With blockbuster hits like Map of Bones, Judas Strain, and a slew of others, under his belt, fans of James Rollins have been waiting for Altar of Eden. Even though this book moves away from his signature Sigma Force adventures, it’s still filled with nail biting suspense designed to keep you on the edge of your sofas. Anxious to get back to the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRE) to find out more about the loss of power to the Featured Title: more than thousand gone horribly wrong. Alter of Eden acre facility located in As they look closer at James Rollins New Orleans, Dr. Lorna these animals, both rePolk is none too thrilled alize something even Genre: to be pulled away by the more sinister is going Adventure Border Patrol for her on; the intelligence of assistance. She’s fur- a featherless talking 5 / 5 Stars ther irritated when she parrot, an intuitive jagTop Pick realizes the Field Oper- uar cub and others that Street Date: ations Supervisor is her defy the imagination Dec 2009 deceased boyfriend’s are enough to make the brother, Jack Menard. duo agree to put the Review by: Despite her hesitation past and years of hurt Priscilla Petty and discomfort, Lorna behind them to find out understands why she’s the stunning truth. Price: $27.99 been called when she looks at all the carnage, Full review on the Night Publisher: HarperCollins and believes that this Owl Reviews website is a case of black market animal smuggling
Features Teen Reads by MonicaBBB....................................................5 Manga Insights by Lexile......................................................15 The Battle by Michael Davis.................................................18 Cooking Up A Storm With Kyrainse.....................................28 Romance by Mary Eason.....................................................34 Featured Interview by Valerie Mann...................................44 Urban Fantasy and the Paranormal by Roxanne Rhoads.....46 SFF Insider by by Shartyrant................................................48 Make Me Say WOW by Miranda Whitman..........................60 Tantalizing Tidbits by The Book Nerd..................................56 Great Reads by The NOR Staff.............................................64 The Four Humors and Temperaments by Mary McCall.......66
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Night Owl Reviews™ WEtap Media, LLC ™ 2459 SE TV Hwy, #153 Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 NightOwlReviews@gmail.com Editor-In-Chief: Tammie King Associate Editor: Sarah McDermed Associate Editor: Kim Wollenburg Advertising: 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. 4
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Teen Reads by MonicaBBB
Faerie Teen Reads Ever imagine that your sibling can’t possibly be related to you, yet you know they weren’t adopted… maybe they are a changeling. “Sounds awesome, what is a changeling?” you say. A changeling is a fairy child switched in place of a stolen human child; one of the basic and most early tales of faerie and the faerie inhabitants. There are so many tales of faerie and the faerie realm that we have our genre of fiction for them, Fairy Tales. Fairies have been popping up all over young
adult literature along side their paranormal friends, vampires and werewolves. Tales of fairy have been around even longer than vampires and werewolves, and they have often been inserted in stories and tales that have pieces missing or for the unexplainable. Fairies are pretty much the magical fall back since there are so many creatures, tales, and beings that are classified as fairy. Some of the earliest fairy tales run back to medieval times to explain the unexplainable, as paranormal creatures usually are. In reading you have probably noticed that faerie is often spelled differently, some options are “faery”, “faerie”, “fairy”, “faery”, and even sometimes
an abbreviated “fae�. The beings and specimens found in the faerie realm are some of the most fantastical in all of paranormal. The faerie are no different than other paranormal creatures in regards to the perception of their nature, whether they are good or evil. Many faerie
are believed to be very tricky and require the utmost care when speaking or interacting with because they can easily trick people into agreements or pacts unbeknownst to the mortal interacting with them. They are usually very tricky in appearance as well. You may see a beautiful women through your mortal eyes but it may be an ugly troll. Many authors throughout literary history have modified fairy tales and legends and
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created entirely new legends and tales of fairy. Authors such as Shakespeare. Shakespeare brought us names to call our fairies and showed us some of the true nature of faerie with their tricks and scheming, such as found in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Many authors of today are also adding their own voice into faerie legend and lore. Young adult authors such as Maggie Stiefvater who relies heavily on old Celtic fairy tales
for inspiration in Ballad and Lament and Lesley Livingston who incorporates some heavy Shakespearean fairy lore in her books Wondrous Strange and Darklight. Whether or not your sibling is a changeling may never be known to you, just don’t go offering up random deals for chores and allowance, you might get stuck in the fairy realm for 100 years or something. Those fae are tricky, better watch out. MonicaBBB is a lover of books and more books! 7
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Young Adult
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But when she goes too far one night with a spell gone wrong she is sent to Hecate Hall until she turns eighteen. Hex Hall is a reform school for kids just like her: witches, shapeshifters and fairies who have shown their true nature to humans. Sophie feels like a fish out of water since she wasn’t raised around magic like the other kids. I devoured this book in one day! This book was so very readable; the plot, the characters, the humor. With a surprise ending and several loose ends dangling temptingly to build anticipation for a sequel, this was a great read from start to finish. If you like The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast then you will love Hex Hall!
Hex Hall By Rachel Hawkins Hyperion 4.5 / 5 Stars Top Pick After I read the plot description of Hex Hall online, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. It had everything I look for: otherworldly creatures, magic, boarding school, new girl syndrome, a crush, and the South. I just had a feeling that this book would be great. Sophie Mercer discovered she was a witch when she turned thirteen. There have been some growing pains along the way but her human mom has been there for her. Sophie’s dad, who she inherited her gift from, has been a voice on the phone or an email in the inbox.
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Reviewed by Leslee
Young Adult Hearts At Stake By Alyxandra Harvey Bloomsbury 4.5 / 5 Stars Top Pick Wow, it has been a long time since a new vampire series has caught my attention, but this one definitely has. In this YA series by Alexandra Harvey she has turned vampirism into sort of a disease, at least for the main character. The take on vampires in this book is very interesting, to include different species of vampires and even a small mix with some faerie lore. I really enjoyed how the author plays this whole book out from two characters points of view, the main character and the main characters best friend, maybe we could even call her a second main char-
acter. The dialogue between these two is great, they have such a strong connection and friendship. It is a bit hard to differentiate between the two characters at first, I kept having to check and see whose perspective I was reading, but that cleared up after I got to know the characters a bit more. There is a crazy amount of drama and intrigue, that’s a good thing. I read this book in one straight shot and definitely will be looking out for the next in this series.
Reviewed by MonicaBBB
Lockdown By Walter Dean Myers Harper Teen 3.25 / 5 Stars
Having never been in contact with the Department of Corrections any where except on the TV screen, I have no idea
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Young Adult
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how accurate this is. I’m sure Myers did all his research, and he apparently works with the DoC now and then. It’s just, it seems like such a fairy tale. Yes, I know people do make it through juvie and manage to get it together on the other side. But this doesn’t seem like what would actually happen. Reese meets some old guy who shares stories with him and comes to trust him and then dies, and this makes him reform? Really? I really like happilyever-after stories, but this just doesn’t jive for me. Not even with the reminder that it doesn’t work for everyone, when the narrator follows up with some of the other inmates and reminds the reader that some of them
are just getting in deeper. Sorry, nice story, but not quite believable.
Reviewed by Roza
Beautiful Dead Book 1: Jonas By Eden Maguire Sourcebooks (Fire) 4 / 5 Stars
The set-up of the Beautiful Dead book series is unique-the Powers That Be give carefully selected departed spirits a chance to come back and find the justice that was denied to them because of their deaths. Unfortunately it’s almost a Catch-22; find the justice you want--but do it without straying too far from the Base, being seen or interacting with anyone who might know you. They get lots of cool powers, but loads of
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Young Adult restrictions. Despite the moments of unease, this book also made me cry, laugh and root for Darina to win the day. Maguire has a handle on what its like to be the survivor in a relationship…the guilt, the anxiety and frustration. The feeling that if you wait long enough, stare hard enough, you’ll see them again. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one. I want to know more about the Beautiful Dead and see how things turn out for Darina in the end.
Reviewed by Lexile
First Test Protector of the Small #01 By Tamora Pierce Sourcebooks (Fire) 5/ 5 Stars - Top Pick ‘First Test’ by Tamora Pierce is a heart-warming story about a young girl standing up for what is right and true in a setting that is not so conducive to women and girls in “manly” jobs. Little Kel is one of the strongest female characters I have had the privilege to read in a long time; Kel captures the story and the reader’s heart in the very first chapter. The plot is simple: this is a coming of age story, easy enough, but there are action sequences, fighting, enemies, and monsters. Any young reader would be crazy not to pick up this book. Tamora Pierce writes amazingly and I can’t wait to see what else I can
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find and absorb by her.
Reviewed by MonicaBBB
Fast Life By Cassandra Carter Kimani Press 3 / 5 Stars
Fast Life, is about sixteen year old Kyra Jones who is living life on the fast track. With a drug dealer boyfriend, Makai who buys her designer clothes and gives her money. Kyra is enjoying living in the inner –city life in Chicago, until her mother, Geneva Jones is offered a promotion at her job and they will have to move to the Caribbean. And like a typical teenager she thinks her world is coming to an end. Kyra has to say goodbye to her
child friends and boyfriend. Then Kyra meets Justin on the island but she gives him the cold shoulder at first. To her, Makai is the only man for her. Kyra is torn between the guys. Does she want the bad one or the good? This is Cassandra Carter first debut novel and she’s well on her way to a bright future as an author. Fast Life is a coming of age novel that has everything – drugs, sex, drama and true love.
Reviewed by Tonni
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Manga Insights Topic: ‘Shoujo’ In last month’s column I mentioned the manga category of ‘shoujo’, or ‘girls’ comic’. Typically a shoujo manga will consist of a mixture of the following tropes: romance, comedy, and drama. The age level varies from all ages (Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi) to older teen (Nana by Ai Yazawa), with the focus shifting as appropriate. Shoujo is the biggest difference between Western comics and Eastern comics. In Asia, girls’ comics are hugely successful, dating back as far as pre-War Japan. Though originally the field was dominated by such male talent as Osamu
by Lexile
Tezuka (Princess Knight) the demands of the market saw a rise in female talent such as Moto Hagio (A, A’) and Keiko Takemiya (Andromeda Stories) starting in the 1970’s. Modern shoujo features a wide range of sub-genres including school romance, magical girl, and fantasy. The well known image of a girl in a sailor uniform, with big eyes and a bubbly attitude has become the ubiquitous signature of the shoujo genre, though in recent years that curious art style has predominantly become part of the elementary/junior high school age comics. On one end, you have shoujo like Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi, released by Tokyopop. You have Usagi Tsukino (better known as
Bunny), your ordinary girl who through happenstance finds out she is really a superhero by the name of Sailor Moon. Combining action, romance, amusing pratfalls and a fairly blackand-white look at the world, Sailor Moon was the first commercial shoujo success in America. On the opposite end, you have shoujo like Nana by Ai Yazawa, released by Viz, which is based around the trials and tribulations of two 20-somethings who share the same name and live together. The art is sharper and relies more on detail work and contrast, the story evolving as the two Nana’s lives evolve. Nana takes a much more serious look at life. Another curious factor
of shoujo is the ‘pretty boy’ dilemma. In every age range you will often find a male who is just as pretty if not prettier than many of the females. These males are often called ‘bishounen’, or ‘beautiful boy’, and will often be the butt of many gender jokes (such as Yuki in Fruits Basket). That’s it for this month, I’ll talk about what ‘shounen’ is... and why staying away from the guy with impossibly spiky hair can be good for your health! 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.
Book Conventions & Events Comic-Con Toronto March 26-28, 2010 Comic-Con Anaheim April 16-19, 2010 EPICon Ebook Convention March 4-7, 2010 - New Orleans, LA MegaCon 3/12/2010 - Orlando, FL Emerald City ComiCon 3/13/2010 - Seattle, WA Comic-Con Toronto March 26-28, 2010 Comic-Con Anaheim April 16-19, 2010 RT Booklovers Convention April 28-May 2, 2010 Columbus , Ohio Book Expo America May 25-27, 2010 - New York, NY
The Battle - The First Word By Michael W. Davis (www.Davisstories.com) “The Battle” is a series of articles about one author’s real-life trip through a minefield of experiences as he’s learning to deal with personal difficulty. There is no ulterior purpose, other than to share thoughts in the hope others may find counsel in the shared journey. For the last year I’ve been sick on and off. I’d suffer for a while, my voice would disappear, then get better; I’d get sick again, take antibiotics, and so on and so on. Then, the first week in January, the Real Big Guy (RBG) reached down and flipped me on the ear by giving me what I think was pneumonia. When I went to the doctor again, this time he wanted to do a throat scope. This time, I learned the cause of my ongoing health issues: the giant C-word. That’s right, cancer. I had a lesion at the top of my voice box. I think that made me vulnerable to any darn germ that came in the door. So the journey onto the battlefield of uncertainty, of fear, of instinctive human reflection began. I’ve decided to share my experiences during the next six months on my rough road to recovery, and I do believe I will recover. The Giant “C” I have been given a wake-up call by the RBG, and I am all ears. CANCER Why write about something so personal? Why not? The messages and calls I have received from my human network have provided such strength, such perspective, that I hope others will benefit from my thoughts as I go through this battle. I will try to keep the reading upbeat and enjoyable, but insightful as well. I have no ulterior motive. Some might see dark shadows to my motivation, and that’s their right, but I offer this series in the belief there is reason to
most that happens in our world. We may not recognize it, but it is there, under the surface, whispering, if we will only bear witness to what’s really at play. To those that are having similar rough spots in your life, my intent is that by touching on my experiences, you may gain some context that others share your thoughts during crises. My first sharing deals with the shift in my state of mind. I realized last night that I was experiencing three levels of emotional stress: Family, Goals, and Me: 1. Family - My wife of forty years and I are buds (I mean bonded at the core spirit, feeling an eternal, all-encompassing love for each other), always have been, always will be. I have terrific kids I could not be more proud of in terms of what they’ve done with their lives, and the men they’ve become: honest and full of compassion for others. My caring DIL whom I love has been so helpful; and of course, I have my angel, Emma, my only grandchild. Lordy, Lordy; is she the sparkle in all my thoughts! Plus my sister, brother, cousins, aunts—so very many lights are pointed my way.
Then there is my network of friends. I love my friends and I don’t say that lightly. They are part of the foundation I draw from. And if you think your welfare does not have an impact on your friends, than you just don’t understand how connected we are to those that touch our hearts.
2. Goals – At about the age of twenty-seven, at most, I scripted a plan in my mind of what I wanted to reflect upon those last minutes when I transferred to the next realm. They included: contributing to the common good of the nation, helping my fellow humans, and writing fiction novels. 3. Me – As humans, to some degree, we all struggle with the turmoil, pain and discomfort we have to deal with on a personal level.
When the C-word was thrown out, the Family dimension of my world peaked on my Fear/Worry Meter. To leave my wife to fend for herself, to no longer be her dragon-slayer man—chokes me up just thinking about it. Early statements by the doc-
tors were vague and confusing, giving us minimal hope. Because of the legal buzzards that hover ‘out there’, they were reluctant to tell us it was too early to make a prognosis. Hours turned to days, turned to weeks. Nights were eternal as I pondered the impact of my stupidity and blindness on my Family. Yes, I said ‘stupidity’. For years I smoked, ignored the warning, pretended it was not me but others that would be stabbed by the devil’s stick, but I was only joking myself. I quit eighteen months ago, but it should have been sooner. And now the RBG is making me sit up straight for not listening more closely. My Goal dimension also played on my mind, less heavily, but it was still there. I had spent forty years in support of the nation before I retired, had been fortunate to actually become a published author, and yet there were unfilled promises I had made to the RBG on how I would help those that needed it. Sure, I had helped on the periphery (via Lions Club and other things), but no way to the degree I am responsible for in this life. My fear was I would not
have time to do those things I am charged to do. The Me dimension was irrelevant. Hard to believe anyone could say those words and mean them. I know the treatments are hell, real hell, but it was of no consequence because I was dealing with the Family and Goal dimensions. Then there was a shift yesterday. The word from the Radiologist was very positive (in terms of sticking around) but gruesome in terms of the stuff I will deal with over the next six mouths. My Dimensional Fear Barometer flipped. I sighed with relief. Chances are promising I will be here for my family, for those I’m charged to help but kept telling, “I’ll be there in a minute.” I truly believe I’ve been given a second chance. Now, my “Me” dimension is screaming in my ear because these upcoming months will be miserable. Yet I will survive. I will get down, especially as the treatments progress, but I will survive. I’ll probably cuddle up like a baby in bed and tear up as the pain becomes severe, but I will survive.
I do lament the suffering my family will be put through, especially my wife. Yesterday was the first real poke-, stick-, etceteraday in prep for treatments. I could tell it took a toll on her to watch the other part of her spirit dealing with stuff. I try not to be too explicit with her about what I’m feeling on a physical level in my present ‘stick it here, shove it there’ realm, but I don’t lie. We have never lied to each other, and I don’t plan to start. Besides, she’s too smart and perceptive. Now the funny side. As I was going through the crap yesterday, and all these sweet young ladies were touching and caring for me, I thought, Hey, this ain’t bad. I guess a man will always be a man. One really sweet (and cute) girl said as I came out of the PAT scanner, “Here, Mr. Davis, pull up on me.” I just smiled. This 100-pound sweetheart was going to lift this 300-pound bear. I was really afraid I would pull her little arm out so I just took her hand and pushed myself up, but are we not lucky for such angels? I think so. The up-side: My wife has quit smoking, my sister has promised to quit, as has my son, and I think a few more are toying with the
idea. Nothing brings home the truth, until someone close to you is affected. I’ll return to the “Battle Series” once I start ‘real treatments’ next week and need mental diversion again. Hang loose, and anyone that wants to interact offline, email me at general@Davisstories.com. I will try to respond to everyone, but it may take time, especially as I get farther into the pits. For some strange reason, I find sharing with ya’ll soothing to my spirit.
March 2010 | 9780446563086 Grand Central Publishing
Seth Grahame-Smith
Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter
Suspense / Mystery Scandal On Rincon Hill By Shirley Tallman St. Martin’s Press 4 / 5 Stars Sarah Woolson is a female attorney in San Francisco. Her uniqueness lies in the fact that she is practicing (or trying to) during the 19th century in a society that maintains the belief that young women should have finding a husband and raising a family as their primary goal. Shirley Tallman’s Scandal on Rincon Hill describes Sarah’s unconventional approach to society and her active involvement with solving murders and championing the underdog. Several aspects of Victorian society are highlighted, including the radical ideas of Charles Darwin
whose theories about natural selection cause an uproar with various theologians and their followers. A brutal murder near the Woolson residence attracts both Sarah and her brother Samuel to the scene of the crime, he to gather information for his secret job as a newspaper crime reporter. This novel offers fascinating glimpses of San Francisco during the 1890s featuring Chinatown’s beginnings, widespread discrimination against women and foreigners and the struggles two intelligent siblings face while refusing to be typecast in their roles during these times. An enjoyable period mystery leavened with plenty of historical tidbits. Reviewed by ELF
Suspense / Mystery The Testament By Eric Van Lustbader TOR 4.75 / 5 Stars Top Pick The Testament is a story about finding yourself on a quest that does not start out as your own, but one you have been unwittingly trained for since childhood, and one that your father had been part of until his rather violent death. This quest is one you find the details out for as you go along, trying to keep one step ahead of other parties that want a cache of documents that you, and others on your side, have been guarding for centuries. It is a story of friendship, betrayal, smoke and mirrors, enemies that look like friends, and friends that are made to look like enemies - all with the
goal to reach the end. Who will win in the end? It is up to the reader to find out in the book. I found The Testament to be a great, fast-paced read and is the first Lustbader book I have read in years. This book made me remember why it is I liked Mr. Lustbader’s works when reading them (quite) a few years ago. I enjoyed not only the pace and storyline, but the lovely blend of history, geography, and the contemporary settings. While very different in style from them, I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed reading either Steve Berry or Dan Brown. Reviewed by Lilyraines
Night Tides By Alex Prentiss TOR 3 / 5 Stars
Suspense / Mystery I was intrigued by the description of this book and requested it for review. When I closed the book my feelings were mixed at best. Rachel Matre is a woman with secrets. In a college town, filled with students and professors, Rachel runs a diner by day and swims in the lake at night. The lake is more than exercise for her though. The lake inhabited by spirits shares the past with her through sexual encounters in order to get justice. She then shares them
with the city on a blog called The Lady of the Lakes. This has led to some arrests for these crimes. Then, one night, the spirits show her something happening in the present. A girl being kidnapped and the spirits want her to help this girl. This book didn’t work for me. Rachel is a strong woman who has had a few relationships all ending either with divorce or restraining orders. They all took a back seat to her relationship with the lake, which I just found weird. The lake will only commune with her if she enters it naked,
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Suspense / Mystery not even jewelry. Then when she has submerged and while it is caressing her and having sex with her, it surrounds her in a barrier or something that allows her to breathe and not drown. If you can get past the lake thing, this is apparently the start of a series. The sequel Dark Waters will be released in Fall of 2010.
Reviewed by Leslee
What God and Cats Know By Sheryl Nantus Lyrical Press eBook 4.25 / 5 Stars
Rebecca is going to help investigate the death of a part cat woman in the pride. She learns the victim was strangled and soon comes across Bran Hanover. He is a reporter who can help with
the investigation. They start getting to know each other and eat out while they start looking for clues. Rebecca gets info from the pride and who could have done it. Between dealing with the pride not wanting to share info and them not wanting Bran to know about them these two have got their work cut out for them. After visiting the pride she learns someone she knew also died. Finally Rebecca learns that the killer could be part cat also. Lots of clues are dropped along the way and you will need to read the story to find out the whole mystery. What God and Cats Know was a romantic story that I really enjoyed. The plot and characters drove me from page one till the conclusion. A great read.
Reviewed by Silvermage
Night Owl Reviews
Cooking Up A Storm
With Kyraninse
Title: What We Eat When We Eat Alone
Authors: Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarlin
First off, a disclaimer: This isn’t a cookbook, per se. It’s a lovely, rambling collection of short stories and essays about what people eat when they eat alone—with lots and lots of recipes thrown in. So what do you eat when you eat alone? This book takes you on a lovely, hungerinducing journey. There are the cereal-for-dinner people, those who make do with a hastily thrown together
salad eaten standing over the kitchen sink, and those who settle down to cook themselves a five-course meal—for one. From the chefs who are so done with cooking at the end of the day that they’re happily content with eating a chunk of cheese with a hunk of bread, to the harried wife who inhales a pint of chocolate ice cream in celebration of having just herself to worry about for dinner, to the single cop who eats hot dogs three times a day when he’s on the job, these are interesting reads that give you a clear view into the minds and lives of other people. And they definitely go quick!
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The recipes the authors included are also a lovely touch. Not only can you read about what these people are eating and why; you can try the food yourself. Even such things as Frito pie and tomatoes on toast! I pretty much cook for a living. I cook for the foreign students who board at my parent’s house and I cook for my housemates and I cook for my boyfriend. This means that, if I’m alone, it’s a toss-up between making something for myself to eat or just throwing a frozen meal into the oven. If I’m making something, it tends to be something either very, very easy or something that no one else wants to eat. Miso broth over plain white rice makes for a good solitary dinner, as does a lovely dish of chicken cracklings wrapped in homemade bread, or perhaps just a hot sesame smoothie if I’m really feeling lazy.
Then there’s the guilty pleasure of frozen meals. I tend to hate frozen meals because they’re overpriced, usually not that great for you, and there’s really not that much food in each tiny box. That said, when I’m craving mushroom lasagna or garlic shrimp on noodles, that’s my go-to option since my household hates mushrooms and half the house won’t eat shrimp—so there’s no way I’m making either from scratch. A night when no one else is at home is the perfect time to pull one of my favorites out in frozen form and indulge. Some nights I have ice cream and cookies for dinner because it’s just been that kind of day, and thank God I only need to make sure my stomach isn’t growling! In that spirit, I’ll just post a sort-of ‘guide for when you might be eating alone’ based
on all I read in this book: Buy a nice whole chicken. Organic and free-range if you go for that sort of thing— the bonus is that they come small. Pull out the packet of innards and set it aside. Mix up salt, pepper, garlic powder and perhaps a wee bit of cayenne pepper in a bowl. Rub this all over the chicken, and then throw the chicken and the neck into a preheated oven to roast at 3500F for about 20 minutes per pound. (I tend to roast mine at a lower temp for longer.) I usually put the chicken in the oven, then take a leisurely shower and read a bit before dinner. You can do as you wish or use a meat thermometer to tell you when the chicken is done. If I’m feeling frisky, I’ll prop the chicken up on cutup potatoes. Once the chicken is done, you can tear off the drum-
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sticks and eat those standing over the sink if you like. Or you can be more civilized than I tend to be. The breast can either go over a salad or into a sandwich for lunch the next day. I imagine the potatoes, being roasted in chicken fat as they were, would be divine in potato salad, but I’ve never had them last that long. If you like chicken liver, you can fry it up in a bit of the chicken fat from the pan with some onions to eat with some crusty bread. If you don’t, don’t waste it; just chop it up and throw it in spaghetti sauce. I promise no one will know the difference. For as little work as possible, chop up the chicken gizzard and heart with the liver. I like to stir-fry those with a bit of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for another quick dinner, but eating them with the liver works too. The leftover carcass can be thrown into a pot with some celery, carrots, and potatoes for a soothing chicken soup. Easy, frugal, and not at all boring. Who said ramen had to be the answer?
Kyraninse lives on the East Coast and enjoys cooking and reading. 31
Savor the Moment (Bride Quartet Series #3)
Romance by Mary Eason
It’s the end of the world as we know it. But is it the beginning of a new romance genre? The birth of the apocalyptic romance.
It seems like everyone is talking about the end of the world lately. With the Mayan calendar winding down, global disasters on the rise and a new decade beginning, well, naturally our thoughts turn to the darker side. How much longer will this world survive before someone, or something, destroys it. With all this apocalyptic talk, I’ve noticed a burgeoning new romance genre emerging. The Apocalyptic Romance. Time alone will tell if this new genre will have the lasting power
of other genres that have emerged in recent years. The inspirational romance and the erotic romance to name two. So, let’s take a look, shall we? It’s a new trend. Romance, after the end of the world. Whether the world comes to an end via natural disaster (global warming, world-wide earthquakes that create tsunamis, perhaps a meteor) or human stupidity (nuclear war), the apocalyptic romances take up after life as we know it is over. Imagine it, one day you’re living your day-today life as normal, worrying about the job, what to wear. Even dinner. And then...you’re not. Your worries focus on survival. Food.
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Water. Living without proper medical care. There would be no more computers, mass communication, TVs transportation, electricity. Are you with me so far? The picture is grim to say the least. Post-apocalypse, you walk outside your door and the world lies in a pile of rubble. You can barely walk down your street. Where do you go from there? And whom do you turn to? Factor in someone hellbent on ruling what’s left of the world, whether they are mutants caused by a nuclear explosion or vampires created by biological warfare. Or just some really bad guys, determined to control everything. In a nutshell, good and evil pitted against itself is the backbone of this
apocalyptic genre and with survival. Add in a killer heroine and hero and you have what it takes to create a apocalyptic romance. Here are just a few apocalyptic romances I’ve found to be quite entertaining. I hope you feel the same way. BEYOND THE NIGHT Joss Ware
APOCALYPSE HAPPENS Lori Handeland
THE FOREST AND HANDS AND TEETH: Carrie Ryan THE PROPHECY Dawn Miller
Mary Eason is the author of books such as “A Night to Remember” and “Root of All Evil”. You can find Mary online
at www.maryeason. com. 35
Romance
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and Falling, Fly By Skyler White Penguin Group 3.5 / 5 Stars In this dark fantasy novel, we meet Olivia. She’s a vampire, a fallen angel of desire who can’t feel any desire of her own. She feels hopeless and damned as she can’t ever feel love or be loved. She can only feed on the desire of others who see her as they want, they don’t see her. She’s sick of it, sick of having to act human and decides to return home to the L’Otel Matillide. An underground hotel where angels and rockstars and demons come to be themselves. There she meets Dominic O’Shaughnessy. He’s a neuroscientist looking for a cure to his delusions and his quest has gotten him to the L’Otel. From the beginning, his rationality clashes with Ol-
ivia’s damned existence. But no matter how much Olivia’s desire and Dominic’s logic battle against each other, their growing attraction brings them together and it might either mean their salvation, or their fall. I have never read a book such as And Falling, Fly. It’s an incredibly dark and sensual story of mythology and modernity clashing together. It’s certainly in a class of its own! While I did enjoy both Olivia and Dominic’s story, And Falling, Fly is written in a very slow pace, and admittedly, at times I was bored. With that said, White’s writing’s unbelievably lyrical and haunting. It just comes right off the page and hooks the reader from the beginning.
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Reviewed by Wendy
Romance
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Cowboy Trouble By Joanne Kennedy Sourcebooks Casablanca 4.75 / 5 Stars Top Pick Libby Brown is making some big changes in her life. She’s leaving the big city, Atlanta, where she worked as a journalist and moved to Lackaduck, WY where she’ll work on the small weekly paper and raise chickens. She’s always wanted a farm from the time she played with her Fisher Price toy farm. With no parents and a boyfriend who dropped her for her boss, Libby had
nothing to hold her back from following her dreams. Luke Rawlins lives with his parents on the ranch next to Libby’s. When he goes over to meet her, just being neighborly, he learns that his new neighbor has never lived in the country, much less out west. She’s got a lot to learn besides just the local lingo. They have ranches, not farms! Luke runs cattle, not cows! Libby likes what she sees in Luke but what does she really know about him. He could be another Ted Bundy! Her fears aren’t put to rest when she learns of 37
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Romance
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A little romance, a little mystery, good looking guys and wide open spaces are a perfect combination for a really good story and Cowboy Trouble definitely reflects this. I’m really impressed with this first book and can’t wait to see what’s next.
the mysterious disappearance of teenager, Della McCarthy. Ms. Kennedy’s debut novel is a winner. Her characters are refreshing and different. There are two things going on in this story, the relationship between Libby and Luke and the mystery of Della. Each is done well and neither goes smoothly. Things aren’t always as they seem and people too frequently see what they expect and not what is there. As I got involved in this book, I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. For me, this was the weakest part of the story. Not so much of who did what but that some how there were no visits to the hospital nor were their any police around. I felt as if I missed something. Yet, I loved the who done it part and the reflection from Libby on marriage.
Reviewed by Terri
A Whole New Light By Julia Devlin Ellora’s Cave Spicy Romance, BDSM eBook 4.75 / 5 Stars Top Pick
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Ethan Savage looks unassuming, harmless, the opposite of dangerous. Looks. Violet Moore is vivacious, beautiful, and enthralling. Ethan is half way in love with her but
Romance knows he can’t have her. He is a dom and is incapable of straight sex. Why bother? And Violet is as straight as you can get. At least that is what Ethan thinks. Violet has fantasies. Not even fully formed fantasies. She knows there is something she is missing in her sex life; she just doesn’t know what. When Ethan snoops in her bedroom at a party she is hosting and finds her stash of books he knows what she wants. And he fully intends to give it to her. A very tasteful and hot, hot, hot peek into the world of submission/domination. Ethan was equally gentle and brutal with Violet as he taught her not
to hide from what she needed. His seduction of her was relentless and totally arousing on so many levels. Violet had a hard time reconciling the man Ethan was showing her with the man she believed him to be. And who says he can’t be both? A well-done story.
Reviewed by Chris
Entranced By Viola Grace eXtasy Books eBook 4 / 5 Stars
Lora, a space bio-technician, was in a slave camp as a slave when a buyer with silver eyes decided to buy her. Tiern wants to impregnate her to prove that he and his brother, all lion shifter clones, are living, thinking and can procreate. This will be
Romance the second time they tried to impregnate women. The first time went bad because the ladies brought out the hunting instincts in the lions and they killed them. This story is only seventy-two pages long. A short read that grabs your attention and does not let go. The characters are intelligent and come to life on the pages.
Reviewed by Arianne
The Vampire and the Virgin By Kerrelyn Sparks HarperCollins 4.75 / 5 Stars Top Pick
I have long thought of these books as the Stephanie Plum series with fangs! The Vampire and the Virgin is book 8 in the Love at Stake series. Robbie Mackay has
lived for centuries but never has he so burned with anger and the lust for revenge! After his capture and the extreme torture that he endured at the hands of the Malcontents Robbie has vowed that he will make all of the evil blood suckers pay for what they did. He’s so obsessed with getting his hands on those responsible that Angus and the other vamps at Mackay Security are worried that he will get himself or someone else killed in his present loose cannon state. Angus orders Robbie to either submit to seeing a psychologist or to take several months leave of absence on the Greek Island of Patmos to finish his recovery and to cool off and get his head and emotions back under control. Robbie is less than pleased with the idea but he would rather die than to talk about the torture
Romance that he endured and the subsequent humiliation because of it. Robbie decides that he will use the time to build back his strength and get himself in even better condition to track down and destroy the Malcontents and their leader Casimir once and for all. He never thought that his exile to Patmos would bring him face to face with a woman that would make his blood burn hotter than any revenge ever could. Olivia Sotiris is a unique woman in more ways than one after all she works for the FBI as a criminal psychologist. She has gone to visit her grandmother in Greece and to try to forget the criminal mastermind that has become obsessed with her. No one could touch her here or so she thought… when Olivia meets the handsome and enigmatic Robby Mackay she feels things
she never felt before and she can’t feel something that she has always been able to feel… she can’t read Robbie or his emotions at all. Olivia is an empath and has always had the gift of being able to “read” people and their emotions for as long as she could remember. I don’t want to say more and give any more away from this wonderful plot but trust me you don’t want to miss out on what does happen! I have loved this series from book one and have been waiting for Robbie’s book! Those of you who do follow the series will remember all that Robbie has gone through to get to where he is now … and couldn’t wait to see him have his own story! Kerrelyn Sparks certainly didn’t disappoint. This one was a page-turner and it pulled me in and made me laugh and sigh and yes fan myself with those hot love scenes! ;) Reviewed by Jennj
Featured Interview by Valerie Mann
with Lisa Dawn of The Wild Rose Press
Ah, romance…one of humankind’s most enjoyable and necessary pastimes. Whether simply contemplating or actively pursuing it, romance sets us apart from other species when it comes to the emotions of love and lust. Writers of romance understand the draw of a well-written love story and the distinct excitement, desire and thrill it can evoke in a reader. According to the Romance Writers of America, though the country slid into recession in 2008, romance book sales remained the largest share of the consumer market with 13.5% of total sales. Electronic publishing is emerging as a forceful presence in book sales, with e-books the fastest growing segment of the book market. Romance electronic publishers, from sweet and inspirational to erotica, are enjoying explosive sales while providing an opportunity for new and lesser-known authors to break into the world of publishing who otherwise may not find that opportunity with print publishers. The Wild Rose Press, an award-winning electronic and print publisher is well known to readers of romance e-books. And behind the scenes, Lisa Dawn works hard to keep TWRP operating smoothly. When asked about her background and job duties, it became apparent Lisa is an integral and invaluable part of the company. My background isn’t in marketing. I met Rhonda Penders [editor-in-chief] on-line. I was strongly drawn to the concept of a Kinder and Gentler publisher—a publisher that put authors first. I came on board when the company was still in
its infancy. At that time, my role wasn’t clearly defined but it didn’t take long to realize I had skills the company could benefit from. Voila! Over the past four years, I’ve found my corner in the garden. It’s a long list of duties I enjoy. I’m the author liaison. If an author has questions or concerns, my “cyber” office is always open. If I can’t help or can’t answer a question, I can put our author in contact with the person who can help. I am the review coordinator and monitor all the Yahoo loops associated with the company. I also help our authors with our blogs. I work closely with Rhonda on promotions and marketing for the Wild Rose Press, but I also work behind the scenes with RJ Morris [project manager]. On any given day, I could update an author bio or list a book in the ‘coming soon’ section of our website. And, I coordinate all our print magazine ads. Sounds like Lisa Dawn doesn’t have enough to do to keep her busy! Fortunately for Lisa, although TWRP offices are located in New York, she works from a ‘cyber office’ in Utah, allowing her flexibility in her work schedule. She admits to having a rather chaotic work space but also has a rich imagination and included a picture of her ideal work environment. Take a moment to peruse The Wild Rose Press website and check out Lisa’s hard work in action at www.thewildrosepress.com Lisa’s Ideal Work Environment
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.
Are angels the new vampires? That’s been the hottest discussion in the book blog world the last couple of weeks. In the case of and Falling, fly by Skyler White, fallen angels are vampires so in this case yes, angels are the new vampires. This book was officially released March 2. The other angel book making waves is Angelology by Danielle Trussoni, its official release date-March 9. With books like and Falling, fly and Angelology flying off the shelves this month, angels definitely seem to be the new hot thing, but whether they are the new vampires… well, that remains to be seen (and in my opinion is highly unlikely but to each her own). You can review some the discussions that went on dur-
ing angel week (March 7) at www.vampchix.blogspot.com Favorites in the paranormal and urban fantasy genres being released this month include: Shift by Rachel Vincent, this is the 5th book in her Shifters series, released March 1.
Shadowglass Book 2 of The Shadowfae Chronicles by Erica Hayes came out March 2. Ghouls Gone Wild Ghost Hunter Mysteries Number 4 by Victoria Laurie went on sale March 2.
The Devil’s Playground by Jenna Black comes out March 23 and is the 5th book in her Morgan Kingsley series.
Never Cry Werewolf by L.A. Banks will be in stores March 30. This is the newest book in the Crimson Moon series.
Succubus Shadows Book 5 of the Georgia Kincaid series by Richelle Mead and Embers by Laura Bickel will also be released March 30.
Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf will be on shelves April 1.
A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt will be released April 6. This is 6th book in the series but the first book of The Bewitching Mysteries to be released in hardcover.
Time for me to go update my book wish list, I see several books I must have.
SFF Insider
by Shartyrant
Science Fiction & Fantasy News & Reviews The Battle Sylph is L.J. McDonald’s debut novel and the first book in a series. This is one of those books that you begin to read expecting one type of story, and then get something else entirely. It is a great fantasy/romance in which the romance doesn’t dominate the book. The idea of using sylphs as the author does is definitely unique and interesting. Sylphs are like magical manifestations. This title also touches on issues around the morality of slavery. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and recommend it for fans
of Anne Bishop’s Black Jewel series and those who enjoy a fantasy with a tinge of romance over a straight fantasy. Except the Queen, by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder, is a book that is considered YA fantasy, but is just as enjoyable for older adults. This book takes a stereotype and twists it. Instead of a human becoming lost in the fairyland, two fairy sisters have exiled themselves to the modern world of humans. The sisters must navigate through a world that is very different from their own and just as dangerous. They must defeat a threat to both worlds. And they must do both without the use of any
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of their magic. This was an interesting read with writing that has a beautiful, easy flow. I highly recommend Except the Queen for fans of fairy stories and/or of Charles De Lint. The final book I want to mention in this month’s column is Earth Ascendant by Sean Williams. This book is an epic soap opera/ military science fiction story, with a lot happening and a lot of twists. The action-packed story delves into deep themes of humanity, politics, and morality. While there are many things to enjoy in this book, I had some problems with it. I found the writing to be a bit too “flowery” for my taste; i.e., descriptive to the point that I would lose interest after each paragraph. I do believe this is a personal preference on writing styles and that the author’s voice just doesn’t work for me. This is the second book in the Astropolis series. I strongly recommend starting with the first book before reading this one.
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Science Fiction & Fantasy Terribly Twisted Tales By Jean Rabe, Matin H. Greenberg Penguin Group 5 / 5 Stars Top Pick As a huge fan of the original Grimm fairytales, dark and forbidding tales before Disney sanitzed them for children, Terribly Twisted Tales was a wonderfully, decadent treat. Each short story was a retelling a childhood favorite, but reworked and retwisted as a new perspective on an old tale. The two that stood out as my absolute favorites were Once They Were Seven by Chris Pierson and The Adventures of the Red Riding Hoods by Michael A. Stackpole. Once They Were Seven is Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but this time we see the story from Dopey’s viewpoint, and sometimes happily ever after isn’t forever.
The Adventures of the Red Riding Hoods was a amazing twist with Sherlockian overtones. Sherlock Holmes as a wolf and Watson as a sheep makes perfect sense as a crime solving duo in Stackpole’s creation. Each story could stand alone as a fun and fabulous read, but when all eighteen were put together, they are a collection that amuse, amaze, and will continue to delight reading after reading. This book is going on my bookcase right next to my Grimm Fairytales collection.
Reviewed by Danya
Science Fiction & Fantasy CodeSpell By Kelly McCullough Penguin Group 4 / 5 Stars A brilliant blend of magic, high fantasy, and epic science fiction -- McCullough’s Ravirn books are only getting better and better with each new addition. The use of internet and computer concepts to explain and play with magic is definitely a novel and brilliant idea and the execution is all but flawless. Ravirn is funny, clever, and yet he never comes across as being too powerful for his own good, or even for the good of the story. It was interesting to see how his character and abilities matured and changed throughout the book. I did think that the poor man should be cut some slack
-- near the end of the book, even if he wasn’t ready to cry uncle yet, I was all but prostrate from the non-stop action that was going on. Every single time it seemed like things were going to get better, suddenly another calamity randomly drops out of nowhere. And just a final minor pet peeve -- what’s with his terrible luck regarding women? This book left me excited and wanting more -- I’m all impatience to see how he’s going to turn the world upside down next. Reviewed by Kyraninse
Doppelgangster Esther Diamond Series #2 Daw 4 / 5 Stars
An out of work actress, an eclectic mage, a cop and add
Science Fiction & Fantasy some mafia hitmen who have had doppelganger’s created of them and you have “Doppelgangster”, a witty, suspenseful addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. Esther’s latest show has ended and as she is waiting to find another job, she takes a position as a singing waitress at Bella Stella’s, a mafia hang out. While on the job, she encounter’s a mafioso’s hit and sees his doppelganger and gets sucked into a paranormal mystery while trying to maintain a relationship with her detective boyfriend (?), Lopez, and working with a mafia hitman, Lucky, and the eclectic mage, Max. I loved “Doppelgangster” from beginning to end and had me giggling out loud. Only one complaint, the
references to a previous book premiering Esther Diamond left me scrambling to find out the back-story of Lopez, Esther, and Max. Yes, this is a stand-alone BUT with the references here and there to what happened prior to “Doppelgangster”, had me scratching my head. One of my pet peeves is when the publisher doesn’t include a listing of the prior titles by an author. In this case the prior was from a different publisher. Still it would have been nice for them to include the title on a list helping their customer out. The previous book is “Disappearing Nightly”. I did buy it so I can catch up on the history. Other than that, I loved Esther’s world!
Reviewed by Book Nerd Extraordinaire
Science Fiction & Fantasy Selling Out By Justina Robson Quantium Gravity Series #2 3.5 / 5 Stars In Keeping it Real we met Lila, Miss Cyborg Protector of the Year and Zal, Mister Improbable Elf Rocker. Lila was to protect Zal, Zal just had to stay alive... it was pretty simple at first. So of course things had to go hairy real quick, causing all sorts of problems (not the least of which Lila reuniting with the Elf who messed up her body to begin
with) and ending all sorts of problems. Selling Out, the second book, at least grants the fact that Lila is getting a crappy job with little chance of real success and high probability of death, dismemberment and lack of backup. Sent to Demonia to retrieve whatever information she could on Zal the half demon elf, Lila is ill-prepared for much of what awaits. I can definitely say I read through this sequel with more reluctance than the first book. The first
Science Fiction & Fantasy book was such a wonder and filled with such keen things that the fact I lost track of things on occasion didn’t bother me overmuch. It bothered me more in this book. True, Robson does an outstanding job describing Demonia and its societal structuring (middle management really is hell), but its not enough to hold together some of the fragmented pieces of plot. Between the abrupt shifts in narrative focus (Lila, Zal and even Malachi each have separate adventures that we follow), somewhat pointless nature too much of what happens to all three characters and lack of adequate bantering time for Lila and Zal, the book had me spending more time wondering when things would make sense then concentrating on the story itself. I will say this, I liked Malachi quite a bit in the first book and was sad by how little we saw
him, Robson makes up for it twofold in this book. Sadly I’m not sure the screen-time he had was completely necessary.
Reviewed by Lexile
The Stormcaller Book One of the Twilight Reign 4 / 5 Stars
Born on Silvernight and killing his mother in the process, as all white eyes do, Isak was named by his grieving father as a joke against the Gods. Little does Isak know but he is the Chosen. The Gods have blessed him and will make him the next ruler IF he can make it to Lord Bahl and he accepts him. If you enjoy detailed, complex fantasy, you may find yourself drawn into the complexities of this story. If you enjoy lighthearted fantasy, don’t bother. This book is dark and bloody as Isak fights his way to his destiny. Reviewed by Terri
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Tantalizing Tidbits by The Book Nerd For the past seven years, my son has managed to keep all of his girlfriends in stealth mode, so I had no idea what was happening with his love life. When he deigned to grace me with Joy’s (not the emotion-that’s her real name) presence the other day, I knew something was up. I don’t condone it, and please don’t hold it against me, but I’m going to gossip right now, okay? I’ll admit that I did a better job than normal on cleaning the house and yes, I did use a cookbook to delight her with my culinary skills, and okay you caught me – I managed
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to even find a few pieces of the “good” silverware, even though they didn’t really match. I was thrilled to talk to this icon, but it was really more important to meet someone new that would be willing to listen to all my knowledge about various books and to show off my HUGE TBR pile I mentioned last month. I took great pains to show her the treasures I’ve reviewed that are piled so neatly and how my favorite authors’ books are stacked perfectly on the bookcase. It didn’t seem like a good idea to show her some of the other books that have spilled over into areas they probably shouldn’t have -like …the bathroom. Joy really tried to look
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interested, but it didn’t take long before her eyes glazed over, as she shyly admitted to not being much of a reader. Uh…strike one. James, my son, simply shook his head, knowing what I was thinking. I didn’t kick her out, but graciously served dinner. To my surprise, she actually conversed rather intelligently, gaining a few cool points. In addition to being an avid reader, I have a really bad habit of asking people how they met, even if they’re total strangers, and the two young people in front of me certainly were no different. Have you ever come out of the bathroom with toilet paper on your shoes, or had a piece of black licorice stuck in your teeth and no one says anything at all? Joy looked at James and James glanced at Joy with something akin to panic, hoping she wouldn’t
fess up. As I glared at them both, Joy, hoping to please her brand new best friend whispered softly, “we met on-line”. Huh? Sorry on-line lovers – strike two. I’ve heard somewhere that over 100,000 marriages occur from meeting someone online, but I never thought I’d actually know one of those people. But get this-they didn’t meet on match.com, speedate.com or one of those other dating sites. Uh uh. She saw his picture on that social networking place that everyone is on called bookface.com, (I’m probably not saying it correctly, and clearly showing my ignorance, I’m sure) or something like that, and decided to e-mail him. Now maybe I’m being a pessimist or a prude – you pick the p word, but I can only hope he had all his clothes on and she fell in love with his
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St. Martin’s Press
M Jun as e 2 s M 2, ark 201 et 0 PB
smile. Right now the two lovebirds aren’t telling and I guess I should be glad about that, huh? But what about you? Has reading all those romance novels given you the courage to reach out to an old high school sweetheart, or a classmate from the second grade? Me, I’m not interested in hooking up with guys from the past because they’re probably paunchy and mean, more overweight than me, already married and looking for a quickie, or even worse – they suck in bed. I’ll just stick to my fantasies of what they “used” to look like, thank you. Despite the two strikes against her, I can tell that Joy really loves James and that’s a good thing as they plan to get married soon. (That’s another story) But since she’s not much of a reader, and so fond of the Internet, will I get my wedding invitation by e-mail? Hugs, The Book Nerd
UNBUCKLE YOUR BELT AND PULL UP A CHAIR. IT’S THE SPICIEST, SAUCIEST, MOST RIB-STICKING PLUM YET.
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Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown
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Make Me Say WOW! by Miranda Whitman A Showcase on Cover Art
Visions in red Crimson. Scarlet. Red is a color with a strong connotation of passion. Applied as a accent to the monotone illustration on the Hush, Hush cover, it transmits pain. Used as a color wash over black it suggests illicit passion as seen in the Shadowfae cover.
“A grayscale image transmits a bleak feeling of helplessness” patrick
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan… until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. She is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have
YA cover lust
Hush Hush by Becca Fitz-
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fallen. if everything will be alright. The cover illustration is Obviously everything is not intense and all right. The full of a va“The metallic foils typography riety of imincludes exagsuggest paperback gerated serifs plications. luxury” At first that are almost glance, I just too intense in wanted it. I combination had no idea what the story with the metallic effect. line was about. A skim of Upon investigation you can the book blurb solidified my see an admirable attenlust with the mention of a tion to detail with ascender bad boy. Not even the YA la“h” height and the first “s” bel could deter this 28 year flipped to allow nesting with old’s crush. “Becca” beneath. A grayscale image transThe cover draws me in, mits a bleak feeling of helpmakes me want to read the lessness accented by a back story. I must save this namearched in pain, mouth open less person. I must catch in a silent cry. The shirtless them. I must buy this book young man suggests mild and indulge my crush. sexual undertones. Broken wings and shredded feathers A Cover That POPs tinged in red reinforce the war inside the pages. Shadowfae by Erica Hayes The title appears to be Steal souls. Live in hell. in direct contrast to the Never die. In a city infested illustration. Hush, hush as with psychotic fairies and run
by sadistic vampire mafiosi, life as a soul-sucking succubus rarely involves lacy lingerie, hot guys or great sex. When viewed online, Erica Hayes’ Shadowfae cover appears to follow the current paranormal and dark urban fantasy trends. An attractive headless torso is combined with filigree ornamentation. Come upon this book in a store point-of-purchase display and the black with red undertoned color scheme whispers of dark indulgences. The metallic foils suggest paperback luxury. It is luscious in the hand with a matte finish and a large trade format. The only element that didn’t jive on the cover was the female model’s lack of golden bangles. This is a key point throughout the book, and is strangely absent to be replaced with a belly chain.
As a dark paranormal romance, I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book in The Shadowfae Chronicles, Shadowglass. Miranda is a graphic designer with color changing hair and a BFA. She blogs as Sweet Vernal Zephyr five days a week at http:// sweetvernalzephyr.blogspot.com
Great Reads
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Timeshares By Jean Rabe & Matin H. Greenberg Sixteen original stories about taking your dream vacation-in any era you desire.
Take a vacation through time with the help of a Time Travel Agency offering excursions into the past and future. Arctic Drift By Clive Cussler & Dirk Cussler A foundered Victorian ship looking for the fabled Northwest Passage holds a secret in its icy grave ... Let Sleeping Demons Lie By Maree Anderson
Kitten’s been stripped of her memories— and her clothes!—and dumped in a savage wilderness. She believes that she is human and she has no idea that nonhumans even exist—which is just as well, considering that she’s got a phobic fear of Lycans and the man who finds her is a Lion shape shifter! 64
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Great Reads
Song of the Nighthawk By Melissa Glisan Anita Rubilev, blessed with a keen ear, always sought relief from the hustle and bustle of city life in daydreaming about her great-grandmother’s tales of Mother Russia, until the stories began to overtake her dreams. The Spirit Lens By Carol Berg
For Portier de Savin-Duplais, failed student of magic, sorcery’s decline into ambiguity and cheap illusion is but a culmination of life’s bitter disappointments. Reduced to tending the library at Sabria’s last collegia magica, he fights off despair with scholarship. Dusk By Lana Griffin
A sexy vampire tale by Lana Griffin, the alter ego of a New York Times best-selling author!
Can an ancient voodoo priestess and her vampire lover overcome their “bad blood” to save the lives of ordinary humans? 65
The Four Humors and Temperaments cCall y Mary M The Four Humors: Medicine 101 b
Upon occasion when reading historical romances or romantic fiction, we run into references to humoral disruptions or a hero whose temperament is ruled by the power of his spleen. Depending on the author’s ability to weave ancient theories into a story, these allusions either make perfect sense and expound upon the complexity of a character’s personality or they totally confuse the reader and jerk us out of the story. What follows is a basic explanation of Humors and Temperaments. Many people think the Four Humors were a product of the Dark Ages. Not only were they around longer, they were also a considerable part of medical practice well into the 19th century and are still in use in some places. The spirit of science was first applied to the practice of medicine by Hippocrates (b. ca. 460 B.C.) who picked up on it from good ole’ Aristotle. Where the ancients looked to “the gods” to explain the workings of the natural world, Hippocrates urged application of that sine qua non of science: observation. In the course of the studies that merited his becoming known as “the Father of Medicine,” he noticed that blood removed from the body separates into four parts: the clear red, a yellowish liquid that rises to the top, the dark liquid that settles to the bottom, and whitish fluid. He and his students, especially his son-in-law, Polybus, took these observations and developed a theory of medicine that was to hold sway in the West and in the Islamic world for thousands of years. That theory was further expounded upon by Galen: that physical and mental health are a matter of a good balance of four liquids (“humors”), all believed
to be produced in the liver, but which are found in the veins and are associated with various organs of the body. This theory of bodily humors (also spelled humours) -- called “humorism “ or “humoralism” – holds that each person produces all of these humors, but that the preponderance of one relative to the others --– a condition called “dyscrasia” (a term still in use in medicine today) – brings on illness. Each of these humors was believed to be associated with one of the four elements which, when combined in various proportions, make up all things.
· The humor of Blood, associated with the liver and with Air, is the hot and moist element. A person in whom blood predominates is said to be “sanguine,” from the Latin “sanguis” (blood).
· The humor of Yellow Bile, associated with the spleen and with Fire, is the hot and dry element. A person in whom yellow bile predominates is said to be “choleric,” from the Greek “khole” (bile).
· The humor of Black Bile, associated with the gall bladder and with Earth, is the cold and dry element. A person in whom black bile predominates is said to be “melancholic,” from the Greek “melas” (black) and “khole” (bile).
· The humor of Phlegm, associated with the lungs and brain and with Water, is the cold and moist element. A person in whom phlegm predominates is said to be “phlegmatic,” from the Greek “phlegmatikos” (abounding in phlegm).
The following excerpt from the 11th c. Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum, attributed to John of Milano, gives the basic run-down as to the effects of too much of one humor or another. (Note: this was for illness and this is a translation of Old English with my commentary. I left the rhymes as much as possible so you could get a sense of the century in which this was written and the inherent charm of the message. In most cases, the symptoms speak for themselves.): If sanguine humour does too much abound. These signs will be thereof appearing chief, The face will swell, the cheeks grow red and round, With staring eyes, the pulse beat soft and brief, The veins exceed (swell), the belly will be bound (tight and large), The temples, and the forehead full of grief (one heck of a headache), Unquiet sleeps, that so strange dreams will make To cause one blush to tell when he doth wake (dream will be either erotic or terro-filled): Besides the moisture of the mouth and spittle, Will taste too sweet, and seem the throat to tickle. If choleric do exceed, as may sometime, Your ears will ring, and make you to be wakeful, Your tongue will seem all rough, and oftentimes Cause vomits, unaccustomed and hateful, Great thirst, your excrements are full of slime (I couldn’t think of a more elegant way to put this), The stomach squeamish, sustenance ungrateful,
Your appetite will seem in naught delighting, Your heart still grieved with continual biting (chest pain), The pulse beat hard and swift, all hot, extreme (sweats), Your spittle sour, of fire-work oft you dream (bad dreams). If phlegm abundance have due limits past, These signs are here set down will plainly show, The mouth will seem to you quite out of taste, And apt with moisture still to overflow (drool), Your sides will seem all sore down to the waist (stomachache), Your meat wax loathsome, your digestion slow, Your head and stomach both in so ill taking, One seeming ever griping together aching (headache and stomachache together): With empty veins, the pulse beat slow and soft (dehydration from excessive urination and diarrhea), In sleep, of seas and rivers dreaming oft (thirst makes one dream of water). But if that dangerous humour over-reign, Of melancholy, sometime making mad, These tokens then will be appearing plain, The pulse beat hard, the color dark and bad: The water thin, a weak fanciful brain, False-grounded joy, or else perpetual sad, Affrighted oftentimes with dreams like visions (even while awake), Presenting to the thought ill apparitions, Of bitter belches from the stomach coming (reminds me of Uncle Bubba), His ears – the left especially – ever humming.
Note in the above that the humors are said to affect even dreams. Chaucer alludes to this in “The Nun’s Tale” when the rooster, Chanticleer, had a dream in which he was being pursued
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by a yellowish-red hound-like creature. He wonders if the dream is prophetic, so his wife, Pertelote, reassures him. Pertelote then goes on to prescribe herbs for her husband to use to avoid such dreams in the future. According to humorist theory, not only herbs, but stages of life, colors, various activities, the zodiac, and even geographic location affect the production of these humors. Finding the right herb, activity, etc., and doing things at the right time, should bring about “eucrasia,� or a state of balance. Thus, contrary to modern belief, bloodletting was not the only treatment, and was a last resort. Most obviously and importantly, foods could affect the balance, with some foods being hot, and others cold; some being moist, and others dry. The common cold, for example, was believed to have been caused by a production of too much phlegm, so fish, which is a cold and moist food, should be avoided by such a patient lest he add to the production of the out-of-balance humor. Instead, he should partake of hot and dry foods, such as pepper, to counteract the cold and moist phlegmatic influence. Humorism greatly affected medieval cuisine. Cooks endeavored to prepare foods in proper balance, for example, cold, moist fish would be served with hot, dry spices or prepared with wine, which was also considered hot and dry. Game was considered to be dry, so was prepared in moist fats. Vinegar was 71
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considered cold and dry, so was tempered with honey, which was considered hot and moist, etc. The goal in cooking for the ill, however, wasn’t “a balanced diet,” but a diet that would counteract the effects of the humor causing the illness. Note that it isn’t the actual temperature or actual liquidity of a food that determines its classification as hot or cold, dry or moist. It is its inherent quality and its effects on the body. The degrees of hotness/coldness and dryness/moistness were often rated on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest. Humorist theory also affected cooking techniques: dry foods were boiled instead of roasted; moist foods were baked instead of boiled, and so on. The seasons, too, play a role in balancing or unbalancing the humors. St. John Damascene (b. ca. 676) expounded on this at length in his “Exposition of the Orthodox Faith”: Fasting during the various seasons, such as during Ember Days (Seasonal periods of penance and thanksgiving), helps bring the humors into balance. The Golden Legend, written by Blessed Jacopo de Voragine (A.D. 1230-1298), Archbishop of Genoa, gives eight reasons for our Ember Day fasts, including humoral stabilization. Interestingly, the eight musical modes, or scales, of classical Western music are seen by humorists to also affect the balance of humors, with the modes being evenly divided into four groups -- each group affecting one the bodily humors: PHLEGM:
Dorian -- Church Mode I (Modes of Gregorian Chant) 72
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The Dorian Mode dries watery Phlegm, weakening its influence such that instead of causing lethargy, it causes a sense of equanimity and calm. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Dorian mode’s imparting the power of the Sun. Hypodorian -- Church Mode II
The Hypodorian mode magnifies Phlegm’s effect on the body and induces lethargy and sleep. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Hypodorian mode’s imparting the power of the Moon. YELLOW BILE:
Phrygian -- Church Mode III The Phrygian mode reinforces the effects of Yellow Bile, inciting angry passions. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Phrygian mode’s imparting the power of Mars. Hypophrygian -- Church Mode IV
The Hypophrygian mode mitigates Yellow Bile’s effects and acts as a musical scale to sooth the savage breast. It is a tendersounding scale that incites delight. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Hypophrygian mode’s imparting the power of Mercury. BLOOD:
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Lydian -- Church Mode V The Lydian mode reinforces the Blood, producing happiness. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Lydian mode’s imparting the power of Jupiter. Hypolydian -- Church Mode VI
The Hypolydian mode -- the “Weeping Mode” -- suppresses the effects of Blood, resulting in sadness and piety. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Hypolydian mode’s imparting the power of Venus. BLACK BILE:
Mixolydian -- Church Mode VII The Mixolydian mode magnifies the effect of Black Bile, leading to melancholia. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Mixolydian mode’s imparting the power of the Saturn. Hypomixolydian -- Church Mode VIII
The Hypomixolydian mode supresses the effects of Black Bile and is the mode of happiness, perfection, and bliss. The ancient Greeks attributed this to the Hypolydian mode’s imparting the power of the stars. But what is most interesting and most fun of all to explore is 74
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the notion of how the humors affect the temperaments. The Four Temperaments (Psychology 101)
We all have an intuitive awareness that there are different “types” of people. This one’s “an outgoing fellow”; that one’s “the quiet type.” This one’s better off working with his hands while another excels at bookish pursuits. One sort of person is a leader; another sort is a follower. These basic dispositions, or manners of thinking, behaving, and reacting, are called “temperaments” – a word whose etymology reflects humorist theory. It derives from the Latin temperamentum, which refers to “proper mixture.” Going further back, it could ultimately stem from the Latin tempus or tempore, which refer to time and seasons. Humorism asserts that each person is born with a basic temperament as determined by which of the four humors tends to predominate in the individual. As we all produce each humor, there will be varying degrees of influence by each, but the effects of one is usually more evident. In some people, the next most influential humor might be quite strong so that such a person can be generally described as having a combined temperament; in others, the most abundant humor dominates the others such that there is no question at all as to which category he falls into. 75
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An exaggerated way of understanding the four temperaments is to consider four people who see a comet fall to earth. The Sanguine talks about it animatedly to all present; the Choleric wants to form an expedition to find it and analyze it; the Melancholic ponders what it means and how he feels about it; and the Phlegmatic waits for the others to decide what to do as whatever decision they make is fine by him. It’s fun to analyze friends – and characters we see in movies asnd books, too – in terms of these four temperaments. Consider “The Wizard of Oz” with its Sanguine Cowardly Lion, Choleric Scarecrow, Melancholic Tin Man, and Phlegmatic Dorothy. Or “A Streetcar Named Desire” with its Sanguine Mitch, Choleric Stanley, Melancholic Blanche DuBois, and Phlegmatic Stella. There are still temperament test you can take to discover your dominant classic temperament and to learn more about your fundamental dispositions, your bright side, your dark side, and some things you need to know in order to make the best of who you are. Both the modern Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and David Keirsey have developed modern-day equivalents that classifies personalities into groups by analyzing responses to a long questionnaire and determining where a respondent fits with regard to four basic questions. While the classic temperaments model labels all Extraverts as either the Sanguine or Choleric, and labels all Introverts as Melancholics or Phlegmatics, Keirsey has Extraverts and Introverts in each group. If you take a temperment test and find it doesn’t quite fit you, you might enjoy taking a test based on Kiersey’s model. 77
Q & A With Jennifer Linforth
Question:
Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books? --Tammie King
Answer : Beyond The Madrigals I write histori-
cal fiction. There are several excerpts to works in progress on my website. http://www.jenniferlinforth.com. I am also in the midst of co-authoring a book with an award winning multi published author of erotica. That will be a challenge to think outside my genre.
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