Immortal Obsession by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: Review and Interview with the Author

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 1, 2014

As her Protector, he was bound to oblige her every desire.
A rogue group of human-hating vampires have overtaken London. But the elite immortals who own much of the city may have found the key to protecting their territory: Madison Chase, an American newscaster investigating a story about missing teenagers. If she can convince someone to help her infiltrate the dangerous faction, she just might stem the bloodletting and find her brother in time….
St. John can’t escape his dark family legacy. But the instincts that keep him from being fully human also make him the rogues’ worst enemy. His desire for the ethereal redhead is immediate, all-consuming—and forbidden. And as the investigation escalates, Madison must discover if St. John is her trusted Protector—or if she’s being seduced by a monster.

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REVIEW: IMMORTAL OBSESSION is the latest instalment in Linda Thomas-Sundstrom’s Vampire Moons adult, contemporary, paranormal romance series focusing on the Immortal Seven-descended from the originals and protectors of the golden chalice. This is Immortal Christopher St. John and American news anchor Madison Chase’s storyline. Although IMMORTAL OBSESSION is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. Linda Thomas-Sundstrom weaves background information and the history of the immortal/vampire into the storyline so that we are acquainted with different factions of the supernatural lore.

The storyline follows Madison Chase as she searches for her missing twin brother, last known whereabouts in London, England searching for the mythological vampire of lore. Madison knew her brother was determined to prove the existence of vampires but what she found was the story of nightmares. Enter Christopher St. John a man who professes to be Madison’s protector but a man who is definitely part of the supernatural race. Christopher suspects that Madison’s brother may be in over his head, but he never suspected the betrayal from one of his own.

The relationship between Madison and Christopher is one of immediate attraction. Christopher is drawn to Madison like a moth to a flame but there is something about the American newscaster that is dark and deadly. The sex scenes are intimate, sensual, and heated with lust and desire. There is no denying that Madison wants Christopher but is she compelled towards the man or is it of her own volition?

The secondary characters are as dark and dangerous as are most immortals. We are introduced to the most deadliest of night creatures as well as get up close and personal with a child of the moon.

IMMORTAL OBSESSION is an intense and passionate storyline where reality meets fantasy; where betrayal is an act of destruction; where romance draws two people together regardless of their DNA or purpose in life. Linda Thomas-Sundstrom pulls the reader into a dark world of the supernatural one storyline at a time.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Linda and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of IMMORTAL OBSESSION.

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

Follow Linda: Goodreads / Website / Facebook

Linda: I’m a teacher by day and a writer by night, and always wanted to do both of those things. I guess you could say I followed my bliss. I live in the West on a big stretch of land, and have a great family, as well as a very nice Muse. I thank my lucky stars every day that I’m this happy.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Linda: I spring from a family of story-tellers. Friday night by the fire sort of stuff where we had to make things up… most of them scary. My mother is an artist at heart, and my dad could really get us going on long car trips across the west, with stories about phantom lights and diners that refused to die along old section of Route 66. All of this was prime inspirational fodder for a writer of the paranormal kind. *smiley face*.

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

Linda: Oh gosh. I don’t relax. That’s the truth. I don’t take time to smell the roses these days… but plan to in the near future.

TRC: IMMORTAL OBSESSION is the latest adult, contemporary, paranormal release in your Vampire Moons series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Linda: Having studied ancient lore in college, I became fascinated with the Aurthurian Tales, and had questions. Like… why Lancelot was so beautiful and undefeated in battle? What made Galahad so special? So… in my Vampire Moons series, I took seven knights from the Round Table, and gave them a history. They were unearthly beautiful because they were unearthly. Seven knights chosen for a secretive, very specific task having to do with the Holy Grail, that brings them up to our world, in the current time.

Each Blood Knight has his own book. In Immortal Obsession, my latest, we meet Christopher St. John in London… and meet the woman who challenges his long-held vows.

TRC: Will each of the ‘Immortal Seven’ have a storyline?

Linda: Yes. In the full Nocturne books, it’s Lance Van Baaren in Golden Vampire. Mason LanVal in Guardian of the Night. Christopher St. John in Immortal Obsession.

TRC: Do you believe that each of the instalments can be read as a stand alone or should the storylines be read in order?

Linda: Each book is stand-alone. Readers can pick up any one of these books and catch a hint of the background of the Blood Knights. Their goals are the same. Their vows are the same. They have long ago separated as a force and are spread around the globe, and we find them in different countries.

TRC: Does the Vampire Moons series overlap with the Wolf Moons series and if so how important is the information found within each series as it pertains to one another?

Linda: The Wolf Moons series (another book comes out in February) is its own beast. The two series don’t mix… though Weres always make an appearance in my Vampire Moons books. I do get quite a lot of mail asking to tell Stan’s story (you’ll find him in Golden Vampire).

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters – Christopher St. John and Madison Chase -which actors or models best represents your ideal image?

Linda: Amy Adams for the fiery Madison Chase. Lee Pace with light hair for St. John. (Loved him as an arrogant elf in the Hobbit movies!)

TRC: Will Madison’s brother Stewart get his own storyline and if so, do you see ‘redemption’ for his character?

Linda: No story for Stewart in the works. The Vampire Moons books center on the original Blood Knights. Sorry, Stew!

TRC: What do you think is the appeal of the paranormal vampire/werewolf series in the genre of romance storylines?

Linda: Love that goes against the odds, and survives. Major conflict, not only of storyline, but in the mixing of species = pairing normal mortals with not-quite-so-normal Others. I just love writing about that.

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

Linda: None to speak of, really, I’m happy to say. I had quite extensively studied about the Holy Grail, so creating the SEVEN and giving them a background that answers the questions I had about the Aurthurian Tales was like manna from above. A true writer adventure.

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

Linda: I’m in charge of the strings, though the characters have a say in their own lives, and often take me to surprising places. For Nocturne, I turn in an outline/overview of about 12-16 pages. Within the actual writing phase, however, anything goes. *insert another smiley face here*

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?

Linda: I believe that writers have to be fully invested in what we’re writing. If this happens, we’re right there, not only creating but experiencing every moment. It’s fairly easy to tell when a writer is just trying to get something done, versus being what I call “in the zone.” The Zone is a gift that doesn’t always happen, in truth, and that’s the challenge we strive for. I call this “Telling the Truth.”

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

Linda: Write lots more books. Take some time to smell the Roses. Meet new readers who connect with what I have to say, in the way I have to say it. Keep my family happy. (Not necessarily in that order).

TRC: What is something that few, if any people, know about you?

Linda: Hey, secrets are secrets…. *wink*.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Linda: I just turned in another Wolf Moons 2 book, will be getting edits any day now on February 2015’s Wolf Born, and have started writing an Urban Fantasy.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Linda: Thanks for hosting me here, Reading Café. What a blast! I’d love to meet all of you reading this, and connect. Please see what I’m up to on my web site: http://www.lindathomas-sundstrom.com and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaThomasSundstrom

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite TV Show = Game of Thrones

Last Movie You Saw = Guardians of the Galaxy

Dark or Milk Chocolate = Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush = Lee Pace

Last Vacation Destination = Hawaii

Do you have any pets? = not at this time

Pet Peeve = messy offices (mine)

TRC: Thank you Linda for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success. We wish you all the best.