COVER REVEAL: Along Came A Spider by Kate SeRine

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hope you're all having a great week. I'm so excited for today's post! Today we have a cover reveal for Kate SeRine's Along Came A Spider, book number three of her Transplanted Tales series.

Check out the gorgeous cover and the blurb below! And don't forget to check out the details of Kate's giveaway! Is that one fine hunk of Nicky Blue or what?

Along came a spider...

When Trish Muffet is attacked at a grisly crime scene, the last person she expects to come to her rescue is Nicky “Little Boy” Blue. But since walking away from everything two years before, Nicky’s been doling out vigilante justice as “The Spider,” taking on the vicious predators of the night in hopes it’ll lead him to his ultimate target – Vlad Dracula. And he needs Trish’s help.

Although Nicky’s renegade style goes against everything Trish stands for, she’ll do what she must to bring Dracula down. With danger stalking her, Trish knows the only person she can count on is the one man who has the power to leave her breathless. There’s no way she’s letting this spider frighten her away…

Kate SeRine (pronounced "serene") faithfully watched weekend monster movie marathons while growing up, each week hoping that maybe this time the creature du jour would get the girl. But every week she was disappointed. So when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed that her characters would always have a happily ever after. And, thus, her love for paranormal romance was born.

Kate SeRine (pronounced "serene") faithfully watched weekend monster movie marathons while growing up, each week hoping that maybe this time the creature du jour would get the girl. But every week she was disappointed. So when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed that her characters would always have a happily ever after. And, thus, her love for paranormal romance was born.

Kate is a member of Romance Writers of America and of Indiana RWA and has been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest (2010), the Finally a Bride Contest (2010), The Emily (2012), and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence (2013).

Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project.

Website: http://www.kateserine.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kateserine

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kateserine

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/kateserine

Review: Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today we have a review of debut urban fantasy author Cecy Robson's novel, Sealed with a Curse, the start of the Weird Girls series! If you haven't already seen my review of her self-titled prequel novella, you can do so by clicking: here. Enjoy both reviews! Also, don't forget to check out the giveaway at the end of the post!

Synopsis: Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.

Genre: Urban Fantasy 

First Sentences: "The courthouse doors crashed open as I led my three sisters into the large foyer. I didn't mean to push so hard, but hell, I was mad and worried about being eaten. The cool spring breeze slapped at my back as I stepped inside, yet it did little to cool my temper or my nerves. My nose scented the vampires before my eyes caught them emerging from the shadows. There were six of them, wearing dark suits, Ray-Bans, and obnoxious little grins. Two bolted the doors tight behind us, while the others frisked us for weapons. I can't believe we're in vampire court." How can you not love an opening like that? Within the first few paragraphs, Robson has already drawn me into her fictional world. Vampire court? Pretty cool idea, not to mention the tension is already palpable. Celia is in a fierce mood and a pinched situation, surrounded by enemies. That equals badass action!

 

Brownie Points: As I said in my review of the Weird Girls' novella, Robson has an outstanding and superb voice filled with all the right stuff--humor, sass, emotion and a relatable narrative character--and Sealed with a Curse doesn't disappoint. The Wird girls continue to be fun, sympathetic characters, you can't help but love. No matter their perils or mistakes, Celia and her sisters are easy to champion as they battle with werewolves, vampires, and a viscous supernatural vampire virus throughout the course of the novel. What really stood out as a unique trait to me (as a romance writer and reader) was the stronger than usual romantic elements within this urban fantasy. In the UF genre I often find myself craving more romance than I'm given. This wasn't the case in Sealed with a Curse. It walks the perfect line between sexy romance and action packed urban fantasy, so romance readers and urban fantasy lovers alike will enjoy this novel. Besides, who doesn't love a rivalry between two sexy supernatural men? Aric the werewolf and Misha the vampire? I vote both, please! It's clear who is the winner of Celia's heart, but I won't spill the beans ;-)

Beefs: No major beefs. Sealed with a Curse hits the ground running with action and tension, and it kept me hooked and longing for more up to the very last page.

Ending: As with any great novel, I didn't find the plot predictable in any way. I continued to be surprised by it's twists and turns in the best of ways.

