Winners of Halloween Spook Day 30

Today I'm going to announce the winner of Day 30 of my Halloween Spooktacular and the lucky winner is....

Beverly @ The Worm Hole

Review: "Miss Darcy Falls In Love"

"Miss Darcy Falls In Love"
Author: Sharon Lathan
Series: The Darcy Saga #7
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages:304
ISBN: 9781402259043
Source: Publisher for review.
Published: November 2011 by Sourcebooks





Goodreads Blurb:
Hugely successful bestselling author (over 95,000 copies sold through) of sensual, romantic Pride and Prejudice continuations explores unusual aspects of the Regency world, this time following Mr. Darcy's younger sister into the world of classical music.
Noble young ladies were expected to play an instrument, but societal restrictions would have chafed for Georgiana Darcy, an accomplished musician. Her tour of Europe draws the reader into the musical life of the day, and a riveting love story of a young woman learning to direct her destiny and understand her own heart.

My Review: 
What can I say, this was a very cute story. I didn't know what to expect because this is the 7th book in the series and I haven't read any of the others. I would have to say this book could be a standalone so if you haven't read the others you can still read this one and it would be time well spent. I just love the friendship that turns to love between Georginana and Sebastian. Their relationship just seems so natural and easy but they refuse to admit to their deeper feelings and remain best friends for a good portion of the book. If your in the mood for a easy, cute and fun read this would be a awesome book to pick up. Its not to hot and steamy but it didn't need it if that is something you prefer. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

  


Overall Rating:

Sex Rating:

2011 Historical Romance Challenge - November

Hello Everyone,

It's time for the 11th month of our Historical Romance Reading Challenge. Each month I will post what the giveaway prize will be for that month and also attach a Mister Linky so you can post your reviews for everyone to see. I do check them all (btw). If you don't attach a review post of a book that you read in November, you will not be entered into the giveaway. Also, you need 12 reviews to be entered into the Grand Prize at the end. If you are unsure how many books you have entered just email me and I'll let you know. (romancbookjunkiesdanielle@yahoo.com) You can post more than one review for the month but you only get one entry into the giveaway. So, yes, you can catch up.

Prizes: (US ONLY)

A Signed Copy of "Innocent in the Sheikh's Harem" by Marguerite Kaye

Goodreads Blurb:

Lady Celia Cleveden thinks of herself as eminently sensible from the tips of her sturdy boots to the top of her unadorned bonnet. It seemed logical she would marry an equally practical gentleman.Until she's rescued by wildly enigmatic desert prince Ramiz of A'Qadiz, while traveling across his unforgiving sands. He offers her a place in his harem and Lady Celia ought to be shocked…except the seductive desert and intoxicating Ramiz make it curiously tempting….

 You will also win a beautiful bookmark from Miss Bohemia. If you haven't visited her shop you need to because she is very talented and makes beautiful items.

There is no Mister Linky this month so just leave a comment with a link to your review please.

In My Mailbox

Weekly meme from The Story Siren. The idea is to post the books you got this week,whether you bought them, got them as a gift, from the library, or received them to review.

I Got For Review:

"Damian's Oracle" by Lizzy Ford

A Breath of Magic by Tracy Madison

By Magic Alone by Tracy Madison

Books I Bought:

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

I Won:

Desire Untamed by Pamela Palmer

Caressed by Moonlight by Amanda Greene

Random Act of Kindness:

Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant

I received this book from Damaris @ Good Choice Reading. Thanks a whole bunch Damaris!!

 I got as a gift:

Miracle Under the Mistletoe by Tracy Madison

Sacred Evil by Heather Graham

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

November Monthly Book Giveaway

I'm going to do things a little different this month and offer you two books which you can choose from if you win. 

Since these books are so very different I thought that it would only be fair to let you pick which one better suits you.
The books you are going to be able to pick from are:


"Body Surfing" by Anita Shreve

Goodreads Blurb:
At the age of 29, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. Trying to regain her footing once again, she has answered an ad to tutor the teenage daughter of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage.

