REVIEW - THE PIRATES OF VAMPIRE ISLAND

"Will either one just lead to another broken heart? Should she run the other way from them both and just enjoy the cruise? But before Jane can decide, the ship is attacked by modern day pirates. Unlike the pirates of old, these guys are vampires and are more interested in human treasure than gold and jewels."

Author: Phoenix and Lover Boy
Pages: 180 pages
Publisher: Self Published on June 2012
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance Thriller
Series: Steamy Voyages  #1
Amazon: Buy / $3.44 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $2.99 (Nook)
Smashwords: Buy / $0.99 (E-book)

             "Pretty Jane O'Doherty always chooses the wrong kind of guys. Her specialty seems to be guys who have serious flaws and who break her heart. Her last breakup was a year ago and still she can hear his final words, "I'm sorry, Jane. I've found someone else."
             A 30-day cruise through the exotic Indonesian Islands with a little unusual adventure with her best friend seems like the perfect distraction to mend her broken heart.
             On board, she meets rich and devastatingly gorgeous Nick, who attracts women in droves to the possibility of a fantasy romance. And she meets Peter, who is a cute geek with puppy dog eyes, who is obviously totally enamored with her.
             Will either one just lead to another broken heart? Should she run the other way from them both and just enjoy the cruise?
             But before Jane can decide, the ship is attacked by modern day pirates. Unlike the pirates of old, these guys are vampires and are more interested in human treasure than gold and jewels.
             They take over the ship and take twelve women hostage.
             However handsome pirate leader—with eerie chalk-white skin, and red eyes, also has another agenda – he is looking for a special prize. He wants a woman for his mate and queen.
             This creature is not your usual handsome, sexy vampire hero. No. He is evil . . . very evil and extremely vicious. Jane catches his eye, but she, along with Nick and Peter, manage to escape in a lifeboat and onto the open sea. They drift for fourteen days before finally finding an island.
             But the fates are cruel. Soon the suspense and the horror of the occult begin when the island turns out to be the lair of the vampires."  ~ From Goodreads

The Pirates of Vampire Island is one fun adventure! Escape from a luxury yacht to desolate island is bound to be entertaining but when you add in pirates in the form of vampires you get a really great book. The plot is fun, exciting and has some thriller elements that make it little dark at times, in a very good way.

The characters in The Pirates of Vampire Island are a bunch of characters. Each a very potent style of character in the comical way that reads nice and funny but gives a lot to the plot and feel of the book. Jane was in first person and seemed nice and normal compared to Nick, a Greek playboy, obnoxious yet stunningly gorgeous, Peter, a shy guy turned leader when things get rough and Leon a little crazy, gorgeous, fan of the military vampire. I think I liked Peter the most, thinking from where he started to what he ended up as.

The romance was that hot but it was great in complimenting the story and having a sort of love triangle with Jane, Nick and Peter was nice addition to the story. But with everything else going on in this book, I wasn't too bothered.

Now about the cover, it almost prevented me from picking this baby up - and to think what I would have missed! It doesn't really promote the book. It looks bit homemade, and with a adventure story it really needs more.

You'll be wanting to pick this book up if... you love action, adventure, Indian oceans and deserted island and little bit of romance.

Rating :

REVIEW - EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE

"The fact that the charming Evan Smith-father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha, bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions."

Author: Liana Brooks
Pages: 109 pages
Publisher: Breatless Press on April 2012
Form: E-book (from the author/publisher for an honest review)
Genre: Sweet Fantasy Romance
Amazon: Buy / $3.09 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $3.49 (Nook)
Breatless Press: Buy / $3.49 (E-book)
Excerpt: Staying home with the kids when your wife fights crime...

"A super villain at the top of his game must choose between the world he wants and the woman he loves.

If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith-father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha, bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions.

Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the 2012 presidential election, but - genius that he is  -Evan has a backup plan. In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don't mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him. World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters' demands to get Mommy back right now.

This time his genius isn't going to be enough-he's going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage."  ~ From Goodreads

Funny, witty and romantic! I've never come across a plot like this! This is sort of in the superhero fan fiction area! Something I would have killed to have had a chance to read when I was a geeky teen. Okay, so we have The Avengers and all the superheroes involved ( Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and so on... ) , and then we have Super Villains and let's not kid our selves we have the occasional wet dream of the bad guy going good just for us - cue in Even Villains Fall In Love!

Evan is such a yummy deliciously still little bit evil villain, Doctor Charm ( got to love all the hero/villain names in this book! ), named after his multiple charms, awestruck good looks, killer smile, high IQ, that Dior suit and a weird array of multicolored minions. Having a guy like Evan fall for you head over heals sure makes for yummy read! I absolutely loved how the book was only in Evan's point of view, each chapter starting with a rather lusty/romantic memory of Zephyr Girl. Though I feel I need to point out there is no sex in this book ( what?!? Yeah I know, right! ).

The romance was built on Evan's idea of him not deserving her so he created a machine to make her love him, so we begin seven years later and the machine breaks creating all kinds of chaos - and in the middle of that chaos is Evan coming to grasps with possibly loosing his gorgeous wife, who's behavior changed drastically and raising their five year old quads alone. Of course romance need a happy ending, and love prevails again even for a criminal mastermind. ;)

Rating :

REVIEW - BARCODE: LEGEND OF APOLLO

"In this world, humans are born with tattoos known as barcodes. The data contains mythological powers that make arena fights very entertaining. Yet, Spencer's codes are different. They seem to draw him into a comforting darkness. It's in this hell that he learns the truth about his corrupt family and how he murdered his mother."

Author: Kashif Ross
Pages: 239 pages
Publisher: Self Published on February 2012
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: YA Adventure
Series: Barcode #1
Amazon: Buy / $5.47 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $22.51 (Paperpack)

"Spencer Colt must return to his last year of Colt Academy - the academic institute for gladiators. The school and arena are run by his father, a wealthy businessman too occupied to remember his son's 19th birthday. Spencer could care less. He's a sarcastic jerk that wants to finish his final year without another person mentioning his destiny, to reunite America.

On his first day back, his family's helicopter plunges nose first into the battlefield. As bloodied and limp bodies are dragged across the stadium, a mysterious boy named Kode emerges.

Spencer hardly has time to show concern for his recovering family members when he and his beautiful nemesis, Michelle Miyamoto, are attacked by a naked and manic Kode. Michelle promises to train with Spencer after they discover the lunatic's intentions, but she has trouble of her own. She must keep the practice a secret for her friendship to survive.

In this world, humans are born with tattoos known as barcodes. The data contains mythological powers that make arena fights very entertaining. Yet, Spencer's codes are different. They seem to draw him into a comforting darkness. It's in this hell that he learns the truth about his corrupt family and how he murdered his mother." ~From Goodreads

I've been off the YA genre for a long time now, the last YA book I read was The Hunger Games in the fall... so reading Barcode was something out of the ordinary for me, a woman who's found her niche in romance.

Barcode is first of all well written, Ross writes text that is engaging and fun! Barcode was a joy to read, it didn't get boring or still and the characters were three dimensional with personal struggles and package and that made them very interesting which helps make the novel entertaining.

The plot was interesting, the gifts or powers from the gods and the whole gladiator wipe is really entertaining,  the world is going towards dystopia which is interesting to read, like the lack of trees and nature, and the hero isn't exactly nice. He really is almost bit evil, snarky, temperamental and selfish - I think he makes for one of the most interesting characters I've met on the genre. You know when you're a kid and you like to play the bad guy in games well Spencer is kinda like that. I also really really enjoyed his bantering and interaction with Michelle, loved it really!

Give Barcode a go if you like YA with loads of adventure, and action and a really unique hero/anti-hero. ;)

Rating :

Checkout my Interview with the author!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT - FROM THE ASHES

"Graduate students Jonathan and Michael Rickner, sons of eminent archeologist Sir William Rickner, are no strangers to historical secrets and archeological adventures. But when Michael is discovered dead in his Washington, D.C. apartment, Jon refuses to believe the official ruling of suicide.  


Digging deeper into his brother’s work, he discovers evidence that Michael was murdered to keep his dissertation research buried. Joined by Michael’s fiancée Mara Ellison, Jon travels to New York where he uncovers the threads of a deadly Depression-era conspiracy – one entangling the Hoover Administration, the Rockefellers, and the rise of Nazi Germany – and the elite cadre of assassins that still guard its unspeakable secret. 


Finding themselves in the crosshairs of the same men who killed Michael, Jon and Mara must navigate a complex web of historical cover-ups and modern-day subterfuge, outwitting and outrunning their all-powerful pursuers as they race through a labyrinthine treasure hunt through the monuments and museums of Manhattan to discover the last secret of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., before their enemies can bury the truth – and them – forever."

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THE ZURIAN CHILD - REVIEW, INTERVIEW & $25 GIFT CARD!

"When an alien hybrid kills Lindsay Beckett's husband and targets the rest of her family, she has no choice but to believe in the prophesy told long ago on a distant planet. And must trust her husband's partner--a man who has already made his feelings clear."

Author: Jessica E. Subject
Published: Silver Publishing on March 2012
Pages: 442 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Adventure Sci-fi Romance
Series: Mark of the Stars #1
Amazon: Buy / $6.59 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $7.99 (Nook)
Silver Publishing: Buy / $7.99 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Read Here

"When an alien hybrid kills Lindsay Beckett's husband and targets the rest of her family, she has no choice but to believe in the prophesy told long ago on a distant planet. And must trust her husband's partner--a man who has already made his feelings clear.

Lindsay Beckett longed to be reunited with her first love, Quinn Montgomery, until she learns the secret that sent him fleeing from her in the first place. He's an alien, a Hemera, and she's half-Hemera herself. As if that wasn't enough to ruin her dreams of a perfect life, when their child is born, they discover she fulfills a prophesy told twenty light years away and many years ago. Lindsay wants to ignore it, until her husband is murdered and suddenly believing becomes a matter of survival.

Lindsay and her young daughter are forced to rely on another Hemera, her husband's partner and best friend, Bryce Beuermann as more and more of the Hemera are slaughtered. Bryce will do anything to help his best friend's widow--including suppressing his own deep feelings for her. But he must prove they can trust him, even pretending he doesn't want her with all his heart." ~From Amazon

The Zurian Child is at heart a love story, but with all the delicious science fiction elements and spices the story gains a little more - it's also an adventure and when ever adventure and romance are mixed I'm sold!

The plot is very interesting, Lindsay really only wanted a normal happy life, but what she gets is heartache, fear for her child and in-explainable attraction to her deceased husband's best friend Bryce. Of course I absolutely loved how Bryce was in love with her and had to suppress his own feelings just to get her to trust him to help her. Very yummy! And yes there was the whole prophesied baby business to add drama, adventure and action into the love story. ( if you know me by now, then you'll know I'm not into baby books, I have enough of them at work ;) )

The characters I loved, both Lindsey and Bryce made a great match, of course it wasn't insta-love it had all the yummy tension and the should/shouldn't, want to/can't aspect that I think makes romances very yummy to read! Lindsay I loved for her desire for normality but embracing what needed to be done, and... well Bryce, how could I not like him, handsome guy, protective, strong, alpha and in love with the heroine from the beginning. :)

You'll like this if... you love your romance with adventure and sci-fi, prophesies and lots of sexual tension. ;)

Rating :

Niina : Welcome to For The Love of Reading, Jessica E. Subject, I’m glad you could make it!

Jessica E. Subject : Thank you so much for having me! It’s a pleasure to be back on your blog. :)

Niina : Glad to have you back! Now let’s get started! Can you tell my readers here 4 fun unknown facts about you so we can break the ice?

Jessica : Unknown facts. There are a lot of those, but none of them are very interesting. This summer, I’ll have been married to my husband for two years, but we were together for twelve years before that.

I’ve never been on an airplane.

I’m terrified of spiders, especially the small ones that jump, but I will squish them if they get in my house.

When I was a kid, my brother and I used to stay with my grandparents at their cottage. While there, we used to visit the Interpretive Center where we’d hold snakes, lizards and frogs. We even went out to catch forest critters for them.

Niina : Now that we know bit about you, tell us little about your book The Zurian Child, in four sentences or less?

Jessica : When an alien hybrid kills Lindsay’s husband and targets the rest of her family, she has no choice but to believe in the prophecy told long ago on a distant planet. She must trust her husband’s partner, Bryce—a man who has already made his feelings for her known.

Niina : Oh sounds good! What does it take for a writer to write good Sci-fi Romance? ( Imagination, degree in astronomy, lessons in Wikipedia? )

Jessica : LOL All of the above? Most of it came from my imagination, but I visited the NASA and Planet Quest site often during my initial research. While I used Wikipedia, there was some information that I needed to get from real people. Through email, I contacted a RCMP officer from London’s “O” Division Headquarters, the public affairs officer from 22 Wing/CFB North Bay, and a orthopaedic surgeon. I also connected with others through Facebook groups who helped me with research.

Niina : Social networking. ;) What character did you most enjoyed writing and why?

Jessica : I love all my characters, but Isabel was the most fun to write. It’s interesting to get into the mind of an antagonist and learn everything that makes her tick.

Niina : What is the golden ratio of Romance and Sci-fi in a novel for you?

Jessica : This varies for everyone who writes science fiction romance. Mine tend to be heavy on the romance, and light on the science, also known as soft science fiction romance.

Niina : So, why did you pick sci-fi romance genre?

Jessica : It kind of found me. I’ve never been heavy into the paranormal scene, though I have read some fabulous books in the genre. But I prefer to imagine what life would be like in the future, and on other planets. And I’ve always been a big fan of romance.

Niina : Any big projects for 2012?

Jessica : My goal is to finish the second book in the Mark of the Stars series before July. I have four stories coming out later this year. I was asked to be one of the launch authors for a new science fiction line coming to Decadent Publishing, so one of the stories is a part of that. Two are 1Night Stand stories, and the other is a paranormal erotica as part of DP’s Edge series. I know I said I wasn’t heavy into paranormal, but this story started as a joke, and it does have a hint of sci-fi in it as well. Plus, I have some other secret projects on the go.

Niina : Tons of novels coming out, you’re keeping busy this year! Now to more personal questions! What’s the sexiest article of clothing on a guy?

Jessica : A pair of work coveralls with nothing underneath. Way sexier than a guy wearing a tuxedo.

Niina : What’s the biggest turn on in a guy, fictional or real life?

Jessica : Physical – broad shoulders. Personality - integrity

Niina : What is your favorite guilty treat/pleasure?

Jessica : Yogurt covered raisins.

Niina : Those are so yummy! What is your signature dish?

Jessica : My son and daughter love my homemade, whole-wheat crusted pizza, my husband loves my meatloaf, and my SIL loves my nacho dip.

Niina : Before we finish, here are some Quick Fire Questions:

Night or day?  Day
Pick-up or Mini-van? Um, we have both, but I prefer the mini-van.
Boots or Heels?  Boots
Beer or Wine? I’ll drink wine if it’s ice wine, especially the home-made stuff.
Cocktails or Shots? cocktails
M&Ms: With or Without Peanuts?  without
Treats: Sweet or Salty? sweet
Date: Going to Park or Going to Movies? park
Winter or Summer? winter
Jewels or Chocolates? chocolates
Men: Alpha-male or Submissive? Alpha
Men: Clean Shaven or Stubble? I like the look of stubble, but it doesn’t always feel nice. LOL
Men: Bad boys or Good guys? Confident good guys.
Tattoos or Piercings on a guy? Tattoos
Brunettes or Blonds? My husband’s a blond. LOL
Romance: Vampires or werewolves? Werewolves
Romance: Fallen Angels or Sexy Demons? Fallen Angels
Romance: Cops or Cowboys? Cops
Time-Travel or Sci-fi? Sci-fi
Romance or Erotica/Erotic Romance? Erotic romance
Male POV or Female POV (Point Of View)? They’re both fun, but I can relate more to the female POV
Times New Roman or Courier? NTR

Niina : Thanks for visiting the For The Love of Reading, Jessica! Any news would you like to share with your readers, or websites they can check out?

Jessica : Thanks again for having me, Niina! I’m offering $25 in ebook bucks from AllRomanceEbooks/OmniLit during The Zurian Child blog tour. Here are the details:

Leave a comment about the interview ( be more creative than: "nice interview" ) with your email address for your chance to WIN a $25 AllRomanceEbook/OmniLit Gift Certificate. Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE!

