Showing posts with label Eve Silver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eve Silver. Show all posts

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Demon's Hunger Review

Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she's losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she's blacking out-leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she's been...or what she's done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there's more than just her sanity at stake...A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood-and Vivien herself-begin to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb to...Demon's Hunger...

I have noticed many paranormal romances in the past few months have a demon storyline where the hero is a demon hunter of some sort, and the heroine is either part demon, and doesn’t know it, or she is on the run from these demons who want something from her. The ones I have read recently with this type of storyline was, The Darkest Touch by Jaci Burton and Cynthia Eden’s Midnight Sins. The third one is by Eve Silver called Demon’s Hunger (Compact of Sorcerers Book 2).

You know right from the title that there will be demons in this one, and they are definitely those nasty types who are evil, want to rule the world, etc… It is up to Dain Hawkins, a sorcerer, to help keep the portal between the demon realm and the Earth closed. The portal was closed in the book before this called Demon’s Kiss by one of Dain’s buddies, Ciarran, the hero of that book. Dain has in his possession, a demon’s foot that was severed when the portal closed. This foot is very dangerous because it is filled with dark magic. For some reason, creatures called hybrids are going into cemeteries and looking for charm bags that were buried with the dead. Hybrids were once humans and are controlled by demons. They reminded me of flesh eating zombies since they will eat human flesh. Dain has to figure out who wants these charm bags, and for what purpose.

The one person who can help him is forensic anthropologist, Vivien Cairn, who is on sabbatical from the university she teaches at. Not only is Vivien at odds with her mother, who has always been cold towards her, as well as recovering emotionally from a serial killer investigation, but Vivien keeps blacking out for hours at a time. She does things during these blackouts she can’t remember, and it is starting to scare her. When Dain shows up on her doorstep, she doesn’t remember talking with him on the phone. Vivien does know who Dain is because when they first meet she says, “You’re Dain Hawkins, wonder-guy, a magician when it comes to buying up foundering companies and turning them into moneymakers.” Dain has come to Vivian because he wants her to take a look at some bones he has. Dain also thinks Vivien is cute, especially with the neon green fuzzy slippers she is wearing.

Unfortunately by Dain bring the evil demon bones to Vivien, that places her in danger and soon after, hybrids target her and burn down her house. Both Dain and Vivien are able to get out unhurt. Vivien is also in for a shock when she finds out who Dain is, and that he won’t let her go because he needs her, as well as wanting her, even though he tries to deny his feeling for her. Vivien continues to have more blackouts, because there is something so very wrong with her, because she is not human, but a succubi. That is why Vivien is blacking out and has become very weak. If she doesn’t have sex with a man and feed off his energy, and soon, she will continue to deteriorate. Can you guess who volunteers for this job?

Eve Silver can sure write a suspenseful story and she does so here with Demon’s Hunger. The twist with Vivien and whether she is a killer demon keeps you guessing to the very end. And when Dain and Vivien has some hot succubi sex, those scenes where very hot and satisfying. I did enjoy Vivien over Dain, because even though she is going through some major upheavals, she didn’t venture into whiny TSTL (to stupid to live) territory. I was less than thrilled with Dain because he is one of these heroes who can’t get over the past and goes back and forth about his feelings for Vivien. “She’s mine! But I can’t touch her because I must deny myself for the horrible thing that I felt I did to my wife centuries ago.” Dain needs to take that stick out of his ass and have some good sex. When he finally gives into his urges for Vivien, he lightens up a bit and he becomes less annoying.

Demon Hunger is a fast paced read, with characters who can kick ass, make sweet love and survive to tell the tale. (Grand Central Publishing)

2 ½ stars out of 5 stars


Katiebabs (KB)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Guess That Book Day 2!

Are you ready for another exciting game of Guess That Book?

The first person to post the correction book title and author will win:

a signed copy of Demon's Kiss by Eve Silver!

Clue number one:
She is a reporter for her father's newspaper in 1880's Wyoming.

Hmmm... don't have a clue? Well, here is Clue number 2:

The hero sure does like his bed.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!
ReneeW has the correct answer!
It is Donovan's Bed by Debra Mullins

Just sent me your mailing address to katiebabsgATgmail.com

Monday, June 30, 2008

Eve Kenin Interview and Contest!




Eve Kenin has become one of the best authors to write incredible Futuristic Speculative Romances. I already have enjoyed Eve's Gothic Historical Romances under her Eve Silver name. Last year when Driven was published I wasn't too sure what to think. To read about a desolate world where people either kill or be killed seemed a bit harsh for my tastes. But I decided to take a chance, and what a wonderful chance it was! Kristie also couldn't stop raving about Driven and we were anxiously waiting for the sequel, Hidden. And if you read our duo review last week, you can see what hardcore Eve Kenin fans we have become. And being such fans, we had to ask Eve for an interview, which she agreed to.

Kristie here. I was so excited when Kate said you would answer some questions. I was blown away by Driven. It was the first Urban Fantasy I'd read and I don't think I could have picked a better one to introduce me to the genre. I loved everything about it - the strong heroine, the unusual background of Wizard and his siblings, the post apocalyptic feel of the book just everything. And I equally loved Hidden – as you can tell.

Eve: Thanks, Kristie! I wrote DRIVEN because the book insisted on getting written. I honestly wasn't certain that it would ever find a home...post-apocalyptic, trans-Siberian trucker romances aren't a hugely popular sub-genre, LOL! I was blown away by the support for that book, and I really worked to make HIDDEN a worthy follow-up. Hearing that you love these stories as I do is wonderful.

Kristie: As both Kate and I have noticed, and I'm sure we aren't the only ones, your two Shomi books have almost a Mad Max feel to them. Have you seen the Mad Max movies and did they influence the stories?

Eve: I've seen the Mad Max movies, and enjoyed each one of them. But, no, they didn't influence these stories. Actually, it was Joss Whedon's amazing series Firefly that jump-started my imagination. Add to that the anime I was watching at the time--Full Metal Panic, Hellsing, GTO, GetBackers--and I was on a roll. Once the world and the history were fleshed out for DRIVEN, it was only a matter of keeping the continuity for HIDDEN. But I was worried that HIDDEN would simply be a rehash of DRIVEN, and I absolutely didn't want that to be the case. So I added twists and turns and surprises to keep the flavor and feel the same, while still offering the reader something new and fresh.

Kristie: Do you have any more storylines in mind in this setting? It may be just me, but I could see there could be quite a few tales to tell - I hope so anyway *g*

Eve: LOL! You aren't ready to let go of the Northern Waste, are you? I have a ton of stories in mind. There are so many characters clamoring to break free of my imagination and get their stories down in paper and ink.

Kristie: Do you have a story in mind for Yuriko planned and if so, any idea how long we have to wait for her story?

Eve: I'd love to have the opportunity to write Yuriko's story, as well as stories for some of the other characters we've encountered in the Northern Waste. But right now, I'm working on my next Eve Silver historical gothic, delving into the mind of a monster against the backdrop of beautiful, bucolic Cairncroft Abbey.

Kristie: What do you think of the covers you've received so far in your Shomi books? In my own case - I love them. There are quite a few romance books I won't read in public because of the covers, but I was reading Driven in the food court at the local mall one time and wasn't bothered at all.

Eve: The Shomi covers are interesting, and since the line began they have undergone an evolution. DRIVEN had a distinct feel that was reflected in all the early SHOMI releases. Then the direction of the covers changed and HIDDEN has a different feel. They both scream action, and I do feel that each accurately reflects elements of the stories.

Katie: So many post-apocalyptic stories and movies where they take place in a desert setting or where global warming has destroyed Earth with scorching temperatures. What made you decide on a frozen arctic setting for Driven and Hidden?

Eve: DRIVEN decided the setting. That might sound odd, but there's no other answer to this question. The Northern Waste popped out, fully fleshed. Maybe because I wrote DRIVEN in the winter, and, um, I really hate the cold. Maybe because the frozen setting was a reflection of the frozen and barren life that Wizard, Tatiana and Yuriko originally led. I only know that these stories needed to be set in the Waste. There was no other setting that would work.

Katie: You've been nominated and won many awards. The reviews for your books are outstanding. Do you feel you have a great deal to live up to? Does a review, good or bad influence your writing?

Eve: I feel both honored and humbled by the wonderful praise for my work, both as Eve Silver and Eve Kenin. My first release came out in late 2005, and since that time my books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, been chosen among Library Journal's Best Books 2007, received nominations, awards and honorable mentions in AAR's Annual Reader Poll, and awards and Top Picks from Romantic Times in all three sub-genres that I write. I treasure each and every accolade. Is it a great deal to live up to? You bet. But I'm my own harshest critic. I can't put out a book that I feel isn't my very best effort, and I push myself hard with each story I tell. Good and bad reviews...Mostly, I try not to read reviews because I have been working at such a crazy pace. In addition to writing three releases for 2007 and four releases for 2008, I teach human anatomy. So my on-line reading time is limited, and I try to read and answer every email I receive because I value the time a reader puts into sending me an email. Moreover, I recognize that different books speak to different people. While some may love my stories, others may not, and they are perfectly entitled to their opinion. Not every story works for every reader or reviewer. What one reviewer hates about a particular story, another reviewer will love. If I tried to write to all the varying opinions, I'd likely freeze and never write another thing. So I just write the best book I can write.

Katie: You just updated your website recently, which looks really great! Do you think it is important for authors to have a website or blog? Is this good PR?

Eve: Thank you! I love my new website. When I made my first sale, my husband taught himself Dreamweaver and designed a website for me as a gift. I loved that original site, but it was designed for a newbie by a newbie. It wasn't designed to grow. Fast forward three years and nine books. There just wasn't room for all of them! So hubby went back to the drawing board and created a new site with the help of a buddy at MadLab. Do I think it is important for an author to have a website? Well, I can only speak for myself. I like to have that connection with readers, to offer a place that they can find information about my books and even a little bit about me (though I'm a fairly boring girl, which is why I don't have a nice, chatty blog, (LOL!)


Katie: You write for so many genres from historical romance, contemporary paranormals, and speculative futuristic. What made you decide to branch out to so many other genres instead of just writing for one?

Eve: This question's easy. I had stories to tell, so I told them. There's no guarantee that I'll stick only to these three genres. If I had a story about a wagon train that was screaming to be written, I'd write it. (But, um, there's never any guarantee that I'd find someone who'd publish it, LOL!)

Katie: If you were a character in one of you Northern Waste books, what type of character would you be? How would you survive? Urrgh! Must I answer this question?

Eve: How would I survive? *With a lot of grumbling.* I hate the cold (even though I live in a region that's cold for months and months on end). Thanks for asking these questions and giving me the chance to share this information :)

Along with a great interview, we have a great book to give away! Eve has an ARC of her September Anthology release, NATURE OF THE BEAST up for grabs! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Thursday. And if you have a question for Eve, ask away because she may just stop by! :D

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Recent Reads

Driven by Eve Kenin (aka Eve Silver)

Why this one: I received an ARC of this one. I’d kind of forgot I had it and when this book first came out, I bought a copy based on the excellent reviews it was receiving. Luckily I was able to exchange it for another one when I found my ARC. It kind of languished on the TBR pile until I saw a review on Renee’s blog and we have very similar tastes in books (and why I'm insisting she watch North and South whereas I'm not bugging other people at least I don't think I am - well maybe a couple more, but only cause I know they will love it) and saw it was also listed on a number of interim poll results at AAR. Wanting to get as many 2007 books in before voting, I picked this one up.

Level of Steam: Truly ice melting – and this is a good thing considering it takes place in the frozen north

Amazon Blurb: Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.

My Thoughts: Wowzers. I was very impressed. This book is from Dorchesters Shomi line and to be honest, when I first heard about it, it didn’t really appeal to me. But again I say wowzers. This is the third book in a row that I’ve really enjoyed so far in 2008. I hope I keep up the pace.

It seemed kind of like a Mad Max movie only Max was a woman, it took place in the north instead of a dessert and there was a terrific love story to go along with it. The book takes place some time in the not-too-distant future after some kind of apocalyptic war. The northern hemisphere seems to be a frozen wasteland now and it it’s controlled by some Very Evil Dude named Bane. There is a truck race amongst independent truckers and a company owned by Bane. Raina Bowen is determined to win this race and for that she needs a special pass she has agreed to buy from Wizard, a mysterious stranger who is seemingly impervious to the cold or injury.

Raina was some kick-ass tough heroine who could stand up for herself and I loved her, loved her, loved her. It’s fascinating watching this loner slowly allow a group of rebels into her heart.

And Wizard - Mmm, mmm mmm, mmm, mmm!- what a terrific hero he makes! Earlier on this year I read Linnea Sinclair's Games of Command and loved her hero. Wizard is the same type of guy. Without saying too much, Wizard is a guy who is new to emotions - kind of like a hot and hunky Data from Star Trek. But at others he's not like Data At All. Thus the steam that heats this book up.

I haven't tried her books as Eve Silver but I'm on my way out shortly and a stop at Chapters is in order. I'll be buying her again!!

One reason I'm glad I haven't voted at AAR yet - I would have missed voting for this one!

Grade: 5 out of 5