Today’s topic is “A show that you wish more people were watching”. My answer? Being Human.

Being Human is a British supernatural drama/comedy series about three twenty-somethings–Mitchell (Aidan Turner), George (Russell Tovey) and Annie (Lenora Crichlow)–who want nothing more in the world than to be a part of normal society. Problem is, while they share a house in Bristol and work day jobs, they are far from what you might call normal. Mitchell is a vampire, George is a werewolf and Annie is a ghost.

The Characters
Mitchell is not the stereotypical sauve, arrogant ass that has come to be synonymous with vampire these days (though he does have that tall, dark and remarkably handsome thing going on lol). He is a sweet, caring bloke and someone everyone would love to have as a friend (just don’t for the love of all that’s holy, get on his bad side). Mitchell is a “vegan” vampire but it’s not near as annoying as with the Cullens (Twilight) or Stefan Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries). I’d say Mitchell is an exception because well … you’ll see. Let’s just say, he shows us how bloody hard it is to actually stay on the wagon. Pun intended. Read the rest of this entry »

Today we are joined by prolific paranormal romance author, Michele Hauf. Check out her guest blog below and when your done reading, feel free to post any questions in the comments section as Michele will be stopping by to chat with our readers.

My first paranormal romance for HQN is out next Tuesday, March 30th, HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND.  This isn’t my first paranormal romance.  Let’s see, it’s number…12 or 13.  But what is exciting is it is not a category romance (Silhouette Nocturne) but will instead be shelved in the regular romance section in bookstores.  This was a fun surprise for me.

Last summer I handed the completed story in to my editor, and was told it had been scheduled for release in November (’09) in the Nocturne line.  Want to know how a really exciting phone conversation with an editor can go?  Something like this:  “Michele, just wanted to let you know your story isn’t going to come out in November, but instead the following April.”  Big sigh from me. “Why?  What’d I do?”  Thinking I must have done something wrong to get pushed back on the schedule. “Well, it’s been moved to the HQN line. Congrats!”

It was a very cool thing to learn my story was getting moved to a single title line, which would mean better shelf placement, more attention from marketing, and (fingers crossed) more notice from readers. Read the rest of this entry »

Her Vampire Husband (Wicked Games, #3) by Michele Hauf. © 2010 HQN Books. ISBN 9780373774999. Paranormal Romance. 360 pages. $7.99 US [ Purchase ] Source: eARC from author

Synopsis: An arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampire.  There will be blood.  She may resist his bite, but she can’t resist his charms…

Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won’t allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.

When Blu uncovers her pack’s secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband. Will she choose the only life she’s ever known or accept his vampire bite?

Review: At first glance Her Vampire Husband seems deceptively simple, boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy makes girl love him despite all odds.  But there is so much more to the story. Read the rest of this entry »

Kitty’s House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, Book #7) by Carrie Vaughn. © 2010 Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446199551. Paperback. Paranormal/Thriller. 292 pages. $7.99 US. [ Purchase ] Source: review copy from publisher

Synopsis: After defeating the djinn summoned by the vengeful vampire priestess she encountered in Vegas, and making a few unexpected friends in the Paradox PI team, we re-join Kitty Norville—late-night radio show host and the world’s first celebrity werewolf—a year later back at the KNOB station in Denver, Colorado.

This time around Hollywood has come calling to Ms. Norville’s door. Approached by two young up-and-coming reality television producers our heroine is pulled into something she never thought she’d do by a couple of friends. After being flown into a deserted lodge with the other cast members, things begin to turn from strange to downright life-threatening seemingly overnight. Read the rest of this entry »

Kitty Raises Hell (Kitty Norville, Book #6) by Carrie Vaughn. © 2009 Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446199544. Paperback. Paranormal/Thriller. 322 pages. $6.99 US. [ Purchase ] Source: Half.com purchase

Synopsis: When we last saw celeb werewolf Kitty Norville, she had been confronted by an enigmatic word—Tiamat—burned into the door of her beloved restaurant and pack hangout, New Moon. It was then she learned that the gauche cliché of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is nothing more than a lie. But the brand on the door was only the beginning. Soon, danger and murder surround Kitty’s life and she is faced with an even bigger evil that forces her own view of the supernatural to broaden.

Yet, when a mysterious vampire rolls into town claiming he has the power to save her and her pack, can Kitty fully trust him? Throw in an unexpected reminder of days gone by, and you have yourself a massive mix of marvelous mayhem that could only come from best-selling author, Carrie Vaughn. Read the rest of this entry »

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. © 2009 Scholastic Press. ISBN 0545123267. Hardcover. Young Adult. 400 pages. $17.99 US. [ Purchase ] Source: bought at Borders Books

Description – For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf–her wolf–is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. (Amazon.com)

Review – Shiver is the type of book that you just can’t put down. Stiefvater’s unique take on werewolf lore and lycanthropy is one that makes Shiver a unique and fresh reading experience. Throughout the work, there is a sense of intense desperation and longing to belong. The strangely captivating bond between Grace and Sam instantly sucks you in and makes Shiver an instant favorite.

Rating - 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand (Book #5) by Carrie Vaughn. © 2009 Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 0-446-19953-2. Paperback. Paranormal Romance. 301 pages. $6.99 US. [ Purchase ]

They’ve won their freedom, become the new alpha couple in town, struck a deal of equality with the city’s vampires, opened a new restaurant (aptly named New Moon) and now Kitty and Ben are going to make it all official—the human way at least—by tying the knot. Deciding they are overwhelmed by all the matrimonial hoopla, the couple make a plan to elope in, where else but, Las Vegas, Nevada—the city of neon temples, Wayne Newton, drunken mistakes and Elvis impersonators.

Their secret is not much of a secret anymore once wind of the nuptials gets back to Kitty’s boss at the station. He decides this is a perfect time to take her popular radio show to television with a “Live from Vegas” hour. Kitty agrees and is excited for all the week in Vegas has to offer, but that’s until they arrive and she delivers a message for Rick to the Vegas vampire master. The meeting leaves her feeling odd and once she realizes her hotel is full of bounty hunters, her hackles are continuously on the rise and she has the feeling that something is not quite right in this crazy, neon-signed town. Come on, did you really think Kitty could ever have a normal wedding? HA! Read the rest of this entry »