Cover Reveal

The Kingmakers (Vampire Empire book 3)

By Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

Expected release September 2012

For weeks now Clay and Susan have been revealing a puzzle piece at a time for the new cover of the final installment in the Vampire Empire series.  It has been torture!  I have yet to see any snippets from the book or even a synopsis otherwise I would include those juicy details.  *insert frowny face*

I recently read the first 2 and though it took me a while to get through them, I thoroughly enjoyed them.  The romance is one of the best I have read in a really long time.  Princess Adele is an extremely strong willed woman that I admire.  The Greyfriar is just as strong and courageous.  Such a romantic hero!  I can't wait to see what happens in this final adventure! 

Review: The White Swan Affair

The White Swan Affair

By Elyse Mady

Expected release May 21st, Carina Press

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

London, 1810

After the tragic death of her beloved, Hester Aspinall vowed never to be ruled by her passions again. Still, she is drawn to her landlord, handsome adventurer Thomas Ramsay-but she doesn't fool herself that a man of his station would look twice at a poor tailor's sister.

With the sea for a mistress, Thomas has no intention of entering into matrimony. And yet, he can't get the plain-spoken and desirable Hester out of his mind, even though she's never tried to secure his attentions as other women do.

Everything changes the night Hester's brother is arrested during a raid on a gay brothel, the infamous White Swan. With no one else to turn to, and terrified Robert will hang for his crime, Hester accepts Thomas's offer to bear the cost of the defense. A true gentleman, Thomas expects nothing in return-but Hester can no longer deny her own desires...

She may offer her body eagerly, but can she protect her heart?

96,000 words

FYI>>> This review contains a quote of an erotic nature. ;)

This historical romance is a work of fiction revolving around the real events that happened at the White Swan on Vere Street in London in 1810. The White Swan was a molly house (gay club) that was raided by the police and a bunch of men were arrested and tried... This book does have some homosexual situations but it is not the main focus. The primary character in this story is Hester Aspinall. 

We meet Hester as she is looking for her brother Robert who did not return home from going out the previous night. She is searching frantically for him deciding to go look at his place of business, a tailor shop he runs with two apprentices. Low and behold he is not there but while she’s there, she runs into the landlord, Thomas Ramsay. Thomas decides it’s in his best interest to help her find Robert. Soon it is revealed that he was thrown in jail after being arrested for his activities at the White Swan. Though we still have homophobia today, back then the general masses were outraged and those “guilty”, ostracised. 

Hester has a very hard time trying to help Robert out. She has no family to turn to but finds help and understanding from Thomas. They grow closer together and have some sizzling moments.

“I would see you, silk caressing your skin, your breasts bare to my mouth, whilst you ride me. I would serve as your beast of burden, Hester. I would not complain if you flayed me with your nails or if you punished me by striking me. I would simply be content to serve, letting you take your pleasure again and again. I would watch as you rode me, and I would touch you until you screamed and broke apart and called my name with every stroke.”

Mostly this book revolves around Hester and Thomas but we do get a glimpse of what is happening with Robert. 

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a heartfelt story that deals with a subject that was taboo at the time. The main romance was wonderful. What I didn’t expect but was pleasantly surprised by was the secondary romance.

A great read for those of you who don’t mind a homoerotic edge. Some of us rather enjoy that! 

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I leave you with this...

“You have my heart. The rest doesn’t matter.”

Friday Favorites

 This is a post started by Sue over at Satin's Bookish Corner. 

We'll gush and  fawn over our most beloved characters out of our absolute favorite books.

If any of you who run blogs would like to join in and do a post on your blogs with your favourite book people let us know and we'll leave a link at the bottom of each post every week telling our followers to pop on over and check it out. Now you can add your blog to the linky below and check out other awesome blogs and their Friday Favorites!

This weeks Friday Favorite's is dedicated to Thorne from a sexy series called World of Ascesion! This series follow the Warriors of the Blood who are winged vampires who protect humanity and other ascended vampires from the evil death vampires and their leader Commander Greaves! Thorne is the leader of the Warriors of the Blood and is the sexiest and most delicious of them all!! His book is the latest one out which was released on the 24th....Obsidian Flame

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Dirty Little Secret

 Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions. 
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!!  Let us know your answer in the comments! 

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question: 

Who is your favorite flawed hero and/or heroine and why do you still love them despite their faults?

HeatherJay's answer:
I didn't even have to think on this one. Easily, my favorite flawed character male or female is Cesaria Putnam from the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane. Before I started reading this series I always loved my heroines to be strong, funny, self-effacing and generally having their shit together. I've spent enough of my life around dysfunctional women so I definately did not want the women in my books to have ridiculous issues that any relatively stable adult should have a handle on. When I read the first book of this series I was incredibly annoyed by Chess for being a drug-addicted weakling who forced those around her to deal with whatever fucked up issue du jour she was dealing with. Slowly, she grew on me and after realizing what she had been through in her life I said "Whatever you need to do to get you through the day, Sweetheart, have at it". I eventually came to know her as a strong, loyal, generous, intelligent woman who happens to have a relatively strong case of self-hatred going on....Also, she's a hardcore drug addict. Regardless of the flaws, her positives strongly outweigh the negatives and she's got a Bettie Page haircut w/tattoos so she f-ing rocks!

There are a lot of flawed characters that I love no matter what! I think thats what draws you to them in the first place. Their faults and all....who doesnt love a project riight??That being said.... I would have to go with Vishous from BDB. He's depraved and he's a complete ass whole some times and an insufferable no-it-all, but he's sexy as hell....just utterly Delicious, intelligent and loyal to a fault! So...yea, I pick him! Control freak with a room full of toys...Yes Please;)

Whats ur Dirty Little Secret.....

Waiting on Wednesday

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme sharing releases we cant wait to get our hands on! Hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

This week I am DYING to read the latest book in the Experiment in Terror Series by the awesomest Karina Halle!!

Expected publication date: May 13th, 2012

When the life you wanted has crumbled beneath your fingers, there’s nothing left to do but pick up the pieces and soldier on. You’ve done this before.

But what happens when you no longer feel like yourself anymore? When fires spontaneously start-up around you, when you hear growling coming from underneath your bed, and you no longer recognize your face in the mirror. What happens then?

Ghost-hunter Perry Palomino doesn’t have much time to find out. Now, the evil she used to hunt is a lot closer to home. It’s inside of her, taking over her life bit-by-terrifying bit, and there’s only one person who can help her. 


If part of her doesn’t kill him first.



Once I started the first book, I fell in love with this series! If you like ghost hunters with a sexy male lead that has a Johnny Depp thing going on? Then check it out! 

My Review for Darkhouse
My Review for Red Fox
My Review for Dead Morning Sky
My Review for Lying Season







Divergent by Veronica Roth was my favorite book of 2011. It's the story of Beatrice Price set in a futuristic Chicago. Ms. Roth creates one of the most original and exciting YA Dystopian stories that I have read since Hunger Games. Divergent won best book for 2011 amongst GoodReads voters.The sequel is finally arriving in May and I couldn't be more excited.

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. - GoodReads

Release Date: May 1, 2012



Teaser Tuesday

A male vampire slid into view between the trees and reached for Simon. Then the creature's head suddenly parted from his shoulders.

A booted foot shoved the decapitated carcass into the dirt.

A man stood over Simon. He was tall and thin, and his face was covered by a headwrap similar to that worn by the high desert Bedouins. Over his eyes he wore smoked, dark glasses. His clothing was dark grey, almost black, a short military jacket and calvary pants with a red stripe, and knee-high, black riding boots. Over it all he wore a long cloak with the hood thrown back. He had a gun belt with two holstered pistols. In his left hand was a basket-hilted  longsword; in his right was a well-blooded scimitar.

The man bounded toward the female vampire. " Take the boy and RUN."  Adele realized the mysterious swordsman was shouting at her. She scrambled to her feet and ran to her prone brother, already hearing the ringing of steel against claws. The stranger in grey seemed eerily familiar, Inexplicably, she was afraid for him and afraid of him at the same time.

I love the Vampire Empire series. Steampunk is a new genre for me, but you throw in Steampunk with a good dose of vampires and I'm smitten. Adele and The Greyfriar have a slow burning heat that is sweet and hot at the same time. LOVE THIS SERIES......

Dual Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars




This review contains spoilers. Although I have kept the more major parts of this story out, I have still included some prominent scenes that are best read along with the whole book.




" Stories don't always have happy endings....."

I wasn't sure what kind of story A Monster Calls would be when I picked it up. All I knew was that several of my GoodReads friends raved about it and that was good enough for me. Assuming that it was probably some kind of horror/YA hybrid, I jumped right in.
Fast forward to the last 3 pages of the book and here I was:



About half way through the book I started to peruse some of the GR reviews and realized this definitely wasn't going to be the type of book I thought it would be. It's obvious that this story brings about very intense emotions to it's readers depending on their individual life experience. I've been fortunate enough in my life that I have not lost a close family member at a young age. However, this book definitely invoked feelings in me that were uncomfortable, sad, angry, distraught and more.

This is the story of a 13-year old boy named Conor whose mother has cancer. He is an only child who rarely sees his father who lives in the States. While his mother is undergoing chemo, Conor starts to have a nightmare.  A very, very bad nightmare. The gist of the nightmare is not revealed until the end of the story.
One night, Conor receives a visit from The Monster.

" The monster stood in his yard, looking right at him......'OPEN UP', the monster said, it's voice as clear as if the window wasn't between them. ' I WANT TO TALK TO YOU' "

Side Note #1: The illustrations in the book are amazing. I've been told that the paperback has more pictures than the ebook but this pic from my Nook shows the brilliance of Jim McKay.

Side Note#2: The time 12:07 plays a prominent role throughout the book. I finished this book on Saturday afternoon at .............yep, 12:07. At which point I freaked the fuck out and had to be sedated.

Back to the book....Conor has an ongoing problem at school with bullying. He also has figured out that everyone now knows about his mother because of an error in judgement from his friend, Lily. She told a friend about Conor and it spread to everyone after that, resulting in Conor being treated differently, almost invisible. What transpires at school is heartbreaking and infuriating. He lashes out at Lily and ends up completely alone. Towards the end of the book, Conor receives a note in class from Lily that says:

"I'm sorry for telling everyone about your mum
I miss being your friend
Are you okay?
I see you!"

That scene destroyed me.I was a complete wreck and at the same time couldn't have loved Lily more.

The Monster continues to visit Conor to tell him three different stories. Each one which will eventually help Conor process the circumstances of his life.

" 'There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between., the Monster said'."

 As this was a short book it is hard to relay some of the most profound moments of the book without giving things away. At times,  I hated the grandma, the dad and even the mom. But in the end, I loved all of them for what they were.
Not flawless but flawed. Like all of us.
In the end, I realized that this wasn't just a story about loss. It was a story about a sad, lonely and confused boy who had to deal with too much, too soon. In the end, it was also about a boy who let go of all of these things and forgave himself and the people who love him with the help of a big, scary monster.
This is an incredibly beautiful story and one of the best written novels I have ever read. The last ten pages alone border on perfection. It is sad, funny, disgusting, frustrating and just plain lovely.

This is a dual review with Samina at Escapism from Reality as part of a new series of  buddy reviews from the girls at:

Please check out Samina's blog for a different perspective on

A Monster Calls.

Terrible Girls Club Feature

 

A Terrible Bookclub is a group initially started on Goodreads dedicated to my blogger friends and myself, where we chat about awesome books, sexy heroes and bad-ass heroines!! Now we're bringing our craziness to YOU! So stay tuned when we share buddy reads, questionnaires, reviews and other funstuff under the Terrible Girls Club Feature! 

The Originators of A Terrible Bookclub:


Christen @ Goldiloxandthethreeweres
Mariya @ Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
Cat & Jaime @ Addicted2Heroines
Miss Vain @ Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy
Samina @ Escapism from Reality
VanesMate @ Paranormal Itch Reviews

And the Winner Is.....

Congrats to Christine at isabelli3619@aol.com

Congrats to Donna at bacchus76@myself.com

Congrats to both winners!

Spring Fling Blog Hop

 Welcome to Paranormal Itch's stop on the Spring Fling Blog Hop, hosted by Bitten by Paranormal Romance and Reading Between the Wines. A lucky winner @ this stop will receive an ebook copy of Obsidian Flame by Caris Roane which is book 5 in the World of Ascension series. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter for below and good luck:)

 From paranormal romance author Caris Roane comes the fifth book in the "Guardians of Ascension" series.

For a hundred years, Marguerite has been imprisoned and used for her powerful psychic abilities. Her only relief comes from her regular visits with Thorne, her vampire lover.  His every touch leaves her hungry for more..and aching for their next encounter. When Marguerite is finally set free, she returns to Mortal Earth to begin a new life for herself.  She dyes her hair white-blonde, paints her nails blood-red, and seduces a sexy-hot stranger. Why can’t she stop thinking about Thorne? 



Now that Marguerite is gone, Thorne craves her more than ever..and follows her to Mortal Earth.  Unfortunately, he is not the only vampire who wants her. As one of three powerful women with obsidian flame abilities, Marguerite is a valuable treasure—and a dangerous weapon. For Thorne, she is a soulmate he must protect at any cost…even his own life.
 

In My Mailbox

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme where we share what we've bought, swapped, checked out, borrowed or won.

 From Amazon:

From Netgalley

Review: Improper Relations by Juliana Ross

Improper Relations by Juliana Ross

Available April 23rd, 2012 

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A short but sweet review.

Dorset, 1858

When Hannah's caught watching her late husband's cousin debauch the maid in the library, she's mortified-but also intrigued. An unpaid companion to his aunt, she's used to being ignored.

The black sheep of the family, Leo has nothing but his good looks and noble birth to recommend him. Hannah ought to be appalled at what she's witnessed, but there's something about Leo that draws her to him.

When Leo claims he can prove that women can feel desire as passionately as men, Hannah is incredulous. Her own experiences have been uninspiring. Yet she can't bring herself to refuse his audacious proposal when he offers to tutor her in the art of lovemaking. As the tantalizing, wicked lessons continue, she begins to fear she's losing not just her inhibitions, but her heart as well. The poorest of relations, she has nothing to offer Leo but herself. Will it be enough when their erotic education ends?

22,000 words

“Tell me what this feels like,” he demanded.

How should I answer?  “It’s very nice,” I said,which seemed to fit the moment.

“Nice?  That’s all you have to say?  Nice?”

“I beg your pardon---”

“It’s more than goddamn nice,” he growled.  “It’s bloody perfect, that’s what it is.”

Wowsa.  That was a hot one.  This novella is set in England in the year 1858.  We meet Hannah who is widowed and a companion to her late husband's aunt.  One day in the library she witnesses the passion between her cousin (by marriage) Leo and one lucky lady.  Hannah never knew that there could be such pleasure shared between two people.  Leo makes a proposal to teach her.  At first she approaches it more out of curiosity but soon lust is taken to a whole other level. 

Juliana Ross is very talented and knows how to write steamy scenes.  You can bet I will be watching out for more from her.

Highly recommended for anybody wanting a quick afternoon read filled with passion and discovery.   

ARC provided from Netgalley

Friday Favorites

This is a post started by Sue over at Satin's Bookish Corner. 

We'll gush and  fawn over our most beloved characters out of our absolute favorite books.

If any of you who run blogs would like to join in and do a post on your blogs with your favourite book people let us know and we'll leave a link at the bottom of each post every week telling our followers to pop on over and check it out. and at the end of your post if you could do the same for us.

There is an episode of the T.V. show friends where they each make a "Freebie List". A list of five celebrities that if you were ever given the chance,you could sleep with anyone on that list, with no repercussions. I have a similar list of my favorite male characters called "If you were real, I'd make you my sex slave" or " If you were real, we'd all move to Utah and get married and live in a commune".
Listed from 5 to 1 ( 1 being my absolute fave ), here's MY list of freebies..........:

5. Bill and/or Eric from Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood - I realize this is a bit of a cop-out in not choosing one or the other. The problem is I love Bill more in the books. However, Eric in True Blood is quite yummy. Ergo, I'll take either.....


4. John Pritkin from The Cassandra Palmer Series - This is a lesser known series but one of my absolute favorites. Cassandra Palmer can communicate with spirits and has had an ongoing steamy relationship with vampire Mircea   ( yummy ). Her good friend , John Pritkin, the serious, talented mage who has saved her life on many occasions, and has a fierce following among Karen Chance fans, has some brooding sex appeal. Pritkin has an intense chemistry with Cassandra that can't be ignored. He's a selfless, brave and funny hottie who I hope will finally make a major play for Cassandra in the next book.

3. Curran from The Kate Daniels Series - Oh, Curran, you magnificent king of a man. Curran is the ultimate alpha. A Were-Lion who heads all the clans in the futuristic Atlanta area. I adore his relationship with Kate Daniels and he is the ONLY man strong enough to go toe to toe with her. Their banter is some of the best I have ever read and they are completely made for each other.


2. Jericho Z. Barrons from The Fever Series - Okay, I realize this is a gimme. Barrons is on EVERYONE'S list and David Gandy is everyone's quintessential Jericho. But look at him, Jesus Christ, had to include him.
 

1. Terrible from The Downside Series- For anyone who has read this series you are competely aware of the magnificence that is Terrible. Everyone knows him by that name alone. I'm not sure if he even has a last  name ( Smith? ). What he lacks for in pretty boy good looks he more than makes up for with a personality that is sheer perfection. He loves the protagonist, Chess, fully and unconditionally. Plus, he sports some serious mutton chops and has awesome taste in music.

Okay, there's my list. Who's on yours?