Jessica E. Subject

 Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon Author Page

"UNDER THE MOON" REVIEW & INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE J. DAMSCHRODER

"Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase... someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target."

Author: Natalie J. Damschroder
Pages: 296 pages
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: November, 2011
Form: E-book (review copy through the tour for an honest review)
Series: Goddess Rising #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: Buy / $15.07 (paperback)
Barnes&Noble: Buy / $4.99 (nook) / $13.85 (paperback)
The Book Depository: Buy / €9.77 (paperback)

Excerpt: Chapter 1

Their power gives them strength...and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue ( whatever that means ) and that Quinn is influenced by "family ties" she didn't know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts...

The plot was very interesting, when goddesses come to their powers at 21 they have a source of power be it flower water or rain or in Quinn's case the Moon. Suddenly two goddesses turn up drained of power, and her protector when the moon is new is coming to her weeks too early to protect her. Together they start to find out what happened to the goddesses even though her help is not wanted because of her family-ties, she knows they aren't talking about her adopted family so Quinn sets out to find out about her biological parents. But some things are better not known. I liked the intensity of the whole book, a lot happens and having the love triangle going on with Sam, Quinn and Nick is interesting to read.

The characters are all flawed, but then again it makes them interesting. Quinn suffers for what she's put Sam through with energy charging ( read, having sex ) and Sam torn in his love for Quinn, Nick and Quinn try their hardest not to have any feelings for each other but 15 year courtship, danger and threat but them in the path where they can't ignore what's between them any longer. Interesting characters indeed!

The only thing that bothered me a little while reading this was Quinn's "moon lust" ( read, energy charging ), I get it's how her relationship with Sam got so complicated, but it threw me off in the beginning of the book, but as the book moved forward and focus was shifted on the actual adventure things perked up considerably. I also very much enjoyed the little twist that there were only Goddesses left that all the Gods had taken themselves out of the questions!

You'll like this if... you are into urban fantasy with a paranormal romance twist, if you love love-triangles, and like your romance low burning, building, until someone just has to give in!

Rating :

Niina : Welcome to Natalie J. Damschroder, author of “Under The Moon” to For The Love of Reading! and thank you for stopping by and chatting with us!

Natalie J. Damschroder : Thank you so much for having me, Niina! Your holiday layout here is gorgeous!

Niina : Thank you! Can you tell us a little about the book and five fun facts about yourself, so we can get to know you a little?

Natalie : Under the Moon is about Quinn Caldwell, a modern-day goddess determined to stop a leech from stealing power from her fellow members of the Society for Goddess Education and Defense. She's assisted by her protector, Nick Jarrett, and her assistant, Sam Remington, and along the way learns a lot about herself and the people she loves.
Hmmm, five fun facts about me... I always fail at this. They all sound boring. LOL Let's see what I can do.

1. I won a 1st place medal riding a horse named Teacher's Pet, which was poetic because that's always what I was.

2. I was a teacher's pet because I was shy and very obedient. No one believes I'm still shy, though usually adults are labeled "introverted" instead. :)

3. I worked at Sarett Nature Center in Michigan one summer, and in Under the Moon, Quinn owns a cabin along the edge of Sarett's property.

4. I'm magic. When someone's computer isn't working properly, or they can't figure something out, I go stand next to them, and before I say a word, it works or they get it. It's equally effective on electronic glitches and homework confusion.

5. I am a huge believer in Mercury Retrograde, and wish there was something we could do about it, because I'm really tired of everything being messed up four times a year.

Niina : Yeah tell me about it... What made you write about Goddesses, did something spark the idea?

Natalie : I've always liked paranormal stories with people who had special powers. I wanted to write something with that kind of heroine, but not something that had already been well done by dozens of authors ( like with vamps and shapeshifters, for example ). I was intrigued by the idea of goddesses, women who'd inherited their abilities, not been imbued with them by something radical like eclipses or radiation or aliens.

Niina : Where are you planning to take the series?

Natalie : This is such a hard question to answer without giving too much away! There are a couple of things mentioned in Under the Moon that spawned the events of Heavy Metal and Sunroper. Heavy Metal, which has already been written (though not yet revised, so some things might change), heavily features Quinn and Nick, though they aren't the main characters. Some of the unresolved situations in Under the Moon are dealt with in Heavy Metal—like what happens to the power taken by the leech. In Sunroper, Marley finally finds herself, just as she truly begins to lose herself.

Niina : Why do you write romance into a story?

Natalie : I can't NOT write romance into a story. LOL But honestly, I think love raises the stakes of anything. Yes, it's one of the driving factors of most people's lives, whether they seek it or not. But when characters' goals are life-threatening or even world-threatening, love makes it personal, and that makes us, the readers, care more.
I also love the emotions of falling in love. I'm incredibly lucky to have met my perfect match in college, and we just celebrated our 19th anniversary. So I'll never have that rush of giddy joy again—there's no substitute for new beginnings. Writing and reading romance lets me live it over and over again. :)

Niina : Well said, I agree as a married woman on that! Which character in your book became your favorite?

Natalie : I always say Nick and Sam. I can't put one over the other because I love them both equally. :) For a long time writing that first draft (which I did in 29 days during National Novel Writing Month), I wasn't sure who Quinn would end up with, I loved both guys so much. The book has changed quite a bit from that first draft, but my feelings for those guys haven't.

Niina : Now little on how you write… How do you write, chapter here and there or follow from beginning to an end?

Natalie : I'm definitely a linear writer, starting at the beginning and writing straight through. That doesn't mean I don't jot down ideas ( I keep a spreadsheet AND an ideas document for every book ), and once I wrote the final chapter when I was only about 2/3 of the way through the book. But I don't plan a lot in advance, so that makes it harder to hop around.

Niina : What chapter did you most enjoyed writing and why?

Natalie : The chapters changed on every revision. But the scene I most loved writing was the first one in the cabin, when Quinn, Nick, and Sam arrive battered and weary, and Nick doctors Quinn's injuries. I was really proud of the emotions and sensuality in the scene, and can only hope they come through to the reader the way they play out in my head.

Niina : What's the best part about being an author? And what’s the worst?

Natalie : The worst part is rejection, whether that's a publisher saying no thank you, a reader wanting their money back, or a reviewer trashing everything you love about a story. There are a lot of best parts, though. At the top are the moments when everything is flowing fast and furiously and you just KNOW you nailed the scene. Having readers and reviewers love the same thing you loved about the book is right up there, too. And just being able to make some kind of career out of something you're passionate about is fantastic.

Niina : What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Natalie : I don't think I really have any. I'm pretty mundane. I guess the closest thing to a quirk is getting ideas or solutions in the shower, and doing the mad dash through the house to write them down before I lose them. But I know I'm not alone in that one. :)

Niina : How many jobs did you have before you became a writer? What was your first job?

Natalie : I think I had 8 jobs before I became a writer. My very first non-babysitting job was working the counter at a dry cleaner/laundromat my senior year of high school. In college I demonstrated pizza  ( handed out samples ) in a grocery store for a while, and sold shoes the rest of my college career. My favorite job was an internship at National Geographic Society. No, wait, favorite was working in a concession stand on the beach! Yeah, that was a good one.

Niina : Now for its time for some fun! I you could only read 5 romance books for the rest of your life what would they be, and why?

Natalie : Oh, lord, only 5?! Why are you so cruel?! LOL

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Most wouldn't call it a romance, but Harry falling for Ginny, something I'd seen coming since he first boarded the train at platform 9 3/4 in the first book, is something I can and do read over and over.

2. The Suzanne Brockmann book where Jules and Robin finally get together. I can't remember which of her Troubleshooters books that is, but I loved it!

3. Collide by Megan Hart, her most recent Spice book, because the heroine is amazing, and the relationship is so untraditional, and I love untraditional.

4. Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereux, because it was the first time I remember reading a romance where the heroine didn't wind up with her hero, but had a happy ending anyway.

5. Blue Silver, a collection of short stories I was part of with Megan Hart, Ellie Marvel, Jacki King, and Penny Dawn, because I love the band members so much, especially Seth and Julian, and every so often I need to be back in their world.

Niina : Your current Top 5 dangerous bad boys in literature? (and why?)

Natalie : Wow, this one's even harder. Bad boys aren't really my thing, though the term has slightly different definition for different people. Roarke is on the list, definitely, from JD Robb's series, because he'll do so much for Eve, including not be bad. I'll add Ranger from the Stephanie Plum books because he's mysterious and hot and intense and I love intense guys. Ooh, Reyes from Darynda Jones' reaper series. He's the son of Satan! Also intense and mysterious. Tod from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers, though that might be cheating because he's so very good. And then Kale from Jus Accardo's Denazen because it was never his fault that he was bad.

Niina : Oh yes, Roarke. ;) If your book were made into a movie who would you cast as the leads?

Natalie : Finally, an easy question! LOL Quinn is the trickiest, because I can't really think of an actress who's the right age and attitude. Emma Stone would be great if she were 10 years older. Sam would have to be played by Jared Padalecki, and Nick by Jensen Ackles.

Niina : Good choice for the boys! Now, who is currently your “book boyfriend”?

Natalie : Morrison in CE Murphy's Walker Papers! :)

Niina : Now, can you tell us five fun/quirky things about Nick, that we didn't learn from the book?

Natalie : 1. Nick would totally ride a motorcycle if it were practical, which it's not because he has too much gear he has to transport. (That's why it's okay that he's on a motorcycle on the cover but never rides one in the book. LOL)
2. Nick loves sushi, but he'd never admit it to anyone in a million years. Especially Sam.

3. Every Christmas, if he's not working, Nick secretly drops food, toys, and other stuff at the homes of needy kids and adults he's come across while traveling.

4. Nick is totally addicted to talk radio. He'll argue with the talk show host for hundreds of miles.

5. Though Nick is currently the only member of his family to carry on the protector legacy, he's grooming a few of his nieces and nephews to take over when they grow up.

Niina : If we could ask Nick and Quinn what has been the single most outrageous night out for them, what would they answer?

Natalie : Nick just snorts at the question and Quinn looks wryly sad, because nothing has ever been "normal" for them. They've never had a night out, never mind an outrageous one, unless you count their night on the run in Boston.

Niina : Now before we sign off and finish up here are some Quick Fire Questions: 

Cats or dogs? I used to think both, but learned it's definitely cats.
Coffee or tea? Mostly tea (regular black tea with cream and sugar), but I love a mocha with whipped cream
Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Dark, definitely! Preferably with nuts or toffee in it.
Rocks or flowers? I love flowers, but rocks are definitely more suited for me. LOL
Night or day? Night! I'm a big night owl. I hate to go to bed, and I hate to get up in the morning.
UF (Urban Fantasy) or PNR (Paranormal Romance)? Both, as long as the UF has romance in it. I like how UF can explore things in further depth over time or even feature dueling heroes, but PNR is satisfying in the short term.
Bad boys or good cops? Good cops pretending to be bad boys.
Brunettes or Blonds? Totally irrelevant. :)
Vampires or werewolves? Neither.
Romance or erotica? Romance. I write graphic sex and have nothing against it, but it has to be tightly intertwined with the love story.
Mystery or Thriller? I lean slightly toward mystery, being more cerebral and not really liking to be too scared.
Men:  Alpha-male or submissive? If those are my only choices, alpha male, but I prefer a guy who's more complex than that.
Beer or Wine? Hard alcohol in a mixed drink!
Pizza or Restaurant? Depends on the circumstances. Pizza delivered after a long day, restaurant when we're out and about.
Cake or Donuts? Donuts!
TV or DVD? TV wins for the amount of time I spend watching, but I do like DVDs, too.
Movies: Romantic comedies or Action/Adventure? Again, both! But only well-done ones.
Halloween or Midsummer? Halloween. October is my favorite month!
Times New Roman or Courier? TNR, but I like Garamond even better
Crayons or markers? Crayons. They allow for more nuance in shading.
Pens or pencils? Pens, though pencils are important at certain times.
Books or e-books? I like both equally, but read more on my Kindle now because of the convenience.
Kids or pets? Other people's? Not too big on either. Mine? The kids are much better behaved than the pets.

Niina : Thanks for visiting the For The Love of Reading, Natalie, it was fun to have you come by!

Natalie : Thank YOU, Niina, for making me work so hard in this excellent interview! I loved it!

Natalie J. Damschroder came to writing the hard way - by avoiding it. Though she wrote her first book at age six (My Very Own Reading Book) and received accolades for her academic writing (Ruth Davies Award for Excellence in Writing for a paper on deforestation her senior year in college), she hated doing it. Colonial food and the habits of the European Starling just weren’t her thing.

She found her niche - romantic fiction - shortly after college graduation. After an internship with the National Geographic Society, customer service for a phone company just wasn’t that exciting. So she began learning how to write the books she’d loved to read all her life. Now she struggles to balance her frenetic writing life with her family, the most supportive husband in the world and two beautiful, intelligent, stubborn, independent daughters (the oldest of whom has become a writer). She somehow also fits in a day job and various volunteer positions in and out of the writing industry.

Learn more about her at her website, www.nataliedamschroder.com, follow her on Twitter @NJDamschroder, or friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nataliedamschroder

REVIEW - PLEASURE OF A DARK PRINCE

"From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia’s greatest weakness—her wanton desire for him."

Author: Kresley Cole
Pages: 431 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: February, 2010
Form: Paperback
Series: Immortals After Dark #7 (prequel & anthology not included)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Amazon: Buy / $7.99
Book Depository: Buy / €5.22
Excerpt: Prologue and Chapters 1, 2 and 3

Garreth MacRieve is sick of easy women, sure the Lykae are the best built and most ruggedly handsome Lore creatures around but Garreth, the "king" until his brother Lachlain is found, is done with easy. Just as this crosses his mind in the middle of a Lykae vs. Demons rugby game he catches a whiff of his destined mate, the one woman who  he now simply cannot live without, and when he catches the sight of her he's surprised to see a bow wielding Valkyrie. This bodes ill as the two Lore fractions don't... get along, to put it nicely.

Lucia the Archer, came by her ability as she laid broken and raped on the floor of temple of the Goddess Skathi who bestows on her her talent for archery and a mission to keep The Bloody Broken One, her attacker from leaving his ghastly residence every 500 years. Lucia swears an oath of purity, swearing celibacy for her healed body and unmatched archery, if she is to sleep with a man her gift would be gone. Another term is that if she misses she will experience unimaginable pain.

Now a wolf is watching her like she was made for him, and he doesn't take half-hearted no - after all he is gorgeous - for an answer. Finding out MacRieve's secret she tricks him and escapes to find the diemont, the god killer, which she can use to actually kill the god, The Bloody Broken One. But Garreth follows her whereever she goes, hunting her, always one step behind her. But she can't be distracted there is an apocalypse to stop.

"His strength amazed her, his fortitude imposing. That awareness returned, and her skin pricked in the clammy night air.

When he began removing the last arrow, he advanced on her once more, tearing it free as he stalked closer, barely giving a wince, that determined mien never faltering.

She took a step back, debated using her one remaining arrow to put him down. She couldn't kill him, but she could slow him with a shot between the eyes.

"I believe I've earned the right to stay—as well as a kiss from you."

She made a sound of frustration. "As if you'd be happy with a kiss? You expect to have sex with me and it simply will not happen—"

"But you want it to, do you no'?"

To have him take her here, hot and sweaty in the swamp? She swallowed. He was a Lykae—he'd want her on her hands and knees . . . Her heart sped up at the thought, but she shook her head stubbornly. "Of course not! Understand me, MacRieve, I'm a Valkyrie. I'm not bound by your . . . animalistic needs."

His voice a low rasp, he said, "After one night with me, Lousha, you will be.""

I absolutely loved this book! The story is fairly simple but Garreth and Lucia make it so spicy!

Lucia desperately wants the werewolf even though she cannot admit it, and Garreth can't think of anything except having her for forever even if this means chasing her all over the globe. It's such a yummy combination that it's impossible not to get a little giddy!

I'm a fan of Kresley Cole, and this was very similar to A Hunger Like No Other ( IAF#1 ) in its mood, and I absolutely loved it. Loved the world, loved the nasty dangerous Amazon and the Indiana Jones-esque story with hot enough romance to melt one's panties!

A must read Kresley Cole!

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