Dog Days of Summer Book Hits and Misses

Summer is nearly at its end, what books stood out? Which ones that didn't? Well here are some books that were sun-sational and some that were total wipe outs.

Here are the top reads of the summer (Number does not state rating)

 5.) Lorn (VLG Series book 3) by Laurann Dohner 

 Lorn is part vampire and part lycan. Since he was young he's been unable to claim her. When her life is put in danger, Lorn is the only one who can keep her safe but can he do it without claiming her? Laurann Dohner has several great series and they are all worth reading. Her VLG series are sultry thrill rides every reader 

 4.) Gabi's Secret by Sara Holland 

 This sweet but sexy story blends hot, hunky, and tormented rock star with a heroine with a secret. Jace Carrington is a rocker who has survived rehab, a divorce, and some pretty gnarly relationships. The only ones he's concerned with are with his daughter and his mother. However, when a woman literally shows up in front of his house looking as if she's been beaten nearly to death, Jace can't help but help. Unable to just walk away, he invites Gabi to come to stay with him. Gabi was sent to do a job but what she didn't expect was losing her heart to Jace. An evil threatens everything but can she trust Jace with her secret? 

 3.) Rock Hard by L J Vickery  

If sexy immortal men who are seeking their one and only Chosen gets the engine running, then look no further than "Rock Hard" by L J Vickery. This is the first book in her Immortals series. Have a cold shower ready. Marduk is the immortal God of Thunder and for centuries has been invisible to everyone but his fellow Gods. When he solidifies into corporeal form, it could mean only one thing; his Chosen is near. Tess has not had an easy life but she's risen from the flames and has taken her life back. Romance is not even on the "to do" list but when she becomes the object of affection for the sexiest man she's ever seen, she, of course, runs like hell. Marduk is determined to win her heart but can Tess trust him with it? When Tess's life is put in danger from the great sea God, Dagon and his Pilgrim Posse, Marduk will do anything to keep her safe. Ladies, get that cold shower running because this is a hot hot read! 

 2.) Dark Carousel by Christine Feehan 

 The latest installment of Feehan's Dark Carpathian Series doesn't disappoint on thrills, chills, a few jump scares, and steamy hot passion throughout. Running from a killer, Charlotte and her friend Vi have been on the run with Charlotte's little niece. In an attempt to draw the killer out, Charlotte enters the club of Tariq Assenguard; a Carpathian Hunter. Tariq has waited centuries for his life mate, and has found his equal in Charlotte. He uses her passion for restoring vintage carousel horses as a means to lure her to his home so he can protect her, Vi, and Charlotte's little niece. Charlotte feels a connection to Tariq but isn't sure she wants to jump into that pool; especially not when there is a killer after her. If you have not discovered Christine Feehan's "Dark Carpathian" series, it is an absolute must! 

 1.) Born of Legend by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

 The League is the authority in this futuristic Space Wonderland called the Ichidian Universe. Get ready for one hell of a ride readers! Dagger is the nightmare that Andarions tell their young but it is also the name of a man who is not only on the run for his life from the League and others who want his head on a platter; but from the past that threatens his future. Ushura is part of a race that was nearly exterminated completely and she has risen in the ranks of her station. She lost her husband tragically but her son has become her entire life. Falling for Dagger wasn't easy but it was inevitable for her. She will fight past forever for him but can Dagger quit thinking with his head and trust that not everyone in the Ichidian Universe wants to kill him? This book is top of my list because I read it four times and still laughed, cried, cheered, and cussed in all the same places and then some. The League Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon is more than just paranormal romance; it is a series that Gene Roddenberry and even George Lucas would be proud to read. The series is the total package when it comes to what a reader wants in a story. 

 Here are links to these five great books and their authors: 

 Lorn by Laurann Dohner VLG Series Book 6

 https://www.amazon.com/Lorn-VLG-Book-Laurann-Dohner-ebook/dp/B01FEQ2D72 

 Gabi's Secret by Sara Holland

 https://www.ellorascave.com/product/gabis-secret/ 

 Rock Hard by L J Vickery

 http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/wildcatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=162 

Dark Carnival by Christine Feehan

 http://www.christinefeehan.com/dark_series/ 

 Born of Legend by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book/born-of-legend-12/

 **** Now sadly, the five books that were total misses for me. That is totally not to say they were not written by immensely talented authors. 

 1.) The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter 

 This latest installment of The Lords of the Underworld series was just "okay" for me, however I am still a huge fan of the series and of Gena Showalter's. Baden was once the keeper of Distrust. Now, he's a servant of Hades, the God of the Underworld. Hades has set in motion a contest between Hades and Pandora. On his quest, Baden must retrieve something which puts him in the role of Extreme Wedding Crasher. Katarina has just been wed to a monster but for her beloved dogs, she'd do anything to protect them. When she's taken captive by Baden is where this adventure ride starts. 

 2.) It's In The Blood by Juanita Aydelette 

 Never stare at a shirtless hunk with green eyes. Gabrielle Madsen is drawn in by such a pair of eyes that capture her soul and leave her a prisoner of an addictive kind of love--not that she's complaining. But her educational trip turns out to be more than just a fun-filled summer escapade. She's faced with a life-changing decision that could affect the whole world around her. Her discovery of this ancient, legend-comes-to-life proves to be deadly, but her swooning heart can't break away. She and Josh Van Ness fall in love and must battle all of the forces that want to keep them apart. There were some really great parts but I just didn't connect with the story.  

Well those are my hits and few misses. Comment below and let me know what your hits and misses were this Summer and what reads you are looking forward to.

The Facebook RP Nation

You've probably been surfing Facebook or maybe you've noticed some familar or odd names when it comes to friend requests while on Facebook. Chances are they are characters from books,Manga, and other forms of media. There are literally hundreds of Role Playing (RP) groups on Facebook that range from WOW, Call of Duty, to Clark Kent. The biggest bulk in my experience are the books from authors such as Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lora Leigh, Laura Adrian, Lyndsay Sands, Gena Showalter, and Kresley Cole. Each of these Rp'ers make up accounts, choose pictures/avatars depicting their characters they have chosen, and basically if it's a good solid group-they enhance the book or series they are Rp'ing. The best benefit from this is the friendships that can be made and being able to be in a collective with others that share simular interest. However there is a dark side of all this. Jealousy, petty bickering, a loss of connection with the book/character, or worse they jump the line into the world of fantasy and never come back to reality. As an author, I know what it is to create a world and characters and the hard work it goes into developing and molding. It's a feeling like no other to have someone or a group of people love your story and characters so much that they want to not only represent them on a social network(which is great PR if the group is a positive one)but give fans and potential fans a look at beloved book characters. However, when you have groups that use manipulation or that bastardize the creative hard work of someone then that totally just kills it.

Another thing that totally stuns me is how many men-and straight men at that are reading Paranormal/Fantasy romance. Here is a questionaire I sent to a 100% Straight Male Paranormal/Romance fan who RP's.



nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: Thanks for agreeing to do this. I think there's a stigma attatched that straight guys couldn't possibly get into paranormal/fantasy romance. Why does the genre appeal to you?

Talon*******@gmail.com: I have always been a big sci/fi and horror fan. I also love a great comedy. A few years ago I had to have surgery and was laid up for 5 months and daytime television had lost its appeal. My girlfriend at the time had all these Kenyon and Anita Blake books and I picked up Kenyon's Night Embrace. I didn't really think I would like it but as I read I became really entertained and immursed into the story. I also really liked the character Talon.

nikki trueblue@hotmail.com: *laughs* Yeah I know what you mean. Night Embrace used to be one of my favorites too. So how did you get into RP?

Talon*******@gmail.com:Believe it or not I was seeing all these names on Kenyon's FB Page. I friended some of them and it started from there.

nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: How many RP groups have you been in as Talon? What are the good experiences you've had? Bad ones?

Talon*******@gmail.com: I've only been in 4 as Talon. The friends and interacting with people are great on most days. Some can be a little harder to take. I get a lot of inboxes from all types. Most like the way I play Talon-which is awesome cause I work really hard at portraying the character and some especially the ladies *winks* like to flirt. Some women though take it to far, and I usually try to rectify that but if they can't respect my wishes then I have to delete them which sucks. I can say that most my experiences have been great. I like the group I'm currently in and I've been with this one for about five months. We do lots of things yet we stay pretty close to the books and the way Sherrilyn has written her DH world. The bad aspects? Well I can only say that bad communication and people who can't disconnect from RP and FB can really sink a group.

nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: True, very true. So what do you have to say to other guys who think it's "too girly" to pick up a book from an author like Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series?

Talon*******@gmail.com: Just try it. You don't have to surrender your man card and the books are really good and well balanced that even a straight guy like me can read them and enjoy them. There are a lot of great books out there and just because they have the label "romance" on them doesn't mean that it's all hearts and flowers. It's not like reading soap operas and they're way better than what is on television.

nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: What is your advice for people who want to delve into the world of RP'ing?

Talon*******@gmail.com: Simple: Remember it's just a game. It's just something to pass the time and do with other people that like pretty much the same stuff. Remember that you can't use RP to fix your real life problems and situations and the character you play or make-up is something fictional. I don't really believe I am Talon. I have a job I go to, a kid I see on the weekends and twice through the week, and I have a lot of friends and I do have a social life outside of Facebook and the computer world. It's okay to step away and do other things.

nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: Thanks Tal for answering these questions and I wish you and your group nothing but love! I think alot of us can agree that Sherrilyn Kenyon has one of the best (notice I said one of the best) book series out there.

Talon*******@gmail.com: Nah it's cool. I enjoyed it. Any time you want to hit me up for anything like this you know who's page to visit! Take care Nikki and btw I got your book on order and my girl just bought the E-book you did. I can't wait to read them!

nikkitrueblue@hotmail.com: That is just awesome! Yeah I really did enjoy the Lost To The Night Vol 1. with Denyse Bridger, Kayden Mcleod, Brigit Aine, and Sara Gonzalas. It was phenominal working with such great and creative women. It's also been a pleasure Tal being able to glimpse your world for a bit!


So to all those in the Role Playing world-reguardless of what character you play or whether you have just invented your own, let me know your thoughts and feelings about Role Playing and why Facebook? I want to hear from you!!!

Stories,stories Stories

You know I have a whole new respect for published authors. I think I have said that more than once. I find myself everyday waking up with something new I want to write about. So much so that I think Im getting ADD about it. I have 7 different stories now that I have half typed up and I need to finish them. Right now Renegade Night by Nikki Noffsinger is for sale on Publish America. Still not any luck with getting them to lower the price of the book but I'm working on it! I know Publish America has gotten a bad rap but everyone there that has a book is in the same boat that I am-we got suckered in but we all worked really hard and submitted our work in good faith so please visit http://www.publishamerica.com and whether you buy my book or not-check the authors out. I mean PA does have a return policy so if you buy something and you don't like it-send it back for a refund! I worked for over a year on my story and I put my heart into it. So make sure when you're buying from your favorite author-I just bought Sherrilyn Kenyon's Infinity-Chronicles of Nick which is AWESOME btw, don't forget us little guys who are trying to break into the wonderful world of books. Most of us want to make money but that isn't why we write-we write because we have a passion for it! Its not a hobby or affinity but a real life passion for writing stories and poems that come into our heads or even to write non fiction!

Great and Fantastic Read

Again Im going to do some advertising. I just got Lover Mine by J R Ward yesterday and it has been really really hard to put it down! I mean it! I think that this one might be her best book out of the series yet! I mean I don't see how True Blood(and I loooove True Blood the show)has HBO to make a series out of it and here J R Ward doesn't have squat for her Black Dagger Brotherhood! I mean these books are so much more than just a "romance"! I mean you have a total and complete story here-a world here that deserves either a TV series or a movie at the very least! It's a full on action that even Rambo would be proud to read let alone watch. I sooo love the Twilight Saga-it will always have a soft part of my heart but OMG THE BLACK DAGGER SERIES SOOOO TRUMPS THE CULLENS! Seriously even our favorite, Underworld and Blade Trilogy. They are THAT DAYAM GOOD! It reminds me of my own writing in the sense that I WANT to be able to tell a story that good! I want to make my characters come to life with a vengence and create a world for them. J R Ward and authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon,Laura Adrian,Lynsay Sands, and others deserve your respect and hommage so reguardless of what genre of books you love to read, make sure you patronize not only your local book stores, online stores like Amazon, but your favorite writers as well!

Books On the Reading List

While Im creating my own possible best sellers and going through this maddness that is Publish America, I have been reading some good books. Here is a shameless plug, you can find many of these and even preorder the three soon to be released from Amazon.com.

The Masters of Time Rose Triology

So far I have read the first two:Dark Embrace and Dark Lover. The books are about immortal Highlanders who can leap through time and through their own magic save innocents from evil. The Rose women are all gifted in some way or another. Some are powerful white witches, lethal slayers(warrior women), and others have various psychic and empathic abilities. All the Rose women in these books are in the present day and are predestined for a Master of Time-the only hitch is neither of them knows it yet! The Highlanders are your very male and very ALPHA MALE warriors. So I totally recommend these books. Not only are they a highland historical kind of romance but they all the thrilling adventure that makes the Paranormal genre awesome!


The Breed Series by Laura Adrian

I have read all these books and OH MY GAWD! You will sooo not be sorry you tried these on for size! They are a total new approach to the whole "vampire" myth! These books currently can be gotten from Amazon at amazing low prices; much cheaper than the book store prices!

The Breed are beings that were sired by alien fathers. They do require blood to survive. Their biggest conflict is the fated blood lust that their "breed" falls prey to, however for the Breed Warriors with their Generation 1 and 2's the Blood lust isn't all they must worry about because an ancient evil threatens their exsistence and the exsistence of the world! The woman of the Breed warriors are no wilting wall flowers-they are strong women that have overcome alot in their lives and the decisions they make and how they fall into the lives of these warriors are life changing for them and are not some willy nilly Romeo and Juliet kind of romance. For when a Breed Warrior comes in contact with their ladies-all hell breaks loose-literally! They are rocked to their very core! So I totally recommend Laura Adrian's Breed Series.

Two books to check out from Sherrilyn Kenyon is the first of her Chronicles of Nick series, Infinity. The Chronicles of Nick begin where Nick Gautier enters the world of the Dark Hunters when he meets up with Kyrian of Thyrace; a Dark Hunter. These books are geared for a younger audience but if you are Kenyon Menyon-you'll be reading this book series and come to love it Im sure as much as you love her other books!

No Mercy-will be the latest installment of the Dark Hunter Series starring Dev Peltier and the Dark Hunter Dog's of War huntress Samia. Dev is a were-hunter; an Arcadian Bear that sports the Artemis Double Bow as a joke. Dev is ever the charmer and the doorman of his family's bar, Sanctuary. When Samia comes into the picture for the first time Dev has met his match! However Dev's story isn't the only one to be told in this book. No Mercy leaves off where Bad Moon Rising and Dream Warrior leaves off. Stryker has got a bag of tricks and a whole lot of mess is about to hit Acheron's beloved New Orleans. There will be No Mercy given and spoils will go to the victor!


Lover Mine by J R Ward-The first paranormal romance I read was Dark Lover by J R Ward and having read her entire series, I can honestly say that Lover Mine-has been well anticipated! The central story lies between John Matthews as he has come of age and his mission to save Xhex-the female he has pledged his life and love to whether she knows it or wants it! Xhex was kidnapped by the evil Omega's son, Lash and there is going to be hell to pay when JM finds her! I am sure there is going to be alot of action and drama as well as tears in this book and alot of questions will be answered. If you've not read anything by J R Ward-I suggest that you do, her Black Dagger Series is awesome and well worth the read.


All these books are and will be avail at amazon.com and I hope you check them out and share your own reading lists with me!