Guest blog with Michele Hauf + giveaway "Her vampire husband"

Today I welcome Michele Hauf to my blog, she is giving away an e-book of her new book Her Vampire Husband so be to sure to check that out.

Hi all!  I'm doing a blog tour through mid-April, and at each blog I'll be talking about a different part of HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND, so do check the dates at my blog to follow me!

Today I want to chat about using characters from other books in a story.  I love working in the paranormal world I've created.  I call the overall world, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, and you can view character sheets at my web site.  One of the advantages of keeping all my paranormal stories in the same world is that I can borrow characters from stories if I want to.

In HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND quite a few characters from previous stories show up.  Nikolaus Drake (Kiss Me Deadly) has a role throughout the book.  I love having him back because he is one of my favorite heroes (besides Creed, that is).  Ravin, his wife, stops in, as well as his son Ivan.  And for those who love Himself, I could resist giving him a walk-on part. That guy shows up everywhere!  And even though this line showed up on the cutting room floor, I should probably let you know what Ravin said when she saw Himself.  "Johnny!"  If you've read Kiss Me Deadly, you can interpret that one however you will.  The great part about sharing characters across books is the community I can create.  The world feels more real to me.  And with paranormals, some have lived centuries, so they have such interesting back stories, I could write about them forever.  And maybe I will.  ;-)

I have a copy of Her Vampire Husband (e-book copy)to give away to one commenter.  (MK is Severo's story, and yep, he shows up in HVH, too.)  Tell me if you like to see characters in a series of books sharing stories and crossing over into other books. 

Contest: 

1. Open Worldwide
2. Ends April 5th (since the holidays are coming up)

3. Leave your email if it is not in your profile (or email it to me, Blodeuedd)
4. Have fun

Blurb for HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND:  

She may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms…
Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won't allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.
When Blu uncovers her pack's secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband. Will she choose the only life she's ever known or accept his vampire bite?

Find Michele online here:
Website - michelehauf.com
Blog - dustedbywhimsy.blogspot.com
Facebook - facebook.com/michelehauf
Twitter - twitter.com/michelehauf
Visit the Beautiful Creatures page - michelehauf.com/worldcharacters.html

For a limited time get the audio version of Vampire's Tango free at Audible.com
If you purchase HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND at Audible.com you receive Vampire's Tango included free.
All through 2010 download KISS ME DEADLY free at your favorite online retailer or at tryharlequin.com.
Read the first chapter of HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND: michelehauf.com/hvh.html
Read the first chapter of Vampire's Tango: michelehauf.com/tvt.html

Watch for these releases from Michele in the coming months:
"Vampire's Tango" - March - Nocturne Bites
Her Vampire Husband - April - HQN
Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer - May - Gold Eagle (Alex Archer pseudonym)
Angel Slayer - June - Nocturne
"Halo Hunter" - June - Nocturne Bites

Blurb for Vampire's Tango:
Vampire Alexandre Renard never met a more intriguing woman than Veronica Marshall. He waited for weeks for the mysterious woman to make her move...and wasn't disappointed when they shared a seductive dance at a Paris tango club. Their passion made him want to savor their embrace forever--even though he knew that Veronica was waiting for her chance to destroy him....

Faced with an early death, Veronica wants to do some good in the world before being forced to leave it. But as her game of cat-and-mouse with Alexandre turned into nights of unforgettable pleasure, how could she destroy the man she came to love?
With time--and their enemies--against them, they will have to fight to win just one more day in each other's arms....

Thank you Michele for visiting :)

Review: Ode to Joy - Shifra Horn + a happy birthday

 Ode to Joy by Shifra Horn

Genre: Fiction
Pages: 300
Published: 2006

Following a terrorist explosion on a bus in Jerusalem, Yael, a married mother who narrowly escaped the attack, is haunted by the last image she recalls before the horror: a little blonde child waving to her from the window of the bus, and the sound of Beethoven's Ode to Joy, which was playing on her car radio. Yael's husband, Nachum, seems unable, or unwilling to understand what she has been through, and although her friends and colleagues are sympathetic, they cannot share her pain. 

Still traumatised, she feels compelled to seek out the blonde child's grieving father, the enigmatic and mysterious Avshalom. Drawn to him through their mutual suffering and fascinated by his unusual background, Yael begins to fall helplessly in love with him. Avshalom too, cannot deny his own feelings, but his belief that the loss of his wife and child is divine punishment for past sins overshadows any glimmer of hope for their future.

This was a strange read in a way. I started reading, and then I though, no, let's stop, but I couldn't. So I read some more, and then more. I can't say what pulled me in, but something did.

I think it was the realism of the story. There is nothing pretty about this book. It is every day life. No sex lust, taking car of her kid that wets his bed, arguing with her mother, doubting her love for her husband. Fantasizing about another man. Going on with life. A lot of small things that gave it that feeling that this could haev happened.

Then there is the bigger part, the trauma. Yael is driving her car and waving to a kid. The next minute every thing is on fire and people are screaming. She comes out of it unharmed but her soul has shattered. None of her friends, or her husband understands why she keep on dwelling in the darkness. They want her to snap put of it, but the shock hit her hard and she keeps on thinking of that kid she waved at. Which leads to her finding the father and falling for him. A love that can never be.

There was no right or wrong in this book, I liked that. It stayed neutral in the way and if it brought something up it looked at it from both points of views. It is because she kind of caught in between it all, and gets called a leftist a lot. But I liked it because I wanted the story and not getting into something else, and yes I could pick my own battles in the book. But I will not bring that up here. Never talk about religion or politics.

I liked this book, but do not ask me why. The story had me reading, what would happen? Would she get better, and get over her fears. It is a strong book in a way, and I know that I would be to afraid to live where she did. It also deals with her thoughts about her dad who was a survivor.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner. Simple

Reason for Reading: Library book

Final thoughts: Nice book

To something else....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDI!!!!!!!!!! 

I see that the two of you are ready to hit the town ;)

Have a great day!!

Smexy Books

And one more thing. Tomorrow  I have Michele Hauf over for a guest post. She is giving away her newest book, Her Vampire Husband. Will see you all then :)

Review: The curious incident of the dog in the night-time - Mark Haddon

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time  by Mark Haddon

Genre: Fiction and YA
Pages: 226
Published: 2004

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's, a form of autism. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.

This book was just utterly amazing, it sucked me in and I could to stop reading. It was a teacher who brought it up and she said that afterward she had been a bit strange and been looking for red cars cos they had a meaning in this book. I on the other hand started to philosophy about black holes, white holes, God, the big bang and how I am related to the wall...yes I get weird when I stay up late.

I think it was cos this book was so strange, and I have no idea how to review it.

This book is not only text, it is filled with little maps, lists, math problems, and signs that Christopher sees. They fit perfectly cos that is how he is. Maybe I should make a list.

1.Christoper is 15 and has aspberger's

2. He does not like yellow or brown, and he does not want to touch those colors.

3. He does not like to be touched.

4. 4 red  cars in a row means it will be a good day, 4 yellow a bad day.

5. He loves math and is really good at it.

6. The food must not touch.

7. He does not like strangers.

That is Christopher. He lives with his dad because his mum died. He is in school and will get an A in the A-level math. One day he finds his neighbors dog killed with a garden fork and decides that he will find out who killed the dog. This will lead him outside his house and to talk to strangers, and he does not quit even though his dad tells him to. Even though he can't tell lies.

It was a lovely book, a strange book, a book that jumped between things. It felt like I was in his mind, and I can only say that this is a great creation by Mark Haddon. A truly wonderful tale that also made me really sad in places. The mystery is great, but there is also other things happening, and it is just something you have to read.

I can only say that I am glad I liked this book. I read that it was simultaneously published for adults and YA so both can read this tale. So go and read it. I hope you will find it as mesmerizing as I did.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I like it and it fits the story

Reason for Reading: Library book

Final thoughts: What are you waiting for, read it!

Review: Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Elemental assassin book 1

Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: 384
Published: Jan 2010

"My name is Gin, and I kill people."

My name is Gin Blanco. They call me the Spider — the most feared assassin in the South (and a part-time cook at the Pork Pit BBQ joint.) As a Stone elemental, I can hear the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet and feel the vibrations of the soaring mountains above me, though I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

After a ruthless Air elemental double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way. I may look hot in a miniskirt, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble when irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine agrees to help. The last thing a coldhearted killer needs when she's battling a magic more powerful than her own is a sexy distraction ... especially when he wants her dead just as much as the enemy.

I have read a lot of great reviews, but sadly this one was for me, ok. I never got sucked in, and sure it was a good book but it didn't manage to really grab my attention.

The concept of this world is good. Everyone knows what is out there. Some people have elemental powers, but just because of this they are not any higher up than others. Everyone has to fight their way to the top (of course if you do have the power of fire that might help.) There are also giants, dwarfs, and vampires. Many of those women tend to be hookers that high on sex and blood. Because of this mix of magic and races no one can take control over the other.

The world Gin lives in is pretty dark, but then again she is an assassin. The can see the downside to it all, the vampire hookers, the poor elementals that have gone insane and the beggars. And there is her, she gets paid to kill people. But she does have standards and kill only the bad guys, or people that is said to be bad. She is rather cool and kick-ass (oh my fav word, I can use it again.) To her help she has her handler Fletcher, a dwarf that cleans up after her, Finn an old friend and Fletcher's son. Finn I do like, he has style, even if he is a total playboy.

In this book Gin is sent to kill someone but it all goes wrong and the dead bodies are piled up and she is on the run. Here is where the love interest comes in, the last honest cop, Donovan Caine. There is an attraction there and they are both pulled in. No romance here, just animal attraction, but hey maybe it comes later.

I liked the word, I liked the action, but for me something was missing. Something to pull me in and make me want to read more. I struggled in the beginning to keep my focus so perhaps not all UF books are for me. Still don't think I didn't like it, it was ok and it was a fun ride while it lasted. You better go on and read  one of those glowing reviews and have a look at them too.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Kick-ass, but I do not like the little text, "her love life is killer"

Reason for Reading: My own book

Final thoughts: Ok UF