Monday, October 31, 2011

New books I'm INSANELY EXCITED ABOUT !! (that you can win in the next 36 hours)

Books, books! These are the books on my fangirl and friend radar, and I'm giving two lucky commenters who act before Tuesday night their choice. See directions below!

HEART OF STEEL by Meljean Brook (Iron Seas Series #2)
•Out November 1•

I am feverishly excited about this one--these characters are a couple of my faves from THE IRON DUKE, which was one of my top three favorite books of the year last year. Yes, I will be running to the bookstore to get this in paper so I can underline stuff and dog ear the pages and moon over it and totally ravish it as only an author fangirl can. This series rocks, and I'm not just saying that because Meljean is also my antho buddy. 

Top pick from RT Magazine“Rising star Brook has created two completely mesmerizing characters whose journeys in this gritty and treacherous world make for heart-stopping fun!”

Back blurb: Return to the gritty, alluring world of steampunk with the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke.

Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair-just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

THE LADY'S SECRET by Joanna Chambers 
•out November 7th•

The amazing debut from my brilliant critique partner! I'll have a full write-up next week when THE LADY'S SECRET releases, but I wanted to put it in this group because I'm double-dip excited. 

This is the twisty and fabulously fun tale of Georgiana, who goes undercover as a boy valet to the devastatingly handsome, melancholy Lord Harland. Fun, sexy, awesome. And there are interesting things about classes and servants. And danger! And hugely fun reveals! Oh, this book! This book! 

Blurb: London, 1810
Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate–until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland . Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.

Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…
But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Releases November 7th. Excerpt here. Pre-order from Carina, for the Nook, for the Kindle.



BEAUTY DATES THE BEAST by Jessica Sims (Midnight Liasons #1)
•out now•

Jessica Sims (aka Jill Myles, my other anthology galpal) has a wonderful way of creating delightful and sexy set-ups - and then totally delivering. So I am eagerly waiting for this one to arrive (there is a lost book shipment out there with the Crane name on it). BEAUTY DATES THE BEAST is about a paranormal dating agency, and our heroine, Bathsheba has to date all these guys to protect her sister. *rubs hands* 

From Publishers Weekly: Jill Myles (The Succubus Diaries) debuts as Jessica Sims with a funny, sexy, and lively first book in a shapeshifter series. Bathsheba Ward’s mission in life is to protect her sister’s secret: Sara was bitten by a werewolf in a vicious attack six years earlier. Both work for the paranormal dating service Midnight Liaisons. After Bathsheba fills in on a broken date with cougar shifter Beau Russell, head of the Russell clan, her boss threatens to out Sara unless Bathsheba agrees to date a variety of paranormals who lust after her Alliance-certified virginity...  

The blurb: WANTED
Single human female to join charming, wealthy, single male were-cougar for a night of romantic fun—and maybe more.
Me: The tall, sensuous, open-minded leader of my clan.
You: A deliciously curvy virgin who’s intimately familiar with what goes bump in the night. Must not be afraid of a little tail. Prefer a woman who’s open to exploring her animal nature. Interest in nighttime walks through the woods a plus.
My turn-ons include protecting you from the worst the supernatural world has to offer. Ready for an adventure? Give me a call.
Vampires and doppelgangers need not apply.

SWEET MAGIC by Penny Watson
•out November 4th•

It has become my own little Christmas reading tradition to pick up the latest in my author friend Penny's series - she's working her merry, sexy way through all of Santa's sons (this year it's extreme sporter Oskar Klaus) while tirelessly working to raise awareness of the sexiness of beards!  

Blurb: Oskar Klaus' job is killing him. Not even his favorite hobbies (extreme snowboarding and browsing old bookstores) are enough to snap him out of his funk. It's not easy living in the shadow of four successful older brothers and a father named Santa. Little does he know that a kiss on New Year's Eve is about to turn his life upside-down.
Kiana Grant's Manhattan life is a world away from her childhood in Oahu. She traded sunsets and surfing for a respectable career in library science, but Oskar Klaus is a temptation that's hard to resist. Before she knows it, she's in the midst of an outrageous adventure in the North Pole, dealing with mischievous elves, wicked demons, and a devastating attraction to Santa's youngest son.
There's just one problem...a bitter elf hell-bent on revenge threatens the future of everyone in the North Pole, even Santa himself... Ebook only. Releases this 11/4. Information and excerpt here.


IF YOU HEAR HER by Shiloh Walker

•out now•

Confession: I love plots about curious regular people who get involved in mysteries, and I also love the work of my galpal Shiloh Walker, so this is an oreo sandwich I shall not be resisting. (My lost book shipment out there has this book in it, supposedly coming my way.) I couldn't be more psyched!!




From Publishers Weekly:
First of a projected romantic suspense trilogy, this hefty superheated exercise in uninhibited abandon alternates between a serial psycho-killer musing over his unlucky victims and a titillating fling between sexy blind chef Lena Riddle and sexier state cop Ezra King in smalltown Ash, Ky. Ezra, trying to recuperate from wounds to body and soul, is so attracted to Lena that he can’t help plunging into an informal investigation of screams she hears outside her rural home in the middle of the night…




Blurb: A CRY IN THE WOODS
 
The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration.
Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.


THE BLACK HAWK by Joanna Bourne
•Out November 7th•

Okay, this has only been one of my most anticipated books SINCE 2008!! Two other books in this series, Bourne's Spymaster's Lady and The Forbidden Rose are a two of my all-time favorite books, two of the best books in all the world. I don't feel like you have to read these in order. Some may differ. I understand from Katiebabs that THE BLACK HAWK is nothing short of fabulous. I am hyperventilating RIGHT NOW. I must have it. You must have it! 

Back copy: Attacked on a rainy London street, veteran spy Justine DeCabrillan knows only one man can help her: Hawker, who also happens to be the enemy. With London crawling with hidden assassins and someone out to frame Hawker for the assault, the two spies must work together to find who's out to destroy them...

From the Library Journal
Attacked and badly wounded by an assassin's blade, former French spy Justine DeCabrillac ("Owl") struggles through the rain to the home of the only man she can depend on to save her, English agent Adrian Hawkhurst, her longtime adversary—and unforgettable lover. But Justine is not the only one in danger; the killer is out to bring down Hawk as well. And it will take all of their finely honed skills and wary, hard-won trust to unearth—and destroy—the elusive, brutal villain. 

Vivid, illuminating flashbacks fill in the missing years of our protagonists' bond, developing the passionate, deeply conflicted relationship between Justine and Hawk with unparalleled insight and craft. VERDICT Beautifully flawed, intensely human characters, a deadly puzzle, and a love that survives incredible odds combine to make this another emotionally riveting page-turner from Bourne (The Forbidden Rose), whose novels always deliver. Fans of historical romance will be all over this one.

HOW TO WIN:
1. Leave a comment, any comment - you can talk about any or all of the books, or you can talk about your cat or anything! Your comment does NOT have to say what book you'll choose. 
2. You have to leave your comment here on the blog - if you are seeing this on Goodreads or Facebook, come over, cover over, Red Rover!
3. Make sure your email is in the comment, or else that I can get it by clicking on your name.
4. Live somewhere in the world where book depository ships.

I will choose a TWO winners Tuesday (November 1st) before I go to bed. I will email those people then and they will each get to choose what book they win, in what form.  Hey, Happy Halloween everyone! 

Friday, October 28, 2011

Disillusionists' haunted house... & LB Gregg...oh nooooooo!

The Disillusionists have made a haunted house! 
Imagine my surprise to see how busy my characters have been, planning out their own haunted house.

Stop by at the fabulous Paranormal Haven today to see how each of the Disillusionists would decorate their haunted house room for maximum scariness! And, you could win a signed copy of Double Cross!

Visit the Disillusionists Haunted House at Paranormal Haven here.
If LB Gregg was not cut off from
all social media, she would remind you
that this book is out today!!



LB Gregg...oh noooo!
My galpal and sometimes partner in crime, LB Gregg (recently dubbed "the Jayne Ann Krentz of gay fiction) got the opportunity to travel to China this month. Sure, she has a book release today, but she figured she could tweet and remind her fans from there. Right?

WRONG! She is totally cut off from access to twitter, facebook (mostly) and her blog and even the Thrillionth Page is censored!

So, I am helping her to remind folks that Dudleytown her sexy, krazy fun, M/M romantic comedy is coming out today!   Excerpt here.  Read about it and buy it here. 


Goblins, Demons & Spirits for your modern life
Don't forget to visit over at the fabulous Bastard Books, read about how YOUR life can improve through demons, spirits and goblins...and win! Check it out here. 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Head Rush release: a handy field guide

Head Rush  is releasing in stages...like a rocket! 
I'm so excited that HEAD RUSH is finally coming out..little by little. You can't imagine how eager I have been to have it be in the hands of ALL readers who want it THIS INSTANT. Well, that will be soon.

Audio: All three books in the Disillusionists trilogy – Mind Games, Double Cross, and Head Rush – are now out in audio on audible.com. Here is the link to Head Rush. And you can hear a sample, too! I think the narrator is great.

Chapter 1&2 excerpts: In the meantime, 'Head Rush  chapters 1&2 will be up on my site--in about two weeks (I’m still finalizing the ebook end of things with Samhain.) I'll post here, on my site, and on facebook when those excerpts go up. Oh, and it will be in my newsletter, too.

Ebook: The ebook will come out on December 6th. It’s not yet available for pre-order, but it will be in early November, in online stores like Amazon, Sony, Barnes & Noble, ARE and others and I’ll have a link for them here and elsewhere.

Print: Out sometime in 2012 – check back!

ebooks and audiobooks...what's the deal?
There's information and links on how audiobooks work, and also how to read ebooks even if you don't have an ereader, on the books page of my site.

♥♥♥♥
I can’t begin to say how appreciative I am for all the goodwill through this, and everyone for being so patient and awesome through the crazy and very non-linear journey of book #3!! An author couldn't ask for better, more supportive readers. 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Goblins, spirits & demons for your beautiful modern life

Read about the Badi and other potentially useful spirits
and demons at Bastard Books!
One of the things I've noticed in recent research: People in the olden days blamed spirits for a lot of what went wrong. 


It makes me sad we don’t have many spirits to blame stuff on these days. Lucky for you, I've found some that you might be able to use... 


Today, I'm at Bastard Books having some crazy fun. Come visit. And, you can win something, too!


Come on over to Bastard Books and say hi!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I'm over at sffworld! Interview & roundtable


New Interview at sffworld.com now
I'm super honored to be over at sffworld.com for an interview today! sffworld.com is a massive site for all things Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror and more. There's always something interesting going on there.
JA Pitts will be at the
roundtable with me.

We discussed the characters and relationships, and talked about Faustian bargains, Midcity and lots more.

Come and say hi if you get a chance. 

Roundtable starting tomorrow
I'll also get the chance to take part in a contemporary fantasy (which includes UF) roundtable there starting later this week - along with authors John Levitt and J.A. (John) Pitts, and possibly another author.

J. A. Pitts is the author of Black Blade Blues and Honeyed Words and the upcoming Hearth and Home (2012,  Tor)  This is the Urban Fantasy series featuring Sarah Beauhall, a tough-as-nails blacksmith, movie props manager and medieval reenactor in Seattle, WA.

The books fuse Norse Mythology with the modern world. And who doesn't love a lesbian blacksmith heroine? And reenactor? So cool.


John Levitt will also be
at the roundtable. 

John Levitt is the author of the urban fantasy series featuring Mason, who has magical abilities, and his trusty companion, an Ifrit – a spirit familiar named Louie that takes the shape of an animal, in this case, a dog. 


He’s also a jazz guitarist who used to police other magic-users, and he gets dragged back into it by violent events. Well, I always say, hooray for a magical musician with a dog familiar.  Books include Dog Days, New Tricks, Unleashed and Play Dead. 


I think these roundtables are really fun and interesting ways for authors and readers to interact beyond just surface questions. And, both of these authors are doing exciting work and will have lots of good things to say (and hopefully I will, too. I'm a little nervous!)

Our rountable is right here, going on now through the next week or more. Do drop in!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Kindle-aholic declares a Disillusionists re-read & Jaye Wells declares her own damn holiday


Disillusionists Re-read!! 
I was psyched to learn that blogger extraordinaire, Kindle-aholic, is running a Disillusionists re-read during the month of November in preparation for the release of HEAD RUSH.

It looks like a really fun group, with some people who are brand new to the series and some doing the re-read.

You can participate right on her blog or through the Goodreads group she's set up for it. (And, in addition to all the crazy fun, one participant will win a Head Rush ARC!)

Jaye wells declares a holiday
My author pal Jaye has declared October International Urban Fantasy Month, and she's celebrating it on her blog  by giving away a HUGE bunch of awesome prizes - and by awesome prizes I of course mean tons of books. And lord knows what else she'll get up to. Be sure to drop in.

Image: From one of my trading cards. You can get a set by emailing me with your snailmail addy! carolyn (at) authorcarolyncrane.com

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bookshelf porn...and Gumby-finding help


Good morning friends! I  hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their weekend.

So, first off, I'm over at Book Lover's Inc. for their big 1000 follower celebration with bookshelf porn. It's like a tour through my bookshelves.

If you haven't been there this past week, tons of authors and bloggers are getting all nerdy about books. And there are many many giveaways!

Come say hi!

Also, I know it is hard to find the shadowy head of our little green friend on my new cover.

And, it's not even green. So, here is a wee clue.

I wish for all of you a lovely day of good books, good people, and to-do lists full of crossed-out items!


Friday, October 14, 2011

HEAD RUSH: Cover art and back cover copy!! Yippee!

I'm so happy to have my cover! It's by award-winning cover artist Kanaxa (aka Nathalie Gray).

I think it is just marvelous!  And also, my new back cover copy.


JUSTINE JONES FACES HER ULTIMATE ENEMY: HERSELF! 

Book Three in The Disillusionists Trilogy

In an attempt to put her unhappy past behind her, Justine Jones throws herself into nursing school and planning her wedding to Otto Sanchez, the man of her dreams. But something is off. Random details aren’t adding up…and is it her imagination, or are her friends and fiancé keeping secrets from her? And what’s with this strange sense of unease, and her odd new headaches?

Justine tries to stay upbeat as Midcity cowers under martial law, sleepwalking cannibals, and a mysterious rash of paranormal copycat violence, but her search for answers leads her into the most dangerous mind game yet.

With the help of unlikely allies, including her paranoid dad and best frenemy Simon, Justine fights her ultimate foe…and unravels the most startling mystery of all.

HEAD RUSH will come out as an audible.com audiobook (10/25) and on December 6th, 2011, as an ebook (available wherever ebooks are sold), and at some point in 2012 in print (available from the usual suspects online and select bookstores). A wild and wacky publishing schedule for the wild and wacky wrap-up of the Justine Jones saga! Thanks everyone for hanging in there with me!! 

PS: Ebook will be available for pre-order in about 2 weeks!


PPS: Hidden secret thing: One thing I love about this cover is that Justine's dashboard pal Gumby, who has a small but key part in the book, is represented just fleetingly...if you look hard at the lower left hand corner. Can't find it? See this post.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011