Josh of the Damned by Andrea Speed
19 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing
Title: Josh of the Damned Triple Feature #1
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Pages: 66
Characters: Josh, Colin, Creature-Feature Cast
POV: 3rd person
Sub-Genre: Urban Fantasy/Comedy
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
What most people call a hellish shift, Josh Caplan calls a normal evening. After all, he works nights at a convenience store beside the mouth of hell, selling snacks to zombies and lizard men.
Some monsters are odder—and more dangerous—than most. Like the rampaging, oversized mustache who skips the Pringles and eats the customers instead. Or Cthulhu’s half-brother Stan, who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer . . . or where to put all those tentacles.
But killer facial hair and inept hentai beasts pale in comparison to the monster even other monsters fear. When hell’s big boss demands a sit-down with Josh, she reveals a destiny bigger than he’d ever imagined—or wanted. You’d think preventing the apocalypse would net Josh more than minimum wage and a hot vampire boyfriend, but it turns out saving the world can be a pretty thankless job.
Review:
I want to see this series animated. Can someone get right on that, please? Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever read an Urban Fantasy that begs to be Manga-ized more than the Josh of the Damned series does. It’s like waking up on Saturday morning as a kid and getting to watch Scooby Doo, except without all that pesky pretend stuff. This is real world, people, and jinkies, it’s a far out and unusual place.
From sinister facial hair to Squidwardian sea beasties to the Queen Mother of all butt-kicking, snake-headed mythological she-monsters, Andrea Speed pulled out her trademark snark and poked at my fantasy-loving funny bone in these three short episodes.
But wait, there’s more: Colin the hot vampire is there, and Bobo the lovesick snow monster is there, and Gary, the foul-mouthed, bad-tempered Reverse Tooth Fairy is there too. This definitely ain’t Kansas, Dorothy, so don’t even go there. This is Oz in full and living colorful craziness, and I kinda wanna live there for awhile. Just until the Zombie Apocalypse, of course. Then I want to be far, far away.
Josh finds out some things about his boss, Mr. Kwon, and he finds out a thing or two about himself, too, which causes some doubts to arise over his relationship with Colin. Finding out that you’re kind of irresistible to the things that go bump in the night—irresistible like creature-crack to a strung out junkie monster—will tend to plant a few ideas into a guy’s head. Namely making you realize that the undead lover you jones for might be jonesing for you for no other reason than he can’t help himself. That right there would drive a stake into the heart of just about any romance—but never fear, fans; when the Quik-Mart corporate boys come to play, Colin and Bobo prove to Josh who his real fiends…err…friends are. And humans are safe for at least another day.
I’ll be tuning in and turning on because I’m very much ready and waiting for more madcap monster mayhem.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Our guest today is Andrea Speed
19 Apr 2012 3 Comments
in Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Interview, Riptide Publishing
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Andrea Speed. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
Well, I swore to the mole people I’d never divulge their secrets, so I can’t say. I will say sunlight is both more spectacular and more awful than I ever imagined.
What was your first book and how long did it take to get it published?
My first book was Infected: Prey, and it was a couple of years between completion and publication. Although that book was the second version of the Infected: Prey manuscript. (I felt the first variation was not correct. I was pleased with the second version.)
When did you start writing m/m romance? What about this genre interested you the most?
Ooh. See, I have a problem thinking in genre terms. Just write what you want to write, regardless of genre, and that’s what I do. I write in this genre ’cause that’s where the stories took me.
How long did it take you to get published? How many books have you written thus far?
Probably a couple years. I have a bad head for time, so I’m just taking random stabs, so forgive my vagueness. And do you mean books written or published? Let me just go with published, and in that case five novels (one on the verge of publishing), two novellas, and a couple of short stories.
Do you write full time?
No, but I wish I did.
Looking back was there something in particular that helped you to decide to become a writer? Did you choose it or did the profession choose you?
My grandmother was a writer, and I grew up around books. Looking back, it seems like fait accompli. I was either going to be a writer or a librarian. (Or both.)
On a typical writing day, how would you spend your time?
Can I curse? If so, there’s much more dicking around than I care to admit. But after that, and putting out minor fires (mostly figurative) and getting through my emails, I actually write for a bit. Never as long as I’d like to. In fact, the only constant is I never write as much as I’d like to.
Do you write right through or do you revise as you go along?
It really depends. Usually I just write through.
When it comes to plotting, do you write freely or plan everything in advance?
I know exactly what I’m going to write and where the story is going to go when I start, but I don’t outline, so I have some room to let the characters do their thing. They’re going to anyways.
What kind of research do you do before and during a new book?
It depends – oh man, I need to find a new word – on what I’m writing. If I do any, it’s just to make sure I get some details right.
How much of yourself and the people you know manifest into your characters? How do you approach development of your characters? Where do you draw the line?
I think there’s a little of me in most of my characters (yes, even the evil ones). I mean, I gave Roan my horrible taste in music, and Josh has my “whatever” attitude, and I could probably go down the line. But I try not to give anyone too much, as that would make them same-y (not a word, let’s pretend it is), and really they’re all their own people, or at least as much as characters can be. More often than not – and I know this makes me sound crazy, but so be it – the characters basically create themselves, and I feel I have nothing consciously to do with it. Sometimes I cathartically write about people I dislike and have awful things happen to them, but I usually muddy the details enough that, even if they read it, they’d never recognize themselves.
How long does it take for you to complete a book you would allow someone to read? Do you write straight through, or do you revise as you go along?
I’m a slow writer for the most part. It usually takes me longer than I’d care to admit to finish these things. I try and write all the way through, because I don’t want to stretch it out to absurd lengths.
Writers often go on about writer’s block. Do you ever suffer from it, and what measures do you take to get past it?
Not too much. Although counter-intuitive, you really need to write through it. And by that I mean write anything – a review, fanfiction, whatever it takes to get those channels open again. I swear it works.
When someone reads one of your books for the first time, what do you hope they gain, feel or experience?
I just hope they enjoy it. I hope they find it entertaining.
Can you share three things you’ve learned about the business of writing since your first publication?
1. Connecting with readers is always a good use of your time. 2. Everyone needs an editor with a lot of patience. 3. There is an element of luck to all of this.
Does the title of a book you’re writing come to you as you’re writing it, or does it come before you even begin the first sentence?
I have a hard time with titles, so they’re often the last thing I settle on. Except in the Josh of the Damned series – I often come up with hyperbolic, pulp-y titles, and guide the story from there.
How would you describe your sense of humor? Who and what makes you laugh?
Pervasive and broad. A lot of things make me laugh, and most have been referenced somewhere in my stories. If I make a reference to something, understand there’s a good reason why I’m doing so.
What is the most frequently asked question?
I think the lead question now is if Roan is a top or a bottom, which I find to be weird and hilarious. Roan would be offended as hell and not answer, but I’ll just go ahead and say I always imagined him as versatile, and leave it at at that.
What are you working on now?
Working on a fantasy novel for Riptide, with another Infected novel in the works, and this science fiction idea bubbling away in the background.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve received with respect to the art of writing? How did you implement it into your work?
Always write. It’s good advice, and I pass that along to everyone. Keep reading, keep writing.
When it comes to promotion, what lengths have you gone to in order to increase reader-awareness of your work?
I’ve actually conquered my own loathing of my voice to do podcasts. They were both really fun, though, so I’m willing to do others.
Writing is obviously not just how you make your living, but your life-style as well. What do you do to keep the creative “spark” alive – both in your work and out of it?
Just keep reading, keep writing, keep active.
What kind of books do you like to read?
All kinds. Whatever interests me, I read. Much like I don’t write by genre, I don’t read by it either.
If you weren’t a writer what would you be?
Legally insane.
Where did you get the idea for the stories you write?
I’d like to be a smart ass and say from a box in my attic.
When it comes to the covers of your books, what do you like or dislike about them?
I’ve been very lucky in having some great cover artists. But I will say that Roan always looks a bit young on the Infected covers. Of course, now there’s an in story reason for why he might, so honestly, I can’t gripe.
Aside from writing, what else do you enjoy doing?
There’s things in life besides writing? Umm … well, I do like doing some DIY home projects. But only some.
Any special projects coming out soon we should watch for?
As far as I’m concerned, all my projects are special. This works best if you picture me saying this with a cheesy grin.
New writers are always trying to glean advice from those with more experience. What suggestions do you have for new writers?
Same as I gave above. Keep reading, keep writing. Don’t be afraid to have other people look at your work, and be persistent.
What future projects do you have in the works?
Well, there’s the fantasy novel, the science fiction thing, more Infected, and more Josh of the Damned.
Can you please tell us where we can find you on the Internet?
Check out my site at www.andreaspeed.com . And I’m fully social networked too: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001496290042
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/aspeed
Google+: https://plus.google.com/109420358312270961913/posts
Could you please share your favorite excerpt(s) from one of more of your stories with us?
This is from the last published Infected novel, Infected: Freefall. Somehow, Roan goes from flirty/snarky to dangerous in seven seconds.
Roan started reading the first few pages and wondered what the fuck he could do. So far, it looked like the investigation was pretty solid. Was he really prepared for failure? Could he take it? Roan knew he could get too personally involved in these cases, and he told himself to back off, but it was never that simple, was it? He already felt he had to turn up something, but he also knew he probably wouldn’t. If he was smart he’d quit now… but he wasn’t renowned for his genius.
His cell phone went off, and he dug it out of his pocket by the third ring. It was Dylan.
“Hi, uh… are you busy right now?”
“Not at the moment, no.”
“Do you think you could drop by my place this afternoon? There’s something I wanted to show you.”
“If it’s what I think it is, I’ve seen it. It’s very nice though. Wouldn’t mind seeing it again.”
“Very funny. I’m serious, Ro.”
“Me too.”
Dylan sighed, and Roan grinned, wondering if Dylan knew he had just become a pleasant distraction from an unpleasant reality. “Enough with the double entendres. It’s for the gallery showing. I need your opinion on it because… well, you are the picture. I want your consent before I submit it.”
“Is this the sketch you drew of me sleeping?”
“No, this is a painting. You haven’t seen it.”
For some reason that sounded slightly ominous. But how could it be? The sketch he’d done of him was very nice; he hadn’t even been drooling on a pillow or anything. “It’s your painting, Dyl. I’m not gonna tell you not to use it.”
He hesitated. “You might. Please come see it.”
He really didn’t like Dylan’s sudden squeamishness—this was making him nervous. Did he paint him killing a bus full of nuns or something? Fucking Robert Mapplethorpe? Dylan should have known better than to be so vague, because now he was getting paranoid. “What did you do to me?”
“It’s nothing bad… or at least, I don’t think it’s bad. You still might not like it.”
Oh, this didn’t sound good. “Am I naked?”
“No.”
“Shooting Dick Cheney in the face?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Every time I try and draw Dick Cheney, he ends up looking like the Penguin from the old Batman TV series. I have nothing against Burgess Meredith.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I don’t either.” He sighed, wondering exactly what Dylan had done to him on canvas. “I’m in the area, so I’ll be over in a few minutes. Is a quickie off the table?”
“Yes, mainly because the table’s too flimsy to take it. We’ll have to move it to the couch.”
“Fine by me. See you soon.” He ended the call and started gathering up his papers, wondering how unflattering Dylan’s picture of him could possibly be, when his phone rang again. He thought Dylan was calling to rescind the invitation—maybe he’d decided to hide the painting rather than show it to him. “Yeah?”
“You have Elijah Prophet’s computer,” a voice said. It was being processed through a voice changer, which you could buy at a spy store or a toy store. It was a cheap one; the guy sounded like Darth Vader with a severe case of asthma. “Return it, or we will take it by force.”
“Whatever. Get a better voice changer and call me back.”
“You ignore us at your peril.”
“Do I? What d’ya got, boy? Whip it out and show me, or fuck the hell off before I rip off your face and eat it.” He flipped the phone shut and dropped it in his pocket, picking up the piles of paper. Once he’d gathered them up, he noticed a female barista who had been walking by had stopped and was staring at him, looking shocked, probably due to his threat. He flashed her a friendly smile and headed for the door.
What? He never said he was Miss Congeniality.
**
And this is a bit from the Josh of the Damned Triple Feature novella, where Josh and his boyfriend Colin have a heart to heart conversation, while lounging around on the roof of the Quik-Mart.
“Bothered by the yeti lately?” Colin asked, presumably trying to be conversational. Was there anything weirder than post-coital small talk? Or maybe it was just him.
“It’s come around once or twice. Don’t worry, I haven’t accepted any gifts.” He didn’t tell Colin, but he was sort of flattered by the attention, and the yeti actually seemed kind of sweet in an oversized, insanely-powerful-monster sort of way. Like Frankenstein, but fuzzy.
There was a scuffling noise down below, and Colin looked over the edge of the building. After a moment, he slapped the wall and yelled, “Get!”
Josh didn’t even need to ask, although he did anyway. “Are the werewolves back again?”
Colin sighed loudly, shaking his head at whatever he was looking down at, which was probably a werewolf peeing on a car. “Yeah. What pests.” Glaring down, he shouted, “Go home, you fleabags! Don’t you have some hikers to maul?”
It had been a bad werewolf night. It wasn’t true they came out during full moons; they seemed to come out whenever the hell they wanted, and they were tremendous pains in the ass. They were basically big, ugly dogs. Oh sure, they could probably wolf you if they bit you, but for the most part they just chased cars and peed everywhere, although sometimes when they caught a car they tore it to pieces. Wasn’t as bad as tearing people to pieces, Josh supposed.
They liked to hang around the cars they damaged—many of which were so trashed they got abandoned in the parking lot, making the Quik-Mart look busier than it actually was.
But they rarely if ever came into the store. They just prowled the parking lot, digging through the dumpster and using bumpers as chew toys. Even the zombies seemed to dislike them, and the zombies didn’t dislike—or react to— much of anything. Colin once said werewolves were the sewer rats of the supernatural world, and while Josh thought maybe that was some kind of vampire vanity, he was beginning to see his point. He would love to arrive at the Quik-Mart one day and not find the outside ice machine reeking like a flophouse mattress. And don’t even get him started on the piles of werewolf poop! Not only did they stink like really bad dog turds, they were also twice the size, and often had recognizable chunks of things in them—bumper hitches and rocks and Taco Bell wrappers, and occasionally a finger. He wanted to leash and muzzle the lot of them, but he wasn’t brave enough to try.
Annoyance seemed to take the edge off the haze, so Josh was able to crawl over to his pants and retrieve them. He wasn’t quite ready to stand up, though, so he had to squirm into them. “There’s no, like, werewolf repellant?”
“Not that I know of,” Colin replied. “They don’t like silver, but they’re so stupid they all but have to lick it to even determine what it is. If you were to be honest, you’d call them weredogs, not wolves, but I don’t make up the labels.”
“So if they bite you, you become a werewolf?”
Colin looked back at him with a shrug. “I have no idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a venereal disease.”
“Ouch.” Finally finished squirming on his pants, Josh started looking around for his shirt. They hadn’t accidentally thrown it off the roof, had they? “So how did you get turned into a vampire anyways? You’ve never said.”
Colin shrugged on his shirt, covering up the nice view of his chest. “I don’t remember.”
“C’mon, pull the other one.”
“No, Josh, I really don’t,” he said, reaching down to scoop Josh’s T-shirt from the shadows. “I know I existed before being a vampire, but I don’t recall any of it. I just woke up a vampire one day.”
Was Colin finally lying to him? But why? Had he been such a horrible person when he’d been human that he didn’t want to admit it, or was becoming a vampire so traumatic he couldn’t relive it? Josh wished he knew more about Colin so he could judge accordingly, but all he knew was he was a fucking hot guy who liked candy bars and old punk rock. Oh, and that according to his own estimation, he was “probably” three hundred years old. Actually, a lack of memory explained the probably in that sentence. “Hey. You know, I can’t remember having sex. Do ya think the process that turns you into a vampire, like, floods you with the drug? That would explain why you can’t remember.”
Colin looked at him with a scowl, eyebrows dipping low over his eyes as he tossed him his T-shirt. “I— wow. I never thought of it that way before,” Colin admitted, sounding oddly subdued. “I think you’re onto something there. I figured it was just ‘cause I was so fucking old.” He scratched his head. “You can’t remember us having sex? You mean, just now?”
“Yeah. Should I have?”
“Well, yeah! I —”
Whatever else Colin said was drowned out by a loud engine noise that could only belong to a motorcycle. A couple of them, by the sound of it. There was also another sound, something like a yip, and Colin spun on his heels to look down. Josh pulled on his shirt, sufficiently awake now to crawl to the edge of the building.
In retrospect, what had he thought he was going to see? It was just four men on motorcycles pulling into the parking lot, wearing leather and denims and looking as disreputable as you might expect. Two wore helmets, but in defiance of helmet laws, the other two didn’t. The werewolves had retreated to the shadows, which they usually did when presented with something loud and moving.
Peek-a-Boo (Josh of the Damned, #2) by Andrea Speed
09 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing
Title: Peek-a-Boo (Josh of the Damned, #2)
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Pages: 12
Characters: Josh Caplan, Sasquatch, Colin
POV: 3rd Person
Sub-Genre: Urban Fantasy
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
As night-shift clerk at the go-to Quik-Mart for monsters with the munchies, Josh Caplan believes he’s seen it all. Battling lizard men, werewolves chasing cars in the parking lot . . . nothing fazes Josh anymore.
Or so he thinks, at least, until a yeti with poor communication skills drops a dead skunk on the checkout counter. Josh can’t figure what a living, breathing shag carpet wants with him, or why it won’t leave him alone no matter how hard he ignores it. But hey, at least it seems harmless . . . if perhaps a little slow on the draw.
But Sasquatch is plenty fast when two of Josh’s human customers try to out-monster the monsters. Times are strange when creatures from the hell portal save the day, but in the protective hands of a lovesick yeti and a sexy vampire boyfriend, Josh realizes that maybe his new normal isn’t so bad after all.
Review:
Oh, Andrea Speed, you make me laugh. And you kinda make me want to cry too. Twelve pages? Seriously? This was like a drive by shot to the funny bone. I barely had time to realize I’d been hit before Josh and Colin and the skunky, ‘shroomy rug monster said TTFN. This world is too fabulous to take in small doses, but, oh well, I’ll take it however you want to serve it up.
Flash fiction is far out when it’s populated by some of the most awesome monsters ever. In this installment it’s the human creatures Josh has to watch out for, though. Being courted by a yeti and having a gorgeous vampire boyfriend are nothing compared to being held at gunpoint and getting pistol whipped. Josh should get hazard pay.
These tasty little word-bites are like the scent of the popcorn at a movie theater: a yummy temptation that’s virtually impossible to resist, so why try?
Reviewed By: Lisa
A Quik-Mart Employee’s Handy Guide to Monsters – Andrea Speed Style – And There’s A Giveaway Too!!
09 Jan 2012 6 Comments
in Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing
So you’re working the night shift. Congratulations! As you may know, some Quik-Marts have their own special challenges, so we put together this handy reference guide to help you give the best in customer service, no matter who – or what – your customer is. Remembers – monsters are customers too, and you should treat them accordingly.
Apemen – A rarely seen creature, you may see them around Halloween. Generally quiet and well mannered despite looking like lowland gorillas, they generally buy flea collars and Laffy Taffy. Make no sudden moves around them! You may need to remind them of our “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy in a calm, quiet voice.
Fairies – Rumored to exist, none have actually been seen by former and current staff members. Supposedly small, humanoid, and winged. Some are said to be grumpy. Buying preferences unknown.
Giant Hamsters – These are probably not actual hamsters, but they appear to be a relative. They can be anywhere from sixteen feet high to forty feet or so, with droppings large enough to crush a Humvee. Terribly cute, they have a tendency to smell like feet and will eat everything in their path, from cars to buildings to trees and people. If one does show up, your best bet is to scare them away is fire and/or cats. They also seem to be scared of Bjork’s music.
Lizard Men (a/k/a Reptilians) – Not known to speak any language we recognize, they are generally the most polite of creatures, and have a tendency to leave change, so we assume they don’t have pockets in their wardrobes. (Management would appreciate it if you put the change in the “take a penny, leave a penny” tray.) They like salty snacks. Please don’t ask what gender they are – it is considered rude. (This is also true for the apemen.)
“Squids” – Another rumored species, this one is supposedly vaguely humanoid creatures with tentacles and squid-like heads. Very dangerous! If ever seen, shutting down the store is advisable. To date, none have made a verified appearance.
Vampires – Generally human in appearance, you usually can’t tell them apart from normal humans unless they want you to, although it has been said they’re generally super-magnetic and extremely charming. Their buying habits are unknown.
Werewolves – For some reason, this species prefers hanging out in the parking lot and chasing cars. It’s unknown if they come into the store in human form. It’s said they’re people that smell like wet dogs, but this is unconfirmed. They are carnivores, but in non-human form they also have a penchant for going through garbage, so lock the Dumpster if possible. Them only coming out during full moons is a myth, so keep the Dumpsters locked every night. You might want to keep Febreeze on hand for the pervasive scent of pee. Dislike silver.
Zombies – Dead humans that have been re-animated by unknown means, they have never been known to be violent towards regular people on Quik-Mart property. They can be in some state of decay, and pieces of a zombie have been known to fall off, ranging in size from skin clumps to entire limbs. If this should happen in the store, it’s best if you wait until the zombie leaves before cleaning up, as there is no reason to embarrass a customer. In the winter, if it’s especially cold, pieces might break off, and they may seem slower than usual. This is normal. Zombies generally only buy frozen burritos, so have lots on hand. Since their vocal cords are as decayed as the rest of them, they can’t talk, and you shouldn’t engage them in conversation.
Yeti/Sasquatch – It’s unknown if these are a separate species or the same species with different colored fur. They are rather large and hairy, and their “conversation” is limited to grunts and what might be considered burps. They seem to hang around the parking lot and rarely venture in, leading some to speculate they eat werewolves. Little is known about these large, strong creatures, and they are best avoided if at all possible.
If you encounter any creatures not listed here, please send their description (include photo if possible) to the head office, along with any notable details (smell, buying preferences, anything fellow clerks should know). Thank you for working at Quik-Mart Industries, your work away from home.
Note: Quik-Mart Industries only exists in the world of Josh of the Damned. If you encounter any of these creatures in real life, you may need to adjust your medication and/or get some medication.
Here’s the blurb from Pretty Monsters:
Josh knew the night shift at the Quik-Mart would be full of freaks and geeks—and that was before the hell portal opened in the parking lot. Still, he likes to think he can roll with things. Sure, the zombies make a mess sometimes, but at least they never reach for anything more threatening than frozen burritos.
Besides, it’s not all lizard-monsters and the walking dead. There’s also the mysterious hottie with the sly red lips and a taste for sweets.
Josh has had the hots for Hot Guy since the moment he laid eyes on him, and it seems Hot Guy might be sweet on Josh too. Now if only Josh could figure out whether that’s a good thing, a bad thing, or something in between. After all, with a hell vortex just a stone’s throw away, Josh has learned to take nothing at face value—even if it’s a very, very pretty face.
This title is #1 of the Josh of the Damned series. Read an excerpt and purchase Pretty Monsters.
Here’s the Blurb from Peek-A-Boo:
As night-shift clerk at the go-to Quik-Mart for monsters with the munchies, Josh Caplan believes he’s seen it all. Battling lizard men, werewolves chasing cars in the parking lot . . . nothing fazes Josh anymore.
Or so he thinks, at least, until a yeti with poor communication skills drops a dead skunk on the checkout counter. Josh can’t figure what a living, breathing shag carpet wants with him, or why it won’t leave him alone no matter how hard he ignores it. But hey, at least it seems harmless . . . if perhaps a little slow on the draw.
But Sasquatch is plenty fast when two of Josh’s human customers try to out-monster the monsters. Times are strange when creatures from the hell portal save the day, but in the protective hands of a lovesick yeti and a sexy vampire boyfriend, Josh realizes that maybe his new normal isn’t so bad after all.
Peek-A-Boo is the second in the Josh of the Damned series. Read an excerpt and purchase Peek-A-Boo.
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Ready for the contest info?! Just send an email with your answer and Top2Bottom Reviews in the subject line to: andreaspeed2@gmail.com
QUESTION: What two things does the yeti try to give Josh?
Simple, but you’ll have to have read the story first.
And if you get the answer right, you’ll be entered for the chance to win Andrea’s “Infected” ebook collection!
Andrea will hold the drawing at the end of the Blog Tour and the winner will be notified via email.
Good Luck!
Infected: Freefall (Infected #4) by Andrea Speed
11 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Andrea Speed, Dreamspinner Tags: Andrea Speed, Dreamspinner Press
Title: Infected: Freefall (Infected #4)
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 350
Characters: Roan McKichan, Dylan Harlow
POV: 3rd Person
Sub-Genre: Urban Fantasy
Kisses: 4.5
Blurb:
In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.
Conceived bearing the lion strain of the virus, Roan is the only fully functioning virus child in the country—maybe in the world. But that doesn’t mean he’s okay. He’s still struggling with the death of his husband and the guilt of finding new love; his old enemy, the Church of the Divine Transformation, is becoming increasingly hostile; and he’s taken on a tragic cold case involving a long-missing boy.
As Roan fights to control the lion inside him, his world explodes with all kinds of trouble. The leader of the church is ramping up the violence against him, calling Roan out as a traitor to his kind. There’s a loose Infected terrorizing the city. And Holden, male prostitute and Roan’s unofficial assistant, brings him a case involving the suspicious death of one of Holden’s clients, which puts Roan far too close to a murderer for his state of mind….
Review:
Roan McKichan is a man in free fall, his body doing little more than floating along in a gravitational pull between grief over the loss of Paris, and the virus that continues to morph inside him in unexpected ways. He is a man who has jumped from an airplane at fifteen-thousand feet and can’t seem to decide whether it’s worth the effort to pull the ripcord on his parachute. Roan is a man reincarnated—but it seems, at times, he might have forgotten to come back from the dead.
The thumbnail overview of the fourth installment in the Infected series is that Roan’s life is at a turning point, and, honestly, I have no idea where Andrea Speed will take him. Freefall brings the series to an arc in which the focus is on whether Roan can find a reason to keep living, or whether he should just give up and join Paris in the afterlife—and whether his virus would even allow him to do that, as it seems as though it’s becoming its own entity.
Roan’s conflict and the depressive state he currently calls home give this book a rather mournful quality, which works perfectly as a foil to everyone around him—his lover, Dylan; his ex, Dee; his assistant, Fiona; his could-be-good something or other, Holden—who are trying desperately to help a man who isn’t sure he wants to be saved.
Roan is still going through the motions of life, but his private investigating and the cases he accepts in this book take a secondary role to his personal struggle, except for the two instance in which the case and his private life directly intersect; the first being when the Church of the Divine Transformation, the cult that equates the virus with divinity, decides that Roan is a threat that needs to be eliminated; the second being when Holden hires him to investigate the death of a john, which lands Roan in the hospital, for better or for…worse? We shall see.
Freefall leaves some loose threads to be tied up as the series moves forward, not the least of which is what exactly is Roan becoming? And will it be good or bad for him, in the end? Will Dylan be the man who can inspire Roan and convince him that a future is worth fighting for? And how will Holden Krauss fit into the scheme? Makes me wish book #5 was ready to hit the presses, like, yesterday.
In spite of the sense of doom and gloom in this installment, Andrea Speed manages to infuse the story with plenty of her trademark humor—gotta love the fact that, regardless of what Roan is going through, his smartass is always residing somewhere just beneath the surface, maybe somewhere in the neutral zone between the human and the lion. The man truly is a hybrid.
While I can’t say this is my favorite book in the series, to date, I can say that it’s not to be missed.
Reviewed By: Lisa
We’ve Got Andrea Speed Here Today, And Yes, She’s Giving Away Goodies!
11 Nov 2011 16 Comments
in Andrea Speed, authors, publishers, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing
Thanks so much for taking the time to be with us today, Andrea. Why don’t we start by having you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I was born middle aged, the son of a turd farmer and a Morlock in the abandoned time portal of the Mole People …
Oh, wait, you wanted the real answer? This is more fun. My background is currently kind of green, but it was off white before I painted it.
When did you discover your passion for writing? Was there someone in particular who encouraged and inspired your love of storytelling?
My grandmother was a writer, a struggling writer most of her life, but reading was heavily encouraged in my family. We never had a lot of money, but we had lots of books, and I was always going to the library. In fact, I can’t stress enough what wonderful things libraries are, and how desperately every community needs one. Support yours today. (No, I don’t work at a library. I just think they’re fantastic.)
What was your first book and how long did it take for it to be published?
Infected: Prey was my first published book, and it was a couple of years between completion and publishing.
Is there a particular sub-genre in which you enjoy writing more than others? (i.e. paranormal vs. historical vs. contemporary)
I get a huge kick out of writing horror and mysteries. I love going dark and getting into action sequences, for reasons I don’t fully understand. Writing a really good action scene gives me an adrenaline rush.
Do you prefer writing in the 1st or the 3rd person? What advantages do you see in writing in one vs. the other?
I prefer the third, because it allows you to open up the story to other points of view. First person is kind of limiting, although really it depends on the writer. Some people can do marvelous things with first person perspective. It’s all a matter of taste and what the story demands. For instance, if I switched to first person in the Infected series, I think it might be dreadful. I love Roan, but he’s a cynical depressive, and his narration might be draining. At least I can parcel it out in the narrative form I’ve chosen, and change P.O.V. from time to time.
How long does it generally take for you to finish a manuscript?
It depends on so many things, from the story to the amount of time I have. It can be anywhere from a few months to a year or so.
How much creative input do you have in the cover design for your books?
Not much. I mean, I have a general say, an up or down “yes/no”, but knowing me and my affinity for grotesque imagery, I think it’s best my input is limited.
Do you write full time? If not, how many hours per day do you attempt to dedicate to your writing?
I wish I could, but my writing time varies per day. I try to put in at least three hours.
Do you typically outline your plots before you begin the writing process, or do you write in a more freestyle fashion?
I know the plot and how it goes as I start a story, but I don’t do a proper outline. Characters are going to do what they want, so I always make sure there’s room for them to move and do their own thing. Which I hope doesn’t sound completely insane. (Eh, it probably does. I’m cool with it.)
How much do your characters resemble you and the people you know?
I think there’s probably a little of me in most characters, if I’m to be brutally honest. Not always good things either. As for other people … occasionally I do use other people as character templates, and I’ve cathartically killed off people who have seriously pissed me off, but I think I’ve changed them up enough that they won’t recognize themselves and sue me.
How much do you draw upon your own life experiences in your writing?
It depends. My memory is extremely poor, so I have to rely on my imagination more often than not.
What has been the most difficult topic you’ve ever approached in your writing?
Probably the death of a loved one. Writing random deaths isn’t that hard at all, but when you’re dealing with someone close to you, who has been an integral part of your life, that’s just an emotional gut punch, even if it’s a fictional character.
Of all the characters you’ve created, do you have one in particular who stands out among the others as a favorite? If so, who and why?
That’s like picking out a favorite kid. It’s hard to do, and the answer can be in flux, depending on circumstances. But I suppose Roan is one of the easiest voices for me to slip into. I know him inside and out, what drives him and why he does what he does, even if I want to beat him senseless sometimes. I suppose you have to love your troubled children more than most, because if you don’t, who will?
When someone reads one of your books for the first time, what do you hope they take away from it?
Entertainment. I’m not sure I have a message beyond don’t be a dick to other people. So I just hope you enjoy.
Are you surprised by the ever growing female fan-base of Male/Male fiction?
Not really. Women are likely to be readers than men anyways, right? Reading is seen as “unmanly” or some damn stupid thing, which it isn’t. But you’re going to get me started on the bewildering strain of anti-intellectualism in popular culture, and who cares? So no; my answer is no, I’m not.
When did you begin writing in the Male/Male genre? What about it interests you the most?
I never really made the conscious decision to do that. I don’t think too much about genres, I just write whatever story occurs to me. The published version of Infected: Prey is actually my second official go at the main story. When I originally wrote the story, the lead was a woman, but something wasn’t working about the story, so I set it aside. Going over it again, about a year or so later, I realized the character was the wrong gender. It had to be a man in this role, a gay man, and when I wrote that story, it worked perfectly. You need the right character for the right story, and that’s how that happened. The original female lead still exists in the story in a way – that’s Randi, Roan and Paris’s accountant friend. She could star in her own story easily, but not the one I envisioned for Infected: Prey.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received with respect to the art of writing? How did it change the way you approach your craft?
Always write, always read. That’s it. It sounds simple, and it is, but it can be easy to forget.
Will you share three things you’ve learned about the business of writing since your first publication?
Be patient. Have a good sense of communication with your editor. Don’t be afraid to fight for something, but pick your battles judiciously.
If you were to offer a word of advice to a new author just starting out, what would it be?
The same advice I found valuable – always write, always read. Don’t expect overnight success, as writing is like a muscle: you get better as you go along. So start and keep going. Stumbles are inevitable, but only fatal if you allow them to be.
Do you generally have the titles of your work planned before you begin writing, or does that occur later on in the writing process?
Titles are the hardest thing for me. Why I don’t know, but I usually labor with titles. If I can borrow one from a song title, I will.
What is the question you’re most frequently asked by your fans?
Who are you? Ha ha! Umm, no, I suppose it’s why did I kill off a certain character, who will remain nameless in case someone considers it a spoiler. My answer is thus: Because he was dying, albeit slowly, from the beginning, and since I wanted to ground the series is some kind of internal realism, this had to happen. I didn’t like it either, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to write, but that’s where the story went. Even in fiction, life can be awful sometimes, and people don’t get what they deserve.
What is your most memorable fan experience?
Probably the one who wrote to me and encouraged me to get published when I wasn’t published. They were right.
Digital media—the e-reader/tablet computer/Android apps—is changing the way people access and enjoy books. What pros and/or cons do you see surrounding the business of e-publishing? How do you see digital media evolving in the years to come?
I think e-publishing has made publishing a bit more egalitarian in a way, and certainly allows for a wider audience distribution of your work. But the downside of that is it’s made pirating of your work much easier too. I’m not even going to predict how digital media will change, because whenever I try and predict something, I look like a fool.
When you have the chance to sit down and enjoy some quiet reading time, what sorts of books are you most likely to pick up? Who are your favorite authors?
See, anything that catches my eye. I’m not overly wed to genre even in the stories I read. As for favorite authors, I have way too many, but if Ken Bruen or Jim Shepard put out a new book, I’m all over it.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
Institutionalized. Ha ha! It’s funny because it’s probably sadly true.
Aside from writing, what else do you enjoy doing? Do you have any hobbies?
It’d be cheating to say reading, wouldn’t it? Well, I’m going to cheat and say that.
If time travel were possible, what time period(s) would you most like to visit? Why?
I’m headed to the future, to see if we ever got through our myriad problems, or simply made them worse.
If you had the opportunity to sit down to dinner with one famous person, either past or present, who would you choose and why?
Douglas Adams. I’d love to know if there was something he always meant to write but never got a chance to. Not that I’d steal it. Or Hunter S. Thompson. That would be a trip.
If we were to look around the desk where you sit to write, what would we find there?
An absolute mess! So much detritus. Flash drives and digital cameras and pens and bills and notes. You’d be horrified.
How would you describe your sense of humor? What makes you laugh?
Prevalent, and sometimes unwelcome. I find so much funny I couldn’t possibly list it all here. But humor is essential, and if you don’t laugh every day, you should strive to. If you want recommendations, ask, and I will give them.
Do you have an all time favorite fictional character?
Oh, so many. So I’m going to say no, just to spare the readers.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Hmm. People who think they know everything when they clearly don’t. And houseflies.
Do you have a favorite personal mantra, quote, or saying that describes your outlook on life and the way you approach each day?
There’s several quotes, mostly from Douglas Adams and Hunter S. Thompson, but I have to admit one mantra has stuck with me a lot. In the book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence, he describes a bomb going off prematurely and shrapnel burying itself very near his … John Thomas (ouch!) and yet he still had to limp back to the Arab line, while the Arabs and Turks were exchanging fire. In his head, he was thinking “Oh, I wish that hadn’t happened” and using it as a mantra, which struck me as such a proper British way of thinking “Holy shit!” that I utterly adored it. Such an under-reaction to a dire situation that I think we all should adopt it. That and the “It just doesn’t matter!” chant from Meatballs. You’d be surprised at how relaxed you are if you convince yourself it just doesn’t matter.
Do you speak more than one language? If so, which one(s)?
No, but I do know a little Yiddish. Just words here and there; I’m a dilettante.
Of all the modern conveniences, which one would you most likely say you couldn’t live without?
A computer. No question.
Do you have any new projects coming up you’d care to share with us?
My hardboiled detective novella, The Little Death just came out, and October 30th, Riptide Publishing released Pretty Monsters, the first in a line of short stories known as the “Josh of the Damned” cycle. It’s a cute little comedy/horror/romance about a guy who works the late shift in a convenience store, where there’s a hell vortex in the parking lot, meaning he has monsters coming in all night. I just love the idea, and I think I could have a great deal of fun with this universe. Farther down the line, there will be a new novel in the Infected series, Infected: Freefall, due out early next year, and a fantasy novel for Riptide called Strange Angels. Farther on down the road, there’s a prequel called Infected: Paris in the works.
Thank you again for spending some time with us, Andrea Speed. Will you tell us where we can find you on the Internet?
www.andreaspeed.com . But I have social networking pages galore!
http://twitter.com/#!/aspeed
https://plus.google.com/109420358312270961913/posts
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrea-Speed/161826617217710
http://redemptionreef.wordpress.com/
And we’d love if you’d share a favorite excerpt from one of your books with us.
This is from Infected: Prey, and I just love how Paris can’t stop ribbing Roan about a past romantic interlude:
By the time Roan was nearly done with his eggs, Paris asked, “So are
you going to tell me why you looked at that pic of Ryan and Cooper
funny?”
Damn it. There was no getting away with anything in this house, was
there? He could have lied, but why? No point. “I had a one-nighter with
Ryan a couple years ago. I didn’t know he was married.”
Paris laughed, wiping down the countertop so he couldn’t see the
evil look Roan was now giving him. “Oh shit. That’s going to be an
awkward confrontation. So, was he any good?”
Only Paris would have asked that. And the fact that Roan had to
think about it pretty much answered the question. All sex was, by
definition, good, but if you couldn’t recall it instantly, if it was completely
lost to you, it couldn’t have been very good. “He was astoundingly
average. I wasn’t drunk, but I barely remember it. I only recalled him
because I’ve never been picked up in a sports bar before or since.”
Paris finally looked at him, a disbelieving grin lighting up his face.
“A sports bar? What the hell were you doing in a sports bar?”
“It was open and had beer.”
Paris shook his head and went back to stacking the dishwasher. “You
think you know a guy, and he does something like that. What’s next, a
tractor pull?”
“I’m going now,” he said tartly, swigging down the rest of his
Frappuccino, hiding his smile.
“Oh, I know,” Paris continued to taunt him. “Monster trucks. Maybe
a duck hunt!”
He was saved by the phone, which rang and cut off any further
teasing. The fact that caller I.D. identified the caller as Sikorski didn’t
discourage him at the moment. “Hey, Gordo, what do you got for me?”
“Good news, in a way. Eli’s bite print matched a mauling we had a
couple days ago.”
That was good news? “What?”
“A homeless man was mauled in Sprague Park the night before
yesterday; he’s still in the hospital but they think he’s going to make it.
Anyways, Eli’s bite print matches the bites on his arms and legs, so we can
hold him and charge him for assault and being unrestrained. We have a
pool going, see how mad we can make Stovak before that vein in his
forehead finally explodes.”
“Is he aware of this? He might sue.”
“Not if he’s in a hospital with an aneurysm he won’t.”
Roan smirked at the thought. When Guy got really angry, a little vein
did start to pulse in his forehead, like it was a second heart. But Roan had
gotten him pretty upset, and it had never gotten close to exploding (not for
lack of trying). He wished the PD luck. “Got anything on Henstridge for
me?”
“Uh, no. He was a decent cop, retired out early ’cause of his son’s
health problems; his wife died a while back, and he was the only one
around to take care of him. Last known address we have for him is 1725
Longview.”
That was the address of the little clapboard house that was currently
up for sale. Quietly, Paris said, “Super Bowl party,” and Roan flipped him
off.
Leave a comment for Andrea today (11/11/11) before 11:59pm Eastern, and you’ll be entered for the chance to win a copy of Infected: Prey or Making Contact. Good luck!
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The Little Death by Andrea Speed
04 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Andrea Speed, Dreamspinner Tags: Andrea Speed, Dreamspinner Press
Title: The Little Death
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 128
Characters: Jake Falconer, Kyle Gomez
POV: 1st Person
Sub-Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
Jake Falconer, a hard-boiled detective in Echo City, is struggling with his love of booze, a square ex (and a cop, no less) he can’t get over, and a murdered partner. In sashays Sloane, an homme fatal whose twin brother has gone missing. The search leads them to a sex club used for blackmailing the city’s most powerful, and soon Jake finds himself hip deep in sex and danger—it’s a good thing he’s no stranger to slogging through either.
Review:
Echo City is in the hip pocket of noted crime boss Richard “Tricky Dick” Blunt—cops, elected officials, the wealthy and influential—are each, in a variety of ways, on the hook to the man. He knows their secrets, after all, the sort of secrets that can destroy a career and a life in a moment.
Jake Falconer is one of the good guys—flawed, yes, but he’s on the right side of the law. Mostly. His methods may be questionable but he uses his influence for good rather than evil, so he gets a pass for bending the rules a bit. Jake’s a private investigator and has recently lost his partner in a hail of gunfire, after which the crime was swept under the proverbial rug. There are a lot of questions yet to be answered, chief among them being who put the hit out on Spencer, and why? But the cops don’t seem all too enthusiastic to search further for the answers that died with the gunman.
Jake’s current case seems pretty benign on the surface; all he needs to do is find one Sander Granger, missing twin brother of the pouty, pretty, and potentially problematic Sloane Granger, who isn’t at all what he seems to be beneath the veneer of manipulative seduction. And therein lays the problem for Jake, who quickly discovers that he has gotten himself into a situation that’s being driven by something far more sinister and dangerous than a simple missing person case. Hustling, a private sex club, drugs, and extortion are all waiting to come out and bite him, and they do—hard.
Andrea Speed gets in touch with her inner noir in The Little Death, a great read from ”I knew he was trouble the moment he walked in the door” to ”Yep, things were indeed looking up.” Though the setting is contemporary, the atmosphere of this novella is pure classic mystery, the only thing missing was the fedora and the trench coat.
Jake Falconer is the perfect antihero, who I loved from the moment he spoke his first words. He’s the atypical hardboiled fictional detective: drinks too much, hasn’t been too lucky in love, is far from perfect, doesn’t always catch on to the details too quickly, but he’s absolutely nothing if not tenacious.
This is one of those books that I absolutely didn’t want to put down, I didn’t want to end, but when it did, I was excited to see that it looked like we’d be hearing more from Jake Falconer, I hope soon.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Pretty Monsters (Josh of the Damned: Book #1) by Andrea Speed
16 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Andrea Speed, authors, publishers, Riptide Publishing Tags: Andrea Speed, Riptide Publishing
Title: Pretty Monsters (Josh of the Damned: Book #1)
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Pages: 15 (.pdf)
Characters: Josh, Colin
POV: 3rd Person
Sub-Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
Josh knew the night shift at the Quik-Mart would be full of freaks and geeks—and that was before the hell portal opened in the parking lot. Still, he likes to think he can roll with things. Sure, the zombies make a mess sometimes, but at least they never reach for anything more threatening than frozen burritos.
Besides, it’s not all lizard-monsters and the walking dead. There’s also the mysterious hottie with the sly red lips and a taste for sweets.
Josh has had the hots for Hot Guy since the moment he laid eyes on him, and it seems Hot Guy might be sweet on Josh too. Now if only Josh could figure out whether that’s a good thing, a bad thing, or something in between. After all, with a hell vortex just a stone’s throw away, Josh has learned to take nothing at face value—even if it’s a very, very pretty face.
Review:
Well, Andrea Speed is just a big tease. I mean, really, who does this to a person, writes a beautiful little morsel like this filled with lizard creatures, zombies, and who knows what other manner of the dead, undead, and whatever lies between, then slams the hell portal in my face just when it’s getting good? Apparently, Andrea Speed does, that’s who.
And thank the muse she did, because Pretty Monsters opens the reader up to a new world, where strange things are afoot at the Quik-Mart, which happens to serve as the one stop shop for all those creatures that bump around in the night to get their junk food fix on.
It’s also the place where we meet Josh, a guy who gets hazard pay for working the overnight shift. It’s the place where we learn of his obsession with Hot Guy, who turns out to be Colin, a regular customer with a sweet tooth, who’s anything but average, and comes into the store to stock up on candy and drive Josh a little bit crazy with lust. And it seems the attraction may be entirely mutual after a sultry little encounter in the freezer section. Oh yes, it appears Colin wants his sugar with a little bit of Josh on the side.
What does that mean for Josh? Ah, that remains to be seen because that’s exactly where we’re left spinning in the hell vortex called To Be Continued, and waiting does feel a little bit like hell, I must say.
If you’ve read the Infected series, though, you already know you’re in very capable hands, so write, Andrea Speed, write.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Infected: Life After Death (Infected #3) by Andrea Speed
13 Jun 2011 6 Comments
in Andrea Speed, authors Tags: Andrea Speed
Title: Infected: Life After Death (Infected #3)
Author: Andrea Speed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 350
Characters: Roan McKichan, Dylan Harlow
POV: 3rd person
Setting: Contemporary
Sub-Genre: Urban Fantasy
Cover Rating: 5
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.
But when your heart is gone, it’s easy to fall into a black hole and never crawl out. Roan has been lost and alone for more than a year, and his best friends think a new case might be just the motivation he needs. Roan forces himself back into the game and discovers a dead man who might not be all that dead, a street hustler that wants to hustle him, and a dominatrix who is well prepared to take Roan’s orders. As Roan claws his way out of the darkness by diving back into his work, he finds himself in a race against time in the adrenaline-pumping realization that nothing helps a person want to live like helping someone else survive.
Review:
I’m going to admit that I went into this installment of the Infected series with no small amount of anxiety. And maybe just a wee bit of reluctance. Read Infected: Prey and Infected: Bloodlines and you’ll know why. I’m still not sure if I’ve recovered entirely.
Yes, to start, it was every bit as difficult as I’d feared; yet, at the same time, Infected: Life After Death became an affirmation that even when you take a pass on living, life rarely takes a pass on you, especially when there are people who are determined to make sure you continue to exist in whatever way you can; until one day, you finally find the strength to manage the days which suddenly become years, then find the connection to life that maybe begins to feel a little like hope.
Roan McKichan’s loss has altered his very being, his grief manifesting itself into the driving force that dictates the flow of his days and nights. Yet love, though the loved one may be gone from his life, continues to direct Roan’s journey, through his friends, through his subconscious. All it takes is one timely connection, one person who understands, one person who gets that Roan needs to cope with his sorrow in his own time and in his own way that becomes an unexpected gift. Roan finds the one person who, when he’d so aggressively given up on his life, made him feel like he might want to take it back again.
As a small but devoted group of friends helps Roan to emerge from a place a bit too close to insanity, he finds he must learn how to make his way through the collateral damage of what is left of his life, and finds that, through his job as a private investigator, sometimes other people’s lives can give yours a run for the money on the devastation scale. It’s a kinship that only those who’ve waded through the flotsam and survived can understand.
In typical Andrea Speed fashion, she has managed to combine a cracking good set of investigative cases in this urban fantasy setting, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure.
These characters are entirely human—even when they’re not entirely human—and have come to life on the page. They’ve drawn me into their world so effortlessly that it’s difficult to remember a time when I didn’t know who they were, and now, all I want is to know them better.
This book begins in despair and ends with a cautious optimism that has me longing for book #4 in the series. Roan and Dylan’s story is just beginning; will it thrive? Only Andrea Speed knows that for sure, and I for one cannot wait to see where she takes them.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Spending Time With Andrea Speed
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Andrea Speed Tags: Andrea Speed
Nearly everything. I do read lots of mystery and horror, but humor aswell, and I do love short story collections. I also read quite a few graphicnovels, and I’d be happy to recommend some for anyone. There are not genres,not just superhero, although I could recommend some there too. 
