Hunting in Bruges Release Week Wrap-up

This has been such an exciting week!  Hunting in Bruges, the debut novel in my Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series, released on Tuesday, November 11th to rave reviews. 

I'd like to thank all of the bloggers who participated in guest posts and giveaways, and the readers who have shared their reviews.  You ROCK!

Check out what readers are saying about Hunting in Bruges...

Praise for Hunting in Bruges

"I could not put this book down. I flat out loved it!...This book is full of action, deaths, supernatural creatures, and is perfect for the adult urban fantasy fan, and I for one, can't wait for the next installment."
-Rabid Reads

"I loved Hunting in Bruges. It was well-written, easy-to-read, and fast-paced."
-TNT Reviews

"Hunting in Bruges has everything a great Urban Fantasy should, a kick ass heroine, a loveable hot guy, plenty of supernatural beings and a fast paced story line...I absolutely loved this book!...From the superbly written characters to the fascinating setting, Hunting in Bruges is a must read."
-Book Lover's Life

"5 STARS. A creepy, oppressive atmosphere prevails throughout the entire book. This Gothic malevolence was the perfect backdrop for Jenna's exploits; traversing the city of Bruges attempting to find out who or what is carrying out an escalating murder spree."
-Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews

"Jenna is definitely one to add to my list of kick-ass heroines. If you like the Ivy Granger series, then you will like this one too as it takes you into another aspect and perspective of that paranormal world."
-VVB Reads

"This was a great start to a new series...A unique paranormal story. One that I thoroughly enjoyed."
-Freda's Voice

"I absolutely recommend checking out Hunting In Bruges if you like richly detailed urban fantasies..."
-Book and Coffee Addict

"Everything about Hunting in Bruges pulls the reader in and will keep him/her completely engrossed. I highly recommend Hunting in Bruges."
-Sapphyria's Book Reviews

"[Hunting in Bruges] is a well-crafted and fun urban fantasy...If you are looking for something that is unique, well-written and a fun escape read: this is the story is for you!"
-The Jeep Diva

"Jenna Lehane. Hunter. Protector of the innocent. All-around bad ass...An amazing new series by E.J. Stevens!"
-My Urban Fantasies

Thank you to everyone who shared news of this book's release on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and on your blogs.  I appreciate it more than you can possibly imagine. 

Want to snag a copy of Hunting in Bruges for yourself, or as a holiday gift?

Hunting in Bruges is available in ebook and trade paperback at Amazon, Amazon.uk, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, and other fine retailers.

You can also enter to win a signed trade paperback and fabulous swag in the Hunting in Bruges Release Party Giveaway.  Giveaway ends November 25th midnight EST.

Series Review: The Morganville Vampires

The Morganville Vampires (1-8) by Rachel Caine

Welcome to Morganville, you'll never want to leave. 
So, you're new to Morganville.  Welcome, new resident!  There are only a few important rules you need to know to feel comfortable in our quiet little town:
Obey the speed limits.
Don't litter.
Whatever you do, don't get on the bad side of the vampires.

Yeah, we said vampires.  Deal with it.

As a human newcomer, you'll need to find yourself a vampire Protector--someone willing to sign a contract to keep you and yours safe from harm (especially from the other vampires).  In return, you'll pay taxes...just like in any other town.  Of course, in most other towns those taxes don't get collected by the Bloodmobile.
Oh, and if you decide not to get a Protector, you can do that too...but you'd better learn how to run fast, stay out of the shadows, and build a network of friends who can help you.  
--excerpt from "Introduction", The Morganville Vampires

Review

Highly addictive urban fantasy adventure series for readers of all ages.  I usually review each book in a series separately, but this series made pausing to write a review after each book impossible.  Every book in this series ends with a major cliff hangar and I found myself needing the next book like a fish needs water...or a vampire needs blood (these books are like chips, you can't stop at just one). This series begins with Claire, young brainiac extraordinaire, who, at the age of sixteen, is attending college at Texas Prairie University in Morganville.  TPewwww isn't her first choice school, or second, or third, but her parents think a small school is a good place for a young girl to start her higher education.  Unfortunately their misguided attempt to protect her leave her dumped in a town full of vamps.  Thanks mom and dad.  If you're not a fan of paranormal books with school settings, don't worry.  This book is not a rehashing of Harry Potter...not by a long shot.  The Morganville Vampires is a series that illustrates the importance of friendship, the beauty of first love, the resilience of youth, and the kinetic potential of the brainy girl next door...all within the framework of a chilling urban fantasy world.  Morganville is a vamp filled town where vampires and humans coexist...for now, but their tenuous peace is more like a house of cards and Claire just may be the stiff wind some folks have been waiting for. 

This review is for Glass Houses, The Dead Girls' Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, Fade Out, and Kiss of Death.

I highly recommend The Morganville Vampires to fans of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, young adult, supernatural suspense, and especially to fans of fast-paced vampire fiction.

Look for my review of Ghost Town (The Morganville Vampires, book 9) by Rachel Caine in the near future.  Rachel Caine is also author of the popular Weather Warden series.  Click here for my review of Ill Wind (Weather Warden, book 1).

Source:  These books were purchased by me for review.

**Looking to pick up the series?  The first eight books are available in mass market paperback and qualify for Amazon's 4-for-3 bargain pricing.**

Reviews at I'd So Rather Be Reading

I was excited to learn that Kelli at I'd So Rather Be Reading has read and reviewed my two books, From the Shadows and Shadows of Myth and Legend, giving them 4.5 and 5-stars! 




To read Kelli's review of From the Shadows please visit here.

To read Kelli's review of Shadows of Myth and Legend please visit here.

Thank you Kelli for the wonderful reviews!  For more information about my books, please visit my new Books by E.J. Stevens page.

July at From the Shadows

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend!  Can you believe it is July already?

I have some exciting guest authors lined up for July including Tim Wendel, Crystal-Rain Love, Lisa Phillips, Amanda Hocking, Vianka Van Bokkem, and Abra Ebner!  I also have a huge TBR pile to review this Summer.  I'll continue to host some fabulous book giveaways in July including the Red Rain International Giveaway July 1-6th and the Tyger Tyger International Pre-Order Giveaway July 6-27th. 

June was a fun-filled month with guest author interviews, book reviews and giveaways.  Some of the books I reviewed in June include, Frostbite (Vampire Academy, book 2), Manchester House, Hush Hush (Hush Hush, book 1), The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, book 4), Revelations (Blue Bloods, book 3), The Phantom Diaries, The Last Track (Mike Brody, book 1), Captivate (Need, book 2), Beyond the Map's Boundary, Masquerade (Blue Bloods, book 2).  If you missed any of these reviews just follow the links in this post or visit my Book Review Index.

June was also the month that I hit 400 followers!  To celebrate I am hosting my 400 Followers Giveaway which ends July 10th.  Be sure to enter!

EJs Book Review Index

 "Now where did I leave that review?"















I decided to add a Book Review Index page where my book reviews can be found alphabetically by author.  As I post my reviews I will add the new review link to the index.  This way you can spend less time searching and more time reading!

Book Review: Need

Need by Carrie Jones
ISBN: 9781599903385
Bloomsbury

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you"d have to fear.

Need is a suspenseful paranormal YA novel of a young woman dealing with grief, fear, and the awakening of new love. The author's description of fae and weres is believable and the setting, a rural town in northern Maine, made the story even more real for me since I live in southern Maine and have traveled to the region where most of Need takes place.  I couldn't put this book down and can't wait to read Captivate!

Review: Wondrous Strange

I have been reading many modern day paranormal fantasy books lately involving faeries and changelings and was pleasantly surprised that this book didn't disappoint.  Kelley is a likable main character but I must confess to being much more drawn to the supporting characters of this book.  Sonny, the solemn Janus with a past, Tyff, Kelley's roommate, Lucky (you'll just have to read WS to learn about Lucky!), and the hodgepodge of eccentric characters in Kelley's theater troupe make this an enjoyable read that you can become completely immersed in. 

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
ISBN: 9781554682744

17 year-old Kelly Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what shethinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelly's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

Got fae?  If you're looking for more paranormal romance and/or urban fantasy titles involving faeries, changelings and other creatures of folklore, I've recently read and greatly enjoyed The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, and Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (review).

PNR authors rave about From the Shadows

I was extremely pleased to see the rave reviews From the Shadows has been receiving from other Paranormal Romance authors.  Gracen Miller, Andrew Valentine and Lisa Phillips have written beautiful reviews which I hope you all have the chance to check out!  Gracen's review can be read here on my blog and on Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem.  Andrew and Lisa have posted 5-star reviews on Amazon which can be read on the From the Shadows Amazon page.

Gracen Miller is the author of Elfin Blood and The Devil's Den
Andrew Valentine is the author of Bitter Things
Lisa Phillips is the author of Obsession Everlasting