KB'S Day At 2009 NYC Book Expo America

I was one of thousands of people who overtook the Javits Center in NYC for Book Expo America. I arrived at 9:30am with two big empty bags and I was on a mission to meet as many authors and publishing industry people that I could find. For the next eight hours I was surrounded by books and more books. BEA is truly a book lover's dream! Every publisher both big and small were in attendance as well as some well known authors. (James Patterson was even roaming the exhibition floor)

It is all about the books...
Some may think the $75 entrance fee for one day is a bit steep, but let me put it in perspective for you. I left with three full bags of books. The total price of these books is over $500. I didn't have to pay for one book and more than half of them are ARCS. With the amount of books I had, my arms were about to fall off. I even had to check one of my bags.

The first thing that caught my eye was the big inflatable Clifford the Big Red Dog for Scholastic. Scholastic was a very big presence there. One book that is getting great buzz is Shiver (August 2009) by Maggie Stiefvater.

Shiver Synopsis:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I would say Young Adult publishers had the biggest presence there. The majority of the books I grabbed where YA. Bloomsbury USA has a very big YA line and were very generous with their ARC's. I picked up four YA books that will be out in October. Keep on the look out for:

Girl in the Arena- Lise Haines
Forest Born- Shannon Hale
Liar- Justine Larbalestier
Demon Princess Reign or Shine- Michelle Rowen

.

It's all about the authors...

Harlequin was one of the best booths at BEA. Their presence overshadowed many other publishers. I visited here multiple times throughout the day. They had so many book signings and both Gena Showlater and Rachel Vincent were signing copies of their soon to be relesed YA books for Harlequin's new Teen line.

Rachel Vincent signing My Soul to Take (August 2009)

Gena Showalter signing Intertwined (September 2009)

I was able to pick up two copies of each book. That means a contest this week. One set of these books for me, another set for some lucky winner.

Some other great authors signing books for Harlequin:

Deanna Raybourn signing Silent on the Moor

Diane Gaston and Amanda McCabe signing their anthology of The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor. Deb Marlowe wasn't there. I think the cover is lovely! Don't you?

I also saw many people I knew such as Barbara Vey and Diana Love. Diana wrote a non-fiction book called Break Into Fiction with Mary Buckham. Mary also writes action-adventure novels.

Diana, Me and Mary

.

I really thought I would be alone on this adventure, but that was not the case! I met up with Stacey Agdern, Marisa and Maria from RNTV, Dorchester author Leanna Renee Heiber, Janicu of Janicu's Book Blog, Kwana of Kwana Writes, Kris of the German magazine Love Letters and spent some time talking to Dorchester publicist Erin Galloway. I told Erin that C.L. Wilson's fans are anxiously awaiting for Queen of Song and Souls and we wish her all the best and can't wait! Dorchester is in awe of C.L. and are so greatful for her readers and fans.

Ellora's Cave had a booth and Samantha Kane and Mari Freeman where there signing. Sam was signing two of her Menage a Trio historical romances. Let me say again that Sam Kane writes some of the best menages I have ever read and is one of the reasons I started to read ebooks in the first place.

I also made sure to check out Laura Baumbach the publisher of Man Love Romance. We chatted about gay romance and how her roster of authors writes some of the best M/M romance in the publishing industry. She was very pleased about the newly former RWA LBGT chapter. Laura will be at RWA this July, but I did find it a bit disheartening that RWA will not let her or any of her authors sign their books at the literacy signing.

Laura B at the Man Love Romance Booth
.

Hello, who cares who the publisher or author is? It all goes for charity!

Major Fail on RWA's part.

.

It's all about the bloggers...

The one panel I was so very excited for was Book Bloggers- Todays's Buzz Builders. Harper Collins’ Jennifer Hart (and BookClubGirl blogger) was the mediator. The bloggers on the panel were:
Nastasha from Maw Books Blog
Candace from Beth Fish Reads
Dawn from She is too Fond of Books
Stephanie from the Written Word
Amy From My Friend Amy
Julie from Booking Mama

The room was packed with bloggers, authors and publishers. The majority of the panel had different opinions and thoughts on blogging and what they would like from publishers and authors:

-Wants more relationships with bookstores. Would love to highlight certain bookstores from small and large to independent.
-If a publisher or author is interested in a blogger reviewing a book, they should really check out the blogs review policy and if the blogger likes to read that certain book that is being asked to review. Bloggers need time to read because blogging is very much a hobby and because of real life issues, expecting a book review where a book is only given two weeks before the due date is not realistic. Publishers and authors should understand time restraints.
-Communication is very important. Publishers and authors should build relationships with bloggers. It is very much a give and take situation. If a blogger is going to go out of their way to take the time and energy to post a review, an author and or publisher should link the review on their site.
-Sometimes lesser known blogs or blogs just starting to find their footing are a great way for author promotion. These bloggers will be enthusiastic and go out of their way to promote and author's work and post contests.
-The bloggers could not give enough praise to Twitter. Twitter is a great way for bloggers to network. And if a book review blogger twitters a message to an author, it would be nice if an author could twitter back.
-They also mentioned they are wary of working with big commercial book sellers like Amazon , Barnes and Noble and Borders.
-Would love to have advertisements on their blogs. But I think these bloggers would rather the advertisers come to them, instead of them asking for ads.
-They feel blog tours are great.
-Also recommend that authors should leave a comment on a blog post about their work or some peice of information posted about them. A simple "hello" is all you need.
- One important question someone raised from the audience is why would an author do on-line promotion with blogs instead of with Amazon? How can a book blog compete with such a powerhouse like Amazon? Amazon was brought up a great deal in regards to book reviews and promotion.

From my view, these were all very great points mentioned from the panel, but there were some comments, or rather I should say opinions from the panel that struck me as odd and raised my eyebrows. (Keep in mind this is only my opinion and may not be the majority out there ) There was a bit of a contridiction about long time blogs versus a blog that has been only around for short amount of time. At on point one of the bloggers recommended that authors and publishers reach out to blogs with less traffic or ones that have just started. But then they state that a blog that has been around for a few years is the better way to go. "Huh?"

I would have to disagree with this comment. Yes, blogs that have been around for years may have a great presence and may generate a great amount of traffic, but in the past year I have notice new blogs are competing very well with more well known blogs. And in some cases their reputation has grown leaps and bounds.

I am usually not the type of talk about my amount of traffic but in this case I feel it is needed. And I can only use myself as an example. I started this blog back in Septemeber of 2008. It is now 9 months later and my traffic on a given day will run anywhere between 500-800. These are my stats and I am not ashamed to say it. I am not sure where I lie with those blogs that have been around much longer than myself.

