Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
We’re gearing up for the Alpha Showdown around here. This time next week we’ll be talking alphas, reasons they’re awesome and generally having a good time. We also have reviews of some epic books scheduled amid the Showdown melee. Hope you guys are as excited as we are.
Tiny Tease from Nalini Singh
We still don’t know who the main characters in Nalini Singh’s upcoming... 
Surprises are coming here at VBC. I have some new things in the works as we approach Alpha Showdown 2013 and come up on our three-year anniversary (when did that happen?). I hope you guys are enjoying the new voices here at VBC. We’re going to try to work in more backlist titles (as in books that have been out for a while). As always, if you have suggestions, let me know.
You Could Be Reading New... 
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... 
We’re bringing Book Bits back to its regular Thursday slot. (Thanks for the feedback last week.) Let’s get to the good stuff.
Shiny! Gena Showalter Cover Art
Gena Showalter shared the cover for her next Lords of the Underworld series, The Darkest Craving. The book is set for release on July 30, 2013. Here’s the back-cover copy:
Having endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell, Kane... 
I have a treat for you guys today. Not only do I have your first look at the cover art for Jess Haines’ next H&W Investigations book Forsaken by the Others (and I do!), but also an epic giveaway with the chance at a couple book and signed goodies from Jess. (If you haven’t started the H&W series, you can read my review of Hunted by the Others and select it as your signed book prize if... 
It’s so much fun seeing what book y’all are recommending as the best book of 2012. (Many of you have named some of the ones you’ll see in my top list. You have excellent taste.) If you haven’t voted yet, you still have time! Plus, by nominating your favorite book you get entered to win any book VBC has reviewed—and that is more than 250 choices.
For those of you who have been... 
The Beginning of the End for Allie Beckstrom
Devon Monk has started posting excerpts from the final Allie Beckstrom novel Magic for a Price. First, you can find an excerpt from the beginning of the book. Then, Devon will be posting weekly snippets from the novel up until the Nov. 6, 2012, release date (pre-order). The first one is here.
Guardian Demon Cover Alert!
Wow! The cover for Meljean Brook’s... 
Cover Reveal: Midnight Blue-Light Special
Have you seen the cover for Seanan McGuire’s next InCryptid novel? Look to your right. While I may like the artwork for Discount Armageddon a bit more, Midnight Blue-Light Special’s tone feels cohesive to me. Thoughts?
Chapter One of Touch of the Demon
When I was at Authors After Dark, Diana Rowland talked about just how much readers are going to love... 
See, I thought the cover of Vicki Pettersson‘s The Taken was gorgeous. It made me want to buy a red dress. Looks like the cover art for its sequel The Lost is also shopping inspiration.
Rachel Vincent’s Unbound series is brilliant. If you haven’t read Blood Bound or Shadow Bound yet, do it. Emotional rollercoaster rides. I’m eager for book three, but just got word the release date... 
It’s been a slower week in book news. I blame the long weekend. Instead of excerpts and book deals, today’s Book Bits is all about the pretty. Cover reveals begin in 3…2…1…
Cover Art: Cold Days by Jim Butcher
The next Dresden Files book is set to release in hardcover on Nov. 27, 2012. Blurb and artwork via Jim Butcher’s website.
HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!
After being... 
