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Saturday, October 20, 2012

Giveaway and Book Review of ABSOLUTION



Giveaway and Book Review of ABSOLUTION
The Penton Legacy, Book 2
Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

ABSOLUTION
The Penton Legacy, Book 2
By Susannah Sandlin
Release date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Montlake Romance

Blurb : 

With the vampire world on the brink of civil war over the scarcity of untainted human blood, battle lines are being drawn between the once peaceful vampire and human enclave of Penton, Alabama, and the powerful Vampire Tribunal.

A Scottish gallowglass warrior turned vampire in the early 17th century, Mirren Kincaid once served the Tribunal as its most creative and ruthless executioner—a time when he was known as the Slayer. But when assigned a killing he found questionable, Mirren abandoned the Tribunal’s political machinations and disappeared—only to resurface two centuries later as the protector and second-in-command of Penton. Now the Tribunal wants him back on their side—or dead.

To break their rogue agent, they capture Glory Cummings, the descendant of a shaman, and send her to restore Mirren’s bloodthirsty nature. But instead of a monster, Glory sees a man burdened by the weight of his past. Could her magic touch—meant by the tribunal to bring out a violent killer—actually help Mirren break his bonds and discover the love he doesn’t believe he deserves?

It’s a town under siege, a powerful warrior in a battle with his past, and one woman who can make the earth move—literally—as the Penton Legacy continues.

REDEMPTION
Book One Penton Legacy series
By Susannah Sandlin

Following a worldwide pandemic whose vaccine left human blood deadly to vampires, the vampire community is on the verge of starvation and panic. Some have fanned into rural areas, where the vaccine was less prevalent, and are taking unsuspecting humans as blood slaves. Others are simply starving, which for a vampire is worse than death—a raging hunger in a creature too weak to feed.

Immune to these struggles—at first—is Penton, a tiny community in rural Chambers County, Alabama, an abandoned cotton mill town that has been repopulated by charismatic vampire Aidan Murphy, his scathe of 50 vampires, and their willingly bonded humans. Aidan has recruited his people carefully, believing in a peaceful community where the humans are respected and the vampires retain a bit of their humanity.

But an unresolved family feud and the paranoia of the Vampire Tribunal descend on Penton in the form of Aidan’s brother, Owen Murphy. Owen has been issued a death warrant that can only be commuted if he destroys Penton—and Aidan, against whom he’s held a grudge since both were turned vampire in 17th-century Ireland.  Owen begins a systematic attack on the town, first killing its doctor, then attacking one of Aidan’s own human familiars

To protect his people, Aidan is forced to go against his principles and kidnap an unvaccinated human doctor—and finds himself falling in love for the first time since the death of his wife in Ireland centuries ago. 

Dr. Krystal Harris, forced into a world she never knew existed, must face up to her own abusive past to learn if the feelings she’s developing for her kidnapper are real—or just a warped, supernatural kind of Stockholm Syndrome in which she’s allowing herself to become a victim yet again.

Susannah Sandlin’s REDEMPTION is the first in the Penton Legacy series. Book two, ABSOLUTION, will be out September 18, and book three, OMEGA, on December 18.

About the Author:

Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night.
A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch and the horror fantasy of Stephen King. (Um…it is fantasy, right?)
The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana.

Contacts:

Purchase links for Absolution


Purchase links for Redemption






Excerpt:

ABSOLUTION (The Penton Legacy, Book 2)
By Susannah Sandlin
Release date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Montlake Romance