And this is where I raised my hand and asked a question to this panel. I wanted to know what their traffic numbers were on a given day and what days did they have the most traffic and what times during the day were the most popular? My most popular days are Monday, Thursdays and Fridays and usually in the morning and mid-afternoon.

I was a bit peeved, yes peeved when some of the panel members were vague and wouldn't give me their stat numbers. Only one blogger, and I think it was Natasha who said she thinks she gets 1,000 people in a day or about 30,000 in a month. They couldn't answer me or wouldn't, and no offense to those on the panel but the crowd wants hard facts. I wanted hard facts. There simply wasn't enough hard facts to please this crowd.

Another statement from the panel that irked me was that comments are very important. Lack of comments means you are not doing enough to get your blog out there. The word "healthy" was used as in your blog is not a healthy and active one if you don't have a lot of comments. One blogger from the audience stood up and aruged with that. I would have argued also.

I noticed that when I post book reviews my comments are down but my traffic is still up. If there is a discussion post then of course there will be more comments. And honestly some of us don't always have the time to comment. I have about 300 blogs I subscribe to in my Google Reader and even though I don't always comment I will read the posts. The amount of comments does not mean the amount of traffic you have. To think that lack of comments means your blog is not a healthy active one is wrong on so many levels. I can say this with much certainity.

Another question was raised was about the women on the panel. A gentleman asked if the bloggers on the panel are the stereotypical group that blogged. He raised a very good point. Why wasn't there a more diverse group?

The six bloggers don't have blogs that are genre specific and are more for a broad overview with books reviews and publishing information. I would have liked at least one or two bloggers on the panel to have a more centralized blogs such as for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery or Romance. For some reason Young Adult blogs were talked about a great deal.

I really want to say that I am so happy BEA had a panel highlighting book bloggers. What these six bloggers expect from the publishing world, or desire as a whole, has already been on-going for quite some time in the Romance book community. I will admit I am a bit biased because I am more involved in this community as a whole. The Romance blogging community already has accomplished so much! It is a great network that has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. We have the one-one-one relationships with authors and publishers. We have the interaction with authors who do comment on blogs. We have steadily gained respect from a wide variety of authors, their publicists and the publishers who publish their books.

That is the reason I blog and review. For the simple joy of being sent a work of art and making an author and their editor and even the publisher happy. I have built relationships over the past two and a half odd years. Going to BEA proved that book review bloggers have been embraced and are well respected. Regardless if you have been at this for a dozen years or just one month, regardless if you have 100,000 people in a given day or just 10 visit your site. It is all about building a community where we can grow and respect one another and help the authors and their books gain the readership and keep us around.

Blogging to me is not a hobby. I treat it as a part-time job. I don't get paid in cash, only in books. I spend almost 20 hours a week writing reviews and coming up with blog posts, not just for my own entertainment but for others.

My experience at this year's BEA was truly a warm, welcoming and exciting one. As a proud book blogger and aspiring author I can say that this community and world I have embraced is one that has given me great joy and expectations.

One last thought. If you have wanted to start your own blog and are afraid or are holding back, thinking no one will care what you have to say, except your family or personal friends, I say stop second guessing yourself and find a computer and start your own blog. Let your creative outlet shine. BEA is proof positive from the Book Blogger panel to the 44 other bloggers at the Firebrand booth how a group of people with amazing ideas and the dedication for the written word can accomplish a great deal.

I was once a lurker who thought no one would care what I had to say. Look at me now. And to all of those who blog book reviews or otherwise, look at yourself in the mirror and pat yourselves on your back. We all deserve it.

Haven't Visited Your Local Library In Awhile?

This inventive commercial for the reopening of a local library on FunnyorDie.com shows why going to the library is fun.

Where else can you flirt with the cute guy who re-stacks the books?

Library Re-Opening (Aaron Andzik) - watch more funny videos

KB'S Pimpin Blogs You Should Visit

This is in honor of BEA and all those bloggers that will be there this weekend...

Rather than my weekly KB Pimpin Book Cover post, I have decided to dedicate this post to some new blogs I think everyone should visit. It has been awhile since I have highlighted a certain blog, even though the majority of the ones I visit everyday are on my side bar. With BEA in town, celebrating some great blogs and the people who work behind the scenes to keep them up and running is a great way to promote all their hard work.
.

SciFiGuy.ca

Is all about Science Fiction, Fantasy and paranormal book reviews, news and opinion by Doug Knipe who has some great reviews, author interviews and contests. He is willing to read any book in the Sci-fi, Fantasy or Paranormal genre and is honest and insightful. Sometimes I get a wee bit jealous because he will read some of my most wanted books and post reviews before I do. He is moving up in the blogging world as the go to guy for the best in book reviews.

Racy Romance Reviews

Reviews of the genre, other blogs and very ocassionaly an actual book. This lovely blog is run by Jessica who does amazing research on a wide variety of topics. Her reviews are very different from the regular run of the mill ones I read and she likes to spotlight other blogs and interview bloggers and give them their day to shine. Jessica makes me really think about the literature that I am reading. She has opened my mind to many different possibilities.

Literary Escapism

Escaping into new worlds, meeting new characters and exploring different societies is the only way we have of leaving the harsh reality of life behind us...if only for a little bit. Jackie has great updates and finds out major publishing information even before I can. Her blog is great for fan of Paranormal and Fantasy reads. She posts about interviews and author contests around the web.

Eos Books

Blog for Eos Books, sf/f imprint of Morrow/Avon/HarperCollins Publishers. Eos posts all about their upcoming books and really great contests where you can win some ARC's. I have even won a few. It is one of my favorite publisher blog to visit.

Nuke The Fridge

Is an expression used by movie fans and critics alike to denote the point in which a film or television program veers off into the realm of the ridiculous and stupid. Run by Jason Nicholl and Luis Lecca, this site is for all you movie junkies out there. Want to see the latest upcoming movie poster or trailer, Nuke the Fridge is the place to go. They also have some of the best on-line movie reviews about almost every movie that is being played in the theaters.

Vault of Horror

One of the best horror themed blogs on the net, B-Sol is a true horror movie affectionato. I love horror movies and the Vault of Horror is the place to go for your fix. Where else can you see a post about the 10 least frightening vampires in movies? Brian has a wicked sense of humor and he and I now have a dare going. If he reads Twilght and reviews it for me, I will watch any horror movie he selects and do the same on his blog. See, doesn't that show what a great guy he is? He is going to read Twilight. (Brian, you can't back out now since I have publically called you out on this)

Jill Myles

I usually never praise author blogs. Perhaps I should start doing this. Jill, who will have her first published novel out at the end of this year, has her own live journal where she talks about her journey as an writer and the process of becoming published. She gives great advice and her personality really shines through. She is witty and so very engaging and you feel so very welcome posting a comment. If you are a writer who is struggling, just starting out or already out in the big bad publishing world, I recommend you visit at Jill's.

