Book Embargo

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

Yes it is out only in hardcover, but yeah, it is THAT good. Read the first two, Darkfever and Bloodfever and then dive into Faefever… yummy yummy yummy

Tags: bloodfever, darkfever, elves, faefever, fairies, fantasy, ireland, karen marie moning, moning, prince, romance, unseelie

Light of the Moon is Luanne Rice’s newest novel. It takes place mostly in France, but our main female character is from Connecticut. I have never read anything by Luanne Rice before, and I enjoyed this experience. At our bookstore we have, what we call, “Calgon-Take-Me-Away” reading. This is definitely in that catergory. It is the story of a woman who goes to France, to visit the white horses of the Camargue.

The story begins with a vacationing woman being swept off her feet, literally. Beyond the entertainment value of this story, I believe that this book could help someone deal with grief in a way that books found in the grieving section never could. The death of Susannah’s mother, and the loss of Sari’s mother ties together in a way that could help people accept the grieving process. While some loss is dealt with though time like Susannah with her mother, other forms can be even more scarring. The manner in which Sari loses her mother, with the pain of the following accident, keeps her trapped in the grief of her five year old self, even though eight years have passed.

If you feel like reading a classic or a literary tome, this will not fit the bill. If you feel like being swept away by other people’s problems (in France no less), then check out Light of the Moon. It was a delightful story, but if you are anything like me, find the tissues BEFORE YOU START. It will make everything much easier. Look for this new novel at your local independent bookshop now!

Tags: books, camargue, connecticut, fiction, france, genre, grief, hardcover, horses, light of the moon, luanne rice, mother, rice, romance, white horses

Here is the thing. I have read so many books, but I can’t remember all of them. Sometimes… heaven forbid, I give away/lose/ruin/throw away a book, but then I can’t remember what it was.

I would like your help to figure out what this romance novel is. Please?

Main character female: she writes, the big joke is that she wears gloves to cover the ink stains… I think she supports her family by selling her writing

Main character male: he is owner of the house on the hill… scary nickname like stoneface/spike/sword… something like that (as in all romance novels, he is called by the last time, it is something forboding… but I can’t remember)

I think that she might write gothic romances of her own… and she sees him as a character? maybe…. and I think that his previous wife might have gone insane and killed herself.

So… might that help? If you know what it is (and its been out for a few years now), please PLEASE please comment and let me know!!!

Thanks!

fiction, help, mass market, paperback, romance, romance novels

Tags: fiction, help, mass market, paperback, romance, romance novels

Ah, the love of Neil Gaiman. Seriously, have you ever heard this man speak???? If you haven’t, you need to get your act in gear. Additionally, if you have never read anything by him, you need to go into OVERDRIVE. He writes some GOOD Shi… Stuff.
The wonder and joy of Neverwhere (movie AND book), oh so yummy. I was blessed to meet Neil at Boskone(a Boston scifi convention), and it was so wonderful.

Now, onto the post!!! Stardust (also here) is being turned into a movie!

Here is a description

In the tranquil fields and meadows of long-ago England, there is a small hamlet that has stood on a jut of granite for 600 years. Just to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here, in the hamlet of Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. And here, one crisp October eve, Tristran makes his love a promise — an impetuous vow that will send him through the only breach in the wall, across the pasture… and into the most exhilarating adventure of his life.

A Rotten Tomatoes note of interest here. Additionally Here at Bookstandard there is some more technical info, actors, producing, etc etc.

Here is a link for the trailer.

You should DEFINITELY read the book first, though with some of his other stuff, like Neverwhere, the order is interchangeable because the movie was done first, and THEN the book. Gosh is Neverwhere great. gosh gosh gosh.

Okay, so August 10th this summer, GO SEE STARDUST!!!! woot woot

august release, boskone, boston, fantasy, fiction, film, gaiman, movie, neil gaiman, neverwhere, paperback, romance, science fiction, scifi, stardust

Tags: august release, boskone, boston, fantasy, fiction, Film, gaiman, movie, neil gaiman, neverwhere, paperback, romance, science fiction, scifi, stardust

I found a new Science Fiction/Fantasy Author! Catherine Asaro writes both “hard core” science fiction (actual science plus space, etc) and fantasy novels. What I think is most impressive is thta she is also a Physicist, PLUS a ballerina, in addition to those “easy jobs” of mother and wife. From her official website,

Catherine Asaro was born in Oakland, California and grew up in El Cerrito, just north of Berkeley. She received her Ph.D. in Chemical Physics and MA in Physics, both from Harvard, and a BS with Highest Honors in Chemistry from UCLA. Among the places she has done research are the University of Toronto in Canada, the Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik in Germany, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Her research involved using quantum theory to describe the behavior of atoms and molecules. Catherine was a physics professor until 1990, when she established Molecudyne Research, which she currently runs.

