Review: Winterblaze

Reviewed by Jen
 

There are so many things I like about the Darkest London series. I love the dark atmosphere and gothic feel of these books.  The characters are engaging and interesting.  The sexual tension and payoffs satisfy.  Each story maintains the tone and core characters, but they still manage to stand apart from each other... each with very different kind of romance.

This book features Poppy, the third and eldest of the Ellis sisters.  Unlike the first two book, our couple is already an established one here. Poppy and her husband Winston have been married for 14 years, and they are very much in love.  But at the end of Moonglow, Winston was attacked by a paranormal being, which opened his eyes to a world he never knew existed.  A world his wife is very much a part of.  As long as he has known her, she has hidden not only her ice elemental abilities, but the fact that she runs an organization which polices the rogues of the supernatural community.  It's too much for him to handle, and walks out on her.

As the story begins, it's been three months since the two of them have been apart.  Each is miserable without the other, but neither knows if they can forgive the other for the hurt caused.  A demon puts an end to their separation when he threatens Winston to get to Poppy.  Without spoiling the details, Poppy and Win must work together to meet the demon's demands or their lose something more precious than either is willing to sacrifice.

It's not often I can get really invested in an established couple. I'm really more a fan of that first blush of attraction and feeling you get with a new relationship.  However, I thought Kristen Callihan really made this love story sing.  First of all, I loved the flashbacks.  We do get to see the beginning of this relationship.  But even better is the way that the roadblocks between Winston and Poppy in the present create a believable threat to their future.  The sexual tension is still phenomenal (something that is usually the first thing to go with a married couple story) and I found myself rooting hard for these two to make it to the bedroom.

I liked both characters a lot.  Winston is not the paragon we first thought him to be and I like seeing his flaws.  By the same token, we find that Poppy's deceit isn't as cut and dry and we thought either. She tried to do the right thing, and through the course of the story we learn how her choices were taken away.  Everyone has made mistakes, but all for honor or love.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to address the secondary characters.  Archer, Miranda, Ian, and Daisy are back. (And we learn more about the sisters and what makes them so special.) But the real scene stealers are Mary, the Ghost in the Machine, and Jack Talent, Ian's shapeshifting valet.   Clearly, they are the focus of the next book, Shadowdance, and their setup is amazing. Their scenes here have me foaming at the mouth to read their story.

I'd say this book is about on par with Moonglow for me. I liked it a lot, though a shade less than I loved Firelight.  Maybe Firelight will just always be my favorite. But this is very, very good and I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series.  And for those of you who haven't tried these book yet... what are you waiting for??

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon or Enter to Win

Winterblaze

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Deleted Scene & Giveaway: Winterblaze

Guys, you know I love Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series. Book three, Winterblaze is out tomorrow!  To whet your appetite, I am excited to share a deleted scene from the book!!  Check it out below the blurb. And after that, enter the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win your own copy of Winterblaze. (US Only please.)

Once blissfully in love . . .

Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .

Their relationship is now put to the ultimate test.

Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

Now check out the deleted scene. It's a sexy one!! Don't say I never gave you anything.

Read more »

5 for Friday - October 5

Happy Friday everyone! And a happy birthday shout-out to Jennifer at the Book Nympho. You're almost as old as I am now, chica!

I survived the mini-vacation to Atlanta and I even got to read a little bit in the car. But this weekend, I have big plans to sit down and really catch up on the TBR.  No. Really. Please?

5. I have never read a Jaci Burton book.  You guys know I'm not big on contemporary romance. But her covers are to-freaking-die-for.  Every cover in the Play-by-Play series is drool worthy and the new one is no exception.

It's because of this series I know who Jed Hill is.  (*sigh*) Thank you Jaci Burton (or the art department for your publisher.) You make my days a little brighter.  One Sweet Ride is out in June 2013.

4.  Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series may be over, but it's not over-over.  In her newsletter this week, Kelley announced a new Jaime novella. Amityville Horrible will release through Subterranean Press later this year.  The Clay & Elena novella, Forbidden, releases in December.

In other Otherworld news (*giggle*) --remember that Bitten tv show I told you about earlier?

I wondered if the upcoming Canadian TV project would/ could make its way across the border to the US. Well, Kelley says the producers are working with a company to seek international distribution. Hooray!!

3. I love Kristen Callihan's Darkest London books.  Love.  This week she announced tidbits on book 4 in the series.  It's called Shadowdance. She said on her Facebook page that it will feature shifter Jack Talent and Ghost in the Machine Mary Chase. I saw this and was ready to pee my pants.  I am still anxiously awaiting Winterblaze, people.

I need this book now. Someone tell the calendar to jump ahead to February 13th.

2. Another cover reveal for you... this one for book three in Amanda Bonilla's Shaede Assassin series.

Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their bond, but a new assignment to protect Anya—a fellow Shaede and the first of their kind to become pregnant in centuries—stands in their way.

It doesn’t help that the two Shaedes are longtime rivals and share nothing besides mutual hatred. But when it becomes clear that someone—or something—is bent on destroying the expectant mother and her unborn child, Darian must put her feelings aside and track down Anya’s would-be assassin.

As she probes into Anya’s past, Darian digs up long-buried secrets—and a connection between Tyler and the mission that could destroy everything between them.

It's gorgeous.  But Amanda Bonilla already knows there's gonna be trouble if she breaks up Darian and Tyler.  Big, big trouble.

Crave the Darkness, which I will henceforth refer to as The Book Where Tyler and Darian Reconcile, will be out March 5th. (Don't correct me if you know something I don't. Let me keep my dreams.)

1. And finally... Christine Feehan's Carpathian series is one of my great guilty pleasures. I can do no other but to keep reading them.  (Feehan fans will get that joke.)  Well, the book trailer came out for her new installment, Dark Storm.

This book released on Tuesday.  I must go buy.  (Anyone read it yet?)

That's it for now. Hope you guys are enjoying the Favorites From My Favorites feature!

XOXO,
Jen

Favorites From... Kristen Callihan

Kristen Callihan

When Jen asked me to share some book recommendations, my first thought was, where to begin? My tastes are so varied. Even within romance, I tend to like just about all subgenres. On top of that, I read about four or five books a week, so the list can get fairly long. So what to pick?

I thought I’d chose two books that stood out for me this summer.

The first book is The Taken by Vicki Pettersson. I would call this an Urban Noir Fantasy with strong romantic elements. And since I’m utter crap at summarizing, here’s the book copy! 

“Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif's search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .”

What I love about this book is the fresh story line –hello? guardian angel PI and a Rockabilly investigative reporter- the great banter between the characters –both the main characters and the secondary ones. Excellent sexual tension (always a plus) And the stakes! Here we have a man committed to discovering his wife’s murderer, all he has to do is take Kit’s soul to heaven and he can get back to his quest, and yet his growing feelings for Kit keep Grif from doing just that.

What you end up with is a great murder mystery and a surprisingly intense love story. Which is a win-win for me!

The second book I have to recommend is Meljean Brook’s Riveted.

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland's inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magical--and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on an airship, searching for her sister and longing to return home. But that home is threatened when scientific expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard, looking to expose Annika's secrets. Then disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, with their very survival depending on keeping the heat rising between them--and generating lots of steam...

Ah, how much did I love this story? Let me count the ways. I adored David, sensitive, brave, yet pragmatic David...Sigh. Annika is at once strong, loyal, and yet vulnerable. It was a treat to see these two come together. The world building is fantastic, but more importantly, it supports the story Meljean’s telling –as opposed to creating a lot of flash in order to impress.

Riveted is an over-the-top adventure, a sensitive love story, and underlying it all, a clever social commentary that makes you think. In short, Riveted is everything a great steampunk romance should be. And did I mention the Trolls? The Whale? The freaking rocket? Did I? Why aren’t you reading this right now?

Thank you so much to Kristen Callihan for these recommendations! I asked Kristen to be a part of this feature because, frankly, Firelight is one of the best books I have read this year.   It's part historical, part paranormal, part faerie tale and all good.  It appears to be just a marriage of convenience between Miranda and the enigmatic Lord Archer... but it's so much more. Our hero, Archer, is dark and mysterious. He wears a mask covering his face and he is deliciously tortured. The heroine is strong and loyal and the perfect woman to help tear down his walls and save him in every way that matters. I loved this book!!! If you have not read it, you must give it a try.

In the meantime, you can enter to win one of Kristen's recommendations. Just fill out the Rafflecopter forms below for a chance to win Riveted by Meljean Brook or The Taken by Vicki Pettersson. US Only.

Be sure to check out all of the Favorites From My Favorites posts and giveaways this month, by clicking here.
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5 for Friday - August 31

This has not been a good week in Red Hot Bookland. There was a pesky hurricane that hit my neck of the woods. It screwed with the kids' school schedule. It stressed me out, worrying about my family in New Orleans.  It made work at the tv station a nightmare.  Hurricanes are the devil's work. Add to that the fact that I started a diet/ exercise adventure in torture routine... and, well... screw it. Let's get to the good stuff.

5. Let's start strong. Adam Levine. American Horror Story.

This looks so bad ass. Who is planning to watch? The premiere is October 17th.

4. I love Amanda Bonilla's Shaede Assassin books. The ending of Blood Before Sunrise was a real kick in the nuts.  Now, she's got the blurb out on book three, Crave the Darkness.

Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their bond, but a new assignment to protect Anya—a fellow Shaede and the first of their kind to become pregnant in centuries—stands in their way.

It doesn’t help that the two Shaedes are longtime rivals and share nothing besides mutual hatred. But when it becomes clear that someone—or something—is bent on destroying the expectant mother and her unborn child, Darian must put her feelings aside and track down Anya’s would-be assassin.

As she probes into Anya’s past, Darian digs up long-buried secrets—and a connection between Tyler and the mission that could destroy everything between them…

As if I wasn't a wreck already. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME, AMANDA BONILLA?? Now, I'm not sure if I want to read it.  --OK, that's a lie. I'm totally going to read it, but I'm very nervous about it.

Somebody hold me.  Adam Levine, maybe?

Crave the Darkness is out March 2013.  The Ty POV novella, Lost to the Gray, releases February 5th.

3. No cover on that book yet, but I do have one gorgeous cover to share. Here's a peek at The Lost, book two in the Celestial Blues series by Vicki Pettersson.

Wow!! The Lost is out in March.

2. I Love Kristen Callihan's Darkest London books with a capital L.  Now Kristen has posted four deleted scenes from Moonglow.

 
You can find them all here, along with a giveaway on book one, Firelight. If you haven't read this book, go enter right now!! (Or after you finish this post and leave a meaningful comment.)

1. And finally. Another tv show that has piqued my interest.

ABC has ordered a pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D. with Joss Whedon as part of the deal. I have loved almost every show I have ever seen from that man.  (Buffy forever!!) Whedon is tapped to write the pilot and direct!  King Joss says the series will be "autonomous" from the movies.  I will try not to hold the absence of Chris Hemsworth against them (too much.) No word on any casting, but I am intrigued.

OK. That's it for this week. My husband is watching Gigolos in the background as I type this and it is very distracting. (It's so horrible, I must watch.)

XOXO,
Jen

Giveaway: Moonglow

In case you missed my gushing review, I loved Moonglow, Kristen Callihan's sequel to the amazing Firelight.  If you haven't read it yet, here is your chance.  Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. US Only this time.

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Read more »

5 for Friday - August 3

It's finally Friday and the closer I get to the Authors After Dark convention, the slower time seems to be moving.  I'm headed in Tuesday to begin my week of debauchery celebrating the love of booze books with fellow bloggers, readers, and authors.  I will endeavor to tweet often and take lots of pictures.  I've got a list ready of great drinks and restaurants for people to try if they're new to the city.  If you want any suggestions, just let me know!

5. Kristen Calliahan has revealed the cover for Winterblaze, book three in the Darkest London series.

There is no blurb yet, but she did say in her USA Today/ HEA article that "Poppy may be happily married to London Police Inspector Winston Lane, but a demon is about to put their love to the test."  (*swoon*) Winterblaze is set to release February 26th.

4. I've got another Moira Rogers freebie to report. If you haven't tried their Southern Arcana series, you can start at the beginning! Crux is free at Amazon (and Barnes and Noble) for a limited time.

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn't crack...until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn't explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny. 

If you like it, there are four other installments out in the series so far. Book 5, Impulse, releases September 4th.

3. Harlequin is giving some Megan Hart books a makeover.  A slew of her erotic/powerful/wrenching stories are getting new covers. Check it out:

Any Megan Hart fans out there? Do you like the new covers better or the old ones?

2. Looking to get lucky? Maybe you need to pay a visit to Olympic Village.

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

According to ESPN, there's a shit-ton of hanky panky going on among the competitors. Think I'm exaggerating? The article linked above goes on to say that Olympic organizers have ordered 100,000 condoms to keep up with the, er, rigorous demand.  The best quote comes from a former Olympian who talks about how athletes have a chance to win gold medals and sleep with hot guys. Win-win.  I guess I should have taken gymnastics. 

1. And finally... you may not know this about me, but I am a closet horror movie fan.  I don't get to watch as many as I used to with two little ones in the house, but the impulse is still there. I had a little squee moment when I stumbled over this trailer for the new Silent Hill movie.

Bad ass!! (Is it just me or does the girl look like a dead ringer for Michelle Williams?)  I'd like to just spend a day in a dark house with a bottle of wine and watch all of these movies back-to-back.  The zombie nurses are my favorites.

Don't judge!

XOXO,
Jen

Review: Moonglow

Reviewed by Jen
 

I loved Firelight.  When I found out it was the first in a series, I wondered how Kristen Callihan could possibly duplicate such an arresting and unique story in a sequel.  The short answer is: she doesn't try to.  Yes, Moonglow is set in the same world, with overlapping characters.  But Daisy has a decidedly different story to tell than her sister did.  And Ian is nothing like Archer.  Their story is singular, and that is a good thing.

As the book opens, Daisy is coming out of mourning from the death of her horrible husband. She is finally free to find happiness and passion.  She is just getting started, by trysting with a handsome man outside of a party, when she witnesses a werewolf attack.  Her companion is killed and she is injured.  That's when Ian swoops in and brings her to his home.

Ian is Lycan, but he lives apart from others of his kind. He recognizes the scent of wolf at the scene of the attack and must make sure that Daisy does not spread the word of what she has seen.  As she recovers, the two pick up a flirtatious banter --that is, until he realizes she is Miranda's sister and she figures out that he is the oaf who tried to interfere with Miranda's relationship with Archer.  They plan to go their separate ways, but when it's revealed the rogue wolf is targeting women who share Daisy's scent, Ian realizes she'll only be safe in his care until he can track down the killer.

Ian carries the tragedies of his past like a boulder on his back.  A failed romance.  A lost child.  They make him afraid to open himself to love.  Beyond that, there are pack politics at play, which put him and Daisy both in danger.

Callihan has taken the world she built in Firelight and expanded it, introducing new supernatural creatures to mingle with the old.  At first, I wondered why she was introducing so many threads, but then she wove them all together, showing they were relevant from the beginning.  There was nothing predictable.  She surprised me and excited me with the werewolf arc... and still managed to answer old questions and reveal new truths about Daisy and her sisters.

The tone and the atmosphere is very similar to the last book, which I was happy about. It's still got that wonderful dark, gothic feel.  A London that is a contrast of rich lushness and dank grime. The environment was almost like its own character in the book.

I enjoyed the romance between Ian and Daisy. It was really nice to watch them overcome their old hurts to let each other in.  The sexual tension was good and the love scenes were steamy.  The resolution was unexpected and satisfying.  Plus, we've got the set up for Poppy's story.  I'm curious to see how that will play out, since she is already married to her hero and so much has already happened between them.

Very good.

Rating: A-


*ARC Provided by Grand Central Publishing

Click to purchase: Amazon

Moonglow

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Publisher: Forever (GCP)

5 for Friday - June 1

Happy Friday, everybody!  I've had a great reading week.  Moonglow was awesome!  Different from Firelight, but I liked that Kristen Callihan didn't try to write the same book again.  I also read the two Shaede Assassin books by Amanda Bonilla.  Loved!  The first installment, Shaedes of Gray (no relation to the 50 variety) came out in December. Book two, Blood Before Sunrise is out in July. I was so sad when I was finished, but then weeeeee! I found out there is going to be a novella out this week.

5.  Tuesday is apparently Day of the Novella.  "Finding Magic," the Downside prequel from Stacia Kane, is coming out.  So is "Devil's Gate," an Elder Races offering from Thea Harrison.  And as I just mentioned, Amanda Bonilla has "When Shadows Call."

The envy of 1900s society, Darian is the rich, beautiful wife of a prominent Californian doctor—but her life is far from perfect. For years, Darian has suffered at the hand of her cruel husband and yearned for an escape—one that she knows to be all but impossible.

But when an enigmatic stranger comes to call, Darian finds herself charmed by his seductive smile and the inexplicable connection she feels. And when he makes her a thrilling—yet frightening—proposition, Darian must decide if she’s strong enough to abandon the mortal world she knows and answer the shadow’s call…

If you're a UF or PNR fan, I happily recommend all of these series.  Very good stuff.

4. The countdown continues to the release of Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. (It's just 26 days away!) To torture help us with the wait, we've now got a book trailer:

It's getting close!!

3. Two cover reveals to share with you. Here's the new one from Stacey Kennedy's Frostbite series:

The other is the next Abby Sinclair book by Allison Pang:

Mystically Bound is out in October.  And all I can say is that Kip and Tess better have some real-life sex in that book. Not almost-sex or fantasy-sex. Not dream-sex or ghost-sex.  REAL SEX, Stacey Kennedy.  Are you listening?

A Trace of Moonlight is also out in October.  And after the cliffhanger from A Sliver of Shadow, I am already super-excited to see what happens next. I have faith that Allison Pang will not disappoint.

2. You may or may not know this about me, but I love zombies.

I was so excited when The Walking Dead made it's debut on AMC.  I watched the first four episodes. I liked them.  And then the show went on hiatus for, like, a year.  And I never went back.  Should I?  I need input, guys.  AMC is doing a marathon of all the episodes July 7-8, and if it's worth it, I can catch up. In the meantime, check out this behind-the-scenes clip from filming of Season 3.

1. And it wouldn't be Friday without the Tumblr Photo(s) of the Week:

(**Photo removed to prevent copyright infringement**)

OK. That's it for now. The Shameless Summer Hop starts next Friday, which also happens to be my birthday.  Remember, real friends send friends dirty man-candy photos as birthday gifts.

XOXO
Jen

Review: Ember

For those of us who just couldn't get enough of Archer and Miranda in Firelight, there is just a little bit more of their story to share.  "Ember" is characterized a prequel novella, but I'd consider it more like a companion piece highlighting a string of events leading to Archer & Miranda's reunion.

Most of those events are referenced in Firelight, which make them familiar, though enjoyable to read in more detail.  We get a closer look at Miranda's failed engagement and how she met Billy, as well as Archer's trip to Egypt and the Mexican vision quest that leads him back to London.

I don't know how well this will serve for people who haven't read the novel yet, but it works well for those of us who have.  It's simply missing the most vital part of what makes Firelight sing, which is the relationship between Archer and Miranda in action.  Still, it's a welcome extra for fans of the series.  A little less than 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Ember

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Forever (GCP) 

Chat & Giveaway With Kristen Callihan

OK. You've had to be living under a rock to miss my gushing over Firelight, the new HR/PNR by Kristen Callihan. I loved this book so much that I contacted Kristen the very night that I finished it, begging asking her to visit the blog.  She graciously agreed.

Jen: Let me start out by saying how much I truly loved Firelight.

Kristen: I’m so glad! Thank you! :)

Jen: What drew you to a Beauty & the Beast type of story?

Kristen: Honestly? I was trying to come up with a story while my daughter was watching Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. LOL. But as I sat there, I started to wonder, what if this beast was cursed not to become an animal, but to lose his soul? And what if Beauty wasn’t this helpless victim but a woman with her own curse? A bunch of ‘what ifs’, and one hour later, I had my story hammered out.

Jen: Archer is such a compelling character. How would you describe him to new readers and how would he describe himself?

Kristen: I would describe Archer as intelligent, compassionate, and strong, but so very hurt by life that he’s walled himself in.


Archer would tell you that he does not describe himself. In fact, the very thought of it has made him flee the room. Wait, he’s returned to inform me that he did not “flee” the room but quit the room because he no longer wished to discuss such feminine notions, and would I please use the proper vocabulary to describe his actions. Ahem. Right then.

Jen: There is so much mystery throughout the story about the way he looks. How do you manage to make a man sexy and swoon-worthy without describing what he looks like?

Kristen: Well I’m very happy to know he came off as swoon-worthy. :)

Early on, I had this fear of, how will the reader find this guy hot if he’s hiding behind masks? But then I realized that was rather the point. Miranda, and the reader by extension, had to fall in love with what’s on the inside first. Then it became quite simple: show what is inside Archer. The man he truly is. Which is what most people fall in love with anyway. So I showed that he was strong and brave, yet vulnerable and hurt, that he was devoted and kind to Miranda, and willing to lay down his life to save her. And above all, that he has a razor-sharp wit. Because what woman doesn’t love that?

Jen: It takes a special heroine to be able to look beyond the mask to see the real man. Let's talk a little about Miranda.

Kristen: Let’s! :) I loved writing her. She was so pragmatic and loyal. I knew she would be the perfect foil for Archer because he would never be able to scare her away. She’d simply tell him to get over himself. Lol. But I also knew there needed to be a reason for her fearlessness. With her power, I’d say she has good justification to rush headlong into danger.

Jen: In the book, she wields a supernatural power. Do you think you'll ever attempt to ferret out the origin of her gift or is it just one of those things that simply is what it is?

Kristen: Yes, the origin of her gift will be revealed in Moonglow. Miranda and Archer appear in Moonglow, but not it the vein of typical romance couple’s appearances, in which they are all smiles and producing broods of children. I didn’t want to do that to them, because I think it diminishes the couple when that occurs –not the children, but the lack of their original spark (g). So they return with a purpose. And things will be explained. ;-)

Jen: What is your favorite scene in the book and why?

Kristen: Hmm… I don’t think I have one favorite. But my favorite bits are the verbal sparring between Archer and Miranda. They totally took over when it came to dialogue. Right from the start, I always knew what they were going to say to each other. As for a snip, let’s see… Here is one that I particularly liked. This is after Archer has been injured while defending Miranda and they’ve had…ahem, quite the heated encounter against a brick wall.

"Good God, you're bleeding like a skinned cat."

"Really, Miranda, you are the most colorful speaker at times." A smile ghosted over his lips. Sparring with her apparently restored his good humor. Or perhaps it was easier for him to brush away what they had done, she thought with a flush. But when she reached for him, he swatted her hand.

Her fingers clenched her skirt. "This is unfair. You can save my life, assault me in an alleyway-- "

"Assault, was it?"

"Just look at you! It's a wonder you are even sitting upright."

"How odd. My definition of 'assault' must be in error."

"You are not made of iron, you know. You should have alerted me of your injury at once. You could have bled to death! What were you thinking?"

His mouth twitched. "I'm going to assume that was a rhetorical question."

Jen: I am kind of partial to the actually scene IN the alleyway. Wow. (**moving on**) In addition to Firelight, you've released a prequel novella, Ember. Do you think people should read it before or after Firelight?

Kristen: Good question. Ember is the story of what happened in the time between when Miranda and Archer first meet in Firelight to when they get married three years later. It is intended to be a companion piece to Firelight, so in that regard, you can read it either before or after. If you read it before, you will hopefully want to know what happens when Miranda and Archer have their reunion. If you read it after, you will hopefully understand Miranda and Archer a little bit better, especially Miranda, as this is about her days of thievery and forging a friendship with Billy Finger –cockney pimp and most excellently natty dresser (his words).

My favorite part about it, however, is that I got to include a love scene from Archer’s point of view. Something I couldn’t really do in Firelight because of that pesky word count limit my publisher held me to.

Jen: There is already very high praise for Firelight, including a nod as a RT Top Pick. And it's your debut novel! Was the road to publication a smooth one or were there alot of bumps along the way?

Kristen: Most definitely bumpy. My agent, Kristin Nelson, spoke a bit about this on her blog. But in short, no one wanted Firelight when we first went out on submission with it. I was told various things such as, readers weren’t into Gothic stories, they hated Miranda, they hated Archer, etc. Which goes to show that reading is such a subjective thing. But the main problem was that it didn’t fit into a neat category. This is disconcerting to publishers because it makes it harder to market the story.

There was one editor, however, who did want it. Only I had to change Miranda’s point of view. Initially, Miranda’s scenes were in first person and Archer’s in third. This, I found out, was a big no-no in romance. So I spent a few months revising. Almost a year after going on submission, Firelight sold to that editor.


Because of this, the praise means very much to me. But in the end, it is simply gravy. That people get to read the story is what’s key.

Jen: I can't let you go without asking about what you have planned for the future of the series. Talk to me about Moonglow and tell me there are more books planned after that as well.

Kristen: Moonglow is Daisy’s story. Daisy is Miranda’s slightly naughty and irreverent sister. Newly widowed, she is set to experience the pleasures of life that her repressive husband withheld from her. This all goes to pot, however, when she draws the attention of a mad werewolf, and the only one who can save her is another werewolf –the equally naughty and irreverent Ian Ranulf. Unfortunately for Ian, the more he interacts with other werewolves, the more likely it is that he too will go mad. If Firelight is about trusting love despite all logic, Moonglow is about love helping you to become the best version of yourself.


After Moonglow, is Winterblaze, Winston and Poppy’s story. And then I am under contract for a fourth book featuring characters introduced in Moonglow. With each book, we learn more about this other London. The one filled with supernatural beings, including werewolves –obviously- but also such beasties as Ghosts in the Machines, who are body thieves with clockwork hearts that keep them enslaved to their creator, and the organization that keeps them all in check.

Jen: Thank you so much for taking the time to visit the blog and answer my questions. And I wish you great success with all the Darkest London books!

Kristen: Thank you so much for asking me! I enjoyed visiting!

If you haven't read Firelight, here is your chance! We're giving away a copy (US only.) Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Another very big thanks to Kristen for answering my questions today!

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Review: Firelight

This book doesn't fit in one simple category. It's historical... with elements of the paranormal. It's gothic, dark, dangerous and romantic. It was completely enthralling and I absolutely could not put it down.

It's been three years since the mysterious Lord Archer first met Miranda. She captivated him with her fearlessness and fiery disposition. Now he has made arrangements with her father to marry her. Miranda doesn't realize that Archer is the same man she encountered that night in the alley all those years ago. He is simply an imposing man, who wears a mask covering his entire face.

No one knows what lies beneath Archer's mask. But Miranda falls for the man underneath the disguise. And he falls for her. The love story is only the beginning, though. Archer is working tirelessly to find a cure for his disfigurement. He's part of a mysterious organization of immortality questers. Someone is gruesomely killing off his associates and framing him for the crimes. Archer is full of secrets, which are slowly revealed over the course of the book.

The slow unraveling of Archer's story is amazing. It's second only to the phenomenal love story between him and Miranda. Kristen Callihan takes sexual tension to an entirely new level. I have never hungered for a single kiss between two characters as much as I did in this book. Just a kiss and I was breathless.

Slowly, she cupped his cheek. The air grew heavy, her chest tightening with each draw of breath. Archer closed his eyes, seeming to steel himself, and she knew he meant to pull away again. The idea of it slashed at her breast. Suddenly, everything became quite simple.

Her hand slid to his neck as she closed the gap she could no longer tolerate. Archer's eyes snapped open, and a tremble ripped through him. "Don't..." The protest died as her mouth fitted to his.

A shock of feeling coursed through her limbs at his touch. His breath caught sharply as though he too felt the shock. His body grew taut as a bow, quivering with barely held restraint. And she knew then that as much as he desired it, he feared touching her.

Every tiny piece of Archer that is unveiled was like a small victory. Every touch, every emotional connection between him and Miranda was a gift for my greedy eyes. And believe me, I felt greedy... for every crumb. In most books, I would frustrated or annoyed at how long it took for the couple to get together, but here, it's done so well, it's like magic.

I did have a little trouble keeping all the men straight in Archer's club, especially when we were dealing with fathers & sons and courtesy titles mingled with real names. But it wasn't too overwhelming. The villain, once revealed, was not a huge surprise... but the "why" part of it was something I didn't see coming.

Archer is a fantastic tortured hero. Miranda is the one happiness he has found in so many long, miserable years. And she is a worthy and loyal heroine. She has secrets and strengths of her own, like an ability to wield a sword and to control fire.

The book is really quite extraordinary. It's different... something shining, sparkling, and unique in a sea of familiar and predictable paranormal and historical romances out there. I loved it. 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Firelight

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: February 1, 2012

Publisher: Forever (GCP)