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
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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
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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.

BUY LINKS

Get your kindle books signed by the author here:

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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.