significant glimpse into their personal histories, showcasing how their relationship ended up the way it did.  The way they each read into the subtext of the other's stories and reacted accordingly left me wanting to pitch in and help their friends get them together. I liked the background of the NYC college and their multicultural roommates; the cast of secondary characters were likeable and a good foil for the angst between Erin and Hunter.  While more a Happy for Now rather than a Happily Ever After, I liked the way the ending showed promise for these two.

I like Ms. Echols' style of writing and will be checking out her backlist. 

My Rating:

The Giveaway:

Gallery/MTV Books is offering two winners a copy of Love Story!

To enter:  leave a comment with a way to contact you.  Contest ends August 5.

US addresses only.

(Following is not required but is always appreciated.)

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Werewolf Wednesday: ARC giveaway of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

I hinted last week I'd be giving away a copy of  Forever by Maggie Stiefvater:  I have an ARC I obtained at the American Library Association Convention last month.  Forever came out Tuesday - if you haven't had a chance to buy it yet, here's your chance to win it!!

Forever
(Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3)
~Maggie Stiefvater

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publish Date: July 12, 2011
ISBN-10: 0545259088
ISBN-13: 978-0545259088


From the author's website:
The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

To enter:  Leave a comment below telling me you want to win this book.  Following is not required but I'll give an extra entry if you follow me via GFC, and/or an extra entry if you tweet about the contest (leave a link, 1 entry).  Contest ends July 31.  International.

The small print:  Book Addict is not responsible for any items lost in the mail.

Review and Giveaway - Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Forgotten
~Cat Patrick

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN-10: 0316094617
ISBN-13: 978-0316094610

From the publisher's website:
What if every day when you woke up, you had no recollection of the days before?

Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can “remember” are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you’d easily forget, but try as she might, London can’t find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it’s time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting – before it destroys her future.

Forgotten has a very unique and interesting premise:  a teenage girl who "remembers" events in the future but can't recall past events from even a day before.  Every night she leaves herself notes in a journal - what she'll wear the next day, who she talked to, if she has a test coming up.  For someone with such a difficult "condition", she seems like a pretty well-balanced kid.  She's got a best friend  and seems social enough in school.  London has a great sense of humor and is a genuinely likeable heroine.

When she meets Luke, a cute new boy in school, it's instant attraction.  I liked the way she'd write about him in her journal so she knew about him and expected to see him, but every day was like seeing him for the first time.  I really liked Luke's character, he was considerate and seemed to be a sweet kid, not some obnoxious kid looking for sex or an ego stroke.  He's keeping a secret that is kind of surprising, and I loved him all the more for it, even if London didn't.

London's friendship with her BFF Jamie takes a bit of a rough turn when Jamie gets involved in an adult situation, and I didn't like the way the author let London maneuver things so that someone else handled the problem for her.  I felt that for a young adult book there could have been a better course of action that London should have taken.

As if the normal teenage drama with friends and boyfriends isn't enough, London is having weird repeating dreams about a funeral and trying to hunt down clues about it's significance.  I had a couple of nagging questions while reading the book, and once London was able to figure out the dream,  many of the questions I'd had while reading were answered when the mystery was solved.

Forgotten is a sweet, sometimes sad but always hopeful journey through a short period in one girl's unusual life.  As I read along, I found myself wondering what I would write every night if it was me who would lose my memory - What were the important happenings of the day I'd feel were important to remember and what would be okay to let go forever?  The ending is happy but a bit open ended; I think there could easily be enough of London's story left for a sequel.  I'd certainly like to know what the future has in store for her.

My Rating:

  Thanks to Little, Brown and Company Teens, I have two copies of Forgotten to give away!  To enter, leave a comment and a way to reach you. Following is not required but is always appreciated.  Giveaway ends July 1.  US addresses only.

Watch one of London's video diaries:

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

May 2011 Wrap Up and Looking ahead in June

Woot! May is finally over!!!

I knew going in it would be insane, but actually living it left me wiped out. But, son has graduated, the 10yo's birthday party was a success, I had the a fabulous birthday week, and I met Charlaine Harris .  Add a boatload of overtime at my J-tothe-O-tothe-B, and what you get is not a lot of books read in May:

1. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (5 stars)
2. Bound by Honor by SE Jakes (1 star/DNF)
3. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews (5 stars)
4. Saddled and Spurred by Lorelei James (4 stars)
5. The Initiations of Ms. Holly by KD Grace (2 stars/DNF)
6. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (4 stars)
7. Tender Mercies by Kitty Thomas (4 stars)
8. Love Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn Brown (3 stars)
9. Heart of the Highland Wolf by Terry Spear (3 1/2 stars)
10. Wicked Games by Jill Shalvis (5 stars)
11. Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston (4 stars)
12. Going Cowboy Crazy by Katie Lane (1 star/DNF)

_______________________

I've also got two giveaways going on, both end June 17:
Heart of the Highland Wolf by Terry Spear - enter here
May Releases (Awaken the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney, Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr, and Face of Danger by Roxanne St.Clair) - enter here

_______________________

The American Library Association is coming to New Orleans at the end of June - is anyone else going?  I'll be putting up a more detailed post later in the month - a few bloggers are planning to get together while they're here.

_______________________

Book Addict is looking for a 2nd reviewer.  If you're interested (either as a regular reviewer or for occasional guest reviews) please e-mail me at bookaddictpatti@cox.net  You must be able to read ebooks.  I'm looking for someone who reads Romance, specifically historical, PNR/UF, and some women's fiction.

That what's happening!

Giveaway!

I know I sound like a broken record, but May was a crazy, crazy month:

My four-year-old graduated Pre-K.
My 10-year-old had her (belated) birthday party.
My birthday was May 11.
Mother's Day was three days before that.
I drove to Houston and back to meet Charlaine Harris.
My 17-year-old graduated from high school. YAY!!!
Then we had to go to the two-day orientation for college.
And to top it all off, my day job was craaaazy busy - lots of overtime this month.

What does all that mean for you?
It means I have a few May releases I didn't get to review:

Awaken the Highland Warrior
~Anita Clenney

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1402251238
ISBN-13: 978-1402251238
ASIN: B004TTS2T4

From the author's website:
He's had centuries to dream of her... Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.

Ripe for Pleasure
~Isobel Carr

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0446572756
ISBN-13: 978-0446572750
ASIN: B00495ZE1C

From Goodreads:
Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure, finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

Face of Danger
~Roxanne St. Claire

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0446566578
ISBN-13: 978-0446566575
ASIN: B0047Y0EX8

From Goodreads:
Private investigator Vivi Angelino has never met a risk she wouldn't take-and her latest client, a starlet with a madman on her heels, gives Vivi the perfect opportunity to walk on the wild side. That is, as long as she can make sure a certain overprotective, overly gorgeous FBI agent stays out of her way-and out of her fantasies.

Special Agent in Charge Colt Lang is not about to stand back and watch Vivi dangle herself as bait for a serial killer. Yet trying to rein her in means throwing his well-worn rulebook-and his iron self-control-to the wind . . . and taking the chance that his heart will become collateral damage in an already perilous case. Because a woman who can't stop searching for the truth is impossible to resist-even when every discovery she makes brings them closer to a calculating murderer with nothing to lose.

Want to win them? Leave a comment telling me which (or all) you'd like to win, and a way to contact you. That's it - easy peasy!

Giveaway ends June 14 - following is not required but is always appreciated.
Book Addict is not responsible for items lost in the mail.

Interview and Giveaway with Terry Spear!

Please join me in welcoming Terry Spear, author of the Heart of the Wolf series:

Book Addict: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer questions! I’m going to just jump right in: I loved that Julia, the heroine in Heart of the Highland Wolf, is a Romance Writer! Did you write any of yourself in her? Are the tricks she tried to get rid of writers’ block ones that you use?

Terry Spear: Thanks so much for interviewing me, Patti!

Do I switch from one kind of a story to another while I’m still writing one? Yes. Am I inspired by a place or person that I might use in a story? Absolutely. Do I use tales that others share with me in my stories? Yes. Will a picture of a hunky man give me ideas? Hmm-hmm! When she is in the forest, thinking of a scene she could write about her hero and heroine, I do the very same thing. Awhile back, I went on a hike through a park with friends. I don’t know what they were thinking, but I was imagining being in the woods while a Robin Hood like character and his merry men were nearby. We crossed a wooden bridge that made me think of “The Billy Goats Gruff” and trolls, which made me think of “Willow”, and more trolls. When I visit places like that, my imagination takes over.

Book Addict: Laird Ian was a very sexy hero. Did you base him on anyone (living or historical)?

Terry Spear: I’m thrilled you found him sexy! I based him on a MacNeill ancestor that stole the heart of the Duke of Argyle’s daughter. From oral history, the tale stated they eloped and her father told Malcolm he could have all the land he could cover on foot in a day, though he was furious with him for stealing his daughter’s heart. But Malcolm was too proud and paid for passage to the Carolinas for Elizabeth and their two small sons and infant daughter. The ship was diverted to Prince Edward Island, and Elizabeth, unable to withstand the hardships,died. Later, my great grandmother and grandmother were questioned by Scotland Yard about the family Bible, as the last Campbell had died without issue and they were trying to find Elizabeth’s line. My family didn’t have the Bible that would prove their ties, but another more distant family did, so the history goes. I wanted a happy ending!

Book Addict: Your descriptions of Ian’s castle were thorough – did you research Scottish castles? Have you visited Scotland and/or a castle?

Terry Spear: I went to see several castles in Scotland in September, took pictures of them, and listened to some wonderful tour guide lectures. But I also have read about castles over the years and then made up my own to suit the story. The ones I loved the most were the ones mostly in ruins. Why? I think it was because I could use my imagination more to envision the occupants of a medieval time better, and how the castle would look today.

Book Addict: Julia’s books have been referred to in your previous books (apparently she’s very popular with the lupus garou crowd, lol), but this is the first time that we’ve actually met her. How do you keep all your characters straight and how do you choose who you’ll write about next?

Terry Spear: She’s done well with her lupus garou fans. It’s neat when you can have a secret fan base, don’t you think? It would be like a vampire writing about vampires, but only other real vampires knew they were based on the truth…

Of course, not everyone likes that she writes bout werewolves. Even though she doesn’t give a totally accurate picture of them, some worry that she might give enough about them away that people might begin to believe they really exist. Which for the werewolves would be a disaster.

My coworker at the library where I work suggested I write about a poor werewolf, but I’d wanted to write about a Highland wolf clan next. So I thought why not write about a laird who is about to lose his ancestral home and has to put up with an American film-making venture? But who would the heroine be? I thought, well, what if I had the romance writer sneak in with the film production crew to use Ian’s clan as a basis for her next story and help her to overcome her writer’s block? Sometimes, fans ask to see more of certain characters. Like with Meara, Hunter’s sister in To Tempt the Wolf. I really wrote her as an annoying sister, so hadn’t really thought anyone would want to see her find a mate to love. But several fans did. LOL. So I wrote the SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing (coming out in Spring 2012). My editor had been te one that joked that it would be fun to have a whole team of SEALs who were wolves, and I kept thinking about it, unil I thought, why not match up one of Hunter’s SEAL team members with Meara? But neither thinks that’s a great idea in the least. :-)

Book Addict: I like the world you’ve written for your wolves. You’ve written seven books in this series so far, and they encompass different heroes/heroines and wolf packs – how many different types of lupus garou are there (red, white, gray, etc.)? How long do they typically live?

