Review: WHISPERS IN THE SAND by Barbara Erskine

Whispers in the Sand by Barbara Erskine is a masterful interweaving of three connected stories of ancient evil surviving through the ages to surface again in the present.

After divorcing her rat of a husband after fourteen years of patronizing, faithless marriage, Anna travels to Egypt for a trip down the Nile to follow in the footsteps of her great-great-grandmother, Victorian artist Louisa, as described in Louisa's sketchbook. Anna also brings along Louisa's old Egyptian scent bottle, which experts have claimed to be a fake, but which excites the interest of not one, but two men on Anna's cruise ship while awakening a long-dormant evil.

Vivid descriptions draw you right into the exotic sights, sounds, scents and searing heat of the colorful Egyptian desert of past and present, even showing the man-made changes between the Victorian period and now. The suspense never lets up as more and more of the malevolence surrounding the scent bottle reveals itself in parallel to Louisa and Anna, as their journeys mirror each other's.

I love the intrepid Louisa, who fights back against the human villain, malicious magic and the restrictive Victorian mores in her search for happiness. Anna is another matter. She's my least favorite type of heroine, the doormat. Given her history, I can understand her letting the villain bully her at the beginning, but she never develops. At the end, she is as much of a doormat as at the beginning.

Whispers in the Sand will keep you reading right to the last page to find out all the surprises, and Louisa is breathtaking. But the story would have been much better if Anna had developed some backbone by the end of the story.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: THE TAMING OF THE WOLF by Lydia Dare

In The Taming of the Wolf, Lydia Dare continues her Regency werewolf saga with the tale of a rake who has met his match--and likes it.

Feral Lycan Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, must learn how to be a proper werewolf. Unfortunately, his ignorance causes him to make a life-altering mistake. Now he must live with the consequences, which include Miss Caitlin McLeod, who wants nothing to do with him. Even worse, she isn't bound by his error.

Dash makes blunder after blunder in his attempts to convince Cait to marry him. His worst mistake is not telling her why he must wed her. Cait harbors her own secrets. She carries a power as great as Dash's, and tit-for-tat, doesn't reveal all to him, either.

Subtle humor infuses this tale of a rake whose rakish ways return to haunt him. While I don't much care for rake heroes, Dash is appealing in his increasingly desperate efforts to secure Cait's acceptance of his proposal. I very much like Cait, who refuses to succumb to the charms of a man who wants her for his own ends, even as she longs for his caresses.

For those who like werewolves, Ms. Dare proves yet again what enticing heroes they make.

Thank you all,
Linda
ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Review: UNCERTAIN MAGIC by Laura Kinsale

If you've never read a Laura Kinsale novel, read one. Now. I'd heard how wonderful her historical romances were, but, somehow, I never got around to reading one.

What a mistake.

Uncertain Magic is a vivid, atmospheric tale of deceptive appearances, high stakes, and wrenching emotion. Set in late Georgian England and Ireland, the novel adds Irish magic and mystery to a can't-put-down, sweeping drama of two misfits who find their fit with each other.

Roderica can read minds. The constant intrusion of others' thoughts is so painful, she fears she will never wed--until she encounters Faelan, "The Devil Earl", the only man whose mind is opaque to her power. Faelan needs money to resurrect his impoverished estate. Roderica has a large dowry. Without telling him of her unusual ability, she encourages him to seek her hand in marriage. Faelan harbors his own secrets. Is he really the devil, as his nickname implies?

Against the terror and tumult of the doomed 1798 Irish rebellion, Roderica and Faelan, afraid to trust each other, risk their love, their sanity, and their very lives.

Uncertain Magic was first published in 1987 and time hasn't diminished the power and appeal of this early paranormal. I especially like that Ms. Kinsale has written two of my favorite characters, the strong heroine and the wronged, decent hero.

Uncertain Magic is a keeper. I look forward to my next Laura Kinsale novel.

Thank you all,
Linda

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

Guest Steph Burkhart: Myths of the Moon

Today I welcome fellow Classic Romance Revival author Steph Burkhart. Steph blogs about her latest book, The Hungarian, a Victorian paranormal about those perennial favorites, werewolves.

Leave a comment today, May 3, with your email address for a chance to win prizes. See the end of the post for Steph's generous listing of the prizes available. Steph will select the winner. Check back here to see who won. The postcard winners are Karen H in NC and Mary Ricksen. Please send Steph an email to sgcardin1@yahoo.com or botrina_buchanan@yahoo.com with your snail mail address so she can mail you your prize.

Welcome, Steph!

I'm excited to be here at Linda's blog, the fourth stop on my mini blog tour for "The Hungarian." My thanks to Linda for having me today.

Beware. The Wolf is Coming.

"The Hungarian," is my latest paranormal release. Count Matthias Duma harbors a dark secret, but when he meets a young British noblewoman, Katherine Archibald, he risks everything for her love. What's his secret? He's a werewolf.

I love a good wolf. " *grin* Why? Because the wolf is also a man. He's alive, he's living and breathing. For me, it's not about the wolf, it's about how the man deals with the beast inside him.

Every paranormal creature brought to life in books is grounded in "myths." Without myths that the readers are familiar with, it's hard to connect to the story. I thought I'd talk about the myth of the werewolf as it pertains to "The Hungarian."

I consider myself a classic myth author. What are the classic myths when it comes to wolves?

#1 – Silver will kill a werewolf.
#2 – You make a werewolf when bitten by a werewolf.
#3 – You're only a werewolf during the full moon.

#1- Silver will kill a werewolf. Actually, any bullet with fierce stopping power could probably kill a werewolf. History also lists burning at the stake and cutting off the head. " *ick* I much prefer using silver as my weapon of choice. It's less gruesome. Silver has always been associated with the moon. Perhaps it's the color since the moon appears silver-gray in the night sky.

#2 – You make a werewolf when bitten by a werewolf. That's a pretty classic myth that's come down through the ages. In fact, that's how Count Matthias is created. A bunch of gypsy werewolves who were just passing through attacked him during the full moon.

#3 – You're only a werewolf during the full moon. The early movies took creative license with this, making it a "classic" myth. More historical myths state that once bitten, a werewolf stayed a werewolf. I subscribe the classic Hollywood myth. It's more fun. It allows me to explore the psyche of the man who is a wolf. Matthias also changes back into his human state by sunrise. The transformations are painful to his body. I built on this in that a witch, trained in herbs and roots, helps the wolf by preparing potions and balms to help him heal.

You can build all kinds of myths for the werewolf world, but for me, working within the confines of classic myths was very rewarding.

In that regard, I wanted a cover that taped into a classic feeling. I also wanted it to focus on the man, not the wolf.

Matthias is Hungarian and Budapest is the jewel of the nation. Nothing captures the pride and achievement Hungarians feel more than the Széchenyi Bridge. It was constructed in the 1840's, and was one of the first suspension bridges built.

Matthias also has unusual eyes, malachite-green with a gold ring around the iris. Jenifer Ranieri, the cover artist, was able to blend Matthias's eyes with the Széchenyi Bridge to set a gothicly romantic tone for the story.

What I love is how everything came together. While staying true to classic myths and creating such an expressive cover, the story inside keeps it's focus on the man who is the wolf, and allows the romance to shine.

Excerpt:

"Now it's time for you and Miss Archibald to dance," said Resa.

Katherine waved her hands. "I couldn't dance that."

"You don't have to. We can dance the Csándás," said Matthias.

Resa clapped her hands again. "Yes, it's perfect."

"I don't know how."
"I'll show you," said Resa.
"Go on, Kate," said Liz, smiling. "Give it a try."

Katherine took Matthias's hand, and he helped her to her feet. Martin and János played their music at a slow tempo. Resa showed her a couple of steps at a time. It took about ten minutes, but Katherine seemed to pick it up. Matthias danced it slow for her the first time. There wasn't much jumping, but it was a rather square-type dance, and there was clapping involved. When the song ended, Resa approached.

"Let me dance with Count Duma at the normal pace. Watch me. Try to twirl the skirt when I do."

Katherine nodded her head. Again, the music started, and Matthias danced with Resa. From time to time Resa would look at Katherine to make sure she was watching. Matthias was pleased at how Resa was trying to help Katherine learn the dance.

The dance finished in a flurry of moves, with Matthias wrapping his hands around Resa's waist and Resa resting her head against his shoulder. She quickly parted from him and looked at Katherine. "Remember, it starts off slow but builds up to a quick ending."

"All right," Katherine said.

Matthias took Katherine's hand again. The music began. They danced in front of the fire. Liz and Paul clapped to the beat. They danced around the pit, laughing and clapping. The guitar played faster, the flute hit higher notes. Resa sang in Hungarian. They danced quicker, and when the Csándás ended, Resa threw powder into the fire. The fire crackled. It hissed loudly and then the flames turned colors -- purple, blue, green, and white before slowly returning to yellow. Matthias held Katherine tight against his muscular body. He felt her heart pulsing with energy just like his was.

"How did you do that?" asked Paul.
"Magic," replied Resa.

"Well done, Resa," said Matthias. Then he looked down into Katherine's eyes. "I've enjoyed myself tonight."

"So have I."

"Ah-hum," said Liz.

Katherine reluctantly tore herself away from Matthias's all-consuming stare. He wasn't ready to let the moment die. They sat down and he offered her a glass of wine. Their hands touched. He felt a warm tingle slide down his arm. Encouraged, he leaned closer to her.

"Did you like the dance?"
"It's different."
"I haven't danced like that since--" he paused. "Since my wife died."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought her up."
"She was a part of your life."

"But she is no longer. You're here now," he said. He put his hand on her waist, and with his other hand lightly ran his fingers down her arm to her wrist, unable to tame his desire to touch her intimately. She wrapped a silent spell around him in that moment -- one he didn't want to be broken. He glanced over and noticed that Paul and Liz were busy asking Resa about her magic fire and refilling their wine glances.

He looked at Katherine. Their eyes met. Lost in her soft spell, he snared her mouth in a sensual trap. She kissed him back with equal passion. Their mouths opened and closed, tasting each other like they were savoring the sweetest tokaji. Matthias loved feeling her warmth so close to him. Lost in a sea of bliss, he trailed his kisses over her chin and down to her neck. His head spun. He groaned his delight. His hand cupped the nape of her neck, arching her toward him, giving him full access to her sensitized flesh.

The music started again. Katherine lightly pushed Matthias away, breaking their contact. Her eyes were filled with untamed desire, yet hinted at confusion.

Check out "The Hungarian's" Book Trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwaF8hAdow

Goodie Time:

I'll pick two winners out of those who post on today's blog to receive an autographed postcard of "The Hungarian's" Cover.

To qualify for the GRAND prize: You have to post on every blog in the tour. I'll put your name into the "hat." Then I'll pick the Grand Prize Winner's name out of the hat.

The GRAND prize: A coffee mug with "The Hungarian's" cover, a mousepad with the cover, magnets, and a set of autographed postcards.

The Hungarian is available 1 MAY 2010 with Desert Breeze Publishing. Here's a link to the site: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-87/%3Ci%3EBudapest-Moon-Book-One%3C-fdsh-i%3E-cln-/Detail.bok

Steph Burkhart and BE MUSED

I'm happy to welcome fellow Classic Romance Revival author Steph Burkhart. Steph blogs about the paranormal anthology, Be Mused, which comes out on April 1 from Desert Breeze Publishing. Leave a comment today, March 31, with your email address for a chance to win prizes. Steph will select the winner. See the end of the post for Steph's generous listing of the prizes available.

4/1 We have winners! NinaP and Kaye Manro, see the comments to find out how to contact Steph to receive your prize!

Welcome, Steph!

While the author is away, the muse will play.

I just want to say I'm excited to go on a mini-blog tour in support of the Be Mused Anthology coming out with Desert Breeze Publishing on 1 April 2010. It has five light-hearted short stories about muses, their writers, and love. My thanks to Linda for having me today and for Judah Raine for putting together this tour through Classic Romance Revival.

Be Mused has a great line up of authors – J. Morgan, Katie Charles, Me (Stephanie Burkhart), Nicole Zoltack, and Sandra Sookoo. The premise of the novel is that a writer is a muse's job. Muses exist on another plane. They relax by going to bars and visiting friends. They go to muse conferences and take vacations.

"Inspiration Lost and Found" is Katie Charles's story. Jezebelle Jones is a young muse and inspiring her writer is a challenge. He likes to write horror stuff and she's a romance muse. Jezebelle didn't pick him. To recharge her batteries, Jezebelle attends a muse conference where she meets an older muse, Trevor. Will she find a way to inspire her writer with Trevor's help?

I love how Katie has captured the youthful voice of Jezebelle with honesty and authenticity in this story.

Here's an excerpt:

Jezebelle just kept going. "--but it's better than what I am dealing with," Jezebelle ranted, throwing her hands in the air. "And maybe I will look into how to quit. There has to be some protocol for it."

"I still think you are overreacting," Dina said while stirring her coffee.

"Di Di, this is the fourth time he has done this to me. And when he locks me away it is in a tiny little box that would make Tinkerbelle's drawer look huge. No, I am not taking it too close to heart."

Diana shuffled around in her bag for money to pay for the coffee. "Okay, maybe you are right... but still, he's an author. He thinks he has the right to. They all think they have the right to. It's nothing new." Before she could place the money on the table, a free flying paper smacked Diana in the back of her head.

Jeze snickered as her friend grabbed wildly at the paper as the wind whipped it around her face. She reached over and plucked it from Diana's head and handed it to her. "Wow, who did you make mad?"

Diana stuck out her tongue. "Keep laughing and you'll find out.

"Sorry," Jeze said, suitably contrite. She saw no sense in upsetting her friend or risk that veiled threat. It could involve her paying for coffee. "Uh, so what does it say?"

As Jeze got up and moved behind her, Diana read it out loud. "Come one! Come all! To the biggest muse gathering of the year! Meet the muses that inspired the 'Gifted' series and the 'Early Morning' saga, even the muse to Herald Peter! The best selling book to date! Hear them talk about how they got to where they are today and maybe get an autograph or two. Anything can happen. Do you want to miss out?"

****

If you post on the blog today, I'll be picking two names out of a hat to win an autographed postcard with the "Be Mused" cover on it, signed by me.

I'll also be offering a grand prize gift bag of "Be Mused" products including a coffee mug, mouse pad, magnet, and autographed postcard to my blog tour winner. In order to qualify for the prize, you have to post on all the blogs in the tour. The prize winner will be announced on 10 April. (I go on vacation from 4-9 April)
"Be Mused" will be available in ebook format at the Desert Breeze Website, All Romance books, and on Amazon for the Kindle 1 APRIL 2010.

Desert Breeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-73/Be-Mused--dsh--%3Ci%3EAn/Detail.bok

Visit Steph at:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
http://sgcardin.tripod.com
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
http://www.writing.com/authors/sgcardin

and at Associated Content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=84269

Thanks for coming over, Steph. Come back any time.

A Tale of Two Books

This weekend, I read two romances, both set in the Regency. One I liked, one I didn't.

The book I didn't like was written by a very popular author, whose books I adore. This author creates strong heroines taking unconventional paths that, in some respects, defy society's norms.

Not in this one. The heroine was indeed strong, but the unconventional path she was forced to take, not one she chose, plays into the current trend of sex, sex, and more sex. Boring.

I also disliked the hero. A rich, powerful, handsome nobleman, at almost thirty, he's still devastated by the untimely deaths of his parents and brother when he was a child. The author expects me to feel sorry for him. While his loss is sad, he has more than his share of life's good things as compensation. Deal with it, man, and do something useful. No sympathy here.

The book I liked is Phantom, a Regency paranormal, by Lindsay Randall. I don't generally like Regency paranormals. Usually, there's too much paranormal and not enough Regency. Not Phantom. Regency blends seamlessly with paranormal in a gripping, fast-paced action tale of a man doomed to house a demon from midnight to dawn and the love of his life who helps set him free.

The heroine, Robyn, is a woman who fights against being forced into a betrothal to an evil man. The hero, Dax, is exactly the kind of hero I like--a man who's suffered a great deal for crimes not his own, and his struggle against the injustice has made him a better man. This story, written in Ms. Randall's lyrical and highly descriptive prose is a joy to read. I'm glad I found it.

The first book is on the best-seller lists. Sadly, I see no other books by Ms. Randall listed in Borders and Barnes and Noble. I hope such a wonderful author, and one I've just discovered, doesn't fade away.

Thank you all,
Linda

Guest Blogger - Christina Phillips

Every Friday Christina Phillips has a guest at her blog. She was kind enough to interview me when my Lady of the Stars was released. Today I'm happy to return her favor, with Christina answering her own interview questions. Welcome Christina!

Touch of the Demon is Christina's second Scarlet Rosette from The Wild Rose Press, and was released on Friday 13th March 2009.

Bio

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Linda!

I moved to sunny Australia from the UK almost ten years ago with my very own hero and our three adorable children. Over the last few years as I’ve actively sought publication for the romances I love writing, I’ve tried my hand at category romance, chic lit, paranormal and now write dark erotic romance for The Wild Rose Press. My mantra is Never Say Never, because I will immediately go and do whatever I said I could never attempt!

Can you tell us a little about your book?

According to my publisher, Touch of the Demon is a Futuristic/Fantasy. This thrilled me no end, as I thought I'd written an erotic romance with paranormal elements! Here's the blurb:

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

And here's an excerpt:

“I’ll beg you for nothing.” It was a lie. If Celeste thought begging could get her anywhere, then she would already be on her knees before him. She kept that knowledge locked deep in her heart.

Rafe took a step toward her and her heart hammered in her breast. He was taller than any human she had known over the years. But then, he wasn’t human. Beneath the long leather coat he wore against the night’s chill air, his broad shoulders all but blotted out the rest of the world.

She sucked in a suddenly panicked breath, and his evocative scent of other worldly essences, meshed with hot, heavy male enveloped her. Against every principle she stood for, her nipples strained against the fabric of her bodice, peaking with desire and disgust and pure, animal heat.

A mocking smile twisted his full sensual lips. “I could make you beg, human.” His finger traced the outline of her face and she shuddered, hating the way she reacted and yet unable to help herself. “I might even listen to your pleas.” His smoky whisper shimmered along her senses, searing with words unsaid.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

I was in the middle of writing a full length paranormal (non-erotic) and having a hard time with it. One night, while on the computer doing some correspondence, the entire plot of Demon literally fell into my brain. The image of a demonic assassin, lying in wait for his mark, captivated me (probably because this demon was so hot my keyboard started smoking!!!) But what also excited me was the fact the heroine, far from being an unwary victim, was actually tracking the demon with a view to elimination. I opened up a document there and then and started writing. My full length paranormal is still waiting for me to get back to it!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

At the beginning of 2008, after nine years of rejections, revisions and 'almost-but-not-quite-what-we're-looking-for' responses, I was seriously fed up with the whole writing business. I didn’t know whether to go back to my beloved category romances, or pursue my paranormals. A lot of the time I just procrastinated around the web and if it hadn’t been for my fantastic CPs who encouraged me to try something new – erotic romance – I’m honestly not sure I’d ever have got my act together again.

Then, in May 2008, the Romance Writers of Australia held their inaugural Romance Roadshow in Perth.

The Roadshow was an amazing experience. I met so many local writers I'd only known online before and the overall buzz and atmosphere was so friendly and encouraging it completely revitalised me. I was so inspired, I queried The Wild Rose Press the following Wednesday with my first erotic romance, Foretaste of Forever. On Saturday, the editor emailed and said my synopsis intrigued her and could I send her the full.

I sent her the full. A week later I received an email offering me a contract. I was so excited! After calling my husband I jumped on MSN where I spent several hours squee-ing with my CPs!!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

Fave books I love paranormal romances, whether they are dark or fun and quirky and also love reading books by my friends, who write across the spectrum from YA, category, regencies and erotic.

Fave movies include but aren't limited to Love, Actually, While You Were Sleeping, Notting Hill, Serenity, Pride & Prejudice.

Fave TV shows. I can't go past this without mentioning Battlestar Galactia. I'm completely obsessed by the entire universe and can't wait for Season 4.5 to come out on DVD. If all my burning questions aren't satisfactorily answered by the final episode there will be Trouble!!!!!!!!!

My current fantasy squeeze. OOOH! this is a hard one!! Well I did lust over Hugh Jackman for many years, and still think he is gorgeous and hot. But Clive Owen still has that special place in my heart, although strangely enough I've yet to base any of my heroes on my fantasy squeezes. However, after discovering the sinfully beautiful Henri Castelli just before Christmas I've realised he's a dead ringer for my last hero!!!

What are you working on now?

I'm currently attempting to finish off several projects which I left hanging towards the end of last year. This includes the paranormal mentioned above, which I've decided to rewrite as an erotic romance, a fallen angel and my lovely Roman.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

I have a website and blog which I try to keep updated on a regular basis. I'm also at MySpace and Facebook.

To buy Touch of the Demon from The Wild Rose Press, click Here

Trailer for Touch of the Demon

Thanks for having me! It's been fun!

Thank you Christina.

And Thank you all,

Linda

NaNoWriMo Starts on November 1

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. Aspiring novelists can join the fun at the website and attempt to write 50,000 words in November. Now, the words don't have to be good or even spelled right, but they do have to be written.

I have the general idea of my story, along with a kind of synopsis/plot--all of fifteen double-spaced pages. Not much, but more than a pantser like me usually begins with.

The task seems almost hopeless now, but when I start, the words usually gush out. If anything, I wind up with lots extra. And however far I get by December first, which I intend to be all 50,000 words, I will have a first draft.

This novel will become Part One of my Regency comedy trilogy. I named the trilogy The Feather Fables because all the books deal with birds. I began Part Three, wrote Part Two, then returned to Part Three. Talk about going backwards, but I had to start somewhere. Parts Two and Three both need a lot of editing because when I wrote them I knew next to nothing about writing. But I did finish. Both are entire stories.

I didn't intend to write a trilogy, but with my reuse of characters, the books developed into one. Part Two is a Christmas fantasy containing a goose who understands English. Part Three has almost no fantasy elements and stars an ornithologist with an embarrassing secret. The ornithologist is present in all three novels, but doesn't achieve his happy ending until the end. Frankly, I adore the guy and want him around as long as possible.

Getting back to Part 1, my hero is fairly unusual--a were goose. A wise woman transforms the hero into a goose because he's acting like a fool.

When I told my husband the premise, he said to turn the hero into a turkey.

A turkey won't work because the story needs a large bird that can fly fast for long distances. Besides, the hero isn't a hopeless case. He starts out as an idiot but changes along the way and a goose isn't quite as unredeemable as a turkey. But, wow, a were turkey, now there's a concept.

Part 1 also contains supernatural spies, a lady mathematician, secret codes and evil shapeshifters.

And only 30 days. Progress reports will follow in the weeks to come.

Thank you all,

Linda