Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
Things are getting nice and busy here at VBC headquarters. I’ve loved reading applications for new reviewers (you can still apply) this week, and I have a couple very good reads atop my to-read pile.
More Lady Corsair and Archimedes Fox!
Next month we’ll get Meljean Brooks’ novella featuring the hero and heroine of Heart of Steel, a book I adored on an epic level. Tethered is an epilogue... 
Both Jo and I fell for Amanda Carlson’s debut Full Blooded. We’re not far from the release of the second Jessica McClain book Hot Blooded, but we’re all about looking forward here at VBC. That means we’re going to go ahead and ooh and aah over the badassery that is the cover art for the third book Cold Blooded. Allow me to share:
Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend... 
Things get mighty busy here at VBC, and we could use a bit of help. Jo, Candace and I will keep reviewing, but I’d love to have more voices on the blog. So, I’m officially putting the call out: VBC is looking for new reviewers.
It’s an unpaid, voluntary position. You’ll get early access to books (mostly digital, so do keep that in mind), though, and the chance to be a part of an... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for March 2013. All dates are U.S. and tentative. Also: Click the title of any book to visit the Amazon page for pre-order or purchase goodness.
I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy and YA is young... 
It’s the final day of Character Love Letters. I hope you’ve found new book boyfriends and best friends. Alpha Showdown will be back in May. So you won’t have too long to wait until we’re talking about our favorite characters again.
Today’s love letter comes from Julie at My 5 Monkeys. She’s caught up in the romance between the hero and heroine of Gini Koch’s... 
The hero of Marlene Perez’s Strange Fates isn’t exactly your standard hero. So, he wasn’t willing to write a traditional love letter for Elizabeth in our Character Love Letters event. However, if you read on you’ll know what he believes in, and what to expect from the first Nyx Fortuna book, which releases on March 5.
Love? I don’t believe in love. I don’t believe in love at first sight, where... 
I’m all for a good best friend Character Love Letter. We had one to Atticus last week. Today, Ash from Smash Attack Reads tells Gin Blanco from Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series why they need to become friends. And it’s awesome.
Dear Gin:
You are my hero. You sauntered into my life and slapped me around with your awesomeness. Your moral code is so admirable and it is why you... 
In addition to keeping the lid on the existence of the Underworld Detection Agency and kicking Para—and sometimes just normal – butt, Sophie Lawson has to deal with the always inappropriate advances of lovesick (and completely lascivious) troll, Steve. He’s three feet of blue cheese and belly button smell with a portly belly, a soft downy coat of lichen, and hands that he just can’t keep to... 
Ready to meet the next hero you should be swooning for? Today’s Character Love Letter has Christen from Goldilox and the Three Weres sharing her love for Aren from Sandy Williams’ Shadow Reader series.
Dear Aren,
We’ve never met but I feel like I know you and I’m certain I adore you. Don’t worry, I realize that McKenzie is the one for you and I’m content to admire you from afar. I’ve... 
At the very beginning of Character Love Letters 2013, we had author Chloe Neill share a love letter from Jeff to Fallon, both from her Chicagoland Vampires series. Then we asked readers to share a love letter to their favorite Chicagoland character. So many of you went with Jonah. We like ‘em smart and strong, so I’m not surprised. Jackie from Literary Escapism can’t resist his charm,... 
