Finished AMAZON INK Again

The trouble with being an author is I have no time to read other people's books, except as a critique partner for fellow published authors or for research.  Sometimes, I really do miss being a book reviewer.  I needed some inspiration for the massive amount of world-building I need to do for my next novel, so I made the time to read AMAZON INK by Lori Devoti again.  She always writes great First Person POV, a skill I envy.  The thing is I never would have plucked this book off the store shelf.  Its cover is stereotypical Urban Fantasy, a kick-butt chick with a weapon.  Usually, either the boobs or the belly button is showing too.  How's a reader supposed to know which book he or she might love if they all look the same?  Book reviewers.  I found out about Amazon Ink from fellow blogging book reviewer/debut author Tia Nevitt   The great thing about re-reading a book you like is finding new and wonderful things about it, which turns it into a book you love.  The author also had great writers' resources at her website.  Go check out Lori Devoti

Comfort Reads

Want to know what I've been reading while taking time of for Tendonitis and Seasonal Affected Disorder?
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HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR'S STONE by J.K. Rowling.  I finally got around to reading this one and it was instantly obvious why this novel went through the stratosphere of the bestselling charts.  The author totally and completely nailed all the emotional needs of the average 10 to 12 year old child and then some!
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DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES by Linnea Sinclair.  I usually only like the Hero OR the Heroine in a Romance novel, but this is one novel in which I like both.  This was the second or third time I read this one.
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AMAZON INK by Lori Devoti.  Great worldbuilding.
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Oh, and UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld
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Remember to tune in on Tuesdays for reviews by our new reviewer, Rebecca Lynn!

Kimber An's Unsolicited ARC Policy

Since I read the wonderfully awesome Urban Fantasy, AMAZON INK by Lori Devoti, I've received Urban Fantasy ARCs unsolicited.  This is fine, but considering how tight everyone's finances are I thought I should remind everyone that *unsolicited ARCs go to the bottom of my ARC stack.*  This means they won't get reviewed possibly for a loooong time, possibly ever.  So, save your money and email me first!
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***There is ONE EXCEPTION!***  If you've already established yourself as a favorite author of mine, you can send your new books straight to me, no questions asked.  Just send it.  You'll know you're a favorite author if you have your own tag in the directory.  Scroll down the left side and you'll see Karen Templeton, Lisa Shearin, and so on.  These authors get their own categories and can send me ARCs which will go straight into the regular stack and may jump the line altogether.***
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Although I loved AMAZON INK, the fact is I have very specific tastes when it comes to Urban Fantasy.  I'm sick to death of Kick-Butt Heroiones, for example.  There are more kinds of power than just one.  What set AMAZON INK apart was that the Kick-Butt Heroine was a Mommy and an Amazon (rather than a witch or some other thing common for this subgenre.)  It was very easy for me to suspend my disbelief for the world-building too.
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This policy goes for all Unsolicited ARCs, regardless of genre.  You can get an idea of what I like by checking out my ARC stack here-
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/08/kimber-ans-to-be-reviewed-stack.html  or my Top Ten Favorite Books of 2009 
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/12/kimber-ans-top-ten-favorite-books-for.html
But, why not just email me?  Hmm?  It'll save you money.
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Our policy here at Enduring Romance is to only post positive reviews.  In order to do this I make sure I'll at least *like* a book before I request  or accept it.  If I cannot review a *requested ARC,* I mail it back to you at my expense.  This has only happened once in three years.  I received a wonderful novel, beautifully written, but it had child rape and murder in it.  Well, you know what a rabid Baby Fanatic I am!  Former nanny here and mother of four.  If I can't read a book I didn't request, I do not feel obligated to mail it back.
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So, check out my ARC stack post and email me, 'kay?  Save your money.

AMAZON INK by Lori Devoti

You'd think being born an Amazon a woman would have it made and never want to do or be anything else. I mean, good grief, there's Wonder Woman with her brass bra and invisible airplane and Xena Warrior Princess with that really cool frisbie thing she pelts the bad guys with and it spins right back in her hand. But, you know, there's one terrifying creature not even an Amazon can defeat - a baby. As a nanny, I've seen the most powerful Real Life Kick-Butt Heroines transformed into mushy mamas in an instant. So, when I read about AMAZON INK over at Tia's book review blog, Fantasy Debut, I just had to have it. I emailed Ms. Devoti and she snail-mailed it right to me. http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/

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As mushy as mamas can get with their babies, if you've ever encountered a mama Polar Bear you know they're anything but mushy when their cubs are threatened. This is why I am perpetually baffled why there are not more Kick-Butt Heroine Mamas in Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. In fact, until AMAZON INK landed in my P.O. Box, I only knew of Susan Grant's heroines in her SFR novels, like CONTACT. But, I guess they don't have as many Polar Bears in New York City, where the big publishers hang out, as they do here in Alaska. Anyway... http://susangrant.com/

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Mel's an Amazon who's rejected her birth-culture and at first I couldn't imagine why. These woman are large in a good way and in charge. Men are toys to be used for one good thing and discarded.

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Over the centuries since they populated Greek mythology, they've adapted to life among humans who have little tolerance for their magic. Things got better once women got the Right to Vote in the United States, but they still have to move secretly. They've set up 'safe camps' for their Twelve Tribes.

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Mel rejected that life, took her daughter, and started a tatoo parlor with her mother and grandmother.

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Harmony (an interesting name for the daughter of such a conflicted woman) knows little of her true heritage and believes herself to be just a regular teenage girl. And that's exactly how Mel wants her to stay, no matter how much her mother and grandmother nag her.

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But, then, a mysterious killers starts depositing murdered Amazon teenagers on Mel's doorstep. Of course, she's horrified. Of course, her Mama Bear instincts are on ten. However, she also doesn't want to blow her cover with her daughter or the rest of her 'normal' life. So, she performs the traditional Amazon death rituals for them and secretly takes them to an Amazon safe camp so the bodies can be returned to their families. Doing this without the Amazons figuring out she made the delivery is not easy.

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All this forces Mel to relive why she left the Amazons.

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Mel also had a son. And she wanted to keep him.

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Boys are considered worthless in Amazon culture and her son was disposed of without her consent. While Mel's mother and grandmother didn't understand her strange attachment to a son, they did love and support Mel enough to leave the Amazons with her. They've hoped and tried to convince her to go back ever since.
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Meanwhile, Mel's got humans to deal with. The police are trying to find out why teenage girls are being murdered in the area and Mel needs a new tatoo artist for her business. Of course, she only hires women tatoo artists. During the hiring process, she must choose between the most qualfied candidate, a man, and the second-best one, a woman. Although she refuses to admit it, the fact that the man, Peter, is handsome makes her unorthodox choice easier. For the first time ever, an Amazon, Mel, affords a mere male the dignity of professional status in her place of business.
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Before things can get cozy, however, the Amazon Queen shows up royally ticked off at her former best friend, Mel. The Amazons figured out Mel was the one who delivered the bodies and now they believe Mel's the murderer too. They're determined to bring her in. Mel's family remains loyal while Mel struggles to keep her daughter safe and ignorant. And then an annoying human male detective shows up asking her questions too.

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Well, goshdarnit, what's a mama to do? If you're a mama, you'll probably figure it out. Mamas always do whatever's necessary to protect and provide for their babies, whether they're six weeks old or sixteen years old. It's just when you're an Amazon Mama, it often involves a variety of weaponry not available to the rest of us.
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If I'd seen AMAZON INK in the store, I wouldn't have looked twice. At most, I would've looked at the cover and groaned. "Oh, good grief, another stereotypical Kick-Butt Herone. For those readers, like me, who prefer a buffet to the same ol' thing every day of the week, AMAZON INK will drag you into the Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy section of the booksore, or back. The appeal of Mel is all in her motivation - it's *Primal* and instantly understood by anyone who's procreated. Sex is great, but any dog can do it. Survival? Well, yes, that's primal, but a parent will sacrifice his or her life in an instant for his or her child. That's primal and profound.

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AMAZON INK hit the bookshelves in May, so it might not still be on the shelves right now. If it's not, I say it's worth ordering on-line. Or, your bookstore will probably order it for you and then you won't have to pay for shipping. Remember, though, buy NEW because that's how authors make money so they can keep writing the stories you love. Here's Lori Devoti's website link- http://www.loridevoti.com/