BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Showing posts with label DB Reynolds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DB Reynolds. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Short & Sweet: Bea Reviews Vincent by D.B. Reynolds

Series: Vampires in America #8
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Source: owned by the reviewer
Release Date: November 1, 2014
Challenges: Finishing the Series Reading Challenge | Mount TBR Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*  | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Sinaloa, Mexico . . . haunting deserts, hot nights, and vampires, who’ve been there for hundreds of years, watching from the shadows, playing their games, manipulating humans, and surviving at any cost.

Vincent Kuxim, powerful and charismatic, was made vampire by an ambitious leader looking for soldiers to pave his way to the rule of all Mexico. But more than a century later, Vincent’s Sire is looking over his shoulder as Vincent closes in for the kill, ready to claim the title Lord of Mexico for himself.

Lana Arnold is a bounty hunter, smart, beautiful, and determined to chart her own future. So when the most powerful vampire lord in all of North America enlists her help in tracking down a very old and elusive bloodsucker, Lana sees nothing but opportunity. There’s only one catch. The client wants her to take Vincent—a vampire she neither knows nor trusts—along on her hunt. Then again, maybe it’s herself she doesn’t trust, because Vincent Kuxim is sex walking in a pair of tight black jeans.

Thrown together by circumstance, Vincent and Lana soon find themselves battling an evil they didn’t know existed in a fight that makes Vincent all the more determined to destroy his Sire, seize Mexico for himself . . . and keep Lana by his side forever.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Quote-Tastic & Review: Aden and Unforgiven by D.B. Reynolds

Publisher: ImaJinn Books-
Series: Vampires in America #7
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge   
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

She was seeking revenge. What she found was a vampire who swept her into the darkest depths of passion.

Chicago, Illinois... the windy city. Home to football greats, dinosaurs named Sue, and, when the sun goes down... powerful vampires battling for the right to rule the city and beyond.

Born into slavery, Aden is one of the most powerful vampires in North America, waging war on others of his kind in a struggle to become the next Lord of the Midwest. But in the midst of the deadliest fight of his long life, the ghosts of his past have come back to haunt him. Slavery still exists, and Aden is hellbent on destroying it and the vampires who profit from it.

Sidonie Reid is an investigative reporter in pursuit of the biggest story of her career, until that story costs the life of a friend and Sid realizes she has to do much more than write about it. Intent on bringing down the vampires and their slave network, Sid gains entry to the highest levels of vampire society, where she finds herself confronting the raw sexuality that is Aden.

Caught up in a dark passion that neither can resist, Aden and Sidonie join forces, determined to defeat the old regime and everything it stands for. The dangers are beyond calculation, but the ultimate reward is worth the risk. If they survive.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Quote-Tastic #40 You Owe Me Hours of Sex


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in - authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and put up your post :) Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  Quote-tastic is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

This week's quote is from Duncan, by D.B. Reynolds. It's one of her Vampires in America novels and here Duncan is proving just how hot and sexy he is. Whew!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12729465-duncan"Besides," she added softly, and looked up to meet his eyes. "You owe me hours of incredible sex." Duncan grew still, his gaze hot and intent, but not with anger this time. "What I promised you was hours of making love, not simply sex," he murmured, brushing his lips over hers, before his teeth closed gently on her lower lip. "There is a difference, darlin'."


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Monday, February 17, 2014

Jax Reviews Jabril by D.B. Reynolds

                                                             Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Series: Vampires in America
Format Read: ebook
Source: Netgalley
Release Date: August 15th 2009
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository*Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Houston, Texas-Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn's journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn't end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Quote-tastic #24 There's Not Exactly A Snipers-R-Us Store.


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in. 


Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! 

Just grab the button and put up your post :) 

Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  


If you love PNR, you ought to be reading D.B. Reynolds. Her Vampires in America series is hot and smart. This quote is from the novella, "Betrayed: A Cyn & Rafael Novella", book #5.5 in the series. This scene occurs after there was an assassination attempt on Rafael, a Vampire lord and not someone you should mess with. Cyn is his mate and a private investigator; she takes his security very seriously.


Cyn scowled. This was not what she wanted to hear. On the other hand..."Okay, but housewives aren't exactly hiring themselves out as assassins. So who is?"

"Ah, that does change it. Okay, maybe a double handful outside the military or sanctioned government squads, although some of those guys have been known to work on the side, too."

"If I wanted to hire someone like that, where would I look?"

"Leighton."

"Murphy," she mimicked impatiently.

He sighed. "Dammit, all right. But there's not exactly a snipers-r-us store, you know. Something like this would be word of mouth, not even a damn classified ad in the back of a magazine. You'd have to know the middle man, and he'd have to trust you well enough to put out feelers."

Cyn paused, trying to decide if there was anything between the lines of what Colin was saying. "Would something like that be localized? I mean, do snipers have territories?"

"No, Leighton," he said with forced patience. "We have airplanes now. I'm sure you've heard of them."

Have you read any D.B. Reynolds? What did you think?

Monday, June 3, 2013

New Cover! Hunted by D.B. Reynolds

Yes, another cover. Apparently today is the day for them. :) This is for a novella by D.B. Reynolds, an author whose PNR books I enjoy. "Hunted" is part of her Vampires in America series and focuses on Cyn and Raphael. If you haven't read their stories yet, save this one until you do.


I'm not generally fond of reds or oranges but this cover is eerie and evocative, which seems just right to me.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cover Reveals! D.B. Reynolds and Patricia Briggs

Two hot new book covers were officially released this week, both by authors who are among my favorites. PNR author D.B. Reynolds has a novella releasing next week, "Betrayed", set in her Vampires in America world. "Betrayed" is a Cyn and Raphael story. D.B. commented in her blog post about the cover, "Plus, you can’t see it here, ‘cuz I don’t have the hi rez image yet, but Raphael’s eyes are black with a silver spark. So pretty." I'm looking forward to seeing those silver eyes!

Click on the covers for the goodreads synopsis.



The other new cover is "Frost Burned", the next Mercy Thompson book from Patricia Briggs. Sadly, it's not out until March 2013. That is a long time to wait. :( The cover was unofficially released by a European blog a few weeks but it's now official. Once again, it's by Daniel Dos Santos, who does amazing work.



Gorgeous covers, wonderful authors, good stories....I'm ready to read them NOW!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Live Chat With PNR Author D.B. Reynolds! Saturday June 23rd

D.B. Reynolds writes the hot, sexy, Vampires in America series. Full of dangerous vampires, passionate males and females, intrigue, hot sex, and good stories, these books will keep you warm while you read.

Tomorrow, Saturday June 23rd, you can chat with D.B. for an hour, live at goodreads, at 2PM PST. The chat is being hosted by Chopin's Cafe and there will be a giveaway. Click on the link to RSVP, and I'll see you there!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Review of Vampires in America: The Vignettes, Vol. 1


Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: February 9, 2012
Series: Vampires in America 5.5
Buying Links: Amazon     Barnes & Noble     The Book Depository


Book Blurb (from goodreads):

**Spoilers for earlier books!**
 
From award-winning author D. B. Reynolds come nine stories of seduction and intrigue set in her Vampires in America universe. Note: This is a 122 page compilation of SHORT STORIES, not a full-length novel.

For the first time in print … The Vampire Vignettes From New Year’s Eve on the beaches of Malibu, to love in a penthouse over Manhattan, and a challenge fought on a snowy night in Montreal, Reynolds takes us behind the scenes with seven steamy Vignettes featuring her ultimate alpha Vampire Lords and their beautiful and independent mates.

And Never Before Published – Two brand new, full-length short stories. You Belong To Me follows Duncan and his mate Emma as they consolidate power in his new territory, while generating plenty of heat in private. And then it’s time for The Wedding, as readers join Rajmund and Sarah for their big weekend ... and Cyn’s girls-night-out bachelorette party. Unfortunately, some local kidnappers have other plans, and Cyn and Sarah will have to outwit their abductors before Raphael and Raj start hunting, and the entire wedding is ruined!



Reviewed By: Bea

Teaser:
“What, you’d rather a bunch of hunky vampires hanging around all the time?”
“Hunky? Did you just say hunky?”
“Let’s pretend I didn’t,” he muttered, opening the door and stepping into the hallway in front of her. “I still think the Amazons are a good idea, you being the first female vampire lord and everything. It would make a statement.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she muttered right back at him as he finally cleared the hallway and stepped aside to let her leave the room.


