Monday September 1st author Joy Nash will be Guest Blogging with the Domestic Diva (aka Katie Bug) here. Joy will be giving away a signed copy of Immortals: The Crossing to one lucky winner. The Domestic Diva will also be giving away an Amazon.com Gift Card so that is a total of 2 winners tomorrow.

If you haven’t read the Immortals series, you are really missing out! Here’s some info to entice you.

The Immortals Series FAQ:

IMMORTALS is a multi-author paranormal romance eight-book series created by authors Jennifer Ashley, Robin T. Popp, and Joy Nash and published by Dorchester Publishing.

The first four interconnected books appeared in 2007 and instantly became USA Today Bestsellers! The series continues in 2008-09 with three more full-length novels and one anthology featuring novellas from all three Immortals authors.

For centuries they have walked among us-vampires, shape-shifters, the Celtic Sidhe, demons, and other magical beings. Their battle to reign supreme is constant, but one force holds them in check, a race of powerful warriors known as the IMMORTALS.

Time and Place: Now, on Earth–but the Earth of Immortals is not the one you know! Magic and magical creatures are commonplace. Humans get cozy with demons, vampires, Sidhe, or werewolves…and many other magical creatures.

Magic: There are two kinds: Life Magic and Death Magic. These eternal forces must exist in balance for humans to thrive. While humans can practice both kinds of magic, magical creatures are aligned with one force or another. On the Life side: Sidhe, Werewolves and other shapeshifters. In service to Death: demons, vampires, Unseelies, and zombies.

The Immortal Warriors: Five big, bad, sexy warrior demigods/brothers (Adrian, Darius, Kalen, Hunter & Tain) have existed since ancient times, created to champion the fledgling human race against the forces of Death Magic. Joining the original five Immortals in books six and seven are Mac, a Celtic demigod, and Nick, a Native American Dream Walker. Book eight brings tales of werewolves, vampires, and ghosts.

So, hop on over to the Domestic Diva blog tomorrow and have a chance to meet the author and perhaps win a groovy prize.

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The latest blood donation from Amanda Ashley is Night’s Master. This addition to the DeLongpre/Cordova vampire story emerges from the crypt just in time for Halloween reading, in October 2008.

The latest tale introduces us to Kathy McKenna, a bookstore owner who moved away from the big city, in hopes of avoiding the hostilities between Vampires and Werewolves. Much to her dismay, she finds herself at ground zero for tense negotiations that will bring the war between the Supernatural groups to a halt or escalate hostilities to an all time high. Kathy is possibly the best realized, most intriguing of Ms. Ashley’s female leads in this series. Like her predecessors, she likes to follow her vampire, but she also stands up for herself, and does not always play the damsel in distress, waiting for her black knight in gleaming midnight armor. Similar themes are addressed with Kathy, as in prior novels in the series, such as the choice between mortality, humanity and never ending love. At points, this question is drawn out somewhat, but overall; Kathy stands out amongst the females in this series. The only exception may be Mara, the Queen of the Vampires. Mara maintains her aura of sensuality and mystery, even as we learn a bit more about her and her place in the vampire world in this book.

Entering Kathy’s bookstore after the fall of night, Rafe Cordova also stands out amongst Ms. Ashley’s vampires. Our first glimpse of him sets the stage; “he was, in a word, magnificent, from the top of his black-thatched head to the polished tip of his expensive black leather boots.” As previously experienced, our author’s love of her dark knights comes through yet again and makes Rafe all the more attractive. Rafe holds the reigns of the North American Vampires. This responsibility is granted to him by Mara, as she also appoints the other members of the Cordova and DeLongpre vampire families to other parts of the globe. The additional responsibility given to the character gives him a depth that was lacking in prior leading men; he is concerned not only with protecting and winning the fair maiden, but providing leadership and protection to the Vampires in his area during a time of high tension.

Night’s Master sets the scene 73 years or so after Night’s Touch. The exposition is very straight forward in the beginning of the novel, setting the stage for a world where most disease has been cured, technology has advanced and the world knows about vampires, werewolves and shapechangers. Kathy decides to relocate to a small Midwestern town, Oak Hollow, to escape the growing problems and dangers associated with the Vampire/Werewolf wars. Unknown to her, Oak Hollow is considered “neutral territory”, so it’s the first place the Vamps and ‘Wolves head to, for negotiations between the factions of the war. Rafe walks into Kathy’s store, changing her life, and raising her exposure to danger, significantly. They tangle with a reputedly skilled vampire slayer and confront the potential for the elimination of the vampires and the Shapechangers. They find themselves teaming with unlikely allies, and risking much more than just their personal chance at a happily ever after.

The solutions to the problems between the races and the questions about a vampire/human romance come to the reader, all in good time. While at points a little slow, the story is enjoyable. The best part of this novel, as compared to the first two, would have to be the more unique approach to plotting and villain creation. The villains of this piece, a supernatural hunter and his relations, are much more interesting than prior villains in this series. Their goals to annihilate the Supernatural races, combined with the entanglements associated with a human/vampire romance, make for a better paced, enjoyable read. The story has a satisfying ending, and leaves the reader looking forward to the next book, where we’ll get a few answers about Rafe’s estranged twin brother, Rane. This book is the best in the series, so far, and leaves the reader looking forward to more.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821780638
• ISBN-13: 978-0821780633

To purchase a print copy of Night’s Master click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Night’s Master click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Night’s Kiss
Night’s Touch
Night’s Master
Night’s Pleasure

To visit the author’s website go here.

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Pure Blood is the second novel in the Nocturne City series. Picking up where Night Life leaves off, Luna Wilder has just returned to duty after a leave of absence from the Nocturne City police force. She has a new captain who assigns Luna a partner. Luna must get used to working with Shelby O’Halloran. She gets drawn into the middle of a gang war between the oldest witches families in the city. She has to deal with the pressure in her department and her partner and the return of Dmitri. Will she be able to find out what’s going on in time to save the city and end the witches gang war?

I give this book 4 1/2 tombstones. I really enjoyed the first book, Night Life and the second in this series did not disappoint me. I enjoy a good mystery novel and this had the elements of a good mystery, mixed in with the paranormal and of course there was some romance. I think Caitlin Kittredge does an excellent job of drawing all these threads of the story together. Luna is an interesting and great character and Pure Blood continues to the depth of who she is. She doesn’t try to fight who she is. She embraces it even though those around her try to change who she is. If you have not read the first book in the series, you must read it in order to understand where Pure Blood begins. If you’re looking for a good paranormal mystery story and enjoy reading about shapeshifters, give Caitlin Kittredge’s work a try.

Book Excerpt: “In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl, and homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace—while living life as a werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by a cryptic message: We see with empty eyes…

To make matters worse for Luna, she can’t get wolfishly handsome Dmitri Sandovsky out of her mind. The last time he helped her with a case, Dmitri suffered a demon bite that infected him with a mysterious illness…and now his pack elders have forbidden him from associating with Luna. But she’ll need his help when high-level witches start turning up slaughtered. Because a war is brewing between rival clans of blood witches and caster witches—a magical gang war with the power to burn Nocturne City to the ground.”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312948301
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948306

To purchase a print copy of Pure Blood click Pure Blood.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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As a storm rages around her new home, Carena Wilder is not sure if it was the best idea to spend the first night there. The old house had looked friendly and inviting during the day, if in need of a lot of love and care, but as the night progresses it steadily seems creepier and when Carena finds herself acting like a small child hiding under the blankets, she tells herself to get a grip. She has spent her last penny on this house and she is here to stay. Of course nothing in the agreement for the house ever said anything about a roommate who also has a deed.

Kalan Marx is ruled by hunger and thirst, he lurches out of the hidden room his grandfather had built in the library and into the kitchen looking for something, anything, to sooth the hunger in his soul. Finding the fridge full of veggies and weird organic orange juice is a far cry from the spoiled stuff he had expected, but he didn’t question it until the woman had turned up throwing stuff at him and screaming. Biting her and drinking her blood wasn’t something he had intended to do, it had just happened, and now he can’t comprehend why he drank her blood and is a bit horrified at the idea of it.

A vampire learning the ropes and a woman looking for safety are a bit of an odd match, but it definitely works for this story. Stephanie Bedwell-Grime does a nice job combining innocence on both Kalan and Carena’s part with knowledge of the way the vampire society works as the two learn about themselves and who they are. I also appreciate that though this story is a fairly quick read, it is well rounded and doesn’t leave the reader disappointed, though I wish we had learned why Carena was looking for safety. I really hope the author continues writing in this world, because though she didn’t leave any loose endings, the society shows promise and it would be nice to learn more of it and Sebastian.

Book Stats:

• E-book, digital format
• Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
• ISBN-N/A

To purchase an electronic copy of Dark Love click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Laura Flannery is a 35 year old woman who needs a vacation, yesterday. She is working at a dead end job, has an old bitty that lives next door and always wants to know her business. If that is not enough, when Laura gets a vacation her neighbor asks if she can feed her five cats. When a post card comes in the mail for a new bed and breakfast, Laura decides to go on a little vacation of her own.

Barnabas is the owner of Greenwood Manor but stays out of sight at first. His butler William and cook Rosie get her settled in. When Barnabas does meet her face to face, he tells her that he is her husband. By the way, he is also dead.

Her stay begins with a taxi driver that cannot wait to get away from her and the house. Strange things keep happening at the old manor such as hearing voices in her head and people floating instead of walking. Laura thinks that she has gone nuts because the alternative is too scary.

This book had me giggling and getting misty all at the same time. Shannon Leigh knows how to get the emotions out of her characters and bring them to life on paper. The love scenes are on the spicy side but done in a way that shows the special connection between Laura and Barnabas. Greenwood Manor is a book that I would recommend to all my friends.

Book Stats:
E-book, digital format
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
ISBN: 1-59279-441-6

To purchase an electronic copy of Greenwood Manor click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

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Blaze Robinson, pagan author, is not happy when Daniel Owens signs him on for a live interview, which he has clearly said he doesn’t do, for the week of Beltane. Blaze knows his sales could be better if he did more publicity, but he is dead set against it until he finds out his interviewer is none other then Valda Lyman. Valda Lyman, writer of Skeptic’s Voice at Weird magazine, has provided him with weekly entertainment and valuable advice on how to keep his books from becoming the hokey pieces of crap that his editor would love and he will break his rules for the chance at her advice on how to make his next book crystal clear. Even if she ruins his quiet Beltane and turns out to be an argumentative hag, really, how bad could it be?

Valda had been arguing with her editor for weeks to let her interview Blaze Robinson and can’t believe her editor finally caved. Valda is the magazine’s token non-pagan and even if she receives hate mail for doing so, she loves her job of being the crusader that demands proof and tries to protect the genre’s readers from charlatans trying to make a buck off of them. She really hopes that the genre’s brightest new star is what he claims, however, because though her editor thinks she is just trying to take down Blaze Robinson, she really has a hidden motive. For you see, Valda is getting a bit desperate. She needs to find a real witch, soon, before she goes stir crazy.

Spending a week in North Florida, the abrupt change in weather from the snow still falling in Denver to the hot and muggy Florida is a shock to Valda’s system, but not as much of one as Blaze himself. Blaze is beyond yummy, literally the touch up department couldn’t do better, and fairly interesting. When the inexplicable seems to occur around Blaze, Valda is bound and determined to figure it out, but darn it, the man is just too charming for his own good and just might be exactly what she is looking for.

Woohoo! male pagans for the win! I love that this story brings out the fact that it isn’t just woman interested in alternative religions and that, yes, a man can be a witch and have power. Valda is the classic disbeliever and even having spent the better part of a year with Weird she still has a lot to learn and has a lot of typical misconceptions about what being a witch is.

I like that anyone not knowledgeable of the lore can learn with her as the story progresses and kudos to Lena Austin for combining knowledge and romance so flawlessly while literally bringing pagan beliefs to, well, life. The classic romance of the witch and the skeptic (rather like beauty in the beast, no?), combined with hilarious dialogue, and fantastic scenes are sure to be a winner with Pagan and Non-Pagan alike and I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fun way to pass an afternoon. Having finished it with a smile, I now can’t wait to see what Lena Austin has in store for Rhiannon, because it would just be mean to drop a hint like that and never follow through.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Changeling Press
  
• Book Length: Novella
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-59596-770-1

To purchase an electronic copy of Eyes of the Cowan click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Cassie is a 27 year old single woman with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Her friend Heather and her boyfriend Graham have talked her into a camping trip. Heather tells her it could be a chance to meet a man but she does not hold too much hope after seeing the available men. While fighting with a tent and losing, she meets a tall sexy stranger that changes her mind.

Cray is the tall sexy stranger with beautiful green eyes. He offers to help Cassie fix her tent but also uses it as an excuse because he cannot help but to be drawn to her. He offers to take her out hiking the next day around the park and she accepts happily. He knows he should leave her alone because he might put her in danger but he cannot help himself.

The night following the hike with Cray, Cassie heads to the showers with her friend Heather before bed. On the way out an animal attacks her friend. Cassie thinks it is just a wild animal and heads over to help not knowing that it is actually a werewolf. Before she can help her friend, she becomes the prey as well.

I like Shannon Leigh’s version of werewolves. I don’t have much to go on since I have just started reading about shapeshifters but this one was great. You have an alpha male (no pun intended) that sees what he wants and tries to stop himself from attaining it. During the book you find that Cray has more than just a pretty face, he also carries some pretty heavy burdens on his shoulders. Cassie is tougher than she looks and proves it in this book. The sex scenes were extremely hot and left nothing to the imagination.

Book Stats:

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 174 KB
• Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (April 22, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00189EQP2

To purchase a Kindle copy of Lycan Lore click here.

Books in this series in the order they should be read:
Lycan Lore
Lycan Lore 2: Offspring

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

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Some of you may have heard that I recently broke down and purchased the Kindle reader from Amazon awhile back. I am pretty sure it is one of the more expensive gadgets I have ever purchased outside of say a computer or CAR. So, to get a discount like the one Amazon is offering right now is pretty sweet.

What I can say is that it has completely changed my life and the way I view reading books. I absolutely LOVE it. My Kindle goes everywhere with me! I read a lot, because I love to, and because I am a book reviewer. There is a WHOLE world of electronic books out there ripe for the picking. The added bonus to this reader is that it has internet capabilities with NO additional fees. So, you get your books instantly, no waiting for the mail OR shipping charges (bonus). What could be better? It is super lightweight and holds up to 200 books. I WISH all of my books that I have to move in boxes across country were on my kindle right about now. LOL

So, I was excited when I got this email this week! Basically Amazon has a deal where you can get $100.00 off your Kindle by using their credit card here’s the link to click to the info on the promotion.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/?tag=bittenbybooks-20

Thanks to Chase, you may be eligible to receive $100 off the regular Kindle price. Of course you get FREE shipping as well. So, if you are thinking about getting a Kindle, hop on over right now and check this offer out. I cannot say enough good things about this device and the hours of pleasurable reading it has brought me. I have NO idea how long this will last, but knowing Amazon, probably not long.

Do you have a Kindle? Or have you been thinking about getting one? Post your thoughts and views here. I would love to hear from you!

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I just found out about a new site today called Field Report. It is a site that focuses on real life writing (non-fiction) and original thinking. You can sign up and write stories about your life either as yourself or under a pen name (to protect the innocent). Then readers of the site review and score your writing. Depending on how you score, you can win some pretty decent cash prizes. The winners are chosen not by clicks or automated methods per se, but by the readers. Making everything fair game.

They are really slanted towards bloggers and are working to grow this unique community. The thing I like about this site is that you can be a reader OR a “reviewer” of the material that is posted. I write about and read fiction all the time, so it nice to review real life stories and help somebody gain exposure and maybe even win some kind of prize.

I am reading a story there right now called “29 Minutes” you can check it out here. It is a topic that I can relate to on several levels and is very touching.

Another great site to visit daily. Check out Field Report, you will be glad you did.

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Hop on over to Raven Radio for a great contest sponsored by Bitten by Books this month here:
http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog/?p=552

You can win a $25.00 Amazon.com Gift Card !!! This contest ends on August 31st, so spread the word and get on over and ENTER now!!!

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