Discovering Big Cat Country ~ Eric Dinerstein

Discovering Big Cat Country by : 

Eric Dinerstein

I picked this one up as a netgalley. I was hoping to get some useful info to use for my novel, which is about cat shifters. This novel turned out to be so much more than just a research book.

Summary: With their elusive and solitary nature, tigers and snow leopards are a challenge for even the most seasoned field biologists to track and study. Yet scientist and conservation leader Eric Dinerstein began his career in the heart of Nepal’s tiger country and the perilous Himalayan slopes of the snow leopard, where he discovered the joys—and frustrations—of studying wildlife in some of the most unpredictable and remote places on Earth. In Discovering Big Cat Country, Dinerstein tells the story of two formative journeys from his early days as a biologist: two and a half years as a young Peace Corps Volunteer in the jungles of Nepal and later, as a newly-minted Ph.D., an arduous trek to search for snow leopards in the Kashmir region of India. In these chapters, excerpted from Tigerland and other Unintended Destinations, Dinerstein paints an evocative picture of the homelands and habits of two fascinating predators, and recalls local partners and fellow conservationists who inspired him with their passion for wild places.

My Take: Well written and well paced I truly enjoyed making the journey with the author. This is as much a story about human endurance and experience as it is about the wildlife he is trying to study. The novel is filled with vivid descriptons of the places he has traveled and about all of the    adversities he faces. The author helps the reader truly feel like they are on an adventured themselves. I truly enjoyed this one and think you will too.

Heat Wave ~ Richard Castle

Heat Wave by Richard Castle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay so I'm a huge fan of the Tv show Castle. I feel like its the Murder She wrote for this generation.(I always loved Murder she wrote). Personally I thought it was a pretty cool idea for ABC to actually produce novels based off the novels discussed in the series.

Summary: New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. PulitzerPrize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

My Take: I think the author did a good job in producing a novel that felt like it was written by Richard Castle. Not only did it have the same feel but it also included key points that are mentioned about the novel in the series. It had to have required incredible attention to detail to craft a story that still worked on its own even though certain portions were governed by outside forces.
This was a quick easy read. The story moved at a fast pace, maybe even a little too fast were the relationship of the main characters is concerned but again I don't blame that on the author since they were trying to stay true to what was said in the show. The only thing for me is that I didn't ever feel an emotional attachment to Nikki Heat. The whole time I just kept thinking of her as Beckett. I'm not sure how you would feel about the novel if you were not a fan of the show but all of us super fans will probably read the whole series!

Waiting on Wednesday ~ Romancing the Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly MEM hosted by Breaking The Spine

Welcome back! I know I have been a little absent lately but I promise I have a bunch of reviews lined up for the rest of June and July :)

This weeks Waiting on Wednesday is by Author Kate Evangelista. Kate as you may remember is also the author of the fantastic YA novel Taste.

Summary:

Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel. It's spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she's wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick's Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational's organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her. Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he's concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he's convinced it's a risk worth taking. What he hasn't planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme. Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?  

Sounds like this ones going to be great. 

You can check out more info on Kate Evangelista at

  Facebook

Her Blog

Twitter

And Don't Forget to check out the Goodreads Giveaway

The eternity cure ~ Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved the first one in this series so I couldn't wait to get this one.

Summary:

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence. 

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time. 

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make. 

My Take:
Since it picks up shortly after the end of the Immortal Rules Allison finds herself (still a vampire) and on the hunt to save her sire , Kanin, from the total nut job who has kidnapped him. On her hunt she runs into some old enemies as well as one particular a human who she can't stop thinking about. This was fast paced easy reading. Kagawa has crafter a very interesting future world. Even at its most depressing there seems to be some home. Be it a cure or just people overcoming their differences for a common goal. Totally worth the read but I do recommend reading the Immortal Rules first.

Prince Of Shadows ~ Nancy Gideon

Prince of Shadows
By Moonlight Series Book Eight Nancy Gideon
My Rating 5 stars
Genre: paranormal 
Publisher: Pocket Star 
Date of Publication: 5/27/13 ISBN: 9781451689488 ASIN: B009K54NPE 
 Number of pages: 384 
Word Count: 93,000 
Book Trailers for the Series Amazon Barnes and Noble Book 

What can I say I was so excited to be on this tour. Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I am a huge fan of Nancy Gideon and her Moonlight series. Be sure to check out the excerpt after my review.

Description: A gentle female held hostage in a deadly play for power, Kendra Terriot’s only means of survival for herself and her family is to play to a careful courtship game. The one she chooses from her clan’s dangerous heirs will inherit the coveted crown, keeping her their prisoner forever . . . unless she can retain her virtue until rescue arrives. Favored son of their brutal Shifter leader, the only calm in Cale Terriot’s violent world is a childhood love for his delicate distant cousin whom he’s pledged to make his queen. With Kendra at his side, he knows he can become the kind of ruler his clan needs, but first he must learn how to become the kind of mate she desires. In a treacherous race for control, where weakness means death, Cale must prove he’s not the beast his beauty fears and still protect her, especially once her unrequited love returns to free her. The only way to win her respect could mean surrendering his throne. The only way to win her heart could mean letting her go…even if she no longer wants to be saved. 

My Take: Well I'd have to say Nancy Gideon has done it again. This series seems to get better and better with each book. I am actually surprised at how much I ended up liking Cale. Up to this point we've thought of him as a "bad guy" and I was wondering how he could become a main character. Well one that we would actually like anyways. Cale has a tortured sweetness about him. Trying so hard to please his father but for motives we don't fully understand. His love for Kendra is easy to see as they both make their way through the sometimes dynamite filled paths of their lives. I also enjoyed Kendra's character who really had to learn to stand up for herself. Now that she no longer had anyone to protect her she is able to grow into a strong character willing and able to command at Cale's side. If you have enjoyed the Moonlight series before you will love this one!

About the Author: Nancy Gideon is the author of over 54 novels ranging from historical and contemporary suspense to paranormal with a couple of horror screenplays thrown in. When not at the keyboard or working full time as a legal assistant, she can be found feeding her addictions for Netflix and all things fur, feather and fin. Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads 


EXCERPT FROM PRINCE OF SHADOWS: Cale stood in the shadowed doorway. Before him was everything he’d ever wanted, there for the taking, but for the first time in a long time, he was afraid to make a move. A blush of moonlight filtered down from the skylight to bathe Kendra’s sleeping form in a tender halo. So beautiful that it hurt to look upon her while dark, urgent thoughts prowled. His gaze adored the relaxed innocence of her features, the way her fair hair rippled across the pillow like silk. No protective bulk of fleece tonight. Something silky and shimmering detailed the contours of her graceful shape. His soft exhale of longing was tempered by the fisting of hands that still shook. He couldn’t keep himself away any longer. His need had intensified into an agony of desire and regret. Her scent drew him inexorably where he shouldn’t go, where he couldn’t trust himself to be. Close enough to be a threat to her. Because promises had yet to be sealed with a bond. She stirred in her sleep, murmuring softly, rolling onto her back. That slippery gown whispered across her breasts and hips the way his hands yearned to. He watched her take unhurried breaths, unaware of how harsh and forceful his own had become. Take her! It was the way his family did things. Swift, purposeful action, necessarily brutal, to take and hold what was theirs. His queen, beside him. His heirs, inside her. That dizzying heat returned, scalding his brain, flaming through his body in a shuddering rush. She’s yours by her own vow. Claim her! She shifted within that seductive wrap of silk, and all he could think of was tearing it off her, tearing into her, feeling the warmth of her body, tasting her blood, exulting in the glorious relief of joining with her beautiful spirit. Staining it. Bruising it. Crushing it along with her trust and any love she might ever have felt for him. “Cale?” The cool touch of her voice pierced through the pounding rage of his intentions. He faded back into shadow, silently withholding his presence from her until she settled back to sleep. He hadn’t returned. In the warm pooling sunlight, Kendra glanced about in sinking dismay. Cale hadn’t come back. Nothing had been disturbed since she’d lain back upon the covers to wait for him. His absence was unexpectedly wounding, but the reason behind it filled her with unease. Would another Terriot prince be moving in today to replace him? If that were the case, she could anticipate no mercy or restraint. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the brutal sight of Bram Terriot growling over her mother’s back. Was that what she had to look forward to in the next few hours? If she ran, would she have the slightest chance of escape? If you don’t accept my protection, I can’t help you. She’d never get off the mountain intact, perhaps not even alive. Struggling with that panicked certainty, Kendra slipped from the bed and moved anxiously into the outer room. She came to an abrupt halt at the sight that greeted her. The prayer of relief whispered from her, soft and shaky. Cale was sprawled on the floor with one booted foot on the sofa cushions, showing every indication of a hard, hellacious night. His closed eyes were sunken and deeply shadowed, his hair stiff with dried sweat. More bloodstains covered his skin and torn clothing; perhaps he’d found more debts that needed settling. She was guiltily pleased to note that no female scent was attached to him. He didn’t stir as she crossed the room. Carefully, she moved his foot and reclined on the cushions, resting her head on her arm as she studied him. Cale Terriot. Treasured friend from childhood or terrorizing intimidator from the not so distant past? The lines between the two confusingly blurred. There were moments when he’d smile and the surfacing sweetness would stir in her all sorts of buried emotions, leaving her dangerously vulnerable. Then that expressionless mask would drop into place, the one he wore when about his father’s business, and from behind it he could deal out a stunning degree of viciousness, as if morality never registered. Both sides fed upon her loneliness, upon the restlessness of late-blooming sexuality. Was she seriously considering staying with him? About bonding as his life’s mate? That would mean remaining here, locked away from a world she’d hoped to enjoy, a pampered prisoner, but prisoner nonetheless. Sharing every little intimate detail of her days and nights with this quixotic man she didn’t understand. Trusting him to care for her, to protect and cherish her. Then there was the sex. And that, she guessed, would be frequent and vigorous whenever and wherever he was in the mood. Just thinking about it quickened the curious stir in her center. Before she could stop herself, she put her fingertips to his cheek. And gasped as he caught her wrist roughly. His eyes flashed open, seeming more incredibly pale and beautiful against the shaded bruising surrounding them. Once he recognized her, his words were rough. “Probably not a good idea to startle me when I’m sleeping.” “I’ll make a note.” Kendra withdrew her hand when he released it, rubbing at her abraded wrist while he rolled his head away and laid his forearm across his eyes. “I didn’t hear you come in last night.” “Yeah, well, I didn’t have reason to wake you.” That flat tone deflated fragile hopes. Kendra swallowed hard. A forlorn prickle of pride refused to let her beg him. “It should only take a few minutes to pack up my things.” “What?” His gaze flew up to meet hers, eyes wide and round and filled with a tumble of complex emotion. “You’re leaving?” “Isn’t that what you want?” “No.” He drew a quick, jerky breath. “Do you want me to?” The last thing she’d expected was for him to place that kind of power in her hands, but he delivered it without any hesitation. Kendra sat up and carefully weighed her next words. “I can’t stay if I’m afraid of you.” She gave that time to settle in. His stare, so intense and still, was riveted to hers. “There have to be rules.” A quick blink. “You’re giving me rules?” She heard his arrogant claim in her head. I’m a Terriot prince. I do whatever the hell I want. But she didn’t back down. “Someone has to, Cale.” “So,” he ventured carefully, “what are they?”

Interview with author Nancy Gideon

First off I would like to thank you Nancy for taking the time to answer a few questions about your writing and this series. I would also like to say what a huge fan I am of your Moonlight series.

            Thanks, Delia!  I’m thrilled to be here.  Bring on the questions!

Can you tell us a little about your current novel Prince of Shadows?

            Foremost, PRINCE OF SHADOWS is a bit of a game changer. It moves the action from New Orleans to Lake Tahoe to focus on the brutally dangerous Terriots who are struggling to strengthen their clan in preparation for war. Their threatening presence debuted in HUNTER OF SHADOWS and was upped in BETRAYED BY SHADOWS as they made an aggressive move against the New Orleans clan and especially the MacCreedy family.  Kendra Terriot has negotiated a truce for the lives of her MacCreedy cousins but those stakes have just been raised, forcing her to make a terrifying choice to secure their safety and her own. My hero and heroine are star-crossed lovers separated by a dark history and now caught in a dangerous arrangement to unite their clan while healing their hearts. 

Up till this point in the series Kendra Terriot has been described as someone needing protection, in your world of strong female characters. Will we see her come into her own in this novel?

            Oh, yeah.  Her comfort zone is pulled out from under her in the first page of Chapter One, forcing to her draw upon an inner strength that’s been dormant in order to survive. She’ll more than hold her own once she realizes what it is she truly wants.

For all of the fans of the Moonlight series can we expect to see more of Max and Charlotte in our future?

            I’d LOVE to do another Max and Charlotte book.  I took their story as far as I could with them being secondary characters and think it’s time for them to get some issues resolved on the front line.

Yay! I can't wait :)

Do you have any character that stands out as your favorite?

            I’ve enjoyed them all for various reasons – even Jimmy Legere and Rollo were fun to work with. Of course there wouldn’t be a series without Max.  It’s hard not to love him.  And I confess, I’m having a hard time letting Cale Terriot, my rowdy, tattooed, rock-and-roll prince go.  Oscar Babineau could have the makings of a hero in a few years, too. I try to write every character as if they deserved their own story.

Will we find any more information about the Chosen in the coming books?

            Oh, definitely. Especially when Max and CC hit center stage.

When you started this series did you have a particular path in mind or have the characters steered the way for you?

            The characters totally ran away with me – a first! I started Chapter 1 with the first scene in mind and the story just kept rolled.  I built the world and backstory as I went for the initial four Moonlight books. Now I have to pay attention to the previous groundwork for continuity. And that’s a lot of ground to cover.

Is there a certain amount of books planned for this series?

            With the way the world has expanded, I could go on forever . . . or as Last Action Hero says, until the grosses go down.

Are you working in any other series at this time?

            I’ve just started tinkering with a historically set YA paranormal series.  Getting to know the characters, researching, and doing some world building.

I've noticed that books 7 and 8 of the series are only available as e-books, what has caused this change? Will we be seeing print books moving forward?

            To jump on the digital bandwagon, Pocket revamped the Pocket Star program as e-exclusives offering lower prices than the print books and a quicker availability to readers. BETRAYED BY SHADOWS (Book 7) and PRINCE OF SHADOWS (Book 8) were purchased for that program.  I don’t know if they’ll be issued in any other format at this point.  I know that’s a disappointment to readers who like to collect an entire series as a set.

I am one of those readers who likes to own the whole set so I guess I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.

I'm sure you’re very busy. Do you ever find time to read yourself? If so do you have any favorite books or authors you'd like to share?

            I LOVE to read and, yes, regrettably I don’t have as much time as I’d like to catch up on all those great books out there.  While recouping from my knee replacement, I finally was able to do some damage on my Kindle app thoroughly enjoying Justin Cronin’s The Twelve (dystopian vampires. AWESOME!) and the latest from Suzanne Brown (suspense), Jennifer Greene (series romance), Victoria Craven (paranormal), Diane Burton (space sci-fi romance!), Tracy Brogan (chick lit), and J.D. Robb (futuristic). I’ve still got favorite Dean Koontz, and YAs by Gina Showalter and Kresley Cole in the wings.

Do you have any special process you go through when starting a new book?

            I have to know my characters.  Of course, I’ll discover all sorts of surprising things along the way but I need to have a firm grasp on who they are and what they want before putting them into a storyline and setting.  I like to weave character, setting and plot together, so I’ll just let them gel in my mind until I get that perfect opening scene. Once I start writing, I go all the way through to page end. I’m a firm believer in not revising and editing until you have a finished product.

Do you have any advice for starting writers?

            Write what you love to read. Believe in what you’re writing.  Get it done and send it in. Then start writing something new.

Where can readers look to find more information about your books?

            You can find more information about me, PRINCE OF SHADOWS and the “By Moonlight” series by visiting my website, http://nancygideon.com or

my blog at http://nancygideon.blogspot.com.

Twitter  https://twitter.com/NancyGideon

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/nancy.gideon#!/NancyGideonAuthor

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/282919.Nancy_Gideon

Or purchase at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-of-Shadows-ebook/dp/B009K54NPE/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2 or

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prince-of-shadows-nancy-gideon/1113107209?ean=9781451689488

Happy Reading!

Thanks so much it has been a huge pleasure having you stop by ~ Delia

Cover Reveal for Romancing the bookworm ~ Kate Evangelista

This one is a few days late! Guess I need to get better about checking my email. Better late than never though so here it is. Kate Evangelista is the author of the novel Taste which I reviewed here on the blog last year.

Title: Romancing the Bookworm

Author: Kate Evangelista

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Genre: Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Expected release date: July 9, 2013

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

  Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel. It's spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she's wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick's Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational's organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her. Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he's concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he's convinced it's a risk worth taking. What he hasn't planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme. Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?   About the Author When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Kate Evangelista | Twitter