Cover Reveal: "The King" by J.R. Ward

The cover for The King, the lastest installment of The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward, was released today!  It's also available for pre-order now on Amazon.  It is expected to be released March 25th, 2014.

What are your thoughts on the cover for this highly anticipated novel?

Favorite March Book Release

What was your favorite book release in March?

Mine would have to be the latest book in the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series, Lover at Last by J.R. Ward.

I was anxiously awaiting reading Quinn and Blay's happily ever after, like I'm sure most of the Black Dagger Brotherhood fans were.  J.R. Ward certainly did not disappoint.  While the last two books didn't seem up to par with the rest of the series for me, this one hit the mark dead on.  Not only was the main story excellent but even the side stories, which have been notoriously not liked, I thoroughly enjoyed.  The first quarter of the book is a little slow as the multiple storylines get going but quickly picks up after that point.  I even enjoyed the Band of Brothers this time... Xcor is finally coming around ;)  

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

Back Cover Synopsis Reveal: "Lover at Last" by J.R. Ward

J.R. Ward released the back cover synopsis for "Lover at Last" this week.  I'm even more anxious for this book now!  It's scheduled to be released in March 2013.





     

Synopsis:
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another.... 

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand. 

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

Amazing Authors Reveal Their Favorite Series

Have you always wondered what your favorite authors are reading in their down time?  I asked a few amazing authors this question and also which of their series are their favorite to write.  Here's what they had to say.

Gena Showalter:

My absolute favorite series is Barefoot Bay by Roxanne St. Claire.  It’s set in Mimosa Key, a fictional island off the Gulf coast of Florida. These books center around four female friends who met in college and remain close, all in their thirties.  The books are romances at the core, but they deal with universal issues so many real life people face.

This brand new and utterly amazing contemporary series begins with Barefoot in the Sand and gives readers everything they want with a summer getaway book -- a sizzling cougar romance chock full of heartache and heat (meow!), it’s set in a tropical paradise (yes, please!), and has the promise of a whole cast of characters you'll want to visit again and again.  You don’t want to miss it!  I can’t tell you how excited I am for the next one, Barefoot in the Rain.  (And by “excited” I mean I’m foaming at the mouth for it!)

As for my own, my favorite series to write is, hands down, White Rabbit Chronicles—plus Otherworld Assassins and Angels of the Dark. LOL.  Wow, choosing is difficult, because each world brings something different to the writing table.  But okay, all right, I can do this.  If I have to pick one and only one I’ll go with… Angels of the Dark.  I had such fun creating the Army of Disgrace, the “Sent Ones” in danger of falling.  These winged warriors are rough and tough and they have been tasked with defending humanity at any cost—and watching their ice cold leader melt over a human female who spent the last four years in an institution for the criminally insane was quite fun.  Plus, I’m currently working on the second book in the series, Beauty Awakened, and it’s such a heart-wrenching tale of forgiveness and redemption, that I’m all aflutter over it.  So, yes, that’s my answer and I’m sticking to it.  Until tomorrow…        -Gena Showalter

Gena's upcoming release Wicked Nights will be released June 26th!  You can view the trailer in our previous post here.  I am so excited for this release as I'm a huge fan of Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series!






Rachel Vincent:

Rachel devoured The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, which first sparked her interest in writing YA.  Her current favorite series to write is the Soul Screamers Series.

Before I Wake is due to be released June 26th, 2012.  This is the 6th book in her Souls Screamers series.







Kristen Callihan:

Let's see... Favorite series... Recently, I've been totally glomming (is that a word? Anyway) on Stacia Kane's Downside series. It's dark, gritty, Chess is a mess, her relationship with Terrible is tempestuous, and it's totally addicting! lol     -Kristen Callihan

Her upcoming novel Moonglow will be released July 31st.  The first novel in this series was great and I'm excited to read the latest installment.  You can read my review for the first book, Firelight, here.

Darynda Jones:

I love JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. That has to be my very favorite. I also love Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and Jacqueline Frank's Nightwalkers series. And, yeah, I could go on and on. LOL. And I guess I enjoy writing the Charley Davidson series the most because Charley is just so much fun. I love that she is ADD and I can bounce her thoughts all over the place. Sometimes she's hard to rein in. hahaha.           -Darynda Jones

Her latest release, Third Grave Dead Ahead, is currently available.  I have heard great things about this series!

Ilona Andrews:

As far as Urban Fantasy, for me the Sookie Stackhouse books are my favorite.  Also, Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series.  Non Urban Fantasy would be the Spenser books by the late Robert B. Parker and almost anything written by David Gemmell.  For Ilona, it would be Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter and the Psy Changling series, also Meljean Brook's Iron Duke books.  I know for a fact, however that she loves Loretta Chase books.  - Gordon

The upcoming novel Gunmetal Magic is the next novel in The World of Kate Daniels.  It is scheduled to be released July 31st.

Crista McHugh:

Crista is a self-proclaimed "huge fantasy geek."  Her favorite series are Lord of the Rings, Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce,  Cleopatra's Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Raine Benares by Lisa Shearin.

A Soul for Chaos, the second book in the Soulbearer Trilogy, is due to be released in December 2012.  I really enjoyed the first book in the series, A Soul for Trouble.  You can check out my review here.

Cover Reveal: "Lover at Last" by J.R. Ward

The cover and title for the upcoming novel in The Black Dagger Brotherhood series was released today!  This will be the story, finally, of Quinn and Blaylock.  J.R. Ward has tortured us throughout the series with their tumultuous relationship, or lack thereof.  We got some hints at the end of the last novel as to some of what's in the works with Quinn but it should be interesting.  The hardcover version will be released in March 2013.  It's going to be a long wait for all of us BDB fans!