Giveaway of A Brush Of Darkness and My inner geek goes wild

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Product Details
Pocket, January 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN-10: 1439198322
ISBN-13: 9781439198322
Read an Excerpt

Cover Summary:
The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn't at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus's whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there's no one she can trust to save her.

Column by Leontine:
I was supposed to have a review ready of A Brush Of Darkness but life is throwing me some more curveballs I did not expect so soon. So I’m reading the story of Abby but I just haven’t gotten the time to finish it. This is more my fault than the story because it certainly contains a few interesting characters and at a certain point in the story I was actually thinking; “What world have I gotten myself in to?” Abby is a TouchStone for the OtherFolk, has a magical iPod and was the subject of a semi nude painting. Then we also have the angel bodyguard, a horny unicorn and an Incubus who is also a singer named, Brystion. I can tell you Brystion is brooding, mysterious and slightly dangerous which makes him ‘Leontine Approved Hero Material’ *grin* I’m 40% in to the story, the mystery is kicking in and so far I’m having a very nice time but what does this story have to do with my inner geek? Lemme explain…..

Sometimes you have characters who experience something, do something, or love/are fan of something you are too and it becomes so very recognizable, connecting you even more to the story/characters. Well when I read some OtherFolk played World Of Warcraft I laughed this giddy giggle of recognition. *stepping forward with earnest face* You all may know me as Leontine, romreader of the first order, but in an alternate universe I’m a kick-ass level 84 Feral Druid.

I can shapeshift into a silver white feline who does some major damage to all who thinks the can defeat me and I can shake my hips in a dance like nobody’s business. My professions are herbing and alchemy, so if I’m not roaring in a dungeon I’m plucking flowers and go back to Stormwind city to create some wicked potions and elixers that will enhance someone’s powers. Together with the characters of my brother and sister we often go online and play this game, we have fun and currently exploring the latest expansion titled CATACLYSM. Like in romancelandia, WoW players have their own lingo, complete youtube vids, websites, forums etc that are dedicated to this game. I was never a game freak but when my brother said; “Hey sis, I’ve got this ultra cool game and I can give you a free trial, wanna join?” I said, newbie that I was, “sure!” After ten days I was hooked and the more invested you get in to your characters the more time you play. The owners of WoW are sneaky that way, I tell ya!

You see how I’m rambling on and on? And that is only the beginning, don’t get me started on armor stats, gems, ratings and stuff, you might go screaming for the hills but the OtherFolk of Allison Pang’s world get it. I think the other ten million plus players of WoW players get it but I don’t know if you, my visitors, are WoW players as well. If so, step forward and let me know so we can go geeky together :)

Now, for the Giveaway: For a copy of BRUSH OF DARKNESS All you have to do is leave a comment telling me if your inner geek was ever triggered by reading a book. If your e-mail isn’t a part of your profile you have the option to leave it in your comment, or come back on February 7th when the winner is announced and you can contact me via e-mail (which you can find in the ABOUT ME in the menu bar)

Winner of Allison Pang’s A BRUSH WITH DARKNESS:


Bethany C. said...

Sure, lots of times. Especially for Terry Brooks's Shannara books.
b(dot)cardone

ARC Review: Nalini Singh - Archangel's Consort

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley (January 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425240134
ISBN-13: 978-0425240137
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Book #3 in Guild Hunter series
Main Characters: Raphael and Elena
Buy at: Book Depository Store

Cover Summary:
Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

Quote review:
Nalini Singh’s is one of the powerhouse authors who rule in the Urban-Fantasy genre. Her imaginative writing never fails to invite me into her dynamic world. I get to go on adventures with her characters, enjoy the temperamental dialogues and feel every single shred of emotions sizzling between them! Archangel’s Consort was a wonderful return again to the Guild Hunter world!

For the full review of Archangel's Consort go -here-

Saying goodbye to Eros

Last year Henry and I knew that our dogs really hit the senior dog age and that we had to prepare for the day to let them go. With Henry's death the dogs are one of the things in my life that connects me to Henry. Quickly after November 22nd Eros started to lose weight and I thought it was because he missed the mister Boss. After all, if one was to be called Henry’s dog, it was Eros. When I went up North with my sister and parents Eros developed a nasty cough and we went to the vet. Antibiotics were prescribed with the comment if it wasn´t over in 10 days I should go to my own vet.

Eros was still his quietly charming self and the weight loss was my main concern. Still, when Eros finished the antibiotic treatment he still had that cough, so I went to my own vet and there x-ray pictures were taken. The vet came back with bad news...Eros had developed a tumor in his lungs over the last half year and it was the size of his heart. Add the enlarged lymph nodes pressing into his throat and the vet told me I had to prepare myself to euthanize Eros pretty quickly before he would experience more pain. I took him home and emotionally it was a blow again to an already very painful & raw place; my heart.

Eros has given us pure joy, though he was a barker and distant to those he didn't know, he was so very sweet, charming and cuddly to those he loved. I will miss him profoundly. It feels like another part I shared with Henry is being taken away from me so soon. Nevertheless, Eros' time has come, he shared his doggy love with us, shared all the ups and downs of our lives and I will always cherish him for that.

~Eros was born on 6-15-1999 and died on 1-11-2011~

2010 and the challenges of 2011

2011 has started for me with igniting a serious “being annoyed” torch for a few government departments. Suddenly, as a widow, I’m declared a single lady again for various taxes and the paperwork it brings along… *rolls eyes* Though I’m partially provided for I have to look for a 20 hour job and dang it’s not the easiest thing to do in the current economic climate! I’ve decided to create a feature that will give me room to rant and rave about the 411 on the changes in my life.

Though I’m emotionally still very much all over the place going from crying my eye balls out, to missing Henry profoundly, to being very angry at the situation yet also trying to be strong enough and handle it all, I’m gradually starting to feel the need to blog again. I even read a few books in the last weeks; Steve Kluger with Almost Like Being In Love – Heidi Cullinan with Special Deliverance, and while I enjoyed both stories very much, I felt the love for reading burning again when I read Joey W Hill’s Ice Queen and the sequel Mirror To My Soul. Even though JWH writes very emotional stuff I feel like that woman truly understands the psyche of mankind. I love the character depth, the emotional display and interaction between the characters. I will do a shorter review version on all of these books when the mood strikes me.

At the beginning of 2010 I joined some challenges and the one I thought would be difficult to complete with all the other challenges is the one I accomplished by a landslide…the M/M reading challenge. With my e-reader the quantity of e-books sky rocketed on my e-shelves and became a treasured genre. My erotica challenge was completed as well but the Outlander / Royals Fantasy & Contemporary challenge are the ones I failed miserably in *eek* I decided to skip the challenges this year which leaves room on my sidebars to fill *grin*

2010 has also delivered me some awesome reads again, allowed me to discover some fantastic (debut) authors and though many challenges have to be faced in 2011 I hope to expand my horizon and share all the ups and downs with you.

Of course I have to give you my top 25 of 2010!

In random order:

Jennifer Estep – Gin Blanco series (Spider’s Bite 4 – Web Of Lies 4.5 & Venom 4.5)
Deidre Knight – Butterfly Tattoo 4.5
Shiloh Walker – Broken 5
Lisa Valdez – Patience 4.5
Nalini Singh – Bonds Of Justice 4.5
Amy Lane – Keeping Promise Rock 4.5
Kresley Cole – Demon From The Dark 4.5
Kele Moon – Beyond Eden 4.5
Laura Wright – Eternal Hunger 4.5
C.L. Wilson – Crown Of Crystal Flame 5
J.P. Barnaby – Enlightened 4.5 – Abandoned 4.5
Olivia Cunning – Backstage Pass 4
Alyssa Turner – Bittersweet 4.5
Kate Sherwood – Dark Horse 4

Not released in 2010:
Chris Owen & Jodi Payne - DEVIATIONS series (BONDAGE – DOMINATION – SUBMISSION –DISCIPLINE)
Joey W Hill – The Mark Of The Vampire Queen (bk 2 in Vampire Queen series) 4.5
Shannon McKenna – Extreme Danger 4.5
Marquesate & Vashtan – Soldiers (bk 1 in Special Forces series) 4.5
Steve Kluger – Almost Like Being In Love 4

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Years Eve and is excited to start 2011. I’m looking forward to KMM’s SHADOWFEVER and Kresley Cole’s Dream Of A Dark Warrior!!