Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #5)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Nikki

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two mates find themselves on different paths, torn between their duty to the Wyr and the passion that binds them… Before she met Dragos, half-human/half-Wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyrs’ frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners—in more places than just the bedroom. In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the Games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear…

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Lord’s Fall is Thea Harrison’s fifth book in her paranormal romance series, The Elder Races. I started reading this series when book one,  Dragon Bound, introduced me to this lush world full of inventive characters and promising story lines to come. Dragos is the “older then dirt” hero who has always been used to people fearing him and just doing like he asks of them…the first time. When he mated with Pia he got more of an equal then he realized. As the series has progressed he has learned how to be more human though his animal side is still extremely prevalent especially when it comes to his mate.

Lord’s Fall finds Pia making a trip deep into Elven territory in hopes of repairing a rift Dragos caused when he broke a long standing treaty with the nation. In an effort to bring the two nations back together she goes, along with an elite group of guards, to speak with the head of the Elves. Of course a third party is also intent on speaking with the head of the Elves but for the intent of starting a war that once started will end in bloodshed from everyone.

Pia’s shifter heritage is kept secret from the masses and that causes her to be an outcast among them. Coupled with her pregnancy and over protective mate she craves friends and social interaction. I felt bad for her but Eva (her new bodyguard) and her sparred well verbally and gave her the outlet she’d been craving. In fact I enjoyed this new team of warriors and hope we see them again in future works. It was a break from the characters I’ve already come to love.

I found Lord’s Fall to be slightly slow and pretty wordy. I wanted to care but sometimes it felt like it was rambling along with no purpose. I only became interested when action would ensue or Dragos and Pia were together. I felt all the constant back story of the Elves was overdone. I found myself skimming those times in search of the good stuff. Harrison took a chance going back to the original main characters this far into the series but overall I thought it was well done in the character growth department.

While past characters, and some promising new ones ( A PEGASUS, HELLO!!) make appearances I was disappointed one of my favorites didn’t. Tiago was only mentioned in passing and that really bummed me out. I loved him in book two and was surprised that he wouldn’t have been present, if only to see the games that would result in his now vacated spot as one of Dragos’ seven warriors. Rune was there and even played a small part in the climactic ending…..so why no Tiago Thea??? WHY?? I’m not bitter.

The Elder Races series will always hold a special place in my heart. Dragos would be alpha to other alphas. He’s in your face, charismatic and just made of alluring awesomeness! No wonder Pia loves him, because part of me does too. I will definitely keep reading this series!

I give Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison 3.75 stars! 

True Colors by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #3.5)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance Novella

Publisher: Samhain

My Copy: Bought

Meeting your soulmate? Great. Preventing your possible murder? Even better. 

Alice Clark, a Wyr and schoolteacher, has had two friends murdered in as many days, and she’s just found the body of a third. She arrives at the scene only minutes before Gideon Riehl, a wolf Wyr and current detective in the Wyr Division of Violent Crime—and, as Alice oh-so-inconveniently recognizes at first sight, her mate. 

But the sudden connection Riehl and Alice feel is complicated when the murders are linked to a serial killer who last struck seven years ago, killing seven people in seven days. They have just one night before the killer strikes again. And every sign points to Alice as the next victim. 

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Three friends dead in as many days. A Wyr chameleon killer is on the loose and after stumbling upon the body of her best friend, schoolteacher Alice knows she may be next. The mysterious man who stalks into her friend’s apartment could be the murderer and Alice is surprised to find her body reacting to the hulking, scary man. Not knowing who to trust she runs. She can run now, but Gideon, Wyr Violent Crimes detective will find the girl he can’t seem to shake. He’s good at his job on a normal case, but he finds this one is different. The unassuming female is his intended mate and the wolf in him wholeheartedly agrees. Nothing will be taking her away from him. Ever.

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You don’t know how excited I was to learn there would be Elder Races novellas in between the full length books! I may have squealed a little bit….ok  I did…..a lot. Being one of my all time favorite series EVA I was out of my mind with happiness! Then my review pile bogged me down and it took me awhile to get to it.

What I found when I dove into this novella left me a bit…waahhhhh? It was a bit shorter than most novellas authors write in between full books first off. The length hurt my connections a bit. I liked Wyr detective, Gideon (LOVE the name) and school teacher Alice but as a couple I just didn’t “get it”. Which is where the length came under scrutiny for me. As a reader you can’t just tell me “they are mates, they can’t fight it” and expect me to be all, oooooh ok, let’s just skip the relationship part then. I didn’t have time to form any other opinions other than, yeah I like them, yeah Gideon is hot.

I unraveled the mystery of the killer way before it was actually revealed. I did think the viciousness of the attacks on these Wyr was well wrote. I liked the bit about Tarot readings and Alice’s understanding of it. I liked how Harrison worked that into the killers ritual. Though the ending felt so fast and so forced I think I may have gotten whiplash.

I also enjoyed the surprising type of Wyr that Alice was. The inclusion of a chameleon Wyr was something I had never even thought of before. I must say, I love when authors come up with new shifters! Chameleons, though not really tough, would have an amazing asset in being able to blend into their surroundings.

While I didn’t exactly get the relationship Harrison was trying to convey I still enjoyed this novella for what it was….an extension of my favorite series! And yes, I started singing “I see your true colors singing through……” as soon as I read the title. Heh.

I give True Colors by Thea Harrison 3 stars!

Oracle’s Moon by Thea Harrison (The Elder Races #4)

Available: 3-6-12 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

When Grace Andreas’s sister, Petra, and her husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister’s two young children–neither of which she is prepared for. Then Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn Prince of House Marid, decides to make himself a part of the household both as guardian and counterpoint to Grace’s impudence towards the Elder Races

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Being the new Oracle kinda sucks. Grace is physically limited after the car wreck that killed her sister and brother in law and now she has two kids to take care of too. On top of that, the power of the Oracle that resides in her family has been passed down to her. Now she has people knocking on her door at all hours of the night and day to consult and all she really want’s to do is rest. The last thing she wants is a hard headed Djinn swooping in to watch over the children and test her at every turn. That’s exactly what Khalil seems to be doing. Regardless of how he feels for the human he is drawn to the children like a moth to a flame. Long past heartaches resurface and he yearns for things he didn’t even realize he wanted back. The feisty Oracle aside he vows to never let harm come to the two small humans and by default, their caretaker. Little does he know though, that those long lost feelings he’s been feeling include love.

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Let me start by saying…WOW! I loved Khalil so much I was practically bursting at the seams every time I opened this book. After Serpent’s Kiss I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. That book almost felt like a different author to me. Oracle’s Moon though brought back to me the reason I love this series so much. Romance, push and pull and the action and politics involved with these different races.

Khalil is a centuries old djinn who isn’t quite sure how to act human and honestly, he really doesn’t want to. He likes who he is and loves having so many favors owed to him that he could sit back for years and never call on everyone. The human Oracle is someone he has become intrigued with. He doesn’t like her. She seems to be everything he hates about humanity and yet she grows on him. Where he first saw neglect he slowly starts to see her inability to keep up. How she is in over her head and really still mourning the loss of her sister. Shouldering the responsibility of the Oracle and two small children is taking its toll on a woman who has physical disabilities after the car wreck. Khalil’s most enduring quality is his stilted speech. As a Djinn he doesn’t talk much and so his speech is rather regal and discombobulated with human slang. It cracked me up when he said things like “I will achieve the pancakes” .  Made me fall in love with him that much more.

I really felt for Grace. She had so much responsibility shoved at her at once and she was literally sinking fast. I was glad when she let Khalil in and stopped fighting him on every little thing. Protective and steadfast she didn’t take the children lightly and always put their needs first. I loved her Oracle visions and how they will directly tie to the next book. The sex…oh the sex. Picture a man who is not quite a man, who has the ability to be EVERYWHERE at once. Yeah. That is all.

Speaking of the next book, Thea Harrison is doing something I have never read before. The next book will go back and be centered once again on Dragos and Pia! What?! I am so freaking excited about this. Authors may put the other couples in the following books but I’ve never read one that went back and did a entire other book on the same couple. I LOVE Dragos….I mean, do you remember the sex from the first book, OMG. *Le sigh*. This time Pia is preggers and that baby is gonna be one hellacious power wielder. Sorry sorry, I went total fan girl for a second there.

Oracle’s Moon is magically sexy, action packed and total world ending prophecy AWESOME! The continued world building will just suck you in and make you a true believer in this powerful world. Wonderfully written I fully recommend this series!

I give Oracle’s Moon by Thea Harrison 5 stars! 

Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #3)

Available: Oct 4, 2011 Amazon/ B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Recently, Vampire Queen Carling’s power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee. Wyr sentinel Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help find a cure for the serpent’s kiss-the vampyric disease that’s killing her. With their desire for each other escalating they will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent’s kiss…

When the Vampire Queen Carling makes a request for your to fulfill your commitment promised to her, you go. Not even Rune will defy her order after she saved Tiago from certain death. So with a cautious heart he heads to her side to find out what is expected of him. What he never expects is the electricity that flows through his veins at her nearness. The instant rush to help her with her ailing body and to try to solve the mystery surrounding it. Carling doesn’t want help, she wants to be left alone. She has come to terms with the fact that she is dying. She doesn’t care. Rune is slowly awakening long forgotten feelings in both Carling and himself. A vampire and a griffon are not supposed to mate…doing so will only cause trouble….and surprisingly….they don’t care.

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Serpent’s Kiss is the much anticipated third book in the Elder Races series by Thea Harrison. I myself had been swept up by the first and second book in this series and was frothing at the mouth to get my hands all over this one.

Rune and Carling make an unlikely couple and together, at times, it was difficult to get into the story. There were multiple times throughout the story that I wasn’t sure what to make of them as a couple. Serpent’s Kiss is extremely in depth, centering mainly around a blood type disorder that Carling is facing and the impact it seems to be having on those around her. That was the hardest part for me I think. I don’t deal well with medical terminology and all the things associated with it.

Carling is a very dispassionate person on the surface. She has become unaccustomed to dealing with emotions after so many years living as a vampire. Though she can see that others have very strong feelings for her one way or the other, she has no interest in reciprocating. Until she see’s Rune watching her body flow seamlessly from the river without a stitch on at the end of Storm’s Heart. When presented with the opportunity to get to know him a bit better, she jumps on it in the form of performing a favor in return for one…well as much as someone who doesn’t really care much about anything at all can.

Not knowing what to expect from the “service” he is to perform Rune cautiously makes his way to her. He is confused with his surge of protectiveness for a woman who is almost an equal to him in strength and ability. When he looks at her he sees not only her strength but the vulnerability that still resides somewhere deep inside.  Her willingness to take care of a small dog that someone else had left for dead. Her kindness when dealing with her most trusted employees. The smallest glint in her eyes when she watches him.

Offering to help Carling with her disease just blurs the line more between the two and soon Rune is so far in he can’t turn back. What starts as a single task he must complete turns into a race against time…and through time. Sometimes the answers aren’t in the present or the future…sometimes they lie in your past. Especially when you start altering that past to change the future. At that point things got a bit confusing and I’d by lying if I said I “got” everything that was going on. I think I understood the gist though, so all in all I feel confident that I understood the meaning behind the characters motives and where the storyline may be going with future books.

What excited me most about this book was the glimpse we get into the next one and seeing Khalil in action. I think I am really going to love him. He’s kind of like a sexy genie…lol…only much darker. I do love a sexy, dark, built like a brick shit house man. Yes. I am looking forward to that one. He has a story that is just bursting to be told. The heroine, Grace, seems to be a character that is not only strong but competent. I liked her instantly during her stint in this book, short lived though it was. Her and Khalil are going to be smoldering!

While I didn’t find Serpent’s Kiss to be as engaging as the first two books in the Elder Races series, I did love it for continuing the journey I have now become invested in.

I give Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison 3.75 stars

Interview with Thea Harrison!

