Love That Line (22)

Love That Line is hosted by Jessica Rabbit's Corner, it's a little thing where we post a favourite quote or two from a book we have enjoyed.

Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank

It had fangs.
Oh, and very, very big wings.



"The necromancer does not exactly wear a bell around his neck, Councillor Ruth. But yes, I hunt him."



"An accident? Honey, rear-ending a cop is an accident. This is a catastrophe."

Theme Thursday (39)

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between Pages that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursdays)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

This week's theme is - CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

The guy to her left, on the other hand, fit Luce's image of this place a little bit too perfectly. He was tall and thin, with a DJ bag slung over his shoulder, shaggy black hair, and large, deep-set green eyes. His lips were full and a natural rose color most girls would kill for. At the back of his neck, a black tattoo in the shape of a sunburst seemed almost to glow on his light skin, rising up from the edge of his black T-shirt.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

My Book Boyfriend (44)

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by Missie of The Unread Reader, in which we swoon over boys in books!
(I--as in me, Amy--don't like to use commercial photos, I like to use the authors' descriptions and my imagination.)

Cullen Seaborne
Book: Blood Lines by Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi

He's a werewolf and also a sorcerer who can see magic. He was once a stripper, but now works as a consultant for the FBI's Magical Crimes Division. A lean build on a flawless body, with tousled hair the color of cinnamon and the most stunningly perfect face ever seen on a man or a woman. His lips look like a sculptor's version of the sensual ordeal balanced by a jaw firm enough to keep all that beauty from leaning toward the feminine. And eyes the unlikely blue of the Aegean Sea.

Quotes:

"Oh, no," he said blithely. "I help out when I can, but the FBI isn't interested in my professional skills. I take my clothes off for a living."

"It's given to us to know." He sat up, and Lord, he made her breath catch in her throat with that simple movement. And he was happy, damn him. So happy. It terrified her, that happiness of his. "I'd given up," he said. "Years ago, I gave up thinking I'd ever...But you're carrying my baby."

Interview & Giveaway with Eileen Wilks

Eileen Wilks is the incredible author of the World of the Lupi series. A world where magic, dragons and werewolves are part of every day life. You can read my review of Mortal Sins (book number five in the series) HERE.

1. When did you first start writing, and was there something in particular that inspired you?

I've always written little scenes now and then, and wrote some fanfic before anyone used that term. But I didn't seriously try to write until the plot for an entire book woke me at four in the morning. I wrote that book in a sublime frenzy--it was a magnificent feeling. Sadly, it wasn't a magnificent book. Didn't matter. I was hooked on writing by then and couldn't quit.



2. What first attracted you to the paranormal realm when it comes to writing?

I wrote science fiction/fantasy first. Not very well, mind, but that's what my first three books were. That was before I discovered the romance genre. When I did, I switched, and wrote and published nearly twenty romances before I found a way to merge my two passions--fantasy and love stories.


3. In regards to your own characters, who is your favorite and why?

Like parents, writers shouldn't have favorites . . . but I do. Grandmother, of course. I want to be her when I grow up.


4. What other genres (besides your own) do you enjoy reading?

Outside of urban fantasy/paranormal, I'm most likely to pick up a mystery or science fiction book, especially if they have a bit of romance. I'll give some examples from my most recent reading . . . Janet Evanovich's SMOKIN' SEVENTEEN, Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War series, and I'm eagerly waiting on a short story by Laurie B. King that's on pre-order.


5. If you could not be a writer, what would you be?

Sad. Really sad.










6. As a reader I know how difficult it can be to name a ‘favorite’ book, would you mind listing your top three? (Past or present authors)

My favorites change, but at the moment I'd have to list Laurie B. King's Russell & Holmes series; Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond books; and everything Lois McMaster Bujold has ever written.


7. What are some must haves when you sit down to write?

Coffee. Privacy. More coffee.


8. If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any book, any series, new or old)

Oh, this is a terrible question--all my favorite writers put their characters through hell. So do I. I think I'd have to opt for . . . The Hobbit. But I'd want to stay with the hobbits in their burrows. Otherwise I'm pretty sure the trolls would eat me before the adventure was half begun, and if I survived that, the goblins would get me. Which is good, because I don't want to run into the giant spiders.

Maybe I should just opt for Winnie the Pooh . . .





Eileen's Newest Release:

Death Magic:
It was white. Maybe that’s why she immediately thought ghost. It drifted on a diagonal like three-dimensional rice paper—translucent, not transparent, its edges too clearly defined for smoke, its shape vaguely human but faceless. It floated on a steady, nonexistent air current, starting at the left-rear of the range . . . and coming straight at her.

The quick clamp of fear, irrational and immediate, stiffened her spine as it widened her eyes. As the thing floated closer it stretched out a hand—and yes, it was a hand. For all the vagueness of the rest of the form, that milky hand was painstakingly clear, from the mound at the base of the thumb to the lines crossing the palm to the band of a ring on the third finger. A hand, palm up. Beseeching.



About the Author:

Eileen Wilks’ first book, THE LONER AND THE LADY, a Silhouette Desire published in 1996, hit the USA Today Bestseller List and was nominated for Romantic Times' Best First Short Contemporary award. Since then, her books have appeared consistently on national bestseller lists. With thirty two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, she has been a finalist in the prestigious Rita Awards three times, as well as receiving several nominations from Romantic Times, including one for Career Achievement in Series Romantic Suspense.


Find Eileen:

Website | Facebook

Eileen has kindly offered up a copy of Death Magic to one lucky winner! The contest is international, but if the winner lives within the US, they will receive a signed copy!

Rules for Entry:
- Giveaway ends November 22, 2011 12AM EST.
- Open internationally.
- Leave a comment.
- Fill out the form below.

Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks

Mortal Sins:
FBI agent Lily Yu is in North Carolina with her lover and mate Rule Turner, lu nuncio of the Nokolai werewolf clan, where he is to take custody of his son from the boy’s grandmother. It’s a purely personal trip until Rule, in wolf form, finds three bodies in a shallow grave. They carry the stench of DEATH MAGIC, which makes the murders a federal crime. Lily takes charge of the investigation, and soon realizes that nothing adds up—not the motives, not even the accused killer, who’s behind bars when death strikes again.

But murder, however bizarre, is an everyday affair for Lily, who was a homicide cop before being recruited into the FBI’s Magical Crimes Division. A more personal shock arrives in the person of Rule’s son’s mother. Why is she challenging Rule’s long standing plan to bring his son to live among the Nokolai?

But family must take a back seat when the violence escalates, and there’s no rhyme or reason for the killer’s next strike—a killer who may not even be of this world...

The intricate and dangerous world of the lupi that Eileen Wilks created draws me in with each new addition. Not only do these books have a paranormal element but they are also crime-fiction styled, filled with mystery and murder. In Eileen's world, magic has become a regular part of life, and werewolves--or the more political term lupi--are living among humans. While discrimination is still a problem, things are slowly getting better for Lily and Rule, and others who have magical Gifts. Rule is a true, sexy alpha male and the heir to his clan and leader among his people. Lily is a tough-as-nails FBI agent in a special unit dedicated to magical crimes. New laws come into play when events of the past effect current events partly due to when more magic was released and the world begins to change. The romance and sexual tension keeps you interested, but it's the promise of solving the crime that keeps me turning pages. Eileen's characters are so incredible, even the secondary ones stick with you long after you have put the book down.

Interview with Julie Kagawa

1. When did you first start writing, and was there something in particular that inspired you?

I started writing in high school, where I would carry my 5-star notebook around with me and write during my classes (my teachers weren’t terribly thrilled). I don’t think there was anything particular that inspired me, though I did love to read. I used to hide books behind my textbooks in class and read constantly. (My teachers weren’t terribly thrilled with that, either.)


2. In regards to your own characters, who is your favorite and why?

I would have to say Ash, because I love my dark, broody bad boys. But Grimalkin runs a very close second.


3. What other genres (besides your own) do you enjoy reading?

I’m starting to branch out into contemporary YA. I just read 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher and was knocked speechless by its brilliance. Makes me want to pick up some more contemp.


4. If you could not be a writer, what would you be?

An animal trainer. I was a professional dog trainer before I got published, so I would probably go back to that.


5. As a reader I know how difficult it can be to name a ‘favorite’ book, would you mind listing your top three? (Past or present authors)

Whew, that’s difficult. Um, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and recently, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. (I have SO many more favorites, these are just the first three that came to mind.)


6. What are some must haves when you sit down to write?

Caffeine and…caffeine. It’s horrible. I have an army of empty soda cans surrounding my desk. My husband calls them “dead soldiers,” lol.



7. If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any book, any series, new or old)

Well, since I just finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I’m going to say Karou, the heroine from that series. She’s smart, tough, and an artist to boot. And there’s a gorgeous, swoony angel who’s in love with her. :D (Helloooooo, Akiva.)








Julie's Newest Release:

The Iron Knight:
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


About the Author:

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.

Find Julie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (77)

This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Books I read last week:
Ugh...this was NOT a good reading week for me.



The book I’m reading now:
The Kure:
Forbidden by law and denounced as an abomination by the church, the Kure has been hidden for centuries...

John Tyler has never met Sarah Sheridan, but he knows he must find her, and somehow convince her that she is the key to unlocking the power of an ancient ritual that will rid his body of a rare and ravaging disease.

But as cure quickly becomes curse, John realizes the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper, and he discovers, too late, that the unholy text has unleashed a dark power that is driving him to consider the unthinkable.

Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.


Books that spark my interest this week:
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

In My Mailbox (82)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Death Magic by Eileen Wilks

On My Wishlist (77)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - a linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

Love You More by Lisa Gardner:

One question, a split-second decision, and Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter?

AND HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO . . .

As the homicide investigation ratchets into a frantic statewide search for a missing child, D. D. Warren must partner with former lover Bobby Dodge to break through the blue wall of police brotherhood, seeking to understand the inner workings of a trooper’s mind while also unearthing family secrets. Would a trained police officer truly shoot her own husband? And would a mother harm her own child?

. . . TO SAVE HER?

For Tessa Leoni, the worst has not yet happened. She is walking a tightrope, with nowhere to turn, no one to trust, as the clock ticks down to a terrifying deadline. She has one goal in sight, and she will use every ounce of her training, every trick at her disposal, to do what must be done. No sacrifice is too great, no action unthinkable. A mother knows who she loves. And all others will be made to pay.



Lonestar Sanctuary by Colleen Coble:
In the quiet safety of the Bluebird Ranch, old promises resurface and unexpected love brings new hope.

Though tragedy has wrecked her life, Allie Siders holds on to the hope that her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, will speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about now is their safety. She must sever all ties and abandon life as she knows it. She heads to the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas hill country, and to the only person who can help them.

The ranch is a sanctuary for abused horses, and also for troubled youths: the perfect place for Betsy to grow and recover. Ranch owner Elijah DeAngelo eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey--the ranch foreman and DeAngelo's right hand man--hasn't decided to let his guard down . . . yet.

Promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to escape danger. Will they discover love along the way?



Black Wings by Christina Henry:
As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

Dutton's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

For music-lovers, the must-have gift:

I Want My MTV: The Uncensored History of the Music Video Revolution by Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum

This is The Book of MTV. With rave reviews from critics and readers alike, I WANT MY MTV is an obscenely fun look back at the glory days—when MTV actually aired music videos and a channel that almost didn't get off the ground revolutionized music and pop culture forever. With more than 400 interviews from pop stars, musicians, VJs, directors, and execs, everyone has a story to tell—about each other, the network, and the idea that started it all.

The jokester:

That is All by John Hodgman

Forget Wikipedia, almanacs, and encyclopedias. For complete world knowledge, look no further than John Hodgman’s third and final foray into the genre of completely falsified true facts: THAT IS ALL. Hodgman, resident Daily Show expert, former-PC, and New York Times bestselling author of The Areas of My Expertise and More Information Than you Require, has now taken to the simpler life of a humble DERANGED MILLIONAIRE. This handy book contains lots of useful information on surviving the coming global superpocalypse, but also embraces the subjects of wine and sports, taboos of sea travel, helpful foreign phrases besides “let’s have a liquor party,” and $999,999 ideas, among other things.

Shatner Rules by William Shatner

The gift for the Trekkie in your life.

Who better to take advice from than a man whose career has spanned decades, whose fans are so fervent one even stole all of his underwear from his hotel room, and who proves that everything is better with age? William Shatner is at his most hilarious—and candid—in SHATNER RULES, as he shares stories from his oftentimes unbelievable life and successful career.

The armchair explorer:

Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams

He's no Indiana Jones, but National Geographic writer and native New Yorker Mark Adams had his own real-life Indy moments after deciding to trace the original trail of Hiram Bingham—the real-life inspiration for the character made famous by Harrison Ford. Adam’s New York Times bestselling narrative is a hilarious and, at times, harrowing, account of his voyage through the dense jungle and mountainous terrain of Peru, along with an Aussie guide who walked the trail barefoot—twice.

The thrill-seeker:

The Devil’s Elixir by Raymond Khoury

In this cinematic and action-packed thriller from New York Times bestselling author Raymond Khoury—most known for his run-away debut The Last Templar—Sean Reilly and Tess Chaykin chase the dangerous and ruthless drug lord Raoul Navarro. Having synthesized a mysterious elixir that dates back to 1700s Mexico, Navarro is hell-bent on mass-distributing the drug that “will make meth seem as boring as aspirin.” It’s a race against the clock to stop him from releasing THE DEVIL’S ELIXIR and destabilizing the modern world.

Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag

Oak Knoll, California, is the place where people move to raise their children, far from the pressures and dangers of the big city. But small-town life isn’t as lovely as it appears. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag comes DOWN THE DARKEST ROAD, which follows a mother desperate for justice after her sixteen-year-old daughter goes missing. Lauren knows the man who killed her—even if the police and legal system won’t listen—and will stop at nothing to see him dead.