Happy New Year 2011!!!

I really hope you and your family all have a happy, healthy and great new year 2011 (with lots of grest books to come)!

Have a great (and safe) party today ad enjoy the fireworks!

Guest Post: Jaz Primo

A while ago, I found a book that caught my eye. It has everything my Urban Fantasy loving heart desires: Tough chick, weapons and urban and graveyard inspired background. When I checked out on goodreads I found out that it had already been published. Why didn´t I hear about is earlier??? I decided to confront the author demanding a justification. Turns out Jaz Primo is not incredibly nice but also very funny. So I literally forced him to come here today to chat about his debut, Sunrise at Sunset.

So dear readers, help me welcome Jaz Primo!

*Silence*

*The inexorable sound of silence on the Dark Side*

*"Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine plays*

 

And with that...the silence is broken. Yet, it's still remarkably dark. Hmm...must be because we're on the Dark Side!

*wink*

Hello fellow urban fantasy fans. I'm Jaz Primo, and it's my honor to be a guest on Reading on the Dark Side. That being said, I'm sure you're wondering who Jaz Primo is. Fair question, really. I wrote a novel titled Sunrise at Sunset. It's a recently-published urban fantasy vampire novel, and the first in the Sunset Series. You can view a book trailer for it on a host of web locations, including my website at www.jazprimo.com/extras.htm and YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUe5QywiCiE&feature=recentf.

Okay, here´s my cue!

Jaz´s Primo´s debut “Sunrise at Sunset” has a very surprising premise: instead of a strong, male alpha vamp, we get to meet Katrina, the first female alpha vamp I have ever read about.

Katrina is a really impressive character. While there is no doubt about her power as vampire, she is also incredibly caring and loving towards Caleb. At times, she almost seems overprotecting, tryung to shield him from anything that comes with her existence as vampire.

Caleb on the other hand is definitely ot like you would expect from a Urban Fantasy hero. He is gentle, abhors violence and tends to give in rather easily. He deals with Katrina´s revelation about her true identity like anyone else would.

Later on in the book a mortal foe threatens Katrina´s and Caleb´s fragile new relationship. I really liked this development, since relationships are not always all lovey-dovey (right?). But then again, there are really sweet and tender moments between them where you get a glimpse of just how much the unlikely couple cares for one another.

I also really enjoyed Katrina´s vampire friends, Alton and Paige, how the somehow odd realtionship between bubbly Paige and Caleb forms and how Caleb gets introduces little by little into the vampire world.

After a lot of books written in the first person´s POV, it took me a time to adjust to third person narrative Jaz Primo´s book, but I guess that is not his fault.

Also, “Sunrise at Sunset” is strictly an Urban Fantasy novel, not one of those urban Fantasy Romance / Romantic Urban Fantasy crossovers. There are no references to sex whatsoever. So if you like some adult content in your book, you might want to read something else.

All in all, I really enjoyed Jaz Primo´s debut. If you want to read a book with a very strong female character for a change, I can only recommend it to you!

Like it? Here's the teaser from the back of the novel:

--------------

“We vampires are focused and tend to shape our own realities.”

My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature’s most dangerous predator. On occasion, it’s a very valuable quality. It helped me

protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.

Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I’ll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn’t one of them. I’m feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she’s trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I’ll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I’ll make her regret the day she was born.

So, I suppose that I’m not just a vampire. I’m about to become someone’s worst nightmare!

--------------

Sound interesting? If you like both a dose of romance and adventure in your vampire novels, then I highly recommend giving it a try. I think that you'll like it.

*smile*

*"Goaltime Exposure" by Land of Talk plays*

I simply love writing with a soundtrack. What can I say? It helps stimulate my mood and creative writing. It's like jet fuel for my imagination, really. How about you? Do you like reading to music?

*pausing*

Better still, how many of you think that your life should come with a soundtrack?

*grin*

I certainly do. Our lives really are a live-action production...our very own reality show, to say the least. Surely, we deserve a soundtrack. But what would your soundtrack be? Do you hearken to a specific genre, or would your selections be based upon the moment or scene? As for me, I tend to have a soundtrack going on in the background most of the time. I listen to music on my iPod when exercising, working around the house, or simply driving down the road between destinations. My favorite genre is alternative rock, but I also enjoy movie sound scores, classical symphonic compositions, or even classic jazz. For me, it's all about setting a mood. When I'm writing, I tend to queue up the music for the scene at hand, and have it repeat endlessly until I'm ready for the next scene or mood. Eventually, the music fades to background noise as I focus on what I'm writing. Then all I'm left with is the mood...the essence of the ebb and flow of the characters and their exploits.

