Buffy's Ramblings

Recap: Gabby and Lane have been best friends for most of their lives and they’ve been through hell together, but nothing could have prepared them for what Mother Nature had in store for mankind. All the natural disasters and global warming were Her way of warning humanity, but no one listened, and now it’s all about survival. Title:   The Worst Birthday...Ever Series:   Angered Seasons Book #:  1 Author:   Mireille Chester Approximate Book Length:   60 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   16+ Sexual Content:   Mild Thoughts: Reading the blurb, you know that you’re going to experience a story of friendship through an apocalypse setting, but I was still pleasantly surprised when things got going. Nothing about this story is quite what you’re expecting, from the weather anomalies to the character relationships. The excitement, whether it be normal human emotion or action on the city streets, is ever present and you’re left wanting to...

So I'm all kinds of giddy...I got my very first blog award! Sandra Bunino is such a sweet heart, and nominated me as one of her seven. She has such a talent for writing sweet and sexy stories that I look forward to every word she writes and I'm touched she thought of me :-) So here are the rules: Nominate seven to ten blogs and share seven things that others won't know about you. It can be something of your work that you've not previously shared, or random personal facts, just as long as there are seven and they're not widely known beforehand. Here you'll find Sandra's seven random tidbits. As for mine, here goes: 1) I'm a mac & cheese addict...seriously I could live off the stuff. The Blue Box (Kraft for anyone not in the know) is the best, but I'll take it any way I can get it... 2) Living with two men (hubby and a friend of his who works close by) has rubbed off on me...I make fun of women drivers even though I am one (...

Samantha Young is a very successful Indie author, and has five ongoing series! While I’ve read two now, and have the first installment of the other three, we’re going to focus on her Fire Spirits series, as she’s recently released book 3! She answered a few questions for me, because I’m nosy and like to get a peek at how authors think, and has also generously offered up a signed paperback copy of Smokeless Fire (book 1)! Enjoy :-) Have you always wanted to be an author? Yeah, as far back as I can remember I’ve always kept journals filled with my stories, poems and anecdotes. Being an author was ‘the dream’ and I didn’t think it was practical enough to really focus on, so I concentrated on getting into university. But as soon as I got there, all I wanted to do was write. I started writing the first book in The Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy in my first year at uni. And when I graduated, I just decided there was nothing left to lose and that I needed to take the risk with my wr...

Welcome to my stop on the Angels vs Demons Blog Hop, hosted by The Paranormal G-Spot and Romance with a Bite !  This is to celebrate Leia Shaw and Carrie Ann Ryan's newest paranormal romance releases in June in July.  Carrie's book, Dust of My Wings, features an angel named Shade as the hero, and Leia's, Destiny Bewitched, features a sexy demon named Geo.  Check them out, they're sure to be a little slice of heaven and hot as hell *grin* So!  Naturally this post should be completely centered around angels and demons.  I debated over how to present it, and the options included: 1) talking about my own WIP, which is YA and centered around an "angelic" girl who will no doubt have to face her share of demons; 2) talking about whether I believe in angels and/or demons, though that might be a little too deep (bleh); and 3) talking about my favorite angelic and/or demonic heroes from books. We're going with option #3 (though feel free to check out a little...

Recap: Haunted by betrayal, Saint seeks solace in the human world knowing he’ll never find the solution to his pain. He ultimately keeps himself in a self-imposed prison of solitude when it comes to his own kind – that is until he’s named as the newest target for the Archons seeking domination over the vampire world. Solenne was the key element in his haunting betrayal, so when she ends up his only safe house, he’ll find that facing her will either cost him everything or finally be his salvation. Title:   Blood Betrayed Series:   Sons of Navarus Book #:  2 Author:   Gabrielle Bisset Approximate Book Length:   259 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   18+ Sexual Content:   Explicit Thoughts: One of the coolest things about this series to me is how the vampires are portrayed. They’re not rally shown as good or bad people, but more like humans, except that they have stronger, more animalistic instincts and needs. This is shown even more in...

Bella Street writes romance with a touch of weird, and after reading Kiss Me, I'm Irish , I can think of no better phrase to describe her work! She's kind and she's fun, and it shows through in her writing. Take a look at her inspiration and her view of mythology in romance! ***************************** The Mythology of Romance When I think back to when I became aware of myth used in romance, it came via the TV set— Buffy The Vampire Slayer . I had never seen anything so clever, fun, and adept at using monsters, physical and spiritual battles, deep symbolism—and a girl's place in it—to speak to everyday issues we all deal with, especially in love and life. Mythology did the same things in times past. Stories were circulated to explain natural and not-so-natural phenomena...and gave people a way to work through issues in their lives. Romance novels are a great place to discover new mythologies—some ancient, some made up on the fly. Genre romance, especi...

Recap: Ari’s had a tough couple years, and after a birthday joke gone bad, she finds out why. Everything she thought she knew is over, and all sense of normalcy gone. The rest of her life will be a constant struggle full of fear, for she isn’t human, and her kin are anything but loving. They are the mythical Jinn, beings of smokeless fire…and so is she. Title:   Smokeless Fire Series:   Fire Spirits Book #:  1 Author:   Samantha Young Approximate Book Length:   357 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   16+ Sexual Content:   Mild Thoughts: This was an exciting excursion into the myth of Jinn. It was original and contains a vast world to dabble in. There are many kinds of Jinn existing at both ends of the spectrum and they have their own hierarchy. This is where all the fun originates as poor Ari is thrown for a loop when she discovers her heritage, and finds herself as nothing but a coveted tool in a major power struggle. The charact...

Recap: Emily Musgrave is on her way to a convent for wayward behavior in the year of 1813, and finds herself displaced far from her intended destination. Liam Jackson is a struggling musician fighting the ghosts of his past in the year of 2011. With the meddling aid of pixie mischief, they might just find everything they didn’t think to look for in each other and build a new life together. Title:   Kiss Me, I'm Irish Series:   Time for Love Book #:  1 Author:   Bella Street Approximate Book Length:   3 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   16+ Sexual Content:   Mild Thoughts: Bella Street’s tagline is “Romance with a touch of weird”. I now fully understand why as it is so true. This was my first book by her, and it was such a fun story! Emily is from a time where kissing alone is gasp worthy and to show skin was scandalous, so to wind up in the present day where people where tube tops as skirts for crying out loud is an unimaginable cu...

Tammy Blackwell is a YA librarian devoted to the kids in her community. Part of her writing career involved a promise to those kids that she’d write a book for them. She’s not only made good on that promise, but exceeded it by writing three books and planning more. The Timber Wolves trilogy begins with Destiny Binds , continues in Time Mends , and will conclude at Fate Succumbs which is due out this fall! She’s an inspiration, and I’m happy to have been able to ask her a few questions. She’s found her muse in some of the most unlikely of places. Let’s take a peek (but not in a stalker way!) into her life, shall we? What made you start writing? I’ve been writing since I learned how to string words together and form sentences, but it was the YALSA Lit Symposium in November 2008 that made me consider following my dream of becoming a novelist. Meeting all those different authors, realizing they were normal people who happened to put in the effort to finish a book, is what mad...

Recap: Sara Wiley is a genius architect specializing in restorations, though fixing the ruins of her love life are beyond her grasp. She lands a huge career opportunity and meets a sexy contractor too, but all is not as it seems. The man that left her heart shattered and haunts her dreams even 5 years later is the very client whose house she’s working so hard on. Bittersweet coincidence or could this be here chance to pick up the pieces and build a future she thought lost? Title:   Sara's Smile Series:   N/A Book #:  N/A Author:   Sandra Bunino Approximate Book Length:   51 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   18+ Sexual Content:   Moderate Thoughts: Beware, you might just cry while reading this one. Hopefully we’ve all had a first love. Often we’ve gotten our hearts broken, but it’s truly rare that that first love is The One. This is a story where even true love ends in heartache. It’s a highly emotional book with plenty of steamy ...

HAPPY RELEASE DAY! A prequel to Spell Checked , Immortal Voyage is a Terra Stellar novel. I had the privilege of reading it prior to release so I could review it for the big day. It's an exciting adventure with lots of mythological ties, and sweet romance. Here you'll find a peek at the book, buy links, links to find the author, and a link to my review. Happy reading! Before the time of the great pyramids, there was a place like none other, a city of glass and metal rising from the depths of the ocean. Shrouded in mist, the island of Hy-Brasil and its capital Atlantis lay hidden from the rest of the world by its people, a race of long lived, interstellar nomads. What secrets would you keep to save your kingdom? On the Queen’s deathbed, the sonless King Aldric is force into a promise to allow his five daughters to marry for love. A promise he wished he had never made, and one he will have to break to save the kingdom. The youngest of five daughters, Jael...

Recap: A long time ago, before the times our histories retell, there was a civilization like none other, a city of glass and metal in the middle of the ocean called Atlantis. It was home to a race of interstellar nomads – a race with secrets. Its culture collides with the native humanity and wreaks havoc as plays are made to maintain order as the lies are uncovered. Will the love that blooms among both peoples be enough to save them all? Title:   Immortal Voyage Series:   Terra Stellar Book #:  0 Author:   CG Powell Approximate Book Length:   172 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   18+ Sexual Content:   Moderate Thoughts: This book is very different from anything I’ve read to date. Set on Earth, it’s an Earth that is barely recognizable to what we’re familiar with as its set ages upon ages ago. We start off from a human’s point of view, but are quickly introduced to aliens and shown that there will be plenty of interaction as we fo...

Laura Kaye is a very active author with 2 series in progress and several single titles under her belt already; she shows no signs of stopping! I was able to read and review In the Service of the King in preparation for her most recent release. She’s been kind enough to set aside some time to talk about these books and her writing in general, and she’s even offering up a copy of book 2 in the Vampire Warrior Kings series, Seduced by the Vampire King . Keep reading for some insight from Laura and to enter to win her book! Have you always wanted to be an author? Not exactly. I knew from a pretty young age I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until I went to college that I realized that college teaching—not high school—was where my passion lie. Once I made that choice and went on to graduate school, I knew being an author would be part of my future since publishing your research is an expected part of the profession. I went on to publish two non-fiction books in my field. B...

Recap: Following the tragedy in the woods, Scout’s left battered, heartbroken, and alone. Then her life changes in moments one night, and she’s dragged back into the Shifters’ world. The turn of events leaves the lives of her closest friends in her hands. It’s imperative that Scout overcomes her past in order to protect them, but she has little time… Title:   Time Mends Series:   Timber Wolves Book #:  2 Author:   Tammy Blackwell Approximate Book Length:   269 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   16+ Sexual Content:   Mild Thoughts: I really enjoyed book 1, and was looking forward to this next chapter in Scout’s life. It was very different than I was expecting. The end of the last book left questions open, and instead of answering them in this book, we’re provided with a whole new set of challenges and questions early on. I love the authenticity of Scout’s conflicting feelings towards Jase and Charlie and the difficulty with which s...

Very active in the writing community, Lia Davis has one book out with several others in the works and is a part of the blog all about getting to know our favorite heroes, Heartthrob Haven, and the new resource for publishing and graphic arts, Fates Desires Publishing. Lia is a new comer to the published ranks, and Ravished Before Sunrise is her wonderful debut! I recently reviewed the book and enjoyed the characters so much I wanted more of them. Lia set me up with a little meet and greet so I could get to know them better! Lia gets out of her car and takes in the beauty of the country home of Darian and Emalee Wyman. Sitting on what must be twenty acres surrounded by trees, the large three-story house stands immaculate with its wrap-around porch. She climbs the stairs and sees Buffy sitting in a rocking chair next to the door. “Hello. It’s beautiful out here.” Buffy stands and nods, taking in the vast landscape. “Yes, very.” She motioned to the door. “Shall we?” The doo...

Recap: The vampire warrior king, Kael hates the Night of the Proffering, but needing either the blood of his mate, which he doesn’t have, or the blood of a virgin human to keep up his strength, so he must go through with it. Shayla has studied and trained for this night, and is ready and willing to service the king however he needs. When they set eyes on each other, the attraction is instantaneous and impossible to deny, but are they willing to take the risk it represents for them both? Title:   In the Service of the King Series:   Vampire Warrior Kings Book #:  1 Author:   Laura Kaye Approximate Book Length:   74 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   18+ Sexual Content:   Explicit Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book! I love the Irish background, and the lore that Laura Kaye has concocted is creative and new. I particularly liked the vampire-human symbiotic relationship element. The camaraderie between Kael and his right hand man is f...

Beth Williamson is a romance author, writing both contemporary and historical romances.  Most of her works are historical westerns, and I had the privilege of reading and reviewing her latest release as Emma Lang, Endless Heart .  She's also opened up and shared a little insight into her thoughts behind writing the story.  Please welcome Beth Williamson (aka Emma Lang) and enjoy a quick trip into her mind =) ***************************** It's all about the Romance Y'all! Before I’m a writer, I’m a reader. I love a good romance, curling up on the couch with a book, to dive into another place and time, another life. It’s what drew me into reading romance novels in the first place. Being a writer, I found when I create a new story the most important thing is the emotions. If I don’t feel the story, I don’t enjoy it. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a comedy as much as the next person but I read a romance for the emotion and the love. I want to fall for the hero a...