An Interview with Tracy Wolff

An Interview with Tracy Wolff

Tracy_blueThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Tracy Wolff as our guest today.

Tracy is here today to answer our questions, as well as discuss her newest releases. Soulbound, a wonderful new series, written under the pen name of Tessa Adams, was released February 5th.  Doomed, written under the pen name of Tracy Deebs, was released in January. 

Let’s meet Tracy.

 

TRC: Hi Tracy.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Tracy: Thanks so much for having me. I really appreciate it 🙂

TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Tracy: Sure.  I’m an English professor, mom of three crazy, rambunctious boys and wife of my very own Alpha-male bad boy.  I’m crazy about reading, love to dance and spend waaaaay too much money on make-up.  I also play a mean Wii Sports, LOL.

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Tracy: Actually, I have.  I usually say that I’ve been writing since I first understood that letters made words and that’s pretty much the truth.  I remember the first story I wrote on my own was in second grade.  It was ten pages long and written in aqua marker while my parents were in the bank getting a car loan, LOL.  It was about a princess, a rainbow and—of course—a prince.  Happily ever after was my thing even back then.

I always knew I wanted to do this when I grew up, so I got a Bachelor’s degree in English, then followed it up with an M.A. and  Ph.D in American lit and an MFA in fiction writing. So yes, reading and writing has always been in my blood.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you have a favorite spot or time you like to write?

Tracy: I can write anywhere, which is a good thing since I have three loud boys who are always thinking up some kind of trouble to get into.  But I do prefer to write in the morning.  I’ll start as early as 4 a.m. then write until I have to get the boys to school, come home and write until I have to leave for class, then try to do a little more in the afternoon after homework is done.  The only time I really don’t like to write is at night—my brain doesn’t function very well on the writing front after ten or eleven p.m.  That’s when I try to answer email or write blogs, etc.

TRC: What was your first book published, and how did you feel when you saw your book on the shelves?

Tracy: My first book was called A Christmas Wedding by Tracy Wolff.  It was a Harlequin Superromance and I can not actually describe how I felt the first time I saw it on the shelves.  I’m pretty sure I cried.  I know I carried pictures of it around in my phone for months.

TRC: You write as Tracy Wolff, and under a few pen names: Tessa Adams, Tracy Deebs, and Ivy Adams. Do you find it difficult switching your writing hats?

Tracy: It’s not hard, per se, but it’s difficult sometimes to go from one book directly into another.  For example, Tessa Adams writes really dark paranormal romance and urban fantasy and trying to switch from that to my light Ivy Adams contemporary romance takes a writing adjustment, especially in voice content.  I’m naturally a dark writer, as evinced by most of my books, so when I try to do light and flirty it’s a lot more work.

TRC: Along the same line, is it hard to write and switch to different genres? Do you have a preference?
Tracy Wolff – Super Romance & Erotic Romance/Suspense
Tracy Deebs/Ivy Adams – Young Adult
Tessa Adams – Paranormal Romance

Tracy: Honestly, my favorite are the paranormal of all types.  Whether it’s witch urban fantasy and dragon paranormal romance as Tessa Adams or mermaids and sci-fi as Tracy Deebs, I really enjoy the challenge of world-building and dealing with fantastical creatures and situations.

doomedTRC: In January, as Tracy Deebs, you released Doomed a YA novel.  Can you please tell us about this book?  Is this part of a series, if so how many books are planned?

Tracy: Yay!  Thanks for asking—I love to talk about Doomed.  Doomed is a modern-day retelling of the Pandora myth, except instead of opening a box, she opens an attachment and hearkens technological Armageddon.  There’s an MMO, a real-life scavenger hunt, a multi-state manhunt for my three main characters, a countdown to nuclear annihilation and a sexy little romance all wrapped up into one explosive package.

Doomed is actually the hardest book I’ve ever had to write and it’s also one I am incredibly proud of.  At the moment, I have three books planned for the Pandora trilogy and am working on the second one right now.

soulboundTRC: Soulbound is your newest release this month, as Tessa Adams.  It is the first book in your Lone Star Witch series.  Please tell us the premise of the series, and a brief description of Soulbound?

Tracy: Soulbound is the story of witch Xandra Morgan, the daughter of one of the most powerful Heka covens in the world (Heka is Egyptian magic and is considered by experts to be the oldest magical force on earth).  She was born with the promise of great power, but through the years that power never developed. She’s totally latent, and while she’s okay with this state of affairs, her mother certainly isn’t and tries everything she can to awaken Xandra’s magic.  But it’s not that Xandra is latent, it’s that she’s soulbound to a very dark, very powerful warlock and once Declan comes into the picture, her powers wake up with a vengeance.  The only problem—her powers are awful.  She sees dead people.  Not ghosts, but actual bodies of people who have died violently.  She has a compulsion to find these bodies and when she does, she relives much of their suffering.

Soulbound follows Xandra as she comes into her powers, falls in love with Declan despite a lot of warning signs to the contrary and also strives to find a serial killer who is murdering women who look a lot like Xandra and marking them with the symbol she was given by the goddess Isis at her birth.  It’s got a smoking hot hero, a tempestuous romance, and a zany cast of supporting characters who will move from book to book with her.  I’m about to get to work on Deathbound, the second book in the series, which centers around Declan and Xandra on the trail of a murderer who is killing members of the Witch, Wizard and Warlock council.

TRC: Besides the above new novels, do you want to tell us about any other new releases you have planned in 2013?  What are you currently working on?

Tracy: Doomed and Soulbound are my winter 2013 releases.  They will be followed in June by Tempest Revealed, the final book in my dark mermaid paranormal trilogy and in November by Deathbound, the second book in the Xandra Morgan series.

I’m also currently working on a new adult series about snowboarders which will be out in about a year, a series for Entangled’s Brazen line that centers around a rock band and will be out later this year, and a duet for Harlequin that doesn’t have a publication date.  Oh, and a trilogy of really fun, flirty, zany contemporary single title romances that a good friend and I are writing together.  The first one is called Lyric and Lingerie.  Oh, and I’m also working on Doomed 2 (which is currently titleless) and a new YA series as well.

TRC: Who is your favorite Female Character in your books?

Tracy: Oooh, this is hard, especially since so many of my books are series and I have ongoing heroines that I see from book to book.  I really like Xandra from Soulbound—she’s kickass but has a sense of humor about her that I really enjoy.  And Tempest, from my mermaid trilogy is pretty awesome in my opinion.

TRC: Who is your favorite Male Character in your books?

Tracy: Honestly, I don’t know.  I’m totally in love with Declan Chumomisto from Soulbound (like seriously, in LOVE with him).  I’m also crazy about Theo from Doomed (he’s my modern day representation of Prometheus as part of the Pandora myth) and Z in Shredding the Edge, the new adult romance I’m in the middle of writing.  They’re all badasses, which is something I have a real weakness for.  Oh, and there’s also Quinn, from Hidden Embers, the second book in my dragon series.  He’s dark and dangerous and sexy as hell too.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Tracy: Just to say thanks so much for having me.  I really appreciate it.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Favorite Dessert: Dulce de Leche ice cream

Favorite Book: Oh, no.  That’s an awful question. There are so many.  Okay, I can do this. Literary: Catcher in the Rye.  Romance: Nalini Singh’s Kiss of Snow (told you I like the badasses)

Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting

Favorite TV Show: Firefly or Friday Night Lights

Last Movie that you saw: The Avengers (with my boys the other night.  I love Iron Man)

Thank you, Tracy for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you in the future. 

If you would like to learn more about Tracy, you can visit her at the following links:

Tracy Wolff Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:
Tessa Adams Goodreads:
Tessa Adams Website:
Tracy Deebs Website:


Soulbound (#1 – A Lone Star Witch Novel) – by Tessa Adams

soulbound

About the Book: Released February 5, 2013
As the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter—and a member of Ipswitch’s Royal family—Xandra Morgan should be a witch of incredible power. But things don’t always turn out like you expect…

While she hasn’t lived up to her family’s expectations, Xandra has come to terms with her latent magic and made a life for herself in Austin, Texas, running a coffee shop where she makes potions of a non-magical nature. While things aren’t perfect, Xandra is happy—until she runs into powerful warlock Declan Chumomisto.

Xandra hasn’t seen Declan in years, and though she’s still overwhelmed by his power, she doesn’t trust him. And when her own powers awaken one night and lead her to the body of a woman in the woods bearing the symbol of Isis—the same one that has marked Xandra since the day she met Declan—she’s filled with a terrible suspicion, soon confirmed: the woman is connected to him.

Xandra doesn’t want to believe that Declan is capable of murder, but as the body count mounts, and Xandra’s own powers spiral out of control, she’s not sure she can trust her own instincts…

Links to order Soulbound: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo/  The Book Depository


Doomed
( #1 Pandora Trilogy) by Tracy Deebs

doomed

About the Book: Released January, 2013

Pandora’s just your average teen-glued to her cell phone and laptop, surfing Facebook and e-mailing with her friends-until the day her long-lost father sends her a link to a mysterious site featuring twelve photos of her as a child. Unable to contain her curiosity, Pandora enters the site, where she is prompted to play her favorite virtual-reality game, Zero Day. This unleashes a global computer virus that plunges the whole world into panic: suddenly, there is no Internet. No cell phones. No utilities, traffic lights, hospitals, law enforcement. Pandora teams up with handsome stepbrothers Eli and Theo to enter the virtual world of Zero Day. Simultaneously, she continues to follow the photographs from her childhood in an attempt to beat the game and track down her father-her one key to saving the world as we know it. Part The Matrix, part retelling of the Pandora myth, Doomed has something for gaming fans, dystopian fans, and romance fans alike.

Links to order Doomed: Amazon / Barnes & NobleThe Book Depository

Giveaway-mauve

Tracy is graciously offering 4 of her books, Soulbound, Doomed, Hidden Embers, Full Exposure, to ONE lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment as Twitter and Facebook etc do not allow for email contact.

3. Giveaway run from February 8th to 11th, 2013

4. Giveaway is open to US only.

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Tracy Wolff – Biography & Bibliograpy

Tracy Wolff – Biography & Bibliograpy

Tracy_blueBiography

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams/Tracy Deebs
collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love.

Her first novel, A Christmas Wedding, appeared on the scene in November of 2008 and since then she has sold eighteen novels—including Erotic Suspense and Paranormal to New American Library, Contemporary Superromance to Harlequin, and Paranormal Young Adult Romance and Contemporary Young Adult Romance to Walker Books. Now a part time English professor at her local community college,she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and three sons. She was a 2010 Rita nominee.

Bibliography

Tracy Wolff

The Doctors Without Borders Trilogy
About The Baby
Book 3
Harlequin Superromance
Released October 30, 2012

Healing Dr. Alexander
Book 2
Harlequin Superromance
Released May 1, 2012

From the Beginning
Book 1
Released February 7, 2012

Austin Trilogy

Unguarded
Book 3
Harlequin Superromance
Released November 30, 2010

Beginning With Their Baby
Book 2
Harlequin Superromance
Released July 13, 2010

From Friend to Father
Book 1
Harlequin Superromance
Released June 9, 2009

Standalone Harlequin Superromance
Deserving of Luke

Released April 5, 2011

The Christmas Present
Released December 8, 2009

A Christmas Wedding
Released November 11, 2008

Erotic Romance/Suspense
Tease Me
Released April 6, 2010

Tie Me Down
Released September 1, 2009

Naughty Bits
including Tracy’s novella NO APOLOGIES
Released March 1, 2009

Full Exposure
Released January 6, 2009

 

Writing as Tessa Adams

The Lone Star Witch Series

Soulbound
Book 1
Released February 5, 2013

Dragon Heat Series

Forbidden Embers
Book 3
Released October 4, 2011

Eternal Embers
Penguin eshort
Released September 6, 2011

Hidden Embers
Book 2
Relesed April 5, 2011

Dark Embers
Book 1
Released July 6, 2010

 

Writing as Tracy Deebs

Pandora Trilogy

Doomed
Young Adult
Book 1
Walker Childrens
Released  January 8, 2013

Tempest Trilogy

Tempest Revealed
Young Adult
Book 3
Walker
Books for Young Readers
Upcoming  June 4, 2013

Tempest Unleashing
Young Adult
Book 2
Walker
Books for Young Readers
Released June 5, 2012

Tempest Rising
Young Adult
Book 1
Walker
Books for Young Readers
Released May, 2011

 

Writing as Ivy Adams

The International Kissing Club
Young Adult Hardcover
Walker Childrens
Released January, 2012

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First Anniversary Giveaway-February 7, 2013

First Anniversary Giveaway-February 7, 2013

WhiteUWallpaper-2-2

Today’s FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY Prize Package is the first two books in KALAYNA PRICE’S Haven series: ONCE BITTEN and TWICE DEAD

There are 2 PRIZE PACKAGES to be WON. Comment for your chance at ONE of two prize packages.  2 Winners will be chosen

KalaynaPriceGiveaway

TO ENTER: This giveaway open to adults 18 years of age and older

NOTE: Register at The Reading Cafe using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook etc, please post your email address with your comment, as Twitter etc does not account for email contact.

1. Open to US and CANADA only

2. Please post a comment telling us to enter you in the giveaway.

3. Giveaway runs until February 14, 2013

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Beverly’s Rebirth (Six Saviors 3.5) by Carly Fall-a review

Beverly’s Rebirth (Six Saviors 3.5) by Carly Fall-a review

Beverlys.Rebirth.

BEVERLY’S REBIRTH (Six Saviors Novella) by Carly Fall

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Released January 2013

This is the book that was never supposed to be written. It was inspired by fans of the Six Saviors Series who wanted a little more of Beverly and Hudson from REBORN. If you haven’t read REBORN, this book is not for you.

There’s no doubt that Beverly has had her share of ups and downs. When we last left her in REBORN, she had told Hudson that she was pregnant with his child, he was happy about it, and they were about to be mated.

In Destiny’s Shift, we see Beverly and Hudson happy with their baby, but what happened in between those two books?

A lot.

This is Beverly’s journey into motherhood.  And it’s not an easy ride.  This book also answers the question that many readers emailed me about: What are they going to do with Beverly being fully human?

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Background: 6 saviors warriors from planet SR44: Rayner, Hudson, Noah, Cohen, Jovan & Talin. The warriors were sent to earth 212 years ago to stop and eradicate the 12 murderers who escaped from one of the moon colonies of planet SR44. The Colonists, as they were soon called, made their way to Earth, took the human body form, mated with the females and populated the earth with Colonist DNA. The savior warriors are part of the elite military from planet SR44, commissioned to remove the Colonists from Earth. The beings on planet SR44 are incorporeal bodies of mist and smoke, each bearing a different color, but in their corporeal bodies on Earth, their eyes will glow their familiar- planet SR44 color each evening.

REVIEW:  Beverly’s Rebirth follows Beverly and Hudson as they traverse the minefield known as pregnancy and birth.  But unlike most humans, Beverly is about to give birth to a child that is half human/half SR44-in other words-a different species.  Without any prior knowledge, Beverly and Hudson, along with Cohen must endeavor to deliver a baby into the world-only everything does not go according to plan.

Part of the storyline takes Beverly on a journey of faith and rebirth and, one that is personal as well as otherworldly.  While Beverly tries to understand and convince the higher powers where it is she wants to be, Hudson must remain behind and convince himself that all is not lost-which isn’t easy when his entire life comes crashing down around him. 

There are some moments that will be familiar to every woman who has ever given birth-the need to strangle one’s mate comes to mind.  And there are moments of heartbreak and sorrow when a man thinks he has lost –his everything.

 Beverly’s Rebirth is a well-written, short story that fills in the missing information between Reborn and Destiny’s Shift.  And like Carly pointed out, you must read the series to understand the storyline and premise.  Without the background information and previous personal history, this novella will be lost to anyone who has not had the opportunity to read the series.  Carly’s Six Savior series is a must read for fans of the paranormal with a slight-very slight-science fiction premise (if only because our amazing heroes are from another planet). I want my own SR44ian

NOTE: Carly will be offering the first four books (excluding this novella) as one of our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY prize package giveaways. If you would like a chance at the Six Saviors Series Giveaway come back on February 18 at 5pm for your chance.

 Reading Order

  1. The Light Within Me
  2. Finding My Faith
  3. Reborn
  4. Beverly’s Rebirth
  5. Destiny’s Shift

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ Smashwords

Copy supplied by the author.

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Spellbound (WOTO #12) by Kelley Armstrong-a review

SPELLBOUND (Women of the Otherworld #12) by Kelley Armstrong

spellbound

February is the 12 month in Moonlightgleam’s WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD reading challenge. This month’s challenge is SPELLBOUND by Kelley Armstrong.

WOTOChallenge

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she’s powerless to help herself. At the heartbreaking conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would prevent further pain for a young orphan. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Armstrong gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and other beloved characters, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

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REVIEW: SPELLBOUND is the second to last storyline in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series.

At the end of Waking The Witch, our heroine Savannah Levine-part witch/part sorceress-all powerful young woman has sacrificed her powers to save a young child, and now Savannah must make her way through a haunted world of demons, werewolves, clairvoyants and an end of the world prophecy foretold from her birth to the birth of werewolf twins and more.

We learn more about a group of people seeking immortality and using the supernatural’s to get what they want. But immortality comes at a price and Savannah and the others will be the ultimate prize in the quest for –forever.

And finally, there is a hint of a romance between Savannah and Adam-a love story that has been building since STOLEN (the second storyline in the series where Adam helped rescue a twelve year old Savannah from Ty Winsloe’s compound of collected supernatural species). Fans of Kelley Armstrong have known this love story has been ten years in the making-ten long years (in story time) for some-but finally will be coming to its natural conclusion in Thirteen-the final book in Kelley’s WOTO series.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Reviewed by Sandy

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Julie Kenner Prize Package Giveaway-February 6, 2013

Julie Kenner Prize Package Giveaway-February 6, 2013

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Today’s FIRST ANNIVERSARY giveaway prize package has been graciously donated by author J.Kenner/Julie Kenner/J.Beck. Each paper back book is the FIRST instalment in each of Julie’s four series.

Click HERE for JULIE KENNER’S website

JulieKennerGiveaway

TO ENTER:  This giveaway is open to adults 18 years and over

NOTE: Register at The Reading Cafe using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook etc, please post your email address with your comment, as Twitter etc does not account for email contact.

1. Open to US and CANADA only

2. Please post a comment telling us to enter you in the giveaway.

3. Giveaway runs until February 14, 2013

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Shona Husk-Interview and Giveaway

Shona Husk-Interview and Giveaway

Dark-Secrets-Tour-Button

DARK SECRETS (Arcane) by Shona Husk
Carina Press
18 February 2013
ISBN: 978-14268-9511-1

Dark Secrets

Amazon / Barnes and NobleiTunes
ABOUT THE BOOK:

Six years ago, Haidyn Mast left his home and his betrothed Anisa to follow his magical calling. Too weak to join the Arcane Guild and too ashamed to return home, he has made a life as a prostitute—to all outward appearances. In truth, he sells his mind but not his body, using magic to let his clients experience their most secret fantasies while his hands stay clean. Even the Lawman, the arbiter of justice in Reseda, is one of his clients, but Haidyn would rather not know the extent of that man’s depravity.

Though successful, Haidyn is shunned as a whore and his lack of formal training is causing his power to grow out of control. He’s ready to retire and leave the city, but when he sees his Anisa standing at Lawman’s side, he knows he must rescue her from the abusive enforcer. Risking his life and his sanity, he devises a plan, knowing that failure will mean death for him, and a lifetime of torment for her…

Interview red:black

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Shona Husk

Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who aren’t afraid to get hurt while falling in love.

With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she is published with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and Sourcebooks.

Printable Book List

Shona Husk

LET’S BEGIN!

Follow Shona:

TRC: Hi Shona and welcome to The Reading Café.  Congratulations on the January 2013 release of FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR and MIDSUMMER’S EVE and the February release of DARK SECRETS.

Shona: Thank you :). It’s been a busy couple of months.

TRC: We would like to start with some background information.  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Shona: I was an avid fantasy reader before I became a writer and along the way I discovered romance and decided that was what I wanted to write. I love creating new worlds and exploring them through my characters. I do tend to be rather mean to my heroes as I like to see how well the cope.

Dark SecretsTRC: DARK SECRETS is the latest release in your ARCANE SERIES.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Shona: It really is about keeping secrets that if told would wind up with someone’s death. Haidyn, the hero, is in a very delicate position and finding a way out is almost impossible. I knew what he was a whore as soon as he appeared in his fancy red jacket, what followed was an interesting journey into magical mind control, depravity and redemption.

TRC: Will all 10 LORDS have their story told?

Shona: The series focusses on the powerful Arcane Union and the effects it has on magic users. I have two more books in the series plotted before I finish the Arcane arc. By the end the Arcane Union won’t be quite so powerful, so maybe another Union and Lord will fill the power gap…

For The Love of a Goblin WarriorTRC: FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR is the third installment (4th storyline) in your SHADOWLANDS series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Shona: The Shadowlands series is about six cursed Celtic warriors. By the time The Summons (the free prequel) starts two of the men are dead, and one has turned goblin. The Goblin King is about the struggle to break the curse and be free the other two books dovetail into that but following the other men’s journeys. FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR is Meryn’s story, he is the man who turned goblin nearly two thousand years ago. He has a long way to go to become human again, but a little love goes a long way.

TRC: We have heard rumors this is the final book in this particular series.  If so, do you have plans for a spin-off?  Another series?

Shona: It is the final books in the series. At this point in time there are no plans for spin off but I never say never. I have a new series starting in July with THE OUTCAST PRINCE. This series is set between the fairy Court of Annwyn and our world. Nothing says fun like the scheming fairy who rule the Underworld 😉

Midsummer's EveTRC: MIDSUMMER’S EVE (Hot Down Under) is another one of your January 2013 releases.  Would you please tell us something about this particular storyline?

Shona: This was such fun to write and probably my least paranormal story (gasp!). It’s a little story about a couple who split up for all the wrong reasons finding a way back to each other, there is wine and a lusty spirit involved.

TRC: Do you have plans for a number of novels in the HOT DOWN UNDER  erotic –romance series?

Shona: I have an idea for another, but it is unwritten. Most of my erotic works are with Ellora’s Cave and I’m super excited that my first erotic sci-fi will be out later in the year.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?

Shona: I don’t know…what have people been saying?

TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?

Shona: I’m actually quite happy. I know that’s terribly un-fashionable to be happy with myself and content with my life, but I am. That doesn’t mean I’m perfect, but no one is.

TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?

Shona: My grandmother when I was young. She’d had a really interesting life and she taught me to play mahjong. It was the kind of relationship I didn’t value enough when she was alive.

Now it would be my kids, they remind me to have fun, to make the time to play but also do my own thing.

TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?

Shona: It depends on the problem. If it’s writing related my crit group, otherwise my hubby.

TRC: Is there a question that you would like to be asked in an interview, but nobody has asked? If so, ask away!

Shona: Why are you so mean to your characters? Because it’s fun to push them, I want to make sure they really deserve their HEA.

TRC: What would you like to accomplish in the next ten years?

Shona: I’d like to write a couple more series, quite the day job, get my black belt. The usual 😉

TRC: What or where is the one place you would recommend for anyone visiting Australia?

Shona: Tasmania is very beautiful, but also harsh (particularly as you head south) and it can be very cold. The wine region in Western Australia is also lovely.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Shona: I’m working on Lord of the Hunt which is book two in the Court of Annwyn series (after The Outcast Prince). One that’s polished up and submitted I have some novellas to write.

Would you like to add anything else?

Shona: Thank you for inviting me over!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
chocolate

Favorite Dessert
lemon tart

Favorite TV Show
Supernatural

Last Movie You Saw
Rise of the Guardians (I have children). Last adult film would be Skyfall

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Do you have any pets?
2 cats

TRC: Thank you Shona for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best!

Blog Tour Schedule-red

02/03 – GraveTells
02/04 – I Smell Sheep
02/05 – United by Books
02/06 – The Reading Café
02/07 – Romancing the Book
02/08 – Bookworm 2 Bookworm
02/09 – All Things Books
02/10 – All The Fun Starts After Dark
02/11 – Close Encounters with the Night Kind
02/12 – Cocktails and Books
02/13 – Book Lovin’ Mamas
02/14 – Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies Oh My!
02/15 – Book Monster Reviews & Literal Addiction
02/16 – Ramblings From This Chick

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Shona is offering an ebook copy of DARK SECRETS at every Blog Tour stop including The Reading Cafe

1. Please register using the log-in at the top or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment as Twitter and Facebook do not allow for email information.

3. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

4. Giveaway runs from February 6-17, 2013

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DARK SECRETS (Arcane) by Shona Husk-a review

Dark Secrets (Arcane) by Shona Husk-a review

Dark Secrets

Amazon / Barnes and NobleiTunes

Release date: February 18, 2013

Dark Secrets by Shona Husk explores the world of Arcane magic. If you’re considered strong in your particular talent, you gain an apprenticeship and earn your membership in the guild overseen by a particular Lord of the genre. Confident that he had the potential to be something special, Haidyn Mast asked his betrothed, Anisa, to wait for him. Haidyn was refused. Ashamed of his rejection into the Union, Haidyn turned to a life of degradation, whoring, to be specific, and never returned to his love. When destiny brings Anisa to his town…will there still be a spark between them?

Did I mention Anisa thought Haidyn was dead? **Ripping off band-aid** and…that she’s new to town…because she married Haidyn’s enemy? Yiiiikes. Which issue should Haidyn tackle first? First, Haidyn will have to apologize for dropping off the face of the earth, tell her that he’s been selling “himself” to a lust house (at least he’s the owner now), and that one of his most despicable clients happens to be her husband. *Gasp!* A daunting task no matter which way he approaches.

…he has made a life as a prostitute – to all outward appearances. In truth, he sells his mind but not his body, using magic to let his clients experience their most secret fantasies while his hands stay clean.

Brixen Saw is the Lawman of the town. A once formidable man with the responsibility of upholding and dispensing the town’s justice (any way he sees fit), does his job amidst a shadow of judgment upon his character. Two previous wives died mysteriously; the town has always been suspicious of those circumstances. In spite of the muttering rumors (you’ll discover the truth), the Lawman, tasked with maintaining order and eradicating lawlessness, furtively visits Haidyn’s establishment, the Red Lust House every ten-night (hypocrite much?), but it’s to seek out Haidyn…as he prefers men to women. Yeah…I’d have given Anisa THAT knowledge first. But in rediscovering Anisa, and the love he thought had withered away with his refusal six years ago, Haidyn lays himself at Anisa’s feet and begs her forgiveness.

Skeptical to be sure, but definitely re-inspired by Haidyn’s admission of guilt and regret, the Lawman’s henchmen witness Anisa and Haidyn’s brief exchange and Anisa pays dearly for it (in spite of his marriage, the Lawman still visits Haidyn and a peek into his thoughts through his magic, sends horrific images of Anisa’s ruined back at the hands of her adoring husband). Haidyn might have failed Anisa before, but he’s smarter and stronger now; both in mind, magic and body. Now all he has to do is convince Anisa to trust him anew…and, what…run away? What to do…what to do?

I’d learned long ago that hope was worth more than gold. A man could live without gold but not hope.

Aside from the love story that is battling to survive from within and against outside sources, the subplot of the great divide between the licensed Arcane magic users and the “rogue” faction who has gone on to form its own guild, the Free Arcane Association, was just as interesting. Haidyn sympathizes with the latter (for obvious reasons), but as the owner of an establishment that sits on the fence of impropriety, coin pays for silence…on both sides. His clientele is comprised of paying, thrill-seeking patrons who check their allegiances at the door. I enjoyed the heck out of this story line as the reader decides who the bigger evil is.

Ms. Husk delivers a great story. Anisa is the jilted lover coming to terms with this new incarnation of Haidyn while discovering her husband harbors secrets and fury. Haidyn must continue his magical prowess long enough to…in order to…UGH…I CAN’T VERY WELL TELL YOU! There’s a lot to love in this short story. I will admit to getting lost a few times along the way with regard to the Arcane terminology (Kindle failed me this time; unaware of Ms. Husk’s magical world!). I was certain Dark Secrets was written as a sequel, but when I reached out to Ms. Husk (you knew I would!), she said it could be read as a stand-alone. I took great pleasure from this book, but look forward to reading Dark Vow (released in 2011) to visit the beginning. But I’m/WE’RE not done yet — Ms. Husk advised me she is working on a new book in the world of the Arcane. I’m clearly a fan…you think I can get some insight??? 😉

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied by author.

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