Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Format read: ebook
Series: The Parasol Protectorate – Book 1
Genre: urban fantasy
Release Date: 1 October 2009
Number of pages: 357 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Formats available: ebook, paperback
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Author’s Website | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK)

Book Blurb:

ALEXIA TARABOTTI IS LABORING UNDER A GREAT MANY SOCIAL TRIBULATIONS.

First, she has no soul. Second, she is a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? FRom bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidently kills the vampire – and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening …

Review: The Blacksmith’s Lover by Heather Massey

Format Read: ebook from author
Number of Pages: 100 p.
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Series: The Clockpunk Trilogy #2
Genre: Steampunk
Formats Available: ebook
Purchasing Info: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK)

Book Blurb:

The year is 1840. On the run after being caught in a scandalous incident, scullery maid Sarah Bailey must find refuge before her vengeful former mistress has her killed. When she stumbles upon a blacksmith’s shop in need of an apprentice in West Boylston, Massachusetts, she applies for the position.

Viktor is a brawny, reclusive blacksmith who creates strange clockwork and steam-powered devices. The gruff man makes it clear that Sarah’s plight is no concern of his, but ghosts from his past dictate otherwise. Viktor agrees to protect the spunky maid, but …

Interview with Heather Massey + Giveaway

Good morning, lovely book lovers! We here at BLI are pleased to start this week of right with a blog visit by author Heather Massey. She stops by today to answer questions on a range of topics, including some of her favorite cult films, the different between clockpunk and steampunk, and the growing popularity of science fiction romance. Lots to learn, so check out the interview below (then read on for giveaway goodness!).

———

Marlene: Heather can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Heather: Would you believe that 90% of my genetic makeup is coffee? I know! And I might be able to reach 100% capacity by the year 2086. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’m a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. I’ve been blogging about SF-romance blends in books, films, and television shows at The Galaxy Express since 2008.

Flash-forward to 2010: I expanded my …

Dual Review: The Watchmaker’s Lady by Heather Massey

Format read: ebook provided by publisher
Release Date: 1 April 2012
Length: novellette
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Genre: steampunk erotic romance
Formats available: ebook
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Author’s Website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Blurb:

Matthew Goddard is a lonely watchmaker in 1840, New England. One fateful day, he discovers the lover of his dreams in a dusty corner of the local general store—Isabel, a bisque porcelain mannequin head with mesmerizing, smoky blue eyes. When Matthew invites her to come live with him, she eagerly “accepts.”

The couple embarks on a lust-filled affair, one fueled by Matthew’s wild imagination. In order to provide Isabel with a brass body and pretty clothes, he begins a secret side business selling clockwork sex toys to his wealthy female customers.

Danger, however, threatens their idyllic romance when a disgruntled customer exposes Matthew’s forbidden business to the townspeople. Despite the growing menace, Matthew will stop at nothing in order to save his soul mate—and protect …

Review: Raphael by D.B. Reynolds

Format Read: e-book
Length: 248 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Vampires in America, #1
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Imajinn Books
Formats Available: Paperback, eBook
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Book Depository, Author’s Website, Amazon, Fictionwise, Barnes & Noble

Book Blurb:

Malibu, California–home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich…and vampires.

Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he’d give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it’s too late.

Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who’s tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old …

Interview with Coleen Kwan + Giveaway!

Greeeetings book lovers! Up for some fun steampunk talk? If so, you’ll want to check out the following interview with romance author Coleen Kwan. I’m pleased she’s allowed me to inundate her with questions about her latest release, Asher’s Invention, and the steampunk-ish goodness that it contains. We also talk a bit about her journey to writing (from the IT field!) and some of her writerly habits. Please give her a warm welcome (and check out the end of this post for some giveaway information)!

————

Alisha: Hi Coleen, welcome to Book Lovers Inc! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Coleen: Thanks for having me on your blog. I live in Sydney, Australia with my partner and two teenage children. I’m your classic bookworm—I love nothing better than losing myself in a good story. I used to work in IT but at the moment I’m lucky enough to …

Review: Blazing Bedtime Stories Volume VII by Rhonda Nelson & Tawny Weber

Format Read: paperback provided courtesy of Author for Review
Length: 224 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle, Nook
Purchasing Info: Publisher, Rhonda Nelson’s Website, Tawny Weber’s Website, Amazon, Books-A-Milliion, Powell’s, , Goodreads, Book Depository, Kindle, Nook

Book Blurb:

It’s bedtime—and bestselling authors Rhonda Nelson and Tawny Weber have two deliciously wicked tales to tell you…

The Steadfast Hot Soldier by Rhonda Nelson

Army ranger John “Bear” Midwinter has two rules when it comes to the ladies—no tiny women, and no dancers. So why does petite ballet teacher Veda Hayes turn his blood into liquid fire? Still, the heat between them won’t be denied. Will this soldier melt…or burn up?

Wild Thing by Tawny Weber

Compared to her beautiful siblings, groomer Andrea Tanner always felt like an ugly stepsister. But when she’s …

Review: The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred

Format Read: ebook from publisher
Number of Pages: 330 p.
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Series: The House of Arkhangel’sk #1
Genre: Paranormal romance / Fantasy romance / Angels and Demons
Formats Available: ebook, trade paperback
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Publisher’s Website, Book Depository

Book Blurb:

Heaven can go to hell.

Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia’s father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel’sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.

Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves–fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda–who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.

Heaven seems a distant …

Guestpost: “Choose Your Own Fantasy: Summer Heat Edition” by Anna Randol + Giveaway

We are very happy to welcome Anna Randol here at Book Lovers Inc today. She writes heartwarming historical romance with a twist of mystery and suspense in it. Her latest release, A Most Naked Solution, can be bought as ebook already and will soon be available in print too. Today Anna will tell us how she escapes the summer heat and asks you for your dream destination. Be sure to tell us for a chance to win a book. Please give Anna a warm welcome.

So chances are it is hot wherever you’re reading this. Blazing hot. Stick your head in the freezer hot. Now as an author, when I feel an uncomfortable sensation like that, I try to step back and analyze it for future use in my writing. I try to focus on whether the sweat is beading on my nose? Or on my neck? Or …

Explore This!: Manhattan

In Sylvia Day’s Bared to You, the heroine, Eva, has just left her home in San Diego, crossing the country to Manhattan to start a new job. I thought it would be nice to take a look at this often mentioned, affluent part of New York City. Manhattan is one of five boroughs in the city, though maybe one of the more familiar of them all, as seen in films and TV shows.

Manhattan was the origins of the city of New York, from which the town expanded north. It lays claim to many famous landmarks as well as being the former site of the Twin Towers. For that fact alone, its skyline, then and now, has to been one of the most recognizable in the world.

An overview of the island.

Brownstone living.

Lower Manhattan, as seen from the bridge.