Happy New Year!

May your 2011 be creative, productive, blessed and happy:)

~Brenda (Moonsanity)

Release Day for Jill Myles and Jackie!

My Fair Succubi
The Succubus Diaries 3
Author: Jill Myles
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: 12/28/10
Available in paperback and digital format

Summary: Jackie’s past mistakes catch up with her, spinning her life out of control once more. Just as her friend Remy’s inner demon comes out to play, Noah and Jackie are arrested by the angelic Serim Council. When Jackie seizes the chance to escape, she falls right into Zane’s waiting arms. As she’s pulled into a game of cat and mouse between vampires and angels, she finds she must also choose between the two men in her life. Can she decide between Noah and Zane, or will she lose everything she’s ever wanted? Because there’s more at stake than just her heart. . . .

I was sent a copy of My Fair Succubi for review, which tickled me pink, since I'd been reading each book in the series as soon as they were released. I love the author's sense of humor, as well as her quirky characters, and her steamy scenes. It's interesting because I've given a lot of thought to sex scenes recently (as a writer, of course!), and I've come to appreciate the talent some authors have of writing steamy encounters that make the reader oooh and ahhhh, and wipe the sweat from their brow without being crude or over the top. Jill Myles does her sex scenes up just right.

My Fair Succubi is, in many ways, the best of the series for me because Jackie figures out some important things about herself, and her feelings for Noah and Zane. After reading her adventures, romantic woes and struggles with being immortal, I felt like I was a friend, pumping my fist in the air as she gained confidence. We also meet a couple of new characters that really shake things up in this book. Ethan is a wonderful character; very naive and innocent, yet a fierce protector and warrior. I will let the reader meet Caleb and make their own decision about him.

I highly recommend the entire series and reading them in the order they were released. Jill also has two short stories I've linked to below. If you love humor with your paranormal romance, and heroines that don't fit the "mold", you'll love My Fair Succubi and The Succubus Diaries series.

TEASER WORDS
Pop-Tarts
Oil painting
deals
bo staff
Vampire Ball
necklaces
choices
possessed cat
Bite Me

Below is the order of the books in the series, plus links to the two free shorts. I've numbered them in order of the events in the stories. If you click on 2 and 3 it will take you to my reviews of those books. Again, I recommend reading them in order if possible.

The Succubi Diaries
1. Foreplay (free short)
2. Gentlemen Prefer Succubi
3. Succubi Like It Hot
4 .Zane's Tale (free short)
5. My Fair Succubi

You can find out more about Jill and her books by visit here website:
http://jillmyles.com/

~Brenda

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Thank you all for your support and encouragement this during 2010. It has made all the difference to me as I've transferred my ideas from my head to words on a page.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday celebration:)

~Brenda

Just Another ParaNormal Christmas

Today I have a special blog with K.A. M' Lady who's sharing her special message on the anthology Just Another Paranormal Christmas, and she's also graciously giving two of my reader's a digital copy of this special book. I've found that the writers I've met online the last year and a half are some of the most giving and caring people I've had the pleasure to meet. Here is K.A. with her message:

I believe, especially at Christmas, that each of us has the power make a small difference in the world. I have always thought that books hold the power to create genius. That myth and magic build dreams and inspirations – and, in an insane world, it is our dreams that spark the revolution of change. No matter which world is being conquered. Within our dreams – all things are possible.

Designated to be a PG-13 anthology by some of the brightest, most talented and award winning authors in the industry, Just Another ParaNormal Christmas Anthology offers a wide variety of paranormal stories for everyone’s tastes. From vampires to fairies, to dragons and werewolves – Christmas is in everyone’s heart, no matter their differences.

All proceeds from the anthology will go to benefit The Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund. Plus, though the eBook of the anthology will be for sale, it will also be available for FREE download to all members of the armed services through Operation eBook Drop, of which I and my entire house of authors at Mojocastle Press are contributors of.

In choosing a charity I wanted something that would makes difference in someone’s life. A charity that is a non-profit and provides something in a child’s future. A charity that is a stepping stone with which the foundation dreams are built on. Then I thought, ‘What better thing to invest in than a child’s education? What better way to give back than to the ones who have sacrificed everything for many with so little and paid the price with so much? I found the right charity in The Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund. The following is the note I sent out to the members of Just Another Paranormal Monday with the request for submissions.

“Regardless of our stance on war or our political opinions and views I feel that we, as authors, have something special that we can offer these surviving children. We are more than just mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Through our writing we build dreams, inspire hope and create worlds where all of life’s possibilities are within our readers grasp – they just need to turn the page. We are the teachers and dream-makers of tomorrow. What better way to give back than to give a future of learning – a future of becoming everything they could ever hope to be; become everything their parents would have wanted them to be, despite the difficult paths they have walked.”

I am grateful for the opportunity to share this bit of Christmas with all of you and hope that you will enjoy it as well. Thanks, Brenda!

Blessings ~ K.

K.A. M’Lady
Fantasy Romance Kissed With Dark Sensuality
http://www.kamlady.net/

You can learn more about The Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund here:
http://www.afcef.org/

Operation eBook Drop
http://operationebookdrop.com/
It is estimated that currently, 440,000 eBooks Coupons have been Dropped since September 2009 by OED authors.

Just Another ParaNormal Christmas
A Mojocastle Press Publication

Includes the following stories:

A Cornwall Christmas
Kayden McLeod
A Christmas the Vancouver vampires will never forget

A Future Holiday
Candace Sams
Two war-weary galactic defenders rekindle their romance when Armistice corresponds with the holiday season.

The Unexpected Guests
Heather Kuehl
Damian’s Christmas party is the last place Sarah ever thought she’d find trouble…

Once Upon A Dragon
K.A. M’Lady
Jeremy Owens and his older siblings want to believe in magic, but hope and belief are difficult things to hold onto even when you’re a child.

A Christmas to Remember
Brigit Aine
Pixie and Wolf politics still abound, but nothing will stop Kira from enjoying her first Christmas as a married woman.

Reflections of a Lily in Winter
Susan Gabriel
A single light shines brightest in the darkest hour of the longest night.

You can read an excerpt from the anthology HERE.

GIVEAWAY
K.A. is giving away two digital copies of Just Another ParaNormal Christmas.

Please leave a comment here with a question for K.A. or just a thought on what types of things your family likes to do for others at the holidays.

I'll randomly chose two winners next Tuesday, December 21st. Please leave your email if it's not associated with a Google profile.

~Brenda

Christmas Reads: Santa is a Lady

Santa is a Lady
Author: L.J. Holmes
Publisher: Muse Publishing
Sweet Holiday Romance
Digital Novella
Available HERE

Summary: Angie is someone who has had to walk through the fires of hell and battle with death itself to regain the use of her nearly shattered body. It’s Christmas, the time of wonder and magic for Angie, Cam a man who has spent the past nearly two years trying to pry his precious daughter from the unscrupulous hands of his late wife’s greedy Iraqi brother’s, and Jo, the precious daughter, who is finally free and in her father’s awed hands. Three people and one Christmas with so much magic swirling at last in their direction.

Christmas stories are hit or miss for me. They are either sappy or forced much of the time, and then there are the ones that capture the spirit of the holidays just right and become a keeper story to read each Christmas. Santa is a Lady is one of those "keeper" stories that caught me by surprise. I won a digital copy during the launch of the Muse Publishing Reader's Group.

Where to start? Santa is a Lady is a novella, a light romance, and a holiday story about love, friendship, family and community. The main character, Angie, has been in a car accident that has changed her life. She's a survivor, and despite the doctors' predictions, now walks with a cane, but she's still in pain much of the time, and has given up on many aspects of her life, including romance. When she first meets Cam and his daughter it's a mess of misunderstandings, and everyone involved ends up hurt and angry. I love this story because the characters are not perfect, nor are they sappy. They are all dealing with their individual issues, but in the end it takes everyone opening their eyes and hearts to understand where each person is coming from. I think all of us have had misunderstandings that have gotten out of control because on the surface it appears as one thing, but is actually something else. People are flawed and complex, but that's what makes life so interesting. This story has elements of sacrifice, friendship, kindness, community and love.

Santa is a Lady is a wonderful holiday romance that I'll be reading each year. It's a lovely light read with a little bit of steam and a lot of charm.

Visit the author at her blog here: http://linsownblog.blogspot.com/

~Brenda

Steampunk! Like Clockwork Review

Like Clockwork
Author: Bonnie Dee
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 243 KB
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: 12/13/2010

Summary: Victoria's work with automatons has gained her renown and changed the face of London. But her concern that the clockworks are taking too many jobs away from humans, creating social unrest, is ignored. Given the ugly mood of the underclass, she fears more outbreaks of violence similar to the murder spree of the notorious Southwark Slasher. Dash, unemployed thanks to the clockworks, has pledged fealty to The Brotherhood, a group determined to bring about the downfall of the automatons by any means necessary. His plan to kidnap Victoria goes awry when the unorthodox scientist pledges her assistance to their cause.

I'm a big fan of steampunk stories for so many reasons. They combine the gentleness of the Victorian era with science, adventure, and whimsy, plus often romance. Like Clockwork includes a murder mystery, which adds another element to this fast paced light story. The novella length makes it a great read for those readers new to steampunk.

Victoria is smart, spunky, naive and compassionate. She suspects a mistake has been made giving automatons (robots) a human appearance, which in turn made people feel comfortable giving them jobs as nannies, housekeepers, butlers and other jobs where they interact with families on a daily basis. Victoria helped give them their human appearance but she wanted to have them only take on jobs that were dangerous for humans. She wanted to save lives, not create an invention that would replace people.

Dash is dangerous, passionate, at times rash, and extreme. After kidnapping Victoria he can't seem to stay away from her, even when it's dangerous for her. Together they try to help the poor, and solve a dangerous mystery, while trying not to give in to their desires.

I loved Like Clockwork for it's sweet humor, romance and thought provoking theme. It's fast paced, and the characters are fascinating. Later in the book there are some very steamy scenes between Victoria and Dash. It's truly a smart, lovely read. If you enjoy historical romances, steampunk or light science fiction you'll really like Bonnie Dee's steampunk read.

Teaser Words
gaslights
tea
dirigible
daguerreotype
underground
cockney
bombs
spies

To learn more about the author and Like Clockwork visit:
http://bonniedee.com/LikeClockwork.htm

~Brenda

Soul Screamers: My Soul to Keep

My Soul to Keep
Soul Screamers, #3
Author: Rachel Vincent
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harlequin
Released: 6/1/10

Summary: Soul Screamers is a young adult urban fantasy series narrated by teenage bean sidhe (banshee) Kaylee Cavanaugh. Join Kaylee as she tries to balance a normal high school experience with the threat of the Netherworld, a terrifying, hidden world full of reapers, hellions, and countless other mythical monsters out to possess her, body and soul.

My Soul to Keep is a book every teenager should read, especially if they are in a relationship, or considering one. I remember the hormone induced urges as I became aware of my sexuality. When you combine that with wanting someone to love that will love you back, things become intense and confusing. It's no wonder that our teenage years are some of our toughest.

I loved the character of Kaylee as she struggled with school life, her friends, her boyfriend, her father and her supernatural issues. Things are tough enough but when a supernatural drug starts ruining her classmates lives she knows she has to do something about it. She's compassionate, tough, and she's willing to face her fears to do what is right. I love that she holds on to her virginity, even though a part of her wants to give in to her feelings for Nash. Every teenage girl should view her virginity as Kaylee does, as something precious that should only be shared when it's right, not because of peer pressure, or a need to keep a boyfriend happy. Once you lose it, you can't get it back. That message alone is so important. My Soul to Keep has many important underlying themes in a face paced, action filled plot that literally keeps the reader in suspense through most of the story.

Addiction is something so many teenagers and adults struggle with at some point in their life. Some are lucky, and stop themselves before hitting rock bottom. Others can't stop, and hurt themselves and the people they care about before they ask for help. Whether it's drinking or drugs, addiction ruins lives. For those who are watching someone they care about go through an addiction it can be agony. We can't make them stop, but we can refuse to aide them in their addiction. All of this is weaved into the story of Kaylee and her friends in a fast paced, suspenseful and emotional manner.

Don't get me wrong, My Soul to Keep is a well written, paranormal romance with rich, complex characters. The author has weaved the life lessons among the story so there are no lectures or public service announcements. Rachel Vincent has instead given us a story about love, trust, loyalty and friendship that we won't soon forget. Whether you are 15 or 50, you will love her storytelling and the characters she has created.

Reading the Series
I emailed Rachel to make sure I was getting the order of the stories and the books correct. My Soul to Lose and Reaper happen right around the same time and are perfect reads to start the series if you haven't already. I loved both of them, but Reaper is especially good.

Soul Screamers Stories
1. My Soul to Take (2009)
2. My Soul to Save (2009)
3. My Soul to Keep (2010)
4. Neiderwald: Enthralled anthology (2011)
5. My Soul to Steal (January 2011)
6. If I Die (Fall 2011)

Novellas & Shorts
1.Fearless: Kiss Me Deadly Anthology (2010)
2.Free Prequel: My Soul to Lose (2010)
3.Free Short: Reaper: Tod's Story (2010)

Once you read anything in the Soul Screamers series, you'll want to read everything you can get your hands on. This is a Young Adult series, but I loved it as much as any paranormal adult read.

~Brenda