December 11th, 2009 — Defining the Genre, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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I had to educate myself on this. For instance, until I read Katiebabs’ WTF post on Laurell K. Hamilton (among other things) I would have cleanly classified Anita Blake as contemporary paranormal romance. If Anita Blake is urban fantasy then so to by deduction must be Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson Series and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Which begs the question, when did vampires and werewolves leave their home in Paranormal Land and cross into the Fantasy World? Isn't fantasy populated with witches, magic, dragons, and princes? As Orson Scott Card said (and I’m paraphrasing) if you think trees the story is a fantasy; if you think metal it’s a science fiction… or in this case not-fantasy. I think of vampires and werewolves as claws and teeth, which is probably why I’m so confused. 
Are you? Let’s figure it out together.
Urban Fantasy Romance Is:
- Fantasy elements (also including paranormal here don’t ask me why) in a people populated setting be it city or town.
- Sure to deal with mystery, suspense, and/or crime.
- Reliant heavily on world-building to make it work. How did these creature rise from obscurity and into the everyday? How do normal humans deal with them?
- A romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the driving plot.
- Usually a series so world-building and romance arcs are sprinkled throughout many books.
- Usually contemporary or modern, but can be set in historical or futuristic settings too.
- Populated with tough kick-ass heroines.
- Never fluffy. It’s gritty, dark, and thrilling.
Urban Fantasy vs Paranormal Romance:
What’s the difference between an urban fantasy and a paranormal written in an urban setting? Please explain! Here’s what I got so far…
- Paranormal romance is usually hero-centric whereas urban fantasy tends to be heroine-centric.
- Paranormal romance is about the hero and heroine’s relationship first and foremost with a HEA (happily ever after). Urban Fantasy romance is about saving the world and finding love while you do it.
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Avon executive editor Erika Tsang explains: “In paranormal romance the relationship between the couple is the focus of the main plot. In urban fantasy, the world that the couple exists in is the focus.” Publisher's Weekly
This is why everyone says the two get confused and are used interchangeably. It really is a difference of degrees I feel.
Do you prefer Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance? I am clearly a fan of both even though before I wrote this post I thought I never read an urban fantasy. Give me Edward Cullen and Buffy Summers!
What are some of the other Urban Fantasy Romance series that you enjoy?
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November 28th, 2009 — 2.5 Stars, A-C, Australia/New Zealand, Book Review, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Estranged, Kidnapping, Mystery, Paranormal, Rape/Abuse, Supernatural, Survival, Travel, Vampire, Werewolf
The second book in the Riley Jenson series is a continuance of the first. It’s very important to read Full Moon Rising before starting this one because they are extremely tied in and you will be left confused if you don’t.
The urban futuristic world is expanded and more players are introduced. The plot thickens as Misha reveals clues to who is really behind everything. We find out more about the limbs of the organization while the head tries to save itself. The head is a mystery and is not resolved in Kissing Sin.
Keri Arthur is very good at staging fights, which is a good thing as there are a ton of them! The last stand off at the end is extremely creepy as in horror movie creepy. I’d give more details but I’m trying not to spoil anyone.
The things that bothered me in the last novel are back only this time without the excuse of a full moon inciting the werewolf lusties. Again it’s not the amount of sex in the novel, it is who the sex is with and how Riley reflects on her sexuality. Two new guys enter her sex circle: We meet Kade Williams, the horse-shifter (not a lycanthrope – his shifting is not tied to the moon) and Kellen an alpha male werewolf Riley can feel is important to her future. I didn’t mind Kade or Kellen or Quinn, who’s back in this book.
I did mind Riley sleeping with the enemy for information sake. In addition it read very bad when Riley grumbled mentally that she didn't like being forced to fuck a guy (which if she becomes a Guardian is a sure thing) even though she's positive the sex will be good. I guess what’s good for the gander isn’t sauce for the goose in my case. It’s sexy on James Bond and not so much with her. I also minded the raping of Riley which happened again in flashbacks as she’s trying to recall the week that’s missing. She doesn’t really deal with it and it’s excused because sex is practically nothing to a werewolf.
Quinn is back in part because he wants to solve the mystery and in part because he can’t leave Riley alone. She invades his dreams. The two go back and forth and Riley gives him an ultimatum: accept her sexcapades as a part of her werewolf charm or get the hell out of her life. Quinn agrees to a compromise of exclusivity when he’s in town, but makes it very clear he’s possessive and territorial when it comes to her.
I find I am Quinn in this series. I can’t accept Riley’s blasé attitude toward sex. It must be the human in me as Keri Arthur repeatedly says in the books it’s the werewolf way of life and it’s the problem of the humans, who are too prudish and morally uptight to really understand. And I don’t! I don’t understand walking into a club and having sex in public on the dance floor. I don’t understand going to a party with a guy you had sex with on the way there and then slipping off to fuck another guy – even if he’s a werewolf hottie you slept with the night before. It’s seedy and tacky.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Buy: Kissing Sin (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 2)
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November 17th, 2009 — 3 Stars, A-C, Australia/New Zealand, Book Review, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Kidnapping, Mystery, Paranormal, Rape/Abuse, Science, Survival, Vampire, Werewolf
I am very mixed about this book. In some ways I really like it and would give it a 4 Star rating (world-building, mystery development). In other ways I would give this novel 2 Stars (sex) and say no more. Let me explain:
If you’re looking for a new paranormal series that involves romance and mystery this is a good one to start. If however you quit the Anita Blake series because of the copious amount of sex in it, do not start this one. There is a lot of sex!