But when the Edwards' two grown sons, Ben and Jeff, arrive at the beach house, Sydney finds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divisions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt for herself is threatened. With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Miami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage that it takes to love.

"Daemon" by Daniel Suarez

Goodreads Blurb:
Already an underground sensation, a high-tech thriller for the wireless age that explores the unthinkable consequences of a computer program running without human control——a daemon——designed to dismantle society and bring about a new world order

Technology controls almost everything in our modern-day world, from remote entry on our cars to access to our homes, from the flight controls of our airplanes to the movements of the entire world economy. Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, trafficking e-mail, transferring money, and monitoring power grids. For the most part, daemons are benign, but the same can’t always be said for the people who design them.

Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer—the architect behind half-a-dozen popular online games. His premature death depressed both gamers and his company’s stock price. But Sobol’s fans aren’t the only ones to note his passing. When his obituary is posted online, a previously dormant daemon activates, initiating a chain of events intended to unravel the fabric of our hyper-efficient, interconnected world. With Sobol’s secrets buried along with him, and as new layers of his daemon are unleashed at every turn, it’s up to an unlikely alliance to decipher his intricate plans and wrest the world from the grasp of a nameless, faceless enemy—or learn to live in a society in which we are no longer in control. . . .

Computer technology expert Daniel Suarez blends haunting high-tech realism with gripping suspense in an authentic, complex thriller in the tradition of Michael Crichton, Neal Stephenson, and William Gibson.


GIVEAWAY:
1. This giveaway is US only.
2. You must be a follower to enter the monthly book giveaways.
3. All you have to do is fill out the form below. 
4. The only extra entries you can earn are by posting my giveaway button on your sidebar which is worth 2 extra entries.

Random Acts of Kindness

October's Random Act of Kindness

I wanted to take a few minutes and thank Damaris @ Good Choice Reading for sending me a really great book.

Thank you Damaris!!

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines and Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover. This is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make new friends!

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Visit the other blogs on the list. If you like what you see make sure to leave a comment and follow so the blog owner knows you stopped by and can return the favor. Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blog love!

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) or Kelly (secretsofabooklover at gmail dot com) with any questions!

Question of the Week: What book shelf would you ask Santa for?

Grand Prize Winners

I'm so so excited to announce the grand prize winners of our Halloween Spooktacular. I want to think everyone who participated and helped to make it a great success and I especially want to thank my partner in crime Donna @ Book Lover's Hideaway. Now to the winners...


3rd prize is a $10 Gift Certificate and goes to..... tishajean@charter.net 

2nd prize is a $20 Gift Certificate and goes to.....Angeldream3@gmail.com

The Grand Prize is a $30 Gift Certificate and the Winner is......mmafsmith@gmail.com

Winners of Halloween Spook Days 17, 21, 22, 25, 27

I'm going to quickly announce the winners of each days giveaway and this will wrap up all the giveaways but two who are scheduled for Nov. Hopefully we will soon be announcing the winners of the Grand Prizes. We had so many entries that its taking awhile to organize. After announcing today's winners I'll be emailing the authors with your information.

Day 17 = Miki


Day 21 = Mary


Day 22 = Khyla


Day 25 = Kelsey O.


Day 27 = Martha A.

Winner

Winner of October's giveaway for the Historical Romance Reading Challenge is............

Alex

Alex you will be contacted by email to get your info. Congratulations!!

Review: "The Highlander's Heart" by Amanda Forester

"The Highlander's Heart"
Author: Amanda Forester 
Series: Highlander #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781402253041
Source: Publisher for review.
Published: November 2011 by Sourcebooks

Goodreads Blurb:
Rugged Highland Laird David Campbell rescues an English beauty roaming the countryside. At first he thinks Isabelle Tynsdale will be a pawn to bring his enemies to their knees, but under Isabelle's touch he's the one who surrenders.

My Review: 
Amanda Forester is a new author for me and I was thoroughly impressed. I really enjoyed this book from beginning to the end.This is the second book in the series but it could be read as a stand a lone. I read the whole book before realizing it was the second in the series and I had no unanswered questions or loopholes etc.
David Campbell, our hero, is a strong leader with an important place in society and Isabelle Tynsdale is one of those heroines that can't stay out of trouble and is constantly getting herself into funny and not so funny predicaments instead of just telling the truth. The romantic development was slow but not a bad thing they just had lots of baggage to clear up before they could even entertain the thought of being together.
The author did a great job writing this story it was funny, fast paced, never boring and everything was written with vivid details. The author also did a great job wrapping everything up for the ending and I couldn't have been happier with the way it ended. This book made me laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters and I just can't wait to read the first and third books in the series. I would highly recommend this book to historical romance lovers and highland romance lovers. You will not be disappointed, guaranteed.

  


Overall Rating:

Sex Rating:

Winners of Halloween Spook Days 15, 16, 18

I have 3 winners to announce today. I know I've gotten a little behind.


Day 15
Gale Stanley is giving away a copy of her new book and the winner is.....
Joder


Day 16
Miss Bohemia is giving away some beautiful hand made jewlery and the winner is...
Vivien


Day 18
Eve Langlais is giving away all 3 books in her Princesses of Hell series and the winner is...
Marlene B.

Kresley Cole - Lothaire

Title: Lothaire

Author: Kresley Cole

ISBN: 9781439136829

Price: $25.00/$28.99 CAN

Format: Hardcover

On Sale: 1/10/12

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole continues her electrifying Immortals After Dark series with this thrilling tale, revealing secrets of the Lore, fierce realm of the immortals. . . .

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD
Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER
Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED
Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Want to Know More about Lothaire? Watch Kresley Cole answer insider questions and reveal information that readers are dying to know!

http://www.simonandschuster.com/multimedia?video=1225067229001

Click here to pre-order your copy!

http://books.simonandschuster.com/buy/Lothaire/9781439136829/from-other-retailers#book_retailers

Follow @Kresleycole on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KresleyCole?v=app_53267368995

Join PocketAfterDark.com: An online community of romance readers, where top authors share exciting  new content and interact with fans http://pocketafterdark.com/

Halloween Spooktacular Day 31

What do you get when you have eight wickedly delicious Authors, writing about Halloween?

Why you end up with “A WICKED AND WANTON ALL HALLOWS EVE” of course.

So, I’ve asked a few wicked and wanton and spooky All Hallow’s Eve questions of the other authors who are in the anthology along with me! Hey, I even asked myself *giggles* Please check out what they had to say about what their dream costume would be, what their favorite Halloween treat is, if they like scary movies, and what they have to say about the story they have appearing in the anthology.

Author Kim Faulks

Kiki: If you could by any Costume which one would it be?  

Kim: There is nothing sexier than a woman with a gun or a knife, so I'll have to go with this gorgeous one from the movie Electra with Jennifer Garner.

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?

Kim: Turkish delight chocolates

Kiki: Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.

Kim: My favourite: The Village or The Shining - I love them all!

Kiki: Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.  

Kim: Inamorata is set back in 1780 in England where a young woman Erica tries to come to terms with the loss of her sister and the growing need to provide for not only herself but her brother-in-law David, who seems to be a lot more cunning than she expected.

Author Abby Hayes

Kiki: If you could by any Costume which one would it be?

Abby: You know, I want the wolf one that my character in my story, Haunted Party, was wearing, a wolf.

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?

Abby: Chocolate! I love the Reece’s Pumpkins, always have. But now I also love the Take Five candy bars as well, along with Twix and many others.

Kiki: Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.

Abby: Yes I do.  Most recent good ones were Insidious and Fright Night.

Kiki: Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.

