Winner: Everlong & Evermine

and the winner is...

PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)

Congrats Renee' S! You'll be contacted soon if you haven't already.

Random Acts of Kindness - February 2012

From Book ♥ Soulmates... "Random Acts of Kindness" is just a fun & thoughtful way to share a surprise with fellow bloggers & bookworms by giving them something from their online wishlist 'just because'. Share YOUR wishlist and maybe someone will surprise you! Learn more here.

I didn't receive any RAKs this month, but I did send one out. I sent out:

Lothaire by Kresley Cole to

Erica @ Inks Spots and Roses

March Book Releases

1st

Darkness Bound- Stella Cameron
Forever Claimed- Rachel Lee
The Half-Breed Vampire- Theresa Meyers
The Ruby Kiss- Helen Scott Taylor

2nd

Timeless- Gail Carriger

6th

Illuminate- Aimee Agresti
Wicked Edge- Nina Bangs
Now or Never- Michele Bardsley
Bridge of Dreams- Anne Bishop
Fair Game- Patricia Briggs
Taking a Shot- Jaci Burton
Dying Wish- Shannon K. Butcher
Waltz this Way- Dakota Cassidy
Everlasting- Elizabeth Chandler
The Royal Pain- MaryJanice Davidson
Assassins in Love- Kris DeLake
True Highland Spirit- Amanda Forester
Balthazar- Claudia Gray
Night Hunter- Vonna Harper
Oracle's Moon- Thea Harrison
Eventide- Elle Jasper
The Drowning Girl- Caitlin R. Kiernan
Soul Bound- Mari Mancusi
Discount Armageddon- Seanan McGuire
Crucible of Gold- Naomi Novick
The Sister Queens- Sophie Perinot
Hunter's Prey- Moira Rogers
Darkness Undone- Jessa Slade
A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing- Terry Spear
Anchor- Jorrie Spencer
Embrace- Jessica Shirvington
Doubletake- Rob Thurman
Dire Needs- Stephanie Tyler
Nightborn- Lynn Viehl
Vampire's Kiss- Veronica Wolff

13th

The Isis Collar- Cat Adams
Howl For Me- Dana Marie Belle
The Savage Grace- Bree Despain
Spell Bound- Rachel Hawkins
Eye of the Sword- Karyn Henley
Bound By Desire- Jaymie Holland
Infamous- Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Dream of Stone & Shadow- Marjorie M. Liu
Starters- Lissa Price
Commedia Della Morte- Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
The Book of Lost Frangrances- M.J. Rose

20th

Afterglow- Cherry Adair
Born to Darkness- Suzanne Brockmann
Deadly Is The Kiss- Rhyannon Byrd
Darkest Knight- Karen Duvall
The Werewolf's Wife- Michele Hauf
Loss- Jackie Morse Kessler
A Temptation of Angels- Michelle Zink

27th

Arthur, A.C.- Temptation Rising
Deliverance- Dakota Banks
Range of Ghosts- Elizabeth Bear
Back from the Undead- DD Barant
Goddess Interrupted- Aimee Carter
Wicked As They Come- Delilah S. Dawson
Slide- Jill Hathaway
Sacrificial Magic- Stacia Kane
Bear Meets Girl- Shelly Laurenston
Invisible Sun- David Macinnis Gill
The Saint- Monica McCarty
Highland Avenger- Hannah Howell
Blood on the Bayou- Stacey Jay
A Game of Thrones GN Vol. 1- George R.R. Martin
Blood Secret- Sharon Page
Sins of the Son- Linda Poitevin
Caught in the Act- Jill Sorenson
Wanted: Undead or Alive- Kerrelyn Sparks
The Kingdom- Amanda Stevens
The Seduction of Phaeton Black- Jillian Stone
Shadow's Fall- Dianne Sylvan
Lover Reborn- J.R. Ward

Winner: Stormy Weather: Collector's Edition (Anthology)

and the winner is...

The_Book_Queen

Congrats! I will be contacting you soon. 

 You have 5 days to claim your prizes.

 All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

In My Mailbox [145]

 In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library. Here is what I got this past week...

 
downloaded to my Kindle

Review:
Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal- Grace Burrowes
Too Tempting to Resist- Cara Elliot

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing & Sourcebooks.

PaperbackSwap:
The Darkest Pleasure- Gena Showalter

Bought:
Shaded Vision- Yasmine Galenorn
A Perfect Blood- Kim Harrison
A Killer First Date (Drake Chronicles novella)- Alyxandra Harvey
The Wolf Gift- Anne Rice

What did you get this week?
Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

Current Giveaways:

Digital copy of Stormy Weather Anthology by Selena Blake

Digital copies of Everlong & Evermine by Hailey Edwards

Cover Discovery

Release Date: April 10, 2012

Release Date: August 7, 2012

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Release Date: September 1, 2012

Release Date: September 11, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday [38] - Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine. A feature showcasing upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

I discovered this book a few months ago and have been eager to read it ever since. The cover is gorgeous!

Title: Embrace

Series: The Violet Eden Chapters

Author: Jessica Shirvington

Release Date: March 6, 2012

Book Description:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… 

The Violet Eden Chapters:

Embrace- March 6th

Enticed- September 2012

Emblazed- TBA

Endless- TBA

Guest Blog & Giveaway with Hailey Edwards

The Sweetest Kind of Love

      I love baking. I can cook with varying degrees of success. I’m a fire hazard with a grill, but baking…yeah…we get along just fine. Considering my fondness for sweets, it’s unsurprising some of my characters have sweet teeth. While I’ve yet to write a baker, I do have a diner owner. 

       Emma is a mishmash of every waitress I’ve met during diner hops with my husband. She’s bold and sassy, smart-mouthed and pushy, and she’s also, well, a half demon.

      While she and I have another love in common—hello, fried food—her hero, Harper, is the one with a hankering for sweets. But it gets better. He bakes. Sure, you don’t get to see much of that side of him in his book, Evermine, but he does bake Emma cookies that do me proud, and I’d like to share his recipe with you. Emma loves sugar cookies (with purple sprinkles of course).

Harper’s Gimme Some Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 ½ cups butter (softened)

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Mix butter and sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs and add vanilla. Sift in the flour,    baking powder, and salt. Then cover and chill dough for at least an hour.
2. When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s ¼ to ½ inch thick. With cookie cutters, cut into shapes. Place cookies one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for six to eight minutes, then allow to cool.

There you go. Simple and easy. Bake them for your sweetie. S/he will thank you. ;)

He can be a slave to his past…or allow her love to free him.

There’s such a thing as too much change. Emma’s sister is mated. Revolution is brewing in her home realm. The last straw: her would-be mate is back from the dead and back under her skin—yet when it comes to the last five years, he’s not talking.

Desperate for a chance to start her own life, she answers the queen’s call to ensure equality for all of Askara’s newly freed slaves. It’s the perfect opportunity to escape a heartbreak in the making named Harper.

Harper loses a piece of his fractured soul when Emma walks away. His lies were meant to protect her from torturous years that drove him to the point of madness. Instead, when he comes to her a year later to help avert a crisis in a freed-slave community, the wedge those lies drove between them is firmly in place.

As their new lives collide with old wounds, they race to stop a threat that could not only destroy the queen, but send Harper back to the hell he escaped. Emma must decide if the man she still loves deserves equal rights to her heart.

Warning: This title contains torn pants, ripped gowns, and sand in uncomfortable places. It also includes one overcompensating villain, one gnarly priest, and two battered hearts willing to give this thing called love one last chance.

Click here to read an excerpt from Evermine. Click here for more information on my upcoming releases, including the third book in the Daughters of Askara series, Eversworn.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Samhain Publishing

GIVEAWAY
In celebration of Evermine’s release, I’m giving away one digital copy of Everlong and one digital copy of Evermine to one lucky visitor. Leave a comment below on your favorite cookie or your favorite dessert, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!

Please make sure to leave your email in your comment. The giveaway is open to everyone. The winner will be announced on February 28th. Good Luck!

Guest Blog & Giveaway with Selena Blake

Happy Love-Month!

Personally, I think romance is a year round thing but I'm happy that there's at least one month where the world puts a spotlight on love and romance.

Since I write romance, I'm pretty much surrounded in "ooey-gooey-love-stuff" 365 days a year. This year, I get an extra day. I plan to put those extra 24 hours to good use with a romance movie marathon.

Here are a few of my favorite cinematic love stories and what I enjoy about them.

The Princess Bride - does this one really need an explanation? Oh, okay. Amazing characters, a rocky start to the relationship, love that stands the test of time.

Robin Hood - the Kevin Costner version. Reason: the final scene where Robin saves Maid Marian and tells her he'd die for her. *swoon*

Queen of the Damned - because everything works out in the end.

The Proposal - because I love a seeing two people who seem an unlikely couple actually fall in love. And Ryan Reynolds without his clothes on, win-win.

The Mummy - librarian heroine, anyone? Love the adventure. Love the romance. Enough said.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - I'm an action movie buff. Plus, spies & assassins? Top of my list. Toss in a love story, and two great actors...count.me.in!

Killers - Similar to the last, but I thought this one was funny and charming. Oh, and need I mention Ashton Kutcher's abs?

Underworld 1 & 2 - I like relationships that overcome great odds. A hybrid vampire/lycan falling in love with a death dealer? Definitely on my list.

Sweet Home Alabama - love triangle. Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey - is there any other explanation necessary?

The Italian Job - I kinda just like watching Charlie punch Steve. But the love story is slow and sweet too.

Lord of the Rings - epic love story. Okay, so it's an epic adventure, but Aragorn and Arwen end up together in the end and that's what matters. Right?

How about you? Are any of your favorites on my list?

Selena Blake writes erotic paranormal and contemporary romance. First published in 2008, her series Stormy Weather has been on the best seller lists and nominated for awards.  She's a fan of action movies, Diet Coke, Milky Way bars and thunderstorms, not necessarily in that order. Learn more about her online at http://www.selena-blake.com or catch her at facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorSelenaBlake

Stormy Weather: Special Edition

By Selena Blake

After centuries of solitude the stars are finally aligned just right. The handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana are going to meet their match this Hurricane Season.

Anthology includes: The Cajun’s Captive, Bitten In the Bayou, Seduced by a Cajun Werewolf, Mated to a Cajun Werewolf and Stranded with a Cajun Werewolf. Also, two bonus stories: More Than Attraction and A Cajun Werewolf Christmas.

The Collector’s Edition includes over 15,000 words of bonus content including an interview with the author, questions for the characters, soundtrack, behind the scenes and the making of the Stormy Weather series. Inside you’ll find 450 pages of content for the die hard Stormy Weather fan.

All Romance Ebooks | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Selena I have a digital copy of Stormy Weather: Collector's Edition to giveaway to one lucky winner. To enter leave a comment along with email address. Also, don't forget to answer Selena's question. Open to everyone, including International. The winner will be announced on February 27th. Good Luck!

In My Mailbox [144]

 In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library.

This week was a bit slow for books, mainly due to the fact my local Wal-Mart sucks
at getting new releases out. But I did get a few books for review that I'm really look
forward to reading. 

Review:

A Hint of Frost- Hailey Edwards

Eversworn- Hailey Edwards

Thank you to Hailey Edwards.

What did you get this week?

Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

[Review] - Dating the Undead by Gena Showalter & Jill Monroe

Title: Dating the Undead
Author: Gena Showalter & Jill Monroe
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: December 27, 2011

I received this book for review from Planned Television Arts.

Summary:  They're drop-dead handsome— and we're not kidding!

Welcome to the first and only guide devoted to loving the immortal man in all of his furry, feathery, fiery glory. Here is a forbidden-fruit salad of features, fiction, fashion, and more, including:

—Lipstick on His Collar
Is your immortal just a little bit…immoral?

—Angel in the Kitchen
Heavenly dishes that don' take an eternity to prepare
—A Kiss is not just a Kiss
Immortals we crave divulge their lip-smacking turn-ons

—Undead & Well-Read
What's hot between the covers this month

—A View from a Guy
Zombie Jack's turn

—Immorstrology
Our indispensable guide to heavenly bodies

Thoughts: An excellent read. Informative and funny. Dating the Undead is set up (in size and content) like an issue of Cosmo, except geared toward immortals. Inside the pages you will find articles on all sorts of topics that will be helpful for you and your immortal, quizzes, recipes, an excerpt to The Darkest Seduction and more. My favorite part is the article "Real Life Lords of the Underworld BARE ALL!"  The eye candy is to die for.  I also loved such adverts as Coffin Klein, Vladmir's Secret, Jimmy Chrew and Got Bludd.  This is a must read for immortal fans, especially if you love the Lords of the Underworld.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Websites:
http://genashowalter.com
http://jillmonroe.com/

Gena's Upcoming Releases:

The Darkest Seduction (Lord of the Underworld #9)- February 28, 2012
Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1)- June 26, 2012
Alice in Zombieland  (White Rabbit Chronicles #1)- October 2012
Last Kiss Goodnight (Otherworld Assassins #1)- December 2012

Winner: Into the Darkness

and the winner is...

brandisbookmusings

Congrats! Please send your mailing

information here:

annasbookblog@gmail.com

You have 5 days to claim your prizes.

Product Review: The WondaWedge

The WondaWedge is an inflatable reading pillow designed by a physiotherapist that doubles as an outdoor lounger – it’s great for concerts, picnics, camping and more (reading on the beach?).

WondaWedge is a great product to have. I tend to switch positions a lot when I'm reading or watching tv, so the WondaWedge is ideal. It easily inflates in a matter of minutes and it's comfortable. You can move the WondaWedge in the 3 different positions: (as seen below) sitting upright, lumbar roll and reclining. Personally my favorite position is the lumbar roll. Feels really nice on my back.

If orange isn't your color, The WondaWedge comes in a variety of colors. It's available online and bookstores. Check the link out to find the closest retail store near you.
http://www.wondawedge.com/links.htm

I highly recommend this product. It's fun and a great way to relax. 

Sitting Upright

Lumbar Roll

Reclining

The WondaWedge was sent to me for review from Cypress Creek Marketing.
_____________________________________________________________

21 WAYS TO ENJOY A WONDAWEDGE (and more!)

Outdoor/Recreation

1.  Beach lounger, sand won’t stick to or penetrate

2.  Fishing back support for more relaxing fishing from the dock or lakeside

3.  Tent lounger/Camping lounger  – pack it along with your tent

4.  RV accessory – deflates for compact storage

5.  Outdoor concert seating – easy to carry, doesn’t tear up the turf

6.  Picnic seating – better than just a blanket

7.  Boating lounger – recline in style on your pontoon, sailboat or yacht

8.  Soccer sideline seating – more comfortable than bleachers or a blanket

9. Outdoor plays/movies – lean back and enjoy the show!

10. Stargazing/Fireworks displays –  perfect for watching the night sky  

11. Poolside lounger – less expensive than a chaise lounge

Health/Relaxation

13. Recuperation back support – just home from the hospital

14. Reading in bed –  Chiropractors recommend firm support rather than bed pillows

15. Dorm Accessory  – multi position support for a myriad of activities

16. Meditation lower back support – focus on meditating, not your aching back!

17. Meditation workshop seating – don’t spend the day without back support

18. Sleep aid for GERD, Acid Reflux, respiratory problems, Scoliosis, Sciatica

19. Pregnancy relaxation aid/breast feeding back support and birthing class pillow

20. Gaming/television floor seat – proper back support while having fun!

21. Backrest for long-haul truckers in the truck cabin

WondaWedges have been purchased by customers for these creative ideas:

·    Fireworks on the National Mall

·    Relaxing on remote beaches where there are no chaise lounges

·    Viewing a space shuttle launch

·    Giveaways in gift bags for premium customers

·    Backpacking in Oregon

·    Pool Party gift from the hosting organization

·    Relaxation in-room on a cruise ship

·    Teachers buy them for elementary school reading circles

We donate WondaWedges to clinics and hospitals in 62 countries where there are no adjustable hospital beds, through Direct Relief International.  We also donate 10% of annual profits from the THINK PINK WondaWedge to breast cancer research.

Winners: Deliver Me From Darkness

and the winners are...

Carol L.

rubynreba

Congrats! Please send your mailing

information here:

annasbookblog@gmail.com

You have 5 days to claim your prizes.

 All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Waiting On Wednesday [37] - Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine. A feature showcasing upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

The Pride series is some of the best book crack out there. So addicting. I've loved every book and I can't wait to read this one. The only bad thing is that the books only come out once a year. 

Title: Bear Meets Girl

Series: Pride

Author: Shelly Laurenston

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Book Description:

He's big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He's also about to get trapped by own his game. . .

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy—especially for a shapeshifting bear. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she -- tiger who's bringing his passion out of hibernation...

Marcella Malone is a member of an elite feline protection unit, and Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. But there's no denying that beneath that big, burly exterior is a man who knows how to rub her in all the right ways...

Series Reading Order:

The Mane Event

The Beast in Him

The Mane Attraction

The Mane Squeeze

Beast Behaving Badly

Big Bad Beast

Bear Meets Girl

Winner: Romancing the Books Blog Hop

and the winner is...

Jen M

Congrats! Please send your mailing

information here:

annasbookblog@gmail.com

You have 5 days to claim your prizes.

 All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Guest Blog with Gena Showalter & Jill Monroe

Gena & Jill's Top 5 Lords of the Underworld

Click graphics for a better look

1. Paris

The Darkest Seduction

2. Maddox

The Darkest Night

3. Gideon 

The Darkest Lie

4. Reyes
The Darkest Pleasure

5. Cameo

featured in series, book yet to be published

pictures posted with permission from the publisher

______________________________________________________________

DATING THE UNDEAD

by Gena Showalter & Jill Monroe

Out Now! 

They're drop-dead handsome— and we're not kidding!
Welcome to the first and only guide devoted to loving the immortal man in all of his furry, feathery, fiery glory. Here is a forbidden-fruit salad of features, fiction, fashion, and more, including:
—Lipstick on His Collar
Is your immortal just a little bit…immoral?
—Angel in the Kitchen
Heavenly dishes that don' take an eternity to prepare
—A Kiss is not just a Kiss
Immortals we crave divulge their lip-smacking turn-ons
—Undead & Well-Read
What's hot between the covers this month

—A View from a Guy

Zombie Jack's turn

—Immorstrology

Our indispensable guide to heavenly bodies

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | The Book Depository

http://genashowalter.com/

http://jillmonroe.com/

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart a Little

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each Tuesday features a different topic and you post your top ten list related to the topic.

This weeks topic is Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little.

[the list may contain spoilers if you haven't read the books listed]

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

• Death of Dumbledore.  Totally shocked over this one. I had such an urge to throwing the book at the wall, but settled for the floor. It's the only book in the series, I've just read the one time.

2. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

• Bill Compton's betrayal is revealed.  Bill really feel out of favor in this single moment. He has grown on me again since then. But my heart hurt for Sookie in that moment. 

3. For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

• Death of Kisten. This one was spoiled to me, but reading it felt even worse.

4. Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon

• The previous books we know that Acheron didn't have a very good childhood or adulthood. But to finally read about it hurt my heart. The book has dark moments, but it's still one of my favorites in the series. 

5. Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas by James Patterson

• A friend recommend this one to me several times. When I started reading I had no idea what was in store. In every way this book was great, but so very heartbreaking. I don't think I cried so much over a book than this one. I highly recommend this one, just make sure to have tissues near by. 

6. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

• Sisterhood Everlasting is the 5th book the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I loved the previous books and was excited when this one came out. It takes place several years after the last book and the girls are scattered all over.  Tragedy strikes, I won't say who, but one of the main characters dies. This installment turned out to a lot more powerful that I thought it would be. It was heartbreaking to read, but also joyful too.

7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

• Primrose Everdeen. Mockingjay is much more darker than the previous books due to the war that is going on. I loved the ending, but with the loss of Prim it was bitter sweet. 

8. Adam by Jacquelyn Frank

• I loved Adam's story but, the prologue of this book tore me apart. If you've read it you know what I'm talking about. I couldn't believe the author did that to main characters. I almost put the book down after the prologue, but it's definitely worth continuing.

9. Madam Tussaud by Michelle Moran

• When reading Madam Tussaud I experience a range of emotions. Mostly anger and sadness. While this is a fiction novel the things Madam Tussaud were force to do because of war time and being know by the politicos was sad. I really felt for her. Parts of this book will leave you with a heavy heart.

10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

• Even though we were warned the death toll in this one would go up, I was still surprised by it. Mostly I picked this one because  it was the last in a great series. I was sad to see it come to an end.  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

[ARC Review] - Evermine by Hailey Edwards

Title: Evermine
Author: Hailey Edwards
Series: Daughters of Askara
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2012

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary:  He can be a slave to his past…or allow her love to free him.

There’s such a thing as too much change. Emma’s sister is mated. Revolution is brewing in her home realm. The last straw: her would-be mate is back from the dead and back under her skin—yet when it comes to the last five years, he’s not talking.

Desperate for a chance to start her own life, she answers the queen’s call to ensure equality for all of Askara’s newly freed slaves. It’s the perfect opportunity to escape a heartbreak in the making named Harper.

Harper loses a piece of his fractured soul when Emma walks away. His lies were meant to protect her from torturous years that drove him to the point of madness. Instead, when he comes to her a year later to help avert a crisis in a freed-slave community, the wedge those lies drove between them is firmly in place.

As their new lives collide with old wounds, they race to stop a threat that could not only destroy the queen, but send Harper back to the hell he escaped. Emma must decide if the man she still loves deserves equal rights to her heart.

Warning: This title contains torn pants, ripped gowns, and sand in uncomfortable places. It also includes one overcompensating villain, one gnarly priest, and two battered hearts willing to give this thing called love one last chance. 

Thoughts: Fabulous read! Daughter of Askara is a wonderful world to read about with an incredible set of characters.  I enjoyed Evermine, which is the second book in the series.  Emma & Harper's journey was an interesting one. They are very likable couple but, I found myself frustrated with them. They are a couple with personal issues and relationship issues and both have a stubbornness that will make you want to tear your hair out.  Ms. Edwards winged-creatures are dominating, sexy and just plain fun to read about.  This series is a must read in my book.

Score:  4 Stars

Author Website: http://haileyedwards.net/

Upcoming Releases:
A Hint of Frost (Araneae Nation #1)- April 17, 2012
Eversworn (Daughters of Askara #3)- June 26, 2012

In My Mailbox [143]

 In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library. Here is what I got this past week...

Thank you to Michelle G!

My favorite thing to arrive this week was the latest issue of EW. :))

Received:

Darkness Descending- Devyn Quinn

Immortal Beloved- Cate Tiernan

Darkness Falls- Cate Tiernan

Winner: Bond with Me & His Dark Bond

and the winner is...

Barbara E.

Congrats! Please send your mailing

information here:

annasbookblog@gmail.com

You have 5 days to claim your prizes.

 All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Cover Discovery

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Release Date: June 26, 2012

Release Date: July 3, 2012

Release Date: August 6, 2012

Interview & Giveaway with Tes Hilaire

Hi Tes, Welcome to Anna's Book Blog! I'm glad to have you here. To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

TH: Besides that I’m a reclusive writer? ;-) Okay… let’s see. I love animals. In fact, I thought at one point I’d be a vet. Hence the degree in biology. Problem was I didn’t love some of the owners so much so that didn’t quite pan out. I also love the outdoors. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, but given the choice between fresh O2 or reading that new novel by so-and-so that just came out? Let’s just say I’m amazed my local Borders went out of business. If I didn’t know better I’d say that the lack of a nearby bookstore is what drove me to return to writing. Yes, return. When I was young I wrote a lot: poems that rhymed, scattered short stories, silly song lyrics. I’m proud to say I grew out of the scattered, silly, rhyming bit, though not the love for a good story!

Deliver Me from Darkness is your newest release, can you tells us a little about it and the series?

TH: Deliver Me from Darkness is actually my debut novel so as you can imagine, I’m very excited. It is about Roland, a vigilante vampire and fallen “angel” Paladin who yearns for, but doesn’t believe in, redemption for his soul—until the day his soul-mate, Karissa, is delivered to his door. She is everything he could ever need or want, but though she is drawn to him, she can’t bring herself to trust someone that she’s been taught is inherently evil. Only she must, because though she does not know it, she’s the last female Paladin. And her heritage and untamed powers have put a bulls-eye upon her from both friend and enemy alike.

What is your writing day like?

TH: First thing is getting my monsters off to school. Hopefully this goes well and then I can relax for a moment with a cup of coffee and regroup. It used to be that I’d just start writing at this point and go until my stomach rumbled or my alarmed dinged, informing me I had something else on my schedule to do. But now that I’m published I have other things to worry about, like promotion. Yikes! I don’t have a perfect system yet, but I try to work in the business things amongst the writing, though I’m finding it’s better to write first, blog/Tweet/Facebook/answer emails later. Anyway, my writing day is a work in progress, just like pretty much everything else I do in this industry!

When you’re not writing, what kind of books do you like to read?

TH: I’m of course a sucker for paranormal romance, though my true love is a good urban fantasy with a light romantic overtone. I am also drawn to some of the young adult novels out there and enjoy a good epic fantasy upon occasion. And then there are the times when I’m feeling down and need a pick-me-up. That’s when I need a good, short contemporary romance, a couch, and a rainy day.

Since becoming published, what has been your favorite part of the process?

TH: I’m still fairly new to all this, but so far I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all the other authors. They’re all very supportive and it’s so fun to get to meet some of these great people whose names have been decorating my bookshelf for years!

What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a book?

TH: Well it can vary depending on what my goals for the day are, but for that first “pen to paper” moment, when I’m developing a new story, I need a quiet house (that I can ruin with whatever noise/music I want), my laptop (because I can’t “create” at a desk, though I can edit there), and time (always in short supply).

When you learned Deliver Me from Darkness was going to be published, what was your first reaction?

TH: When I got “the call” I think I had one of those OMG moments where my chest tightened right up and my throat squeezed down on my larynx (hard to tell for sure, it might have just been a time-slows-down moment), but then I ran into another part of the house so I could talk with Leah on the phone—without my in-laws (who were visiting) overhearing my stuttering.

How did you come up with your idea for the Paladin Warriors? Anything particular inspire you while writing?

TH: I’ve always been fascinated with the crusades, the knights, the vast battles and the clash of cultures. It was a horrific time in world history and one filled with causes both noble and evil in intent. There was so much going on during this time—political, economic, and religious power plays alike—that the wealth of possibilities were endless for the basis of my mythos. So I went a searching and stumbled upon The Song of Roland. The song itself is embroiled in political and personal intrigue and doesn’t paint the players as angelic visages or infallible warriors, but it did have something interesting. It’s the first mention of the twelve Paladin, twelve religious warriors: a number representative of King Authors round table, and the number of disciples in Christian scripture. Of course, it still took a bit longer to get all the wrinkles out, but in the end I had my Paladin. :-)

If you could give your lead characters one piece of advice, what would it be?

TH: Roland –Stop beating yourself up. Karissa—trust your gut.

If you can, tell us what is up next for you?

TH: Well, I recently turned in book two of the Paladin warriors. Deliver Me from Temptation picks up soon after the end of Darkness and is Logan’s story. And trust me; it was real fun to watch that man fall in love.

DELIVER ME FROM DARKNESS 

BY TES HILAIRE 

IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT...
He had once been a warrior of the Light, one of the revered Paladin. A protector. But now he lives in darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up at his doorstep.

COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR…
She is light and bright and everything beautiful—despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is his. He may not have a soul, but he can't deny his heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daphne Award-winning author Tes Hilaire started creating whole new worlds to escape upstate New York’s harsh winters before finally fleeing to sultry North Carolina. Her stories are edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of dark fantasy to paranormal romance. And no one ever has to shovel snow. For more, visit http://www.teshilaire.com/.

GIVEAWAY:

Thanks to Sourcebooks I have (2) copies of Deliver Me From Darkness to giveaway.To enter leave a comment along with your email address. Open to U.S. & Canada. Winners will be announced on February 15th.

[Review] - Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas

Title: Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate)
Author: Amy Thomas
Genre: Memoir (travel/food)
Release Date: February 1, 2012

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

Summary: Forever a girl obsessed with all things French, sweet freak Amy Thomas landed a gig as rich as the purest dark chocolate: leave Manhattan for Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton. Working on the Champs-Élysées, strolling the charming streets, and exploring the best patisseries and boulangeries, Amy marveled at the magnificence of the City of Light.

But does falling in love with one city mean turning your back on another? As much as Amy adored Paris, there was part of her that felt like a humble chocolate chip cookie in a sea of pristine macarons. PARIS, MY SWEET explores how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a salted caramel souffle's rise, as intensely satisfying as molten chocolate cake, and about how the life you're meant to live doesn't always taste like the one you envisioned.


Thoughts: Amy Thomas is a writer who lives in New York and owner of the blog Sweet Freak©. Paris, My Sweet is her story about how she got to live her dream. Not only living in Paris for a year, but also working for one of the top designers. And along the way checking out some of the best chocolatiers in the world.

I don't speak French nor have I ever been to Paris, but I have always want to visit. Like Ms. Thomas I'm a bit of a sweet fanatic. So, while this book isn't my normal genre - it was the perfect read for me.

I loved this book! Paris & desserts - what more can you ask for. I pretty much drooled my way through Paris, My Sweet. It was delectably delicious. Ms. Thomas's writing is fresh and fun. I adored the details. The author writes in a way that makes you feel like you are in Paris too. Experiencing everything as she does. This is a must read for foodies and travel fans.

Score: 4 Stars

Author's Blogs:
Sweet Freak©- http://dessertfordinner.blogspot.com/
God, I Love Paris-  http://godiloveparis.blogspot.com/

Waiting On Wednesday [36] - Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine. A feature showcasing upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

The first book Goddess Test was a surprise read for me. I didn't think I was gonna
enjoy as much as did.  I can't wait to read more from this world.

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Series: Goddess Test

Author: Aimée Carter

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Book Description:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Giveaway: Romancing the Books Blog Hop

This blog hop is hosted by Delighted Reader & Livre D’ Amour.

Blog hop runs from 12:01 AM February 7th through to 11:59 PM 
February 14th, 2012.

This is my first time participating in a blog hop. I've picked a couple of books that I think are perfect for this blog hop and I hope you do too.

I'm giving away a print copy of Soldier and Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes to one lucky winner. Plus, I have a surprise book that I will be adding to the package.  To enter leave a comment along with your email address. Open to U.S. residents. The winner will be announced on February 15th.

Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs, listed below.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each Tuesday features a different topic and you post your top ten list related to the topic.

This weeks topic is Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

• I didn't like to read in school. After High School I only read here and there, then Harry Potter came along. I read Sorcerer's Stone and everything changed for me. I couldn't get enough of reading and I haven't looked back since.

2. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

• For months before reading it I seen The Hunger Games on the bookshelves everywhere. I didn't know anything about or that it was even a YA book.  Right before Catching Fire came out I read it and was blown away by the world and how much I liked it. It was my first dystopian and sadly I haven't found a dystopian I've liked as much as The Hunger Games series. 

3. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

• ALVH wasn't my first mash-up, but it's definitely my favorite. I was enthralled with the mixture of fiction and history. If you like paranormal and history this one will be right up your alley. 

4. Twilight (The Twilight Saga #1) by Stephanie Meyer

• A lot of people love Twilight and just as many hate it. But I'm among the people who love it. I discovered it though a search for vampire books on Amazon. When I finished Twilight I was bummed it ended. But it really pushed me to seek out other YA novels.

5. Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers #1) by Lisa Kleypas

• A friend recommend this one to me and even sent me a copy. At the time I wasn't reading Historical Romance unless it had some paranormal element.  I was hesitant, but my friend said it was a must, so I took the leap and was forever lost in this wonderful world that is The Wallflowers.  Reading this one book opened me up to the genre.

6. Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher

• Storm Front was another book I was hesitant about. Just from the cover you can tell it's dark and at the time I wasn't sure that was for me. But I ended up falling in love with the characters. Especially Harry Dresden himself, with his great sense of humor.

7. Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels #1) by Anne Bishop

• This book/series was recommended to me by a friend and I went straight out and bought it, but it sat on my shelf for several months. When I did finally read it, it sucked me in from page one. Bishop created such a unique world it's hard not to love it.

8. In the Forest of the Night (The Den of Shadows #1) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

• I read this one ages ago before I knew such words as "paranormal romance", "urban fantasy" and "ya". Her books are all those things. But it was probably the first YA book I read. I remember when I first read it I was really impressed that the author wrote it at age 14. Atwater-Rhodes has gone on to write several books with different kinds of supernatural creatures that I have enjoyed as well.

9. Nightshade (Witch Wars/Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

• Plain and simple this book and the series is a must read. I loved shifter novels so I was instantly drawn to the book. But Ms. Cremer's shifters definitely come with a twist that sets the stories apart from others. 

10. The Mane Event (Pride #1) by Shelly Laurenston

• I ate this book up along with all the other books in the series. The Pride series, is another shape-shifter series that I just love. Both the characters and stories are seductive and addicting. 

Interview & Giveaway with Anne Marsh

Hi Anne, Welcome back to Anna's Book Blog! I'm glad to have you here. To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

This feels like the part where I'm supposed to reveal the secret fabulousness of the romance writer's life, rather than admitting that I have a day job, a minivan, a husband, two amazing kids, and five cats. I really got started writing romance after I was laid off from my dream job at Pixar; there I was, chewing through a really large bag of M&Ms, and there was the big stack of Women's Day and Good Housekeeping magazines on the bedside table (because when you get laid off in the middle of the week when the mortgage payment is due, I highly recommend crawling straight into bed). One of the magazines was busy exhorting me to "Make lemonade out of lemons!" and "Envision the job you want and it will fall right into your lap!" I was skeptical (although impressed by the brilliance of their copywriters), but I was also out of M&Ms at that point, and I'd always wanted to write a romance novel (in that hypothetical future when "I had more time"), so I just started writing. That was five years ago and I'm still resisting the urge to drive by Pixar and huck a couple of books at the front gate and go "Booyah! See what I did when you didn't need me anymore?"

His Dark Bond is your latest release, can you tells us a little about it and the series?

His Dark Bond is the second book in my Fallen series (although it's absolutely a stand-alone book). The book is sexy and dark, with fallen angels in a near-future, slightly post-apocalyptic Moscow. The hero, Zer, has been leading the Fallen angels for three thousand years-- and he's more than a little soul-weary and cynical. He's quite sure there's no soul mate out there for him and that he will never find redemption.

Kensington wrote some really sexy copy for the back of the book:

HE HUNGERS FOR HER BODY . . .
Zer is no angel—well, not anymore. He’s explored every flavor of sin imaginable, drinking in the pleasures of humanity. But now he must find the woman who carries his salvation in her very blood…a woman like Nessa St. James.

AND HER SOUL
Nessa has considered the bargain the Fallen offer. Anything she wants in exchange for accepting Zer’s bond? No way. Not her. Not when she finds out about the mind-blowing ritual involved, and the marks of surrender that will ink her skin. But with a serial killer to stop and centuries of experience on his side, this is one job Zer’s going to nail.

What is your writing day like?

I typically write from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. If it's a day that the day job takes me into the City, I also write on the train for about two hours. If I'm telecommuting, I'll also write an hour at lunch time and again in the evening. I'm a huge fan of short, intense spurts of writing. Minutes add up, especially if I can pry myself away from the Internet ;)

When you're not writing, what kind of books do you like to read?

I realized I was in trouble years ago, when I had to institute a collections development policy for my house! There aren't too many books I haven't enjoyed. Some of my go-to authors are J.R. Ward, Lora Leigh, Eloisa James, Anne Bishop, J.K. Rowling, and Anthony Trollope. For English family happiness, nothing beats a good Trollope. There is also an amazing Modern Virago Classics series-- if you can get past the bilious, pea-green covers, you're holding some real ground-breaking women writers in your hands.

Can you tells about your experience with being signed to Kensington/Brava?

I originally signed with Dorchester. Unfortunately, Dorchester has had (cough) a few issues, so, when my editor there (the fabulous Alicia Condon!) left to take over Kate Duffy's role at Kensington, I was thrilled to follow her. Alicia is an amazing editor and the entire team at Kensington has been very supportive. I'm a "Why?" person-- I work as a technical writer for my day job and the whole point of that job is asking "Why? Why? Why?" like a two year-old until you understand precisely how a recalcitrant piece of software works-- and the Kensington team has been very patient about explaining why they would recommend doing something a particular way. I've learned lots from the women of Kensington!

What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a book?

The laptop, itunes, and my earbuds. While I sometimes enjoy brainstorming in a notebook, I just can't write longhand. Nothing comes out. No words. Nada. Open up the text editor, however, and I'm off to the races.

How did you come up with your idea for the Fallen series & did you find inspiration in anything or anyone while writing it?

Since I spent far too many years in graduate school earning a really expensive PhD in Russian literature (although I did manage to prove the naysayers wrong when they claimed it was impossible to write a passable dissertation between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. with two small kids in the house), my paranormal books borrow from Slavic mythology and medieval Russian religious literature. There are some scary, scary creatures lurking in those stories. In Slavic mythology, an angel rebellion in Heaven ended with the rebellious angels being cast out of Heaven. Those angels fell and fell and fell-- some ended up in our world, while others fell right through the Earth's crust and earned themselves a particularly graphic and unpleasant end. Worse, the fallen angels were condemned to live as goblins. I loved the idea of a bad boy who still retains some redeeming qualities-- but needs a heroine to pull those qualities out of him… so my Fallen angels have one shot at redemption. If he can find the one woman who is his soul mate and he loves her, he gets his wings back and earns redemption.

Since becoming published, what has been your favorite part of the process?

Putting together a new proposal. It's like the best of shopping for an evening gown, a vacation, and a new house, all rolled into one. Because I'm now a published author, I write a synopsis and the first three chapters of the new book and send that to my agent, along with a short pitch she can use. It's far too much fun to come up with a whole new book-- there are all sorts of possibilities! I have proposals out right now for two sexy shapeshifter series (because we all need Cajun werewolves, right?) and a team of really hot Navy rescue swimmers who know precisely how to live up to their motto: So others may live.

Did you have any input when it came to designing the cover and has it met your expectations?

Honestly, I had absolutely no input whatsoever. I discovered I had a fabulous new cover when I was poking about on Amazon one day. Fortunately, I loved it and it was a fun surprise. Kensington has some amazing cover artists working for them. One funny story, though: a while before the cover appeared on Amazon, my editor called me to walk me through my revisions and mentioned that there was a problem that was about to become my problem. She'd apparently had the cover artist give the hero a large tattoo of wings on his back and then couldn't remember whether or not that actually matched what happened in the book. Fortunately, it did! Otherwise, I was going to need to write them in as the cover had been finalized.

If you can, tell us what is up next?

I have a novella set in the world of the Fallen that will be published as an ebook in late May 2012. This is Vkhin's story and it's a little darker, but just as sexy as the first two books. I'm also stretching my writerly wings into contemporary; I have a very hot release on 10.30.2012 from Kensington Brava. The hero of BURNING UP is a smoke jumper who parachutes into the heart of wildland fires-- he's the ultimate hero and bad boy of summer and I've had so much fun writing his story. Time Magazine featured the cover shoot in one of their December issues and, it's safe to say, my cover model is one hot, hot man.

__________________________________________________________

HIS DARK BOND

By Anne Marsh

Fallen #2- Out Now!

HE HUNGERS FOR HER BODY . . .

Zer is no angel—well, not anymore. He’s explored every flavor of sin imaginable, drinking in the pleasures of humanity. But now he must find the woman who carries his salvation in her very blood…a woman like Nessa St. James.

AND HER SOUL

Nessa has considered the bargain the Fallen offer. Anything she wants in exchange for accepting Zer’s bond? No way. Not her. Not when she finds out about the mind-blowing ritual involved, and the marks of surrender that will ink her skin. But with a serial killer to stop and centuries of experience on his side, this is one job Zer’s going to nail.

Where to Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

GIVEAWAY:
Thanks to Anne I have a copy of  Bond With Me & His Dark Bond to giveaway to one lucky winner. To enter leave a comment along with email address. Open to everyone, including International. The winner will be announced on February 11th. Good Luck!