Monday, July 30, 2012

Redemption Blog Tour, Giveaway, Guest Post and Book Review!



REDEMPTION
Book One Penton Legacy series
By Susannah Sandlin
Following a worldwide pandemic whose vaccine left human blood deadly to vampires, the vampire community is on the verge of starvation and panic. Some have fanned into rural areas, where the vaccine was less prevalent, and are taking unsuspecting humans as blood slaves. Others are simply starving, which for a vampire is worse than death—a raging hunger in a creature too weak to feed.

Immune to these struggles—at first—is Penton, a tiny community in rural Chambers County, Alabama, an abandoned cotton mill town that has been repopulated by charismatic vampire Aidan Murphy, his scathe of 50 vampires, and their willingly bonded humans. Aidan has recruited his people carefully, believing in a peaceful community where the humans are respected and the vampires retain a bit of their humanity.

But an unresolved family feud and the paranoia of the Vampire Tribunal descend on Penton in the form of Aidan’s brother, Owen Murphy. Owen has been issued a death warrant that can only be commuted if he destroys Penton—and Aidan, against whom he’s held a grudge since both were turned vampire in 17th-century Ireland.  Owen begins a systematic attack on the town, first killing its doctor, then attacking one of Aidan’s own human familiars

To protect his people, Aidan is forced to go against his principles and kidnap an unvaccinated human doctor—and finds himself falling in love for the first time since the death of his wife in Ireland centuries ago. 

Dr. Krystal Harris, forced into a world she never knew existed, must face up to her own abusive past to learn if the feelings she’s developing for her kidnapper are real—or just a warped, supernatural kind of Stockholm Syndrome in which she’s allowing herself to become a victim yet again.

Susannah Sandlin’s REDEMPTION is the first in the Penton Legacy series. Book two, ABSOLUTION, will be out September 18, and book three, OMEGA, on December 18.





About the Author:

Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch, and always fancied herself living in Cornwall (although she’s never actually been there). Details, details. She also is a fan of Stephen King. The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana. Her novel Redemption won the paranormal romance category in the 2011 Chicago North RWA Fire and Ice contest, and is the first of three in a series that debuts this year.Website/Blog: http://www.susannahsandlin.com





Guest Post:
The Vampire Summer Olympics: Meet
the Gold Medalists?

Already tired of 24/7 Olympics coverage? Well I, for one, am petitioning the International Olympic Committee to host the new Vampire Olympics. Just think of the marketing possibilities: The Olympics that Bite. Blood Games. These Olympics Don’t Suck. Well, you get the idea.

Here are some suggested events, and who I think would win. In order to remain unbiased, I have intentionally not included any of my own vampires in the list, although I see some possibilities, and rest assured they’ll be in training for the next Games.

Vampire Olympic Event: Brooding
Gold Medalist: Bill Compton (Southern Vampires). What a whiner. Soo-kay did well to rid herself of Vampire Bill.
Runner-up: Edward Cullen (Twilight). Seriously. Get over yourself, kid—go off and sparkle somewhere.

Vampire Olympic Event: Iron Man
Gold Medalist: Rhage (Black Dagger Brotherhood). Six-eight, 280 pounds, and can turn into a dragon. What more could you want, really?
Runner-up: Jean-Claude (Anita Blake). Iron man is more than just physical strength, and Jean-Claude has some scary powers, including the ability to control werewolves. If he’d ditch that unhealthy infatuation with Anita, he’d be at the top.

Vampire Olympic Event: Hair and Style
Gold Medalist: Pam (Southern Vampires). Pam is cute, preppy, and snarks to kill. Everybody wants to be Pam’s friend. Well, unless she has you for dinner.
Runner-up: Jean-Claude (Anita Blake). The man has long, dark curls and a never-ending supply of vintage velvet and lace. And swings not only both ways but every-which way.

Vampire Olympic Event: Scheming and Plotting
Gold Medalist: Eric Northman (Southern Vampires). And he’s been scheming since his days as a Viking, so he’s very, very good at it.
Runner-up: Legion. Truly, most vampires excel in this category because they’ve often had centuries with nothing else to do. Eric’s not necessarily better at it, just more entertaining.

Vampire Olympic Event: Drinking (non-blood category)
Gold Medalist: Vishous (Black Dagger Brotherhood), representing Grey Goose Vodka. My man V would also win the Whips and Floggers category, if there were one.
Runner-up: Butch O’Neill (Black Dagger Brotherhood), but only because V’s had more years to overindulge.


Vampire Olympic Event: Vampire Special Olympics
Gold Medalist: Wrath (Black Dagger Brotherhood). He might be blind but he sees what you’re up to. True dat.
Runner-up: Phury (Black Dagger Brotherhood). He’s missing a leg? Who needs two legs?

Head Coach: Bones, aka Crispin (Night Huntress). I mean did you see how the man, er, vampire ran poor Cat into the ground? Bones knows how to crack a whip.
Assistant Coach: Ivy Tamwood (Hollows). Ivy can devise the game plans, print out instructions, draw maps, and be finished in time for a quick sip of blood before dinner.

The Vampire Olympic Games are held in loving memory of Kisten Phelps. Those of you who’ve read Kim Harrison’s Hollows series know why.

How about you? Other events you can think of? Who would win?


My Thoughts and Review:

It is no secret that I love reading about vampires. I really have no idea why I am so drawn to stories about them.

Maybe it is the whole idea of good versus evil. Of how love can conquer all or maybe I just like watching them battle with trying to fight the darkness inside and (usually) winning.

Either way, I am drawn to them. And while I love reading about them so much, I also love reading new and different ideas and theories about them because lets face it, no matter how much you love something, the same ole same ole gets tiring and even boring after awhile.

Which might also be why the idea and storyline of Redemption appealed to me so much. I liked the idea of a pandemic sweeping the population of the human world and the side effects of it on the humans blood their blood toxic to vamps, therefore putting their lives (or undead existence) in jeopardy.

And of course, the big bad alpha male falling in love, is always a fun story line as well. :P

This book did not disappoint. Krys and Aidan were great characters, both with a past that was less than stellar at times and both has a lot to overcome.

I absolutely loved their romance and the storyline about vampires was pretty darn entertaining and kept me turning the pages wanting more. I found that once I picked this book up, I had a really hard time putting it down.

I truly didn't want it to end. I don't always find myself saying that at the end of vamp books, I would like to say I love them all and that they are all original but lets face it, they aren't. But this one truly is. It has enough new stuff in it to captivate and enough of the other stuff I like in other vamp books I have enjoyed to make it even better and to pull me into even more.

This is a series and author that I will be keeping on eye on. I liked the writing style, the characters, the storyline..pretty much all of it.

I will be watching and anxiously awaiting the next book.

I give this one 4.5 Stars!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below to win a copy (e-book or paperback) of Redemption and a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!!


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5 comments:

  1. oh i see Bones perfect in that roles ^^ but we would take a risk too several could prefer to flee that to endure one of his training ^^

    special power match could be fun too

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  2. Oh I agree! Bones would be a great match!

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  3. Bones would be a scary coach--he almost killed Cat a couple of times!

    Thanks for dropping by, Miki, and for the awesome review and hosting me today, @Kindlemom!

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  4. The vampire olympics now that is something to think about! Very witty post. I love books with that Southern feel and I hope this one echoes that. I am glad it was such a riveting read, Ali.

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  5. You are so welcome Susannah!

    And yes Heidi, a fun post and very fitting for this time of year with the Olympics!!

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