The Sound

I love music. Always have. I like scouring the web looking for and listening to all the new sounds artists put out. I'm constantly amazed by it.  Here's what this month sounds like...

**I never ever EVER steal from artists (bands or authors). Everything posted here is either a free download provided by the band or from my personal music library**

Early Review: The Renfield Syndrome

J.A. Saare
Urban Fantasy
Rhiannon's Law #2
Mundania Press

Synopsis:

Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my.
Rhiannon thought facing off against a deranged child vampire was the most dangerous task she would ever have to undertake, but she’s about to discover making a deal with a demon is far, far worse. Sent forward into another reality, one in which vampires are now dominating nearly extinct humans, she realizes the sooner she returns to her vampire lover, Disco, the better.

Unfortunately, time changes a lot of things, including those most trusted around her. When she’s faced with a loss and betrayal unlike any she has ever known, her focus shifts from severing the debt between the demon that wants to kill her, to exacting a revenge that will bring forth consequences she never could have fathomed. By reaching out to the darkness lingering within her, she’ll find the strength to push forward despite the circumstances that would see her dead and buried.

After all, when it’s all said and done, all that she has left to lose is her soul.

Nina Talks BAD Covers

As a reader I see quite a few book covers. Some are amazing. Breath-taking even. And some are… well… not so great. This post is dedicated to the fabulously flawed book covers that are out there.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked down the isle at the bookstore or browsed Goodreads only to roll my eyes and think “Oh. Ya. There’s no way real men look like that!” or “Wait! Now I need eye bleach!”  The bad covers are not limited to any one specific genre either. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, and Horror all suffer from the affliction.

Keep in mind that the authors usually have no influence in the cover. So, cheese ball art design in no way reflects the quality of the story between the covers. I’ve found that covers can miss the mark for several reasons; Bad CG art, ridiculous unnaturally ripped men, and what-were-they-thinking/how-would-that-ever-be-a-good-idea!? With that said, prepare to be amazed.

Winner Winner

The winner of Sherrilyn Kenyon's latest release, Retribution, is:

ALICIA0605

Congrats Alicia!  Please email me thespinecracker(at)gmail(dot)com as soon as possible with your snail mail address.  You have 24hrs to email me before I must re-draw. 

I Can Haz A Break?

I'm exhausted.  Between the new job with a completely new schedule, and preparing for the bachelorette party, this past week was insane. And I had zero free time to myself.  I think I read 25 pages of a book, all week long.

I need a break.  I'm going to take this week off from blogging, and hopefully come back next week refreshed & revived.   I will figure out how to juggle it all.... just not this week.

** I'll still be posting the winner of Retribution on Wednesday**

Ready for Some Retribution?

The next addition to the Dark Hunter series, Retribution, released yesterday.  But in case you've yet to grab your copy, you're in luck.  Zeitghost Media is giving away a copy here, at TheSpinecracker.

Check out the awesome trailer, and then scroll below for giveaway details.



Enter the giveaway by telling me who your favorite Dark Hunter character is in the comment section below.

• US and CAN only
• Contest Ends next Tuesday August 9th at Midnight (pst)
• Winner will be announced the next day on this site, so be sure to check back.
• Winner will be chosen using Random.org & will need to contact me if selected.  If the winner does not contact me in 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Nina Reviews: Ghost Story

Jim Butcher
481 pages
Urban Fantasy
The Dresden Files #13
ROC

Synopsis:
When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

I Double-Dog Dare You...

One day on Twitter I noticed one of my favorite new authors, Jenn Benett author of Kindling the Moon, talking about how fantastic a historical romance novel was.  I struck up a conversation that started "I don't get it. What's so great about historical romances?" By the end of the conversation we'd decided that she would pick my DARE book this month, and she would make it goooood.  

Jenn Bennett:

Okay, so I've been thinking about my dare for you, the historical romance, and I've decided on a pick: The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne. It's an engrossing story about two rival spies during the Napoleonic wars, full of twists and turns, and action. The writing is spectacular; at times it blew my mind. The author has created two extremely strong leads, and their story isn't sweet and light, but rather rough and unapologetic. I thought it was pretty freaking brilliant. The lovely and very witty Carolyn Crane (MIND GAMES, DOUBLE CROSS) recommended it to me recently, and she was spot-on about this book breaking the mold. I hope you like it!

Thank you Jenn, I accept! 

Joanna Bourne

400 pages

Synopsis:

She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldly courtesan, the naïve virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can't outwit...

British spymaster Robert Grey must enter France and bring back the brilliant, beautiful-and dangerous-Fox Cub. His duty is to capture her and her secrets for England. When the two natural enemies are thrown into prison, they forge an uneasy alliance to break free. But their pact is temporary and betrayal seems inevitable as the fates of nations hang in the balance.