All About Samhain

This week from Samhain:

• Circle of Friends: Steve’s Story Jess Dee. Novel. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
• Terms of Surrender Becky Barker. Short story. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
• The Ninth Curse K J Gillenwater. Novel. Paranormal romantic suspense.
• Tooth and Claw Annmarie McKenna. Novella. Paranormal romance. Red hot.
• Trust the Moon Jamie Craig. Category. Paranormal romance. Red hot.

Best sellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. Steel Beauty by Dana Marie Bell
2. Unleashed by Cherrie Lynn
3. Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight

Reviews:

Mrs. Giggles

• Forsaken Talisman by Ashleigh Raine 82
• Hold the Dark by Frank Tuttle 89

The Price of Desire

I would say this is vintage Jo Goodman, although I haven’t read that many of her books. But her heroines are generally the tortured characters in the books and the heroes remain steady and sure. In this case, the hero has his own demons, actually, but they are not such a burden and he handles them well, considering.

The opening was a little slow but I loved this book. As the story begins, Olivia lives with her younger, rather worthless brother who trades her for an emerald ring, leaving her in Griffin’s care. Somewhat to both their dismay. Olivia has nowhere to go, her father has abandoned her, and Griffin runs a gaming hell.

I’m not sure the premise can be historically accurate (though I’m no Regency expert), but it doesn’t matter since Goodman’s voice and storytelling convince me of her world. As is often the case with Goodman, someone threatens the well-being and the life of the heroine, and as the story unfolds we come to learn more about Olivia and Griffin’s past while they learn about each other and fall in love.

I realize I’m being quite vague on the specifics, but I believe it’s best to approach this book without spoilers, large and small. Both Olivia and Griffin have been betrayed by those who should never have betrayed them, but Olivia has been particularly abused, and Goodman convincingly describes her coming into her own.

I did wish the worst villain in the book had got his comeuppance and I worry about what he may still be doing to other innocents.

Janet has an in-depth review at Dear Author. And Jane reviews it too. Both gave A-.

AAR gave The Price of Desire a B+.

All About Samhain

This week from Samhain:

• A Reason to Rebel Wendy Soliman. Novel. Historical romance.
• Butterfly Tattoo Deidre Knight. Plus novel. Contemporary romance.
• Many Roads Home Ann Somerville. Plus novel. Gay futuristic romance.
• Steel Beauty Dana Marie Bell. Novella. Paranormal romance.
• Unleashed Cherrie Lynn. Novel. Contemporary romance. Red hot.

Best sellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. Past Promises by N. J. Walters
2. Friends With Benefits by Kelly Jamieson
3. Going the Distance by Mandy M. Roth

Reviews:

Dear Author

• Snowbound by Larissa Ione B
• Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight A-

All About Samhain

This week from Samhain:

• Always Lauren Dane. Category. Contemporary romance.
• Friends With Benefits Kelly Jamieson. Category. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
• Going the Distance Mandy M. Roth. Novella. Paranormal romance.
• Hold the Dark Frank Tuttle. Category. Fantasy romance.
• Past Promises NJ Walters. Category. Contemporary romance.

Best sellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. Tempt Me Twice by Eden Bradley
2. Saddled by Delilah Devlin
3. My Lady by Shiloh Walker

Samhain best sellers from Fictionwise:

1. Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend
2. Saddled by Delilah Devlin
3. Theirs to Capture Shelli Stevens

Amazon

Amazon rank. It’s the Google Bomb by Smart Bitch Sarah.

For more information, Dear Author is a good source. If you’re on twitter you can follow #amazonfail.

All About Samhain

This week from Samhain:

• Forsaken Talisman Ashleigh Raine. Novel. Paranormal romance.
• Howling for My Baby Beverly Rae. Novel. Paranormal romantic comedy.
• Phantom Desires Bianca D’Arc. Novella. Paranormal romance. Red hot.
• Adder Ally Blue. Category. Gay romance. Red hot.
• Facing It Linda Winfree. Novel. Romantic suspense.
• My Lady Shiloh Walker. Category. Fantasy romance. Red hot.
• Tempt Me Twice Eden Bradley. Short story. Contemporary romance. Red hot.
• Turbulent Passions Anne Rainey. Novella. Contemporary romance. Red hot.

Best sellers from My Bookstore and More:

1. Saddled by Delilah Devlin
2. Theirs to Capture by Shelli Stevens
3. Phantom Desires by Bianca D’Arc

Samhain best sellers from Fictionwise:

1. Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend
2. Saddled by Delilah Devlin
3. Taken by Anya Bast

Reviews:

Azteclady

• Carolina Wolf by Sela Carsen 8/10

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

• For the Love of Jazz by Shiloh Walker B+

Dear Author

• Glutton For Pleasure by Alisha Rai C+

Twitter Monday

However I keep wanting to read Patricia Briggs’s books set in Mercy & Charles & Anna’s world. Tho still need to read Bone Crossed #dabwaha about 2 hours ago

Also, despite loving Spymaster’s Lady am strangely uninspired to read next book. I fear it’ll be the same but not as good. #dabwaha about 2 hours ago

Am surprised Spymaster’s Lady is pulling ahead of Iron Kissed already. I loved both books but SL has some weaknesses in 2nd half. #dabwaha about 2 hours ago

For some reason, I find news of Redmond O’Neal sad & depressing. Not sure why him in particular, but I guess I remember when he was a baby. about 16 hours ago

@Jambrea Congratulations, Jambrea! How exciting! 1 day ago

@avidbookreader Aargh! Why do people have to make ebooks so difficult to use as you wish? 1 day ago

@avidbookreader I actually wanted Cry Wolf to win, but Iron Kissed will do. I’m a big fan of Briggs. #dabwaha 2 days ago

Finished v. good romance. Was not at all interested in the sexual relationship, rest of book fantastic. Lovely characteriztn/relationships 2 days ago

Twitter Friday

Wow, is Iron Kissed vs Blue-Eyed Devil ever close! #dabwaha
about 8 hours ago

Vote for one of my fave UF writers at Dabwaha http://dabwaha.com/blog/ Iron kissed by Patricia Briggs is up on the block.
about 10 hours ago

RT @ashleighrainejn: Forsaken Talisman is now available. *squee* 10% off for 1 week only. http://tinyurl.com/dapnag
about 10 hours

@avidbookreader I’ve sworn to myself I’m doing the TBR challenge this month. But at my rate, I’d better start reading now.
about 11 hours ago

@shannonstacey Yay!
9:44 PM Apr 2nd

@avidbookreader The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives were my soaps in my late teens/early twenties.
7:32 PM Apr 2nd

@jane_l Women signal UF while men signal paranormal romance. At least that’s how seems to play out these days.
11:41 AM Apr 2nd

@shannonstacey I glanced at it, I’ll probably read the comments at some point.
8:16 PM Apr 1st

@shannonstacey Is agentfail on twitter or on the bookends blog?
7:59 PM Apr 1st

@heidimoore Get the Burn Notice DVD! Well, if you love spies.
1:52 PM Apr 1st

I tried the 1st Ilona Andrews book awhile ago & didn’t get into it. But series is much loved. So, should I try again?
1:51 PM Apr 1st

Now have to wait many many months for second season.
11:57 AM Apr 1st

Finished 1st season of BURN NOTICE. Loved Sam in last episode. Not him being beaten up, but him saying: I’m DEA. No, I’m CIA. No, I’m FBI
11:56 AM Apr 1st

@ashleighrainejn Oh!Oh! Time to grab a screen shot. It’s always fun to see the books up there in the amazon numbers. Thanks!
8:28 PM Mar 31st

My futuristic m/m romance POISON is now on sale in paperback. Yay! http://tinyurl.com/dymnw3 #16 in gay romance.
7:48 PM Mar 31st

@victoriajanssen Agreed. I admit I get Hugo and Nebula systems confused, but I think Nebulas have the rolling eligibility that is so weird.
4:39 PM Mar 31st

Not sure comparing Nebulas and Ritas is that useful. Lots of Nebula controversy to be found. Plus many fewer sff books vs romance books.
3:50 PM Mar 31st