Cover Lover – 5 New Titles

Cover Lover time again. I have been checking on and off for the last little while to see if there was any info on the next Fallen Angels book from J.R. Ward. Now, it looks like book five will be called Possession, and it is due out on October 1st.

This second cover is from the re-releasing Nikki and Michael series from Keri Arthur. Chasing the Shadows is book three, and it will be out on September 24th.

This next one is from Elisabeth Staab. Hunter by Night is due out on January 7th.

And this one is from Jacqueline Carey. Autumn Bones is the second book of her Agent of Hel series, and it is due out on October 1st.

And finally, Jan DeLima starts a new series this fall with the release of Celtic Moon. It is due out on September 24th.

Pick of the Week…and a Giveaway.

So, it is one of those weeks – the ones where there are just too darn many good books coming out to choose just one to be my pick of the week. J.R. Ward‘s Lover at Last is a huge one, but has a story for me. I am circling it warily, since it will be the first m/m story I have ever read. Never know until you try it, right? I think the one I am most looking forward to is Jeaniene Frost‘s return to Vlad and Leila, Twice Tempted. But since I already did a giveaway for it, I thought I would pick door number three.

You can always count on Shelly Laurenston for a fun, feisty read. She continues her Pride series with this week’s release of Wolf With Benefits.

Synopsis…

Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?

Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…

–The Pride reading list HERE

If you would like to win a copy of Wolf With Benefits, just drop a line here in the comments section. Giveaway open until Thursday at Midnight (Atlantic time). Contest open to all. Good luck!

The Midnight Breed Character Guide…

This was a big one…and I can’t take the credit for it. PhoenixFyre sent over all of her info and stats she had recorded for Lara Adrian‘s Midnight Breed series, and all I did was add a few secondary characters from the first book (which is as far as my guide had gotten). She put a lot of time into this, and I am grateful that she shared it with me. Looks like it is just in time for the release of Edge of Dawn next week. It can be found on Lara Adrian’s Author page, or by clicking on the tab above that says “Character Guides”. Or, click the link below.

So, that is Character Guides done for 11 series, with a few in various stages of progress. I hope to have the Infernal Devices done by the time Cassandra Clare‘s Clockwork Princess is released next month, and I think I have 7 more stories left before Lora Leigh‘s Breeds series is done. I am going to add one for Gena Showalter‘s Otherworld Assassin series, and I think I have the first book done for Karen Marie Moning‘s Fever series. I do believe PhoenixFyre also said she is doing/has done J.R. Ward‘s Black Dagger Brotherhood, so that could make an appearance shortly, too. There are a lot I would love to do, but they are time consuming. What series would you find most handy to have a guide for?

Cover Lover – 7 New Titles

I have been a good girl and doing the updating, and on my quest I have found a couple of new covers over at Goodreads and Amazon.  J.A. London‘s third Darkness Before Dawn book, After Daybreak, will be released on June 25th.

Another one from the young adult isle is Shutdown from Heather Anastasiu.  This is the third book of the Glitch series, due out on July 2nd.

The hardcover re-releasing of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series from J.R. Ward continues on.  This time around it is book four, Lover Revealed.  Look for it on July 2nd.  I like the fact that they kept the same feel for the re-releases, the same art and colors.  I would not have been impressed if there had been a redo, since I do love everything to line up.

The Chicagoland Vampires series from Chloe Neill have great covers, and this next one is no exception.  Biting Bad, book number eight in the series, is due out on August 6th.

Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, Dianne Duvall, and Hannah Jayne will release an anthology, Predatory, next May 7th.  I do know that in this one Alexandra starts her new Sentinels series, and Dianne continues her Immortal Guardians stories.  Sounds good.

Now, I was not kind about the cover of the first book in the Seven Signs series from Erica Hayes.  Dude had some sort of belly shirt…chain mail…thing…going on, and it was not a good look.  I can handle the Redemption cover a bit better, even though I can’t quite tell what he is wearing.  Except that it looks like it is made of human skin.  Aaand it is still better than the first book.  Look for Redemption on March 5th.

And the final one for today is from Kat Richardson‘s Greywalker series.  Possession is due out on August 6th.

Spotlight on Ward and Frost…

I found a bit of news over at Babbling About Books, and decided to share.  Seems like J.R. Ward has posted the cover blurb for Lover at Last, and a small excerpt in celebration of not losing some crucial pages she had been working on.  Been waiting to get my hands on this…

Synopsis…

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.

And a little bit of teaser goodness for this Thursday…

          Qhuinn followed, bringing up the rear in case anyone decided to pull a hi-how’re-ya-

From out of thin air, Blay appeared, the male suited up in leather, and as heavily armed as the rest of them.  Qhuinn’s feet slowed, then stopped in the snow, mostly because he didn’t want to trip and fall like an a**hole.  God, that was one grim motherf**ker, he thought as Blay started walking forward. Was there some trouble in paradise?  Even though there was no eye contact, Qhuinn felt compelled to say something. “What’s…”  He didn’t finish the “doing” part of the sentence. Why bother? The guy just stalked past him like he wasn’t there.

“I’m great,” Qhuinn muttered under his breath as he resumed trudging through the snow. “Doin’ awesome, thanks for asking- oh, you having probs with Saxton? Really? How’d you like to go out and get a drink and talk about it? Yeah? Perfect. I’ll be your after dinner mint-”

Yep.  Next up is the blurb for the fiery one himself, Vlad.  Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost just needs a cover now to make me happy.  That and, you know, arriving in my mailbox now.

           Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges . . .

Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn’t sure what the future holds. If that weren’t enough, her lover Vlad has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her . . .

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity . . .

Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity . . .

Both of these are due out on March 26th.  Wow, big day.  Which one are you most excited for?  My take on both of them is so different and I enjoy them in different ways, but I will be devouring Twice Tempted the moment it is in my hot little hands.

Question Time…Hardcover Books

This past year, several authors like Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, and Lara Adrian have made the jump to hardcover on their flagship series.  Several others, like Patricia Briggs and J.R. Ward, made the switch a few books ago, and are now having their previous paperback books re-published in hardcover format.  Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series finished up the re-publishing early this year, and now her first Alpha and Omega book, Cry Wolf, will be available next February 5th (God, I do hope it has the short story Alpha and Omega, too).  Ward’s second BDB book, Lover Eternal, is out this November 6th, and it will be followed by Lover Awakened next February.  Even Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s huge Dark-Hunter series is in the process of being re-published, with Dance with the Devil being due out on September 4th.

So, my first question is this – do you rebuy the hardcover re-releases for your favorite series?

Sadly, I do.  Even for ones I haven’t read yet, like Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters, I rebuy.  I love having hardcover books, and the whole half paperback/half hardcover organizing thing makes me nuts.  It just makes it feel like my collection is somehow more complete, if that makes any sense.

Question two – who do you think will be making the jump to hardcover next?

This one is a bit trickier for me.  Although popular, I was really surprised when Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed was made hardcover.  It seemed that all of the relevant characters had gotten their stories told (before I found out it was just the end of the first arc), and it just never had the…maybe wow factor…that some of the other series had.  The biggest name I can think of right now would be Gena Showalter‘s Lords of the Underworld or Alien Huntress series.  God knows, she puts out enough books in the run of a year.  I would love, love, love to see Ilona Andrews get the hardcover support for her Kate Daniels series, and for me she would be the logical next choice.  It is a great story, every bit as good as Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson.  Strong characters, unique world, and very loyal readers.  So, if I had to guess, I would say Showalter will, Andrews should.

Cover Lover – Lover at Last

Well, for most PNR readers, this is big.  Huge.  Maybe a little controversial even.  But April 3rd, 2013 will be the release date for J.R. Ward‘s next Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Lover at Last.  After a few years of buildup, Blay and Qhuinn finally get their turn in the spotlight.

Random Updates…

I have something like 70 books to add to the New Release pages, so I thought I would list a few of them here.  Or, you know, a ton of them.

• December 18th will be the release date for the 7th Moonlight book from Nancy Gideon, called Betrayed By Shadows.
• The third Light Blade book from Kylie Griffin will be called Allegiance Sworn.  It will be released sometime next year.
• Sophie Jordan will start a new series next year called Uninvited.  The first book will also be called Uninvited.
• A Taste of Ice is the title of the second Elementals book from Hanna Martine, and it will be released on December 31st.
• The next Warriors of the Mist book from Alexis Morgan will be called Her Knight’s Quest.  It is scheduled for release on March 5th.
• There will be a Downside Ghosts prequel e-novella from Stacia Kane releasing soon, called Finding Magic.
• Next March, Shannon Messenger will start up a new series with the release of Let the Sky Fall.  No word yet on the series title.
• Also coming next March will be The Collector, the first book in the Dante Valentine series from Victoria Scott.
• The third Angelfire book from Courtney Allison Moulton will be called Shadows in the Silence, and it should be out next January 29th.
• Nina Berry‘s second Otherkin book will be called Othermoon, and it is scheduled for release next February.
• Looks like the Lynsay Sands Argeneau Vampire series will see another book coming out next March 26th, this one called Immortal Ever After.
• Mating Instinct, from Katie Reus‘ Moon Shifters series, will be released on March 5th.
• Looks like March 5th is also the release date for the next Queen Betsy book from MaryJanice Davidson, Undead and Underwater.
• The re-release of Keri Arthur‘s backlist continues with Dancing With the Devil, the first book of the Nikki and Michael series.  It will be out on February 26th.
• Night Resurrected, the next book from Joss Ware‘s Envy Chronicles series, will be released on February 26th.
• The pre-order link is up for the next Night Huntress book from Jeaniene Frost.  No official title has been released, as yet, but it will be hitting the shelves on February 26th.
• Coming on February 5th is the third book from Lauren Dane‘s Bound by Magick series, Going Under.
• The hardcover re-releases of the Black Dagger Brotherhood from J.R. Ward continues with Lover Awakened up next.  Look for it on February 5th.
• Also coming on February 5th is A Taste of Seduction from Sylvia Day, part of her Renegade Angels series.
• The third book of Kathy Love‘s Devilish series, Devilishly Wicked, will be released on January 29th.
• Haunted Moon, part of Yasmine Galenorn‘s Otherworld series, will be coming out on January 29th.
• Looks like there is some sign of things getting back on track for C.L. Wilson.  The long delayed The Winter King is now showing a release date of January 29th, 2013.
• The third book from Heather Killough-Walden‘s new lost Angels series, Death’s Angel, will be released on December 31st.
• Christine Feehan‘s December release will be from her Leopard series.  Leopard’s Prey will be hitting the shelves on December 24th.
• Of Shadow Born, from Dianne Sylvan‘s Shadow World series, will be released on March 26th.
• Next up for Vicki Pettersson‘s Celestial Blues series is The Lost, due to be released on March 19th.
• The tentative title for the next Amanda Bonilla Shaede Assassin series book is Crave the Darkness.  Look for it on March 5th.
• And finally, it looks like there is also going to be a re-release of Patricia Brigg‘s Alpha and Omega books in hardcover.  Cry Wolf is coming out on February 5th.

New Release News – Clare, Ward, Showalter and Singh

So, I was doing my usual snooping around tonight, and found some info on upcoming releases from some favorites.  This has probably made the rounds already, but don’t hurt to repeat.

• For the fans of the young adult Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series, Cassandra Clare has signed on to do a third series set in this world.  There had been rumors for a while, but now it is official – The Dark Artifices trilogy will kick off starting in 2015.  A bit of a wait, though (I might actually get the first two series read by then).
• I have to admit, this one shocked the pants off of me.  J.R. Ward has confirmed that the next Black Dagger Brotherhood book, due next March in hardcover, will feature…Qhuinn and Blay.  I never, ever thought that they would really get their own full book.  I was sure it was either going to be a case of their story progressing in the background of several books featuring other couples, or at the most a novella.  This is a huge move for a “mainstream” PNR/UF series, and I can’t wait to see what the reaction is going to be.
• Tomorrow (er, today for some folks) is the day Gena Showalter will be releasing the cover for the first book in her White Rabbit Chronicles series, Alice in Zombieland.  Looks like this September 25th young adult book already has a sequel in the works, too.  Book two will be called Through the Zombie Glass, but no release date has been given as yet.
• And finally, Nalini Singh posted her release schedule through next year on her blog.  We already knew about Tangle of Need in May, and Archangel’s Storm in September, but 2013 is shaping up to be a busy year, too.  March will see a Psy/Changeling novella collection (like the recent Guild Hunter collection Angels’ Flight).  There will be two previously released stories, and two all new ones (one likely featuring Cooper and Grace).  It will be followed by another Psy/Changeling full length book in June, and a Guild Hunter book in September.  No word yet on who either of the last two will feature.

 

 

Pick of the Week

There were actually two books that I was torn between for the pick of the week.  Shelly Laurenston released her seventh Pride book, Bear Meets Girl (I just finished it, and it was great).  This one is always a series I look forward to, and there hasn’t been a let down yet.  But, this is also the week of Lover Reborn.  Not only is Lover Reborn the long-awaited Tohrment story, but a Black Dagger Brotherhood book is more than just a story…it is more like an event.  At one release a year, I can’t wait to dive back into the world J.R. Ward has created.

Synopsis…

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. The city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.Now back in the Brotherhood – and unrecognisable as the vampire leader he once was – Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams – trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld – Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost.

When he’s told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed…Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future… but can his heart let go and set all of them free?