Recommendation and General Comments: Overall, I can't say enough great things about The Weird Girls series. Both the self-titled prequel novella and Sealed with a Curse are a fantastic jump-start to what I'm certain is going to be a continuously capitvating and enchanting series. The second novel in the series, A Curse Embraced, cannot come soon enough! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until July 2013 for that one =( But I bet it will be well worth the wait! 

I give Sealed with a Curse a rating of a full moon, the highest rating here at Nocturnal Readings.

 

 

I highly recommend this book to readers who love urban fantasy, and those who enjoy paranormal romance as well. The novel will be available in both paperback and e-book formats starting December 31st! A reasonably priced awesome read. So get your asses in gear and pre-order, folks! 

 

CHECK OUT THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!! Cecy has graciously gifted me with a signed copy to give away to one lucky winner! This giveaway is open to both U.S and international entries!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Review: Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today we have a review of debut urban fantasy author Cecy Robson's novella, the Weird Girls, the start of the Weird Girls series, which kicks off later this year with her debut novel, Sealed with a Curse. Enjoy!

Synopsis: "Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird…

The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth—human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they’ve longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn’t an option.”

Genre: Urban Fantasy--novella

First Sentences: "The music pounded hard enough to shake Emme's fuzzy navel, the umbrella in Shayna's pina colada, Taran's martini, and my Corona. I'd shoved pieces of cocktail napkin into my uber sensitive ears the moment we sat. But I wasn't going complain about the eardrum-bursting music or the crowd of young men sitting across from us ogling my sisters. We were there to celebrate." What I love about this opening is how much we learn right from the start. The characters' drinks reflect their personalities and individual tastes (which we soon learn), and we know where they're at and what they're there for in just several sentences. As a reader, I immediately feel oriented in the world and I could clearly visualize the scene in my mind. The opening hooked me!

 

Brownie Points: There are three top things I love most about this novella. 1) The voice is absolutely phenomenal. Told from Celia Wird's point of view, I felt as if I were sitting down for a chat with her as she recollects this story in vivid detail. The narrative voice is laugh out loud funny and consistent throughout the story. It gives huge insight into Celia's character. 2) I love the Wird sisters. They're intriguing, fun characters who are easy to relate to. Each sister has her own individual power, her own strengths and weaknesses and I love the strong relationship between them. Celia is fiercely protective of her sisters and they have a sibling bond that's realistic and true. Their relationship was touching. 3) The narrative arc is perfect in this novella. Often when I read prequels or novellas I feel as if the story has no arc, no clear beginning, middle and end, but that's not the case with the Weird Girls. The story felt complete and left me wanting more. 

Beefs: I honestly and truly didn't have any beefs with this novella. As I reader I felt as if all my needs were satisfied. There is a clear arc, great characters, intriguing plots twists, and an awesome voice. There's not much more I could ask for.

Ending: I won't lie--I sobbed like a baby at the end of the novella. When we reach the black moment in the story, the climax where we think Celia has lost everything she loves and her whole life is crumbling to pieces, my heart broke for her. Her pain felt real and palpable, and there was nothing I could do but cry with her. I've never felt so attached to a character within such a short amount of pages. Celia is amazing and she'll steal your heart. And up until the very end, the plot left me guessing all the way through.

Recommendation and General Comments: Overall, I can't say enough great things about this novella. The Weird Girls is a page-turning, heartwarming read with characters you'll fall in love with. Cecy Robson is a debut author I will continue to read and I can't wait for the first book in the series, Sealed with a Curse. I need another dose of Weird ;-)

Because of this, I give The Weird Girls novella a rating of a full moon, the highest rating here at Nocturnal Readings.

 

 

I highly recommend this book to readers who love urban fantasy. The novella is available in only e-book format, so if you have an e-reader and love urban fantasy, I suggest you purchase this novella. It's reasonably priced and will definitely hook you into the series. If you don't have an e-reader, then read it on your computer or phone! You won't regret reading The Weird Girls novella.

 

Check back in on December 18th for a review of the first book in the series, Sealed with a Curse!