*Strumming my fingers on the keyboard in deep thought*

However, can you imagine the cacophony of soundtracks going on all around us simultaneously? It would be decibel pandemonium to our beleaguered ears! Or rather, as the Joker inside me whispers, "Pure, unadulterated auditory anarchy."

*chuckling*

Aw well, it was a nice idea while it lasted...

Moving on.

People sometimes challenge me with, "Jaz, the world is already full of vampire novels. And besides, with Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Tru-Blood we're headed for inevitable burnout with vampires! What in God's name were you thinking?!"

Folks, I'm here to tell you: I didn't contrive to write a vampire novel...it made its presence known, and demanded to be written. I mean, if I were a savvy author out to make a mint by cornering the next great urban fantasy, I'd be manufacturing something completely new and unheard of in the annals of modern literature. But then, that's not me, really. I write based upon my passion and inspiration; not because I'm a publishing mogul out to corner the market. (Full Disclosure: Feel free to make my novel the next great craze in urban fantasy...please!)

*rubbing my hands together in giddy anticipation*

*Christine clears her throat audibly*

Sorry, blog moderator. Where was I?

Oh, yes. The characters in my Sunset Series literally popped into my head, and frolicked around my imagination incessantly until I finally relented and wrote down what they were doing. Simple as that. I have to admit, I like the fact that they do have a life of their own. I'm often amused by what they come up with next, actually. In fact, three novels later, I can't wait to get started writing the fourth novel this winter!

*smiling happily*

*"Success" by Interpol plays*

Well, it's about time for me to wrap things up. My sincere thanks to Christine for the opportunity to meet you, and spend some time on the Dark Side. It's a wonderful blog, and a place I'd love to visit again in the future! If you have a chance, I hope that you'll drop by my website at www.jazprimo.com or my blog at primovampires.blogspot.com. Most of all, I hope there's room on your TBR list for Sunrise at Sunset!

I now return you to your regularly-scheduled Reading on the Dark Side.

Peace.

Jaz

Waiting On Wednesday

 

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday and thanks so much to Jill @ Breaking the Spine for hosting this meme every week. Here´s what I am impatiently waiting for:

goodreads blurb:

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

Okay, so the cover might not be totally my taste, but everything else about this book sounds amazing! Can´t wait for January 25th!

What are you waiting for?

My Top 10–Paranormal Romance

Hello again!

Today it´s time for romance! I´m going to share my favorite ONR books this year!

Here we go!

Demonica Series by Larissa Ione

Oh yes, I love me some demons!

This band of brothers is seriously hot and sexy. My favorite is still Wraith, even though I have to read the last two books in the series yet!

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble / Toil and Trouble (Jolie Wilkis series) by H.P. Mallory

My favorite all time Indie author H.P. Mallory has two great series out and I love both of them equally.

She knows how to write a story that is not only sexy as hell but also adds a humorous touch!

I´m still trying to decide which of her hotties is my favorite, either Rand, Sinjin or Knight. I wouldn´t turn down any of them!

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay and Susan Griffith

Okay, I know that this is technically more steampunk/Urban Fantasy/Alternative History but there is a romance between the two main characters and I loved them to death.

I kind of forgot it to mention it in my Top 10 UF list.

This book rocks. Simple but true. Can´t wait to get the next book!

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook

Thinking of Rhys always nearly causes swooning on my part.

Again, this is more steampunk but it´s also incredibly hawt!

After reading this as my first Meljean Brook book, I immediatly ordered the first book in her other series as well!

Living in Eden / Something Wicked (Living in Eden Series) by Michelle Rowen

Again with the demons! Darrak is great as well! For a demon, he has an amazong sense of humor!

Someone like him would be almost worth risking my soul for. Almost!

Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter

I started this series just this year, but I read it in like one week!

Don´t ask me which one of the Lords is my favorite… maybe Aeron or Reyes. I don´t know, I just know I love them.

Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress Series) by Gena Showalter

I have to admit that I started this series with this book and okay, I admit it, I bought it because of the cover.

But it was worth it. McKell is the typical alpha male, which I love from time to time!

The Ghost Hunter by Lori Brighton

Lori Brighton is another Indie author I discovered this year and I loved her book.

While reading The Ghost Hunter, I discovered that I have a thing for Scotish accents.

Very sexy!

First Drop of Crimson/Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World) by Jeaniene Frost

Eternal Kiss of Darkness was again a book I read in a joint review with Anna from Books to Brighten your Mood.

I´ve started the Night Huntress series one or two years ago but somehow failed to keep up (don´t worry, now I have all the books, I just have to find the time to read them!).

Touched by an Alien / Alien Tango (Katherine “Kitty” Katt) by Gini Koch

This book is once again probably in the wrong category, but I still loved it.

Gini Koch´s writing is funny and I mean really funny, not silly imaginative and sexy.

Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews

Okay, so this is number eleven, but there´s no way that I could leave this one out.

I love their Kate Daniels series a little bit more, but still. Truly amazing!

And what about you folks? What is your favorite heroine? And which sexy alpha male would you like to have for yourself?

Please do tell!

My Top 10–Paranormal Young Adult

While I mostly read Urban Fantasy and PNR, I do enjoy a good YA book from time to time.

Here are the ten books I enjoyed most this year (again in no particular order).

Hush, Hush / Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I read both books along with my dear blogging friend Anna from "Books to Brighten your Mood after a long YA pause.

While I sometimes find YA books a little boring, both Hush Hush and Crescendo are suspensful, full of action and fast-paced.

Patch also ranks very high on my list of favorite bad boys!

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

I finished this book this book very recently. It´s really not my ususal choice, but it has received a lot of high reviews on blogs I really like so I took the plunge and read it.

To my surprise, I really enjoyed it! It less dark than my usual preferences, but it was a fun read right from the beginning.

I was more than happy, that this book had none of the typical high school cliché. Even your typical Homecoming Queen/Cheerleader had more deph to her character than expected.

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

I got Jenny Pox for review and it turned out one of the most pleasant surprises this year.

J.L Bryan´s Jenny Pox id one of the best examples that there are really incredibly good Indie authors out there that you shouldn´t miss.

It is however quite gory and has a lot of adult content.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

I still remeber when I open the package containing Nightshade. It was one of those “this just made my day moments”.

But aside from the beautiul cover, and layout of the book and the more than unusual promo, the story of Nightshade did not disappoint.

Even if you think werewolves are slightly overused, you should definitely give this book a try!

The Hunger Games / Catching Fire / Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

There are only few books that have touched me on such a deep emotinal level that the Hunger Games Trilogy.

I would recommend this book to everyone who hasn´t read it before, simply because it draws you in emotionally and also makes you think.

The last few picks were made by my sister who has very recently discovered her love for paranormal YA books. Those are the ones I chose for her.

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy series) by Richelle Mead

Yeah, she really obsessed about this series. She hasn´t read Last Sacrifice yet, she says she´ll keep it for a special occasion.

We are very similar in some things.

Mortal Instruments / Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

Steffi said that the Mortal Instruments series in one of her most favorite so far.

I also read it a while back (and in German, one of the last book I ever read in my native language) and I also loved it. I have yet to read Clockwork Angel, but my sister says it´s just as great as the three other books by Cassandra Clare.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I know that my sister likes a book when she asks: “Is there another book in the series yet?” She asked me that about Paranormalcy a lot!

Her favorite character was Lend. So she has a thing for shifter hotties? Good thing to know. LOL.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Just like me, she adored the cover when she first saw it.

Over the time, she has become a very demanding reader and was very happy that this book “was about something different than vampires and werewolves”.

Hmmm, see her next choice…

Shiver / Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls series) by Maggie Stiefvater

“Was was simply full of suspense. I couldn´t put it down.” That´s what she said when I just asked her what she liked best about it.

Well, that´s what a book should be like, right?

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles series) by Kami Garcia & Margret Stohl

Steffi says she had few problems with Beautiful Creatures right at the beginning, because she is not as used to the southern accent like I am (for example).

But I guess she still liked it since Beautiful Darkness was on her Christmas wishlist!

So that´s it, these are my or rather our picks for the best Paranormal YA books in 2010.

I´m kind of pround that Steffi likes most of the books I choose for her. She knows she can be very honest with me, so I tend to believe her when she claims she likes it!

I know that I´m not an expert for YA books, so tell me, is there anything I forgot to recommend her? What should I give her to read for 2011? What about your favorite books?

And don´t forget to stop by tomorrow when I reveal my Top 10 of Paranormal Romance books!

My Top 10–Urban Fantasy

Now that the year comes to an end, I decided to make a list of all my favorite books/series this year in the categories Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Paranormal Young Adult.

The list is on no particular order!  

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels series) by Ilona Andrews

I guess this sereis will always have a special place in my heart, since it was Kate that woke my love for the kick ass heroines and their alpha males of the Urban Fantasy genre back in the day.

Magic Bleeds once again blew me away. I love Kate snarky comments and her relationship to our all time favorite shifter Curran.

I love this series and the authors behind it to death! Can´t wait for Magic Slays next year!

 

Unholy Ghosts/Unholy Magic/City of Ghosts (Downside Ghosts series) by Stacia Kane

Stacia Kane´s Downside Ghosts series os one of the darkest, most disturbing and emotional series I´ve read in a while.

Even though I was hesitant at first to read a book with a drug addicted heroine, I finally gave in and read it this summer. Ever since, I am Terribl(e)y (get it??) in love with the main characters.

I am ready to read the fourth book in the series anytime now.

 

Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom series) by Devon Monk

I´ve loved Devon Monk´s world with its complex worldbuilding and her ever growing and evolving characters right from the start.

And now that my favorite sidekick Stone and Shame are an intergral part of the plot, Devon Monk´s books are on my auto buy list and I can happily admit that I´m totally stalking her!

I´m really curious to see where she takes the story and equally excited about her new project/ steampunk series!

 

Mind Games/Double Cross (Disillusionist series) by Carolyn Crane

I LOVE this series. Carolyn Crane´s writing blows your mind. It´s been called everything from brilliant, amazingly original to perfect and I can only second everything.

I still kind of hate Carolyn Crane for the cliffhanger she left us with but then again, it´s hard to hate someone for writing something like these books.

Unfortunately, as far as I know it´s only a trilogy, so there´s only one book left, but still. If you haven´t read this series yet, what are you waiting for???

Afterlight (Dark Ink Chronicles) by Elle Jasper

Afterlight is only the first book in a brand new series, but it has already captivated me. I loved Elle Jasper´s atmospheric world and the sizzling hot relationship between the two main characters.

Plus, isn´t the cover simply beautiful?

 

 

 

Venom (Elemantal Assassin series) by Jennifer Estep

The books about Gin Bianco, assassin and stone elemental might also not be after everyones taste. Gin is a killer for hire and she doesn´t try to justify or glorify it in any way.

Stiil the firther the series goes, ther more I believe that deep down inside, Gin has a hear of gold.

I´m also dying to read more about  Owen!

 

Pray for Dawn/Wait for Dusk (Dark Days series) by Jocelynn Drake

 How I waited for these two books this summer!

I was dying to finally see Mira and Danaus not only working together but also giving their interisting and complicated relationship a try. When I saw the cover, I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed.

Burn the Night, the next book in the series coming out in 2011 is also already on my auto buy list!

 

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires series) by Chloe Neill

Okay, do I really need to say anything more about this series?

Merit simply rocks and then there is Ethan and Catcher. Puh. I guess I was not the only one who adored Ethan after his and Merit´s first night together.

The werwolves were also a nice addition to supernatural Chicago!

 

 

Tempest Rising/ Tracking The Tempest (Jane True series) by Nicole Peeler

Besides from gorgeous covers, Nicole Peeler´s Jane True series has everything I hope for in a good book: likeable, three dimensional characters, a funny heroine, a sexy vampire and his underdog (no pun intended) rival for Jane´s affection and an original worldbuilding with unusual creatures.

 

 

 

 

Alpha (Shifters series) by Rachel Vincent

I was really sad when this series came to and end this year. Faythe and her family/ band of shifters have entertained me for such a long time that I just didn´t want it to end.

 

 

 

 

Dreamfever (Fever series) by Karen Marie Moning

OMG and WTF was pretty much the inly thing that went through my my after I finished Dreamfever. With this ending, Karen Marie Moning shares the title of Cliffhanger Queen along with Carolyn Crane.

What is Jericho Barrons? And is he even alive? Will they ever be together? What about Mac´s sister? And V´lane? And…

Only a few more days and we finally know! *yay*

 

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson series) by Patricia Briggs

The Mercy Thompson series is simply a guarantee for a good read. There is a reason why Patricia Briggs is one of the most famoust and most successful writer in this genre.

If you love werewolves and shifters, there is no way around this series.

 

 

 

Okay, hopefully nobody noticed that I kind of cheated. There are more than ten books on my list. Hmm… It´s been a good year for Urban Fantasy Fans I guess!

What were your favorite Urban Fantasy books? Did I miss a good one? Is there one you don´t agree with! Please share!

Birthday Present

Sooo… tomorrow is my sister´s birthday and since she has been complaining for ages that her boyfriend never gets her any jewellry, I decided to take matters in my own hands.

I didn´t want to buy her something you can get anywhere in one of those shops and my budget is too small fro the pricey stuff, I searched etsy.com for the perfect gift. Maybe I shoudn´t have because now I besides books I might also be addicted to the awesome stuff you can find there…

Anyways. She prefers necklaces in a very simply style and her favorite color is blue, so I tried to find something that would fit this description Here´s what caught my eye:

Either this one:

or this one…

 

or maybe this one?

I coudn´t decide which one to take so I kind of bought all three of them. I´m going to give one to her, keep one to myself (hehe) and the third one I don´t know… But you have to help me decide: which one should I give to her???