• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Gini Koch’s Website
• List Price: $7.99 US/$9.99 CDN
• Publisher: DAW; Original edition (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756406005
• ISBN-13: 978-0756406004

Buy Touched By An Alien at:

• Amazon
• Book Depository

How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n’ roll?
Easy…

She’s “Touched by an Alien”

Marketing manager Katherine “Kitty” Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down.

In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the “agency” to perform crowd control. He’s Kitty’s kind of guy, no matter what planet he’s from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

What a nice little surprise this book is!

I picked up Touched By An Alien after hearing a lot of positive chatter on Twitter from my very trusted sources, and I am glad I did. It is unlike anything I have ever read, and was a nice light read after coming off from a very intense Urban Fantasy series. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the humor and wit were just what I needed, and believe me when I say there are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

Touched By An Alien is the first book in Gini Koch’s new Katherine “Kitty” Katt series and is also my first introduction to the Science Fiction Romance genre. The action starts out right from the first page as Kitty is leaving the courthouse for jury duty. She quickly discovers she has some major skillz with a Montblanc pen as she instinctively grabs it and stabs a seemingly human male who is actually mutating in to a “superbeing” by an alien parasite, as he is attacking a woman. As soon as the superbeing is killed and the woman is saved, she is joined by a team of agents who are aliens themselves, visitors from Alpha Centauri. These agents want to recruit her to help them track a particularly powerful and dangerous superbeing who has taken over the mind of a terrorist leader. All of the Alpha Centaurian agents are drop dead gorgeous males, and one in particular named Jeff Martini is instantly smitten with Kitty.

I was a tough crowd at first because Ms. Koch sets up the romance right from the get-go, which I wasn’t sure would work for me. One of the first statements out of Martini’s mouth upon meeting Kitty is “will you marry me?” and he came on so strong right after meeting her. This won a giant Spaz Eye Roll from me, but you quickly learn it is part of his completely endearing personality. Once I realized I was supposed to roll my eyes at him, I was won over not long after this first meeting. The other Alpha Centaurians Kitty works with to hunt down this powerful superbeing are awesome, especially the team of model-esque women who are the scientists and work in the Alpha Centaurian Headquarters. I love that the scientists are all women, and they are not interested in other Alpha Centaurian men, but in very smart human men and could care less about looks. Love it! In addition, Ms. Koch did not hold back with the smex scenes and they were really, really steamy. Love In An Elevator steamy. I have to have sexy action in my books, people, and it was exactly the right amount.

I also wanted to point out how much I love this cover art by Daniel Dos Santos. If the artwork seems familiar, it is because he has also done the cover art for Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson books, among many others. In looking at his collection, he has also done the cover for the upcoming Alien Tango, the second Katherine “Kitty” Katt book estimated to release in December 2010.

Since this book was the first of its kind that I’d ever read, I needed some time to let it sink in before I wanted to write up a review on it. After reflecting on it, this is a solid 4 stars for me. If you are looking for something completely different than what is out there right now, and you need your romance in addition to humor, this book is definitely for you. I am looking forward to Alien Tango in December to find out what happens next!

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Michael F. Stewart’s Website
• List Price: $15.99 US (Kindle Edition $6.79)
• Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing (April 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554047439
• ISBN-13: 978-1554047437

Buy The Sand Dragon at:

• Amazon

The discovery of an immense pterosaur skeleton lures paleontologist Kim Axon to the tar sands near her childhood home of Fort Mic. But Kim’s not the only one drawn to the find’s siren call, and the others are coming for a very different reason.

Fort Mic, where Kim’s father was murdered long ago, is both blessed and cursed by the shadow population who gravitate to the area for cheap trailers while they mine the sands for oil. Townsfolk begin to fall sick. Fearing the spread of the strange disease, the new doctor quarantines the town.

Now alone, the broken community must rise above its past to battle outsiders who do not fear the return of an ancient evil, but worship it.

The town of Fort Mic is a community divided. One that has went through too much & it seems the land doesn’t forget that when Kim Axon is called to tar sands to investigate the discovery of a pterosaurs skeleton. Little does she know it is about to infect the town & divide them even more, that is if they survive long enough. When the town gets quarantined because of an outbreak of sick towns people, the police refuse to enter & it is up to a few residents to stop the true horror that has been unleashed.

It’s not often a book keeps me up at night due to horror, but The Sand Dragon did just that. It freaked me out because it takes place outside of a town I am very familar with as both my father & brother work in the sand mines there. Just the thought of all this horror happening in this town was enough to keep me up at night. The Sand Dragon is like Stephen King, but based around some true facts. Which in my opinion only make it all the more scary.

I loved Mr. Stewart’s writing style, it kept the pace action packed & seriously horrified me, mostly with the graphic depiction of the birth of a monster & a serial killer in the making. But it kept me turning the pages wee into the night, because I had to know if these monsters could be stopped & who-else would fall victim to the town of Fort Mic.

My only issue was with the first few chapters, while they set up the book I felt they were a bit slow & choppy. The mining terms also confused me, but I ended up understanding it after seeing it used a few more times.

If you are a fan of the horror genre or just feel the need to get creeped out, pick up a copy of The Sand Dragon…but don’t blame me when you end up with a fear of sand.

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Jeaniene Frost’s Website
• Publisher: Avon (July 27, 2010)
• List Price: $7.99 US/$9.99 CDN
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061783161
• ISBN-13: 978-0061783166

Buy Eternal Kiss of Darkness at:

• Amazon
• Book Depository

Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she’s only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he’d seen it all. Then Kira appears – this fearless, beautiful….human who braved death to rescue him. Though her burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness is the second book in Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress World Series.

Mencheres is a Master Vampire, who has just had to kill his wife due to her insanity. No one has ever really liked him for who he is, only for his money & his status. Kira is a PI, who one night while walking home hears moaning from an abandon warehouse, for some reason she goes in to “save” Mencheres having no idea he is a vampire. After saving him, Kira finds out what he is & when Mencheres cannot remove her memories of the event, he has to keep her around until he decides what to do next.

For me Eternal Kiss of Darkness was an okay read, I didn’t blow through it fast like a Cat & Bones novel but it was a better read then the first book in the Night Huntress Series. It felt a bit like the same old, same old you read in lots of PR books: Woman meets Vampire, Woman is leery of Vampire, Woman finds out she likes Vampire but doesn’t want to admit it. I wasn’t too fond of Kira, sometimes she was a little too uppity for me, but I loved Mencheres & it was great to finally find out what had happened in his life before sharing his power with Bones. You get a really good vibe for him & understand a lot more of the world he has lived in. There are also a few appearance’s by Cat & Bones, which made the story even better for me…who doesn’t love Bones? Plus Vlad pays a visit!

Sex. Uh huh. I am going there. You see Mencheres hasn’t had sex in an uber long time & if you know Ms. Frost, you know she writes one helluva sex scene. Add lack of sex to that & whoa, we gots some hot vampire loving peoples. Ceiling Sex. Uh huh.

If you were disappointed in the first book of the series, Eternal Kiss of Darkness will make it all better. Steamy sex, action & a cool storyline makes for one good read.

I’ve been reading a lot of YA lately that have embarrassing moments for the main character, which got me thinking to my most embarrassing moments. What better a topic to make us all laugh at each other then stories that still make us cringe!

I have a few & most centre around my Mother & her uncanny ability to make me look like an ass. It’s true, she doesn’t do it intentionally…it just happens & it’s usually at my expense. I’ll start with one that still makes me want to burrow into a hole.

I had to be about 19 & we were walking home from the mall when I saw this beautiful man standing beside us. I lean over & whisper to my Mom “Mom, that guy right there is Ben from Felicity” My mom goes, “no way Tash”. Like I wouldn’t know what the male of my high school dreams looked like, I was a Felicity addict my friends, I KNEW it was him. And then it happened, in slow motion.

“Excuse me, my daughter says you’re Scott Speedman”

I could have died on the spot, right there on a street corner. I’d like to tell you that was the worst of it, that this man looked at her & said no I am not…alas, in my World that doesn’t happen. He looked over at my mom, grinned huge & said “Your daughter is right, I’m Scott nice to meet you”

Did it get worse? Of course it did, again it’s the life of Pixie things can only get worse. How worse? My mother & Scott freaking Speedman are now walking AND talking. You see Scott is from Toronto & decided for some unearthly reason to continue talking to my 4’11 evil mom. I can’t remember clearly what they talked about other then hockey but I can tell you this man walked us HOME. I shit you not, Scott Speedman walked us to the corner of my street! I did not say a single word, I don’t think I did much but nod & pray this would end soon & without my mother inviting him over for dinner. Ugh. Thank You Scott for being such a good sport & you’re hotter in person, if the red on my face was any indication.

I have fallen, I have tripped. Once in knee high hookah boots, my heel clipped the stair entering an underground nightclub…did I fall, nah that would have been to easy in a mini skirt. I slid on my heels all the way down to the bottom of the stairs where I collapsed in a heapof hookah boot hell. I used to work in a Court House & again…flipped down the stairs into the arms of a Police Officer who damn near peed himself.

The last one I can remember was at a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. Sitting in the front row (my best-friend used to work there, so we’d go in early & watch the practices from the front row). I had my camera & was snapping away when a puck flew with such force into the glass, I thought I got shot. Being Potty Mouth Pixie, I let out a YEEEP followed by a “Son of a Bitch” all whilst clicking the camera. Did I mention it was silent at this point? Every single person in the immediate area burst out laughing. This is the picture evidence, they are looking at me like I am deranged.

I am embarrassment prone my friends. I am sure there are more, but right now 10 years later I am still mortified by the Scott Speedman Incident.

WLP Wants To Know YOUR embarrassing stories. Make me laugh, make me cringe. TELL US!

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Lisa Derochers Website
• List Price: $9.99 US
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tor Teen (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765328089

Pre-Order Personal Demons at:

• Amazon
• Book Depository

If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?

Are you sure about that…?

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She’s spent years keeping everyone at a distance–even her closest friends–and it seems her senior year will be more of the same…until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him. What she doesn’t know is that Luc works in Acquisitions–for Hell–and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

Personal Demons centres around Frannie (Mary Francis to be exact) & Lucifer Cain (Luc for short). Frannie’s family are heavy into religion, Frannie questions it after a loss.. so much so she gets thrown out of Catholic School in grade 7. Frannie is now 17 & when Luc enrolls in her High School she wants him. Luc wants Frannie to, but for a different reason.

Luc happens to work in Acquisitions for Hell & he has came to make Frannie’s soul for Hell as she has a unique ability & the King of Hell wants her. But so do the Angels & they send Gabriel (Gabe). Both Luc & Gabe appeal to Frannie on different levels & she doesn’t know who to choose. But Frannie has to decide soon Heaven or Hell, Gabe or Luc before it’s too late.

Personal Demons is the first in a three book series & all I can say is Thank Heaven & Unholy Hell for Personal Demons!Honestly, one of the best YA’s I have read all year. Lisa Derochers writes one hell of a novel my friends & she doesn’t talk down like I find with many YA’s. Meaning teens & adults can enjoy this wickedly sinful novel.

There is a love triangle (no it’s not like that other YA, not at all..it’s BETTER!) The tension in the relationships is so real, it sizzles. There’s emotion, real emotion that flows wonderfully off the pages. Speaking of pages, the action was something else, the pages flew by. I can’t wax enough about how much I loved every single character in the book, from Frannie to one of her best-friends Taylor. Though I love a bad boy & Luc was my kind of Demon. I’d also be remiss not to mention the laughs, there are plenty but Personal Demons thrives on the passion & action which there is a plenty.

Personal Demons is sugar & spice, with some shockers thrown in for good measure. Lisa Derochers has done YA a service with such a fabulous debut.

Silver plate octopi hang from sterling silver ear wires.
Dangling below are rare large teal apatite roundels and sterling silver beads.

Cemetery Cat Designs
http://www.etsy.com/shop/psynde

I’m a woman, did you really think I wouldn’t blog about shoes? Pfft. A few months ago I saw this picture of my homeslice Dakota Cassidy sporting shoes that made me cry tears of joy. I emailed her right away & demanded to know where they came from. Alas, she had seen another author wearing them & just had to try them on. So the name of said shoes went buh-bye…until this week.

I walked by a Tattoo Shop & saw they were selling shoes…yeah I did a WTF & went backwards. Of course Tattoo Shop was closed but I now had the name of these shoes: Iron Fist. Imagine my surprise when I walked by a shoe store on Friday night & there they were. They called to me people, I heard them scream “Pixie, come see me…try me on”. I did what any female would do, I RAN into the store.

Being a good shopper, before I even put these puppies on my feet I checked the price. $89.99 Canadian. EEP. BARGIN my friends. Then I stepped into them & SIX more pairs. I didn’t buy them (yet) but I must share the wonder that is Iron Fist to my fellow Urban Fantasy Fans.

Wolfbeaters, honestly the name alone was worth the “Squee” that came out of my mouth when I put these on.

Zombie shoes my friends, ZOMBIE SHOES!!!

Dear Iron Fist Company, I will gladly review your product…I am not opposed to begging either. You make some awesome shoes people.

**please note, I am probably sitting outside of the shoe store waiting for it to open so I can get me some Wolfbeaters**

The winner of Hearts Sentinel by PJ Schnyder is Ana Ovi (comment number 10)

Congrats Ana, I will be emailing you shortly!

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher:CreateSpace (May 5, 2010)
• Brian Fatah Steele’s Website
• List Price: $ 12.96 US
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451527462
• ISBN-13: 978-1451527469

Buy Petty Like A God at:

• Amazon

Meet Noc, the reluctant son of the Grim Reaper. He and Father Time’s kid are usually drunk. It’s one of the best ways to handle being a godling. The rest of the gang are here tonight as well. Too bad one of them is about to be murdered. Follow them from death & betrayal, to love & friendship, spiraling all the way up to a cosmic conspiracy. Join the godlings as they discover more about the roles that they will one day play in the universe, and ultimately; the roles they play in each others’ lives…

Petty Like A God is the first book in Brian Fatah Steele’s Godling Series.

The story centres around Noc, the son (Godling) of Death & his group of friends all of which happen to be fellow Godlings (children of Gods). There is Turney (Saturn the 7th) the son of Father Time, Emma the daughter of Mother Nature, Sophie the daughter of The Sandman (dreams) and Evie the daughter of Satan. Evie is the newest to the group & with them all for the first time when a fellow Godling is murdered in a bar.

This causes problems, because only a Godling’s parent or a fellow Godling can kill in this particular bar where magic is cut off to most everyone. It’s up to Noc & his crew to find out which one of them did it & why. There is also a series of other murders happening to random people & Death is just to busy to look after it, so he sends the Godlings out to stop the person…if they can find him.

I absolutely loved this book, the Godlings are the kind of people I surrounded myself with back in College. Drinking, smoking & bar hoping. They’re funny & brash, my kind of people. I really enjoyed Noc, he killed me (no pun intended at all). Turney was my absolute favorite though, the video game scene in the book had me cackling loudly. You don’t know if you want to smack Turney, or burst out laughing at some of the things that come out of his mouth.

I feel the need to address Brian Fatah Steele’s music in the book, holy awesome taste people. He reminded me of music I forgot I owned, which complemented the book perfectly!

Now sadly I had a few issues that I must warn you about, as much as I hate to. Petty Like A God is self published & hasn’t had the touch of a professional editor, so there are a few errors (spelling, sometimes you aren’t sure who is speaking to whom) but it does distract from the flow of the story a bit. I hate having to point this out, because I truly did love this book…to the point I wanted to fix it myself.

If you can handle a little bit of errors, please please please get yourself a copy of Petty Like A God…then come back & thank me. Because you will be in hysterics at some of the antics of the Godlings & you’ll totally see yourself in at least one of them.

I seem to be going through a Blogger Funk. I can’t seem to concentrate on any book I have attempted to read this week. I’ve picked up two & I just don’t have the urge. I may be broken, again. But I have gotten through J-Kaye’s reading challenge (102 books read in 2010). Maybe I will try to read this weekend, it’s not like I am lacking books people!

Whilst mid-funk this evening, I spent some time on Twitter. All hell broke loose when Mark Henry tweetedme this video of a man we have affectionately named Hedo Rick. I kid you not hours were spent tweeting all about Hedo Rick. My cheeks still hurt from laughing & I am sure I have tear stains permanently marking my face.

I am pretty sure Mark & my tweet love of Booty Poppin’ came from this lovely young specimen of Booty Poppin’ Goodness. If only I could control my booty in the way this boy does. Ugh. I need him to fly to Toronto & teach me, I thought I could Booty Pop, but he schooled me.

Amazing eh? I need to learn that booty control damn it! So blame Mark Henry for this booty poppin’ post. It’s ALWAYS Mark’s fault when I get into the booty poppin’.

And speaking of Booty, I would be remiss not to mention my absolute favorite booty related video. Big Booty Bitches! HOOO!

This concludes Pixies intro to Booty Poppin’