Flavor of the Week - November 7th

In honor of watching X-Men: First Class last night, I'm putting Michael Fassbender's Magneto up as the Flavor of the Week for November. Nothing better to keep you warm on a cool November night than a steamy look from a man who can mold metal with his bare hands.

Review: Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

Title: Working Stiff (Revivalist #1)
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Heat Index: 2 out of 5
Release Date: August 2nd, 2011
Word/Page Count: 306 pages
Format: Purchased

Bryn Davis knows working at Fairview Mortuary isn't the most glamorous career choice, but at least it offers stable employment--until she discovers her bosses using a drug that resurrects the clientele as part of an extortion racket. Now, Bryn faces being terminated--literally, and with extreme prejudice.

Wit the help of corporate double-agent Patrick McCallister, Bryn has a chance to take down the bigger problem--pharmaceutical company Pharmadene, which treats death as the ultimate corporate loyalty program. She'd better do it fast, before she becomes a zombie slave--a real working stiff. She'd be better off dead...

News: Barnes and Noble Releases Nook Tablet

Watch out, Kindle Fire. Looks like you might have some competition.

After weeks of speculation, Barnes and Noble announced this morning that they had their own addition to the lower price spectrum of the tablet market (yeah, iPad, I'm glaring and you and your $500 tag). The Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet is joining the market at $249 versus the Kindle Fire priced at $199.

So far, the reviews seem promising but, as it seems with all technology, time will tell. In the meantime, it's also worthwhile to note that both of Barnes and Nobles' other readers underwent a price drop, putting the Nook Color at $199 and the Nook Simple Touch at $99. We'll see if it's able to provide the competition to Amazon's $79 Kindle.

Personally, as an owner of a first-generation Nook, I continually lament the lack of 3G access on the new line of Nooks. Yes, I realize that, most of the time, you're going to be using your Nook at home with access to your wi-fi. However, I couldn't tell you how many times having 3G on my Nook has saved me from suffering through a book that just wasn't working by letting me go online and click on a new shiney pretty to entertain me while I'm away from home. Hint, hint, BN.

Review: Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Title: Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5)
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Heat Index: 2 out of 5, not really any sex scenes to speak of.
Release Date: November 1st
Word/Page Count: 352 pages
Format: Purchased

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can’t tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city iself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven’t been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That’s when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago’s mayor insists it’s nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She’ll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who’s behind this, and stop them before it’s too late for vampires and humans alike.

November Book Releases

November 1st Drink Deep Chicagoland Vampires #5 Chloe Neill	November 1st Death Magic A Novel of the Lupi #8 Eileen Wilkes	November 1st Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale The Others #12 Christine Warren	November 1st Under Attack Underworld Detective Agency #2 Hannah Jayne
November 1st The Real Werewives of Vampire County Guardians of Eternity #7.6 Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox, Tawny Taylor, & Jess Haines	November 1st Magic on the Line Allie Beckstrom #7 Devon Monk	November 1st Courting Darkness Sisters of the Moon #10 Yasmine Galenorn	November 1st Nightshine Kyndred #4 Lynn Viehl
November 1st Heart of Darkness Bound by Magick #1 Lauren Dane	November 1st Razor's Edge Edge #2 Shannon K. Butcher	November 8th Endurance Green Universe #2 Jay Lake	November 15th Tricks of the Trade Paranormal Scene Investigations #3 Laura Anne Gilman
November 22nd Autumn: Disintegration Autumn David Moody	November 29th Killing Rites The Black Son's Daughter #4 M. L. N. Hanover	November 29th Vampires Dead Ahead Night Tracker #5 Cheyenne McCray	November 29th Fate's Edge The Edge #3 Ilona Andrews

Review: Love Beyond Sanity by Rebecca Royce

Title: Love Beyond Sanity (The Outsiders #2)
Author: Rebecca Royce
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Heat Index: 3 out of 5
Release Date: Oct. 1
Word/Page Count: 64,169
Format: Purchased

Eighteen years earlier, Charma lost her destined soul mate. Convinced he must be dead, she kept her fears to herself so as not to destroy the morale of the Outsiders who already live with a shaky prophecy as their only guide.

Dr. Jason Randall is a man used to getting what he wants. There has never been a problem he couldn't out think or a situation he wasn't capable of handling.

Now they are both hunted by not one but two demons as they lead the slowly forming group of Outsiders out of the darkness and back into the light. The two strong souls will have to decide if prophecy alone is enough reason to stay together through insane odds...or if love is their true fate.

Flavor of the Week - Oct. 31

Starting the week off with a bang!

In the spirit of Halloween, an evil (but totally hot and sympathetic villain - trust me)
to start off your week. Prince Nuada from Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

Review: Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider's Revenge (Elemental Assassin #5)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Heat Index: 2 out of 5 (meaning there’s smut, but not the hardcore scenes you’re going to be thinking about at a later point in time)
Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Word/Page Count: 400
Format: Purchased

Old habits die hard. And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.

Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I'm ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen.

Oh, I don't think the mission will be easy, but turns out it's a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I'm coming for her. So now I'm up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister's head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second.

Good thing I've got my powerful Stone and Ice magic - and my irresistible lover Owen Grayson - to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there's a chance I won't survive. But if I'm going down, then Mab's coming with me... no matter what I have to do to make that happen.