Photo: Decadence

How could I possibly turn down an evening of romance chosen by Kat and read by Aussie media personalities? Especially when it’s all in support of International Women’s Day.

Alison from Customs House Library introduced the evening’s players: curator, blogger, freelance writer and romance expert Kat; entertainer PJ Lane; lawyer and alter ego of Elle McFeast, Libby Gorr; and actor Rhys Muldoon turned out to support International Women’s Day.

During Rhys Muldoon’s introduction, it was revealed that he has a passion for crime writing. ‘Not romance?’ Alison asked. He got a few laughs when he replied that they are two sides of the same coin.

Kat asked who has read a romance and enjoyed it. Most of the audience raised their hands. When Rhys got Kat to allow Jane Eyre as a romance, he raised his hand. Libby joked that hers come in a paper bag and PJ was ‘noticeably silent’.

Read the rest of this post.

These cheat sheets sum up what we know so far about the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

For all BDB-related posts on Book Thingo, click here. LAST UPDATED: 27/3/2012 (shown in italics)

The Scribe Virgin and her single act of creation

We’re not sure exactly who the Scribe Virgin is, other than the mother of the vampire race. Her father (don’t know who he is either) gifted her with a single act of creation, which she used to create a race of beings who:

Read the rest of this post.

If you’re hungry for clues about upcoming books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Decadence has put together what we think we know about what’s coming next.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | All BDB-related posts on Book Thingo

The Lover Reborn cover has finally been unveiled! The book came in just under 195,000 words, which is longer than Lover Mine, but shorter than Lover Avenged. I think this makes it the second longest book in the series.

The following blurb has also been revealed:

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. The city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Now back in the Brotherhood – and unrecognisable as the vampire leader he once was – Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams – trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld – Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. When he’s told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed …Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future …but can his heart let go and set all of them free?

Ward had posted quotes from Lover Reborn on Facebook, but after some fan drama, all quotes were removed. They included:

Read the rest of this post.

A recap of the Sydney leg of Becca Fitzpatrick’s book tour, The Black Hand Ball, at The Establishment.

When I arrived at the ballroom of The Establishment, I was greeted by a waiter wearing black pants, shoes, black angel wings and nothing else, serving fruity red mocktails. Pity me, for I live a hard life.

We were offered little pumpkiny canapes wrapped in puff pastry, yummy meatballs and cute little blow-torched lemon meringue tarts.

The editor of Dolly magazine introduced Hush Hush Saga author Becca Fitzpatrick, who talked a little bit about how she got published and answered Dolly readers’ questions.

The rest of this section paraphrases some of what Fitzpatrick said.

Read the rest of this post.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush Saga, Book 1)

A bodice-ripper for the Twilight generation. If you look beyond its uncomfortably age inappropriate start, you’ll find unwanted but undeniable chemistry, highly realistic teenage logic and page-turning mystery.

Hush, Hush is a really interesting book to review. Its plot is reminiscent of a 1970s bodice-ripper where the older, more experienced hero antagonises the virginal young heroine as much as he tempts her. Becca Fitzpatrick doesn’t let a lack of sex (this is teen fiction, after all) prevent her from having Patch Cipriano forcefully seduce Nora Grey at every opportunity. They each have other potential love interests who make the other party jealous, but the once-intimidating hero actually becomes the safer option and they are forced to team up to survive.

Rape-tacular biology in motion

There are aspects of the book that don’t present well despite Fitzpatrick’s best intentions, and I’m going to get the crap out of the way first because most of it happens in the first half of the book.

Read the rest of this post.

Photo: Cassandra Young[/add_caption_link] (via christinefeehan.com)

J. R. Ward hosted a joint chat with Christine Feehan a couple of weeks ago. This is a recap of the first part mainly dedicated to Feehan. (However, you can find info on the J. R. Ward part of the chat in Part 3 of our BDB book 10 pre-release spoilers.)

This is not a transcript of the chat. I try to stick as closely as I can to what was said, but can’t always quote word for word. Even with the moderators trying to minimise extraneous chatter, it still moves pretty damn fast. I’ve tried to stick as closely as I could to what was said, but the questions and some answers have been paraphrased.

I can’t say whether Feehan let any spoilers loose as I am shamefully behind with her books, so I probably wouldn’t recognise a spoiler if I tripped over it.

Read the rest of this post.

Kelley Armstrong with Galaxy staff (Photo: Kat)

Last month, Galaxy played host to Kelley Armstrong and Maria V. Snyder, who were both in a talkative mood…

Kelley Armstrong

I got three books signed for myself: Bitten, Elena’s first book; Dime Store Magic, the first Paige; and my new copy of Waking the Witch, first in Savannah’s trilogy. Armstrong is another lefty.

I’d heard that the Otherworld series is winding down and there will only be one more book. ‘Yes, the next book is the last one and that will be Savannah’s. I just felt that since she grew up in the series she should have the last trilogy. Book 13 is called 13, but the number 13, not the word “thirteen”. I’ve been calling it book 13 for two years and the publisher asked for a real title and my agent suggested 13 and the publisher said yes.’

Read the rest of this post.

If you’re hungry for clues about upcoming books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Decadence has put together what we think we know about what’s coming next.

Part 1 | Part 2 | All BDB-related posts on Book Thingo

Last week, J. R. Ward signed books in Cincinnati and Bex beat me to posting a link to a blogger who was there and took notes. If you haven’t already seen it, go to Liza’s blog for confirmation of Tohr’s HEA (no surprise) and other news.

Chat with Christine Feehan

This is the J. R. Ward part of the joint chat she hosted for Christine Feehan this morning. She wasn’t able to stay long because she had a migraine and the Christine Feehan portion had run for two hours. It was easier for her to just pick random questions in a free chat format, but it was difficult to keep up and connect questions with answers because with minimal mod intervention, the chat runs really quickly. I’ve tried to stick as closely as I could to what was said, but the questions and some answers have been paraphrased. This is not a transcript.

I haven’t noted down everything that has been asked before, like ‘Is Lash coming back?’ (She says that question was answered at the end of Lover Mine.) and ‘Does Wrath get his sight back?’ (No.)

And beware: there is one major spoiler on Envy.

Read the rest of this post.

If you’re hungry for clues about upcoming books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Decadence has put together what we think we know about what’s coming next.

Part 1 | All BDB-related posts on Book Thingo

Some you may have seen this cover for Lover Reborn on Amazon, Goodreads and other bookish sites, but I’m not convinced it’s the final official cover because I haven’t seen Ward release it herself on her Facebook page, and it’s not in her photo albums or on her website. But the cover for Envy appeared suddenly as her new profile pic.

There are small excerpts from upcoming releases on Facebook from Qhuinn where he’s jealous of his cousin for being with Blay (Lover Reborn), Rhage’s love for Mary (their novella) and the size of a male’s (presumably Veck) appendage in Envy.

With Envy coming in less than a month, Ward has been devoting her efforts to promoting the next Fallen Angels instalment, with daily quotes and weekly videos posted on Facebook.

But the recent Envy signing also produced some amazing BDB spoilers, with highlights from The Obscured Vixen (Click on the link to find out about Layla’s talent. I swear it’s worth it!) and My Secret Private Playground:

Read the rest of this post.

A quick recap of Lauren Kate’s book signing event at Dymocks, Parramatta on July 30, 2011.

I actually showed up at Dymocks before 2pm in preparation for Lauren Kate’s 2.30 book signing, and there was no sign of a crowd or a queue in sight. In the time it took for me to get a juice, I found myself at the end of a line extending all the way across the clothing shop next door. It was a rookie mistake, and I have only myself to blame.

I was chatting with people in the line, one girl had already read Passion, and she told me that it has a few answers and hints at more, but won’t be the answerfest I was hoping for after Torment.

I’d been standing in line for almost an hour, thanks to my untimely need for pineapple juice, before it was my turn.

Read the rest of this post.