Abby: My story, Haunted Party,  is about a party thrown each year by the main character’s sexy boss. This year he has rented an entire floor of a hotel. Everyone is in costume and ready for a good time, but what they get is an unexpected haunting and find that the ghost feeds off of sexual energy.

Author BL Morticia

Kiki:  If you could buy any Costume which one would it be?

BL: I’d wear a renaissance costume. I love the way the dresses are low cut and long.

Kiki:  What is your favorite Halloween Treat?

BL: Hmm I like the candy corn. Not a big fan of taffy apples. :/

Kiki:  Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.

BL: I’m not really a fan of really scary movies. I do love Sleepy Hallow with Johnny Depp! *yum*

Kiki: Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.

BL: My story is the vampire story, I Dream of Dalian. It’s an m/f, *snicker* about a young woman who’s in love with a rock star that has very vampy qualities. She dreams of him and ends up getting sucked into her dream. Will she come out of it?

Author Ana Hart

Kiki:  If you could by any Costume which one would it be?
Ana: Well, first and foremost, I am a pirate and no, I do not mean that I steal music and movies and the like. So, given that, I would want this costume!  I usually just make my own but I don't have time to sew lately and I've recently lost over fifty pounds so my wench outfits no longer fit me. So sad.

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?
Ana: Um... hmm... I think I'm going to be lame and simply answer with anything chocolate. I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas and there are few candies that I will say no to. Now, if we're talking about treats beyond the edible ones, I'll take a tall, dark, and handsome pirate for my Halloween Treat 

Kiki:  Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.
Ana: I don't usually watch scary movies. Okay, let me rephrase that - I hate movies with gratuitous gore but I love suspenseful films. Of course, now that I've said that, I can't think of a suspenseful film that I really enjoy. I just don't like to be scared. Call me crazy. I'm not really much of an adrenaline junkie.

Kiki:  Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.
Ana: Welcome to the Inferno is a story about two wild Fae that have crossed the Veil into the mortal world on the one night that said Veil is weakest - Halloween - in order to get into a little naughty mischief at the Inferno, a club where all the paranormal creatures and their mortal pets can go to play. It's a sexy and fun little story and I loved writing it. The dynamic between the two main characters was very entertaining to write.

Author Gemma Parkes

Kiki:  If you could buy any Costume which one

would it be?

Gemma: Definitely a sexy vampire costume! So sexy! I would wear it, l think!

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?

Gemma: A box of dark chocolate soft center’s, a candlelit room, a hot man and a really spooky film!

Kiki: Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.

Gemma: I like the films that are psychologically scary. Real edge of the seat films. I love ‘What lies beneath’ very jumpy! Not Stephen Kings ‘It’ though, scared me to death!

Kiki: Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.

Gemma: ‘Cassandra’ is a spooky tale about a chance meeting at a Halloween party. There is music, costumes, dancing…I really can’t say more without spoiling the story!

Author Sarah Bella

Kiki:  If you could by any Costume which one would it be?
Sarah:  If I could be any costume at all I think it would be great fun to be a Fairy like Twig from the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.  There is a photo of Twig attached.

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?
Sarah: I love chocolate, but in the name of being able to eat more of them, I try to stick to treats like Kit Kats and Twix.  I can eat three or four of the minis before I’ve eaten the fat in a snickers :D

Kiki:  Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.
Sarah: I can’t watch scary movies!  I’m such a baby.  I watched Saw with my husband and it took months before I stopped thinking that the pig-faced thing was on the other side of my bathroom door waiting to pop out at me when I had to pee at night!

I do love scary books though.  I read a ton of twisted Dean Koontz and the Hannibal Trilogy (Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal Rising) by Thomas Harris are among my favorite books ever.

Kiki:  Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology.
Sarah: Triage is about a woman who goes out with her friends to a costume party and gets separated before they even connect.  She winds up at the wrong club, but doesn’t realize just how wrong she was until she meets Evan, or Sir, as he likes to be called.  Sir introduces her to the milder side of BDSM with a little public mental Domination.

