Review: Silver by Rhiannon Held

Review by Shellie for Silver by Rhiannon Held.

Shellie’s quick take:  A nicely paced urban fantasy about werewolves. It includes a strong romantic element, a religion particular to werewolves and insanity.

Shellie’s description:  Andrew Dare is a werewolf with a horrific past. His life is spent finding and punishing other werewolves that break the social laws of the werewolves in Northern America. Essentially the second in command for a wolf-pack that resides on the Eastern side of the United States, it’s when he finds a lone female wandering in his pack’s territory that the story begins. She calls herself Silver since she has been injected with silver yet has miraculously survived – and from Andrew’s encounter with her it’s apparent she has gone mad. She rambles mindlessly to a phantom and has not eaten or bathed in some time. She refuses to let him help her. Eager to put this drama to rest, Andrew does his best to do the right thing and attempts to find out Silver’s story. It appears that the monster that’s injected her may also be tracking others. So the entire werewolf community may be at risk for an identical fate and Andrew decides he must find the killer before another werewolf is victimized.

In alternating story lines from both Silver and Andrew, the reader finds out the mystery of Silver’s torture and the identity of the monster that is stalking her. This is all told with an increasing emotional involvement between the two main characters.

Shellie’s thoughts:  Silver is a dark, emotional and thoughtful story. What I particularly liked is that there is no other magical system or paranormal creatures complicating things (in this first of three books anyway). And the werewolf mythology is based upon what most readers already believe about werewolves, making it so the reader can immediately jump into the action of the story.

Although at first the plot description may sound rather simple and perhaps familiar, Silver has great pacing, emotional and social depth, and compelling complications, so it pulls the reader along quickly. As the plot becomes increasingly involved and the relationship between the two main characters develops, the reader gets deeper insight into the characters’ inner workings. Also included are some added twists; the main character Silver is emotionally and physically damaged (essentially handicapped) and yet conversely is still a strong lead; she is experiencing hallucinations which have a life of their own and actually become a character; and the author brings in a spiritual/religious element (a religion that is specific to the werewolves) giving the story another dimension and adding to the complexity of the emotions.

On the negative side Silver does have an ending that is predictable and I did have slight trouble getting into the writing. It took me several chapters before becoming comfortable with Held’s style, which I would consider sparse and engaging.

Definitely for those who enjoy romance, books that include werewolves, fans of Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series, and anyone who enjoys a good story. Silver is for readers who are looking for drama and emotions around the main characters rather than just an action-oriented story (although there is quite a lot of that). I give this debut novel 3.5 stars. It would have been 4 stars if not for my few quibbles. A promising debut, I will definitely be looking at the books the author writes in the future since I believe that she will only get better at her craft.

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Tor Books | June 2012 | Trade Paperback | 320 pages

This is the first book in a three book series with the latest book to be released tomorrow. Silver is the first, Tarnished the second, and Reflected is the third. To read the publisher’s description for Silver please see our incoming books for June 2012. For more information about Tarnished and Reflected see our incoming books feature for February 13, 2014.

We have an interview with Rhiannon Held in honor of the release day of the third book in the series - Reflected. The interview has some interesting insight into the author’s process and more.

Review: Eyes to See ~ by Joseph Nassise

A review written by John.

John’s quick take: A very dark urban fantasy about a grieving father who gives up his natural eyesight in order to see things differently.

John’s description:  Once upon a time, Jeremiah Hunt seemed to have everything – a well-respected job that he enjoyed, a beautiful wife with a high-powered career, a nice house and, above all, a daughter that he adored. Then one night his young daughter simply disappeared from his house and all attempts to find her come to nothing. Hunt becomes increasingly obsessed with the search and ceaselessly chases down every clue and piece of information, keeping up the search long after everyone else has given up hope. Eventually his obsession causes him to lose his job, his reputation and eventually his wife; but still Hunt is driven to keep looking.

Then one day he decides to undergo an arcane ritual, causing him to lose his normal sight in exchange for an ability to see “that which is unseen”. Now he can see all manner of ghost and spirits – and to his great shock the world is full of them. He is convinced that somehow his new gift will help him to find his daughter, but his life becomes ever more bizarre. He takes on odd jobs chasing away unwanted spirits that are haranguing the living, and also uses some of his skills to help out the police.

A series of brutal murders that he helps to investigate seem to be somehow linked to his daughter’s disappearance, and soon Hunt is sucked into a battle with an ancient and evil force. What can he find out about his daughter’s fate? Might she still be alive? With a mixture of blindness, special sight and obsession, he is lured towards a dreadful finale.

John’s thoughts:   This was my second dive into the fantasy genre in the last few weeks – a genre that doesn’t normally attract me. While there is much in here that will appeal to fantasy fans, I must admit that my attention was wandering by the time I’d got halfway through the book. I guess I can only take so many ghosts and ghoulies and this story is full of them. Not to mention witches and magick.

It is clear from some other reviews that I saw that many readers do rate this book highly and I can see why. The plot was interesting, the writing was tight and fast-paced, the Hunt character is certainly intriguing and the story is hard boiled and dark in extremes. Throughout it all Hunt’s pain and anguish ooze from the pages. If those things all sound good to you and you like urban fantasy, then you should jump right in. It’s just not quite my cup of tea.

I’d still rate the book three stars, as it is well written and imaginative. (It’s also got a terrific cover).

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Eyes to See (The Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle -Volume 1 of 3) by Joseph Nassise

Tor Books; October 2011; Hardcover; 320 pages.

Review: In a Fix ~ by Linda Grimes

It’s release day for In a Fix ~ by Linda Grimes and we have a review  by Shellie for it!

A laugh-out-loud, fast-paced, new romantic urban fantasy series with a sexy love triangle, bound to keep readers sleep deprived and waiting for the next in the series.

About:  Ciel is a feisty, petite red head with loads of freckles which she dislikes every time she looks in the mirror. But she doesn’t linger too much on her perceived inadequacies and gets on with life since she has a new business; after all she is an adult. Or so she tells herself, even though her family and friends behave otherwise.

Ciel’s business is based upon using her genetic talent of “aura adapting” (the ability to take on the form of another person) to assist wealthy clients in need. In her latest job, Ciel has taken on the image of a drop-dead gorgeous wealthy young woman. She is to travel to the Bahamas to obtain a proposal for marriage and an engagement ring from her client’s even richer and perfectly handsome boyfriend. But to Ciel’s chagrin things don’t go as easily as she hoped or planned.

When Ciel’s dreams of a sexy (she has been granted sanctioned sex with her client’s boyfriend), luxurious and “paid vacation” becomes a mess, she is more than a little upset. Even though the bungalow of the two wealthy love birds’ is blown into pieces, and the hunky would be groom is missing, Ciel still has her job to think about. She needs to return her client’s fiancé (with the ring) to collect her earned money even though it’s Neo-Vikings that are the cause of the problem.

The story becomes even more twisted, and hilarious, as Ciel’s two very male, sexy, meddlesome, and controlling childhood friends (aura adaptors too) become deeply involved – believing that she needs protecting and is incapable of taking care of herself.

Thoughts:  I devoured this book in three sittings, which is rare for me. I am a “grazer” when it comes to reading. Meaning: I read bits and pieces of many different books, sometimes completing them, often not. However, with In a Fix I had to find out what was going to happen next in the book on several levels - dramatically and romantically.

But the best part is that I laughed myself silly throughout the story, and I liked the main character. Ciel, is self effacing, strong and will not let life’s messy events keep her from getting her job done or doing mostly the right thing. I liked that she refused to let her two male childhood friends, hell-bent on keeping her in the dark and safely in an office, stop her from living her life, taking care of her new business and haphazardly saving a few lives.

I recommend pushing through to the second third of the book if you are having any trouble with the first several chapters, it was worth it for me. It’s highly recommended for its snarky (beware of strong language) and not completely politically correct humor (what truly funny humor is),  pant-inducing romance scenes (includes some hilarious and sexy nudity), and its old fashioned chivalry with a modern twist (guys will be guys humor.) This was great genre fun! It’s a 4 star in my opinion. I will be waiting for the next book in the series.

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Tor Books; 9/4/2012; Trade Paperback;  336 pages.

LINDA GRIMES is a former English teacher and ex-actress now channeling her love of words and drama into writing. She grew up in Texas and currently resides in northern Virginia with her husband.

If you’d like to check out a trailer for In a Fix, the author has one posted to her website, Visiting Reality! http://www.lindagrimes.com/2012/08/in-fix-trailer.html

Also the winner of the ARC copy of In a Fix with the author signed book mark goes to:   Lauren M. Congrats Lauren!

Reviews: Carrie Vaughn’s ~ Kitty Norville Series, books 1 - 5

Reviews by Shellie for books 1 through 5 of Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville Series - in audio.

I am catching up on this great 10 book series (so far) which features the strong female character – werewolf Kitty Norville. With the latest book number 10 from the series - Kitty Steals the Show (July 2012 Tor books shown to the left) just released about a month ago I figured it was a perfect excuse to start at the beginning.

Happily, I’ve devoured the first five books and am working on the sixth now. My continued interest tells me (and you) something about this paranormal/urban fantasy with its light romance and social commentary. It’s definitely relaxing, darkly fun, and thoughtful stuff!

Included here is a complete review for the first in the series and very short summaries for the other four books which can be read as stand alones, but I recommend them in order to get the full development and understanding of the characters – especially Kitty.

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Kitty and The Midnight Hour (#1 Kitty Norville Series) ~ by Carrie Vaughn (in audio)

Book number one, of this fun and dark series where Denver DJ turned werewolf, Kitty Norville, accidentally starts a radio talk show – called “The Midnight Hour”. It surprisingly blows the radio station ratings sky high pulling in special callers (werewolves, vampires, and more) looking for advice in a world where they have been thought not to exist.

About:  Kitty is a nighttime DJ who has been unwittingly turned werewolf. Definitely not a choice, she deals with it with the help of her best friend TJ (also a werewolf) and their local pack. Being part of the pack has helped her adjust, but there is a hierarchy within the group that is not entirely comfortable, balanced or healthy.

When her paranormal radio talk/advice show “The Midnight Hour” becomes a hit, it disrupts the pack’s status quo and the paranormal entities in power are annoyed and angry. With factions attempting to stop her new found success and independence, Kitty maneuvers through the drama as peacefully as possible. But there are some pack members (and others – including vampires) who may even want her dead.

Thoughts for the entire first 5 books in the series:

*I recommend reading the series in order and definitely reading the first book before the rest, which gives the reader an important basis for the entire series.*

I listened to this book in audio which was read by Marguerite Gavin. I liked the voice of the reader and felt it fit for the Kitty character. She does a fine job with differentiating all the characters, changing the tone for men and women, creating believable differences, and handling accents from different countries and locales in the US.

With its realistic modern day setting, this is urban fantasy with some paranormal romance thrown into the mix. It’s fantastical in nature but the story is relevant. I found it fun (darkly so) and thoughtful, without being too fluffy. It includes insight into human nature while questioning social and moral issues, making it feel like there are lessons to ponder while enjoying the drama, dry humor, and light, tasteful romance. I think my favorite part of the series is the character Kitty herself; she is strong and independent, yet vulnerable and reflective. I can see why there are 10 books in the series, one story collection, miscellaneous short stories, and apparently more in the works.  4 stars!

Special note: The series includes light and tasteful sex scenes, strong language, as well as horror elements. A “heads up” for those readers that may be sensitive to them. 

Unabridged - 7 hours, 2 minutes; Jul 2, 2009

Kitty Goes to Washington (#2)

In this second book of the series Kitty is on the run, doing her late night talk show at random places around the US. Things become sticky when she is called in to testify at a Senate hearing as an expert witness in Washington DC, where a number of those running the hearing possess motives which are all but pure.

Unabridged - 8 hours, 54 minutes; Jul 23, 2009

 

Kitty Takes a Holiday (#3)

In this third book of the series, Kitty is recovering from the drama of having her face and body changed into a werewolf being plastered all over national TV; she is no longer an incognito radio show host. So she has decided to take some time to hide, reflect, relax and write her memoir. But things don’t work out as she planned when one of her friends turns up at her cabin door, bitten and infected by the werewolf virus.

Unabridged - 8 hours, 29 minutes Oct 26, 2009  

 

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (# 4)

Although banned from returning to Denver, Kitty has little choice but to come home since her mother is ill. Unfortunately the local pack’s leaders are not taking kindly to her arrival back into the area - which creates a big messy conflict.

Unabridged - 9 hours, 1 minute; Nov 30, 2009

 

Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand (# 5)

Kitty with her alpha-mate Ben head to Vegas to elope. It’s an attempt to make their lives simpler, but instead things become even more complex and dramatic. They encounter a preforming were-tiger pack that has intriguing associations to an evil ancient goddess and also some nefarious goals.

Unabridged - 7 hours, 41 minutes; Jan 4, 2010

 

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Carrie Vaughn is a prolific writer, having written approximately 16 books, loads of short stories, and some very cute homemade comics (definitely worth linking to her website for a giggle.) Website: http://www.carrievaughn.com/

The audio books listened to in this first 5 books of the series are read by Marguerite Gavin and published by Tantor Media. All have been borrowed from our local library, which in no way influenced my reviews or thoughts about them (except that it reinforces my love for libraries.)

I am definitely looking forward to rest of the series!

Review: Fever Series ~ by Karen Marie Moning

A five book review by Shellie for: Fever Series (in audio) ~ by Karen Marie Moning

Set in the rainy city of Dublin, Ireland, this paranormal romance/urban fantasy series has a complex mythology, intense sexual tension, two alien fairy factions, and loads of interesting drama and action. It’s a completely addictive series and highly recommended in its audio version for a five book escapist read.

About:  This series (with a promise of more books, using a different character set in the same urban world) portrays a powerful, alien, and dark Faery population which are divided into two factions - the dark and ugly “Unseelie” faction and the not so dark and beautiful “Seelie” faction.

It may be the end of the world as humans know it if the boundaries between the dark fairy realm is not sealed quickly since someone or some thing is allowing the darkest Fae faction – the “Unseelie”, to infiltrate the earth. Lucky for humans there may be a person who has the skills to save the world. She’s a special sidheseers (pronounced “she-seer”) who can, unlike normal humans, see and detect the Fae. The problem is she has no clue what, who, and how important she really is.

This person is Mackayla Lane (Mac for short), a twenty something southern bell, with soft curves, feistiness, and old fashioned mores. She has traveled to Dublin Ireland to find the murderer of her beloved sister, Alina. Arriving soon after her sister’s death, Mac finds that the police have dropped her sister's case and immediately senses something is amiss. She is frustratingly faced with a variety of locals who refuse to help, tell her to get on a plane and go back to Georgia, and to leave well enough alone. As she tries to make sense of what has occurred, she discovers that seeing monsters is a newly found ability and that most humans can not see these other world beings like she can - so she is horrified, confused, and even more determined to avenge her sister’s death.

In her efforts to escape one of these horrific “Unseelie” monsters she stumbles into a local bookstore where she is confronted by its owner, the exquisitely masculine, and mysterious Jericho Barrons. He is cold, yet treats her with intrigue, contempt, and disdain. However, being strong and stubborn Mac will not take any of his bad attitude without a comeback. It may be because he actually needs her for her special abilities. So their conflicted relationship begins.

Enter the high court “Seelie” Faery prince named V’lane. He apparently needs Mac for the same reason as Jericho. With him she has to deal with yet another attitude - as he is superior, mind numbingly handsome and possessing a sexual glamor that is completely addictive and which may cause death for unsuspecting humans.

As the two “males” compete for Mac’s skills, and perhaps attention, an amazing tension is created causing drama and heart pounding intrigue. As they hunt for magical relics and try and figure out what is wrong with their monster-infested world, they attempt to stop the death and mayhem. And Mac begins to realize that perhaps faction lines are not a distinct black and white or good and bad, but are actually every shade in between.

Thoughts:  I devoured and thoroughly enjoyed this series in its audio version. One big reason is that the author starts the reader out slowly, with its real-life setting, likeable and strong female lead character, and specifically – there is no swearing or kick-butt action in the first part of the first book (I have a problem with this when reading). The author waits until you know and like the characters before harsher language, violent action, and sex is used. But be aware - after the first book in the series there is quite a lot of all three.

I liked the characters – especially Mac. She is a strong and feisty character and I was also interested in the two potential romantic leads for her. Both are complex and mysterious “men” which helps to create this sexy adult paranormal romance series. It will pull readers in and keep them up reading into the early hours of the morning. I could not stop thinking about and finding time to listen until I had completed the entire series. Very rare for me.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys or would like to explore paranormal romance/urban fantasy. Since this series is complete it’s nice that the reader does not to have to wait months for the next book. A definite plus. I recommend that it’s read in order - to feel completely immersed in the story and understand the characters.  This entire series is a 4 star in my opinion and is a terrific escape into a familiar, sexy, and exciting paranormal world.

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Reading order:

1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever 
3. Faefever
4. Dreamfever
5. Shadowfever

Below are the covers and data for the audio books in the series:

• Darkfever (book 1) ~ by Karen Marie Moning; Brilliance Audio; 8 hours, 57 minutes;  Oct 31, 2006; read by Joyce Bean.  
• Bloodfever (book 2) ~ by Karen Marie Moning; Brilliance Audio; 9 hours, 3 minutes; Oct 16, 2007; read by Joyce Bean.
• Faefever (book 3) ~ Karen Marie Moning; Brilliance Audio; 9 hours, 46 minutes; Sep 30, 2008; read by Joyce Bean.   

• Dreamfever (book 4) ~ Karen Marie Moning; Brilliance Audio; 12 hours, 12 minutes; Aug 18, 2009; read by Natalie Ross. 
• Shadowfever (book 5) ~ by Karen Marie Moning; Brilliance Audio; 19 hours, 52 minutes; Jan 18, 2011; read by Natalie Ross.

There are several new books from the series – Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel, to be released October 30, 2012 (and mentioned above,) a graphic novel based around Mac and Jericho called Fever Moon; The Fear Dorcha, to be released July 10, 2012, as well as re-release of novella which combines elements from Karen Moning’s two popular series - the Highlander Series (8 books) and the Fever Series (5 books). It’s called Into the Dreaming. It was re-released in April of this year.

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Karen Marie Moning is a prolific writer. She graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Society & Law. Her novels have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and have won numerous awards, including the prestigious RITA Award.  For more information link to her website: http://www.karenmoning.com/kmm/

So guess what I was doing while packing up our house for our move from Arizona to California? Yep this was it, listening to a five book series. It certainly saved me from a boring packing job.

Thanks for reading!

Giveaway: Young Adult Paranormal Activity Hop ~ Feb. 24th to 28th

Welcome to the Young Adult Paranormal Activity Giveaway Hop ~ February 24th to 28th.

Hosted by vvb32 reads and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer; this hop features giveaways of Paranormal Young Adult Books (ghosts, werewolves, vampires, zombies, etc.)

We have one book on offer for an international address. To enter you must follow the blog and complete the Google form included below.

(To access our host’s site click on the badge to the left.)

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Now for a bit about the book:  The Darkening Dream ~ by Andy Gavin (December 2011)

As the Nineteenth Century gives way to the Twentieth, modern science and steel girders leave little room for the supernatural. But in dark corners the old forces still gather. God, demon, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs in Andy Gavin’s chilling debut, The Darkening Dream.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.

With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to Salem’s brutal factory workrooms, on a clandestine maritime mission, and down into their foe’s nightmarish crypt. But they aren’t prepared for the terrifying backlash that brings the fight back to their own homes and families. Can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father help protect them? And what do Sarah’s darkening visions reveal?

No less than the Archangel Gabriel’s Horn, destined to announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling conflict is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

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Requirements are:

1. Be a reader/follower to enter this contest.
2. Fill out the Google form.

You have several options to become a follower/reader:

1. Google: via the blog’s side bar (I will follow back if I can find your blog.) or
2. Facebook: for updates in your feed - add me as a friend. or
3. Your Email Box.

Other optional ways of “following/friending” or keeping up to date:

1. Twitter (I will follow back, if your account is not protected.)
2. Feed Reader.

Please enter via the Google document:

This hop and the giveaway is now closed. More are coming very soon!

Review: The Hum and The Shiver ~ by Alex Bledsoe

Review by John for The Hum and The Shiver ~ by Alex Bledsoe (September 27, 2011)

An urban fantasy story with a difference – it has a rural setting! A very well written and intriguing piece of magical realism with a strong story and some great characters.

About:    Bronwyn Hyatt comes home from the war in Iraq, physically battered and mentally scarred. She returns to her small home town deep in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, getting a hero’s welcome that she neither wants nor appreciates. Her home is also the home of the Tufa, a quiet, inward looking and enigmatic community of people with a mysterious past. No-one knows where they came from – when the first Europeans arrived in the area they were already there; seemingly neither European nor Native American. Distrusted and disliked by many, some suspect that the Tufa have some strange powers. And Bronwyn is a first daughter of the Tufa.

Being a first daughter there are responsibilities and expectations of Bronwyn that she has spent her life rebelling against, but now she is back home to recuperate and she once again has to face up to a life she tried to escape. She returns to find cryptic omens suggesting a tragedy is impending that will impact her family, while a Tufa ghost is keen to communicate with her and her wayward ex-boyfriend is determined to make a nuisance of himself. To make matters worse she seems to have lost touch with music – something which is deeply important to the Tufa and helps to define what they are, both individually and collectively.

As Bronwyn reacquaints herself with her family and her past, she is forced to tap into the powers of the Tufa to help heal herself and to try and protect her loved ones.

John’s thoughts:   I’m not sure what the accepted term is for this genre (magical realism?), but this was a slightly unusual read for me and I have to say that I enjoyed it. Bledsoe paints a detailed picture of life in rural America and interweaves it with a strong story, some rich characters and a mystical people with links to an ancient “mythical” past.

I also liked the musical angle. It is an intrinsic part of who the Tufa are, where they’ve come from, how they live their lives, and how they’re bonded together. It’s a tremendous source of strength for them and is used for the common good; though it can also be used for other purposes too. It’s a nice angle and given my love of music it helped to draw me in to the book.

Bledsoe does a good job of developing some interesting characters and some complex but believable family dynamics. Bronwyn is a very feisty lead character who is strong, headstrong, and by no means angelic. There is a lot of tension between her and her mother, and as the story develops Bronwyn discovers some surprising things about her mother that helps to explain why they are often at loggerheads.

It looks like this may be the first in a series, and if so, Bledsoe has created a strong foundation on which he can build. There are none of those annoying loose ends you often find in series openers, but there are plenty of angles and sub-plots that can be further developed.

Overall I liked the book a lot and I’d rate it 4 stars. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy stories that are firmly rooted in gritty real-life and rural settings.

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For more information on the book see our question and answer guest post from Alex Bledsoe where he tells about this new book.

As always John will be available for your thoughts and questions. So please remember to check the follow up box since we do respond to all our comments.

Cheers!

Review: Promises to Keep ~ by Charles De Lint

Review by Shellie for:  Promises to Keep ~ by Charles De Lint

An accessible and life-affirming novella which takes the reader on a trip from the dark stages of addiction and abuse to a kind of whole-ness; set in a realistic and magical setting.

About:  Young Jilly Coppercorn, our story's narrator, has not had an easy life. The victim of abuse of various kinds – much of it at the hands of family members - it has been a struggle to stay alive, let alone clean and drug free. Now off the drugs she is turning her life around. Then a good friend, one of her best, turns up and invites her to a concert of sorts. She is a bit worried as this friend is from her old life – her addicted life.

As she steps over doorway into the party she has an unsettling feeling akin to an elevator ride; unbeknownst to her she enters a netherworld. It is very much like our world but in many ways not - as Jilly soon discovers. There she must make a choice to stay in this other realm or to go back to her “real life”.  It’s a decision that may help her find and reconcile the darker aspects of herself, the parts she has no desire in accepting.

Thoughts:   This is a story occurs in and around Newford – it is also a realistic fantasy series. The 13th in the set, it is a standalone which features Jilly, one of the Newford series readers’ favorite characters. I can understand why. Jilly is wonderful. She is strong and struggling and imperfect. She isn’t tall, beautiful and waifish but artistic, small and messy. I like that, a lot.

Promises to Keep is dark at times, violent at others, it examines many of the issues experienced by young people (adults too) when trying to get and remain clean, as well as dealing with all sorts of toxic childhood experiences. It is also light and life affirming with a believable perspective from the point of view of a female character, which is impressive. I liked that our main character was more concerned with doing positive things like volunteering at a soup kitchen and a nursing home rather than fixing her hair or boyfriend drama.

This is my second Charles De Lint novel. My first was Yarrow, written in 1986 and read some time in the 90’s, which I count as one of my all time favorites. It was read at a time when I could not digest any fiction at all, which tells you something.  In Promises to Keep I had damp eyes at times, laughed too, and said I just loved this book out loud more than once. Highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a change from some of the “kick bottom” urban fantasy out there. It is perfect for those looking for lots of realism in their fantasy, but with a more than a touch of the magical. Perfect for artists, musicians, healers and, most of all, those healing themselves. I give this story a 4.5 stars. Perfect for someone like myself who has not read any of the Newford novels; an excellent introduction I’d say.

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Charles De Lint:  A multiple award winning (Nebula and World Fantasy) writer and musician, he lives in Canada with his life partner. He has been writing stories that contain “mythic” elements for many years. He is considered to be one of the creators or stepping stones in the making of modern urban fantasy and “mythic fiction”. You can find out more via Wikipedia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Lint

What is mythic fiction? - It is literature that is rooted in, inspired by, or that in some way draws from the tropes, themes and symbolism of myth, folklore, and fairy tales. (Via Wikipedia.)

The Newford series currently has 23 books. The first is Dreams Underfoot, published in 1993, and the latest Muse and Reverie published in 2009. The latter is a collection of short stories. Promises to Keep was published originally in 2007 in hard cover; this review is from its recently published paperback version. For more information see Wikipedia’s page for the series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newford

Promises to Keep ~ by Charles De Lint US|UK|Canada. 192 pages; Tachyon Publications (May 15, 2011).

Thanks for reading!

Guest Post Question and Answer ~ Alex Bledsoe author of The Hum and The Shiver

 

Guest Post Question and Answer from ~ Alex Bledsoe

It’s all about his latest novel – The Hum and The Shiver US|UK|Canada.  Which will be released in the US tomorrow. In case you would like to win a copy link to our giveaway post.

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It’s such a pleasure to have this guest post to share with our readers. Welcome Alex!   What inspired your book, The Hum and the Shiver?      

It was a conjunction of three things: Appalachian folk music, Celtic faery folklore, and the stories of the Melungeons of East Tennessee. Briefly, the Melungeons are an isolated ethnic group who legend says were already here when the first Europeans arrived in Appalachia. No one knows for sure where they came from or how they got here, although DNA evidence has gone a long way toward solving the “where” question. I thought, “what if they were a secret race of faeries hiding from history and minding their own business?” So I created my own isolated society, the Tufa.

You grew up in the Tennessee area, how did your childhood determine the setting of the story?    

Since two of the three major inspirations came from Appalachia, I couldn’t imagine setting it anywhere else. The beauty, mystery and magic of the Smoky Mountain setting seemed so appropriate that I kept it, and the rhythms of Southern speech are second nature to me. And while the issues that the characters face are universal, they’re expressed in a uniquely Southern way.

What special research was involved in creating the story line?    

I listened to a lot of music, the real old stuff that was sung in the mountains for generations before anyone ever thought to write it down: “Shady Grove,” “Barbara Allen,” and so on. I also listened to the music being made in that area today, because it’s a thriving tradition. I read about musicians, and how they felt about music and what it meant in their lives. I researched faery folklore and discovered that they were far from the harmless little sprites we think of today. And I thought a lot about how “family” and “religion” are defined in the South, and how they affect every aspect of life.

Who are the main characters in the story?    

The protagonist is Bronwyn Hyatt, a twenty-year-old Iraq War vet who was injured in combat and rescued on live TV. Now she’s back home in the mountains among her people, the Tufa, confronting both her recovery and all the issues that led her to leave home in the first place. There’s also a ghost waiting to talk to her, omens of death that seem to be targeting her mother, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend lurking around.

Craig Chess is a newly-graduated Methodist minister trying, in his easy-going way, to make some inroads in the Tufa community. When he meets Bronwyn, unexpected sparks fly. Don Swayback is a part-Tufa reporter who’s lost enthusiasm for his job, marriage, and pretty much everything else; his assignment to get an exclusive interview with Bronwyn causes him to reconnect with his Tufa heritage.

The antagonists include Bronwyn’s old boyfriend Dwayne Gitterman, a devilish old man named Rockhouse, and brutal state trooper Bob Pafford.

The main character, Browyn, is a strong, attractive heroine. Did you rely upon an actual person to develop the character and why? 

Her ordeal was inspired by the experiences of Jessica Lynch at the beginning of the Gulf War. But the character herself is entirely drawn from scratch. I wanted her to be someone who had endured a lot, but never let herself be a victim; as a teenage hellraiser she’d been nicknamed “The Bronwynator,” and deep down that’s who she remains. Now she faces a bunch of decisions she tried to avoid, and must figure out a way to be true both to her people, and herself.

You describe your book genre as “gravel-road fantasy”. Can you provide additional information surrounding the genre?      

It’s “urban fantasy” in a rural setting. In UF, the magical elements appear in the mundane world of cars, skyscrapers and crowded nightclubs. In my book the setting is still modern, but it involves tractors, small-town convenience stores and barn dances.

Who do you think would enjoy The Hum and the Shiver and why?     

It’s “urban fantasy,” but in the country instead of the city. So if you can conceive of a world where Charles de Lint and Rick Bragg co-exist, I think you’ll enjoy this book. Anyone who ponders what faeries would be like if they lived among us, understands the magic found in songs and music, and/or likes stories of people trying to do the right thing in a situation where “the right thing” isn’t always clear, will enjoy it.

What is the reception you've gotten to the book so far?    

The pre-publication reviews have been excellent; Publishers Weekly even called it a “masterpiece of world-building.” But more importantly, I’ve gotten e-mails from readers who received advance copies and who explained, in detail, how much the book meant to them. I’ve never gotten that kind of response before.

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Thank you Alex! John has just finished reading The Hum and The Shiver and really enjoyed it, so a review is in the works. 

Bio:  ALEX BLEDSOE grew up in West Tennessee, but now lives in Wisconsin. Find more about him at his Website/Blog; Facebook; Twitter; Goodreads; and Google+;  The Hum and The Shiver ~ by Alex Bledsoe; Tor Books US|UK|Canada.  It will be available in all the usual online and brick-and-mortar locations, and for all the popular e-readers. There will also be an unabridged audio version.

Thanks for reading.

Guest Post: Gabriel Madison ~ artist and indie author

A Guest Post: from Gabriel Madison

We have talented artist, creative wordsmith and prolific indie author/writer Gabriel Madison here today to share with us.

Gabriel uses several different mediums when creating his artistic works of fiction. (In addition to his numerous writings he has made some incredible movie shorts). In honor of his latest book released recently ~ Ariel ~  we have his perspective on changing a genre to fit a new audience. Here he begs the questions: Is it necessary or do we as readers and writers mold ourselves or find new interests?   I do have to admit I like Gabriel's attitude quite a lot.   *Side note: Since Gabriel “doesn’t do pictures” we have a picture of his cute dog, Jade, with a towel on her head. Contrary to my thoughts Gabriel refuses to admit how handsome he really is!**

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Let’s welcome Gabriel as he addresses the intriguing question:  Should a Genre Change to Fit a New Audience?

A little while ago I came across an article suggesting that sci-fi fantasy should change how women are portrayed because of the large amount of women that like that genre now. In the comment section, people were going back and forth (mainly women and men were arguing with each other) about if the genre should change to be more female friendly. Now, we all know that the majority of sci-fi fantasy is geared towards teenage boys. I didn’t want to get involved with the back and forth in the comment section of the article, so I’ll give my opinion now. I don’t think it should change.

I’m a black male from the south, and my favorite TV show of all time is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Most of the shows I watch now come on ABC Family and the CW, and let me tell you, none of that is geared towards me. To be truthful, most sci-fi fantasy isn’t geared towards me. I remember the first time I went to a sci-fi convention, my college professor, who is also a sci-fi geek like me, looked at me with complete shock on his face after finding out I’m a sci-fi geek.

I think the cool thing about women liking sci-fi, is that it’s not geared towards them. I think it’s interesting when people are into things that aren’t really meant for them. I knew Buffy wasn’t written for me to like, and I knew there would be a lot of things in it that wasn’t for me, but I didn’t want it to change to include me, just like I don’t want any of the shows on ABC Family or the CW to change.

When Game of Thrones was being promoted, I saw a lot of women offended on twitter because it was being deemed a show geared towards men. Well, it is a show geared towards men, which is why the large female following of the show and books are so cool.

Yes, there are a lot of women and girls that like video games, sci-fi fantasy, graphic novels, tricked out cars and many other things that most people consider to be male centric, but I don’t think any of that should change to be more inclusive.

I remember when I went to an event in Atlanta Ga. with a black author, whose books were geared towards young black readers. I mean the books were written with so much intercity slang, I found myself lost a few times trying to read the first one. I gave the book to a black friend of mine, and she was lost reading it also, because the book was completely geared towards the intercity New York hip-hop crowd. Anyway, at the event, there were middle aged white women scattered around the audience. Even the author looked shocked to see them. And they were asking questions and it was obvious they had fallen in love with the characters and had followed the story better than I had. But like I said, I’m a middle aged black man and I can almost recite everyone’s line in every episode of Buffy.

All I’m saying, in my opinion, to change something to be more inclusive, would take away from the beauty of people outside of the targeted audience falling in love with it just the way it is.

What a refreshing perspective. Thank you for sharing Gabriel!

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Ariel ~ is Gabriel’s newest young adult novel about a fallen angel. It has some diverse and well thought out characters:

About ~  Angel Santos just wants to be an average seventeen year-old girl. That's kind of hard for a reincarnated Archangel who's hiding her powers. It gets even harder when God vanishes from Heaven and her old friends turn to her to find the last angel to see Him. Now all she has to do is stop the impending apocalypse and fend off her best friend's attempts to make her popular. All in a week's work.

Related Links:  Audio Excerpt/Interview with Gabriel; and to buy the ebook via – Smashwords; and Ariel’s Blog with more ebook purchasing links.

About Gabriel:   Gabriel loves anything British and Vampire, not necessarily combined or in that order. An avid TV aficionado due to his screenwriting experience he enjoys everything from Roswell to his top favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

Beginning his foray as a writer in high school with short stories, poetry, and then screenplays, he later attended a private University in Atlanta, GA for Media Production Arts. He began writing script and film making, creating several screenplays and a few short movies- one of which is a twelve-minute vampire flick adapted from a short story called “Midnight Diner”.  Recently he has shifted toward writing stories again and lives in Albany, GA which he considers home. To find out more and to connect with him try his Blog; Newer Blog; Twitter; and Goodreads. Say hello; he is a very nice guy!

Gabriel will be responding to questions or responses that you may have so don’t forget to check the follow up box.

So we ask you all:     Should a genre change to fit a new audience?  Do you  read books or watch movies or TV shows that would be considered outside of “your” type casted genre?

Thanks for reading! 

Review: Shadow Bound ~ by Erin Kellison

 

Shadow Bound ~ by Erin Kellison (reviewed by Shellie)

A dark adult fairy story/urban fantasy that was fun, intelligent, has an element of paranormal romance, and a very creative premise. All based on a legend that includes a visit from an interesting version of death himself.

A Bit About:  Talia O’Brien is an odd ball with an unusual history. Lets say she's a blend of two types of beings. She knows she’s different and even looks a tad odd - yet in a pretty sort of way. She’s smart, with a PhD, and also has an unusual gift. It is one that she is not quite comfortable with and not aware of its strengths. Interestingly she manages to hide it from herself and others until things start to get really complicated - and they do!

Thoughts:   Not my usual choice of read having a tendency to veer away from genre books like this, I requested it on a whim from Shelf Awareness for fun and interest’s sake (I am exploring speculative fiction).  Gleefully, it did not start off with blatant sex or violence – a bad thing in my brain. It became better as I read more. I found the writing to be intelligent and readable, and the story possessed a dark and fairy based theme. I am starting to be very interested in fairies and devour dark themes.

The author has created a well-explained world with no loose elements within her complex yet easy-to-read sentence structure. It was quite a page turner which makes it a perfect escapist read. I also adored the size of this little book with its dense pages. It was easy to handle and carry and I liked that aspect for our latest plane ride. Less to handle in those cramped seats.

My only little complaint was one bit which I will never forget. It’s really sad when you laugh at a sex scene…especially when its supposed to be passionate and consummating. I laughed myself silly while re-reading it to John. I imagine that’s what this type of genre fiction is all about and what makes it fun for most readers. Beyond that I still enjoyed the rest of the story.

The best part of the book was that the ending was unexpected and intriguing, setting the reader up for the next in this planned series but with enough closure so as not to annoy. (The book felt like it was a stand alone). I was sufficiently impressed enough that will be looking to get my hands on the second book which is already released. I really enjoyed this genre paranormal romance and give it 3.5 stars. A fun darkly fluffy escapist read.

Shadow Bound ~ by Erin Kellison  US|UK|Canada.

If your interested in finding publisher’s information on Shadow Bound, please link to Layers of Thought’s preview for the book.

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Shadow Fall  is the second in the series and was published at the end of 2010. US|UK|Canada.

There are two more books in tow. One in September 2011 – Shadowman;  and in June 2011 a novella set in the shadow world – Shadow Touch.

For more information on the author – Erin Kellison and her upcoming books for this series (which have great covers), link to her website http://www.erinkellison.com/index.html.

Dorchester Publishing has a number of titles which look really fun for genre readers (horror, romance, western, paranormal and more), and it is also offering an amazing sale on its books Now – 60% off. Check it out!

Thanks for reading and have a great Saturday!

E-Book Giveaway: The Ghost Hunter ~ by Lori Brighton (a little romance for Valentine's Day)

 

Today we have an excerpt and giveaway for two copies in ebook format for The Ghost Hunter ~  by Lori Brighton

This is paranormal romance in the fluffiest sort of way… and look at that cover. Wow!

Here’s a bit about the book:  Ashley Hunter is intent on uncovering the truth about her father's disappearance. But Ashley realizes she's in for more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited a decrepit pub, she's also inherited ghosts and demons. Then Cristian arrives, a mysterious man who insists he only needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing...

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Here’s a short taste:

She watched, wide-eyed as his silver blade came toward her….

It stopped only an inch from her throat.

For one long moment she merely stared at the sword, while he stared at her, waiting to see how she’d react. She recovered well enough, Cristian was glad to see. She didn’t waste any time in jumping back.

“Damn you!” She let her sword fall from her grasp, the metal clanging to the wooden floor. Tears shimmered in her eyes, bringing forth unwanted feelings of guilt. “This isn’t some joke.”

As if to prove her point, she shoved him in the chest. He didn’t budge. He hardened his heart, refusing to be swayed by her tears.

“No, it’s not. And it’s about time ye realized that.” He lifted his sword again, his anger mounting. “Pick up yer weapon.”

“Are you insane?” she demanded. “Cristian, please, listen to reason.”

Reason? She had no clue what was out there. If he accomplished anything, he had to make her realize the danger she was in. He dropped his arms to his side and stepped closer to her, so close, her breath was hot on his face. He should have been angry, instead he wanted to pull her to his chest and protect her. He wanted to shake her and make her listen to reason.

“I’m being reasonable. Ye have no idea what’s out there, what ye must guard yerself from.”

She pressed her hands to his chest, a pathetic barrier. At the contact, heat seeped into his body, tingling his skin and making him think of nothing more than touching her completely, having her fully.

“What happened to you?” she asked softly, her voice full of emotion, full of empathy and he wanted no part in it.

He dropped his sword to the ground with a clang. Before she could escape, he pushed her up against the wall with his body. “Ye happened to me.”

His mouth crushed to hers in a stunning kiss. Ashley didn’t react, merely stood there while his lips pressed to hers and his body held her against the wall. His mouth was hard, demanding she respond. Sleepless nights, dreams of passion and last night’s taste of what could be all taunted him. With a groan, he slipped his tongue between her lips. He knew he should stop, should pull back, but then her hands crept up his bare chest and an unidentifiable emotion bloomed deep within him, an animalistic need to have her.

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Bio: Lori has a degree in Anthropology and worked as a museum curator. Deciding the people in her imagination were slightly more exciting than the dead things in a museum basement,  she set out to become an author. Her first book, a historical romance, was published by Kensington in November of 2009 it is called Wild Heart, the second in the series Wild Desire will be published in March or 2011. Both are from your classic romance collections. The Ghost Hunter is her self published work. For more information please see her website: http://www.loribrighton.com/  and her blog: http://www.loribrighton.blogspot.com/ 

Amazon Kindle purchasing links ~ The Ghost Hunger US|UK| – and Smashwords.

Lori’s other books ~ historical romance:

Wild Heart ~ US|UK|Canada          Wild Desire (pre-order)  ~ US|UK|Canada

Not our usual choice for books but its sure fun for Valentines day!

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Contest Info:

We have two ecopies for give away, so the contest is international. Please fill out the form below. You do not need to be a reader/follower to enter.

Please leave your email in the form below. 

For optional extra points  ~ you can do any, all or none of the below for 1 entry point each:

1. Be a subscriber of Layers of Thought – google or facebook. (I need to be able to see you! For face book to get updates in its feed - add me as a friend otherwise it does not count.)
2. Friend on Twitter
3. Friend on Goodreads

Contest ends Sunday February 27th, 2011 at 12 pm US Pacific time. Winner will be posted and notified on Wednesday March 2nd, 2011. 

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Like our new form?  I am very excited, since now my life is that much easier for our giveaways. Find out how to do yours from this post… which I found via Bloggiesta!

We use random.org to determine our winners. If you have a question or concern (like a typo or bad link or a problem with our new form) please email me via my profile – Shellie.

Thanks for entering and good luck! 

Giveaway and Excerpt: Dayling ~ by Gabriel Madison (a young adult vampire novel)

 

Today we have a giveaway and chapter excerpt ~ for the newly released young adult vampire novel:

Dayling ~ by Gabriel Madison

Here is a bit about the book:

Times were a lot simpler for Haven before she stepped out of the shadows… and into the eternal night.

Turning eighteen is an exciting time for most girls. It means finally being considered a legal adult, having more freedom and a wild birthday party. For Haven Vigano, it means no longer being able to move around in the daytime, immortality and a craving for human blood. Haven is a Dayling, but in three weeks she will ‘Cross Over’ into the world of Nightlings.

Most Daylings live their lives as humans for as long as they can, which means they attend school, make normal friends and indulge in all the pleasures of being mortal… most Daylings except for Haven.

To make matters worst, a friend from her past, another Dayling named Sébastien, arrives in Tallahassee with the news that an ancient group of Nightling hunters called The Holy Sect of Mântuitors are hunting down and killing her kind. Now Haven must deal with her growing attraction to Philip, plus understand Sébastien’s jealousy towards her human crush, and oh yeah, help deal with the threat of the Mântuitors.

Times were a lot simpler for Haven when she felt indifferent towards everything and everyone.

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To find out more about or to connect with Gabriel Madison ~ link to his webpage, or blog, and Goodreads. Also to a review of his first book Three Seeds here on Layers of Thought.

To purchase from Amazon US[Kindle] ~ UK[Kindle] ~ Canada and Smashwords (for other e-formats and to print).

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An excerpt from chapter one:

The thought of my upcoming birth day wouldn’t leave my mind. I placed my arms behind my head as I closed my eyes and focused on pleasant memories. Most of them were of me alone with a good book, but a few were of being around family and friends. None had to do with being around people outside of my world. Being on my families estate, only dealing with the people closest to me, would be all I needed
after my eighteenth birthday.

I must have dozed off for a moment, because she was standing over me when I opened my eyes, and the moon reflected behind her. Angela still lay beside me on her back, obviously asleep. But she didn’t seem to care about her kid sister at the moment; instead she stared directly at me, “time to wake up pequeña
princesa. You need to get ready for a party.”

Slowly I sat up on my elbows. “I know you’re insane Sophia, but are you also delusional?”

She kneeled down beside me. “Since my little sister is starting real school soon, Nigel and I are going to take her to this party we heard about. Give her and opportunity to check out the locals at play.” Sophia leaned in closer to me, causing my entire body to uncontrollably shiver as she whispered. “You don’t have a choice in this chica.” She reached over and shook Angela awake while continually staring at me. I hated Sophia thinking she scared me, even though she did scare the crap out of me, but it was a major blow to my pride how much she knew she scared me. Angela looked over to her sister. Finally, Sophia turned to face Angela. “Time to go party with your soon to be class mates. Get up, take a quick shower, get dressed in something slutty, and let’s go introduce the students of Lexington High School to their future queen.” She smiled at both of us, before she stood up and walked away.

Angela groggily looked over to me. “What?”

The fear finally left my body. A frown covered my face as I looked in the direction Sophia had walked away in. “Hell! She is dragging us to hell!” Angela gave me a confused look. “We’re going to a high school party.” Why couldn’t I have simply died from a heat stroke while I slept? Because I’m Haven Vigano, and my luck doesn’t work like that.

A few hours later we were making our way up a long driveway towards the party, and I was thinking about making a run for it. I was fast enough, not to mention the only real light source came from a half moon looming above us in a starless night sky. On top of that, Sophia wore her favorite high heels; the ones that formed a thin spike at the end, and made it seem as if she walked on her tiptoes. I felt that those god-forsaken shoes gave me a good chance of getting away before she caught me, and I would have taken that chance, if my other cousin Nigel, hadn’t kept glancing back at me every time I thought about dashing towards our estate.

We stopped at the front door of Eliot Little’s two-days-until-back-to-school-party. I could hear music pulsating out of the den, a type of techno hip-hop blend. Glimpses of blue and red lights flashed out of a window. My body tensed. Every cell inside of me screamed for an escape route. I couldn’t believe the jock had disco lights for his house party.

Sophia knocked on the door, a moment later the door opened with a short, muscular guy standing in the entrance.

The jock stumbled a little as he tried to gather himself. His eyes were barely open, and he reeked of  alcohol. His short, black hair hung disheveled over his forehead. He held a beer can in one hand, while using the other to gain balance on the side of the doorframe.

“Yo, haven’t seen you around here before.” He slurred out as he gazed at Sophia. Her black eyes gleamed as she stared at the inebriated jock. A playful half smile slowly crept across her smooth, innocent-looking face. I’d seen that look before. It had gotten us into as much trouble as it had gotten us out of. But, it never failed in achieving whatever task Sophia conjured it up for. “We’ve lived up the block for a little over two years. Never made the time to make the rounds. Making the time now.” Sophia moved her long black hair behind her ears. She allowed her seductive gaze to fully light up her beautiful Spanish face. “You’re Eliot right? The man of the house?” She spoke with a slow rhythm.

Eliot almost fell over with excitement. His eyes became glazed with longing. His entire body stiffened. He had no idea the game being played on him. Nigel knew, which is why he quietly laughed at the enthralled football jock. Personally, I just wanted to get this over with so I could go home.

Stumbling again, Eliot quickly re-gathered himself. “Yeah I’m the man of the house. And you and your friends are invited to my party.” He moved out of the way for us to enter; never once taking his eyes from Sophia’s as he closed the door behind us.

Teenage kids grinding against each other filled the first floor of the house. I’d never gone to a teenage party before. I’d only read about them and seen them on TV or in movies. I thought Hollywood exaggerated what went on at these events, I had no idea how tamed the Hollywood versions were compared to the real thing.

A few kids were scattered around making out. I saw an area where belly shots were taking place. And of course, no party would be complete without the triple-kiss being performed in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers. I’d learned about the triple-kiss from Angela, who swore she’d never participated in one, but saw them on MTV Spring Break. 

“Okay, I’m ready to leave now. I came, I saw,” I quickly shook my body, “I danced. See you guys back home.”

Sophia stepped in front of me. The flashing lights bounced off her face, giving her skin a slightly unnatural porcelain glow. She locked her shimmering black eyes onto mine. Unlike Eliot, she wasn’t trying to seduce me. Instead she tried to intimidate me. And as much as I hated to admit it, it worked. “You’re going to stay here with us, mingle, and have some fun. In a few weeks, Haven, you’ll be like me. But for now, you’re more like them. So enjoy it while you can chica.”

I stared back into Sophia’s eyes, trying not to show the fear building inside me. “I’m nothing like them. And I’m never going to be like you Sophia.”

“Three weeks until your eighteenth b-day. Looks like someone has already started Crossing Over. Are we getting a little feisty there Haven?” Nigel said with a lopsided smile.

I turned from Sophia to face him. His skin also had a slightly porcelain glow to it. His frosty blond hair sat perfectly on top of his head. His light blue eyes gleamed with playfulness. He seemed as relaxed as always. I gave him a frown before I turned back to Sophia.

“Why am I here anyway? I thought this was supposed to be about Angela?”

She placed her left arm around her kid sister’s shoulder, pulling her in closer to her body. If I hadn’t known any better, the embrace would have seemed comforting, almost loving. However, the malice in Sophia’s eyes always gave her true nature away. “It is about me mamacita. And she wants you to stay. Isn’t that right Angela?”

I looked at Angela hoping for her to say the words to excuse me from this torment. Instead, I got the top of her head as she stared at the floor; her telltale sign when she’s about to say something you don’t want to hear.

“It’s true. I’d feel better if you were here with me Haven.” Angela mumbled. Sophia kissed Angela on the jaw before she released her.

Sophia stalked up to me, only stopping inches from my face. I could feel her slightly cool breath, and taste her unnatural scent as a chill gradually entered my body, leaving me frozen in place. “While Nigel and I check out this place for some after party fun, I want you to take Angela around for some introductions.” As she spoke, Sophia slowly leaned towards me, bearing her perfect white teeth while gazing longingly at my exposed neck. I tried to move. The fear flooding inside of me left me petrified in place. Sophia giggled before kissing me on the jaw, and then disappearing into the swarm of dancing teenagers with Nigel.

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International Giveaway:

Since the book will be sent by the author - you do not need to be a “reader” for this giveaway. Anyone can enter, but the hard copy of the book is only available for mailing inside the US, for international readers there is an ecopy.

Contest Info:

To enter you must:

• comment
• include in the post your email so that I can contact you

For optional extra points you can do any, or all or none of the below for 1 entry point each: (All entries separately please!)

1. Be a subscriber of Layers of Thought – google or facebook. (I need to be able to see you! – to get updates in facebook feed and add me as a friend otherwise it does not count.)
2. Blog it - side bars are great - please provide links
3. Tweet it – provide links please
4. Friend on Twitter
5. Friend on Goodreads
6. Friend on Book Blogs
7. Friend on Glue  - new to glue? have questions? let me know.

As stated above, this giveaway is International for an ecopy and US for hard copy.

Contest ends Wednesday December 29, 2010 at 12 pm US Pacific time. Winner will be posted and notified on Tuesday January 18, 2011. 

Please note unlike other posts we do not respond to comments for giveaways. If you have a question or concern (like a typo or bad link) please email me via my profile – Shellie.

Thanks for entering and good luck!