FIFTY SHADES MORE: DARKER and FREED And Casting the Movie?

www.eljamesauthor.com

Fifty Shades Darker

(Book Two of Three)

E.L. James

Paperback: 544 pages

Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (April 17, 2012)

Kindle File Size: 2122 KB, Print Length: 395 pages

Publisher: Vintage (September 13, 2011)

Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.

Also available in audiobook formats

Disclosure: Purchased

Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.
www.eljamesauthor.com

www.eljamesauthor.com

Fifty Shades Freed

(Book Three of Three)
E.l.James

Kindle File Size: 2149 KB
Print Length: 468 pages
Publisher: Vintage (January 17, 2012)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
Paperback: 592 pages
Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (April 17, 2012)
Disclosure: Purchased

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.
www.eljamesauthor.com

"I have to admit," My husband of thirty years said while reading, "This is becoming tedious.  I can't believe any woman wants to have sex that much." 

"That, my dear," I replied, "Is why it's called "fantasy."

I guess expecting my husband to wend his way hopefully through three volumes of erotica is asking a lot from a man who usually reads science, non-fiction and "literature." 

There are no pictures and, I understand men to be more visual creatures than women.  As we sat together reading at night, his foot on mine, I could tell from the pressure on my foot from his when he was reading a sex scene. I don't find the books tedious at all—quite the opposite.

What makes the latter two books of the trilogy worth while is that the characters grow and the story advances. Ana becomes less naive, Christian seems less damaged, then more so, less so, more so, etc.

The second and third books don't stand alone; they are all too serial and there isn't any way that James could have put in enough back story to make it stand alone.

I know that as soon as I finished the first book I fired up my laptop to see if I could download the second from Europe.  When Kindle first came out you couldn't do that, but I was able to! Yay.

FIFTY SHADES DARKER has more plot line Twilight inspired than I found the first book to have. SPOILERISH Especially the abrupt utterance of the proposal. And, I preferred Fifty Shades Freed—it had a driving pace that disabled my instinct for self-preservation and I stayed up way too late to finish it.

Christian is controlling and sometimes childish; as his shrink says, he is frozen in adolescence. He usually seems much older than his character's reported 27 years. I would think he didn't especially like to share toys. There's a lot that goes on behind his facade that pushes the character's growth through the series.

Anastasia is malleable; gives in too easily to Christian's more petty demands outside the bedroom.  Then, when it actually matters her youth and the sudden nature of her exposure to Christian's wealth and worldliness, cause her to rebel in dumb ways. 

The books are about him coming to terms with his past and it happens because Ana sees the history behind the need and won't allow him to subvert it through "play and punishment." She is the child that helps the adult grow up.

As a couple, neither of them knows how to end a disagreement without sex. On the one hand sometimes fights are like a food craving and if you can distract yourself they'll go away. On the other hand, they go from calm to storm really fast and don't usually have the emotional infrastructure to work through issues.I married when I was Anastasia's age and my husband was 24, so I get that working on issues as a couple when you're still becoming an adult is hard.

In the end, I felt this series was much better written, and more complex, than I had heard. The voice is a unique first person, and it's consistent. The balance between show and tell is good.  There was a lot of sex, but I have read erotica where there was less story and more (and more varied) sex.  These books don't meet the standards for "porn." I'm pretty sure the firestorm of controversies surrounding FIFTY SHADES was a great PR team drumming up the type of hype that sells books. It's said there's no such thing as bad publicity and in this case that's probably true.

I highly recommend the series. 

AN ASIDE RE: Film in Development.
I find myself casting the movies for these books in my head. Universal and Focus films are currently developing the project  I think it may even be hard to get an R rating for them though.  I could see Taylor Kitsch or Alexander Pettyfer playing Christian, but no one so identified with another role as Robert Pattinson. Alexander Skarsgård is said to want to play the character and he's certainly humped his way across the screen with Sookie in True Blood, but Christian is supposed to be 27 and 28 and Alexander is a very hot 36.

Who to play Anastasia? As a woman, my first response is, "who cares?" That is also my second and third response (although my fourth might be: a much younger, hotter me).

My thoughts on the casting is that so much of the story depends on their youth that casting Alexander or Jennifer Love Hewitt, who is it reported would like to play the 21 year-old Anastasia, would be a huge error.

Who would you cast in this film?

Available singly or in an omnibus:

 

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Related articles

• Sales for `Fifty Shades' trilogy top 10 million

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• 'Mommy porn' hit Fifty Shades on track to become fastest selling series of all time as sales top 10million in just six weeks

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• 50 Shades of what?

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• Fifty Shades of Grey For Mother's Day? (wingedeffigy.blogspot.com)
• My friend CJ is mentioned in this article:  http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/05/14/fifty-shades-grey-knock-offs

THE AVENGERS Gives Us All Too Human Superheroes

The Avengers (2012 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

THE AVENGERS (2012)
MARVEL Studios
Paramount Pictures
Cast & Details can be found at IMDB.COM

If you know comic books then you're going to get much more out of Marvel's THE AVENGERS; sometimes I feel there's a lot of insider information to which we who don't indulge are not privileged.  But one doesn't need the inside track to really enjoy this movie.

My husband and I saw this in regular, not 3-D at a Cinemagic late show, Sunday, May 27. The theatre was about half full.

Synopsis:  Loki, cast out at the end of THOR seeks revenge on Thor by attacking Earth with the aid of the Chitauri who will give him Earth in exchange for the Tesseract, a source of unlimited  power. Loki attacks the super secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base where scientists are working on figuring out how to use it to protect us from bad aliens. 

S.H.I.E.L.D director Fury brings the superheroes together to save Earth but first they have to catch Loki and the scientists and agents he is mind controlling to figure out how Loki's Chitauri army will conquer the planet for him. First they have to learn to work together and not like a bunch divas.

Characters: The AVENGERS are comprised of more familiar characters like Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Loki and The Hulk.  Then there are lesser known characters (to the uninitiated) like Director Fury, Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and Natasha Romanov (Black Widow).  With Marvel's franchise these characters come ready made.

Black Widow plays a surprisingly large role in the movie as the agent who can ferret out Loki's nefarious plans, get Dr. Banner/Hulk to join up.  She also reveals a surprising vulnerability. Scarlett Johansson doesn't bring the character out and develop it. Of course, that could be the written character and not just the actor's performance. At one point, Director Fury tells her to show Steve Rogers/Captain America his quarters as if she is a secretary on Mad Men sent out for coffee.

Captain America gets to develop his command authority directing military activity on the ground in a fight.  He's also the "good guy." However, when he is presented with a conundrum he doesn't bury his head in the sand. Chris Evans plays the nice guy in an understated way.

Iron Man/Tony Stark is the guy that thinks very highly of himself, but who generally has the chops to back it up.  I think Iron Man probably saved Robert Downy Jr.'s career if not his life.  He is a really fine actor and plays any part well to the extent the script and plot allows.

Thor: Hey is that hammer bigger or is he just happy to see me?  Really, the grown up demi-god is now the champion for humanity and an all around peace loving guy who wants to make sure the bad guys can't get to his earth bound sweetie. Who cares how well Chris Hemsworth plays him. He's a poster boy for surfer hair.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loki: Well he's an asshat—a mischeviously, but truly evil, and troubled boy.  Someone needs to tie him up, give him a ball-gag, and cane that him.  Hiddleston nails it.

Dr. Banner/The Hulk: Mark Ruffalo is probably the second actor in the ensemble with real acting chops as he plays the Hulk's Dr. Banner really well. He brings real vulnerability to the super vulnerable character who can't be killed. 

Clint Barton/Hawkeye: I've never heard about Hawkeye, therefore I can't tell you how true to the crossbow wielding archer with his arsenal of sharp or explosive arrows.

Agent Fury: Samuel Jackson playing tough guy Samuel Jackson; perhaps a bit more politick.

Chris Hemsworth London in April 2011
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Plot: Predictable but intricate, Loki runs the show for much of the movie as he manipulates the heroes psychologically and through magic.  When the Avengers really become a team they kick ass.  I found the action confusing. One of the enemy weapons looks like they borrowed it from the last TRANSFORMERS movie. It really left Manhattan a mess; hope it's fixed before I get there next week for BEA.

Upshot: 

• Heavy on the CGI and wicked expensive in it's physical stunts.
• Fun to watch with lots of yummy looking guys.
• Teamwork saves the day, but the heroes personalities get in the way for a while.
• We will see it again when the DVD comes out.
• Great Costuming, prop and visual development. 
• The violence is generally bloodless except for one or two scenes.

Go see it at a theater if you can. But I recommend it for people who like action that isn't too bloody, great looking guys in spandex, more great looking guys in spandex, special effects, and superheroes. 

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Much Ado About Vampires is Much Ado About Back Story

katiemacalister.com

MUCH ADO ABOUT VAMPIRES

A Dark Ones Novel (#9)

by Katie MacAlister
Signet
October 4, 2011

Bitter at first bite…
Corazon Ferreira is one heck of a jaded woman. Not only did her husband dump her for a pretty, vivacious blonde, but her sister has lost her mind and married a vampire. Worse, it turns out that Cora herself was a vampire’s mate in a past life…the very same vampire she witnessed killing someone.
If only Cora hadn’t inadvertently been caught up in the ill-laid plans of a reanimated corpse and its master, she could deal with the distractingly gorgeous vampire. But it’s only Alec who stands between her and those who threaten her existence, and there’s only so much temptation a woman can bear before she starts taking her heart as seriously as her head…
katiemacalister.com

Madcap, crazy and comic describes this tale of a vampire and his beloveds. Plural? How can that be?  Yes, Cora and her vampire, Alec, find themselves pitted against the forces of not quite hell but darn close and also against Cora herself, kind of.  I didn't find it as cohesive as earlier books in the series, which I read about three years ago it was light, and fun even when danger was in store.  Katie has a way of making even the most dire situation amusing. Sometimes I felt it was a little too silly as we romped along through time and space. Katie plays loosely with the fabric of time and space.  But the guy on the cover is really great looking and gives me a good visual for Alec. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what the heroes in vampire novels looks like.

Here, take a look:

I haven't read several of the Dark Ones series and felt the lack of back story a hindrance. Without the back story, people just pop up with little explanation. Without crucial back story I found it tough to cotton on to Much Ado and the lack made the characters seem shallow. I think there's a difference between books in a series, and a serialized story in books. Both are perfectly fine but I wish publishers would make it more apparent.

I think if I had known the more recent history of the characters the book would have been more enjoyable.

What do you think about back story in series? Miss it, need it, or should people who pick a book up mid-series just suck it up? 

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Jacquelyn Frank's DAMIEN Crosses Borders

Cover of Damien (The Nightwalkers, Book 4)

DAMIEN

The Nightwalkers- Book 4
File Size: 513 KB Print Length: 385 pages
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra Books (June 1, 2008)

Blurb:
They are the Nightwalkers, mysterious beings who dwell in the shadows of our world, and Damien, the Vampire Prince, is among the most powerful of them all. But one woman will tempt him with a desire unlike anything he has known, and together they will face a terrifying and relentless foe…

HE’D NEVER LOVED.

BUT SHE WAS IRRESISTIBLE.

As reigning Vampire Prince, Damien has tasted every pleasure the world has to offer—consorting with kings and queens and delighting in sensual adventure. Now, tired of such pursuits, he devotes his energies to protecting his people.

The war between human necromancers and Nightwalkers has escalated, and when the enemy makes a daring move, kidnapping Syreena, a Lycanthrope Princess, Damien boldly follows. He succeeds in rescuing her, but is unprepared for the erotic longing her lush sensuality awakens in him.

Gifted with rare abilities, Syreena grew up in a cloistered setting and was forbidden to form attachments to others, yet the connection Damien feels with her is immediate, intoxicating, and impossible for either to resist. But claiming Syreena as his mate could have shattering repercussions for every Nightwalker—and leave their enemies more dangerous than ever before…

Temptation tastes sweetest at night. JacquelynFrank.com

Dreamier than the other books I have read in the series this book has a more philosophical bent and lots of exploration of lovemaking.  The philosophical part is that a group of people can change their long held view of themselves. All the Nightwalker races in the series are being forced to change their long held ideas of who they are. 

With the location of an ancient library built by a consortium of their races discovered all sorts of knowledge that had been lost is coming to light.  For example there's a customary prohibition that Vampires aren't supposed to drink from other Nightwalkers. But, sometimes a hot Vampire prince has to do what he has to do.  And, the discovery of why that prohibition existed is found. What the races are finding is that through separation their various races have grown weaker.  Like humanity, there's strength in diversity and in working together.

Frank is building a United Nightwalkers organization they will use to defeat their rebel-traitor, Ruth .

The language is a bit less purple than Frank's prior entries in the group.  Perhaps that's because Vampires are less emotional and until this book don't love. Syreena, well she has been in a monastery of warriors most of her life. I had felt she was determined and logical but with insecurity of position. Think female Vulcan like Spock but with the ability to turn into a hawk or a dolphin.

Mostly she wants to be herself but once Syreena and her husband have a child her position as the spare heir is reduced. Monk, warrior, heir or advisor?

Will the Shifters accept another mixed marriage in their royal household? Will the Vampires accept her as their own regent's consort or will Damien be challenged for the princely position?

Frank plays fast and loose with location and travel times, but mostly sticks with her world rules. There is some good suspense too: who will join up with Ruth, what will happen to the library, will the Nightwalkers learn to live together and corral the advantages Vampires gain by drinking the blood of other Nightwalkers.

As before both Syreena and Damien prove themselves heroic. Although philosophical this felt uninspired. I will continue with the series to see who ends up with whom and because of how passionately the couples get together.

Give the series a shot! 

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FIFTY SHADES OF GREY BOOK ONE I Liked It A Lot.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
Book One

by E.L. James

Reading Level Very Adult

Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Vintage; 1 edition (April 3, 2012)
KINDLE File Size: 2102 KB
Print Length: 382 pages
Publisher: Vintage (May 25, 2011)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.

Purchased

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. Fifty Shades of Grey on Amazon

So, what is all the fuss?

Source Handcuffed
Author Olivier T

Based on Twilight? I see where it has picked up some plot and character ideas but only to the point of being derivative; it doesn't go as far as plagiarism. I have got to say to that I don’t read much in the way of fan fiction so there’s no controversy there for me. But, I’ve seen claims of plagiarism and I don’t see it. Art is derivative. Two characters in a similar location inspired by TWILIGHT just doesn't come down to plagiarism. I have stayed away from this controversy because I wanted to read the books without the influence. But, I think that book bloggers would have to be dead not to be aware of it.

In fact, I think this book is pretty well written. Anastasia is about as far from Isabella Swan as you could get besides her having a flighty mom and two left feet. Ana says no, graduates from college, and has a super kinky boyfriend whose skin doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight. I don't know about so much about BDSM that I can say for sure that the negotiation process is perfect. But I do know there is negotiation involved.

Christian is pretty far from Edward. Yes, he feels he’s unlovable, and he’s rich. Richer than Mr. Cullen I think. But, he’s a Dominant in the bedroom and I have never felt that Edward would be. Honestly, do you see Edward using a butt plug on Bella? This boy is quite emotionally messed up, and someone told me the "scene" is not the place to work out psychological issues. So, some people who are upset about how BDSM is portrayed may have a legit issue there. I was perturbed that Christian was as messed up as he was and that he expressed his anger at his mother by punishing women who look like her. That's actually problematic from what BDSM readers have told me. But, yeah, I still liked it.

The characters are fairly compelling. The pace is good and the sex is well written. My husband also enjoyed it; saying he really liked the unique voice. I couldn’t put it down. Compared to a lot of the crap I read; crap people praise to the heavens, this is some pretty good stuff. Is it Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights. Emma? No. It sure as hell isn’t Twilight. It is, however, good genre fiction. It’s being backed with some outstanding PR. And, it’s selling like hotcakes.

I just don’t think it’s nearly as controversial as I though it would be. I am not even going to attempt to figure out whence the anti-Fifty-Shades brouhaha originates. It reminds me of the anti-Amanda-Hocking sentiment of a year or so back.

If you groove on erotica then I can really recommend this to you. For BDSM it’s a bit on the Vanilla side but it is still pretty hot. Some “Kinky Fuckery” is discussed but, I’ve read much kinkier. It really is more about redemption than the sex. The resolution is stunning and a cliffhanger.

I am thinking of reading it again if I can find the time. Look for upcoming reviews of the next two books in the series.

Available at Amazon:
 

PRETTY MUCH THE WORST BOOK I'VE READ

A NIGHT AT TEARS OF CRIMSON

(Tears of Crimson Vampire Nightclub)

Michelle Hughes (Author), J Bryden Lloyd (Editor), Sean Nelson (Illustrator), Ashlie Nelson (Illustrator)

• Paperback: 188 pages Publisher: CreateSpace; 1st edition (June 19, 2011) − There is a note that it is soon to be re-released with revisions. CreateSpace is a self publishing company.
• Kindle File Size: 376 KB  Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Downloaded free via Amazon but now offered at $.99.

Searching for a book that's full of sexy vampires and incredible characters that you'll fall in love with?  Do you enjoy Vampires that remember how invincible they are as a species?  How about a story that goes in depth about the background of these incredible Gods that will leave you mesmerized?  Then you MUST surrender to the nights at Tears of Crimson, the New Orleans Vampire Bar! (Amazon)

It is unlike me to find nothing redeemable in even the worst book, perhaps if I had read the illustrated copy of this it would be one thing I could have found positive. But I read it on a Kindle Two; literally forcing myself to finish it so I could review it.  I've though long and hard about this review.

The story started out tolerably, I didn't think it was going to change my life but I didn't think it would be awful. The story line had potential but storyline alone doesn't cut it. And, that also went awry with too many tangents. Perhaps if the editor had bothered to edit, or even proof, the book it would have been vaguely tolerable.

But, the following combine to show a remarkable lack of respect for the reader and leave the poor story line standing in the corner all by its lonesome. 

• Many typographical/grammatical errors, 
• Many errors of what I think is best explained as "taste" (subjective, I know but there are some things that are just gauche),  
• Wording derivative of Charlaine Harris' Eric calling Sookie "lover," and  
• Inexplicable switching between first and third person Point-of-View [even with a editor] 

Examples:

"This was  definitely nice for an employee area, she thought to herself as she looked around....There were two ladies dressed similar to me sitting at the table,..."

"Do not ever think of yourself less than another?"

"...her head in confusion, she didn't even know what questions to ask him this was like something out of a bad b-rated movie."

"The smile that found her face took his breath away..."

A character in 384 BC named Eduardo (derived from the English "Edward," derived from Old English).

And, finally,  Gak! and Ow! "Biting her lip as his words shook her to the core, she lowered herself slowly onto his steel sword."

Written with a voice sometimes more appropriate to the Victorian classic erotica, THE PEARL, and at other times with a voice appropriate to nothing,  there is no question in my mind about why this is self published. Some books are rejected by publishers because they are badly conceived and written. Freedom of expression is great but when work like this appears it damages the potential for all self-published work through association.

Using the trope of the talented girl who goes to the big city to find fame only to end up debauched; this story goes from trope to tacky and confused in a matter of pages. The story makes leaps in emotional responses and action that often don't follow. The audacity of ending on a cliffhanger and asking for money for the next installment is remarkable.

The only possible redeeming note was the separate dimension into which vampires cross. It's novel and interesting rationale. However, it just pops up as needed, without explanation of the mythos nor for the appearance of a large dragon as the ruler of said vampires. 

It is rare that I am this harsh in a review; however, the degree of disrespect for the reader presented in this book is beyond the pale.  Inexplicably, A NIGHT AT TEARS OF CRIMSON is accompanied on Amazon by a sea of reviews proclaiming the book as wonderful.  I cannot fathom anyone proffering a positive review of this when I found it to be pretty much the worst book I have read in my blogging career. I guess it shows the subjective nature of reviewing. 


I don't want to offer it via my Amazon affiliation.  I would feel bad if I received commission for someone wasting money on this.

CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT Good Beach Read

Simon and Schuster

CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT

Moonlight #3

July 27, 2010

File Size: 2023 KB
368 - 370 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star (July 27, 2010)
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc.
Disclosure: Won or purchased.

IN THIS DARK THRILLER FROM NANCY GIDEON’S SULTRY NEW SERIES, SEXY NEW ORLEANS COP CHARLOTTE CAISSIE GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE LAST NEMESIS SHE EVER EXPECTED: HER SUPERNATURAL BOYFRIEND.THEIR LOVE IS JUST BEGINNING.

Detective Charlotte Caissie is growing used to the secrets that come with loving the mysterious leader of a shape-shifter clan. But that doesn’t mean she has to like it. She’s avoided complications of the heart all her life, but when it comes to irresistible Max Savoie, she’ll force the truth out of him if she has to.HIS TIME IS ALMOST UP.
Hunted by the deadly trackers his nefarious father warned him about, Max is transforming into a preternatural force he can’t explain and Cee Cee will never understand. He’s tempting the dangerous limits of their love, but it’s her curiosity that could get them both killed.
WILL THEY EVER REALLY BE TOGETHER?When Max discovers the enemy’s true target is someone far more vulnerable than he, he must do the unthinkable to save his own flesh and blood. But he can’t fight this battle alone, and Cee Cee faces the ultimate test of loyalty: the man she’d sacrifice everything for . . . or the laws she swore her life to protect. simonandschuster.com

Somehow I seem to have skipped the second volume in this series. But of the two I have read this seems the weaker of the two. It's hard to believe that Max and Caissie will ever be together, her background is the law and his is crime, but he's going legit for her.  It's not their own issues but those of others as well as a mysterious group of possibly government agents that kidnaps or kills shifters. It was a bit too mysterious. 

Both main characters are moody and capricious, they act without cause or on a simple misunderstanding.  And yet I still wanted them to be together.  The final chapters are especially suspenseful. Right until the deus ex machina pulls the book's ass out of its proverbial own sling.  But it was the only way to end i and keep the series going.  Good, if impossible, sex. Good beach read.

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CHASING MAGIC Chess Wins and Loses When "Zombies" Come to Downside AND A MYSTERY!

CHASING MAGIC

Downside Series  Chess Putnam Series

By Stacia Kane

06/26/2012

Ballantine Group, DelRay Imprint, Random House

Paperback and Ebook

Disclosure: E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley. No remuneration was received and except as noted, all opinions herein are my own.

A DEADLY HIGH

Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.

As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.  Random House

For an excerpt: RANDOM HOUSE

Once again Chess kicks my maternal instincts into high gear. Even as Chess faces the worst she learns she won't crumble and die. And, as she works to figure out the puzzle Stacia hands her in this newest entry in the series we can feel her maturing.

Chess is the ultimate in flawed heroines. My only complaint is the litany of self-hatred that Chess internalizes. For people with her degree of psychological issues, those songs of self-deprecation are usually the same and repeated over and over. And, maybe growing up as she is will help her overcome the terrible things her pre-church foster parents caused. I do think she is beginning to face things, including her addiction.

Mostly, I want three things: I want her to get help for her addiction and her issues. And, I want her to get unconditional acceptance from the Church elder she most esteems, and from Terrible I want her to get what she already has, his love. But even more, Terrible needs to break from his life of crime. Then they could go somewhere and have a fresh start. The only way they can end up as they are is dead. And, that would break my heart. I feel so attached to these characters.

This story also gives us what would seem to be the zombies of this world. Its something that neither the Church nor Chess had even realized could happen.

I find Stacia's novels so engrossing. I love her writing. I have scarcely picked the book up before I am turning the last page. This one gives us another step on Chess' journey to what I hope will be wholeness. It is a MUST READ!

Available for pre-order through my A-Store link at AMAZON.

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER:  This novella is in the Random  House covers database and is releasing on June 4. Amazon now has it up for preorder. And, why is Chess blonde?

Finding Magic (Novella)
by Stacia Kane
On Sale:06/04/2012
ISBN-10 : 0345540522
ISBN-13:9780345540522
Ballantine/RANDOM HOUSE

When eighteen-year-old Chess Putnam is offered the chance to train with a special team of investigators known as the Black Squad, she feels torn. She’s never been a team player and hates how one male Inquisitor condescends to “the new kid.” But at her first bloody crime scene, she gets a taste for investigation—and is hooked on the high. Though the seasoned Inquisitors consider the series of ghost murders random events, Chess starts to detect a pattern. Is a psycho killer summoning ghosts from the City of Eternity and using them as murder weapons? As Chess gets closer to the dark truth, she puts herself in grave danger and risks losing everything she’s fought so hard for. RANDOM HOUSE

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Darkness Becomes Her: Heroes meets Highlander

JaimeRush.com

DARKNESS BECOMES HER

Jaime Rush

Avon/Harper Collins
April 25 , 2012
Disclosure: E-Galley from publisher via Edelweiss.  No remuneration was exchanged and unless noted otherwise, all opinions are my own.

Book Description
They live ordinary lives, but they are extraordinary. They are the Offspring, children of a mysterious experiment gone awry—and they are in terrible danger.
Power Junkie: Lachlan McLeod spent wild years astrally projecting himself into other times and places. But he doesn't get out much anymore—not after the fatal mistake that cost him a precious loved one.
Pixie Fugitive: Jessie isn't having a bad day. She's having a bad lifetime. After the terrifying act of supernatural violence that destroyed her family, she's been on the run for years. But now her ruthless enemy is drawing closer . . . and her own powers have finally awakened.
They're two people who don't play well with others. But they're going to have to learn to, and quickly. Because they're the only two people in the world who can save each other—and their passion is the only thing that can save the world.
www.harpercollins.com

A man beyond redemption. A woman beyond hope. And an enemy who will either kill them...or bring them back from the edge.

Lachlan McLeod has a mission: find the beast who put his brother into a coma. He'll start with Jessie Bellandre, his brother's girlfriend, who's harboring a dark, dangerous secret that could get them all killed. But as they plumb the depths of Darkness, and the light he didn't know existed in his own dark heart, not falling in love with her will be as hard as staying alive. JaimeRush.com

DARKNESS BECOMES HER was a reasonable book right up until the end when it became unbearably sappy.  It about "good" interdimensional beings versus an evil one. The bad guy, Russell is after the heroine, Jessie/Ally.  Magnus wants to "get with" Jessie, Lachlan is his guilt-ridden brother. There is a backstory behind this new spin-off and it is missed here. The group here, Magnus, Lachlan and Jessie have powers they don't understand, much like the characters in the show Heroes did. And, like Highlander there are Scottish accents and magical swords.

Rush does a great job building sexual tension until the climax, which isn't bad either. Occasionally the intimacy is written in a disassociative manner. We aren't even watching it, we're reading a second hand account of what happened. There is also some good non-sexual action.

I thought a passage where Jessie's musical taste is presented, along with a discussion of lyrics speaks to the current importance and accessibility of music, as we see with published book playbooks.

Characters are well developed, conflicted and surprisingly dimensional.  Jessie loves kids but after hearing kids practice their musical instruments she admits leaving won't be so hard. The plot flows smoothly and at a good pace except for a slowdown allowing romance to develop.

At the end the resolution is a muddy mix of physical action and mysterious inter-dimensional energy. It can happen because there are no rules that say it can't but it feels like a deus ex machina.

You can check it out via my link to Amazon below:

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ALIEN REVEALED Guest Post and International Giveaway

Today we have Lily Cain, the author of Alien Revealed, visiting and helping me out while I sip something French in a field of lavender while looking at a Cezanne.She's also giving away a copy of ALIEN REVEALED.

Here's a bit about her book, currently touring with Bewitching Book Tours:

ALIEN REVEALED

by Lilly Cain
Carina Press

Inarrii agent Alinna Gaerrii was tasked with observing the Starforce base on Earth. Crash landing her observation pod onto the base was not part of her mission briefing. Neither was making m’ittar—mind contact—with Major David Brown, the human who discovered her amongst the wreckage.

David thinks she’s a psychologist sent to evaluate his Special Forces team, and Alinna goes along with his misconception, seizing the opportunity to observe humans up close. But their daily contact has unexpected side effects, and Alinna soon invades David’s dreams. Through their intimate mental connection she allows him to express his forbidden physical desires.

Alinna delights in the sensory exploration and grows excited by the prospect of a treaty with the humans and a potential life mate in David. But an attack from an unknown ship sends the base into chaos, and Alinna may be forced to reveal her lie, erasing all hope of a successful treaty, and driving David away forever… (copy Bewitching Book Tours)

I just started reading this book as I began to prepare for my vacation. It seemed well put together and I look forward to finishing it. Please, welcome Lily Cain, to Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust:

How Do You Research Sci-Fi Romance?


Do you ever wonder how authors come up with strange ideas? How we research them?

Once, at a publicity event for the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, www.romancewritersac.com, our group of published authors was asked how we did our research, if we pulled our writing from our experiences in real life. When it got to be my turn to add to the answer my response was simple, and apparently funny. “I don’t often have any vampires, werewolves or aliens in my bed, so I have to draw on my imagination.”

Provided by Lily Cain

A little glib, and kind of true, but I really do have research for these kind of things. I watch sci-fi movies, read sci-fi books, and alternatively sneer and love sci-fi TV. And I never stop reading romance. All in the name of research. Some of it’s even tax deductible!

Obviously, reading and watching sci-fi gives me clear understanding of what the generally accepted facts of the genre include. Although to be honest, a lot of things have already slipped into popular culture. Everybody understands what ‘Beam me up’ means, or what a transporter does, even if they don’t claim to be sc-fi fans. We know that aliens are either good or bad, depending on their motivation, just as humans are good or bad or any mixture thereof. We know what being probed refers to and what alternate realities, time loops and avatars are.

As for romance, whether you are in love with a fireman, a lawyer, a rich millionaire playboy, or an alien for the next plant over, has certain events that are understood as well. The only way to understand this is to read romance. Lots of it. Each character has to change, to develop and make room for their new love. Their relationship must grow in an arc, developing from start to finish. And there has to be a happily ever after.

Beyond that, I read a lot of science articles from places like www.sciencenews.org and www.eurekalert.org. Because sci-fi, like fantasy, paranormal and even historical books require references and world building. We need to understand what is happening around our characters on a political level, social level, and physical level. I don’t write hard core sci-fi, so I don’t need to get too technical with my explanations, but I do have to put some thought into what the environment would be like, what kind of tech they might be using, whether it is a monarchy, a clan based world or if everything is decided by the luck of the draw. In my series, I even developed a partial language for my aliens. All of this comes from serious research.

But having an overactive imagination does help. Especially if I do need to know about an alien in the bedroom.

Have you ever read something odd in a sci-fi romance and wondered how on earth an author came up with the idea? Or do you have a source for information that you think I’d like? Comment with your email address and Lilly will be giving away an E-copy(.pdf) of her first sci-fi romance, Alien Revealed.

• Comment to enter but be sure to leave a valid email to get back to you with.
  Open Internationally. 
• Must be 18 or older.
• Separate from other contests running on Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust.
• My WiFi connections will be iffy for a day or two so it may take me time to approve all the comments. So if you don't see your entry don't fret... 
• Contest ends 5/27 at 11:59PM.

Lilly Cain
www.lillycain.com
The Confederacy Treaty Series
Alien Revealed – June 2010 – Carina Press
The Naked Truth – June 2011 – Carina Press
Undercover Alliance – June 25, 2012 – Carina Press


That sure is true about "Beam me up;" It has certainly entered the vernacular. Thanks Lilly!

About the Author:

Lilly Cain is a wild woman with a deep throaty laugh, plunging necklines and a great lover of all things sensual - perfume, chocolate, silk! She never has to worry about finding a date or keeping a man in line. She keeps her blond hair long and curly, wears beautiful clothes and loves loud music. Lilly lives her private life in the pages of her books.

Lilly lives in Atlantic Canada, although she spent eight years in Bermuda, enjoying the heat and the pink sands. She returned to her homeland so she could see the changing of the seasons once again. When not writing she paints, swills coffee and vodka (but not together), and fights her writing pals for chocolate.

When not living up to her pen name, Lilly is a single mom who loves reading and writing, dabbling in art and loving and caring for her two daughters. She loves romance and the freedom erotic fantasy provides her imagination. She loves the chilling moments in her novels as much as the steaming hot interludes. Her stories are an escape and a release, and she hopes that they can give you that power, too. (copy Bewitching Book Tours)

Media Links:

Website – www.lillycain.com

Publisher (books also available on Amazon etc, and available as an audiobook at Audible.com) www.carinapress.com

Group blog - http://contactinfinitefutures.wordpress.com/

Facebook – www.facebook.ca/LillyCain

Twitter – www.twitter.com/LillyCain

Available at a great price through my webstore

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The Witchy Thing ~ True Blood Files ~ Part 4

This is the fourth final post in my TRUE BLOOD SEASON 4 Story Line Wrap Up which I have been sharing with Dana at Readaholics Anonymous.

PAM demands that Marnie/ Antonia return Eric to himself, Antonia retaliates and spells Pam to decay like a corpse. It is rather grotesque.

Fiona Shaw plays Marnie photo Marie-Lan Nguyen
via Wikimedia

COVEN, BILL, ERIC, SOOKIE, PAM

After the witches, with Tara and Holly, launch a spell to force local vampires to sunbathe, almost killing Jessica. Eric has been held down with silver and Sookie allows him to feed so he can recover. They then have the shower scene but not quite as written. Bill launches a plan to meet with Marnie (played by Fiona Shaw) in the cemetery. Eric is captured, Sookie is mortally wounded.

Alcide rescues her and Bill revives her with his blood. Marnie intends to unleash Eric and under her control, as her puppets at the tolerance affair being held by the AVL at a hotel in Shreveport. The other witches try to leave but Marnie holds them captive. Eric captures the other vampire sheriffs. All hell breaks loose, Eric gets his memory back.

The next night the vampires approach Marnie’s Coven’s house, Moon Goddess Emporium, armed to the teeth. But Sookie, Jesus, Jason and Lafayette have already tried to get into save Tara, Holly and the others. A young witch attacks Marnie who kills her. A whole negotiation occurs wherein Bill and Eric will kill themselves for Sookie’s release. Pam rebels and shoots a large ordinant at the shell. Eric disowns Pam for endangering Sookie.

Antonia leaves Marnie with Jesus’ help and Marnie’s spell fails. The vampires get inside and kill Marnie.

MARNIE, LAFAYETTE, JESUS & SOOKIE, BILL, ERIC, TARA, HOLLY

Her spirit possesses LaFayette. The next morning she makes LaFayette kill Jesus, which Tara discovers when she goes over to LaFayette’s who is not home.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 05: (L-R) Actors Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgard appear on stage at PaleyFest 2011 presents 'True Blood' at the Saban Theatre on March 5, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Tara, Sookie and Holly race over to Bill’s where where they find Eric and Bill silvered on a fire, it is set on fire by possessed-LaFayette. Using witch and fairy magic the three women summon help in the form of their dead family members. Sookie’s Gran pulls Marnie out of LaFayette and they drag her away. After feeding both Eric and Bill, Sookie tells them she loves them both but can’t be with either. Nan goes to administer the true death to Bill and Eric but the give it to her instead when she reveals that she knows Sookie is a fairy.

DEBBIE PELT, SOOKIE, TARA

Debbie Pelt, forsaken by Alcide attempts to shoot Sookie, but hits Tara instead. Sookie blows her brains out. Sookie discovers Tara has been shot in the head and killed. Holding her dead friend a hysterical Sookie screams for help.

ALCIDE and THE OTHER KING, RUSSELL EDGINGTON

Alcide was called away during all the excitement to discover the concrete overshoes that Eric and Bill made Russell Eggerton have been removed and he is on the loose!

DEAD and UNDEAD, and NOT SO DEAD, AT LOOSE ENDS?

• So, Jesus and Marnie are dead, Antonia at peace. Two other Wiccans, Casey and Roy are dead.

• Vampire sheriffs (excluding Eric) and Nan Flanagan (American Vampire League Spokesperson) Truly Dead.

• Oh yeah, Andy meets a fairy and has sex with her.She kind of glamours him into it.  The fae seem to have begun some type of breeding program.

• Sookie, Bill and Eric are no longer together.

• LaFayette sad, gets a visit from Jesus who says that since LaFayette is a medium they will always be together.

• Tommy and Marcus Dead. Tommy’s parents were killed by Tommy. Tommy is killed by Marcus’ men, and Marcus fights with Sam and then is killed in Sam’s defense by Alcide. Debbie Pelt abjured and dead.

• The serial killer from season one, and Arlene’s ex, Rene’s spirit is released during the fracas and almost fricassee where Gran pulls Marnie out of LaFayette. He tells Arlene that Terry is trouble because his sleeping dogs aren’t going to lie forever.

DEFINITE SEASON FIVE STORYLINES

• Tara?

• Reverend Newlin, vampire?

• Russell Edgington???

• Vampire Legalities for Bill and Eric

• Terry’s Past

See Video below on Terry's Past coming to haunt him.

 http://youtu.be/r14nwfwIfsA

POSSIBLE SEASON FIVE STORYLINES

• Jason and Jessica

• Sookie’s Love Life

• Eric frees Pam?

What do you look forward to in Season Five of HBO’s TRUE BLOOD, Premiering Sunday, June 10?

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