Guest Spot & Giveaway with Raven Corinn Carluk

Happy Anniversary Ms. Carluk!!!

Happy Hallows Eve! Please help me welcome one of the first authors I reviewed when I started Bookin’ It. I loved her book All Hallows Blood and you can bet your pumpkin full of sweets that I will request her sequel! So let’s hear it for Raven Corinn Carluk…

Take it away Raven!

Greetings and salutations all.  Thanks Talina for having me.  Thanks everyone for your attention.

Today is Halloween, my favorite time of the year.  More than it just being my anniversary, I love the change in the weather, and the ghosts and goblins, the candy, and all the skulls and monsters and other things that really stir my Goth side.

And, of course, there are all the vampires.  I've always loved the undead.  They're immortal, powerful, talented, and some other enviable things.  Being a vampire sound pretty cool.  I'd miss chocolate, sure, but certainly not the sun.  So long as I didn't become one of the nosferatu or a mindless beast, I'd be okay with it.

Vampires are the raging hotness right now.  You can't turn anywhere without finding some form of vampire.  And the trend shows no signs of stopping.  For vampire authors and vampire fans, this is a great time.

Mostly.

Yes, mostly.  Because vampires are being defanged, becoming domesticated and getting their darkness stripped away.  For those of us who love them for being predators, this is an absolute shame.

Too often do modern vampires eschew drinking human blood.  And not just a character that's an outlier, the one member of his race who won't drink blood.  Entire families/clans/races of vampires not drinking from people.  Nor are there any consequences to slaking only from animals; no weakness, no insanity, no withdrawals.  As if undeath were a choice, like vegetarian or republican.

Vampires have slowly been stripped of their weaknesses, even the ones necessary to their being.  Some I agree with, like crosses and garlic, and others I don't, like the sun and the need to drink human blood.  When you take away the core of the beast, you change it to something else.  That something is no longer a vampire, unfortunately.

"But now vampires are more accessible.  They can protect me and love me, and they don't do any of the icky blood drinking."

Therein lies the rub.  Vampires aren't soft and sweet.  They're supposed to be hunters, a little dangerous, and with a dark side.  Tigers are great to look at, strong and powerful, but they don't make very good house cats.  You wouldn't cuddle a tiger, and call him mittens, and expect him to stop eating deer.

I miss the days when vampires were still vampires.  Granted, I find the undead sexy, and love them because they're dark and drink blood.  I love the Goth vampires so much.  Although not sexy, I even love the ravening nosferatu, because they're still true to their nature.  But once they become just guys with fangs, I no longer love them.

There was a time if someone said they read vampire books, you knew they enjoyed the biting and the blood and all the other trappings.  You expected them to read Poe, and enjoy graveyards, and they didn't look like mall kids.  They were creatures of the night, not creatures of the mildly overcast.

With my Varick, I'm doing a little bit to move back to those days.  He doesn't brood about hurting Keila, nor does he hesitate to kill to protect her.  He's not unemotional, nor is he a pining whiny mess.  She's awakened long dormant passions in him, but becoming human again is the last thing on his mind.  He relishes the creature he is, and has no qualms about living that lifestyle.

Rise up with me fellow fans of real vampires.  Accept no substitutes.  Fangs united!

Raven Corinn Carluk is the author of All Hallows Blood and stories with bite o,.,o  Today is her twelve year anniversary, and her first day as a married woman.  It would make her day if you could stop by her blog with well wishes, or even just her site to find out more about her.

Here are small blurbs of Hallows Blood and stories with o,.,o. Enjoy!

Mourning her mother on Halloween, Keila O'Broin, a psychic warrior and last of her line, isn't prepared for dead teenagers to ask her to avenge them. Compelled by her family creed, Keila combats the vampiric serial killer, despite her atrophied powers.

But defeating one killer is only the start of her adventure. Into her life walks Varick Eitenhauer, centuries old undead master of Portland. The vampire tells her she will now help him defeat his rivals in a battle to control the city, and he will accept no refusals.

Surrounded by her desire and danger, the only way to succeed is to rise from her past like a phoenix from its ashes.

Crawling from unknown depths, these collected stories await your discovery. Fantasy, and horror, and paranormal. Vampires, and elves, and monsters. Tales of darkness and lust. Unexpected turns, rousing battles, and undying love.

These tales are for those wishing to sample the other side.

____________________________________________________

Bravo Ms. Carluk! Bring back our beloved vampires and show us the feeling of a real bite again! In today’s vampires it is hard to see them as the predators they are known to be. There are few authors that leave them their raw characteristics. Now we can add Raven Corinn Carluk to the list of authors that know how to write a true vampire. Authors sometimes struggle to find the balance between writing a monster that makes you want to run into the sun light and hope he can’t follow you versus a true vampire that allows readers to fall in love with said hero in paranormal romance. It is a task that Ms. Carluk has taken upon herself and in my opinion has been able to pull off with her All Hallows Blood hero, Varick. (You can read my review for All Hallows Blood here.)

Thank You Ms. Carluk for bringing the vampire back into fiction! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Hallows Eve. Be careful out there this evening, you never know what is lurking about ready to make you into the undead…bahhhahahhhhhhaaaaaaaaa!!

Step into my parlor and leave a comment for a Halloween treat! Ms. Carluk is giving away a copy of her All Hallows Blood and  stories with bite o,.,o  to two lucky winners, so don’t be shy! Tell us what you think of today’s vampires. Scary? Or lame and tame? What would you like to see?  Remember to leave your email in your comment! ;-)

Review: Prey For The Wolf by Kari Thomas

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN FOR NIGHT OWL REVIEWS

Prey for The Wolf by Kari Thomas

Release Date:November 7, 2010

Category: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Eternal Press

ISBN:9781926704876

Length: 82 pages (PDF format)

Heat Level: Sensual 

Price: Eternal Press ebook format: $4.50 

*This ebook was provided to me by the publisher & NOR for review

PERSONAL SUMMARY:

Love for family can drive you to do things unimaginable and deadly. A love unforeseen can be just as dangerous. 

SUMMARY:(taken from publisher's site)

Bethany Garrett's brother is kidnapped by a group known as The Hunters who make it their life mission to track down and kill shapeshifters. The Hunters offer Bethany a deal for her brother's life: Infiltrate the most dangerous group of wolf shifters known and help destroy them. She's not prepared for the instant attraction she feels for the alpha of the pack, Kane Steele. Now, not only is her life in danger but also her heart and soul. Because once Kane finds out the truth of why she's there, she doesn't stand a chance of living very long. And Kane has her sited as his prey now. Bethany knows the time for turning back was lost the minute she and Kane met. And she's about to find out what it means when a wolf shifter tells her she's his, no matter what happens in the following days of peril...

FIRST LINE:

Hunters. Murderers. The ominous words echoed in his thoughts, tormenting him, taunting him.

PLOT:

When I picked up Prey for The Wolf, I was immediately taken into the world of the Steele pack. The plot started off strong and maintained a good strength throughout the story, definitely well thought out. Ms. Thomas provided in equal portions sizzling tension between the Hero and Heroine, suspense between the Hunters and Pack, and good action that leaves you wondering if you would react as the heroine did. Ms. Thomas also worked in  a family plot thread that really provided depth to the heroine, Bethany. I liked this plot thread and how it worked well with the inner thoughts of the hero and how he reacted when put in a similar situation Bethany had been placed in. Oh, to add to the romantic tension, let's not forget that the heroine is actually the hero's brother's fiancée, Seth! Watch out for Seth. He has a hidden agenda and no one is the wiser until the very end.

SETTING:

The story takes place in the middle sized town of Kalispell.

WRITING:

Overall I liked Ms. Thomas's writing style. She expressed good detail and delivered a clear point of view throughout the book. The dialogue between the characters grabbed my attention, but what really delivered the story for me was the inner dialogue and thought process of the heroine and hero.

CHARACTERS:

When an organized group of shape-shifter assassins known as the Hunters arrive in town, Kane is forced to show just how far he will go to insure his pack's lives. Their prejudice against the shape-shifters is somthing so tangible that you want to read on just to see if justice is served. 

I loved the Alpha shapshifter, Kane Steele. He is steaming hot and throws off a sex appeal any woman would want to be caught up in.He is a strong Alpha and a strong man that knew what he wanted and was determined enough to go after it. He had only one weakness and that was for his brother's fiancée. I won't give away the plot twists, but you are in for a good surprise with how he works that out. I like seeing such strong alpha males brought to heel by the , not that Kane liked having this weakness. 

I enjoyed reading Kan's POV, but the main focus is with Bethany Garret and her POV. She is a passionate sexy woman, thrown in the middle of a huge conflict and forced into situations the demand she choice her family over her mate and new found love. For me, the decisions that Bethany had to make, defined a woman that I would want on my side. Ms Thomas did an excellent job bringing across a strong theme of just how powerful love can really be and an excellent character to show it to us.

LAST THOUGHTS:

Prey for The Wolf was an enjoyable read and I will be adding Keri Thomas to my must-have author list. I enjoyed the way she delivered the surprise plot twits and how she writes compelling characters that have me reading long after my bedtime. I would definitely like to see more from the Steele Pack!   

MY RATING:

Winner of Lilly Cain's Building Magic

Good afternoon everyone! I hope your Wednesday was as productive as you hoped it would be.
So, let's me get to it! Here is the winner for Lilly Cain's Building Magic...

Commenter # 3
CATHY M!

CONGRATULATIONS CATHY!!!

Lilly will be emailing your copy shortly!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Lilly for sharing her time with us!
Please make sure to check back often. I have several reviews coming out soon. To name a couple, H.P. Mallory's To Kill a Warlock and Felicity Heaton's Her Fallen Angel and several more. Raven Corinn Carluk will be with on the 30th to share her take on vampires and offer a giveaway to two winners. Very fitting for the season, don't you agree! See you then...

Guest Spot & Giveaway with Lilly Cain ~ Nouvelle Cuisine

I am thrilled to introduce an awesome author to you today. I feel honored that she has taken the time out to stop in here on Bookin' It and share her thoughts on writing with vampires and dragons. When I read and reviewed her book Building Magic, I knew I had found a new author for my must have list. I know you will love the magic she weaves within her pages as much has I have. Please help me welcome Lilly  Cain!!!

Thank you for having me here at Bookin’ It! Recently I released my third book, a novella entitled BUILDING MAGIC from Red Sage Publishing. I’m glad to be here celebrating this new release and sharing a little with you about why it isn’t a vampire novel like my first book, DARK HARMONY, also from Red Sage.

Vampires have been a hot ticket item in publishing for some time. I think it all started with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then got buzzed along by Angel and the Vampire Diaries, Blown up by Twilight and set on fire by True Blood! But have they been with us too long?

I think it is safe to say that vampires aren’t going anywhere just yet. I’m certainly going to write about them again. They’ve worked their way into every age group and every entertainment genre. But we all like a taste of something fresh, a little fusion in our cuisine. Since paranormal is all the rage we saw the onslaught of werewolves and werecats, the up-rise in sci-fi, some witchcraft in the sidelines, and now, dragons. Are Dragons the next hot ticket? Maybe. What’s not to like. They don’t just have magic, they are magic. They can shift forms. They can fly. Some can cast spells, spit fire, and are damn near invincible.

In Building Magic my hero is a dragon. Here are some bits of description from my story  about the wonderful, scaly beasts:

As the beast‘s hind legs hit the ground Tina made her best effort to pry herself from its claws. Her heart screamed with the effort, adrenalin racing through her veins as she moved with a speed only terror could bring. The beast had huge teeth in a lean serpentine head, rippling corded muscle covered by leathery skin in an opalescent dark blue laced with shining scales and wings. She lay in the grip of a monster.

The above excerpt comes as Tina meets the hero in his true form for the first time. Later, as she discovers all there is to this delicious male, she describes him like this:

One heartbeat, then two, passed. Tina fixed her eyes on Devin, but his shift occurred so quickly she couldn‘t catch the progression. In an instant he became a creature of legend. This time, with her fears dismissed, she could appreciate the beauty of his dragon form. He was strength and power personified. Lean muscles rippled along his back and serpentine neck. His teeth and talons were still fearsomely huge, but a hint of Devin

I recently did a search on dragon romance on Google. There were over 1.5 million hits. WOW. I know for sure that I am going to continue with this series, and write about other brands of these mysterious, powerful creatures. Will Dragons be the next vampire-like smash hit? I don’t know for sure but I’m thinking the possibility is there, indeed.

A little bit more about Building Magic  -

When architecture student and summertime welder Tina Moreland develops a reputation as a peeping Tom, it isn’t the first time she’s been teased for being different. Catching a glimpse of the man of her dreams is worth the aggravation. But when she witnesses him doing something stranger than stripping in his hightower office, it’s enough to make her forget that when working unharnessed on the fifth floor, the first step is a long way down.

Working in the human world leaves Devin Ken’Draga frustrated and exhausted. Things aren’t going well. Devin is the Kenta – prime dragon - in a world not far from earth, only a magical breath of flame away. It is a world that is having problems, and he is expected to solve them. The question is how. Civil war has shattered his land and destroyed his home. He can’t come up with an Answer, and the Elders can only tell him he will find what he needs on Earth.

Devin doesn’t have time to rescue a damsel in distress. But since she is literally falling at his feet, he can’t help but to save Tina. Bringing her home wasn’t part of the plan, but once they fall through the magical portal together, there is no going back. It is only when he spreads his wings in his true dragon form that Devin realizes something he hadn’t anticipated – the woman is a virgin, a temptation no dragon can resist.

And, as I mentioned, this is a celebration! I am so glad to say I am offering a free .pdf copy of Building Magic to a commenter on today’s post. Tell me what you think is the next big trend in paranormal romance. Could it be Shape-shifting dragons?

To read more about Lilly check out her website at www.lillycain.com. Or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LillyCain

To purchase a copy of her book Building Magic or find out about other fantastic authors, check out www.eRedSage.com.

Discover a little about Lilly Cain:

Lilly Cain is a wild woman with a deep throaty laugh, plunging necklines and a great lover of all things sensual - perfume, chocolate, silk! She never has to worry about finding a date or keeping a man in line. She keeps her blond hair long and curly, wears beautiful clothes and loves loud music. Lilly lives her private life in the pages of her books.

Lilly lives in Atlantic Canada, although she spent eight years in Bermuda, enjoying the heat and the pink sands. She returned to her homeland so she could see the changing of the seasons once again. When not writing she paints, swills coffee and vodka (but not together), and fights her writing pals for chocolate.

When not living up to her pen name, Lilly is a single mom who loves reading and writing, dabbling in art and loving and caring for her two daughters. She loves romance and the freedom erotic fantasy provides her imagination. She loves the chilling moments in her novels as much as the steaming hot interludes. Her stories are an escape and a release, and she hopes that they can give you that power, too.


__________________________________________________________
To read my review of Building Magic, please click below after leaving your comment! Oh, and don't forget to leave your email in the comment section. ;-)
 Building Magic Review

H.P. Mallory Contest Winners...

Good Morning! I am so thankful to all the people that stopped in and read H.P. Mallory's guest post. I have invited her back to share more on the self-publishing world early next month. I hope you will join us again!

I know you are anxious to know who the winners are so here we go! For all fairness in love and books, I have selected the winners by random number generator affectionately nicknamed pinky.

The winners are...

WINNER #1
LOU ROHDE
Prize - Jolie Wilkins Series Book 1 ~ Fire Burn Cauldron Bubble

WINNER # 2
EM PETROVA
Dulcie O' Neil Series Book 1 ~ To Kill A Warlock

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH THE WINNERS!


I will be emailing H.P. Mallory with your emails so she can send you your book!


Forgive the spacing, my blog seems to have a mind of its own at times. ;-)

Almost Time...

The winners of H.P. Mallory's book giveaway will be announced tomorrow bright and early!!!  

Interview & Giveaway with H.P. Mallory

Good Morning! I hope you have a nice warm mug of coffee or tea and are ready to enjoy a wonderful sit down with the very talented H.P. Mallory! She is here to talk about both of her July releases, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble and To Kill A Warlock. She is also here to share with us a little of what moved her to become an indie or self published author. So please come on in, join the fun and leave a comment along with your email, and you will be entered to win a copy of one of her books! There will be two lucky winners! Good Luck! ;-)

Welcome to Bookin' It Ms. Mallory!

Hi! I’m H.P. Mallory and Talina has asked me to write a guest post about self publishing and what it means to be an indie author. My story starts about three years ago when I was living in Cambridge, England. I’d just finished my first book, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble (a paranormal romance) and my critique partner, Lori Brighton, had suggested I try to find an agent. I sent out some query letters (the initial plug that gets an agent interested or not) and I got a ton of responses requesting the partial or full of the book!

After a few months, I’d received a bunch of rejections but also two offers for representation, one from my dream agent! So, at this point, I’m thinking I’m made. I’ve nailed one of the best agents in New York and I’m well on my way. I was elated, thinking this was it, I was definitely going to be published now and I’d become a huge and successful author! So, my agent sends the book out to about five publishers and no one bites. Meanwhile I’ve started writing my second book, To Kill A Warlock (an urban fantasy).  After another three or so publishers reject Fire Burn again, I notice my agent isn’t returning my phone calls or emails. Well, this continues for maybe three months and then I realize she isn’t interested in representing me anymore (I’m a little slow! LOL ). 

I sat on both books for about two years, in which time I’ve moved to Edinburgh, Scotland so my husband could get his MBA. Then we move back to Southern California and my crit partner tells me about a few indie authors who are killing it on Amazon, namely Zoe Winters and Amanda Hocking. So, I think to myself, hmm, what have I got to lose? My books are just sitting there collecting dust. Why not do something with them? 

In July 2010, I uploaded both books to Amazon with the hopes of selling a few hundred total. And, bam! I was shocked to find my books totally took off. So, then I start thinking—I can really make something of myself as an indie. I have two solid books and the response on both has been awesome. Maybe I should really push and try to get them out there…I find a bunch of bloggers who read the genres I write and I send them all emails introducing my books and myself. And, wow, they actually want to read my books! Pretty cool. And what’s even cooler is that the majority of them really like my work!

At this point, it’s been a couple of months and my books are competing with my traditionally published counterparts on Amazon and now on Barnes and Noble and doing really well! I’m so thrilled I made this decision and I haven’t looked back since. To learn more about my books and me, please visit my website: www.hpmallory.com

Jolie Wilkins Series Book 1

Fire Burn Cauldron Bubble:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead. A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover. A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches. The Underworld in a state of chaos. Let the games begin.

Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend. 

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand. 

Dulcie O' Neil Series Book 1

To Kill A Warlock:  

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The murder of a dark arts warlock. A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose. A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate. Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch.

Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world.  

When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim. 

Enter Knight Vander, a sinfully attractive investigator sent from the Netherworld to work the case with Dulcie. Between battling her attraction to her self-appointed partner, keeping a sadomasochistic demon in check, and fending off the advances of a sexy and powerful vampire, Dulcie’s got her hands full. 

As the body count increases, Dulcie finds herself battling dark magic, reconnoitering in S&M clubs and suffering the greatest of all betrayals.

Who is H.P. Mallory...

My writing career began about two years ago, after I started reading and loving Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series andLaurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. Thinking I, too, had a story to tell, I began writing my first urban fantasy / paranormal romance series, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble followed by To Kill A Warlock.

________________________________________________________

After leaving a comment for Ms. Mallory, you can find my review for Fire Burn Cauldron Bubble just below. I'll have my review for To Kill A Warlock up within a week! So check back soon! 

Ms. Mallory is also offering one lucky winner a spot in her next novel for the Jolie Wilkins series, Toil and Trouble on her blog. The rules are easy to follow and well, who doesn't want to be a cool character in a paranormal romance! Check it out HERE! While you’re there skip over HERE and read the first chapter to Toil and Trouble, coming this January. ;-)