For comparison: Anita Blake gained the vampire power called the ardeur and winds up having sex a lot to not die from a power drain. Riley Jenson was born part werewolf and must yield to moon lust. Both are used to add sexual encounters of the good kind and the drama, misadventure, and trouble kind to the books. Full Moon Rising had great mystery development but it was almost always upstaged by sex: the need for it, a sexual encounter, etc.
Just to be clear, the number of sex scenes in the book did not bother me. What bothered me were the werewolf culture and some particular incidences. Riley, like the rest of the werewolf populace is extremely casual about sex. Casual in the way you might say a slut likes to have sex – anyone will do, names aren’t necessary. It’s not very attractive or admirable in a heroine.
Both of Riley’s werewolf partners are assholes and at one point or the other use Riley or rape her. Sometimes more than once, depending on which guy you’re talking about and how you define more than once – as in repeatedly during a single scene or once in multiple scenes. Unfortunately for Riley moon lust just gets her primed and ready to go despite having to slake it with either of the bastards. Also moon lust warps her mind so while some part of her knows these guys are assholes, she doesn’t care, she just needs relief and fast. Again not very pleasant.
Luckily it looks like those two will be gone forever (hopefully) making room for the true saving grace of the novel… the hero Keri Arthur built in Quinn O’Connor. Quinn has been burned in love by a werewolf. He found out she was using him for his money and also drugging him. Also, his friend ‘committed suicide’ because of a werewolf. No wonder he’s leery. In addition he hates the werewolf culture when it comes to sex. He doesn’t believe a werewolf can ever be monogamous and it’s going to be a sticking point for him if as I know he will, becomes part of Riley’s life: physically and emotionally on a permanent basis.
If Quinn isn’t the major love interest and random pups get thrown repeatedly into the mix to screw things up between Riley and Quinn I’m going to sic Gautier on someone. It won’t be pleasant, believe me.
For those not in the know, Riley is part werewolf part vampire making her a dhampire. When her brother goes missing, Riley is determined to find him before he’s killed like the last ten guardians to disappear. When a mysterious vampire appears naked on her doorstep, trouble begins to heat up quickly. Who’s behind the cloning and cross-breeding and can they save Rhoan before it’s too late?
Rating: 3 Stars
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1)
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November 8th, 2009 — Contests, Guest Blogger
by Susan S., guest blogger
While brainstorming for my new contest, I happened to glance over my list of authors from contests past. Would you believe when this post goes live, I would’ve showcased a grand total of 36 authors. We are very fortunate they write such great novels, while we sit back, and enjoy the stories.
For all my contests you must be 18 years or older to participate. Please submit your answers to reviewromancenovel@yahoo.com. On the subject line please write Name the Authors 4. I’m looking for author names “only,” book titles are not necessary. The first person who emails with the highest number of correct answers is the winner. Oh I see, you’d like to know what the prize is. Well let’s start with beginning and ending dates first shall we.
Contest begins on: November 8th, 2009
Contest ends on: November 13th, 2009
Winner will be announced on Friday the 13th. Yes, I planned it that way. Friday the 13th has always been my lucky day; I’m hoping it’ll be yours. Now on to the prize. The winner receives Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur, and an adult madlibs book He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Roger Price and Leonard Stern.
Author #1
G’day mates! Our first author is an Australian gal. (It’s not who you’re thinking) This author writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance. For Halloween she gave away the hottest vampire I’ve ever seen, actually he was a beanie vampire named Victor. (Absolutely gorgeous) If you read her books she’ll have you dancing with the devil. Her website has a page dedicated to Aussie speak, terms for clueless folk like myself. I had “no idea” fairy floss is a term for cotton candy. Really, you do not want to know what my mind conjures up when I think fairy floss. O.k. so you do want to know? I think of a type of women’s undergarments, usually worn under pants or skirts. That’s as far as I go, after all I don’t write erotica. I leave that to the erotica authors.
Author #2
I have to mention double R; I’m always on her blog site. She writes erotic romance, and she’s my type of author. By that I mean, one who loves all things paranormal. Her site earns a five fang review from many readers. Careful, her new release may spark an eternal desire to stare at the blue-eyed hero on the cover.
Author # 3
One of her books can be read in 72 hours, and earned great reviews. This author writes contemporary romance, erotic romance, and historical-western romance. Eclectic isn’t she? Our third author claims to have a passion for…mud.
Author #4
If you visit her online you’ll see two men and three women up in flames. Her Offspring series includes a group of 20 somethings that possess extraordinary psychic abilities. This author writes under two different names, I’ll accept any of the two submitted.
Good luck!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’d like to thank Keira for allowing me to host these giveaways, and for posting my reviews at LRP.
For all the authors and readers who stop at LRP while blog hopping, and for those who read my posts. Thank you, I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I wish you many blessings during this holiday season. 
Photo Credits: paurian
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