Alpha Showdown 2012: Update

Round 2: Charles Cornick vs. King Dorian 

Round 3: Lothaire vs. Cat

For those of you who are not aware, The Alpha Showdown is an annual event over at Vampire Book Club where your favorite fictional alphas throw down. Only one can be the winner, and it's up to you! Voting is open right now for rounds 2 and 3 so head on over and vote!

Round 2 was a tough vote for me as I love both these guys. Charles is one badass werewolf assassin, but my loyalties lay with King Dorian. During my read of the Dark Swan series, I couldn't get the bondage obsessed fae king out of my head! Dorian can be my alpha any day. ^_^

Round 3 was a bit easier as I haven't read anything by Kresley Cole yet, *gasp!* I know, it's criminal, but I plan on fixing this very soon. I voted for my girl Cat from the Night Huntress series. This redhead is not to be messed with. Her husband Bones won round 1 against Rachel Morgan by smothering her with his 1,536 votes. The poor girl only got 192! I love Rachel, but please, Bones? No contest. Wouldn't that be awesome to see Cat and Bones duke it out in the end?

Who are you voting for? Where do your loyalties lay? Let me know! 

Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop! (INT)

 

  

It's finally here! The Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop is hosted by Under The Covers Book Blog and  Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews. Thank you so much to these wonderful blogs for setting this all up! This is sure to be a great way to kick off the sultry summer season! 

Now I love me some sinful reading and I recently found myself with an extra copy of this one so I thought I would share it with you all! Yes, this giveaway is international so if the winner so happens to be over seas I will provide them with a copy courtesy of The Book Depository. Nobody should miss out on the Brothers!

Wicked Giveaway Of:

 Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide

J.R. Ward

Synopsis

Prepare to enter the dark, passionate world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and get up close and personal with each of the Brothers....

You'll find insider information on the Brotherhood, including their dossiers, stats, and special gifts. you'll read interviews with your favorite characters, including a heartbreaking conversation with Tohrment and Wellsie, conducted three weeks before she was killed by lessers. You'll discover deleted scenes -- accompanied by the whys behind the cuts -- in addition to exciting material from the J.R. Ward message boards and the answers to questions about the series posed by readers. you'll learn what it's like for J.R. Ward to write each installment of the series, and in a fascinating twist, you'll read an interview with the author -- conducted by the Brothers. For the first time ever, you'll see an original novella about Zsadist and Bella, and witness the miracle of their daughter Nalla's birth and experience the depth of their love for each other. Also, you'll receive a sneak peek at the much anticipated next book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover Avenged, Rehvenge's story.

This is a compendium no black Dagger Brotherhood fan should miss...and an insider's guide that will seduce you as powerfully as the sexy band of Brothers and the "ferociously popular" world in which they live.

Giveaway Details

One Lucky reader of Wickedly Bookish will win a copy of Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward. This giveaway is open internationally courtesy of The Book Depository.
Entries can be gained in a variety of ways as stated in the Rafflecopter. In order to be fair to everyone, all entries will be checked so please be honest! If I find an invalid entry, it will be removed from the giveaway. As following Wickedly Bookish is a mandatory entry, if I do not find your name in my list of followers, all your entries will be removed from the giveaway. I would much rather skip over this stuff and just get to the fun, but it has happened before, so I need to state it all before the entries are collected.   Winners will be chosen within 24 hours of giveaway's end and will be notified by email. If you are a winner, you will be expected to claim your prize within 48 hours of receipt of email or another winner will be chosen. To Enter:  1. Be a follower of Wickedly Bookish2. If you are not a US resident, make sure The Book Depository ships to your location 3. Be 18 years old or older4. Fill out the Rafflecopter below5. Don't forget to check out all the other wonderful blogs and giveaways on the Linky below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Shadow Harvest Goodreads Giveaway!

 The Shadow Harvest

Goodreads Giveaway!

My good buddy, and amazing author Joel T. McGrath is having a giveaway on Goodreads for his upcoming release of the sequel to Shrouded Secrets! There are five signed, finished copies up for grabs of this much anticipated next installment in the Shrouded Secrets Chronicles so don't hesitate in getting your name in now! I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the ARC. For more info on this title and the author, continue on!

Enter for a chance to win here. 

You can read my review for the previous book Shrouded Secrets here. 

And finally if you are interested in my interview with Joel last year, you can read that here. 

Synopsis

 Most teenagers believe that they are immortal, but unlike fifteen-year-old Vincent, they are wrong. As strange accidents befall hundreds of teenagers around the world, Vincent is unknowingly recruited to fight a secret, supernatural conflict that spans back to the earliest days of human civilization. He soon learns the dark truth about some immortals and their ability to exert an invisible influence over every aspect of humankind’s modern society.

Immortals are not gods, though some have chosen to be worshipped as such. They are not wizards, but can perform acts filled with great magic when it serves them. Although they are not vampires, many of them prefer to deal with humans from behind the cloak of a specter in the shadows of the night. Now, for the first time in thousands of years, immortals have been blessed with the ability to have children, yet, at the same time, cursed with the possible theft of their own immortality.

When Vincent becomes ensnared with a forbidden love from his past, he discovers that deceit, jealousy, and lust capture his once perfect heart. As his friends become enemies, his enemies become his only source of redemption. When the face of wickedness is revealed, and true love slips like grains of sand through his fingers, the good that Vincent has done in the service of strangers seems pointless when he is unable to stop the death of his closest friend.

In The Shadow Harvest, some immortals will risk everything for love, while others struggle to collect power and fame. One will fight for honor, while another seeks redemption for past sins. Vincent comes to understand that his immortality is an enchanted gift, and like all enchanted gifts, it has rules. The spell of life everlasting can be broken, and he, like anyone else, can die. 

  

About The Author:

Joel T. McGrath resides in New Hampshire with his beautiful wife, Jessica, their two cats, Chance and Mittens, and two gerbils, Scurry and Scamper. He is the eighth of nine children and currently enjoys a career of nursing. He graduated from Virginia Western in 2003 and always looks forward to whatever life throws his way. He began writing because he had stories to tell that were in contrast from the mainstream books that crowd the bookshelves. With his book Shrouded Secrets, he dared to produce a work that would kindle the imagination, as well as entice and challenge the reader's intelligence. 

Visit Joel At:
His Official Website
His Blog
Goodreads
Amazon 
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble

Seven Habits of Highly Infective People Virtual Tour

 Welcome to Wickedly Bookish's stop on The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People Virtual Book Tour! On this stop, you will find a synopsis, author bio, and my review for the book. I had a difficult time expressing how much I truly loved this book, but hopefully my review does it justice. There is also an Amazon button at the bottom of the post where you can purchase your own copy. If you are a fan of zombie fiction I highly suggest you make use of it. 

Enjoy! 

Synopsis

Bosley Coughlin can travel through time. And the future does not look good.

Through a heady cocktail of drugs and the occult, Bosley slips through time and space and glimpses The End. Cities lay in ruins, and those who still cling to life hide in the rubble like frightened animals. Walking carcasses shamble through the debris exacting a horrible fate upon any living they find.

This horrific future is the only world fourteen year old Ocean has ever known. Starving and alone, she struggles for even the most basic of necessities: food, water, shelter, love…

In the present, Bosley stumbles across Clarice Hudson and soon realizes that she is much more than a simple shop girl. One by one, she displays the seven symptoms of the contagion that will bring Bosley’s world to an end and create the nightmare Ocean calls home. Clarice may hold the key to stopping the coming apocalypse and sparing Ocean from the atrocities of mankind’s imminent future… but only if Coughlin is willing to push beyond every notion he’s ever held about right and wrong.

Review

The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People

William Todd Rose

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Zombies!

Rating: 4.5

Seven Habits is definitely not your traditional zombie novel. It was so close to being an absolutely amazing read for me, but there was just one thing that irked me. The book begins with Bosley talking to detectives about the strange turn of events that lead him to their interrogation room. Bosley's chapters are written like a conversation, but we only ever get Bosley's side of the story. I was intrigued by the style, but initially felt a strong distaste towards the fact that this man got his time traveling powers through the heavy, and I mean HEAVY use of drugs. Drugs give you super powers!? Interesting concept, but not one I am entirely comfortable with. It very nearly put me off of the entire book. That is, until I read my first chapter about Ocean. 

Ocean is a fourteen year old girl of the future who has never known a world other than the post-apocalyptic one she was born into. As the synopsis says, she suffers daily in her search for food, water, and comfort. I was irrevocably pulled into the story when Ocean was forced to kill her mother to survive. This is where my entire perspective on this book shifted and I realized there was a world of depth here that I had only begun to uncover. I looked forward to each of her chapters with increasing intensity as the story went on. 