What was Matthias thinking, throwing a human woman in the cell with a vampire who’d been locked up and starved for over a month?
            Mirren waited on the bench, his back against the wall, his head down. Waited until Matthias climbed the steps, slammed the door, clicked the dead bolt home. Waited until he could get control of the hunger that had begun raging the second the woman stumbled down the stairway. She was unvaccinated, and he wanted nothing more than to take her, blood and body, until there was nothing left.
            If he did that, he’d be no better than the version of Mirren Kincaid he’d tried so hard to leave behind. He’d be the Slayer again. His hands could too easily remember the mindless sweep of the sword, the heavy fall of the battle-ax, the controlled back-thrust of a heavy firearm. If the cold darkness ever fell over him again, he feared he’d embrace it.
            “Mister, you awake?”
            Shit. She would have to be a talker. Mirren hated a talky woman. They always expected you to talk back.
            He raised his head slowly and caught his breath. She was young, maybe mid-twenties, and pretty in a rode-hard kind of way.
            “Your eyes are silver—I’ve seen enough vampires since I was kidnapped to know when your eyes get lighter, it means you’re hungry. But I’ve never seen any like yours. How long has it been since you ate? Umm…Make that how long since you drank?”
            If the stupid woman kept walking toward him, he wouldn’t be held responsible. “Stay where you are.” He narrowed his eyes at her, thinking. How could she help him without sending his need so far over the edge he lost control of it?
            She eeked when he shifted on the bench and turned his back toward her. “Untie me.”
            She stumbled a little when she reached the bench and sat hard. The woman was stoned out of her gourd. He could smell the drugs on her.
“Your wrists are all torn up. That has to hurt.” She sat on the bench behind him, and Mirren breathed in her scent with his eyes closed. Damn, but he wanted to feed so badly his muscles ached.
            She muttered as she worked, her drug-addled fingers slipping off the rope. “You’re so big that I’m surprised this rope could hold you. I should be able to…Let’s see here, it’s too dark. Man, this is funky rope.”
            “Stop yapping, start untying.” She had that broad, soft Southern accent he found sexy, but she used it way too much.
            “Yeah, yeah, okay.” She tugged harder on the ropes, burning his sensitive wrists with each pull. “Sorry, sorry. Why is it burning your skin like that?”
            Mirren growled and spoke through gritted teeth. “It’s laced with silver, and I’m a freaking vampire. Just untie me.” Damn, he had to get himself under control, or he’d scare the woman to death and she wouldn’t finish freeing his arms or feed him either one.
            “Well, you’ve got the funny eyes, but I don’t see any fangs.”
            God help him, he’d show her some fangs. “I said I was a vampire. Now finish untying me.”
            Mirren twisted his wrists and felt the rope give way—the woman had gotten it loose enough that he didn’t need her help.
            “But wait, how do I know you—”
            She gasped as Mirren pulled his wrists apart, popped the rope onto the cell floor, and shifted around to face her.
“Can you…?” She paused and swallowed hard, edging away from him on the bench. Mirren’s gaze dropped to her mouth. “Can you feed without killing me?”
            Mirren nodded slowly. Maybe. Maybe not.

Other Tour Stops:

October 1 Interview
Booked & Loaded 


October 3 Interview and review
Happy Tails and Tales

October 4 Interview and review
Bitten By Love Reviews 

October 4 Interview

October 5 Guest blog
Ex Libris – 

October 5 Promo Review
Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

October 7 Promo and review
Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books

October 8 Promo
SMARTMOUTHTEXAN

October 9 Interview
Books & Beauty 

October 10 Guest blog
Wednesdays as part of the "Intriguing Observations" Series - Detective Techniques, Art Techniques, research and influence on writing

October 12 Promo
Blooding Book Reviews

October 13 Interview
Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews 

October 13 Halloween Guest blog
Book Lover’s Hideaway

October 13 Reviews
Cabin Goddess 

October 15 Feature
Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

October 16 Promo
BeLoved Books

October 17 Guest blog and review

October 18 Interview
Paranormal Romantic Suspense, 

October 18 Guest blog
Claire Ashgrove

October 19 Promo and review
Elizabeth @ stuffed shelves

October 20 review
Books, Books, and More Books

October 22 Promo
The Book Hoard: 

October 23 Guest blog and review
Donna’s Blog Home

October 24 Promo
The Speculative Salon: 

October 25 Review
My Guilty Obsession

October 26 Guest blog
Ramblings From This Chick

October 29 Review both
Paranormal Opinion

October 30 Guest blog (review Oct 29)
Tynga's Reviews 
We have a feature called "When I'm not writing" on our blog (which I've mentioned in previous emails), in which authors talk about their life away from writing. It runs every Tuesday on the blog. Previous participants have posted on music, hobbies, pets, travel, and more. You can read more about it in the inaugural post or check out previous guest posts. 

October 30 Review
Blooding Book Reviews

Book Review:

            An odd twist on a vampire novel with a kind of post-apocalyptic vibe.  A human illness that had to be vaccinated against resulted in human blood that was poisonous to vampires.  But one place has become a haven for vamps.

            It’s also a romance story.  And  despite being book two in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.

            I give this book a 5 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Giveaway and Book Review of Dead Memory



Giveaway and Book Review of Dead Memory
Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


Blurb : 

Frustrated with her father’s demand she find a mate, Tawny does, but it’s not one that will receive her family’s blessing. Plus, her new love has no memory of his past…even his name.
Discovering an unconscious man who may be vampire, in the neighbor’s yard leads werewolf Tawny Howls down a love path that’s not going to make her father happy. She senses this man is different, but that doesn’t stop her attraction. Werewolves and vampires are traditional enemies, and it doesn’t help when he remembers nothing about his prior life.

Awakening to find a beautiful woman hovering over him, he remembers nothing of his past life. When Tawny decides to call him David, he’s fine with the name and the attention he receives from his nurse. But why does the scent of the prey she hunts excite him more than the food she cooks?

Can the strong attraction between a shifter and a vampire overcome years of distrust for each other’s species? Will the discovery of his true identity ensnare them in a battle that endangers their lives, in an effort to save mankind from Demon rule?

About the Author:

Award winning author, Lizzie T. Leaf started life in Kansas, continued her growing in North Carolina, and currently shivers through the winters in Colorado.  She has numerous e-books in varying lengths and her first print book, Struck by Lightning, won dual 2007 Beacon awards, in addition to being a finalist in two other contests.
In addition, Making Christmas, a Christmas Historical novella set during the Civil War won Love Romances Café Best Historical for 2011 and is a finalist in the Aspen Gold for Best Novella.
Beyond Magic, the first book in the Magical Love series won the 2012 Award of Excellence Best Paranormal/Fantasy/Sy-Fi, and is a finalist for Best Paranormal in the Aspen Gold.  Winners are announced in mid to late October.
 Since discovering the fun of writing paranormal, she plays with creating vampires, faeries and other immortals. Her current focus is the DEAD series.  Musa Publishing has re-released the first four novellas in the series and DEAD Hot, a new novella, is scheduled to release in October.  Emerging Magic, the second novel in the Magical Love series will also release in late October or early November with Passion in Print Press.
When not creating mischief for paranormal beings, she can be found exploring the other genres she wants to write.  She also serves as the 2012 President for the Heart of Denver Romance Writers.
Lizzie loves to read, spend time with her family and travel with her best friend husband during her free time, on which most of friends ask…“what free time?”

Contacts:

BUY NOW LINK:




Excerpt:

Prologue
Witch, protect the vampire. Get him to safety.”
Caught between human and wolf form, the werewolf barely avoided
the talons that slashed out at him from a charging demon. Bobby knew he’d
better get his head focused on the fight or his ass was grass. The safety of an
undead being shouldn’t rank high on the list at the moment.
His sensitive ears picked up the murmur of a chant over the sounds of
battle.
“Magical Realms,
Transport now
To a Place
That is vampire safe.”
The witch had heard his shout and taken care of the problem. Why was
he so concerned about a vampire? There were only a few he could stand to
be in the same room with, unless it was to rip off their heads. But from their
first meeting this one seemed different. He appeared to have compassion and
a soul, if such a thing was possible for a bloodsucker.
Seconds before shouting his plea to the witch, Bobby’s sharp ears picked up
a gunshot. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the lead demon — a
gigantic, hairy bastard — raising his sword to relieve the vampire of his head.
What was special about the bullet to leave the vampire immobilized?
He’d have to deal with the vampire later. Jumping to the side, he brought
the club in his left hand down on the skull of the fang-toothed creature that
raced at him. The sword in his right hand pierced the demon’s throat. Right
now, he had more pressing matters that required his attention.
Where in Hell had all these demons come from? If he didn’t watch his
own ass, he’d be a headless werewolf when one of the sharp talons sliced it
from his shoulders. At the very least, if one of the creatures managed to sink
its row of razor sharp teeth into the flesh on any part of his body, it wouldn’t
be a fun night for Bobby Wolferman.
Nope, he was fond of all his body pieces and no way would he let one of
the ugly beasts take a bite out of him.
Bobby’s adrenaline surged and he laughed as he turned to face the next
charge. Just another day in the battle of good versus evil in the great city of
New Orleans.



Chapter One
Tawny Howls walked around the man that sprawled naked, except for a
cross on a gold chain around his neck, spread-eagled in the shade of the
huge oak tree that guarded Billie Joyce Nolan’s cabin. If he were conscious,
he’d probably be griping about the sand in his crack. The Nolans had never
believed in grass yards, and he sank into a sand bed. The thought gave a little
lift to her spirits, pushing away the mood that had eaten at her the past few days.
Several sniffs of the air detected nothing unusual — that, to her way of
thinking, could be a problem. She didn’t detect a human scent and he appeared
human.
Puzzled, she knelt beside the unmoving body. She forced her stare away
from his thick male appendage that created a rush of heat through her. Instead,
she looked closely at the wet darkness that soaked his left temple, turning the
dark blond hair into a glossy, almost black patch with streaks of red. Definitely
congealed blood, but her keen sense of smell only picked up a faint metallic
aroma.
Something didn’t feel right. She pushed the uneasiness aside and focused on
determining how bad his injuries were. What bothered her about him would
have to wait until later. She glanced toward the rough boards on the porch.
No, need to get him into a bed. Splinters to go with his other injuries aren’t a
good thing.
Decision made, Tawny popped the lock on the cabin door and went back
for the man, tossing him over her shoulder with ease.
To think, only a few minutes ago she’d been basking nude as she waited
for the sun to rise. Starting her day with meditation had become her way of
lifting the depression she’d battled this week. As the dawn broke, she’d spied
the body.
A quick glance out the kitchen window as she searched for a cloth to go
with the water now heating on the stove told her she’d missed her favorite
part of the day. The explosion of rays when the sun peeked its head over the
mountains always made her heart sing, no matter how depressed she felt at
that moment.
Oh well, not the first disappointment in my life lately.
Her father’s demand that she return home to Appalachia to be with
her own kind and give up the wild, crazy city ways had started a series of
disappointments.
Wild hardly described her life in New Orleans. Overworked and underpaid
was a more accurate description. Never a party animal, her job as a detective
with the New Orleans Police Department left little time for wild and crazy,
unless Daddy considered sleep to fall into the party girl category. Besides,
given all the evil she saw in her chosen profession, spending time with her
own company seemed safer.
Home less than a week, she realized her father’s real reason for wanting
her back with “her kind” as he kept saying.
“Daughter, it’s time you picked a mate. In fact it’s past time.”
The males he invited to the farm for her to make a connection with were
everything she’d left home to avoid. The one last weekend topped the list.
Arrogant and demanding, he wore his “I’m in charge” attitude like a badge
of honor. In less than five minutes she knew marriage to this stud would have
the little woman at home with kids while he ran with the pack. No way did
a life of barefoot and pregnant fit into her plans.
Besides, when and if I do decide to marry, it will be for love.
This “mating for the good of the pack” made no sense. She didn’t need to
be tied to some male just to satisfy animal lust. An occasional hook-up with
a human male took care of that need.
The hiss of water bubbling over from the boiling bucket brought her back
to the present. “Enough wool gathering,” Tawny muttered as she tossed the
dishtowel, the only cloth she could find, over her arm and poured steaming
water into a pan. On her way from the kitchen, she grabbed the bottle of rubbing
alcohol she’d discovered in a cabinet. A soft moan caught her attention,
and she hurried to the bedroom.
The blotch of blood that oozed from his temple made his face appear
paler against the white pillowcase. She set the bowl on the table beside the
bed and eased her behind onto the edge of the mattress. He didn’t move with
the shift of the bed, so hopefully he’d passed out again. Cleaning up the gash
on his temple wouldn’t be fun for him if he came around while she poured
alcohol on the freshly cleaned wound.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Tawny studied the crease closer. With the
blood cleaned away, it was obvious her patient had been grazed by a bullet.
What kind of trouble is this guy in? And what have I got myself into playing
Good Samaritan?
Her cop instincts made it impossible to ignore the body in the yard, even
if her tender heart, as her mother always called it when Tawny’s sympathy
for someone kicked in, would have let her.
This wasn’t the time to worry about the situation. His other bruises, cuts,
and scratches needed attention, and as she worked her glance kept going
back to the bullet crease. She’d spent enough time at crime scenes to know a
gunshot wound when she saw one.
“Oooh.” The soft moan and restless movement alerted her he was coming
out of the coma.
Her patient reached a hand toward his head, and Tawny pulled it back. “I
just got your head all cleaned up and would be most appreciative if you didn’t
touch it and spread germs again.”
“What? Where…” His eyes fluttered open, then closed. “Where am I?”
“You’re in my neighbor’s bed. She’s not around at the moment, but I don’t
think she’ll have any issues with my bringing you here. After all, I found you
in her front yard.”
He forced his eyes open again and this time looked at Tawny.
Blue. Oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man with such blue eyes.
With that blond hair and all those muscles, he’s what Granny Ethel used to call a
right handsome buck.
His lips curved upward in an attempted smile. “Who are you?”
“Tawny Howls. My family’s farm shares boundaries with the Nolan place,
which is where we are.”
“And it appears you’re my guardian angel.” He attempted another smile
that ended up in a grimace. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
“Well, I won’t make you feel any worse by telling you what you look like.”
Tawny couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her full mouth. “All I can say
is, it had to have been a heck of a big truck.”
“That good, huh?” He lifted his hand and she grabbed it again.
“I think we need to get your head bandaged. Hang on and let me see what
I can find in the closet. I’m sure Billie Joyce has another set of pillowcases we
can use if I can’t find anything else.” Tawny rummaged through drawers and
the old wardrobe that stood in the corner taking up too much room in the
cramped surroundings.
She had to settle for another white pillowcase, and after ripping it into
strips, she bandaged the still-seeping head wound.
This guy better count his blessings. I’m amazed there’s not more blood.
Leaning back, Tawny admired her work. “You look like a regular Sultan
waiting for your harem to arrive.”
“Nice. Every man’s dream.” He mustered a little chuckle. “Thank you…
Tawny, isn’t it?”
“That’s my name. Which leads me to the big question, what’s yours?”
“I’m…”
His silence stopped her efforts to pick up the remnants left over from her
bandage creation. The puzzled look on his face pulled her back to the bed.
Oh shit!
His skin had taken on a pasty sheen.
He’s going to pass out.
“Is your name so bad that you don’t want to share it with me?” A little
humor might get him through this rough spot.
“No.” He stared quietly at his hands folded across his chest like a dead man,
refusing to meet her stare. “I don’t know who I am.”
“You have no idea where you sent him?” Bobby paced back and forth
in front of the giant stone fireplace in his New Orleans mansion. “Cate, I
asked you to send the vampire someplace safe, not somewhere unknown.”
He stopped and raised his eyes to the heavens. There were times werewolves
needed the aid of prayer, especially when they prayed for control.
“Look, Mister Bossy, if you recall things were a little hectic. I think it’s
called the ‘heat of battle’ and I did the best I could to save Fang’s ass.”
If the glare she shot in his direction held the daggers it was meant to
convey, he’d be a dead Were. And she had the power to accomplish the feat
if she chose.
“You should be grateful, shifter, that I had the sense of mind to conjure
a spell that quickly.”
“Right.” Bobby dropped in the closest chair and attempted to focus his
mind on a calm place. “Can you recall exactly what you said?”
Cate shook her head in frustration and shot Bobby another nasty glare.
“The same thing I told you five minutes ago. I asked the universe to take him
to a place that is vampire safe.” She tucked her legs under her and crossed her
arms. “I’m not going to repeat it again, so don’t bother asking.”
She had repeated her chant to him at least a dozen times since their return
to his house, and he couldn’t blame her being annoyed. Yes, he could understand
the heat of battle. They’d been outnumbered, and the vampire being
taken out of action hadn’t helped. Still, between the two of them, they’d left
a lot of dead demons, or at the very least, a bunch of badly wounded ones.
Too bad they healed quickly.
His problem now, in addition to the finding the vampire, was to figure
out the identity of the demon leader. He had more power than any demon
Bobby had come up against previously — a giant, ugly creature, who appeared
to take delight in inflicting pain, and some of the demons had called him boss.
Bobby wished they’d used the big guy’s actual name so he would have a starting
base on where to find out more.
Life these days had become a battleground for Bobby and his allies, and
the situation kept ramping up. Lately, it seemed as if someone had booked a
demon convention in the city and forgot to inform him. Even his contact on
the police force acknowledged there was some bad shit going down.
“Why don’t you contact that vampire friend of yours up north? My high
priestess said he’s in tight with the blood sucker king.” Cate tugged on her
short skirt in an attempt to cover more of her never-ending legs.
It will take a strong spell to make that piece of fabric longer.
For a brief moment, Bobby regretted his interest wasn’t in the opposite
sex. The witch would make some lucky male a good mate.
Turning from the appealing view of shapely female legs, Bobby stared into
the flickering flames of the fireplace and considered Cate’s suggestion. The
last time Aaron Lowell came to New Orleans to check on his investments, he
brought a friend with him. The man had only been introduced as Daniel to
Bobby and the rest of their little investment group, when they met to discuss
their various business issues.
Always one to keep a sharp ear to the grapevine, Bobby heard the rumor
that Daniel was the new vampire king. From Cate’s suggestion to contact
Aaron, it must be a known fact, not just a rumor.
Hairs along his spine prickled and then receded — a sure indication to
Bobby that his decision had just been made.
The only question that needs answering is the how? Shall I call Aaron, or simply
show up in New York City at his bar?

Book Review:

            More fun with the vampire who faints at the sight of blood…. Okay, so she seems to have gotten over that issue.  This book focuses on Tawny, shifter and police officer in New Orleans, and David, a vampire preacher… Yep, that’s right a preacher.  Of course he doesn’t know that because he has lost his memory, but still kind of a contradiction in terms there.

            Excellent writing with a fast paced plot, and unusual twists that you are not expecting.  I give this book 4.5 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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