Day: June 23, 2008

Book Watch: Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros

Posted June 23, 2008 by Rowena in Promotions, Reviews | 10 Comments

I’ve never read a Teresa Medeiros book before, okay wait..I should fix that to say that I’ve never finished a Teresa Medeiros book because I did start one but I never finished it but this book piqued my interest and I’m very much looking forward to reading this one. What about you guys? Have you guys read any TM before? Is she any good?

I can’t wait to read this one…it sounds promising, so be on the look out for my review on this one.

It comes out on July 29, 2008 so make sure you mark your calendars for this one.

WOO HOO!

Some like it dangerous . . .

Highland beauty Catriona Kincaid cares nothing for propriety—or even her own safety—when she storms the grounds of Newgate Prison. Determined to return to Scotland and restore her clan’s honor, she seeks the help of Sir Simon Wescott, a disgraced nobleman and notorious rogue. She is prepared to offer him both wealth and freedom, but she never dreams the wicked rake will be bold enough to demand a far more sensual prize.

Some like it seductive . . .

Simon is shocked to discover the tomboy he met long ago has blossomed into a headstrong temptress. Although he’s sworn off his dreams of becoming a hero, he can’t resist playing knight errant to Catriona’s damsel in distress. Both adventure and peril await them at her Highland home, where they will risk their lives to vanquish her enemies . . . and risk their hearts to discover a passion beyond their wildest dreams.

And the countdown begins…

This book is available from Avon. You can pre-order it here or here.


Tagged: , , , , ,

Review: Under Your Spell by Lois Greiman

Posted June 23, 2008 by Rowena in Reviews | 16 Comments

Publisher: Avon, Harper CollinsGenres: Paranormal Romance


Hero: Thomas Donovan, Sir Drake
Heroine: Elegance “Ella” St. James
Grade: 4 out of 5

She will entrance him with her beauty . . . and entice him to her bed.

I’ve never before in my life read a historical paranormal. I’ve never before in my life read a book by Lois Greiman and even though this book was slow to pick up for me, I’m glad that I kept on reading because the book got better and by the time it ended, it was pretty darn good.

So in this story, we have the heroine, Ella St. James, who wants to have a child. She can do without the husband though and most importantly, she doesn’t want the hassle of a hot guy to father her child. She’s got a history, something that happened in her past that makes it hard for her to trust anyone. She’s also trying to solve a mystery of a missing friend.

It was annoying how she was so set on the milliner’s son, the overweight, toothless fool…but at the end of the story, I laughed with Drake about it because I’m glad she didn’t end up with him. =)

Then we’ve got Drake, who’s got his own secrets but is drawn to Ella. He’s on his own mission that keeps putting him in Ella’s way. Connection, maybe? Definitely. I enjoyed the connection between Ella and Drake, I liked the way they came together and it was just a good start to a promising series.

We were introduced to a bunch of characters in this story that were delightful. I’m mighty intrigued by Jasper Reeves and Maddie. I liked both of their characters and I’m looking forward to more. I never would have in a million years thought, that I’d like a historical paranormal but I did enjoy this bit of storytelling. The characters were rich, the storyline flowed well as soon as it picked up and the way the story as a whole came to that sound ending was entertaining.

Should you guys read this story? Yep. Push through those first few chapters because the story definitely picks up and the story gets better. It’s a good way to pass a few hours and I’m glad that I read this book.

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


Tagged: , , , , , ,

Contest Alert: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Posted June 23, 2008 by Casee in Giveaways, Promotions | 7 Comments

Book Cover

In honor of Larissa visiting us this week, we are offering three copies of her new book, Pleasure Unbound. So if you are curious as to what is so great about this book, all you need to do is this:

Leave a comment in Larissa’s interview post by Wednesday 6/25 and you’ll be entered to win! The winners will be announced later that same day.

Good luck!


Tagged: , , , ,

Guest Author: Larissa Ione

Posted June 23, 2008 by Casee in Promotions | 49 Comments

Pleasure Unbound
Today we have author Larissa Ione visiting us at Book Binge! The first book in her Demonica Series, Pleasure Unbound, is being released tomorrow. She’ll be talking about that, among other things. Be sure to stick around for a chance to win a copy of Pleasure Unbound, which is fabulous. You can check out Casee’s review here.

Book Binge: Can you tell us about your first book sale?

Larissa Ione: Well, basically, I’d quit writing after Hurricane Katrina – my family and I lost everything, and while we were doing the cleanup, I received a rejection on a story on which I’d been working closely with an editor. So I was homeless, I’d lost my computer and all my works-in-progress, and I’d gotten a rejection. I pretty much gave up writing after that. I just couldn’t deal with any more stress, any more rejections.

Then, while I was living with my parents and dealing with FEMA and insurance companies and all kinds of nightmares, the writing community, my friends, and my critique partners came to my aid (and let me tell you, I’m indebted to HUNDREDS of people, and I will never be able to thank them enough.)

To make a long story short, I got back up on my writing horse and started writing again. I figured I had nothing left to lose.

So I started writing in a way I’d been afraid to do before – I really let myself go. And I sent work out again.

And one day, when I was at a very low point, had had it up to my eyebrows with the insurance companies, I got The Call from Red Sage. They wanted to buy one of my novellas for an anthology! I’ll never forget that day. I got off the phone and asked my parents if they had a bottle of champagne chilled – if you knew my parents, you’d realize this wasn’t a crazy question – they are ALWAYS prepared to celebrate ANYTHING with a bottle of champagne.

Broke a hundred at bowling? Let’s celebrate! Got your hair cut? Let’s celebrate!

So anyway, they had a bottle in their garage fridge, and boy, did we celebrate! Selling to Red Sage was WAY better than getting my hair cut.

Two weeks later, Stephanie Tyler and I sold our Sydney Croft series to Bantam Dell. And nine months after that, I sold my Demonica series, my dream series, really, to Grand Central.

I totally credit Hurricane Katrina for my sales. Had it not been for the storm, I might still be trying to tailor my voice to fit stories I thought might sell – not stories I wanted to write. Out of the bad, came wonderful good.

BB: How long did it take you from when you first picked up the pen (or keyboard) until you got published?

LI: Well, I wrote my first full-length novel at the age of 13. But I didn’t truly get serious about publication until 1997, when I was 30. I wrote on and off, and finally sold in 2006. So nine years. For some reason, I usually think it’s less than that, because I was writing in completely the wrong genre for me (historicals) until 2002. So for some reason, I my standard answer to this question is 4 years, but if I really trace things back, it’s closer to nine.

BB: What is your writing process like? Do you outline or just let your characters take you where they will?

LI: I used to be a plotter. Like, anal plotter. Then I started working with Stephanie Tyler on the Sydney Croft books, and let me tell you…that girl gets hives at the very mention of the four-letter word, “plot.”

So suddenly, I had to work a lot more loosely than I was used to, letting the characters guide the story. And although I’m not truly a pantser now, I’m not a plotter, either.

BB: What is your typical writing day like?

LI: Depends on whether it’s the school year or not. Right now, since it’s summer, I get up whenever I wake up, start my coffee, and boot up the laptop. I usually spend the first hour of my day checking email and updating blogs, and then I get to work. I work until around four or five, when I get on the elliptical. I shower, make dinner, and then it’s back to work if I’m on deadline. If I’m not, I probably read. Very unexciting!

BB: What kind of research do you do when writing a book?

LI: I prefer hands-on research where I can. There is no substitute for touching, smelling, seeing, doing, tasting…*g* I actually became an EMT so I could write my medical characters more accurately!

But there are times you just can’t do hands-on, so I like to do as much research from watching documentaries and reading books as possible, or I talk to people who know the subject. I don’t like internet research for some reason. I use it when I have to, but I much prefer to watch TV or read.

As a writer, what is easier…writing a series or writing a stand alone? For me, writing a stand alone is much easier, but I prefer writing series. Once I get into a world, I want to stay there. That goes for reading, as well. I much prefer to read series books over stand-alones.

BB: What does it take to make a series work? How do you make a reader want more, more, more?

LI: There are a lot of ways to do that…like keeping running plots going through the books. But I think the best way to make readers want more is to create fascinating characters people will want to read more about.

BB: Where did you get the idea for your Demonica series?

LI: I’ve always loved anything paranormal, and I’ve always had a fascination with emergency medicine. So one day, I was watching an episode of Angel, and he got hurt. Bad. Being a vampire, he couldn’t exactly go to a hospital for help, so I started thinking…what if there WAS a hospital for underworld creatures like him? And that’s how the first book was born!

BB: Do you already have the arc or number of books planned in the series?

LI: There are three books planned, but once I turn in book 3, I’m going to propose at least one more. Ideally, I’d like to write 2-3 more. I’m also working on a spin-off series set in the same world but with new characters and a different location. I don’t know if it’ll fly, but we’ll see!

BB: Can you tell our readers why they should read Pleasure Unbound?

LI: Well, I didn’t pull any punches with this series, so if they like dark, gritty, and steamy, it might be right up their alley. People keep saying it’s different from what’s out there. Hopefully that’s a good thing!

BB: What do you have in the works currently?

LI: Well, I’m just finishing up the third Demonica book and the fourth Sydney Croft ACRO novel. After that, there are two more ACRO novels to write. So I need to come up with a proposal for something from my Demonica world. I might also be working on a Star Trek novel proposal soon, as well!

BB: What made you want to be a writer?

LI: I always wanted to be a writer. From the time I read my first book. But it wasn’t until middle school, when I started reading Jack London and Stephen King, that I dared to dream that someday, my books might be on the shelves alongside them. Well, maybe not right alongside, but in the same book store.  Stephen King and Jack London were truly my inspirations.

BB: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

LI: Don’t edit your stories to death. I know so many aspiring authors who have been working on the same manuscript for years, revising it every time they get a critique or a rejection. In time, the story loses the raw spark that inspired it in the first place. Your voice can be diluted by a million different voices. Write your story and trust your gut when it comes to outside advice.

BB: Are there any other genres that you intend to write in?

LI: Science Fiction – when I write that Star Trek novel.

BB: Who is your favorite romance author?

LI: Oh, geez. There are so many! But Linda Howard was my introduction to contemporary romance, so I’ll say her.

Snow BoundBB: What is your favorite romance novel to re-read?

LI: Mackenzie’s Mission, by Linda Howard

BB: Pepsi or Coke?

LI: Pepsi, but I don’t drink much soda (and yes, I’m from Oregon, so I should say “pop,” but I don’t! *g* )

BB: What’s your biggest weakness (shoes, books, chocolate, etc)?

LI: Animals.

BB: Chocolate or Vanilla?

LI: Vanilla

BB: Coffee or Tea?

LI: Coffee. Lots.

BB: Favorite movie? Riding the Storm

LI: Too many to list!

BB: Favorite T.V. show?

LI: Again, too many to list. Pretty much anything science fiction or medical. Or paranormal.

BB: Favorite color?

LI: Blue

BB: Mexico or Hawaii?

LI: Hawaii, but I’m really a cold-weather person, so Alaska would really suit me better…

BB: Fly or Drive?

LI: *shudders at the very idea of flying* So…driving! Or train.

BB: Beach or Mountains?

LI: Tough one, but let’s go with mountains. Hubby and I plan to retire in Colorado Springs because we both really love the Rockies!

BB: Thanks for taking the time to be w/ us today, Larissa!

LI: Thank you so much for having me, Casee and the rest of the Book Binge ladies!


Tagged: , , ,