Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Win an ARC of Skin Game by Ava Gray (Ann Aguirre)
For those who don't know, Ava Gray is Ann Aguirre so, yes, be excited about this either way. Plus, the ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) is signed. There's a catch though which I explain at the end of telling you all about this book.
A Beautiful Fugitive -- Wanted Dead or Alive
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target's strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist -- anything she wants... for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father's murder. With deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerrard Serrano's inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A Hit Man Who Never Misses the Mark
Reyes has nothing but his work. Unfortunately for Kyra, he's the best-- and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He's been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash-- and bring her back to face Serrano's "justice." Dead will do if Reyes can't locate the loot. He's never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce passion and her outlaw heart. So Reyes faces a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
Purchase Skin Game, read an excerpt
This is a great Road Trip book. For anybody who's longing for a paranormal that's not the usual supernatural creature, this is the story is for you. If you just like great characters and even better writing, you'll want to read this book, too.
Skin Game is a wonderful Urban Fantasy Romance. I have no idea if there is such a genre, but this book is it. The world is contemporary, a bit gritty -- life isn't always easy-- and features a heroine who breaks every romance stereotype you ever read. I adored Kyra. Gray created a real person, flaws and all, with a life you can't help but admire.
I loved watching Reyes fall for Kyra, too. The moment when Kyra reveals the truth about her particular talent was beautifully done and never overwhelmed the story at any point. Plus, this book features what must be the best, most romantic, make up scene ever. The hero and heroine are adults and they behave like it, even when things aren't going well for them. (Yes! Total win!!)
Skin Game put me in mind of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series. I loved McGee's off-the-grid life, his quirky car and boat and the way he kept falling head over heels for a woman who either dumped him or died a tragic death. At the end of every book McGee and his broken heart would sail off in his boat.
Gray's book reminded me of MacDonald's series because of some really first-rate writing, its grittier setting and the delicious pairing of two loners who don't mind being alone, by the way. The difference being, of course, that there's a happy ending for the couple at the end.
The secondary characters and plotlines are strong and interesting and they never did quite what I expected. I can't wait for Skin Tight which appears to feature Kyra's friend Mia. Hoo boy!
I'm so glad you asked! It's easy. There's 3 things you need to do.
See? Easy! Please keep in mind that I have read this ARC, so it's as gently used as I could manage.
Go forth and comment!
Skin Game, by Ava Gray
A Beautiful Fugitive -- Wanted Dead or Alive
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target's strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist -- anything she wants... for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father's murder. With deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerrard Serrano's inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A Hit Man Who Never Misses the Mark
Reyes has nothing but his work. Unfortunately for Kyra, he's the best-- and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He's been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash-- and bring her back to face Serrano's "justice." Dead will do if Reyes can't locate the loot. He's never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce passion and her outlaw heart. So Reyes faces a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
Purchase Skin Game, read an excerpt
Road Trip!!
This is a great Road Trip book. For anybody who's longing for a paranormal that's not the usual supernatural creature, this is the story is for you. If you just like great characters and even better writing, you'll want to read this book, too.
Skin Game is a wonderful Urban Fantasy Romance. I have no idea if there is such a genre, but this book is it. The world is contemporary, a bit gritty -- life isn't always easy-- and features a heroine who breaks every romance stereotype you ever read. I adored Kyra. Gray created a real person, flaws and all, with a life you can't help but admire.
I loved watching Reyes fall for Kyra, too. The moment when Kyra reveals the truth about her particular talent was beautifully done and never overwhelmed the story at any point. Plus, this book features what must be the best, most romantic, make up scene ever. The hero and heroine are adults and they behave like it, even when things aren't going well for them. (Yes! Total win!!)
Skin Game put me in mind of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series. I loved McGee's off-the-grid life, his quirky car and boat and the way he kept falling head over heels for a woman who either dumped him or died a tragic death. At the end of every book McGee and his broken heart would sail off in his boat.
Gray's book reminded me of MacDonald's series because of some really first-rate writing, its grittier setting and the delicious pairing of two loners who don't mind being alone, by the way. The difference being, of course, that there's a happy ending for the couple at the end.
The secondary characters and plotlines are strong and interesting and they never did quite what I expected. I can't wait for Skin Tight which appears to feature Kyra's friend Mia. Hoo boy!
So, Carolyn, How can I Possibly Win This Signed ARC of Skin Game?
I'm so glad you asked! It's easy. There's 3 things you need to do.
- Leave a comment to this post in which you either tell a joke and/or mention why you'd love to read this book
- If you win, agree to post an honest, thoughtful review of the book on your own website or here, if you don't have a website or blog.
- Leave me a way to contact you or else check back here on Wednesday August 26th to see if you've won
See? Easy! Please keep in mind that I have read this ARC, so it's as gently used as I could manage.
Go forth and comment!
Labels: ARCs, Authors, books, contest, reviews
posted by Carolyn @ 8/18/2009 11:14:00 AM Permalink
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Weekends I Need you So Bad!
I've been running a sleep deficit for too long and I'm having trouble catching up. I'd already run up a deficit prior to RWA, made it worse during RWA then went to ComiCon the following weekend and then just didn't catch up -- because I imagine I'm several hours in the hole. When that happens, I end up skipping the gym because I'm so desperate for just another hour of sleep. Too many times lately I find myself doing some task only to realize with a start that I've closed my eyes and nearly-- or in fact --fallen asleep for a moment or two. Not a good thing. Too much falling asleep when I'm supposed to be writing at lunchtime.
Today I went to my local RWA meeting which, as ever, was time wonderfully spent with other writers. Ahhhh! But it also meant I had to set the alarm this morning rather than just sleep until I woke up. It should be no surprise, therefore, that I just woke up from a 1.5 hour nap.
Not getting enough sleep makes you stupid in really insidious ways. So I really really need to catch up. I'll be working on it. Naps ahoy!
In other news, I have a signed ARC for Skin Game by Ava Gray who, as you may or may not know, is Ann Aguirre. Here's the delicious first line:
Yeah, that means what you think it means. When I'm done reading it, I will hold a contest to pass the ARC love to someone else so watch this space.
Today I went to my local RWA meeting which, as ever, was time wonderfully spent with other writers. Ahhhh! But it also meant I had to set the alarm this morning rather than just sleep until I woke up. It should be no surprise, therefore, that I just woke up from a 1.5 hour nap.
Not getting enough sleep makes you stupid in really insidious ways. So I really really need to catch up. I'll be working on it. Naps ahoy!
In other news, I have a signed ARC for Skin Game by Ava Gray who, as you may or may not know, is Ann Aguirre. Here's the delicious first line:
Kyra held the guy's balls in the palm of her hand.
Yeah, that means what you think it means. When I'm done reading it, I will hold a contest to pass the ARC love to someone else so watch this space.
posted by Carolyn @ 8/08/2009 05:10:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, July 25, 2009
ARC Contest over There!
The fabulous Ann Aguirre is giving away an ARC of my October historical, Indiscreet. Read How to Win an ARC of Indiscreet.
Also, it's true Ann was on my bed. And that I have been on hers. We also ate doughnuts together.
Also, it's true Ann was on my bed. And that I have been on hers. We also ate doughnuts together.
Labels: ARCs, contest, Indiscreet
posted by Carolyn @ 7/25/2009 12:28:00 PM Permalink
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Un-Do Plot Button
Today was another gorgeous day. It was almost cruel having to go outside at lunchtime because going back inside was torture. If this keeps up, I'll be putting away the sweaters much too soon.
Worked on Xia tonight. I think I'm just about at the last chapter before the end. But I have some earlier chapters to rewrite. I had a pretty cool idea about what to do with a major secondary character. Originally, I sent him off to Olso so that he would be far away and unable to interfere, which at that particular point in time he was doing. Take that you interfering character you! I'm sending you to Oslo! Then in the following chapters, while he was in flight apparently, I inserted another character because of some stuff I needed to happen. I used Iskander, the same poor guy I wrote out of earlier chapters (chances are you-all see where this is going... well, I didn't. Not until recently) and then suddenly realized a day or two ago that I needed to write him out again and substitute Kynan again. Only Kynan, for crying out loud, was in Oslo which is, as you may know, pretty far from San Francisco, Berkeley and Tiburon, where the story is set.
And yes, for a while I was trying to figure out how on earth Kynan would get from Oslo to Tiburon in time. Some times I am a complete idiot. It's a story. I make it up. If I mistakenly send someone to Oslo, even if it is First Class, I am at complete liberty to unsend him. No flue powder necessary.
At last, that brilliant idea occurred to me and voila. Kynan was never in Oslo. Instead he's somewhere else not so far away, misbehaving as it turns out. But now I have a chapter where he's sitting in Oslo, with some folks who are there, and I confess I was momentarily panicking because-- well, I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say I will be completely rewriting this chapter with heavy use of the Un-do Previous Plot button. The icon, in case you're interested, looks like the back of my head. I think that's where all my brains leak out.
I'm told my ARCs are ready for My Wicked Enemy which means people are going to be reading it. Holy crap!
Worked on Xia tonight. I think I'm just about at the last chapter before the end. But I have some earlier chapters to rewrite. I had a pretty cool idea about what to do with a major secondary character. Originally, I sent him off to Olso so that he would be far away and unable to interfere, which at that particular point in time he was doing. Take that you interfering character you! I'm sending you to Oslo! Then in the following chapters, while he was in flight apparently, I inserted another character because of some stuff I needed to happen. I used Iskander, the same poor guy I wrote out of earlier chapters (chances are you-all see where this is going... well, I didn't. Not until recently) and then suddenly realized a day or two ago that I needed to write him out again and substitute Kynan again. Only Kynan, for crying out loud, was in Oslo which is, as you may know, pretty far from San Francisco, Berkeley and Tiburon, where the story is set.
And yes, for a while I was trying to figure out how on earth Kynan would get from Oslo to Tiburon in time. Some times I am a complete idiot. It's a story. I make it up. If I mistakenly send someone to Oslo, even if it is First Class, I am at complete liberty to unsend him. No flue powder necessary.
At last, that brilliant idea occurred to me and voila. Kynan was never in Oslo. Instead he's somewhere else not so far away, misbehaving as it turns out. But now I have a chapter where he's sitting in Oslo, with some folks who are there, and I confess I was momentarily panicking because-- well, I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say I will be completely rewriting this chapter with heavy use of the Un-do Previous Plot button. The icon, in case you're interested, looks like the back of my head. I think that's where all my brains leak out.
I'm told my ARCs are ready for My Wicked Enemy which means people are going to be reading it. Holy crap!
Labels: ARCs, My Wicked Enemy, plotting or the lack thereof, Xia
posted by Carolyn @ 2/27/2008 09:09:00 PM Permalink