My Thoughts:

I'd read some of these vignettes on D.B.'s blog, but some I'd missed. I was happy when she announced that they would all be collected into an anthology. I love when an author's short stories are collected into one book, it's so much easier that way. All of these stories are set in between books so if you haven't read the books, do not read this until you do. They are spoiler heavy. Because of this, they don't really work as stand alones, but if you have read the relevant book, each story then works. They are hot, heavy on the steamy love scenes, and give a little more insight into each of the characters. I liked the last story, the wedding story, the best simply because it had three of the female leads together and we got to see them interact and see how their males all deal with each other. I enjoyed all of the stories but my favorites were the ones that DIDN'T have Rafael and Cyn because (takes cover) they are actually my least favorite couple in the series. The stories with Sophia and Colin, Raj and Sarah, and Duncan and Emma were my favorites. I loved seeing them together, seeing the bumps in their relationships and of course, the yummy love scenes. If you enjoy the books, you will enjoy these little glimpses into the lives of the different couples. Go buy!

I received a Kindle book from the author for review.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Review of Duncan by D.B. Reynolds

Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Release Date: November 10, 2011
Series: #5 Vampires in America
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Washington, D.C. … capital of an empire. Powerful. Exhilarating. Corrupt. And in the shadows … vampires far older than the nation itself. 

 A power unto himself, Duncan has served at Raphael’s side for nearly the entire two hundred years of his existence. But long laid plans have finally borne fruit, and the time has come for Duncan to leave Raphael and tackle the greatest challenge of his life. He will face treacherous vampires and murderous humans. He will rock the halls of human power if necessary. But Washington, D.C. will be his. 

Emma Duquet cares nothing for vampire politics. She just wants to find her missing roommate and best friend, Lacey. But Lacey’s been playing with vampires of a particularly dangerous kind, and Emma will have to deal with the new vampire in town if she’s going to find her friend.

Battling powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets, Duncan and Emma will dig beneath the corruption and depravity that is Washington, D.C. and uncover the most heinous conspiracy of all …

Teaser:
That cool reserve of his was gone, and in its place was something ice cold and deadly, and absolutely lethal. This was the real Duncan, the vampire powerful enough to command others, and she knew instinctively that he could kill her with a thought. "You have no idea what i want," he said deliberately. "Be very careful, Emmaline."
My Thoughts:

Duncan has been a fan favorite since "Raphael", the first "Vampires in America" book was published. Fans clamored for Duncan's story and it's finally here. Reynolds had a lot of pressure on her, high expectations to live up to and I'm happy to say she succeeded. :)

Where to begin? There's a mystery, Duncan agrees to help Emma find who killed Lacey. There's romance and yummy smex between Emma and Duncan, and it was a very sweet romance. There are humans actively working against Duncan, displeased that he's replaced D.C.'s former Master, and also displeased that he's actively pursuing the people involved in the illegal activities that led to Lacey's death. We also get to see Duncan's background and his initial meeting with Raphael.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the murder investigation, what I liked best were the romance, seeing Duncan take over as a Master, Duncan's interactions with both humans and vampires, and learning Duncan's background. I think my favorite part of the story is the romance. Duncan is possessive and very much an alpha but he's also willing, sometimes, to temper those traits; he can also be sweet, compassionate and thoughtful. Emma is caring, loyal, smart and independent. She's not so independent that she can't accept help, with a little prodding. At times Duncan seems almost human, then he'll say or do something that reminds you he is a vampire, and not the warm, fuzzy kind. Emma, in a refreshing change from heroines in many contemporary romances, doesn't fight her attraction to Duncan, but freely admits it. I enjoyed that very much and I enjoyed their interactions.

A sweet, sexy romance, wonderful characters (I really enjoyed Baldwin, one of the vampire guards) and a strong story made for a wonderful read.

I received a PDF from the author.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Guest Post by Author D.B. Reynolds: You Can't Stop Ideas


Author D.B. Reynolds is a PNR author who writes about dark, sexy, often terrifying vampires. Her novel, "Jabril", won the RT Reviewers Choice award this past spring. She enjoys debating, is married, is very much a night owl, and has worked in academia and as a sound editor in Hollywood. She was another author who sprang to mind when I began planning posts for this week. I interviewed her in May and reviewed her book, "Sophia".

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When Bea asked me to write something for Banned Books Week, my brain kind of froze up for a minute. {Sorry Donna. :( - BBecause it’s been a long time since I had to write anything other than, well, stories. Ask me to write a short story about vampires or werewolves or witches or pretty much anything paranormal, or even normal for that matter, and I can do it. But my University days are long behind me, so coming up with something serious to say about a VERY serious subject … that’s another matter entirely.

Still, this IS an important subject, and one I feel very strongly about. I don’t believe in banning books or movies or anything else. Call me naïve, but I believe in the free expression of ideas or stories or whatever else you want to express---except for the proverbial “fire!” in a theater, which essentially means anything that results in or directly incites harm to others. Other than that, I say go for it. You want to tell me Satan is alive and well and living in Topeka? Knock yourself out. You want to tell me the end of the world is nigh and I’m going to hell because I write sex scenes? Hey, whatever makes you feel better about sitting in the dark and getting off on my sex scenes! ::snicker:: 

The irony is that some of the loudest voices against new ideas were once the object of censorship themselves. Almost every major theological or political ideology in the world today was once, or in some cases still is, the subject of censorship by others. Of course, the root of all censorship is a desire by the Powers That Be to control the narrative, and thus to control their members or citizens, whoever it is that they have or want power over. They’re afraid new ideas will upset the existing system which keeps them in power … and probably in a very fine lifestyle, too. So, they try to stop their people from hearing anything that might threaten their authority. It never works in the long run, but they keep trying.

Anyway, I took a look at the list of banned books and wasn’t at all surprised to discover that I’ve read a whole lot of them. The nuns always did say I was going to hell, and I guess they were right! But look at the list … pretty much everything Stephen King ever wrote is there somewhere. I’m not sure why. Too violent for you, maybe? Hey, then don’t read it. No one’s propping your eyelids open and forcing you to indulge. But don’t deny the rest of us the spine chilling, look-over-your-shoulder shiver that’s a good Stephen King thriller! Too much Satan? Yeah, but King never says it’s a good thing. You’d think those who worry about Satanism would use King’s books as a propaganda tool instead. Or maybe they didn’t understand that Carrie was driven batshit crazy by her mom, and that she wasn’t really elected queen of the prom. That was a cruel joke, okay? If anything, Carrie’s a lesson in being kind to your fellow human beings … especially in high school. Yikes!

Moving on down the list … Kurt Vonnegut? He just dared to say what the rest of us were thinking. That society was going to hell in a handbasket and no one was paying attention. Turns out he was right, and so were George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. And John Steinbeck is on that list because he dared to point out the injustice and inequality of human society. We all know it’s there. Not talking about it doesn’t make it go away. 

J. K. Rowling? Really? Harry Potter? Come on, he’s a great kid who fought on the side of right, who was loyal to his friends and defeated the evil bastard who wanted to hurt others. What’s wrong with that? And besides, you do know that Hogwart’s doesn’t actually exist, right? It’s a fantasy created by Rowling to make her story more interesting to her young readers---readers who will take away from those books the value of friendship and loyalty and courage. What the hell’s wrong with that?

I guess what I’m saying is that banning a book doesn’t stop anyone from thinking about what the book is trying to tell you. If anything, it just makes people more curious about what the book says. You can’t stop ideas, you shouldn’t want to. Ideas are what propel human society, what drives us forward. Human civilization, with all its flaws, is the product of millennia of human ideas. Some village elder probably thought the toilet was scandalous, but aren’t you glad someone else thought of it? The automobile was considered unnatural, but where we would be without the combustion engine today? And then there’s that most radical idea of all … democracy. There are people in control (lots of those) in the world right now who would ban the Internet if they could, limit the ability of people to communicate free ideas across the globe. Which means you wouldn’t be reading my very brilliant essay right now! Now THAT would be a tragedy.

So, do yourself a favor. Do your world a favor. Read a banned book this week. Hell, go crazy and read a couple of them!


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Sophia Winner! Was it YOU?



This interview and giveaway generated a lot of interest. I hope everyone will be able to get their hands on the book and enjoy it, but in the meantime, we have a winner.....mbreakfield!

Send me an email, Bea at beasbooknook AT gmail DOT com and give me your mailing address and what name you want DB to sign your book with.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!!




Monday, May 16, 2011

Interview with RT Award winning author DB Reynolds & A Giveaway


Today I'm delighted to have D. B. Reynolds here with me. I first met D.B. at the Kelley Armstrong board; yes, she's another published writer who started out in the OWG there. I first encountered her in the debate area. Let me tell you, the woman can debate. Though we tend to agree on subjects, even when I disagree with her, she can make me see her perspective. There's no question that she can effectively use words to make her point. It's no wonder she took up writing.

D.B. has 5 books published so far, a stand alone called "Heart of the Wolf", and 4 books in her "Vampires in America" series.



 


D.B. has a website with a blog, and can be found on facebook, and she just recently joined twitter. Look her up and say hi, then curl up with one of her books. But leave a light on.

BEA: Donna, thank you for taking the time to come by and talk with me. And congratulations on your novel “Jabril” winning the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. That is wonderful news! You must have been so excited. Did you have any idea prior to nomination that it might happen? 

D.B.:  I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t even know I was nominated until a fellow writer posted about it on one of my writing loops. I was so excited. And then I couldn’t believe it when I actually won. I just sort of floated down the hall to let my husband know that he was now married to an award-winning author!

 
BEA:  “Jabril” was the second book in your “Vampires in America” series, you just released “Sophia” the fourth book and are working on the fifth book, “Duncan”. How many more will there be? Is there a definite end?

D.B.: My current contract is for eight books, which is what I originally designed the series to be. Eight books for the eight Vampire Lords of North America. But if my readers, and my publisher, want it go on, I could easily see the series expanding.
 
BEA: Do you have any say in the cover models or designs of your books? They have been pretty wonderful. 

D.B.: I’ve been so fortunate in my covers on two fronts. First, my publisher gives me quite a bit of input into my covers, which is something very few publishers give their authors. I abuse it terribly and sometimes drive both my publisher and the artist crazy. But secondly, I’ve been lucky to work with a wonderful and talented artist, Patricia Lazarus. She patiently puts up with my PITB e-mails and always comes up with something beautiful.

BEA: Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?


D.B.: Me? Well ... I’m a writer. I started out in academia, but soon fled the backstabbing and politics of the university for the sound stages of Hollywood where at least you get paid very well for putting up with the backstabbing and politics! I was a sound editor for several years, and received two Emmy nominations, before my wonderful husband made it possible for me to quit the daytime job altogether and try to write full time. Or close enough anyway. He wanted some of my newly free time for himself, too.


BEA: What’s a typical day of writing for you? Are you a planner or do you wing it?

D.B.:  I’m a planner all the way. I do detailed outlines with character sketches, all the major plot points and first drafts of many major scenes before I actually start writing the book.  I also maintain an overall calendar for the series, as well as a day by day calendar for each book as I write it, so I can be sure my characters are moving in sync.  And a series bible, too.  Like I said, planner all the way!

BEA: What prompted you to start writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

D.B.: I’ve always loved books. When I was a child, my mom or dad would take me to the library every week and I’d check out as many books as the library would let me, which was like nine or ten books. By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to write, because I wanted to create worlds and characters like those I’d been reading forever. And I was pretty sure I could do it, too.  I’d probably write even if I wasn’t published, but my goal would always be to GET published. Because I want to share my stories. 

BEA: What is your favorite part of writing? What is your least favorite part?

D.B.: My favorite part of writing is the writing itself. I’m not one of those tortured writers who has to force herself to sit down and squeeze out a book. Nor do I mind that it’s a solitary endeavour. I’m a very solitary person and I love writing, so it’s the best of all worlds for me.  My least favorite part is having to delete scenes I’ve worked so hard on. Sometimes my editor just doesn’t like the scene, or thinks it slows the narrative. Or sometimes the book comes in too long. It breaks my heart to chop up what I’ve written!

BEA: Do you think that the paranormal is waning in publishing, changing, or holding strong?

D.B.: I think there will always be a market for good paranormal stories. Paranormal, Sci Fi and Fantasy are the ultimate escapist literature and most people read for just that reason, because it takes them away from their lives and into a whole new world.

BEA: Currently your stories are paranormal romance, do you see yourself writing straight up paranormal stories? Do you think you might try a different genre sometime?

 
D.B.: My books straddle the line between paranormal romance and urban fantasy.  I like having a strong relationship angle in my stories, even when the relationship is not the central part of the plot. I could see myself writing stories with less of a relationship angle, but I don’t think I’d want to leave it out entirely. It makes the story more personal. As for a different genre, I’d love to try romantic suspense/thriller, or even a straight up suspense/thriller with just a touch of romance.

BEA: Who are some of your influences? Some of your favorite writers?

D.B.:  I don’t know that I have influences other than the wonderful writers I’ve read all my life. Every time I read a book I learn something about writing. My favorite writers would be a very long list, but just a few of them are Adrian Phoenix, Kelley Armstrong, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Gwen Hunter, Rob Thurman, Ilona Andrews, John Sandford, Scott Turow, Dan Abnett ...  I could go on and it’s an ever evolving and growing list.

 
BEA: Was there someone who was, or is, particularly helpful to you? Was there someone who inspired you in your writing? In what way(s)?

D.B.: Amy Stout, who had been an editor at all the major Sci Fi publishing houses for years before she and her family moved to California, gave my writing a major boost at a very critical point in my career. She was the first true professional who told me I actually could write and that my stories had merit. I also have to credit Kelley Armstrong, because she created the Online Writers Group, which is still my main writing group. I met both of my critique partners, Michelle Muto and Steve McHugh, in the OWG, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
 
BEA: You have been active in the Online Writers Group on Kelley Armstrong’s discussion board. Do you think that helped your writing? Did it help you make contacts in the publishing world?

 
D.B.: The OWG definitely helped my writing. There are a lot of talented and skillful writers there, not to mention various experts whom I’ve tapped for help over the years. And as I mentioned above, I met both of my critique partners through the OWG. 


BEA: You have an account on facebook and a very active blog. Do you think that social media is important for an author to be involved in? Do you see yourself getting more involved? Do you think you might start your own message board someday? 

D.B.: Social media is critical for an author these days. It’s a way to get word out about new books, signings, reviews, and interviews like this one! It lets me connect with my readers in a way I never could have before. Right now, I have a blog and Facebook, but within the next month I’ll be going live on Twitter, too. (she is there now - @DBReynoldsWrite ) It’s one more way to connect with my existing readers and maybe make some new ones. I don’t have any plans for a message board, but I wouldn’t rule it out for the future.
 
BEA: Do you prefer to read paper books or ebooks? Why?

D.B.: I bought myself a Kindle for the holidays. I give the best gifts!! And I love it. I resisted e-books until my own books went Kindle, but now I’m completely hooked. I love the ease of reading it, I love the ease of buying new books—which is great for Amazon, but not so great for my book budget. Yikes! But if given a choice between a print or e-book, I’ll choose the e-book.  And that’s something I never thought I’d say.

BEA: If you could be a character in a book, which one would it be, and what part would you play? (Romantic lead, sidekick, etc)

D.B.: Hmmmm. I want to be the lucky, beautiful woman who gets the gorgeous, hunky, immortal warrior/vampire/werewolf as her devoted lover.  I love the idea of having someone that powerful as my protector. Why do you think I write the stories I do?

BEA: Anything that you want to add or say to your readers?

D.B.: I always thank my readers from the bottom of my heart. I get so many e-mails and blog and Facebook posts telling me how much they love my stories and my characters. And it means so much to me to hear that.



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D.B. has generously offered a signed copy of either Sophia or Rajmund, and it's open internationally.    

Just leave a comment here on either the interview or my review of Sophia and a way to contact you. (see the giveaway policy here)


Giveaway runs through midnight EST of Monday May 23, 2011


Review of Sophia by DB Reynolds

Publisher: ImaJinn Books


Release date: April 3, 2011
Series: #4 in the Vampires in America series


More Info: Amazon

Book Blurb:

The Pacific Northwest . . . home to lush forests and constant rain, to lumberjacks and computer geeks, especially those of the vampire kind. 

Sophia, beautiful and deadly, has spent the last hundred years dancing her way through the balmy nights and hot-blooded men of South America. But when her Sire sends an urgent summons, Sophia rushes home to Vancouver only to find he has disappeared, leaving nothing behind but three dead vampires and a letter with Sophia’s name on it. 

Colin Murphy, a former Navy SEAL, came to the Northwest seeking a quiet place to heal the scars earned in more than a decade at war. But when someone starts killing local vampires and torturing their mates, Colin takes on the mantle of a warrior once again as he sets out to find the killers and do whatever it takes to stop them, even if that means hunting with vampires. 


 Following her Sire’s trail of death to a small town in northern Washington, Sophia unexpectedly discovers the heat of a South American night in Colin’s arms. But too soon Sophia and Colin find themselves in a race to uncover the killers before the next dead vampire becomes Sophia herself.

My Thoughts:

I like this series more and more with each book. It has wonderful word building, fascinating characters that you love or hate but you definitely feel something for them, and a balanced mix of action, quiet scenes, romance, sex and mystery. The stories have some of the familiar elements of vampire books but Reynolds definitely has her own take on vampire lore. This is not a cookie cutter PNR series. The vampire world, as well as events in previous books, is carefully detailed but there's never an info-dump. 

Vampire lord Raphael and his human mate Cyn thread throughout the series and tie each of the books together. My one main complaint about this book, in fact, was that large chunks of the story were devoted to Raphael, the murder of his people, and his relationship with Cyn. While much of this served to further the overall story of both the book and the series, it did feel to me as if Colin and Sophia got short-changed. 

Despite that, what we do see of Sophia and Colin in enjoyable. They had been lovers years ago, but Colin was unaware that Sophia was a vampire. Their love affair ended when she died in a bombing. So he thought. It's not enough of a shock discovering that she's alive, oh no, to make it more interesting she is, and was, a vampire. He is understandably angry and confused but he manages to work with her on discovering the perpetrators responsible for killing two local vampires and attacking the mate of another.


Sophia is a more "human" vampire than Raphael, similar to Rajmund. Most of the time, she does not come across as scary and arrogant but can pass for human. That's not to say that she can't be the scary, arrogant bloodsucker when she needs to be, but she doesn't feel the need to act that way all of the time. I found this made her more likable and relatable; Reynolds' vampires are not warm and fuzzy, they are the top of the food chain and you always know it. However, they are not cookie cutter, each one is a clearly a separate character with a separate personality. Not all authors pull that off but Reynolds does it very well.


Colin is strong, loyal, funny, compassionate and determined to do the right thing. He is coasting, somewhat, in his job as local law enforcement but when he needs to, he doesn't hesitate to get out there and do his job. That doesn't always make him popular with the locals or his friends but, despite the pain it causes him, he does it anyway. He's someone you would want on your side and that you could count on.

Both Sophia and Colin feel very real, like people you might actually know. This added to the appeal of the book for me and I expect that I will be re-reading this one. If you haven't read the series, and you like dark scary vampires mixed with romance, sex and mysteries, you really need to check them out.


Paperback was received from the author for review.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Author Interviews - Kelley Armstrong board authors

     When I decided to try my hand at interviewing authors, I thought about what authors I wanted to inerview. Well, that list is long and includes some big names who will probably turn me down when I do get around to asking. But, it immediately occurred to me that I knew a group of authors, some personally, some not, who I wanted to spotlight and who might even agree to being interviewed by me. :P

     I belong to various author boards, including that of the awesome Kelley Armstrong. Her board has an online writers group that is very active and apparently very effective, as more and more are now published authors or have been signed by a publisher. So, I approached them and most graciously agreed. So, I will run a series of interviews over the course of the year with published members of the KA board OWG. I plan to run a review of their most current work along with the interview and some giveaways are also planned.

     The list of participants is subject to change as other OWG members get signed or published, and there's always the possibility of someone cancelling. The current line up is as follows, dates to be determined:






  • Morgan Ashbury - romance and erotica: interview, part 1; interview, part 2 2/14/11











  • Seleste deLaney AKA Julie Particka - paranormal romance as deLaney; YA as Particka: interview











  • Kelly Metz - urban fantasy - TBD











  • Ian O'Neill - mystery and urban fantasy - TBD










  • Angela Addams - paranormal romance: interview 4/30/11












  • Julie Campbell - YA urban fantasy: guest post 3/9/11; interview - October/November 2011










  • D.B. Reynolds - paranormal romance: Interview 5/16/11