Welcome James R. Tuck! He is here to promote BLOOD AND BULLETS (available February 7, 2012 from Kensington). This is the first book of his Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series about a tough as nails monster hunter. Abigail’s review will be up soon, but in the meantime, James is counting down ten other male protagonists in urban fantasy worth checking out. Let us know your favorite in the comments.

You can read all the previous Top 10 Lists HERE

Top Ten Male Protagonists in Urban fantasy

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James R. Tuck

James R. Tuck here. Some of you may know that I write books, some of you may be like: “who's dis guy?” Well, I am an author. I write a dark Urban Fantasy series about an Occult Bounty Hunter named Deacon Chalk. Book one, BLOOD AND BULLETS, comes out February 7^th.

I know a lot of you are big Urban Fantasy fans like me and you know that it is not normal for a series to not only star a male in the lead role, but to be written by a man. So in honor of the release of BLOOD AND BULLETS and the main man Deacon Chalk, here is my Top 10 list of Male Protagonists in Urban Fantasy. (say that three times fast, lol.)

It’s the last day of the month which means it’s time to check out what we’re going to be reading next month in:

View all the previous Hot Off The Press posts here

(Here is the monthly conversation snippet from Abigail and her murderously hostile TBR Pile)

My TBR Pile: I dreamed of your death last night.

Me: Again?

My TBR Pile: Yes, I woke up smiling.

Me: That might be the sickest thing you’ve ever said to me.

My TBR Pile: Surely not.  There was that time I described in exquisite detail how I would bludgeon you to death with all four hardcover editions of The Twilight Saga, which you bought in addition to the paperbacks you already owned!

Me: That was pretty graphic.  I can’t believe you’re still whinnying about that.  And I gave the paperbacks away, if you recall.

My TBR Pile: What is that?

Me: What is what?

My TBR Pile: Abigail…

Me: What?  And you know I hate it when you say my name through your teeth like that.

My TBR Pile: I will not ask you again.  Explain that.

Me:…You know exactly what it is.

My TBR Pile: I want to hear you say it.  Out loud.

Me: You made me promise never to say those words again.

My TBR Pile: So help me…

Me: Box set.  Are you happy?  It’s a box set of the first eight Sookie Stackhouse books.

*This title will be released on February 1, 2012*

Title: Eyes Like Leaves Author:  Charles de Lint Series: N/A Cover Art: N/A Genre: Fantasy Excerpt: Yes No Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Tachyon Publications; January 16, 2012 ISBN-10: 1616960507 ISBN-13: 978-1616960506   Sexual Content: None. Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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*This title will be released on January 31, 2012*

Title: Tangled Author:  Erica O'Rourke Series: Torn Trilogy #2 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp (January 31, 2012) ISBN-10: 0758267053 ISBN-13: 978-0758267054   Sexual Content: Kissing Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Title: Crave the Night Author:  Patti O’Shea, Lori Devoti, Michele Hauf, & Sharon Ashwood Series: N/A Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Michele Hauf Reviewed by: Julia Paperback: 372 pages Publisher: Swell Cat; October 6, 2011 ISBN-10: 0615548377 ISBN-13: 978-0615548371   Sexual Content: Explicit sex scenes. Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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A big welcome to mother-son writing team Syrie James and Ryan M. James, co-authors of FORBIDDEN (available now from HarperTeen) described as, “A spectacular supernatural YA debut full of wit and romance.” Here at ATUF, we love getting book recommendations (they are especially fun from authors we love, & just take a look at Abigail’s review of of Syrie last book, NOCTURE, to get an idea of how big a fan she is).  And Syrie & Ryan come bearing gifts too!  See details below to win your own copy of FORBIDDEN.

Syrie and Ryan’s Favorite Books and Recommendations

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Syrie James & Ryan M. James

Virna DePaul has stopped by this afternoon to tell us a little bit about how her Para-Ops series has broadened her real life horizons.  We often ask how an author’s “day job” impacts their writing, today Virna gives us a glimpse of how the international action and drama of her characters has spiced up her actual day.

Life After Fiction

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Virna DePaul

It's probably true that there's a little bit of me in each of the characters that I write.  It's definitely true that in becoming a writer, I've had to face some fears and dig deep to investigate who I am, what I believe, and what I want out of life.  Writing has forced me to try new things, in real life and in my imagination, that have helped me become a more well-rounded person.  For example, I not only overcame my fear of flying and started traveling again (had to, in order to go to all those wonderful writing conferences!), but I've done some amazing things through my Para-Ops characters. 

Welcome Tiffany Alee! Tiffany is here promoting her book BANSHEE CHARMER (available now from Entangled Publishing). This is the first in her From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series. Her book features a half-banshee detective Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin who is on the hunt for a seductive incubus serial killer. You can read my full review here, and five of you will win a copy of BANSHEE CHARMER!  See details below.

Listening To Your Gut

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Tiffany Allee

I'm an analytical person by nature. I've worked almost entirely in analytical jobs that required stepping back, looking at the numbers and information, and making logical decisions. But even when doing this, I tried to listen to my gut. Because the emotional impression we get from people or situations can be important.

The main character in Banshee Charmer, Mac, is a cop. She looks at the evidence and she does her best to think through crimes to find the criminal. But she is also likely to rely on her gut when it comes to judging situations or people. 

Her gut makes her almost certain that an incubus is responsible for the murders she's investigating, and her gut makes her believe—despite her suspicions to the contrary—that the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency (OWEA) agent she finds in her living room is a good man.

Here's their first meeting. You can probably see why she's a bit suspicious.

*This title will be released on February 17, 2011*

Title: The Bitter Seed of Magic Author:  Suzanne McLeod Series: Spellcrackers.com #3 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Ace;  December 27, 2011 ISBN-10: 1937007200 ISBN-13: 978-1937007201   Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, rape, and incest. Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Thank you all for entering this giveaway to win one of two copies of THE WAY WE FALL by Megan Crewe

The winners are…

Though I usually can’t stand when a model’s eye color is used as the accent, the Carrie Jones’s ENDURE is the beautiful exception that proves the rule. And though Abigail and I both love a man in a fitted t-shirt, cover model on Sylvia Day’s A HUNGER SO WILD earned two enthusiastic thumbs up.  We didn’t agree on whether the high impact colors in BOUND deserved a thumbs up or a thumbs down, but RENEGADE’s trippy wonderland palette worked for us both.

 

 

Title: Banshee Charmer Author: Tiffany Allee Series: From the Files of the Otherworlder Detection Agency #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes  Source: Entangled Publishing Reviewed by: Kristina Ebook: 1st, 159 pages Publication:Entangled Publishing (January 24th 2012) ISBN13: 9781937044992 Entangled Publishing Sexual Content: Explicit sex scenes, kissing Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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*This title will be released on January 24, 2012*

Title: Horizon Author: Sophie Littlefield Series: Aftertime #3 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Netgalley Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Luna; Original edition (January 24, 2012) ISBN-10: 0373803427 ISBN-13: 978-0373803422 Sexual Content: References to sex. A scene of sensuality. References to child molestation Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

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