Day: June 12, 2008

I Thought Samhain Was An eBook Publisher?

Posted June 12, 2008 by Holly in Discussions | 8 Comments

Is that not correct? I mean, sure, they offer most of their books in print as well, which I think is awesome for the authors, but uh..I thought that first and foremost they were an eBook publisher.

Book CoverIf that’s the case, can someone explain to me why I can’t find this** book in eBook format? I was screwing around on Amazon and decided it sounded good and I should buy it. I went to My Bookstore and More to order a d/l of it and guess what? I could only find it in Print. So then I checked Samhain‘s site and couldn’t find it there either. One of the reasons I like Samhain is because I can always get books in eFormat there. For those of you not familiar, let me explain my situation to you:

I live in a small town out in the middle of nowhere. We have a Wal-Mart and two grocery stores that sell new releases. That’s it. We also have two used book stores, one of which stocks romance novels. But it’s the most unorganized place I’ve ever been in, and the owner sneers at me every time I buy one, which doesn’t bother me, but since she obviously looks down on them, that means she doesn’t keep many in the shop.

The closest bookstore to me is about 55 miles away. Approximately an hour drive. You understand what this means, right? If I want books, I have to either drive an hour to get them (which is so not happening now that gas prices are close to $5.00 a gallon here in So. Cal) or I have to order them online. Although I love that I get free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime, I hate that I have to wait 2 days for the books. Especially if I see something I want now. Like Sins of Summer.

Which is why I love eBooks and Samhain. I can buy books right now. Immediately. Instant gratification, hello! But how am I supposed to do that if they aren’t offered in eFormat? And from an e-Pub at that. Help me out here, would you? I need books today! Not two days from now.

**Each novella is being offered separately in E-format for $2.50 each. But why make me buy/download each separately if I want them in E-format? I realize it probably has something to do with word count and needing it a certain length to offer it in print, but why not offer it in E as a collection? (thanks to Sybil for being a jerk and pointing out the word count/buy them separately in E thing)


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Exclusive Excerpt: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Posted June 12, 2008 by Casee in Promotions | 1 Comment


Warning: Explicit language

Eidolon’s head snapped up, eyes glowing gold. Silver flashed; he launched the cleaver, impaling it in the wall. Forget surgery. The guy wielded a knife with deadlier skill than any O.R. required.

Still on his knees, he threw back his head and roared, a furious, raw sound that drove her backward several steps. Rage and danger emanated from him in scorching waves she could feel on her skin, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

Tayla’s gaze cut to the knife. Just a few steps…

Her hand closed on the hilt; his hand closed on her arm.

“Sonofa–” In an instant, her spine cracked against the wall and his forearm crushed her throat.

“What do you know about this?” She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe thanks to his choke hold. “Tell me!”

He emphasized his last words with more pressure against her windpipe. Fury burned her blood as badly as the lack of oxygen burned her lungs. He’d caught her off guard, and it wouldn’t happen again.

She struck. Hard, fast, in the ribs. A hook to the leg knocked him to the ground. He was up in a flash, and she had to hand it to Hellboy, he had moves.

He swung. She blocked, buried her fist in his gut.

“I do this for a living, asshole, so you don’t have a chance.”

As though he hadn’t heard, or didn’t care, he lunged, and she flew back against the wall again. The whole wall thing was getting old.

“Is The Aegis responsible?” He spun her, took her to the floor. The impact rattled her teeth and made her abdomen throb at the site of her stitches.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” She elbowed his jaw and rolled so she was on top of him, squeezing him between her thighs. “What’s your problem?”

His snarl vibrated through her as he roughly jerked her beneath him, pinning her with his weight. “My problem is that someone, probably The Aegis, is slicing up my kind and selling their parts in the human and demon magical black markets.”

And that’s a problem, why? Probably something she shouldn’t say out loud. She wriggled and tested his grip. “If The Aegis was involved, I’d know. They aren’t.”

“That’s not what Nancy said.”

“And you believed her? A vampire?”

He watched her, peered so intently into her eyes that she suddenly felt stripped bare of all her thoughts. The sensation was disturbing as hell, and she bucked, trying to dislodge him. When she struck at his face, he pressed down with his body and muscled her arms into place above her head.

“You’re a better fighter, little killer, but I’m stronger and you’re injured, so don’t fuck with me.”

She glared, tempted to spit in his face. She hated being restrained, despised the feeling of helplessness and vulnerability. She especially hated that he was stronger, because they should have been an even match, but in recent weeks she’d lost the freakish strength she’d been born with.

“Get off of me.”

“So you can hit me?” he asked. “I don’t think so.”

“You just going to keep me like this forever, then?”

“I should kill you. Here, with no Haven spell to keep me from wringing your neck.”

She had no doubt he meant it, but she’d never backed down from a threat. “Try it, asshole.”

He watched her, his eyes still glowing gold. Even when he was threatening her, he was hypnotic. She watched right back, slowly becoming aware of how his body pressed down on hers, one thigh between her legs. His muscular chest crushed her breasts, and her scrub top had ridden up so the crisp cotton of his shirt rasped against her stomach.

“How many demons have you slaughtered, Aegi?” he asked softly. “Have you even kept count?”

She snorted. “How many humans have you killed?”

One dark eyebrow arched. “None.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Because I’m a demon. So I must kill humans for sport.”

“Pretty much.”

“Your ignorance is disgusting.”

“Everything about you is disgusting.” She tried to pretend that hadn’t been as childish as it sounded.

“I could remind you—”

“Don’t.”

The gold faded out of his eyes, replaced by the dark chocolate of desire that sucked her in like a whirlpool she couldn’t fight. She had to, though, because they were engaged in a war, and her side had to win. That it suddenly didn’t feel like a battle didn’t escape her notice.

One of his fingers stroked her wrist where he held them over her head, and she wondered if he realized what he was doing. It felt good, much better than it should, considering the situation.

“What are you going to tell your Aegis buddies about my hospital and what happened to you?” More fingers joined the first to caress the sensitive spot where her palm met her wrist.

“Nothing,” she said smoothly. “If they find out that I was held by the enemy, they might think I talked, and they’ll never trust me again.” Which could be true, but she did have to tell them.

One long swipe of his thumb over a pulse point nearly made her moan. “And what would they do to you, these friends of yours?”

“I don’t know. Maybe assign me to research instead of hunting.”
But something niggled at her, because she vaguely remembered another Guardian who had been captured and tortured by a brutal clan of vampires. When he escaped, mutilated and a pint low on blood, he’d gone straight to Aegis HQ.
For days they’d kept him sequestered, and when he finally went out on a routine patrol, he didn’t return. Everyone assumed he’d been killed in battle, but Tay hadn’t been so certain. What if they’d transferred him, processed him out of The Aegis, or even sent him to the Berlin Sigil to be watched or interrogated? Now that she was in a similar situation, the tiny sliver of doubt as to his fate had grown into a two by four that was about to knock her upside the head.
She needed an insurance policy. A way to prove her loyalty if it ever came down to that.

The demon lying on top of her, his heart pounding strong and steady against her chest, was just the ticket. She could turn him over to them, if she had to.
“Look, Hellboy, what do you say we call it a draw and you let me up?”

The suspicion in his penetrating gaze made her lose hope. “What are you up to?”
His thumb still ran over the sensitive skin of her wrist in slow, rhythmic circles, and his thigh rocked against her core with every tiny movement from either one of them. It wasn’t fair, the way he could make her so aware of her body, of every inch of skin that touched his. It was almost as though her concentration had turned inward, so much so that nothing around her existed.

And because of that, she didn’t hear the scrape of claws on flooring until it was too late.


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Rowena Meets Stephanie Klein!

Posted June 12, 2008 by Rowena in Promotions | 2 Comments


Monday night, I rushed over to Book Soup, a small bookstore in West Los Angeles where I was to meet today’s author interviewee, Stephanie Klein.

Stephanie is author of two books, Straight Up and Dirty and Moose. The Greek Gods are surely smiling down on her because Stephanie Klein has led a life that you would totally read about in our favorite books and she’s very open about her less than confident childhood, where she battled with her weight in Moose.

I walked into the bookstore a few minutes late for my interview (damn that L.A. traffic) and I walked around until I found Stephanie, happily chatting away with a group of people. She looked adorable in her summer dress and before I could blink, we were led into a really small room where the interview was conducted.

My first impression of Stephanie was that she was one of the prettiest redheads I’ve ever met in real life. She’s also very confident and proud of her accomplishments and I enjoyed my time with her.

Now on with the interview:

About Stephanie and Her Writing:

Book Binge: What did you want to be when you were younger?

Stephanie Klein: A writer. Or Annie. I have memories of myself standing on my front lawn singing, The sun will come out tomorrow…I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in 4th grade. In English, we got those papers that was half blank and half lined, where you had to draw a picture and then write a story. I used to love those.

BB: How long did it take you to write your first book?

SK: A little over a year.

BB: What was going through your mind when you got the call that you were going to be a published author?

SK: I cried. I remember the first person I called was my Dad. I told him and I cried and I just couldn’t believe that I was being rewarded for something that I love to do.

BB: What did you do to celebrate the day you held your first published book in your hand?

SK: Well, there were different stages of celebration. When I first got my contract, I celebrated by having drinks with my friends. Then the book came out and I did some more celebrating with my friends, a lot of my celebration included lots of adult drinks.

BB: What were you doing 5 years ago?

SK: I wasn’t blogging yet. I was working full time as a VP for an Advertising Company and I was single and picking up dog crap.

BB: What are you reading now?

SK: I’m reading all of the old Judy Bloom books.

BB: Who’s your favorite author?

SK: It depends on my moods but I love David Sedaris, John Irving and Catherine Mansfield.

BB: What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?

SK: Being able to connect with readers. There’s nothing better than knowing that your words have helped others realize the good in themselves, to know that you have made a difference in other’s lives is really the best part of being a writer.

BB: What can we look forward to from you?

SK: Well, right now I’m writing a Young Adult book. It’s about a bunch of girls who are 9 going on 17 and are forced into the Girl Scouts and the hilarity that ensues.

About Moose:

BB: This is going to sound really pervy by I’ve got to ask…2nd grade? In your book, you mentioned that a girl in your second grade class, Maria was rubbing her vagina up against the edge of her desk and your teacher told her to stop but she wouldn’t. You said you knew what she was reaching for. Did you really play show your vajayjay with girls and you really knew what Maria was working toward that young an age?

SK: Oh yeah. I remember that the girl in my class who was caught was named Maria. I remember that it was Mrs. Kategan who scolded Maria and I knew exactly what Maria was doing. I knew that she was rubbing herself to an orgasm, I was always more sexual than other kids.

BB: Do you keep in touch with any of your friends from Yanisin? If so, who?

SK: I changed the name of the fat camps because there was a total of about 4-5 different camps and Yanisin means Ashamed in Navajo which is basically what everyone is when they show up at Fat Camp…ashamed. I do keep in touch with about 20 or so of my friends from camp, that’s one of the good things about fat camp is that you meet really great friends there.

BB: How if your relationship with your parents now? What did they have to say about your book Moose?

SK: They’re okay with it. My father knows now that it probably wasn’t right for him to crack up laughing when I came home from school crying because the boys were calling me Moose and he’s apologized for everything and I’m not the type of person to hold grudges so we’re all okay now.

BB: How is life treating you, post fat camp and all that? What are you up to now?

SK: Well I’m married with twins now, living in Austin, Texas and I’m pretty happy. My first book, Straight Up and Dirty was picked up by NBC and I’m just really busy, happy but busy.

BB: Why did you write Moose?

SK: Because people tend to forget their adolescence and they live by that “Someday Syndrome” where everything is, ‘Someday when I’m thin’ or ‘Someday when I’m more accomplished’ and when that someday never comes they’re unhappy with themselves. Moose is about learning to love yourself and be happy with who you are.

BB: Quick…why should people read Moose?

SK: It’s different with everyone. Teens should read this because they’ll feel less alone. They’ll learn that they shouldn’t conform to anyone’s rules. They should live in the moment because your childhood doesn’t make you who you are, you do. And Adults should read it because it’ll give them a look into their pasts. It’ll help everyone learn for themselves that they’re not so bad just the way they are.

Random Questions:

  1. Pepsi or Coke? Diet Coke.
  2. What’s your biggest weakness? Emotional neediness, I want to be wanted.
  3. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.
  4. Favorite Movie? Little Women.
  5. Favorite T.V. Show? It’s a toss up between Grey’s Anatomy and Lost.
  6. Favorite color? Green.
  7. Mexico or Hawaii? Hawaii.
  8. Beach or Mountains? Beach.
  9. Fly or Drive? Fly.
  10. Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers? I have no idea but I’ll drink to whoever wins.

A special thanks goes out to the folks over at Harper Collins for making this interview happen. It was a learning experience for me and I enjoyed this little venture into journalism and Stephanie Klein was a worthy first live in person author interviewee. I’d like to thank her for taking the time to meet with me and for letting me pick her brain on her life, writing and her books. She’s in the middle of a book tour right now so she’ll try to make it online to hang with us today but we can’t promise that she’ll be around.

The Book Bingers would like to wish Stephanie Klein good luck in her writing career and the different ventures she will go through in life. It was a pleasure getting to know her and I was fortunate enough to have Daphne along at the book reading/signing. She’s such a cutie! =)

Congrats to Mandy, who won a free copy of Moose which I held off in sending to her because Stephanie Klein was nice enough to sign it personally for Mandy so we hope you enjoy your book, Mandy!

Sorry the pictures are all fuzzy but on my phone, they’re crystal clear but when I open them up on my computer, they look like that…sigh* Sorry guys, but hey you still get pictures!*


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Through The Veil Book Giveaway!

Posted June 12, 2008 by Tracy in Reviews | 19 Comments

Who doesn’t love a book giveaway? I have a copy of Through The Veil by Shiloh Walker in my hot little hand. Unfortunately it tells me it wants to go live with someone else. I shouldn’t be surprised, my kids tell me that all the time! Ok, just kidding.

Anyway, all you have to do is leave a comment by midnight Saturday (pacific time) and I’ll randomly pick a winner on Sunday and post the name here. Good luck!!


Lee Ross always knew she was not entirely human. But when the man who has plagued her dreams her entire life appears in the flesh, can she give up everything she knows to follow him to another realm?
Read exerpt here.


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Guest Review: In Twilight’s Shadow by Patti O’Shea

Posted June 12, 2008 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Paranormal Romance
Wow, the beginning of June has been great so far reading-wise. Not only because there were many books I was looking forward to, but because they all (well almost all) turned out to be good to great reads so far. One of the books I was really looking forward is In Twilight’s Shadow by Patti O’Shea, one of my favorite author.


Something Wicked…
Maia Frasier thought she’d escaped the world of troubleshooters and demons when she’d ceded her magical powers years earlier. Now a wounded enforcer has turned up in her home, claiming Maia’s sister is in danger.

Creed Blackwood needs Maia’s help to hunt the demon he’s after, especially since he’s hiding the fact that his powers are becoming erratic. And then there are the blackouts…

Maia soon begins to fear Creed has fallen to the dark forces himself, and with his strong magic, that makes him as dangerous to her and her sister as any demon could be.

Genre: paranormal romance (magic)
Series: The Light Warriors, book #2

I remember last year, when In the Midnight Hour (book #1) came out. I was so excited, because I’ve been anticipating it so much. I ended up never reviewing it, because I was too disappointed. I didn’t like the heroine (Ryne) and the storyline was a bit meh. Still, Patti O’Shea is one of my favorite authors so I did hunt down In Twilight’s Shadow last week, as soon as it was released, and read it almost immediately.

In Twilight’s Shadow is definitively better, especially when it comes to the heroine, Maia, who is Ryne’s older sister. The story goes as follow: the Gineals are humans with magical powers and live along normal humans. Their troubleshooters are sworn to protect the innocent from being harmed by magic. Seven years ago, Maia was a troubleshooter who’s been dallying with dark magic for too long and was about to fall to the dark forces. In order to protect her younger sister, Maia chose to give up her powers and has been excluded from the Gineals’ society ever since. However, she is now being pulled back in by Creed Blackwood, another troubleshooter – one that specializes in hunting down demon. Creed is facing a very powerful demon that turns out to be an old acquaintance of Maia – Seth – and who’s after Ryne’s powers. Although Maia is suspicious of Creed, she doesn’t have much choice to team up with him if she wants to protect her beloved sister.

I’ll start with what didn’t work for me in this book: the world building. The world of the Gineals is complex with a lot of rules and what to do and not to do. Add in magic and demons and I find it confusing, partly because Ms O’Shea tried not to dump all the information at once to the readers and instead, incorporate it in the storyline as we go… I feel like I’ve missed some parts of it. This was also an issue for me in the previous book and as a result, I only had vague recollection of the it when I started In Twilight’s Shadow. There are also many unanswered questions such as how the Gineals use magic, what they can do with it, what they need in order to use it and etc. I think that’s what kept me from enjoying this book to its fullest… because aside from the world building, the book is great.

I really liked Maia’s character. What’s refreshing is that she doesn’t have a tragic past and isn’t haunted by anything. She’s simply a woman who made some mistakes in the past and it has cost her greatly. I like how humane she was portrayed… Her qualities were well balanced by her defaults and it made her more realistic. What you have to admire most I think is her sense of loyalty and responsibility towards Ryne. I know that Ryne is all the family Maia has, but to give up so much for your younger sister is admirable… especially when you’re the one who’ll bear all the consequences in the aftermath.

Creed was a nice hero. I think his character was a bit under-developed which is unfortunate… but all the important points were covered. I like that he didn’t have to change too much for Maia. I think that their personalities and attitudes suit and complement each other very well. Love the way he fought for her against the council and how he worked out their relationship. I guess overall I’d have liked to have more personal feelings coming out of him. I think we didn’t get to know “him” as well as we got to know Maia. When we switched to Creed’s pov, we mostly got thoughts on the demons, the future of the Gineals or his feelings towards Maia. What about his thoughts about being a Gineals? Does he enjoy being a troubleshooter or has it become tiresome? Then again, he isn’t attached to anything or anyone besides Ryne, so I guess it’s hard for the author to show his “personal” side.

Story-wise, In Twilight’s Shadow is pretty good. I like the whole demon-mythology thing that Ms O’Shea has going. It was really interesting and I hope we’ll get to know more in future books. Also, it seems that Ms O’Shea is doing some setting up for future books… all I have to say is I can’t wait to read more about it. I really like the direction she’s taking 😛 I also liked how Ms O’Shea explained Creed’s past behaviors and some of his actions and it makes sense. By the way, there’s plenty of action in this book and it was well incorporated in the plot. Where I felt a bit cheated though was the diary/spell book that Maia received. I thought that part was a bit too convenient.

Finally, one last thing that annoyed me: Ryne and Deke. I usually enjoy seeing past characters, but not in this case. I thought Ryne and Deke were annoying, the way they were angry at Creed for something that happened in In the Midnight Hour. To be honest, I don’t even remember why they are angry at him and instead of trying to understand why Creed acted the way he did, they keep him at arm-length, all suspicious.

My Grade: 3.75/5… Overall a good read, but I know that Ms O’Shea can do better and hope she will do so in her next Light Warrior book.

This book is available from Tor. You can buy it here.


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