Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Review: Lost: A Bandit Creek Mystery by Vivi Anna

Lost: A Bandit Creek Mystery by Vivi Anna

**I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

BLURB FOR LOST:

Kirsten Morgan can hear the dead. And now they are calling to her, to come home to Bandit Creek.

A girl has gone missing, and the law don’t have any leads. But the last thing Sheriff Samuel Morgan wants to see is his famous psychic daughter in his office telling him how to do his job. At odds for years, Kirsten doesn’t know how to talk to her father but she knows she has to push him to a place he doesn’t want to go. Because the dead are talking, and she has to answer, or lose her mind forever.

*This is a novella

My thoughts:
I was captured by the first paragraph.  Vivi Anna brings Kirsten and the story to life in this well-written, clever, fast-paced novella.  Lost is vividly descriptive and filled with carefully created characters.  The emotions running through the story are strong and compelling.  The relationships seem to appear simplistic on the surface, but run deep and strong in the hearts of the characters.  The many facets of the lives in Bandit Creek are intriguing.  This is a great start to what I believe will be a successful series.  I can't wait to read more.

You can buy this book by clicking HERE.

Review: Demon Bait by Moira Rogers

Demon Bait: Children of the Undying - Book One by Moira Rogers

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Product Descripton:
His mark could bind her forever—or finally set her free.

Children of the Undying, Book 1
Fifty years after a demon apocalypse devastated the world, summoners still bear the bulk of the blame. Marci lives in secret, hiding the gifts that could cost her a secure spot in one of humanity’s underground cities, and access to their virtual world. After all, her chances of avoiding the genetic-testing lotto are better than her chances of surviving topside.
The bastard son of a terrifying incubus, lust heats Gabe’s blood and sex fuels his magic. Innate charm and charisma help him navigate the cultural gap between the outcast town he calls home and the human settlements he infiltrates for trade. His latest mission nets him an unexpected asset—a summoner strong enough to soothe his darkest needs.
Trust a half demon, especially one who uses a lockdown to trap them together? Not in this lifetime. Yet Marci can’t resist Gabe’s offer to see her safely to a selective outcast settlement where she can live without fear. The journey alone is as dangerous as the way Gabe makes her heart race, but it could be her one hope of a real life.
If only she could be sure Gabe’s telling her the whole truth…

Warning: Contains a virtual world where humans flee to escape the demon-infested earth, a dangerously seductive half demon with sex magic to burn and a network-hacking summoner brave enough to make herself vulnerable to him.
My thoughts:
I have to start this review with a quick disclaimer - I LOVE EVERYTHING these women write! Having said that...
Once again I found myself reading about an incredibly strong woman and the ultimate badboy/goodman destined to be together, but struggling to stay apart.


Things I enjoyed about this story: characters, the setting, the storyline, the ending
Things I wish had been different about this story: length and backstory


The characters are wonderful and I was thrilled that it was set in Minnesota because that is where I live, but I was left with some holes that more backstory could have filled and would have happily read at least another hundred pages (or more) about Gabe and Marci.
 All-in-all, another fantastic installment from these clever wordsmiths - well worth the read.

Bandit Creek Author Interview: Shanna Gekko

Welcome to The Wormhole!
It is my pleasure to interview Shanna Gekko!
She is a Bandit Creek Author - - you can check her and other great authors out HERE.
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing stories since Grade 7, but I never truly said, “I am a writer” until after I joined my local RWA chapter about 3 years ago.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
6 jobs, and I’m currently still working at #6. Need a day job to support the writing for now.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
It took me about a month to write my novella Skin Deep. Now just to finish a full sized novel!

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I end up singing or mouthing the words to my music while I’m writing sometimes. I have to stop myself or my fingers want to type out the lyrics instead of the story.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
Hmm, seems like I always end up on Facebook first, play a couple of face-games for a short time, try to rein in my ADOS (attention deficit ooo shiny!), turn on my music and finally turn off the internet before I finally start writing.  Man I should really cut out the darn Facebook step.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
A lot of inspiration comes from my dreams, but it can also come from conversations, or even writing prompts.  Most of my ideas are paranormal or fantasy based; in fact I don’t think I’ve ever written a “human” main character!

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
A lot of time my subconscious decides for me through my dreams of bursts of ideas while I’m staring blankly off into space.  I also try to do plot points for whatever I’m writing on the bus ride to and from work so that I can just sit down and write instead of staring dumbly at a blank screen for an hour.

? What books have most influenced your life?
Piers Anthony - Xanth series, because I read all 13 that were out in the summer when I was about 14. They started my trip down fantasy reading.  Then Nora Roberts introduced me to romance writing. Then Sherrilyn Kenyon introduced me fully to paranormal romance, a very nice blending of the fantasy and romance that I hadn’t realized I’d been looking for.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?
I remember some short kids’ books like “Otto” or “The Silly Tails Book.”  My family has always frequented the library though and they had summer reading challenges that I participated in almost every year.  I’ve been reading by myself, including early chapter books, for a long time.

? What are you reading right now?
Shannon K Butcher – Love You to Death

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Gaming (facegames, big fish hidden object games, RPGs, MMORPGs), playing with my kids and dog, baking. Did I mention I’m a gamer?

? What is your favorite comfort food?
This can change for me. Most of the time it’s some good dark chocolate with almonds, but right now I’ve been unwinding most nights with a spicy herbal tea and a couple of small cookies for dunking.

? What do you think makes a good story?
Geeze. You know it when you read it, but to answer this? Here goes: Believable characters with some sort of redeeming quality. The constant inner and outer conflict has to be believable, too. Also, pacing, pacing, pacing and having those constant hooks to keep the reader going. If I can actually end a chapter without saying, “I want to know what happens next right now!” then the author hasn’t done a good job hooking me in.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
Probably Nalini Singh right now. I love her world building and all the tension she writes between her characters. And those changeling males from the Psy series? Yum!

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
There are a few, but recently I’ve read the Twilight series over and over in the past few years. They may not be the best books, and I can make fun of the whole thing as well, but I like the story and even the box office B movies. They’re a comfort to go back to.

Fun random questions: 
·        Dogs or cats?  Both!
·        Coffee or tea?  Lattes and Spicy herbal teas J
·        Dark or milk chocolate?  Dark… I’m allergic to milk
·        Rocks or flowers?  Rocks
·        Night or day? Night
·        Favorite color?  Purple
·        Crayons or markers?  Crayons
·        Pens or pencils?  Pens, but make them blue please!

...more about Shanna Gekko...
Shanna Gekko currently juggles writing with herding kids and pets, and a full-time job, among other commitments, and she truly doesn’t know how she does it. While she will read practically anything, her writing has strayed to the fantastic since she was in Grade 7. You can read some of her musings at www.talesfromtheashes.blogspot.com.


Skin Deep (A Bandit Creek Paranomal) – January 1, 2012
Shanna Gekko
Kai knows trouble has found him when a fiery pint-sized female shows up at his door, bringing news of gruesome animal sacrifices in the woods around Bandit Creek. She also brings a teasing scent that draws his attention and sends every protective instinct screaming for him to protect his mate.
Hazel is determined to stop the monster she’s been following for miles and she won’t let anything distract her from her mission. She teams up with Kai, but vows to keep a firm “no-touch” policy where the handsome Native is concerned. Her resolve doesn’t last long as the two are drawn together like lodestones, their every touch igniting a passion neither has faced before.
Only, the trail of ritual sacrifices points to a greater threat than either first realized. They are about to face Kai’s enemy ancestor, a yee naaldlooshii—skinwalker—who will stop at nothing to destroy everything around him.

Read an excerpt.
To buy a copy of this book - click HERE.
Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole.
Happy Reading.