Monthly Archives: September 2007

Final action scenes

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I read a review at AAR recently, that of Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong. While it received a B- there, the review piqued my interest because the Andi Davis describes the final action scene as phenomenal.

Truth is, I’d like to read more phenomenal action scenes, as well as learn to write them. Of my relatively recent reads, the final action scenes I remember and which got my heart beating faster (a good indicator) were Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs and The Thief by Megan Whelan Turner. So I’d love recs of books where you thought the final action scenes were, well not necessarily phenomenal, but well done, involving and kept you glued to the book.

All About Samhain

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This week from Samhain:

Bestsellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. Brazen by Maya Banks
2. The Strength of Three by Annmarie McKenna
3. Wings of Change by Bianca D’Arc

From last week, Ask Adam made it onto the list. As did Carnal Deceptions and Hard to Guard.

Mrs. Giggles gave high marks to:

On the Prowl

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I’m a big Patricia Briggs fan, so I have to pick up this anthology. And…I really enjoyed it.

“Alpha and Omega” by Patricia Briggs. This story is set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson series, but the focus is on a different set of characters, namely Charles (Sam’s half-brother) and Anna, a relatively new werewolf who hasn’t had an easy time of it since she was turned against her will. Anna is pretty damaged and vulnerable, but in the right hands I love damaged, vulnerable characters who are able to move forward to a better place. This is a not a long story, and Charles and Anna’s relationship is just beginning, but I loved it and look forward to their novel.

“Inhuman” by Eileen Wilks. I’ve skimread a few reviews, and while I can’t remember specifics, I wasn’t sure this story would work for me. But I loved it, too! Wilks is balancing a lot of different elements (multiple realms, empaths, hellhounds, sidhe, queens), but she pulled it off for me. I found the worldbuilding fresh. The hero is a man, but he used to be something else, and I quite adored him, the slightly alien feel of him, and his strong sense of honor. The writing itself was very strong, too. I read Tempting Danger a few years ago and loved it. Since then, I’ve twice tried the second book in the series, Mortal Danger. But I’m going to have to try it again. Because this just reminded me how much I like Wilks’s writing.

“Buying Trouble” by Karen Chance. Karen Chance is a new-to-me author and I was very happy to be introduced to her writing. This is probably the tightest story of the three, although it took me a chapter or so to get properly sucked in. This is more fantasy romance than paranormal romance to my mind. (I don’t think there is an official line there.) It does start off in our world, but there are any number of magical creatures and a big chunk of time is spent in the Faerie. I don’t really want to give anything away, because there are a lot of twists and turns for a novella, and the author is juggling lots of different creatures. But she weaves in the worldbuilding seamlessly while giving you characters to root for. Loved the hero, too. I’ll have to look up her novels, though I fear they are not at all related to Claire and Heidar.

All and all, a very successful anthology. There’s one more story to go, but I’m going to save it for another time.

Other reviews:

I liked the stories a lot more than the above, but there are some interesting observations in the reviews.

All About Samhain

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This week from Samhain:

  • Craving Kismet Jamie Craig. Novel. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
  • Modus Vivendi Emery Sanborne. Novel. Historical romance. Red hot. Book 1 in The Affairs of Morton’s Pointe series.
  • Sins of the Past Amanda Young. Novella. Gay romance. Red hot.
  • Ask Adam Jess Dee. Category. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
  • Undying Passions Amy Mistretta. Category. Romantic suspense.

Best sellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. The Strength of Three by Annmarie McKenna
2. Brazen by Maya Banks
3. Wings of Change by Bianca D’Arc

Wings of Change was released last week, as were The Dragons’ Demon and The Knight’s Challenge, which also made the bestseller list.

Reviews:

  • Rosario reviewed Hard to Guard by Nina Mamone B

    … this was a fun, sexy story, with plenty of tingly romance.

  • Sybil reviewed Almost a Family by Donna Alward. B+

    The writing style was good and the story flowed well. The characters were believable and engaging. I truly enjoyed it.

  • Gwen reviewed Sneak Peek Duet and gave Watch Me by Shelley Bradley a B+ and Show Me by Jaci Burton a B.

    These were two very steamy, very fun stories and I enjoyed them immensely. They’re released as eBooks now, but will be released by Samhain as a print anthology called SNEAK PEEK in “Fall 2008.”

  • Book Utopia reviewed Dragon Tamer by Kathleen Scott 35/50

Win an ARC

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Via Karen Scott:

Hell’s Eight

Bloggers are you ready?
(readers who don’t blog can win an arc by entering my .net site contest that will start later- 10/1/07)

My first NY Western Historical series is releasing from SPICE in just over one month. It’s a super-hot, fast-paced romance with a strong heroine, a hero to die for, and a happily ever after that will touch your heart. Like my Promise series, Hell’s Eight probably is not what a reader thinks of when they think Western Historical, but each of these stories is a slice of life rich with emotion, spiced with passion, and filled with moments I hope will make your heart twist. The men of Hell’s Eight are unpredictable and fascinating. They’re definitely a law unto themselves, as wild as the West in which they live. Determined, and single-minded, they’ve planned for every contingency that could complicate their goals except for the one they never saw coming: the extraordinary women that will capture their hearts.

Read an excerpt

Think you’re ready?

Okay, here it is, your chance to win one of the six ARCs of Caine’s Reckoning, first in the Hell’s Eight series.

The goal of this contest is to spread the word far and wide of the upcoming release of Caine’s Reckoning.

To enter:

1. Copy and paste this post on your website, blog, MySpace, or wherever you wish, including a link to the excerpt.

2. Once you’ve completed #1, email SarahMcCartyContests @ gmail.com (no spaces) with the link to your site and you are entered. It’s as simple as that.

3. If you are the lucky winner of an ARC, simply be ready to read the book and review it during late October. You can review it on your blog, MySpace, online websites like Amazon, etc.

That’s it.

Blog. Email. Read. Wait till the last couple of weeks of October. Review.

To enter, EMAIL me at SarahMcCartyContests @ gmail.com (without the spaces), with:

1. Caine’s Reckoning ARC in the subject line.

2. The link to your post about the ARC contest.

3. Your name and address.

4. Where you intend to review the book.

Contest (open to US and Canadian residents) closes September 30th, 12 midnight, EST US.

Good luck!

More reviews

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I’ve had some recent reader reviews of The Strength of the Wolf and The Strength of the Pack. They are much appreciated!

  • Jane of Dear Author gives WOLF a B-

    This book may not be for everyone because it is a quiet book, but it contains detailed characters who are both flawed with a compelling and a fresh new look at the werewolf mythology.

  • Book Utopia gives WOLF 41/50

    There is something about Jorrie Spencer’s writing that completely sucks me in.

    [I just liked this sentence so much, I had to pull it from the review.]

  • At My Bookstore and More, Bev Stephans gives WOLF 5 stars.

    This author keeps getting better with each book she writes.

  • The Howling Scribe gives PACK 9.5

    Strength of the Pack is what you call a unique werewolf book. It is filled with many twists and turns to keep the reader interested.

  • At My Bookstore and More, D. Renee Bagby gives PACK 4 stars.

    I enjoyed Jorrie’s version of lycanthropy. It wasn’t the run of the mill stuff that you usually see in movies and the way she handled it made it seem more lifelike — like you might just stumble across a wolf like Seth and it turns out to be a man.

Thank you, all :)

All About Samhain

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This week from Samhain we have, among other things, lots of dragons stories!

Bestsellers at My Bookstore and More:

1. The Strength of Three by Annmarie McKenna
2. Brazen by Maya Banks
3. Annabelle’s Courtship by Lucy Monroe

From last week, Brazen and Lessons in Love made it onto the bestseller list.

Reviews:

Mrs. Giggles gave high marks to:

Dear Author gave Skin to Skin by Dionne Galace a B-.

Another review, and an interview!

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(Sorry to be so repetitive, but…it’s release week!)

  • Romance Junkies 4.5 blue ribbons
    by Robin Snodgrass

    David Hardway is a marvelous hero. He is an honorable man with a huge heart. I fell in love with him in the first chapter when he rescued Veronica while in her wolf form. Veronica proves to be a strong heroine with a deeply caring nature even though she was physically and mentally scarred by some horrible event in the past.

    • Also, Ember was kind enough to do an interview with me, in Thursday Thirteen form, no less!