BOOKS AND BLOGGING PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is defined as a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought. Well, my theory is if I can add at least 10 new books to my Wishlist and move at least 5 older Wishlist selections to my TBR list every month, then life is a ice cream sundae. And if I can find those 10 books from at least 5 new blogs each month then that's the cherry on top.

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!
Well, I've made it almost 5 years now, so for better or worse, I continue on. I tend to blog in spurts as the urge to be creative erupts. As I don't have an artistic bone in my body, you will see very few changes in the layouts. Hey, I'm a reader not an artist like so many of the awesome bloggers I follow. I know you don't always have the time but if you stopped and looked, take a half a minute and say your piece. Recommend a book that you have enjoyed or hated for that matter. Thank you to all who visit.
Oh, and I moved my Google Friend Connect info and share this buttons to the top, as without our friends, who are we?


Thursday, June 30, 2011

MIDSUMMER BLOG HOP WINNERS!

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!1
The main winner of my MIDSUMMER  Blog Hop giveaway is # 16---
ANABEL G. whose email starts with ANACASAMADRID@… 
She is a new follower and has a blog at http://dreamsaboutwriting.blogspot.com/

and is from Mexico (confirmed)


I had 249 individual entries and a lot of extra entries which took a bit of time to sort through.



I had 105 new followers so that means two more winners! WooHoo!


The 1st extra winner is Janet F #97 whose email begins with janetfaye@…
who is another new follower  and


the 2nd extra winner is Krysta Banco #135 whose email begins with Morganlafey86@…
an old follower.(confirmed!)
I've emailed you guys to verify email addresses for a $10 Gift Certificate from Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository.
You have until midnight on July  7th EST to respond or a different winner will be chosen.
All winners were chosen by Random.org
Thanks to all who visited  and commented.
Be sure and watch for the Freedom Giveaway Hop that starts July 1 - 7 for your next chance at a $10 Gift Certificate from
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

I also have an “EYES” contest that starts July 2 and will be running the whole month of July for an ARC of Amber Argyle’s “Witch Song” and a $10 gift certificate. See how well you recognize “eyes” from some of the most awesome book covers.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Haircut---Thanks to Robert


The Haircut 


One day a
 librarian went to a barber for a haircut.
After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied,
'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community
service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning,
there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen best sellers waiting
for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to
pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept
money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up,
there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting
for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when
he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot
accept money from you. I'm doing community
service this week.'
The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up,
there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for
a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental
difference between the citizens of our country and
the politicians who run it.


BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE
CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!

Nothing bad will happen, however, you must live with
yourself knowing that laughter is not in your future and
neither is better government.

Authors, Books & Gift Certificates --OH MY! Come to BittenByBooks!


Want a chance at some gift Certificates from Amazon? Want to find out about some awesome new books coming out?

You know you do. Get yourself over to BittenByBooks.com and check out there fabulous new reads being released.


Author Elizabeth J. Kolodziej Guest Blog and $25.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE Here!



Author Adrian Phoenix Release Party and $75.00 Amazon Gift Card Contest LIVE Here!



Author Merrie Destefano Release Party and $25.00 Amazon Gift Card + Contest LIVE Here!!


Monday, June 27, 2011

BOOKS I'VE BOUGHT, SWAPPED OR WON FOR THE WEEK 6 /27 # 41



  


If you hover your arrow at the bottom of the books, you can see where my books came from.

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers ARC Giveaway

-Is Personal Demons as Good As They Say It Is-
 at Bloody Bookaholic is giving away an ARC of Original Sin.
Go here For your chance at a copy.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Free Read From Amazon and Colleen Gleason

1

(Previously published as part of The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance)
A short story introducing readers to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles.
1820: Victoria Gardella tries to enjoy a ball with her new beau, Lord Rockley--but when bloodthirsty vampires come upon the scene, she must leave the fun in order to employ her stake along- side a grim Max Pesaro (vampire slayer) and the mysterious Sebastian Vioget.

 

 

If you haven’t (or have) read Colleen Gleason’s fabulous “Gardella Vampire Chronicles”, be sure and check out this free read available by Amazon for your Kindle. You can also read it free on your computer. Not sure how long it will be free but going to read this novella next! I was lucky enough to have all the books in this series and read them back to back in about a week. Absolutely awesome historical paranormal series!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

THE KILLING—WOW! I Did Not See That Coming!

The Killing (Seaon 1) Did you miss Sunday night's shocking Season Finale of The Killing? Would you like to see it again?  AMCtv.com is now -->streaming The Killing's final Season 1 episode online for free. Also available online are the previous three episodes:Episode 10, "I'll Let You Know When I Get There"; Episode 11, "Missing"; and Episode 12, "Beau Soleil". All episodes are online for a limited time, so don't delay: Get watching!
 
From writer, executive producer and series showrunner Veena Sud (Cold Case), The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen and tells the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation. Season one will consist of thirteen one-hour episodes and airs Sundays at 10PM | 9C. For a full list of The Killing broadcast times, check out AMC's online schedule.
The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.
The Killing stars Mireille Enos (Big Love) as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (Once and Again) as Darren Richmond, Seattle's City Council President and now running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie's killer; Michelle Forbes (True Blood) as Rosie's mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton (W., In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie's father, Stan Larsen. The pilot was directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster).
Filmed in Vancouver, The Killing is produced by Fox Television Studios and executive produced by Mikkel Bondesen (Burn Notice) for Fuse Entertainment. Fuse's Kristen Campo co-produces. AMC’s Joel Stillerman, senior vice president of original programming, production and digital content, Susie Fitzgerald, senior vice president of scripted development and current programming and Jason Fisher, senior vice president of production oversee production of the series for the network.
S-P-O-I-L-E-R-S
I so did not see that coming. Throughout the whole last episode everything was pointing toward Richmond as being Rosie’s killer. Nope, didn’t believe it for a minute. Figured it was Richmond’s girlfriend, Gwen who had finally gotten tired of his messing around with dead-wife like-alikes, or the mayor who he was close to beating in the upcoming election, or even the sad family wan-a-be, Belco, accidentally. But I didn’t believe it was Richmond, even as they were putting hand cuffs on him. So I wasn’t surprised to find out that the toll road photos were faked. But what really blew me away was when I realized that Holder wasn’t one of the good guys. Did not see that coming! I actually was already setting him up with Linden for next season’s boy friend.
So, is Holder working for the mayor, Gwen’s dad the senator, the police chief, the rich guy Drexler, or the mob? Definitely going to roll around the possibilities in my mind till next season. Linden will be back on the next plane, if she didn’t get off the one she was on and boy is there going to be hell to pay. I just hope Belco took out that poor excuse for a mother before he shot Richmond.

The Nine Lives of Chloe King

 
Chloe King In the one-hour scripted drama The Nine Lives of Chloe King, Chloe King is looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year…that is until she starts developing heightened abilities and discovers she's being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she's part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia —and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival.The Nine Lives of Chloe King will be executive produced by Dan Berendsen (Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hannah Montana: The Movie) and John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey, Make It or Break It) with Alloy Entertainment's Leslie Morgenstein (Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries) and Gina Girolamo. The drama is based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell. The series will star Skyler Samuels (The Gates) as Chloe King; Amy Pietz (The Office, Caroline in the City) as Meredith King; Grey Damon (True Blood, Friday Night Lights) as Brian; newcomer Grace Phipps as Amy; Benjamin Stone (10 Things I Hate About You) as Alek; Alyssa Diaz (Southland) as Jasmine; and Ki Hong Lee (The Secret Life as the American Teenager) as Paul.
As a lover of the paranormal, I had to watch this debut and I’m so glad I did. WooHoo!
Finally a summer show that addresses the needs of a paranormal lover. I think this one is a keeper and can’t wait for the next episode.

THE MIDSUMMER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP- June 21st to 24th

midsummers Plan to spend the longest day of the year entering giveaways as part of the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop.

To enter giveaway please follow this blog on Google Friend Connect, leave a comment telling me what you would like to be doing on the longest day of the year and then fill out the form here !

Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
Contest will be open internationally.  I will be giving away a $10 Amazon/Barnes and Noble

 Gift card or I'll let you chose a book from Book Depository up to $10 and as long as they ship free to you, you can enter. Just make sure they ship to you. If not sure,  check here.
I love to win Gift Cards and these are the simplest and the best as far as I'm concerned.
For every 50 new followers, I'll give away another $10 Gift card or book from Book Depository. Hope you'll take the time to look around, make a comment or two and offer any suggestions. 






I am number 6 and
A Little Bit of Everything (Int) is in front of me and Sarah Reads Too Much (Int) is behind me. Click here for the full list of participating bloggers on the hop. This is a great way to meet more bloggers, win books, gift cards and more!
Lily/Pearl here with the giveaway details!

 To enter giveaway please follow this blog on Google Friend Connect, leave a comment telling me what you would like to be doing on the longest day of the year and then fill out the form here ! Last Day to Enter is June  24th at midnight. 
Optional Extra Entries: +1 or more (up to +5) Comment on ANY non-Giveaway post, tweet, or post on facebook.(leave link on form)

Monday, June 20, 2011

THE HUNTED OF 2060 by AMI BLACKWELDER 4 1/2*

1                  Title: The Hunted of 2060                                    
Author: Ami Blackwelder
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: * * * * 1/2
Publishers Date: April 12, 2010
Paperback: 282 pages
ISBN: 9781452805474
FTC Disclosure: Won a copy from the author
at BittenByBooks



“America 2060. Three Lovers. Two Species. One Way to Survive.
Set in Alaska in 2060, when April enters her Sophomore year at University, she thought Robert might be the love of her life, but as she discovers, she is hiding something inside her, something the rest of the world believes to have died out. She struggles with who she was and who she is becoming as she learns of a family she never knew existed and of enemies she will have to outrun, outfight or outwit to survive. As April embraces her new identity, will she have to leave the life she loves behind? With underlining themes of how prejudice breaks human connections and animal/wildlife conservation, this novel which has received rave reviews will leave the reader flipping through the pages of April’s story.”

This story starts out pretty much along the same line that many of the young adult books today do, a young girl knows she’s different all her young life and now those changes have manifested with physical changes. Usually it’s a vampire or a shifter. Well, it is a shifter ---of a different kind. Blackwelder manages to take an oft used hook and weaves her own awesome story that was well worth your time. In the year 2060, aliens have previously visited and supposedly been eradicated by the government. Little does the government realize that they have been able to reproduce and now the hybrids are coming of age and coming into their powers.
I loved the return trip to Ami Blackwelder’s amazing futuristic world. This time we get heart pounding action and a great love triangle as well as an ongoing saga. This book kept me flipping the pages till I got to the amazing end. While I kind of expected it, Blackwelder managed to totally blow me away with the ending.


Shifter Evolutions Saga
1. Invasion of 2020
2. SCM of 2030 (Jun 9 2011)
3. Shifters of 2040 (Oct 1 2010)
4. Hybrids of 2050  (Mar 7 2011)
5. Hunted of 2060 (Apr 12 2010)
6. Revolution of 2060

BOOKS I'VE BOUGHT, SWAPPED OR WON FOR THE WEEK 6 /20 # 40


  

If you hover your arrow at the bottom of the books, you can see where my books came from.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU! THE MIDSUMMER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP- June 21st to 24th


Plan to spend the longest day of the year entering giveaways as part of the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop.

Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
Contest will be open internationally.  I will be giving away a $10 Amazon/Barnes & Noble
 Gift card or I'll let you chose a book from Book Depository up to $10 and as long as they ship free to you, you can enter.

I am number 6 and A Little Bit of Everything (Int) is in front of me and Sarah Reads Too Much (Int) is behind me. Click here for the full list of participating bloggers on the hop. This is a great way to meet more bloggers, win books, gift cards and more!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Ami Blackwelder

1 
Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal and historical romance genre. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand. Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.


Shifter Evolutions is a Shifter SciFi Romance and is Circular in Time, not Chronological. Begin with The Shifters of 2040 and then choose the past or future. However, you can read the series chronologically if you choose. Warning: Shifter Evolutions is strangely addictive to 90% of readers:) About the Author (from Amazon and Ami’s website )

Exciting news about this series!
The Shifters of 2040 screenplay is currently for consideration at the Cannes Film Festival to be funded into a film.
The Shifters of 2040 script is being circulated in Hollywood by a screenwriter of Black Swan.
The Shifters of 2040 script is being read by a Tampa Bay film producer.
1
Win Books! -COMMENT ON AMI’S BLOG TO WIN A BOOK FROM THIS TOUR!!
http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com/2011/06/win-books.html

Monday, June 13, 2011

BOOKS I'VE BOUGHT, SWAPPED OR WON FOR THE WEEK 6 /13 # 39


  




 If you hover your arrow at the bottom of the books, you can see where my books came from.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT for The Splash Into Summer Giveaway!

winner15

 

The main winner of my Splash Into Summer  Blog Hop giveaway is # 219---Alicia whose email starts with aliciacald@... She is a new follower and lives in the US.
I had 295 individual entries. I had 62 new followers so that means one more winner! WooHoo!
The extra winner is Maria #106 whose email begins with
m.ramey@... who is an old follower from the US!
I've emailed you ladies to verify email address for a $10 Gift Certificate from Amazon. You have until midnight on June  17th EST to respond or a different winner will be chosen.
All winners were chosen by Random.org
Thanks to all who visited  and commented.
Be sure and watch for the MidSummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop that starts June 21 - 25 for your next chance at a $10 Gift Certificate from Lisa’sLovesBooksOfCourse.

The Shifters of 2040 by Ami Blackwelder--- 4 *


The Shifters of 2040 by Ami Blackwelder

Title: The Shifters of 2040                                                          
Author: Ami Blackwelder            
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: * * * *
Publishers Date: Oct 1, 2010
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1453785133
FTC Disclosure: Won a copy from the author at BittenByBooks.com giveaway and bought a Kindle copy from Amazon.

“America 2040.
Three Species. Divided Lovers. The Race is on for Planet Earth.
Summary: Set in Alaska in 2040, Melissa Marn and Bruce Wilder must work under the iron fist of the SCM, while still trying to maintain humanity. Discovering a world of shifters and hybrids, the scientists must struggle with human prejudice and betrayal. With the original ancestors, dubbed shifters, still living on earth, humans are in the midst of a fifteen year old war. As the eldest hybrids, Unseen and Diamond, learn about humans the hard way, with the loss of loved ones and sacrifices, love on planet earth proves challenging.”

While I read several reviews that referred to this series as paranormal, it is definitely more sci-fi than PR. Luckily, I enjoy both. Paranormal to me is vampires, werewolves and other types of shifters, basically characters that I don’t believe exist. Now aliens from other planets, I’m more open to the possibility of them, so why couldn’t they be  shape shifters? 
I do admit to being a bit overwhelmed with all the information presented at the beginning of the story. I think the glossary would have been a better fit at the back of the book rather than in the beginning. The massive list of alien characters was a bit overwhelming too but it always takes me a bit to settle into the first book of a series anyway. While the first book was not exactly an easy read, it was a fast paced exciting read and once I got about a 100 pages into it was unable to put it down. At this point, the book really took off for me.
One thing that bothered me was the level of total distrust and bias against the aliens. As this takes place a mere 25+ years in the future, I didn’t quite buy the pretty much government control of individuals and their loss of rights. I expect the prequels to this book will satisfy some of those questions though. While I’m one who HAS TO read a series in chronological order as I don’t want to learn a single detail till the timing is right, I love that this series is written Circular in time and after beginning with The Shifters of 2040, you can chose to read the past or the future. Awesome concept!
Blackwelder’s aliens were remarkable. They were fascinating and quickly grabbed your attention and horror to their hardships and persecution by the human population. This takes place in Alaska and the descriptions of the areas had me picturing the forests and wilderness with no problem at all. If you are in the mood for a great sci-fi read don’t hesitate to pick up this series. It will entertain you for hours and best of all there are already 3  books out with the rest to follow shortly. Nothing than I love better than to find a great series that I don’t have to wait a year between books for.
If you are a Goodreads follower be sure and check out these great giveaways or purchase a copy on Amazon. Though I won my copies from Ami on a BittenByBooks giveaway, I still purchased a Kindle copy as they were a steal at $.99.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Giveaways ends in 3 months(October 01, 2011)
The Shifters of 2040 by Ami Blackwelder
Shifters of 2040
The Hybrids of 2050 by Ami Blackwelder
Hybrids of 2050

The Hunted of 2060 by Ami Blackwelder
Hunted of 2060
                                                               









Shifter Evolutions Saga
Invasion of 2020
SCM of 2030 (Jun 9 2011)
Shifters of 2040 (Oct 1 2010)
Hybrids of 2050  (Mar 7 2011)
Hunted of 2060 (Apr 12 2010)
Revolution of 2060

Saturday, June 11, 2011

ALPHA by Rachel Vincent 4 1/2 * –The end of an awesome series!

Title: ALPHA1
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: * * * * 1/2
Publishers Date: Oct 10 2010
Paperback: 480 pages
ISBN: 9780778328186
FTC Disclosure: I purchased


“Power, revenge, and justice - prepare yourself for the final battle! In the final chapter of "The Shifters Series", Faythe and her Pride must fight a tyrannical werecat intent on taking over the territorial council, and the south-central Pride in particular. It's down to Faythe to take on the role of Alpha before she feels completely ready for the job. Forced to rise to the occasion, Faythe must balance experience, advice, and the urge for vengeance. She must also finally choose between Marc and Jace... No decisions will be is easy, and not everyone will survive this epic fight to the death.”


Despite the fact that I bought this book as soon as it was released, I did not read it until a short while ago. Why, you might ask would I buy it in October and allow it to lay on the corner of my desk for months gathering dust? Because, durn it, I knew as soon as I started it, it would be the end of the werecat era! I knew that I would read it in one day and then Faythe, Marc, and Jace would have to be placed on that shelf in my mind only to be brought out every time I saw Vincent’s name or someone else discovered this awesome series and reviewed one of her books. I know that every time I see a review, I’ll have to stop and comment as it was one of my most favorite series. I read few series books as soon as they come out, my preferred style is collecting them and reading them in batches as I hate to wait a year between books. I love being able to finish a book at 2 AM and immediately being able to pick up the next book in the series without that cliffhanger driving me crazy for months. This was a series that I would have loved to have seen Vincent do an off shoot of and do several books on the other females (Kaci, Abby and Melody)in this pride. I even think that the Thunderbirds deserved a book or two of their own. I seriously did not want this to end. Yes, it was a great ending, several surprises I did not see coming and a couple I had hoped for. I sincerely wish I was one of the few that had not already discovered this series just so I could read it all back to back. This series had all the things I enjoy the most, a little romance, a great back story, and enough excitement and mystery to feed my need. Thank you Rachel for sharing your wonderful storyline with me and (hint, hint) I’d be the first in line to squeal if you every decided to change your mind and return to this fabulous world.
Werecats
1.
Stray (2007)
2.
Rogue (2008)
3.
Pride (2009)
4.
Prey (2009)
5.
Shift (2010)
6.
Alpha (2010)
 
1 2 3  4 5 6
 Oh, did I mention the wonderful covers in this series? Loved ‘em! Gonna miss you guys!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Win Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier



Fill out form here
RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier
Pub. Date: May 2011
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Format: Hardcover , 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult
“Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.”

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Author Richelle Mead Storm Born Comic Book Release Party 6/8 – BittenByBooks!

Join me at BittenByBooks.com on 6/8  for the Richelle Mead Storm Born Comic BookRelease Party, chat and contest. This event post goes up in the morning and runs into the evening. The guests will start answering questions at 12:00 pm Central Daylight Time. For those visiting from outside of the US, here is the time conversion link. BBB is in the Chicago time zone: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
The entire creative team who worked with Richelle, including David Dabel (President), Derek Ruiz (VP), Dave Hamann (artist) and Grant Alter (comic writer), will be talking about the brand new release of Storm Born and answering all of your questions. Check out this KILLER artwork they made JUST for Bitten by Books!

How cool is that?!!! Read a 5 Tombstone review of this Graphic Novel here:http://www.bittenbybooks.com/42565/stormborn-by-richelle-mead/
“Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she's been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld”s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…”
CONTEST INFO: The contest portion of the event runs until 11:59 pm Central on 6/9/11. Open to readers worldwide.

Prize: TEN issue #1 Storm Born comics signed by the whole creative team
RSVP below and get 25 entries to the prize portion of the contest when you show up on the day of the event. If you don’t show up and mention your RSVP AND ask a question, your points won’t be entered into the contest.
Check out Sea Lion Book’s website and get your questions ready for the event.
http://sealionbooks.com/

Be SURE to give your friends this link: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/?p=43061 so they can RSVP too.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Save the Contemporary! Spread the word, win a digital reader or a free copy of the book!

StC: Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey

YourstoKeep_stcIt’s rare that Sarah from Smart Bitches and Jane from Dear Author agree on a book. Look at the last StC they ran. It was Hot Finish which released on August 3, 2010. So October, November, December, January, February, well, you get the point. While it may seem like they are both pimping the same books, it’s often not the case. For example, Sarah from Smart Bitches had a hard time with Breaking Point by Pamela Clare while Jane loved it. Sarah picked Moira Roger’s Wilder’s Mate as her SB Summer Book Club pick and Jane gave Moira Roger’s short, Sabine and the Beast a D!
To say that their tastes don’t exactly align is an understatement so it is a rare and wondrous thing when they both like a book and they both loved Shannon Stacey’s Yours to Keep. It’s funny, heartwarming, sexy and moving. A straight up contemp that focuses just on the characters. And there’s a how to element in it too. How to use Scrabble to defeat and embarrass others. You’ll want to read that section a few times so that you can employ it against your own fake fiance.
Email, blog, or tweet this page or the #StC campaign and we will enter you to win an eReader of your choice (options include Nook touch, Kobo Touch, Kindle 3G with special offers)
http://savethecontemporary.com/
*If you blog this, send the link to sbjcontestsATgmail.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

Here are This Week’s New Releases For the Category ‘Horror’

Logo
 

The Gathering Dead
By Stephen Knight
ISBN: 098710442X
Publisher: Severed Press
Publication date: May 31, 2011

The Horde Is Always Hungry...
The zombie apocalypse has begun, and Major Cordell McDaniels is given the most important mission of his career: lead a Special Forces team into New York City to rescue the one man who can stop the ghastly virus that reanimates the dead.
But as a growing army of flesh-eating corpses takes over the streets and a violent storm renders airborne extraction impossible, McDaniels struggles to find a way out of the Big Apple. The odds of anyone getting out alive plummet further when slaughtered members of his own Special Forces team join the ranks of the gathering dead... with their military skills intact!

Bullet
By Laurell K. Hamilton
ISBN: 0515149497
Publisher: Jove
Publication date: May 31, 2011

The triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude, necromancer Anita Blake, and werewolf Richard Zeeman has made Jean-Claude one of the most powerful vampires in the U.S. He's consolidating power in himself and those loyal to him, doing in America what Belle Morte did in Europe when she was at her height of power. She almost owned Europe, and there was those who are determined that Jean-Claude won't do the same in America. Jean-Claude's motives may be kinder, but as any lawyer will tell you: motives matter, but you're just as dead.
Assassins are coming to St. Louis to kill them all. Anita knows they're coming, but even being forewarned doesn't mean you can win.


 


Wicked Lies
By Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush
ISBN: 1420103393
Publisher: Zebra Books
Publication date: June 1, 2011

                                       If At First You Don't Succeed
For two years, Justice Turnbull has paced his room at Halo Valley Security Hospital, planning to escape. Justice has a mission-one that began with a vicious murder two decades ago. And there are so many others who must be sent back to the hell that spawned them.
                                                                   Kill.
Laura Adderley didn't plan to get pregnant by her soon-to-be ex-husband, though she'll do anything to protect her baby. But now reporter Harrison Frost is asking questions about the mysterious group of women who live at Siren Song lodge. Harrison hasn't figured out Laura's connection to the story yet. But Justice knows. And he is coming.
                                                         Then Kill Again.
All her life, Laura has been able to sense approaching evil. But that won't stop a psychopath bent on destroying her. Justice has been unleashed, and this time, there will be no place safe to hide.



The Fly-By-Nights
By Brian Lumley
ISBN: 1596063483
Publisher: Subterranean
Publication date: May 31, 2011


150 years ago the world ended. Bombs fell, winter came, and the survivors fled underground in search of safety. Now they struggle to preserve what's left -- sleeping by day, and battling fearsome vampiric fly-by-nights after sunset.
Resources are scarce and security is scarcer in this fallout-poisoned world, but one subterranean clan of hardy souls clings to life, scavenging and scraping by until their water supply goes catastrophically bad. Forced to seek a new life above, they leave their long-time home to caravan across the stricken planet's surface, where the light is toxic and the night hides unspeakable monsters.
It is a difficult existence without promise or direction, until word from a band of fellow refugees fizzes through the choppy radio static. The Kindred promise help, companionship, and a new settlement in a distant valley...if only the clan can reach them.
For between the Kindred and the Clan stand a hundred miles of impossible terrain and countless fly-by-nights, and within the Clan itself trouble brews when two very different men fight for the love of one woman who has already made her choice.
It's the oldest story ever told, but this time it could mean the end of humanity.


Dead City
By Joe McKinney
ISBN: 1452652511
Publisher: Tantor Media
Publication date: May 30, 2011



Battered by five cataclysmic hurricanes in three weeks, the Texas Gulf Coast and half of the Lone Star State is reeling from the worst devastation in history. Thousands are dead or dying - but the worst is only beginning. Amid the wreckage, something unimaginable is happening: a deadly virus has broken out, returning the dead to life - with an insatiable hunger for human flesh...Within hours, the plague has spread all over Texas. San Antonio police officer Eddie Hudson finds his city overrun by a voracious army of the living dead. Along with a small group of survivors, Eddie must fight off the savage horde in a race to save his family...There's no place to run. No place to hide. The Zombie horde is growing as the virus runs rampant. Eddie knows he has to find a way to destroy these walking horrors...but he doesn't know the price he will have to pay.

Come Closer
By Sara Gran
ISBN: 1616951001
Publisher: Soho Press
Publication date: May 31, 2011

Amanda is happily married, likes her job, likes her life...so those odd dreams she's been having must have been caused by nothing more than stress. Those strange noises around the house? Probably a mouse. Blackouts? Caused by low blood pressure, of course. And that blood on her shirt? Well, everything has a rational explanation.
Instead of a book she had ordered, she is mailed a copy of Demon Possession Past and Present. Soon after, she burns her husband with a cigarette. Accidentally. Something seems to take her over. She begins to study the book on possession. But, as everyone knows, there are no such things as demons. And, if there were, why should they visit Amanda? She has done everything right.
Still, as she watches in horror, Amanda is becoming less and less herself. And more and more someone - or something - known to students of the Kabbalah as Naarmah, a beautiful female evil spirit with a lust for life and a taste for violence. Someone very unlike Amanda.


Bloodspell
By Amalie Howard
ISBN: 1936782111
Publisher: Langdon Street Press (a division of Hillcrest Publishing Group, Inc.)
Publication date: June 1, 2011

The spell was simple... ''Cruentus Protectum'' (''Defend the Blood'')
But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?
Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds--much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...
Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?
1
Winter
By Keven Newsome
ISBN: 0987653105
Publisher: Splashdown Books
Publication date: June 1, 2011

Winter Maessen didn't ask for the gift of prophecy. She's happy being a freak - but now everyone thinks she's crazy. Or evil. Goths aren't all the same, you know. Some are Christians. ...Christians to whom God sends visions. Students at her university are being attacked, and Winter knows there's more than flesh and blood at work. Her gift means she's the only one who can stop it - but at what price?

Empire of Fear: An Epic Vampire Novel
By Brian Stableford
ISBN: 1616082631
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date: June 1, 2011

“Richly detailed . . . sure to fascinate history buffs—alternative and otherwise.”—Publishers Weekly
In an epic novel the Washington Post called “riveting,” Brian Stableford brilliantly imagines a world ruled by a powerful aristocracy of vampires: long-lived, extraordinarily handsome humans who are immune to pain but must drink the blood of their common subjects. The story begins in seventeenth-century London and spans three hundred years—moving from England to the heart of Africa, to Malta, and finally to the New World. Edmund Cordery, Mechanician to the court of Richard Coeur-de-Lion, believes that vampire beings must have a natural explanation. But when his discoveries make him dangerous in the eyes of his masters, Edmund entrusts his learned secrets to his son, Noell, who in turn becomes a fugitive. When he returns to Europe he faces the awesome might of Coeur-de-Lion and the infamous Vlad the Impaler. This classic has been translated into five languages and “turn[ed] the typical vampire story on its ear” when it was published, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

Gift of the Bouda
By Richard Farnsworth
ISBN: 1609770188
Publisher: Salvo Press

Publication date: June 1, 2011
Soldiers returning from the War on Terror bring back terrors of their own, and have trouble coping with normal life after combat. But few of these terrors are as tangible as those brought home by Special Forces Captain John Rogers, who is attacked by a lycanthrope. He survives but is infected by the curse. After returning to the real world, things fall apart for John. His wife divorces him and he struggles in the grip of this new affliction. He is finally able to get some sort of a life together when he accidentally hunts in the wrong territory and has a run-in with the local werewolf pack. Honey strips at the club where John works as a bouncer, when he's not a monster. While moonlighting as a prostitute, she accidentally roles the wrong john. This john is carrying a package meant for a werewolf pack, and when they come looking for it they find John Rogers waiting.

Like Bees to Honey
By Caroline Smailes
ISBN: 0007356366
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Publication date: June 1, 2011

 
A major new novel from the acclaimed author of In Search of Adam and Black Boxes. In her third novel, acclaimed author Caroline Smailes draws upon her own family history for a remarkable and unforgettable story of loss and redemption. Nina travels to Malta with her five-year-old son Chrisopher. She left the island at the age of nineteen to study at Liverpool University but fell pregnant and was disowned by her family. Following a car accident her relationship with her husband breaks down and she feels compelled to return home, taking her young son with her in the hope of reconciliation with her father and siblings. Once in Malta, strange things start to happen. Nina discovers that the island is full of souls in various stages of transition. Malta is the place where the dead all travel to before they pass over and she is visited by seven of them who, in turn, try to help her deal with the issues that have brought her to the island after so many years away. As Nina travels round Malta and learns more from each friendly spirit she begins to understand why she has really come back and is forced to face some startling truths which will haunt the reader long after they put the book down. Caroline Smailes has built up a significant cult following with her first two books - In Search of Adam and Black Boxes - with Like Bees to Honey she has written a remarkable story which will break her through to the mainstream audience she so richly deserves.

H.P. Lovecraft: Masters of the Weird Tale
By H.P. Lovecraft
ISBN: 1933618140
Publisher: Centipede Press
Publication date: May 31, 2011


This two-volume set features over 1,200 pages of H.P. Lovecraft's best fiction and selected collaborations, with select illustrations by Virgil Finlay, Lee Brown Coye, and others. Also includes "Supernatural Fiction in Literature," the de facto reference essay on the genre. This volume includes a separate book of previously unpublished J.K. Potter photographs of Providence and a selection of H.P. Lovecraft portrait photographs, the largest such collection of pictures ever assembled in one volume. Features two volumes in a handsome slipcase. The introduction is by Barton Levi St. Armand, professor of Gothic studies at Brown University.