Lucan by Susan Kearney (Book Review)

Title: Lucan
Author: Susan Kearney
Publisher: Forever

First Sentence: Cael was going to die.

My synopsis: Lucan had been searching earth for any clues as to the location of Avalon and the Holy Grail. His quest was for his twin sister, Marisa, as she was having trouble conceiving a child. His hope was that he could bring her this joy if and when he found the grail. In his search he discovers a star map that depicts Avalon as being on a moon named Pendragon - could it be true?

After 8 years of training and travel, Lucan finds himself on Pendragon, working with a team of scientists who have been trying to bring down a shield that is surrounding Avalon. The team is from Pendragon and they are not aware that there is a traveler from Earth among them. Their goal is to breach Avalon and find the Holy Grail. Complicating this mission though, is a sinkhole that has formed under Avalon, causing the ground to be unstable. Their time is limited before the military is going to claim the project as their own.

Lady Cael is the High Priestess of Pendragon. This role leads her to live a solitary life, without family, without friends, without a mate. She is a dragonshaper and there is only one born at a time on Pendragon. When she is gone, one will be born to take her place. Her people respect her and fear her - but none are close enough to really know her - until Lucan. As he has not been raised on Pendragon (which she does not know), he does not know about her dragonshaping abilities or that to touch her means certain death by the Elders. As the outer shield of Avalon comes down, thanks to Lucan and Lady Cael, they are thrown into an adventure which may just cost them their lives. If they fail, Earth, Pendragon, and the entire galaxy's survival may cease to exist.

My thoughts: Only in the last year have I started reading paranormal romances - werewolves, vampires, etc and actually enjoying them. I have never been a fan of science fiction though. When I started reading this one and all of a sudden we are on Pendragon and other races, I thought - boyo - what have I gotten myself into - and considered putting down the book. Before I knew it though, I was halfway through it and wanted to finish. I read the book in a day! This is the first book in The Pendragon Legacy series with book 2, Rion, coming out in December. You meet Rion in Lucan and it will be interesting to see what he is all about in his own book! Yes, I am now a fan.

You can win Lucan by entering my giveaway! You can get an extra entry in the giveaway by leaving a meaningful comment here.

Lucan
Publisher/Publication Date: Forever, Sept 5, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-54331-6
368 pages

Lucan Blog Tour (and giveaway!)

Lucan by Susan Kearney
is currently touring the blogosphere.

About the book: THEIR LOVE IS FORBIDDEN

Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .

BUT DANGER IS NO MATCH FOR DESIRE

Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth's only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can't afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion . . . even when the terrifying truth of Cael's heritage threatens to shatter Lucan's every belief-and the galaxy itself. (Amazon)

Read an excerpt of Lucan.

About the author: Kearney is known for her sexy Rystani warrior books, The Challenge, The Dare, The Ultimatum and The Quest, a series of paranormal romances set in the future. In September 2009 Kearney begins the Pendragon Legacy series with LUCAN, a futuristic romance. She follows up with RION in December and JORDAN in March 2010.

Kearney, a native of New Jersey, writes full time and has sold books to the industries' top publishing houses — Grand Central, Tor, Simon & Schuster, Harlequin, Berkley, Leisure, Red Sage and Kensington. As an award winning author, Kearney earned a Business Degree from the University of Michigan. Kearney's knowledge and experience spans throughout the romance genre, and her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels. She resides in a suburb of Tampa—with her husband, kids and Boston terrier. Currently she's plotting her way through her 54th work of fiction. (www.susankearney.com)

Rules - rules - rules

1. Five copies to giveaway.
   
2. Open only to U.S. and Canada.
   
3. No PO Boxes
4. All entries can be in one comment.
5. +1 Must leave email address in comment.
6. +2 if you are a new or old follower - but please let me know. How ever you follow - all will count for 2 entries (Twitter, Facebook, Google, Feed Reader, Email, etc, etc, etc)
   
7. +3 if you post this on any social network LEAVE A LINK TO GET BACK TO THIS POST OR IT WILL NOT COUNT - If you post on Twitter - please use @kherbrand and link to this post. Go Crazy! No Limits on Entries!
   
8. +3 for referrals of NEW followers - if you already follow, you will not get entries for saying someone referred you - you can however get entries for referring new people...
9. Giveaway ends on Sept 30th.

Please also visit these other wonderful blogs during Lucan's tour!

Just another new blog - Sept. 9 giveaway
Book Soulmates - Sept. 9 review, giveaway, and Q&A.
Starting Fresh - Sept. 9 review and guest post
Falling Off the Shelf - Sept. 10 review, giveaway, guest post
Maria's Space - Sept. 10 review and giveaway
Seductive Musings - Q&A
A Journey of Books - Sept. 11review, giveaway, and Q&A
My Guilty Pleasures - Sept. 12 review
Yankee Romance Reviewers - Sept. 14 review, giveaway, and Q&A
Found not Lost - Sept. 14 review and giveaway
All About {n} - Sept. 15 giveaway
Libby's Library News - Sept. 16 Guest blog and giveaway.
Bookin' with "Bingo" - Sept. 17 review, giveaway, and Q&A
My Booking Addiction and more - Sept. 17 review, giveaway, and Q&A
Cheryl's Book Nook - Sept. 17 review and giveaway
Carol's Notebook - Sept. 18 review, giveaway, guest post
Books and Needlepoint - Sept. 18 review and giveaway
Drey's Library - Sept. 19 giveaway and guest post
Anna's Book Blog - Sept. 20 review and giveaway
Bibliophiles 'R' Us - Sept. 20 review and giveaway
Patricia's Vampire Notes - Sept. 21 giveaway
Park Avenue Princess - Sept. 21 giveaway
Revenge of the Book Nerds - Sept. 22 giveaway and guest post
Readaholic - review, giveaway, Q&A

ARC Arrivals: Six Romance Books From Hachette

I received all of these in a goody bag from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette. They look yummy!

Chosen by Desire by Kate Perry

About the book: Carrie Woods just can't resist temptation. To solve an ancient mystery, she "borrows" a precious, legend-cursed scroll form a Chinese monastery. But with the scroll comes danger: bizarre powers, life-threatening accidents, and, most frightening of all, one sexy Guardian's icy-hot gaze.

Maximillian Prescott is all too happy to strip this innocent-eyed thief of her secrets and the scroll, yet he's determined to fight the undeniable attraction pulling them together. But Max isn't Carrie's only pursuer, and there's just one way to keep the scroll safe. This adventurous blonde and brooding Guardian must dare to join forces and bare their souls to each other. . .before their enemies take not only the scroll but Carrie's life. (from the book cover)

Chosen by Desire
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-54101-5
350 pages

Love You to Death by Shannon K. Butcher

About the book: It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her. . .

The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman. (from the back cover)

Love You to Death
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-51029-5
400 pages

Show no Fear by Marliss Melton

About the book: Lucy Donovan always gets her man. As a fiercely independent CIA agent, she's survived hundreds of death-defying missions. But her latest may just get her killed. Weighed down with a secret she's desperate to keep, the last thing Lucy needs is to be sent undercover with a man who brings out the best--and the worst--in her.

Navy SEAL Gus Atwater never turns down an assignment, even if it means working with the only woman he's ever loved and lost. So with a volatile mix of desire and distrust, Lucy and Gus confront their tangled past. Pretending to be man and wife is risky enough, but now the clock is running out. As their mission escalates from desperate to deadly, will Lucy's secret expose them both? (from the back cover)

Show no Fear
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-50927-5
320 pages

Lucan by Susan Kearney

About the book: Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .

Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth's only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can't afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion. . .even when the terrifying truth of Cael's heritage threatens to shatter Lucan's every belief--and the galaxy itself. (from the back cover)

Lucan
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-54331-6
352 pages

Tall, Dark & Fansome by Michelle Rowen

About the book: Sarah Dearly's vampire life is not all B-positive cocktails. A curse made her a nightwalker, the most vicious vamp there is; the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing its juice; and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill the ones she loves most if she doesn't obey his orders. That includes breaking up with master vampire Thierry and turning Gideon into an immortal vamp so he can escape a doom of eternal hellfire.

Making things worse are Sarah's growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy who keeps showing a vulnerable side. . .but is it for real? Will Sarah's dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the nightwalker curse in time to stop Gideon and finally live happily ever after with Thierry. . .forever? (from the back cover)

Tall, Dark & Fangsome
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-50585-7
352 pages

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

About the book: Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul? (from the back cover)

A Highlander's Temptation
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-19530-0
400 pages