Promo - Widgets Discover Dorchester Publishing

New Technology Pops Up on Dorchester Web Site

NEW YORK—April 28, 2009—The widget is here and bringing with it the ultra modern book browsing and expedient shopping experience to Dorchester’s entire lineup.

Through widgets, readers can now sample the work of Dorchester’s most popular authors, including New York Times best-sellers Christine Feehan, Nina Bangs, Angie Fox, Marjorie M. Liu and C.L. Wilson. Genre fiction heavyweights Brian Keene and Richard Laymon, as well as legendary classic authors like Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour, will also be inlcuded.

Through our partnership with LibreDigital, Dorchester is pleased to offer this new and exciting option to our authors and readers. Moreover, we will reach a larger group of consumers, with previews from the books, increased marketing and a convenience of purchase.

“We have always known that our authors have more of the best-written and most creative fiction in all of the genres we publish. Our long line of award winners is testament to that fact. The challenge has always been to expand the reading audience,” stated Senior Marketing Executive Tim DeYoung. “The widgets will introduce more readers to our authors and create an even greater following for Dorchester.”

Dorchester Publishing has published mass-market books since 1971, making it the oldest independent mass-market publisher in America. Recognized for its leadership in romance novels, Dorchester also publishes award-winning titles in horror, the Hard Case Crime (pulp-style mysteries), thrillers and westerns.

Visit Dorchester Publishing: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/

Book Giveaway - Starfinder by John Marco

We have a new book giveaway from the very talented John Marco. For a chance to win a signed copy of Starfinder, the first book in the Skylords series, just leave a comment here on this blog post. The winner will be announced on release day, May 5th, 2009. The giveaway is open to readers worldwide!

Starfinder book blurb:
Steam trains and electricity are rapidly changing the world. Moth of Calio is obsessed with the airships developed by his friend Fiona’s grandfather Rendor, and dreams of taking to the air one day like his heroes, the Skyknights.But not everyone is happy to see humans reach the skies. For thousands of years, the mysterious and powerful race known as the Skylords have jealously guarded their heavenly domain. But Moth and Fiona are about to breach the magical boundary between the world of humans and the world of the Skylords.

You can visit Mr. Marco’s website and learn more about his work: http://www.johnmarco.com/

You can read my review of Starfinder:
http://darquereviews.com/12612/98712.html

Good luck, and happy reading!

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Review - Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

New review posted on the website for Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. This is the 7th novel in the Love at Stake series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/128633.html

Please feel free to leave comments about this book here on the blog post. :)

Winner - Dark Days book set....

The winner of the Dark Days book set giveaway is.....

angelshimmery

Congratulations! Please contact me (email is in my profile) with your mailing address so that the the publisher can get those out to you. :)

Thanks so much to all who came out and commented on the guest post and giveaway! Check back tomorrow for a new contest.

Review - A Flash of Hex by Jes Battis

New review posted for A Flash of Hex by Jes Battis. This is the second novel in the OSI series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/123912.html

Please feel free to leave any comments for A Flash of Hex here on the blog post. :)

Review - Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft

New review posted for Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft. This is the fourth novel in the ACRO series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/124017.html

Please feel free to leave any comments on Taming the Fire here on the blog post.

Review - Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

New review posted for Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison. This is the first novel in the Madison Avery young adult series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/123954.html

Please feel free to leave any comments for Once Dead, Twice Shy here on the blog post. :)

Review - Wild Highland Magic by Kendra Leigh Castle

New review posted on the website for Wild Highland Magic by Kendra Leigh Castle. This is the third installment in her Highland series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/120396.html

Please feel free to leave any comments for Wild Highland Magic here on the blog post. :)

Review - Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward

New review posted on the website for Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward. This is the seventh novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/120333.html

Please feel free to leave any comments about Lover Avenged here on the blog post. :)

Review - Relentless by Lauren Dane

New review posted on the website for Relentless by Lauren Dane.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/120375.html

Please feel free to leave any comments about Relentless here on the blog post. :)

Giveaway Reminder - Dark Days set by Jocelynn Drake

Giveaway reminder - comment on the original post for a chance to win a set of Dark Days (Nightwalker and Dayhunter) by Jocelyn Drake :

http://darquereviews.blogspot.com/2009/04/guest-post-book-giveaway-with-jocelynn.html

Good luck! :)

Review - Dayhunter by Jocelyn Drake

New review posted for Dayhunter by Jocelyn Drake. This is the second installment in the Dark Days series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/119312.html

Please feel free to leave comments about Dayhunter here on the blog post! :)

Review - Salt and Silver by Anna Katherine

New review for Salt and Silver by Anna Katherine.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/117154.html

Please feel free to leave any comments about Salt and Silver here on the blog post. :)

Review - Dead if I Do by Tate Hallaway

New review posted for Dead if I Do by Tate Hallaway. This is the fourth installment in the Garnet Lacey series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/117112.html

Please feel free to leave any comments for Dead if I Do here on this post. :)

Review - Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk

New review for Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk. This is the second book in the Allie Beckstrom series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/112433.html






Feel free to leave any comments here on the blog post. :)

Review - Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang by Katie MacAlister

New Review posted for Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang by Katie MacAlister. This is the seventh book in the Dark Ones series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/112412.html

Feel free to leave any comments about this book/review here on the blog post.

Happy Reading!

Review - One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon

New review posted for One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon.

You can read the full review on the website:

http://darquereviews.com/12612/104954.html

Feel free to leave any comments for One Deadly Sin here on the blog post. :)
Happy Reading!

Review - Eternal Craving by Nina Bangs

New review posted for Eternal Craving by Nina Bangs. This is the second book in the Gods of Night series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/101954.html

Feel free to leave any comments for Eternal Craving here on the blog post. :)
Happy Reading!

Review - Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland

New review posted on the website for Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland. This is the second book in The Phoenix Chronicles series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/101933.html

Feel free to leave comments for Doomsday Can Wait here on the blog post. :)

Happy Reading...

Review - Eve of Destruction by S. J. Day

New review posted for Eve of Destruction by S. J. Day. This is the second book in the Marked series.

The review can be read on the website:
http://darquereviews.com/12612/100533.html

Feel free to leave any comments about Eve of Destruction here on the blog post. :)

Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Review - Endangered by Kathleen Dante

New review posted for Endangered by Kathleen Dante!

The review can be read on the website:

http://darquereviews.com/12612/100512.html

Feel free to leave any comments about Endangered here on the blog post. :)

Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Review - The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

New Review posted for The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong. This is book two in the young adult series, Darkest Powers.


The review can be read here:
http://darquereviews.com/12612/99512.html

Please feel free to leave any comments you have about The Awakening here on the blog post. :)

Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Review - Starfinder by John Marco

New review posted for Starfinder by John Marco. This is the first in the young adult series, Skylords.


The review can be read here:

http://darquereviews.com/12612/98712.html


Please feel free to leave any comments about Starfinder here on the blog post. :)

Happy Reading!

Kimberly

Promo - Gladiatrix by Russell Whitfield

Gladiatrix
Russell Whitfield
St. Martin’s Press
April 14, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-312-53488-2

Synopsis:
The Ancient Roman public's hunger for gladiatorial combat has never been greater. The Emperor Domitian's passion for novelty and variety in the arena has given rise to a very different kind of warrior: the Gladiatrix. Sole survivor of a shipwreck off the coast of Asia Minor, Lysandra finds herself the property of Lucius Balbus, owner of the foremost Ludus for female gladiators in the Eastern Empire. Lysandra, a member of an ancient Spartan sect of warrior priestesses, refuses to accept her new status as a slave. Forced to fight for survival, her deadly combat skills win the adoration of the crowds, the respect of Balbus. But Lysandra's Spartan pride also earns her powerful enemies: Sorina, Gladiatrix Prima and leader of the Barbarian faction, and the sadistic Numidian trainer, Nastasen. When plans are laid for the ultimate combat spectacle to honor the visit of the emperor's powerful new emissary, Lysandra must face her greatest and deadliest trial. This is a thrilling first novel that combines fascinating historical detail with blistering action.

To learn more about Gladiatrix, please visit Mr. Whitfield's website: HERE

Guest post & Book Giveaway with Jocelynn Drake

Kimberly asked that I try to give a behind the scenes look at the Dark Days series. Let’s see what I can do without giving away too many delicious secrets.

The Dark Days series technically started as a writing experiment. I had been playing around with some strange versions of some fan fiction; playing in other people’s worlds but introducing my own characters. I liked toying with vampires and other dark creatures. They had all the great emotional turmoil, but proved to be more durable than the normal humans. At the same time, I was creating my own vampire short stories, but I wasn’t all that happy with the results. The characters kept turning out too dark with too few redeeming qualities – there was nothing for the reader to really relate to or sympathize with.

So, one day I decided that I would write a short story in first person, but the storyteller would not focus on him/herself but actually tell the story of another character – a vampire hunter with a dark past and even darker abilities. I had the scene all laid out. I knew what was going to happen, what the tone would be, what the setting would look like. And then disaster struck. Mira opened her mouth.

I hadn’t intended for it to happen, but Mira is a larger-than-life character, and as soon as she stepped onto the screen, her personality took over. Mira is the culmination of several characters I had created through fan fiction, short stories, and just idle bits of daydreams I had had over the years. So when she opened her mouth, I knew exactly what she sounded like, what she believed, and how she acted. I knew her like she was family, and maybe in a strange way, she is family to me.

Unfortunately, when I started the story with her, she quickly took over, revealing that she had her own tale to tell, and Danaus was just going to have to come along for the ride, damn it! But I have no regrets. Mira is a ton of fun to write. She’s got a great view of life, even if it is a little dark. I love her relationship with Danaus, even when they are trying to kill each other (and I promise that that relationship will grow even more interesting over the next few books).

But back to the short story. When it was finished, I handed off to a good friend, who quickly read it. His response? He handed it back to me and simply said, “You’re not done yet.” He was addicted to the characters and the world I had created – the greatest compliment a writer could receive. So, I buckled down and I wrote what became Nightwalker and a good chunk of Dayhunter. I fell in love with this world and decided that I just couldn’t keep it to myself. After numerous rejections over a two-year period, I finally landed an absolutely amazing agent, who then snagged me the best editor in the whole world – and no I’m not exaggerating.

I will admit that the naturi were not the original villain in the series. When I finally got a publisher, my editor revealed that she didn’t care for my original villain, so the villain came out and the naturi were created. But one perk of my editor is that she lets me set the pace of the relationships within the series. I don’t like when two opposites just suddenly fall in love and everything becomes harp music and roses. These two opposites have two clashing opinions that they’re grasping to. They need time to adjust and bend a little bit. I like to think of it as a slow burn, and even then there’s no promise that everything is going to work out.

Kimberly asked me one other question that I’m struggling with: What do I want my readers to get out of these stories? Well, the first and foremost is a wonderful roller-coaster ride with some characters that you come to care greatly for. That adventure is the most important. I guess the second is more risky. I want the reader to pause and take a good look at the dark side and how easy it is to make a dark decision for what seems like a very good reason. It’s a slippery slope and every once in a while, we’re all bound to fall.

Looking ahead to the future of the series: I am contracted for six books plus one novella that is slated to come out at the end of August. However, I still have many more stories that I would like to tell. It’s all a matter of how many books my publisher is willing to publish. I hope that Mira and Danaus will be around for many more books. I’ve got a lot more trouble for them to get into. I am also hoping to introduce a couple other storytellers if only so I can give Mira a small break. There have been some requests to hear a book from Danaus’s point of view and I’m trying to accommodate that request. Keep your fingers crossed that my editor likes it.

Visit Ms. Drake at her website: http://www.jocelynndrake.com

Thanks so much for accepting the challenge and sharing with us Jocelynn! :)

In addition to this behind the scenes look into the Dark Days series, Ms. Drake’s fabulous publicist at HarperCollins is sharing a release day set of Dark Days. That’s Nightwalker and Dayhunter! The giveaway is open to readers worldwide and the winner will be drawn the morning of April 28th, 2009, release day for Dayhunter. Just leave a comment here on this post to be entered.

Review - Dancing on the Head of a Pin by Thomas E. Sniegoski

New Review posted for Dancing on the Head of a Pin by Thomas E. Sniegoski.

You can view the full review:

http://darquereviews.com/12612/91054.html


Feel free to leave comments or questions about Dancing on the Head of a Pin here on the blog post. :)


Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Giveaway Winner - Secret Life of a Vampire...

The winner of a new copy of Secret Life of a Vampire is.....


MarnieColette


If you'll just send me your mailing info to darquereviews @ gmail .com (without the spaces), I'll get that mailed out to you.

Congratulations, and happy reading!
Kimberly

Review - Sins & Shadows by Lyn Benedict

A new review has been posted on the website for Sins & Shadows by Lyn Benedict.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/88054.html

Feel free to leave any comments or questions here on this post. :)

Happy Reading!

Blog Award - Let's Be Friends...