These blogs are just a small taste of the one I visit on a daily basis. Hopefully you will want to gives these ones a try and add them to your collection of must visit blogs.

Author Blurbs and Their Selling Power

Does an endorsement from a well-known or best selling author make you buy a book just because they have a blurb on another’s author’s book?

Avon Romance Editor May Chen thinks so. The majority of readers who have commented on this at various blogs and other sites also feel the same. I would have to say I am in the minority on this subject because an author’s blurb has never made me buy a book. I used to choose my books first by the cover and then by the synopsis on the back of the book. And if I have an author I prefer over the other, I will go ahead and buy.

I really don’t mind seeing these author blurbs on covers and inside books because it is interesting to see what an author has read. There are two books I have just finished that were blurbed by well known authors and it makes me wonder how these books will sell based on this. These two books are by first time authors and already one has shot up the book chart. Could it be a because of Stephenie Meyer’s blurb?

The Young Adult book Wings by Aprilynne Pike from Harper Teen that came out this month is about a young teenage girl who learns that she is a fairy. I decided to read the book because the storyline looked interesting, and I have been on this big Young Adult kick lately. Wings is the number one Children’s Chapter Books on the New York Times Best Selling list. Right at the top center of the cover is a blurb from Stephenie Meyer that says:

“Wings is a remarkable debut.” – Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga.

When I first read that blub I quickly came to the conclusion that because of Stephenie Wings would do very well. Natasha from Maw Books also thought the same thing because she posted on Twitter:

"Meyer's blurb & support of Pike for WINGS took her straight to #1. She can blurb for me anytime!"

From those five words by Meyer, I wondered if Wings was truly a remarkable debut. Wings is about Laurel who is fifteen-years-old and has been homeschooled all her life. Her parents finally decide to enroll her in high school. Laurel is not too keen on the idea of being in such a public place. She is bit of a loner who is afraid of fitting in. She can only eat certain foods and longs to be outside. But things go pretty well for her when she meets David, a friendly guy who enjoys science and wants to be Laurel’s friend. Soon there is a romance in the making with David. Then one morning Laurel wakes up and finds a bump on her back that turns in a flower! David is there to help Laurel figure out what she is. Poor Laurel is more plant than human and is actually a faerie. Along with David and a male faerie Tamani, she learns who she really is and why she was left on her parent’s doorsteps when she was a baby. Laurel’s father has also become sick and is dying. It looks like some nasty trolls are behind it because they want to own the land that belongs to Laurel’s family. This land is a gateway to the faerie land and these trolls must be stopped.

As for a debut, I would say Wings is a nice read. It is perfect for ages twelve and up and the budding romance between Laurel and David is sweet and tender. Laurel and David make a great team and the action and confrontation with the trolls isn’t too violent, except for one scene where Tamani, who is also a possible love interest for Laurel, defeats the trolls by twisting their heads off.

Is Wings remarkable? Perhaps not on the same level as Meyer’s Twilight series or Melissa Marr’s own faery series, but I can say that Aprilynne does have an engaging voice and has written a book teens and perhaps some adults will enjoy. I give Wings a B.

Wings is the case where an author blurb is almost on the money. Unfortunately there are some author blurbs I find to be misleading. So is the case of new Avon author Lavinia Kent with her June release, A Talent for Sin.

There is a blurb from Lisa Kleypas on the cover. The blurb says:

“I was captivated by every page.”- Lisa Kleypas. There is also an extended blurb on Lavinia’s website:

“I was captivated by every page of A Talent For Sin by Lavinia Kent, a masterfully written book that brims with style and vitality. Anyone who loves the romance genre should treat themselves to the spectacular work of Lavinia Kent—it is a sexy and emotional experience that will sweep you off your feet!”

When I read the synopsis for A Talent For Sin, I was hooked. It is about a thirty-one year old three times married widow who is having a luscious love affair with a man seven years younger than she is. I am all for the older woman/younger man love stories. And what makes this one even better is that that the younger man, Lord Peter St. Johns loves Lady Violet Carrington desperately that nothing else but marriage will do for him.

Violet doesn’t want to get married. She has been there three times and all these marriages were less than ideal. She also can’t have children and to marry a man like Peter who is younger and needs heirs is unacceptable. Violet has quite the reputation for taking lovers and living life by her own rules. But Peter won’t be denied and will have Violet as his wife.

Can we saw swoon? This is exactly the type of romance I want to read! I was riveted for the first one-hundred pages, but then the story quickly changed to one that made me go “huh?”. A Talent for Sin became clichéd. Violet has a brother who owes money to a nasty fellow. He was the reason Violet ended up marrying her much older first husband because of the debts he owed. Violet has a younger sister who is a twit and tries to seduce Peter. Violet keeps telling Peter to lay off the marriage proposals, but she still wants his body. Peter walks around moping because his love won’t marry him. But they still have some hot sex everywhere they can. Violet decides to sacrifice herself to save her sister from a horrible marriage because her brother is a dimwit with money and feels he is owed something. My last straw was when Violet decides the only way to save her family’s good name is for Peter to marry her twit of a sister! UGH.

I wonder if Lisa only read the first one-hundred pages like I did? If so, then I can see why she would be captivated and felt that A Talent For Sin is an emotional experience. Unfortunately the remaining two-hundred plus pages were a big let down. I give A Talent For Sin a C+.

With that in mind, I wonder if an author is given a book to read and blurb what happens if that author didn’t like the book. Do they try and find something positive to say? It looks like when a new author arrives on the scene, a blurb from an author the public adores can really help the new author's book sales.

How many of you buy books based on author blurbs? Was there ever a case where you bought a book because of it and the book wasn’t the one for you? How about the opposite?

Mark of the Demon Advanced Book Review *Diana Rowland*

Please correct me if I am wrong. I can’t help but wonder if there is a new type of Urban Fantasy genre in the making. I first noticed this when I read Ann Aguirre’s Blue Diablo. As I read Diana Rowland’s Mark of the Demon, I couldn’t help but compare it as I did with Blue Diablo as an Urban Fantasy Noir. What I mean by UF Noir is that the book is a murder mystery, heavy on police investigation with supernatural elements thrown into the mix.

I can certainly say that Mark of the Demon is a great novel for those who enjoy a suspenseful crime solving mystery. Diana has written a strong heroine with Louisiana Homicide Detective Kara Gillian who is able to summon demons. Even though Kara does have this ability it doesn’t overtake the story. Diana has a great way of balancing everything from how Kara handles her powers, to the way she investigates her latest case about a serial killer named the Symbol Man who carves up bodies in a sort of ritualistic killing where he can gain power for his own horrible means. The Symbol Man can also summon demons and soon he is matching wits with Kara. It becomes a cat and mouse game between them.

Kara is not a pro when it comes to her powers of summoning. She still has a very long road ahead of her in controlling what type of demon she can summon. Kara makes a big mistake and screws up big time because instead of summoning a lesser powerful demon fourth-level demon, she calls for one of the most powerful and deadly types. His name is Rhyzkahl and is one of the Demonic lords who will not submit to any creature. He is not the type who should be summoned, because usually the one that summons him ends up dead. Kara is now in a whole heap of trouble because she expects to die by Rhyzkhal’s hand. Rhyzkhal doesn’t end her life, but quite the opposite. Rhy gives Kara the “little death” on the floor of her basement. And even though Kara is beyond frightened, because Rhy could tear off her head at any moment, the sex they have is mind blowing.

I must say that I found this first intimate scene out of place between Rhyzkhal and Kara mainly because this demon is a bit unstable and kills without warning. Sorry, I don’t care if this bad boy is beyond gorgeous. I would be pissing my pants instead of wanting an orgasm. But he has an angelic beauty and Kara hasn’t gotten any in awhile. Perhaps he used a bit of mind voodoo on her?

After Rhy has his wicked way with Kara, she has become a bit more wary of summoning any more demons. Her Aunt Tessa, who is a bit of a mystical eccentric, wants her niece to practice so she can become knowledgeable and grow her powers. But she also wants Kara to recognize her limits. Tessa has had the misfortune to have met Rhyzkhal in the past and that event is connected to the Symbol Man case in ways Kara could have never expected.

Time is running out for Kara because there is a countdown in regards to what the Symbol Man has planned. This is the first time Kara is in charge of a homicide case, so she has everyone looking at her to solve it. The FBI has sent Special Agent Ryan Kristoff to help out. He treats Kara with disdain at first. Soon Ryan and Kara learn to appreciate each other’s merits and they become a team, each wanting to solve the Symbol Man case for their own reasons.

Kara has a lot of issues to deal with such as her Aunt Tessa having a connection to one of the Symbol Man’s victims, Ryan who is too nosey for Kara’s tastes, especially when he questions her about her personal life and figures out what she is capable of doing. And let’s not forget that murderous sex god demon Rhyzkhal who has invaded Kara’s dreams and lays claim to her.

This is one great mystery and Diana Rowland is a very welcomed author to the publishing world. She has you guessing who the killer is till the very end and I had no clue who the Symbol Man until the last few pages. There are twists and turns and great chemistry between Kara's and Ryan. As for Rhyzkahl and what he has planned for Kara, that is still up in the air and left open ended.

Mark of the Demon is one book that is not to be missed. (Bantam, June 23)

Final Grade: B+

Can anyone recommend any other Urban Fantasy Noir type books?

Road Trip of the Living Dead Book Review *Mark Henry*

There are some books I just don’t like that others really do. Some make me laugh and yearn in ways I can’t explain. Then there are such books where I have a horrible reading experience where I want to throw the book out the window and wish I had never picked it up to begin with. I will come out and say I have found such a book that is my worst read of 2009. I have read really great reviews about the author and his first book. And when I was given his second book in his series about a zombie heroine to read, I thought why not give it a go? How I wished I was never given the book now. I am still gagging thinking about what I have read.

The last time I actually gagged when reading a book was Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho. I had such a visceral response to American Psycho that to this day goose bumps will appear on my arms whenever I think about it *pokes at goose bump as I write this post*. The latest where I found myself gagging was Mark Henry’s Road Trip of the Living Dead or what I call the, “Paris Hilton zombie potty humor gag me till I puke book”. I am trying to figure out whose Mark Henry’s audience is. If film maker Judd Apatow wrote books, they would probably be like Mark Henry’s. Perhaps Mark is a fan of Judd’s very immature, only teen boys can understand comedies?

Road Trip of the Living Dead is a foul read. He injects descriptions of bodily fluids and very unfunny until they fall beyond flat situations. Want a few examples of this gag me till I puke humor?
.

"... Boxcar Willie pissing a stream of ectoplasm onto the grave. It glugged from the guy like Mrs. Butterworth's, glowing an enthusiastic obscene purple."

“He responded by ripping the wettest fart I’d ever heard, a massive gelatinous ass moan, that woke a gag reflex in me that I thought I lost with my death.”

“I was faced with a throbbing fleshy poultry mallet. This cock was not content to be simply misshapen in its engorgement- no- its oversized mushroom cap oozed a thick yellow discharge.”

“Wendy’s face was smeared with blood, chunks of hair skin and drippy globs of fat.”

Need I go on?

Road Trip of the Living Dead is from the first person POV of Amanda Feral who has been changed into a zombie. Her mother is dying and even though Amanda hates her mother with a passion, she will make the road trip to go see her. From what I can gather Amanda wants to be there when her kicks the bucket so she can dance on her grave. We are shown why Amanda hates mommy dearest, because get this- her mother once gave a young Amanda chocolate Ex-Lax on a car ride because Amanda wanted a lip gloss. Daddy dear had to stop at some road side store and Mommy Feral wasn't happy. Mommy Feral shows her love by making her little girl suffer.

Along for the ride is Amanda’s best bud Wendy who is also a zombie and has an eating disorder. Wendy cannot stop eating chocolate, which is a no-no for a flesh eating zombie. For some reason the girls can drink alcohol, which is given a pass, but not chocolate. Gil, a gay vampire with great fashion sense, travels along with these two dead ladies because he has to hide out from a newly risen vampire he kind screwed over. (Newly risen vampire was pissed upon by a ghost in a cemetery and blames Gil for it) There is also Mr. Kim, a ghost who is now attached to Amanda. On this road trip from Seattle, Washington across the U.S. to some very interesting back water areas, Amanda and her motley crew get into trouble.

I really can’t find anything appealing about making a zombie into a loveable main character. Perhaps as a sidekick, but as the main protagonist in a story, no. My problem lies with watching too many zombie horror movies with those mindless zombies that want someone’s brains to munch on. BRAIIINSSS!!!

Mark was trying to make Amanda come across as this loveable main character, but instead she reminded me of a Paris Hilton type. A selfish, vain cartoonish character that brings nothing into the world. Amanda’s sole purpose in Road Trip of the Living Dead is to stumble along with no purpose while she makes inane remarks. The way she and Wendy acted grated on my nerves, especially when they are on the look out for their next meal. These two eat humans just like any other zombies. They would troll in their high heels shoes for their next victims but made sure, at least in their minds, their dinner were bad sorts who deserve it. See that drunken homeless guy over there? He is perfect as fresh meat. What about that grungy teenie bopper girl and her boyfriend who treat her grandmother like shit at the store? They are perfect victims because they are so mean to grandma and have nothing to give to society.

.

At one point I wished I had an axe because I wanted to behead Amanda and Wendy because they wouldn't shut up and again were too annoying for words.The only character I has a small smidgen of interest for was Gil. He is the true comic sidekick that Mark actually got right.

Road Trip of the Living Dead feels like a bad paranormal Sex and the City gone bad. Amanda Feral is no Carrie Bradshaw, that’s for sure. By page 150 I put this book down with one last roll of the eyes. Imagine if I had a lighter next to me? This apparent attempt at quirky zombie humor fails in so many ways. (Kensington Books)

Road Trip of the Living Dead is one DNF that is close to a F grade as you can get.

I Call It Love Struck (My F/F Story)

Back in April I posted about writing outside my comfort zone. I am very happy to say that I have finished writing my first F/F romance. I finished the first draft before I left for England. I have taken a few weeks to revise and edit and now I feel I have a product that I am please with.

What is the next step? Writing is easy. Coming up with a query letter and synopsis is hard. A query letter is the first thing an agent or editor will see that makes them decide if they are interested in what you have written. You have to sell your story in a few sentences. You need a catchy pitch or a hook. You hope you don't sound like a rambling idiot.

I dread writing the query letter. The synopsis is not as bad, just time consuming. it is much like writing a review but without an opinion. It is more cut and dry but also your personality must shine through.

As I said before, I am up to the challenge. I never thought I would write such a story. And I can say that I am so very proud about it. We shall see if others think so.

I even have a title! I have decided on Love Struck. And why did I decided on Love Struck? It is all because of a song. The song is by the group V Factory. Perhaps they are a bit boy bandish, but the song has been stuck in my head for months!

Here is the music video for this catchy tune...



Tomorrow will be an interesting review day here at Casa de KB. I have posted my first review for what I think may possibly be the worst book I have read for 2009.

*Runs away from the pitchforks that will be thrown my way*

Makes you want to stop by tomorrow now doesn't it? *bats eyes innocently*

Jill Sorenson and KB Discuss Happy Ending by LB Gregg

All Seth really wanted was a simple massage—was that too much to ask? When his usual therapist is replaced by a sexy young masseur, Seth finds himself obsessed with the unpredictable - and wholly inappropriate - David Cooke. Pushed to the breaking point by forces both mysterious and not so mysterious, Seth must lose his rigid control to find the happy ending both he and David deserve.

When LB Gregg arrived on the scene a few months ago with her first M/M romance, Gobsmacked, I was anxious for another book by the author. LB has delivered with Happy Ending, her second book in her Men of Smithfield series. Bantam author Jill Sorenson and I really enjoyed Happy Ending and recommended we have a discussion about the book.

Happy Ending Discussion with Jill and KB...

Jill: Carolyn Crane mentioned the first-person alpha male POV on her blog. I thought that aspect worked beautifully here. Seth’s personality made the novella for me. His humor came out in the interior dialogue, and I loved him even when he was naughty.

KB: Even with Seth’s POV, LB did a great job of also showing David’s. Seth’s reactions and thoughts seem very real to me. I chuckled a few times as he tried to come to terms about his feeling for David. But at the same time I wanted to smack him because he was acting like such a jackass. He may come across as a jerk at first, but as we see him with his niece Molly and trying to get over his fear of failing his deceased sister, his attitude was more a defense mechanism, much like an animal that attacks because they are afraid, he has his nose in the air because he doesn’t want to get hurt.

Jill: I didn’t think he came across as a jerk, probably because I was chuckling along with him. But you’re right, the more we know about his family situation, the more sympathetic he becomes.

Jill: Being new to m/m, I was a bit shocked by the first sex scene. What did you think? Does this happen a lot in this subgenre? Is coming on someone’s face sexy?

KB: I was a bit surprised by the intensity of the first sex scene between Seth and David. The reason was because Seth was thinking such horrible things about David and the way David acted towards him at the restaurant made me think that these two really dislike each other. But then when it was mentioned that David had been working for the restaurant for some time and knew Seth, a light bulb went off in my head. AHA! David is interested in Seth. In the other M/M books I have read, the first sex scene between the two male lovers is usually fierce and a bit shocking in regards to the sex between the two, whether it is anal or oral.

Coming on someone’s face is so not sexy to me in either straight or gay romance. But again, I don’t get the whole let me swallow and ask for more, or rub the guy’s jizz all over your chest. I would be running to the nearest bathroom.

But the second sex scene was the total opposite from the first. It was sweet and very loving. I really enjoyed that one. I love when characters snuggle during sex.

Jill: The coming on the face thing wouldn’t be sexy in m/f, but it worked here. I actually liked the first scene better. It was raw and rough and realistic. Very intense, like you said. As far as come in/on other places, that doesn’t faze me. Dirty sex is fine. Just…watch out for the eyes. Ouch.

Jill: Let’s talk about David. Seth is very manly, of course, and a bit tightly wound. I liked that David was kind and nurturing, but still masculine enough to pop Seth on the jaw. David was good with kids, whereas Seth was pretty much clueless about how to care for his niece. The characters complimented each other well.

KB: I absolutely adore David! I am total agreement with your opinion of David and Seth complimenting each other. He is everything Seth isn’t and I think Seth needs someone in his life like David, either as a friend or a lover. Seth has all this stress and David just goes with the flow. I would have loved to see more “dates” between the two. Perhaps a day at the beach or where they could have done something fun that would take Seth out of his element like mini golf or dancing.

Jill: Yes, David is adorable. I’d like to see this author do a full length novel, because she does a great job with characters and chemistry.

Jill: I’ve heard that the beta/alpha thing is common in m/m, and it plays out nicely in Happy Ending. Is there a back-and-forth in most m/m romance, as far as the sexual relationship, or does one character always take charge in bed?

KB: I am not surprised that there is an alpha/beta in M/M. We see this also in straight romance, usually with the hero being alpha and the heroine being a bit beta. I think LB did a great thing making Seth a total alpha. At one point I expected him to beat his chest and say to David, “Me want you.”

As for the sexual antics between the two males, usually one will be more in charge in bed, taking over and pleasure their lover the way they want to. But then the one who was being pleasured, will take over at one point. It is very much a give and take. There is just something great seeing two men who have to be in charge in life, let go with one another in bed.

KB: When I first started reading M/M, there was hardly any kissing between the two lovers or foreplay. I was very disappointed by this. I guess this want carries over from the straight romances I read. I want some romance, the chase and not the quick bang between these two men. I really like how LB has Seth and David enjoy kissing each other. This was also very important in her first book, Gobsmacked. How important is kissing and foreplay for you? Do you think it is need in M/M or more reserved for other types of romances?

Jill: Foreplay is a very important for me, but I also like a sense of urgency in sex scenes. Ripping off clothes and doing it against the wall is more my style than cuddling! That said, I thought there wasn’t enough kissing in Happy Ending. My impression was that they moved on to the main event quickly. Good to know that Gobsmacked has some steamy make-outs. I’ll have to read that one.

Thanks so much for doing this conversational review with me, KB! It was lots of fun.

We both give Happy Ending a happy B Grade.

Interested in a copy of Happy Ending? Head on over to Aspen Mountain Press and pick up yours today!

Book Expo America Anyone?

In the next few days, New York City will be overrun by thousands of publishers, authors, industry types and all around book lovers for Book Expo America.

What is Book Expo America?

This is the premiere event for the North American publishing industry that runs from May 29-31th. It is all about the changing publishing industry and the changing economy. Over 500 authors and 1,500 exhibitors will be there with HUNDREDS OF NEW BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY, MEANING ARCS! There are more than 60 focus sessions and your chance to meet and get autographs from your favorite authors. BEA crosses all book genres and is for specific groups such as:

Bookseller/Bookstore

Educator

Film & TV Production

Industry Professional

Librarian

Licensing, Rights and Literary Agents

NonEditorial Media

Non Profits & Associations

Published Author

Publishing Consultants and Agencies

Publishing Personnel/Editorial

Retailer

And what makes BEA extra special this year is that there are various Book Bloggers Panels planned on Friday and Saturday. The panel is for Book bloggers, via their blogs, Twitter, GoodReads, Facebook, and more, are leading the way in creating buzz for books, offering venues for authors to connect directly with their fans and are reviewing more books than ever in a world where traditional book review coverage is changing. Six top book bloggers, along with Harper Collins’ Jennifer Hart (and BookClubGirl blogger) will discuss how booksellers, publishers and bloggers can combine forces to bring readers and authors together.
.

There are 44 bloggers signed up for their own various signings hosted by Fireband. The biggest one is on Saturday at 2pm which is the main Book Blogger Panel. Many of these bloggers are well known and are not to be missed.

.

Yours truly was not asked to be on a panel or a signing, but I will be there all day Saturday roaming the BEA exhibition hall. This is the same place where NY Comic Con was this past year. Sorry, there will be no super hero crotch picures taken. I guess I have to act professional this time around.

.

I have been told that there is some major swag give away and I shouldn't be surprised if I come home with almost 100 books. My poor arms are already burning in anticipation!

.
There is also something called BEAtweetup 2009 on Friday May 29th from 8-10pm at this awesome bar called the Greenhouse where close to 400 Bookish Tweets have RSVP'ed. I will be attending this get together also. There will be complimentary drinks available thanks to Belvedere Vodka! FREE BOOZE PEOPLE!! And you get to meet me! There are still spots available, but they are going fast.

.

For those who may be a bit unnerved by such an event, especially if you don't know anyone, look towards me as an example. I am going by all my lonesome. If you happened to see a tall redhead walking around in a daze, that will be me!

.

Fragile Eternity Book Review *Melissa Marr*

If you haven’t read Melissa Marr, I ask you, what are you waiting for? If you are sick and tired of reading the same old fantasy and paranormal characters such as werewolves and vampires, and long for more dark reads, especially in regards to Young Adult, Melissa is the author to turn to.

Most of you know that I am a big fan of Stephanie Meyer. Lately when we hear about the paranormal Young Adult genre, it is all about Meyer. Melissa Marr should be considered in the same group as Meyer. Dare I also say a more skilled author at that? Her books that deal with the faery world is seductive, harsh, dark and so addicting. Lately I have noticed an upswing of Young Adult reads where fairies are becoming the next big thing. Quite possibly, Melissa is responsible for this. From her first book, Wicked Lovely to Ink Exchange, which was a sequel of sorts, she has written a world that makes me hunger for more.

Fragile Eternity begins where Ink Exchange ends. The young Aislinn has taken on her new role as the Summer Queen and has accepted her transformation as a faery queen. She is still coming to grips with her new life that is filled with both wonderment and danger. Aislinn wants to stay as close to mortal as she can but each day she is one step closer to turning her back on her human side. Her anchor is her mortal boyfriend, and love of her life, Seth keeps her grounded. Seth adores Aislinn and wants to stay with her always. But Seth knows he has so much going against him because he is a mortal. He also has to fight for Aislinn’s heart as she is courted by Keenan, her Summer King. Aislinn may love Seth and not Keenan, but she knows by denying Keenan she could tear apart her court. It is one thing to care for Keenan, but they need more a bond between them, which is sex. Aislinn refuses to be intimate with Keenan and only gives that part of herself to Seth. (The sex between Seth and Aislinn is very, very subtle. It is a YA after all)

Keenan needs Aislinn desperately and wants to love and cherish her but she keeps turning away from him and will only settle for friendship. Keenan is uneasy because he also loves. He longs for Donia, the Winter Queen who was once mortal. Because they are total opposites, Keenan and Donia can never be together the way they long to be. Aislinn tries to push Keenan toward Donia, but even touching Donia is dangerous. And because Donia can’t be with Keenan, she decides to do what is best for her court and refuses to even see Keenan. Because of the turmoil between these two, the Winter and Summer courts are on their way to becoming enemies.

There is one who would love nothing better than having the Summer and Winter courts destroyed and that is Bananach, the twin to Sorcha, the Queen of the High Court. Bananach is blood thirsty and as close to deranged as one can be. Bananach loves pain, violence, chaos and destruction because it resides deep inside her soul. Bananach exists because of the pain others feel. She wants her sister to join her in starting a war with all the courts which also includes the Dark Court that is ruled by Niall who used to serve Keenan, but now has become his adversary. Sorcha longs for harmony and peace because that is her nature. She wishes to stop Bananach, but can’t and because of that Bananach could start a chain of events that may destroy all the faery courts.

There is much unrest and instability among the faeries. Seth feels he is losing Aislinn. Keenan taunts Seth because he knows in the end that Aislinn will be his, because Seth will age and die. Seth refuses to leave Aislinn and comes to a disturbing decision. He will turn into a faery and goes to Sorcha who can change him. She is willing to do this, but for a price. And that price will alter Seth and Aislinn’s relationship forever.

Melissa Marr has created a very dark world where faeries and mortals collide. Even though Fragile Eternity is a Young Adult book, there is some heavy subject matter such as sex and violence. Marr handles these issues with great skill. Once you start reading, you will not want to stop. You will become lost in the world Marr has penned.

There are so many characters in Fragile Eternity who walk a fine line between good and evil. There is an undercurrent of constant pain and suffering from all the rulers of each individual faery court because one wrong move could end their lives. There is no lasting peace because a war is brewing and the outcome is unknown.

Aislinn and Seth will tear at your heart because they are star crossed lovers. Because they are so different from one another, their love is not meant to be. Seth makes the ultimate sacrifice because of his love for Aislinn that may destroy everything between them. Aislinn has so much responsibility and many relying on her to make the right decisions. Every movement she makes is watched and she has no choice but to welcome Keenan who wants Aislinn for his own greedy means. I found Keenan to be a very interesting character in the sense that he may be a bit unscrupulous in his regard to Aislinn, but he is also very tortured. His relationship with Donia is very much like the one Aislinn and Seth have. Seth and Aislinn may be together where they can be intimate and share their love, but there is a feeling of desperation between the two because in the end, they may be separated. Keenan and Donia long for one another deeply, and have been together for some very short periods of time, but their love affair is doomed because Winter and Summer cannot be together.

Sorcha the High Queen at first comes across as devious, especially when she gives Seth his wish. But as we see Sorcha and Seth together, your opinion will change. Sorcha is everything that is good and right with the faery. She counteracts her sister Bananach who is evil and wrong. These two sisters are the yin and yang of this tale. Sorcha is my favorite character in this book because everything she mentions makes perfect sense. All the main characters have a need to gain something and because of it, they act in ways that place them at odds with their humanity. Can faeries be humane? That is the main question that arises throughout Fragile Eternity.

Fragile Eternity has a nice balance with Marr’s characters and the world she has written. Fans of fairy tales will not want to miss out on this reading experience. You better believe this book will be in my top reading list for 2009. (Harper Collins)

Final Grade: A

Love Triangles and A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

I have a secret to admit. I love a good love triangle. There is just something about two men lusting and longing for the same woman that they would do anything to be the only one on the receiving end of her love.

When did I first realize realize I was a sucker for this type of storyline? It wasn’t it in the books I read, but rather from soap operas. One of my all time favorite love triangles was the one on the ABC soap, General Hospital. The year was 1995 and I was a freshman in college. I was so addicted to the soaps that at one point I was watching around eight. General Hospital was always my favorite. The reason? The storyline between the mobster Sonny Corinthos and the love he had for the young Brenda Barrett. Their love story was just as amazing as the famous, much beloved one between Luke and Laura. I felt Sonny and Brenda were soul mates. But then another man popped into the picture who wanted Brenda. He is the wealthy eccentric Australian Jasper “Jax” Jacks. Soon Brenda is caught between these two man.

Usually when there is a love triangle, the woman will be more in love or emotionally attached to one man over the other. What was so great about the Sonny/Brenda/Jax storyline is that Sonny and Jax are on equal footing. They are both everything Brenda would want in a man. Choosing between the both of them is a near improvability. Brenda would go back and forth between the two, undecided who she wanted to be with. Tragedy occurs when Brenda dies in a car accident, thus ending the love triangle and the question of who Brenda would finally choose.
.

Grand Central author, Jennifer Haymore, has some buzz with her first release, A Hint of Wicked. This romance has a love triangle. Sophie, the Duchess of Calton has been married to her childhood friend, Tristan for about a year. She loves and adores him, but in the back of her mind she will always love another. Sophia was married to her childhood love Garrett eight years ago. Garett is believed to be dead because he went off to war. Sophie has never forgotten him and has moved on with her life after he has been declared dead. She marries Tristan and she loves him deeply. As this husband and wife are making love, a man rushes in. It is Garett returned from the dead. Now Sophie is caught between these two men. Garett wants to claim her back because she is his wife, even though Tristan has claimed her himself. Who will Sophie choose?

Sophie does eventually choose between the two men, but not after a great deal of confusion, heartbreak and lusting. She loves both men equally and to pick between the two kills her inside. She even has a sexual fantasy of having them both pleasure her and wonders why can’t she have both men? Of course that is not possible. Garett and Tristan have very different personalities and it is up to the skill of the author to plead each case for both men and why Sophie would have a hard time deciding between the two. The reader already has an emotional attachment to Tristan because we see how Tristan and Sophie are together before Garett returns. We never see Garett with Sophie and what their relationship was like unless it was in the mind of Sophie. Already Tristan has a leg up over Garett because we are shown in great detail. With Garett we are not really shown, until he interacts with Sophie as he tries win her love again.

Writing a love triangle plot it a single book is a very hard thing to do. Love triangles work so well in series because the author is not limited to just one book. She can grow the emotions and feelings between these three characters. When I first began reading A Hint of Wicked, I felt that Haymore had a lot to work on her hands. By the end, after a great deal of angst and some drama, mainly dealing with Garett and the possibly of being mad, as well as a secondary plot about another character who may be devious and out to ruin Garett, I felt Haymore did an okay job of pulling off the love triangle results.

One of my favorite literary love triangles of all time was the one in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. Over the first eight books, she writes about her heroine, Anita Blake being torn between her growing feelings for Jean-Claude, the master vampire of St. Louis, MO and Richard Zeeman, the kind werewolf teacher who becomes her fiancé. Because Anita meets Jean-Claude first and Richard isn’t introduced right away, Laurel has already built the connection between Jean-Claude and Anita. But when Richard arrives on the scene, he reaches in and almost steals Anita away from Jean-Claude. The chase is on between the two men for Anita. Both men are perfect for Anita. Jean-Claude is the man whose Anita’s dark side wants. Richard is the one who is comfortable and everything good. It comes down to reader preference who they think Anita should be with.

In the hands of a skillful author, a love triangle story can be a great thing. I was so torn when watching Sex and the City because Carrie was meant to be with Mr. Big. But then the good old boy, too adorable for words Aidan Shaw comes into the picture. Even though we know Carrie has chosen Big, to this day I still go back and forth between Big and Aidan because they are such incredible men that any woman would be lucky to be with.

With that in mind, what are your favorite love triangles in literature and or in movies and television. What is it about them that makes us love them so?

And if you are in the mood for a new love triangle read, try Jennifer Haymore’s A Hint of Wicked. I applaud Jennifer for taking the chance in writing such a story like this. I did find Sophie’s reaction believable when it came to her feelings for Garett and Tristan even though the mystery subplot was a bit to “meh” for my tastes. (Grand Central Publishing, June)

A Hint of Wicked gets a B-

And as for General Hospital, here is a clip between Sonny and Jax as they talk about Brenda. Ah, the memories...

Avon PR Fail?

By now you have probably heard about the big uproar in regards to the WTF interview Avon did with All About Romance.

The interview was conducted mainly with the Avon Romance Editor May Chen and VP/Executive Editor Lucia Macro.

