Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Promo - Tomb with a View by Casey Daniels

Tomb with a View
A Pepper Martin Mystery, Book #6
Casey Daniels
Berkley Prime Crime - Penguin Group USA
ISBN:# 9780425235515
Release Date: July 6, 2010

About the Book:
Cemeteries come alive for amateur sleuth/reluctant medium Pepper Martin.

Cleveland’s Garden View Cemetery is hosting a James A. Garfield commemoration. For tour guide and reluctant medium Pepper Martin this means that she’ll surely be hearing from the dead president himself. And when she’s assigned to help plan the event with know-it-all volunteer and Garfield fanatic Marjorie Klinker, she’ll wish Marjorie were dead...too bad someone beats Pepper to it.

About the Author:
I learned to love mysteries early thanks to my dad, a Cleveland Police detective who enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes stories and spent his days off searching for stolen cars. Often on those trips, I was in the back seat and to this day, I have Dad to thank for my knowledge of some less-than-savory parts of the city. Later, I read my way through every mystery story I could get my hands on. Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle are still among my favorites.

I have a degree in English, experience as a journalist and writing teacher, and lots of ideas for more Pepper Martin mysteries. When I'm not writing, I'm usually with my family and our two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale pup, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who spends far too much time watching TV. I enjoy knitting, gardening and of course, stomping through cemeteries in search of history, stories and inspiration.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Promo - Mob Rules by Cameron Haley

Mob Rules
The Underworld Cycle, Book 1
Cameron Haley
Luna
ISBN# 9780373803200
Release Date: September 1, 2010

About the Book:
As LA plunges into an occult gang war, mob sorceress Domino Riley must unravel a conspiracy that reaches beyond the magic-soaked mean streets into a world of myth and legend.

Domino investigates the ritual execution of a mob associate, a graffiti magician named Jamal. The kid isn’t just dead, he’s been squeezed — the killer stole his magical power or “juice.” Domino summons Jamal’s shade, and the ghost points to Adan Rashan as his killer. This is tricky, because Adan is the favored son of Domino’s boss, Shanar Rashan, a six-thousand-year-old Sumerian wizard. It’s even trickier because only a mobbed-up sorcerer could have squeezed Jamal and Adan isn’t a sorcerer.

As the corpses pile up, Domino must confront the killer and unmask an otherworldly kingpin with designs on her gang’s magic-rich turf.

MOB RULES is an urban fantasy novel of murder and magic, betrayal and redemption set in the supernatural underworld of Los Angeles.

About the Author:
Cameron Haley is the pseudonym for Greg Benage, an aspiring writer who lives with his wife, Maria, in Minneapolis. When he’s not creating stories, Greg creates spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations as a senior product manager for one of the largest commercial banks in the U.S. MOB RULES will be his first published novel.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Friday, July 16, 2010

Promo - The Demon Hunt by Kris Greene

The Demon Hunt
The Dark Storm, Book 2
Kris Greene
St. Martin's Press/Macmillan
ISBN# 978-0-312-94423-0
Release Date: August 3, 2010

About the Book:
Soul-sucking demons. Half-human killers. Doomsday prophesies. No, this isn’t a late-night movie on cable TV. This is Gabriel’s life—or least, what’s left of it—ever since he discovered his true destiny as a warrior knight in the battle against darkness. Once an ordinary college kid studying lost legends in books, Gabriel now finds himself face to face with actual demons. As a warrior, he has no choice but to fight them. And if he screws it up, the world is toast…

A dimensional rift has opened between worlds. Which means more demons—and more death—than you could shake a proverbial stick at. Luckily, Gabriel has just the stick for the job, an ancient trident that gives him awesome demon-bashing powers. To watch his back he has the butt kicking half Demon De Mona and several unlikely heroes who he’s picked up along the way. To make matters more complicated two of Gabriel’s college buddies wind up dead and he finds that the demons aren’t the only ones who want a piece of his hide. The cops want him too—for murder…

About the Author:
In the 3rd grade a teacher once asked Kris what she wanted to be when she grew up, to which she responded ‘A witch.’ Growing up under not so pleasant conditions she often depended on her imagination to escape her day to day hardships and dreamt of a way to make her fictional escapes real and when she stumbled across a tattered copy of Interview with the Vampire she knew just how she would go about it, which led her to start keeping journals full of short stories which would eventually grow into action packed tales of sex, power and magic set in the New York City underworld.

Kris is the award winning author of several urban-fantasy novels, with the Dark Storm series being her first major releases. Kris resides in New York City where she spends her time writing and working in her herb garden.

To learn more about Kris and her titles please visit: http://www.mistresskris.com/

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Promo - Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris

Dark and Disorderly
The Adventures of Lillie St. Claire, Book 1
Bernita Harris
Carina Press
eISBN# 9781426890338
Release Date: June 28, 2010
Excerpt: from the book

About the Book:
"I was standing there naked when my dead husband walked into my bathroom..."

Lillie St. Claire is a Talent, one of the rare few who can permanently dispatch the spirits of the dead that walk the earth. Her skills are in demand in a haunted country, where a plague of ghosts is becoming a civic nuisance.

Those skills bring her into conflict with frightened citizens who view Talents as near-demons. Her husband comes to see her as a Freak; so when Nathan dies after a car crash, she is relieved to be free of his increasingly vicious presence. Lillie expects to be haunted by Nathan's ghost, but not to become Suspect #1 for her husband's murder and reanimation.

But what's most surprising of all is the growing attraction between her and psi-crime detective John Thresher. He thinks that Lillie killed Nathan—and Nathan must agree, because his zombie is seeking revenge. Now she and Thresher must work together to solve her husband's murder—before his corpse kills her...

About the Author:
Bernita Harris worked as a short-order cook, a library assistant and a less-than-serious actress before winning a university fellowship and earning a master's degree in English literature. Subsequently, she worked in public affairs and later as a forensic consultant in occult-related material, events, practices and beliefs.

A Libra and left-handed, she is drawn naturally to the sinister side of justice. She has grown four splendid children and now lives in an old house in the Thousand Islands with a German shepherd, a "mostly" corgi and ten thousand books. A Canadian who hates the cold and thrives on spring, she spends her time writing, tending her herb and flower gardens and negotiating with the dead.

Previous to Dark and Disorderly, her first novel, she has published occasional pieces of nonfiction, poetry and several short stories. You are invited to visit her blog at http://www.bernitaharris.blogspot.com/.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Promo - Beyond Exile by J.L. Bourne

Beyond Exile
Day by Day Armageddon, Book 2
J.L. Bourne
Permuted Press/Gallery Books
ISBN# 978-1439177525
Release Date: July 13, 2010

About the Book:
The first book of Day by Day Armageddon took us deep into the mind of a military officer and survivor as he made a New Year's resolution to start keeping a journal. The man kept his resolution and brought to us the fall of humanity, day by day. We see the man transition from the life that you and I live to the prospect of fighting for his very survival against the overwhelming hordes of the dead. We see him bleed, we see him make mistakes, we witness him evolve. The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling underground cult classic, Day by Day Armageddon begins where the first novel left off.

BEGIN INTERCEPT
Armies of undead have risen up across the U.S. and around the globe;there is no safe haven from the diseased corpses hungering for human flesh. But in the heat of a Texas wasteland, a small band of survivors attempt to counter the millions closing in around them.
INTERCEPT COMPLETE

Day by day, the handwritten journal entries of one man caught in a worldwide cataclysm capture the desperation--and the will to survive--as he joins forces with a handful of refugees to battle soulless enemies both human and inhuman from inside an abandoned strategic missile facility.

But in the world of the undead, is mere survival enough?

About the Author:
J.L. Bourne began the Day by Day Armageddon project in 2002, posting regular serial updates on his website, JLbourne.com. Soon after self-publishing, he had sold one thousand copies, which quickly became two thousand. In conjunction with Permuted Press, Gallery Books re-released Day by Day Armageddon in October 2009, on a 50,000 copy first print run.

Collaborating with the popular metalcore band, The Devil Wears Prada, J.L. Bourne has written a bonus comic chapter that takes place in the DBDA: BEYOND EXILE universe, featuring members of the band and available in their upcoming EP. A commissioned U.S. military officer on active duty, J.L Bourne is available for interview, and members of The Devil Wear Prada are available for interview with him, to talk about their collaboration.*

J.L. Bourne is on active duty as a commissioned U.S. military officer. Born in Arkansas, he resides in Washington, D.C. Visit him at http://www.jlbourne.com/.


Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Promo - Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

Dark Oracle
Oracle Series, Book 1
Alayna Williams
Juno/Pocket Books
ISBN# 9781439167656
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Excerpt: Chapter One

About the Book:
TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT...
AND IT ALMOST KILLED HER.

As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi's Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try.

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man's life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson's daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no way to protect herself--from the enemies circling around her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to life within....

About the Author:
Alayna Williams has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she's never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses. Like the Pythia in Dark Oracle, she's been known to belly dance. Unlike the Pythia she'd never consider herself a professional.

"Alayna" is also known as Laura Bickle, the author of Embers from Pocket Juno.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Monday, July 12, 2010

Promo - Haunted Honeymoon by Marta Acosta

Haunted Honeymoon
Casa Dracula, Book #4
Marta Acosta
Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster, Inc.
ISBN# 978-1416598879
Release Date: October 5, 2010

About the Book:
Will she get another chance with the vamp that got away?

