A Guest Post by Romance Author Tamara Morgan

Romance author Tamara Morgan is out and about, celebrating the release of her new book, "The World Is A Stage", the second book in her Games of Love series. It releases next week, on June 5th. Today Tamara is writing about books that are so good you wish you could forget them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamara Morgan is a romance writer and unabashed lover of historical reenactments—the more elaborate and geeky the costume requirements, the better. In her quest for modern-day history and intrigue, she has taken fencing classes, forced her child into Highland dancing, and, of course, journeyed annually to the local Renaissance Fair. These feats are matched by a universal love of men in tights, of both the superhero and codpiece variety.

Her home is in the Inland Northwest, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and variety of household pets. Feel free to drop her an email at tamaramorganwrites (at) gmail (dot) com or follow her on Twitter at @Tamara_Morgan.

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 Books So Good You Wish You Could Forget Them

We all have them. They’re the desert island keepers, the five-star gems, the books that haunt us long after we reach The End. These are the books we turn to time and time again, the ones we can quote from memory and whose characters are as dear to us as our own families.

For me, these books tend to run along the lines of the traditional. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, The Count of Monte Cristo, pretty much anything by Georgette Heyer. I’d also include The Bronze Horseman and The Sparrow as my more modern offerings on that list. Oooh, or Carolyn Crane’s Disillusionists Trilogy or anything by J.L. Merrow or the Amelia Peabody series. (Okay, okay—I’ll stop before this becomes a mind-numbing list of Tamara’s Favorite Books.) The point is that any time I recommend these books to others to read (which is often), I always end up saying the same thing:

I’m so jealous you get to read this for the first time.

There are lots of reasons people want to turn back the hands of time, most of them more noble than wanting to read a book. Sure, you could change the course of history or visit some of the greatest minds of the past. But me? I can imagine few greater pleasures in this world than cracking open Jane Austen for the very first time, or once again discovering the Georgette Heyer backlist and devouring every last book in a matter of weeks. Re-reading is great, but as is the case with all things romance-related, it’s never quite the same as your first time, now is it?

Which is why I’m always on the hunt for the next big “I’m so jealous” book or series. Whether I’m scouring blogs for book recommendations or skimming over Goodreads ratings, I want to see those magical lines that indicate a reader would do anything to go back and read that book for the first time. In fact, I can’t think of a better endorsement than wishing you could erase a book from your memory every time you shut the pages, simply so you can someday have the pleasure of discovering it all over again.

Every writer I know is a reader first and foremost, myself included. I’d love to hear what books you wish you could go back and read with fresh new eyes. Maybe it’s too late for you to rediscover your favorites, but you can always share the love with others.

And that’s the next best thing.

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Book Blurb (from author):

Danger comes packaged in bulging muscles...and a codpiece.

Highland Games athlete Michael O'Leary is famous for his ability to charm a woman right out of her pants. Maybe a little too famous. When he’s sidelined with a knee injury, his wingman pounces on the chance to take full advantage of Michael’s idle time.

Trying out for the local adult-themed Shakespearean production seems simple, but there’s a catch. Michael must woo the notoriously demanding lead actress, Rachel Hewitt, thereby freeing his friend to pursue a courtship of Rachel's sister.

Rachel hates the thought of handing over the lead role in her admittedly scandalous troupe to someone so wholly uneducated in the ways of the Great Bard. But she’s in a bind, and the only one who can step up is a man who looks way too good in a codpiece—and knows it.

To add insult to injury, he refuses to take the role until she agrees to take his place in some barbaric warrior race. She’ll do it, but not with a smile. Unfortunately, the hardest part isn’t antagonizing her Scottish foes. It’s resisting the one man who seems determined to line and cue her heart—forever.

Warning: This book’s half-naked Shakespearean actors are not approved or acknowledged by people with actual literary merit. Neither are the dirty limericks.

THE WORLD IS A STAGE

By: TAMARA MORGAN

ASIN: B007HCWALQ

Published by: SAMHAIN

Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, CONTEMPORARY

Format: EBOOK

Length: 513 KB

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Author Website

Twitter

facebook

goodreads

Buying Links: Amazon      Barnes & Noble      Samhain

Excerpts From Romances Releasing Today!

Thanks to Random House, I have three, yes THREE, excerpts. The first one is, "Home For the Summer" by Mariah Stewart. This one sounds like one I'd enjoy very much. There's also a book trailer.

Book Blurb:

Some of Lucy Sinclair’s best days were those spent growing up in small town St. Dennis—working at the family inn and enjoying summers filled with swimming, sailing, tennis, and the company of Clay Madison, her best friend. But Lucy’s darkest day, the one that shattered her innocence with violence and fear, also happened in St. Dennis. And the town she once loved became the place she gladly left behind—along with the terrible secret she’s kept for twenty years.

And when Lucy comes back to town to plan a celebrity wedding at the Sinclair family inn, she and Clay reconnect, and find themselves reevaluating their long-sleeping friendship that could blossom into something deeper. Like a bookend to those distant childhood days, this summer will be Lucy’s chance to finally confront her hidden pain, make peace with the past, and plan her own whole new future.







Next up is a historical romance, "A Gentleman Undone" by Cecelia Grant.

Book Blurb:

A seductive beauty turns the tables on a gentleman gaming for the guiltiest of pleasures in this rich and sensual Regency romance from beloved newcomer Cecilia Grant.

Lydia Slaughter understands the games men play—both in and out of the bedroom. Not afraid to bend the rules to suit her needs, she fleeces Will Blackshear outright. The Waterloo hero had his own daring agenda for the gaming tables of London's gentlemen's clubs. But now he antes up for a wager of wits and desire with Lydia, the streetwise temptress who keeps him at arm's length.

A kept woman in desperate straits, Lydia has a sharp mind with a head for numbers. She gambles on the sly, hoping to win enough to claim her independence. An alliance with Will at the tables may be a winning proposition for them both. But the arrangement involves dicey odds with rising stakes, sweetened with unspoken promise of fleshly delights. And any sleight of hand could find their hearts betting on something neither can afford to risk: love.





And the final excerpt is from a PNR, "When Passion Lies", by J.K. Beck.

Book Blurb:

Tiberius is a vampire dedicated to protecting his kind—and the secrets of the shadow world. Now, as his quest to become head of the Alliance draws within reach, a shattering new threat puts him to the ultimate test. It’s a nightmare of grim proportions: a dark plot to bring about the mass extermination of human and shadow alike. And it forces Tiberius to turn to the woman he loved and lost, the lover he still desires but doesn’t trust.

Caris was Tiberius’s mate for centuries—until a fateful mission changed her forever. Her tortured secrets drove her into the arms of his rival, but desperation has brought her back. As a horrifying new weapon of mass destruction is about to be unleashed, Tiberius and Caris harness the power of their immortal and passionate love. But will it be enough to battle devastating odds and a ruthless enemy with the ambition to destroy them all?

Review of Black Dawn by Rachel Caine & A Giveaway

Publisher: NAL Hardcover

Series: The Morganville Vampires #12
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Buying Links:  Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

The hotly-anticipated twelfth installment in the Morganville Vampires series

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!

Teaser:

When she and Theo left Amelie's rooms, Myrnin was standing in the round area with the coffee station, staring at the remaining bits of breakfast on the trays and frowning as if he couldn't quite work out what to do with the cup and saucer in his hand.

I'm in vampire central, Claire thought. She wasn't used to being constantly  surrounded by the nonbreathing sort of people; most of the time it was just her, Shane, Eve...and she never really thought of Michael as a vampire, much. Myrnin was familiar, but she never forgot how sharp his fangs were, either. She was with Theo, had just come from Oliver, and now there was Myrnn, and she was starting to feel a little like a hamburger at a dieters' convention. Nobody was likely to snack on her, but absolutely everybody noticed she was edible. 

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

My attention dragged at times while reading this book but honestly, I think that had more to do with events going on in my personal life while I was reading, than it did with the story itself. A LOT happens in this book and Morganville will never be the same again. I was confused about a couple things in the book but I think that is due to having started the series with book 11, "Last Breath"; had I started at the beginning it might have been different, and they were minor matters. The draug, the major baddies in this book, are NOT nice but you know what? Neither are most of the vampires. By the time the book ended I was scared about what will happen next. I like Claire, Shane, Eve and Michael and I want life to be smoother for them.  And even though I'm still new to the series, I was very sad at what happened to some of the characters in this story. At times, it felt to me like Caine was cleaning house, starting the series over. I'm curious if long- time readers felt that way too. It was a strong entry to the series and I enjoyed reading it.

I received a hardcover from the publisher for review.

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As much as I've enjoyed the books by Caine that I've read recently, I'm running out of room on my shelves, so I'm giving away all three books - Unbroken, Last Breath, and Black Dawn. Three books, three winners. 

The rules: 

US residents only, sorry.

You can enter for one, two, or all three books. There will be a different winner for each book.

  
Please follow all the directions so I don't have to disqualify you. That's been happening quite a bit lately. 

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Interview with Author Lisa Shearin & A Give Away

Today, I'm delighted to have as my guest, fantasy author Lisa Shearin. Although I haven't yet read her books, several friends convinced me to give her a try so she's on my list of authors to read. Today she's here celebrating the release of her newest book, "All Spell Breaks Loose". It's the sixth, and final, book in her Raine Benares series, and it releases tomorrow, May 29th.

A little bit about Lisa: Contrary to popular belief, most authors do have day jobs just like everyone else. Lisa is happily ensconced at an advertising agency as an editor and quality control manager. In her previous corporate life, she's been a magazine editor, advertising copywriter, and writer of corporate marketing materials of every description.

She's the author of the national bestselling fantasy adventure series featuring Raine Benares, a finder of things lost and people missing. But what Raine finds best is trouble and lots of it. The series began with Magic Lost Trouble Found, and continued with Armed & Magical, The Trouble With Demons, Bewitched & Betrayed, Con & Conjure and ends with All Spell Breaks Loose.

Lisa is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and live's in North Carolina with her always patient and ever-encouraging husband, two spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds and a Jack Russell terrier who rules them all.

Where to find Lisa online:

Website & Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Hi Lisa, welcome to the Nook, and thanks for taking the time to sit down and answer some questions for us.

Bea: Do you have a regular routine for writing?

Lisa: I start each chapter writing longhand in a journal with one of my vintage fountain pens. And my official “writing chair” is a huge a 120-year-old mahogany rocking chair. My thoughts flow better from brain to pen to paper (while sitting in that chair). I think writing longhand gives me a more direct path to my inner storyteller. Once I’ve written a first draft, then I key it in to my computer and start expanding from there.

Bea: Do you consider yourself a plotter or do you wing it?

Lisa: I started out being a complete plotter, but over the course of the past six books, I’ve become more of a pantster. The new series that I’m working on now is being written only from a few paragraphs of “back jacket copy.” It’s so much more fun this way.

Bea: What prompted the decision to end the Raine Benares books? Was it a planned story arc?

Lisa: The sixth book of the Raine Benares series—All Spell Breaks Loose—is the culmination of a storyline that began in 2007 with Magic Lost, Trouble Found. The action contained in those six books cover a mere three-month period in the lives of Raine and her friends. Three months. It’s hard to believe. When I look back over the entire series, I think one of the biggest surprises for me was that the Saghred storyline extended into six books. I had expected three books max. But the characters kept growing, and they and their stories took on a life of their own. There was no way I could stop after only three books. I had to find out what happened.

Bea: What can you tell us about your current WIP? Do you have one?

Lisa: I’ve just completed a proposal package for an urban fantasy/supernatural thriller/comedy series. You all know how I love to mix & match genres. I have the series premise written, as well as the synopses for the first three books, and I just finished the final sample chapter today (for a total of six). I promise that as soon as I get a contract for it, I’ll tell you more—in fact, you probably won’t be able to shut me up. I’m so excited about this project—it’s just pure fun.

Bea: Do you think you might ever write in a different genre besides fantasy?

Lisa: The new series that I’m working on can be categorized as urban fantasy, but it has paranormal and comedy elements to it as well. When I read for fun (which is as often as I can), I read mysteries and thrillers – and best of all if they have a supernatural bent. 

Bea: Do you find that your work as an editor leaches into your work as a writer; for instance do you find that you over-edit yourself while writing?

Lisa: Oh Lord, yes. It’s taken six books to do it, but I finally think that I’ve talked my internal editor into standing back until I at least have a first draft down, then she can critique all she wants to.

Bea: Does your family read your books? What do they think of them?

Lisa: My family does read my books, but my sister is the only one who reads fantasy. She loves them!

Bea: Do you prefer ebooks or print books?

Lisa: A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer that question because I hadn’t tried ebooks. I finally broke down and bought a reader. I really enjoyed it for the first few months, then the paper started calling to me. I’ll be 49 years old next month, so I’m much more familiar with paper than I am with ebooks. Heck, I even used to work at a printer. And I prefer to handwrite the first drafts of my books in a journal with vintage fountain pens. If you cut me, I’d probably bleed ink. So, I definitely feel safe in saying that I prefer paper.

Bea: You touched upon this earlier, what authors and genres do you enjoy reading?

Lisa: I love thrillers and mysteries, preferably with supernatural elements. The authors I’m reading now include James Rollins, Scott Siegler, David Golemon, Greig Beck, David Wood, Jeremy Robinson, and Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child’s Agent Pendergast series.

Bea: Was there anyone who mentored you or was a big help to you when you were getting started writing?

Lisa: Unfortunately I didn’t know any writers when I was growing up until I got to college. So I’m pretty much self-taught.

Bea: How much time do you spend on your twitter and facebook accounts? How important do you think social media is these days for an author?

Lisa: These days I’m spending more time developing my new series. It’s easy for authors to spend too much time on social media. I’m trying to learn to strike a balance between the two. Yes, promotion is important, but unless you write the books you’re not going to have anything to promote. So the writing has to come first.

Bea: You’re active in Greyhound adoptions, how did that come about? You have several currently, what do you find so appealing about the breed? (I confess, I’m a cat person. I like dogs but I love cats. I am a cat slave.)

Lisa: Actually, personality-wise, greyhounds are very much like cats. My husband and I first saw greyhounds at the Renaissance Faire that our fencing group would perform at. We also saw a greyhound when we were doing fencing demonstrations at the Biltmore House in Ashville, NC. When we found out that there are so many retiring from the race tracks that need homes, we just had to adopt some. Greyhounds are the sweetest dogs! Derek and I would like to move out into the country so that we could foster dogs that have just come off of the race track and are looking for their forever homes.

Bea: And for my last question, what would be your ideal day? It can be a work day or a day off.

Lisa: For a work day, it would be when my writing is more like taking dictation, when I’m just an observer writing down what I see. That’s when the story comes to life for me. For a day off, uninterrupted reading time.


Thank you Lisa for stopping by today. Best of luck with your blog tour and with "All Spell Breaks Loose".

Thank you so much for inviting me!

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Giveaway! 

Ace is offering up one print copy of "All Spell Breaks Loose" to a US resident. Enter Below.

Please read my Giveaway Policy.

ETA: You MUST leave a blog comment to enter and then tell rafflecopter that you left a comment. If you tell rafflecopter that you left a comment, but in fact do not, your entry WILL be removed. I had to remove two entries already. Please follow all directions in order to have your entry count. I don't like disqualifying people, it's not fun. Thanks :)

The Sunday Post #4

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 
~this meme was inspired in part by - In My Mailbox~

It's a chance to share News. 

A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. 

A quickie this week, as I'm getting ready to head out of town due to a death in the family. There probably won't be a Sunday Post next week.

Recap: 1 Book Club announcement

            1 Giveaway
            1 Excerpt

            2 Reviews: Westward, Home! by JA Campbell    Last Breath by Rachel Caine

            3 Book Spotlights: Crimes Against Magic by Steve McHugh     Antique Charming by Natalie-Nicole Bates     Tales From the Coffin by JoAnne Kenrick

Books received for review:   BEA BUZZ BOOKS: EXCERPTS FROM OVER 30 TOP FALL 2012 TITLES 

Books won:  Unwanted Mate by (from Reader's Edyn) My Sanctuary by Sarah-Jane Lehoux (from author) Beezus and Ramona (from publisher)

Books Bought: 0

Kindle Freebies: Hot Summer by Judy Powell     Antique Charming by Natalie-Nicole Bates     Heaven's Fire by Sandra Balzo     Nordic Fairies by Saga Berg

How was YOUR week?

Announcing Astraea Press's New Book Club

Astraea Press, the publisher that I work for part time (and before I forget, I'm not being compensated for posting this), will be starting a book club on June 1st, 2012. Each month a new book will be offered for FREE to readers to read and enjoy. At the end of the month they will host a chat with the Author and readers on the NEW Astraea Press Book Club Facebook group.

Readers are encouraged to post a reader review at Amazon, B&N and or Goodreads if they choose but it is not required. For information about upcoming books please join the Facebook group and have fun reading your free copy each month. That's 12 free books each year :) The books offered will span all genres that Astraea Press offers and showcase a number of talented authors.

I know there are a lot of options for online book clubs but how many offer you the book for free? If you have the time, why not give it a try? If you like the book club, share it with your family and friends. 

Spotlight On: Crimes Against Magic by Steve J McHugh

Please welcome Steve McHugh to the Nook. Steve is another author who comes from Kelley Armstrong's board, though we only really started talking to each other on twitter, through mutual acquaintances. "Crimes Against Magic" is his first published book, but not his last, since it's the beginning of a series. I haven't read it yet, but someday, after I whittle down my existing TBR pile.

Steve’s been writing from an early age, his first completed story was done in an English lesson. Unfortunately, after the teacher read it, he had to have a chat with the head of the year about the violent content and bad language. The follow up ‘One boy and his frog’ (hmm, maybe Steve was influenced by the kids book, "A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog" by Mercer Mayer?) was less concerning to his teachers and got him an A.

It wasn’t for another decade that he would start work on a full length novel, the results of which is now available to purchase.

He was born in a small village called Mexbrough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and two young daughters in Southampton.

Book Blurb (from author):

It’s been almost ten years since Nathan Garrett woke on a cold warehouse floor with nothing but a gun, a sword, and no idea of who he was or how he got there. His only clue … a piece of paper with his name on it. Since then, he’s discovered he’s a powerful sorcerer and has used his abilities to work as a thief for hire. But he’s never stopped hunting for his true identity, and those who erased his memory have never stopped hunting for him. When the barrier holding his past captive begins to crumble, Nathan swears to protect a young girl who is key to his enemy’s plans. But with his enemies closing in, and everyone he cares about becoming a target for their wrath, Nathan is forced to choose between the life he’s built for himself and the one buried deep inside him.

Crimes Against Magic is an Urban Fantasy set in modern day London with Historical flashbacks to early fifteenth century France. It’s the first in a series of books called the Hellequin Chronicles, which shows the life of sorcerer Nathan (Nate) Garrett

CRIMES AGAINST MAGIC
By: Steve McHugh
Publisher: Hidden Realms Publishing
ASIN: B007YK01JY
Genre: FICTION, URBAN FANTASY,
Format: EBOOK (Will be available in print at a later date, according to the author)
Length: 523 KB, 295 pages
Release Date: APRIL 27, 2012
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Buying Links: Amazon US     Amazon UK     (coming to Smashwords eventually)

Steve has a prequel of sorts available on his blog. It's called "A Small Vengeance" and is currently not for sale. Click here to read. Want to find out more about Steve? Click here for a list of interviews.

Thanks for stopping by!

Review of Westward, Home! by J.A. Campbell

Publisher: Echelon Press
Series: Into The West #6
Release Date: May 3, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon     Smashwords

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Still not too sure about riding in a dress, Tina and the gang have to escape from Matherson’s men. Twice. Despite her attempts, Tina failed to convince the Sheriff to help with the water feud, but the Markie brothers and their gang agree to assist for a cut of the silver from the mine. First, they must defeat Matherson, and they’re still outgunned. Tina has learned to love the desert, but will a New Jersey teen be able to beat impossible odds and time itself to save the ranch and keep the cowboy she loves?

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

First, a disclosure: I helped the author with line edits on this story; I was not compensated in any way. My review is based on the Kindle copy that I purchased, which, darn it, still had typos. 

So, I read this story twice: Once when I was editing and then again after I bought my kindle copy. Really, when I was doing the line edits, I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to the story so I had to read it again, this time for the story.

This is the final installment of Campbell's Into the West series. I've been wanting it, because I wanted to see how she wrapped things up, and dreading it, because it's the final installment. Happily, she has more book in other series in the works, so you'll be seeing more reviews of her books.

Maybe it's because I was anticipating this story so very much, but this one was okay for me, about average. It has a HFN ending; I had hoped for an HEA but hey, Tina is a teenager, she has time. Given the geographical and epochal challenges they face, an HFN probably makes the most sense. The loose ends get tied up and while Rowe and Tina may have a HFN, the story as a whole has a happy ending.

"Westward, Home!" picks up where book #5, "Sagebrush Song", left off: with Tina, Rowe, and Angie being chased by Matherson's gang. Campbell wrote a believable chase scene, that didn't make either group look like idiots. Later, there's an escape scene and an rescue scene. Neither were too simple and I loved that Campbell gently poked fun at some of the tropes of the Western genre. For instance -

Tina's group had the advantage, they didn't have to turn around in their saddles to shoot. Still, firing from horseback was no way to win an accuracy competition and most of the shots missed.

 Also, Tina has a brain. She actually stops and thinks before doing things; so many heroines these days are of the TSTL variety so I appreciate the ones who aren't:

Tina couldn't come up with anything to say that wasn't going likely to get her shot, so she kept her mouth shut.

Smart girl.

I enjoyed this installment, but it didn't quite have the magic, for me, that books 1, 2, 4, and 5 did. But it could be me. I had high expectations for this book. I do like how Tina has changed over the series and grown up; even other characters, such as her BFF Jessica, comment on it. I'm not a fan of stagnant characterization so that's a big plus for me. Other good things about this installment - romance, action, smart heroine (as mentioned earlier), fun and believable characters, humor; pretty much everything you could want. It's a good ending to the series, and I suspect it won't be long before I sit down and re-read the whole series, one after the other.

I own this Kindle book.

Excerpt from The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley

So, unless you've been offline and avoiding the news the past few months, you've probably heard talk of 50 Shades of Grey, the Twilight inspired, BDSM love story that's been on the New York Times combined fiction and ebook charts for 11 weeks with it's sequels 50 Shades of  Darker and 50 Shades of Freed following at #2 and #3.There's been intense interest by readers in finding similar books. I haven't read the book, nor do I plan to, but two of my do-workers did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both Dear Author and Smart Bitches have lists of books that interested readers can try for further exploration of BDSM themed erotica. And today, thanks to Random House, I have an excerpt from one. I hope you like it!

Spotlight On: Antique Charming by Natalie-Nicole Bates

Today I'm featuring a new ghost short story, "Antique Charming", by Natalie-Nicole Bates. At only seven pages, it will whet your appetite and leave you wanting more. And did I mention that is FREE on Amazon during this two day barrage blog tour? If you have a kindle or kindle app, you're in luck!

Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.

Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Book Blurb (from the author):

The night he came home…forever.

Third-generation funeral director Lizzie Morton is about to have her dream realized. She has purchased the long abandoned Nichols Funeral Home and its upstairs flat, determined to restore the funeral home to its once former glory. But a late night visitor, Adam Nichols, claims the funeral home still belongs to his family. Lizzie scoffs at his odd behaviour and outlandish claims, but when a vintage photograph appears, she soon realizes, to her horror, that Adam Nichols did once own the funeral home—more than one hundred years ago—and now she has allowed this entity to pass into her home.

ANTIQUE CHARMING
By: Natalie-Nicole Bates
Publisher: Books To Go Now
ASIN: B005PCL340
Genre: FICTION, PARANORMAL
Format: EBOOK
Length: 106 KB
Release Date: SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Website
Twitter
Facebook
CBLS Blog Tour Schedule

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EXCERPT 

She heard it again.

The same time as last Friday night.

Three taps at her front door.

Lizzie muted the television, tossed the blanket off of her body and scurried out of bed. She slipped her robe over her shoulders and tied it securely, determined to find out who in the world would knock at her door at three in the morning. By the time she had reached the door the week previous, no one was there. The street had been dark and still.

It had to be a mistake. She had only recently closed sale on the long abandoned funeral home, determined to restore it to its once former glory. She had only been living in the upstairs flat for a few weeks.

As she hurried down the staircase, each step beneath her feet creaked in protest. There was no one visible through the peephole. She unchained the door and opened it just enough to peek around it.

No one was there, just like the previous week.

The street was dark and quiet. Not even the whisper of a wind could be detected. Only the cold dampness of the October night raised a chill on her skin.

Who was playing this weekly joke on her? Could it be the ghosts of some departed soul who had passed through the halls of Nichols Funeral Home sometime during the past century? A small smile crossed her lips as she prepared to close and lock the door. She was a third generation Funeral Director. Did she now believe in ghosts?

Before the door could close, a hand poked into the slight space and seized her wrist. A cry rose in her throat and she jerked backward, but the hand held tight and the door flung open.

The man emerged, shrouded in darkness. He was an ethereal creature, tall, and dressed in anonymous black. Only a streetlight glowed behind him.

“I’m home,” he announced.

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If you liked the excerpt, and you have a Kindle, grab it at Amazon NOW! It's only free for today and tomorrow. If you have a Nook, Kobo or Sony, see if they're offering it free too. Sometimes they will match deals elsewhere.

JoAnne Kenrick's New Release!

Estella, Vampire Queen of the Rejected,

royally invites you to join herself and her zombie lover for a fix of dark erotic tales sure to tickle your fancy and give you the shivers. But mind your manners, because she bites.

TALES FROM THE COFFIN official blog

ABOUT:

Estella  is better known as the Vampire  Queen of the Rejected due to her major Haversham complex; dumped at the altar, she's Dracula's rejected bride. And boy does she harp on it--still wears her Victorian wedding dress, moth holes and all.
Lucy Rot  was a  sweet girl who had a rather bad experience with magic. Now she's a zombie and Estella's lover and lacky.
Together, they lure the unsuspecting into their dark basement for a fix of darkly erotic twisted tales...and dinner!

Think story within a story. Great expectations mashed with Tales from the Crypt and Red Shoe Diaries.

TALES FRO THE  COFFIN BOOK ONE,  STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL, RELEASES Today, 22nd MAY 2012 . Book two, All the Pretty Faces releases June/July 2012

EXCERPT

 (c) JoAnne Kenrick, Decadent Publishing. All rights reserved.

“Fancy bursting into my boudoir and expecting me to entertain on demand. The cheek of it. You people have no manners.” Estella puffed her raspberry-red hair into something that resembled an up-do and readjusted her breasts, shovingher plump flesh back into her once-upon-a-time-white corset. “I know. The wordis out. I give great story. I do understand. You’re excited, who wouldn’t be? I amrather marvelous, if I do say so myself.“In my day, though, the men held doors open for ladies, and the ladies tiltedtheir necks to offer supper. Oh, no need to wrap that sweater farther up yourjugular, dear, I’ve already eaten, so I’m not hungry…at the moment.” Estellastretched her arms out, licked her canines, and hoisted her moth-hole-riddenskirt to expose her alabaster thighs decorated with stockings laddered at theknees and splattered with fresh blood. “I can’t vouch for Lucy, though. She’salways hungry, aren’t you my little Deady Bear.”

BLURB:

Estella, Vampire Queen of the Rejected, is sick of men. Or so she would have you think. Ditched at the altar by Dracula himself, she'd rather spend her days with what she now believes to be the more faithful gender. Plagued by a Haversham complex, she gets her kicks by luring prey into her decrepit house with promises of erotic tales...but mind your manners, and fingers, because she bites.

 Lucy Rotterdayne—a zombie better known as Lucy Rot—is Estella's sometimes-faithful subject and lover. Although why she hangs around to be ridiculed and taunted by a bitter vampire, she has no idea. Perhaps the answer is rooted the story of how she was zombified by a doctor who is simply masterful with his hands?

WARNING.  For adult audiences only.

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Also by JoAnne Kenrick

www.joannekenrick.com

Review of Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Series: The Morganville Vampires #11
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?


Teaser:

Damn, Miranda was right. Again. 

"Ahh...maybe we should be going," Shane said. "Ditch the shoes, Eve. We'll be running now."

"I love these shoes!"

"More than your circulatory system?"

Eve silently kicked off the stilettos and backed up. Shane and Claire got Michael moving, weakly at least, and headed for the door. Eve acted as rearguard, not that she had anything to fight with other than the shoes she'd grabbed up.

The vampire in the red velvet coat headed for her, fangs out. She got the stiletto heel up, ready to strike, but something grabbed him in midleap and slammed hi up, straight into the chandelier. Crystal shattered, and the disco ball spun wildly, throwing drunken sparkles over the room. 

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

First, I should say that I haven't read any of the earlier books, just a few short stories in different anthologies. Several book friends assured me that it wouldn't be a problem and they were right. There was sufficient back story dropped in here and there plus a brief series recap from the author at the beginning of the book. I had no trouble at all jumping in.

Also I apologize, I was supposed to review it months ago but things kept happening to push it back to the bottom of the TBR pile.  On Saturday I'll be reviewing the next book, Black Dawn, and giving away all 3 copies of the Caine books I've reviewed. 

The book starts simply enough, with Claire and Michael making their required blood donations (Morganville would be an excellent town to live in for anyone with hemochromatosis). While there, Oliver, the assistant to the Founder of Morganville, "asks" Claire for a favor, and with that, we're off. Claire has a decision to make, one that will affect Eve and Michael's lives. While the they all deal with that, they also get drawn into a police investigation of vampires who have gone missing, just disappeared without a hint of why or where.

I liked Claire, Eve, Michael, and Shane, as well as Myrnin, Hannah Moses and Naomi. Even Oliver and Amelie, while not completely likable, had some redeeming characteristics. These are not warm and fuzzy vampires and I liked that, I prefer them somewhat scary. Caine's writing is easy and flows and read the story fairly quickly. It did drag a bit at times, especially when Claire gets trapped in Glass House, but overall it was engaging and fun. All of the characters, OK maybe not the vampires, felt like people I might meet or know in my own life, even the obnoxious ones. I loved learning about the vampires world and how they interact with humans. I'm sure that, since I started with book eleven, I am missing some info, but I never felt like I was but neither did Caine drown the reader in info dumps. The draug, the villains, in this excellent, were fascinating and I loved Caine's repurposing of the siren and mermaid myths. I would have liked a bit more insight into the depths of the hatred between the vampires and the draug, but since they're back in the next book, "Black Dawn", maybe we'll get it then.

"Last Breath", which is an appropriate title on several levels, has action, romance, mystery, mythology and humor. I read it in one afternoon and evening, and it was time well spent. I'm sorry I waited so long to start this series.

I received a hardcover copy from the publisher for review.