Author Kiki Howell

Kiki: Okay, this is weird! I’ve never actually interviewed myself before, buy hey, it’s a wicked and wanton All Hallow’s Eve here, so anything goes, right? LOL

Kiki: If you could by any Costume which one would it be?

Kiki: A little sexy, a little dark, witch costume :)

Kiki: What is your favorite Halloween Treat?

Kiki: I have a hard time with favorites when it comes to candy, but I will try to pick. I do love Sour Patch Kids.

Kiki:  Do you watch scary movies? If yes, tell us the name of a good one.

Kiki: Yes I do, but in recent years it has been hard to keep up on them with the kids.  In the beginning of October, I did start watching American Horror Story on FX and am quiet impressed so far!

Kiki: Tell us a little about your story in A Wicked and Wanton All Hallow’s Eve Anthology. 

Kiki: “Midnight Showing” is a story about a haunted theater, and a new owner who tempts the ghost who haunts it in hopes of getting rid of her. He has a friend with him and his wife, who is Wiccan, to play a movie known to upset the ghost in hopes his wife can do a ritual to help the ghost move on. What happens though is a ghostly sort of foursome with the ghost in charge *winks*

A WICKED AND WANTON ALL HALLOWS EVE Synopsis:

A Halloween party turns into a very unusual night; a ghost whose sexual needs prevent her from passing over to the other side; a chance encounter at a mistaken location leads to many desires being fulfilled; and unusual alien and human sexual experience, in the name of research; and so much more in this kinky themed Halloween Anthology.

Open up your mind, free your inhibitions and get ready for A Wicked & Wanton All Hallows Eve!

Eight naughty Halloween-themed erotic short stories to tantalize and tease the senses while giving readers a little taste of the experimental worlds of sensually exciting tricks or treats.

Releases with Naughty Nights Press Oct. 30^th. Available at Amazon, Smashwords, and other ebook retailers.

Halloween Spooktacular Day 30

Some of my followers have probably noticed I have skipped out on doing any of my usual posts due to the Halloween Spooktacular. So I have decided to make my October Monthly Book Giveaway a Halloween Spooktacular post. In the Halloween spirit I have picked a book that is on the scary side and not so much on the romance side. I have read books by this author and she can write a great creepy novel.

"Heart of Evil" by Heather Graham Book #1

Goodreads Blurb:
Emerging from the bayou like an apparition, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends…and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks its cemetery's most majestic vault. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War.
Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare—often inexplicable—intuition. Among the "Krewe of Hunters" is an old ï ¬ ‚ ame, Jake Mallory, a gifted musician with talent stretching far beyond the realm of the physical, and a few dark ghosts of his own.
The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried—even in death.…

GIVEAWAY

1. This giveaway is US only due to shipping costs.

2. You must be a follower.

3. All you have to do is fill out the form below to enter.

4. This Giveaway will run until Nov. 14th in order to give everyone time to enter.

Halloween Spooktacular Day 29

For Romance Book Junkies: Halloween Spooktacular 2011

By Syrie James

2 book excerpts + a giveaway!

I’m thrilled to participate in the Halloween Spooktacular, and to tell you about my two latest books—tales of forbidden romance and passion that feature vampires so charismatic, I fell madly in love with them! I hope you will, too. Thanks, Danielle, for inviting me! Please read on for summaries, excerpts, and reviews of both novels, followed by a giveaway.

DRACULA, MY LOVE: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker

By Syrie James

SUMMARY: Syrie James approaches Bram Stoker's classic Dracula with a breathtaking new perspective, as Mina Harker records the shocking story of her scandalous seduction and sexual rebirth. Struggling to hang on to the pure love she's found within her marriage to her husband, Jonathan, Mina is drawn into a secret, passionate affair with a fascinating, charismatic, yet dangerous lover—a man she doesn’t at first realize is the vampire Count Dracula.

Although everyone she knows fears Count Dracula and is pledged to destroy him, Mina sees a side to him that others cannot: a tender, romantic side; a man who's taken full advantage of his gift of immortality to expand his mind and talents; a man who is deeply in love, and who may not be evil after all. Soon, they are connected in a way she never thought humanly possible. Yet to surrender is surely madness, for to be with him could end her life.

EXCERPT FROM DRACULA, MY LOVE

by Syrie James

Dracula crossed to me then and stopped, touching my cheek with one hand as he gazed deeply into my eyes. "Mina," he said gently, "I swear to you, upon my honour: the only real wrong I have ever done your husband—and I admit it is an egregious one—is to covet the woman he loves."

       My breath caught in my throat. He was so near, so very near. I could read the fervent desire in his blue eyes, and I felt an answering need well up within me. All at once, my anger, fears, and doubts evaporated. I did not care if he was lying or not. I did not care whether he was good or evil. All I cared about was that this man's arms should wrap around me, that his body should press close up against me, and that his lips should find mine.

       "They are all bent on destroying you," I whispered. "What shall I do? How can I help you?"

       "I do not think you can help me, my darling. But do not worry. I can take care of myself."

       He drew me close then and kissed me. It was a long and passionate kiss. Desire coursed through me. When his lips left my mouth and travelled down to my throat, I quivered in anticipation, knowing what would come next, wanting it. He promised that I will be safe, I reminded myself. He promised not to harm me.

       He unbuckled the velvet band around my neck and tossed it aside. His eyes—now red—met mine; I gave him my silent ascent, waiting in breathless ecstasy as my head fell back.

       Then I felt it: the prick of his teeth piercing my flesh, and the exquisite joy as my warm blood pulsed from my body into his.


* * * * * * * * *

Prologue

1897

      It has been seven long years since the first night he came to my chamber, seven long years since the string of haunting, incredible, and perilous events occurred—events which I am certain no one else will believe, even though we took care to make a written record of it. It is those transcripts of our journals—mine, and the other's—which I look at from time to time, to remind myself that it all really happened, and that I did not merely dream it.



      Now and then, when I spy a white mist gathering in the garden below, when a shadow crosses a wall at night, or when I see dust motes swirling in a beam of moonlight, I still find myself jumping in expectation and alarm. Jonathan will press my hand and catch my eye with a silent, reassuring look, as if to let me know that he understands, that we are safe. But when he turns back to his reading by the fire, my heart continues to hammer in my chest, and I am overcome not only by the sense of apprehension that Jonathan knows I feel, but by something else as well . . . by longing.



      Yes, longing.



      The record I kept—the journal I so carefully wrote in shorthand, and then typed for the others to read—was not the entire truth; not my truth. Some thoughts and experiences are too intimate for others' eyes; some desires are too shocking to admit, even to one's self. Were I to reveal all to Jonathan, I know I would lose him forever, as surely as I would lose forever the good opinion of all society.

 

      I know what my husband wants—what all men want. For a woman—single or married—to be loved and respected, she must be innocent: entirely pure of mind, body, and soul. And so I once was, until he came into my life. At times, I feared him. At other times, I despised him. And yet, even knowing what he was and what he wanted, I could not help but love him.



      I will never forget the magic of being held in his embrace, the compelling magnetism of his eyes as he gazed at me, or how it felt to whirl about the dance floor in his arms. I still shiver with delight when I recall the dizzying sensation of travelling with him at the speed of light, and the way his slightest touch could make me gasp with unimagined pleasure and desire. But the most wondrous times were the hours upon hours of conversation, stolen moments in which we revealed our most private selves to each other, and discovered all that we held in common.

 

      I loved him. I loved him passionately, profoundly, from the very depths of my being, and with every beating of my heart. There was a time when I might have gladly given up this human life to be with him forever. 



      

And yet . . . . 

      

All these years, the truth of what happened has weighed heavily on my mind, taking the pleasure out of ordinary things, stealing my appetite, and banishing sleep. I find I cannot carry the guilty burden within me any longer. I must put it all down on paper, never to be seen by other's eyes, but certain that only in the writing will I at last be free to let it go. 



* * * * * * * * *

"5 STARS. A perfect read. Fans of Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer 
will find much to rejoice about in this novel... 
However, in my opinion, James is a better writer than either."
—Much Madness is Divinest Sense

"The rest of the world might think they know everything about the Count from Transylvania, but only Mina Harker, who once fell under the seductive spell of literature's most famous vampire, knows Dracula's true story. James gives readers an intriguing alternate theory as to the events that occurred in Stoker's classic horror tale while at the same time delivering a spooky yet thoroughly romantic love story." —Chicago Tribune

"I loved it! A gripping story, infused with passion, excitement,
and emotional turmoil. This vampire can bite my neck any time!" 
—American Book Center

Read more reviews of Dracula My Love here.

Order DRACULA, MY LOVE online here:

Amazon Trade Paperback: http://amzn.to/gT9r8p

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/oYnTCU

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/pAEjy2


* * * * * * * * *

EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY:

NOCTURNE

by Syrie James

SUMMARY: When Nicole Whitcomb's car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger. Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension. Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding?


Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her— a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever. As the sexual tension between them builds, however, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns her host's terrifying secret, there is nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life.


EXCERPT FROM NOCTURNE

by Syrie James

Chapter 3

In groggy confusion, Nicole took in her surroundings. She was lying on a couch in a spacious living room decorated with a masculine flair. Muted daylight shone in through a row of tall windows that reached the peaked, vaulted ceiling. Where was she? Then she remembered. The storm. The accident.

A man was bent over the fireplace, his back to her. Nicole’s hand went to her left temple and encountered a bandage. She sat up, an action that caused her head to throb painfully, and the man to whip around in her direction.

“Don’t touch that.” His tone was so sharp that Nicole dropped her hand to her lap. To her surprise he spoke with a refined British accent.

“My head hurts,” Nicole said, staring at the man’s scarred, brown leather boots, which peeked out from beneath dark jeans.

“That’s to be expected. You received a rather nasty blow.”

Nicole looked up at the man’s face for the first time. An unexpected fluttering began in her stomach. He had lovely blue eyes and was extremely handsome. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties and had a lean, athletic build. His light brown hair was combed back loosely from his forehead. The silver buckle that adorned his leather belt looked like an antique or something a cowboy might wear. But cowboys didn’t have British accents—did they?

“Is this your house?” she asked.

“It is. What’s your name?”

“Nicole Whitcomb.”

“Do you remember what happened to you?”

“Yes. One minute, I was in complete control of my car, and the next I was sliding off the road and flipping over.”

He nodded. “Four-wheel drive doesn’t mean four-wheel stop. The accident happened on the highway just below my house. I saw it when I was out clearing my road. You’d passed out behind the wheel. I dug you out, brought you up here, and cleaned you up a little.” He stepped away with unhurried grace and lowered himself into an easy chair—as far off, she noticed, as it was humanly possible to sit.

“Thank you.” Nicole felt a jumble of contradictory emotions: a rush of gratitude to this total stranger who’d saved her life; the light tingle of her attraction to him; and an overwhelming awkwardness. Although his words seemed to convey an interest in her well-being, his voice and body language implied otherwise. She wished she could leave immediately. But how? Her car was buried in a snowbank and it was blizzarding outside.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me. I’m sorry to be in your way.” She paused, hoping he would contradict her, but he didn’t. “What kind of injury do I have? As I recall, my head was a bloody mess.”

Her statement brought a brief, dark glimmer to his eyes that sent an unexpected chill up Nicole’s spine. She had no reason to be afraid of this man. Did she?

“A small cut on your temple—nothing severe,” he answered.

Nicole’s heart began to beat erratically. Who was this guy? He seemed very cultured, as if he belonged in a palace surrounded by servants. What was an Englishman doing in this remote corner of the Colorado mountains… unless he was hiding from something?

“You haven’t told me your name,” she said.

“Haven’t I? I beg your pardon. Michael Tyler.”

“How is it that you live up here? I thought this was national forest land.”

“It is. But there are pockets of private land scattered throughout.”

“Do you live by yourself, or…”

“I live alone.”

Her questions seemed to annoy him. In an effort to lighten the mood, she glanced at the grand piano and said, “So I take it it’s either you who plays that piano, or the resident ghost?”

A surprised twinkle lit his blue eyes. “Definitely the ghost. She plays at the oddest hours. I deduce that she’s from the previous century, which is strange when you consider that I only built the house ten years ago.”

Nicole laughed. His smile was charming and only enhanced his good looks. Maybe there was nothing to be afraid of after all…


* * * * * * * * *

“Lyrical, lush, and intensely romantic, this infinitely touching, bittersweet story from James (Dracula, My Love) will weave its way into readers' hearts, with its complex characters and compelling emotions sure to linger long after the last page has been turned.” —Library Journal

"Syrie James has done it again with this wonderful combination of thriller, mystery and romance that will greatly please her legion of fans... Bound to keep you turning page after page."—Top Romance Novels

Syrie James puts her own spin on the vampire trend with this tender, character-driven love story. The snowbound Nicole and Michael have so much chemistry that everything they do, from discussing literature to carving wooden music boxes, becomes foreplay. You won't need a snowstorm to keep you glued to your chair, racing through this fantastic novel!” —RT Book Reviews

"A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love...
Each incredible revelation kept me turning pages long into the night."
—A Simple Love of Reading

"Haunting characters ... A page-turner."
—Fresh Fiction

"5 OUT OF 5 STARS! I loved it!" 
—Good Choice Reading

"Near-death experiences, a charming and enigmatic stranger, concealed dark secrets, forbidden love – Syrie James' latest novel is an exquisite feast of passion, turmoil, adventure, and intrigue. 5 stars!” —Austenesque Reviews

“If you've never read a Syrie James novel you're missing out. Whether you begin with her odes to Austen, Bronte, Dracula, or Nicole and Michael – you will most assuredly read every word she's written and become a true fan for all time." —

Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Read more reviews of Nocturne here.

Order Nocturne online here:

Amazon Hardcover: http://amzn.to/pBBHZ1

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/njXmGZ

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/ni8p2g

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/exfjC3

Find Syrie Online:

Website: www.syriejames.com

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/syriejames

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/syriejames

SYRIE JAMES BIOGRAPHY

Syrie James is the bestselling author of four critically acclaimed novels, including Nocturne, Dracula, My Love, and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, named Best First Novel 2008 by Library Journal. Hailed by Los Angeles Magazine as “the queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings,” Syrie's books have been translated into 16 foreign languages. Her novel The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë has been optioned for film, was honored as a Great Group Read by the Women’s National Book Association, and the audio book won the prestigious 2011 Audie Award in the romance category. Syrie’s short story leads the new anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It. Syrie’s next novel Forbidden, a YA paranormal romance which she co-wrote with her son Ryan, is due out January 2012. A lifetime member of JASNA, RWA, and WGA, Syrie is currently hard at work on a new novel for Penguin Books. Visit Syrie on facebook, Twitter, and syriejames.com.

GIVEAWAY!

ENTER to win a signed copy of the paperback edition of NOCTURNE, which includes an exclusive sneak preview at the back of the first two chapters of Syrie’s next book, FORBIDDEN, due out Jan. 24, 2012. Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

To enter the contest, tell us what intrigues you about Nocturne and/or Dracula, My Love, and why you’d like to win the book. Don't forget to include your email so we can contact you if you win.The contest ends Nov. 29th