FAB Book! Atlantis Rising - Alyssa Day

Hey gang! I cannot tell you how glad I am that I get to dish on great books. Furthermore, I cannot tell you how glad I am that it's all done electronically so that you are not subjected to the sorry state of my ugliness right now. Being sick bites. The Big One. And I sure hope dee is wrong and it isn't strep. That stuff poisons my son, and the last time he had it, it spread throughout his whole bloodstream within 3 hours. We are keeping a very close eye on him just to be sure. But no, I didn't log on here to bore you with my health woes, I logged on here to dish about a FABULOUS book. Remember when I said that ATLANTIS RISING was turning heads like you wouldn't believe? Well, believe it, one week before its official release, ATLANTIS RISING hit the BookScan National Bestseller List, and just one day after the official release, RISING has a sales rank of 237 at Barnes&Noble, as of this post. But come on, one look at that cover and any red-blooded female is going to be all about buying it. I want a blown-up poster of that cover, I just LOVE that city scene! LOL, yep, the city scene, that's why I want a big poster of that cover, just for the city. But, I've blabbed enough, on with the dish...

ATLANTIS RISING by Alyssa Day
(BCC)

Eleven thousand years ago, before the seas swallowed the Atlantaens, Poseidon assigned a few chosen warriors to act as sentinels for humans in the new world. There was only one rule-desiring them was forbidden. But rules were made to be broken…

When she calls…
Riley Dawson is more than a dedicated Virginia Beach social worker. She's blessed with a mind link that only Atlantaens have been able to access for thousands of years. Being an "empath" may explain her wistful connection to the roiling waves of the ocean, the sanctuary it provides, and the sexual urges that seem to emanate from fathoms below…

He will come.
Conlan, the High Prince of Atlantis, has surfaced on a mission to retrieve Poseidon's stolen Trident. Yet something else has possessed Conlan: the intimate emotions-and desires-of a human. Irresistibly drawn to the uncanny beauty, Conlan soon shares more than his mind. But in the midst of a battle to reclaim Poseidon's power, how long can a forbidden love last between two different souls from two different worlds?

One of the hardest things for me to do is summarize a book. So, being the bum I am, I asked Alyssa if she could describe RISING for me in five sentences or less. And I think she does a far better job at it than I could.

Alyssa Day - At its heart, ATLANTIS RISING is a love story wrapped in an epic quest. Prince Conlan’s love for Riley may force him to abdicate the throne – except that such an action may bring a second Cataclysm. Riley’s love for Conlan will drive her to sacrifice what she holds most dear in her life. Vengeful and capricious gods and goddesses have no regard for the desires of humans – but the Warriors of Poseidon will fulfill their duty to protect mankind. No matter the stakes -- no matter the cost.

If you've been reading here long, and thank you if you have, you know that I love a book that masterfully combines many elements. RISING is definitely one of those books. dee and I have dubbed this FAB week "The Many Faces of Romance" because both our picks artfully combine Romance with other story lines.

So let me dish a bit about the Romance in RISING first. Conlan and Riley click on the page like nothing I have seen before. Riley is human and she is an empath, in other words, she can sense and send emotion through the mind. Conlan is an Atlantaen, and Warrior of Poseidon, those things alone give Conlan the power to communicate through the mind. I think there is always an element of emotion in a good book, but Day has managed to take it to an entirely different level. Bringing the emotional issues of love and passion to the forefront, Day had me nearly panting with the intensity and sensuality of the sex scenes. Seriously, grab a fan before you read RISING, you'll need it.

Then there is the Paranormal aspects to RISING. Atlantaen warriors, that have sworn an oath to Poseidon to protect mankind from the things that go bump in the night. Vampires, who were given birth to by Anubisa, goddess of night, and her father the god Chaos, who are taking over the world through our governments, with ruthlessness. Were's, who are in a constant power struggle with the vamps, ancient gods, and empaths. RISING has it all. And better yet, Day creates a believable world, where vamps and were's are known to humans, where they are involved in the politics, but where humans also fear the vamps, and know they are not to be trusted but do it anyway.

I know that all of the above, makes it seem like RISING is a very dark book. And really, we're talking about the possible downfall of humankind, and possibly Atlantis here, so it is fairly dark. But Day adds just the right amount of humor to lighten the mood, without making a farce out of the book. "...you saved me from those men. Thank You."..."You're not going to drink my blood or rip my arms off, now, are you? Because my day has really sucked, and I'm so not up for that." Have I mentioned that Riley so totally ROCKS. She is probably at the top of my list for most favorite heroine in a book. Riley stands up for what she believes in, fights for what she thinks is right, and does everything within her power to see the wrongs righted. Day managed to make the perfect match for the alpha-male Conlan. Who, I might add, also ROCKS. Even after being tortured and imprisoned by Anubisa for over seven years, Conlan is not broken, he is flawed (he's a man, what do you expect) but not in the way you may think. Being the High Prince of Atlantis has given Conlan much leeway in life, so I loved it that while everyone else may be too scared to stand up to him, he meets his match with Riley.

ATLANTIS RISING is the first in a series about the Warriors of Poseidon, and with Day's mastery of both Paranormal and Romance, readers of all genres will be rushing the stores to get them. There's still time to enter this months FAB contest and win yourself some goodies. And now that both of our picks have officially hit the shelves, let us know what YOU think of them. We love a good discussion.

Next I'll post an interview with Alyssa, along with some of my favorite quotes from RISING, and a run-down on the warriors, believe me, you are going to want to spend a LOT of time with these very hunky, very lovable, Warrior of Poseidon.

Take Care