Guest Post: Author Gabrielle Bisset

Today at MNtR, I'm proud to welcome author Gabrielle Bisset for a vampified guest post! When I first saw the cover of her book Vampire Dreams and read its synopsis, I knew I absolutely had to read the story. Having since done so--and having enjoyed the experience exceedingly--I'm so excited and pleased that Ms. Bisset is able to visit! This time, she brings along her two main characters from Vampire Dreams for an amusing, enlightening and charming interview. Enjoy!

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Thank you Alisha for having me at My Need To Read. With me are Brandon and Arden, one a vampire for centuries and the other a newly sired vampire.

Gabrielle: Thanks for joining me today, you two.

Brandon: It’s our pleasure, Gabrielle, isn’t it dear? (turns to Arden.)

Arden: Yes, thank you for inviting us! It’s so nice to sit with you again, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle: How has life been since you turned Arden, Brandon?

Brandon: (brings Arden’s hand to his lips.) Every day is like I never believed it could be. I can’t thank you enough for bringing us together.

Gabrielle: You’re very welcome.

Arden: Is it true that you first saw us in a dream? That sounds so romantic! (giggles)

Gabrielle: Yes. I dreamed the entire first scene where you’re being chased and Brandon saves you. Amazing what dreams can become, don’t you think?

Brandon: That’s fascinating. And why do you think you dreamed of us?

Gabrielle: I don’t know, Brandon. I remember it was a Wednesday night and I had just finished watching The Tudors. That’s where your name came from, incidentally.

Brandon: From one of the Tudors? Was it that corpulent Henry Tudor? Henry VIII? (looks down at himself) I look nothing like him, thankfully.

Gabrielle: No, your name came from another character on that show, Charles Brandon. Let’s just say I have an adult crush on the actor who plays that character. (shows them a picture on her phone)

Arden: Ooooooh! He’s very handsome, Gabrielle. But my Brandon is better. (turns to Brandon, who seems unimpressed by the picture on the phone, and kisses him on the cheek)

Brandon: So I can thank this person for you bringing us together? (one eyebrow cocks suspiciously)

Gabrielle: Well, yes, I guess you can. Let’s just say he inspired me. Arden, how has life been since you’ve become a vampire?

Arden: It took some getting used to, but now the sleeping during the day is second nature to me. And every evening when I awake, Brandon is right there next to me. I couldn’t be happier!

Gabrielle: I’m so happy for both of you. And what about Vasilije? Have you heard from him lately?

Brandon: (scowling) No, but I know he’s never far away. As my sire, he’s connected to me through blood, just as I am to Arden.

Arden: He’s so touchy about Vasilije, Gabrielle. I just think of him as something like my uncle...an uncle who is manipulative and dangerous, of course. He’s like the family member you hope won’t come to visit, but you know eventually, he will.

Brandon: Vasilije’s problem is that he’s a hedonist. Everything is pleasure for him. (Arden takes his hand in hers and squeezes.) Sorry, but I don’t think there have ever been two vampires more different than he and I.

Gabrielle: I understand.

Arden: I think Brandon understates how much he loves pleasure, Gabrielle. (winks)

Brandon: I only take pleasure in you, my love. For me, there is no one else. (takes Arden’s face in his hands and kisses her)

Gabrielle: I’m so happy to see that you’re still in the honeymoon phase of your relationship. I hope it stays that way forever.

Arden: You don’t plan to write a sequel where we break up, do you?

Gabrielle: No, you don’t have to worry about that. The other two novellas in the trilogy Vampire Dreams will appear in will involve other men and women from the Victorian Period. One involves a couple and some light BDSM—that’s entitled Love’s Master—and the last one involves a young woman and a Russian diplomat—that story is entitled Masquerade.

Arden: BDSM?

Gabrielle: (grinning) That’s for another time. For now, thank you for sitting down with me today, and I hope you remain as happy for all time as you are right now.

Brandon: Thank you, Gabrielle. You will always be our favorite author. And our favorite matchmaker.

Gabrielle: Thanks guys. And for readers who want to know more about Brandon, Arden, and Vasilije, here is the beginning scene I dreamed from their novella, Vampire Dreams:

Excerpt:
     She could hear his feet as each one solidly hit the ground behind her. His stride much longer than hers, he was coming closer with each step.
      If he caught her...
     The pounding of her heart hammered in her ears as the blood pushed faster and faster through her body. Up ahead, she saw a door ajar in a rundown building. If it was empty, she might be able to hide and hopefully escape from the pain of what awaited her if he captured her.
    She slipped through the doorway, but her cape caught on the doorknob, costing her precious moments. As she worked to free herself, she heard his footsteps slow down to a walk, a sign he was as sure as she he’d won.
    Free to run once more, she turned and ran headlong into the chest of a man who stood silently watching her.
   “Please save me! He’s coming for me!”
    Without a word, the man took her by the arm and led her to a table near the far wall. With his hands on her shoulders, he hesitated a moment and then spun her around.
     His voice deep, he said, “Place your hands on the table and bend over.”
    Unsure if she’d chosen a fate as horrific as the one she’d fled from, she did as she’d been told and waited in terror for what was to come.
    The noise of her stalker entering the building caused her to turn her head, but the voice behind her sternly warned, “Face forward.”
     She felt hands lift her cloak and skirts, allowing the cool night air to hit the bare skin of her thighs. The feeling at once thrilled and shocked her, and she instinctively stood up to cover herself.
    The man behind her forcibly pushed her back toward the table and leaned over her to whisper low in her ear, “Trust me,” as he pushed his body firmly against her backside.
    “Hey you! Where’s the girl who came in here?”
    With his hands on her hips, the man who gave her no choice but to trust him pushed his hips toward hers and thrust toward her still clothed body to simulate sex, complete with throaty groans.
    “Hey! I asked you about the girl who came in here!”
    Never looking back, Arden squeezed her eyes closed and waited for the attack she feared. Instead, she heard the man whose body continued to meet hers bark, “Go away! This whore’s mine!”
    Indignant at the use of the word whore to refer to her, she started to push herself up but his hand held her by the neck and forced her to remain still on the table. A sound like a hiss came from her protector and the other man hurriedly ran out of the building.

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...whew! That's some dream. Many thanks to Gabrielle Bisset, Brandon, and Arden. It was lovely seeing the two vampire lovebirds again. ^_^ If you want to found out more about their tale, you can find Vampire Dreams at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.


For more on Gabrielle Bisset, visit her blog at http://gbisset.blogspot.com/ or email her at gabriellebisset (at) gmail (dot) com.

Today's post is part of the Bewitching Book Tours current tour for Vampire Dreams. For more info on the other participating blogs and their tour stops, visit BBT's site (here).

Review: Vampire Dreams by Gabrielle Bisset

Title: Vampire Dreams

Series: (unnamed trilogy)

Genres/Themes: historical romance, vampires, novella

Author: Gabrielle Bisset
Excerpt: (here)

Quick Take:

With sweet characters, satisfying action sequences and easily accesible language, this book is certainly please vampire- and PnR fans. A quick and dirty read, both literally and figuratively. ^_^

Book Description (via Goodreads): 

     Homeless and without any family, Arden Stephens must live on the streets of mid 19th century London, never a safe place for a young woman. One night, as she is running for her life from an attacker, she is rescued by Brandon Ridley and offered a place in his home as his maid. Brandon is enchanted by Arden from the moment they meet, but just as she has secrets, so too does he. A vampire hundreds of years old, he yearns for the companionship she can give him. But for that he must make her one of his kind.
     Nightly, he visits her in her sleep, preparing her for the night he will finally make her his own. For Arden, the wanton dreams she has about her handsome employer seduce her and each day when she wakes up, she finds herself more drawn to him. But love and desire aren't enough for Brandon to sire her. He must first obtain the approval of his maker, an ancient vampire named Vasilije who has thwarted his chance for happiness before.

Review:

This novella by Gabrielle Bisset is nothing if not straight to the point. :o) The story gets down to business immediately, putting the two romantic leads in each others' paths and keeping them there for the duration of the tale. Given the shorter length (and thus quicker speed in plot development), the book reads quite like a fairy tale, or perhaps a naughty bedtime story; it's light on the expository details and only covers the storytelling essentials, but packs in a lot of heat and sweet romance.

And oh, what heat! There are some super hot scenes contained within this novella. I was pleased to find that their frequency and tone seemed to fit in nicely with the rest of the story; no encounters for their own sake or love scenes out of sync with the plot. (I will note that the book some under-the-mystical-influence encounters...I doubt it'll be a problem for most...but who knows, maybe someone will want a heads-up on that sort of thing.)

A very small part of me wishes the characters and the romance were fleshed out a bit more, particularly given that the main characters seem to "develop" feelings in a flash and in a place where the reader can't follow (that place being "between the lines" ^_^). But as it is, both still satisfy, as long as one doesn't mind the fast sequence of strong emotion.

The language was very clear and accessible, and I felt like the dialogue had just the right touch of period elegance. I found the action sequences (of the fighting/fleeing kind) exciting and engaging. The tone of the scenes throughout the book shifted and changed, but did so smoothy.

I quite enjoyed this quick cup of hot, steamy lovin'. ^_^ I'm very much looking forward to the next two books in the series; fortunately, the wait for the next release in the trilogy will be over by mid-July. Woop!

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

"I liked it!"

Today's review is part of the Bewitching Book Tours  current tour for Vampire Dreams. For more info on the other participating blogs and their tour stops, visit BBT's site (here).

Review: The Vampire Dimitri by Colleen Gleason

Title: The Vampire Dimitri
Series: Regency Draculia trilogy, #2
Genres/Themes: vampires, romance, historical
Author: Colleen Gleason

Quick Take:
This book, which parallels much of book one's story, does a decent job of balancing old and new information, resulting in greater depth of certain characters and unexpected twists. But the book definitely stands on the shoulders of its predecessor.

Book Description (via Goodreads):

     Dimitri, the Earl of Corvindale, should be delighted that the headstrong Maia Woodmore is getting married. His mortal ward and houseguest has annoyed – and bewitched – the Dracule nobleman too long, and denying his animal cravings grows more excruciating by the day.

     Miss Woodmore's family has a rather...complicated history with the immortals and she herself possesses a keen sensibility far beyond mere women's intuition. Marriage will give her safety, respectability, and everything else a proper young lady could wish for. Everything, that is, except for passion.

     In the looming battle between Dracule factions, all pretenses will shatter as Maia and Dimitir come together in an unholy union of danger, desperation, and fiercest desire.

Review:
Parallel novels can sometimes be tricky. Prior to picking up this book, I was informed of the fact that at least half of this tale would run during the exact same weeks-long time frame as its predecessor The Vampire Voss,  focusing on a different hero and heroine. I wasn't sure what to make of that: would this book assume you've read book one, thus leaving out chunks of crucial exposition? Or would it rehash materials from Voss making for a duller experience?

 I'm happy to report that--at least in my mind--The Vampire Dimitri struck just the right balance in telling a story that was both old and new. In the previous book, Dimitri is portrayed as a stoic, scholarly vampire. He is that way indeed, but almost immediately his inner character and decision-making is fleshed out, changing much of what was previously assumed about him. Likewise, the more critical events (involving numerous characters) were given more depth by the change in narrative focus. Just when one thinks they know how a scene will progress based on book one, it goes in a surprising direction that still fits within the confines of the plot overall.

This only continues until about halfway through the book, however. Completely new content follows from there, and it's a wild ride. Of particular enjoyment was the interaction between Dimitri and heroine Maia. The story resembles the lore of Beauty and the Beast, albeit more in spirit than in specific plotting.

As with The Vampire Voss, the language used to paint the story is well-crafted. It's not particularly flowery or dramatic; rather, it uses precisely the right words to bring out the drama and allure of the era and setting. Author Colleen Gleason's eloquence goes to show that particular words and phrasing do still matter.

There's a version of the classic love triangle, though one "corner" of it spends most of the book as a distant thought rather than a flesh-and-blood person. I must admit, I wasn't hot on a couple of the elements related to its development. I'm not a big fan of too-easy-to-be-plausible resolutions, and I felt this book definitely had some of that going on.

Though this book could technically be read as stand-alone, it wouldn't be as effective or enjoyable without a read-through of the first book. Some of the drama comes from a readjustment of perspective, a re-living of previously visited scenarios. That said, I enjoyed The Vampire Dimitri even more than its predecessor. It runs the gamut of themes, touching on love, regret, redemption, thorns-to-roses romance, mystery, revenge, adventure and more. I definitely look forward to more Regency Draculia and more Gleason!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I really liked it"

Review: The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason

Title: The Vampire Voss
Series: Regency Draculia trilogy, #1
Genres/Themes: vampires, romance, historical
Author: Colleen Gleason

Quick Take:
An apt subtitle for this book would be "Vampirism: Good for the Body, Bad for the Soul." It's an enjoyable mix of Enlish high-society and paranormal intrigue, wrapped in some beautiful use of the English language.

Book Description (via Goodreads):

     Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member the Dracule – a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls – the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral ... until Angelica.

     Angelica Woodmore possess the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger – for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him – to protect her.

     Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica ... but this vampire never backs down from a fight.

Review:
Vampirism. Sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes it's a curse. In this particular series, it's a chocolate-covered piece of poison, a trick touted as a treat.  ^_^ At least, that's the implication based on the plot of this book.

The name of the story makes it pretty clear that, though this is a paranormal romance, the ultimate focus is on the development of vampire protagonist Voss, the Viscount Dewhurst; it just so happens that female lead Angelica Woodmore is the impetus for this change. Given the fact that he's thoroughly selfish and unapologetic--and thus could have been difficult to connect to--I was glad that the author managed to make Voss come off as likable and somewhat relatable.

At first, I was a little bit thrown with the names and titles that come fast and furious at the reader. With a bit of note-taking and further reading, however, it settled into something manageable. What remained was a good dose of intrigue. The pacing of the book is rather like an adventure (there's not a whole lot of sitting about, musing about nothing), but there's also plenty to recognize from the era and the setting of early 19th century London.

One of my favorite aspects of the tale was the language used to describe everything from physical surroundings to dialogues and inner thoughts. I found myself reading extra slowly and savoring the words; I'd like to say that the language melted seamlessly into the background, but it was just so…pretty (but NOT overly flowery). It made everything else--the characters, the plot--that much more...more. (Ha; clearly I don't possess any of Gleason's aptitude for vivification!)

When reading a vampire story, which is undeniably trodden territory, it's nice to find little details that add a little something different to the lore. In this world, it's the Asthenia (weakness). Each vampire has a different one, acquired upon first sealing their pact with the devil to become an immortal. It could be an apple, a ruby, a hyssop plant…but in each case it's proverbial kryptonite for a vampire, who thus holds it as his or her most precious secret. This element came into play a fair bit, and definitely provided some interesting twists.
 
I was surprised to find that I was most drawn to two supporting characters, the Earl of Corvindale (a vampire) and the eldest Woodmore sister, Maia. There was great potential for angst (the juicy kind) and passion in that dynamic, but it was hidden underneath the solid, stoic exteriors of both hard-headed individuals. I look forward to their further interactions, which will be the focus of book two (unsurprisingly titled The Vampire Dimitri).

All in all, this is a decent series opener. If you're interested in dramatic London high-society covered with a layer of paranormal, you should give this book a shot.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I really liked it"

An Interview with 12.21.12 Protagonist, Sheppard "Shep" Smyth

Continuing the festivities of author Killian McRae's 12.21.12 blog tour, My Need to Read has been given the amazing opportunity to hold an interview with Dr. Sheppard Smyth, the book's protagonist. In McRae's story, "Shep" Smyth finds himself dropped into the middle of a whirlwind of mythology, high adventure and historical intrigue. I sit down with him today to discuss some points about his profession as a well-respected archeologist and specialist on Egyptology.

My Need to Read: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Smyth. Your reputation as a prominent Egyptologist precedes you; I’d love for you to tell us how and when you first discovered an interest in Egyptology.
Dr. Smyth: Well, I first discovered a love for Egypt when I was in high school. I was sick one day and got stuck home from school. I spent the whole day watching TV, and as I was flipping through the channels, I happened on the film "Cleopatra." You know, the one from the '60's with Liz Taylor? I don't know exactly why, but the second I started watching, I became obsessed. I felt like I came alive. I mean, of course I had heard of the pharaohs and the pyramids and all that, but it didn't seem... You know, real to me until there was a concrete person I could scaffold all that knowledge around. I had always enjoyed digging up stuff in the yard, and as I read more and more about Egypt, I guess my two loves just sort of ... merged.

MNtR: You've spent much of your career attempting to prove that the infamous Cleopatra VII did not commit suicide, but rather was murdered. What made you first believe in this theory?
S: First, you have to understand this, and I know it's going to sound like I'm overturning my own theory, but it needs to be said: when you study history, you have to be careful not to make presumptions and overthrow truth based on the moral and cultural framework you take to the field with you. The accepted version of history is that Cleo killed herself when Rome had seized power over Egypt and she felt like she had fought every fight she could. Some even speculate that her heart was broken because of Mark Antony's death shortly before her own. And the truth is, suicide in the ancient world was considered an honorable option for a defeated leader to exercise. Still, every bit of my instinct has always told me this wasn't in line with her ways. Even if Octavian had gotten her back to Rome, I think she still would have felt that she'd have allies. She did have friends amongst the Romans, though few. Also, few people outside the field don't realize how exceptionally intelligent Cleo was. The whole snake thing? It sounds suspicious. Cleo would have been considered a physician in her time; she had a keen knowledge of poisons and how to prepare them. I doubt a snake would have been necessary.  

But the clincher for me was actually a bit of papyrus that turned up recently that documents the arrival of what I believe were Cleopatra's children to a nearby Nubian region south of Egypt. In this text, it states that three children and their guardian asked the Nubian king for sanctuary in the wake of the Pharaoh's death. We know from history that Octavian was very concerned with what to be done with Cleo's children, and no doubt those in Egypt that thought they still had a chance to rise up against Rome would have wanted her bloodline preserved. Cleo always had a plan, and I think this fits with her character. She would have had a plan for where her children would go if she should fall. Someone knew they were in danger. Someone tried to get them to safety.

MNtR: That's a fascinating find, although I'd imagine your work is not accepted by your peers. Are there any other Egyptologists that you look up to or admire?
S: Zahi Hawass is the current Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities... Well, I mean to say, he was, prior to the overthrow of the Mubarek regime. Still, I think as things normalize in Egypt, you're likely to see him continue in that post, as well he should. Zahi is an exceptional talent in the field, and because he's Egyptian, he's brought the passion of a native of the region to his work. Because of him, a whole new generation of Egyptian youngsters are embracing the rich, cultural past of their country. He's also re-popularizing Egyptology in the west by encouraging a multi-disciplinary approach to the discipline.

But, I would have to say, the legend who inspires me is Anathea Hermapolous. Anathea pioneered the use of modern technologies like carbon dating and sonar in the field of archaeology, and has the most in depth knowledge of anyone in our field. If there's any figure I inspire to be like, it's her.

MNtR: What about Egyptian deities...do you have any favorites, any you find particularly fascinating?
S: Everyone loves a good story, right? To me, I've always been entertained by the story of Horus, most notably the story of his conception. As the story goes, Isis - I guess you might call her the matron of the goddesses, sort of like Hera is in Greek myth- conceived Horus by resurrecting her dead husband. Only, there was  a catch- her husband was resurrected without a... how should I put this politely- without a male reproductive organ. I guess a crocodile had eaten it. So, Isis made one for him out of gold, and the result of their coupling was Horus.

MNtR: What are your thoughts on the popular 12/21/12-related theories…namely, that the world will end on that date?
S: You mean that Mayan prophecy thing? I guess I haven't thought much about it in particular. But, I guess I can say this: If I had a penny for every silly end-of-the-world prediction that has come and gone during the history of the world, I'd be a very rich man. They're all hogwash. But in this day and age, like any day and age, humans fear time. We fear our mortality. People who propagate these things play on the weak-minded's fear and exploit it- for money, for fame, for power. Whatever their drug of choice is. So this--what was it, 12.21.12?--yeah, let's just say I'm not scared.  

MNtR: A logical outlook, indeed. In that case, how do you plan on spending December 21, 2012?
S: It falls a few days before Christmas, so I'll probably be avoiding the shopping centers.

MNtR: That’s certainly a good idea in any case. It's been an honor and a pleasure to have you here today, Dr. Smyth!

Many thanks to Killian McRae for the interview! You can pick up a copy of 12.21.12 here at Omnific Publishing's website. It's also available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

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The blog tour continues throughout the rest of March, across a wide swath of book blogs. The schedule includes the visits below. Be sure to check them out for more information about the book and author.

Julie @ A Tale of Many Reviews - Review – March 1st 2011
Yelania @ The Itzel Library – Interview – March 2nd 2011
Damaris @ Good Choice Reading – Top Ten/Giveaway – March 3rd 2011
Mandy @ Twimom101's book blog – Interview – March 4th 2011
Casey @ Dark Readers Blog – Interview – March 5th 2011
Alisha @ My Need to Read – Character post – March 6th 2011
Jules @ One Book Shy of a Full Shelf – Interview/Giveaway – March 7th 2011
Lisa K. @ Baffled Books – review – March 8th 2011
Sarah @ The Book Bee – Character Interview – March 9th 2011
Page @ One Book at a Time – Guest post/Interview – March 10th 2011
Michelle @ Hooked To Books – Giveaway/Review – March 11th 2011
Kristin @ My Bookish Ways – Review/Interview – March 12th 2011
Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews – Top Ten – March 13th 2011
Sherri @ Urban Girl Reader – review/Q&A/giveaway – March 14th 2011
Cherry @ Cherry Mischievous – Guest post – March 15th 2011
Bianca @ Sweet Nothings xo – review/giveaway – March 16th 2011
Rebecca @ My Life with Boys and Books – review – March 17th 2011
Megan @ A Trail of Books Left Behind – review/character interview – March 18th 2011
Jennifer @ Ponytails Book Reviews – review – March 19th 2011
Tammy @ Into The Mystic –  - March 20th 2011
Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa – Top Ten/Giveaway – March 21st 2011
Tara @ Taming the Bookshelf –  - March 22nd 2011
Rachel @ Parajunkee’s View –  - March 23rd 2011
Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans – review/interview – March 24th 2011
Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – giveaway/interview – March 25th 2011
Christin @ Between the Covers – review – March 26th 2011
Stacy @ Girls in the Stacks – review – March 27th 2011
Ash @ Smash Attack Reads – character interview – March 28th 2011
Aleetha @ bacaan-ally blog – review – March 29th 2011
Ashlie @ Bookish Novelties – review/interview – March 30th 2011
Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight – Review/Giveaway – March 31st 2011
Once Upon a Twilight Author Live chat – March 31st 2011 @ 9pm CST

Early Review: Lust by Charlotte Featherstone

Lust (The Sins and the Virtues, #1) by Charlotte Featherstone
To be published Jan. 18, 2011 by Harlequin Spice


Quick Take:
This ethereal, fairy-tale-like story is imbued with deft use of sensuality, which I rather enjoyed. There's plenty of character posturing and subtle insidiousness, so don't look for high-octane action here or you'll be disappointed.

Book Description (from GoodReads):

Of old, humans and Faeries have dwelt side by side in parallel realms. Only the canniest mortals recognize the alluring creatures that often walk--and lie--among them.
      The righteous Fae of the Seelie Court cherish an ancient quarrel with their Dark counterparts: a curse born of anger and deceit. The Unseelie Court will perish unless one of is princes can win a woman's love--honestly, without coercion... and love her wholly in return.
      To halt the slow demise of his people, Prince Thane--the embodiment of Lust--infiltrates the Georgian court to seduce his mortal inverse. Noblewoman Chastity Lennox is pureity incarnate--a sensual prize well worth winning. But Thane's carnal quest proves more challenging than he ever dreamed.
      No other has ever been able--or willing--to resist his erotic charms. Chastity's resolve is maddening... and intriguing. It makes him want her all the more. But how best to seduce one who truly seems above temptation? Discover her greatest weakness and become the intoxicating essence of her deepest, most forbidden desires...

Review:
Okay, so I've got to put my Forthright Cap on…because while I enjoyed this book overall, I also recognize that it's not your typical PnR and may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Though the details are complex, the overall story can be summarized quickly: seven Dark-Fae males are cursed with a cardinal sin apiece, and must non-forcibly secure their correlating human Virtue. Sounds like a fairy-tale premise, right? Well this book is very much like a fairy-tale in several respects, for better or worse (depending on your tastes). In many an old fairy tale or fable, many things (situational limitations, character abilities) just "are." You don't question or consider them too deeply, and they aren't explained. That is the case here; remember that when (to make something up) someone randomly turns into a tree or some such. ^_^

This book is primarily concerned with desires, internal struggles, and inner-character. One can expect a lot of description and mental-musing. The thrills and chills typically derived from high-octane action stories simply isn't here for the most part. And this is not innately a bad thing, either: the intriguing mind-game that plays out amongst the cast is quite dependent on the characters' machinations. It did however get tiresome at some points....the back and forth "did he, didn't he/will she, won't she/should I, shouldn't I" that at times seemed to hash out the. same. things.

One will note that this book doesn't contain very much sex, but has A LOT of sensuality. Ms. Featherstone seems able to take the most innocuous items and tame situations and make them incredibly sensual. Not an easy task, I'd think.

World-building is done through multiple perspective shifts amongst the Sins, the Virtues, and their relatives. While this was (in this case) a useful device for advancing the plot and exploring the depth of the curse's effect, it didn't do a while lot for me as far as connecting with the characters. Which is too bad, because such a narrative device is usually great for fostering attachments to characters. And personally, I'm a big-time character reader.

Reading this book was certainly an enjoyable experience, although (or perhaps because?) the story was executed in a fashion unlike what I'm used to. More than ever I'd like to check out Featherstone's non-paranormal offerings (Sinful or Addicted), to see what her writing style is like there. I can most definitely see this book being hit-or-miss for many.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Review: Seducing the Vampire (early look)

Seducing the Vampire by Michele Hauf 
Release Date: January 1st 2011 by Harlequin

Quick Take:
I was quite mesmerized by this book. There were uneven segments, but overall I am so glad I read this. Part historical, part contemporary, all paranormal-romance goodness. ^_^

Book Description:

In Marie Antoinette's Paris, the beautiful vampire Viviane seeks a male patron who will allow her to live on her own terms. Courted by two feuding brothers, Viviane succumb to the handsome rebel, Rhys. She's unaware that Rhys has other, darker, motives. He seeks vengeance against his brother, Constantine—by stealing Viviane and tainting her with his blood.
     But just as Rhys is realizing the depth of his love for Viviane, his brother take his revenge. By casting a spell on the woman they both desire, he condemns her to a living death inside a glass coffin.
     Two centuries later, Rhys hears the urban legend of the Vampire Snow White, imprisoned deep in the tunnels under Paris. He must find her and set her free, but will he be able to save her from the evil still intent on destroying them?

Review:
Have you ever watched the Quentin Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction? You know how it jumbles up the story's timeline, beginning the film with the "end?" Well, that's this book. In the very prologue, we find out the result of some as-yet untold story. We're treated to the mental and physical torture of a female vampire powerless to change her fate (don't worry: there's nothing too hard to read through). From there, we go a bit back in time (same Paris, same 1785) to follow the life of one Viviane LaMourette. It doesn't take much to realize you're being made to watch the circumstances under which a sweet and unassuming woman finds herself in the unfortunate situation.

That timeline is interspersed with cuts to "present day" Paris. You'd think a story might be less exciting, going in knowing so much about certain major occurrences. One knows early on who will fall in love, who will survive, and who will meet a gruesome fate. But the progression--of both timelines--is very arresting. The transitions between temporal settings are seamless, even as they create tremendous tension.

From the get-go, the dynamic between the three main characters--Viviane, Rhys, and Constantine--was addictive. All three are seductive and powerful creatures, yet ultimately bound by societal expectations and limitations...some human, some paranormal. The love story's emergence and progression is no surprise, but I was pleased to see it well-weaved into an intricate game of posturing and scheming.  Rather like "Dangerous Liasons," in a way.

There was a section of the book--what I'd liken to the third or fourth of a five act story--dragged on a bit and was bogged down by a great deal of angst and lengthy character indecision. (Think, "I should buy a Snickers. But no, it'll make me fat. But yes, I'm hungry. But no, it costs a whole dollar. But yes,....") I wouldn't have minded if that particular chunk was cut down, and the subsequent "act" filled out some more. But that's just me..."grain of salt" and all that. And at any rate, the story eventually picked back up and remained extremely engaging through the end.

Indeed, this book should have been called "Seducing the Reader," because that's certainly what it did to me. I absolutely cannot wait for the release of Forever Vampire, a book that takes place after the events of this one.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review: Night of the Vampires

Night of the Vampires by Heather Graham


Quick Take:
The setting and integration with actual historical events is quite riveting. However, the romance and character development felt a bit flat to me. All told, I'm not sorry to have read it.

Book Description:

     As a soldier, Cole Granger fights to restore peace to a world divided by war and evil. His extraordinary talents are enlisted to prevent the president's horrific premonition from becoming reality. Nothing—and no one—will stop him from fulfilling his duty. Especially the mysterious young woman who claims to be his comrade's sister. Enemy or ally, he can't yet determine. But one thing he knows for certain is that he must keep her close. Very close.
     Megan Fox's quest to uncover a family secret leads her to the center of vampire riots in West Virginia. To find the answers she needs—and clear herself of suspicion—she must join forces with Cole. They work undercover to bring justice, but they can't disguise the potent attraction and need that draw them together. Yet trust doesn't come easily for Cole…and when Megan unearths the grim, dark truth, can she trust him to believe her?

Review:
This book initially caught my eye when I saw the title (anything starting with "Night of the" is bound to be horror-rific!) and read the book's description, noted above. You'll notice that the blurb is not completely clear on the setting of the story. So I'll begin this review by noting that the book is a piece of historical fiction and urban fantasy. It takes place on the borderlands created by the American Civil War, and involves characters that have varying degrees of involvement with the conflict. Against this backdrop, a threat has secretly yet violently been appearing throughout the country: vampirism. Far from seductive and romantic, this affliction of frenzy and bloodthirst threatens to stretch and possibly break the already-delicate tensions of the war.

I found the choice of setting to be quite appealing for the insertion of a vampire tale. Think about it: what better time and place for vampirism to boom than during a bloody ground war? Ms. Graham has obviously done a boatload of research on the Civil War; it absolutely shows in her descriptions. One is thrown into the chaos of battle at recognizable locales and amidst historically significant political events. Having myself lived in Washington, DC I could clearly envision the city at that critical stage in time. The overcrowded medic tents on the mall green, the construction of museums, the lush forests on the edge of the town…it's all quite vivid.

Given the attention paid to the setting, I would say that one ought to have at least a passing interest in Civil War history. A basic familiarity with names, dates, battles or organizations of the era wouldn't hurt, either.  If one doesn't have either, however, I'd imagine they would by book's end. ^_^

As for the specific plot threads, I was less taken. The book centers on two characters, the stoic human sheriff Cole Granger (whom one will recognize if they've read Graham's Night of the Wolves, which is based in the same "world"), and the intense half-vamp Megan Fox (no relation to the actress ^_^). Theirs is a slow burn romance--there are no sensual or even romantic implications until well into the story. And the connection is quite subtle as compared to the plot thread involving the vampire threat. For a book billed as having "eternal passion" and "potent attraction," I was surprised by the fact. But I must admit, it was rather sweet.

I also didn't find the action scenes to be extremely visual or thrilling, though a fair amount of intrigue was infused into the plot. Indeed, the pace of the plot is not frenetic (even when it intends to be), but more temperate with a slowly building threat. All told, I wasn't gripped throughout, only mildly curious as to how the various threads would tie together. There was a series of attacks every so often, interspersed with anticipation of said attacks. Wasn't terribly thrilling, to me (with a couple of exceptions).

I did enjoy being in Megan's head. She's a strong willed yet vulnerable character, and I wish more was revealed and discussed about her. There was a plot element that was hinted as important, but didn't come to much in my opinion. I can only assume it will be used as a piece for a future book. Or perhaps it might have been more understandable had I read Night of the Wolves? I don't know.

Overall, I found this book to be worth reading. I was quite taken by the broader elements, though left wanting with the more specific ones. And whatever this book is officially billed as, I'd call it an historical urban fantasy with some romantic elements.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars