August Releases Continued & Homage to Captain James T. Kirk

Here are more upcoming releases and summaries for your wish lists!

Vanished by Kat Richardson

Publisher's Summary:

For Seattle investigator Harper Blaine, her own case may prove the most difficult to solve. Why did she as opposed to others with near death experiences become a Greywalker? When Harper begins digging into her own past, she unearths some unpleasant truths about her father's early death as well as a mysterious puzzle. She sets out to find his ghost but encounters only a void where he should be, leaving her with more unanswered questions.

Before she can continue her search, Harper gets an offer she can't refuse to go to London and pursue an investigation on behalf of some very demanding vampires. But there are unpleasant surprises waiting for her, and Harper soon discovers her present trouble in England is entangled with her dark past back in Seattle and her ultimate destiny as a Greywalker.

Read an excerpt.

SciFi Guy, Doug Knipes, cites Kat Richardson as a favorite author who deserves to be read by more, so be sure to check out her books.


Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher's Summary:

Fang Kattalakis isn't just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion: the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters. And when war erupts among the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies are forced into shaky alliances. And when the woman Fang loves is accused of betraying her people, her only hope is that Fang believes in her. Yet in order to save her, Fang must break the law of his people and the faith of his brothers. That breech could very well spell the end of both their races and change their world forever.

The war is on and time is running out...


Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh

Publisher's Summary:

Reporter Cassa Hawkins has always supported Breed rights, believing they should be allowed to live free of fear and prejudice among the humans. A reasonable woman couldn’t think otherwise, especially in the presence of Cabal St. Lawrence, a spectacularly muscled specimen of the Bengal breed. The epitome of the male animal, his sensuous growl can fire up Cassa’s vulnerable body faster than a flame. Yet neither can ignore the nightmare unfolding around them…

The Breeds have been incriminated in a series of violent murder, and accused of hiding a vicious serial killer. It’s left to Cassa and Cabal to discover the truth. But as hunter becomes prey, are trust and passion enough to keep them alive through the night?

Read an excerpt.


The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu

Publisher's Summary:

Zoufalství. Epätoivo. Asa. Three words in three very different languages, and yet Soria understands. Like all members of Dirk & Steele, she has a gift, and hers is communication. When she is chosen to learn the dead language of a shape-shifter resurrected after thousands of years of icy sleep, she discovers a warrior consumed with fury.

Strong as a lion, quick as a serpent—Karr is his name, and in his day he was king. But he is a son of strife, a creature of tragedy. As fire consumed all he loved, so death was to be his atonement. Now, against his will, he has awoken. Zoufalství. Epätoivo. Asa. In English, the word is despair. But Soria knows the words for love.

Read an excerpt.

Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead

Publisher's Summary:

Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she’s also become queen of the Thorn Land. It’s hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one—except Eugenie—seems willing to find out why.

Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren't making things any easier. Her boyfriend, Kiyo, is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty—even if it means facing the darkest—and deadliest—side of her nature…

Read an excerpt.


Not a new book, but...

My first novel, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, has a nice new review up at Amazon from Erin O'Riordan: " Wonderfully written, funny and romantic, this book is a definite winner and a new favorite of mine. I will certainly look for Acosta's name again. "


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Since I've got an interview and contest with SciFi Guy, Doug Knipe, it's only fitting that I have GVDs for other illustrious Canadians, like William Shatner as James T. Kirk. For a intergalactic spaceship captain, Jim seems to spend a lot of time shirtless and in tight leather pants. He has a taste for women with giant hair who wear either lame' or leather. Now that's a trendsetter!

This is my new favorite song. Also, I'm dying my hair green so that life will imitate art.





I don't quite get the whole slash movement by chicks, but I can empathize with the appreciation of intergallactic hawtness.

New Releases for July & the Return of "Torchwood"

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Since readers commented yesterday in my interview (and book contest) with Doug Knipe, SciFi Guy, that they liked to hear about new releases and summaries, here are some August releases.


Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Publisher's Summary:

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Read Chapter One.


Cold Moon Rising by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

Publisher's Summary:
Hired killer Tony Giodone is back in action -- this time, believe it or not, working for the 'good guys.' Or should that be the 'not quite as bad guys?' He isn't sure. One thing is for certain, serving as a newly minted member of Wolven, the Sazi law enforcement agency, certainly does keep a guy busy. AND he gets to do what he does best. Kill things. Of course, Carmine doesn't plan to let Tony off the hook, particularly when he's attacked and nearly killed by the boys from the east coast.

Paired up with Ahmad al Narmer Tony's in danger up to his baby blues, which wouldn't bother him a bit, if his wife, Sue wasn't bound and determined to be a part of the action.

Speak of the Devil by by Jenna Black

Publisher's Summary:

Morgan Kingsley, America’s most successful exorcist, is paying the price for an exorcism gone wrong. The victim’s family is suing the daylights out of her, the Exorcism Board has suspended her, and now she’s living on a diet of ramen noodles and bad coffee. But Morgan has a few good men at her side. One is her current boyfriend, nice-guy legal-eagle Brian, who’s starting to reveal his inner bad boy. The other is Philly cop Adam White, who’s trying to help Morgan find out who sent her a little present—a severed human hand—and why someone seems determined to destroy her.

As her stalker turns more violent, leaving dead bodies in his wake, Morgan turns to the dark side of her life: a group of demons seeped in secrets, sinful eroticism, and otherworldly family feuds, including one sexy beast who shares Morgan’s body—and some X-rated fantasies. Soon Morgan must choose between her friends, her enemies, and her libido: to escape a mad demon determined to destroy her completely.

Read Chapter One.


Beguiled by Maureen Child

Publisher's Summary:

Maureen Child’s sexy, feisty heroine, Maggie Donovan, a descendant of Otherworldly Faeries, returns to face her greatest challenge—a certain ex-queen who has not been destroyed and wants her crown back. When Maggie’s niece is kidnapped by Queen Mab, Maggie must overcome her mistrust of her dashing Fae Warrior lover, Culhane, and unite the Fae Warriors to save the girl and defeat the rebel queen once and for all—or lose everything.


Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco

Publisher's Summary:

As the public relations director for the Fey Guild, Laura Blackstone can spin a story with ease. Across town, Janice Crawford works her magic as the druidess backup for the D.C. SWAT. Meanwhile as an operative for an international intelligence agency, Mariel Tate uses her beauty and brains to hunt down terrorists. Laura, Janice and Mariel have nothing in common--except they're the same woman...

Being an undercover agent has its occupational hazards, but Laura makes it look easy. She uses her magical abilities to create disguises that are skin deep--glamours, or personas, that must never be compromised.

Now, while Laura publicizes a special fey exhibition at the National Archives, Janice is almost killed in a drug bust gone wrong, and Mariel investigates a connection between the drug raid and threats made against the exhibition's debut. Laura's different worlds are about to collide, and if she can't keep it together, she'll have more to worry about than having to retire an identity. She may lose her life.

(Also, the author's website is kind of, well, the designer wasn't thinking about actual readers. It's one of those sites you visit once, struggle to navigate, and think, that's enough, thank you. Mark, if you're out there -- less gimcracks with the layout so your fans can learn more about your books!)


I'll have more new releases listed throughout the week.



GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

"Torchwood" is FINALLY returning to BBC America, which is an awful network because the cut a million scenes to cram in crap advertising the episode you're currently watching. I don't know how they rationalize this, but I'd like to slap the people who think it's okay to delete content and repeat scenes. So my GVDs are for the "Torchwood" team, keeping the Earth safe.