 | Title: Dark Kiss Author: Michelle Rowen Series: Nightwatchers #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: Yes Source: Netgalley Reviewed by: Julia
 
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.
Rating:
  Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying. |
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Description:
No other love has burned so bright. Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced that she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.
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Julia’s Thoughts
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Abigail’s Thoughts
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| Click on the Fictitious Delicious link to read Smith-Ready’s reaction to the cover redesign, I like her breakdown of how Aura grows throughout the series and the “mood” Smith-Ready would like for each cover. | I was never a fan of the original covers, so I’m thrilled that this amazing series is finally getting a design overhaul. Love the bright yellow colors & just the overall smoky effect. |
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There are some very interesting Omnibus covers this week, can you arrange them in the order of Most, Less, and Least like their series covers (I think our feelings on the matter are pretty clear). There’s some amazing use of fire, a few homemade covers that look great, and at least one cover that looks homemade when it shouldn’t. 
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Description: A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them. Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men. For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| This is a lovely, soft cover. I think the title font may be a little too difficult to read, but that may just be on smaller, digital images. | I agree about the title font, but otherwise, I like the soft vintage feel. |
| N/A |
 | Title: Nightshade
A couple moderately graphic sex scenes. References to rape.
Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying. |
DESIRE IS IN THE BLOOD
Jillian Conrad never believed in vampires. But she’s just become a living, breathing weapon against them. Attacked by a desperate scientist, she is injected with a serum that was supposed to act as a deadly poison to vampires. And when the scientist is gunned down in front of her, his secrets die with him.
Declan Reyes was only half-vampire, but he hates them with all his heart. He knows that the poison in Jillian’s veins could finally destroy the undead kingdom. Also, the serum has had an unintended effect, making her blood irresistible to all vampires—including Declan, whose bloodthirsty traits are driven into a frenzy by her.
Driven by duty to protect her and by instinct to crave her, Declan takes Jillian into his shadowy world of blood and battle. But he soon realizes his increasing need for her may be a different kind of hunger…
Confession time: I’m a huge fan of Martin Short. I love all those stupid comedies he made in the 80’s including one starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan called Innerspace. In the movie Martin gets accosted by a scientist exiting an elevator (who’s being chased by an assassin) and injected with the contents of top secret experiment after which the assassin shoots the scientist and pursues Martin. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s the exact same opening scene of NIGHSHADE, except instead of a micronized Dennis Quaid, Jillian is injected with a formula that makes her irresistible—and deadly—to vampires.
My hands down favorite thing about NIGHSHADE was the surprising turn (or should I say turns?) that the romance took. The guys in this book do not start out as shiny and drool worthy—they are monsters. Harsh, uncaring, debauched monsters. And I didn’t see them coming. I kept waiting for the ‘real’ love interest to show up and didn’t even notice how the monsters snuck up on me until they were no longer monsters in my eyes. Hats off to Michele Rowen for the skillful turnabout that I bought completely.
I wonder what it says about me that I preferred the monster side of Declan to the more human version. He acted a bit ‘neutered’ for lack of a better word when he was off his vamp-suppressing meds. I also did not get how he went from almost attacking Jillian one minute because he couldn’t control his desires to essentially having to be coerced through every single step of the first sexual encounter with her. She’s supposed to be vampire heroin in every sense of the word and he had to be literally dragged to her bed protesting the whole time. I was expecting/hoping for something more there.
The beginning of NIGHSHADE is excellent, the middle is a bit lackluster, but the ending was strong and nicely set up the future for this series. The good news is you don’t have to wait even another day to read more about Jillian. Her story continues in the anthology PRIMAL that released on February 1st. The next full length Nightshade novel is called BLOODLUST and will be published on July 5, 2011. Off to read PRIMAL.
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**Visit Tynga’s Reviews today for her PSF Interview & Giveaway with Lili St. Crow author of JEALOUSY**
My guest today is Paranormal author Michelle Rowen. Her YA Demon Princess series debuted with Reign or Shine, and the sequel, DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK just released last month. Tynga had the privilege hosting Michelle earlier to talk about her PNR series Living in Eden, she’s back to answer all our questions about Demon Princess, and Bloomsbury has sent along with her 5 copies to giveaway! Details below.
Michelle Rowen writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, futuristic romantic suspense, and young adult fantasy. She has been on the Waldenbooks/Borders Group romance bestseller list and was the winner of the 2007 Holt Medallion for Best First Book and the 2009 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Vampire Romance. Her books include the Immortality Bites paranormal romance series, the Demon Princess books for young adults, and in May 2010 she launches a new paranormal series, Living in Eden, with the first book “The Demon in Me,” which is a fun, romantic look at demonic possession. Trust her, it’s totally possible. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario and is the 2010 President of Toronto Romance Writers. She wields her power wisely.
Interview
ATUF: The Shadowlands is the the dimension between the human realm and the Underworld. How did you come up with this concept and can you tell us more about it?
ATUF: What made you choose demons as opposed the standard paranormal creatures like vampires and werewolves?
ATUF: How is writing the YA Demon Princess series different from your adult Immortality Bites series?
MR: Surprisingly, it’s not that much different for me from a writer’s perspective. I guess the major difference is that I’m writing about a 16 year old rather than a 28 year old and there is a huge difference when it comes to how the characters interact at those ages and what they want in life, friendship, and love.
ATUF: There is a new love interest for Nikki in REIGN CHECK, Rhys, 'the handsome teenage king of the faery realm.' Who do you think is better suited for her? If you were Nikki, who would you pick?
ATUF: Can you tell us about your favorite scene in DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK?
MR: My favorite scene is about halfway through the book when Nikki’s at a Christmas party, stuck in a room with someone she doesn’t want to talk to if she can help it. And there just happens to be mistletoe involved at a very inopportune time.
ATUF: If DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK were ever made into a movie, who would your dream or, to keep things interesting, nightmare cast be?
MR: If someone was willing to make REIGN CHECK into a movie, I’d be so happy I’d let them cast just about anyone they wanted in it (not that I’d have any say in the matter!!).
ATUF: What other projects can we look forward to reading from you soon?
ATUF: What are some of your favorite titles/authors in the paranormal genres?
MR: To name just a few off the top of my head: Suzanne Collins, Stephenie Meyer, Richelle Mead, Jackie Kessler, Eve Silver, Charlaine Harris, and Kelley Armstrong.
ATUF: What was the hardest thing you had to learn in order to become a published novelist?
MR: Patience. And I’m still trying to learn it. ;-)
ATUF: In honor of Paranormal Summer Fest, can you describe your perfect Paranormal Summer read? And where would you love to be vacationing while reading it?
MR: A quest, a thrilling adventure, romance, danger, a hot hero and a sarcastic heroine who hate each other at first, but must work together or else, circling the globe in search of magical treasure. Hopefully the first in a series. Does it exist? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll write it. LOL. I’d like to be reading it on the deck of a cruise ship. *Sighs happily at thought*
ATUF: Thanks so much for stopping by Michelle. Come back anytime!
Visit Michelle online:
Want to read more from Michelle Rowen?
Immortality Bites
1. Bitten and Smitten
2. Fanged and Fabulous
3. Lady & the Vamp
4. Stakes & Stilettos
5. Tall, Dark & Fangsome
Demon Princess
1. Reign or Shine
2. Reign Check
Living in Eden
1. The Demon in Me
2. Something Wicked
Novels
Angel with Attitude
Hot Spell
Anthologies
Kiss Me Deadly
Bewitched Bothered & BeVampyred
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance
Giveaway courtesy of Bloomsbury USA
5 copies of DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK by Michelle Rowen
Enter the world of Nikki Donovan, a demon princess hell-bent on living a normal teenage life!
Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous — but potentially dangerous — faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki’s potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophesy. Nikki knows she’d never turn violent, and she certainly couldn’t destroy the world…could she?
Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage — and perhaps a bit of demon-level strength — to get herself out again.
Click HERE to read an excerpt of DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK
GIVEAWAY GUIDLINES
I would greatly appreciate if you shared this giveaway on your blog or favorite social networks. And please say hi to Michelle. Thanks!
Interested in being interviewed on All Things Urban Fantasy? CONTACT ME
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