Karen Moning revealed today the title & cover of her next Dani O’Malley book.
Burned is the second book in this trilogy, which started with Iced. No word on release date, though rumors say January, 2014.
Thanks so much for allowing me to share a little of myself and Ineligible Bachelor with you all. This was a fun book to write since I am a Reality TV junkie and also have had a boy-friend who never saw me in any other light. Oh the agony of it all. I hope you will enjoy being a part of Kinley’s struggle to show Logan that the woman of his dreams has been under his nose the whole time. Feel free to contact me and let me know if you did.
Peace!
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INTERVIEW with Kathryn Quick
Connect with Kathryn:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Page
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TRC: Hi Kathryn and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of INELIGIBLE BACHELOR.
Kathryn: Thanks so much. I am very excited to share the story with your readers.
TRC: We would like to start with the question everyone dislikes– Would you please tell us something about yourself?
Kathryn: Born long ago in a place not so far away, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, I have been writing since the Sisters in St. Casmir’s Grammar School gave me the ruled yellow paper and a number two pencil. I write contemporary and career romances, romantic comedies, historical romances as well as urban fantasy. I’ve been a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America since 1990 and consider it an honor to have been NJRW President in 1992 and 2001. I am also one of the founding members of Liberty States Fiction Writers, multi-genre writers’ organizations dedicated to furthering the craft of writing and helping aspiring writers move onto publication.
I also write as P. K. Eden with colleague, Patt Mihailoff, FIREBRAND and our debut urban fantasy, has been heralded for having lush worlds and colorful characters full of secrets and magic. Based on the fall of the Garden of Eden, FIREBRAND, has won two Reviewer’s Choice Awards.
Originally I wanted to be President of the United States or an Organic Chemist, but somehow life got in the way and I got married right out of high school and had a set of twins two years later. The Presidency seemed out of reach and night school to get her Ph.D. to create new molecule that would ultimately result in the betterment of humankind seemed a little time consuming while trying to raise twins, so she decided to write instead.
In my “other” life, I am happily married to my real-life hero Donald and have three grown sons all having adventures of their own and three “bonus” grandchildren. I am a die-hard New Jersey Devils fan and work for Somerset County government (as close as she could get to the White House) and am plotting a novel about a new molecule that will ultimately result in the betterment of humankind.
TRC: You also have written under the pen-name P.K. Eden with fellow author Patt Mihailoff. What was the experience like to co-author a storyline?
Kathryn: It actually was pretty seamless. My weaknesses are Patt’s strengths and visa versa. She is more the right brain and I am the left. I like to plot and she likes to write description. We mesh really well.
TRC: What difficulties (if any) did you face co-authoring the novel?
Kathryn: Patt wrote wonderful prose but sometimes went off-story line with the adventures of some secondary characters. She loves characters and writes really interesting ones, but some of them didn’t make it into the book. Of course one she did write, a Valkyrie Queen HAD to get a subplot. She was just too interesting and powerful to omit.
TRC: Would you please tell us something about INELIGIBLE BACHELOR?
ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository
Kathryn: I LOVE reality TV (and yes, I watch Dance Moms), and I have had a boy’friend’ who considered me a sister rather than a love interest. So I thought I would combined them and Ineligible Bachelor was born.
Briefly:
After years of pining, Frederika “Freddy” McAllister has hatched a scheme to win Logan Gabriel’s heart: she’ll secretly enter him in Elan Magazine’s Eligible Bachelor Contest, then swoop in to soothe his bruised ego when he loses. Unfortunately, Freddy’s “fool-proof” plans have a tendency to backfire, with disastrous—albeit hilarious—results. And this one looks to be no exception…
Because Logan doesn’t lose—he wins, earning a spot on a new reality TV show with six beautiful women vying for his affections. And if Freddy had read the fine print on the entry form, she would know that, as Logan’s oldest friend, she will be tagging along to choose the lucky girl. Suddenly Freddy’s perfect plan has become a perfect nightmare, complete with scheming TV executives, conniving contestants…and a bachelor in danger of falling for the wrong woman. Freddy caused this mess. Now it’s up to her to prove to Logan—and millions of television viewers—that the girl next door is really the woman of his dreams.
TRC: Ineligible Bachelor revolves around a storyline involving a reality show premise similar to the ‘Bachelor’. Are any of the characters or bachelorettes based on reality or any of what we have seen on the television? Or an amalgamation?
Kathryn: The characters aren’t based on anyone in particular. Well, maybe Logan is somewhat like my boy’friend’ from high school (yes, that’s you, Michael). I just used some of the traits of contestants on seasons past and rolled them into my characters; scheming, conniving, catty etc. Maybe I did like the Iraq war vet a little though.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?
Kathryn: The BACHELORS Three Series has three books Ineligible Bachelor, Bachelor-Dot-Com and the Bachelor’s Agenda. Reality TV, a frog to prince story and a politician with grand plans.
TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?
Kathryn: That I know what I’m doing. I really don’t. I have an idea, develop some characters and let them loose on the pages. I never believed a writer when he or she would say “the characters just take over.” But they do. My characters will not do anything their personality will not let them do. More often than not my characters take the plot in a whole other direction than what I had originally thought. Like Freddy for instance, or rather the contestants. Who knew they would keep Freddy prisoner in the pool until she had such a bad sunburn that they thought she wouldn’t show up for the rose ceremony. Ha – not my girl. She was there with bells on; or rather sunburn ointment.
TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?
Kathryn: I wish I didn’t have to wear glasses. I spend a fortune on contacts because I keep losing them.
TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
Kathryn: My dad. He passed away last year and left a big hole in my heart. But he was an amazing man who showed me that I could do anything I wanted by accomplishing so much in his own life. He quit High School at 16 and lied about his age to join the Army Air Corps during WWII but always regretted not getting his high school diploma. Well he finally did; at age 75. He drove the ambulance for the local rescue squad until he was 70, helped out at Ground Zero after September 11 by serving meals to the rescue workers and always supported anything I tried to do. When things didn’t quite go my way he would always say, “Well, honey, you have two choices; you can sit around and feel sorry for yourself, or you can do something about it.”
I really miss him.
TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?
Kathryn: Again, my dad. And I talk to him every day.
TRC: Is there a question that you would like to be asked in an interview, but nobody has asked? If so, ask away!
Kathryn: I can’t think of one right now, but probably will as soon as I hit the send button.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Kathryn: I am finishing up Bachelor-Dot-Com and thinking about the third book. I think I’ll have my Bachelor politician begin his campaign at his high school reunion and run into his old sweetheart with a son he never knew he had. Now that would cause a real re-election problems.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Kathryn: Just that I appreciate the opportunity to talk to your bloggers and hope they will check out Freddy and Logan’s story. It was a lot of fun to write and, I’m told a lot of fun to read.
Hope you all will pop over to my website www.kathrynquick.com and learn a little more about my books. Follow me at:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Page
Peace!!
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Favorite Dessert
Crème Brule
Favorite TV Show
What else – the Bachelor (or QVC – that Susan Graver has nice stuff)
Last Movie you Saw
Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal – a real hoot.
Dark or Milk Chocolate
The darker the better
Favorite Flower
Peony – reminds me of my grandmother
Last Vacation Destination
Iceland. I wanted to see the Northern Lights but it was too cloudy.
TRC: Thank you Kathryn for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best.
Kathryn: My Pleasure
2/1 – I Heart Books – Facebook Promo
2/2 – Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog
2/4 – Love Romance Passion
2/5 – Musings From An Addicted Reader
2/6 – Books-n-Kisses
2/10 – Romance Junkies
2/13 – United by Books
2/15 – Life of a Total Book Nerd
2/18 – Coffee & A Book Anytime
2/21 – Cocktails and Books
2/22 – Over the Edge
2/23 – Book Monster Reviews
2/24 – Must Read Faster
2/25 – Babbling About Books & More
3/6 – Redheaded Bookworm
3/7 – Book Lovin’ Mamas
3/8 – Anna Reads Romance
3/9 – Riverina Romantics
3/10 – Ramblings From This Chick
3/12 – Toots Book Reviews
3/13 – Urban Girl Reader
3/15 – The Reading Cafe
Kathryn will be giving away a $10.00 gift card (winners choice of Amazon or B&N) and an eBook of INELIGIBLE BACHELOR to one winner at every tour stop including 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.
3. Giveaway runs from March 15-March 18, 2013
4. Giveaway open to USA/Canada only.
Kathryn is giving away a Kobo mini ereader and an eBook of INELIGIBLE BACHELOR to ONE winner that follows the tour. (If you already have an ereader then Kathryn will gift you a $60.00 gift card to either Amazon or B&N.)
Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The more tasks you complete, the greater the chance you have at winning.
Good Luck
ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release January 8, 2013
Frederika “Freddy” McAllister has loved Logan Gabriel since…well, forever. Unfortunately, she’s spent most of forever in the dreaded “friend zone,” harboring what has to be the longest-running crush of all time. But now Freddy has a plan to make Logan see her as more than just the girl next door: She’ll enter him in Elan Magazine’s Eligible Bachelor Contest, then swoop in to soothe his bruised ego when he loses.
There’s just one tiny problem: Logan wins! And that means he’s headed to a mansion in New Jersey where six beautiful women will vie for his affections on reality TV. Making matters worse, the producers want Freddy to tag along and help choose his ideal match. Suddenly her perfect plan becomes a perfect nightmare, as Freddy scrambles to outwit conniving contestants and convince the man of her dreams that the woman of his has been by his side all along
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REVIEW: INELIGIBLE BACHELOR is a contemporary romance short story that plays right into the hands of fans of some of television’s reality programming. When Freddy McAllister enters a photograph of her childhood sweetheart into a contest she failed to read the fine print-she had inadvertently entered him a contest to be the next Bachelor for a reality program.
Heartsick and heartbroken, Freddy is cast by the show’s producers to choose who stays and who goes. And along the way, Freddy’s heart choses Logan knowing she will be sending him into another woman’s arms.
Ineligible Bachelor is a cute, quirky read that delves into the ‘unreality’ of reality TV programming. The writing is simple and the storyline is a quick read before bed. Following a script was never more difficult when two hearts meant to be together are forced to choose someone else. But like all romance storylines, all is not lost when the producers see something that neither one was willing to admit.
If you like fun, romantic, uncomplicated storylines INELIGIBLE BACHELOR is the perfect read.
Copy supplied by author.
Reviewed by Sandy
This review is a re-post. For the past thirteen months The Reading Cafe has participated in the Women of the Otherworld (Kelley Armstrong) reading challenge hosted by Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf and the amazing Lucy D.
We would like to thank Lucy for the opportunity to participate in this challenge and allowing me to re-read an entire series again-for the fourth or fifth time 😉
THIRTEEN is the final instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. Although the number of storylines, technically cross, into the 20s (with the many anthologies and short stories available), THIRTEEN is the last of the full-length novels. There remain many stories to be told (Morgan’s and Reese’s for example) but sadly, I understand why Kelley felt the need to close the door on the Women of the Otherworld series. I am also pleased she has announced that she has, at the minimum, three more anthologies set for release starting in 2014. Let us hope that Morgan and the others will get their stories written-nothing like introducing several new characters and never revealing the exact nature of their connection to the series.
THIRTEEN is the culmination of 10 plus years of story telling all starting with Kelley’s introductory WOTO novel BITTEN, where we were first introduced to Elena Michaels –the first and only female werewolf- and her mate and ‘sire’ Clayton Danvers. But the road to THIRTEEN began in the pages of the second story STOLEN with the introduction of Savannah Levine- a young 12year old witch left orphaned when her half-demon/half- witch mother, Eve Levine, was murdered trying to escape Ty Winsloe’s compound of imprisoned supernatural beings. Now 10 years later, Savannah is a young woman, hopelessly in love with the man who helped rescue her from Winsloe’s hold, and a major player trying to stop a 13th century child killer from successfully finding a cure for mortality and revealing the existence of the supernatural race.
Many of the WOTO characters reunite in this final chapter including the revelation that someone who was long thought dead, is very much alive-and for that reason alone-a few more storylines must be written. Kelley has exposed us to many different demons, half-demons, angels and Cabals, but THIRTEEN gathers some of the Otherworld’s nastiest demons and fallen angels in a struggle between ‘the good, the bad and the lowest of the low’. Yet the one whom you would have thought wanted to destroy the world, remains an angel behind the façade of one of most hated beings in the world of religious beliefs. And with the birth of child, comes a reunion between father and daughter, and a new Pack member who reluctantly admits that family is more important than pride.
Savannah and Adam will, at last, admit they have been dancing around each other for many years. Savannah’s proclamation that she has been in love with Adam since he ‘burned’ her initials into a heart, and Adam maintains that their age difference held him back from taking the initial steps towards a relationship will quell the angst of unrequited love. Their relationship has been frustrating throughout the series, knowing that they belonged together, but it will be Adam’s admission that he has felt the same way for a very long time.
Our favorite PACK will reunite in a short story at the end of the book-FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. The previous Alpha will be vanquished from position in a head to head battle, a new Pack Alpha will be declared and their numbers will increase with the addition of a new member and his young family.
THIRTEEN is a fast paced, wild ride that will bring back many memories from the previous storylines. Cassandra and Aaron will sacrifice themselves to save a once-beloved Cabal member, while Jasper Haig is released to ensure Hope survives the end of the world. Many of the demon fathers make an appearance as the wall between the worlds slowly disintegrates, but the open portal will allow a beast so frightening, that even the powers of the supernatural are useless against its’ attack. THIRTEEN is a wonderful end to a fantastic series that will be missed by so many readers and friends. I would like to thank the talented Kelley Armstrong for allowing me to ride along on the amazing adventures of Elena, Clay and the Pack. They will truly be missed.
Reviewed by Sandy
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 4, 2013
The food critic…
Miranda Storme never expected to see Gavin Luciano again. Three years ago, they had an intense affair—and then he bolted. Now he’s back, and Miranda has the pleasure of a little payback: a scathing review of his restaurant. Revenge is a dish best served the first chance you get…
And the restaurateur…
With three months to make his family’s struggling Italian restaurant successful, a bad review is Gavin’s worst nightmare. But this isn’t just about the meal. He’s finally realized what he left behind and is determined to spend the next eight weeks proving himself to her in the kitchen…and in the bedroom! This is one dish she won’t be able to refuse…
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REVIEW: ALL THE WAY is a contemporary romance storyline that will tug at the heart of anyone who has loved and lost. But this storyline is also about what happens when a lack of communication between two people, who are desperately in love with each other, threatens to destroy their relationship.
Miranda and Gavin had a past together and rekindling their romance after three years of heartache and sorrow was something Miranda was not willing to accept. On leave of absence, Gavin returns home to help his family’s struggling restaurant only to find that the woman he once loved was the latest food critic who sabotaged everything his family had hoped for. And to make matters worse, Gavin’s feelings for Miranda had never changed. He hoped that he could persuade Miranda that he had changed since the last time he saw her.
Miranda had always felt betrayed by what she perceived as Gavin’s attempts to run. But three years after losing the man she loved because he was afraid to commit forced Miranda to take a hard look at what she really wanted-and Miranda did not want to be hurt again. But the pull between Miranda and Gavin was still strong until the day she discovers that perhaps he had planned on running again.
The relationship between Miranda and Gavin is filled with secrets and sorrow; competing rivalry and two people’s inability to talk about their feelings both past and present. A lack of communication threatens to destroy everything they had re-built and both had a habit of running whenever things became too tough. But to clear one misconception, I did not feel Gavin ran during one particular scene, but left so that Miranda had time to consider everything that had happened between them
If you are a fan of contemporary romance storylines with a HEA, Jennifer Probst and All the Way is your ticket to a lazy afternoon of romance and love. At times the couple were infuriating and stubborn, but in the end, love conquers all-even family members who should now better than to stick their nose in where it doesn’t belong.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
Reviewed by Sandy
Cover Reveals-March 14, 2013
TITLE: Complete Me
AUTHOR: J. Kenner
SERIES: Stark Trilogy
RELEASE DATE: July 2013
TITLE: How To Run with a Naked Werewolf
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
SERIES: Naked Werewolf
RELEASE DATE: December 2013
TITLE: Cold Blooded
AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson
SERIES: Jessica McClain
RELEASE DATE: October 2013
TITLE: Heart of Venom
AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep
SERIES: Elemental Assassin
RELEASE DATE: August 2013
TITLE: Breaking Her Rules
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
SERIES: Red Stone Security
RELEASE DATE: April 2013
TITLE: Spartan Frost (YA)
AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep
SERIES: Mythos Academy
RELEASE DATE: June 2013
TITLE: Midnight Frost
AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep
SERIES: Mythos Academy #5
RELEASE DATE: July 2013
TITLE: Crave the Night
AUTHOR: Lara Adrian
SERIES: Midnight Breed #12
RELEASE DATE: 2013
Links to purchase Dear Cassie: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Description:
What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?
You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
You’d be wrong.
There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.
What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?
But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.
And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?
Review:
DEAR CASSIE by Lisa Burstein is the follow up novel to Pretty Amy. This takes place right after the girls are arrested for possession and intent to sell after they were stood up by their prom dates. Cassie tells her own story starting from the airport until she arrives at Turning Pines Wilderness Camp. She journals her whole experience at the camp. This is really Cassie’s story of going from a hurt and vulnerable girl, to one who learns to love and forgive in an unlikely setting.
Her fellow “campers” are an interesting mix. There is Nez, the compulsive liar, Troyer, the girl who won’t talk and then there is Ben. Ben is trying to break down the barriers that Cassie has erected around her heart. Cassie doesn’t want anything to do with him, because of the past betrayals in her life.
Cassie is not always a sympathetic character. She has been badly hurt in life and she lashes out at the people who are trying to help her heal. Her vocabulary is peppered with the F bomb and she is constantly chewing her cinnamon gum, because she craves her cigarettes. Once the author allows Cassie’s character to crack and begin to heal, the reading became easier and I started rooting for her success. It’s hard to be a teenage girl and Cassie has many things that she needs to heal from and people she needs to forgive. Cassie is a tough nut to crack!!
Ben is a wonderful character, and he never gives up on Cassie! He is funny, sympathetic and he needs to convince Cassie that he will not betray her. He helps her to learn to move on in life, and to let go on some of her pain and sadness. Lisa Burstein is very gifted with her character development. She allowed me to go from hating a character to feeling nothing but love and admiration for Cassie. This book would be great for teenagers who are feeling alone in life and for the adults that love them!
Reviewed by Jules
Copy supplied by publisher.
Link to buy Assassination of a Dignitary: Amazon
Description:
Raymond Hunter’s dark past has returned and demands one final favor. Now fifteen years later, settled as an accountant and family man, he assumed life would be calm. He thought wrong. The Italian Mafia wants him back.
The directions were simple: Kill Governor Behler and be out for good.
Despite the odd request since the Mafia typically respects dignitaries, in order to protect his family, Raymond has no choice but to accept the job. He picks the date and location—Niagara Falls, New York—two hundred and forty miles away. But by the time he returns home, he finds out the assassination attempt failed, his family has been kidnapped, and he has twenty-four hours to set things right if he wants to see them again.
With time running out, Raymond discovers the real reason they wanted Behler dead and finds out he’s placed himself and his family right in the middle of a mafia power struggle. What he doesn’t realize is that law enforcement is also closing in.
Review:
Assassination of a Dignitary by Carolyn Arnold is a suspense thriller. The story revolves around the mafia, and a man who got away, only to be pulled back in years later. Raymond Hunter is a family man, married with a wife and children that he loves . He used to be a hit man for the Russo family, and when he saved the Don’s son, he was allowed to leave the family, as he wished to live a normal life.
Fifteen years later, he is forced to by the Don’s son, Christian to perform a final job. Raymond must kill a Governor, under the order from the Don. Raymond finds that hard to believe, since the mafia usually will never touch dignitaries. But Christian Russo threatens Raymond, and promises to pay him an exorbitant amount to do the job, and then he will leave him and his family alone. Raymond has no choice, he must do the job, and is shocked to find out that the target is someone he knows.
What follows is an exciting adventure of Raymond trying to perform his task, saving his family from the mob, and trying to be one step ahead of the law, as well as Christian’s men. There were many twists and turns, and Raymond has no one to trust, and he is faced with a deadline to finish the job, or those he loves will suffer the consequences.
The story is done mostly in two pov’s, following Raymond each step of the way, and the Detective on the case, Clinton. Carolyn Arnold weaves an exciting thriller, with so many different elements and twists, as well as key players who have ties with the mob. Much of the book is tense, as the Mafia cares nothing about who they hurt. The key points…Did Raymond perform his final job? Is his family safe? Will Raymond survive, and will he ever be free?
I found this to be an exciting and interesting story, with not a dull moment, as there was action the entire way. There were some moments during the course of the book I did not enjoy, mainly some deaths or torture, but in this type of story, it did fit. Carolyn Arnold is an excellent writer, and knows how to tell a story that flows so perfectly.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Author