Sunday, July 31, 2011

Week in Review: July 24-30



Books Ive Bought/received

* Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan- ARC- From publisher



Books I read

Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep
Shadowflame by Dianne Sylvan
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Misfit by Jon Skovron
Hellbent by Cherie Priest

Reviews posted


Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario
Shadowflame by Dianne Sylvan
Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

*Rosalie Lario Author of Blood of the Demon stopped by for an Interview on Monday.

*Jennifer Estep told us about some of her Favorite books On Tuesday.

*Thursday Jon Skovron joined us and told us what he would prefer.

* Saturday Michael from Heather Terrell's Fallen Angel Series stopped in to tell us his book picks.

*If you see something on my books Ive read list that you are dying to know about let me know I'm back logged on reviews and can move it up on the list if I know people are wanting one.

* The months of July and August are going to be packed with Guest blogs, Interviews and Giveaways so make sure to stop by often.

* I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Interview: Heather Terrell

UFI welcomes Heather Terrell Author of Fallen Angel and Eternity . Thanks for Joining us!!

Character Book Picks: Michael

Well, if you would have asked me last year for a list of my favorite books, the answer would be wildly different than the list that has hooked me over the past few months. Some pretty crazy things have happened to me and my girlfriend Ellie over those months, things that changed how we think about ourselves. You might think that I’m off my rocker, but recently, Ellie and I found out that we’re Biblical creatures and that we have a huge role to play in the future of our world. This has really, really changed what I read in my not-so-copious spare time.

So to answer your question, last year, when I still thought of myself as a regular teenaged guy, I liked mysteries and thrillers. I read books like The Bourne Supremacy series, especially when I wasn’t forced to read classics like Jane Austen for English class. But now, I don’t have the time or luxury to read stuff like that. I feel like I need to read everything I can about leadership, my personal history, and the future of our world.

Over the past few months, I’ve managed to read the entire Bible, cover to cover. No mean feat. I figure that if I’m some kind of Biblical creature then I should know the source material, right? I’ve read the back-story of my history, from those gospels that didn’t make it into the Bible, the Book of Enoch in particular. I’ve also tried to squeeze in books on leadership and books about what we’ve done to the earth, so we can make sure that never happens again. Books that I can’t imagine are on your “to read” lists.

But they are on mine. If I don’t read them, how can I possibly be prepared for the huge job that lies ahead?
__________________________________

Heather Terrell is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms and for Fortune 500 companies. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in History and Art History, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.

Heather is the author of the historical novels The Chrysalis and The Map Thief, which will appear in more than ten countries, as well as Brigid of Kildare. She is also the author of the upcoming young adult series, entitled Fallen Angel.
__________________________________

 
Eternity
Fallen Angel #2
June 28, 2011
The end . . . or a new beginning?

As Ellie comes to grips with her destiny as the Elect One, her relationship with Michael grows tense. When she meets a mys­terious boy named Rafe, things get even more complicated.

Yet the time has come for the Elect One to stand against the group of evil fallen angels who are bent on destroying the world. In order to face the immeasurable malevolence heading her way, Ellie tries to put her personal life aside. But she soon learns that whoever holds her heart also holds the key to mankind’s salvation—or destruction. As the end days approach, Ellie is faced with an epic decision. Who does her heart really belong to? And is her love strong enough to save the world?

__________________________________
Find Heather and her books
__________________________________

__________________________________

Friday, July 29, 2011

Review: Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Eye of the Tempest
Author:Nicole Peeler
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Orbit
Jane True Book #4
ISBN:   0316128082
ISBN13: 9780316128087
Genre: Urban Fantasy


Nothing says "home" like being attacked by humans with very large guns, as Jane and Anyan discover when they arrive in Rockabill. These are professionals, brought into kill, and they bring Anyan down before either Jane or the barghest can react. Seeing Anyan fall awakens a terrible power within Jane, and she nearly destroys herself taking out their attackers.
Jane wakes, weeks later, to discover that she's not the only thing that's been stirring. Something underneath Rockabill is coming to life: something ancient, something powerful, and something that just might destroy the world.

Jane and her friends must act, striking out on a quest that only Jane can finish. For whatever lurks beneath the Old Sow must be stopped...and Jane's just the halfling for the job.
I could not put down EYE OF THE TEMPEST. There is non stop action, fantastic kick butt characters, tons of sexual frustration, laugh out loud commentary and some great surprises thrown in to make what I feel is the best Jane True novel yet. Jane has really grown into the supernatural world and herself. She gets some more answers and finds a new ally in her fight to protect. Her and Anyan are attempting to start up a relationship that has been forming for a while, and I'm super excited about it. I have always liked Anyan and hope book 5 has a lot of him in it. I wasn't sure how I felt about Blondie at the beginning but she really brings something new and fresh to the series. She turns out to be extremely loyal and I think Jane has a friend that will stand by her side through anything in her. The war is officially on and I will be there every step of the way. Cant wait for TEMPEST'S FURY in 2012.

I gave it 5/5 stars

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Guest Post: Jon Skovron

UFI welcomes Jon Skovron Author of Misfit. Thanks for Joining us!!

This or That List

•    Coffee or Tea - Coffee in the morning, green tea the rest of the day.
 
    •    Angels or Demons - Demons. But I’m biased.

    •    Pizza or Pasta - Pasta

    •    Virtual or Real - That line is soooo blurry for me...

    •    Left or Right - Left. Did you know that the Latin word for left is “sinistra”?

    •    Reading or Writing - Can’t write unless you read.

    •    Borders or Barnes and Noble - B&N, because Borders chose not to carry my first book, Struts & Frets.

    •    Book signing or Panel speaker - Panel speaker. I used to be an actor and I still love being in front of a crowd.

    •    YA Paranormal or Adult Paranormal - When I was a teen, I would have picked Adult Paranormal. Now that I am adult, I pick YA paranormal.

    •    Coke or Pepsi - Neither. MOAR TEA PLZ!!!!

    •    Up or Down - Everything that goes up, must come down.

    •    Facebook or Twitter - Facebook is ok, I guess, but I’ve been on Twitter since 2007.

__________________________________

Jon Skovron has never really fit in, and has no plans to start now. After twelve years of Catholic school, he went on to study acting at a conservatory program for four years before returning to his first love,writing. His second novel, Misfit, will be published in August, 2011 by Amulet Books.

His first novel, Struts & Frets, was published by Amulet in 2009. Washington Post Book World said, “Skovron perfectly captures that passion—sometimes fierce, sometimes shy—that drives so many young artists to take the raw stuff of life and transform it into something beautiful.” Bestselling author Cory Doctorow said, “Struts & Frets will feel instantly authentic to anyone who’s ever felt the pride and shame of being an outsider”.

Jon lives with his two sons outside Washington, DC.
__________________________________

Find Jon and his books
__________________________________

 
Misfit
Aug 1, 2011


Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.


__________________________________


__________________________________

Winner: Rebirth by Sophie Littlefield


Thank you to everyone that entered!!


PRIZE: One copy of REBIRTH by Sophie Littlefield





The winner chosen by Random.org is…



Rain Maiden




Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or I will pick another.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Review: Shadowflame by Dianne Sylvan

Shadowflame
Author:Dianne Sylvan
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: ACE
The Shadow World Book #2
ISBN:   0441020658
ISBN13: 9780441020652
Genre: Urban Fantasy


Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires who feed off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman must find her place within that world, before she loses everything...

It's been three months since musician Miranda Grey became a vampire and married David Solomon, Prime of the South. As Queen, Miranda must quickly come to terms with her new role and learn how to negotiate the treacherous waters of Signet politics, inevitably making dangerous enemies along the way.

As if complicated vampire politics and a rising music career weren't enough, an enigmatic but powerful force from David's past appears, leaving a wake of chaos and uncertainty for the Pair's fledgling relationship. Miranda begins to realize how little she really knows about her husband. But when an assassin begins targeting her friends and allies, the Pair must track down the killer, even as their lives hang in the balance...
 If you thought QUEEN OF SHADOWS was fantastic you are going to be blown away by SHADOWFLAME. Dianne brings us back to the shadow world a few months after the happenings of book one. Miranda and David are comfortable in their life together, Miranda is still working on her music, everything is going great and then BAM not so much. We get to meet some of the other area primes, some you will love, one you will hate, another you wont know what to think of. Miranda loses more of her humanity and I have to tell you some of the events will have you bawling your eyes out as hard as in book one so have the Kleenex ready. Dianne really knows how to rip your heart out and get you feeling everything the characters are feeling as you read. Having said that, I really hated the situation between David and Devin and felt that nothing was really resolved or came of what happened between them besides a lot of hurt. It made for good reading but I don't see how the future is going to pan out for everyone with this. (sorry to those who have not read this yet and have no clue what Im talking about but it would be a major spoiler to tell you about it). I'm a back to back book reader and this is one of those books that when your done you cant even begin to think about picking up another book. Go out and buy it now, if you have not read Queen of Shadows yet go buy that one too because you wont want to miss them. 


I gave it 4.5/5 stars

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Guest Post: Jennifer Estep

UFI welcomes author Jennifer Estep who has a new YA series coming out Mythos Academy. Thanks for Joining us!!

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to thank Stacy for having me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Stacy!

So today, Stacy asked me to list some of my favorite books from the last few years. Where do I start? I’ve always loved to read, but every year, I discover more and more great new books and authors. It seems like I always have at least twenty books in my to-be-read pile with even more that I have my eye on. Yes, my name is Jennifer, and I’m a book addict. LOL. Anyway, here are some of my favorite reads from the last few years:



 Beauty by Robin McKinley: I’m a sucker for retellings of the old Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, and McKinley’s book is just a lovely story about a girl who discovers just how kind and noble a beast can really be.





Beastly by Alex Flinn: This is another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but the twist is that the story is told from the Beast’s point of view. It’s a really interesting take on the classic story.




The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal: This book focuses on a princess who finds out that she’s not really a princess after all. It’s just a great fantasy book about a girl who has to figure out what her place in the world really is.




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I heard a lot of folks buzzing about this book when it first came out, so I decided to give it a chance. When I read it, it just blew me away. It was that good.



Graceling by Kristin Cashore: This was another book with a lot of buzz, and it was well- deserved. This is a great epic fantasy adventure with a really strong heroine.





Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas: These wonderful contemporary romances feature smart, strong women and the lives and loves of the wealthy Travis family in Texas.


The James Bond series by Ian Fleming: Is there anyone who saves the world and looks better doing it than James Bond? I don’t think so, and I love these classic spy stories.

The Dortmunder series by Donald E. Westlake: John Dortmunder is a smart thief with an eccentric crew and quite possibly the worst luck in the world, but things always seem to work out for him in the end. These are really funny comic crime capers.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite reads?

__________________________________

Jennifer Estep writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more. 

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, was published today, July 26. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available now as a 99-cent download. Kiss of Frost, the second book, will hit shelves on Nov. 29. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for excerpts and more information.
__________________________________

Find Jennifer and her books
__________________________________

 
Touch of Frost
Mythos Academy #1
July 26, 2011
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

__________________________________


__________________________________

New Releases July 24-30


Tue July 26
 
Black Night (Black Wings #2) by Christina Henry
Bloodlands (Bloodlands Trilogy #1) by Christine Cody and Chris Marie Green
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Wolfsbane (Nightshade, #2) by Andrea Cremer

Please let me know if you see a mistake or find that something is missing =) Happy reading.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Interview & Review: Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario

UFI welcomes Rosalie Lario Author of Blood of the Demon. Thanks for Joining us!!


What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

Although I have a fascination with the supernatural, I’m petrified of scary movies! Whenever I forget that and watch one, I won’t sleep well for weeks. Every little sound the house makes will send me into a fit of terror. The closest I’ll come to scary is something like The Haunted Mansion. (I know, it’s pathetic.)

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Downtime, what’s that? LOL. There hasn’t been much of that lately, but given that I live in the Sunshine state, when I’m not writing I love to be on the water. Frankly, in the summertime, it’s too hot to be outside if you’re not on the water. Boating, swimming, playing at the beach: I count those among my favorite activities.

What is your Favorite part of writing?


Every once in awhile I’ll hit a moment where I feel like I’m getting a glimpse into someone else’s life. I’m so involved in the story that it becomes real to me. That’s the best part.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

I play a track featuring rain and thunder (with no background music). It’s silly, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll play the track even if there’s actual rain and thunder going on outside.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

I absolutely love the world Jeaniene Frost has built in her Night Huntress series (and all its offshoots). I’ll follow her anywhere she deems to take me. Also Karen Marie Moning, though I’m more a fan of her Highlander series than the newer Fever series.

How would you pitch Blood of the Demon to someone who has not heard of them before?


It’s like Supernatural meets The Mummy with hot, half-demon brothers and lots of steamy romance.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Blood of the Demon is set in?

It’s set in current day New York City (and New Orleans and Egypt). In my world, there are multiple dimensions from which different species of beings derive (demons, shifters, vampires, fae: you name it). Inter-dimensional travel is governed by a political council of elders called the Elden Council. Though most humans don’t know it, New York City contains one of the portals allowing for travel between dimensions, and a lot of the people walking the streets aren’t at all human.

Do you have a favorite scene in Blood of the Demon?

The final battle scene in the Valley of the Kings (Egypt). I actually double-majored in Anthropology and Classical Studies as an undergraduate, so to say I have a fascination with Ancient Egypt would be an understatement. It was so fun to write a scene using the ancient monuments as a backdrop (though, sadly, my demons don’t seem to have too much regard for protecting ancient relics).

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

I fall in love with all of my heroes. It’s so interesting to see what makes them tick. The brothers in my series share a tortured past with an abusive demon father, but it affects them in different ways. That was a lot of fun to explore.

I’d say the hardest character to write about was Brynn. It took me some time to really figure out who she was. Once I did, I fell in love with her loyalty and bravery in the face of all odds.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?


Mark of the Sylph, Book 2 of the DEMONS OF INFERNUM series, releases in September 2011. Look for Book 3 in December 2011, Novella 3 1/2 in January 2012, and Book 4 in July 2012!

__________________________________

Author Bio: Rosalie Lario practiced real estate law for several years before finally admitting to herself negotiating contracts wasn’t nearly as fun as dreaming up stories. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their home state of Florida, as well as searching out things that go bump in the night.


__________________________________
Find Rosalie and her books
__________________________________

Blood of the Demon
Author:Rosalie Lario
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Demons of Infernum Book #1
ISBN13: 9781937044152
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Netgalley


Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment.

Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon’s Most Wanted List.

And no one wants her more than Keegan’s father.

Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’ll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the far deadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.
The beginning of BLOOD OF THE DEMON reminded me a lot of the first book in the Doomsday Brethren series TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS and I really enjoyed that book so I didn't have any issues getting into this one. Brynn always knew she was different so when she was kidnapped by Keegan and his brothers it didn't take her long to believe what they said about her and who she was. The relationship between Keegan and Brynn grows pretty quickly. They feel drawn to each other and possessive of each other instantly. Brynn has her reservations at first of course as she was pretty much kidnapped but Keegan definitely holds out longer and tries hard to push Brynn away while pulling her close. I enjoyed all of Keegan's brothers. It will be fun seeing there stories in books to come. The world that the series is set in is pretty easy to follow and understand. Rosalie does a good job setting it up and explaining it when it needs to be explained. There were a few parts in the book that seemed a little to easy. Whether it was a situation being solved to quickly or maybe a little to unbelievable but the story all together was neat and enjoyable. I think any fans of the multiple character and POV stories will enjoy the first book int he Demons of Infernum series.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Winner: The Heart of War by Lisa Darling


Thank you to everyone that entered!!


PRIZE: One e-copy of The Heart of War by Lisa Darling






The winner chosen by Random.org is…


roro




Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond  or I will pick another.

Week in Review 7/17-7/23



Books Ive Bought/received

*Shadowflame by Dianne Sylvan- Purchased at Borders

* Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler- Purchased at Borders

*Power Unbound by Nicole Murphy-Signed- Won

*Secret Ones by Nicole Murphy- Signed- Won



Books I read

Viper Moon by
Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell
Eternity by Heather Terrell
Accused by Kate Kaynak
Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Reviews posted


Bloodlust by Michelle Rowen
My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Night Veil by Yasmine Galenorn
Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

*Sophie Littlefield stopped by on Wednesday and is offering up a signed copy of REBIRTH

* Patricia Eimer, Author of Luck of the Devil stopped in on Saturday with an Interview.

*If you see something on my books Ive read list that you are dying to know about let me know Im back logged on reviews and can move it up on the list if I know people are wanting one.

* The months of July and August are going to be packed with Guest blogs, Interviews and Giveaways so make sure to stop by often.

* I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Interview & Review: Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

UFI welcomes Patricia Eimer Author of Luck of the Devil. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

I’m a novice foil fencer but I’m getting better fast. Instead of getting beaten by every six year old who tries to bout against me I’m starting to hold my own against the little pipsqueaks.

Also, I’m a Peanut Butter Cup and Dr. Pepper addict. You can get me to do just about anything if you wave a cold Dr. Pepper and a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in front of me.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?


What is this downtime of which you speak? No, really, right now I love to read and write during my downtime. Other than that it’s getting the chance to spend time with my two kids and my dogs.

What is your Favorite part of writing?


Getting inside my characters heads and getting to know them.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

Nope. Writing is like sleeping for me and my time backpacking through Europe taught me that the key to survival is being able to sleep anywhere, anytime, regardless of your surroundings. I’ve realized it’s the same with my writing. As long as I’ve got a story and a way to get it down (computer, notebook and pen, cell phone to record it into as a voice memo) I can work anywhere.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

MaryJanice Davidson, Gail Carriger, Nicole Peeler, Katie MacAlister, Richelle Mead. As long as an author’s got a funny outlook in their books though I’m willing to give them a shot.

How would you pitch Luck of the Devil to someone who has not heard of them before?

The family reunion from Hell. No really. You’ll call your crazy family members and thank them for being sane after this book.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Luck of the Devil is set in?

Luck is set in our world where the characters are hidden amongst us, going about their daily lives without trying to draw attention to themselves. Yes, my characters have wings and a tail but they aren’t flashing them around for anyone and everyone to see.

Do you have a favorite scene in Luck of the Devil?

My heroine, Faith, has opened up with her angelic hero, Matt, and they’re discussing their powers so she agrees to let him road test her dark powers to pick up her father’s car with his mind. But what demon can resist a little mischief? And everyone always forgets about the car alarm.

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

Malachi was my favorite character to write. He really is the voice inside my head, the only difference being that he’s brave enough to say all the things that I tend to think.

The hardest character for me to write was Matt. This is a guy who’s lived with his secrets a long time and he didn’t want to give them up. Not even to me. The ungrateful brat.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

There are two more books in the Speak of the Devil Series. The next one, Devil May Care, is with my editor now and we’re getting ready to send it up to Heather Howland at Entangled Publishing for her blessing. After that I’m beginning a YA book, FATED, that I hope to eventually turn into a series. It’s a modern twist on a fairytale where the Princess gets the chance to save the world and Prince Charming might not be the handsome boy in the golden crown.


__________________________________
Find Patricia and her books
__________________________________



Luck of the Devil
Author:Patricia Eimer
Release Date: Aug 2, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Personal Demons Book #1
ISBN13:9781937044114 
Genre: Paranormal Comedy
Review Copy Source: Netgalley

Being the youngest daughter of the Devil isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The days of teenage rebellion and vows of chastity made just to tick off her father are over, and now all Faith Bettincourt wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, thanks to the unexpected arrival of her demonically-downsized sister, a ditzy succubus roommate, and dear old Dad himself, Faith’s plans for a relaxing vacation spent watching reruns go up in flames.

Now it’s all Faith can do to keep the family reunion from Hell (literally) under wraps, and the angelically-inclined hottie across the hall from realizing there’s something weird about his neighbor. And, thankfully, it’s working. Until an angelic stalker shows up in a bid to steal her powers and take over the world.

Forget watching reruns. With the way things are going, Faith will need the luck of the Devil just to survive until Monday.

LUCK OF THE DEVIL was a great blend of Paranormal elements, romance and comedy. Faith and her family are the definition of dysfunctional and they all happen to come visit Faith at the very same time someone is trying to frame her for stealing drugs from the hospital she works for and while she also has someone stalking her.

One of the many paragraphs that made me bust out laughing and had to be one of my favorite parts in the book happens to be from Faith's sister Hope talking to their mom
"Mom, with all the respect I can muster, you're a fucking moron. I mean it. You're so stupid that I often wonder how you manage to survive on your own. It should be a criminal offense to be as dippy as you are. The police should raid your coven and throw all of you into an institution where they will let you macrame all day so the rest of us aren't contaminated by your utter insanity"

I know it sounds harsh but the situation that surrounds that one paragraph had me gasping for breath. Faith's mother is about as coo coo as they come. The relationship and romance between Faith and Matt her neighbor moves at a smooth pace throughout the story and I cant wait to see how things between them works out. I felt the final showdown was lacking. There is so much great lead-up to the moment that it just didn't give me that on the edge of my seat feeling that I would have liked, but the story as a whole was highly entertaining and fun to read. I will definitely look out for book 2.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Friday, July 22, 2011

Guest Post: S.M. Reine

UFI welcomes S.M. Reine Author of Six Moon Summer. Thanks for Joining us!!

The Top 10 Reasons I Hate Rylie Gresham
by Amber Richmond, Age 16


10. She looks weird, like some pasty ghost dead thing.
9. She wears icky secondhand clothes I would never wear anything that wasn't designed and tailored for me.
8. Rylie's always writing in that stupid diary. Who writes in a diary after third grade?
7. She’s pretty. Not super pretty. Not prettier than me, for sure. But she’s kind of pretty, and maybe if she wasn’t so wierd, she could do something with her looks. What a waste of oxygen.
6. Whenever I leave the cabin, shes sitting in bed, and whenever I get back, shes still in bed. I don't think she ever leaves. Weird.
5. She stares at me.
4. She stares at everyone.
3. Rylie only eats tofu. I don’t know what that is, but I bet it’s weird alien people food.
2. She punches really hard, and girls aren't supposed to punch at all.
1. On the full moon and new moon, she disappears all night. I’ve seen her climbing out the window. I  don’t think shes meeting a boy because she comes back looking bloody and exhausted. I bet she's out murdering people.

So Rylie is really weird. Period. Can you blame me?
__________________________________



Author Bio: SM Reine is an author of dark fantasy for teen and adult audiences. Her most widely known work is "Six Moon Summer," which has been hailed as "fresh and fast-paced" and "captivating." She lives in Nevada with her husband, the Helpful Baby, and too many black animals to count.
 


 __________________________________

 
Six Moon Summer
Seasons of the Moon #1
April 29, 2011
Rylie's been bitten.

She's changing.

And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf... forever.

Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she's craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn't figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She'll be a monster.


__________________________________
Find S.M. Reine and her books
__________________________________


__________________________________

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Review: Night Veil by Yasmine Galenorn

Night Veil
Author:Yasmine Galenorn
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Indigo Court Book #2
ISBN:   0425242048
ISBN13: 9780425242049
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher


Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they could have imagined. Quietly amassing their strength for centuries, the Vampiric Fae-led by the merciless Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court-are determined to enslave the world. Only one witch stands in her way...

Cicely Waters grew up believing she was simply one of the magic-born-a witch who can control the wind-but when she returned home to New Forest, Washington, she discovered she was also one of the shifting Fae. Now she must perfect her gift. For Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, has captured Grieve, the Fae prince who holds Cicely's heart. To save both her beloved Grieve and her friend Kaylin-whose demon is waking-Cicely must journey deep into the heart of the Indigo Court. But even as Cicely gathers strength, old alliances are breaking faith.

And new allies, like the hedonistic vampire Lannan Altos, promise to take Cicely down a far darker path than she's ever traveled before.
The reason I picked up book one in the Indigo Court series was because the cover completely jumped out at me and as I was reading thorough the book I could picture Cicely being exactly like the cover portrayed her.

NIGHT VEIL starts just after NIGHT MYST ends. Grieve is pretty much a prisoner and under the control of Myst. Cicely is adjusting to all the things she learned about herself in book one and preparing for battle against Myst. Cicely in NIGHT VEIL finds out who her allies and enemies really are and you will be shocked at the revelations. I have not come across one book of Yasmine's yet that I did not enjoy. The Indigo Court series is mystical, filled with action, and has a great array of characters and creatures. The story flows perfectly through the twists that Yasmine throws at us. So much happened at the end of NIGHT VEIL that I wish I would have waited to read it until it was closer to book 3 coming out because Im dying to know what happens next. If you have been a fan of Yasmine Galenorn's or have read the first book in the Indigo Court Series NIGHT MYST you will not be disappointed in reading NIGHT VEIL and if you have never read anything of Yasmine's go grab book one and jump in.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Interview & Giveaway: Sophie Littlefield

UFI welcomes Author Sophie Littlefield. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

One thing that I haven’t talked about much is my admiration for people who break barriers with their art. Even when it doesn’t speak to me – and no one can possibly appreciate all the amazing work being done in various media these days – I love the energy people put into translating their visions into visual art and music and, yes, story.  “Avant-garde” derives from the French for advance guard, those who go ahead of others in battle. The works and books that perplex us today may well pave the way for all of us to create tomorrow.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Because I watch so little television, it’s fun for me occasionally to find out what other people – usually my kids – are into. My older one is really into survival shows, which I find perplexing but fascinating. Recently I watched a show about folks trying to find gold in Alaska the very same day the New York Times magazine ran a feature on the same subject. I have to say the TV version captured my imagination in a far more visceral way.

What is your Favorite part of writing?

I love writing internal scenes where I feel like I’m just taking dictation from a character, and in the process, their emotional state is revealed. Getting motivation right feels amazing and always leads to the best action scenes.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

I had to learn flexibility a while back when my kids were still more dependent on me. Anything I thought I “had to” have…whether a certain brand of soda, silence, a nap, a clean desk – all of these are hard to come by when your office is out in the living space shared by the whole family. Still, there are a few conventions I follow: I love to listen to loud music when I’m working on a first draft, but for revising it’s important enough to escape distractions that I’ll leave the house and work in a coffee shop if necessary.

Also, I snack all day long. If the doctor ever makes good on her threat of insisting I lose the last ten pounds, I’ll have to stop writing….my “stuck” moments only get unstuck after I’ve had a little something to eat.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal or Dystopian Genres?

I admire the hell out of THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy. Occasionally, it’s mentioned in a review of the series, and I can’t imagine a higher honor for AFTERTIME than to be compared to that book.

It might be worth mentioning that my first exposure to Fantasy was THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, which my dad read to me and my brother when we were little. Thanks, Dad!

How would you pitch the Aftertime series to someone who has not heard of the books before?

A recovering addict seeks only to protect her child after the world falls to war and other abominations, but as she is forced to confront one evil after another, she discovers she may not have lost her humanity after all.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that the series is set in?   

Global food shortages lead to starvation, made worse when bioterrorism decimates livestock and crops. As the communications grid fails and militia founder, a devastating fever turns its victims into flesh-hungry cannibals.

Do you have a favorite scene in Rebirth

I love the way Cass and Dor reach for each other after suffering an especially horrifying episode; though they are broken and clumsy with their emotions, their fierce will to live compels them to seek solace in each other.

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

From the start, I’ve felt like I truly understood Cass. Every one of her decisions – many of them dangerous and wrong – was crystal clear to me as the action unfolded on the page. Simply put, Cass was real to me before I even knew where the story would take her.

In some ways, writing about Ruthie is the most wrenching. If I’m at all successful in convincing readers that Cass keeps fighting because of her desire to protect her daughter, it’s because that protective maternal instinct is so strong in me. It’s true that my kids are nearly grown (both of them will soon be taller than me) but I still feel a visceral rage whenever I think about anything threatening their safety or happiness.

And now for the most important question, When is Book 3 coming out? =)  
 
 Thank you for asking! HORIZON will be out in February 2012.

__________________________________
Find Sophie and her books
__________________________________

Rebirth
Aftertime #2
July 19, 2011
The end of the world was just the beginningCivilization has fallen, leaving California an unforgiving, decimated place. But Cass Dollar beat terrible odds to get her missing daughter back—she and Ruthie will be happy.
Yet with the first winter, Cass is reminded that happiness is fleeting in Aftertime. Ruthie retreats into silence.
Flesh—eating Beaters still dominate the landscape. And Smoke, Cass's lover and strength, departs on a quest for vengeance, one that may end him even if he returns.
The survivalist community Cass has planted roots in is breaking apart, too. Its leader, Dor, implores Cass to help him recover his own lost daughter, taken by the totalitarian Rebuilders. And soon Cass finds herself thrust into the dark heart of an organization promising humanity's rebirth—at all costs.
Bound to two men blazing divergent paths across a savage land, Cass must overcome the darkness in her wounded heart, or lose those she loves forever.
__________________________________

Aftertime
Aftertime #1 
Feb 22, 2011
Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many weeks have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.And with her, nearly all of civilization.
Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.
In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety.
For the Beaters are out there.
And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world
__________________________________
 

Winner will receive
- One signed Copy of Rebirth




 RULES
1)  Leave a comment or question for Sophie =)
2) This giveaway is open to US readers only
3) Must leave an email address so I can contact you.


Giveaway Ends 7/27/2011 at 10pm EST
Winner will have 48 Hours to reply to my email or I will pick another
Winner chosen randomly with the help of random.org