I welcome you to read the interview yourself and come to your own assumptions. But I must highlight this part that has myself and I would say other on-line review sites and blogs steaming:

May Chen: In my opinion, the online world still doesn’t have much impact on sales as, anecdotally, I’ve seen books get horrible online reviews but have done well. As far as I know, we still don’t include online reviews on our books, but that can certainly change if we see them start making a difference. Right now, the best endorsements for us still seem to be from NYT bestselling authors and from major traditional print reviewers.

Lucia Macro: Do the consumers recognize the source of the quote? I'm not sure that the vast majority of readers recognize all the online sites. When checking their rankings I'm often surprised at how little traffic they really get. We are all very plugged in, but many casual readers are just picking up a book at their local Walmart and barely have time to watch tv, much less wrestle the computer away from their kids. So an author quote might carry more weight with them.

What would happen if and when the New York Times and other possible print publications such as USA Today disappear? How revelant will that New York Times Best Selling author label be, especially if that publication is no longer in exsitence?

From the article posted on May 11, 2009 on the CNNMoney.com website:

"Among its pluses, the Times has managed to increase its print circulation revenue over the last couple of years, no easy feat these days. It boasts more than 830,000 print subscribers who have taken the paper for two or more years, so the presses are not turning off any time soon. But the downturn and general devaluation of advertising by the Web has wreaked havoc with the cost structure of all print publications, the Times included. Newspaper analyst Craig Huber of Barclays Capital believes the company's common stock will be trading for $1 a share within a year (it is currently around $7)."

.

Hey, I am just a simple blogger who doesn't have anywhere near the amount of subscribers the New York Times has, but remember, it takes only one voice to be heard. From that one voice another one will hear and will tell another and so forth. Is that enough of an impact for you? That is why the on-line community such as bloggers and other review sites are the future.

.

Did we not learn anything from Amazon Rank? In a few short hours on a Sunday in April the on-line community came together and started a fire storm the likes I have never seen.

.

Imagine if the same could be in promoting authors and their books?

KB Has Some Book Pimpage

It is about that time again for KB's Pimpin Book Post!

Here are some future releases you will want to add to your ever growing To Be Bought pile:

Gaelen Foley is back with a new historical! My Wicked Marquess (The Inferno Club, Book 1) coming from Avon in July.

Synopsis:

To London's aristocracy, the Inferno Club is a scandalous society of men no proper young lady would acknowledge. But though they are publicly notorious for pursuing all manner of debauchery, in private they are warriors who would do anything to protect king and country.

.
The Marquess of Rotherstone has decided it's time to restore the family's good name. But as a member of the Inferno Club, he knows there is only one way to redeem himself in Society's eyes: marry a lady of impeccable beauty and breeding, whose reputation is, above all, spotless.

.
Someone quite unlike Daphne Starling. True, she's temptingly lovely, but a jilted suitor has nearly ruined her reputation. Still, Max cannot resist her allure—or the challenge of proving London's gossips wrong. He would do anything to win her hand . . . and show that even a wicked marquess can make a perfect husband.

Some new authors to be aware of...

Not going to lie, but this cover made me lick my lips... hard. Wicked Harvest by Anitra Lynn McLeod. Coming from Kensington in August.

Synopsis:

For Chur, a year’s preparation comes down to the single day on which he encounters a succession of exquisitely adorned young virgins. One thrust from Chur frees the women to find their perfect mates...yet he is forbidden to enjoy his work. But Chur’s third Harvest changes everything, for the final virgin is none other than his paratanist, a loyal servant who reveals herself to be a startlingly sensuous woman. Enovese has desired her master since she first laid hands upon him, but her scheme to free them both is complicated by Chur's prideful resistance. Until the Harvester declares Enovese his bondmate, they must maintain a dangerous charade of master and slave. But Chur is determined that Enovese pay for her deception—with delicious, teasing torture all the more pleasurable for being taboo...
.

Vicious Circle by Linda Robertson. Coming from Pocket in June.

.

Synopsis:

Mixes a modern-day witch with a rock'n'roll werewolf boyfriend, pitted against a powerful vampire.

.

This has to be one of the freakiest covers I have see in a long while! Dark Time (Mortal Path, Bok 1) by Dakota Banks. Coming from Eos in July.

.

.

Synopsis:
What if a woman sold her soul to a demonand 300 years later wanted it back?
.
In the 17th century, a woman is ripped from her husband's arms, thrown in jail, and then set afire as a witch. Saved from the flames by an ancient Sumerian demon, she becomes the Black Ghost, his Ageless assassin gifted with otherworldly skills and superbly trained in martial arts.

.

Centuries pass before Maliha Crayne finds a way out of the life she hates. If she saves as many lives as she's taken, she'll break the demon's hold on her. If she fails, she will suffer the demon's torment ... forever.

Three Days To Dead by Kelly Meding. Coming from Dell in October.
.

Synopsis:

In a city teeming with paranormal creatures, Dreg Bounty Hunters work to protect oblivious citizens and keep the various species under control—by any means necessary. Evangeline Stone is one of the best, known and feared by Dregs all over the city; until she wakes up in the morgue, in a new and recently-dead body, with no short-term memory, and no idea how she died or why she was brought back.
.
Wyatt Truman, a Gifted human and former co-worker, arranged her temporary resurrection. He believes she was murdered for information about a rumored alliance between ruling Vampire Families and the Goblin Hordes—an alliance that could prove devastating to humans and their other supernatural allies. And she only has three days to stop it before she dies again. As she digs deeper into the events leading up to her death and learns the devastating price Wyatt paid for her resurrection, Evy realizes she's fighting for more than human dominance of the paranormal food chain. She's also fighting for both of their souls.

Stealing Midnight by Tracy MacNish. Coming from Zebra in October.

.

Synopsis:

While Olwyn Gawain lives as a virtual prisoner in her home, her scientist father conducts chilling experiments on stolen corpses in the dungeon of their keep. One night, Olwyn is shocked to discover that her father’s latest subject—a breathtakingly handsome young man—is still clinging to life. Refusing to let him die, Olwyn stops her father at gunpoint and flees, determined to bring the innocent man to safety…
.

The son of aristocrats, Aidan Mullin doesn’t know what to make of the unusual, intriguing Olwyn. But as the pair make their way toward Aidan’s home, he finds himself drawn to the alluring young woman who saved him from certain death. Fiery and sensual, Olwyn’s very touch fuels a desire in Aidan too fierce to deny. But when Olwyn learns he is hiding a heartbreaking secret, Aidan must face a difficult choice—or risk losing forever the love he so desperately needs…

Can we say lick, lick, drool, drool? Skin Game by Ava Gray. Coming from Berkley in November.

.

Synopsis:
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.

.

Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.

.

Which ones do you want?
.