Leap Into Books Hop

Welcome to the Leap Into Books Hop! Thanks to I'm a Reader Not a Writer and Jinky Is Reading for hosting this awesome Hop!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


There are a LOT of blogs participating in this hop so have fun and good luck! Thanks for stopping by!

What are you Reading Monday? -8

I am going to cram as much into the last of the month (reading wise) as possible! I have plans people! I am almost caught up and want to keep it that way! So here be the aforementioned plans!

To Read:

• Partials
• One Foot in the Grave
• Dead Mann Walking
• Losing Clementine (Blog Tour)
• City of Bones

To Review:

• The Rift Walker
• The Stubborn Dead

Books To Start: 

• Dune (want to read about 5 chapters or more)

Will I finish these? Probably not, but I will give it my best try! What are you reading?

Review: The Rift Walker

Blurb: 

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, senator Clark. With the human alliance in disarrray, Prince Cesare, lord of the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.
As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north. Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are the key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be death to vampires. But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele's beloved Greyfriar.
The Rift Walkeris the second book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternative history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic politcal themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Book Details: 

• Paperback: 399 pages
• Publisher: Pyr (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616145234

My Review: 
I loved the first book in this series, The Greyfriar, it was vastly different than any vampire book I had read recently. I fell in love with the story so hard. Princess Adele and Prince Gareth are amazingly well crafted characters, it's so easy to like them! Each have a complexity about them, and each chapter gives you one more layer. All of the characters are sharp and intricately created, even King Dmitri, who spends most of his time in a stupor! I think that's a testament to this book and how great the writing is.

My only teeny tiny complaint is Clark. He's the only one I couldn't really "get." I understand he's pompous and full of himself, but I kind of would want to see the human side of him a little more. I'm not saying he's not a great bad guy, but I kind of want to know why he is a bad guy. Is he just selfish and ambitious? Does he have any feelings? Even with that complaint I still like to hate him.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series! I seriously am frothing at the mouth to see what happens next!

this is seriously how i will be if i have to wait too long for the next book!

Blog Tour: Sparks

The second book in Bickle’s series about Anya Kalinczyk is just as wonderful as the first—Anya is a compelling and likable protagonist and Bickle does an outstanding job in her portrayal of the city of Detroit; there are ruins, yes, but also hope in the ashes. Anya never takes herself too seriously and there is a scene in a baby supercenter that is absolutely not to be missed. (4 stars)

                 - RT Book Reviews

...a charming and inventive read.

                 -Elizabeth Bear, Realms of Fantasy Magazine, December 2010

WITHOUT A TRACE...

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department—while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell—but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains—or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more—she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

SPARKS is available for pre-order from Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Book Details:

Anya Kalinczyk #2

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN 978-1439167687

September 2010

My Review:  
 Can you say woah? I thought Embers was awesomesauce, but Sparks (dare I say it?) is better! Laura Bickle continues the story of Anya Kalinczyk. She is a Lantern. She can see spirits and they can see her, AND she can "eat" them. This was a compelling part of the first book, but brings and extra punch in the sequel. She starts to wonder about things that she hadn't considered in depth before. The afterlife, and what really happens. Very deep questions, woven into the story in what I consider a pretty logical and well thought out way.


I think that character growth is what makes this book so super. Anya was kick butt in Embers, but she's more than just that. She's grown since the first book. Showing her reaching out for deeper answers to her life and what it means to be who she is, is pretty compelling reading. I have to commend Laura Bickle for making me read faster and faster as I went along. 


I am delighted to say that I have a new writer that I will be following. I enjoyed this series very much and will recommend it with two thumbs up and a goofy grin!

Blog Tour: Embers

“One of the most promising debut novels I’ve read in a great while… I’d highly recommend this book to anybody who reads fantasy. It reminds me in many regards…of another exceptional first novel…Emma Bull’s seminal War for the Oaks, and there’s not much higher praise that I can give.”

           —Elizabeth Bear on Tor.com

“Bickle has something great in Anya. Embers has everything: demons, ghosts, dragons, love, sex, police, and murder.”

           —M.L.N. Hanover, bestselling author of Darker Angels

“Gritty but never grim, Embers is a truly urban fantasy, where the soul of a city haunts every page. I can’t wait for more of Anya and the unforgettable Sparky!”

           —Jeri Smith-Ready, award-winning author of Bad to the Bone and Shade

Unemployment, despair, anger--visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit's unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.

Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya--who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern--suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil's Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya--with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team --can stop it.

Anya's accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she's risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she's ever faced.

EMBERS is available now from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.


Book Info:

Anya Kalinczyk #1

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN: 978-1439167656

April 2010

My Review:  

So this is a book that starts off very good and ends VERY good. I cannot tell you how much of a kick @$$ heroine Anya  is. She's sharp witty, funny, and strong. I like that. The writing is superb and fun. The action is knock your socks off (and probably your teeth too) amazing. Anya isn't your, "let's fight in high heels and a bustier", kind of chick; but she does have a soft side. There's a balance to her personality that I think Laura Bickle captures very well. You see she's got vulnerable spots, but she can also hold her own. Double likey. 

One thing we cannot forget about is SPARKY! How cute is that guy? Seriously? He even has his own twitter. So that's how cool he is! I like that even though Anya is tough, she has this little Salamander nugget of fun to watch out for her, to keep her from being totally alone. I think Sparky is just amazingly adorable and definitely brought the laugh breaks in during some intense moments. 


This is a wonderful start to a series and I cannot wait to see what Laura Bickle has in store for us with the second book, Sparks!

Goodreads Catch Up Read-a-Thon!

Details:
*Will run from 2/24 (12:01 AM) to 3/1 (11:59 PM).

*If you are a blogger, please do a post announcing your participation. If you want to do all of your updating from one post, that is completely fine by me. (You can also grab the smaller button below.)

*I will be having mini-challenges throughout the week. Two for US residents and one for my international friends!

*I can’t stress this enough: HAVE FUN with the read-a-thon!

Yup! I have signed up for another one! I am a few books behind on my good reads tracker so this has fallen in my lap, JUST in the nick of time! 

I HOPE to read  :

• One Foot in the Grave
• Partials
• The Stubborn Dead (it's a short ebook)
• (finish up the Rift Walker)

Wish me luck!

** Thank you to Michelle @ The True Book Addict for tipping me off and for the update format! :)***

2/24 
Book Starting: The Rift Walker-(finishing) *starting page 256/ 286*
Total number of pages I’ve read: 30
Books started/continued with/finished today: Rift Walker
Thoughts: We got some good news yesterday and had to go out and get some last minute errands run. This totally blew any chance of actually reading! Today I hope to get more accomplished!

2/25 and 2/26
Book Starting: The Rift Walker-(finishing) *starting page  286/ 398* Started-Partials (ebook) 61/340
Total number of pages I’ve read: 203
Books Read: 1
Thoughts: These last few days have been hectic for my family, but it's calming down now. I am loving Partials so I hope I can get that done soon! :)

2/27 and 2/28
Book Starting: Partials (ebook) Started: 61/340-Ended 195/340
Total number of pages I’ve read: 348
Books Read: 1
Thoughts: I am LOVING Partials! I read until my eyes started to cross!

Last Day
Book Starting: Partials (ebook) Started 195/340
Total number of pages I’ve read: 348
Books Read: 1
Thoughts:

Happy Release Day!!!

The second book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy reveals a world as captivating—and as dangerous—as the one Rhine left behind in Wither. Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped the beautiful prison of Wither’s mansion, but they are far from escaping danger. First they’re chased for stealing a getaway boat, and then the fleeing pair ends up in the eerie den of Madame, an old woman who collects girls and sells them to the highest bidders. Worst of all, Vaughn, Rhine’s sinister father-in-law, seems to be on her trail every step of the way. Rhine remains determined to get to her brother in Manhattan—but the road they are on is long and perilous. Now that Rhine has finally regained her freedom, what lengths will she need to go to in order to keep it?

Guest Post: Covert Dreams

What motivates you as a writer?    

Writing is a lonely avocation, just my trusty computer at my side by side, as I work hard to create people, places, and plots that other people might enjoy reading. Marketing one’s own writing is an extremely lonely business. Unlike having a traditional publisher and all of its clout behind me, I have only myself, and I am a writer, not a salesperson. I find it difficult to toot my own horn, though I know that it is essential in order to get word of the very existence of my work out to the reading public. So what keeps me going? The writing, of course, gives me a lot of enjoyment. I am actually like a reader as I write. I never quite know how things will turn out in the end, not only of the book itself, but also in specific scenes. I thoroughly enjoy working with words, stringing them together in a creative way. Language has always fascinated me. Can you goose a goose? Does a house burn up or burn down? If you are going to come visit me, are you coming or going? Why would you want to swipe your card at a cash register if you already own the card? There is a huge difference between snap to and snap at. The list can go on and on. I love to play with words as I write, and this can be seen in COVERT DREAMS.

            Marketing my own work, however, is a completely different ballgame. I am a good writer, but I lack a lot in the area of salesmanship. I do seek out as many reviewers, interviewers, and bloggers as I can, and I am very thankful for all of these people, but every hour I spend tooting my own horn could be spent creating, my real forte. So what keeps me plugging away at telling others about my work, you might ask? The answer is found in the wonderful reactions that readers have to my work. Their excitement serves to push me forward. I like people, and it makes me happy to see that they, in turn, like what I have created. Here are a few random lines from posted reviews of COVERT DREAMS on my Amazon author’s site as examples of what I mean:

            “This story will not disappoint as it sucks you right into these lives from page one and doesn't let go until the last page is turned.”

            “If you enjoy psychological thrillers and exotic locales, this is the book for you.”

            “This is the best book, bar none, that I've read in an eon. It grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let me go…. I felt I was in the hands of a master.” 

            “…it [COVERT DREAMS] was like I was reading Robert Ludlum and the Borne series.”

            “I'm looking forward to reading more from this wordsmith! Michael Meyer is a born storyteller!”

            “Covert Dreams is ‘I got captured’-reading, as opposed to ‘escape’-reading.”

            I think you can see what I mean. It is pretty heady stuff, the type of thing that helps me keep the faith.

Blurb:

Is the mysterious disappearance of an American in today's Saudi Arabia somehow linked to a terrible murder in Munich back in 1984? What is real, and what is not? Who is really who, and why? What is behind the murder, the kidnappings, and the nightmares all leading up to what end? COVERT DREAMS is an international thriller that will keep you on the edge of your chair. It grabs you in the very first sentence and then never lets go. The mounting intensity moves from the beer gardens of Munich to the burning sands of Arabia. Just as you think you have things figured out, wham, another twist! Do you love mysteries? Do you love thrillers? Do you love suspense? If so, then COVERT DREAMS is for you.
About the writer:

 Mike Meyer recently retired from a 40-year career as a professor of writing, amassing numerous teaching awards along the way from both his students and his colleagues. He lives in the Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two other cats. Many years ago, he was a student in Germany. He has since visited Munich numerous times. He also was a professor at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. The locales he writes about here are real.
Links: My Amazon book link: http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005WO860K/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

My Amazon website: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Meyer/e/B005E7M8CW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

 

What are you Reading Monday? -7

This week, my goal is to catch up with my Goodreads reading challenge ticker thingy. Right now, it says that I'm about 3 books behind, so I am shooting for that this week! I REALLY want to make my goal this year!

Reading:



Finish:


It sounds lofty but I really wanna catch up! I will sacrifice a little sleep to get there! What are you reading?

Blog Tour: The God King

Synopsis:
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...

In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.

Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.

My Review:
This was a very solid addition to any Fantasy lover's library. The characters are solidly developed and the world is wonderfully crafted. I found myself lost in the action and the intensity of the story! I enjoyed the flow of this book and feel like it could make for a great start of a series! I hope that this story gets continued! I will definitely look forward to more work from James A. West! I think this is a must read!

Tour Stop:

February 23th – Review
@ Book Snatch

February 24th – Review and Giveaway
@ I Smell Sheep

February 25th: Review, Interview and Giveaway
@ Understanding Shae’s Story

February 27th – Review and Author Interview
@ Sheila Deeth Blog

February 28th – Review
@ Fiction Fascinatino

February 29th – Author Interview and Review
@ The Wormhole

March 1st – Promo Stop and Giveaway
@ Kindle and Me

Promo Spot: The God King

 Blurb:
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse...

In the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king's city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.

Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world's savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.

Important Links

James’ website: http://jamesawest.com
 
James’ blog:http://www.jamesawest.blogspot.com
Twitter: @jwestbooks

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003029796787

Buy on Amazon:
Buy Here

Buy on B&N:
Buy Here

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13060979-the-god-king

Literary Blog Hop

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by Judith at Leeswamme's Blog! This hop has almost 60 (probably more) blogs participating to give you the chance to win some really awesome books! I am offering 1 (ONE) person the chance to pick 1 (ONE) book out of these four amazing novels! Once you've entered here, then continue on to the other amazing blogs on the linky list below! Have fun and Good luck! Happy Reading!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leeswammes Curiosity Killed The Bookworm Lit Endeavors (US) The Book Whisperer Rikki's Teleidoscope 2606 Books and Counting The Parrish Lantern Sam Still Reading Bookworm with a view Breieninpeking (Dutch readers) Seaside Book Nook Elle Lit (US) Nishita's Rants and Raves Tell Me A Story Living, Learning, and Loving Life (US) Book'd Out Uniflame Creates Tiny Library (UK) An Armchair by the Sea (UK) bibliosue Lena Sledge's Blog (US) Roof Beam Reader Misprinted Pages Mevrouw Kinderboek (Dutch readers) Under My Apple Tree (US) Indie Reader Houston Book Clutter I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (US) Lizzy's Literary Life Sweeping Me

Caribousmom (US) Minding Spot (US) Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea The Book Diva's Reads The Blue Bookcase Thinking About Loud! write meg! (US) Devouring Texts Thirty Creative Studio (US) The Book Stop Dolce Bellezza (US) Simple Clockwork Chocolate and Croissants The Scarlet Letter (US) Reflections from the Hinterland (N. America) De Boekblogger (Europe, Dutch readers) Readerbuzz (US) Must Read Faster (N. America) Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry carolinareti MaeGal Ephemeral Digest Scattered Figments (UK) Bibliophile By the Sea The Blog of Litwits (US) Kate Austin Alice Anderson (US) Always Cooking up Something

Quick Review: Halfway to the Grave

Blurb:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her new found status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Book Details: 

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061245089

My Review: 
I believe the phrase "OMG!" is appropriate here! I loved this book so hard! I honestly wanted to put some hot sauce on it and gobble it up! Cat and Bones are so hot together! I have to admit that he did give me Spike (from Buffy) vibes occasionally, at least in the beginning. That is a compliment, by the way. After I read more, he began to lose that Spike-ishness and he just became Bones.

Cat is definitely a chick I want on my side in a fight. She has all the attributes of a vampire, but in human form. She knows how to fight, and with Bones' help she gets even more kick ass at it! She's tough but definitely has a soft side. I cannot wait to know more about this chick and her story!


Halfway to the Grave, is an awesome first book in the series. I am itching to crack open One Foot In the Grave! 

Blog Tour: Rogue Oracle

ROGUE ORACLE

Delphic Oracle #2

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN 978-1439182819

Feb. 22, 2011

Alayna Williams writes with power and poetry, combining old mythos with complete ass-kickery. You don’t want to miss this series.”

                 -National bestselling author Ann Aguirre

The more you know about the future, the more there may be to fear.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen…

ROGUE ORACLE is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Read an excerpt at:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Rogue-Oracle/Alayna-Williams/9781439182819/excerpt

Author Bio:

Alayna Williams has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she's never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses. Like the Pythia in Dark Oracle, she's been known to belly dance. Unlike the Pythia she'd never consider herself a professional

Writing as Laura Bickle, she's the author of EMBERS and SPARKS for Pocket - Juno Books. Writing as Alayna Williams, she's the author of DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE.

More info on her urban fantasy and general nerdiness is here: http://www.salamanderstales.com/

Laura/ Alayna’s blogs

http://www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com and http://delphisdaughters.blogspot.com

She’s at Facebook

And Twitter...@Laura_Bickle

Sparky the fire salamander from EMBERS and SPARKS has his own Twitter account, @SparkySalamandr


My Review:
Wow! This book was full of fun! I love the character growth with Tara and Harry. Everything flows smoothly and the action is pretty much non-stop! I love the supernatural elements and the *conflicted* love interest!

As with Dark Oracle, Alayna Williams knows how to bring on the good times! This book was a quick read, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it! My review will be short, because I cannot really find anything to nit pick with this one. I do think that it's a bit more meatier than the first, but that's to be expected with a second book. I  really recommend this one to anyone that enjoys paranormal fiction with a hint of romance!

I am pleased! :)

Diet Day 5-2/15

Lookit! I'm down 4lbs! Yesterday was rough, but I managed to keep on plan and stay on track! We got a bit crazy and had drinks...okay LOTS of drinks, but it was vodka and diet coke for me. I didn't snack and I kept control over myself! I was sure I would wake up without a loss or with a gain! But I didn't! I just woke up with a hangover. lol Not fun at all!
So today I'm not setting any particular goals. Just going to keep on how I have been. Water and good foods.

Book Spotlight: Rogue Oracle

ROGUE ORACLE

Delphic Oracle #2

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN 978-1439182819

Feb. 22, 2011

Alayna Williams writes with power and poetry, combining old mythos with complete ass-kickery. You don’t want to miss this series.”

                 -National bestselling author Ann Aguirre

The more you know about the future, the more there may be to fear.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen…

ROGUE ORACLE is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Read an excerpt at:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Rogue-Oracle/Alayna-Williams/9781439182819/excerpt

My Review coming tomorrow!

Blog Tour: Dark Oracle

DARK ORACLE

Delphic Oracle #1

Pocket Juno Books
Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN 978-1439182796

June 2010 

DARK ORACLE is a scientific, paranormal read that takes readers on a wild chase. A subtle romance lends to the entertainment this read offers. Tara is a strong female who has many stories till waiting to be told. An interesting new series that is not quite like anything else! (4 stars)

                 -RT Book Reviews

“Dark Oracle is a lot of fun.”

                 -Elizabeth Bear, Realms of Fantasy Magazine, December 2010

Can an oracle change the future she sees?

Tara Sheridan swore off criminal profiling years ago. By combining Tarot card divination with her own intuition, she narrowly escaped the grasp of a serial killer who left her scarred for life. She put down her cards and withdrew from work and society. Now, Sophia, a member of an ancient secret society connected to the mythic Delphic Oracle, asks Tara to find a missing scientist who has unlocked the destructive secrets of dark energy. Tara resists— she fears reawakening her long-buried talents and blames Sophia’s Daughters of Delphi for the death of her mother. But, grudgingly, she agrees to search for the missing scientist, Lowell Magnusson.

Tara travels to Las Alamos National Laboratory, the location of Magnusson’s disappearance. She meets the serious, impatient, and highly attractive Agent Harry Li— and re-encounters her old partner, Richard Corvus. Corvus is now chief of the Special Projects Division, a position Tera might have held, had she not dropped out of investigative work. Corvus considers Tara mentally imbalanced and not to be trusted— but it may be Corvus who is untrustworthy.

Tara’s investigation and Tarot cards tell her Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, may hold the key to her father’s plans, and that they both are in grave danger. Meanwhile, Corvus and the Daughters of Delphi have their own plans...and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Available now from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Read an excerpt at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Dark-Oracle/Alayna-Williams/9781439182796/excerpt

Author Bio:

Alayna Williams has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she's never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses. Like the Pythia in Dark Oracle, she's been known to belly dance. Unlike the Pythia she'd never consider herself a professional

Writing as Laura Bickle, she's the author of EMBERS and SPARKS for Pocket - Juno Books. Writing as Alayna Williams, she's the author of DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE.

More info on her urban fantasy and general nerdiness is here: http://www.salamanderstales.com/

Laura/ Alayna’s blogs

http://www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com and http://delphisdaughters.blogspot.com

She’s at Facebook

And Twitter...@Laura_Bickle

Sparky the fire salamander from EMBERS and SPARKS has his own Twitter account, @SparkySalamandr

My Review: 
So I pretty much really enjoy a book that has a strong female main character that never ever backs down! This one definitely kept me rapt to my Nook reading and reading and wanting more! Tara is someone you want to immediately know more about and it's an almost a quick bond between her character and the reader.

The story is fast paced and coherent. There's the paranormal aspects and the "normal" aspects that are pretty much guaranteed to satisfy any one's reading tastes. The writing is smart and fresh, the concept is clever, the character development is pretty darn near flawless.

All in all, I felt like this was a great start of a series. I enjoy books that let you get to know the main character slowly instead of the dreaded, "info dump"  via flash backs or loooong introductions. This book let the reader slowly figure Tara out. You get a few pieces of information about her at the start, but you get to know her as you read on. You see what makes her tick and what drives her, and to me that was awesome! She is a great character and I can't wait to see more about her!

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My selection comes from Embers by Laura Bickle,


"You. Me. Your scariness. That's not why there's not...you and me."
He snorted. "Are we having the 'It's not you , it's me' discussion? We don't ahve to do that , you know. I get it." She bit her lip. "That's not it. It's my scariness." Brian set the parts down. "Your 'scariness,'" He made air quotation marks around the word. She stared down at her hands. "Look, you know what I do isn't exactly normal."
"This is not news." 

Ooh! Drama! I loves you! :) How's that for a snippit of relationship drama?