A big thank you to Donna from Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings for the 'Let's Be Friends' award! :)


"The Let's be Friends Awards stands for this: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."


These eight bloggers are the recipients for this award because each of them are among the many bloggers who have gone out of their way to be friendly:


Temple Library Reviews

Ruthie's Book Reviews

Sam's Book Blog

The Romantic Life

Angieville

FantasyDebut

Literary Escapism

Scooper Speaks

Review - Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

I've posted a new review for Turn Coat by Jim Butcher. This is Book 11 in the Dresden Files.

The review can be read: HERE


Feel free to comment here on the blog post or through the contact page on the website. :)


Happy Reading...
Kimberly

Promo & Giveaway - Secret Life of a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

To help celebrate the recent release of Secret Life of a Vampire, and to see if I can't get you all hooked on this fun series, I have a copy to share. :)

Here's a bit about the book:

Nothing's sexier than an man who can keep a secret.

A typical bachelor party is all about beers and beautiful women. A vampire bachelor party is no different -- except the men are drinking Blissky (whiskey-flavored synthetic blood). And no one can throw a party quite like Jack, the illegitimate son of the legendary Casanova. But when the party gets out of hand and the cops show up, Jack has some explaining to do . . . if only he wasn't struck speechless by the beauty of Officer Lara Boucher.

Lara is sure there's something more than a bachelor party going on. What is Jack hiding? And why is he so interested in the recent disappearance of young women all over town? Her investigation uncovers more than she wants to know, especially about this modern-day Casanova. But if she's ever to make detective, she'll need to expose all his secrets . . . if only her heart wasn't on the line.

For a chance to win this copy of Secret Life of a Vampire, just leave a comment on this post. I'll announce the winner Monday (April 13, 2009).

You can read my review of Secret Life of a Vampire: HERE

With the upcoming release of Forbidden Nights with a Vampire, you can also view a new video interview with Kerrelyn Sparks: HERE

Good luck, and happy reading!

Kimberly

Update...

I've completed uploading the most recent reviews to the website. I've also adjusted the links from the blog posts to the actual reviews. I'll continue working on the older reviews (which can still be searched for here on the blog) and should have all of them up on the website in the next few weeks.

I'll also be catching up on some new reviews this weekend, posting some guest blogs, and running some book giveaways. :)

Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Review - Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready

New review posted for Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready. This is the second book in the WVMP Radio series.



The review can be read: HERE



Feel free to leave comments about Bad to the Bone here on the blog post, or you're welcome to contact me through the website (under Contact or through the Guestbook).



Happy Reading!
Kimberly

New links with a new look....

Hi All...

If you've taken a peek at the new template being used on the Darque Reviews website, you're probably surprised that it's not the usual black background. *grin* I'm actually loving the clean look of it, and I hope you will too.

While I had hoped to avoid changing page names, there's just no way around that. Despite that 'glitch', the site should be easy to navigate through the sidebar, and can be searched by author name or book title.

I'll be working on posting past reviews along with current reviews as things move forward, and newly uploaded reviews (past and present) will also show on the home page for several days. If you find any broken links, please let me know.

Authors and publicists....If you'd like a photo and short bio on an author's page, please email the info and I'd be happy to add it. :)

Happy Reading....
Kimberly

Website Changes....

Hi All...

Due to unforeseen difficulties with the site builder I've been using I'm in the process of changing the website to what I hope will be a more stable program. I will do my best to have everything uploaded to the point the site was at in the next 24 hours. While the template will definitely change (which is a welcome change for me), the pages should remain the same for links previously shared to specific reviews. Thanks so much for your patience!

Kimberly

Review - The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

A new review has been posted for The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox. This is the second book in her Demon Slayer series.

The review can be viewed on the website: HERE

Feel free to leave comments here on the blog post, or you can comment directly to my mailbox through the contact page on the website.

Happy Reading!
Kimberly

Giveaway Winner....

The winner of yesterday's contest for a copy of Desire Unchained is:


Fantasy Dreamer


She posted on the interview post on jessewave's blog. Please contact me with your mailing info at darque reviews @ gmail . com (without the spaces) and I'll get that out to you. :)

Thanks to everyone who came out to read the interview and to post!

Happy Reading!

Kimberly

Interview and Book Giveaway....

Hi all...I was interviewed by my blogging friend Wave on Reviews by Jesse Wave. This is a GLBT review site. :)

You can read the review : HERE

Don't forget to post today for a chance to win a copy of Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione!