What I didn’t expect was to be reaching for a tissue in the first twenty pages. Ms. Carter nicely sidesteps the whole unequal romance trope by placing the emotional center of the novel in the relationship between our heroine Kate and her mother Diana. Kate’s frantic grief over her mother’s looming death drives the plot and gives more weight to the story than a YA romance would normally command.
paranormal
Guest Review: “Dead Reckoning” by Charlaine Harris
I get a bit exhausted for Sookie. There are always someone or some things “out to get her.” Throughout Book 11, there are constant threats from different sources, and Sookie is on high alert most of the novel. Sookie still struggles with being a good person, for her world is continually violent and evil visits her seemingly day in and day out. In Dead Reckoning, you don’t see her grow much as a character, as she doesn’t have time to do much of anything except try to stay alive.
Cover to Cover #446: Patricia Briggs
Interview: This week, Patricia Briggs joins the guys to talk about her newest book, River Marked, the 6th and newest book in her Mercy Thompson series. In this story, she not only explores Mercy’s Native American heritage, but also delves into a true monster tale.
Cover to Cover #426A: Jesse Petersen
Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Jesse Petersen, author of the “Living With the Dead” series, the first book of which is Married With Zombies.
Jesse talks about the inspiration for the first book and the series, balancing character voice, humor, marriages and relationships, and of course, methods of killing zombies.
Review: “Keeper of Light and Dust” by Natasha Mostert
Set in modern day London, Keeper of Light and Dust is attempting to elevate the vampire romance into a more modern “literary” form. (This would be the form I always find vaguely depressing – you can see why the book is not gelling for me.) Our young heroine, a tattoo artist is a Keeper. Keepers are mystic guardians and warriors and… well, frankly I lost interest at that point.
Cover to Cover #407A: Charlaine Harris
Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Charlaine Harris about Dead in the Family, the tenth novel in her Sookie Stackhouse series.
Charlaine talks about the challenges of maintaining continuity and even fixing previous errors, the impact of HBO series True Blood and how the fans are reacting to the deviation of the TV series from the written series, and more.
Cover to Cover #340A: J. F. Lewis
Interview: This week, Mike, Lorrie and Mike chat with author J. F. Lewis about his “Void City” series, and how the popularity of the first book, Staked, was the catalyst for his getting kicked out of their church.
Jeremy recounts how his writing a vampire novel containing a strip club and evangelical werewolves raised concerned with his church’s elders, and how that discussion led to calls for his excommunication (and possible stoning?)
Cover to Cover #313A: Charlaine Harris
Interview: Michael, Lorrie and Michael welcome Charlaine Harris to the studio, to discuss the newest in her Sookie Stackhouse series, From Dead to Worse. Lorrie has become newly addicted to the series, and Charlaine tells us about creating a world that melds real people with supernatural beings and abilities so smoothly.
We also hear a little about the upcoming HBO series based on the books, “True Blood”, and the excitement about the cast and filming is high.
Cover to Cover #289A: Stephanie Rowe
Interview: Paranormal romance writer Stephanie Rowe joins us to talk about Sex and the Immortal Bad Boy, the latest in her romantic series featuring Satan and his business of corrupting souls at the center of the adventures that lead to the romantic liasions of her characters.
The quirky humor and wide variety of unlikely heroes and heroines have proved to be a big part of the appeal of these stories to her fans. There are 4 books in this series so far, and more on the way, so keep an eye out!
Cover to Cover #287A: Jennifer Estep
Interview: Jennifer Estep joins us to talk about her Bigtime Superhero series, which began with Karma Girl, and continues with the new release, Hot Mama. She tells us about what inspired the stories in the series, her superheroes and supervillians, and the city they live and battle in, and the relationships there to be explored. Jennifer also gives us a glimpse into some upcoming works set in other worlds, and the preparation for the third Bigtime book, Jinx.
Review: “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” by Jennifer Rardin
If you take a little Stephanie Plum and add a cup full of supernatural and a dash more sarcasm you might describe this book. Jaz is funny with her self-depreciating inner dialogue and is totally believable. Vayl is mysterious and sexy and yet unbends just the right amount as the story progresses.
Cover to Cover #267: Kelley Armstrong
Interview: Michael, Summer, Michael and Brian chat with Kelley Armstrong about her latest Otherworld novel, “No Humans Involved”, and her interpretation of necromancer as Jaime Vegas takes the forefront in her own story this time around.
Kelley also tells us about her other book coming out later this summer, “Exit Strategy”, a crime thriller featuring a female law enforcement officer turned hitwoman, with not one speck of paranormal to be found anywhere in the story.
Cover to Cover #264: Charlaine Harris
Interview: Michael, Summer, Brian and Mary welcome Charlaine Harris to the studio, since she’s stopped in Phoenix during the book tour for All Together Dead, the latest in her Southern Vampire series.
Charlaine tells us how she moved from writing conventional mysteries to writing what she calls rural fantasy, the building of the universe that Sookie inhabits, and working with the characters Sookie Stackhouse and Harper Connelly.
Review: “Succubus Blues” by Richelle Mead
When I pulled this book out of the stack to read, I thought that if I had to read one more female first person narrated paranormal that I may poke out my eyes and never read again. Then I began to read and remembered why I had read so many female first person narrated paranormals in the first place. When the lead is charming and unaffected and the alternate reality is richly drawn, it is easy to escape into the author’s world.
Review: “Magic Bites” by Ilona Andrews
This is a world where tech and magic are competing for control. When the tech wave rises, magic subsides and vice versa. The fantasy construct is detailed and original. It’s a bit Renaissance society meets futuristic.