As the only human to survive vampire infection, Milagro de Los Santos has become quite a celebrity among the blood-drinking elite. Too bad the perks of her condition—increased strength, super-fast healing—don’t pay her condo fees. There are other complications too. She feels guilty about her fling with decadent, enigmatic Vampire Council member Ian Ducharme, and she pines for her ex-fiancĂ©, Dr. Oswald Grant . . . the fabulous man whose kiss changed her life.

It’s when Milagro—upset by Ian’s attentions to his neighbor—travels to London and enjoys a sexy flirtation of her own, that the blood really hits the fan. Suddenly, those around her are dying gruesome deaths and Milagro’s being interrogated. Who would kill to set her up as a murder suspect?

All she wants to is turn back the clock and have another chance to make things right. No sooner has she escaped to Oswald’s ranch than an accident obliterates her memory. Will the murderer come after her, and will amnesia spark a romantic do-over with Oswald—or will Milagro make all the same mistakes before she ever gets to say “I do”?

About the Author:
Marta Acosta is the author of the award-winning Casa Dracula books. She's also written Nancy's Theory of Style, a romantic comedy, under the pen name Grace Coopersmith. She blogs daily at Vampire Wire, http://www.vampirewire.blogspot.com//, which features paranormal and urban fantasy news and interviews. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and rescued dogs, Bosco and Betty. Her website is http://www.martaacosta.com//.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Thank You...and a bit of Talking True Blood

Thanks so much for the comments,emails, and tweets welcoming me back!  It's great to talk with everyone again. 

So...Who's a True Blood fan?  Was I the only one not paying attention and thought we'd get a new episode on the 4th?  Heh, I should have realized.  It's about an hour before this week's episode comes on here, and I'm sure looking forward to seeing more of Joe Manganiello.  Tall, dark, and handsome...how yummy, yes?

Any favorite characters, or are there characters you'd like to see disappear?  Predictions for the season, or pairings you'd like to see?  I'd love to hear it!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Promo - Fatal Circle by Linda Robertson

Fatal Circle
Persephone Alcmedi, Book 3
Linda Robertson
Juno Books/Pocket Books
ISBN# 9781439156803
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Excerpt: Chapter One

About the Book:
Destiny sucks...

There was a time when Persephone Alcmedi thought her life was hard to manage, what with wondering how to make sure she took adequate care of both her grandmother and her foster daughter, Beverley, whether she'd end up in the unwanted position of high priestess of a coven, and whether her waerewolf lover, Johnny, would resist the groupies who hang around his band Lycanthropia. But that was before the fairies started demanding that Seph's frightening, unpredictable ally--the ancient vampire Menessos--be destroyed... or the world will suffer. Seph and Menessos are magically bonded, but that's a secret she dares not reveal to her fellow witches lest they be forced to reject her and forbid her use of magic. And, despite the strain this casts on her relationship with Johnny, as a showdown with the fairies nears, she and Menessos badly need the waerewolves as allies.

Life, death, and love are all on the line, but when destiny is calling, it doesn't help to turn away. With the individual threads of their fates twisted inextricably together, can Seph, Johnny, and Menessos keep the world safe from fairy vengeance?

About the Author:
LINDA ROBERTSON is the mother of four wonderful boys, owns three electric guitars, is followed around by two big dogs, and loves one rockin' fella named Jim. Once upon a time she was a lead guitarist in a heavy metal cover band and has worked as a graphic artist. She still composes and creates art, when time permits. Linda is currently the webmistress and Art Director for Strictly 7 Guitars, Jim's seven-string guitar company. She writes and rocks in northeast Ohio. Her website is www.wolfsbaneandabsinthe.com and she blogs about writing and everything from guitars to coffee, Tarot to margaritas.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Shadow Chase by Seressia Glass

Shadow Chase
Shadowchasers, Book 2
Seressia Glass
Juno Books/Pocket Books
ISBN# 9781439158777
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Excerpt: Chapter One

About the Book:
As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It's a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma'at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.

A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira's got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who's already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they're nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces. And the only way to defeat the enemy at hand is to trust in a power she can barely control, and put her life--and her soul--on the line.

About the Author:
Seressia Glass has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on comics, cereal boxes--anything at hand. So it came as no surprise to family and teachers when she began creating stories featuring some of her favorite characters. One of her earlier works included the autobiography of a piece of bubble gum, and a short Halloween story was turned into a PTA play in elementary school.

Her proudest writing moment remains winning the first Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday "Living the Dream" essay contest as a high school senior and getting to meet Coretta Scott King. Since then, she's channeled her belief in the power of the written word by creating rich, emotional stories of diverse people coming together to achieve the universal goals of love and acceptance.

When not working on her next story, Seressia is an instructional designer for an international home improvement company. She spends her free time people-watching, belly dancing, and watching way too much anime.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews