Posts Tagged ‘southern arcana’
Fan Letter to an Author: Moira Rogers (with shocking new pics!)
Kassa came up with the fabulous idea to give back to our favorite authors by writing fan letters to them and posting to our blog. I have found and loved so many new authors this year and there are so many authors I have loved over the years… choosing one was difficult. You can check out yesterday’s fan letter at I Love Books.
So, I sat down to write a heart felt letter to an author…. yet I couldn’t get the words out. Let’s face it, I am not a heart felt sappy letter type of girl. Instead, you are getting my hopefully funny, but just as cool letter to my favorite new to me author of the last year.
Dear Moira Rogers,
Or should I say Bree and Donna? Or maybe @moirarogersbree and @donnajherren considering I am your permanent twitter stalker. Anyway, I wanted to use this day to thank you for so many things, but most importantly hot sexy growly men. Just kidding, you have done more for me than just tease me incessantly with thoughts of a hot sexy, tattooed, geeky, boxer wearing, Andrew. How do I love the super ninja writing duo of Moira Rogers? Let me count the ways….
First, you popped my small publisher cherry. Hard to believe but before your books, I had never purchased from Fictionwise or MyBooksandMore. I was a big five, popular author, Amazon book buyer. It was with both great trepidation and a little hope that I clicked “buy” on Crux after seeing book bloggers raving about it. With that one click, my book buying world opened and expanded. Your writing and your stories are intelligently written and expertly plotted. You gave me confidence in smaller publishers and taught me that sometimes you have to just take a chance on a name you don’t recognize.
The second reason why I love you more than Nutella on pita bread? You take two genres that I love, throw them in a blender and out pops something magical. Well I am sure it doesn’t just pop out for you guys… probably more work than that. When I pick up a Moira Rogers book I don’t have to choose between great story, plot, and characters or great romance and sex scenes. You prove that its possible to seamlessly merge urban fantasy with paranormal romance without sacrificing quality, and you do it with style. I will go so far as to say you are Romantic Urban Fantasy Ninjas and because of it you have your own genre category here at KindleVixen. If only I had Keith Melton‘s paint skillz right now….oh wait….
Lastly Bree and Donna (and yes I realize this letter is bordering on crazy stalker length and you may block me for your own safety), you two write heroes as if you live inside my head. The men in your books are strong, dominant, alphas with attitude. They growl, swear, brood, and are totally dirty in all the right ways. Yet, they are never “standard man candy” and you write them in such a way I never feel like less of a strong, empowered woman for enjoying them. You aren’t afraid to flip off annoying romance rules and stereotypes, giving your characters a sense of realism and relatability.
For all of these reasons and more (I mean really… I could go on), I want to say thank you Moira Rogers. Thank you for being my gateway drug into a world of truly great authors, for not making me choose between urban fantasy and romance, and for giving me hot men to lust after. You have forever influenced my reading habits and are never too busy to let me harass you with useless drivel on twitter. Between your writing, well thought out (and useful!) website, and friendly twitter presence you are an example to authors everywhere.
Sincerely Yours (and Andrew’s),
TiffanyP.S. Don’t be alarmed if books start showing up at your house asking for your signatures on them…. they are just for my personal shrine. Feel free to pop beta copies of book 3 and 4 in the return box.
P.P.S. You know my email address if you would like to shed some more light on Andrew’s tattoos, geekiness, or body parts (if ya know what i mean).
You can get a complete list of the blogs participating here. Check out tomorrows Fan Letter over at Moonlight to Twilight.
Author Interview & New Release: Moira Rogers
A great big welcome to Bree and Donna, who make up the awesomely talented writing team of Moira Rogers. I am going to try to behave and tone down some of my natural perviness for you girls, thanks for being willing to answer my fan girl questions! For those who are unaware, the second book in the Southern Arcana series, Crossroads is now on sale everywhere e-books are sold! To celebrate, they wanted to give away an ebook copy of Crux to one lucky person, winner is posted at the bottom!
He’s the last man she should ever want. She’s the last woman he can ever have.
Coming from a family with psychic gifts, Derek Gabriel was aware of but separate from the dangers of the supernatural world, until a rogue wolf shifter stripped away his humanity. The change he barely survived didn’t drive him insane, but the cultural bias against him as an inferior transformed wolf might. And it doesn’t help that he’s fallen for the daughter of the most powerful wolf in the country.
Almost from the moment she was born, Nicole Peyton started planning her escape from the strict confines of elite shapeshifter society, an old-fashioned world where women are valued only for their bloodlines and bank accounts. In New Orleans she has a bar she loves, friends in decidedly low places, and a smoldering sensual tension with an incredibly attractive and deliciously unsuitable man.
Their forbidden longing erupts into unbridled need—until Nick’s sister burns into town with a strike team hard on her heels. Saving her means Nick has to play by the Conclave’s rules…and give up the man she is growing to love.
Unless Derek does something completely crazy—issue a challenge that could shake the foundations of their world.
Review: Crossroads by Moira Rogers
Title: Crossroads (Southern Arcana, Book 2)
Author: Moira Rogers
Release: February 9th, 2010
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 5 Stars
For Nicole Peyton, nothing is more important than escaping the stifling confines of elite shapeshifter society, an old-fashioned world where women are valued only for their bloodlines and bank accounts. In New Orleans, she has a bar she loves, friends she cares for, and a smoldering, unspoken tension with an unsuitable but incredibly attractive man.
Neither could predict how quickly forbidden longing would erupt into burning need, but Nick and Derek have more than themselves to think about when Nick’s sister arrives in the city with a shapeshifter strike team hard on her heels. The only way Nick can save her sister may be to play by the Conclave’s rules–but it will mean giving up the man she’s falling in love with, unless he’s willing to risk everything in a challenge that will shake the foundations of their world.
I feel like I should knock on wood or something. I have had a string of really great books and keep waiting for one to let me down! Crossroads continued my lucky trend of great books and exceeded my expectations. I am hereby declaring Moira Rogers my favorite discovery of 2009.
Nicole Peyton is a werewolf. She also happens to be heir to the very rich and powerful Alpha of the United States pack of werewolves. We first meet Nicole in book 1 of the series, Crux. What makes Nicole so endearing is that she doesn’t want the wealth and power that she has every right to. Instead she leaves the world of werewolf politics and runs a bar in New Orleans. She is trying desperately to live a life of normalcy, constantly turning away from her father’s goals of making her into a powerful female Alpha.
Derek Gabriel is a sexy beast. Derek was turned a werewolf, instead of being born one. As he tries to adjust to his new life he pushes Nicole away, even tho its obvious to all around them there is a connection between them. Thankfully the wolf comes to his senses not too far into the book and tries to claim what his inner wolf is telling him is HIS. Unluckily, on the verge of Nicole and Derek finding out what the future holds for them, Nicole’s twin sister shows up with danger following her.
I went into this story fully expecting Derek and Nick to fight their attraction for half the book, it seemed obvious considering how stubborn they seemed to be! I mean they had already ignored it for 2 years, what was a little more time?!? I was overjoyed to find out I was wrong. The chemistry between the two was sweltering and just too much to ignore. The next thing I knew we had werewolves having sex on the kitchen floor amongst a flurry of waffle batter. This book contains an intimate scene in the forest after a run, which has to be the hottest scene I have read in a very long time…. I had to read it twice. Then I noticed I had a big grin on my face and was blushing furiously. Derek and Nick are just so needy, so intense, so passionate – it is perfection.
One hand dropped to her ankle, and his large fingers encircled it easily. “Tell me to stop.”
She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. “No.”
Derek dragged her ankles apart and dropped to his knees between her legs. He tickled his fingers up her calves as he jerked his gaze to hers again. “Put your hands over your head.”
Sheer primal instinct drove her to obey.
Where Jackson’s southern charm in book 1, Crux, made my heart go pitter patter, Derek’s protective and passionate alpha manhood makes my toes curl.
I should probably point out there is much more to this book than just hot forest sex, lest I get sidetracked and find myself rereading all my bookmarked scenes, again. Crossroads has a complicated and engrossing plot that takes us deeper into werewolf politics. We learn so much more about the life Nicole and her sister have been subjected to along with the bond between them. Crossroads drags you into the characters lives and forces you to experience their passion, their happiness, but also their sadness and pain.
As if all of the above isn’t good enough for a 5 star review, Moira Rogers manages to add a little bit more to the story. Jackson and Mackenzie from Crux are still in the mix and have small parts in the book. We get glimpses of the brooding and sarcastic Alec, at least once in nothing but a pair of jeans (hopefully low slung ones). We are also given a new development in regards to Kat and Andrew, side characters from book 1. They step a bit closer to the front of the stage in Crossroads and I hear that Andrew will be getting his own book after Alec’s. Based on the events in this book, I am going to go ahead and lay claim to Andrew right now. He is mine and you can’t have him.
If you have not read Crux, I encourage you to do so immediately so that you can pick up Crossroads on the day it releases, February 9th. Trust me, you will not be sorry. I am going to leave you all with a small glimpse of my newest book boyfriend, Andrew.
Once Mackenzie had opened the door, she glanced at Nick. “Should I have Jackson bring Kat? Or is he going to pee on her leg or something crazy?”
“I’m not going to pee on anyone.” Andrew growled, and Mackenzie stepped aside and let him pass.
She rolled her eyes and followed, already dialing the phone.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review: Crux by Moira Rogers
Crux – Southern Arcana, Book 1
Moira Rogers
Release: March 3, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Rating: 4 Stars
Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.
New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.
When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.
With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny.
Moira Rogers is a new author for me, or rather a new duo of authors. For some reason I went into reading this one expecting a plot heavy on the romance and was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is just as heavy on the action, plot, and character building. I love it when an author surprises me.
The story is about Mackenzie who is on the run from some crazy shifters looking to use her for her body. While on the run she falls into a web of really cool people who convince her the supernatural is real and give her an unexpected support system. Jackson Holt takes a liking to her immediately and will do whatever he needs to keep her safe.
The story arc is reminiscent of a paranormal romance…. girl is in trouble, our hero must use his super powers and super friends to save her. But, in this story our heroine isn’t weak or waiting around to be saved and our hero doesn’t expect her to sit back in a safe corner and wait it out. I found the characters to be honest. The dialogue between them was easy and free flowing. The relationship was realistic, a nice mix of playful flirting with sincerity. Jackson is funny and sexy, protective without being overbearing.
The plot of Crux builds quickly. The book is action packed and I had a hard time finding stopping points so I could get some much needed sleep! There is an atypical twist in the plot three quarters of the way through. After it I thought for sure we were getting an ending and the “Big Bad” would continue to haunt us in the next book, but instead the story keeps going! Because of this small twist in plot sequence, the story loses a bit of momentum and I felt the true ending was smidge anti-climatic. Not overly so, and definitely not enough for me to dislike it.
In Crux Moira Rogers has built a strong supernatural world with an exciting plot and realistic characters. With as much as I enjoyed the interactions between Mackenzie and Jackson, I am looking forward to the next books in the series! There were so many intriguing side characters introduced in this group of friends… only more good stories can come after this!
Crux is available for purchase now from a variety of ebook stores, find the links as well as full chapter excerpts here. Crux will be released in print format on January 5th.
Book 2 of the Southern Arcane Series, Crossroads, will be released in ebook format in February 2010 and print format in December 2010.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me for review from the author
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