I don’t often post about my birthday here, but when the mail came yesterday I knew this would have to be an exception. Or rather, several hours after the mail came, to be quite honest.

Last year the first two novels in the new series by William C. Dietz were released, Andromeda’s Fall and Andromeda’s Choice. I reviewed both novels for SF Signal and enjoyed them both. I was aware of, but had not previously read, any of Dietz’s Legion of the Damned series, and this prequel series had looked like an interesting place to start.

I am quite hooked on Andromeda McKee’s story, and earlier this year I circled the December 2nd release date for Andromeda’s War. As the time has gotten closer, I’ve been anticipating a trip to the bookstore to pick this up.

As you can see, it is not December 2nd, and I have a copy of the book. This is thanks to John DeNardo, the fearless leader of SF Signal. He sent out an email with a list of books up for review copies the other day and I quickly snagged this. I was very excited when it arrived yesterday to see it was a pristine copy of the novel and not an ARC.

I certainly considered it an early birthday present, but even more so last night when I picked the book up again just to glance at it as I was telling Mary about my excitement at its arrival.

Continue reading Happy Birthday to Me →

It has been a long time since I have read any book that would be shelved in the romance section, 15 years or more. Initially, as the first chapter sets the scene and introduces the characters, I struggled a bit with the romance underpinnings of the story. By the time the chapter ended…with a very nice twist…I was immersed in the world and in Colleen’s language. Chapter Three was the point of no return. By that time I was lost in the story and understood well why my wife tore through this book so quickly. By the end I could practically feel my own blood coursing through my veins, my heart beating with the anxiety of the final pages. And let me add that guys should not shy away from this book because it is classified as a ‘romance’. There is a reason that this book is being and will continue to be compared to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you enjoyed that series, or at the very least the idea behind it, you will enjoy The Rest Falls Away.

Those are the words I wrote on January 2nd, 2007, after staying up well past the witching hour to finish Colleen Gleason’s debut novel, The Rest Falls Away, the first in what would prove to be her internationally best-selling Gardella Vampire Chronicles. I had been introduced to Colleen Gleason through this blog and agreed to give her novel a try despite it being a “romance”…a genre that I rarely turned to in order to meet my reading desires.

I was quickly hooked and enjoyed each of the five novels in this series. While I enjoyed the paranormal elements and didn’t find the romance to be too blush-inducing, it was the characters that grabbed hold of me and would not let go.

Just in time for Halloween, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles are set to be re-released, with all new covers, and you can get The Rest Falls Away in ebook format for $.99 until Thursday, October 23rd!

Continue reading A delightful fright →

(Art used for banners is the property of the wonderful Abigail Larson)

“Does something amuse you?’ asked Uncle Montague.
‘I was merely reminding myself, Uncle, that I am getting too old to be so easily frightened by stories.’
‘Really?’ said Uncle Montague with a worrying degree of doubt in his voice. ‘You think there is an age at which you might become immune to fear?”
― Chris Priestley, Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror

Stories can make us look back over our shoulders and question every creak and groan on a dark, quiet night. Stories can cause our hearts to race with ever-increasing tension as we forgo sleep to rush towards a surprising conclusion. Stories can make us suspicious of every character as we challenge the protagonist to be the first to solve the crime. Stories can make us sleep with the lights on, make us pull the covers just a little bit tighter, and can make every shadow seem menacing.

Continue reading R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IX →