Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Guest Post and Giveaway: Robyn Bachar

 UFI is pleased to welcome Robyn Bachar, Author of Blood Smoke and Mirrors.

I'm a Shakespeare nut, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" had a big influence on the faeries in Blood, Smoke and Mirrors. I even included a mention of troublemaking Shakespearean faeries in the warning for the book. I wanted to have faeries that wreak havoc and cause shenanigans in the human world, but only if they're left unchecked. Thus I created the role of Titania and Oberon in my setting—a political position held by a mortal magician, meant to keep the faeries from causing too much trouble in our world, and to keep magicians from abusing the magic in Faerie. My heroine Catherine Baker is a witch who tries to become Titania for the Midwest, spurred on by her faerie cousins Portia and Tybalt. Portia's character is also a bit of an in-joke for me, because in high school my freshman English teacher made us all memorize Portia's "the quality of mercy is not strain'd" speech from "The Merchant of Venice", so I made her bloodthirsty and vengeful. Portia also has a love of 80s punk fashion and game shows, but who doesn't?

To be honest, though, I didn’t do any research specifically for this book, because I’ve had a lifelong love of mythology and the paranormal. In college I took a course in ancient Irish mythology that was fascinating, and it definitely influenced my writing. In Blood, Smoke and Mirrors I wanted to include a little bit of everything that I love about urban fantasy, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I really enjoy working in this setting, and I have plans for more books in the series.


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Blood Smoke and Mirrors


Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.
  Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father’s reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.

Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She’d rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.

Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian—until now. The lingering guilt over Cat’s exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.

Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex’s protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe…and win her back. If they both survive.

Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.
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Find Robyn and her books
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Robyn is giving away a $10 Amazon GC to the host with the most comments and a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter so make sure to leave a comment here and check out her other tour stops by clicking the banner above.



Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Moira Roger's Wilders Mate Kindle Contest

Wilder’s Mate Kindle Contest


Want to win a brand new Wi-Fi Kindle 3? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you can have your chance! For more chances to win, visit the main contest page. Every participating blog you visit gives you another chance to win!


This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo. For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post. Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473

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Digital Versions: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Samhain Publishing, Amazon UK, Kobo


Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.
Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.
At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn.
As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

Length: Category Novel | Rating: Hot | Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Themes: Shapeshifters, Gunslingers, Werewolves in Heat, Badass Alphas, Vampires, Historical, Wild West, Steampunk

Review: The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

The Iron Thorn
Author:Caitlin Kittredge
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Iron Codex Book #1
ISBN: 0385738293
ISBN13: 9780385738293
Genre: Young Adult/ Steampunk


In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

 Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.


I feel so bad but I just could not get thorough the book. I forced myself to read through half of it and just could not continue to read it all and skimmed through to the end. It felt like every page was 10 pages long and everything was way over explained. The more I read the more I found that I just wanted the page to end and get on with the story. The plot was a good plot and the world building was fantastic, but uggh I really just could not connect with it at all. I was going to purchase the book and I'm glad that I decided to borrow it from the library instead.

I gave it 2/5 stars

New Releases March 7- 13


Tuesday Mar 8

 
Wed March 9

Evercrossed (Kissed by an Angel #4) by Elizabeth Chandler
The Hunt of the Unicorn by C.C. Humphreys
Immortal with a Kiss by Jacqueline Lepore
 
If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading

Monday, March 7, 2011

Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

This Side of the Grave
Author:Jeaniene Frost
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Avon
Night Huntress Book #5
ISBN:  0061783188
ISBN13: 9780061783180
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.



Cat and Bones are most favorite couple in a book series. I love reading about them and there adventures. They have gone through so much together and it is fantastic that they are at the point that they are happy with there lives and flow and support each other so beautifully. They tackle problems together and still stay strong. Frost brought back the romance, action and drama from other books as she continued Cats story in THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE. All my fave characters made an appearance and worked together to get rid of the problem. THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE was missing something that previous books had but I cant quite put my finger on the words to convey it. The closets I can come to expressing it is to say It didn't get my heart pumping and my mind racing like previous books did. Don't get me wrong the story rocked and all just didn't have that extra element. It really is a fantastic addition to the Night Huntress series and I'm still in love with the books and Jeaniene Frost's writing and plan on purchasing every book she comes out with.



I gave it 4/5 stars

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Week in Review 2/27-3/5

Books Ive Bought/received

* Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts- From Publisher for review

* Honeyed Words by J.A. Pitts- ARC- From Publisher for review

* River Marked by Patricia Briggs- Bought from Borders.com

* Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne- Bought from Borders.com


Books I read

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne
Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire

Other reviews posted

Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Dead on Delivery by Eileen Rendahl
Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

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*New Releases for the week.

* Alayna Williams stopped by on Wednesday to tell us about The Tarots Hanged Man and offered up a copy of her new book Rogue Oracle which Ends 3/9.

* Dianne Duvall stopped by on Thursday with an Interview and offered up a copy of her new release Darkness Dawns that ends 3/1.


Saturday, March 5, 2011

Review: Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead


Iron Crowned
Author:Richelle Mead
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Zebra
Dark Swan Book #3
ISBN:   1420111795
ISBN13: 9781420111798
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…

Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…


 A ton happens in IRON CROWNED, good, bad, shocking and I'm so happy I picked up the first book in the series a while ago and started reading it. There might be some mild spoilers to come so read with caution as I'm not sure if I will giving anything away or not. I LOVE that Jasmine and Eugenie get closer in book 3, They are both in a tough situation and Jasmine has really grown up and out of some of her ways and I'm so glad they can now support each other. I knew Eugenie would be in the situation she is in from the beginning but I was shocked at how it actually happened. I really like Dorian and Eugenie together, I was sad at a lot of what happened in IRON CROWNED and their relationship. I can not stand Kiyo. I haven't liked him since the last book though so it isn't much of a surprise to see how much of a douche he is. I can not believe there is only one more book "planned" for the Dark Swan series. I can honestly say I have no clue what is going to happen, but I'm super excited to find out.

I gave it 4/5 stars