Zombies: Know Your Escape Routes

Have you seen the zombie book to end all books? FEED by Mira Grant. AWESOME!

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

Orbit has the coolest website EVER for FEED:
http://www.thefeedbook.com

On author Mira Grant's website she has cool wallpaper and icons:
http://miragrant.com/wallpapers.php

(Shhhh...Mira is actually the Maine Coon cat loving writer Seanan McGuire)

Review: Magic on the Storm

Magic on the Storm:
An Allie Beckstrom Novel
Author: Devon Monk
ARC Releases on May 4, 2010
Preorder on Amazon

Summary: Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path...

I won a Magic on the Storm ARC, and it's my first Devon Monk read. Once again, I'm smacking myself in the head for waiting this long to read her books. I loved her writing, the characters and the plot. There were action scenes that completely floored me. I couldn't have stopped reading for any reason, short of the kids stabbing each other or the house exploding during these scenes.

Magic on the Storm is urban fantasy mixed with paranormal romance. It's on the dark side, but has humor to offset the darkness. I loved the main characters, and will be picking up the first three books to learn more about them and what has come before the current book. Shame (Shamus Flynn) is an awesome side character. He first shows up in this book, throwing ice cubes at the two main characters:

"Thank God I got here in time." He tossed another volley our way. "You might have gone up in flames. Burst into sex at any minute."

He's the comic relief, but he is also tortured, loyal and can kick ass to protect his friends. The man could have his own book for Pete's sake.

Allie, the main character, is strong, loyal, passionate and she can kick butt physically and magically, though she's still learning how to use her powers. Her father's spirit lives within her, attempting to possess her every chance he gets, but actually becomes useful along the way later in the book, or at least appears to be. Zayvion Jones is Allie's magical Soul Complement, her boyfriend and her sparring partner. The man sizzles while just standing in a room, but put him with Allie and he's hot and explosive. Seriously.

"Zay was Zay. Silent. Brooding. When he carried himself like that, he was a force, a darkness, a power.

I was glad he was on our side."

If you enjoy Ilona Andrews, Stacia Kane, Jeaniene Frost or Lilith Saintcrow you will love Devon Monk. Magic on the Storm is the fourth in the series:

Allie Beckstrom Novels
1. Magic to the Bone (2008)
2. Magic In the Blood (2009)
3. Magic in the Shadows (2009)
4. Magic on the Storm (2010)
5. Magic at the Gate (November 2010)

You can learn more about Devon and her books on her website here.

~Moonsanity

Series Review: The Final Prophecy

The Final Prophecy Series
Author: Jessica Andersen
Publisher: Signet
Books Available on Amazon

Books in the Series:
1. Nightkeepers(2008)
2. Dawnkeepers(2009)
3. Skykeepers(2009)
4. Demonkeepers(2010)
5. Blood Spells(November 2010)

Summary: The final four-year countdown to the end of days has begun. According to ancient Maya prophecy, demons from the underworld will arise on December 21, 2012. Only the Nightkeepers, mortal descendants of an ancient race of magic-wielding warrior-priests, can prevent the apocalypse by stopping the demons from bringing the old legends to life.

Jessica Anderson is a very smart woman. She has a PhD in molecular genetics, and a love of research. So when I say that The Final Prophecy series is a action-packed, sexy and SMART read, I mean it in the fullest sense. Her characters are complex, moody, sexy and driven. Her writing is detailed, but not so much that it bogs the reader down. She gives us bits and pieces of the Mayan culture, history and magic as the books move along, but she mixes it with fast paced action, steamy sex and characters that keep you guessing.

I will say that The Final Prophecy books needed a little more of my attention. I tend to pick up my books and read them throughout the day, as well as before sleeping. I may be sitting in the living room with my kids, chatting, watching television and pick up a book, reading in the midst of it all. Demonkeepers,the fourth book in the series, took more of my attention than usual to follow along with all that had happened in past books. The other three I had read fairly close together, so they had all flowed together as I finished one, and jumped into the next one. Since it had been awhile this time, I had to let the book jog my memory as I read of something that was coming to a conclusion. So, what am I saying? The books CAN be fast reads, but to really appreciate the plot revolving around Mayan prophecy, the reader should pay attention and digest the information as they move through the books. It's tempting to just get to the sexy parts as quickly as possible, but that is really doing an injustice to Doc Jessica's research and plot.

I recommend reading the books in order to really appreciate the characters and the ongoing plot. Each book revolves around a couple BUT has details on all the Nightkeepers and their fight against evil. I appreciated the struggles of each couple more by knowing their background and how they came into the group.

The books in the series are:

1. Nightkeepers: the first book that introduces the characters and revolves around Strike and Leah.

2. Dawnkeepers: Nate and Alexis are ex-lovers and are forced to work together while recovering seven artifacts before the demons discover them first.

3. Skykeepers: Sasha and Michael's story is riveting. A Nightkeeper with a dark past, and a woman who thought the tales of the Final Prophecy were ravings of an obsessed father.

4. Demonkeepers: The fourth and most recently released of the books. There is SO much going on in this book. Lucius has been in all the books as he gets sucked into the Nightkeeper's world. At first he seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but was it more than that? Jade is a therapist, and a researcher within the Nightkeepers. She wants to be more and is tired of sitting back while everyone else has an active role. For me, Demonkeepers had a theme of understanding sacrifice and duty, which I loved. Do you ignore love for duty?

You can learn more about The Final Prophecy series on the authors website here: http://www.jessicaandersen.com/

~Moonsanity

Werewolf Weekend: My Favorites

I love werewolves. When I came across Werewolf Weekend over at vvB32 Reads how could I NOT participate? Tonight I'm sharing my favorite werewolf movies, television and books. I can't imagine what urban fantasy would be without our sexy, furry friends. They rock.

Let's get started with two of my favorite werewolf movies, Underworld and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. I know, there are also vampires in the Underworld movies, but I personally think Lucian steals the show from the vamps. Here is a picture from Rise of the Lycans with Sonja, the woman he loves, who is, alas, a blood sucking vampire with an evil father who hates werewolves.

Without a doubt my favorite television werewolf is Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Who didn't love Oz?

Oz had a subtle, odd kind of sexiness. At first he seemed witty and droll, kind of geeky, and certainly didn't look like he could kick anyone's ass. Then he fell in love with Willow and we found out he was a werewolf. Gradually, he shows us that he will protect her, and love her until...well, until things start to go wrong. Here is a typical Oz line from the show:

Oz : "Sometimes, when I’m sitting in class—you know, I’m not thinking about class, ’cause that would never happen—I think about kissing you. And, it’s like everything stops. It’s like, it’s like...freeze frame. Willow kissage. (pauses) Oh, I’m not gonna kiss you."

As far as my favorite picks for werewolf books, there are a lot of cool books that have weres, but not necessarily werewolves. If I'm going to stick with werewolves, I have to go with Patricia Briggs and her Mercedes Thompson series. Adam, is hands down my favorite alpha werewolf. In Iron Kissed he comes to Mercy's rescue after she's attacked and helps her recover. I could read this part of the book hundreds of times and never tire of it. It's love, safety, and nurturing at it's best wrapped in a sexy, alpha package. It just does not get any better.

These are the Mercy books with their publishing years and titles. I think they are best read in order.

Mercedes Thompson
1. Moon Called (2006)
2. Blood Bound (2007)
3. Iron Kissed (2008)
4. Bone Crossed (2009)
5. Silver Borne (2010)

If you haven't experienced any of the werewolf goodness I've mentioned be sure to check them out. Plus, if you go here and look in the comments, you'll find links to more werewolf blog posts.

Blog Tour & Contest: The Eerie Firefly Rain

Firefly Rain
Author: Richard Dansky
Publisher: Gallery
Paperback: 352 pages

Summary: After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.

Firefly Rain creeped me out. It gave me shivers as I read it before sleeping, with my small tiny book light. I really wanted to reach over and switch on the bright overhead light. My husband didn't really need sleep, did he? The author kept me guessing right up until that last chapter when he laid it all out for the reader. Horror can be gruesome, shocking and in your face. It can also sneak up on you. It can give you that feeling that makes you keep looking over your shoulder. You know, the one that causes you to say "Hey, now wait a minute...". To me, that takes special talent and Richard Dansky proves he can creep out his readers with the best of them.

Firefly Rain, has an eerie, subtle weirdness. The characters are interesting and odd enough that the reader suspects everyone, including the main character, of wrong doing. Mr. Dansky gives us mystery, suspense, thrills and in some ways a bit of a love story.

I thought the author did a wonderful job of using issues many of us have experienced and giving them an eerie twist. How many of you couldn't wait to leave a small town to live a bigger and better life? Maybe you didn't come home as often as you promised, or you waited too long to tell a family member you loved them. These are things that all of us have struggled with in varying degrees. I think this made the book more poignant, giving it a little extra depth beyond the mystery and horror.

If you enjoy Stephen King or Dean Koontz you should give Firefly Rain a read. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

THE GIVE AWAY!
The publisher has kindly allowed me to give away one copy of Firefly Rain to spread the scariness. As usual, I will ask you a question. Simply answer it in the comments to enter the contest:

What is the scariest movie or book you've ever read or watched? Why?

For me it was The Exorcist. YIKES! I never did make it through the entire movie, though I did read the book when I was a teenager. I guess the green vomit frightened me more than the story itself:)

Leave your email in the comment if it's not linked to your profile. The contest will end May 2, 2010 and I'll post the winner on May 3rd.

~Brenda

Review: The Brotherhood of the Blood

Be Mine Tonight
Book #1 in The Brotherhood of the Blood
Author: Kathryn Smith
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Release Date: JULY 2006
Publisher: Avon Books
Visit the Author's Website
Available at Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble

and Amazon

Summary: In the 1300s, six soldiers went into a Templar building searching for treasure. What they found changed them forever, making them vampires – and unlike any other of their kind. The suicide of one of their own and events that followed drove them apart, but six centuries later, an ancient evil conspires to reunite them once more.

I picked up Be Mine Tonight on Amazon a few months ago where it resided on my To Be Read Shelf until I read it this weekend. The first of The Brotherhood of the Blood series, this book features Pru and Chapel, who is one of the brotherhood. It serves as an introduction to the series and the brotherhood. Chapel was the first soldier in the group to become a vampire, and it's been about 600 years since his change when he meets Prudence Ryland in 1899. I loved the character of Pru right from the start. She's witty and rather forward for a young woman of her time, mostly because she's dying and doesn't have time to play games or be overly gracious. It took me a little longer to warm up to Chapel. He's a tortured, brooding man who has lost his sense of humor along the way. Pru tells him:

"What have you done with your time? Spent it mooning over a woman who didn't want you and hiding behind a church that despises you?"

Be Mine Tonight is what I would call a historical paranormal romance. It takes place in the 1800's, so the writing isn't gritty or snarky, but instead the humor is subtle, and the romance anguished. There is a bit of intrigue and adventure as Pru, Chapel and their colleagues search for the Holy Grail or it's antithesis, the Blood Grail.

I read on the author's website that she consulted with her niece, who works in oncology, for the scenes involving Pru's cancer. I can tell that she took special care in writing about her symptoms and her emotional distress in regards to the cancer. It's heartbreaking, yet Pru's strength is amazing as she refuses to give up until the last possible moment, and then she faces her death with grace. If I hadn't already grown to like Chapel, I would have been won over by his care and nurturing of Pru during her sickness.

Be Mine Tonight is foremost a romance with the paranormal elements as an aspect of the story, along with the adventure and suspense. Pru and Chapel's love story is one of hope, and forgiveness above all else. There are sexual elements to the book, though I wouldn't consider it an erotic story. They come with the natural progression of Pru and Chapel's relationship. I don't think the story would have been as intense or heartbreaking without the sex scenes.

I think fans of both historical and paranormal romance will enjoy Be Mine Tonight. It's the first in a series:

Brotherhood of Blood
1. Be Mine Tonight (2006)
2. Night of the Huntress (2007)
3. Taken By the Night (2007)
4. Let the Night Begin (2008)
5. Night After Night (2009)

~Moonsanity

Paranormal Inspiration Via Cello

The first time I saw a video of Apocalyptica I was stunned. Creepy, but very hot, Finnish guys playing cello that rocked. Something about them screams paranormal. Enjoy:)



~Moonsanity