Terry Spear: There are really only two- gray wolves and red wolves. Arctic (white) are really gray wolves. Wolves in the wild only live between 6-12 years. Up to fifteen or so in captivity. I couldn’t make them that short lived in my stories, and I based them on a semi-immortal creature because werewolves were hard to kill in the old horror stories, unless they were shot with silver bullets. So why not a semi-immortal creature?

Book Addict: Do you have a specific place/time to write? Is your desk messy or neat? Do you have a day job or is writing your full-time occupation?

Terry Spear: I work full time, so I write before and after work and during my days off. I have to or I’d never meet deadlines. My desk – okay, since you can’t see it, it’s very clean, no dust, no salt dotting the mahogany wood (from eating quick homemade meals while getting my writing down at night after work), no movies sitting on the corner (which somehow ended up on my desk and should have been left on the coffee table for this weekend, if I can get to them), no box of Kleenex sitting on the extended table (not for crying during emotional scenes but for annoying allergies), no bills sitting on the desk (if I tucked them away neatly somewhere, they wouldn’t get paid)…so yes, my desk is perfectly neat.

Book Addict: When you’re not writing, what do you like to read? Do you read other books in your genre?

Terry Spear: I LOVE Highland romances, and though I don’t write them, I love regency romances. I also love time travels. I don’t read werewolf stories unless I receive them in a contest that I have to judge. But none of the ones I have read are similar to mine, which is good. I don’t want to ever feel I am borrowing from someone else’s world. That’s partly why I love reading historical romances so much.

Book Addict: What’s coming up next for you?

Terry Spear: Right now I’m working on Heart of the Jaguar (Fall 2012 release date), the first in the jaguar series, lots of research, and lots of new world building, so it’s been fun! After that, probably Tom’s story, from Destiny of the Wolf.

Book Addict: Thanks again for answering my questions – I enjoyed Heart of the Highland Wolf and am hoping we’ll see some of Ian’s brothers in their own stories (hint, hint!).

Terry Spear: Thanks so much for having me, and yes, definitely!!! Duncan is in the next Highland story – though the title will probably change, but he’s in the Grand Cayman Islands being distracted by a female wolf when he’s trying to track down their stolen money in The Highland Wolf in Paradise (Fall 2012).

Thanks again for having me, Patti!!

Terry Spear

About the author:
A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth College. An eclectic writer with a PW Best Book of 208 (Heart of the Wolf), she writes paranormal romance as well as historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information,please visit www.terryspear.com.

http://www.terryspear.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/terryspear
https://twittercom/#!/TerrySpear
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tspear

Heart of the Highland Wolf
~Terry Spear

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: June 1, 211
ISBN-10: 1402245521
ISBN-13: 978-1402245527
ASIN: B004Y5AV1K

Each holds a secret they can't possibly overcome alone...
Julia Wildthorn is sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic,but reluctant laird Ian MacNeill may be the key to unlocking the one answer she really wants discovered...

From brilliant storyteller Terry Spear, modern day werewolves meet the rugged Highlands of Scotland, where instinct meets tradition, and clan loyalties give a whole new meaning to danger...

The Giveaway:
Sourcebooks has generously offered a copy of Heart of the Highland Wolf to two lucky winners!!

To enter, leave a question or comment for Ms. Spear and a way to contact you if you win. US and Canada only. Contest ends June 17.

Winners!!!

The month of May is kicking my ass - I'm so sorry I'm a bit behind on the contest winners. Using Random.org (for the first time - I can't believe how simple it is!!), the winners are:

The winner of the Chloe Neill Cadogan House prize pack is:

Comment #34: A Buckeye Girl Reads

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The winner of the first three e-books in Moira Rogers' Southern Arcana series is:

Comment #28: Chris S

(An e-mail has been sent to the winners.)

If you didn't win, don't get discouraged:
I'm currently giving away two copies of Moonglass
by YA author Jessi Kirby - click here to enter!!!

Review and Giveaway: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass
~Jessi Kirby

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publish Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN-10: 1442416947
ISBN-13: 978-1442416949


From Goodreads:
From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead. I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both. Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface. While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Learn more about the book here.

As the story opens, it's the end of summer and Anna and her father are moving from her childhood home in Pismo Beach, California, to Crystal Cove. In addition to the difficulties of leaving behind her home and friends, she's also leaving behind her mother; or rather, the place her mother died. When Anna was four, she watched her mother walk out into the ocean and not come back.

Anna's father is a professional lifeguard, and they are moving to Crystal Cove because he accepted a position there. As Anna starts to get settled in and meet new friends, she slowly learns there's more than just a new job in Crystal Cove - it's the place where her parents met and fell in love.

My thoughts: First I have to say that I love the cover - they nailed it, and, it's gorgeous. The title refers to the pastime Anna and her mother used to share: They'd walk along the beach looking for sea glass. When Anna found a piece at night, they dubbed it moon glass.

I fell right into Moonglass, and by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. Anna is a sweet kid and I liked her. She seems pretty well-adjusted, but her memories of her mother are constant, even in this new place, away from where she killed herself. She never talks about her mother with her father. It's not that she's not allowed to, they just don't discuss her.

She meets Ashley, a stereotypically rich, gorgeous, weight-obsessed California girl, and since they'll both be starting school together as new students, they decide to be friends. When Ashley asks about her mother, Anna doesn't tell her she's dead.

She also meets Tyler, a cute lifeguard working on the beach in front of her house. Her father has warned the lifeguards away from Anna, but she gets invited to their end-of-summer beach party, and gets to know Tyler a little better. She also learns a little history of the Cove and how her parents met. A tiny peek into her mother's life...and she wants more, no, she doesn't want more...but she does. She learns her mother lived in one of the cottages; it's one of the now-abandoned cottages, and she can sneak in, if she wants.

Anna's relationship with Tyler progresses at a sweetly, yearningly slow pace, and she wants to think about him and not her mother. Her running helps her forget her questions about her mother, but the questions seem to be coming more frequently now, especially as she meets more people who knew her mother.

I thought this was a fabulous story; there is so much more to it than what I've talked about in my review: her relationship with her father, her mother's past, Anna's own feelings about her mother's death. It's not a light, fluffy read, but still a great book for summer reading - the author really brings the beach setting off the pages. I thought her friend Ashley's character was a bit superfluous and annoying, but not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the book.

Moonglass is Jessi Kirbi's debut novel, and I can't wait to read more by this author.

My Rating:

The giveaway: Simon and Schuster is offering a copy of Moonglass to two lucky winners! (Trust me, this is one you want to win!!) To enter, leave a comment telling me why you like reading YA, and a way to contact you. US addresses only please. Following is not required but is appreciated. Ends May 22.

This book was received by the publicist in exchange for an honest review.

Moira Rogers is killing me!!! (and a giveaway)

Moira Rogers has put up the first three chapters of Cipher!!! I have big love for this series and feel like I've been waiting for Kat and Andrew's story foreverrrrrrr. (Is there a whiny font? 'Cause that's what I'm doing) Cipher doesn't come out in e-book until September 6, so these chapters are going to have to hold me until then. Actually, there's a prologue too, so really it's almost like getting four chapters!!! Whee!!!

Fourteen months ago, Kat Gabriel's life changed forever when she used her empathy as a weapon. Now she can't escape the weight of those deaths--or the loss of the easy friendship she and Andrew once shared. Obsessed with her mother's violent past, Kat is determined to learn the truth of her inner-darkness by understanding her legacy.

Since the attack that turned him into a wolf, Andrew Callaghan has done everything possible to make himself stronger. More capable of protecting Kat--both from the supernatural world that forced her to kill, and from their own volatile connection. Pushing her away hurt them both, but he's finally made himself into the protector she needs.

