Most Anticipated New Releases of October 2012

The following list is comprised of books my friends, family, and I are most looking forward to reading in September. It also consists of books by popular authors and others I've heard a lot of hype about. I am not flawless and sometimes I'll accidentally leave one or more books off the list that I shouldn't. Let me know if one of your favorites is missing. Sometimes my search techniques just don't work as well as I wish they did.

If you'd like to read a book's description, just click on the title and you'll magically be transported to Amazon where you can see it and decide whether to buy it or not. Remember a book a day keeps the boredom at bay! Happy reading.

October 2, 2012 - Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
October 2, 2012 - The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell
October 2, 2012 - Dark Storm (Carpathian) by Christine Feehan
October 2, 2012 - Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones
October 2, 2012 - Death's Rival: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter
October 2, 2012 - Fury's Kiss: A Midnight's Daughter Novel (DORY) by Karen Chance
October 2, 2012 - The Last Dragonslayer (The Chronicles of Kazam) by Jasper Fforde
October 2, 2012 - Live by Night: A Novel by Dennis Lehane
October 2, 2012 - Promised (The Birthmarked Trilogy) by Caragh M. O'Brien
October 2, 2012 - Mate Claimed (Shifters Unbound) by Jennifer Ashley
October 2, 2012 - Mad River (A Virgil Flowers Novel) by John Sandford
October 2, 2012 - The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus, Book Three) by Rick Riordan
(Note Hardback is five times more expensive than Kindle version)
October 2, 2012 - The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst
October 2, 2012 - Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson
October 2, 2012 - Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians) by Dianne Duvall
October 2, 2012 - Poison Princess (Arcana Chronicles, Book 1) by Kresley Cole
October 2, 2012 - Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day
October 2, 2012 - Rev It Up: Black Knights Inc. by Julie Ann Walker
October 2, 2012 - Son (The Giver quartet) by Lois Lowry
October 2, 2012 - In Sunlight and in Shadow by Mark Helprin
October 2, 2012 - Whispers at Moonrise (Shadow Falls) by C. C. Hunter
October 4, 2012 - Ashen Winter (Ashfall) by Mike Mullin

October 8, 2012 - NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
October 9, 2012 - Absolution (The Penton Vampire Legacy) by Susannah Sandlin
October 9, 2012 - Arctic Fire by Stephen W. Frey
October 9, 2012 - How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman
October 9, 2012 - The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks
October 9, 2012 - Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison

October 16, 2012 - Hidden (House of Night Novels) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
October 16, 2012 - The Panther (John Corey) by Nelson DeMille
October 16, 2012 - The Secret Keeper: A Novel by Kate Morton
October 16, 2012 - Sleep No More: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen
October 16, 2012 - Starstruck: A Fame Game Novel by Lauren Conrad
October 16, 2012 - The Twelve (Book Two of The Passage Trilogy): A Novel by Justin Cronin

October 23, 2012 - Beautiful Redemption (Beautiful Creatures) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
October 23, 2012 - The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury
October 23, 2012 - The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
October 23, 2012 - Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
October 23, 2012 - My Kind of Christmas (Virgin River) by Robyn Carr
October 23, 2012 - The Racketeer by John Grisham
October 23, 2012 - The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Destiny Rising by L. J. Smith

October 30, 2012 - Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust by Ina Garten
October 30, 2012 - A Cowboy for Christmas: A Jubilee, Texas Novel by Lori Wilde
October 23, 2012 - Beneath a Darkening Moon (Ripple Creek) by Keri Arthur
October 30, 2012 - Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel (Fever Series) by Karen Marie Moning
October 30, 2012 - Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson) by Darynda Jones
October 30, 2012 - Midnight's Seduction by Donna Grant
October 30, 2012 - A Notorious Countess Confesses: Pennyroyal Green Series by Julie Anne Long
October 30, 2012 - Rebel Heart (Dust lands) by Moira Young
October 30, 2012 - Ruins (Pathfinder) by Orson Scott Card
October 30, 2012 - The Scottish Witch: The Chattan Curse by Cathy Maxwell
October 30, 2012 - Seducing Mr. Knightly by Maya Rodale
October 30, 2012 - Shadow Rising (An Otherworld Novel) by Yasmine Galenorn
October 30, 2012 - The Sins of the Mother: A Novel by Danielle Steel
October 30, 2012 - Sin With a Scoundrel: The Husband Hunters Club by Sara Bennett
October 30, 2012 - A Winter Dream: A Novel by Richard Paul Evans
October 30, 2012 - Wed to a Highland Warrior (Warrior King) by Donna Fletcher

New Novellas (aka short stories):


October 2, 2012 - The Mysterious Madam Morpho by Delilah S. Dawson
October 2, 2012 - Three Schemes and a Scandal: A Novella by Maya Rodale

October 9, 2012 - Skies of Steel: The Ether Chronicles by Zoe Archer
October 9, 2012 - Turn to Darkness: A Novella by Jaime Rush

October 16, 2012 - The Second Seduction of a Lady by Miranda Neville

October 30, 2012 - Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James
October 30, 2012 - To Hell and Back: A League of Guardians Novella Novella by Juliana Stone

The very talented C.C. Hunter talks about her new book Whispers at Moonrise. In stores today!

In stores today:

Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter

To see my 4 1/2 rose review CLICK HERE

The breathtaking fourth installment of the New York Times bestselling Shadow Falls series from author C. C. Hunter...Whispers at Moonrise.

Shadow Falls Camp is back in session with the most explosive installment yet. A shocking new threat will rock Shadow Falls—changing it forever and altering Kylie’s journey in ways she never imagined.

Even at a camp for supernatural teens, Kylie Galen has never been normal. Not only can she see ghosts, but she doesn’t seem to belong to any one species—she exhibits traits from them all. As Kylie struggles to unlock the secrets of her identity, she begins to worry that Lucas will never be able to accept her for what she is, and what she isn’t…a werewolf. With his pack standing in their way, Kylie finds herself turning more and more to Derek, the only person in her life who’s willing to accept the impossible.

As if life isn’t hard enough, she starts getting visits from the ghost of Holiday, her closest confidante. Trouble is, Holiday isn’t dead…not yet anyway. Now Kylie must race to save one of her own from an unseen danger before it’s too late—all while trying to stop her relationship with Lucas from slipping away forever. In a world of constant confusion, there’s only one thing Kylie knows for sure. Change is inevitable and all things must come to an end…maybe even her time at Shadow Falls.

Watch the book trailer:

Ten Things You’ll Learn from Whispers at Moonrise 

1) Kicking your boyfriend’s father’s butt might not be good for the relationship.

2) Sometimes following your heart means breaking some rules.

3) Getting trapped in a grave with three dead girls is not a walk in the park.

4) Your parents breaking up sucks. Your mom having a boyfriend, and kissing him in front of you, sucks BIG TIME.

5) When your boyfriend says one thing, but does another, what do you believe? His actions or his words?

6) You can’t always protect the ones you love. Sometimes the only way to protect them is to tell them the truth—even if it hurts.

7) When you are in love, you usually want to talk a lot more about your boyfriend than your girlfriends care to hear.

8) You shouldn’t mess with magic if you don’t know what you’re doing. Especially when someone could end up sterile.

9) Sometimes it is the little choices we make, and not the big ones, that define who we are.

10) Be careful what you wish for or you might end up turning a bright shade of red in the boys’ bathroom.

The Interview:

C.C. Hunter

To check out C.C.'s website CLICK HERE

To follow C.C. on Twitter CLICK HERE 

To follow C.C. on Facebook CLICK HERE

Lisarenee: The big question I have is since you announced that Chosen at Nightfall is to be your last and final book of the Shadow Falls series, is there any possibility of a spin-off series in the near
future? After all Shadow Falls is a place and if Kylie were to move somewhere else.... Well, you get what I'm hoping for. :)

CC: I won’t ever say never. And I can’t tell you how hard it is to write this final book. It reminds me of when I moved away from my childhood home and knew I was going to miss all my hometown buddies. And while I would love to come back to Shadow Falls sometimes, right now, what I can tell you is that I have already sold my next series and it’s not about Kylie or anyone at Shadow Falls. However, I think my readers will find all the things they love about Shadow Falls in the new series: a unique paranormal world, characters you can easily fall in love with, a book about friendships, hot guys, lots of emotion, and tons of laughter.

Lisarenee: You originally started writing romances under the pen name Christie Craig, but used a different pen name, CC Hunter, when you decided to write a young adult series. What do you think of all the romance writers lately using their current pen names when they start writing young adult books? Granted, times have changed and more adults, such as myself, are starting to read more and more young adult books, but do you think a separation a little more distinct than just young adult or adult fiction is needed when a romance writer decides to delve into the writing of young adult books? I would think it might make the initial switch a little harder, but I'm curious what your initial reasons were for changing your pen name, and if you were to have waited to start your series until the present time, would you still have written the books under a different name from the one you use for romance?

CC: That is a very good question. And one that is hard to answer. I think each author, and perhaps each publisher, might have a different opinion. When I first sold my series to St. Martin’s Griffin, my editor gave me the option of using my real name. However, she said since my other books were romantic comedies and while my humor was going to come into play in the Shadow Falls books, she didn’t see them being marketed as humor, so she suggested I go with a pen name. I decided to go with her thoughts on the matter. Now, from the very beginning they marketed C.C. Hunter as. . . . a pen name for the award-winning author, Christie Craig. It was never a secret. Even in my bio on the website, I state that I write humorous romantic suspense novels under my real name, Christie Craig. Yet, I do not advertize my romances on the C.C. Hunter site because I know that some of my audience are too young to read romance novels. Yet, I do advertize my YA books to my Christie Craig fans.

If I had it to do over again, I think I would do the same thing. Not because I’m trying to hide what I write, but because I think it is a marketing tool. I have a huge crossover from my older C.C. Hunter fans to my Christie Craig fans, but I still have those who read only paranormal or only humorous romantic suspense. If one of those got confused and bought a book with the different genre, they might be disappointed. SO the different pen names is merely a marketing tool that lets the readers know what type of book they are reading.

Lisarenee: When you first started writing the Shadow Falls series, did you already know what you planned to have Kylie be? In the first book, you hinted she could be a demigod or the child of one. Did your plans for Kylie change as the series developed?

CC: Nothing changed. However, you just discovered my secret. I’m not a plotter. I really do write to discover the story just as my readers read to learn the story. Would you believe that I’m working on the last book and I’m still going back and forth over whom Kylie will choose, Lucas or Derek? And when I first started writing the story, I didn’t know who the ghost was in the first book. . To me, writing books is very much like getting to know someone. You don’t meet someone and in one, two or three weeks get to know them. It take weeks, months, and sometimes years before you really know what makes someone tick. While I always have a handle on the moral character of a character, I don’t know everything they will face during the course of the story. And the characterization of real and fictional people will depend a lot on what lessons he/she learns through the course of the story. So while my plans don’t change, sometimes my characters become smarter, more frightened, or more aware of different issues as the story unfolds.

Lisarenee: In Born at Midnight we learned Kylie was born at midnight as were all the kids at Shadow Falls camp. In later books we learn not all supernaturals are born at midnight. What is the main difference between those born at midnight and those not? Is it that distinction that makes them more likely to be good or bad? From her run in with Roberto (aka Red) we learned even those who are bad can be saved. Their fate is not set in stone.

CC: Yes, in the Shadow Falls world it is commonly believed that anyone born past midnight has a higher percentage chance of becoming evil. My goal in showing that scene was to exhibit that just like in real life there are exceptions to every rule. And sometimes our preconceived notions have a strong influence on what shapes people and circumstances. For example, Lucas wants to change the world’s view that all supernaturals raised by rogues are bad. In real life our world and our view of things are constantly changing, and fiction should reflect this.

Lisarenee: Besides being a chameleon, Kylie is a Protector. From what we know of her father, he was one as well. Can you tell us a little more about Protectors? Is a supernatural born a Protector? Is it a status they can loose once they are one? Since they are so rare, I was curious if an individual needed a combination of qualities in order to be one?

CC: Yes, Kylie is a chameleon and a protector and supernaturals are born protectors. It is not something they choose to be or something they grow up to be. However, most protectors don’t exhibit their gifts until they are in their late teens or early twenties, as it was with Kylie’s father. They can be any type of supernatural. But it is believed that only those who are foreseen to have great moral character and standards are chosen to be protectors. It is one of the highest gifts a person can have in the supernatural world. And there are very few protectors. As a matter of fact, Kylie’s father is the first known Chameleon to be born a protector. However, a protector does not always pass on the gift of being a protector. As a matter of fact, Kylie is the first who is believed to have possibly inherited the gift.

When I write, I want my characters and my world to reflect that of the real world. The talents and gifts a person is born with in the real world are baffling. Some people are simply born to play the piano, others are simply born to be the whiz kids. I created the whole protector gift because I wanted Kylie to be extra special, but I needed her to be vulnerable, too. It was important for her to need other people to be the best she can be. In a way, the thing that saves Kylie and those she cares about is that magical thing called love, as well as the basic respect for her fellow man. In a way, I think this is the basic truth about life. Love and respect is what makes us better humans. It is the ingredients of what makes a real life hero.

Lisarenee: Thanks CC for taking the time to answer my questions C.C.

CC: Thanks so much for having me here today. You asked some very intriguing questions. 

On sale today, Whispers at Moonrise

Love, Laughter and a Little Murder Limited Time Offer- Three books for $1.99

For a limited time, three great books for one low price!

To celebrate the release of her Shadow Falls Whispers at Moonrise, CC Hunter has a special offer for those CC Hunter readers who may not have read my romances. Or even for those who love her Christie Craig romances, but maybe haven't read them all. 

She's offering Love, Laughter and a Little Murder. That's 3 of her Christie Craig novels in a boxed set for Kindle or Nook for only $1.99! That's Murder, Mayhem and Mama, Weddings Can Be Murder and Gotcha! for only $1.99! If bought separately, they would cost $12.97.

Murder, Mayhem and Mama

BEING A MAMA IS HARD. BUT THE JOB'S EVEN TOUGHER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD...

Cali McKay's mama isn't ready to pass over to the "other side" yet. Her unlucky-in-love daughter needs her now more than ever. Before Mama can chain-smoke her way to heaven, she's gotta make sure Cali's ex deadbeat boyfriend doesn't get her daughter killed.

GRIEF SUCKS. LOVE HEALS...

Cali lost her mom to cancer. Detective Brit Lowell, lost his partner to murder. Now he's in the mood to take down some dirtbags and Cali's ex just happens to be a dirtbag leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him. Can Brit trust this beautiful woman to help take down her ex? Can Cali look past this sexy cop's hard exterior to trust him with her heart? Can life get any crazier when Mama starts meddling from the grave? Only one thing is for sure--none of it will matter, unless they catch a killer before the killer catches them.

Weddings Can Be Murder

Till Deaths Do You Part...

Katie Ray was about to marry a man she didn't love -- and who didn't love her. Even losing her $8,000 engagement ring wasn't enough of a sign to call things off. What did it take? Being locked in the closet with a sexy PI, and being witness to murder.

...Or They Bring You Together

Carl Hades hardly wanted to be shackled with another man's soon-to-be-wife, especially when the gorgeous redhead stirred emotions he'd avoided for years. He'd been hired by an elite Houston wedding planner to investigate some missing brides. When those brides turned up dead, Carl saw where the whole situation was headed: just like Katie's wedding ring and her ceremony, right down the toilet. Because, while Katie was suddenly and delightfully available, he had a feeling she was next in line to die. And before he could ask her to say "I do," he had to know who would say "I did it."

Gotcha!

Macy Tucker was five years old when her beloved grandfather dropped dead in his spaghetti. At twelve, her father left his family in the dust. At twenty-five, her husband gave his secretary a pre-Christmas bonus in bed, and Macy gave him the boot. To put things lightly, men have been undependable.

That's why dating's off the menu. Macy is focused on putting herself through law school -- which means being the delivery girl for Papa's Pizza. But cheesier than her job is her pie-eyed brother, who's just recently escaped from prison to protect his new girlfriend. And hotter than Texas toast is the investigating detective. Proud, sexy...inflexible, he's a a man who would kiss her just to shut her up. But Jake Baldwin's a protector as much as a dish. And when he gets his man -- or his woman-- Macy knows it's for life.

So, what are you waiting for? Only $1.99 will get you 3 books!

Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter #5) by Nalini Singh

• Title: Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 4, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0425246582
• ISBN-13: 978-0425246580

Author's Website: http://www.nalinisingh.com/

     "Eris is dead." A hushed whisper. "Murdered inside his palace."
     "When?"
     "I don't know, but he was found an hour ago. Neha has not left the body. Mahiya is by her side."

First, Neha lost her daughter, Anoushka, when the Cadre of Ten sentenced her to death for the harm she'd done to a child. It was an unforgivable crime in their eyes. Now Neha, one of the most powerful of beings, has lost her husband, as well. He'd been savagely murdered in his palace. If Neha was to take out her fury on those she ruled, or those she felt were responsible for one or both of their deaths, there would be massive destruction, chaos and casualties. So Raphael offered Neha his help, via his spymaster Jason, in finding Eris' killer. But Neha, even in her grief, sought to gain the upper hand. She wishes Jason to bind himself to her as a means to ensure he does not reveal any of her court secrets. She additionally hopes to steal Jason away from Raphael...

"Raphael's Tower will be crippled when the spymaster changes his allegiance. And he will...for I can offer Jason something Raphael will never be able to match."

____________________

This was such a great story. We get to learn more about Jason, Raphael's mysterious spymaster. Described by Lijuan to be "the perfect spymaster. An intelligent, gifted phantom unaffected by anything he sees."  For him 'it was as if life skimmed across the surface of him, leaving his heart and his soul untouched.' His story is another heartbreakingly tragic tale. We learn about his parentage and discover what ghosts from his past still haunt him even to this day.

In this book,  Jason is sent into Neha's territory by Raphael in an effort to appease her and insure she doesn't terrorize the populous or the Cadre. Neha still blames the Cadre, especially Raphael because of his relationship to Elena, for her daughter's death. Angels rarely have children, and the loss of one is tragic. Archangel's are extremely powerful, and if they loose control of their temper, bad things can befall those within their path.

In Archangel's Storm, we are introduced to a new character, Mahiya. We learn early on she is the daughter of  an adulterous relationship between Eris (Neha's late husband) and Nivriti (Neha's twin sister). As you can imagine, Neha did not take the betrayal well and rumor has it she was responsible for Nivriti's death suspiciously close to Mahiya's birth. Eris did not escape Neha's wrath either. Since the betrayal was discovered, Eris was sentenced to live confined to a palace under constant supervision. It was in that gilded cage which Neha had created for him that he was murdered. Let me just say the suspect list grows as we get deeper into the story. Nalini, the expert story writer that she is, will have you wondering if you or your second cousin committed the murder by the end. lol

Mahiya is a very interesting character. From the very beginning Jason notices she's more than what she appears. One of his first thoughts upon meeting her was, 'Mahiya was a mystery, and Jason did not like mysteries. So he would solve her.' *sigh* Jason quickly learns what goes on in public eye and what goes on behind the closed doors of Neha's kingdom are two very different things. While Mahiya may appear to be treated as a beloved princess, Neha's need for vengeance runs deep.

In many ways Mahiya and Jason are very much alike and yet very different. Neither has lived the ideal life and both have been betrayed by people who should have looked out for them. While Jason closed himself off to the world emotionally, Mahiya never lost her spirit or faith in the world. She felt to do so would let those who wish to demean her win, and that is something she would never allow. I believe it is her strength, spirit, and loving nature that draws Jason to her. She utterly fascinates him as no one else ever has.

Jason was a real treat for a character. He's the strong silent type who I'm sure many a woman have wished to solve. But he never attaches himself to one woman for very long. He does not see himself capable of any emotional attachments and doesn't wish to mislead anyone about that fact. His actions, however, speak louder than words, and it was fun seeing him try to solve Mahiya. I loved how Mahiya was the one who solved him first. It was a delight to see this romance ignite.

Besides Jason and Mahiy's relationship, we learn more about Neha, the Queen of snakes and poison, and some of the events which shaped her into the Archangel she is today. We find out about her relationships with Eris and her sister, Nivriti. As you can imagine, it is a complicated and sad tale.

As is the custom in Ms. Singh's books, we also get a glimpse of what is happening to some of other character in the series. We get to witness Dmitri and Honor's wedding and get glimpses of what is happening with Elena and Raphael. We learn of a new phenomenon which might explain what is happening within the angelic world, an event called a Cascade. I'm not telling you any more. You'll have to read to find out what exactly it is.

Overall I loved the story and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. There was plenty of action, suspense, mystery, drama and romance to sate just about everyone's tastes. You'll swear Nalini is part magician as you'll be kept wondering until almost the very end who the murderer could possibly be and swear Ms. Singh somehow managed to weave smoke and mirrors throughout her tale. She truly does have a remarkable imagination. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary. Need I say more? Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol I HIGHLY recommend this one.

 

Order of Series: