Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin #11) by Jennifer Estep-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Poison Promise
Elemental Assassin #11
by Jennifer Estep
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy
Release Date: July 22, 2014

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 22, 2014

Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…

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REVIEW: POISON PROMISE is the eleventh instalment in Jennifer Estep’s paranormal/urban fantasy Elemental Assassin series focusing on assassin Gin Blanco-aka The Spider. Gin is tired of the numerous attempts on her life; the killings; and the threats against her friends and family-but a new drug dealer in town has set his sights on Gin’s sister Bria and Gin is in no mood to stand by and watch the fall out from a new designer drug taking down most of Ashland and Southtown’s addicts and users.

Told from first person POV (Gin) the premise follows Gin as she, once again, must step in and stop a menace that is known as Beauregard Benson-a vampire with a special ability that leaves his victims a shell of their former selves. As the latest drug king pin, Benson likes to make his presence known, and in this, most of the people (humans, vampires, giants, dwarves and elementals) keep their distance lest they too, become a casualty of Benson’s secret powers. As Gin focuses on taking Benson down, she will become a victim of Benson’s tyrannical need to control the town of Ashland.

The secondary characters include all of the people and supernaturals close to Gin –Owen (Gin’s lover); Finn (Gin’s adopted foster brother and BFF); Jo Jo and Sophia (Dwarves); Bria (Ashland cop and Gin’s irritating sister) as well as Phillip, Eva, Roslyn, Xavier and more. The reader will be introduced to a soon-to-be new member of Gin’s team-a vampire and former nemesis whose motives are questionable until the truth is revealed. Gin’s past will come back with a vengeance – a second generation of supernaturals hoping for a piece of The Spider-and in this the next storyline is about to unfold-Black Widow (Elemental Assassin #12).

Jennifer Estep continues to pull the reader into a graphically violent, addicting and detailed series about a reluctant and complicated female assassin who wants nothing more than to spend her days working at the Pork Pit and her nights in the arms of her lover. Jennifer keeps the reader engaged with flashbacks, memories and recounting of previous storyline scenarios that further draw the reader into a series where The Spider will always come out on top but getting there is dangerous and messy.

POISON PROMISE is the build up to, and introduces the next ARC in Jennifer Estep’s intense and compelling Elemental Assassin series. Gin may have thought that taking down Mab Monroe ended that chapter in her life-think again-someone even more dangerous has taken up residence in Ashland and considers The Spider and everyone she knows- fair game in a war of power and control. No one will be safe with the new dealer in town.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy storylines with a kick-a$$ heroine who knows a thing or two about pain and suffering then Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series and POISON PROMISE should be your go-to series when the UF cravings take hold.

READING ORDER

0.5 Spider’s Bargain
1 Spider’s Bite
1.5 Web of Death
2 Web of Lies
2.5 Web of Deceit
2.6 Poison
2.7 Wasted
3 Venom
3.5 Tangled Dreams
3.7 Tangled Schemes
4 Tangled Threads
4.5 Spider’s Nemesis
5 Spider’s Revenge
5.5 Thread of Death
6 By A Thread
7 Widow’s Web
8 Deadly Sting
8.1 Parlor Tricks
8.5 Kiss of Venom
9 Heart of Venom
10. The Spider
11. Poison Promise
12. Black Widow (November 2014)

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

With the release of POISON PROMISE The Reading Cafe would like to welcome back author Jennifer Estep and catch up on what’s new.

TRC: Hi Jennifer and welcome back to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of POISON PROMISE. We would like to start with some general questions.

JE: Thanks for hosting me on the blog again! I appreciate it.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

JE: Well, my mom used to take me to the library every Saturday as a kid, so that’s how I fell in love with books and reading in the first place. So I think that wanting to write my own stories grew out of all that.

TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax?

JE: I do yoga, hang out with friends and family, read, and watch TV/movies.

TRC: Is there any profession that you would have liked to enter but never had the opportunity?

JE: I always thought that it would be fun to work with animals, maybe in a zoo or as a veterinarian.

TRC: POISON PROMISE is your latest urban fantasy release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

JE: Poison Promise is the 11th book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. It will be released on July 22.

The series focuses on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

In Poison Promise, Gin has to protect someone who witnesses a horrible crime, so the story features a lot of magic, action, and adventure.

TRC: Are any of the characters or the premise based in reality or a combination of reality and fiction? Do you add your personality to Gin or any of the other characters?

JE: Not really. I always say that I write fantasy books because I can make up the whole thing. LOL.

I put some small bits and pieces of my personality into Gin and some of the other characters. For example, Gin loves to read, like I do. But for the most part, the characters stand on their own.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the Elemental Assassin Series?

JE: As of right now, I’m contracted for 13 books in the series, or one more after Black Widow, book #12, which comes out on Nov. 25. But I hope to write at least a few more books in the series beyond that. We’ll see what happens.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular series?

JE: I think a challenge with writing any series is giving fans of the series all the familiar elements that they enjoy – characters, settings, etc. – while still keeping things fresh and interesting. Whenever I sit down to write a new Elemental Assassin book, I always try to think of new things, including new places for Gin and my other characters to visit in Ashland and new bad guys with new magic for Gin to face down.

TRC: Now that the MYTHOS ACADEMY series has finished, do you have any plans for another YA series?

JE: I have been working on a new YA series. It’s going to be called the Black Blade series, and it’s about magic, monsters, and mobsters. The first book will be called Cold Burn of Magic, and it’s set to be released in 2015.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

JE: When I sit down to start writing a book, I have the characters and the big turning points of the story in mind. Sometimes, a character will do something that surprises me, or the story will go in a different direction than I expected, but for the most part, I direct the characters.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

JE: I think a big part of writing an engaging, entertaining story is to enjoy what you’re writing. For example, don’t write a zombie book (or whatever) just because zombies are popular right now. If you try to write a zombie book and you hate all things zombie-related, then it’s going to show in your writing. You’re not going to have fun writing the book, and readers aren’t going to have fun reading it.

But if you write something that you enjoy, then it will show in your writing, and readers are more likely to enjoy your writing as well.

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

JE: Well, writing is my full-time job, so if I don’t write and don’t meet my deadlines, then I don’t get paid. There are some days when I don’t feel like writing. When that happens, I work on something else – guest blogs, social media, updating my website, etc. There is always something that needs to be done. Then, maybe the next day, I go back and start writing again. You just have to power through and keep moving forward, even if you are struggling with a character, plot point, etc. Eventually, it will get better.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

JE: Sometimes, I will bounce ideas off my significant other or some folks in my local book club.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

JE: I would like to write some new books/series; read more books for fun; and find a better balance between work and everything else in my life.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

JE: Right now, I’m working on Black Widow, Elemental Assassin #12, which will be out on Nov. 25.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

JE: If folks want more info on my books, they can check out my website at www.jenniferestep.com or follow me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite TV Show – Arrow

Last Movie You Saw – The LEGO Movie

Favorite Musical Group – The Killers

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark chocolate

Secret Celebrity Crush – Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Last Vacation Destination – New Orleans

Do you have any pets? – No

Pet Peeve – People who are rude

TRC: Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of Poison Promise. Wishing you all the best.

JE: Thanks! I appreciate that. Happy reading, everyone!

JENNIFER’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com/
Blog: http://www.jenniferestep.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferEstepAuthor?fref=ts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep (@Jennifer_Estep)
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580315.Jennifer_Estep

Jennifer is generously offering a paper copy of POISON PROMISE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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6. Giveaway is open to USA only.

7. Giveaway runs from July 22-July 26 , 2014