As Kat's quest leads her into the darkest underbelly of the psychic world, Andrew is determined to be at her side. But every step forward reopens old emotional wounds and shakes their control. For a dangerous alpha and a deadly psychic, distraction could be fatal--especially when the greatest threat they pose is to each other.

I don't want to suffer the wait alone I'm so excited that I want to share, so I'm giving away Moira Rogers' Southern Arcana e-books: Crux, Crossroads, and Deadlock (aren't the covers gorgeous?):




To enter, leave a comment telling me why you like shape shifters, along with a way to contact you. Following not required but always appreciated. Contest ends May 15.

Interview and Giveaway: Chloe Neill - Hard Bitten Blog Tour

Please join me in welcoming one of my favorite authors: Chloe Neill, author of the fabulous vampire series, The Chicagoland Vampires (my review of Hard Bitten is here), and also a YA series, The Dark Elite. Ms.Neill was kind enough to answer a few questions and offer a cool giveaway!

Book Addict: I know that you have a day job. Do your co-workers know you’re a published author?

Chloe Neill: There are a number of folks in my office, but many of them do, yes. They've been very supportive of my writing! I think it has improved my writing at work, as well, so that helps.

Book Addict: You have seven books under contract in the series - do you have a specific end to the series planned or will you try to continue to write the Chicagoland Vampires for as long as the ideas keep coming?

Chloe Neill: Definitely the latter. There are things I want to accomplish in the series, but I also really enjoy writing about Merit so I don't currently have an end date in mind.

Book Addict: Your characters are a joy to read. When I’m reading I feel like I know them :) Do you have a favorite character?

Chloe Neill: Thank you! I like all the characters for different reasons. I relate to Merit, and I respect Mallory's focus. Ethan tries (and often fails) to do the right thing by his vampires, and Jeff is such a good, cheerful soul. Mayor Tate is pretty intriguing, I think. We meet more of him in both HARD BITTEN and DRINK DEEP.

Book Addict: Can you tell us something silly that we don’t know about Merit?
Chloe Neill: She has a collection of the OLIVIA children's books that she absolutely adores. They're with her at Cadogan House (although she wouldn't admit that to many people.)

Book Addict: I love that Merit loves food – are you a foodie?

Chloe Neill: Definitely, although a different type of foodie than Merit. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't eat the same kinds of things that she does. But I share her love of chocolate and fine baked goods. :)

Book Addict: There were some big plot twists in Hard Bitten but the ending left me hopeful for Merit’s future. Is it as hard for you to write emotionally intense scenes as it is for us to read them?

Chloe Neill: There are scenes in all the books that make me laugh out loud and, on occasion, cry. The intense scenes are actually a bit easier to write because the emotion tends to push the momentum along, but they definitely move me, as well.

Book Addict: Do you read other books in the vampire genre or do you try to stay away from that?

Chloe Neill: I used to read LOTS, but writing has kind of ruined me for reading fiction, unfortunately. But I still keep up with JR Ward's BDB series, of course! :)

Book Addict: Thank you again for answering my questions! Congratulations on the release of Hard Bitten. I really enjoyed Hard Bitten and am looking forward to Drink Deep. Go Merit!!!

Chloe Neill: Thanks for having me!

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Ms. Neill has graciously offered a Cadogan House prize pack to one lucky commenter! Leave a comment with your e-mail address to be entered.
Ends Friday, May 6.

Hard Bitten
~Chloe Neill

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: New American Library
Publish Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN-10: 0451233328
ISBN-13: 978-0451233325
ASIN: B004IYIU1U

From the author's website:
Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals--and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society--a world full of vampires who seem to ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands...

You can read the first chapter here!

Sourcebooks is going Royally Mad with Giveaways!

If you haven’t already checked out the Sourcebooks British Babes Book Brigade Facebook Page (where you can participate in giveaways and interact with authors like Elizabeth Chadwick, Jill Mansell, Helen Hollick, Sarah Bower and Phillipa Ashley and more…) then you should before next week because the page is about to go royally mad!!

