She Wolf by Sheri Lewis Wohl Review

She Wolf by Sheri Lewis Wohl
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Jäger/Werewolf Lily Avergne, is a hunter of supernatural creatures that prey on the innocent. She is assigned to investigate a string of murders in Colville, Washington. However, local sheriff, Jayne Quarles, is not thrilled to have the assistance of the Jägers. This contemporary PNR is suitable for adult audiences.

SHE WOLF starts out with a Prologue in Danzig, 1588. It informs us how Lily was transformed into a werewolf and helps explain why she became a hunter. Then the story switches to present day, in eastern Washington.

Lily is a compelling character. She is lonely and has lived a long time. She is noble for trying to defend those that are weaker than her. I like Jayne. It is understandable why she feels the way she does throughout the story. She makes a good companion for Lily.

I like Kyle Miller. He has an interesting talent. I wouldn’t mind seeing a spin-off of the novel with Kyle and Ava.

The rogues in the story are noteworthy and complex. They made the story thought-provoking. The plot was carefully thought out. I like how events circled around. It was a good story that had interesting twists. I did at times find myself occasionally skimming the story to move ahead quicker. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Kindle Edition
Published January 16th 2017 by Bold Strokes Books
ASIN: B01MUBIWW1
Edition Language: English

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Of Flame and Light (Weird Girls #7) by Cecy Robson review

Of Flame and Light by Cecy Robson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cecy Robson created another spectacular book in the Weird Girls Series with book 7, OF FLAME AND LIGHT. In this story Taran Wird is dealing with her newly regenerated arm and trying to control her magic. Things are not going well between her and her mate, Gemini. To make matters worse she needs the help of the local witch coven to help regain her control for fear of losing her life.

My heart ached for Taran and the humiliating situations she faced. She was struggling with everything that was happening. I would have had a difficult time dealing with attitude of the witches, especially the Lesser/Superior stuff. I love Taran’s sarcastic conversations. She can be very amusing. She is a strong individual the I respect. The stuff happening with Gemini disappointed me. Those two clearly needed to talk things out.

The plot was clever and well executed. I like the additional things going on in the story like Celia’s pregnancy. I love the support Taran gets from her sisters. Bren is a good friend. I liked the situations happening with him. Some of the stuff Genevieve pulled was despicable. She did, however, have some redeeming moments. Savana was a challenging adversary. I’m fairly certain her photo would be next to evil in the dictionary. I enjoyed the ending and am very curious to find out what happens next in the series. Cecy Robson’s Weird Girls continues to be thought-provoking and entertaining.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Kindle Edition, 350 pages

Published October 18th 2016 by Cecy Robson, LLC

ASIN: B01J0SCGEK

Edition Language: English

Series: Weird Girls #7

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Blood Slave by Kathleen Collins: Guest Post

Blood Slave

Realm Walker Series, Book 3

Kathleen Collins

Can she find a killer in a town where the basest desires are allowed to run free?

There are zombies in the Dead Zone and Juliana Norris is sent to take care of the problem. And for there to be zombies, there had to be bodies. When vampires are found to be the culprits, Juliana is sent undercover in the red light district of Kansas City. Lying to her mate, Thomas Kendrick, isn’t something she wants to do, but she’s in another vampire’s territory and Thomas would not be pleased. Besides, she’s more than capable of doing the job and she needs to prove it to everyone. Most of all herself.

Charles Morgan is in control of the Kansas City area, making a rich living off his various enterprises. Juliana goes undercover at the strip club Lust and gets sucked into his dark, decadent world. More victims turn up and the Agency is positive they’ve got their man, but Juliana is not so sure. When the Agency refuses to listen, she reluctantly turns to Thomas for help. He intervenes but finds Juliana unaware of the danger she is in and discovers she may just be too deep for him to save.

Available at

Amazon    BN    iTunes

Excerpt

The zombie Pomeranian yipped at Nathaniel in between growling and tugging at the leg of his jeans. Juliana pulled her foot back to kick the creature away from her friend and made ready to bring her sword down on it as soon as it was clear.

“Don’t,” Nathaniel protested as he held up a still-clawed hand. “You might hurt it.”

Her brows arched up into her hairline. “That would be the general idea.” The thing growled again and she looked down at it where it was doing its utmost to gnaw a hole through Nathaniel’s jeans. And she wasn’t entirely sure it would stop when it got to skin. I realize you have a particu-lar kinship with all things canine, but it’s gnawing on your leg.”

“Just my jeans.” Now back in fully human form, he bent and disengaged the dog from the denim.

“Easy there, boy. Good dog.” When the Pomeranian continued to express its displeasure with the situation in general and Nathaniel in particular, he lifted the beast above his head, looked at it nose to nose and growled back. Evidently recognizing an alpha even in its altered state, the dog curled in on itself and whimpered before darting its tongue out to lick Nathaniel’s nose. Juliana grimaced. Zombie breath couldn’t be pretty.

“See, he doesn’t mean any harm,” her friend said as he tucked the abomination under one arm. Their scruffy brown hair made them look surprisingly similar.

She blinked at him in disbelief before taking another look at the creature in question. When she bent closer, it growled and she straightened with a huff. “She.”

“What?”

“She. Name tag says Fifi. Last time I checked that was a girl’s name.”

Nathaniel snorted in derision. “Fifi. What a prissy name.”

“Hate to break it to you, partner, but that is a prissy dog. And it smells like mold.”

Author Bio

Kathleen Collins lives and works in Missouri. By day, she labors in the local prosecutor's office. At night she writes while surrounded by her husband, two boys and two loveable mutts. She is constantly thinking of her next project and loves to connect with her readers. You can fine her most often on Facebook or on her website.

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Guest Post

Please welcome Blood Slave author Kathleen Collins to Diane’s Book Blog. 


Research: Love it or hate it?

I have a friend that loves to do research for her books. She will spend days, weeks, months even buried in research. Everything from prison maps to wedding dresses is fair game. She writes with dry erase marker on her patio doors and makes diaries and indexes of all the information she finds, most of which will probably not make it into the book. She is meticulous and detailed. A part of me envies her dedication. 

The other part of me thinks she’s crazy. I hate doing research. Don’t get me wrong, I love to learn about new things and read books on obscure topics, but I hate researching for a story. For me, writing is a purely creative effort and research pulls me out of that. Part of the reason I write urban fantasy is that the world is whatever I want to make it. The rules are my own. I don’t need to research what the laws are for search and seizure in California because in my world the laws are different. It’s very freeing. 

Too much freedom can be a bad thing, however. World building requires its own kind of dedication. I keep notes about rules of magic, what things are called, types of creatures and their characteristics. If you just continually make it all up as you go along and don’t refer back to what you’ve already created, your readers will call you on it. 

I love my world because I don’t follow the expected, even for the paranormal creatures I write about. My vampires aren’t undead, their lives have been unnaturally extended through the use of blood magic. When they drink blood it feeds the spell. My leprechauns are shape shifters that can be six feet tall. My heroine is half mage, half dark fae and her father is the dark fae god of death. Why do I do write these things? Because I can and it is oh so fun. 

The book I’m working on now is completely different for me. It’s a contemporary romance set in Montana. I made up the town where the story takes place, though I nestled it at the base of a real mountain. I have had to look up laws about what hours a bar can operate in the state and what sort of divisions they have in the law enforcement offices in the state. I’m forced to follow other peoples rules and guidelines and that makes telling my story a little harder but no less fun. Hopefully I’ll still be able to surprise my readers even if I have to follow the rules.


So what about you? If you’re a writer, do you like to research? If you’re a reader, do you like it when an author puts their research about the world they’re writing in into the book? Does it bother you when they haven’t done their research and they should have?

The Monster Within by Kelly Hashway: Spotlight & GIVEAWAY

The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side—a completely unfair shot at life. But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.

She's now a monster that drains others' lives to survive. And after she kills, she’s tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.

But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.

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Winter's Demon by Eric R Asher: Spotlight, Playlist & Giveaway

Winter’s Demon

Vesik Series # 3

Eric R. Asher

Expected Publication Date- ?

Blurb-

Some things can never be undone. The horrors I've defeated—or even caused—with my own hands … they are nothing compared to what’s coming. Philip Pinkerton has brought his madness upon my family, my own blood. His army of necromancers is on the move, harbingers of a great darkness. I fear the war has begun ... and damn, I don't get paid enough for this.

Winter’s Demon Playlist:

I was on a serious Offspring kick while working on Winter’s Demon, as you’ll probably notice. My Chemical Romance and Florence + The Machine were also on repeat quite a bit. I tend to use different sections of my playlists to help set different moods while writing. I grew up playing the cello, and music has always had a big role in my life.

