Jan 17, 2010

New Vampire Releases for January 2010

Bad Blood (Blood Coven)


Bad Blood (Blood Coven)
by Mari Mancusi
Berkley Trade; Original edition (January 5, 2010)
Young Adult

Sunny McDonald is in the ultimate forbidden relationship. Her boyfriend Magnus is a vampire, and the leader of the Blood Coven. And when the Coven decides that Magnus needs a mate to be his co-ruler, Sunny's humanity puts her out of the running. The Coven's chosen candidate is Jane Johnson, a magna cum laude graduate of Oxford University who just happens to look like a vampiric supermodel.

Sunny is suspicious of a Rhodes Scholar who can't answer the most basic poli-sci questions, but Magnus brushes it off as petty jealousy. Still, when the Blood Coven goes to Las Vegas for a vampire convention, Sunny and her twin sister Rayne secretly tag along. And Sunny's not going home before she learns the truth about Jane. Because not everything stays in Vegas-especially bad blood.





Bitten By Cupid 
(Lynsay Sands, Jaime Rush, and Pamela Palmer)
Avon (January 12, 2010)

Vampire Valentine by Lynsay Sands
Mirabeau LaRouche knew she had a job to do, but she never expected her assignment to take her through New York City′s dark, dank underground-in her bridesmaid gown, no less! And when her partner turns out to be mortal private investigator Tiny McGraw, Mireabeau knows it′s no ordinary Cupid′s arrow that has struck her heart this Valentine′s Day.

Hearts Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Ten years ago Zeeland left D.C. to join the Therian Guard, needing to put some distance between himself and the still-too-young Julianne. Now he′s returned, in the midst of a Valentine′s celebration to find Julianne more beautiful than ever, still angry at him for leaving, and up to her lovely eyebrows in an intrigue that threatens both of their immortal lives.

Kiss and Kill Cupid by Jamie Rush
Kat Morgan has no use for Valentine′s Day, since hearing other people′s thoughts puts a real damper on any kind of intimate relationship. When she overhears the Killer Cupid serial killer targeting her for his Valentine′s Day murder, Kat is terrified. But is Adrian, the one man whose thoughts she can′t hear, her savior, or killer?






Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, Book 2)
by Faith Hunter
Roc (January 5, 2010)

The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules-but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep...






Come Hell or High Water: A Broken Heart Novel
by Michele Bardsley
Signet (January 5, 2010)

Everybody makes mistakes-and my first one was named Connor, a heart- stealing Scottish hottie. I thought our night together was the beautiful beginning to a love story, which turned out to be my second mistake. I, Phoebe Allen, lifelong Broken Heart resident and vampire, am now mated to a half-demon.

Thankfully Phoebe's four-year-old son Danny is safely away at Disneyworld with his human father. Because Phoebe's right in the middle of major paranormal drama, helping Connor and his rag-tag group of friends retrieve part of an ancient talisman in order to ward off Connor's vicious stepmother, an uber-demon named Lilith. Phoebe swears she isn't falling for any of Connor's demon charm. But still, he's willing to do anything to protect her and prevent demons from storming into Broken Heart. And her undead heart can't resist a bad boy with identity issues...





Dark God Descending
by Tony-Paul de Vissage
(Sam's Dot Publishing, January 2010

Dark God Descending is the story of a friendship--between two men separated by millennia, cultures, and customs. Threatened by their love for the same woman, it is strengthened when they share something more precious--their lifesblood--and from that time on, their lives and fates will be inextricably bound...for eternity. James Tucker Upchurch III is a graduate student, studying the past but living very much in the present. Semris the Second is a demon, the son of a god, and his life has been the same for five thousand years. Tuck never expected to lose his girl to a demon or get near-immortality in exchange and Semris never thought he'd experience mortal love. When the two meet, not only their own lives but those of their friends and families will also be changed, as well as the world in which Semris dwells.




Deadly Liaisons
by Spear, Terry
Samhain Publishing (January 5, 2010)

He resisted the dark huntress…now he’ll use all his powers to make her his own.
Tezra Campbell treads a dangerous line between her job as a telepathic investigator for the Hunter Council and her alternate life as a renegade. Beneath her cool, professional exterior lies a dark obsession to find the rogue vampire who murdered her parents ten years ago and left her sister a traumatized shell. An obsession that drives her to use herself as bait.
Daemon, former bastard prince of Scotland and now head of the American vampire clans, sees Tezra as a danger to herself and to his people. Especially if the killer vampire takes her bait. Concerned his own brother might be accused of the crime, Daemon takes Tezra into custody, intending to keep her out of the way so he can find the killer himself.
Things don’t work out the way either planned. The more she fights him with her telepathic powers, the more she stirs up his sexual bloodlust—the kind only a mate can cool. And Tezra begins to wonder…is her desire for him real, or just a way to use Daemon to find the murderer?
It’s a deadly game they both aim to win—even while they try to keep their hearts intact.




Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, Book 2)
by Karen Chance
Onyx (January 5, 2010)

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir-half-human, half-vampire. Back home in Brooklyn after the demise of her insane Uncle Dracula, Dory's hoping her life is about to calm down. But soon Dory realizes someone is killing vampire Senate members, and if she can't stop the murderer, her friends may be next...






Everlasting KissEverlasting Kiss 
by Amanda Ashley
Zebra (January 26, 2010)

Desire Never Dies

Daisy O'Donnell doesn't get the attraction some women feel for vampires. She likes her men with a heartbeat. And she's just met one who's full of life: Erik Delacourt, the unreasonably sexy man she keeps meeting at a popular L.A. nightclub called the Crypt. She barely knows him, but there's no resisting the connection she feels. . .

There's one important detail Erik hasn't gotten around to telling her yet. He's a powerful vampire out to hunt the Blood Thief who is draining young vampires all over the city--and who has just raised the stakes by destroying one of Erik's friends. To Erik, Daisy is a bright spot of innocence in a world of darkness and menace. He'll do anything--even lie to her--to keep her safe and pure.
If only he knew that Daisy has something of her own to hide. . .






How To Seduce A Sinner
by Adrienne Basso
Zebra, Jan. 1, 2010

Dorothea Ellingham is waiting for the man who can ignite a spark of consuming passion with just a kiss. For when that happens, she'll know she's found the one. But after three suitors miserably fail her test, she's about to lose all hope until she lays eyes on Viscount Carter Grayson. His devilish good looks and charm send her pulse racing - and when he kisses her, she finally finds what she's been craving. Viscount Carter Grayson is in no hurry to wed. But when he meets Dorothea, he's captivated by the urgent need she sets off in him. Knowing he must have her, he proposes. But as they soon discover, a union forged on passion alone is never enough - and explosive desires can often lead to love.





Hunger
by Barbara J.Hancock
Samhain Publishing (January 5, 2010)

Love might stand a chance…if they can keep from killing each other.

Holly Spinnaker is a monster. Really. Fangs and all. Never mind the petite figure. Pay no attention to the once-bouncy blonde mane. When Jarvis Winters first encounters…it…he prepares to exterminate freak number one hundred thirty two without a flinch.

Mistake number one: following it back to its lair. Mistake number two: watching and listening to her…it…replay voice mail messages from loving, clueless parents again and again and again. Mistake number three: having an actual conversation with a bloodthirsty fiend.

“Make them see you as a person.” Holly remembers the advice from a self-defense class her mother made her take her freshmen year. She couldn’t save her own sister, who ended up a pile of ashes at her feet only one month ago. The night they both found out monsters were real. The night her sister embraced the change. And Holly began to fight it.

“Make them see you as a person.” Kind of hard when you aren’t even sure if you are a person anymore.

Warning: This title is not vampire-lite. There is blood. Sometimes sexy. Sometimes, well, not. There are fangs, fights and even a zombie or two. But most of all there’s yearning and burning and aching and angst… It is called HUNGER after all.







Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, Book 7)
by Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central Publishing (January 4, 2010)

Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV's first all-supernatural reality show. She's expecting cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt will turn into a fight for her life.

The cast members, including Kitty, arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set. As soon as filming starts, violence erupts and Kitty suspects that the show is a cover for a nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty realizes she and her monster housemates are ironically the ultimate prize in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in . . . before it kills them all.






                                            
The Sin Eater's Prince
by Keta Diablo
RAVENOUS ROMANCE , January 14, 2010
Male/Male vampire erotica

Owen Rhys, a sin eater in Wales, has been shunned by the local villagers his entire life--except for Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he thinks will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire and admits he cares deeply for him.

Dagan, son of Traherne, the vampire Andras killed to save Owen, will stop at nothing to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword. The divine claymore holds the power to grant immunity from the sun’s harsh rays—the one exemption the dark Lords of the Underworld has sought for centuries.

Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side can remain victorious. Revenge and redemption. Dark versus light. Good versus evil.







Stephenie Meyer: The Unauthorized Biography of the Creator of the Twilight Saga (Paperback)
by Marc Shapiro
St. Martin's Griffin (January 5, 2010)
 
The romance of vampire Edward and human Bella in the books Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn has captured the imaginations of millions of readers and become an amazing success story. No less amazing is the story of how an unknown Arizona wife and mother, Stephenie Meyer, became a superstar author.
    
In this revealing biography, fans of all things Twilight will follow their favorite writer on her roller-coaster ride to bestselling author—from a childhood steeped in great literature, to a comfortable domestic life, and finally to that fateful dream one night that thrust Stephenie Meyer into a world she could only have imagined.
In this book you will discover:
* An exclusive interview with Stephenie’s creative writing teacher who reveals what kind of student she was
* The in-depth story of how Twilight started with a dream and became a reality
* The tension Stephenie experienced in writing Twilight in secret
* The challenges and pitfalls involved in her books reaching the silver screen
* Stephenie’s possible plans for the future
* And much more!

With eight pages of full-color photos, original interviews with people who are a part of Meyer’s life, never-before-revealed details, and info on all of her fabulous books, this biography is a must-have for every Twilight fan.






Succubi Like It Hot
by Jill Myles
Pocket Star (January 19, 2010)
  
NOBODY SAID SUCKING WAS EASY

With a hot new figure, her dream job as an archaeologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive Itch -- an angel and a vampire -- Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus. Then she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great -- she's cursed. After striking a deal to get the curse lifted by a crafty demon, Jackie and her best friend Remy take a road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation's oldest succubus. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is talking to Jackie right now, and due to the curse, she's desperate to get her Itch scratched very soon. Their journey gets weirder with every mile -- demonic possession, a charming stalker, a cryptic warning -- and when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead -- again. Can a brainy vixen in a miniskirt outsmart the forces of evil?









Through Stone and Sea: A Novel of the Noble Dead
by Barb Hendee and J.C. Hendee
Roc Hardcover (January 5, 2010)

Wynn journeys to the mountain stronghold of the dwarves in search of the "Stonewalkers," an unknown sect supposedly in possession of important ancient texts. But in her obsession to understand these writings, she will find more puzzles and questions buried in secrets old and new-along with an enemy she thought destroyed...









Vampire Maker 
by Michael Schiefelbein
St. Martin's Press (January 19, 2010)

Victor Decimus has been a vampire for over 2,000 years. Once a Roman Legionnaire, for millennia Victor has remained a step or two ahead of rivals, would-be executioners, and the mysterious Dark Kingdom, which sets the rules for vampires' existence. Having left New York and his lover Paul Lewis - the vampire he made then abandoned to escape the vengeance of the Dark Kingdom, Victor sets himself up again - with his thrall - in New Orleans. 

But in New Orleans, his thrall becomes the point of a new, larger conflict. On the one hand, a local priest seeks to break Victor's hold over the thrall; on the other, the Dark Kingdom fears that Victor is going to become a Vampire Maker - one who continually creates new vampires, while refusing to take his place on the next plain of existence and thus creating an imbalance in the powers of the universe. And between both walks Victor, determined to have his own way, exerts control and remains defiant to the end.

Winner of Dark God Descending


Below is a note from Tony-Paul de Vissage author of Dark God Descending

The winner of the (recent PVN) contest was "Ainfinger" who answered the question :  Name 3 actors who played Dracula.  Answer:  Bela Lugosi, Ferdy Mayne, Udo Kier.

For those who wish to know, other actors were:  Ferdy Mayne, Max Schreck, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr, John Carradine, Christopher Lee, Denholm Elliott, Jack Palance, Udo Kier, Jonathan Massey, Frank Langella, Louis Jourdan, Klaus Kinski, Duncan Regehr, Stefan Lindahl, Gary Oldman, Leslie Nielsen, Gerard Butler,
Patrick Bergin, Dominic Purcell, Richard Roxburgh, Marc Warren, Keith-Lee Castle, Rudolf Martin, Al Lewis, Stephen Billington,  Juan R Caraccioli, Francisco Quinn.

Thanks to all participants.

Jan 14, 2010

Keta Diablo - The Sin Eater's Prince - Publication Day & Contest


The Sin Eater's Prince - Keta Diablo

1842 - Wales
RAVENOUS ROMANCE (Jan 14, 2010)
(Male/Male Vampire Erotica)

About the book: "Owen Rhys, a sin eater in Wales, has been shunned by the local villagers his entire life--except for Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he thinks will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire and admits he cares deeply for him.

Dagan, son of Traherne, the vampire Andras killed to save Owen, will stop at nothing to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword. The divine claymore holds the power to grant immunity from the sun’s harsh rays—the one exemption the dark Lords of the Underworld has sought for centuries.

Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side can remain victorious. Revenge and redemption. Dark versus light. Good versus evil."

Today is publication day! Congratulations, Keta!




CONTEST - You must be 18 years or older to enter!

Keta has generously offered a copy of The Sin Eater's Prince to 2 lucky readers.
All you have to do is leave a comment AND follow one of Keta's blogs.
Mention in the comments section which blog you are following.

The Stuff of Myth and Men

or

Keta's Keeep


For additional chances  - Link to this contest on any of the social network sites or your own page. Let me know the url. One point for each link.

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

The contest is open worldwide.

Contest ends Jan. 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST


For more chances to win visit The Cajun Book Lady

Jan 12, 2010

Adrian Phoenix - Interview and Contest

Beneath the Skin: Book Three of The Maker's SongA big PVN welcome to Adrian Phoenix author of Beneath the Skin her recently released book in The Maker's Song series. This is such an excellent series, and I am delighted to welcome Adrian. She has graciously offered a signed set of her series to one lucky reader. The contest is open internationally! See details at the end of the post.

The contest portion has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Read a REVIEW of A Rush of Wings (Book One of the Maker's Song


Read a REVIEW of In the Blood (Book Two of the Maker's Song)

 
 

PVN: For those new to your series would you please introduce them to Dante, the main character of your books. 

AP: I'd be happy to, Patricia! Without giving too much away to new readers, Dante is nightkind (vampire), frontman for the industrial band, Inferno, rumored owner of the hot nightspot in New Orleans, Club Hell, and a young man whose lost past holds very dark and dangerous secrets.

PVN:: Who are the fallen angels and what is there relationship to the vampire Dante

AP: The Fallen are the Elohim, those rumored to have been cast out of Heaven. In Beneath the Skin, the Morningstar scoffs at that long-held mortal belief. As far as their relationship to Dante - well, I'll let your readers discover that as they pick up the books. ;)

PVN: What references did you use for your research on fallen angels and what were some of your findings?

AP: The Old Testament contained in the Jerusalem Bible, Gnostic gospels, and various myths and legends - including Celtic lore. In an old book on Celtic history that was published in the very early 1900s, the author mentioned that the Celts believed they were descended from fallen angels since they claimed to have been born of those "who'd fallen from the sky." Gotta admit, this intrigued me, and my imagination ran with it. That's why a lot of the Elohim words in my stories are derived from Welsh and Irish.

I also learned that the gnostics believed that the God of the Old Testament was actually a fallen angel, which made a helluva lot of sense to me. Yahweh (I AM) or Jehovah seemed petty, cruel, jealous, and often behaved in very brutal fashion. He seemed a tad on the insane side to me. So I put all of this to work and developed my own mythology.

PVN: What attracts you to the paranormal?

AP: The mystery, the sense of wonder and awe, and all the dark possibilities. I like thinking there is more going on around us than we realize, that there are layers upon layers of existence and that more than humans (and animals) walk this earth.

PVN: How did you get your start as a writer?   

AP: I started writing little short stories in grade school, then wrote more emotionally complex stories as a teen for my sisters and friends. I wrote sporadically as an adult  (busy with raising a family and dealing with/ending an unpleasant marriage) and didn't get serious about it until 1990 when I sold my first short story to a professional magazine, Amazing Stories. I sold a handful more, then stopped writing while I focused on raising my kids. Kids raised, I resumed writing and wrote my first novel - A Rush of Wings.
 

I was very fortunate in landing an agent with a prestigious house as quickly as I did (within a year) along with a two-book contract with Pocket. I've been running ever since. LOL.
 

The first book in my second series will be out the end of June - Black Dust Mambo, and book 4 of The Maker's Song - Etched in Bone, will be out the end of December.

PVN: What thrills you about writing?   

AP: Watching the story unfurl from beneath my fingertips and realizing my subconscious has been very busy. LOL. I like the sense of discovery, of getting so lost in the characters that they continue to talk in my head even after I've walked away from the keyboard. I'm thrilled when a vivid and visceral image flares in my mind and I know a scene from the book, a scene I haven't written yet, has just crafted itself behind my eyes.    

PVN: What is your writing environment like?

AP: My office is filled with things, pictures, and images that inspire me. To name a few: a poster of Trent Reznor. A picture of Brandon Lee as The Crow. Drawings of different characters by friends, a collections of little wolves and gators, small Goth dolls, a werewolf with movable jaws and arms, a drawing of John Keats on his deathbed, pictures of New Orleans, Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde dolls, books, books, and more books. My desk needs to be neat and tidy, I need a cup of coffee, and tons of music.

PVN: Will there be more books in The Maker's Song series

AP: Yes, definitely. Book 4, Etched in Bone, will be out the end of December 2010, and I have more planned. I also hope to do a stand alone about Von, and a book (or more) about Lucien.

PVN: What other projects are you working on?  

AP: I'm working on my second series about a hoodoo apprentice in the bayou who runs into mystery, magic, murder, and sexy nomads, I'm also working on a dark fantasy about John Keats. (Still. I've had little free time to work on it.) I plan more Maker's Song books and - as mentioned above - the stand-alones about Von and Lucien. Oh! And I still hope to a series on ghosts, paranormal investigators, and things dark enough to steal the breath away.

PVN: What do you like to do in your spare time, assuming you have any :-) ?  

AP: LOL! I like to read and see movies. I've had very little time for social activities, but I hope that'll change once I'm writing fulltime. I'd also like to return to bellydancing which I stopped doing several years ago when I got too busy. Um . . . but for fun and exercise, not performing. For small gatherings, that was okay, but I think I can live without all the performance anxiety. LOL.

PVN: Where can readers find you on the Internet?

AP: I'm everywhere. LOL.
Website:http://www.adrianphoenix.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adriannikolasphoenix
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian-Phoenix/55403659403?ref=mf
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrian-Phoenix/55403659403?ref=mf#/?ref=home
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AdrianPhoenix
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/944594.Adrian_Phoenix
Club Hell Forum and Message Board: http://clubhell.yuku.com/
Dante's Club Hell Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dantes_club_hell/


PVN:  Anything else you would like to add?

AP: Just a thank you to you and your readers, Patricia, for having me. I've enjoyed being here and I really appreciate the invitation! I hope to return soon!


PVN: : Adrian, the welcome mat is always out for you at PVN

Now for the contest - open worldwide!


One lucky reader will win a signed set of the three books in The Maker's Song series.

To be eligible do one or more of the following:
* Ask Adrian a question - 1 point
* Link this interview to your own site or any if your social network sites, and be sure to let me know the URL - 1 point for each link

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends Jan. 19 at 11:59 PM PST



BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE!!


The contest portion has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Jan 11, 2010

Bloggiesta - Finish LIne




When I signed up for Bloggiesta I was feeling enthusiastic and healthy!

Bloggiesta To Do List

*Write Reviews and clean up drafts
*Bring Book reviews together
*Bring Interviews together  Done
*Bring associate programs together  Done
*Template  for contest phrasing and contest answering  Done
*List books for review
*Have backup posts  Done
*Invite guest posts
*Cleanup tags
*Make a list of what I want to cover in 2010
*Edit About Me Page
*Write review policy
*List and Link other challenges
*Prepare for upcoming posts - Partially Done
 
On Friday, when the challenge began I put in seven hours, having started in mid-afternoon. Saturday and Sunday was not as productive.

The first thing I did was clean up up the sidebar associate program sites so that now at least they are all together.   Done

Then I made up templates that I can use when running contests so that the list of rules is more uniform. Done

I put together 3 backup posts. Very time consuming, but definitely worth the effort because now I have some breathing room.   Done

Prepare upcoming posts - which means having posts ready for the entire coming week. Very valuable! (still have one more to do)  Partially Done

I now have a post - see Events and Contests sidebar - that has links to the various author interviews on PVN.   Done

Total hours - 17


What Bloggiesta has helped me do is organize my thoughts on what needs to be done on PVN. I hope that when I have finished everything on the TO DO List that it will give the site more value to my readers.

As you can see I had lots of Bloggiesta plans for the weekend, but late Friday evening the symptoms of a nasty bug showed up. I've spent the last 2 1/2 days feeling achy, listless, and unable to concentrate on much of anything, even mindless TV. But in my moments of clarity - and there were a few - I worked on the Bloggiesta challenge! Most items were not accomplished this weekend, and that's OK. Now I have a plan.

Thank you, Natasha, and the many others who made Bloggiesta possible!