I’m totally lovin’ Heather Brewer’s Chronicles of Vladimir Tod books! I grabbed them off the shelf because of the covers, knowing those would do the trick to interest my oldest son. I flipped open a book in the store and when I read the line about teachers being evil to the core, I knew then her style of writing was something that my son would enjoy. Turns out, I liked it too! We got home and I opened book one (Eight Grade Bites)with the idea of glancing through to assure nothing too out there was within the pages (I know, I’m a bad mom who doesn’t let my kid read things I think aren’t appropriate for the point he’s at in his life). I ended up devouring book one and then going at book II (Nine Grade Slays) the same night! My son had to pry them from my hands. He thought I was full of crap when I said he’d like them. Ha, ha! I had the last laugh. He read them both in one day. I’m not sure he even left his bedroom. He’s now begging me to send a SASE to Heather’s addy she gives on her site so he can get cool promo stuff. In addition, he’s making me pre-order Tenth Grade Bleeds which comes up the month of July.

Want to know the best part? My middle kid grabbed book one and is now heavy into it. These books are ones I’d say are above his reading level and are taking him more time but he’s eating them up so who am I to judge! Hey, I love anything that will hold his interest and get him excited about reading.

Fan’s of JR Ward’s Brotherhood series will enjoy Larissa Ione’s spin on good vs evil. Her band of demons brothers are dysfunctional and sexy to boot! They’re seriously flawed, emotionally and at times physically scarred and the best part is, they, like so many great heroes have that perfect someone who "completes" them. I’ll admit to being a little concerned when I heard of the books–wondering how it was Ione would pull off the world. I have to say she does it with style and dark humor, a fantastic combination.

Desire Unchained (February 24, 2009) follows Shade, the paramedic brother  who managed to run a good woman out of his life when she caught him in bed with two demons. Yeah, that’ll make for the end of a relationship right real quick. Time passes but old wounds don’t die so easily and when he’s face to face with Runa, the woman he wronged, he soon realizes that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Things are not as he last knew them to be. Runa is more than meets the eye and these two heat up the pages, keeping the reader thumbing through, devouring their story.

Pre-order this book.

Passion Unleashed (March 31, 2009) follows Wraith. This is my favorite of the Demonica books thus far. Wraith is the quintessential bad ass alpha male demon with a chip on his shoulder and a devil may care attitude. Well, that is until he sets his sights on the one woman who can cure him from a slow death brought on by poison–if falling for her doesn’t kill him first. Its dark, witty, full of lustful passion and sex that will blow you away. Oh, did I mention the heroine has to keep her virginity or die? Yeah, saying it out loud sounds sort of silly but damn, Ione pulls it off in a big way! This is packed full of action, demons, fallen angels, secret societies and sizzle!

Pre-order this book.

I’m currently drafting a wish list email to Ione begging, okay, demanding to have Lore’s story next.

Side note: As someone who also does cover art, I have to take a minute to comment on her covers. Dark. Sexy. Fantastic.

I went on a buying spree over the weekend. Retail Therapy of choice: Spice Books.

So one giant stack later and a serious dent in my credit card, I’m home and devouring them. Enter—Stranger.

So I got this book already knowing that Megan writes the hell out of her characters to the point you’re living and breathing every moment with them and that she is not always "kind" to them. You know what, that’s what makes me love her books. Even knowing that, I still ended up tearing up during Stranger. Oh, and I really wanted to kick the living crap out of Sam for a while there. Another marking of a great book. If I’m vested enough in the book to want to throttle a character, job well done! I’m not going to go into a long drawn out review of Stranger but I will say this–Megan handles dealing with death, learning to live life, love and pleasure with skill. While you don’t really need to read her books in order, I’d recommend doing so only so you can have the giddy moment of realizing when someone from a past book makes a surprise visit. (Here is where I chant my mantra for Jack getting his own book and make calls to my thugs to be in the van waiting to nab Megan should she decide against it.)

So my quote is "buy the book, you’re going to love it!"

Buy Link

I opened my mail to find an ARC for Robyn Carr’s upcoming release (Feb 2009) Second Chance Pass. I, of course, being a HUGE fan of Robyn’s Grace Valley and Virgin River books–ripped this thing open and devoured it. And that, my friends, is the first teaser!

Muuwwwhhhaaaaaaaaaa……..

Rob Thurman’s Cal Leandros Series

Nightlife
Moonshine
Madhouse

This is one of those series that I devour. From the end of chapter one in book one, I’ve been hooked on Cal’s and Niko’s adventures. The action is intense, the plot thick/rich and the characters are flawed yet totally loveable. I love the dialogue its snark at its finest.

Whitechapel Gods by S.M. Peters

On the lookout for something new and different? Something that breaks the molds, is high action and holds you to the very end? If so, Whitechapel Gods by S.M. Peters may be for you. Set in Victorian London, this steampunk fantasy novel did not disappoint. Not only are the gold clocks/black clocks a unique spin on it all, it also tells the story through multiple heroes.

I’ll let you all be the judge but I’m happy the cover caught my eye and that I stopped and bought it.

Let me first start off by saying Deanna Ashford is an absolute delight in person. She truly is. Funny, charismatic and boy can the woman pen a sex scene. Is it hot in here or is it just me? After having the pleasure of meeting Ms. Ashford at RWA Nationals, I brought home the book she kindly offered me—Barbarian Prize. I’d never read a historical Black Lace novel before so I was skeptical at first. By page ten all my doubts were out the window. Wow. That about sums it up. Let me repeat that… WOW! Ms. Ashford can write not only sex but she captures the details and accuracy of the time period with ease, weaving them in a way that makes you forget about everything but her characters and their dilemma. I’m a sucker for an HEA and she had me wondering if it was going to happen. I won’t give any spoilers but I will say, she didn’t disappoint me. I’d also like to say… I want Taranis all to myself.

I had the pleasure of meeting Eden Bradley in Dallas at the RWA conference. She was charming and beautiful. I couldn’t wait to get home and dig into The Dark Garden. The tasteful erotic cover grabbed me the blurb held me.

Rowan finds Christian’s offer terrifying—and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian’s power might be more than she can handle…. Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there’s no turning back.