Atlantis Betrayed (Warriors of Poseidon Book 6) by Alyssa Day Genre: Paranormal Romance Reviewed by: Lilyraines As a fan of the Warriors of Poseidon series, I was looking forward to reading Atlantis Betrayed and I wasn’t disappointed. I don’t know if it is any one thing that I enjoy about the books. It could be the mix of different mythologies, the irresistible force meeting immovable objects personified in the main characters that provides a good give and take as well as humor. It could also be the good versus evil fight represented by the warriors and vampires, respectively, with the shifters caught somewhere in between, and the Fae being themselves, which could be dangerous in and of itself to either everyone or no one. While a combination of those characteristics is common throughout the
series, each book is unique in its own way. In Atlantis Betrayed, there is Christophe and Fiona. Christophe is on the edge, so he goes looking for the Siren when asked and meets Fiona - who is after the same thing. The duo butt heads over certain details, yet team up so that the gem does not wind up falling into the wrong hands. The Fae may or may not be helpful, quite possibly not since these particular members are of the Unseelie court. Adding fuel to that particular fire is the fact that Christophe has issues with the Fae as well. I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it, along with the rest of the series, to anyone who likes to spend a few hours with a good, relaxing (maybe *wink*) read. I look forward to reading more of the series in the future.
Features •
Featured Review............................................................3
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Q & A With the Authors................................................7
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Romance by Mary Eason...............................................9
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Urban Fantasy and the Paranormal by Roxanne Rhoads ....................................................................................24
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Dark Streets by Bill Shears..........................................27
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Cooking Up A Storm With Kyrainse............................35
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Manga Reads by Lexile................................................38
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Author Interview by Tammie King..............................42
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SFF Insider by Shartyrant............................................49
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Tantalizing Tidbits by The Book Nerd..........................52
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History Bits by Lilyraines.............................................56
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Teen Reads by MonicaBBB..........................................61
Night Owl Reviews™ WEtap Media, LLC™ 2459 SE TV HWY, #153, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 NightOwlReviews@gmail.com Editor-In-Chief: Tammie King Director of Marketing: Tammie King NightOwlReviews@gmail.com © Night Owl Reviews 2010 These are just a small portion of the reviews that Night Owl Reviews has available on our website. For a full listing and the most up to date reviews visit our website www.NightOwlReviews.com. Reviews are provided by our review staff. Reviewers get books via NOR and we get books direct from the publishers, authors and publicists. Reviews are based on reviewer thoughts.
Q & A With Author H.L. Reasby
Question:
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Answer:
I’m very happy with the way that the book turned out and am very proud of it. Of course, there are always things you can second-guess yourself on, but overall I have no regrets. http:// www.theliteraryfatale.com
Q & A With Author Elle Jasper
Question:
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Answer:
If given the chance 1000 times I’d probably make changes on EVERY book I write! Lol! I actually like Afterlight the way it is, but as always, I could find something else to make it better. But that could be on-going! http://www.ellejasper.com
Romance by Mary Eason When scary meets romance Well, of course I’m talking about the paranormal romance, (it is Halloween after all).
Do you ever wonder what creatures live in the dark of our imagination and the night? Werewolves, vampires and other creatures of the night. In any other genre, they’d be terrifying to consider for most readers, but when you mix scar and romance together, you have one hell of a good book. One of the hottest genres in romance these days is the paranormal romance. Readers can’t get enough of the undead and other creatures of the night. And writers as well as publishers are scrambling to keep up with the demand. So what defines a paranormal romance? Well, it is a romance with paranormal characters and events. It
follows the same rules that apply to all romances and it has the build up of the romance as the heart and main plot of the novel. The only real difference is that either one or both of the main characters often aren’t human, and the story itself can dip into darker waters plot-wise than a regular romance. Like regular romance, paranormal romance covers the whole genre spectrum. They can be humorous, historical, futuristic, contemporary, mystery, fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi, gothic, and erotica—basically, if the romance is front and center, then it’s labeled a paranormal romance, regardless of
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the genre. Okay, so turn on every light in the house, grab a comforting snack and brew, curl up by a roaring fire, and let’s take a ghoulishly fun look at something, tall, dark, and deadly. Here are some upcoming paranormal romances you don’t want to miss. Crave (Fallen Angels, Book 2) by J.R. Ward Seven deadly sins. Seven souls that must be saved. One more no-holdsbarred battle between a fallen angel with a hardened heart and a demon with everything to lose. Isaac Rothe is a black ops soldier with a dark past and a grim future. The target of an assassin, he
finds himself behind bars, his fate in the hands of his gorgeous public defender Grier Childe. His hot attraction to her can only lead to trouble-and that’s before Jim Heron tells him his soul is in danger. Caught up in a wicked game with the demon who shadows Jim, Isaac must decide whether the soldier in him can believe that true love is the ultimate weapon against evil. Signet; Original edition (October 5, 2010) Styx’s Storm (Breeds) by Lora Leigh
To save innocent, young Storme Montague from the claws of Breed slave traders, Wolf Breed Styx is forced to claim her himself-on the condition that Storme will no lon-
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ger be a virgin by night’s end. And though Storme’s defenses are up, Styx will free her-in ways she never expects. Berkley; Original edition (October 5, 2010)
Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, Book 7) by Alexandra Ivy Tane is a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. His new assignment seems like a waste of his talents - until he catches up with the jinn he’s been sent to capture. Half human, half demon, Laylah has a vulnerable streak that strikes right through to Tane’s cold heart. He should be furious when she uses her powers to bind them together, preventing him from dragging her before
the Commission. Instead he welcomes any reason to stay close enough to touch, to taste, to seduce...Laylah doesn’t know why she was chosen to protect a child who may be the catalyst in a war between good and evil. But the mysteries of her past pale compared to the dangers approaching. Tane is devastatingly strong, breathtakingly sensual. And Laylah will have to trust in every ounce of that strength, because her enemies are drawing near, eager to destroy them both... Zebra (November 30, 2010) Dark Moon by Lori Handeland
Werewolves, witchie wolves, gypsies and trigger-happy werewolf hunters roam the landscape
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of Handeland’s snappily written paranormal romance, the third in her Moon series (Blue Moon; Hunter’s Moon). Dr. Elise Hanover is smart, cheeky and determined to protect humankind from the bloodthirsty werewolf population—even though she’s a werewolf herself. Elise has concocted a serum to quell her blood lust, but she still turns furry when the moon is full, a fact that led her to walk away from a promising relationship years earlier. She gets a second chance, however, when her old beau, FBI agent Nic Franklin, arrives at the compound where she’s been researching cures for werewolfism. In a breakneck sequence of events, the compound explodes; Elise and Nic flee to Fairhaven, Wis., where a handful of her co-workers
are hunting werewolves; and they get caught up in solving the mystery of why so many people have gone missing in Fairhaven. In the process, Elise—Handeland’s most appealing heroine yet—learns to embrace her inner canine. Though some of the plot twists will be old hat to those who have read the previous books, and Elise’s co-workers have an annoying habit of wanting to shoot everyone (including Elise), this tense, banter-filled tale provides a few hours of solid entertainment. St. Martin’s Paperbacks (September 28, 2010)
Something Wicked (Berkley Sensation) by Michelle Rowen
Darrak, the demon
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inside of Eden Riley, is able to take physical shape during the day. And Eden wouldn’t mind getting her hands on him-if it wasn’t a threat to her immortal soul. But while trying to rid themselves of the curse that binds them, they could get the distance they need...or each has their own private hell to pay. Berkley; Original edition (October 5, 2010)
Crossroads (Southern Arcana, Book 2) by Moira Rogers He’s the last man she should ever want. She’s the last woman he can ever have. A Southern Arcana novel. Coming from a family with psychic gifts, Derek
Gabriel was aware of but separate from the dangers of the supernatural world, until a rogue wolf shifter stripped away his humanity. The change he barely survived didn’t drive him insane, but the cultural bias against him as an inferior transformed wolf might. And it doesn’t help that he’s fallen for the daughter of the most powerful wolf in the country. Almost from the moment she was born, Nicole Peyton started planning her escape from the strict confines of elite shapeshifter society, an old-fashioned world where women are valued only for their bloodlines and bank accounts. In New Orleans she has a bar she loves, friends in decidedly low places, and a smoldering sensual tension with an incredibly attractive
and deliciously unsuitable man. Their forbidden longing erupts into unbridled need—until Nick’s sister burns into town with a strike team hard on her heels. Saving her means Nick has to play by the Conclave’s rules…and give up the man she is growing to love. Unless Derek does something completely crazy—issue a challenge that could shake the foundations of their world. Samhain Publishing (November 2, 2010)
Reckoning by J.C. Wilder A world where good and evil dwell… Seeking justice for her murdered twin sister, Maeve finds herself trapped
in a world of magic and deception. She’s discovered the key that will guarantee her success—a magical spell to control a vampire. Now she needs to locate a witch of pure intent to teach the spell to her. Quinn Montgomery wants nothing to do with his birth mother, Mortianna, the most powerful witch in the world. When he discovers Maeve is his mother’s prisoner, he rescues the prickly immortal from imminent death. Determined to set things right, he returns her to the Scottish Highlands only to find that Maeve isn’t the only victim of Mortianna’s treachery. Together, Maeve and Quinn reluctantly join forces to battle the forces of darkness as they fight their growing attraction for each other. Will Quinn teach
Maeve the spell she desperately needs, or will she fall under his spell instead? Samhain Publishing (November 2, 2010)
Firewalker (Stormwalker) by Allyson James Janet Begay’s Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural ever since it opened. But a new, dark power is rising, this time inside Janet herself. Her boyfriend Mick, a sexy dragon shapeshifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, know what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe. But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel-and Janet
becomes the main suspect. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives... Berkley; Original edition (November 2, 2010)
So sit back and enjoy, oh and you might want to sleep with the lights on because you never know what lurks in the darkness. Happy Halloween! All the best… Mary Eason
www.maryeason.com
Mary Eason is the author of books such as “A Night to Remember” and “Root of All Evil”. You can find Mary online at http://www.maryeason.com.
Urban Fantasy
and the Paranormal
by Roxanne Rhoads
Roxanne Rhoads is a story stumpet, tome loving tart, and lover of all things paranormal. She is also a freelance writer and the author of erotic paranormal romances.
Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy Which Do You Prefer? Many readers who enjoy paranormal romance also read urban fantasy and vice versa. But there are some hard core readers whose preferences lie with one of the other exclusively. Which can be difficult when it comes to labeling a book because sometimes the lines cross and the books can have elements of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Take Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. The world building is complete and the story lines and plots feature a lot more than romance but underneath it all the love story of Cat and Bones is a very strong and vivid part of the books. Mainly the difference in genres depends on the focus of
the story. Urban fantasy focuses on the world and characters while paranormal romance focuses on the love story. Which do you prefer? Or do you like a bit of everything in your supernatural reads? I personally love to see a complete world and character development with an added romance bonus. I don’t care what genre it is- mystery, horror, historical- I am very girly when it comes to my reading material and crave a bit of romance in all of the novels I read- because seriously, what is life without romance? The books I love most are Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress books, Kim Harrison’s Hollows series featuring Rachel Morgan, and Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires. All are labeled urban fantasy but feature
romantic situations and relationships. Lovers of both genres will have plenty of new reading material available to them this month. Marta Acosta’s final book in her Casa Dracula seriesHaunted Honeymoon is now on shelves. Other new releases not to missed in October include: Something Wicked by Michelle Rowen (Oct. 1, Berkeley), Alpha by Rachel Vincent (Oct. 1, Mira), Grave Witch by Kalayna Price (Oct. 5, Roc), Crave by J.R. Ward (Oct. 5, Signet), Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love (Oct. 19, Pocket),
Highborn by Yvonne Navarro (Oct. 26, Juno), Entice Me at Twilight by Shayla Black (Oct. 26, Pocket), and Harvest Hunting by Yasmine Galenorn (Oct. 26, Jove). And that’s just a sample of all the books in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and related genres being released this month. Publishers are releasing more books in the next couple months just in time for holiday sales. Get your wish lists out everyone, I know mine is getting longer with each new month of releases.
Two acknowledged giants of suspense and mystery would be Alfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allan Poe. Both moved easily between those genres and horror -- in different centuries, and in different media, but you sense they would have understood each other perfectly if they’d ever met. Since our focus here the novel, we’ll leave you on your own with Hitchcock, and the recommendation to read of his life and work in The Dark Side of Genius, by Donald Spoto. Poe, on the other hand, along with his tales of the bizarre and the supernatural can be credited as the single source for the
start of suspense/mystery storytelling. He invented the detective story, of that there is little dispute. His C. Auguste Dupin character was the model for Sherlock Holmes and countless sleuths to come. Dupin first appeared in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and then in two other stories, Poe termed his detective’s methods as “ratiocination,” a mixture of logic and imagination. After a lifetime of failure, debt and struggle Poe’s death was as mysterious as if he had written it himself. Found incoherent on a Baltimore street, he was taken to a hospital and
http://kite.infinitybound.com
died a few days later, babbling the name “Reynolds.” No one has been able to pinpoint why. His suffering lasted, ironically, beyond the grave. His first biographer, a fierce rival of his, depicted him as a depraved drunk and drug addict. That strangest of deaths and the circumstances surrounding it are the subject of an intriguing suspense adventure entitled The Poe Shadow, by Mathew Pearl. In this story a young Baltimore attorney, Quentin Clark – who might be considered a Poe fan-boy these days -- becomes obsessed with the circumstances of the death, with abhors lack of interest shown by the popular press of the time, and how Poe’s reputation
suffered undeservedly. Giving up his law practice he sets off on his own quest for answers. The book is meticulously researched -- including identifying a possible Reynolds in an old Baltimore city directory -- and well-paced. Recommended. QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
From The Poe Shadow. While in Paris, Poe-obsessed Clark schemes to snap a man who he believes to be the “real life” inspiration for Poe’s Dupin out of a deep mental torpor by posing a small mystery for him to solve, involving a vanished portion of cake. He enlists the aid of a local chiffonnier, what modern Americans might call a trash
http://kite.infinitybound.com
picker: “These men were not vagrants; rather, they were registered for this activity with the police. “I had inquired of the fellow how much he collected each day. “’Under King Philippe,” he said of the former monarch, ‘thirty sous worth a day! But now, under the Republic, only fifteen.’ He explained with a sad tone of nostalgia for the monarchy. ‘People throw away less bones and paper now! When there is no luxury we who are poor can do nothing.’”
CONTINUING SCI-FI SUSPENSE META GENRE QUEST:
In our own search for a suspenseful science fiction tale we picked up The Mocking Program by
Alan Dean Foster. It’s set in a speculative future where the United States’ southern border has been completely erased. Mexico and the southwest US have merged as Namerica. Cops are on the case of a murder, and in this future time, muggers will not only take your wallet and jewelry but will steal your organs too. The case at hand is odd because the implanted ID comes up with two names. Sometimes the bombardment of strange technology and neologisms can be off-putting, even to the devoted sci-fi fan, as is the case here. As a police procedural it is hard to follow, with constant dropping in of strange terminology, you spend more brainpower trying to decipher
http://kite.infinitybound.com
the words than following the plot. It would turn off the casual or borderline sci-fi fan almost instantly. We may give it a try another time. Maybe not Meanwhile we’ll still be promiscuously reading around for a styl-
ish, well-executed sci-fi suspense yarn. They are out there. We’ll keep looking. Bill Shears is the author of Kite, a science fiction comedy set in Earth orbit. You can find Bill online at: http://infinitybound.com
http://kite.infinitybound.com
From one of the most brilliant imaginations in science fiction comes Flinx Transcendent, Alan Dean Foster’s thrilling conclusion to the series that began over thirtyfive years ago the epic adventures of Flinx and his flying minidrag companion, Pip.
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Cooking Up A Storm
With Kyraninse
You can eat that! Awesome food for kids with diabetes. by Robyn Webb - Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Often, when faced with a lifechanging medical condition like diabetes, the medical and psychological aspect of things can be rocky enough without having to deal with the nitty gritty of dealing with changing your entire diet as well. Thinking about cutting carbs and sugars and how to adapt your tried and true recipes without sacrificing taste can be really difficult and may even be demoralizing. The shock of knowing that diabetes is a problem
that can possibly only be controlled, not cured, that it’s possibly a life-long condition can be sometimes debilitating. The endless details to deal with regarding diabetes, from the checking of blood sugar throughout the day, the increased scrutiny of what can and can not be eaten, the potential of having the avenue of eating out cut short, to perhaps having to do insulin injections daily... The book starts off with reassurance: You or your child will not have to change everything. Things can be had
in moderation. The world as you know it hasn’t ended. It touches briefly on the ideas of diabetes burnout. The recipes are easy, clear, concise, and most of them have really short preparation times. They are also very precise as to how many people it will serve and how large the serving size should be. This is really helpful, as most recipes only give a rough guideline for serving portions. For easy navigation, there’s a table of contents in the front and a detailed index in the back of the book. You can choose to either browse through categories, or look for specific items that sound appetizing. What I really appreciated was that although some of the recipes clearly have been tweaked to be suitable for diabetics, using Splenda instead of sugar for example, the food is normal everyday fare. You won’t be making food that will be a
chore to eat; this is food that you can serve to the entire family without worrying that other members of the family would complain. The range is also quite broad: soups, entrees, appetizers, snacks and desserts are all covered. There’s a big enough selection of recipes that you would easily be able to create a meal plan without too much overlap over the course of a month. The only thing that I would have liked to see more recipes from other cuisines. After all, Americans do eat quite a variety of foods and it would be nice to not have to forgo the Chinese take out or Italian food. This book, although the title is aimed at children, should be a pretty good spring board into the realm of cooking for diabetics for anyone. Kyraninse lives on the East Coast and enjoys cooking and reading.
Manga Insights by Lexile Anyone who has been around domestic anime or manga since about the mid-90’s knows of the collaborative group known as CLAMP. Consisting of four women--Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi--CLAMP is known for their beautiful designs, twisted love stories and the ability to turn even the simplest plot point into a threat against the world. Their subject matters ranges from a sweet first love (Suki Dakara Suki) to a cataclysmic showdown between the forces of Good and Evil (X), but they always manage to convey a sense of emotional depth, despite the dozens
of series they have penned. In November their longest series to date, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, will end its run here in America with volume 28. I remember when I first heard about this series back in 2003. The advertisement had two characters I was very familiar with-Syaoran and Sakura. Fans knew them from CLAMP’s ‘magical girl’ series, Cardcaptor Sakura as the title character and her love interest/sometimes rival. It would be a couple more months before I learned that CLAMP was being sly--they were introducing new characters (Kurogane and Fai), but they were also cannibalizing characters from every other series they’ve worked on before. Not a new
concept--Osamu Tezuka was famous for connecting all his series through one or two characters--but one that added a new dimension to a lot of the titles. Some of which had been done and over with for a decade and more. The trick is that Kurogane, Fai, Syaoran, Sakura and Mokona Modoki would be traveling between dimensions (worlds). Though they may (and in all probability will) meet people they ‘know’ from their world, the person they’re meeting has developed under entirely different circumstances. Thus CLAMP can snatch Chu’nyan (from Legend of Chun Hyang) and have her exist in the same
world as Akira, Nokuro and Suoh (from CLAMP School Detectives), despite the fact the two series had nothing to do with each other to begin with. Next month come back for the first part of my review of Tsubasa leading to the startling conclusion!
Lexile is...your friendly, neighborhood otaku. She’s been known to wander aimlessly through bookstores, correcting customer misconceptions about manga for years--much to the chagrin of her tolerant friends and ire of the bookstore employees. You can find her at her personal blog Poisoned Rationality if she’s not busy with the mundaneness that is real life.
Featured Interview by Tammie King with Devin Alexander
Q:
Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing cookbooks and TV?
A:
I had an Italian grandmother who taught me to cook at a very young age and I loved it. Unfortunately, what went with that (for me) was that I became an obese child and teen. By Jr. High, I was picked on brutally so I really wanted to lose weight. After yo-yo dieting for years, I heard that if you cut just 100 calories from your diet per day, you can lose 10 pounds in a year. Suddenly a light bulb went off. I used my cooking skills to cut 100 calories here and there and ended up losing about 25 or 30 pounds the first year. Years after I had lost most of my weight, I was recruited
by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (you know, the folks who do the Emmy’s) for a script I’d written in college. I thought I was going to be a screenwriter. But when I started volunteering at charity events and celebs figured out I could cook healthy food that actually tasted great, they insisted I cook for them. The rest spiraled from there.
Q:
Did television or publishing cookbooks come first?
A:
I started modeling at age 5, then continued to plus size model through my teen years. I’d also hosted local and regional shows in NJ and Mass during college. Then I landed a few national spots (even “Good Morning America”) before my first book came out. So tv definitely came first for me.
Q:
food?
A:
What’s your favorite meal of the day and do you have a favorite
This is always my least favorite question because I love so many different foods. I’ve written 5 cookbooks now and each has a handful of recipes I couldn’t live without. I’m one of those people who
tends to eat the same things for weeks then move on to others. But I always end up going back. Though I’ve kept off over 55 pounds for close to 20 years, my cravings definitely still dictate my eating.
Q: A:
Can you give us all a quick cooking tip?
When cooking chicken in a pan (as opposed to in the oven), be sure to
start it at a high heat and don’t overcrowd the pan. You want to make sure you lock in the juices and it get nice browned outsides..then it can taste restaurant-quality without using a ton of fats or oils.
Q:
Is there a cookbook that you haven’t written that you would like to work on?
A:
Maybe something geared more toward kids? I am searching for that inspiration as we speak. I do plan to write
many more as the inspiration does strike. So far I’ve been lucky because all of my cookbooks have done really well. I love what I do and let my audience requests guide me a lot. This book, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fattening… Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy”, came directly from the thousands of people who’ve told me that they, “Don’t have time to cook”. All of my other books provide healthy, decadent recipes, that are easy to make but many take a significant amount of time. In this one, all of the recipes are super easy and quick. It’s perfect for busy people and newbies to the kitchen… even for people who are otherwise intimidated in the kitchen.
Q:
What types of things do you do to promote your books?
A:
I am lucky enough to land numerous tv spots. I work really hard, but also have had a couple of major lucky breaks. I also hold contests, do tons of interviews, etc. Oh, and I’m a bit of a dork in that I NEVER go anywhere w/o a postcard with the books on it. It’s amazing how often people ask. Whether I’m sitting on a plane or at a party, people tend to ask, “what do you do” if they don’t recognize me from tv. When you say you write books, people always want to see them, so I hand out the postcards. And the postcards have a recipe on the back. It’s sort of a safe way for people to try my stuff. Once they do, they often go out and buy the book because they “met you” and now know that the food tastes great too!
Q:
Is there someone
who inspired you to get published and make cooking a career?
A:
Honestly, I had a whole other career in mind. I was initially most inspired for this career by the notion that I might help young women never feel the way I did as a teen. As I got into it, I realized that I’m exactly where I am supposed to be in my life. I am the quintessential nurturer both professionally and personally and I always feel better on days where I feel like
I’ve helped someone than on days I don’t. I can’t remember the last time I went a whole day without someone writing even a quick note saying they liked a recipe. It keeps me going!
Q:
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what book would you want to have and what food would you crave most?
A:
Probably “The Most Decadent Diet Ever!” if we’re talking about one of my books. That one is my signature book and it’s packed with ridiculously yummy things like, “Chocolate Not-Only-In-YourDreams Cake” (called that because it’s the cake that I thought I’d never eat again when I started trying to lose weight) and Buffalo Chicken Wings. Though it sounds like a diet book, it’s actually the opposite. It tells the story
of how, when I stopped dieting, I got healthy and then provides tons of recipes that I crave like crazy.
Q:
For new readers to your work, what one of your books do you recommend they start with?
A:
If they’re new to cooking or have a really tight schedule, definitely, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fattening!”. If they love to spend time cook-
ing and might even enjoy it with a loved one, “The Most Decadent Diet Ever!” because the recipes really are ridiculously decadent for as low in fat, calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, etc. that they are. Or if they happen to be addicted to fast food, “Fast Food Fix” is the one to get. I swear that everyone who makes the
Big Mac and the Cinnabon are always shocked at how deadon they are.
Q: A:
Where can readers find your books?
http://www.devinalexander.com and most places where books are sold.
Science Ficion & Fantasy
by Shartyrant Science Fiction & Fantasy News & Reviews The Ragged Man by Tom Lloyd is the fourth book in the five book fantasy Twilight Reign series. After the events of the previous book, the Farlan army has retreated in disarray while various others are now taking advantage of this by making their own play for power. You have gods and men continuing to prepare and initiate the Great War looming in the near future and the tide is turning against Enim and his allies. And the only change that they may have lies with a dead man. It is the type of epic fantasy that a large cast of interesting characters and extremely fast paced that keeps the reader interested. The world building is original, especially in regards to the way the gods are handled and other beings like the “white-eyes� or others. Also,
the book includes a character list and a brief overview of the previous books for those new to the series. I am desperate to get the final book in the series when it is released to find out how it all ends. This is a nice addition to anyone who loves epic fantasies where the gods are not perfect and absolute and the humans are just as fascinating as the gods. I give this one a keeper status of 5 stars! Vampire Empire : The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith is the beginning of a new Vampire Empire trilogy that crosses adventure, alternate history and steampunk with a lot of drama. In 1870, the vampires conquered the Northern Lands of Earth while the elites from those countries escaped to the south where they established their own colonies. Now in 2020,
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Princess Adele of the Equatoriarn Empire gets lost in vampire territory with only a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory to help her. Their relationship evolves while an approaching war to the death between humans and vampires approaches. It is an interesting concept and the world building is fantastic. It is filled with action, romance and sacrifice. Personally, it took a bit to like Adele and the story was a bit predictable. Also, I found some of the “technology/science” to be a bit impossible, but I think most would enjoy this story. I was more intrigued with the world and how it came to be in this state than in the characters’ relationship, but that could be a personal preference issue. This one I recommend for paranormal romance and steampunk alternate history fans. Rated 3.75 stars! The Hounds of Avalon by Mark Chadbourn is the third book in the Dark Age trilogy. After cata-
clysmic event where technology waned and magic ruled, England is recovering though. The Earth has godlike beings using it as a battleground in their civil war to determine who will win the fight on whether humanity will live or die. Now with the arrival of eternal winter the gods continue to destroy themselves in civil war and the new menace of the Void threatens to eradicate all life. Its only chance is two friends who are destined to unravel the mystery surrounding the myths of King Arthur to find the hero who will ride out of the mists of legend to save them. The book has a very Celtic/pagan flavor to it. It also isn’t just a straight dark fantasy adventure as it delves into philosophical mysticism and questions of reality. Overall, an enjoyable read though the ending has left room for a new trilogy or sequel to pick up after its cliffhanger conclusion. So, be warned that this book doesn’t completely include the whole story. I give it 4.0 stars.
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Tantalizing Tidbits
The “W OW ” Factor
by The Book Nerd
If you’ve been keeping up with this column, you’ve no doubt heard about the love life of my son and his fiancé who’s “not into books”. As you know, that caused a BIG strike one, but she did redeem herself throughout the relationship. I love them both dearly, but now they’ve really gone and done it! Shoot me for being old-fashioned, but my mother told me to get married, AND THEN have babies! Yes, I know it’s done the other way around these days, but dang it; I don’t have to be happy about it! Little Lauria came into the world this past July and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. What happened to “old school” or just plain “old-fashioned”?
That’s all I want to know! From the time he was a small kid, I told James, don’t look to me to babysit when you’re ready to go out and have tons of fun. All I want to know is what in the world happened to the big wedding that was supposed to be happening? Did the condom break or was it simply nonexistent? I’m just saying. I’ll be the first to admit that these kids are good parents, and an even better couple, but ever so often they get a little sneaky and make quickie plans that throw us grandparents into a tizzy. Before we know it, one of us is roped into watching little Lauria for a day or two. As you can imagine, this bundle of joy prefers to have all of her fun between
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12:30am – 2:30am, just for grins and giggles. She also wakes up from a daytime nap right in the middle of the really naughty part of a romance novel tempting me to use wicked words no self-respecting grandkid should hear at three months. So switching gears, I move into The Cat in the Hat, Farm Animals and The Children’s Illustrated Encyclopedia. So shoot me, I may be a little sleepy, but I’m no fool. No way is she going to grow up as a nonreader like someone else I know who’s sort of in the family. I’m just saying. I’m supposed to be reading nonstop, hanging out at the mall, gaining weight with all types of yummy food having non-stop sex, and all types of other fun stuff that elderly people are supposed to be doing, but here I am reading the Bernstein Bears and getting spit up on.
I’m already envisioning Little Lauria looking up all of her schoolwork on the Internet instead of using the Library, if I’m not around as the voice of reason. Suppose she decides to speak with me on Skype instead of the plain old telephone? Better yet, will she even know what that is? So for the moment, she plays with bookmarks, laughingly pulls my earrings, looks at Dr. Seuss with mild distaste, and oh yeah, keeps me up with the werewolves and vampires to carry on witty conversations. Gee, what a joy. So I asked Lauria the other morning when she was feeling extra perky, “when are your parents coming back?” I’ll bet you’d be surprised to know that she giggled. Hugs,
The Book Nerd
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Night Owl Reviews
History Bits
by Lilyraines
There are many books about the American Civil War. Doing a search on the Civil War on Amazon.com finds that there are approximately 2,900 biographies and memoirs alone - though there might be an overlap with other categories. One book that might be of interest is Bell Irvin Wiley’s Confederate Women. In her book, Ms. Wiley provides in-depth profiles of Varina Howell Davis, Mary Boykin Chesnutt, and
Virginia Tunstall Clay. In each of the chapters devoted to these women, Ms. Wiley gives insight into their backgrounds, personalities, their interactions with each other and with other members of their circle, and what drove them. Giving a balanced view, Ms. Wiley also shows the flip side as well in a “these are their strengths and these are their weaknesses” kind of way. There is another chapter to the book in that it also shows what life was like for women of lesser social status than
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Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Chesnutt and Mrs. Clay. Examples from this chapter include: Mrs. Arthur F. Hopkins who was the wife of an Alabama chief justice and who founded, funded and administered several hospitals as well as being wounded twice while working among casualties at Seven Pines (1862), Sally Tompkins who was the only female to hold a commission (captain) in the Confederate army for her work in a Richmond hospital that she founded and
where 1,300 soldiers were treated; and Mrs. Phoebe Yates Pember. Mrs. Pember was a Jewish widow who lived in Savannah Georgia. From December 1862 until war’s end she served as the chief matron in one of Chimborazo Hospital’s (Richmond) 5 principal divisions. The hospital was, at the time, the largest military hospital in the world. Other books that may be of interest:
The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy and The Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union, Bell Irvin Wiley. The books provide insight into what life was
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like for the rank and file of the armies on both sides. Material for both of these books came from letters, diaries, and - at times - newspapers and associated media.
Saddle Bag and Spinning Wheel: Being the Civil War Letters of George W. Peddy, M.D., Surgeon, 56th Volunteer Regiment, C.S.A. and His Wife Kate Featherston Peddy, George Peddy Cuttino (Editor)
Includes the correspondence between the Peddys that covers the entire Civil War period. The editor is their
grandson and the book contains 216 letters.
An Uncommon Soldier: The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, alias Pvt. Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers, 1862-1864, Sarah Rosetta Wakeman (author), Lauren Cook Burgess (Editor), James M. McPherson (Foreword) Provides an account, through letters, of one of what is thought to be about 400 women who disguised themselves as men to serve in the military during the Civil War. I hope you found at least one history book to check out this month.
Night Owl Reviews
Teen Reads
by MonicaBBB
Fall is approaching fast and I bet you need some books to curl up by a fire or sit outside in a cool breeze with. I have some great Autumn recommendations for you! 1. The Ivy by: Lauren Kunze
The Ivy a nice contemporary title for the older teens out there. This book is set up in college which is different than the usual high school scene in most YA books. This is just perfect for those looking for a contemporary with a nice twist. 2. Sea Glass, Storm Glass, and Spy Glass by: Maria V. Snyder The Glass series is a YA spin off of the Study series by Ms. Snyder. These are not as action packed as the adult
titles but these are still great reads. Opal is a fighter and will resonate with teens of all ages, and there is enough adventure in these books that they can be good for boys or girls. 3. Wildwing by: Emily Whitman
If you are looking for a sweet, witty heroine who is destined for something great... even with everyone trying to get her down, this is your book. This is a great book to sit in the sun with and read. 4. The Marbury Lens by: Andrew Smith
The Marbury Lens is a deep and wonderful story for those with a strong will. The protagonist in this tale goes through a horrible experience and he comes out of it changed and different. This is a heavy read for snuggling under the
covers on a chilly night.
5. Secret Society by: Tom Dolby This is a great read for those Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl lovers out there. There is intrigue, drama, socialites, and a major secret. This is an excellent book to read with your book club. 6. Plain Kate by: Erin Bow
Plain Kate is a book targeted for the younger teens but it is still a great read for
someone of any age. This book is beautifully written and almost lyrical. It’s Perfect for those who are fans of Maggie Stiefvater.
These are just a few of the great books that are already released or are coming out into the Fall. They are all wonderful reads and perfect for any teenager looking to expand beyond the realm of vampires that recently took hold of the genre. MonicaBBB is a lover of books
and more books!