Early Review: Trance by Kelly Meding

Trance
Author:Kelly Meding
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
MetaWars Book #1
ISBN:  1451620926
ISBN13: 9781451620924
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: S&S Galley Grab

Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series. 

Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished— only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her. 

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers—and why—but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman . . . only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.

Superheros in a modern society. What a great world Kelly has built with her new MetaWars series. Teresa is the daughter of two superheros. When she was little something ripped away her and every other superheros powers and she grew up in foster system until they kicked her out at 18. She spent her younger adult years as pretty much a failure. One day after a horrible day of work her powers suddenly reappear and sends her life onto a new path.

I found Teresa easy to empathize with. She was a great blend of real life and fantasy. She ended up finding her niche in a group she always thought she was to weak for. Gage spent a lot of his time in the system while growing up and losing people. He felt like he was always letting people down and was also in a pretty bad spot in his life when his powers came rushing back. He saw it as a new beginning and I felt that him and Teresa fit together really well. I liked the different powers everyone seemed to have and they way they were used. The storyline was fresh and engaging. I had NO clue who the villain really was. It was a total shock to me and I was glad I was able to get the the reveal without a clue as it made it so much better. The ending was pretty much left wide open for book 2. Their will be a whole new storyline thrown in and I'm excited to see what happens for the remaining Ranger Corp members now that they have a bit of a fresh start. TRANCE was definitely a great opening to a new UF series.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Series Review: Blood on Silk, Blood Sin, Blood Eternal by Marie Treanor

**Since this is a full series to date review their may be spoilers although I will try to keep them to a minimum**

Blood On Silk
Author:Marie Treanor
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: NAL
Awakened by Blood Book #1
ISBN: 0451231562
ISBN13: 9780451231567
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher

While in Romania researching historical superstitions, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk comes upon the folk tale of Saloman, a seductive prince staked centuries ago, legend's most powerful vampire. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers supernatural legends that have come alive. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger, and it's going to unite them in ways neither could have imagined.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about BLOOD ON SILK and it took me a really long time to even pick it up and read it. The book ended up being one of those OMG why did it take me so long to read you books. I enjoyed Elizabeth's character. She has a strong knowledge of the things she enjoys and has no troubles staying on course. When Soloman drops into her life she is torn between duty and desire. I wasn't sure about Soloman at the beginning but he slowly grew on me and became a favorite character of mine. The plot was well spaced out and played out in a way that kept me interested. I felt BLOOD ON SILK was a great start to the series.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Blood Sin
Author:Marie Treanor
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: NAL
Awakened by Blood Book #2
ISBN:  0451232313
ISBN13: 9780451232311
Genre:Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source:Publisher

Months after her dangerous encounter with the vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her vampire-hunting bloodline-and the desire she feels for Saloman, the immortal she brought back from the grave. But when Saloman's ancient sword becomes the object of a ruthless race between humans and vampires, Elizabeth must decide between unwanted loyalty, or unholy love.

I was pretty sad with how things ended in BLOOD ON SILK. They have so much chemistry together and it was hard to see them put that aside instead of finding a way to work together. Elizabeth has started tracking down her fellow descendants of Tsigana which leads her to find Josh a movie star that happens to be a far off relation to her. Josh became another great supporting character to the series while also bring Elizabeth into a situation where she runs into Soloman again. The pace was on the same level as book 1. The romance was just as high and the situations were just as pleasantly intense. I m excited to see what will happen in BLOOD AWAKENING to bring Soloman and Elizabeth even closer.  BLOOD SIN was another great book in the Awakened by Blood series.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Blood Eternal
Author:Marie Treanor
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: NAL
Awakened by Blood Book #3
ISBN:  0451234723
ISBN13: 9780451234728
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Despite the growing passion that unites them, all is not well between Elizabeth and Saloman. She refuses to follow him as he builds his influence among the human population and consolidates his rule over the vampire world. A shocking revolt is just the latest crisis that's call him away.

But under Saloman's regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy. And after he joins forces with vampire hunters, Elizabeth begins to understand the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could be a conduit between humanity and the undead-is she can manage to play both sides and stay alive...

Even after everything that has happened Elizabeth is still a bit torn between duty and love. Her and Soloman are made for each other and that has been apparent since book one. Elizabeth has always held herself a bit back and talked her self out of taking the needed steps to make the relationship work. BLOOD ETERNAL turns all that around and brings them together much more closely then they have beem. There is some fantastic action and suspense in BLOOD ETERNAL. Friends need to make final choices as to who they will support and stand behind. Elizabeth comes into her talents more then she has in past books. The romance between Soloman and Elizabeth continues to be steamy. I really felt that Elizabeth did a great job with staying true to herself and her beliefs while working with everyone's best intentions in mind. BLOOD ETERNAL ends on an exciting note and I really want to know what happens next but it looks like the series is over :( I definitely think there is a lot of story left and hope it continues some time.

I gave it 4/5 stars
 
I have really enjoyed the series as a whole and had no issues reading all 3 books back to back.

Winner: Love's Eternal Embrace by Karen Michelle Nutt

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PRIZE: One e-copy of Love's Eternal Embrace

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Guest Post & Giveaway: Marie Treanor

UFI welcomes Author Marie Treanor. Thanks for Joining us!!

Let’s Talk Kilts! By Marie Treanor

I know kilts fascinate the rest of the world – I should explain at this point that I’m Scottish! – so I thought I’d talk about why in the world Scotsmen wear them!

Well, actually, they don't wear them nearly as often as you might think! Big party occasions like weddings and New Year, traditional events like Highland games, pipe band marches, or formal events where other people might wear evening dress, are the times you're most likely to see them in any quantities.

Kilts have become a symbol of "Scottishness", of patriotism, but it might surprise you to know that the original kilt looked very little like the Highland dress of today. Today's kilts, grew out of a romanticized version of what was basically poor Highland peasant costume, and Sir Walter Scott generally gets the credit for "inventing" it.

The irony is that Lowland gentlemen, and noblemen, would at once time have despised the kilt as the garb of the Highland lower orders. It was basically a blanket, often brightly coloured, that could be slept under at night, and then wrapped around the body and pinned for day wear. And yet, in the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, it became fashionable on high days and holidays for all Scotsmen from whatever region, including those of the highest rank, to wear a new, romanticized version of the once despised kilt. Why?

Basically, a resurgence of Scottish pride. The Jacobite Rebellion (1745-46) had somewhat unfairly tarred the entire Scottish nation with the same brush of disloyalty and rebellion. Highland culture, in terms of language and dress, was outlawed, and it was very hard for any Scots to thrive in this general atmosphere of mistrust. Victoria, however, fell in love with the Highlands, and with Sir Walter Scott's romantic view of Scottish history. At least partly as a result, the Scots as a whole adopted Highland symbols like the kilt, to represent their own patriotism, their newly rediscovered pride in their own nation.

OK, I know what you’re going to ask me. What do Scotsmen wear under their kilts?

Whatever they like, of course!

Although – sh-sh - just as you hope, it’s traditional to wear nothing at all .

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Marie Treanor lives in Scotland with her eccentric husband and three much-too-smart children. Having grown bored with city life, she resides these days in a picturesque village by the sea where she is lucky enough to enjoy herself avoiding housework and writing sensual stories of paranormal romance and fantasy.

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Find Marie and her books

Website / Newsletter / Facebook

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Blood Eternal
Awakened by Blood #3
Oct 4, 2011

Despite the growing passion that unites them, all is not well between Elizabeth and Saloman. She refuses to follow him as he builds his influence among the human population and consolidates his rule over the vampire world. A shocking revolt is just the latest crisis that's call him away.

But under Saloman's regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy. And after he joins forces with vampire hunters, Elizabeth begins to understand the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could be a conduit between humanity and the undead-is she can manage to play both sides and stay alive...

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Interview & Giveaway: Kersten Hamilton

UFI welcomes Kersten Hamilton Author of The Goblin Wars series. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

Let’s see…I’ve shared about the shrapnel in my arm…I’ve discussed my dysgraphia…it is easy to see that I hunt dinosaurs and write all kinds of books… I’ve said repeatedly that if a movie is ever made of my life, Jonny Depp should play the part….I don’t know that I’m interesting enough to go on and on about. Oh, how about this: when I was six and living in Alaska, I went hunting grizzly bears with a single shot twenty-two. By myself. Fortunately, I didn’t find any. 

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Down time? What’s that?:)

What is your Favorite part of writing? 

Character creation. I’m not satisfied until I know them well enough to slip into their skins and live their different perspectives. I picture each scene as a dance where the ‘voice’ of each character must be clearly and honestly portrayed. I like the end result of writing this way, but it is emotionally exhausting. I dread having to write the scenes with bad guys. I can’t force myself to slip inside them, so I model them on evil people I have known.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

None, and that’s a good thing because I live a rather chaotic life. If any order or routine were necessary, the books would never get written!

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

There are so many Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books being published right now, so many excellent authors; I wouldn’t want to leave anybody out!  Can I just mention some of my older favorites that people might not have read in hopes that they will track them down? I like Charles De Lint, who was writing in the dawn of the Urban Fantasy and is writing still. I love the mythic elements in his books. I liked Zenna Henderson’s The People stories. I love Neil Gaiman’s writing especially his short stories and novels such as Neverwhere or The Anansi Boys. I like Charles Williams, who wrote unsettling paranormals such as All Hallow’s Eve long, long before Paranormal was a genre....This list could go on forever. But then, I wouldn’t get any more books written!

How would you pitch The Goblin Wars Series to someone who has not heard of it before?

I feel awkward talking about my own book, and never know what to say. So I’d cheat, by letting other people talk about them. Like this: “…a fast-paced adventure with a backbone of Celtic myth and heart of romance.” Pat Esden “One of my favorite things about your book is Teagan and Finn and they’re relationship. Teagan is smart and brave and doesn’t do dumb things that make you want to pull your hair out. Meanwhile Finn is absolutely sexy and cocky and sexy and brave and sexy… They’ve got great chemistry.” Ello from The Inkpot “Hamilton is a wizard at creating tension, building on characters’ strengths and weaknesses until the plot really takes off.” Kirkus “I loved the characters, the dialogs that had that witty and querky feeling I adore, the world-building…. I loved it because it was so utterly different from other YA fantasy novels. It was all at once touching, hilarious, action-packed and fast-paced.” Roxanne, The Honeyed Knot

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that The Goblin Wars Series is set in? 

This book, like the author, is comfortable with certain ancient Celtic sensibilities. The ancient Celts built no walls between the natural world and the supernatural, the secular and the sacred. In the Celtic world, no hero journeys alone, and you learn who you are through the journeys you choose to take.

Do you have a favorite scene in Tyger Tyger?

I like so many scenes in that book. I laughed a lot while I was writing it. I laughed really hard when Teagan met Finn, and when she was explaining to him where the phrase “warmed the cockles of my heart” came from. I love any scene with Aiden or Mr. Wylltson in it. I like the scene where Mamieo, Finn’s tiny grandmother, takes on the arrogant young goblin who has come hunting them…. I guess I’d have to say I love the whole book!

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about? 

In Tyger Tyger, it was Finn. He has lived a very exciting life. It was fun learning about it, and understanding why he is the way he is. In the second book, In the Forests of the Night, I really enjoyed writing about Teagan. It is very clear why Tea and Finn love one another.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

After the Goblin Wars series is done?:)

I have just sold a very fun steampunk chapter book THE MESMER MENACE, set on the eve of the Great Mesmer War of 1901, featuring a boy inventor, President Teddy Roosevelt, evil hypnotists, robots, a lightning harvester, and a dashingly brave and loyal dachshund named Noodles. It was extremely fun to write. I am finishing a “Holes”–esque older MG dealing with suicide, Catholicism, immigration issues and one undead school administrator. After that, I have a TOP SECRET YA project in the works. I can say that it has something to do with an ancient poem and an awesome hero…. 

:) Thank you for interviewing me on your blog, Stacy!

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Find Kersten and her books

Website / Twitter

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Tyger Tyger
Goblin Wars #1
November 15, 2010

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.
    Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

 
Book 2 In The Forest of the Night will be released October 22, 2011



Are you a Librarian?? If so you can enter her Book Trailer contest for a copy http://home.comcast.net/~kerstenhamilton/Trailer/IFN_trailer.html

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New Releases Oct 16-22

Tue Oct 18

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, #3) by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Lord of the Wolfyn (Royal House of Shadows, #3) by Jessica Andersen

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Swear (Swoon, #2) by Nina Malkin

 

Let me know if you see a mistake or if I'm missing something. Happy Reading!!

Guest Blog, Review & Giveaway: Jennifer Harlow

UFI welcomes Jennifer Harlow Author of Mind Over Monsters. Thanks for Joining us!!

Tales From the Darkside by Jennifer Harlow

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
-e.e. cummings

I was never what one would call a normal girl. Apparently when I was six weeks old, my mother gazed down at her bundle of joy only to find that joy staring up at her with fierce determination (her words, not mine), and Mom got a chill. Even as a babe I was scaring people. This got worse as I got older. When other girls were playing with My Little Pony, I was making She-Ra Princess of Power and her minions go on quests to stop slavery or conquer my brothers' He-Men and Transformers. Growing up with only brothers did not help me find my inner girlie girl. I don't think I ever had a tea party or played house (unless it was a fortress made of skulls), but ninja princess and assassins were standard after school. (I have been killed approx 124 times by various brothers who loved to come up behind me, run their finger across my throat or point a Nerf gun to my head, and inform me I was dead. Don't worry, I gave as good as I got.)

Then at the ripe age of eight I was introduced to horror movies. It all started with Tremors. For those of you not into cult classics, Tremors is a movie starring Kevin Bacon where giant underground worms attack a small desert town. It's way better than you think. My best friend's brother showed us this film, and I spent the next five years sleeping on the top bunk in case the worms happened to show up in Virginia and Florida in search of a little girl Happy Meal. (It could have happened!!!) It scared the beejepers out of me, but triggered something deep inside me. I loved being scared, it was thrilling. Thus began my love of all things gory and horrific. (Thank you Ned and Susan Hannon). Horror is my favorite genre of book and movies. Zombies, Freddy Kruger, demons, I love them all. Then, as pedophile fever began on all the news shows, I got into serial killers as well. I was the only pre-teen who knew who Dahmer and Bundy were. The fact that life could turn on a dime, that pure evil can show up in the least likely places not in the form of a preternatural monster but your next door neighbor was fascinating. It still is. It’s why I was a psychology major. Needless to say not many of my peers or even family members felt the same.

As you may have guessed my parents were pretty liberal when it came to their children. As long as we weren't in physical danger to ourselves or each other we could explore the world and learn the consequences. (See top bunk incident). They got a lot of crap from other parents and relatives for my strangeness. My grandmother actually pulled my mother aside one day to voice her concern about me "going over to the darkside." She was worried I would be influenced by all these dark ideas and either kill someone or invite real darkness into my life. She even put this concern into painting form, which still hangs in my hallway to show how close I came to being engulfed by the darkness. (Yeah, me and Darth Vader).

I got the last laugh, though. I did not become a serial killer or suicidal cutter as many worried…at least not in real life. Yet. No, I became something worse. An author.

My first book, Mind Over Monsters, features zombies, werewolves, vampires, a mass murderer, and a machete named Bette. I still watch horror movies, I still engage in more masculine activities like shooting and going to comic book stores with my bros instead of the salon. So the strange child did grow into a strange adult. With a book deal. I’m still that six-week-old filled with fierce determination, though now I scare people on a massive scale while laughing manically all the way to the bank. Sometimes going over to the darkside can be a good thing. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise or I’ll get my machete.

What about all of you? Horror for girls has gone far more main-stream since my time thanks to urban fantasy and Twilight. Do you still get crap for liking vampires and werewolves? Are there things you like that make you feel like an outsider? Discuss.

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Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virgina home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.
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Find Jennifer and her books

Website

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Jennifer Harlow
Author:Jennifer Harlow
Release Date: October 8, 2011
Publisher: Midnight Ink
A F.R.E.A.K.S Squad Investigations Book #1
ISBN:  0738726672
ISBN13: 9780738726670
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Publisher

Paranormal heroes take on zombies in this funny and thrilling debut 

Very few people know the truth about Beatrice Alexander. She's no ordinary schoolteacher with a fondness for classic movies. Beatrice can move objects with her mind, an embarrassing and dangerous skill that she's never learned to master—or embrace. After nearly killing her brother by accident, she joins F.R.E.A.K.S. The Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals is a top-secret offshoot of the FBI that "neutralizes" ghouls, trolls, and other monsters threatening humanity.

Beatrice has no desire to become Buffy the vampire slayer. But F.R.E.A.K.S. offers training to control her power. Also, she doesn't feel like such a freak next to the other supernatural members, including a cute former detective who's a werewolf and an unbearable vampire determined to seduce Beatrice. Despite a natural instinct to flee from hideous, bloodthirsty zombies, Beatrice must prove herself on her first mission to find a cunning necromancer.

MIND OVER MONSTERS ended up being a very pleasant surprise. I was not really crazy with the cover so it took me a bit to want to really read the book but once I picked it up I had no problem getting into the story. Bea was easy to like. She has always known she has magic but was scared of it. She always seemed to end up hurting the people she cared about. In the beginning of the book she is recruited into a secret government agency full of other people with gifts and supernatural status. She ends up finding a place where she fits in even though there are some ups and downs and doubts. There is a bit of a love triangle going on between her a werewolf and a vampire. I'm hoping for some more romance with the next book though as there is not much in this one. There are zombies of course so some of the scenes are pretty gory but there is some great zombie fighting scenes. I enjoyed the entire story. There was plenty of mystery, suspense, investigating, and interesting powers on display. I will definitely read the next F.R.E.A.K Squad book when it comes out.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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This is a blog tour wide giveaway.

- 5 Copies of Mind Over Monsters

 RULES
1)  Must fill out THIS FORM
2) Open to U.S. Shipping Addresses only