Blog Tour & Contest: Rise Again

Rise Again:
A Zombie Thriller
Author: Ben Tripp
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Gallery
Released 10/26/10
Available in Softcover from Amazon

A MYSTERIOUS CONTAGION.
MASS HYSTERIA. SUDDEN DEATH.
And a warning that would come all too late . . .

Forest Peak, California. Fourth of July. Sheriff Danielle Adelman, a troubled war veteran, thinks she has all the problems she can handle in this all-American town after her kid sister runs away from home. But when a disease-stricken horde of panicked refugees fleeing the fall of Los Angeles swarms her small mountain community, Danny realizes her problems have only just begun—starting with what might very well be the end of the world. Danny thought she had seen humanity at its worst in war-torn Iraq, but nothing could prepare her for the remorseless struggle to survive in a dying world being overrun by the reanimated dead and men turned monster. Obsessed with finding her missing sister against all odds, Danny’s epic and dangerous journey across the California desert will challenge her spirit . . . and bring her to the precipice of sanity itself. . . .

I asked to review Rise Again because I am a sucker for zombie novels, and so are my teens. Rise Again is more character driven than some of the other zombie novels I've read this year, and the main character is a female war veteran who is also the sheriff of a small town in California. Don't worry, it still has plenty of gore, violence and pus. If there are zombies, then you will have rot and body fluids. No way around that. Rise Again is gritty, dark and thought provoking. Zombie fans will love it, and those who like Apocalyptic tales will also appreciate it. I liked that it was character driven and had a bit of humor to offset the horror.

Rise Again is a cool addition to the zombie club, and a great read for horror fans.

Cool Extras
Printable Zombie Eye Glasses, Eye patch mask, bookmarks, wound stickers, Zomb-aid bandages, and alternative book dust jackets are all available free as pdf files.

If you have an iPhone or iPodtouch you can download one of two cool wallpapers. This page has all of the freebies: http://www.riseagainthenovel.com/downloads.htm

To find out more about Rise Again, Ben Tripp and more visit here:
http://www.riseagainthenovel.com/about-book-rise-again.htm

THE CONTEST FOR RISE AGAIN
The publisher is allowing me to give away one softcover copy of Rise Again. As always, answer my question for a chance to win.

If your town was infiltrated by zombies and you would have only ONE weapon, what would you choose?

I will randomly choose a winner on November 12th, 2001.

~Brenda

Blog Tour & Contest: Ecstasy in Darkness

Ecstasy in Darkness
Alien Huntress, #5
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: 10/26/10
Available for the Kindle & in Paperback

SUMMARY:Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator, or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .

I asked to join the blog tour for Ecstasy in Darkness because I had heard good things about the series, but hadn't read it yet. I love her Lords of the Underworld series, and wondered if this one would be just as good. I wasn't disappointed, even skipping ahead to the fifth book. Gena Showalter does a great job writing the book so it can stand alone, filling in a few gaps from the other stories along the way.

Ecstasy in Darkness is a paranormal romance with gritty undertones, mostly due to a disease ridden enemy stalking the characters throughout the book. It's also primarily a paranormal romance focusing on Ava and McKell, the fated mates. The snark and humor is edgy, and the banter between Ava and her best friend, Noelle, is constant which would probably be annoying for readers that don't like that type of thing. I chuckled throughout the entire book, and really enjoyed their banter.

McKell is a fascinating character. He's an uber alpha vampire who was an enforcer for the underground vampire world until he disobeyed the king's order and was banished to the surface to live among humans. He's a fish out of water when it comes to social skills and the human civilization. Vampire women apparently are treated with kid gloves and are insulted easily. He is fascinated, horrified and confused at the interaction between Ava and Noelle when they are sent to capture him. I love his character with his dry humor, and the thoughts he has as he deals with his attraction to Ava.

The sexual tension builds, and when our couple finally give in, it's passionate and extremely sensual. This serves as a warning to those that may like their books a little less steamy.

I loved this world, and will be going back to read the other four books as soon as I can. I enjoyed the witty dialog, the suspense, action and romance in Ecstasy in Darkness. If you love Gena Showalter's other books, or if you are a fan of Kresley Cole, Lara Adrian, J.R. Ward or Sherrilyn Kenyon you will enjoy Ecstasy in Darkness.

Alien Huntress Series
1. Awaken Me Darkly (2005)
2. Enslave Me Sweetly (2006)
3. Savor Me Slowly (2007)
4. Seduce the Darkness (2009)
5. Ecstasy in Darkness (2010)

To learn more about Gena's books visit her blog at:
http://genashowalter.blogspot.com/

THE CONTEST: WIN ECSTASY IN DARKNESS
The publisher has graciously allowed me to give away one copy of Ecstasy in Darkness to a visitor. As usual, please leave a comment answering my question to enter the contest.

Do you like snarky banter between characters in stories? Or do you prefer things to be slightly more serious?

I will choose a random winner on November 12th, 2010.

~Brenda