Romance Review: The Demon in Me

The Demon in Me
Living in Eden, Book #1
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Paperback: 352 pages
Available at: Amazon, Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble

Summary: After her hunky police detective partner guns down a serial killer in front of her, "psychic consultant" Eden Riley realizes that she's no longer alone. A voice in her head introduces himself as Darrak. He's a demon. But not in a bad way. He was cursed 300 years ago and he wants to find a way to break free. Eden's psychic energy helps him take form during daylight, and she's going to have to learn to live with this sexy demon...like it or not.

I bought The Demon in Me the week it was released because I loved the author's other books, and couldn't wait to read the first book in her new series. I was not disappointed. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book. However, it's not all laughs. There is suspense, a little mystery, action, romance and Ms. Rowen even had me thinking philosophically about the nature of good and evil. She rocks like that.

Eden, the main character, is a psychic who doubts her abilities, which are sporadic at best. She simply wants to make a living at something, and takes what comes, even if she doesn't know if or when she'll be able to sense things. I loved Eden. I pictured her as giving off a spunky vibe, but in reality, being sort of doom and gloom, not really expecting good things to happen to her. She's a loner and enjoys her privacy, which makes it all the more hysterical when she ends up with Darrak in her life and sharing her body. On first impression, Darrak reminds me of a frat guy who just got a "Get Out of Jail Free" card after 300 years. He's ready to chat, snack and cop a feel. We find out there is much more to Darrak as the book goes along, but I'll save that for you to discover when you read the book.

The Demon in Me is paranormal romance at it's best. It's an excellent first book in a series that I hope will continue through many books. The author introduces us to some great side characters, and gives us plenty of surprises in this book to keep us guessing and clamouring for the next book. I love paranormal romance that has a good dose of humor without being silly. Michelle Rowen's writing always makes me smile, but at the same time touches my heart.

If you enjoy reading Angie Fox and Jill Myles you'll love The Demon in Me. The second book in the series, Something Wicked will be released in October 2010.

~Moonsanity

Kitties Dance for the Winner of Firefly Rain!

I used the handy random number generator to choose a winner for Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky.

Cheryl was #27 and the winner! Here is what she said about her choice of scariest movie:

When I was in high school I watched Nightmare on Elm street and that was so scary. Me and my friend wouldn't let each other go to sleep.

You can visit Cheryl at her book blog The Books I Read!

~Moonsanity

Terry Goodkind & The Sword of Truth

I was catching up on my emails today and the Tor newsletter came in. It seems Terry Goodkind has returned to the company for a three book deal. This is VERY good news! Here is the scoop from Tor:

New York, NY – Monday, April 19, 2010 – Tor Books is proud to announce the return of New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind to their list. The first book in the 3-book deal will be a new Richard and Kahlan novel, due in early 2011. Richard and Kahlan are the principle characters from his previous New York Times bestselling books.

Have you read the Sword of Truth books? I've read and own all 12 books in the series, and it's hands down one of the most awesome fantasy series I've ever read. It's not just a story about Richard and Kahlan, though it is in essence their story, it's a story of hope, loss and victory. Terry Goodkind takes the reader to some very dark places where his characters face death, torture, betrayal and more. I'm not sure how to explain the series because it's so complex, for lack of a better word. Let me try to make a list of the things that stood out to me as a reader:

Love: Richard and Kahlan's love story is heart wrenching, romantic, steamy, and intense. Their love is a power in itself.

Action: The action scenes in the series are kick-ass, take no prisoners fights that involve swords, knives, magical weapons and magic.

The Bad Guys: Darken Rahl is only the beginning, and he is a baby in the evil department compared to the next bad guy. We are talking serious, dark, evil that can never be redeemed.

The Pace: The books are fast paced, especially for an epic fantasy series with so much going on. There will be no skimming of pages in this series. None.

Philosophy:

There are so many thought provoking themes in this series. Should each individual make their own decisions, or are there those who have the wisdom to make them for us? Do we blindly follow those who are in authority, or do we question, and follow our own heart? Are people worth redeeming? Can love conquer evil? The themes actually go much deeper than this, but this gives you an idea.

These are the book in the Sword of Truth Series and they should be read in order. The only exception is the Debt of Bones, which is a prequel featuring Zedd as a young man. To really enjoy this novella you need to get to know Zedd first so you can appreciate him as a young man.

Sword of Truth Series

Debt of Bones (2001)(Zedd prequel)
1. Wizard's First Rule (1994)
2. Stone of Tears (1995)
3. Blood of the Fold (1996)
4. Temple of the Winds (1997)
5. Soul of the Fire (1999)
6. Faith of the Fallen (2000)
7. The Pillars of Creation (2001)
8. Naked Empire (2003)
9. Chainfire (2005)
10. Phantom (2006)
11. Confessor (2007)


The Legend of the Seeker series is currently in the midst of season two, and is slated to be cancelled. The fans have rallied and are attempting to keep it on the air, hoping someone else will pick it up or the network will change their mind. The fan forum and website, Legend of the Seeker.org has a special section with updates, and things fans can do to express their feelings about the show. Visit The Renewal Warwagon to find out more.

I love the television series, but I think of it more as Cliffs Notes for the books. The characters are JUST as I picture them in my mind, except for Zedd, who I thought would be shorter:) To see the book come alive on the screen is exciting, even with the changes made to the story. Mostly the changes seem to be made so the main characters don't have to be separated, other than for short periods of time. In the books, they go long stretches where they are in different locations for various reasons. Still, I would love to see the series continue as long as Hercules or Xena did when they were in syndication.

If you haven't read the books, please grab the first one,Wizard's First Rule, and read the story of Kahlan, Richard and Zedd from the beginning. You won't be sorry.

Blog Tour & Review: Blood Soup

A tale of murder, betrayal and comeuppance.

King Theodicar of Borgund needed an heir. When his wife, Queen Piacenza, became pregnant, he’d hoped for a boy. His wife, along with her nurse, Salvagia, knew it wouldn’t be so: with each cast of the runes, Salvagia’s trusted divination tools yielded the same message: “A girl child must rule or the kingdom will fall to ruin.” The women were convinced that the child would be a girl.

When the queen finally gives birth, the nurse and the king are equally surprised. The king is faced with a terrible choice, and his decision will determine the fate of his kingdom. Will he choose wisely, or will he doom Borgund to ruin?


Kelly A. Harmon used to write truthful, honest stories about authors and thespians, senators and statesmen, movie stars and murderers. Now she writes lies, which is infinitely more satisfying, but lacks the convenience of doorstep delivery, especially on rainy days.

Kelly graciously allowed me to ask her a few questions, which I missed in my email program earlier. I'm adding them to post this evening. Please ignore my red face, and the noise of me smacking myself in the head. Thank you:)

Kelly, our backgrounds are similar with a degree in journalism and newspaper writing, so I wanted to ask you about fiction vs. nonfiction. Do you feel working on newspapers helped you with the research aspect of fiction writing? Was the transition from nonfiction to fiction writing difficult?

I don’t think my newspaper experience helped me at all with writing fantasy…but it probably could have.

When I worked for papers, I mostly covered city hall (town meetings, elections, etc.) and the police beat (break-ins, murder, etc.) There’s not really a need there for research.

Perhaps if I’d been doing more investigative journalism, in which I had to actually do a lot of research before sitting down and writing (as opposed to getting documents from the courthouse or interviewing people) than I would have answered differently.

Of course, the interviewing part was helpful. Once you call up the husband of a murdered wife and ask him how he feels about his wife’s murder (as if you couldn’t imagine) you can ask anyone just about anything without flinching. It doesn’t get much worse than that.

So, I don’t have a problem asking questions when I need answers about something.

I didn’t find the transition from non-fiction difficult at all. Perhaps it’s because I continued to write fiction even while I worked at the newspapers. I did have to be alert to what I was writing: there were times when the dialogue in my stories started sounding a little like the “Just the facts, ma’am,” and I had to add more detail and more character point of view. But that kind of stuff is easily caught on the re-write.

What do enjoy about writing in the medieval time period?

The medieval time period lends itself perfectly to fantasy. It’s like having your world mostly created for you. I guess that means I like it because it’s easy.

I’ve written some fantasy in other time periods, in other worlds, like my story “On the Path” which takes place in China, and for which I had to do a lot of research. I spent time researching China’s history, paper, Chinese religions, costume, etc. for a short story. I would rather have spent that time writing.

For me, the medieval time period is something I know, and I don’t have to worry too much about the details. (Unfortunately, when the details are important to the story, I can spend days doing research.)

Were there any scenes in Blood Soup that gave you trouble during the writing?

I had trouble with the birth scene. Queen Piacenza labors all day to give birth to a breeched baby. I describe the steps her nurse takes to turn the child.

It’s graphic, and I wasn’t certain how graphic I should make it. So, I wrote the scene as it came to me, and figured I could cut anything which might be offensive in the rewrite. In the end, the scene remained in tact. I omitted nothing.

Ironic, because it’s usually the scene I read whenever I get an opportunity to do so. I think it’s the most powerful one in the book.

Do you have a favorite medieval or fantasy movie?

Doesn’t everybody? Get ready for the groans: my favorite is Ladyhawke, starring Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Broderick . It’s the only movie that I actually own a copy of.

I love the scenery of the Italian country side. They filmed in real castles, which lends it such authenticity.

Ladyhawke is the quintessential fantasy: A handsome knight, his beautiful lady, a wicked curse and a prophesy which sets them free. And, it’s got a great love story to boot. What’s memorable about the movie is the character development: the relationship which evolves between Philippe, Captain Etienne of Navarre and Isabeau d'Anjou is well done; it’s believable. Navarre and Isabeau’s love for each other is a near tangible thing.

Thanks Kelly!

Thanks for having me. This was a lot of fun.

I have to say that I also loved Lady Hawke, so Kelly is not alone in her love of it:)

REVIEW: Blood Soup
Author: Kelly A. Harmon
Publisher: Eternal Press
Kindle e-book/Paperback: 84 pages

I was sent the ebook of Blood Soup as part of today's blog tour, and wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the title was intriguing. I've read medieval fantasy since college, starting with J.R. Tolkien and Peter S. Beagle, moving on to both dark fantasy and lighter books such as Terry Brook's Shannara series. Blood Soup is a medieval dark fantasy novella. The author's writing reflects the darkness of the time period where political interests took precedence over love and family. Marriages were made to benefit kingdoms. Babies were born out of the need for a proper heir to the throne.

This story is one of choices and consequences. One king makes a horrible choice, and has to live with the consequences of that choice until his death over 20 years later. Ms. Harmon has a captivating writing style. She sweeps the reader along as she shows us the circumstances surrounding the king's choice. She horrifies the reader with the cruel consequences of that choice. Lastly, I thought she did an amazing job at giving us a glimpse of what it means to live out one's life watching the ripples of one horrible decision.

Fans of dark medieval fantasy and political intrique will enjoy the thought provoking Blood Soup. Find out more about Kelly on her website. You can read an excerpt here.

THE GIVEAWAY
If you leave a comment on this post you'll be entered to win a $25 Amazon or BN.com gift certificate with all of the blog tour visitors from the participating blogs. Comment once and be sure to leave your email if it's not part of your profile. I'll announce the winner as soon as it's announced.

~Moonsanity

Chaos Bites... Everyone But the Reader

Chaos Bites
Phoenix Chronicles Novel
Author: Lori Handeland
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Mass Market 352 pages
Available at Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble

Summary: Though Liz Phoenix won the last battle, she's losing the supernatural war and chaos is the result. On the road again, this time with a teenager and a baby that was dropped on her doorstep, Liz is in desperate need of help. She goes to former lover Jimmy Sanducci and together they work to make things right. Of course, with chaos reigning and the loss of too many allies, nothing may ever be right again.

I picked up Chaos Bites the day it was released because I'm addicted to The Phoenix Chronicles. The characters are gritty, imperfect, and often sarcastic, but they work towards the same goal of trying to save the world. For me, the entire series has a theme of sacrifice. What will you do for love? What will you sacrifice to save the world? How much is too much? Liz Phoenix may be the leader of the light with powers beyond imagination but she still has the needs we all do: to be loved and to love in return.

My review of the series is here. Chaos Bites is the fourth book in the series. We meet a few new characters, some good, some evil. The series, and this book is dark fantasy and is not for everyone. The author takes us to places that are uncomfortable, including one scene involving sex that mimics rape. I personally thought she handled it very well within the context of the plot and what needed to be done. I'm sure others would disagree. Heroes are not perfect. They make decisions based on many things, and sometimes they make mistakes, then they pay the consequences. I love dark fantasy, especially when it's as thought provoking as Lori Handelan's books.

Chaos Bites isn't all doom and gloom, however. We meet new characters that reveal much about our heroine and her sidekicks. I'm not going to give spoilers, but I laughed out loud during the first few chapters more times than I can count. Luther, a young shapeshifter is such a cool character. I love his wit and the fact that he's a big ole shapeshifter hidden in a teenager's body with all the angst that goes along with being young. Megan, Liz's human friend, is her usual tough self, calling them as she sees them like no one else can. I love her character too, as well as her gargoyle/bartender guardian Quinn. Sawyer and Jimmy are once again making Liz miserable and aroused at the same time. Even in death Sawyer reaches out to her.

Yes, the author left us with quite a cliff hanger. Somehow though I find myself having faith that it will all work out in the end. Liz and her friends will find a way to save the day. Again.

~Moonsanity

Winner of Jane Slayre

The winner of a copy of Jane Slayre by Sherri Browning Erwin and
Charlotte Bronte is:

susan, who said...
I've never read a mash up book but would like to try one.

Congratulations Susan!

~Moonsanity

Elemental Assassin Goodness

I reviewed Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep back in February (read here), and loved the book, and the main character Gin Blanco. I'm excited that the second and third books in the series will BOTH be released in 2010, and the author has written TWO more short stories that she is sharing for free on her website.

Web of Lies, the sec­ond book in the Ele­men­tal Assas­sin series, will be released on May 25. Below is the summary for Web of Lies:

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive.

Venom, the third book in the series, will be out on Sept. 28, 2010.

Here is the summary (From the Amazon site):

It's hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I'm Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland's best barbecue joint. To my friends, I'm the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab's right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I'll take my chances. Then there's Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland's finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I'm a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

THE FREE SHORT STORIES
The descriptions below for the short stories are from the author's newsletter:

The first story is Web of Death and takes place in between the events of Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies. Read Here.

The sec­ond story, Web of Deceit, takes place when Gin is in her teens and focuses on her first solo mis­sion as the Spi­der. It’s told from Fletcher Lane’s point of view.
Read here.

I love when authors give us these fun shorts for free. By the way, aren't the covers kick-ass?

~Moonsanity