Review : So Still the Night by Kim Lenox

Today it is my supreme pleasure to pass along my review of Kim Lenox 's second novel in her Shadow Guard series, So Still the Night. For those just arriving to The Vortex, Lenox's debut novel, Night Falls Darkly, became one of my favorite reads of 2008 and earned a coveted place on my keeper shelf (and remember, I don't have the dreamy shelves that take up expansive real estate yet). I anticipated this latest release, doubting if any sophmore entry into the paranormal romance genre could be as satisfying as her first. How wrong I was to worry. So Still the Night exceeded my hopes.

Marcus Helios, an immortal member of the elite Shadow Guards tasked with reclaiming the most wicked and depraved human souls, rose to a supreme level of self-sacrifice when he exchanged one heroic act for his sanity. In danger of transcending and being hunted in Victorian London by the very order who seeks to rid the world of his kind, his only hope to return to the Guard's graces lies encoded in an ancient scroll in the hands of a beautiful woman named Mina, who'll protect her father's archaeological legacy at all costs. This time, Jack the Ripper's jilted lover, The Dark Bride, preys on Mark's ever-present descent into madness, threatening to forever exile him to the dark side to await his assassination.

Though on the surface, Mark seems a more refined and sophisticated hero than Night Falls Darkly's Archer, the extent of his inner demons and the irony of him being both savior and sinner make him an irresistible hero. Yes, the cover art Gods shined on Lenox's entire series, but don't let Mark's quasi-Men-Without-Hats-guy appearance fool you. He's devastatingly charming, confident, sensual and tortured. Sign me up!

Lenox's Victorian London holds no wilting flowers, either. As Elena was in book one, Mina is a strong, independent and adventurous heroine, even challenging the hero's sexual prowess when he questions her about her virginity. She wavers confidently between self-preservation and desire, never letting the reader forget how intelligent women navigate challenges of the mind and affairs of the heart.

Lenox's brand of paranormal comes seasoned lightly with a taste of the Gothic, incorporating fog-laden crypts, skeletal flashes of madness, and palpable fear woven seamlessly into unforgettable scenes rife with sexual tension. I doubt I'll look at a hot air balloon the same again. Just sayin'. Her prose is direct when it needs to be, a painted masterpiece of visuals to draw the reader in and passionately true to the genre.

And the best part? I happen to have an extra pristine copy of So Still the Night along with a handful of glossy bookmarks to slide into your summer read. All you have to do is leave a comment in this post by midnight Sunday. I'll draw a name first thing Monday. You don't have to have read Night Falls Darkly to immerse yourself in So Still the Night, but why deny yourself? Find that one, too.

Comment away...

Auctions and Debuts and Bosoms, Oh My

Before I jump into all things books, I want to pass along a link to Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research. Brenda began this tradition many years ago, but it's blossomed into THE place for publishing industry heavy hitters to give back and THE place to browse in May for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. If you haven't yet checked it out this year, go. Now. I'll wait. The bid for Stephen King's Danse Macabre is surprisingly low right now as is the African Safari six-night romantic vacation for two. Be sure to read the fine print. This offer excludes telephone and laundry-a romantic stretch for me. The laundry, not the phone. Seriously, from editor and agent evaluations of your manuscript to signed Aerosmith and Jonas Brothers guitars, there's something for everyone. Have fun browsing!



In other exciting news, aside from being a faithful Vortex reader, Kim Lenox's follow-up to her highly successful debut novel, Night Falls Darkly, hit shelves this week. So Still the Night is the second in her Shadow Guard series, which follows a shadowy order of immortals tasked with tracking down and reclaiming the most evil and depraved mortal souls. I became such a shameless fangirl after book one that So Still the Night has screeched to the forefront of my to-be-read pile for the weekend. Kim's stories are filled with the dark, rich history of true crimes that plagued Victorian London, unforgettable Alpha heroes, steampunk elements and gifted prose. Visit the Silk & Shadows blog and comment before midnight tonight for a chance to win a free copy. You knew there was a reason you had Vortex on feed, right?

Today, I thought I'd share some of the titles in my absurdly large reading pile. Normally, I don't have more than one book going at a time. My mistake was succumbing to the temptation to read just the first paragraph, okay-the first page, holy crap-is it dinner time? So, this weekend, after Kim's book, here's the lineup:
























Notice how physics completely balances out the Smart Bitches humor? And Peter Abraham's young adult novels were my reward for finishing edits. LOVE him like Stephen King does, I do.

What are you reading?

Do's and Don'ts for Wednesday

I would be doing everyone who visits here a disservice not to mention the sheer volume of time travel entertainment that continues to enter mainstream media. Soft market, my-well you know.

Not so much into cop dramas, although I have been known to watch a few moments of Law and Order SVU here and there to try to exact a friend's celebrity crush in my brain. Life on Mars may use time travel as a gimmick to resurrect the detective shows of the 1970s and follows on the heels of the much mourned Journeyman, which actually used time travel as an integral part of the plot. Guess we'll see if this is a Beretta revival capable of surviving in the land of mediocre TV dishes.

A play in Philadelphia called The Dos and Don'ts of Time Travel opened this week. While the protagonist's thesis is that time travel movies all have the same problem-they all suck-the play explores much more than the surface issues of scientific time travel theories. Characters encounter different temporal versions of themselves and are able to trade places. According to Philadelphia Inquirer's Tony Zinman, "Dos and Don'ts isn't a play just about philosophy or film or science; it's also about love and grief and neediness and memory."

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Kim Lenox, a talented writer and frequent visitor to the Vortex, is celebrating her debut novel, Night Falls Darkly, this week. Love, love, love the dark romance. I can't wait to get my hands on it. Here's a tease:

Death is inevitable.
But there are some souls, more wicked and disobedient than most, who defy Death’s claim.
Rebellious souls who must be called to heel.

ARCHER, Lord Black, returns to England at the behest of Queen Victoria to immerse himself in the dark, hellish streets of London’s East End. Among the immortal Shadow Guard, he is the most prolific and cunning of the Reclaimers. He revels in the hunt of his current prey: an ill-mannered, reluctant soul reviled in the daily newspapers as Jack the Ripper. Archer has only one weakness … one distraction … the young woman he spared from death two years before.

ELENA WHITNEY has never wanted for anything – not since coming under the protection of her mysterious and absent guardian, Lord Black, who has gifted her with everything a young woman of quality could ever hope for, including an enviable address, an unlimited income and entrée into the drawing rooms of high society. But now, after nearly two years of indifference, he believes he can sweep into her life and rid himself of her by marrying her off. If he knew anything about her – anything at all – he’d know she had greater aspirations than that.

Be sure to check out Kim's blog for the latest information on booksignings, links to excerpts, contests and the fantastic reviews pouring in for Night Falls Darkly.

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Literary Agent Donald Maas is giving away a free download of his book The Career Novelist, packed with information on everything from breaking into publishing to staying viable in an ever-changing market.

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And finally-maybe because I'm back to staring again at my opening line-I offer up the Top 15 Worst Opening lines of Romance Novels. A cautionary tale for any writer, but funny because there's no way any of them are legit. Sounds like Blazing Saddles meets a group of male writers over tankards of lager. Viva la romance!

Wow, what a great first line discussion. Feel free to continue to add your favorites or comment on the ones already there. Congratulations to Kim Lenox for commenting and receiving a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Be sure to visit her website to learn more about her Shadow Guard series and the October release of Night Falls Darkly. I'll be tapping into her connection with the cover art gods after this one.

Today, I'm scattered. Too many things simmering for any one thought to take hold. So, here's where I am now:

I taped the business card my tarot reader gave me at the Psychic Fair to my monitor. She told me to get my ducks in a row this summer--September would be crazy exciting. Since it's been there, it's taken on an energy of it's own. My mind isn't fully convinced of The Secret's power or the effectiveness of vision boards, but my productivity has spiked this week. Symbolic of my "ducks," it's become a magnet for other must-visualize aspects of my writing. Maybe it's only cognitive reenforcement and the universe has better things to do than to zero in on the card's hypnotizing symbol.

Some of you know how fascinated I am by handwriting analysis. TUL pens have created a general way to analyze your own complete with a sarcastic scientist to pass judgment. Startlingly accurate, some of it. Try it out if you have a few minutes.

Since we're deep into summer re-runs, podcasts aren't as painful an entertainment choice. Thanks to Margie Lawson's suggestion, I've discovered Writing Excuses, a joint venture of Brandon Sanderson, Fantasy novelist, Howard Tayler, Cartoonist, and Dan Wells, Horror Novelist. So far, episode 3: Killing Your Darlings, is a favorite.

Lastly, a blog friend of mine, Todd Wheeler, is offering up a summer reading challenge that completely overshadows my little slice of participation this week. For each book you read he'll donate $1 to a library. Help him reach his goal of $100 this summer.

I leave you with one of my favorite photos from the book Libraries by German photographer Candida Hofer. This book is like porn for nerds. HANDELINGENKAMER TWEEDE KAMER DER STATEN-GENERAAL DEN HAAG