Not too surprising, the series that I have started by Catherine is on the more “romantic fantasy” side of the genre. I have read Charmed Sphere. This book is about Chime, a mage of unknown strength and quantities, and what happens when that strength is put to the test!

What was the use of being a powerful mage if you couldn’t learn the spells?

Once Chime had been the most promising mage in the land, feted and celebrated for her potential and future role in the kingdom. Then Iris, her young competitor, made a stunning leap in skill and turned Chime’s world upside down.

Now no longer the most powerful, no longer promised to a prince - and still unable to harness her magic properly - Chime was set adrift. As was the new king’s cousin - and former heir - Lord Muller. Yet when the neighboring kingdom threatened war, Muller and Chime were tasked with uncovering the plot. Both were flawed, yet unwilling to accept a lesser destiny than they had once known.

Could this quest be the opportunity for redemption - or would it lead them to their deaths?

That is from Charmed Sphere. The second, Misted Cliffs, and the third The Dawn star, involve Chime’s daughter Melody. From, The Dawn Star,

High in the Misted Cliffs lives a magic unlike any other.

With no teacher to guide her, no mentor to discourage her from the impossible, Mel Dawnfield pushed her magic to its limits—and surpassed them. Only to find that her powers aren’t enough to halt burgeoning rebellion within her husband’s fledgling realm—or a plot devised to strike at the very heart of Mel’s family.

The lines have been drawn.

Mel’s mage strength has become greater than any power ever known, but dare she forge her spells into weapons to protect her people, her husband? For her magic might transform the brutality of war into the birth pangs of a peaceful empire…unless it proves the death blow to her world.

All of the reviews I have read have said basically to read Asaro. I add my voice to that. Her writing is amazing and highly enjoyable (and all this from ONE book!) Check her out and have no fear that I will be starting her other books in short order!

All of Asaro’s works are available for order. Call your local independent bookshop and see if they can get one in for you!!

asaro, catherine asaro, charmed sphere, dawn star, fantasy, fiction, hard core, mass marker, misted cliffs, paperback, romance, romantic fantasy, science, science fiction

Tags: asaro, catherine asaro, charmed sphere, dawn star, fantasy, fiction, hard core, mass marker, misted cliffs, paperback, romance, romantic fantasy, science, science fiction

Here is a romance novelist that I do hope you have heard of.

A list of her Simon and Schuster books are here and through the Harper Collins page here is another list of books. The bio from her SimonSays site gives this bit of information.

Johanna Lindsey is one of the most popular authors of romantic fiction, with more than sixty million copies of her novels sold. World renowned for her novels of “first-rate romance” (New York Daily News), Lindsey is the author of forty-three previous bestselling novels, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Lindsey lives in Maine with her family.

Her Wikipedia entry gives a full list of her books. The joy of Wikipedia is that it refutes my earlier post on how there is never a list of romance novels and their series/order. Wikipedia seperates her titles into series AND has a second list of all of her titles seperated by location. VERY COOL. Here is an image of about twenty covers.

And now, here are some of my favorites!

A stand alone set in Medievel times, serfs and the like, When Love Awaits. Just so great. A great US Western would be Angel. Angel is complete with Elephant and cougar. It is fabulous.

For series:
Regency era lovers: Malory Family Saga Series
01. Love Only Once (1985)
02. Tender Rebel (1988)
03. Gentle Rogue (1990)
04. The Magic Of You (1993)
05. Say You Love Me (1996)
06. The Present (1998)
07. A Loving Scoundrel (2004)
08. Captive of My Desires (2006)

For futuristic Space lovers,
Ly-San-Ter Family Saga Series
01. Warrior’s Woman (1990)
02. Keeper Of The Heart (1993)
03. Heart Of A Warrior (2001)

The Joy of Russia, Cardinia’s Royal Family Series
01. Once A Princess (1991)
02. You Belong To Me (1994)
(I really wish she would write more of this series.)

And I adore the Sherring Cross series, set in England and Scotland,
Sherring Cross Series
01. Man Of My Dreams (1992)
02. Love Me Forever (1995)
03. The Pursuit (2002)

I would honestly NOT recommend “A Pirate’s Love.” A woman is kidnapped, there is a lot of sex… but it is the whole forced/raped type… quite a few times, and then even though he lies to her, has kidnapped her and raped her… she still loves him. Yeah, not so into that. It is one of her early ones (1978) so we will forgive her.

Take the time to check her out. There is enough variety for any romance lover!!

books, fiction, hardcover, johanna lindsey, lindsey, ly-san-ter, malory novels, mass market, novels, rape, romance, romance novels, sex, sherring cross

Tags: books, fiction, hardcover, johanna lindsey, lindsey, ly-san-ter, malory novels, mass market, novels, rape, romance, romance novels, sex, sherring cross

So readers, are you ready for another rant? This applies specifically to romance novels, but can be generalized to all genres really. You have an author you love, and then you find another title by that author, and start reading only to discover that it takes place BEFORE the book you just finished. There was NO NOTATION anywhere that the first book was part of a series. NOTHING AT ALL.

This really irks me. Have no fear, I have a specific example for you.

Hawk’s Prize, Passion, Pursuit and Pledge are a series of 4 romance novels. They are about four siblings, separated years earlier. Overall each is a decent story, and though there is some repetition, it is a good set of four books. From the back of the book,

Theirs was a tale of Tragedy and Triumph. Four children abandoned in an orphanage. Two missing parents. One man whose hatred had divided a family, whose duplicity ended in murder, inextricably weaving all their lives together in a web of lies that only time could untangle.

Are you ready to see the confusion?

Here is their order.

Hawk’s Pledge, by Constance O’Banyon is the oldest brother, Whit’s story. Hawk’s Passion, by Elaine Barbieri is the first sister Elizabeth’s story. Hawk’s Pursuit, (back to O’Banyon) is the story of one of the sisters, Jena Leigh. Hawk’s Prize, (this one by Barbieri) is of the fourth brother, Drew.

Two different authors, nothing saying it is a specific series. On our computer at work, the spelling of Hawk’s is actually different. Two have Hawks and two have Hawk’s. The second through fourth do make mention to a “Hawk Crest” series but no where in our computer database at work does it reference that. Additionally, though the third and fourth book have cover inserts of the first two as reference, the second book has no reference to the first.

This series at least tried to let you know, with the series list inside, but depending on where you started, you just couldn’t know it was a series.

Trust me dear readers, other authors are much worse at listing this information. (Also, I know it isn’t just the authors. They may write the books, but it is the publishers who choose what goes on the cover and what get listed in terms of other books the author has written.)

And with that, have a good day!

barbieri, constance o’banyon, elaine barbieri, fiction, hawk crest, Hawk Crest Series, hawk’s passion, hawk’s pledge, hawk’s prize, hawk’s pursuit, hawks, mass market, novel, novels, o’banyon, order, paperback, rant, ranting, rants, romance, romance novels, series, series order

Tags: barbieri, constance o'banyon, elaine barbieri, fiction, hawk crest, Hawk Crest Series, hawk's passion, hawk's pledge, hawk's prize, hawk's pursuit, hawks, mass market, novel, novels, o'banyon, order, paperback, rant, ranting, rants, romance, romance novels, series, series order

Let’s get away from vampires and head back to some good fantasy romance, shall we? A wonderful trilogy by author Elizabeth Vaughn is the Warprize trilogy. 100% delightful.

I absolutely loved these three books. I thought that they were well written and incredibly enjoyable. Often the second in a trilogy gets left in the dust. Usually it is the “travel” book (as it is in this series too) and you are left feeling empty and wishing it was as good as the first or the third. Elizabeth managed to fill the second with such emotion (unfortunately it was grief) and excitement that you did not even notice that it was the second/travel book in the trilogy. Additionally, from Elizabeth’s website, Anne McCaffrey’s words…

“I think Warprize is possibly the best romantic fantasy I have ever read!
I loved the sequel… I can’t wait for number three! Continue please to enthrall me with your story-telling.”
–Anne McCaffrey on Warprize

And a quote from the author on becoming a published author…

But most of all, I have to tell you that I now believe in miracles. . .

And that… is that! All three are available whereever books are sold. I know that my store is carrying all three since I staff picked them! Remember, support your local independent!

elizabeth vaughn, fantasy, fiction, firelander, mass market, novel, paperback, romance, vaughn, warlord, warprise, warprize, warsworn, xylara, elizabeth vaughn

Tags: elizabeth vaughn, fantasy, fiction, firelander, mass market, novel, paperback, romance, vaughn, warlord, warprise, warprize, warsworn, xylara

Remember the picture of my brother and the post about J.D. Robb’s new Innocent In Death?Here is the picture again for kicks,
It is over here, well I now have a review, the day before its release! This is actually from my friend Jess. Book Embargo’s FIRST Guest Reviewer!!!!

Nora Roberts as JD Robb has done it again in her latest installment of
the “In Death” series. This time she takes us into the eyes of two ten
year old’s who stumble upon their teacher who was dead. They find him
in his classroom, a terrifying sight for any child. Eve is thrown into
a case dealing with children as the key witnesses, when she’d rather be
dealing with a a dealer coming off of zoner.

It’s not the case of the dead teacher that will draw fans back to Eve,
our heroine of the future. It’s Magdalena, a woman from Roarke’s past.
Nora Roberts cleverly plays with our emotions as she brings forth a
beautiful beauty from Roarke’s homeland, causing jealously and a bit of
anger to rise in Eve. Will Roarke turn a blind eye to Maggie’s
advances…..or will he fall under her charm once again?

As always Nora throws in twist after twist in her latest book, adding in
the charm of Mavis and Leonardo’s brand new baby to the mix. In the
end, Nora never fails to capture her readers attention, and to thrown in
the whammy at the end.

So I hope this helps with your decision to go purchase Innocent in Death (on sale Tuesday February 20th, 2007). Any questions, just ask!

butterfly, dallas, eve dallas, fiction, guest reviewer, hardcover, innocent in death, j.d. robb, jd robb, jess, nora roberts, romance, suspense, dallas

Tags: butterfly, dallas, eve dallas, fiction, guest reviewer, hardcover, innocent in death, j.d. robb, jess, nora roberts, romance, suspense

Here is a really interesting blog that I just discovered. All about Romance talks a little about Christine Feehan (see my latest post), plus other authors like Laurell K. Hamilton and Anne Rice. It goes into J.D. Robb and werewolf fantasy, and there is a lot of information. A quote from the page,

This is just a sampling, but it provides a good starting point for those who would like to discover the SF/fantasy origins behind FF&P romance.
* Maxwell, Ann Name of a Shadow, others
* MacAvoy, R.A. The Grey Horse
* Roberson, Jennifer: The Sword-Dancer Saga
* Miller, Sharon and Lee, Sharon: Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Carpe Diem
* McCaffrey, Anne: Dragonflight (and others)
* Bujold, Lois McMaster: Shards of Honor, A Civil Campaign
* Bull, Emma: War for the Oaks

If you are in a book group that does romance or science fiction, there are actually some really good discussion points in this blog. Plus at the end there are questions that you could use, and she had a short interview with Christine Feehan and got her view on vamps and the like.

Another interesting place to check out is the Guardian’s Top 10 book blogs. No, I’m not on there yet, but there are some good ones. Bookslut actually links to Nerve’s Top 20 Comics that can change your life. I am personally excited to get into the Sandman comics by Neil Gaimen.

Also, check out ABE Books, and their site on the Ten most expensive books sold through their site. Very very cool!

So anyways, some really interesting stuff for you to check out. Ten Blogs, twenty comics, ten expensive books and a great romance review site. Enjoy!

A Civil Campaign, abe books, Agent of Change, Ann Maxwell, Anne McCaffrey, blogging, book, book blogs, books, bookslut, Carpe Diem, christine feehan, Conflict of Honors, Dragonflight, Dragonriders of Pern, Emma Bull, expensive books, fiction, gaimen, guardian, guardian.co.uk, hardcover, j.d.robb, jd robb, Jennifer Roberson, Laurell K. Hamilton, Lois mcmaster Bujold, most expensive books, Name of a Shadow, neil gaimen, nerve, paperback, Pern, R.A. MacAvoy, romance, sandman, science fiction, Shards of Honor, Sharon Lee, Sharon Miller, Sword-Dancer Saga, The Grey Horse, War for the Oaks

Tags: A Civil Campaign, abe books, Agent of Change, Ann Maxwell, anne mccaffrey, blogging, Book, book blogs, books, bookslut, Carpe Diem, christine feehan, Conflict of Honors, Dragonflight, Dragonriders of Pern, Emma Bull, expensive books, fiction, gaimen, guardian, guardian.co.uk, hardcover, j.d. robb, j.d.robb, Jennifer Roberson, Laurell K. Hamilton, Lois mcmaster Bujold, most expensive books, Name of a Shadow, neil gaimen, nerve, paperback, pern, R.A. MacAvoy, romance, sandman, science fiction, Shards of Honor, Sharon Lee, Sharon Miller, Sword-Dancer Saga, The Grey Horse, War for the Oaks