Book Barrage and Giveaway: Family Blood Ties Series by Dale Mayer

Title: Vampire in Denial (Family Blood Ties, Book 1)
Author: Dale Mayer
Publisher: Valley Publishing
Length: 68,000 words
Genres: Paranormal YA
Sub-Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery/Thriller


AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon


BLURB:

Blood doesn't just make her who she is...it also makes her what she is.

Like being a sixteen-year-old vampire isn't hard enough, Tessa's throwback human genes make her an outcast among her relatives. But try as she might, she can't get a handle on the vampire lifestyle and all the...blood.

Turning her back on the vamp world, she embraces the human teenage lifestyle--high school, peer pressure and finding a boyfriend. Jared manages to stir something in her blood. He's smart and fun and oh, so cute. But Tessa's dream of a having the perfect boyfriend turns into a nightmare when vampires attack the movie theatre and kidnap her date.

Once again, Tessa finds herself torn between the human world and the vampire one. Will blood own out? Can she make peace with who she is as well as what?


EXCERPT:

No, Cody had some serious skills, at least according to David. It would take a lot for someone to get the drop on him.

"Psst."

He just didn't have much class. Turning around, Tessa watched Cody land in front of her. His graceful controlled landing made her instantly jealous.

"There's no sign of anything unusual going on."

"No, of course not. Why would there be? It's not like they're going to advertise that they've kidnapped humans." She studied the huge stone mansion. "The captives are most likely to be downstairs."

"Whoa. You're not going into the house. If you're determined to take this further, we go back to our parents and let them go to the council. They will determine the best course of action."

Tessa stared at him in disbelief. Everything about the night had taken on a surreal appearance. She was here, where Jared was being held, with someone who could actually help her and he wanted to go for their parents. No knight riding to the rescue here.

Then he'd been raised by the old belief that vampires don't go against vampires - without just cause. She didn't think she could come up with enough evidence to prove her case.

She snagged his arm, willing him to listen. "We have to at least see if they are here."

"No Tessa." He shook his head, his vampire eyes glowing with terrible heat. "That's enough. This isn't a kid's game. This is vampire business."

"And who's going to believe me? No one. I'm not like you. My word doesn't mean anything to the others. If you don't see that Jared's been taken and kept as a captive yourself, you won't be able to convince them either."

He shook his head.

Fine. She'd go in alone. Turning away, she headed to the back of the house. "Go back home. I don't need you."

"What the..." He raced behind her. "Tessa stop. You can't go inside there. You're not allowed."

"And they're allowed to take humans?" She snorted. "I don't think so." The moon slid out from behind the clouds. Off to the left, a set of stairs cut down to a narrow wooden door. Probably the cellar. Perfect. She picked up her pace, reaching for the knob in seconds. She bolted though the unlocked door before Cody could drag her back out. Down a narrow hallway, she fled through another door that led to a wide open space. Empty space. Damn it. Could the prisoners have been moved already? How? There hadn't enough time for that.

"There, are you satisfied now?"

She spun around at the sound of Cody's voice. "No." She walked the perimeter of the room. At the far end, the room curved down and around. At the far end, her nostrils flared. Her weird knowing sense kicking in. Animal. Death. Fear. Pain.

This area had been used as housing for animals during the cold winter months. Horses, most likely. Ancient farm smells permeated the air. Hay. Manure. Blood.

"What's the matter?" Cody whispered.

She looked at him. "Can't you smell it?"

"Smell what?"

"Pain. Death."


REVIEWS:

5 stars! Original YA vampire story.

“Vampire in Denial by Dale Mayer is a delightfully different addition to the teen vamp paranormal genre. Can't wait for the sequel.” (Charlotte)

5 stars! Do love.

“This is the first book I've read from Dale Mayer and I'm sure going to be reading more because this is my new favorite vampire romance book since Twilight!” (PrincessZelda))

5 stars! Another exciting series from Dale Mayer

“Oh, book! You were so FUN! I was getting all tense and worried about how poor Tessa was going to prove herself and it was exciting and I desperately wanted her to realize that her tangled up feelings about a certain someone were not all brotherly. But, but...why did you leave me hanging on such a cliffhanger?!?! I MUST KNOW what's going to happen to her!

In most ways, Tessa is an average teenage girl. Her parents don't really understand her, she feels like she's caught between two worlds and she's not sure if the boy she likes likes her back. The fact that she's a vampire who's literally caught between two worlds doesn't change any of that. Her parents really don't have a clue how hard it is for her, a genetic throwback, and no one in her family understands that how the full-blood vampires treat her like a stupid little girl.

All in all, this was a fun, fast read with a girl who definitely came into her own as the story progressed. I thought Cody and his slow revelations about Tessa were adorable. I like how her mother rose up to defend Tessa once things were brought to her attention. I like that Tessa wasn't willing to abandon a friend, even if he was "only human".

I can only guess as to where the next book in this story is heading but I'm DYING to read it now. DYING, Dale Mayer. DYING!” (Kelly Rubidoux)

4 Stars! Exciting first installment in a new YA vampire series!

“This book managed to stand out amongst the plethora of vampire novels out there. I liked how vampires had different abilities and how some of them, like Tessa, seemed more human than vampire (i.e. could be out in the daylight, didn't crave blood). It added a bunch of new dimensions to the world and I'm liking where the series is going.

This really was a great read. I was entirely able to relate with Tessa and enjoyed watching her change throughout the story. Just a warning, the author leaves us with one heck of a cliffhanger, so I can only hope that the next book comes out soon!” (Jamie “Bookerella”)

 Title: Vampire in Distress (Family Blood Ties, Book 2)
Author: Dale Mayer
Publisher: Valley Publishing
Length: 68,000 words
Genres: Paranormal YA
Sub-Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery/Thriller


AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon


BLURB:

Note: This is Book 2 in the Family Blood Ties series and picks up exactly where Book I left off.

When Tessa rallies friends and family to find her missing date, they uncover a secret...and start a war that causes ripples in all aspects of their lives.

A vampire with throwback human genes. Sixteen-year-old Tessa finds more than just her friend in this journey...she also finds herself in need of rescue ... Imprisoned, she has to find a way to escape and reunite with her family before this war takes out those she loves.

The youngest of his ancient line. Eighteen-year-old Cody descends from flyer vampires wants Tessa back at his side where she belongs – even as he struggles with conflicting emotions about his best friend's kid sister...

A human determined to protect his people. Seventeen year-old Jared thought his life was over then he finds out that his rescuers are vampires...how can he trust them? And then he finds out the truth about Tessa...and that she's been taken, too...

Three brave souls struggle as war breaks out around them...a war that shows them no mercy.

EXCERPT:
"Do you not know others in the Council or on committees we can trust? Are all the elders untrustworthy?"

Shocked silence surrounded her.

She closed her eyes and groaned softly. The fragile egos of the elders. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded." She tried again. "I'm trying to understand why you don't trust more people."

"We have elders we trust with many issues. This problem, however...well, it divided the Council when it happened before. It's looking to do the same again, on a much larger scale."

Rubbing the back of her neck, Tessa stared at the two men. "Surely there has to be someone you trust to take control. Or you can bring in many someones. You suggested the Council, then switched to the enforcers. Why?"

"I don't know," Serus muttered, "I started thinking about the members who'd been pro blood farming decades ago."

"It is an ancient problem," she said. "Then bring in young blood. Ones who don't have the same prejudices and beliefs. My generation."

Both men snorted, and Goran said, "We're not bringing in children to do a man's job."

"Why not?" She snapped at him. "I dare you to say that to Cody, Ian, or David."

"That's different. They're men."

Even Serus winced and closed his eyes as if waiting for Tessa to strike Goran a mortal blow.

"I'll ignore that comment, thank you," Tessa said stiffly. Once again, she realized, they'd had a group of vampires together and nothing had gotten done. They'd talked themselves into circles without achieving anything. Pulling out her cell phone, she texted David, repeating her words aloud as she typed. "Who can we contact to help? Dad suggests the Council and the enforcers, and yet has admitted both are problematic."

"Who are you texting?" Serus stared down at the phone in her hand suspiciously.

She smothered a smile. "David."

"David? Why not your mother?"

"Because I figure she's your age and will have the same prejudiced suggestions you do." She shot him a wry glance. "Am I wrong?"

He grimaced. "Probably not."

The wind picked up, chilling them as she waited to hear back.

The longer she waited, the more worried she became. Finally, she looked at her father. "Do we know if our group is still safe? That the people you called in haven't overpowered our people and locked them up?"

"Don't say that. Rhia would have let us know." Serus's face took on a grim look. "I would know if she were in trouble."

The cell phone jingled, relieving Tessa's anxiety, and she hurriedly read David's text.

"He suggests we bring in the media," she said, studying the mixed feelings crossing both men's faces. "Hmm. What do you think of that idea? Or do you consider that another age old prejudice?"

Goran's snort left no doubt about his opinion. "The media can't be trusted at the best of times. This isn't going to be any different."

"Don't you know anyone who's honest? Someone from before? Who, whether you liked them or not, you respected?"

"Hell, no."


REVIEWS:

5 stars! Amazing read!

“This book picked up where Vampire in Denial ended, and notched it up a dozen steps. In the last book, Tessa started out worrying that she didn't fit in anywhere. In this book, she's worried that she and her friends will stay alive. And even more. They've discovered something evil going on. Something that will shake up the vamp and human worlds. Something that's too big for them. But when Tessa calls in reinforcements, things get even weirder.

I'm almost afraid to say anything that will give away the plot. So I'll just say that the end was really satisfying... and then it left me gasping. This entire story has twists and turns that stopped my breath and kept me clicking to the next page. I didn't want to stop reading. I love it too that we get to see into Cody and Jared's minds. Both of them are great, but I'm in the Cody camp. I'm super eager for the next book!” (E.S. Rose)

5 stars! Wonderful Sequel

“Just when we think Tessa is safe and there will be a resolution to the Tessa/Cody/Jared triangle, we're blindsided by more problems for these characters. Ms. Mayer leaves us with the ultimate cliffhanger so that we are all anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what happens!

I am a high school teacher and originally grabbed the first book in the series to see if it would appeal to some of my students. However, I was quickly hooked! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these books. They have romance, action, mystery...something for everyone.” (BJ35)


 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She's best known for Tuesday's Child, Hide'n Go Seek, her romantic suspense novels that was one of the final four in the Kensington Brava/Romantic Times contest this last year. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in several different genres.  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series . All her books are available in print format as well.

To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at http://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author.


BOOKS BY DALE MAYER:

Psychic Vision Series:

Tuesday's Child
Hide'n Go Seek
Maddy's Floor


Single Title Romantic Suspense/Thrillers:

Touched by Death – out now!


Novellas:

It's a Dog's Life (Romantic Comedy)


Young Adult Books:

Dangerous Designs – Book I
Deadly Designs – Book 2 – out soon!
Vampire in Denial – Book I of Blood Ties
Vampire in Distress – Book 2 of Blood Ties
Gem Stone Mystery Series- out soon!
In Cassie's Corner- out soon


Non-Fiction Books:

Career Essentials: The Resume
Career Essentials: The Cover Letter
Career Essentials: The Interview
Career Essentials: 3 in 1

And now for the Giveaway! Dale is giving away a set of both books during the barrage tour! Other stops here: http://cblspromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/scheduled-barrage-family-blood-ties.html  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Starlight Saturday

Book Review:Spell Bound 

by Kelley Armstrong

"Sexy, smart, and action-packed! Kelley Armstrong is truly one of the greats in this genre." 

-Richelle Mead, author of the bestselling Vampire Academy series 

"Kelley Armstrong's bewitching ability to entertain remains as strong as ever." 

-www.alternativeworlds.com 

"Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld goes beyond standard paranormal fiction . . . moving from one set of characters to another through the books, yet intertwining their stories to provide a rich background for the readers." 

-San Francisco Book Review 

"Armstrong is quite deft at making Savannah simultaneously formidable, sympathetic, and real-or at least as real as a girl who flings hex bolts and has a necromancer on speed-dial can be." 

-The Miami Herald 

"Savannah is a gutsy, shrewd, and accomplished protagonist who will immediately capture the reader's intelligence." 

-Library Journal 

"Armstrong is a master of suspense, romance, and bad girls who know how to kick a little badder-guy tail and look good while doing it. Getting a new Armstrong book is a guarantee that you're going to be up all night reading, because you're not going to be able to stop until it's done." 

-The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

With reviews like this, I was eager to jump into this book and immerse myself in the world the author had created, even though I hadn't read any previous books in the series. I was hoping it was one of those books that could be read as a stand-alone, and while some might consider that to be the case, I was just...lost. I felt like I had stepped into the middle of a conversation at a party where everyone knew each other except me. The book was filled with references to people and storylines from previous books, which made me wonder several times whether or not I should finish reading this book. Still, something kept me going and before I knew it, I had finished the book. One thing in its favor is that it's a fast read. If it wasn't, I probably would have given up on it because like I said, I was lost in a conversation I knew little about and felt like I was desperately trying to play catch up.

Setting aside the fact that this is part of a very long series (this is book number 12), there were things to recommend it for hardcore paranormal/urban fantasy fans. A kickass heroine, a hero who's loyal to a fault, but still very alpha, a cast of supernatural characters stirring up trouble. All the stuff you'd need or want in a book of this type, right? Pretty much. I was disappointed that the romantic elements weren't played up that much. In fact, they were written like an after-thought to the point that I began to wonder how these two characters found themselves in a relationship. And when they did, it was just kind of...meh. No sparks whatsoever, nothing to sigh for or make the reader root for them to be together. But since I didn't read any previous books in the series, I don't know whether this is just the way the author writes her romances or if they are just after-thoughts for her and she's more interested in the story.

As to that, the story itself is rather interesting. A witch unwittingly giving up her powers in a deal with some unknown force to protect an innocent child? Sounds good so far. So then said witch, Savannah, embarks on a crusade to get her powers back and leads her faithful hero, Adam, on a wild chase that has more twists and turns than a corkscrew. Okay, still with it. But even as I'm reading, sometimes I can't help but think, Who cares? Savannah is kind of bratty and likes to get her own way a lot. She's also something of a control freak, which is what, I think, freaks her out the most about losing her powers. She's no longer in control. For the first time in her life, she has to rely on her wits and her physical attributes to get out of certain situations, rather than depend on the quick fix of being able to cast a spell. The saving grace for Savannah (and this story) is that the loss of her powers sends Savannah on a journey of self-discovery. I won't spoil the results of that journey, but I will say that it made this book worth reading.

All in all, I liked the cast of characters, the story itself was intriguing, and the writing was tight and flowed so easily off the page, sometimes you forgot you were reading a book. Those are the criteria of a good book for me. Will I pick up another in this series? Very possibly.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: I'm going to give my copy away - and hey, it came with two Otherworld tattoos - to  a lucky commenter.

(Note: I received this book from the publisher for review.)

Wistful Wednesday

Centerpieces by Penelope Przekop:

Review and Giveaway

When I first decided to read this book, I did so based upon the fact that it had an interesting premise, a unique story to tell. That is one of the main criteria I use for picking many of the books I decide to read. It has to engage me in some way. Since I love art and history, I thought it was intriguing that the author chose to interweave the life of van Gogh with those of modern characters, namely Ellis and Tom Spencer, Holly Carter, who all work for a pharmaceutical company, and the mysterious Mimi, who owns a bizarre bookstore and thinks she's a vampire. So now we have an interesting premise, a mix of time, art and history, and some quirky characters. So far so good.



As I delved further into the story of these characters and how they connect with van Gogh, I couldn't help but to think, on many occasions, that this was the type of book Oprah would have loved to pick for her book club. I've read some of Oprah's picks and she has an affinity for the literary, the unusual, and the complex stories of complex people. Although this is a slim book, a mere 175 pages, it is filled to brimming with all the above. At times, I found myself wondering if I could finish this book (the same reaction I had with the Oprah picks, which is why I thought she'd love this book) because I sometimes couldn't make sense of what was going on. But I kept on reading because I wanted to discover how all of these characters tied into the story of van Gogh and his sad life and death. I'm glad I did because, in the end, it was a satisfying book that left no loose ends and delivered on its promise to the reader.



Miss Przekop is a skilled writer who knows her way around a piece of art, a complicated history and intriguing characters. Yes, she might have had me wondering if I would ever understand what was going on, at times, but that is the beauty of the story. It might confuse you at one point, but it delivers a satisfying conclusion at another. There are twists and plot devices that I wasn't expecting, but they only enhanced the story. All in all, a very satisfying read So if you like reading about the art world with a twist of the supernatural, you will enjoy this book.

Want a chance to win this book? Just leave a comment and you're in! Winner will be chosen by Random.org
(Review copy provided by author)

Wistful Wednesday

Writing to Trends

There are a lot of interesting things out there to write about and when several writers inadvertently write about the same thing at the same time, it becomes a trend. And when other writers jump on the band wagon and start writing about those same things, they are writing to trend. Some examples are vampires, werewolves and now, angels. Fortunately, the interpretations of these subjects are as abundant and individual as those who write about them, so each story is unique and new. Despite this fact - or maybe because of it - there's no shortage of opinions on the practice of writing to trend.

In one camp, there are those who are highly against it, and they have varying opinions on why, not the least of which is the fear that the market will be glutted with poor imitations of more successful works. In the other camp, there are those who see nothing wrong with the practice and who whole-heartedly embrace it. I'm kind of middle of the road on it. I don't fault those who follow the trend and I don't begrudge the opinions of those who are against it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that shouldn't effect how others act. What matters most is how those individuals feel about what they are doing. As long as they're not plagiarizing other works, there is nothing wrong with following a trend.

Personally, I wouldn't follow a trend unless the subject really spoke to me. Vampires - fun to read about, but I haven't come up with a story of my own I'd want to write about. Dragons? Not my thing. Fairies? Possibly...

Then there are werewolves - here, the lines get a little murky because I do have a book coming out in the fall that deals with humans who shift into wolves, but I wouldn't call them werewolves, at least not in the typical sense. There is no painful metamorphosis with my characters, they shift seamlessly from one form to another and its more of a spiritual, shaman-like (appropriate since their Native Americans) transformation.

And last, there are angels. Angels are huge right now. It seems that everyone is writing about them. There is even talk around the blogosphere that they may be the new vampires. My first book, Nora's Soul, is about angels, and I have a whole series planned around it, the next of which is in the publishing process now. Some might accuse me of following a trend, but the truth is that I've been writing about angels for many years. Although published in 2008, I actually began writing Nora's Soul many years before (I won't say how many!) and I plotted out much of the series long before other books about angels even hit the shelves. I just haven't had as much exposure for my book as others have because I didn't have a marketing team or big publishing house behind me. So I could argue the point that I set the trend - but I won't. That's not the point of this post.

So what are your thoughts on writing to trend? Are you for it, against it? Do you think it has an adverse effect on writing in general? I'd love to see what you have to say on the subject.

Mystic Monday

Before we begin, I must remind everyone of the Moonlight Mistresses boring rule to please try and keep your responses to a PG13 atmosphere – *eye roll*. However, they haven’t seemed to care about double entendres, so let them fly!

My guests today are Voss, the Viscount Dewhurst, and Angelica Woodmore – please, have a seat on our lovely couch! – from London. Their tale can be found in The Vampire Voss a novel creation by Colleen Gleason.

*Settling comfortably onto the sofa, *

You two make one fine pair! I did a wonderful job pairing you two up if I do say so myself! Then, I just love all of my matches! - AINE

AINE: Please, Voss, tell our readers how you two first met. Was it by your design, or hers?

VOSS: It was a bit of both, actually. I was looking for her, because I’d heard rumors about this young Society miss with a touch of the Gypsy Sight…but before I found her, she came barreling up to me and my friend, Lord Brickbank, at a ball. Unfortunately…she was more interested in Brickbank than she was in me. Of course, I soon changed that.

AINE: Angelica, would you say it was love at first sight or did you find him repulsive?

ANGELICA: I found him delightful, ever so charming and certainly dangerous. In fact, I knew from the moment I met Voss that I’d best stay away from a rake such as he.

AINE: Truly women are attracted to bad boys… Since chaotic happenstance tends to put characters like yourselves in situations where they must work together or live together for one reason or another, tell us what chaotic happenstance “forced” the two of you to work or live together. How did you both feel about this?

ANGELICA: We were at a masquerade ball when a terrible, frightening event happened. By the time I realized what was going on, and that I was in danger myself, Voss had whisked me away—ostensibly to protect me. But, as I learned later, he had an ulterior motive.

VOSS: Well, now, darling, you know that it all worked out in the end.

AINE: Sounds intriguing! Voss, would you say that your relationship developed easily or would you say there was some reluctance?

VOSS: It’s quite rare—in fact, it’s impossible—for a woman to feel reluctance toward me. After all, I’m rich, handsome, charming…and I have this little advantage called a vampire thrall. However, for the first time in my life, things weren’t quite as easy with Angelica.

AINE: How long did it take you to know your true feelings for the other? At what point did you know, “this is the one”?

ANGELICA: I had just begun to feel as if Voss might be someone special when something horrible happened. I don’t even want to talk about it now, let alone remember it.

VOSS: Darling….

ANGELICA: No, no, I’m sorry for even bringing it up. It was a long time ago and it’s over now.

AINE: Voss, what would you say was your biggest obstacle to overcome before you could settle into a relationship with Angelica?

VOSS: Erm…that would be my lust for human blood. You see, I am a vampire. An immortal. And…er…perhaps my insatiable lust for women. All women. Any wom—

ANGELICA: Oh really?

VOSS: Well, not anymore, darling. Not since I met you.

AINE: This is for either of you. Would you like to thank anyone – other than me, of course – for getting you two together?

ANGELICA: Wayren was quite instrumental in our courtship, in her own odd way.

VOSS: I cannot argue with that. And I think we ought to thank Dimitri as well. If he hadn’t been so blasted determined to keep me away from you. And your brother Chas as well. And then there’s Rubey—

ANGELICA: Yes, it was quite a group effort, wasn’t it?

AINE: I know our readers have enjoyed learning about you two so far, but I’m getting a little bored, so I’m going to heat things up. Angelica, how would you end this sentence, "I wish Voss would _____?" *leans forward to eagerly hear response*

ANGELICA: I wish Voss would take me riding. Er, I mean, horseback riding. *blushes *

AINE: Well, not everyone is into horseplay, but I here there are societies devoted to that sort of thing. Voss, would you prefer to give Angelica a bubble bath or a back massage? Why?

VOSS: Why, both of course. *leers charmingly * At the same time. Or not.

AINE: *fanning herself with her interview papers* Moving on, how many of you readers remember that old show, The Newlywed Game? Well, these next questions are going to help us play a similar game. Let’s see how well you two know each other. Voss, what would Angelica say is your aphrodisiac? *waggles eyebrows*

VOSS: I’m afraid I don’t know anything about a Newlywed Game. We…er…don’t have television in 19th century London. However, I’m certain Angelica would confess that my aphrodisiac is the scent of her. We vampires have very strong senses of smell you know. The first moment she walked past me—intent on speaking to that boulder-head Brickbank—and I caught a whiff of her, I was lost.

AINE: Angelica, did he correctly guess your answer? How would you have answered that question?

ANGELICA: Lost? Not quite, darling. As I recall, you really only wanted me for my Gypsy blood. Not my scent.

VOSS: Not true at all, my love. I only wanted you for your Gypsy blood before I met you. Then I just wanted you. And I still do. Only. And always.

AINE: Boy, is it warm in here, or is it just me? *Readjusts her position in the chair* It’s time to cool things off just a tad. Angelica, as far as you know, what is Voss’s idea of a perfect date?

ANGELICA: Anything in which he can unlace my corset. And remove it.

AINE: VOSS, is she correct? If not, what is your idea of a perfect date?

VOSS: She’s spot on as usual.

AINE: VOSS, your turn in the hot seat. What is Angelica’s idea of a perfect date?

VOSS: Anything in which I can unlace and remove her corset, of course.

AINE: Angelica, is he correct? If not, what is your idea of a perfect date?

ANGELICA: *rolling eyes * Of course, my dear. I don’t even know why I own all the clothing I do if that’s all you want from me.

AINE: Hmm…do I smell a hint of sarcasm there? Okay, I want to switch gears just a bit. March has close connections to Ireland, and as many of us acknowledge, Ireland is steeped in myths and mysticism, as are many Native American tribal beliefs. Angelica, VOSS, do you believe in this type of mysticism? Have you had any experiences that helped you develop these beliefs?

ANGELICA: Considering the fact that I was born with the Gypsy Sight…

VOSS: …and that I am a vampire…

ANGELICA & VOSS together: …the answer would be a resounding yes.

AINE: So refreshing! Angelica, Voss, do you believe in fate and destiny or are most things just a happenstance of coincidence? Why do you feel the way you do?

ANGELICA: The way we came together, the things that happened that allowed us to work things out…I can’t help but believe there’s some sort of element of destiny involved.

VOSS: By the fates, I couldn’t agree more.

AINE: True harmony! Angelica, Voss, where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

ANGELICA: On a small estate in the country, watching our children frolic in the sun.

VOSS: How many children? *eyeing her with interest *

ANGELICA: *smiling impishly * As many as you’ll give me.

AINE: I’m sorry folks, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks to Voss and Angelica for joining us today and giving us some great answers. We hope you’ll check out their story, The Vampire Voss.

To learn more about their author, Colleen Gleason,
visit her website: www.colleengleason.com

Wistful Wednesday

Nocturne, by Syrie James:

A Review

From the author's website: 

A Haunting Story of Forbidden Love

"Lyrical, lush, and intensely romantic." —Library Journal
Nicole Whitcomb is snowbound for days and falls in love with a fascinating, mysterious stranger—a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change both of their lives forever. But who is Michael Tyler and what dark secrets is he hiding?
"Each incredible revelation kept me turning pages long into the night." —A Simple Love of Reading

With praise like that, I delved into this book, eager to discover how a writer known for writing fictionalized biographies of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte would interpret the whole vampire trope. I must warn you that, if you're hoping to read more about vampires that sparkle or engage in life and death battles with werewolves and their own kind, then this is not the book for you. This is more of a psychological take on the vampire tale. It deals more with the life - or lives - of the vampire hero rather than any earth-shattering scenario that finds him fighting for his life and that of his love. Personally, I found that rather refreshing.

In many of the other entries in this genre, the pace is fast, the action non-stop, and the focus on the beast the hero has become - and how that affects the heroine. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's very easy to feel like you've read that story somewhere else. There's also the tendency to feel as though something is missing and for me, that something is the reminder that the hero used to be human. What I liked best about James' book was that she highlighted the fact that Michael was once human - and in a very eloquent way. I will not give it away here, but I really enjoyed how she chose to portray Michael's life before he met Nicole. Very clever. It made me want to know everything about him, just like Nicole.

I felt like the characters were real people and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Michael wasn't obsessed with the idea of someone trying to drive a stake through his heart (no such characters in this book) and Nicole, except for one flight of fancy once she realized what he was, wasn't obsessed with the idea that he was going to kill her or turn her into a vampire. In fact, if you took away the fact that he was a vampire, you would still have what this book essentially is: A love story between two lost souls. And as love stories go, it was a beautiful tale told in a wonderfully uncomplicated manner. I really appreciated the way the author allowed the story to unfold, the way she weaved in Michael and Nicole's backstories, and allowed them to grow as characters.

So the bottom line is: If you're looking for a fix for your vampire love and you want to read a different take on the genre, definitely pick this book up and give it a try. Hopefully, like me, you won't be disappointed. You will be swept away.

Author's website: http://www.syriejames.com/

Starlight Saturday

Weekly Book Review

Vampire Island debuted this week and I had the opportunity to read an advance copy provided by the author, Sandra Cox. Sandra's also our featured author this week in our YA Room.

When I started this book, I really wasn't in the mood for another vampire series and certainly not another human-in-love-with vampire or vampire-sex story, so I was truly surprised at my reaction to this book.

I was hooked right from the beginning and Cox continued to reel me in as she ensconced me into Zoe's world. The imagery of this story was so powerful that I felt as though I was on this Bahamian island called Vampire Island. I saw the beauty, I saw what Zoe saw and experienced what she experienced and learned what she did as she discovered it.

There was enough mystery going on to keep me flipping pages. The story flowed, action moved the story from one scene to the next, imagery painted the setting, and complex character dynamics combined to create a beautiful exotic world of beauty and danger. It provided a terrific escape.

This story did something I never expected it would do - it filled the void left by the absence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While Zoe is a vampire slayer, this is a completely different world and life from what Buffy had and there's a completely new set of rules. These are rules I want to discover, and there are characters that I want to met.

While there are plenty of hotties for the YA crowd in this book, there is one particular hottie that will appeal to those of us in the older crowd - Uncle Julian Kilmer. From the moment you learn about him he is shrouded in mystery, and even once you learn his secrets, you find that he has more. He's strong, muscular and sexy! Julian is the one character I would like to see have his own book, but one for the adult readers!

If I tell you any more about the story or any of the characters, I'll just give too much away, so before I do give anything away, I'll get right to the ratings. First I'll break the ratings up into basic elements of the story. These ratings are based on the amount of the element in the story. For example, I give this story 1 heart in the romance category. Not because the romance is bad, but because it is light on the romance element. The highest rating any one element can receive is a 5.

Mystery:

Romance:

Suspense:

Intrigue:

Action/Adventure:

Fantasy:

All of these elements combine together to create a great story for readers of all ages!

Overall rating: