Author Post and Giveaway: Sierra Dean

Today's author post is from Sierra Dean.

Welcome!

Howl at the Moon vs Blood Sucking Fiends – Which monsters have more fun

Howl at the Moon vs Blood Sucking Fiends – Which monsters have more fun

I’m told vampires are so over, as far as fiction goes.

But I’m pretty sure people have been saying vampires are “so over” since Dracula came out. The reality of it is, there will always be vampires in fiction, because they’re fun to read, they’re fun to write and people love them. They’re dark, they’re mysterious, they’re cool and aloof, and they’re just the tiniest bit better than everyone around them. I mean, who wouldn’t cultivate an attitude of total confidence after living two hundred years. Vampires are awesome.

Werewolves are a different story. Shifters are usually broody and gruff. The men are alphas, the women are just as strong as their men. They’re usually bossy, stern and keep to themselves (and their packs, of course) But when they shift, it’s a different story. They’re literal animals, in touch with their wild side, connected to nature and the outdoors. They’re rough and tumble and a little alien. 

So which monsters rules supreme?

My love for both vamps and weres was what led me to write the Secret McQueen books in the first place. I liked the idea of the two separate creatures but wondered, “What would happen if someone was both?” And thus, Secret was born. She was from both worlds but part of neither (until she was suddenly in charge of both), and that made her fascinating to me. What strengths would she have, what weaknesses? There was so much to draw from. In the Secret books I tried to focus equally on both parts of her heritage, but the vampire half often got more focus.

With the Genie McQueen books, things are different. Genie is all werewolf, and in spite of her abilities as a natural witch, she has nothing getting in the way of her werewolf skills. It’s different than it was writing with Secret, because I don’t need to worry about balancing powers, I just have to let Genie be Genie. She’s familiar with being a wolf, she accepts the nature of the pack and the wild part of herself in a way Secret never did, so it’s a whole different ballgame this time around.

If I hat to pick, I don’t know if I could. Writing with more focus on the werewolves has been fun. I like delving deeper into their royalty system and seeing how the dynamics between different pack members plays out. The power struggles will become Shakespearean down the line, and it’s a lot of fun to lay the groundwork for that. 

At the same time, writing Secret was a joy, because she was so unique and I could make up all the rules for her without any canon to worry about. 

Ultimately, they’re both great. I’m not done with vampires. They still exist in the Genie world, and we’ll see them in future books. But between werewolves, witches and the other creepy crawlies in Genie’s universe, I think I’ve got plenty of other things to keep me busy in the meantime.

Thanks!

Giveaway

1 ebook copy of one of Sierra's books (not Bayou Blues)

Check out her books in the link. She has YA, UF and contemporary (I say give Secret a try if you have not, or any of the other books really :)

1. Open to everyone

2. Ends March 28th

3. Enter by commenting

PS. If your email is not in your profile, then leave it here, or twitter name, or anything cos else I will not be able to reach you.

One night in London - Caroline Linden

A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.

Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordon win custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man who can do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case . . . if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.

Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . . and now, each moment together feeds the flames of his scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But when Georgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance.

Paperback, 384 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Avon
The Truth About the Duke #1
Historical romance
Own

My thoughts:

How did I do those really short reviews now again...

Hero: I liked Edward, he wanted the best for his family.

Heroine: And I also liked Fran, she also wanted the best for her family but also saw reason.

Story: He needs a lawyer, she needs a lawyer. They strike a deal. They start to fall in love. There is lots of passion.

Conclusion:

Interesting to see if they get what they want, and if they get each other (duh). Of course they get each other. Too bad though that I never got to see the whole Duke thing resolved.

Memoir of Lady Trent 1, 2 - Marie Brennan

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

My thoughts:

I honestly did not know what to expect from this one. It sounded intriguing but how would it be?

Oh it was lovely, absolutely lovely. Set in a world akin to our own, except they have dragons. But I liked how it could be our world, our countries, and at the same time not. I liked how she was sent to have her season and get a man. I liked how she, Isabella, was fascinated by dragons. She wanted to learn, but she was a woman. A naturalist, no, not a woman's job. And I liked how she wanted a man for his library...good girl ;)

After getting married there is the real adventure. Where she gets to see dragons in the wild, and tell her tale. Because this is a memoir, and yes I could totally believe some woman 200 years ago wrote it. But as we do not have dragons, alas, it was only a fantasy novel.

The closeness to our world never gets to close. Cos that is a pet peeve of mine, why invent but do not go further? Here only the names of people are similar (like oh she is English, he is Russian), and certain other things. But it still is totally her world, her creation, and it was a lovely and fun creation.

I do look forward to reading more of Isabellas's adventures. 

Paperback, 335 pages
Published February 14th 2014 by Titan Books (first published February 5th 2013)
Memoir by Lady Trent #1
Fantasy
Library

Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, in which she lost her husband, the widowed Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the savage, war-torn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grass-dwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swamp-wyrms of the tropics.

The expedition is not an easy one. Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her boundless fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell – where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before. 

My thoughs:

Just as good as book 1 if not better :)

3 years has gone by since book 1. Isabella still wants to study dragons. She is dealing with the aftermath from book 1; the loss of Jacob, and the birth of her son. But that is not what this book is about.

Nope, Isabella goes on another adventure with Wilkins and a runaway heiress. There will be dragons, studies and scandals brewing.

I so like Isabella, she loves her dragons and I like discovering things about, well this world's dragons, and I like how the book is written and I can't wait to read book 3 :) 

I am recommending this series.

Paperback, 345 pages
Published June 20th 2014 by Titan Books
Memoir by Lady Trent #2
Fantasy
Library

Heart of Brass - Kate Cross

Arden, undercover for The Wardens of the Realm who protect 1898 steampunk England, has the status, wealth, and independence of a countess - and can see the final moments of a murder victim’s life. Her husband Lucas vanishes until she spots him one night. The Company wiped his memory, sent him to kill her, but he cannot. Yet if he does not, someone will — and kill him.

My thoughts:

I was disappointed. See I recently finished a trilogy by this author and that trilogy was awesome, I could not put it down and it made me want more by her. Sure this is another pen-name, but it did feel like a totally different author too.

It was steampunk, but a few gadgets does not steampunk make. I always want more.

Lucas was gone 7 years and suddenly lots had changed for women...yeah, more time needed there. Or at least tell us things that led to that. They had a female PM, well, then at least there had to be women in parliament when he went away..right?

Arden waited for him all that time and refused to believe he was dead. She never looked at another man. Of course Lucas had no memory so he was free to spread out. I did not like that. 7 years for a woman in her early 20s is a lot. And everyone said he was dead but whatever. She had an "intuition. "

He tries to kill her, she is a bit tstl.

But it was good. But not good enough to make me want to read more. No, I can say this was the end of this series for me. Sometimes those books that are good, are just not good enough to tempt me with more. 

 

Cover

good

Paperback, 371 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by Signet Eclipse
Clockwork Agents #1
Steampunk romance
Own