It’s that time of year, faithful reader – and let me pause to say how much I appreciate you…even if no one else reads my silliness, I take comfort in the fact that the two of us do – time to list my favorite reads of 2011. These are books I read and that were published in 2011, to clarify. My list ended up looking a little different this year – I had a four-way tie for favorite. Without further ado:

My Top Ten for 2011

1. What I Did for a Duke – There was so much buzz about this that I had to pick it up, even though I was behind in the series. I am so glad I did! I can’t even explain why it was SO good. But it was my favorite historical romance of the year.

1. Kiss of Snow – This was the story fans of the Psy/Changling series have been waiting for Hawke and Sienna’s story since they first met and I was very happy with their book. My favorite paranormal book of the year.

1. Yours to Keep – I love the Kowalskis! Read this book and you will never look at Post-its the same way again. My favorite contemporary romance of the year.

1. Dragon Bound – The first book of the best series I’ve read lately. I might have liked Serpent’s Kiss a bit more but this book established the world and set up everything that follows. Since I already listed a favorite paranormal book, this is my favorite fantasy book of the year.

5. Serpent’s Kiss – Rune! Rune Rune Rune!! An excellent hero and an excellent book. Between Dragon Bound and this one, it was hard to decide which book I liked better and I thought Rune and Carling were a more even match than Dragos and Pia so I enjoyed reading about their relationship a bit more. Still, Dragon Bound was the first and a funner read (yeah, yeah…I used the word “funner”. So?!)

6. ShadowFever – Whether it ended the way you wanted or not, it was epic. EPIC!

7. Heart of Steel – Such a fun, swashbuckling read! So entertaining! Pirates! Zombies! Airships! If you haven’t read any of the Iron Seas books, you make me sad.

8. Winning the Wallflower – Even though this is a novella, I enjoyed it so much! More than the full-length book book that spun out of it, even.

9. To Love a Thief – If you like My Fair Lady-ish storylines, check this book out.

10. Silk is for Seduction – It was hard to round out my top ten but how could I go wrong with Loretta Chase?

11. A Lot Like Love – Honorary mention for this one. When I looked back at my list to find books I would recommend to anyone, this one popped out.

A bonus – biggest disappointment (no, I still haven’t let it go): Breaking the Rules. I know, I’m bitter…it’s my own fault for having high hopes.

So, there you go, my faves for last year. I already have read some good ones for this year – you’ll hear about those soon enough – and hear rumors of more coming soon. Yay!

What were some of your favorites of 2011? Do you agree with mine or are you sitting there shaking your head at your computer?

C2’s review of Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Steampunk Romance published by Berkley 1 Nov 11

In the mood for a book with an unapologetically kick-ass heroine? One who doesn’t even pretend she needs a big, strong man to take care of her? What if her hero totally digs that about her and doesn’t want to change her? Intrigued??

In Meljean Brook’s latest installment in her Iron Seas series, Lady Corsair (aka Yasmeen) steps onto the main stage. She had a prominent supporting role in The Iron Duke and events that occur in that book play a very important role in Heart of Steel.

The last time Lady Corsair saw Archimedes Fox, she dropped him into the seas around Venice – and zombies were closing in! I mean, what’s a captain to do when a passenger tries to take control of her air ship? So imagine her surprise when he pops back into her life several months later? Well, kidnaps her off the street several months later…

Archimedes Fox is an adventurer – think about a Regency rake version of Indiana Jones.  In fact, his adventures are chronicled in very popular stories written by his sister.  Archimedes wants Yasmeen – he wants to seduce her, he wants to fall in love, and he wants to experience heartbreak – and he figures she is just the lady for the job to help him experience all those feelings.  She doesn’t trust men and usually uses them briefly, if she’s interested, and tosses them aside before they get close enough to betray her.  He isn’t willing to have a quick fling and be tossed aside, though. He wants to know her and is willing to earn her trust – as much as she is able to give.

Before the seduction can really begin, Yasmeen and Archimedes are swept up in a treasure hunt that is entwined with political intrigue.  And it brings up a lot of things from both of their pasts that continue to affect them.

That’s the thing about these characters – they are adults and behave as such.  They both are aware of the issues, good and bad, that have shaped their lives and know having any sort of real relationship won’t be easy. Sometimes, though, you can’t help yourself.  And once they decide to trust each other (no small thing for these two), they trust each other.  And stand together against all sorts of enemies.

If you want a story filled with adventure and intrigue and treasure hunts, with murder and mayhem and machinery, with ZOMBIES! – this is the book for you. The world Ms. Brook has built is fascinating and rich and filled with interesting characters. If you like steampunk and haven’t already started reading this series – go to the bookstore of your choice immediately. If you’ve never tried steampunk but love a good story, see above. You should try this series.

Does this book stand alone? No. Events in The Iron Duke set up this story – and besides that, it is a fabulous book. My number one read for last year! And the novella that started the series was my number two read for last year! That should tell you something, faithful reader. Sometimes the hype is true.

Grade: A+

Summary:

As the mercenary captain of the Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.

Treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox isn’t interested in the Lady Corsair — he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she’s no easy conquest.

When da Vinci’s sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco — and straight into their enemy’s hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart…

Read an excerpt. (scroll down)

Other books in the series:

Are you tired of top ten lists, faithful reader? I hope not because here’s mine.

10. Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch – what could be better than sailing the South Pacific, encountering natives, fascinating wildlife and pirates? If your ship’s captain is smoking hot, of course. Read my review HERE.

9. Pleasures of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole – an very good entry into a consistently excellent series.

8. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale – soooo nice to see Ms. Kinsale back and full of humor.

7. Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis – I love Ms. Shalvis’ baseball series and hope for more books soon. Please? Pretty please??

6. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas – the end of the Hathaway series. I’ve always had a soft spot for Beatrix and was very pleased with her book. Also, I’m a sucker for books with letter writing.

5. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon – the first story in her Chronicles of Nick series. I’m not usually a YA reader but I was intrigued enough by hints of this one to pick it up. So good! And she seems to be correcting/re-booting some errors in the main DH series, maybe. We shall see.

4. Play of Passion by Nalini Singh – one of my favorites of the series and certainly my favorite of recent entries. Plus we get to see bits of Hawke and Sienna. Yay!

3. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey – are you looking for an excellent straight-up contemporary? Look no further! And the sequel is very good, too.

2. Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook – so it’s a novella. And I was skeptical, even after seeing the raves. Why would I put a novella I was unsure about picking up on my “Best of” list? Because it’s awesome! It gives us our first glimpse into Ms. Brook’s Iron Seas series which leads me to…

NUMBER 1!! The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook – I don’t have words for how excellent this book is. It defies description – at least, a description that properly conveys it’s awesomeness. All I can say is READ IT.

Now for some books I’m looking forward to in 2011 (in release order, as things stand now):

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – yes, I know several people have already read this one but I haven’t. My copy is pre-ordered though. Why? It’s Teddy’s book! It seems like I’ve been waiting for his story forever.

ShadowFever by Karen Marie Moning – why this one? Barrons! And the wait is almost over. Yay!

A Lot Like Love by Julie James – I have enjoyed all of Ms. James’ books so far and expect this one to continue that trend.

Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann – do you need to ask why? One word: Izzy Izzy Izzy! (What? It’s one word…three times.)

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson (beware the Flash!) – her last few books have been hit-or-miss for me so I’m hoping this one will be a hit. Sorry for the lack of cover. Our friends over at the Book Binge have it posted, though.

There are many more, of course, but those are the ones that are coming up soonish.

Agree? Disagree? What are you looking forward to?

Gwen’s review of The Iron Duke (A Novel of the Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook
Steampunk romance released by Berkley Trade 5 Oct 10

Well, hello there.  Miss me?  That’s correct.  I haven’t fallen off the face of the planet, and, contrary to popular rumor (Sybil), neither have I been committed to the local booby-hatchery.  I’ve just been keeping a low profile, trying to reassemble my life after some pretty significant changes (more on that later).  Now on to the reason I’m here – to tell you about Meljean’s latest fantasy romance set in a cool steampunk world, The Iron Duke.

Meljean Brook started this world in a story called “Here There Be Monsters” in the Burning Up anthology.  If you haven’t read the story first, you’ll be okay and shouldn’t get too lost in the details.  But I’d read it – it’s a good story that I’ll review another time.

For those of you who are saying “what the hell is steampunk?”, here’s a quick definition from Wikipedia:

Steampunk is a sub-genre of…  speculative fiction that… involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them…  Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of “the path not taken” for such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or such digital mechanical computers as Charles Babbage’s Analytical engine.

Brook’s world is not so much steampunk dystopia as it is alternative and slightly grungy and full of wicked cool machines and automatons. Oh, don’t forget hawt hawt hawt men and the beautiful, capable women who love them.  If you’re not a huge steampunk fan, I think you’ll be okay with this book.  Steampunk is used as a tool to expand the possibilities, creating surprising situations and solutions, not as a character in itself (thank goodness).

As per usual, I won’t spend time summarizing the plot because the book’s blurb does a dandy job of that.  Instead, I’ll focus on the author’s craft and the flow and feel of the book.

Whenever I read one of Meljean Brook’s novels, I bring my big girl panties.  She doesn’t coddle her readers. You need to keep up – the pace is quick, and she frequently leaves emotions and motivations unsaid.  The reader is often left to draw their own conclusions and to interpret why a character is doing what he/she is doing. We aren’t hammered over and over again with the why or how.  This can be refreshing but it can also be frustrating if the you aren’t tuned into the characters, or have skimmed more than a paragraph or two.

No matter the challenges, this is a very satisfying story. Brook develops a heroine in Mina who is truly heroic and very human.  The love story between Mina and the hero, Rhys, is touching because of all the challenges these two overcome.  We’re left really cheering for them when the plot resolves itself.

The secondary characters are all a lot of fun and add quite a bit of satisfying roundness to the story.  There is an oblique mention of the main characters from the first short story but lots of the secondary are major parts of this new book.  The worldbuilding is incredibly detailed but not unwieldy – just enough to make it fun.

If you’re ready for a change of pace and want to visit an alternative universe that is by turns familiar and bizarre, and want a good dose of romance and sensuality, then this is the book for you.  If you’re a Meljean fan, you really gotta read this.

Grade: A

Summary:

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power — and fear — of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

Mina can’t afford his interest, however. Horde blood runs through her veins, and despite the nanotech enhancing her body, she barely scratches out a living in London society. Becoming Rhys’s lover would destroy both her career and her family, yet the investigation prevents her from avoiding him…and the Iron Duke’s ruthless pursuit makes him difficult to resist.

But when Mina uncovers the victim’s identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans — and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Must Love Hellhounds by Andrews, Brook, Harris, and Singh
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Trade 1 Sep 09

I don’t read anthologies very often, but once in a while they’re a nice change of pace. I figured I’d love this one because after reading Lori Devoti’s hellhounds series, I fell in love with these evil but lovable dogs. I have to say that I was more disappointed than happy with the majority of the novellas in this anthology. I’ve only read one out of the four authors, Nalini Singh, and she is the standout of the group. The other three don’t even come close to her stellar story.

Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews

I do have the Magic series in my TBR pile, just waiting for me to get to it. The first part of this story didn’t do much to make me want to move the series higher in the pile, but that changed with the second half. Raphael, a werehyena, is full of charm but is as lethal as any other paranormal creature when pushed. He’s been in love with Andrea for quite a while, though she doesn’t know it. They grew up together, he’s like a brother to her, or so he thinks. Andrea’s just trying to get along in the world while keeping her inner self a secret. She doesn’t want to lose the life she’s mapped out so far just because of a little cross breeding in her background.

Trying to locate Raphael’s stepfather’s shade/soul when it’s stolen after his death, they start their investigation and eventually come upon a house guarded by a huge, very ugly and evil hellhound who takes his guard-dog duties seriously. The action during their journey is hair-raising, especially when battling with said hellhound. They come across a variety of different paranormal creatures that helps their trek along and keeps the story interesting. And their eventual tryst is quite steamy, and Raphael’s confession to Andrea is a highlight of the whole thing.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Kate is on medical leave and Andrea is sitting in her office. Everything is going well, until a giant hell dog escapes the Underworld and Raphael, the smoking-hot and very persistent werehyena, asks Andrea to help him track down…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Blind Spot by Meljean Brook

This is my second favorite story of the anthology. Ms. Brook gives a reader something different and that makes reading it so much more fun. What I found most interesting and different is the fact that Geoffrey is blind due to an ancient curse that has tainted his family blood — but he can see through other people’s eyes. I perked up even more when that little tidbit came along. Maggie works for Geoff’s uncle, a very old and dangerous vampire, and has been sent to help rescue Geoff’s sister who has been taken hostage for some unknown reason. With her is Sir Pup, a fun-loving but also dangerous hellhound. He plays guide dog and guard dog with equal aplomb.

I really enjoy Ms. Brook’s writing, her characters are perfect, and she gives a story that moves at just the right pace and with twists and turns where you least expect them. I will be moving this series to the top of the TBR pile.

Grade: B+

Summary:

The job was simple: find her boss’s niece, bring her home safely, and hand out a whole lot of pain to whoever had abducted her. But Maggie hadn’t counted on her boss’s nephew, the hellhound who loved to make her life difficult, or her own past rearing its complicated and ugly head.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

The Britlingens Go to Hell by Charlaine Harris

This novella is the disappointment of the bunch. Simply, I was bored the entire way. The idea of the Britlingen Collective is interesting, but this story just didn’t live up to the potential. Two of the Collective’s warriors, Clovache and Batanya, are chosen to  head to hell with a client who needs something found there. So all we get is the danger they go through as they journey through the halls of hell toward their end goal, all of which is not that interesting; a client who is not upfront with them, thus leaving them in more danger; slugs leaving slime on the ground; and at this point I don’t even remember the hellhound involved. And only a slight hint at romance.

Not a very good introduction for a reader who has a good majority of Ms. Harris’ books in the TBR mountain.

Grade: D-

Summary:

A pair of warriors, Clovache and Batanya, take on the task of safeguarding a thief, not realizing they’d be going to Hell in pursuit of Lucifer’s favorite toy and along the way, encounter some very interesting travelers.

No excerpt found.

Other books in this series:

Angels’ Judgment by Nalini Singh

I have yet to read the first book in this series, Angel’s Blood, but after reading this novella I’m now salivating to get to it.  That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I should have known I’d love this story just because it’s Nalini Singh.

Sara is being considered to take over as Guild Director who reports to the Cadre of Ten, archangels who rule the world. She enjoys her current job as a vampire hunter, returning rogues to their masters. But she knows Simon, the current director, is weary after so many years and wishes to retire. She’s on one last mission before she has to make her decision.

Hunting down the villain killing vampires is that mission, and Simon sends Deacon, The Slayer, along to help but also to protect Sara if need be, because he knows the archangels will test her. As they work together, an attraction between them grows, and with Deacon’s secretiveness and sexiness, I can certainly see why. Their fling, which Sara believes is all they can have – how can she date such a dangerous and secretive man once she becomes director? – is hot and steamy and the best parts of the story. I didn’t care about the hellhound – which is owned by one of the suspects in the killings – I just wanted more of these two together.

Now that I have some of the background of the series down, it’s time to start Angel’s Blood. And I know I will like it just as much.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Vampire trackers Sara and Deacon must discover who is murdering vampires; one suspect owns a hellhound…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Overall Grade: B

Shannon C.’s review of Demon Bound (The Guardians, Book 7) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released by Berkley 4 Nov 08

I emailed Meljean asking for an e-arc of Demon Bound before its release date, which was, for those of you paying attention, in November. She graciously sent me the book and then I promptly… didn’t read it. I realize that the book release date is not merely a friendly suggestion when presented with an ARC, and Ms. Brook doubtless would have appreciated the positive review at the actual, y’know, release date. So if she’s reading this, she has my permission to tell Sybil to beat me, whip me, and make me write bad checks. Because I loved this book.

I honestly wasn’t sure that Alice would work for me as a heroine. Creepy Victorian woman with a gift for skulking and a penchant for spiders who’s supposed to bring the heart of the leader of the Guardians to a demon? I wasn’t interested. I should have trusted Ms. Brook’s storytelling better than that, because eventually I came to love Alice. She’ll never be a Lilith or a Savi, but we can’t all be that flavor of kick-ass. And I think that drawing distinct characters is something Ms. Brook does well. I can tell the difference between Charlie and Lilith and Alice in their dialogue from book to book, same with Jake and Ethan and Colin.

Jake, our Vietnam war soldier turned novice guardian, is very compelling as well. I loved that he was kind of an idiot, and had to grow up over the course of the story. I love that his relationship with Alice makes him a better person, and not because Alice is so gosh darn pure that he can’t help himself. No, it all flows together naturally.

I wouldn’t recommend reading this latest entry in the Guardians series if you’re not a little bit familliar with the world. Yet again, Ms. Brook shoves the reader into the plot and expects us to keep up. And the plot here is intricate and byzantine enough to satisfy me.

There were a few things that I noticed that drew me out of the story a bit. The first is subjective, and likely won’t matter to anyone else. But Jake’s Kansas is straight out of the Wizard of Oz movie. I promise, the entire state does consist of other things beyond flat boring wheat fields. And sometimes I find the way Ms. Brook introduces future characters a tad jarring. They’re just kind of there, with no prelude or mention of them at any time previously.

The Guardians series is meaty paranormal romance at its best. It’s the epitome of what the genre can be but so often isn’t, and I highly recommend readers start at the beginning, with Demon Angel [Ed.: or the short story in Hot Spell.] and fall in love with this world as much as I have.

Grade: A-
Read other reviews of books in this series by clicking on its tag.

Summary:
Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow – a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But can they survive when fear and secrets threaten not just their lives and souls, but the fate of the universe?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series, in reading order:

Gwen’s review of Demon Bound (The Guardians, Book 7) by Meljean Brook
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Berkley 4 Nov 08

I am a gigantic fan of Meljean’s writing.  I find it to be quick, witty, complex, and always telling a really good story.  The Guardians series is all of that and more.  This is a very complex world – one full of factions within factions, in-fighting, not-so-good good guys, sympathetic bad guys, and passion. 

As I probably should have expected, nothing was straight-forward or easy in Demon Bound.  There were many times I just had to trust in the author to get me thru a particularly complex scene, a bit of complicated dialog, or seemingly labyrinthine character motivation. I was never disappointed by Brook – she always dragged me out the other side having enjoyed the torture – though I do admit to not liking this entry as well as the other Guardians novels and stories I’ve read.  I was just a bit bowled over by how complex much of the book was – sometimes it’s nice to see why something is happening before you get to the very end of a scene.  I like to make at least part of the trip with a characters.

I never fully understood Alice’s, the heroine’s, “jerky movements” – never could picture them in my mind or why they would appear creepy.  I blame this lack on me – not the author.  I also wasn’t sure I fully believed the love affair resolving the way it did, though it was sweet at the end; there just seemed like too much baggage for Alice to overcome so quickly.  Jake’s (the hero and novice Guardian) inability to control his teleporting is a refreshingly human frailty in an otherwise supernatural world.   I also really enjoyed Jake’s encounter with this human family – it was really quite lovely.  He was my favorite character, but that may have to do more with the creep factor of spiders, etc., than anything.

I liked Demon Bound, but almost gave it a C because of the complexity of the writing.  However, it’s a much better book than a C.  The story arcs are complex but complete.  Some of the characters are deliciously Machiavellian – I cannot wait to see what Brook does with the Doyen, Michael.  Now there’s a character I could sink some fangs into.  Yum!

I recommend this book to fans of the series.  If you haven’t read any of the previous Guardians novels, I don’t recommend starting with this one unless you’ve first read Brook’s Guardians Primer found here (something I highly recommend). I also highly recommend you snapping up the mass market paperback release of Wild Thing, coming January 2009 (see link in the below covers) – those are some excellent stories, including a terrific Guardians one.

Grade: B

Read reviews and info about this and other books in The Guardians series by following its tag.

Summary:

Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow-a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But can they survive when fear and secrets threaten not just their lives and souls, but the fate of the universe?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series (links to mass market paperback releases where available):

Devon’s review of First Blood by Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green, and Meljean Brook
Paranormal Anthology released by Berkley 05 August 2008

I’m pretty well-read in the Vampire Romance subgenre. That’s what got me reading romance again after a long hiatus. Blog title referenced it and all. It was kind of funny to find myself reading a vamp anthology with so many new to me authors. I’m a Meljean Brook fangirl, but have never read Sizemore or Green, and only one McCarthy novel. While I didn’t love all the entries, they made me curious to check out the authors I was unfamiliar with, so that’s a good thing.

Cave Canem by Susan Sizemore

This novella is part of her “Laws of the Blood” series which I have never read. I think fans of the series will enjoy it most, because some of the concepts were hard to follow. There were characters that were obviously recurring, and significant to the alternate universe of these books. I felt like I was trying to connect the dots and fill in blanks as I went along. There was also a bit too much thrown in. Back story, plot, multiple characters and subplots…it all felt rushed. The primary romance was particularly rushed and unconvincing. I found Dan and Tess’ first sexual encounter rather creepy actually. This was my least favorite story of the bunch, but my curiosity about this “world” was piqued enough to look at the author website.

Grade: C-

Summary:

Susan Sizemore returns to the universe of her Laws of the Blood novels with a sizzling story of the relationship between a vampire enforcer and a werewolf.

No excerpt available.

Russian Roulette by Erin McCarthy

I believe this story is set in the same universe as the “Vegas Vampires” series. I’ve never read any of these books, and I think this might be a another case where those who follow the series will enjoy it most. The heroine, Sasha must have appeared in another book, where her journey from abused trophy wife of an evil vampire to vampire slayer to vampire is more fully explained. I didn’t quite get the timeline on that one. Sasha is rescued from a nasty kidnapping by vampire Alistair. In order to protect her, Alistair moves her in with him and employs her in his bar. The prickly Sasha has had a strange and difficult life, and reading about how she learns to adjust and let her defenses down was the best part of the story. Alistair was bland, as was their romance, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic. An okay story.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Erin McCarthy’s Sasha Checkikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past-and hungry for passion.

No excerpt available.

Double the Bite by Chris Marie Green

Another story related to a series I’ve never read (the Vampire Babylon series). Set against the glittering, decadent backdrop of 1970’s Studio 54, Double the Bite features twin vampires who take an interest in a Texas sheriff, in New York to investigate his brother’s murder. The writing was very atmospheric, capturing the setting well. The vampires are also disturbing, dangerous and creepy, while still being sympathetic. I liked that they weren’t neutered. Ginny, the conflicted one, was very interesting, as was her relationship with her increasingly unbalanced sister Geneva. However the object of Ginny’s attention and later, affection, Ben Tyree, was not all that interesting. Their romance seemed rushed. While I enjoyed the way the story was told, the development of the romance was choppy and unconvincing. Overall, it was an unusual, interesting story that didn’t quite do it for me.

Grade: C

Summary:

Set in the Vampire Babylon world, Chris Marie Green’s story puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey.

Read an excerpt.

Thicker Than Blood by Meljean Brook

Brook is the author whose work I’m most familiar with, and this entry is further evidence that she is a go-to for well developed characters and romance. This one is not difficult for a new reader to follow, and makes for a good introduction to the Guardians series. It is set in Philadelphia rather than the San Francisco setting we’ve seen before, and it focuses on the city’s vampires, who haven’t been privy to the SF events. It is a story of lovers reunited. After medical resident Annie Gallagher was turned into a vampire she cut ties with her human friends and family. While searching for the young human ward of some friends, Annie comes upon Jack Harrington, the FBI agent she had fallen in love with just before she “died”. Jack is astonished to see the woman he had loved and mourned. Jack’s investigative skills and ability to go out in the daytime can help Annie, and the spark between them hasn’t died, but how can a human and vampire make it work? Meljean Brook writes some of the best characters around: strong, but flawed, and lightened with a sense of humor. And the lovably bitchy Lilith is around. Another solid romance from Meljean Brook.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Annie Gallagher is the only survivor of a demon attack that exterminated every other vampire in her city. But she can’t leave before she finds Cricket, a young human girl whose vampire guardians have been killed. Annie needs help, but the rules of her kind demand that she operate in secrecy.

And when help comes, it’s from the one man she never expected…

Meljean Brook’s vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved-and had to give up- when she was transformed.

Read an excerpt.

This anthology was a mixed bag, but fans of the various authors should check it out.
Overall Grade: C+

Summary:

Four all-new stories of forbidden passion and dark desire.

You never forget your first blood…

Gwen’s review of First Blood by Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green, and Meljean Brook
Contemporary paranormal romance anthology released by Berkley 5 Aug 08

This anthology was very entertaining and the stories were a great way to pass some quick time.  Each story had a vampire in it – some used the character type more successfully than others, but all were entertaining at some level.  All four stories had some nice romance, a little bit of action, and a couple even made me go “awwww!” and mist up a bit.  Read on to see which had me reaching for a hanky and which had me scratching my head… 

Cave Canem by Susan Sizemore
(60-pages)

She’s a young werewolf and an “enforcer” of sorts for hellhounds who spiral out of control.  At least I think she is – that’s never quite clear to me, but that may be because I don’t follow the Laws of the Blood series. He’s an ancient vamp who raises hellhounds and is beguiled by her courage and beauty.  There’s magic, spells, demons, and assorted other creatures in this world.  It was all very interesting but a little confusing to me.  It’s a rather complex world for such a short story – I think about few more pages would have served it well for background and more character development.  As it was, the story ends abruptly and I never did understand if there was a romance between Dan and Tess or even if Dan and Tess were the story’s hero and heroine (there were quite a few characters to wade thru).

Grade:  C-

Summary:

Susan Sizemore returns to the universe of her Laws of the Blood novels with a sizzling story of the relationship between a vampire enforcer and a werewolf.

No excerpt available.

Russian Roulette by Erin McCarthy
(72 pages)

She’s a new vampire turned against her will and recently sold by her best friend to an enemy.  He’s a 400-year old vamp who has “been there and done that” a few times.  He is now content to live his life simply, with as few “attachments” as possible, including personal belongings and women.  This was a good story with engrossing characters.  However, I never did understand the purpose of them being vampires – the paranormal didn’t really add much to the story and seemed to only muck it up a couple of times.  It almost would have been better if there hadn’t been any paranormal elements.  The ending was a bit confusing – I didn’t understand why Cassandra (the enemy and ex-wife of the hero) suddenly felt Sasha “wasn’t worth it”.  It ruined the story for me.

Grade: C

Summary:

Erin McCarthy’s Sasha Checkikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past-and hungry for passion.

No excerpt available.

Double the Bite by Chris Marie Green
(72 pages)

She’s an identical twin, “turned” in the 1950′s with her sister.  He’s a human who arrives in the late 1970′s New York City (Studio 54, cocaine, assorted excesses), looking for his brother’s killer.  We’re sent on this journey where she betrays her sister, he discovers some truths about his “paragon” of a brother, and they fall in love.  This was a very gothic story, and very traditionally vampiric (crucifixes, sunlight, etc.). The ending was unexpected, yet touching. This is a new-to-me author and, while I’m not a big gothic fan, this was a unique romance.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Set in the Vampire Babylon world, Chris Marie Green’s story puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey.

Read an excerpt.

Thicker Than Blood by Meljean Brook
(105 pages)

She’s a relatively “new” vampire enforcer who is still getting used to the concept and her hungers.  He’s a human who grieved for her for six years and cannot believe she’s back in his life.  They come together in a stressful situation and are startled into living their lives once again.  This was just a terrific story.  The paranormal elements are integral to the story and being a vampire is key to character motivation.  I loved the hero and his steadfast love for the heroine – Meljean’s heroes are so drool-worthy.  Jack made me very misty on several occasions with his tender humor.  The suspense elements are fun, and the other characters help move the story along.  This was romantic vampire love story with a terrific ending.  I want to read more with these two characters and wish they had more than the 100-odd pages they got in this anth.

Grade: A

Summary:

Annie Gallagher is the only survivor of a demon attack that exterminated every other vampire in her city. But she can’t leave before she finds Cricket, a young human girl whose vampire guardians have been killed. Annie needs help, but the rules of her kind demand that she operate in secrecy.

And when help comes, it’s from the one man she never expected…

Meljean Brook’s vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved-and had to give up- when she was transformed.

Read an excerpt.

While I didn’t necessarily care for all of the stories, I was impressed with the quality of the writing. Perhaps if I were more familiar with the world of a couple of them I’d have enjoyed the stories more. I think that’s a risk with a paranormal anthology – authors may get some new readers, but they also risk confusing folks if the world is complex.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for some quick vampire love stories or readers of any of these authors.  And if you’ve never read Meljean Brook’s Guardians series, I recommend testing the water with this story.  Just terrific.

Overall Grade: B

Summary:

Four all-new stories of forbidden passion and dark desire.

You never forget your first blood…

Lawson’s review of Demon Bound (Guardians, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Nov 08

I really, really need to get the anthologies that have the short stories that go along with the Guardians series. Not that reading the books isn’t enough, but Brook’s world is amazing and any chance to step into it is a memorable reading experience. This installment in the Guardians series follows Jake Hawkins, who had a secondary role in Demon Night, gets his story in this one. There also some major revelations about the Guardian history and Michael, which if I talk about in depth would just spoil everything. So I won’t. 

Jake starts off the story teleporting into an obscure temple in Tunisia finding Alice Grey, Guardian unofficial librarian who is called the Black Widow. Alice is excavating the temple in hopes that it will give her clues on how to help get her out of a bargain with a demon named Teqon. While there, Jake helps Alice with some of the work, some demons arrive looking for Alice, to give her a message from Teqon. Both Alice and Jake fight off the demons and they leave the temple.

Jake seeks some answers about Alice and learns of her bargain with Teqon and decides to help her, whether to save Alice by getting her out of her bargain or fulfilling it by getting Michael’s heart and giving it to Teqon. In helping Alice, Jake teleports her to new sites where other temples have appeared. The temples don’t always stay visible, as they are spellbound so that humans would not be able to find them.

As Alice and Jake discover more from the temples, Jake starts to control his Gift of teleportation a bit more and he sees Alice as more than the Black Widow, who is known more for her spiders and the creepy way she likes to scare the novice Guardians. Alice is forced to seek help for her problem with the bargain she made, which makes her have relationships with the people around her, and not just her spiders. Along with all that comes knowledge of things that Michael, the Doyen and head Guardian, has not told the Guardian community, from their creation, history to the present day.

Before getting to the plot, a bit about Jake and Alice. Jake I adored. He’s a smart guy, but he was caught up in in the draft and went to Vietnam. Though he didn’t do well in school, it was because he wanted more than his small town in Kansas and getting drafted wasn’t what he wanted. His tale of how he died and was transformed showed a sense of nobility, honor and caring that Hugh had as well. Jake is right next to Hugh, in my opinion, in the best heroes in the Guardian series (though remember, I haven’t read all the stories yet).

Alice at first was very prim and proper and almost cold. Her Gift is to communicate with spiders (which could be rather off putting to anyone who has any sort of fear or distaste for spiders), which does make her odd, it affects even the way she walks and moves. Because of her bargain, she’s used these things as an excuse not to get close to anyone and not let anyone know about her life. She does warm up over the course of the book, and her vulnerability, modesty and fears are replaced with her strength, knowledge and confidence in herself.

While the majority of the action in the book takes place over about two weeks, it does seem odd that Alice would drop her walls so quickly with Jake. They spend so much time together though, that it works and does make sense. Alice and Jake compliment each other well, with her Victorian style dresses that cover her from head to toe, which gives Jake lots to imagine and Jake’s vintage band t-shirts that Alice tries to decipher, thinking they’re message t-shirts. The dynamic between these two gives lots of steam and chemistry as they work together in different ways.

Unlike Demon Moon and Demon Night, Demon Bound focuses more on the history of the Guardians, rather than the present day. The prophecy of Belail is mentioned, from Demon Night, which also has to do with Alice’s bargain. What worked the best in the story was the revelation of the past. Instead of a retelling of the events, it’s continuing layers of world building in Brook’s world. Not only that, but it also expands on the idea that Heaven and Hell are in fact not so far apart, and their struggle has always been intertwined with humanity not only in the middle but an essential part not only for the souls but showing that even those Above and Below are subject to what we would think of as human nature and emotions as well.

As much fun as discussion about everything in the book would be, that would give away too many spoilers. Jake, Alice and their quest for her redemption is tied in well with the spectacular world of the Guardians and the new history revealed gives even more depth to the series.

Grade: A

Summary:

The seductive and dangerous world of the Guardians now yields a secret that threatens the soul of a woman and the fate of the universe, both DEMON BOUND.

Among the Guardians, Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow — a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. To save her soul, she agreed to deliver to Teqon the heart of the oldest and most powerful Guardian of all, or else be damned for eternity. After more than a hundred years, Teqon is calling in his debt.

Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But in aligning himself with her he never expected to fall in love. Now, their passionate flight to escape Alice’s damnable bargain is threatening both their souls. For they’re about to discover a hellish secret about the Guardians — something that will change their universe forever.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

A favorite duckie, author, and all around good egg (snort), Meljean Brook, shares her cupidness and talks about romance in movies.   Read on – it’s a hoot.  And don’t forget to catch her latest release, Demon Night (The Guardians, Book 5) (Berkley, 5 Feb 08).

Around Valentine’s Day, I begin seeing a lot of posts about favorite romantic movies. Given that the romance genre is my favorite genre, it may seem odd that my least favorite type of movie is a romance.

Oh, there are exceptions, of course. Pride and Prejudice (just about any version), The Philadelphia Story, The Princess Bride, and … um …

Okay, I’m sure there are more, but not many. Because when it comes to movies, I want explosions. I want martial arts and gunfights and car chases and magic. I want dinosaurs and spaceships. And my favorites are usually the movies where the romance is like a treat on the side or the whipped cream on top. They aren’t always well-developed or healthy, but they sure taste good.

So here are my favorite movies that include a romance … and usually something blows up. (The title links to the trailer on YouTube — the other links are to scenes.)

• THE FIFTH ELEMENT: Leeloo and Corbin.
  Bruce Willis as a futuristic superagent? Milla Jovovich as the Supreme Being who saves the universe from a giant evil sphere that makes everyone’s foreheads bleed black oil? The Supreme Being who decides the world is worth saving because of love? Who has the BEST background music as she’s kicking ass (a blue alien. See also: DEMON NIGHT.) Pure. Win.
• THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Frodo and Samwise.
  What, you thought I was going to say Aragorn and Arwen? As pretty as those two are, it’s the deep love between the two hobbits that always gets me. And suuuuuuuure they’re ‘just friends’. I’m sorry — a journey like that, you start snuggling up to each other to stay warm…and before you know it, there’s love in the air. [Ed.: snicker]
• MR & MRS SMITH: John and Jane
  They’re supposed to kill each other. They try. They can’t go through with it. They end up in a home improvement store, fighting a bunch of assassins sent to end their lives and marriage. Somehow, they survive. And Jane kicks ass up and down this movie.
• WILLOW: Madmartigan and Sorsha.
  Sexy, young Val Kilmer dresses up as a girl. She’s a red-headed warrior woman with an evil mother. He gets hit with the dust of broken hearts, falls in love with her on sight, and calls her his sun, his moon, his starlit sky. Then he rolls down a mountain in a snowball, captures her, they fight, she gets away, he fights a troll-dragon, she kisses him. Then they get turned into pigs.
• THE ABYSS: Bud and Lindsey
  Drilling team at the bottom of the ocean. He’s the laid-back guy who can’t forget her; she’s the hard-ass, brilliant bitch who catches a glimpse of something wonderful. She drowns; he saves her by slapping, electrocuting, and screaming at her. A Navy Seal (played by the romantic lead of my next pick) goes crazy and dies when a submersible implodes. The rest of them get to meet the pink aliens.
• THE TERMINATOR: Kyle and Sarah
  He goes (naked) through time to save her life. He’s not nice about it; he’s rough and yells, but he’s loved her forever, just because of her picture. She’s frightened, but not stupid. They have sex in a motel, he gets shredded by robot shrapnel, she drives around in a Jeep, talking into a tape recorder. It’s beyond fantastic.
• THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: Han and Leia
  He’s the rogue; she’s the princess. They’re betrayed, she says she loves him, he says, “I know.” There is no end to my love of these two together.

Honorable mentions also go to X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE (because it wasn’t just a TV show), BEASTMASTER (just because), and SERENITY (even though it doesn’t have a strong romantic thread, it’s awesome — and so many couples to root for!)

So … what movies would you add?

Devon’s Review of Demon Night (The Guardians, Book 5) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released 5 Feb 08 by Berkeley Sensation

Demon Night, the fifth installment in The Guardians series (and third full length novel) features the interesting characters, complex plotting and wonderful relationship development I have quickly come to associate with Ms Brook. If you enjoy any of the above elements in your romance (and who doesn’t), I definitely recommend the story of recovering alcoholic turned bartender, Charlotte “Charlie” Newcomb, and wild west outlaw turned Guardian Angel, Ethan “Drifter” McCabe.

The hero and heroine are great, flawed yet heroic, and vivid. Ethan McCabe, a.k.a. Drifter, is a well-bred Boston boy turned outlaw, who has done a lot of good and bad in his lifetime. He is huge and gorgeous and has this “aw shucks, Ma’am” demeanor, while being tough as nails. He’s the best kind of alpha, wanting to do everything for his heroine, yet always respectful of what she wants. I just loved his quiet strength and deliberate manner of speaking.

His heroine, Charlie, is a former opera singer whose career ended when she drunkenly drove her car through a restaurant window. She works as a bartender now, a tough job for a recovering alcoholic, but that’s the kind of person she is. Charlie is a very needy person, craving love and affirmation, as well as alcohol and cigarettes, but she fights those needs by facing them head-on. I wasn’t sure if I would like such a flawed heroine, but she won me over with her strength, dignity and ability to tell tall tales.

There is crazy hot chemistry and sexual tension between Charlie and Drifter. They are instantly attracted to each other even when they’ve only heard each others’ voices. They both fall hard, but Ethan is uncomfortable with the neediness he senses in Charlie, and Charlie doesn’t want to need him. Then all sorts of other crazy crap happens. And when they finally get together, hot!

The world of the Guardians is fully developed and interesting. There are a number of characters, races, and factions to follow, and sometimes it is confusing. I did find it less so in Demon Night. Information about the world was woven in well, and I think you could read it without having read the others. There was one development (trying not to be spoilery, but it has to do with a new ability of Charlie’s) that I just didn’t get. The plot kept moving and definitely kept my interest. [Ed.: read Meljean's Guardian Primer here.]

I did feel that some of the stuff at the end was unneeded. Not to be spoilery but I feel that Charlie was kind of tormenting Ethan a bit unnecessarily. However, the final resolution was very satisfying. Sigh.

In the three novels I have read by Meljean Brook the heroes and heroines have all been very vivid, and also very different from each other, which I like. She doesn’t stick to type. Demon Night also features some great secondary characters—Old Matthew, Jake, and my favorite (weirdly) Sammael. After three books, I have quickly become a Meljean Brook fangirl. She has created an engrossing world full of real “characters.” Worth a try by any paranormal fan.

Grade: A-

From the backcover.

     Charlie Newcomb worked hard to get her life back together. But all that is shaken when she’s set upon by three vampires desperate to transform her beauty into something evil. Because Charlie is the vital link to something they want-and need. It’s Charlie’s flesh and blood sister, a medical scientist whose knowledge could be invaluable to the predators.

     But to get to her, they must first get to Charlie, now under the intimate protection of Ethan McCabe. As her Guardian, Ethan is attracted to her vulnerabilities-as well as her strengths. The closer he gets, the more protecting her becomes not just his duty, but his desire. But will it be enough to save Charlie when the demon night falls?

     Read an excerpt and TGTBTU’s exclusive excerpt here.

Read Lawson’s review here.

Other books in this series:

And read more from Devon at Is That a Stake in Your Pocket?

Lawson’s review of Demon Night (The Guardians, Book 5) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released February 5, 2008 by Berkley Sensation

The world that Meljean Brook has created is all encompassing, and Demon Night is no different. Both Demon Angel and Demon Moon were spectacular examples of a great story, with great characters in an imaginative world and how a series should be. The story of the Guardians fighting the demons and other creatures of Hell on the earth continues well with Ethan McCabe, also called Drifter, and Charlie Newcomb.

Demon Night, like Angel and Moon, deal with some history as well as the paranormal present. Though instead of England this time we have a Western. Ethan McCabe was a man of the West, a lawyer turned hunted man due to injustice against his family. After his death and training as a Guardian his Old West accent, voice and cadence haven’t changed, which he uses to sometimes sucker in those who think he’s slow. When he’s assigned to protect Charlie he falls hard.

As much as Charlie has overcome, it’s no wonder she’s pretty insecure and afraid of strong emotions. A recovering alcoholic she’s thrust into a world she doesn’t know and really doesn’t want because of the schemes of demons and vampires for her sister, who they hope and help with a blood issue. Charlie seems to handle a lot of this well, but what she doesn’t, she internalizes so that she can work out how she feels in her own time.

Ethan is a great hero, and he keeps the western feel in a modern world very well and Charlie, though insecure and sometimes annoying with it, doesn’t ever do anything TSTL and works well with Ethan in many different situations. Not to give away spoilers there was one plot device that’s part of the world Brook has built that involved Charlie that seemed forced. It felt as though it was put in more to fit with the world rather than as a valid plot device. I’m not entirely sure, but it’s not a major point to quibble over since Brook’s Guardian world is so well built, even if it’s so, it wasn’t distracting from the story, both the love story and the secondary story.

I wasn’t expecting Drifter to get his story because before he seemed like a secondary, but minor character. I’m glad he got a great story though and I’m looking foreword to the next journey into the world of the Guardians. And I hope it’s another surprise who gets their own HEA.

Grade: A-

Backcover copy:

     Charlie Newcomb worked hard to get her life back together. But all that is shaken when she’s set upon by three vampires desperate to transform her beauty into something evil. Because Charlie is the vital link to something they want — and need: Charlie’s flesh-and-blood sister, a medical scientist whose knowledge could be invaluable to the predators.

     But to get to her, they must first get to Charlie, who’s now under the intimate protection of Ethan McCabe. As her Guardian, Ethan is attracted to her vulnerabilities — as well as her strengths. The closer he gets, the more protecting her becomes not just his duty, but his desire. Will it be enough to save Charlie when the demon night falls?

     Read the excerpt and TGTBTU’s exclusive excerpt, and the Guardian World Primer.

Other books in this series:

THE PRIMER:

This primer is designed to bring readers coming into the series after the first book the background they need. However, it might be useful for current readers to refresh their memory about the story arc and players involved when a new book is released.

Please note: the primer includes SPOILERS, but in most cases, only minor ones, and only through the latest release. It might include the resolution of a novel’s conflict, but not the action that led to it…after all, reading how our heroes overcome their difficulties is where the real fun lies, and the result of their actions just icing.

Every novel will contain the background information you need to understand and enjoy that story woven into the narrative. This is simply a more straightforward presentation of that information.

This primer includes an overview of the story arc for each novel (The Story So Far); biographies of main characters, secondary characters, and villains; a

glossary; and a timeline (both the glossary and the timeline are still under construction; they will be completed soon). Scroll down to find each heading, and links to each page. I will continue to link and cross-reference as time allows.

I will update this primer just before each new release.

::giggle:: anyone want to take bets on that: “before each new release” part . Meljean is also working putting it all together in a nifty PDF. We will let you know when it goes live.

If you have never read the series go check it out. If you are lucky enough to have read teh series from the beginning, go check it out and read the excerpt for Demon Night, which comes out February 5th! If you hate demons ::looks at Bev:: go check it out. If you are over paranormal… really Go. Check. It. Out. [on Feb 5th when you get Demon Night, pick up The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne and If His Kiss Is Wicked by Jo Goodman too so if you don't agree you have some historicals to fall back on. And do come tell us if you do/don't like it!]

There are a few books that if I could put them in every readers hands and have them read them I would (see above) Meljean Brook is one of them. Try it, you can thank me later .

**Lawson’s Review of Demon Night**

Quack and ye shall receive.

Meljean Brook has agreed to give TGTBTU an exclusive excerpt from Demon Night, available February 5.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Word around blogland is that it is as awesome as Demon Angel and Demon Moon. Brace yourself fangirls, we have the first FOUR chapters!!!! It’s okay, only two weeks until you can get your hands on the rest.

If you haven’t yet been introduced to the world of The Guardians, you can start here. And you can check out her updated “Primer” that will help you get up to speed on her amazing world and awesome characters.

Enjoy the excerpt (that means click here )!

And when you are done, go check out Book Binge where Holly (our often guest reviewer) has a review up of Demon Night.

Lawson’s review is now up for Demon Night!

Congratulations to Maria!

Maria commented on this post about how normal people going over the line is scarier than horror and has won a signed copy of something from Meljean Brook’s backlist!

Thanks to everyone who commented!

Maria, be sure to email Sybil with your physical address at sybil @ tgtbtu .com (no spaces) and she will make sure you get your prize.

If you’re looking for a classic horror film for the Halloween mood, you don’t have to wait for one to play on SciFi channel, many public domain movies are available online, and you can either watch them at your computer, or download them to a mobile device.  Read on for some recos from Meljean Brook…

Again, you won’t find many modern movies in the selections (or many in color), but you will find some classics.

	DRACULA — this is the original, starring Bela Lugosi.
	NOSFERATU — this is the Max Schreck, silent-film version of DRACULA (but here he’s called Count Orlak).
	PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE – if you aren’t looking for a scare as much as a laugh, this one is your film. This cult classic, filmed by the mad Ed Wood (look up that movie, too — it’s wonderful) has possibly the worst special effects, script, plot, and acting in the history of film … but there’s also something endearing and charming about it all. Maybe because everyone threw themselves into it wholeheartedly, I don’t know.  But it’s worth a watch.
	PUPPET MASTER — This one is in color, and is a gross-out film with puppets. All good fun.
	NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD — this is George Romero’s 1968 zombie film … but it is so much more than just horror. Civil rights, Vietnam, the Cold War … take your pick, and this film can be seen as a comment on it without ever resorting to pedantry — because, dude, it’s about zombies. You can approach it just as a horror film, but it’s easy to take away more.
	CASPER, THE FRIENDLY GHOST — for the kiddies, and all of us J.R. Ward fans.

You can find more public domain movies simply by going to Google, and doing a video search with “public domain” as the search terms. Add in “horror” and you’ll get a more specific selection (but be sure to read the descriptions, as some are just fan-created movies and re-makes.)

Have a look at my other Spooktacular post for information on FREE public domain horror books and stories. Comment to either post and you’ll get a chance to win a signed copy from my backlist.

Happy Halloween!

Meljean Brook

Get your scares on without spending a dime… or leaving your chair.

Here are links to many public domain horror stories available online, and you can read them at your computer, or download them to a mobile device.  For
.

Project Gutenberg is a library of 17,000 free ebooks whose copyrights have expired. There’s a searchable database of .txt and html files, and no signup or login required.  You aren’t going to find any contemporary horror novels (don’t expect to find a Stephen King, for example) but many of the classics are there.

Here’s a sampling of my favorites…

The Raven and THE WORKS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE, Volume 2, which includes The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Tell-Tale Heart, among others.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley

DRACULA by Bram Stoker

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

FAMOUS MODERN GHOST STORIES by various authors (including A. Blackwood, E. A. Poe, A. Bierce, G. de Maupassant)

The Wendigo and FOUR WEIRD TALES by Algernon Blackwood

The Vampyre by John Polidori

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

And another huge archive of classic horror stories here (including H.P. Lovecraft, who I couldn’t find at Gutenberg).

Check out my next post (at 4pm CDT) for information on horror movies you can see on your computer for free.  That’s right.  FREE.

Comment to either post and you’ll get a chance to win a signed copy from my backlist.

Signed,
Meljean Brook
Your Horror Dealer

Demon Night by Meljean Brook

**February 5, 2008**

Charlie Newcomb worked hard to get her life back together. But all that is shaken when she’s set upon by three vampires desperate to transform her beauty into something evil. Because Charlie is the vital link to something they want — and need. It’s Charlie’s flesh and blood sister, a medical scientist whose knowledge could be invaluable to the predators.

But to get to her, they must first get to Charlie, now under the intimate protection of Ethan McCabe. As her Guardian, Ethan is attracted to her vulnerabilities — as well as her strengths. The closer he gets, the more protecting her becomes not just his duty, but his desire. But will it be enough to save Charlie when the demon night falls?

Next up from Meljean! A paranormal cowboy romance… ’tis enough to bring tears to my eyes I tell ya. WoOT! Now lets just hope she gets it in under 100000 pages. 

Chapter One

“So this cowboy walks into a bar…”

To Charlie Newcomb’s relief, a chorus of male groans drowned out the rest and her automatic please God, kill me now response died after please God. There were days she’d rather stab a cocktail umbrella through her eardrum than hear another “walked into a bar” joke.

Thanks to the group of bachelors roosting at the end of her counter in Cole’s Hard Time Bar and Grill, this had just become one of those days.

“No, wait. Wait!” Her tormentor’s voice was abnormally loud, but Charlie knew it wasn’t just the drink. He’d been obnoxious before she’d set the first reduced-calorie beer in front of him. “It’s a good one.”

“Stevens, you dumbshit, there’s no such thing as a good one,” someone said as Charlie began unloading the small dishwasher beneath the bar, and she felt an instant of hope. A possible ally existed among the assholes. “Yo, bartender lady!”

wanna read more….

Demon Moon (The Guardians, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released Berkley Sensation 5 Jun 07

Demon Moon is a new novel in Brook’s Guardian series. Colin Ames-Beaumont, a secondary character from Demon Angel and the story in the anthology Hot Spell gets his own story.

Colin is a vampire who is isolated from the rest of the vampire community due to a taint in his blood, but he does what he can to function in the real world that is in general blissfully aware vampires and otherworld creatures don’t exist. One rather dull night Colin recieves an email from Savitri Murry enroute from London to New York.

What transpires after the email, and some cute instant messaging, drags both Savi and Colin into a plot by a displaced demon, some angry vampires and evil nosferatu. Along the way Savi is changed from being human to something slightly more and she has to overcome some personal demons as well as defeat the one currently threatening her life.

I really don’t want to give too much away, so the summary is rather short on this one, but it’s a wonderful book. Savi is a mass of contradictions. She’s forgiving, abhors violence and is very loyal, but she created a card and video game based on the world of vampires, demons and Guardians. She’s got a photographic memory but didn’t finish college (she got a bachelors but that wasn’t enough for her Indian grandmother). She lives on her own and is independent, but she’s emotionally immature. She’s overly curious and due to that gets into lots of trouble.

That is until Colin. She slowly learns too many of the hard things about life from Colin and becomes mature and wonderful over the course of the story. Colin, of course, is wonderful from start to finish and he would be the first one to tell you that. But in spite of his overwhelming vanity and self-worth, he’s someone I want on my side in a battle and in my bed after the battle is done. Is that so wrong?

I grew up reading a lot of fantasy and sci-fi (The Wheel of Time ranks way up there) and this was right up my alley in that department. The world Brook creates is so rich and layered, the reader gets sucked in and can’t breathe until the last page is turned. The best parts are the ties between popular culture of the here and now in the story and the ties to the past though the evolution of Colin and how he realized his blood is tainted.

Brook also uses language and style not unlike those in a fantasy novel. Everything builds throughout the story and there’s little redundancy or distracting overbuilding of the setting. Descrpitions are realistic, moving and not off putting. Characters are three-dimensional, believable and there are no eye-rolling actions. Though long (it’s 470 pages) the time spent reading goes by with such pleasure, you don’t realize you’ve spent as long as you have getting into the meat of the tale.

From a history standpoint, Demon Angel packed more of a punch for me, but emotionally this one was better. And Colin is one of the best heroes that I’ve read in a long time. The cultures and ideas spread subtly also give this story, and perhaps the series, an edge over some other paranormals out there.

I highly reccommend this one for a read, and if you haven’t already, read Demon Angel, you’ll thank all the ducks later.

Grade: A

Jennifer Estep reviews Demon Angel (The Guardians, Book 2) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Sensation 2 Jan 07

Demons, Guardians, vampires, and all the other denizens of Heaven and Hell battle each other for love and supremacy in Demon Angel by Meljean Brook.

[Editor's note: This review contains major plot spoilers. Stop reading NOW if you haven't yet read this book and you care about spoilers.]

The book’s title sums up its two main characters — Lilith, a halfling demon whose mission is to tempt men into bargaining away their souls, and Hugh, a Guardian, or angel-like creature who protects mankind from demons, vampires, nosferatu, and other nasty things that walk the earth.

Demon Angel has a truly epic feel, as the action spans some 800 years from Hugh and Lilith’s first meeting in 1217 England to their reunion in modern day San Francisco. That’s when the two finally team up to stop a plot by Lucifer and others to gain access to Caelum, or Heaven.

But the plot takes a backseat to the characters in this book. What makes Demon Angel so interesting is how Lilith and Hugh’s roles continually shift and evolve over time. Lilith has more than a little humanity left in her, and Hugh isn’t quiet as noble and pious as he’d like to think.

Like, for instance, when he kills Lilith.

For centuries, Hugh searches for a way to release Lilith from her service to Lucifer, while struggling with his desire for her and his own burden of immortality. After breaking his Guardian vows, Hugh decides to Fall, or become human again. But before he does, he decides to save Lilith — by shoving a sword through her chest.

Literally.

This scene shocked me. Absolutely shocked me. (But in a good way because it was so totally unexpected. I hate books where I can see the plot twist coming 50 pages out. Don’t you?)

How many romances have you read where the hero actually kills the heroine? And I don’t mean he turns her into a vampire or werewolf so they can be together for a thousand years. Hugh kills Lilith — dead. And then he buries her.

And this was only around page 100 (!).

I admit I had a sneaking suspicion that Lilith wasn’t dead-dead, just mostly dead. But needless to say, I had to keep reading, if only to see how Brook could possibly have Hugh redeem himself after this.

It’s hard to pull off, but Brook does it. Because killing Lilith pretty much destroys Hugh. He goes through the motions of life, but he’s not really living it. And when he finds out that Lilith is alive (albeit still bound to serve Lucifer), he feels such joy that it’s hard not to like him again.

Lilith is a fascinating character, a creature who hates her place in the world but cannot escape it. She is charming, cunning, remorseful, and deadly. Hugh comes off as a bit of a goody-goody in comparison. Then again, evil is always more fun to play — and write.

There’s a lot to like about this book. Brook has crafted a complex, interesting world that goes far beyond your usual we’re-vampires-and-we-drink-blood paranormal romance. The only downside is that the world is so complex, I got a little lost. For instance, I didn’t quite understand how Lilith, a demon, could make Hugh a Guardian, or angel. And the numerous double crosses in the final few chapters were a little hard to follow.

Snappy, sexy dialogue isn’t easy to do either (especially when you start out in the 1200s), but Brook pulls it off with plenty of wit to spare. By far, the best parts of the book are when Hugh and Lilith spar, both verbally with sharp words and physically with weapons and sex. But their confrontations never stop them from seeking the best of both worlds in each other. And when they find their heart’s desire — together — is when Demon Angel truly soars.

Big thumbs up.

Reviewed by Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep will be guest blogging on April 30th

Meljean Brook will be guest blogging on June 4th

I am inclined to let him rot in his sickbed. I daresay you will not find such a response acceptable, but that is why I abhor vows — they compel me to action. Both Hippocrates and your Guardian mentor would have done well to leave the hopeless and the cursed alone. Alas; to Greece we go? Perhaps I shall force him to finally admit that I am the more beautiful before I offer him my blood.– Colin Ames-Beaumont to Dr. Anthony Ramsdell, 1824

In vampires, the bloodlust responds to free will – but only the free will of the victim. If the victim does not want the vampire’s sexual attention, the bloodlust won’t force it on them; but if the vampire doesn’t have control over himself, even after the bloodlust has faded, he might force the sex. On the other hand, if the victim wants it and the bloodlust is high…well, once he starts drinking there’s not much for the vampire to do but go along for the ride.

– Savi Murray to Detective Taylor, 2007

One of the decisions I have to make when writing a paranormal series book is how to get out the backstory and the “rules” of the universe in a (hopefully) entertaining way — and avoiding the dreaded infodump and the “as you know, in the last book Heroine One killed the Bad Guy, but in doing so revealed that there was A Really Big Bad Guy that we still need to kill” speeches.

The backstory has to be there — for new readers who aren’t used to the world I’ve created, it’s critical to give them the information so that they know how everything works. But for readers who were there last time, there runs the terrible risk of being (agh!) boring.

In Demon Moon, I considered several ways of doing this. Some of it is in the dialogue — but because both Colin and Savi are “in the know” about Guardians, vampires, and demons, I had to be careful not to fall into that “as you know” trap. Luckily, Colin and Savi have very different ideas about how the universe works, and in their arguments I was able to give out quite a bit of information, all the while revealing their personalities and their beliefs.

Some backstory (like the events in Demon Angel) Colin simply tells — but coming through his voice, it doesn’t feel like such a rehash of events (which it is). Adding a bit of flavor keeps it entertaining, and we get to see how he views what happened.

But there was more. Colin is cursed, but he isn’t the type to a) dwell on the history of that curse or b) talk about it to anyone — which are real problems when I want to introduce as much backstory as possible throughout the book. Colin is not going to offer it up, and if he did, it would be out of character and a cheat. But if I leave it until the last minute, with barely a hint of what happened, then that also feels like a cheat — and will throw the reader out of the story.

Then there are rules about the world (particularly vampirism) that I wanted to lay out as explicitly as possible so that there was no confusion — but people rarely talk to one another in such a direct manner, particularly if they already supposedly know these rules.

I worked with a couple of ideas, until eventually, I thought to myself, “You know, Meljean — you have a really interesting split here between a vampire born in the Regency era, and a modern woman. Why not play with that a little?”

So, at the opening of each chapter (except for the last two chapters, because by then everything I need to say has been said) I alternated between telling Colin’s history through letters that he wrote to his friend Anthony Ramsdell (the hero of the novella in Hot Spell), and Savi’s emails to a woman who had also been newly introduced to the Guardian universe.

And the difference in the medium helped not only to keep each entry distinct, but to convey exactly what I needed them to convey. Colin’s letters tell a story. It’s given in small increments, with each its own little view into his life — but taken together give a picture of him coming to terms with his curse, and moving on from it.

But Savi’s emails are just short bursts of information, linked only by the way the information is given. There’s no thread to follow — no story (which is probably good, because telling two separate stories through those chapter openings would have been far too confusing.)

And it got me to thinking about most of my own correspondence — for the last decade, it’s all been by email. It used to be that I’d write letters, but I think that the last letter I wrote was in 1995, to friends and family after I’d moved to college. But as soon as I got on the Internet, it was bye-bye pen and paper.

It was also bye-bye “I’m telling you everything that’s going on, and what I’ve been thinking about” letters.

I don’t know if any kind of story can be pieced together from my personal e-mails, either. Certainly, there are long conversations that take place, but they are broken up. With letters, I remember making a lot more effort composing one portion of an argument or story, and to make it as self-contained and as fully formed as possible. Whereas with emails, the discussion can go back and forth, developing as it grows … but it doesn’t have to have fully formed pieces. One bit of information can be given at a time, because there’s no lag in receiving a reply.

And I’ll still tell little stories via email — I’ll tell someone about an experience that I had a local grocer or something — but I can’t remember any really long letters I’ve written to one individual, even by e-mail, in years.

On the other hand, I do blog quite a bit. Not always carefully composed posts … but some of them have been. And I know that other bloggers regularly take more care than I do.

So I’m wondering — do you still write letters to anyone? Not just simple notes or cards … but letters? Do you write them by hand, or do you type email letters (carefully composed instead of just shooting off a “hi, how ya doing?” or sending a quick question?)

Do you think private letter writing is quickly becoming a lost art? And do formats like blogging — though more open — fill up some of that writing space?

Meljean was supposed to guest yesterday but a lack of power stopped that and then in a true case of the best kind of irony, the power in my apartment came back on as I left for work. When I got to work… you guessed it… no power. It was a lovely day.

The good news is Meljean was nice enough to agree to guest today! And she will be kicking off a grand summer of guests, interviews, contests, reviews and RWA reports. It is gonna be hoppin’ around here. But more on that later *g*. 

I am always sort of taken back by how many romance readers, bloggers, message board posters and website owners are working on ‘books’. The few book signing I have been to, “I am writing this book”, “I have an idea for a book”, “How can I get my book published” is repeated like a the ol date mantra of “What’s your major?”.

More often than not nothing makes me cringe more than the words – “I just finished my first book, wanna read it?” Why do you ask? Because I do want to read it. And if they are asking because they want my opinion, I am going to give it to them. First time writers can run from needy while trying to put on a brave face to flat out oh-my-god how could you hate my baby! Of course this is while they are telling you that no, be honest, I can take it.

I bought Hot Spell, the first book Meljean’s had a novella in and never read it. It sounded very interesting but it also sounded like there was a potential for way too much religion. I had an ARC of Demon Angel for a long while before I finally said screw it. I want to read this and whatever I think, well Meljean will be fine. And if not I will make her suffer until she gets over being a whiny baby.

I know. You are sitting there wishing you had a friend like me too aren’t you. I stayed up all night reading the book. I think I started annoying her for the next one about 4am that morning as well as I started to hunt for Hot Spell because I couldn’t figure out what I did with it. As much as I loved Demon Angel, I am the first one to say it had issues, which I will post more about later.

I can also say, out of all the authors I have spoken with (there have been more than I could count) and out of all the authors I have given my opinion to (some who sadly no longer come around) no one has listened as well as Meljean. No one has made me feel more valued as a reader for my opinion as Meljean. And no one has made me want to like her books before I even open the cover, because I know if I don’t, it is ok.
Many an author has been ‘adopted’ by websites, newspapers, bookstores and many have tried and succeeded in creating a buzz around them and their books. Not many of those authors can cash that check or can stand up to the buzz. Because at the end of the day, no matter what I say or think it is Meljean’s words, world and characters that will keep you reading and will bring you back.

I had dismissed the mummblings that Meljean was only getting ‘great buzz because she is a blogger’ because the marjotiy of the people who were saying it were the same ones that if they had been first in doing it – it would have been great, grand and wonderful.

But I saw a comment the other day from Xina, who is pretty much my reader twin. If she likes it – even if it is the most off the wall thing – I will try it because our taste match that much. And it stopped me cold because if someone as smart as Xina could think that all bloggers many of who don’t know each other, websites and such got together to love an author cuz she ‘had a great personality’ well that makes me sad. Because Meljean is an author I put JR Ward and Lisa Kleypas. These are books I want anyone and everyone to read. Even if you hate them… because I have such a high amount of confidence you won’t.

I have put Demon Angel into more strangers hands than I can remember. I talk about the books because the world building is smart and clever. The characters have a wit about them that make you love them even as you sometimes hate them. She does a hell of a Lucifer and one hot vampire. Meljean’s love of the genre shines through her books and she can poke fun at it without belittling Romance, the readers or other authors. I can’t recall one time that I even told anyone read this book, check out this author or try this novella because the author has a great personality.

But Colin and Savi have an amazing tale. It is painful as it is loving and you completely feel for these two people. You want them together. You want to take this amazingly and egotistical beautiful man and slap him as you pat his head and say there, there you bes ok.

Most of all, you want them to live happy ever after… so stick around. We will learn more about all things Colin, spend some time with Missy and you too can learn how lacking Meljean is in the personality department *g*.

And of course have a chance to win some books. Well not xina because in a total and complete abuse of power she is our first winner of the day.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ve probably already met Missy. Missy is the girl I used to be, curled up on my little bed with a Harlequin or Johanna Lindsey (and sometimes hiding in the closet at midnight with the light on, because she was supposed to be sleeping, but oh god she NEEDED to know if the arrogant businessman with his arrogant nose and overbearing sexuality married the virgin secretary who loved him! And if there were thighs rubbing together in an erotic rhythm, and peaked sensitive breasts … IT WAS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!)

MELJEAN: So, Missy … you’re here to offer some advice to authors.
MISSY: Yeppers.

MELJEAN: Because 10-year-olds with two years of romance reading under their Care Bears belts have something worthwhile to say.
MISSY: Yep! (Oh, but it’s a Strawberry Shortcake belt today. It goes with my pink pants.)

MELJEAN: Ah, a fashion maven AND an advice columnist. This should be effing great. So what’s your first bit of advice?
MISSY: Always have sex in your books.

MELJEAN: You’re ten years old, kid. Every person reading this just shuddered in horror.
MISSY: Did you?

MELJEAN: No, but I know I turned out okay. A bit on the OMG SQUEE fangirl wacky side, but still … pretty normal. But that’s not the point.
MISSY: What is? How else should I learn about sex? By doing it?

MELJEAN: *headdesk* It doesn’t have to be an either/or thing. Can we just pretend, for a second, that you didn’t sneak half of those books just because you were hoping for some nookie?
MISSY: Alright.

MELJEAN: And I’m inclined to agree with you — not that a book has to have sex, but that I prefer to read–
MISSY: And the heroines should be virgins. And naïve, so that the experienced hero can show them the true meaning of love and passion and all that stuff, and that an orgasm equals true love. And if they’re widows, they can’t really have loved their first husband. And it’s best if the first husband couldn’t have sex with them … and maybe beat them, so that I feel really bad for them and the arrogant misogynist hero seems that much better in comparison.

MELJEAN: *gag*
MISSY: What? What?

MELJEAN: I’d forgotten what a twit I was. Virgins are okay, as long as there’s a reason for it. Anyway, that’s not the point: your advice is. So, have sex. But not too much sex.
MISSY: Oh no! Have lots and lots and lots and lots.

MELJEAN: There is such a thing as too much.
MISSY: No, there’s not.

MELJEAN: Y–
MISSY: Shut up!!

MELJEAN: …
MISSY: Okay, Missy’s Advice #2: Have lots of explosions.

MELJEAN: Of the, um, seminal kind?
MISSY: That’s dirty! Why are you messing up my advice thing with your dirty talk?

MELJEAN: You were the one saying you wanted a lot of sex!
MISSY: You’re dirty! God, I can’t believe I grow up to be you! *sobs*

MELJEAN: Aw. There there. Explosions, huh? I do like explosions, although I can’t remember many of them in the Harlequin romances I read.
MISSY: No, that’s why I want them. And lots of fighting.

MELJEAN: Because nothing shows how manly a hero is better than his planting his fist in someone’s face?
MISSY: Exactly!! And I also like it when heroes get beat up by the heroine’s brothers who’ve already had their books, so that I can be certain that even though they’re married, they’re still manly! And I also want evil villains.

MELJEAN: Like Cobra Commander?
MISSY: Yes! Or Skeletor! The villains should always be disfigured and have an evil laugh so that we know who they are. Oh, and they should kill their henchmen and torture puppies.

MELJEAN: Yeah, because god forbid anyone has to figure out who the bad guys are. Or the good guys.
MISSY: Right! I like it simple. But with lots of explosions.

MELJEAN: I don’t have any explosions in my book.
MISSY: I hate you.

MELJEAN: Don’t worry, sweetie, it gets worse. I don’t have any virgins, either.
MISSY: *sobs, and with her heart broken, moves on to the next bit of advice* Number Three: It should be fast paced.

MELJEAN: … are you digging at me?
MISSY: What? What?

MELJEAN: … I hate you. I’m getting better! Feedback has helped a lot!
MISSY: Oh, so book number two is shorter? Faster paced? Less dialogue?

MELJEAN: …. *sobs* But I’m getting better!
MISSY: You loser. On to Missy’s Advice #4: The heroine should be sweet and kind. Like me.

MELJEAN: *laughs hysterically*
MISSY: Stop that! You don’t know anything! I want to imagine myself as the heroine so that I can pretend that someone rich and handsome will sweep me off my feet and fall madly in love with my virginal body!

MELJEAN: Oh, he’s handsome … but not rich. Hmm, I think I have some advice for authors, too: marry well.
MISSY: That’s disgusting! You should love him for who he is, not his bank account!

MELJEAN: I do. Believe me, my bank account says that I do…and that he must really love me, too. Anyway, when’s the last time you read a Harlequin Presents where the guy was poor?
MISSY: That’s because he’s always ruthless and arrogant and smart and works hard! You shut up!

MELJEAN: … okay, and to be fair, it’s also part of the Presents line: the powerful and arrogant and rich hero. God, and they’re such a guilty pleasure. I love all of them … oh, crap, did I just say that out loud?
MISSY: Hahaha! Yes! And the book should have horses, too. At least one horse. I love horses.

MELJEAN: You know, it suddenly occurs to me why I read so many historicals. You’ve ruined me, Missy. Ruined me like a fresh young virgin compromised by the profligate nobleman rake in a Regency library with a closed door.
MISSY: I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m sure it’s dirty.

MELJEAN: Probably. Okay, so what’s Number Five?
MISSY: Authors should write something that I want to read.

MELJEAN: So I should write what I want to read.
MISSY: Yes! … Wait! no–

MELJEAN: Ha, you big fat loser! Too late. And that’s advice I can actually agree with, because that energy and excitement comes through the writing. Write what you love. Read what you love. Neither one is easy, writing that book or finding that book … but it’s worth it.
MISSY: And the world will be a better place.

MELJEAN: Yep. For you. And me.
MISSY: Just wait … and seeeeeee!

MELJEAN: … you are not going to get me singing.
MISSY: Dammit.

MELJEAN: I’m so telling Mom that you just said a dirty word.
MISSY: *sob*

….ah, and my day isn’t over until I make my inner child cry.

How have you changed as a romance reader? Is there anything that you used to love that gets on your nerves now? How long have you been reading?

Hot Spell (Berkley Sensation)

In Regency England, a desperate lady is Falling for Anthony when a childhood friend comes back from the dead to protect her brother from an unnatural evil.

I have to say I am very over paranormals. Really… if you have a paranormal coming out, for me at least, it better be something amazing, new and somehow different from the same ol same ol.

I was able to read Demon Angel (Berkley Sensation) last saturday a month or so ago and I was honestly blown away. It isn’t at all a perfect book but for the first full length novel from a new author it gets close. And Meljean takes the paranormal genre and makes it her own. I haven’t been this excited about a series since I read JR Ward’s Dark Lover. 

Sadly it doesn’t come out until JANUARY 2007. It is out NOW!!

So I am not going to say anymore right now. But lucky you Hot Spell (Berkley Sensation) is now out in MM. So you can read Falling for Anthony, while you are waiting for Demon Angel to hit the shelves.

Falling for Anthony is not as good as Demon Angel but it does introduce Colin. And more Colin is a good thing. Trust me. We also meet Demon Angel’s H/h to be in Hot Spell.

Meljean gives us a large scale battle of good and evil in the forms of demons and angels and it is not to be missed.

She will be guest blogging with us TODAY. And she can be found on her blog. Go check her out… you can see the cover of her new antho Wild Thing and read some excerpts.

For two thousand years, Lilith wrought vengeance upon the evil and the damned, gathering souls for her father’s armies Below and proving her fealty to her Underworld liege. Bound by a bargain with the devil and forbidden to feel pleasure, she draws upon her dark powers and serpentine grace to lead men into temptation. That is, until she faces her greatest temptation—Heaven’s own Sir Hugh Castleford…

Once a knight and now a Guardian, Hugh spent centuries battling demons—and the cursed, blood-drinking nosferatu. His purpose has always been to thwart the demon Lilith, even as he battles his treacherous hunger for her. But when a deadly alliance unleashes a threat to both humans and Guardians in modern-day San Francisco, angel and demon must fight together against unholy evil—and against a desire that has been too long denied…

Demon Moon by Meljean Brook

No one would call vampire Colin Ames-Beaumont kind, but they would call him unnaturally beautiful. For two centuries his tainted blood has kept him isolated from other vampires, sustained only by his beauty and vanity — bitter comforts, since a curse has erased his mirror reflection, replacing it with a terrifying glimpse of Chaos.

Savi Murray’s insatiable curiosity had gotten her into trouble before, but she’d always escaped unscathed. Then came Colin. In the midst of Heaven, he gave her a taste of ecstasy — and of Chaos. Deadly creatures from that realm herald the return of an imprisoned nosferatu horde, and Colin and Savi’s bond is their only protection — and their only passion…

I think I have mentioned once or twice how much I adore this book so instead allow me to point you to loonigrrl (wOoT! now with blog) and to Holly, who won the ARC during Meljean’s guest author day in January.

Completely off topic to the post here but Meljean but together a totally cool interview with Jennie. Go look see, well after the excerpt *g*

You can find more info and another excerpt at Meljean’s site.

Here is a look at Chapter 6…

The baseball arced over the tops of the trees, disappearing in the dark and fog. Two hundred yards, at least.

Sir Pup sprinted to fetch his ball, and Savi shook her head in disbelief. Though she wasn’t a complete wimp, she’d long ago accepted she was less than athletically gifted. This was incredible. Even Barry Bonds couldn’t have smashed a home run that far.

The hellhound barked in the distance, and she bit her lip in sudden alarm. Hopefully it hadn’t hit someone on the head or destroyed a car window. But no, there he was, breaking free of the tree line and trotting across the grass.

Oh, shit — Colin was with him. She’d recognize that elegant stride anywhere. Dammit. As if it hadn’t been difficult enough to pretend disinterest when she’d thanked him at his car. She’d spent most of the afternoon building her psychic shields to steel; assuming that she wouldn’t see him again that evening, she hadn’t maintained them.

Breathing slow and steady. Focus. And don’t look at his face. Not right away.

She pasted on a smile and gazed at a point over his shoulder. She probably looked like an idiot — but she felt like one, so it was as well. Smart women ran when they saw a vampire approaching.

And if their hearts raced, it should be from fear.

The point over his shoulder rose higher and higher as he neared her. She lowered her gaze to the pocket of his jacket. Why did he wear it? He wouldn’t become cold. Was it simply because it looked fantastic, as if it had been tailor-made to fit him?

It probably had been.

He stopped directly in front of her, less than an arms’ length away. Too close. “You shouldn’t be alone in the park after sunset, sweet Savitri.” Though his words admonished her, his tone did not. It was low and warm. Seductive.

Her throat was dry. She swallowed and said, “Sir Pup is with me. I’m not being foolish.”

“No, you are not. He’s a fine protector. But you should not be alone.” Colin trailed his forefinger from her ear to jawline, tipping her face up with gentle pressure.

A shiver ran over her skin. She stared at the cleft in his chin. Not too deep, just a lovely shadow.

“Do you know why I’m here, Savitri?”

“To hunt?”

“No.” She heard the smile in his voice. “I prefer not to chase after men and women on the jogging paths.”

“It does seem creepy,” she said. “Like a serial killer.”

His fangs glistened in the fog-muted moonlight; his laughter was soft. “Yes, I imagine it does. I was off to hunt. But I was overcome by the most delicious fragrance.” He slowly bent his head toward hers. A breath away from her mouth, he inhaled deeply. He didn’t touch her lips, but she could feel the warmth from his. “It disappeared when I saw you across the lawn. Why do you think that is?”

“The breeze shifted?”

“I am downwind of you.”

“Perhaps I’m not the source.”

“Perhaps.” He teased the corner of her mouth with a flick of his tongue. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing, on standing. What was he doing to her? “Perhaps it is Sir Pup,” he said.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, it must be.”

“How would you test such a thing, Savitri? Send him away? Remove a variable?”

“I’m a variable,” she said.

“But should you leave and Sir Pup stay, no one could protect you from the evil creatures stalking the night.”

She had to smile. Such melodrama. “If he leaves, no one will protect me from you.”

“Castleford believes you’ll be able to protect yourself after you’ve had enough lessons.” There was an edge of anger in his voice now, when it had only been soft.

“You doubt him? You doubt I will?” She finally looked up at him. “Or are you here to teach him a lesson?”

“No.” He watched her with shadowed eyes. “I’m here because he’s taught you well. Ask me why I can’t suggest you sleep, as I did Auntie.”

“I already know. My psychic shields.”

“Then why did you ask before?”

Except for his hand against her chin he didn’t touch her, yet his gaze held her immobile. Another vampire trick? Why had Hugh not warned her? Was it something only Colin could do?

“I didn’t know if you could overcome them.”

“I see.” Sardonic amusement flirted with his lips as he tucked his fingers beneath her chenille scarf, slowly loosening it. Cool air wafted against her neck, sent prickles down her spine. “Because I once drank your blood, you thought I might have bound you to me. Like Dracula and Mina.”

His lashes swept down as he dipped his head toward hers.

Her breath hitched. “Yes.”

“No, Savitri. Only when I drink does your mind open to me.” She began trembling as his mouth skimmed the side of her jaw. He spoke with his lips against her throat. “Invite me in.”

“No.” She gasped the word.

“I’ll make it good for you this time.” He dragged the inside of his bottom lip over her pulse. Hot. Wet. “Please invite me in.”

She didn’t trust the pleading note in his voice; she couldn’t imagine him begging for anything. “No.”

“Then lower your shields.” He raised his head when she stiffened. “That is not a threat. Only that I ask the lesser pleasure if you deny the greater.”

“I have no reason to give you either, or to trust you. Particularly as I don’t know what you’ve done to me now.”

“Do you deny me as punishment for Caelum? Is this a lesson?”

“No.” She wrapped her arms around her chest. Small defense, but she still couldn’t find the strength to move away from him. “I returned that favor in Polidori’s.”

His eyes widened and he let go a shout of laughter. “With an orgasm? With the most bloody brilliant kiss I’ve ever received?”

She forced the rush of pleasure away. It had been good, but so had Caelum until he’d decided to give her a lesson. “You taught me to be wary, and it was what I most needed to learn. I taught you that you’re no better than those you feed from, because that is what you most need to learn.” His amusement faded, his gaze hardened to iron, but she forged on, “I don’t deny you as punishment. I deny you because you taught me too well.”

He stared at her, then lowered his head, his shoulders shaking. But there was little mirth in his voice as he said, “I am fortune’s buggered fool.”

“That’s what Hugh told me, but he said you liked it.” Sir Pup nudged her knee, and she was grateful for an excuse to look away from Colin’s sudden grin.

The baseball dropped at her feet. She threw it with all the force she could muster. Perhaps she could take out all of this pent up frustration in some kind of exercise; at least Colin’s hold on her seemed to have faded. She could move now.

Sir Pup streaked away.

Colin had half-turned to allow her room to throw. His features were curiously blank when he glanced back at her. “What do you think I’ve done to you?”

“That thing with your eyes,” she said. “Keeping me here, though I know I should leave.”

“The thing with my…” He broke off. His gaze roamed over her face. Suddenly, his focus narrowed on her mouth, became sharp and predatory.

She took a step back.

“Oh, Savitri,” he murmured. “You should have left when you had the opportunity.”

Gwen’s review of Paradise by Meljean Brook, short story in the anthology Wild Thing by Brook, Marjorie Liu, Alyssa Day** and Maggie Shayne
Paranormal contemporary romance released by Berkley Trade 1 May 07

This short story is part of the Guardians continuum. I can’t tell you where it lies in the chronology, as I haven’t read the others (yet). While I might have gotten more out of it if I had read the preceding stories/books, I can tell you it reads very well on its own. This story is about a vampire, Lucas, and a guardian, Selah, who have to find and defeat a demon before it opens a gate to hell. Along the way, they discover quite a bit about themselves and each other, including love and what looks an HEA. 

To my knowledge, this was the first Meljean Brook I’ve ever read. I can safely say that I am now her bitch. I really liked this story. The pace was quick, the dialogue was snappy, and the erotic scenes were smokin’. I like paranormal, if it’s done well, and this was done very well. The characters were likable, believable, and oddly human for inhuman beings.

Other reviewers of this story say Meljean does “too much world-building” but I sure didn’t get that vibe. I haven’t read any of the other Guardian stories and I wasn’t left behind. I just enjoyed a ripping good story. Meljean’s writing style is such that she doesn’t belabor details or conversational points, so perhaps the other reviewer felt left behind. Readers of this kind of prose have to stay on their toes (HA! unintentional rhyme). I prefer this writing style to being treated like a dimwit by an author (e.g., incessant repetition of inane details). Meljean treats the reader as if we have a brain and I LOVE that.

I have read the other authors in the anthology and have enjoyed nearly everything they’ve written. However, simply based on the quality of Meljean’s story, I’ll be buying this anthology as soon as it comes out and I recommend you do the same.

Grade: A

Here’s the story blurb:

Lucas Marsden has faced nosferatu before and survived, but he doesn’t know how to defeat the demon who hunts the vampires in his community…But he knows exactly what he wants from the beautiful Guardian sent to protect them.
Read an excerpt.

Here’s the Wild Thing book blurb:

New York Times bestselling authors Maggie Shayne and Marjorie M. Liu, and sizzling newcomers Alyssa Day and Meljean Brook discover the wild instinct in everyone with four all-new stories of feral heat. Fans will get swept away by the passions in the unfathomable depths of Atlantis; they’ll follow the shadows that stalk both the living and the undead in a world of vampires and guardian angels; they’ll enter the forbidden world of the demon horde and their willing victims; and they’ll be privy to the secrets of a beautiful animal-whisperer who’s drawn closer to the most suspect of all male animals-man.

**You have to register as a member to get any special feature (book excerpts and such)

Dear People Magazine,

Every November, you come out with your “Sexiest Man Alive” issue; every spring, you print your list of the “World’s Most Beautiful People.”

But in 2007 — for the last two hundred years — the sexiest man and the most beautiful person has been … a vampire. 

George? Pffft. Brad? Come on! Jude? …no.

Why isn’t it that Colin Ames-Beaumont hasn’t graced your cover? Is it simply because his picture cannot be taken? (He’s so beautiful a blank cover with just his name on it would make your readers drool.) Because he usually only comes out at night? (How is that different than Johnny Depp?) Because you think he hasn’t bared his assets for a Hollywood camera?

Are you afraid of his tainted blood? You shouldn’t be: one look will not send you to the Chaos realm, surrounded by flying dragons and the screams of the damned. Only Colin sees that realm when he looks into a mirror — it will not trouble you. Is it the woman he’s falling in love with? Geeks need love, too, People Magazine — a fact you have long overlooked (but that is another campaign to be won.)

Is it the fear that if you met him in a dark alley, the words “Oh my God you’re so beautiful!” would hardly be past your lips before he had you up against the wall for some hot sexing that you wouldn’t remember the next day?

No; none of those things are true impediments to being called “the sexiest” or “the most beautiful”. I think the problem is that you’ve been stuck on one pesky little word in the “Sexiest Man” title: Alive.

But there are those of us — readers and authors, geeks and norms — who know that Undead can be just as sexy as Living. And we’ve got hundreds of paranormal romances to prove it.

So I’m beginning my campaign to get a vampire on the cover of your magazine. To no longer be forced to stare longingly at men who can’t read my mind. Men who can’t use a sword. Men who can’t wear satin-lined capes and look good doing it. I’m calling for all readers, living and undead, to fight for vampire equality.

And I’m nominating Colin Ames-Beaumont to the be first representative of the “Sexiest Man Alive (and Undead)” for 2007. What separates him from other vampire romance heroes, you wonder? He’s strong, as they are. He sucks blood, as they do. He’s got out-of-control sexual appeal, as they do. But there is one thing, People Magazine, that makes Colin stand out from the rest of the vampire heroes.

Colin … is blond.

But do not take my word for it; judge for yourself. And because he is cursed, unable to see his reflection or to have any pictures taken, the only proof I can offer is in Demon Moon. The book cover cannot do him justice — you must look inside. Want a peek? The first four chapters are here. Or you can buy it at Amazon (it is available June 5 in stores everywhere).

Sincerely,
Meljean Brook

Living and Undead Readers for Vampire Equality

Join the L.U.R.V.E. Train – Because vampires are beautiful people, too.

(Want to join the L.U.R.V.E. Train? Nominate your own vampire, win books and Amazon gift certificates? Climb aboard here.)

Dear Readers,
Now that the holiday season has ended, and the wrong answer to questions like “have I been naughty or nice” won’t leave me with a lump of coal in my stocking (at least for another year), I feel that I’m can finally admit my greatest sin�

Read Meljean’s complete letter in Borders Romance Newsletter….

But WAIT there’s more…
You can get a $1 off any of the following romance novels
(I didn’t link to one because it is not a romance. You wanna kill people off, cool go for it, but you are not a romance. Don’t market yourself as a romance. Do not try to make money off the largest market in publishing because you are lying. Personally I think anyone who has bought said book should return it to where they bought it. But hey, that is just me)

* Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton
* Rising Moon by Lori Handeland
* Eternal Hunger by Cameron Dean
* The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
* Surrender to a Scoundrel by Julianne MacLean
* Not Another New Year’s by Christie Ridgway
* Wild and Wicked in Scotland by Melody Thomas
* Demon Angel by Meljean Brook
* Lethal Justice by Fern Michaels
* Howling Moon by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
* Tempted in the Night by Robin T. Popp
* Touched by Darkness by Catherine Spangler
* Desire Never Dies by Jenna Petersen
* Blood Lines by Eileen Wilks

WARNING! The sneak peek includes spoilers for Demon Angel (Berkley Sensation)!

No one would call vampire Colin Ames-Beaumont kind, but they would call him unnaturally beautiful. For two centuries his tainted blood has kept him isolated from other vampires, sustained only by his beauty and vanity—bitter comforts, since a curse has erased his mirror reflection, replacing it with a terrifying glimpse of Chaos.

Savi Murray’s insatiable curiosity had gotten her into trouble before, but she’d always escaped unscathed. Then came Colin. In the midst of Heaven, he gave her a taste of ecstasy—and of Chaos. Deadly creatures from that realm herald the return of an imprisoned nosferatu horde, and Colin and Savi’s bond is their only protection—and their only passion…

(Author’s Note: Colin’s not really that bitter.)

Here is the link to a four-chapter sneak peek (it’s a .pdf file – right click and save – don’t just click open) of DEMON MOON, coming in June 2007 from Berkley. It does include spoilers for DEMON ANGEL … you’ve been warned.

Don’t forget you get a chance to win an ARC of DEMON MOON by commenting on any of today’s posts (it will be mailed in April or May, when Meljean gets her ARCs).