More often than not, I can make a fairly accurate guess at the final plot twist the author is hinting at throughout the book, but this time, I was caught completely by surprise. I can't really go into it without giving away any spoilers, but I can say that what actually was going on with the underground clan was much more horrific than anything I had guessed at. When it comes to Ocean's story and the final plot twist I have to give Rose a standing ovation. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. 

One other thing that I really loved about Seven Habits is that it had me questioning Bosley's sanity for half of the book. Taking in the fact that he had been under the influence of a massive amount of drugs and his attitude toward the events leading up to his arrest, I was very nearly convinced he was a psychotic serial killer who had created this fantasy to justify what he had done. I absolutely love a book that keeps me guessing, that keeps my mind racing trying to figure out what is really going on. If you do to, this is really the book for you. 

The Final Verdict: I'm really not a fan of making druggies heroes, but honestly it works here in the end. Bosley becomes quite loveable throughout the course of the book and the final twist had me near to tears. The duel stories being told here are some of the most compelling and emotionally visceral I have read all year. The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People is on my zombie essentials reading list. If you love zombies, or just thrilling storytelling, than this should be your next read.

About The Author:

Named by The Google+ Insider’s Guide as one of their top 32 authors to follow, William Todd Rose writes speculative fiction that lends itself to the dark, and often surreal, realm of the macabre. With short stories appearing in numerous magazines and anthologies, his longer works include The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People, The Dead and Dying, Cry Havoc, and more. For more information, including links to free fiction, please visit the author online at www.williamtoddrose.com
 

Website www.williamtoddrose.com

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/#!/wtoddrose

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/wtoddrose

 

The Third Fate Virtual Book Tour: Review, Giveaway and Interview!

Welcome to my stop on The Third Fate Virtual Book Tour! I've got some goodies planned for all of you! First up, we have an interview with the author herself, Nadja Notariani. I had a blast talking with her, she is absolutely adorable! Her answers truly reflect her fun and sweet personality. At this stop you can also read my review for the book and enter to win an ebook copy of The Third Fate courtesy of Nadja and IO Tours. Now, without further ado...

Wicked Interview with Nadja Notariani

Hi Nadja! Welcome to Wickedly Bookish! I'm really excited to have you stop here for your tour today.

Oh!  Thank you so much for having me.  Love your blog title, BTW ;}

Why thank you! The Third Fate is a paranormal romance. You appear to dabble in romance sub-genres as you've also written a contemporary/sports romance Claiming The Prize and an historical romance Her Dark Baron. Which romance genre have you most enjoyed writing so far?

All of them!  Ha.  When I was writing Claiming The Prize, I loved it best, when Her Dark Baron, I loved it best.  The Third Fate is the same.  Exploring the different sub-genres has been so educational for me as a fairly new writer.  I love the subtle differences I'm discovering about what appeals to readers in each group.  I can't wait to delve into this further as I explore new stories.

We love Highlanders and vampires here at Wickedly Bookish, but vampire highlanders? Yes please! How did you decide to combine these two mouth watering elements?

It was an unexpected epiphany, I'll tell you that much.  Strapping Highlanders inspire me – in Oh!-such-wonderful-ways... but I digress...ahem.  

I devour Highlander stories.  There's something about that brogue that gets my hair up.  I had this great storyline in front of me with The Third Fate (at that time un-named), and I so wanted to write a paranormal romance, but geez-oh-wheeze I wanted to write a Highlander novel.  So...I did what any greedy, er, I mean sassy, smart woman would – and combined the two.   

Sounds like the perfect solution to me! Paige, the heroine of The Third Fate, studies Gaelic and Druid culture and mysticism. What kind of research did you do for this aspect of the novel?

The research for The Third Fate was so interesting.  Before writing this novel, Celtic lore was not a topic I had much knowledge about.  

It was eye-opening to discover how the Celtic traditions and legends differed between the Irish, the Welsh (going so far back as the Fenn), and the Scots.  Before this research I thought of the Celts in terms of being one ancient religion/peoples.  Boy was I wrong.  Each area had specific gods/goddesses and beliefs.

It was a bit difficult to navigate at times.  I wanted to craft a cohesive back-story for the origins of the vampire that stemmed not from the traditional vein of Eastern European legend, but from Celtic lore.  To do that, I blended various themes from the mix of Celtic nations.  Pwyll's story and those of the god, Arawn became my narrowed focus after some serious reading.  

  

There were quite a few side characters introduced in this book that I was interested in knowing more about like Lara, Brooke, Rowan, Alden, Ewan, Eagen, and Raven. Is there any chance readers may have sequels, novellas or spin-offs featuring these characters to look forward to?

Don't I hope so!  Ha!  Like you, I became more interested in my secondary characters as The Third Fate progressed.  Inner Critic and Ambitious Addie are spiking some fun ideas back and forth over the volleyball-net-of-creativity in my brain.  I'd love to develop a storyline with the god Ankou and Rowan – playing off the idea of the old Persephone/Hades myth.  What fun would that be?  Brooke and Lara are almost certainly going to have to be dealt with...especially since I left them in the care of those naughty Garrow brothers!  Raven??  Hmm.  Maybe.  But most intriguing, for me, was the appearance of Angus at the story's end.  A man who wants to forget (and is a Highlander!!??  Gah!)....Oh!  Don't I love me a tortured man!  He's got potential...

Nerdy Confessions!

It's time for a new interview segment I'm trying out here on Wickedly Bookish. As I myself am a nerdy girl of epic proportions, and I believe we all have a nerdy side, I'd like to hear about yours! I'll start you out by offering up a confession of my own.

My nerdy confession is that I've always been a big fan of science fiction and am currently obsessed with Doctor Who. 

So tell us Nadja, what is your nerdy confession?

Self proclaimed nerd, here, from way back.  Phew.  It was all about high grades, math ♥...  Okay, okay...I confess there may have been a bit of bra-stuffing and lip gloss thrown into the mix with a few crushes.  

Hmm, Jessica...I've got a few nerdy confessions sure to make you laugh.  So what does a nerdy girl look like??

Rush fan.  I totally dig their reflective and introspective lyrics and amazing music.  That's this nerdy girl in a nutshell.  One of my favorite Rush songs is Limelight.  

Nose-Stuffed-In-Book.  (needs no further comment for fellow nerds to understand/swoon)

I recently read a vampire book in which a secondary character, a nerdy vampire named Matthias got my panties in a bunch.  I promptly contacted the author and requested he write a story for my sexy-nerdy-blood-sucker...it's in the works.  In the meantime, he wrote a little piece of flash fiction just for me about this character.  What. A. Nerd. I. Am.  I don't give a whit, though.  Smart is sexy.

 

I definitely agree! That's why I'm so proud to be a nerdy girl myself. Thank you so much for answering my questions and offering my readers this great giveaway of your book The Third Fate. It was a pleasure to get the opportunity to read and review your book.

*blushes*  Thank you!  It's great to have met you, Jessica.  And I hope to visit again.  Who knows...maybe one of the side characters from The Third Fate will be center stage then?  Ah!  Sweet hopes and dreams. :)

It was great to have met you too Nadja! I look forward to having you back! Don't forget to bring those sexy highland vamps back with you! 

Review
 

The Third Fate

Nadja Notariani

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Highlander

Rating: 3

Paige is a shy librarian who spends her free time steeped in the lore of the ancient Celts rather than living it up like other young women her age. Her world is turned upside down when she meets Cael, a vampire with a tragic past. Soon Paige finds herself not just studying the lore she so loves, but living it in this sexy new paranormal romance.

I'm a long time lover of vampires, but lately I've been feeling the whole thing has been a bit over done. So what convinced me to pick this one up? Two words; vampire highlander. That's right not only is Cael a sexy vamp, but he's also got the whole super alpha Highlander attitude. *swoon!* There was just no way I was going to pass up a tantalizing concept like that! I have to say Cael had quite a few lines that made me shiver.

"Shh... lass," he crooned. "Let me love ye; I was meant to love ye."

Although shy and a bit subdued, Paige never hesitates to stand up for herself and fight for those she loves. I adored that about her! She had her plate full with finding out her half-vampire heritage and becoming a target. I can't stand a wimpy heroine and was very pleased with Paige's ability to evolve throughout the story even as she was going through her transition from human to vampire.

"I cannot keep running.

The thought was freeing because she realized that she did not want to run from this man.

Ye couldna escape me if ye tried lass."

Although I enjoyed Paige and Cael I felt like the one downside to this story was that there was so much going on. I didn't get near as much time as I would have liked with the hero and heroine. There were so many side stories going on with secondary characters that I became easily distracted from the main story. I think this story would have been a 4 star for me if it had been a bit less cluttered.

In the same breath, the plethora of intriguing secondary characters did spark my imagination and I found myself wanting to know more about each of them, but within their own stories. Luckily, I got the chance to interview Nadja and ask after any potential sequels or novellas. She confirmed that these characters have also had her brain spinning and she is tossing around some ideas! I can't wait to spend some more time with those mischievous Garrow brothers!

Although this book in itself wasn't amazing for me, I still enjoyed it. I see a lot of potential for future tales within this lore and look forward to reading them! I always say you have to give any series a two to three book chance before passing judgment. Thus far my final ruling is Nadja Notariani is a romance author to look out for! I plan to follow her releases with giddy anticipation

 
Giveaway details

One lucky reader of Wickedly Bookish will win a ebook copy of The Third Fate by Nadja Notariani courtesy of the author herself and IO Tours. This Giveaway is open internationally!  Participants may enter May 11th - 12th up until the virtual book tour's end.
Entries can be gained in a variety of ways as stated in the Rafflecopter. In order to be fair to everyone, all entries will be checked so please be honest! If I find an invalid entry, it will be removed from the giveaway. As following Wickedly Bookish is a mandatory entry, if I do not find your name in my list of followers, all your entries will be removed from the giveaway. I would much rather skip over this stuff and just get to the fun, but it has happened before, so I need to state it all before the entries are collected.   Winners will be chosen within 24 hours of giveaway's end and will be notified by email. If you are a winner, you will be expected to claim your prize within 48 hours of receipt of email or another winner will be chosen.  To Enter:  1. Be a follower of Wickedly Bookish2. Provide a valid email address 3. Be 18 years old or older4. Fill out the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Serpent Passage Virtual Tour: Interview and Giveaway With Todd Allen Pitts

Welcome to The Serpent Passage Virtual Book Tour! I'm very excited to be hosting a stop especially because I've got some goodies for you all! On this stop, I have to offer you an interview with the author himself, Todd Allen Pitts! He's going to tell us a bit about his book and how he was inspired to write it. Plus, Todd has kindly provided us with a giveaway! One lucky reader of Wickedly Bookish will win a paperback copy of The Serpent Passage! Let's get started shall we?

Wicked Interview with Todd Allen Pitts

Hi Todd, thank you for stopping by Wickedly Bookish today! I'm very excited to have you here!

Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my book.

Can you give us an idea of what The Serpent Passage is all about?

It's about a 17-year-old boy, William, who tries to rescue a woman, Betty, from drowning in a cenote in the Yucatan. They get pulled through a strange passage with flashing lights that propels them 1,000 years into the past, into the times of the ancient Maya! Of course, they don't realize what has occurred at first, but they soon discover the truth of their situation. William saves a boy from being sacrificed, and he turns out to be a Mayan King. William and Betty quickly become entangled in conflicts between Mayan kingdoms. William is awarded a magical gem, called the bloodstone, that puts him in the path of Mayan gods, demons, mythical creatures, and even extra terrestrials. At first, he wants to find a way back home, but William (or Balam, as they Mayans call him) learns that he has a reason for being there, and he also falls in love with a Mayan Princess, Teshna, making his choice even more difficult. In the first book of the trilogy William needs to end a curse on the land, which takes him through all sorts of adventures. He must also help the people of Dzibanche prepare for a huge invading army from the Mayan nation of Calakmul. The story is full of twists and turns, and is basically why I refer to it as "a wild ride into the times of the ancient Maya." A lot of research went into learning about the Mayan culture, beliefs, and history, to vividly bring the world of the ancient Maya to life for the readers. So it's also a fun way to learn about the ancient Maya.

I hear you were inspired to write The Serpent Passage while actually exploring Mayan ruins and teaching scuba in the Yucatan. How exciting! What was it about this experience that inspired you? What are some of your favorite memories from that experience?

After getting my PADI Instructors License in 1998, I decided to take a sabbatical from my career in technical publications and live in the region for a couple years. I became fascinated by the Mayan ruins, and was amazed by the incredible architecture and knowledge that they had so long ago. Their calendar was more precise than ours today, and that was created over a thousand years ago! While wandering around the ruins of Dzibanche, I started to think how cool would be if I turned some corner and was suddenly back in the time of the ancient Maya, when they were at the peak of their civilization! To see the pyramids when they were pristine, and all the colors and sounds of the vibrant society in that time. That's when I started to think about the idea of writing this book (about someone from our time who has to adapt to the culture of the ancient Maya). One day, when I was in Bacalar, having lunch and snorkeling in the Cenote Azul, the inspiration for the start of the book hit me. I began writing it that night and finished the first draft in about six months. My favorite memories are wandering alone through the more remote Mayan ruins where I could envision that I really was back in time, and allow my imagination to run wild with ideas. Of course, all the scuba diving was incredible, too, in Cancun and Cozumel.

When I think of scuba, I can't help but think not only about how big and beautiful the ocean is, but also how dangerous it can be. So I have to ask... Have you ever encountered any sharks or had any close calls with other sea creatures?

 Oh, yes, I've seen many sharks. There are mostly nurse sharks around that region, but I did see an occasional reef shark now and then. They're usually pretty skittish and swim off when they see a bunch of divers coming with bubbles blowing out their mouths. However, there are so many barracuda in the region, and at times you'll find yourself swimming in schools of them. They seem to stare at you with a hungry, angry look, and their big teeth exposed on their lower jaws when they pass. But they know you're not their prey, and just like to stare. However, we do advise the divers not to wear flashy jewelry that could draw their interest and tempt them into wanting to take a bite. There are also many rays too. You also want to be careful of the fire corral. Of course good divers should never touch any corral, because it is protected wildlife, but when you accidentally brush against fire corral, it really burns, and you'll remember to stay clear of it in the future. Generally, if you don't provoke wildlife in the ocean, it won't bother you either.

On that same note, what dangers can readers expect laying in wait for your characters?

There are a number of battles in the story, and they even have to fight off some nasty chupacabras (blood-sucking monsters). William also participates in a Mayan ball game, which ends up becoming a death match in the end.

It sounds like readers have quite an adventure ahead of them! Tell us what some of your favorite literary adventures are.

Well, I hate to give away too much of the plot, but I think my favorite literary adventure is when William comes into contact with a Mayan demon in the Underworld (the God of Death), and he needs to delay the demon from poisoning the crops before the Mayans can complete the harvest.

I'm quite inspired by authors who develop such intricate worlds, characters, and scenarios. What advice do you have for aspiring authors on developing their own?

I'd say to write about what really interests you. Your passion will then come through in your writing, and it will make the research fun for you, too. Of course, you need to get used to accepting critique and feedback, and be willing to make changes to improve your story. I rewrote The Serpent Passage many times, through advice from a good literary agent, and other input, and I'm so glad I did, because it really improved the end product.

We know you are a writer and undersea adventurer! Now tell us... What other impressive talents or experiences do you have under your belt?

I love to travel, to see new things, and to meet new people. I'm going to the Cayman Islands over Thanksgiving (can't wait!). I love adventure, and that's probably why my writing is of the adventurous spirit. My professional background is in technical writing, but for the past decade, I've been managing technical publication departments, so I'm also a good manager, which I've found you need to have good communication skills to be successful at. I also like to stay in shape, and go to the gym to run and lift weights... whatever it takes to stay

young and healthy, so I can keep on writing!

Again, thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to interview with us and giving readers the chance to win a copy of The Serpent Passage. It sounds like an adventures readers won't soon forget!

Book description: When William and Betty are trapped in a cavern in the Yucatán, they discover a way out through a strange passage that propels them a thousand years into the past. While searching for a way home, they become entangled in conflicts between Mayan kingdoms. Priest Quisac agrees to aid William if he promises to help his people. William is awarded the bloodstone, a magical gem that puts him in the path of Mayan gods and demons.Can William survive the challenges of the past long enough to return home? Will his love for a Mayan Princess complicate matters? How is William's destiny tied to the end of the Great Cycle in 2012?A WILD RIDE INTO THE TIMES OF THE ANCIENT MAYA

About the author: TODD ALLEN PITTS graduated from Marylhurst University with a degree in Communications, and he lives in Colorado. He was inspired to write The Serpent Passage while exploring Mayan ruins and working as a scuba instructor in the Yucatán. You can check him out on the web at these sites!

Website: http://www.toddallenpitts.com/

Facebook Link:  http://www.facebook.com/serpentpassage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/toddallenpitts

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bXRApoI9As&feature=player_embedded

Giveaway details

This Giveaway is open to US residents only.  Participants may enter May 9st - 11th up until the virtual book tour's end.
Entries can be gained in a variety of ways as stated in the Rafflecopter. In order to be fair to everyone, all entries will be checked so please be honest! If I find an invalid entry, it will be removed from the giveaway. As following Wickedly Bookish is a mandatory entry, if I do not find your name in my list of followers, all your entries will be removed from the giveaway. I would much rather skip over this stuff and just get to the fun, but it has happened before, so I need to state it all before the entries are collected.   Winners will be chosen within 24 hours of giveaway's end and will be notified by email. If you are a winner, you will be expected to claim your prize within 48 hours of receipt of email or another winner will be chosen.  To Enter:  1. Be a follower of Wickedly Bookish2. Be a US resident3. Be 13 years old or older4. Fill out the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Winner of the May Monster Madness Hop!

And The Winner Is...

Ed Dexter! Congratulations Ed! You have won yourself a paperback copy of Feed by Mira Grant from The Book Depository. A notification email has been sent out and you have 48 hours to claim your prize or another winner will be picked.

Teaser Tuesday #16

A big thank you to my favorite model Robyn Watson for not only taking this gorgeous picture, but also for allowing me to use it here on my blog! You are amazing girl!

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Should Be Reading where we book bloggers give you lovely readers a tantalizing taste of whatever it is we are reading right now. To play along:
  
•  Grab your current read
•  Open to a random page
•  Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•  Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's teaser is:

 Rotter World

Scott M. Baker

Genre: Horror, Sci-fi, Zombies!

"Each member of the rescue part dealt privately with their grief over losing a friend. Nor did it help that tensions remained strained between humans and vampries over the exchange of words between their repective commanders."

pg. 8

I'm reading this one for a book tour in which I have an interview with Scott Baker himself! I'm very excited to talk to Scott about his book as I am really enjoying it! This may not be the apocalypse people, but my world has been filled with zombies lately! I'm super intrigued to find out how the vampire fit into all this. An interesting addition to the normal zombie fiction roster.

What's your teaser this week?   

ZAP Virtual Tour: Review

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation (ZAP) Virtual Book Tour

May 6th - 12th

I"m pretty stoked to be kicking off this tour. A big thank you to IO Tours for putting everything together. I've only been in the zombie game for about three years now, but it has truly been a whirlwind love affair. Whether it be video games, movies, or zombie fiction, I'm always looking for my next undead fix, and boy am I glad I got chosen to do the ZAP tour! What exactly is it that makes ZAP stand out from the mass multitude of post-apocalyptic books? Well my friend, sit back, relax and let me fill you in.

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation

David Houchins and Scott Thomas

Genre: Apocalypse, Guides, Zombies

Rating: 5

Synopsis

"We guarantee this is the only tool you need to survive the zombies.

OK, that’s not really true. But when the SHTF you’re going to want a survival guide that’s not just geared toward day-to-day survival. You’ll need one that addresses the essential skills for true nourishment of the human spirit. Living through the end of the world isn’t worth a damn unless you can enjoy yourself in any way you want. (Except, of course, for anything having to do with abuse. We could never condone such things. At least the publisher’s lawyers say we can’t" Zombie Apocalypse Preparation: How to Survive in an Undead World and Have Fun Doing It! is the first zombie apocalypse survival manual with entertainment in mind.  What fun is living in a world of the undead if you can't have a bit of fun? The apocalypse is not just about survival, it's about enjoying your new found life.  Inside the covers of this book, you will not only find the way to pick the right weapons, building, and survival methods, but you'll find entertaining ways to dispose of the undead, entertain yourself and your group, and dispatch your former friends and family members with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. 

Review

"If you wish to know how it is that you can dismantle the undead, laugh maniacally, and continue about your existence, then please continue on."

 This has been by far the most informative and concise zombie read I've come across. Pretty much everything you could want or need to know about surviving a potential zombie apocalypse is right here within ZAP's pages. I don't care if you don't subscribe to the whole idea of a zombie apocalypse being a potential threat. The ideas, advice, practical information, and tactics presented in this book are potential life savers in virtually any major natural disaster, terrorist attack, or crisis that could happen within your lifetime. While reading, I began to seriously consider getting some of the suggested supplies together in my house as a disaster kit. Do I sound crazy right now? Maybe, but when that mega, California sinking earthquake we've all been hearing about since elementary school finally happens and you run out of food, fresh water, and a power source, I guess we'll know which one of us was the crazy one. But seriously people, I don't necessarily believe that some vicious virus is going to turn us into rabid flesh eating monsters, but I"m not ruling it out either. Better to prepare and be wrong than call everyone crazy now and be the first to get chomped on. 

Outside of its survival merits, ZAP is honestly an immensely valuable resource for writers looking to put out some well researched apocalypse fiction. In all likelihood, your zombies will be unique and many of the zombie facts here won't apply, but the basic weapons knowledge, supply lists, shelter acquisition,  offensive and defensive tactics, and terrain survival portions of this book will indeed help you not only shape your fictional world, but also teach you how your characters can survive. As a person who doesn't know much about firearms, (I'm more of a Dragon Age kind of girl), I was excited by the plethora of practical knowledge I got out of reading up on each type. I now know what each type of firearm is best suited for. I know this may be obvious to many, but I grew up in a part of California where we had no need for guns and therefore lacked the necessity for such an area of study. I must say as a fan of science fiction, horror, and dystopia novels this came back to shame me in my adult years, but thanks to ZAP, I now have a general idea of how this stuff works. 

If these reasons aren't enough for you to add this book to your shelf of apocalypse fiction essentials, I think it is important to mention the overall irreverently funny tone of this guide.  Do you enjoy sarcastic, dark humor with a generous dose of geek? If your answer is yes, this should be a no brainer for you. Houchins and Thomas have infused this zombie survival extravaganza with more references to popular nerd culture than you can shake a stick at! When you're not considering taking copious notes, you will be chuckling to yourself and freaking out the people next to you. 

Recommendation:  I would honestly say if you have any interest at all in the reading or writing of zombie literature, you should seriously think about checking this one out. All levels of zombie lovers will learn something new and yes, Have fun Doing It.

Please don't forget to check out the other stops on this tour! 

05/08/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour: Jess, Wonderland Reviews, Review

05/10/12 Tea and Book Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

05/11/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour:  Reena, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Interview

05/11/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour:  Tracee, Review from Here, Review

05/12/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour: Ali, Simply Ali Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

Finally, I've included this as part of my May Monster Madness posts.

 

May Monster Madness Day 5: Romancing The Dark Side

May Monster Madness

Day 5

Romancing The Dark Side

 Welcome back my Wicked Darlings! I'm glad you all stopped by again and hope you are enjoying this hop and much as I am! Since I am a book blogger, I wanted to offer you all some book recommendations. I'm sure most of you monster fans already know what you like so I won't pander, but for those of you who are newbies to the PNR/UF arena and are interested in exploring the more sensual possibilities of the monster we love, I have some great series for you to check out. No, I'm not talking about vampires that double as disco balls. What I have to offer you here is dark, gritty, and altogether wicked. I've laid everything out nice and neat by featured monster and first book of each series. I've also included a blurb about each series provided by Goodreads. All of these series can take some adapting to so I suggest you read two or three before you make a final call.

Vampires

Dark Lover
J.R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood #1

If you have not read this series yet you are missing out! By far my favorite series, BDB mixes scintillating romance with intensely gritty urban fantasy.  These books are not for the faint of heart and take on an interesting twist on the vampire mythology. These vamps are actually not the undead, but an altogether different species of humanoid.

 Blurb From Goodreads

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams

 Halfway to the Grave
Jeaniene Frost
Night Huntress #1  

You can read my review here.

Blurb From Goodreads

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side... and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat

Werewolves

Moon Called
Patricia Briggs
Mercedes Thompson #1

  Blurb From Goodreads

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble

Demons

The Demon Lover
Juliet Dark
Fairwick Chronicles #1

You can read my review here.

Blurb From Goodreads

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart

The Darkest Night
Gena Showalter
Lords of the Underworld #1

Blurb From Goodreads

 His powers -- Inhuman...
His passion -- Beyond immortal . . .
All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapp ed in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love . . .
Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive -- and unimaginably powerful . . . Don’t miss this incredible new paranormal series from Gena Showalter!

Miscellaneous

 Darkfever 
Karen Marie Moning
Fever Series #1

 Blurb From Goodreads

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…

Firelight
Kristen Callihan
Darkest London #1 

You can read my review here.

 Blurb From Goodreads

  London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask