Spotlight Author for July * Lori Handeland *

Biography (From her web-site)

Lori Handeland is a New York Times, USA Today, Waldenbooks and Bookscan Bestselling Author and the recipient of many industry awards, including two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America for Best Paranormal (BLUE MOON) and Best Long Contemporary Romance (THE MOMMY QUEST), a Romantic Times Award for Best Harlequin Superromance (A SOLDIER'S QUEST), the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, the Write Touch Readers Award, the National Readers Choice Award and the Prism Award.Â

Lori is published world wide in several genres--historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy and historical fantasy--by such publishers as: Dorchester, Kensington, Harlequin, St. Martin's Press, Harper-Collins, Simon and Schuster and Penguin/Putnam.

Series

Urban Fantasy

Phoenix Chronicles

1. Any Given Doomsday
2. Doomsday Can Wait
3. Apocalypse Happens
4. Chaos Bites

Paranormal Romance

Night Creature

1. Blue Moon

2. Hunter's Moon
3. Dark Moon
4. Crescent Moon
5. Midnight Moon
6. Rising Moon
7. Hidden Moon
8. Thunder Moon
9. Marked By The Moon
10. Moon Cursed
11. Crave The Moon

For more information on Lori Handeland, go to

http://www.lorihandeland.com/index.php

Books Coming Out In July...

Here is a list of books coming out in July.

Please add your favorite books and authors to the list.

            

(July 1) DARK AWAKENING by Kendra Leigh Castle – Book 1 in the Dark Dynasties series
(July 1) In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare – Book 2 in the Gentleman Vampires series
(July 1) Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden – Book 4 in the Night Watch series
(July 1) Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe – Book 2 in the Soulfire series
(July 5) Sirensong by Jenna Black – Book 3 in the Faeriewalker series
(July 5) Bloodlust by Michelle Rowen – Book 2 in the Nightshade series
(July 5) Revelation by Lauren Dane – Book 2 the De La Vega Cats series
(July 5) Grave Dance by Kalayna Price - Book 2 in the Grave Witch Series
(July 19) Code of the Wolf by Susan Krinard - Book 8 in the 19th Century Werewolf series
(July 26) Rush of Pleasure by Rhyannon Byrd – Book 8 in the Primal Instinct series
(July 26) Seduce Me in Flames by Jacquelyn Frank – Book 2 in the Three Worlds series
(July 26) Bound By Moonlight by Nancy Gideon – Book 4 in the Moonlight series
(July 26) Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding – Book 3 in the Dreg City series
(July 26) Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong – Book 12 in the Women of the Otherworld series
(July 26) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey - Book 2 in the Sandman Slim series
(July 27) Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep – Book 1 in the Mythos Academy series

Chosen By Blood

Here's the official summary:

United by fate. Bound by desire.

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

CHOSEN BY BLOOD

Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.

Review:

What a great start to a new series. The story was richly detailed and exceptionally written. I love worlds where human and paranormal beings live knowingly among each other. I liked the concept of the FBI Para-Ops team consisting of various Otherborn and humans for the good of the world. The combination of all of these elements allows for action, fighting, conspiracy, and turmoil. The Para-Op team kept me extremely entertained. The author put together a great cast of characters. I loved that each team member was so different and that they didn’t easily get along together.

Felicia and Knox were great core characters. They were both leaders, stubborn, and their chemistry was smoking hot. After reading the prologue I know this would not be a typical romance and I was right. Although I was not comfortable with the friend and wife being a stepping stone to their happiness, I enjoyed the struggle between the characters. They have a very complicated history. Vampires and humans have very different beliefs and live very different lives, this just adds to the tension and conflict between these two characters.

I enjoyed how fresh and different this story was. I loved all the Para-Op team characters and can’t wait to learn more about them.

I gave this book 4 out of 5

Title: Chosen by Blood

Author: Virna DePaul
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 2011
Series: Series: A Para-Ops Novel Series, #1

For more information visit Vina DePaul’s website, http://www.virnadepaul.com/books_paranormal.shtml

Magic Bleeds

Here's the official summary:

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…

Review

This is my favorite book in the series to date. I think that Ilona and her husband Gordon really hit their stride in this book and have something special to offer readers. The worldbuilding and character development is so imaginative and descriptive, it’s just outstanding. The secondary characters are just as awesome as the primary. With each book you can’t help but to become more emotionally invested in in the story and the characters.

Magic Bleeds reveals many details including more about Kate’s past and her destiny. It raises the stakes, putting us that much closer to the confrontation with her family. We are also treated to some awesome fight scenes and great emotional development between Curran and Kate. It is one big rollercoaster ride of excitement, magic and romance.

Speaking of romance, the relationship between Curran and Kate has never been so intense and full of passion. Whether they are in a battle of wills, kick each other’s asses or making out. I really enjoyed see Kate in a much more emotional setting.  

I gave this book 5 out of 5

Title: Magic Bleeds

Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 2010
Series: Series: Kate Daniels Series #4

For more information visit Ilona Andrews website, http://www.ilona-andrews.com/kate-daniels/

The Darkness Beyond

Here's the official summary:

An online game of cat and mouse leads a Paladin warrior on a deadly rescue mission to claim the irresistible lover who should be his greatest enemy.

D. J. Clayborne has finally met his match. After weeks of playing cyber tag, a mysterious hacker bests D.J. at his own game. His nemesis downloads a top-secret history of the Paladins, forcing him to go on the hunt. The trail leads D.J. straight to Regina Morrison, a woman who is as sexy as she is talented in the cyber world.

Reggie has been working around the clock to stop a legendary computer hacker from accessing her clients' files. She just hasn't told her boss she found the intriguing culprit weeks ago. The last thing she expects to have D.J. show up on her doorstep and that he's even sexier than his evasive avatar. Now they're flirting with a dangerous line between duty and desire.

Reggie's deep investigation gets her kidnapped by the Others and forced across the hostile energy barrier into an alien world. Now it's up to D.J. to track down the captivating woman whose ability to break through his firewalls is also breaking through to his warrior's heart.

Review:

I have to say that this was one of my favorite books of the series. I've been waiting forever for D.J. to get his own story, and I was delighted to see him get paired with a woman who can hold her own, especially on his own turf, cyber space. You got to love a cyberqueen that can out hack the legendary computer hacker, Knightwalker.

I could not get enough of D.J.’s character. His humor is contagious and he has a geeky charm to him, despite being over 6 feet tall and built like a warrior. Not to mention he would go to any lengths to save Reggie when she gets herself mixed up his dangerous world.

The idea of the Paladins is new and creative, and I found the plot in The Darkness Beyond to be intriguing and exciting. Over the course of this series I have enjoyed learning about alien worlds, corrupt officials and the courageous warriors that fight for humanity.   

I gave this book 5 out of 5

Title: The Darkness Beyond

Author: Alexis Morgan
Publisher: Pocket
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Release Date: June 2011
Series: Paladins- #8

For more information visit Alexis Morgan’s, http://www.alexismorgan.com/paladins.html

Vampire in Atlantis

Here's the official summary:

The most unexpected of all allies to Poseidon’s warriors has proven to be the fiercest—Daniel, a vampire and Night Guild mage. But even the strongest alliance can be destroyed when an 11,000 year-old desire is reborn…

A vampire’s oath, a maiden’s quest…

Daniel, vampire and ally of the Warriors of Poseidon, has fought on the side of humanity—even against his fellow creatures of the night—for more than 11,000 years.  But the crushing weight of futility and the reality of always being starkly, utterly alone has forced him to finally give into despair. He took the first step into the sunlight that would destroy him—and instead walked into Atlantis.

And the blackest of magic that could consume them both…

Eleven thousand years ago, Serai was one of a group who agreed to be placed into magical stasis to ensure the future of the Atlantean race. When a dark sorceress steals the gemstone that protects her sleeping sisters, she awakens to a vastly changed world—and the one man she could never, ever forget. And with an ancient evil tracking their every step, the long-lost lovers must battle both the darkest of magic and the treacheries of their own hearts.

Review

I have waited for a long time for Daniel’s story and I was not disappointed. His story is about love, redemption, betrayal, and is filled with suspense and action. Throughout this series we have watched Daniel go from enemy to an uneasy alliance with the Warriors of Poseidon.

A millennia ago Daniel lost his one true love and was turned into a vampire. Since then Daniel's whole existence has been about atoning for the first years of being a vampire when he was lost to sorrow and blood lust. After finding Serai again he knows he doesn’t deserve her, for she is all that is good and he has done horrible things in his past but he still wants her. This story is about love, sacrifice, and the power of redemption.  

This book is a fun light read and if you are a fan of the Warriors of Poseidon you will love is book.

I gave this book 3 out of 5

Title: Vampire in Atlantis

Author: Alyssa Day
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 2011
Series: Warriors of Poseidon - #7

For more information visit Alyssa Day’s, http://www.alyssaday.com/VampireinAtlantis.html

Blood Law

Here's the official summary:

For all eternity, only one thing shall separate them—until the Blood Law is avenged…

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

Review

Blood Law is a great start to a fascinating series. While the sexual tension is intense and the romance is deeply moving, the strongest element of this story is the mythology. I absolutely loved the deep rooted history with the Lycans and the Slayers, it is riveting and complex. The Lycans have been hunted by the Slayers since medieval times and have had to constantly defend their bloodlines.

Blood Law is surprising story steeped in emotion, filled with tension, betrayal, treachery and danger as loyalties are tested, and the lines between justice and vengeance are blurred. Tabke succeeds in delivering complex characters and a fresh take on Lycan mythology. But be warned this book ends in a monumental sized cliffhanger.

I gave this book 4 out of 5

Title: Blood Law

Author: Karin Tabke
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Genre: Erotic Paranormal
Release Date: May 2011
Series: Blood Moon Trilogy #1

 For more information visit Karin Tabke’s website, http://karintabke.com/books/blood-law/

Magic Bites

Here's the official summary:

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic… One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds. In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy…

Review

 Ilona Andrews, a pseudonymous moniker for the husband-and-wife writing duo of Andrew and Ilona Gordon. The underlying tone of this story is dark, gritty, and atmospheric and the world is complex. Andrews offers readers a fresh take on vampires, magic and the supernatural elements are unique. I fell in love with Kate Daniels character from the start and I find Curran to be extremely fascinating. My only issue with the book is the writing style. It is a bit rough and does not flow in some spots. This may be due to the co-authors combining their writing styles together.  

Magic Bites is a promising start to a brilliant series and look forward to reading the next book, Magic Strikes.

 I gave this book 3.5 out of 5

Title: Magic Bites

Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: March 2007
Series: Series: Kate Daniels Series #1

For more information visit Ilona Andrews website, http://www.ilona-andrews.com/kate-daniels/

Urban Fantasy Couples

Who is your favorite super couple?  If your favorite couple is not on this list, please add them.

1)      Kate and Curran (Kate Daniels)

2)      Mercy and Adam (Mercy Thompson)

3)      Anita and Jean-Claude… and Nathaniel and Micah and… (Anita Blake)

4)      Sookie and Eric (Southern Vampire)

5)      Cat and Bones (Night Huntress)

6)      Georgina and Seth (Georgina Kincaid)

7)      Cassie and Mircea (Cassandra Palmer)

8)      Elena and Clay (Women of the Otherworld)

9)      Riley and Quinn (Riley Jenson Guardian)
10)   Mac and Barrons (Fever)

11)   Elena and Raphael (Guild Hunter)
12)   Carrie and Nathan (Blood Ties)
13)   Ellysetta and Rain (Tairen Soul)
14)   Merit and Ethan (Chicagoland Vampires)
15)   Faythe and Marc (Shifters)
16)   Anna and Charles (Alpha and Omega)