The royal wedding is only a week away and they are going to be celebrating all next week. Starting Monday they will be doing a giveaway every day until the big celebration on Friday. But these are no ordinary giveaways – these are royal wedding prize packs!

3 winners will be randomly picked each day:

• The 1st place winner will get a William & Kate wedding memento (it is top secret for now (just like Kate’s dress) but check the page out on Monday to find out – oh and they are all different so there will be a different memento each day). Along with that they also get their choice of three books from any of the British Book Babes.

• The 2nd place winner will have their choice of any two books from any of the British Book Babes.

• The 3rd place winner will have their choice of one book from any of our British Book Babes.

You can visit the page here:
http://www.facebook.com/britishbabesbookbrigade

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Plus, a bonus Giveaway:
Sourcebooks is providing two Georgette Heyer titles for a “Georgette Giveaway”! To enter, leave a comment with your e-mail address. Ends 4/30.
*edited to add - US and Canada addresses only*

March was in like a lion, out like a lamb... and a giveaway :)

Hmmm...where to begin? March started out a little hectic but leveled out by the end...

Let's start with the books I read in March:
1. Holiday Bound - Beth Kerry (4 stars)
2. Stormchild (Pacific Passion #1) - Vivian Arend (3 1/2 stars, review to come)
3. Seduced by Destiny - Elizabeth Hoyt (4 stars)
4. My One and Only - Kristan Higgins (4 1/2 stars)
5. Bite Club - Rachel Caine (4 stars)
6. Mistress by Mistake - Maggie Robinson (3 1/2 stars)
7. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper (5 stars)
8. Safeword: Rainbow - Candace Blevins (3 stars)
9. River Marked - Patricia Briggs (4 stars)
10. Welcome to Last Chance - Hope Ramsay (3 stars)
11. Staying at Daisy's - Jill Mansell (4 stars)
12. Rock Hard - Olivia Cunning (3 1/2 stars)
13. Murder Takes the Cake - Gayle Trent (2 stars)
14. A Lot Like Love - Julie James (4 1/2 stars)
15. Bookends - Jane Green (3 stars)
16. The Return of Black Douglas - Elaine Coffman (3 1/2 stars, review to come)
17. Any Man of Mine - Rachel Gibson (review to come)
18. Re-read: Bitten by Kelly Armstrong

So, yeah, pretty good reading month!!!

But wait...there's more:

Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison were in Houston on March 5 signing their latest releases. Since my brother and his wife/my bff live in Houston, I decided a road trip was in order. We had a great time and there was a good Q&A session (my notes here).

Then, it was back home just in time for Mardi Gras (March 8), where the city shuts down and throws a big party. I gotta be honest with you, by the time Mardi Gras day gets here, I'm pretty burned out on parades, so I usually skip the big day and stay home :) What does this have to do with books, you ask? Not a damn thing. But...I put together a little box of Mardi Gras goodness to give away:

This is the good stuff, not the lame beads everyone leaves on the ground - there's plush, doubloons, blinky beads, glass beads, silly bands, and more. So, if you're interested in this little box of fun - leave a comment telling me you'd like a little Mardi Gras in your life. (I'm really sorry, but this one's gonna have to be US only - beads and such are too heavy to ship internationally.) Contest ends Sunday April 10.

That was my March, how was yours?

M/M Romance Month Valentine's Day Giveaway!!!

To celebrate Valentine's Day I'm giving away three of the books I've read and reviewed over the month!

College Boys, anthology:

Inland Empire by James Buchanan
(Book 2 in the Taking the Odds series):

Love & Loyalty
(Book 2 in the Faith, Love, and Devotion series):

To enter, leave a comment below with your e-mail address, telling me which book(s) that you're interested in winning. Following is not required but is appreciated. Back-waxing optional.

Extra entries:
+1 Tweet (leave link)
+1 blog or sidebar post (leave link)

Giveaway ends Monday, February 28.