Good morning everyone! Today I have a treat for everyone. I have the amazing Thea Harrison with us today. Thea writes my new most favoritest series, Elder Races! I fell in LOVE with Dragos in Dragon Bound…then I swooned over Tiago in Storm’s Heart! Both men are exactly what I love…..you know what it is…..ALPHAS!!!!! Oh boy do I love a alpha that acts more animal then man.

I think my favorite thing about this series is that Thea combines extremely descriptive writing with action scenes (both in and out of the bedroom) that are so just so well wrote they make you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it. Hey….I wouldn’t mind being in the middle of Dragos and Tiago….heh.

So let’s welcome Thea! SQUEAL!!!

 

Dragon Bound: Amazon/B&N

Storm’s Heart: Amazon/B&N

 

 

 

Hi Nikki, thank you so much for having me again! I’m excited to be here today.

 

1. What do you think is the biggest difference between Dragos and Tiago?

Terrific question! Dragos and Tiago have a lot in common. They are both alpha males and used to the power and autonomy of command. Their Wyr natures are predatory too, and neither one is afraid of conflict.

 

I think the biggest difference between them lies in the fact that Tiago is able to embrace drastic change more easily than Dragos. Tiago is also capable of thriving in a supporting role. Dragos is the kind of alpha leader that might be able to delegate and step back to let others take the reins of a particular responsibility or task, but all of that is within the understanding that he is very much in charge.

 

2. While writing Storm’s Heart did you model Tiago after anyone?

Two things influenced me as I created Tiago. The first was watching the actor Dwayne Johnson (“the Rock”) in action. Not only is Dwayne Johnson smoking hot, but he’s actually pretty scary looking when he looks mad. The second thing that influenced me—at least that I’m aware of—was reading snippets about thunderbird mythology. At one point I read a passage that stated thunderbirds were “wrathful” and quick to war. It stuck with me.

 

Actually, I could tie this back to your first question too. Neither Tiago nor Dragos would shy away from conflict, and both have a talent for tactics and strategy. But Tiago would be quicker to the fight than Dragos would. Dragos is more of a global thinker. Dragos might not be talented at diplomacy but he recognizes it has a necessary part of inter-demesne survival and he makes effective use of it in others. On the other hand, Tiago is not at all interested in diplomacy and he only puts up with it when he has to.

 

3. Niniane is such a huge opposite from Tiago. Do you think opposites attract?

I think opposites can and do attract, but it’s a dangerous road. For me, one of the reasons why Niniane and Tiago work, despite the fact that they are so different from each other, is because they develop a shared sense of mission. Niniane and Tiago end up with the best of both worlds, all the exoticism of having mate that is so different from oneself coupled with a strong common purpose. They also discover that they have compatible needs. Niniane is well aware that she needs a protector, and Tiago has a protective streak a mile wide.

 

4. Dragos and Tiago are very “in your face” while Rune is more subtle. When we see his book is he going to become more like Dragos and Tiago, or is he different all around?

Serpent’s Kiss, which is Rune’s story, has a different dynamic from Dragon Bound and Storm’s Heart. Rune is more easy-going than Dragos or Tiago. Rune is also usually more adept at finding peaceful resolutions to conflict, which is one of the reasons why he is Dragos’s First sentinel. Not only is Rune a different character from Tiago and Dragos, but the heroine of book three, Carling, is different from either Pia or Niniane, darker and spikier.

 

5. Speaking of stories…can you tell us who will be the next main character or when it will be released?

 

I’m working on book four right now, which is currently entitled Oracle’s Moon and is scheduled for March 6^th, 2012. Oracle’s Moon is the first story with two main characters outside of the Wyr demesne, Grace and Khalil. The reader gets a first glimpse of Khalil in a cameo appearance in Storm’s Heart, and both Grace and Khalil are in Serpent’s Kiss. A teaser for their story is scheduled for the back of Serpent’s Kiss in October.

 

Thanks for the great questions. I’ve had a lot of fun visiting with you today!

 

Thank you so much for coming by today Thea! It’s always awesome chatting with you about your writing. I’m definitely hooked! Storm’s Heart just released, so go get your copy! Up next in the Elder Races series…..Serpent’s Kiss due out this fall!

 

 Preorder: Amazon/B&N

 

Winners! Storm’s Heart and Lucy Monroe Giveaways!

 

Good morning everyone! Time to announce a few winners in some giveaways! First up is the winner of the Lucy Monroe 2 pack! This winner will get print copies of both Bodyguards In Bed AND Watch Over Me! Winner is…….

Shannon J!!!

I also need to giveaway my extra copy of Storm’s Heart…..winner is……..

Amy-Jo!!!

*All winners picked with random.org*

I will be emailing shortly. Please make sure to check your spam folder. If I don’t get a response in 48 hrs I will pick new winners. Thanks!

*Update*- due to no response the winner for Storm’s Heart is now WANDA F- Congrats Wanda!

Storm’s Heart GIVEAWAY

 

Hope everyone is having a good day today! I thought I’d offer a spur of the moment giveaway opportunity to my US and Canadian followers. I have an extra copy of Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison! All you have to do to enter is tell me if you’ve read the first in the series….Dragon Bound. And as always, leave me a way to contact you. This contest is only going to be open until midnight Saturday July 30th. I will announce the winner on Sunday July 31st!

Make sure you read my review posted below AND my review of Dragon Bound. Big thanks to Thea Harrison and Berkley Publishing!

Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #2)

Available: August 2, 2011 Amazon/B&N/Borders

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s the one sent to protect Tricks, heir to the Dark Fae throne, when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago. Soon Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them-a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds.

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This was one of those books were I stared at the screen on my computer for far to long trying to put into words just how very much I liked it. You wouldn’t think writing a  stellar review would be this hard huh? Well, it is. I knew once I had read Dragon Bound that the bar of excellence was set pretty high for Thea. Especially when I found out that the main character in Storm’s Heart was Tiago. Tiago was only briefly seen in Dragon Bound but he is definitely the “mean” one. The shifter that has a huge chip on his shoulder and doesn’t like to be around people. Add in the fact that he is a mythical Native American Thunderbird that can control thunder and lightening…wowzer. So heading into it I tried not to let myself get my hopes up only to be let down. However, Thea took all that and threw it out the window. She has blown me away again!

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Tricks is inheriting the Dark Fae kingdom after coming out of hiding in Dragon Bound. Her evil Uncle Urien is dead. Going back to her birthname Niniane, begins to navigate the waters to go home. An assassination attempt that gets scarily close to finishing the job puts a kink in her well laid plans and she needs to lay low and heal.

Tiago can’t believe the little fairy has already gotten into trouble. She’s only been gone two days! Before long he is in hot pursuit of the tricky little female. When he finds her hurt though, protection instincts go into overdrive and hormones kick in quick. There is just something about her that drives him crazy with emotions he has never felt before.

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Tricks and Tiago together light the pages on fire! Tiago is such a strong, alpha male and Tricks such a tiny, intelligent fairy, that together they take the reader on a unforgettable journey through lands we only dream about. I loved that every time Tricks would get it in her mind to do something silly, Tiago would go and get pissed and there would be a “freak” thunderstorm outside. it cracked me up. Does no one notice the weird weather patterns in this city? I mean seriously though, how cool is that? Your man goes and gets protective and lightening starts striking….HAWT! I do love me a protective man. One that will knocks heads off to get to his girl…*sigh*…

Tricks is kind of a unique character. She is young as far as these creatures go at just around 200. She is silly and fun and has been drunk on more then one occasion in this series. She is slightly immature but all that makes her endearing to me. She is trying to adjust to having to take over the throne that her family was murdered over. She is carrying enough baggage for an entire airline and so I can understand her actions. She doesn’t really WANT to be queen, but if she doesn’t take it back, then she will never have closure over the death of her family.

The world building from Dragon Bound continues in Storm’s Heart. Thea does an awesome job of adding new levels and making everything coherent and easy to read. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information in a book, but not so with Thea. She also more thoroughly introduces us to the female lead in the next book, Serpent’s Kiss. That should be a good book because the vampire queen is unlike most heroines. Of course Rune in the male lead and *le sigh*, he’s a griffon. Which mean more male hawtness coming my way!

Just as I thought I would be, I am a rabid fan of Thea Harrison. Storm’s Heart is full of action, suspense and steamy smexy scenes. I want to scream it from the rooftops…BUY THIS SERIES! I however, am at work and I doubt all the seniors living in the complex would appreciate it. And if I lose my job where will my book money come from?

I give Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison 4 stars!

Guest Post With Bells! DRAGONS!

When my wonderful buddy Nikki asked me to do a guest post for her I couldn’t think of anything interesting to write about. But then I got an idea and the wheels started turning in my tired and battered brain. Why not write about something that Nikki absolutely loved this year…DRAGONS!

NOW THAT’S A FIRE!

Nikki and I both went crazy for one of the best books that has been released this year so far. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison! Everyone loves this book! It’s filled with so much awesomeness that you want to reread it right after you have finished it. Now if you haven’t read this book yet, I suggest you run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore and grab a copy of the shelf. Then proceed to scream all the way to the register and through the parking lot. (Disclaimer: Bells nor Nikki will be responsible for any charges brought against you in a court of law. We are broke and need any money that we have for books) Or you could just click that nifty buy button and download it to your ereader. You can still scream and run around outside if you want to. (Please read disclaimer up above) Never in million years would I think that a dragon would be sexy! I mean I think of one and I think of hard scales all across a body. Sharp teeth. And…hot nasty breath. No amount of Listerine is going to help with that kind of morning breath. Peeyosa! (Yes I am channeling Jar Jar Binks) I would also be afraid of being burnt to a crisp! Now that’s a fire! (Okay now I’m channeling Eddie Murphy. I’m crazy, what can I say!) But I didn’t have any of this fear, or disgust, while reading Dragon Bound. It’s about a man/dragon shifter by the name of Dragos that is powerful as well as wealthy. Something has been taken from him and he goes on a hunt to find the person that stole from him. Along the way he learns that he does not like Twizzlers (I’m not a fan either Dragos) or Slurpees (Dude?!  Those are awesome!) He also finds out that thief is a woman by the name of Pia and he becomes intrigued by her. He’s been bored for a very long time and she entertains him, so he lets her live. They soon start having feelings for one another and this is when the hotness begins. I loved that Dragos is an animal because his appetite can’t be stated in the first round of lovemaking. This makes for very interesting reading for this smut lover. Let me demonstrate this by giving you a quote from Dragon Bound in which Dragos needs…more. (Warning: Extremely hot scene up ahead. May cause your face to flush and breathing to become erratic)

He started to move his hips again, pulling out, pushing in, his breathing deepening. Oh God, he was still huge and hard. Not human. She made an amazed noise at the back of her throat, clutching at him as he worked inside her. It was too gorgeous.

He pulled out, face drawn. She woofed in surprise as he flipped her onto her stomach and yanked her hips up so that she was on her knees. Her tangled hair settled in a cloud over her face. “Not deep enough,” he groaned. “Got to get deeper.”

*taking deep breaths* Do you see what I mean?!! His animal nature was coming out and lucky Pia got to be the lucky one to experience some Dragon lovin! This was just one of the many hot scenes in the book and Thea Harrison does a great job at writing them. So what are you waiting for? Get on the Dragon train like Nikki and I have and experience the best in Dragon lovin!

Because Dragos was so hot, I proclaim 2011 as the year of the Dragon!

 

Now technically 2011 is the Year Of the Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac.  2012 will be the Year Of the dragon.  I still think this year should be the Year Of the Dragon cause Dragos was sexy and there aren’t any sexy rabbit books out this year.  (Sorry Rabbit lovers)

Every year there is one paranormal that there are tons of books written about.  Last year was all about the Angels, this year it’s all about the Dragons.  Have you read any? If so, let Nikki and I know which one you’ve read and if you’ve read Dragon Bound yet.

Happy 1st Blogversary Nikki!

I’m so glad that you started your blog and can’t wait to have another year of fun with you!

Thea Harrison Interview!

Morning everyone! Today I get to welcome an author that is quickly earning a place in my heart! I won a copy of her newest book Dragon Bound from Goodreads awhile back and I instantly fell in love! The book was AMAZING…and I sigh in contentment just thinking about it. Yes, I liked it that much.

Thea’s writing style will completely capture your attention. There is a good mix of action and romance so everyone is happy..and boy that romance…*whew* fanning myself! I was ecstatic to be a apart of her Dragon Bound tour!

Welcome Thea!! I’m excited to have you here can you tell? I’ve just got a few questions for you..I know you’re a busy lady!

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 You’ve written category romances under the name Amanda Carpenter, but what made you decide to write a paranormal romance?

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I first ran into category romances when I was a teenager, visiting at my aunt’s house. My aunt and uncle had two types of books to read: Zane Grey westerns and category romances. I read both. Writing a category romance when I was nineteen seemed a natural step for me to take. (I have not attempted a western—yet!)

My love of science fiction and fantasy started much earlier, when I began reading fairy tales in first grade. I quickly moved onto devouring all the mythology books in my grade school library. The school library was where I stumbled upon C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Soon I branched out into reading contemporary sci-fi and fantasy.

Paranormal romances, for me, are the perfect mix of everything I learned to love early on about reading. Writing a paranormal romance allows my imagination to branch out in ways I find hugely satisfying.

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I loved the alpha-ness (it’s a word, I swear) of Dragos, can we expect more tough males and hard headed, smart females?

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Absolutely, you can! In fact, the hero and heroine for book two, Storm’s Heart, are introduced in Dragon Bound. Also, Pia and Dragos continue to have a presence in future stories, although sometimes their appearance is quite brief.

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How many books do you envision with this series?

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I’m approaching the Elder Races series with an open mind. There isn’t any series concept or overarching story idea that has to be concluded by a certain book. I designed the world so that it had plenty of conflict and different social structures and peoples to explore, and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to really dig in and develop things. We’ll see where this goes!

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When you set out to do some deep world building, do you have a process?

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My process revolves around whatever project I am working on at the moment. Aside from the specific romance between Pia and Dragos, I began writing the Elder Races series with one question: what would an alternative Earth be like if the supernatural creatures and societies were not secret or newly revealed to humans, but an open fact of life? Now I begin my world building with an idea for a book or novella and build the world according to what is needed to tell a satisfying story. For Dragon Bound, this involved creating the Wyr. In Storm’s Heart, I focus a great deal of my attention on the Dark Fae. I’m currently working on stories that tell a little about the Elder Races gods.

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If you could go back and redo something from your past, would you? What would you change if so?

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I suppose if there was one thing I would do over, I would probably finish school a lot sooner than I did.

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Who is on your “to be read” shelf?

Right now, I have the first book in Stephen White’s crime series, Privileged Information. I am also very lucky to have received an ARC of Nalini Singh’s Kiss of Snow, which I am nibbling through with huge enjoyment. I also have books by Ilona Andrews, Ann Aguirre, Christine Feehan, and Colleen McCollough on my to-be-read shelf.

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Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I will try to hold back my squeal of excitement until you have left the page…I said try….

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Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure!

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Thea Harrison is the pen name for author Teddy Harrison. Thea has traveled extensively, having lived in England and explored Europe for several years. Now she resides in northern California. She wrote her first book, a romance, when she was nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter.

She took a break from writing to collect a couple of graduate degrees and a grown child. She experienced waitressing as a teenager, has worked as an activist for a non-profit consumer rights organization, has been a receptionist, an office manager, a penniless graduate student, a director of development and research, and a single mom. Her graduate degrees are in Philanthropic Studies and Library Information Science, but her first love has always been writing fiction. She’s back with her paranormal Elder Races series. The release date for her first paranormal, Dragon Bound, is May 3, 2010.

She adores animals and currently resides with several small pets that have very large personalities.

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Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

Pre-Order: Amazon/B&N/Borders

He’s a wyr warrior, a god of storms. She’s the heir to the Dark Fae throne. But desire will bring both to their knees in this all-new Novel of the Elder Races.

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle “Tricks” Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle’s death, there are those who don’t want to see her ascend to the throne…

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s sent to protect Tricks when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds…