09.07.10
Posted in Reading, Writing at 3:22 pm by Jess
Yes, folks, somehow it crept up on me. Today is release day for NOCTURNAL!
If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, you can find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc, etc, etc. I do hope you all love Arnold and Sara’s story in SPARK OF TEMPTATION!
Now, I know a lot of the visitors to my blog are also looking forward to some of the awesome urban fantasy and paranormal books being released today–NO MERCY by Sherrilyn Kenyon, FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan, and DUST by Joan Francis Turner, just to name a few–but let’s take a moment to get serious and talk about your safety.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that survival guides aren’t for everyone. Boy scouts and camping/hunting enthusiasts are the usual crowd for those sorts of books, right?
Even if you don’t think survival guides are for you, I do encourage you to read on as I am bringing an important book to your attention. I do care about your safety and well being! Which is why I’m bringing up that I’m sharing a release day with the fabulous Chuck Sambuchino of Guide to Literary Agents fame. He’s provided us with an essential step-by-step guide that no one with a lawn should be without–How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will).
If you haven’t taken any preventative measures to protect yourself from the common garden gnome, then you need this book.
Be sure to swing by Guide to Literary Agents to congratulate Chuck on his release! And pick up your copies of our books today!
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08.20.10
Posted in Writing at 1:22 am by Jess
Natasha’s been a busy girl! *g* You know that review she did of HUNTED that I posted about yesterday? Seems she read both books in a marathon session to get reviews of both books done ASAP.
Curious what she thinks of TAKEN BY THE OTHERS? Go check it out! No spoilers, I promise.
Can I just put it out there how excited I am for this book to come out? I’m sure every author goes through this with their books, but let me tell you what the upcoming release of TAKEN means to me:
HUNTED was my first published novel, so I can see progress in my writing style in TAKEN (as well as #3, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, but that’s getting a bit ahead of myself…). From the reviewers who took a chance on me from the start (Judi, Abigail, Tyhitia, and the rest–you know who you are!) to those who are newly discovering my books every day (hi Tori, Tynga, and Sullivan! *g*), it makes me immensely proud every time I hear about how much they enjoyed my work. I’m thrilled to share Shia’s story, more so to see what others think of her “growing pains” as she learns more about the Others. Of course, there’s a great deal more depth to her relationships with Chaz and Royce in this next book, as well as a fresh look through her eyes at this new world she’s living in. I’d like to hope that those who go on to read it see that, too, and continue to see it in the books to come.
I’m very, very excited to share this new story with everyone, and though I know the wait for most on the official book release is long (AUGH, January 4, 2011?!), I do hope you find it worthwhile. My goal is to entertain–and if I’ve lived up to that, like any author, I always love to hear about it. Some of those reviews made some very tough days for me pass a little easier. I may not always say anything about them, but it doesn’t mean I don’t notice or care.
Thanks again to Natasha, and all the other reviewers who have and will post reviews of my work. Your input and the word of mouth you spread has led to many wonderful people picking up HUNTED, inviting me to do guest posts and interviews, and even sending me fan mail. Though it may not seem as much, your time and effort in spreading the word really has been invaluable. It means the world to me. Thank you.
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08.19.10
Posted in Writing at 12:56 pm by Jess
Hot off the press, the fabulous Sullivan McPig weighed in on HUNTED BY THE OTHERS:
I love this book. It’s well written, has a great, fast-paced storyline and tons of cool characters. I really like the world Haines created, which, even though comparable with lots of other Urban Fantasy worlds, is still unique by small details Haines added to it. Shiarra is a character I can relate to: she has her fears and doubts about herself and the people/creatures around her, but where in some books these fears are often unrealistic or not explained, Haines gives enough background and insight in Shiarra’s mind that you share her fears which for me lead to a deeper involvement in the story. Which leads me to the one negative thing I could say about this book: I’m eager for more, but the release of book 2 – Taken by the Others (January 2011)- is much too far away in my opinion!
Also, the lovely Natasha of Wicked Little Pixie fame (hope those computer woes are over soon!) had some nice things to say about HUNTED BY THE OTHERS:
Hunted By Others is the first book in Jess Haines H & W Investigation Series and while I expected to enjoy it, I didn’t think it would turn into a five hour cover to cover marathon! I love when I get so involved in a book that time seems to fly by and it totally did while I was reading.
Right from the start I was drawn in, especially since Shiarra has all sorts of issues with Others. The Others came out of the “closet” right after 9/11 and while most of the population is okay with them, some are still pretty nervous around them, Shiarra included. The timing of the Others coming out made a lot of sense, they came out just after 9/11..the Weres to help find victims of the WTC attacks and vamps/mages to help with the financial impact 9/11 had. That alone made it a little bit more realistic to me as not many books deal with what people think of all these paranormal creatures coming out into the open. Shiarra has a hefty dose of fear that most of us would have, especially when she finds out her ex-boyfriend is a Were. Of course he chose the worst possible time to come out to her and she was scared to death.
Speaking of that ex, Chaz is a great character but I could feel all sorts of sexual tension between Alec Royce (vampire) right from Shiarra and his first meeting. I can’t wait to read more about how their relationship or lack there of turns out. There are a bunch of great characters in the book, even a magical belt…where can I get me one of those?
Thank you, guys, your reviews were great and very much appreciated!
You can also check out a guest post by me on the subject of editing over at Dawn Chartier’s blog. Thanks for having me, Dawn!
I’m almost done with WARRIOR SOUL, and will post a review on it soon. What’re the rest of you up to this week? Read any good books lately?
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08.16.10
Posted in Writing at 11:48 pm by Jess
These are the kinds of reviews I love to stumble across! Courtesy of Sam’s Book Blog on my first book, HUNTED BY THE OTHERS:
What a great start to a new series! I was hooked with this book from the beginning. Shiarra is a private investigator that is in a bit over her head. She is a human dealing with vampires, mages, and werewolfs…all considered to be Others with supernatural talents and abilities. And they all seem to want something from her except that she is unsure as to what, and all she knows for sure is that it can’t be good. Shiarra is a great main character and her adventures were fun to read about. She comes across realistically, a bit unsure of herself but willing to put herself out there for those that she cares about. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well which I thought really helped to make the story even better. Her ex-boyfriend is a werewolf, she gets help from a mage, and her partner is a normal human. It made for an interesting cast of characters in my opinion. The plot itself was fast paced and I was instantly caught within the story. I literally flew through this book and couldn’t read it fast enough which meant staying up extra late to read it. I’m excited to read more of Shiarra’s adventures and am looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.
Bottom Line: For me this would be a must read for any urban fantasy fan!
Thank you, Sam! This is exactly the kind of review that gives this author warm fuzzy-bunny feelings. You totally made my day. <3
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08.12.10
Posted in Writing at 1:00 pm by Jess
To counter the craptacularity of losing my past blog posts (ARGH), I thought I’d share a little bit of good news.
I received my 50 author copies of NOCTURNAL! WOO HOO!
For anyone who hasn’t heard about it yet, it’s an anthology that has a novella by me, Jacquelyn Frank, Kate Douglas, and Clare Willis. Here’s the info from the back cover:
Surrendering to otherworldly desire has never been so dangerous—and deliciously satisfying…
“The Phoenix Project” by Jacquelyn Frank
Held captive, Amara is subjected to bizarre experiments that test the limits of her sanity. But nothing prepares her for being locked away—naked—with a sexy ex-cop…after they’ve been pumped full of drugs that increase their sexual appetites to animalistic intensity…
“Crystal Dreams” by Kate Douglas
When Lemurian Guard Darius chases a demon spirit to Earth, he faces a lethal battle between good and evil. His ally is Mari, a breathtakingly beautiful human who unknowingly holds the key to victory. But before the war is over, Darius’s desire for his mortal companion threatens to erupt—and could cost Mari her life…
“Spark of Temptation” by Jess Haines
Blackmailed into taking a treacherous case, P.I. Sara Halloway is thrust into a demon war. Sara seeks guidance from a charismatic mage, but their hunger for one another soon becomes a deadly distraction…and the danger surrounding them only makes their urges more powerful…
“My Soul to Take” by Clare Willis
New Orleans native Dr. Maggie Dillon thought she left her past behind her—until she’s enraptured by a handsome patient who has been possessed by a malevolent spirit. To find a cure, Colby revisits her magical roots—and unleashes a primal lust too vital to ignore…
It releases in September. You can preorder from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc.
Can I just say—YAAAAY!!
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