Chasing Darkness by Danielle Girard
A tough special agent with the Department of Justice, and a dedicated single mother to her orphaned nephews, Sam Chase in unbreakable. Until two women, both from the shadows of Sam’s past, are discovered strangled. For Sam, the most unnerving detail is the eucalyptus branch tucked behind the victims’ ears - the signature of a notorious serial murderer already convicted and executed for his crimes.
To detective Nick Thomas, the only link to the copycat killings is Sam herself. And when she becomes the target of threats - each one more menacing than the last - his feelings for her just might jeopardize the case. But to understand the killer’s twisted motive is to explore Sam’s past - and a crime she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury…
I have read a few other books by author Danielle Girard. Her books are well written and full of suspense. This was the case with Chasing Darkness. I have said this a few times before when reviewing Girard’s books. She has a similar writing style to Lisa Gardner. The book had a great cast of characters. The most shocking part of the book was the ending. I was totally surprised as to who the killer turned out to be.
Rating: 
Cut Throat (Cat Dupree Series, #2) by Sharon Sala
He killed her once…
Throat slashed and left for dead next to her murdered father, a thirteen-year-old girl vows to hunt down the man who did this to them - Solomon Tutuola. Now grown, bounty hunter Cat Dupree lets nothing - or no one - stand in the way of that deadly promise. Not even her lover, Wilson McKay.
Their sexually charged encounters leave McKay wanting more, but Cat is determined to keep her distance. She doesn’t need a man making emotional demands, not now, when revenge is near. Suspecting that Tutuola is still alive, despite witnessing the horrific explosion that should have killed him, Cat follows a dangerous money trail to Mexico, swearing not to return until she’s certain Tutuola is dead - even if it means destroying her very soul.
Cut Throat is the sequel to Nine Lives - which I read a few days back and really enjoyed. I really like Cat and Wilson. Sure they are in the same profession but Cat is a hard ass and Wilson is so sweet. This is a great romantic suspense with tons of action. The only reason I’m not giving the book a higher rating is I thought the ending was rushed - which is something that really irritates me.
Rating: 
Today is spotlight on Lara Adrian.
Lara has kindly offered to giveaway a copy of her book Kiss of Midnight, the first book in her Midnight Breed Series.
I don’t know about everyone else, but I love to win free books.
All you have to do to have a chance to win Kiss of Midnight is post a comment below. Tomorrow I will draw a name at random to be the winner.
Thanks Lara for offering to do this. Good luck everyone!
I thought this would be fun! I asked Lara Adrian to give me 10 facts about herself, not book or writing related. Just anything that pops into her mind. Lets see what she had to say!
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Food: My homemade lasagna
Red Or White Wine? Red (pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, rioja)
Favorite Cocktail: Grey Goose and tonic (with extra lime)
Dark or Milk Chocolate? Milk, the creamier the better
PC or Mac? PC (currently a Dell desktop and a cute little 2 lb laptop)
Cats or Dogs? Cats, definitely. I like their aloof, “can’t be arsed” nature. Not sure what that says about me though…
Mountains or Ocean? Ocean! I love the beach and waves crashing onto big rocks
Favorite Music: alternative, rock, some electronic and industrial
Pet Peeve: people yakking on cell phones while trying to drive
Now lets see what I have in common with Lara!
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Food: Turkey dinner
Red or White Wine? White (wine gives me heartburn so I hardly ever drink it)
Favorite Cocktail: Not much of a cocktail drinker (I like rum and eggnog)
Dark or Milk Chocolate? Milk (dark is to bitter)
PC or Mac? A DELL PC
Cats or Dogs? Dogs. I have one already, but I would like 2 more.
Mountains or Ocean? Mountains, as long as there is no snow on them. You can see for miles. I like the ocean, but I’m afraid of sharks.
Favorite Music: 80’s, anything hair band related.
Pet Peeve: Young people who walk around with hickies all over their necks. Wear a friggin turtle neck.
It’s good to kow that Lara and I share the same taste in chocolate, and computers.
I knew when I contacting Lara Adrain and asked if she would be alright with me spotlighting her on my blog I knew I would have a hard time sticking to just 10 questions, - but I managed to do it. Thanks to Lara for taking the time to answer them.
1. How did you get into writing?
I’ve always loved creative writing and have dabbled in it in one form or another since I was a kid. Writing is where I am most comfortable expressing myself, whether that’s in fiction or personal introspection. Maybe writing is in my blood, as two of my more notable ancestors were both writers: William Bradford, of pilgrim fame, who documented life on Plymouth Plantation; and before him, John Leland, who was King Henry VIII’s royal antiquarian and wrote (among other things) poems read at the coronation ceremony of Anne Boleyn as well as some important English history documents that currently reside at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library. Of course I didn’t know any of this until I was an adult and already bitten by the writing bug, but it does make me wonder…
2. How did the idea for the Midnight Breed Series come about?
There was only one monster that scared me as a kid and that was vampires (I’ve since added killer sharks to that list, thank you, Peter Benchley). I wrote a handful of medieval romances for Ballantine Books under the name Tina St. John, and although I enjoyed writing historicals, I longed to try something darker. I love contemporary, suspenseful books, and so much the better if there is some dark fantasy in the mix. So, when the market turned south for non-Regency set historicals and Ballantine decided a couple of years ago that they didn’t want more medievals from me, I decided to take the plunge and write something just for me. I’d been toying with the idea of a dark vampire romance for a while, but I wasn’t interested in the more traditional aspects of vampire lore. I didn’t find the undead to be particularly romantic, nor did I buy into the whole “cross-fearing, garlic-allergic” traits of the classic vampire. I wanted to put my own twist on vampirism, so I needed an origin for my vampires (otherworlders crash-landing on Earth and eventually breeding with humans) and an evolved, modern world for them to inhabit. I started working on a detailed outline for that world and some rough sketches of the first three or four books, plus the first few chapters of what I hoped would be the first novel. My agent ran with it, and after several houses came back with immediate interest, we sold it to Bantam Dell in early September of 2005. I’ve been having fun with it ever since!
3. Many readers think your Midnight Breed Series compares to J.R. Ward’s Botherhood Series. What do you think about that?
Well, for starters I think she’s a tough act to follow! JR and I have known each other for several years, having met when we both were writing for Ballantine and we also have the same literary agent. JR was one of the first people to encourage me to write my vampire book(s) and I can distinctly remember how excited I was to get her cheering emails and phone calls as I was working on my proposal that summer. She read my stuff before it went out for submission, assured me it was going to sell (which I really needed to hear at that time) and she also offered to quote for me once it did sell, which was really so nice of her. This was still a few weeks before her first BDB book would hit the stores—not to mention all the best seller lists!—and like everyone else who got their first taste of Wrath that week, I was absolutely blown away by her talent for dark paranormal writing. I think every writer strives for originality in his or her work, myself included, but I could do a lot worse than being compared to JR Ward.
4. I can’t even begin to imagine how much time an author has to spend on research before even starting to write the first chapter. Can you talk abit about the whole research process. What forms of media do you use to research? Do you visit libraries and museums?
To be honest, there was a lot more “heavy lifting” research involved in my medievals. For the Midnight Breed books, I research things like locations, weapons, cars, etc. That’s all fun stuff to me, and I don’t need a lot of that detail spelled out before I begin a book. It all depends on the plot and what characters are involved. My favorite research source is the internet. God Bless Google! I don’t think I would have been able to write any of my books to the level of detail that I do if I had to rely solely on poring over stacks of books in a library. So often when I’m searching for one thing online, I find a completely different tidbit of information that opens up a whole new line of thought for me in terms of plot or setting, etc.
For the book I just finished, Midnight Rising, I will be visiting a location here in New England that plays a big role near the end of the book, just to make sure I have my details right. Online articles and photos are great springboards, but if you can walk through a place and really be there, it can make a world of difference in how you bring that place to life on the page.
5. Who is your favourite character from the series, so far?
I really don’t play favorites with my characters and when it’s their turn “at bat” I try to give them all equal time and affection on the page.
6. The sex scenes in your books are steamy, sexy, sensual, just plain hot! How hard is it to write a good love scene?
Well, thank you! Good love scenes, I think, depend on the emotional strength of the moment—whether it’s a tense, almost angry tone, or something tender or emotionally raw—more so than the actual flesh-on-flesh action. I enjoy writing love scenes and I don’t find them difficult at all, but I have to say that sometimes, especially after spending about 6+ hours writing one, all I can do is sit back and giggle over what a strange job I have.
7. I understand there is a 4th book planned for the series. It’s Rio’s story. Can you tell me abit about the book?
I recently finished Rio’s book, Midnight Rising, which comes out next spring (March 25). If you read the first book, Kiss of Midnight, you will remember Rio’s betrayal by his Breedmate, Eva. He was very badly injured in an ambush she helped orchestrate, and as a result, Rio is scarred both physically and emotionally. He’s also dealing with some lingering trauma that has him concerned that he’s losing his mind. He doesn’t have a lot of hope when his book opens, but he finds purpose at least when a female tabloid reporter stumbles on a story that could expose the entire vampire nation to the humans. Rio steps in to put a stop to it, never imagining how this fiery woman is going to change his life. Incidentally, readers will see a bit more of Rio in my current book, Midnight Awakening.
8. Any plans to step away from the series and write an independent novel, or perhaps start another series?
Yes. J I have lots of ideas for other projects, and I want to get to them as soon as I can.
9. When you find time to read. What genre do you prefer and who are some of your favourite authors?
I have to make time to read, since my days (and a lot of evenings) are full with my own writing, answering email, and other obligations. But reading has always been a personal joy for me, so I’m not about to give it up. I read a lot of different things, from all sorts of genre fiction to non-fiction, biographies, current events, true crime, etc. What I pick up at any given moment really just depends on my mood and what’s going on around me. I do love romance, naturally, and some of my favorite authors are also my friends: Gaelen Foley, JR Ward, Jaci Burton, Sydney Croft, Kayla Gray, Sharie Kohler, Colleen Gleason . . . really the list goes on and on.
10. Do you like to watch vampire related movies? If so, do you have any favourites?
I love vampire movies, but finding a good one is no easy feat! Some of my favorites are the Underworld movies, Blade, The Lost Boys, and Interview with the Vampire. From that list, it’s probably obvious that I prefer dark to campy. I’ve never watched any of Buffy (sacrilege, I know) but I am kind of digging the TV series Moonlight, but I do wish Mick St. John were a bit more hardassed and alpha. Sigh.
“As a child, Lara Adrian used to sleep with the covers up around her neck, afraid she might become the midnight prey of deadly vampires.”
I’ve been excitied about this day for weeks now. Today I am having a Spotlight on author Lara Adrian. She writes the Midnight Breed Series. I have read the first 3 novels in the series. Kiss of Midnight (book 1), Kiss of Crimson (book 2) and just released November 27th, the 3rd book Midnight Awakening. The 4th book in the series, Midnight Rising is due out in March 2008.
Oh yeah! I almost forgot! There will be a contest later today! It involves a free book.
For more information on Lara and her books, you can visit her website.
Thanks to Lara Adrian for helping me make this day happen.
They say cats have nine lives.
Lucky for Cat Dupress, she’s got seven left.
Bounty hunter Cat Dupress first cheated death when she was thirteen. The second time left her orphaned and scarred. And the only thing that will diminsh her lust for revenge is finding the man who left her for dead as she watched him murder her father. Every job she takes is an opportunity to invade the criminal world that hides the tattoed man who ruined her life. And she hopes to hunt him down on her current mission into the rugged deserts of Mexico, where there is no law to watch her back.
Without her knowledge, bondsman Wilson McKay is on the same job, and trailing Cat is the fastest way to find his man. He’s willing to share resources—and the reward—especially if that means getting to know the lonely woman beneath Cat’s tough, take-no-prisoners exterior. Life’s taught Cat that the surest way to land on her feet is to work alone, but Wilson might be the man to change her mind—when they’re not competing for jobs or ready to kill each other.
I was surfing around some websites about a month ago and was happy to learn that Sharon Sala had a new book coming out in November. I thought Cut Throat sounded right down my alley, so I pre-ordered it and started reading it as soon as it arrived in the mail. I got to about chapter 3 and happen to find out that it was the sequal to Nine Lives. I stopped reading it right away. I thought I better read Nine Lives first. I finished it yesterday and I must say, I loved it.
I thought the characters were awesome. Cat was a character all her own. Talk about guts. However she was not the character I enjoyed most. That was Wilson McKay. He was charming. I chuckled every time he called Cat on the phone. He’d say, “Hey, it’s Wilson McKay calling.”
I usually enjoy most Sharon Sala books - whether she writes as Sharon Sala or her pen name Dinah McCall, but I think this is her best, so far! I can’t wait to see where Cat and Wilson head in Cut Throat.
Rating: 
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, #1) by J.R. Ward
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood…
The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…
I have heard many good things about J.R. Ward and this series of books. I’m kinda going through a vampire phase as of late. So it was time I started the series. It was dead at work last night. I had about 6 hours of down time so I managed to get the whole book done in one sitting. I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t put it down.
Dark Lover was very well written. The characters were awesome. The book was also well researched. I liked Beth and Wrath’s chemistry, but honestly they were not my favorite characters. Butch was my favorite. I can’t believe I have to read 2 more books before I get to his story. I was ready to start the next book in the series as soon as I got home, but Lover Eternal is the only book I don’t have. So at 7:30 this morning I was online purchasing the book. I can’t wait to read it. I totally recommend Dark Lover.
Rating:
Over Her Dead Body by E.C. Sheedy
Everyone knows that Mary Weaver is a saint. All her life she’s been the guiding light behind Mayday House, a refuge for women in need. But on this dark night, she is haunted by memories from another time. Dark memories. Lies. Betrayals. Murder. Evil. And she will not die without confessing her sins, without telling her truth. She will make three last phone calls, and if she awakens sleeping dragons, so be it…
Gus Hammond’s job is simple. Now that old lady Weaver is dead, he is to go to Erinville, Washington, and shut down her dilapidated, outdated mission. But he doesn’t count on meeting Keeley Farrell—and he sure doesn’t count on wanting her. Born and raised at Mayday House, Keeley has come home to continue Mary’s work and discover truths about her own life — truths that lie buried somewhere in the jumble of files deep inside Mayday House.
Truths that someone will kill to hide.
Now, Gus has a new reason to get Keeley free of Mayday House. For a dying woman’s last act has ignited a deadly fuse, one that leads back to the old house and Keeley herself… A WOMAN HE WILL RISK EVERYTHING TO PROTECT.
I can’t say that my first experience with author E.C. Sheedy was a positive one. I could not get into this book for the life of me. I forced myself to continue reading it. I thought there were way to many characters that didn’t leave a impact on me. Therefore in the chapters later on, when they were brought back into the story - for whatever reason, I had to stop and think, o.k she was introduced back in chapter 3, she is so and so’s cousin, she was married too and blah…blah…blah. I also thought the plot was boring. This is one of those book where you read the back of the book and think that sounds great, but then you are disappointed after you finish reading it.
Rating: 
Nobody would care about Aleesha Monroe, the prostitute slain in an Atlanta housing project, if her killer hadn’t bitten off her tongue. But because Aleesha’s the fourth such victim in recent months, Det. Michael Ormewood is under intense pressure from his lieutenant to close the case-even though Michael’s already got his hands full juggling a mentally challenged son and a seductive next-door neighbor. The pressure is only intensified when Will Trent, of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Special Criminal Apprehension Team, is assigned to the case, and when Will starts to lean on his childhood friend, Vice cop Angie Polaski, for help.
Across town, saintlike John Shelley, just released from prison after serving 20 years for rape and murder, has troubles of his own: a dead-end job, a roach-infested apartment, a hard-nosed parole officer and the certainty that everyone who sees him knows he did time for killing a 15-year-old girl. When John, after rescuing a hooker from assault, walks her home and pays her colleague Robin to tell him about her first kiss, the story takes wing, and Slaughter, whose hallmark in her first five novels had been grueling forensics, shows a rare and generous capacity for compassion. Though there are mysteries along the way-how did John manage to compile a stratospheric credit rating while he was in stir, and what’s the connection between the violence past and present?
I was really excitied to read this book. Triptych has Karin Slaughter moving away from her popular Grant County Series. I have very mixed feelings about this book. I thought the story was interesting. It had some unexpected twists and turns. The characters were very different and unique. You have John; who was incarcerated for 20 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Angie; a female cop who spends her days posing as a prositute. Will; a F.B.I type guy with major self image issues, who also happens to be Angie’s boyfriend. Then there is the villian, who I won’t go into detail about because then I would give away a major plot twist. The book was well written, but had alot of street slang and bad language. I found I had to back track a few times because the book jumps all over from past to present. Overall a good effort from Karin Slaughter, however I would like to see her stick to the Grant County Series.
Rating:
