Pick of the Week

Ever since Larissa Ione started her Lords of Deliverance series, I have loved Thanatos.  There is just something about the big, tormented lug that always steals every scene he is in, so to say that Lethal Rider is my pick of the week is quite the understatement.

Synopsis…

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.

The Lords of Deliverance reading list HERE.

Rumor has it that there will be at least five books in this series – Reseph is next.  I do wonder if the next set of books will perhaps focus on the angels?

Cover Lover – 4 New Titles

I am thinking that there should be quite a bit of new info coming out soon, since the first quarter of the year is nearly done, but to tide us over I have four new covers to up.  After a false alarm last week, it looks like there is now an official cover for Ann Aguirre‘s Outpost.  This one is due out on September 4th.

Next up is Fury’s Kiss, the next book in the Midnight’s Daughter series from Karin Chance featuring Dorina Barasab.  This one is scheduled for release on October 2nd.

Now, I was surprised by this one.  The cover for Rogue Rider just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the Lords of Deliverance series, but this is what Amazon is listing as the cover (at least for the Kindle edition).  This Larissa Ione story will feature Reseph, and will be out on November 20th.

I saved my favorite one for last.  Now, I am not sure about yet another spin-off for Jacquelyn Frank‘s original Nightwalkers series, but it looks like yet another one is in the works.  This series will feature the Bodywalkers, and the first book is called Forbidden.  Look for it on October 30th.

This and That…

Just a couple of brief notes this time around…

• Looks like the early reviews for Jeaniene Frost‘s next book, Once Burned, are starting to come in and things are sounding good.  Very good.  Really looking forward to this one, but I just have to get caught up on the last couple of Cat and Bones books first.  Speaking of Cat and Bones, book 7 now has a title – Up From the Grave.  Looks like it will be published towards the end of this year.
• Jennifer L. Armentrout has decided to expand her Covenant series past the originally planned four books.  Deity still be released this November, and it will be followed by a novella called Elixir.  Following that, there will be two more books – Apollyon and Sentinel.  She is also starting a new adult series under the name J. Lynn.  The series will be called Nephilim Rising, and the first book is called Unchained, due out on October 16th.
• Seems there has been yet another move for the first book from Gena Showalter‘s Otherworld Assassin series.  Originally scheduled for November, then moved to mid-February of next year, Last Kiss Goodnight will now be released on December 26th.  Oh, and there is some sort of duology coming out in October featuring Gena and P.C. Cast called After Moonrise.

          Join two of the biggest names in paranormal romance on a breathtaking journey to a world where ghosts live on and love never dies… 

POSSESSED – #1 New York Times Bestselling Author P.C. Cast 

Being a psychic detective who can channel only negative emotions makes Kent Raef good at catching murderers, but bad at maintaining relationships. Then Lauren Wilcox arrives with a most intriguing case: her twin sister has been murdered and is communing with Lauren’s spirit-and sharing her body. Raef’s the only one who can track the killer and free the spirit. But soon he begins to wonder just which twin he wants to save…and why…. 

HAUNTED  – New York Times Bestselling Author Gena Showalter 

Artist Aurora Harper is convinced she’s witnessed a crime-a murder so brutal she’s repressed the memories, only to paint the scene by the light of the moon. Now she needs her new neighbor, Detective Levi Reid, to help her track down the victim-and the killer. Levi’s dealing with his own memory issues, but one thing he knows for sure: Harper is meant to be his, and nothing can take her away from him-not in this life…and not in death….

• Oh, and not sure if I am just last to get the memo, but the cover blurb for Larissa Ione‘s Rogue Rider (featuring Reseph) has been upped.  This one is due out on November 20th.

         The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride.

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues – and falls for – a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he’s also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian’s life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian’s neighbours are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he’s putting Jillian in danger. And once it’s revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

I did wonder how Reseph was going to get turned around…this one should be good.

Cover Lover – 4 New Titles

Most of these I snatched from All Things Urban Fantasy, so many thanks.  I’ve been searching for this one for a while now, so I was glad to get my hands on the cover for Blackhearted Betrayal by Kasey MacKenzie.  It is part of the Shades of Fury series, and is due out on June 26th.

Next up is the, uh, unfortunate cover for Nancy Holzner‘s Darklands.  The…mop-thing…on her head distracts from an otherwise decent cover.  But, my God, the wig throws me.  Look for this one on July 31st.

Number three from my ATUF raid is for the Jes Battis OSI book Bleeding Out.  This one is due out on May 29th.

And finally, Larissa Ione upped the UK cover for her next Lords of Deliverance book, Rogue Rider.  This one is supposed to be released sometime around December, and will feature Reseph, that bad, bad boy.  I do like the UK covers for this series a lot…I have envy.

Random Updates…

I am done!  I finally, finally got the Series reading list section “done” – er, done-ish?  It is at least up to date, including all of the authors listed on the new release pages.  It took longer than I had thought, but I hope it comes in handy.  As always, let me know if anything needs work.

Also, I am doing up a section for Darynda Jones.  It should be up and running within the next couple of days, and I will be doing a character guide for the Charley Davidson series, as well.  I have the first book done, so I think I will just up what info I have and add the second book stuff when I get it done (hopefully before the third book is released at the end of the month).  Right now, I am on a Mercedes Thompson marathon – and loving it – but I will try and take a break to do Second Grave on the Left.

I have a ton of new releases to add to the lists, as well.  I mean a ton.  I will be doing that within the next couple of days, too.  Some of the titles I will be adding are…

• Aimee Laine – Hide and Seek (March 1st)
• Nina Bangs – Wicked Edge (March 6th)
• Jamie Manning – Blood Born (April 24th)
• Amanda Quick – Crystal Gardens (May 3rd)
• Carrie Vaughn – Kitty Steals the Show (July 12th)
• Laurie London – Seduced by Blood (July 24th)
• Sophie Jordan – Hidden (September)
• Meljean Brook – Rivited (September)
• Seanan McGuire – Ashes of Honor (September 6th)
• Becca Fitzpatrick – Finale (October)
• Linda Howard/Linda Winstead Jones – Warrior Rising (October 30th)
• Tahereh Mafi – Shatter Me #2 (November)
• Kate Douglas – Dream Unchained (November 1st)
• Jennifer L. Armentrout – Deity (November 6th)
• Laura Resnick – Polterheist (November 6th)
• Ally Conde – Matched #3 (November 13th)
• Larissa Ione – Rogue Rider (December)
• Jennifer L Armentrout – Opal (December)
• Beth Reavis – Shades of Earth (January 2013)

Cover Lover – 5 New Titles

I spent this evening on a major new release updating binge, and when I surfaced it was to find five new covers.  Didn’t think I took that long doing the updating, but ok.   The first one is a biggie…Lethal Rider.  Larissa Ione‘s third Lords of Deliverance is a June 1st release.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Lauren Kate‘s Fallen books have beautiful covers.  Rapture is no exception.  I have seen this image around (in fact, I used it for my own Breeds header quite a while ago), but it is still perfect for the final book in this series, due out on June 12th.

Not to be outdone is the other Lauren Kate Fallen book, Fallen in Love.  This one is a collection of short stories set in that world, due out on January 24th.

Number four is from author Donna Grant.  She is doing a spin-off series of her Dark Sword series, and the first book of the new series will be called Midnight’s Master.  Look for it on May 22nd.

And finally (this time around) is a new one from Cassie Alexander.  Nightshifted is the start of a new series, due out on May 22nd.

Spotlight on…Lethal Rider

Not sure how many of you have come across this yet, but I just found the blurb for the upcoming third Lords of Deliverance book from Larissa Ione, titled Lethal Rider.  I do have to say, this is way, way different from the direction I originally thought this would go, but it did get me curious.  Lethal Rider is scheduled for release on June 1st.  The cover is for the U.K. version, but is way pretty anyways.

Synopsis…

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.

Mmm, Thanatos is my favorite of the series, so definitely looking forward to this one.

August Giveaway Winner

Today was the day to choose the winner of the August giveaway, a choice of either Bloodlines from Richelle Mead, or the Supernatural anthology featuring G.A. Aiken, Jacquelyn Frank, Larissa Ione and Alexandra Ivy.  Well, the original winner, chosen through Random.org, was LethalLovely…who hadn’t entered.  Sooo, the second randomly generated winner is…

Nightowlinil

Congratulations, Lea Ellen.  I will be sending you an e-mail for your contact info.

Spin-off Mania

Ok.  I am a combination of bored, OCD, and nosy.  Not a pretty combination.  Anyhow, today I came across a blurb about Gena Showalter starting yet ANOTHER series – this one a spin-off of the Lords of the Underworld.  Huh.  Didn’t see that one coming, for some reason.  And that got me thinking about how many other authors seem to be going the spin-off way.  Not long ago, it seemed as if author’s just kept going on, and on, and on with their successful series (sometimes well after they should’ve stopped).  But the spin-off is brilliant.  A chance to expand and explore new ideas, while pretty much keeping a built in reader base.  There are a few coming up that I am looking forward too, as well.

• As mentioned above, Gena Showalter is working on a new series set in the LotU world.   At her blog, she has said that the first book will debut sometime in 2012, and the main characters will be the angels (I wondered why they were getting so much time in the last couple of books).  There will be cameos by the various Lords.
• Showalter buddy Kresley Cole is also branching out from her Immortals After Dark series.  Plus a YA series, but I am not sure if that is IAD connected (helloooo, Thad).  Sorry.  The first book will be out next August, and the YA will follow in the fall.  I have been trying to dig up some info on these, but no luck as yet.
• Bloodlines will be a six book series from Richelle Mead.  Book one, also called Bloodlines, is out this month with the release of The Golden Lily following next March.  But all of this traces bad to the Vampire Academy series.  Actually, depending on how things go, I could totally see another series after that featuring Jill.  She would be old enough then to carry her own story, if all goes well.
• Rhyannon Byrd ended her Primal Instincts series just last week with the release of Rush of Pleasure.  But the very hot vamps featured in the latter books, especially the Granger brothers, are now getting their turn.  Some are saying this is a series, some say stand alone, but Ashe Granger will be featured in Deadly is the Kiss next April.
• and Jeaniene Frost‘s Night Huntress series is getting even more complex.  Aside from the main Cat and Bones books, and the two Night Huntress World books already released, Vlad is getting his story told in at least two books in the Night Prince spin-off series.  We are still waiting on the official title of the first book, but whatever it is called it will be hitting the shelves on March 27th.

I went through my books to track down some authors who had already made the jump successfully…

• Christine Feehan is just finishing up her second Sisters of the Heart book, featuring Judith.  Spirit Bound has a December release date, and got its start way back in the Drake Sisters books.  But instead of the seven magical sisters, we have six very hot magical Russian brothers (little brother Ilya already had his turn in the Drake books).
• Although Patricia Briggs has said that the Alpha and Omega series is supposedly set slightly behind the Mercy Thompson series in terms of timeline, there is no doubt it followed the popular Mercy books.  In this case, I actually read and loved the spin-off before the main series, which is strange for me.
• Larissa Ione will be releasing the second Lords of Deliverance book, called Immortal Rider, this November.  And details are starting to emerge about Lethal Rider, book three.  But who doesn’t look forward to cameos from the whole Demonica gang every book?  I do.

Apparently, however, a solid base does not a popular spin-off automatically make.  These two, from what I have seen around, have in no way lived up to the originals…

• Sherrilyn Kenyon, from what I understand, is meeting with mixed success in her Chronicles of Nick books.  These Young Adult hardcover books feature a character that isn’t that well liked as an adult in the Dark-Hunter series.  So who wants to read about him as a kid, I guess.
• Even J.R. Ward has made the jump with her Fallen Angels books.  I am a faithful BDB reader, but the new series just hasn’t grabbed me and made me want to read it, as yet.  The best I have heard about them is that they are “different”.  Not really a glowing recommendation.

Have I missed any?  Does anyone have any info I haven’t?  What is everyone’s feelings on the whole spin-off trend?  I myself would rather see a spin-off than the end of a series I love, or see one go on long after it should have been put to rest (yes, Dark-Hunter, I AM looking at you).

August Giveaway

I can’t tell you how long I stared at the monthly release page for August, trying to decide which one I was most excited about and wanted to give away.  “That one!  NO.  That one!  YES!  Or maybe…”.  Eh.  So, I decided to try something a little different.  Winner’s Choice.  There will be two selections to choose from, winner picks which one they want.  Ha.  No deciding for me.

First up, Door Number One…

I seem to be on a Young Adult kick the last few days, so giveaway choice number one is Bloodlines from Richelle Mead.  This one comes out on August 23rd, and it is the first of six books of the Vampire Academy spin-off series, also called Bloodlines.  I have to admit, I would knaw someone’s arm off to get my hands on this.  Just saying.

Synopsis…

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning. 

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive – this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

The Golden Lily will follow on May 1st.

Or, behind Door Number Two…

I got tired of playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe, going between the new Shannon K. Butcher, Alpha Pack, or Elder Races books.  So I went with Supernatural. It is the much anticipated anthology book featuring G.A. Aiken, Jacquelyn Frank, Larissa Ione, and Alexandra Ivy (and it has the distinction of being the only anthology in history where I faithfully read all of the series represented).  Not feeling the cover, but what can you do?

Synopsis…

VAMPIRE FIGHT CLUB (Demonica), by Larissa Ione:
When a wave of violence forces shapeshifter Vladlena to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice – with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge. Both Vladlena and Nathan are hiding something, but they can’t conceal the lust that simmers between them…

“Darkness Eternal” (Guardians of Eternity) by Alexandra Ivy
After being held captive by one vampire for four centuries, Kata had no intention of taking another one to the underworld with her. Yet even in the pits of hell, there’s no ignoring the intoxicating desire awakened by his touch…

“Kane” (Nightwalkers) by Jacquelyn Frank
Kane knows Corrine was meant to be his… just as he knows that truly possessing the lovely human is forbidden. But on the night of the Samhain moon, the beast in every demon is stronger than reason, and Kane’s hunger is more powerful than any punishment…

“Dragon on Top” (Dragon Kin) by G.A. Aiken
Escorting the highborn Bram through deadly Sand Dragon territory will try Ghleanna’s patience… and her resolve. For Bram is determined to enhance the journey with a seduction no female could resist…

Sooo, that is about it.  Giveaway ends Friday, August 5th.  To be eligible, you must have made at least one post on Wicked Scribes before.  Drop a line in the comment section to enter.  Winner to be chosen at random.  Good luck to all.