The Offspring: Amazed / The Kids Aren’t Alright / Come Out Swinging / Vultures / Half-Truism / You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid / A Lot Like Me / Can’t Repeat

My Chemical Romance: Helena / The Ghost Of You / Cemetery Drive / Famous Last Words / SING / DESTROYA

Florence + The Machine: Only If for a Night / Shake It Out / What the Water Gave Me / No Light, No Light / Seven Devils

A few others that found their way onto my playlist while writing Winter’s Demon:
Fireworks At Dawn by Senses Fail
Islands by The xx
The Humbling River by Puscifer
Sail by AWOLNATION
Sometimes the Line Walks You by Murder By Death
Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons
Into Dust by Mazzy Star

Days Gone Bad

Vesik # 1

Eric R. Asher

Genre- Urban Fantasy

Blurb-

My name is Damian Valdis Vesik. I am a necromancer, an ability feared and hated as much as the powers my master and I set ourselves against. We've vanquished many evils, but now something is releasing an old darkness, forcing us to hunt an enemy beyond anything I’ve faced before. I was already busy enough with vampires, fairies, witches, Watchers, weddings, and … damn, I need a vacation.

Goodread Amazon B&N     Kobo     iBooks

Audio Book: US UK

Excerpt:

Foster’s howl shattered the night. It grew into a scream as his body began to glow. Swirls of orange and red flickered into being around him, spinning faster and growing thicker as he called on the wild fae. A swirling sphere of color like the storm clouds of Jupiter swallowed the van and Foster with it. The entire scene burst into a nova of flame and I closed my eyes against the light, the blast of heat hitting me like a desert wind. Foster’s scream fell silent. I heard his sword slide out of its sheath as he stepped from the smoke and flame. His body and wings were covered in soot, but no burns marred his flesh.

The smell hit me as the wards were dissolved by the fae-powered flames. The stench of burning skin and hair was overwhelming. I stepped away from the inferno, blinked a few times, and followed Foster into the garage.

“What will the authorities find?” I said.

“Nothing but a burned out van.” Foster’s voice was dead, his knuckles stark white with the pressure he put on the hilt of his sword.

Days Gone Bad Playlist:

Music played a role in my life long before I realized it. I went through my school career in orchestra, was raised playing the cello. I eventually picked up a guitar, wrote some songs, and joined a band. After that didn’t work out so well, I settled down into writing. These are some of the songs that helped me hammer out the first draft of Days Gone Bad.

Open Hand – Her Song

Open Hand – You and Me

My Chemical Romance – The Ghost of You

My Chemical Romance – Cemetery Drive

Brand New – Luca

Paramore – Misery Business

Evanescence – Tourniquet

Murder By Death – One More Notch

Senses Fail – Rum is for Drinking, Not for Burning

J.S. Bach – The Cello Suites (performed by Yo-Yo Ma)

Wolves and the River of Stone

Vesik # 2 

Eric R. Asher

Publication Date- October 22nd, 2013

Genre- Urban Fantasy

Blurb-

Philip, Zola’s boyfriend from one hundred and fifty years ago, is not nearly as dead as we thought. I really wish he was. Not only has he kidnapped Zola, but he’s raising an army to scour humanity from the earth. Hopefully the local werewolf pack will help. What could possibly go wrong?

Goodreads Kindle     Nook     Kobo

Excerpt:

I eased the bullets into my six-barreled pepperbox one at a time, forgoing the speed loader in the name of intimidation. Lewis’s eyes went wide and locked onto the gun.

“Where is she?” I said. I took a deep breath, the Missouri River beside us masking every other scent aside from the decay of the blasted zombies. The shadowed tree lines hid us from the nearby population of Saint Charles.

Lewis shook his head.

Two days ago we learned Philip was still alive. Yesterday his servants kidnapped Zola. I didn’t know why they took her, but she didn’t go quietly. The Watchers would be using a spatula to clean out the alley where she was taken.

“You sicced your zombies on us?” I said. “A fairy and a necromancer?” I glared at Lewis. “I find myself ... irritated.”

Lewis held up his hand and started to speak.

I holstered the pepperbox under my arm and wrapped my hand around the shield rune on my staff. A flowing glass surface sprang to life as a thread of power wound into the wood and metal.

“Don’t even think about it,” I said.

Despair washed over Lewis’s face. He was breaking, and I could see it.

Wolves and the River of Stone Playlist:

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

-The Sharpest Lives

-Famous Last Words

Matt & Kim - Grand

-Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare

-I’ll Take Us Home

-Daylight

Senses Fail - Still Searching

-The Rapture

-Negative Space

-The Priest and the Matador

AFI - Decemberunderground

-Miss Murder

-Kiss and Control

-The Killing Lights

Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See

-Fade Into You

-Into Dust

J.S. Bach – The Cello Suites (performed by Yo-Yo Ma)

About the Author:

Eric is a former bookseller, guitarist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.

Links:

Facebook Twitter     Website     Goodreads

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS Cover Reveal!

Today is the day! The cover of Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS is here! We're so excited to be able to share this with you as it joins an already stunning set! Ready to see it? Not quite yet lets take a look a the first two covers in the series!

First there was ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND...

Then came THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS...

Now get ready to EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!!!

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Official White Rabbit Chronicles website

On-sale date: Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Add it to your TBR!  Goodreads

Pre-order your copy! Amazon, Barnes & Noble

        

         

  Official book description:

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

About Gena:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/The White Rabbit Chronicles Facebook

Giveaway Details:

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada Only

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To Catch a Wolf (The Jamesburg Shifters, #1) by Lynn Red Review

To Catch a Wolf by Lynn Red
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jamesburg alpha, Erik Danniken, wants to make human, Isabel Taylor, his mate. However, politics and the pack’s lack of trust in the human race are preventing him from claiming her. Meanwhile, Izzy is becoming frustrated with waiting. A town scandal is about to repeat itself, helping to determine the couple's faith.

To catch a wolf is a cute story. At times, the writing style and humor reminded me a bit of Shelly Laurenston. Which, in my opinion, is a good thing.

The characters are entertaining. I was definitely chuckling throughout the story.

This is the book for you if you enjoy shifter humor, crazy necromancers, and zombies.

ARC provided publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle Edition, 121 pages
Published January 1st 2014 by Yellow Moon Press
ASIN: B00HN9G1BS
edition language: English
series: The Jamesburg Shifters #1

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Born in Blood (The Sentinels #1) by Alexandra Ivy Review

Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kansas City Sergeant Duncan O’Conner’s murder investigation solicits the help of necromancer, Callie Brown, to help solve the paranormal case. What Callie discovers is the work of a powerful necromancer who should not exist. Working together they need to stop the murderer and try not to become the next casualty.

The world they live in has a lot of trust issues between the supernatural community, better known as high-bloods or freaks and humans. They need to overcome prejudices in order to work with each other.

I enjoyed that the characters discovered things about themselves throughout the novel that enable them to grow as individuals and accept details about themselves.

Alexandra Ivy is off to a great start with this new series. She does a good job at making the story seem believable. Born in Blood has fast pace action that will keep you guessing.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paperback, 373 pages

Published December 31st 2013 by Zebra

original title: Born in Blood

ISBN 1420125141 (ISBN13: 9781420125146)

edition language: English

url: http://www.alexandraivy.com/bib.htm

series: The Sentinels #1

characters: Duncan O'Conner, Callie Brown

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M-Day' by D.T. Dyllin Promo

Zombies? That's kids stuff.  

Welcome to the ultimate battle of the sexes. Welcome to M-Day... 

Available now and on sale from February 7-14!

Title: M-Day (M-Day #1)
Author: D.T. Dyllin
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Publisher: Tik Tok Press
Cover Artist: Lindsay Tiry
Interior Book Design: The Eyes For Editing
Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fdcqz4

Synopsis:

Before the day… before M-day… people used to read books and watch movies about zombies. They used to dress up as zombies; pretend to kill zombies… Basically, zombies had become a part of popular culture in a very unexpected way.

The highly anticipated zombie apocalypse never came.

What did come was much worse than any city over run with shambling corpses after brains and flesh. A virus… a virus that only affected men. Nobody knew what caused it, or where it had come from, not that it really mattered. It's here and there’s no going back.

Maxine was one of the lucky ones--she got out alive. She and her friends banded together to survive the new desolate conditions left behind by the virus. When a supply gathering mission goes awry, Max and company are left with no better choice than to trust a group of uninfected military men. No longer on the run from her infected husband, Max discovers there could be worse dangers for her on the horizon… Like losing her heart to her mysterious savior everyone calls Zee.  

About the Author

D.T. Dyllin is a Bestselling Romance Author who writes in both New Adult and Adult genres. She is a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and also her local chapter, the MCRW (Music City Romance Writers).

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two spoiled GSDs.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

Learning To Live (Zombie Overload Series) by C. M. Wright eBook Giveaway

Learning To Live 

(Zombie Overload Series)

C. M. Wright

This third book in the Zombie Overload series begins at the same emotional moment that book two ended.

How much more can Canada take - both emotionally and physically? Her body is bruised and abused. Bloody and torn. But her heart is what hurts the most.

Can Jake help ease the pain? Or does he become more of a complication than she can handle?

Again, experience this new world with Canada and her family. Be a part of Canada's life - all the pain, the emotional rollercoasters, and whatever happiness can be found.

Giveaway:

The First person to CLICK HERE will receive the free eBook.  In return please follow me at one of the following links:

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Enjoy,
Diane