PATIENCE is a virtue....

This is it! Finally the wait is over for PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez! Over the weekend I received this message from Ms. Valdez via her Yahoo Groups Newsletter:

Dearest Readers,

I'm entirely thrilled to confirm that PATIENCE is being released on April 6, 2010!

Thank you all for your patience. Please be sure to read the dedication page of the book before you snuggle up to indulge in Patience and Matthew's romance.

My thanks to all of you,
Lisa

While Ms. Valdez hasn't updated her site, I did see on Amazon that you can pre-order the Kindle edition.

FINALLY!!!!!!!! After five years of waiting, it's time for Matthew's turn in the spotlight. Thank the Gods!!!


PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez

Releases April 6, 2010

A WOMAN CALLED PATIENCE. A DESIRE THAT WOULD PUT HER NAME—AND HER LOVE—TO THE TEST.

Known for her exceptional beauty, Patience Emmalina Dare has been pursued by admirers ever since coming of age. But suitor after suitor fails to inspire her love – or her desire. Certain she will never find a man who touches her deeply, she decides to forgo marriage in favor of pursuing her music. But just when Patience thinks she has her life well in hand, a passionate kiss with her enigmatic brother-in-law awakens a powerful need in her. How will she reconcile her desire for him and her desire for a life that's her own – and what will she do when he shows her a deep and hidden part of herself that she never knew existed?

When the secret of his illegitimate birth pushes Matthew Morgan Hawkmore from his place in society, the darkly handsome half-brother of the Earl of Langley plots his resurrection and his revenge. Betrayed and abandoned by the women he believed loved him, he swears to never again be controlled by love. But despite his vow, he is unable to resist the beautiful Patience, whose strength and self-reliance hide a need that he is perfectly suited to fulfill. Can he have her without loving her? What will he give up to keep her? And will her passionate surrender be the one thing that can stop him from making a tragic mistake that could destroy them both…

Read an Excerpt HERE!

Oh, and if you want to read a great review of PASSION and the interesting aspects of "deep penetration", click HERE!

Review: BEYOND THE RAIN by Jess Granger

Review: BEYOND THE RAIN by Jess Granger

In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…

Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?

Genre: Futuristic Romance - This is the publisher's label, however, I thought that the novel could have easily been classified as fantasy. While Earth and Her inhabitants are mentioned, the entire novel takes place on other planets making me feel it was more fantasy than futuristic. Plus, there really is only one character, who has a very brief appearance, that is human so again my opinion is fantasy but hey, I'm not the one in charge.

Cover Thoughts: I'm likin' the cover. The stripes along the cover model's back is portrayed exactly as the hero is described as having in the novel. However, the model's face is a bit boyish when compared to my mental picture of the hero but still nice to look at. In fact, Barbara and I are feuding over who we think this guy's celebrity twin is. I'm going for Matt Damon while Barbara thinks he looks like Leonardo DiCaprio.



Single Title/Series: BEYOND THE RAIN is a single title novel but there will be a follow-up novel featuring the heroine's brother.

Why I Read It: I can't remember what initially stirred my interest with BEYOND THE RAIN but I do recall that once I read the blurb and excerpt I was sold. "Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade" - I mean come on, what's not to like about that??

My Review:

After completeing and reviewing the dark and controversal - A MERMAID'S RANSOM, BEYOND THE RAIN was like a burst of crisp and refreshing air. The stark contrast between Dante and Soren, the hero of BTR, is shocking and I nearly forgot what makes a hero heroic.

For an indeterminate amount of years, Soren has suffered brutal enslavement at the hands of his captors, the barbaric Garulen. What was once a pure and life-giving biological trait of his people now has been tarnished and sullied into the conduit for a sickening drug trade. When he's rescued by the beautiful Azra warrior, Cyani, and her fox-like scout, Soren swears that he'll do everything in his power to keep his drug induced body from harming her despite the fact that her lushness has his hormones screaming for release. But when rescuing him prevents them both from making it to the transport ship and home, Soren and Cyani must find another way to escape the retched asteroid of Soren's enslavement. Death would be a salvation compared to the torture that most certainly will be inflicted upon a celibate Azralen warrior and a sexual narcotic producing Bryalen if caught since both are priceless on the human trafficking market.

After leading a lonely existence where touch, friendship and family are forbidden, Cyani's only friend has been her scout, Vicca. For five years she's been fighting for the Union and she's tired, tired of seeing death and bringing death. Freeing the prisoners from the Garulen is Cyani's last mission and she's more than ready to leave the world of war but she also despairs of the world that awaits her. Years of endless isolation, white marble and the cunning silence of the sisterhood on Azra will soon be home. But however desolate the future may seem, she must return for the Grand Sister promised that her twin brother, Cyn, would be raised above from the darkness below the canopy of Azra and killed if she doesn't. For her brother, Cyani will do whatever it takes to save him even if it means sacrificing her own life's happiness.

After releasing Soren from his painful bonds, Cyani is wary and very much on her guard. Next to nothing is known about the Byralen other than that their hormones produce a highly prized sexual narcotic and that their eyes can hypnotize. The males of their species are also highly aggressive when cornered and with Soren having recently been released from his torturous prison; Cyani is a little more than scared for her life in the face of his understandable rage. Unfortunately it will soon be Cyani's heart that she's in the most danger of losing.

In the midst of life-or-death circumstances, Soren is touching Cyani as no other being has ever done before. Learning painfully what it takes to be one of the Elite on Azra, Cyani recalls with brutal clarity that she must shun all touch, emotion and claim but no matter how often she voices her discomfort with Soren's closeness, he has an incredibly easy way of reaching out and charming her. It's not long before Soren wiggles his way quickly through to Cyani's shielded heart but she still manages to put up a stubborn fight much to Soren's chagrin.

Having lost so many years of his life, Soren knows that his chances of attracting a mate on his own planet are next to nil. Byra males create beautiful and elaborate gardens to catch a mate after years of cultivating their land both physically and magically. However, by this time, Soren's own land would be overrun by weeds and desolation. But beyond that, Soren also needs a mate fast in order to stop the deterioration of his body from the withdrawals of the hormone simulator that the Garulen pumped into him to extract the sexual narcotic. For years the Garulen have tricked his body into believing it was mated and now without the drugs, Soren can feel himself growing weaker by the hour. He sees his one chance at a peaceful life with a mate through Cyani. He knows that her tough warrior exterior shields a ripe heart that's practically bursting to love someone and it takes little for Soren to plan a seduction of his beautiful Union Captain for in the end, he has absolutely nothing to lose.

BEYOND THE RAIN is action-packed fun with a love story that is very much the core of this futuristic thrill ride. I specifically enjoyed the fact the fantasy elements weren't jarring but instead retained an easy and understandable flow, helping me as a reader to connect with the characters and their plight. However, I did feel that there were some elements in the story that left me with questions especially with regards to the character's appearance.

Cyani's colored hair, flowery tattoos and bluish skin were never explained nor were Soren's black stripes on his back. I suppose that the reader is just meant to accept these traits as their own specific planetary and civilization characteristics but I was still curious for something more definite. In addition, the Union and its mission nor why Cyani was fighting with them was ever explained. While the worldbuilding is subtle and gradual, allowing the author to focus more on the love between Soren and Cyani, I think this method might have allowed some gaps in the delivery of necessary information.

Soren was an amazing and patient hero. Both he and Cyani are incredibly self-sacrificing individuals and that's truly where their core dilemma arises. Soren is unwilling to tie Cyani to him as his mate without giving her a choice that could possibly mean his death. Conversely, Cyani is fighting for the life of her brother and the safety of her family by condemning herself willingly to a life of isolation and loneliness. Both must survive somehow while protecting the life of another.

I was a little disappointed that BTR wasn't as erotic as I was hoping for. It's possible that I'm becoming horribly desensitized but I was looking forward to some hot Bryalen lovin' from Soren and while there are moments that he delivers my reader demand, I just wanted something more explicit. Alright! So I'm a total hussy whore but what can I say? I wanted more.

B


Coming Soon:

BEYOND THE SHADOWS by Jess Granger

Releases May 4, 2010

A man of deception. A woman of justice. Can their fragile trust be strong enough to prevent a war?

Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.

Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.

Read an Excerpt HERE!

~Promo~ HEART'S BLOOD by Gail Dayton

HEART'S BLOOD initially caught my eye with its cover and the combined thought: Steampunk. However it's actually paranormal romance but still sounds delicious. Also, the author has a quote on the cover from Nalini Singh saying buy it so I dare not hesitate. *wink*
HEART'S BLOOD by Gail Dayton

Releases December 29, 2009

Master conjurer Grey Carteret regains consciousness in a London gutter next to a concerned street urchin and not far from the body of a man murdered by magic. Some fool is hoping to use murder to raise a demon. Arrested for the crime, Grey must rely on the street urchin for help. But the lad turns out to be a comely lass, and she wants something in exchange.

Pearl Parkin, a gently reared lady struggling to survive in London’s slums, sees magic as a way out of the life she finds herself trapped in. But blackmailing Grey into making her his apprentice has unexpected consequences. As they plunge into the hunt for the murderer, Pearl discovers that the things she once desperately wanted are not as important after all, and that she must risk her blood, her heart and her very life to grasp the love she needs.

Read an Excerpt HERE!

Review: A MERMAID'S RANSOM by Joey W. Hill

Review: A MERMAID'S RANSOM by Joey W. Hill

Daughters of Arianne Book Three

Available NOW!

A story of two lovers who could not be more different.

Daughter to an angel and a mermaid, Alexis has grown up in peaceful waters. So when her nightmares begin, the mer-angel has little idea what to make of them. In her dream is the loneliest man Alexis has ever met - and she's strangely drawn to him. Until the night her dream comes true.

Born of a vampire and a Dark One, Dante only knows brutality. And although he's the leader of the underworld, he longs to escape it. How better than to hold for ransom the Prime Legion Commander's daughter? But there's one thing Dante never planned on - the way Alexis steals his heart.

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Cover Thoughts: Stunning. Absolutely stunning. You can't see them very well in this image, but the male model has a pair of the most sensual lips. *shudders* And I love how the artist showed Alexis, the heroine, in her mer-angel form. This has to be one of the most beautiful book cover releases this year. I love it.

Single Title/Series: A MERMAID'S RANSOM is book three in Joey W. Hill's Daughters of Arianne series but can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

Why I Read It: I have literally been panting after this book since I first saw the cover. Plus, I'm beyond in love with the series and this next installment was a must have.

My Review:

A MERMAID'S RANSOM is not an easy read by any means but it is perhaps the lightest of the three series installments in Joey W. Hill's Daughters of Arianne Series. I don't mean that it's light in tone because that's certainly not the case, instead, the lightness I'm describing can be contributed entirely to the heroine, Alexis. She is perhaps the most human of all the series characters and her sarcastic wit isn't acerbic but funny and comforting and therefore she becomes a much needed breath of relief. Like a comical relief moment in a dark drama, Alexis provides a tension release moment where the reader can take a breath and process the dark and gruesome undertone of the novel. In addition, her tangible humanity makes her very easy to relate to and her all encompassing love reaches out to the reader and provides comfort for the rocky journey ahead with these two amazing but radically different characters. In short, Alexis provides a very necessary balance of light to what could have otherwise been a dark and horrifying read.

A rare being known as a mer-angel, Alexis inherited the angel and mermaid traits of her parents, Jonah and Anna, the hero and heroine of series installment one - A MERMAID'S KISS. You can see a beautiful reflection of Alexis's unique form on the novel's cover. In addition, like all the Daughters of Arianne that have come before her, Alexis has the ability to shift from her mer-angel form to human. And while her beauty is an inevitable draw, its Alexis's angelic aura and her undeniable essence of goodness that both draws and repels people making for a lonely existence. Lastly, she's been gifted and cursed with a strong empathic ability that requires learned and fortified filters to keep her from being completely bombarded by the emotions of others. If left unchecked or in moments of great stress, Alexis can be rendered nearly catatonic by the emotional pressure. However, this gift proves invaluable when it comes to the hero who would have otherwise never been given chance.

For sixty some odd years, Dante has been trapped in the gruesome landscape of the Dark One world. Known as a Dark Spawn, Dante's vampire mother was captured, tormented and raped repeatedly by Dark Ones. She conceived, birthed, and guided Dante as best she could, all the while being chained and abused until her mind, crippled from the abuse, gave out and she imparted the last of her soul's memory to Dante. Living his life in fear and as a scavenger, Dante was a repeated mark to torment by the Dark Ones. Beaten and sodomized within an inch of his life on a regular basis, Dante learned that in order to survive one had to do it by any means necessary. The Dark One world revolves around death and destruction where the weak is preyed upon and the strong become powerful through fear and violence. This was the environment that Dante was born in, matured in and eventually, through a will of iron - ruled.

After the epic Mountain Battle, Mina - Dark Spawn and heroine of A WITCH'S BEAUTY - destroyed the rifts that allowed the passage of Dark Ones to Earth and thus eternally closing the window that Dante had to the world he should have been born into. For twenty years he's maimed, killed and learned the magical skills to dominate and rule the Dark One world. Breathing solely to find a way to escape, Dante infiltrates Alexis's dreams and binds her to him with with his vampire nature. Pulling her through a blood-soaked dream portal, Dante captures Alexis with the plan to ransom her for his release from the Dark One world. However, he didn't plan on the impact the little mer-angel would have on a heart he never knew he possessed.

Dante is a highly unconventional hero. Hell, it can even be argued that he isn't a hero at all. He's a deep dark festering pit of rage and violence. A being of no morals and no idea of right verses wrong. There is only survival and it's key for the reader to be reminded time and again of the environment that he was born into for it has molded his soul almost exclusively with darkness. Alexis, the only being that can truly sense the state of Dante's emotions, is his only champion. Deep within him she glimpses a flame of light that has surprisingly been nourished and protected with little to no guidance. Alexis sees his potential and she also feels very strongly a deep-seeded bond that resonates within her own soul as well as Dante's. This light is the only thing that saves Dante not only from Alexis's powerful family but from reader rejection as well. Dante is not a good person and he proves this time and again but with the help of Alexis, the reader finds the desire to believe along with her that Dante can be good. That he has all the tools to better himself, he just needs a guide.

In all honesty, Dante will not be for everyone. His sociopathic tendencies and deadly quick temper could put a damper on reader enjoyment. In my opinion, Hill did an excellent job reminding the reader on a consistent basis that Dante's life has been unconventional to say the least. The reader can't necessarily expect him to know and understand morals and values that we take for granted while living in our modern and civilized society. It's also very evident that Dante's road to his soul's salvation is no where near complete by the end of the novel. While he knows that Alexis loves him, he can't say with all honesty that he loves her. He wants to love her very desperately but he hasn't yet come to fully understand the concept. He's never known love so how can he be able recognize it within his own heart?

This novel would never have worked without Alexis. She's a pure and loving soul and was probably a joy to write because she's so forthcoming. Her heart is worn boldly on her sleeve and she's incredibly strong in both mind and spirit. It's because of this that I fear that like Jonah, her father, I can't necessarily say that Dante deserved her but I'm happy he has her. He'd certainly be lost without her and more than likely dead. Thankfully that was a lesson that Dante did learn. He knows that Alexis deserves more and I truly think he'll strive his damnedest to provide for her exactly what she needs.

I'll admit that I grappled endlessly with my rating of this novel. Dante's evolution from a violent murderer and kidnapper to a being of workable restraint was amazing but his journey is no where near complete. The crimes that he has been called to pay for are horrendously steep and it's very possible that he'll never atone for the wrongs he's committed. Knowing all this, I couldn't shake the feeling that the Happily Ever After was bittersweet and more than a little heartbreaking. So much growth is still needed that I feel the ending was more of a beginning for Dante and Alexis with an outcome that may never be attained. However, after reading the end again I feel that there really can be no other way. That to change anything would have been a great disservice to all the progress made thus far and I've therefore come to respect and ultimately appreciate Hill's end decision.

A MERMAID'S RANSOM is a controversial read in more ways then one. Some will hate it and others will love it with few in between. With regards to my own personal experience, I happened to love it.

A-