My Highland Spy (Highland Spies #1) by Victoria Roberts-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Sandy

My Highland Spy (Highland Spies #1) by Victoria Roberts-Review, Interview and Giveaway

My Highland Spy
Highland Spies #1
by Victoria Roberts
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance
Release Date: September 2, 2014

My Highland Spy (Sept 14

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 2, 2014

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown

Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do—he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…

Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess—a job easier said than done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first

Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: MY HIGHLAND SPY is the first instalment in Victoria Roberts new Highland Spies adult, historical romance series set in the Highlands of Scotland. This is Laird Ruairi Sutherland and Lady Ravenna Walsingham’s storyline. Lady Ravenna is a spy for the British Crown and Laird Ruairi is her next assignment.

The focus of the storyline is Ravenna’s attempts to gather information for the King. With Scotland and England in a continuous battle for supremacy, Ravenna must infiltrate the Laird’s estate and report back with any information that may be pertinent to the King. What Ravenna didn’t expect to find is the man who would steal her heart and a young boy with whom she would fall in love. Ruairi is a widower with a young son, and Ravenna is sent to the estate under the guise of a governess to teach the young lad the King’s English.

The relationship between Ruairi and Ravenna is one of immediate attraction but Ravenna is under the impression that Ruairi is newly widowed. Taking Ruairi’s son under her wing, Ravenna begins to develop feelings for the young boy, as well as for the man on whom she is supposed to spy. When the truth about Ravenna’s identity and her assignment are revealed, Ruairi pushes Ravenna away-from his life and his son’s.

The secondary characters include Ruairi ‘s best friend Fagan, as well as a quick glimpse at Ravenna’s sisters-one who may be a possible love match for Ruairi’s friend. There is the requisite evil in the form of Ruairi’s former in-laws, and in the end, everyone will get what they justly deserve.

Victoria Roberts is an amazing writer of Highland historical romance. From her ‘Bad Boys of the Highlands’ series to her latest ‘Highland Spies’, you will become immersed in a land of kilted men and women of desire. All of Victoria’s women are quite capable of handling a Highland Warrior and in this, her heroines are strong-willed, supportive and worthy of a man in a kilt.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview

TRC: Hi Victoria and welcome back to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the success of your Bad Boys of the Highlands series.

Victoria Roberts Victoria: Thank you so much for having me here today, Sandy. It’s great to be back at The Reading Café. *waves*

TRC: We would like to start with some background information for anyone who doesn’t know Victoria Roberts. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow: Facebook/ Website/ Goodreads/

Victoria: I’m an award-winning author of Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. I was named by RT Book Reviews in 2012 as “one of the most promising debut authors across the genres” and was a 2013 RT Reviewers’ Choice award winner for my second novel in the Bad Boys of the Highlands series, X Marks the Scot. I’ve been married to the same man for 21 years—no kidding—and we haven’t killed each other yet. He’s still baffled over the fact that I write about Scottish men when he’s 100% German. I also have a beautiful daughter who is 13 going on 23 and a son who’s 9.

TRC: When last we spoke you had just released the first book in your Bad Boys of the Highland Series-TEMPTATION IN A KILT and September 2013 saw the release of the third book TO WED A WICKED HIGHLANDER. Did you ever think that your ‘bad boys’ would become so popular with the readers?

Bad Boys of the Highlands

Victoria: I was surprised by the amount of love shown to the Bad Boys. I think all authors pray that readers will love the characters we’ve created, and I’m so elated for that. One reader even named her baby after one of my heroines, Sybella, calling her “Ella” like in the book. *blushes* Now that is truly flattering.

TRC: Do you plan on any more instalments in this particular series? If so who and when?

Victoria: Now that is the question. The Bad Boys will always hold a special place in my heart. And yes, I still find myself tinkering with ideas. I’d like to write Colin’s story (Sybella’s brother in To Wed a Wicked Highlander.) I also receive e-mails from readers begging for James Montgomery’s story (Rosalia’s BFF.) Let’s just say there’s a strong possibility that I’ll be returning to the series after dabbling with English spies in the Highlands.

My Highland Spy (Sept 14 TRC: September 2014 you will be releasing MY HIGHLAND SPY-the first book in your new Highland Spies series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Victoria: Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a spy for King James and the Crown, the same as her father had been under Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Ravenna certainly lives in a man’s world, but that’s why she’s so proficient at doing what she does—a mere woman is the last thing anyone would expect. Under the guidance of her uncle, Ravenna is sent to the Scottish Highlands masquerading as a governess. She’s determined to fulfill her duty and obligations to the realm—only if a certain brawny Highland laird doesn’t continue to muddle her thoughts.

Laird Ruairi Sutherland is tired of the English. When he lies to the king and refuses to send his son to the Lowlands, a bonny enchantress shows up on his doorstep to educate his son. He intends to keep Ravenna at a distance, but the thought is easier said than done.

I think “kilts and spies” sums it up quite nicely.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters-Ravenna and Ruairi-which actors or models would best represent your ideal image?

Victoria: I always have so much trouble visualizing my heroes and heroines as real actors, especially since I don’t base my characters on anybody’s looks in particular. Mmm…that’s a tough one. Andy Whitfield would’ve made the perfect Ruairi though. Ravenna? I’d struggle with that answer for days.

Sandy: I do miss Andy…*sniff*

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the HIGHLAND SPIES series?

Victoria: There will be four books in the series. The Walsingham sisters will each have their own story.

TRC: Will the new series and characters overlap with the storylines in the Bad Boys of the Highlands Series?

Victoria: The new series will not have overlapping characters from the Bad Boys series. Although we are in the same timeframe of King James as he grows weary of the Highland lairds, that’s about it in the way of similarities.

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

Victoria: Lord Francis Walsingham was an actual spy for the Crown, but Ravenna is a fictional character. I needed to find a delicate balance to make this woman tough and believable enough to be able to be a spy in the times. For instance, she travels as a single woman to the Highlands, but her uncle’s body guard and his wife accompany her.

TRC: What do you believe is the attraction and appeal of the Highlander to romance readers?

Victoria: I think it’s the same attraction and appeal for anyone who reads regency, westerns, etc. Readers, including me, want to escape. We want to go somewhere different, to be taken away to another time and place. Who can resist that Scottish brogue, those sexy kilts, and those verra large…broadswords? Not me! Oh, yes. And let’s not forget about the castles and beautiful Scottish landscape.

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

Victoria: Both. I start by directing the characters, molding their behavior so to speak. But when they’re ready, they let me know it. They always take off and have a mind of their own. Most of the time I let them go, but sometimes I have to rein them in. For example, Declan (X Marks the Scot) I had to rein in often.

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?

Victoria: In order to make readers feel the emotions the characters are experiencing in a book, I believe writers need to draw from personal experience. If an author takes readers just through the motions, readers will notice, and they’ll be pulled out of the story. From my experience, readers want you to take them there. They want to experience the torment, love, agony and heartbreak. I believe a writer needs to understand their characters. I’m inside my character’s heads all the time. I’ve cried, been royally ticked off, and laughed, etc. while writing a chapter. That’s the kind of emotions you want to stir in readers when they read your story.

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

Victoria: Well, I’d really like to make “the” list. NYT or USA Today bestselling author sounds delightful. I’m also hoping to have something self-published in the next few years to accompany my traditional titles. And lastly? I need to travel to Scotland. The bagpipes are calling. I need to answer.

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

Victoria: I’m a die-hard KISS fan. I even have a custom Ace Frehley Les Paul guitar. Don’t laugh. Men have been kilt, killed, for less.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Victoria: I’m working on a Valentine’s Day Scottish historical anthology with bestselling authors: Willa Blair, Eliza Knight, Vonda Sinclair and Terry Spear. Kissing the Highlander will be available February 2015.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Victoria: I’d like to thank you and your readers for spending time with me today. Those were some great questions, and I hope I gave you some great answers. Enjoy Ruairi and Ravenna!

TRC: Thank you Victoria for taking the time to answers our questions. Congratulations on all of your success and the with the new release MY HIGHLAND SPY.

giveaway

What’s your favorite spy movie? Sourcebooks will give away one copy of My Highland Spy to a lucky commenter (US and Canada only, please.)

Victoria and her publisher are graciously offering a paper copy of MY HIGHLAND SPY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. LIKE Victoria Roberts on Facebook

6. Giveaway open to USA and Canada only.

7. Giveaway runs from September 2-7, 2014

Jeaniene Frost – The Beautiful Ashes Tour – Interview, Review & Giveaway

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Barb

Jeaniene Frost – The Beautiful Ashes Tour – Interview, Review & Giveaway

The Beautiful Ashes
Broken Destiny series – Book #1
by Jeaniene Frost
Release Date: September 1, 2014

The Beautiful Ashes Aug 14 Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

Review:

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost is the 1^st book in her new Broken Destiny series. I am a big fan of Jeaniene Frost and her Night Huntress/Night Huntress World/Night Prince series. The Beautiful Ashes is a different genre for Jeaniene, as it is listed as New Adult Paranormal.

We meet our heroine Ivy at the start. Ivy’s world has fallen apart, as her parents were killed, with the funeral the following day. But Ivy’s sister is missing, and that becomes her priority. Ivy has had strange visions all her life, having doctors give her medicines for what was perceived as psychotic episodes, so going to the police is not an option, as no one will believe her. As far as they are concerned, her sister went away with her boyfriend. It doesn’t take too long as Ivy discovers those visions were actually real. In search for her sister, she will embark on an adventure out of her realm, into a dark and dangerous world of evil.

Jeaniene Frost has done an excellent job of world building, which will include demon realms, angels, hounds, creatures, gargoyles, with the a storyline based on good vs evil. A nice historical twist, with Ivy being the last descendant of David, which makes her truly good, even if she knows nothing. Adrian is our hero, but he grew up in the demon realms, which could make him bad. This is supposed to be a forbidden romance, but all is not as it seems. Adrian hates his demon background, which he ran away from, and now he helps Zach, an Archon (angel). But destiny stands in the way for Adrian and Ivy to have a true romance. She is the one who must stop demons, as she tries to rescue her sister, and he is the one who prophecy says will betray her.

This is just the beginning, in what is a wild and at times very exciting storyline, which is spent mostly in the dangerous demon realms. Ivy and Adrian work together to find the weapon that will destroy the demons, at the same time looking for Ivy’s sister, who is held captive by demons. Adrian is hot, and at the same time secretive. Can he be trusted to help Ivy or will he end up betraying her.

I liked Ivy, and sympathized with her trying to understand what was expected of her, as she was being thrown into a world she knew nothing about. All she wanted to do was save her sister, not to be the messiah. I thought Adrian was good and protective of Ivy, but I wasn’t crazy about all the secrets he and Zach were keeping from her. Sending her into a vicious world, that was dark and dangerous, wasn’t fair to her, as she was risking her life. Both Adrian and Zach needed some ass-kicking.

I enjoyed this storyline, as it was somewhat different than other angel/demon storylines. There were some exciting scenes, and even some humorous ones, like when Zach glamoured Ivy, to hide her appearance. I liked Adrian, and he was swoonworthy; but his secrecy and moodiness drove me nuts at times. Poor Ivy. Though he was an angel, Zach, angered me even more, with with his inability to help Ivy and Adrian.

The Beautiful Ashes is a nice world building, a romance we want to see more of, and so many possibilities for the continuation of this series. I will be continuing this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Promoter

excerpt

Excerpt 1:

A familiar song was playing, but I couldn’t remember the name. That bugged me enough to open my eyes. A wall of black met my gaze, slick and smooth like glass. I reached up to see what it was, and that’s when I realized my hands were tied.
“Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche, my mind supplied, followed immediately by, I’m in the backseat of a car. One that was well taken care of, going by that flawless, shiny roof. With those details filled in, I also remembered what had happened right before I’d passed out. And who I was with.
“Why are my hands tied?” I said, heaving myself into an upright position.
For some reason Adrian didn’t have a rear view mirror, which was why he had to glance over his shoulder to look at me.
“Does anything make you panic?” he asked, sounding amused. “You’re tied up in the backseat of a cop-killer’s car, but I’ve seen people get more upset when Starbucks runs out of pumpkin spice flavor.”
Anyone normal would panic, not that it would do any good. Besides, I ran out of “normal” a long time ago, when I realized I saw things no one else did.
Speaking of which, why wasn’t I in pain? The lump where Mrs. Paulson had whacked me was gone, and my shirt was red from blood, but aside from a mild kink in my neck, I felt fine. When I pushed my shirt up, somehow, I wasn’t surprised to see smooth, unbroken skin on my abdomen. Well, that and a bunch of crumbs, like I’d eaten a dessert too messily.
“Why does it look like I have angel food cake on my stomach?” I wondered aloud.
Adrian snorted. “Close. It’s medicine. You were injured.”
“You can tell me how I’m not anymore,” I said, holding out my bound hands, “after you untie me.”
Another backwards glance, this one challenging.
“You may be the calmest person I’ve ever been sent to retrieve, but if I tell you now what you want to know, that will change. So pick—the truth, or being untied?”
“Truth,” I said instantly.
He let out a laugh. “Another first. You’re full of surprises.”
So was he. He’d just admitted that he regularly kidnapped people—which was how I translated “retrieve”—so I should be trying my damnedest to get free. But more than anything, I needed answers. Besides, I still wasn’t afraid of him, and somehow, that had nothing to do with him magically healing me.
“Truth, Adrian,” I repeated.
He turned once again and his gaze locked with mine, those odd blue eyes startling me with their intensity. For a moment, I could only stare, all thought frozen in my mind. I don’t know why I reached out, awkwardly touching his arm to feel the hard muscles beneath that bulky jacket. If I’d thought about it, I wouldn’t have done it. Yet I couldn’t make myself pull away.
Then I gasped when his hand covered mine. At some point, he’d taken off his gloves, and the feel of his warm, bare skin sent a shock wave through me. The touch seemed to affect Adrian, too. His lips parted and he edged over the back of the seats—
He yanked on the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding another car. A horn blared, and when the driver passed us, an extended middle finger shook angrily in our direction. I leaned back, my heart pounding from the near collision. At least, that’s what I told myself it was from.
“Dyate,” Adrian muttered.
I didn’t recognize the word, and I was at a loss to place his accent. It had a musical cadence like Italian, but beneath that was a harsher, darker edge.
“What’s that language?” I asked, trying to mask the sudden shakiness in my voice.
This time, he didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Nothing you’ve heard of.”
“I picked truth, remember?” I said, holding up my bound hands for emphasis.
That earned me a quick glance. “That is the truth, but you don’t get more until you meet Zach. Then we can skip all the ‘this isn’t possible’ arguments.”
I let out a short laugh. “After what I saw on Detective Kroger’s face, my definition of ‘impossible’ has changed.”
Adrian swerved again, but this time, no other car was near.
“What did you see?”
I tensed. How did I explain without sounding insane? No way to, so I chose to go on the attack instead.
“Why were you in my hotel room? And how did you heal me? There isn’t even a mark—”
“What did you see on his face, Ivy?”
Despite his hard tone, when my name crossed his lips, something thrummed inside me, like he’d yanked on a tie I hadn’t known was there. Feeling it was as disturbing as my inexplicable reaction to his clasping my hands.
“Shadows,” I said quickly, to distract from that. “He had snakelike shadows all over his face.”
I expected Adrian to tell me I’d imagined it, a response I was used to hearing. Instead, he pulled over, putting the car in park but keeping the engine running. Then he turned to stare at me.
“Was that the only strange thing you saw?”
I swallowed. I knew better than to talk about these things. Still, I’d demanded the truth from Adrian. It didn’t seem fair to lie in return.
“I saw two versions of the same B and B earlier. One was pretty, but the other was old and rotted, and my sister was trapped inside it.”
Adrian said nothing, though he continued to pin me with that hard stare. When he finally spoke, his question was so bizarre I thought I’d misheard him.
“What do I look like to you?”
“Huh?”
“My appearance.” He drew out the words like I was slow. “Describe me.”
All of a sudden, he wanted compliments? I might have finally met someone crazier than me.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, but started with the obvious. “Six-six, early twenties, built like Thor, golden brown hair with blond highlights, silvery blue eyes…you want me to go on?”
He began to laugh, a deep, rich baritone that would’ve been sensual except for how angry it made me.
“Now I know why they came after you,” he said, still chuckling. “They must’ve realized you were different, but if they’d known what you could see, you never would’ve made it out of that B and B.”
“You can stop laughing,” I said sharply. “I get that it’s crazy to see the things I do.”
Lots of kids had imaginary friends growing up. I had imaginary places, though at first, I didn’t know I was the only one who could see them. Once my parents had realized that what I kept describing went far beyond childhood fancifulness, the endless doctor visits and tests began. One by one, diseases and psychoses had been crossed off until I was diagnosed with a non-monoamine-cholinergic imbalance in my temporal cortex.
In other words, I saw shit that wasn’t there for reasons no one could figure out. The pills I took helped a little, though I lied and said they got rid of all my hallucinations. I was sick of doctors poking at me. So whenever I saw something that no one else did, I forced myself to ignore it—until Mrs. Paulson and Detective Kroger had tried to kill me, of course.
Adrian did stop laughing, and that unblinking intensity was back in his gaze.
“Well, Ivy, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, you’re not crazy. The bad news is, everything you’ve seen is real, and now, it’ll be coming for you.”

Interview-RED

Hi Jeaniene. Thank you for taking the time to visit us again at The Reading Cafe, and to give us an update as to what you have upcoming, as well as what to expect in 2015.

Jeaniene: Thank you so much for having me!

TRC: You have a new series that just debuted, Broken Destiny. This is a different genre than you have written before…..a New Adult paranormal romance series. What can you tell us about this new series, and how you came up with the idea?

Jeaniene: As you mentioned, it’s a New Ault paranormal romance. The NA designation means that at least one protagonist is between the ages of 18 – 25, so it’s meant for an older audience than traditional YA (Young Adult), but the characters aren’t as old as what you’d usually find in an Adult novel. I came up with the idea for The Beautiful Ashes around the time that my debut novel released in 2007. Ironically, it came to me the same way that my idea for the Night Huntress series did – through a dream. In the dream, a young woman who’s had hallucinations her whole life realizes that her “visions” are real, and the one person who can help her is also destined to betray her.

TRC: Would you please give us a brief description of The Beautiful Ashes? How many books are you planning for this series?

Jeaniene: The Broken Destiny series will be a trilogy, and my “elevator pitch” would be that it’s about Ivy and Adrian, two star-crossed lovers with opposing supernatural destinies who get caught in a war between angels and demons. *grin* Now you see why I had such a hard time with query letters before I was published. I am awful at boiling down a story to a few, concise lines, so let me copy the back cover description below, which does a much better job:

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. The one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between…

TRC: In The Beautiful Ashes, I found it extremely interesting that you had a Biblical twist, using descendants of both King David and another significant Biblical figure. Did you have to do a lot of research on this?

Jeaniene: Not really, lol. In all seriousness, I’ve already read the Bible cover-to-cover several times, so I’m very familiar with the more famous stories from it. Plus, David and Goliath have transcended religion to become a cultural and social anecdote. When you hear someone say they’re in a “David versus Goliath” situation, most people know that means an underdog facing almost insurmountable odds. The other Biblical figure I use has also crossed over from religious to common social consciousness. For example, if you referred to someone as a *censored for spoilers*, most people know exactly what you mean. I also used Biblical references in my Night Huntress series by deriving my vampire origin story from “the mark of Cain,” so you could say that I have a track record for mining the Bible for ideas 🙂

TRC: I loved Adrian and found him to be so very swoonworthy. I also loved him and Ivy together. But he drove me nuts, as did Zach, with them keeping secrets from poor Ivy. Will she learn all these secrets in the next book to help her be an even stronger heroine?

Jeaniene: Short answer: yes :). Longer explanation: Ivy starts The Beautiful Ashes as a mostly-normal twenty-year-old, which means she’s in no way prepared to be dropped into a war between supernatural creatures that she doesn’t even believe in. She also really wasn’t ready to learn that part of her destiny is to tip the scales in that battle, so Adrian – though he made me want to smack him, too – is actually trying to protect Ivy by doling out these and other secrets instead of hitting her with everything at once. Zach’s primary occupation is a messenger, so he’d have delivered all the details without caring if Ivy could handle it or not. Adrian intervened, essentially muzzling Zach, to give Ivy a chance to adjust. Adrian meant well, but like most guys and their good intentions, there were dangerous, unintended consequences. By the end of The Beautiful Ashes, Ivy knows almost everything, and she’s grown both emotionally and in her supernatural abilities, so she’s far better equipped to handle what comes next.

TRC: Another question regarding The Beautiful Ashes. This series is listed as New Adult Paranormal. I had a feel of Urban Fantasy. What genre best describes the series?

Jeaniene: That answer is probably in the eye of the beholder. For years, I’ve heard my vampire novels described as urban fantasy or paranormal romance with equal conviction depending on who is speaking. From early reviews, I’ve seen The Beautiful Ashes debated between YA and NA and between paranormal romance and urban fantasy. The truth is that all my books tend to straddle genre lines. I consider The Beautiful Ashes to be New Adult paranormal romance, as I consider my vampire novels to be Adult paranormal romance, but those aren’t the only themes in either series. My vampire novels have lots of urban fantasy elements and even some horror, too, which is why their genre is often debated. In comparison, The Beautiful Ashes has some YA themes, but it also has very adult situations and lots of urban fantasy elements, too. So what is it? My opinion doesn’t trump readers’ opinions, so the easiest explanation is that it’s a hybrid, with the ultimate genre depending on the viewpoint of the reader.

TRC: Your final book in your wonderful Night Huntress series, Up FromThe Grave, was a fantastic finale. I have been a huge fan of this series from the start. I totally love Cat and Bones. What made you decide to end it now, and will we ever see Cat & Bones again, perhaps in novellas?

Jeaniene: I’m so glad that you enjoyed Up From The Grave! In many ways, it was as nerve-wracking for me to finish the Night Huntress series as it was to start it, but I had come to the end of Cat and Bones’s story. At the final page of Up From The Grave, Cat and Bones were at the place in their lives that I’d always envisioned them being, so it was time for me to close the door and walk away. If I’d dragged their story past that point, it would have been an insincere effort on my part. I’ve often said that it’s out of my hands if readers enjoy a book I write, but I can promise that I won’t write a story unless I love it and believe in it. The Night Huntress series might have come to a close, but if it’s any consolation, one day, I’d love to write a story about Katie when she’s grown so that I can showcase C&B in the side role of parents. Also, Cat and Bones make a brief cameo in Bound By Flames, so readers will get to glimpse them in their new life as I continue with Vlad and Leila’s story. Finally, if readers haven’t seen this yet, I posted a free alternate “middle” version of Destined For An Early Grave on my website, showing what would have happened if Bones had lost his memory of Cat. It will only be up for another couple weeks, so check it out if you’re interested:

Part 1: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/07/alternate-middle-version-of-destined-for-an-early-grave-part-1/
Part 2: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/08/alternate-middle-version-of-destined-for-an-early-grave-part-2/
Part 3: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/08/alternate-middle-version-of-destined-for-an-early-grave-part-3/
Part 4: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/08/alternate-middle-version-of-destined-for-an-early-grave-part-4/

TRC: Would you like to share with us anything else that you may have upcoming in 2015?

Jeaniene: I think I already jumped the gun on this with my last answer, heh. Bound By Flames, Night Prince book three, comes out January 27^th. Then, later in 2015, book two in the Broken Destiny series will release. That’s still untitled as of now, but it will continue Ivy and Adrian’s story, picking up pretty close to where The Beautiful Ashes left off.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Jeaniene: If you haven’t seen the book trailer for The Beautiful Ashes, here is the link to it on YouTube: http://youtu.be/PWiOBIY_4z4

And since I’m a big fan of “try before you buy,” I’ve also posted several excerpts on my website here: http://jeanienefrost.com/brokendestiny/the-beautiful-ashes/

TRC: Thank you, Jeaniene for giving us an update on what we can look forward to in 2015, and we wish you the best of luck with The Beautiful Ashes.

Jeaniene: Thanks so much again for having me! It’s always a pleasure, and I’m delighted to talk to you and your readers about what’s out now and what’s coming next.

About The Author

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

For information on Jeaniene’s books, reading the first 20% of each book free, book trailers, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Live Journal

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There are TWO ways to WIN

Jeaniene is graciously offering a $25 Gift Card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) 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. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. LIKE Jeaniene Frost on FACEBOOK

6. Giveaway is open Internationally

7. Giveaway runs from August 29 to September 3, 2014

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Hard Knocks / No Limits by Lori Foster-Reviews and Interview with the Author

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Sandy

Hard Knocks / No Limits by Lori Foster-Reviews and Interview with the Author

HARD KNOCKS
(Ultimate .5)
by Lori Foster
Genre: adult, contemporary, MMA, erotic romance

Hard Knocks ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 4, 2014

ORDER LINKS: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Power. Brute strength. Unforgettable moves. It’s no wonder Harper Gates hasn’t been able to get her fling with Gage “Savage” Ringer out of her head. Months have passed since she laid eyes—or any other body parts—on him. Months without a word of contact… until, sidelined by injury, he comes back to town.

Staying focused on his training seemed like a smart move to Gage, even if he thought about Harper every day. Seeing her again only makes it clear how much is at stake. He’s got one night to earn back her trust. One night to show her that behind his breathtaking skill and ripped body is a man who’ll give her everything she needs.

••••••••••

REVIEW: HARD KNOCKS is the prequel novella in Lori Foster’s new, adult, contemporary Ultimate romance series focusing on a group of close knit MMA fighters and the women that they love. This is Harper Gates and Gage Ringer’s storyline- a friends to lovers storyline that introduces the major players in Lori’s Ultimate series. The ULTIMATE fighter series is a spin off from Lori’s Love Under Cover series.

As with most novellas, the information provided is limited because of time and space, and in this we learn that our couple have played around one another for a number of years. When Gage is sidelined due to an injury, he takes the opportunity to tell Harper what it is he wants-and he wants Harper for his happily ever after. There is very little background information about our leading couple as the novella is used as a vehicle to familiarize the ULTIMATE series to the readers.

HARD KNOCKS introduces the men of the MMA. We get a quick look at the friends and family of the fighters who will find themselves front and center in a future book of their own. From Cannon to Armie, Denver and Stack, each of the MMA fighters has a story to tell with a bit of history, backstory and mystery about the how and why of the MMA.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

__________________________

NO LIMITS
(Ultimate #1)
by Lori Foster
Genre: Adult, contemporary, MMA, erotic romance

No Limits ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 29, 2014

ORDER LINKS: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it…

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: NO LIMITS is the first full length storyline in Lori Foster’s new, adult contemporary ULTIMATE MMA fighter romance series-a spin off from her popular LOVER UNDER COVER series. This is MMA fighter/ gym owner Cannon Colter and Yvette Sweeny’s storyline-a second chance at love trope. Yvette and Cannon were first introduced in the previous series following Cannon’s rescue of Yvette from serial kidnappers and rapists. NO LIMITS fast forwards three years when Yvette returns home for her grandfather’s funeral and discovers that she and Cannon have been named co-owners and heirs in her grandfather’s will. Knowledge of the original series is not necessary to the enjoyment of NO LIMITS-any necessary information is imparted when needed.

The storyline follows the developing relationship between Cannon and Yvette that began three years earlier. But the memories of that horrific time in her life have left Yvette broken in matters of the heart and in bed. Enter Cannon Colter-a lady’s man who knows a thing or two about making a woman swoon-but a man whose heart and soul are pulled towards the woman he rescued three years before. Upon Yvette’s return a series of mysterious text and phone calls puts Cannon on alert when threats against them become personal and dangerous.

The relationship between Yvette and Cannon is sensual, provocative and breathtaking as Cannon slowly builds up a level of trust so that Yvette is willing to let go. Cannon’s seduction of Yvette is nothing short of erotic and arousing as Yvette begins to lose her body and her heart to the man who saved her life years before. Theirs is an intense and passionate relationship that is fueled by history, memories and the fear of the unknown.

The secondary characters include Cannon’s fellow MMA fighters-Denver, Stack and Armie, as well as some of the characters and couples from Lover Under Cover–Rowdy Yates and Avery: Lt.Margo Peterson and Dash Riske-for a more familiar edge to the story. Armie’s revolving door of women and sex sets up a future storyline when the woman he wants is a little too close for comfort and off limits. There is also the introduction of Yvette’s best friend and business partner who draws the attention of every man (and woman) at Cannon’s gym.

NO LIMITS is a romantic storyline with mystery, suspense, action, betrayal and love. Lori Foster pulls the reader into a story where the past meets the present; where love binds two hearts; and where the hard edge of a fighter hides a softer side meant only for one woman.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviews by Sandy

Interview beige 2

TRC: Hi Lori and welcome to The Reading Cafe. Congratulations on the release of NO LIMITS and HARD KNOCKS (Introductory novella) from your new ULTIMATE
MMA fighter romance series.

Lori Foster Lori: Thank you! I’m so excited about this new series – and getting to delve into the world of MMA again. NOT that the books are about fighting. They’re not. They’re about fighters falling in love and fitting romance into their training, competing, and traveling schedules. And since many of the stories contain some elements of suspense/danger, I get to showcase just how capable big, buff, capable fighters can be.

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

TRC: We would like to start with some background information for anyone who doesn’t know Lori Foster. Would you please tell us something about yourself and your style of writing?

Lori: Sure! I’ve been published since 1996. I’m not good at analyzing my own style, but I’m told I write fast-paced, character-driven, explicitly sexy romances. They’re not erotica, but they do include detailed love scenes. Always one woman, one man falling in love for a lifetime commitment. I LOVE writing from the male POV (point of view) so readers can expect a lot of that. I also love writing some elements of action and danger. Alpha men,always. Alpha women, often. I lean toward strong, independent characters. I’m a “seat of my pants” writer, meaning I don’t do much planning when I write. An idea will come to me, usually with a scene that introducing the male lead. I sit down and get it on paper, and from there he and other characters tell me what should happen next, how and when things will play out. If I try to plan anything, the characters just correct me and make me do things their way. 🙂

TRC: NO LIMITS is the first full-length storyline in your new, adult, contemporary ULTIMATE MMA fighter, romance series focusing on a group of MMA fighters and friends. Would you please tell us something about the premise of the book and the series?

Lori: Sure. Readers met Cannon Colter, the lead hero in NO LIMITS, when he first appeared as a secondary character in the previous series, Love Undercover. I knew from the moment Cannon stepped onto the page that he’d have his own book. He’s that type of character. The Ultimate series takes place in the same area as the Love Undercover series, but now, instead of the focus being on the police station or Rowdy’s bar, it’s mostly centered around Cannon’s rec center where professional fighters mingle with neighborhood at-risk kids and amateur fighters, as well as a lot of ladies in different roles. Cannon is in NO LIMITS, and next will be Denver Lewis in HOLDING STRONG, followed by (I think – the characters are still deciding) Stack Hannigan and Armie Jacobson.

As I’ve said, the books aren’t about fighting. I’m not sure any actual competitions will be included. It’ll be more around the guys training at the rec center, dealing with the adoration of fans (specifically female fans!) and showing how real they are, that they’re good, noble guys with a lot of ability. Naturally, they’ll be super sexy. lol. For Cannon’s story, the threat comes from people in the town where they live, and from an ex-boyfriend who is the stalkerish type. He follows Yvette from California back to Ohio when she returns after her
grandfather’s death, and ends up reuniting with Cannon.

For Denver – HOLDING STRONG – Cherry has a tragic past that catches up with her just as she and Denver are finally connecting and setting off major sparks. She’s been in love with him forever, but he sees her a major flirt and he’s not the type to share. Once they do get together, he starts to realize that Cherry is a lot more than a party girl, and with more threats showing up every day he’s determined to keep her safe – even if that means moving her in.

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

Lori: Time (lack of) is my only difficulty. I love to write, I love MMA, I already know pretty much about the sport since I’ve been a longtime fan, I routinely attend live events both for professional competitions and more amateur bouts, and my husband and three sons are also big fans and major sources of info. The UFC (best known MMA organization) has become so mainstream that it’s super easy to find biographies, videos, audios and more on each of the more popular fighters, including training videos and diets.

TRC: What do you believe is the attraction and appeal of the MMA/Ultimate fighter to romance readers?

Lori: Well, they’re professional athletes, so there’s always that built in adoration and fandom. But unlike some athletes, their sport carries over to major capability in other situations. Throwing a ball won’t exactly help you in a bank robbery, for instance. But being able to dismantle a robber with little effort, well, that could come in handy. 🙂 Not all fighters have ideal physiques. They can be in shape, have plenty of endurance and speed, and not be a shredded specimen of muscle. Much of that is genetic. Throughout the years of watching (and loving) the sport, I’ve learned that looks can be very deceiving. If a fighter is all muscles he might look good, but if he hasn’t put enough gas in the tank, if he hasn’t conditioned himself properly, if he doesn’t know the moves or doesn’t have the heart, he’ll lose.

It fascinates me that an MMA fighter must know so many different disciplines and possess so many different skills. He has to be able to adapt, to be good at stand-up and have a good ground game. Kicks, punches, submissions… he needs to know them all.

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

Lori: Hmmm… There’s probably not much. I’m an open book and I’m on social media often. My awesome hubs and I have been married for over 36 years. We met the sophomore year of high school and have been together ever since. I have 3 sons and 3 grandsons. I enjoy the outdoors, boating and skiing, hiking, and I love movies – preferably horror or action. I’m deathly afraid of bugs. Almost all bugs. Even ladybugs. Even ants. ::creepy:::

But oddly, wasps or bees don’t send me into a panic. I don’t mind snakes either – unless one comes at me while I’m in the water. ::shudder::: I own two lake houses. One is for hubby and me, and the other remodeled for visitors. My kids come to visit just about every Sunday (family day) so the extra house gives them some privacy. When we’re not at the lake they usually stay 4 to 6 hours each Sunday and having lunch/dinner with us. Good times. Nothing is as important as family. I love writing more than reading.

I don’t believe in writers’ block. You just write. ::shrug::: I don’t believe in negativity. Get over it. Get happy. You can do it. I do believe in karma, and I do believe that doing for others is as much for YOU as it is for them because it makes everyone feel good.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Lori: Denver’s story, HOLDING STRONG. Almost done! And wow, that Denver is one sexy, over-sexed hunk of man. 🙂

Next will be a story for Jesse and Tonya in the Carlisle series http://lorifoster.com/connected-books/#carlisles Not sure when that’ll be out yet, but I’m behind on it. I was set to write it when I broke my elbow and had to have two surgeries – and that put a big crimp in my writing schedule. Luckily my publisher is pretty awesome and to make up for the lost 10 weeks, we put the novella on hold. We figured getting the next single title ready was more important. But now I’m getting back to it.

After that I’ll write another benefit novella (all proceeds – advance & royalty – go to a charity) that’ll include another Buckhorn character. Not sure who yet but the novella should be out in June 2015. http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/ And then I’ll dive into Stack’s story, which I think will be the 3rd novel in the Ultimate series. 🙂 http://lorifoster.com/connected-books/#ultimate

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lori: I have a very active Facebook page and I’m *always* giving stuff away on there. T-shirts, ARCs (advance reviewers’ copies – right now for No Limits), key chains, mouse pads, tote bags… If you haven’t yet “LIKED” my page, do so here-> Facebook

TRC: Thank you Lori for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the new ULTIMATE series. We wish you all the best.

Thank you very much!

Lori

*Lori Foster, *NYTimes bestselling author
*also writing as *L.L. Foster
www.LoriFoster.com

Mean Streak by Sandra Brown-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Sandy

Mean Streak by Sandra Brown-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Mean Streak
by Sandra Brown
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Genre: fiction, mystery, suspense

Mean Streak

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Description:
Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.

As her husband’s deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.

Review:
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown is another one of her wonderful romance thrillers. I have read a lot of Sandra Brown over the years, but it has been awhile. I am happy to say she still knows how to knock them out.

Dr. Emory Charbonneau is our heroine, and I really liked her. She is a pediatrician, marathon runner, who is well liked and respected in her business. In preparation for a marathon, Emory goes to the North Carolina mountains in the cold winter, to take a difficult 20 mile hike. While on the run, something happens and she blacks out. She awakes in a cabin, with a strange man treating her for a concussion. She doesn’t remember if she fell, but her head is bloody. The stranger does his best to take care of Emory, but he refuses to tell her his name, nor anything about him. He claims he has no phone, and the weather outside is treacherous, therefore she cannot leave in her condition. At first she is scared, wondering if he will hurt her, and does attempt to leave a few times. She is in no condition to move with her concussion.

The mystery man despite his unwillingness to reveal anything about himself, is very kind and gentle with her. It takes a little time for Emory to trust him, and she still worries that he is keeping her there against her wishes, using the guise of the snow and icy conditions. The question remains for us to wonder is he dangerous, with ulterior motives to keep her in the cabin or is he truly her rescuer?

Emory’s husband Jeff, goes to North Carolina to search for her, when she does not come home in a couple of days. The police become involved looking for the missing Emory. As the detectives search, they find themselves becoming suspicious of the husband, whom is having an affair with Emory’s best friend, and is also angry that his wife will not support a drug product he is pushing to help his career. The police also know that Emory inherited a lot of money from her deceased parents, and the husband becomes a major suspect.

What follows is a very exciting suspenseful adventure, with a few stories somewhat related going on at the same time. Emory & her mystery man; Jeff and his mistress; and the local police. There is also an FBI agent who is trying to find someone, from a case years before. All these pieces will eventually tie in, as the story has so many twists and turns from the start to the end. We know that Jeff did not kill Emory, as she is alive at the cabin. But was he responsible for attacking her on the mountains? Who is this mystery man, and why does he hide his identity?

Throughout her recovery, Emory finds herself slowly becoming attracted to this man she knows is kind and nurturing. The tension escalates when two wild crazy neighbors come to ask for help. When Emory finally is able to get to town, more complications arise, and she once again finds herself in danger. This is a very exciting adventure that you cannot put down, as you will miss something important. I did enjoy this budding romance between Emory and her mystery man, as she learns to trust her feelings about him. What is the true story behind him?

The ending was a wild climax filled with surprises. Sandra Brown once again gives us a wonderful romance thriller that I totally recommend that you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Interview white:black

Sandra Brown TRC: Hi Sandra and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of MEAN STREAK. We would like to start with some background information for anyone who does not know you. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Sandra: I’ve written over seventy-five books. Sixty-four of them have become New York Times bestsellers. I’m a native Texan. I’ve been married a LONG time to Michael Brown, a video producer and co-host of the TV show Corvette Nation on the Velocity channel. We have a daughter, a son, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and four grandsons. I love my job!

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Sandra: As far back as I can remember my mother was either telling my sisters (four of them) and me stories, or she was reading aloud to us. I developed the habit of reading early in life. Books were my favorite toy. Daddy was an editorial writer for the newspaper, so I suppose I inherited a bit of talent for putting words together. That ability and Mother’s love of stories put me on the path to writing.

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

Sandra: I watch a lot of the dramatic series on TV. So many are so good! I love movies. I READ. Every day. For hours. I like to make flower arrangements. I’m also very social, and love to get together with friends and/or family. (But I’m not a cook.)

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

Sandra: Growing up I wanted to be a professional dancer. My knees had a different plan! As mentioned above I love flower arranging. Probably if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a designer of some kind. Interiors. Elaborate floral designs. Like that.

TRC: MEAN STREAK is your latest contemporary release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Sandra: On a remote mountain trail, a mishap befalls the heroine, Emory Charbonneau. Concussed and disoriented, she wakes up to find herself in a cabin, alone with a mysterious man. (Is there any other kind???) He’s secretive about everything including the nature of her mishap and how she came to be there with him. He refuses even to tell her his name. Meanwhile her husband reports her missing. Adventures and misadventures ensue, weather interferes with the search for her, and a dogged FBI agent closes in on Emory’s “captor,” who, it soon becomes apparent, might actually be her “rescuer.”

TRC: Are any of the characters or the premise based in reality or a combination of reality and fiction?

Sandra: LOL. Nothing nearly this exciting ever happens to me! And while I’m glad I’m not endangered as Emory is, I wouldn’t mind being stranded in the cabin – at least for a while – with the tall, dark and broody hero! I write strictly fiction. Everything that happens is purely make-believe.

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

Sandra: MEAN STREAK is a stand alone novel, not one of a series. When writing it, I encountered the challenges I do when writing every book – which are the answers to the questions “What if?” and “What next?” Building in plot twists is always a challenge. Creating protagonists that the reader cares about, and antagonists that make the reader’s skin crawl, are recurring challenges. But those are the same factors that make writing fiction fun. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen!

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

Sandra: I plunge the characters into “terrible trouble.” I have a fair idea of what they’re doing to do to try to get out of it. I also know some of the obstacles they will encounter that make the terrible even worse. But sometimes both protagonists and antagonists are more resourceful than I am, and they actually give me ideas along the way. Some of my best plot twists I didn’t see coming. They knock me for a loop!

Sandra: Common sense goes a long way with me, both in writing and in reading. While confronting extraordinary circumstances, a character needs to demonstrate extraordinary courage. They need to step out of his/her comfort zone. Otherwise, the reader will give up rooting for them. But I don’t like to doubt a character’s sanity or reason, unless that’s a factor of the plot. I try to make my characters’ actions risky and daring, but also credible. Of a character I either write or read, I don’t want to be thinking: “What a dimwit.”

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

Sandra: I write. I don’t know any other cure for a block other than to defy it and keep writing?

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

Sandra: Mary Lynn Baxter, to whom I sent my first manuscript – only at her request – to read. She owned a bookstore, and we met at a writers’ conference. She said, “When you’re ready, send me something. I’ll tell you whether or not it’s any good.” A few months later, I took her up on the offer. She liked my manuscript and encouraged an editor at Dell to buy it for the new Candlelight Ecstasy line. That was my first sale. Ms. Baxter is a writer, too. She and I still discuss plots. I also bounce ideas and plot lines off my son, Ryan Brown, who’s published two novels.

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

Sandra: Become a regular on one of the national morning shows, have a feature film made of one of my books, learn to like exercising.

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

Sandra: That I’m very insecure.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Sandra: Now that MEAN STREAK is finished, I’m plotting a new novel.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Sandra: Thanks! It’s been fun!

TRC: Thank you Sandra for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success and the release of MEAN STREAK.

About The Author Black and White

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE (2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), and CHILL FACTOR, all of which have jumped onto the Times bestseller list in the number one to five spot.

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-four languages.

Brown holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She served as the president of the Mystery Writers of American in 2012 and was named ITW’s Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Places to find Sandra Brown:

Site: http://sandrabrown.net/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSandraBrown
Twitter:https://twitter.com/sandrabrown_NYT
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sandrabrownnyt/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6218.Sandra_Brown

Sandra Brown Promo2

Rafflecopter Giveaway Black and White

Sandra and her publisher are giving away 10 (ten) autographed copies of MEAN STREAK at the end of the tour-giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider.

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Duet by Gay Walley and Kurt Haber-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Sandy

Duet by Gay Walley and Kurt Haber-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Duet
by Gay Walley and Kurt Haber
Release Date: July 15, 2014

Duet

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 15, 2014

Duet is a wildly comic story of a beautiful and talented young woman in her 20’s living in New York City and her misadventures as she navigates men’s desires and fears. When most women look into a mirror, they see flaws in their body. Some of those “flaws” can end up being the very essence of what some see as a woman’s true beauty. Duet, a talented, sensitive, gorgeous young woman, has an unusual anatomy…one that might overexcite one man, but terrify another. She has to live with this sexual uniqueness and not see herself as a freak. As her father tells her, “They just found a goat with a unicorn horn and he has nothing to be ashamed about.”

Men are drawn to Duet. Her friend, Paula, fixes her up. Most of the men she meets she sees as fools, but one night Duet meets a handsome young man, Oskar, who is successful, sexy, intelligent, witty and seems able to handle her “design.” They fall in love, even though he has an aloofness about him that seems a bit odd. It turns out he has secrets of his own. Paula too falls in love and finds herself involved with the larcenous CEO of a videogame company where he has cooked the books and put subliminal messages into the video games. Oskar is also a wild card and turns out to be connected to Duet in more ways than one.

Duet is a romp full of vibrant, unexpected characters doing unexpected things, as they love, move toward and away from each other. It’s also a metaphor for how we must also risk love, no matter what bodies were given us, and no matter what unusual choices of the heart we make.

••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DUET is the latest contemporary, adult storyline from Gay Walley and co-authored by Kurt Haber. The focus of the story is Duet-a woman with an anatomical anomaly that tends to stop men before they get started. This is her story about how she came to live in a world of seemingly normal people but the definition of normal is all a matter of perception.

The storyline follows Duet’s struggle as a beautiful, single woman in the world of dating and sex. Duet’s surprising anatomical differences bring about strange bedfellows with each and every encounter. At times, Duet remains chaste and without a sexual partner fearing it is easier to live with herself than have to explain the tragedy that has become her sexual life.

The reader is pulled into a storyline where secrets from the past now affect the current generation; and where love isn’t always blind when it comes to matters of the heart or body.

Gay Walley has written a thought provoking storyline about the what ifs and maybe’s of a time not so long ago. As Duet hunts down the truth about her ‘complication’, there will be a number of men who want more from Duet than friendship and a glass of wine. Duet is never without the attention of the opposite sex but sometimes the attention is not what it is she is looking for.

DUET is a different kind of love story with a happy for now ‘kind of’ ending. As the people in Duet’s life come and go, so too, does the need for love and understanding from her family and the men in her life. There are awkward moments of misunderstanding in a storyline about a controversial subject that has been hidden for a very long time. Gay Walley does a fascinating job of presenting a probability from a time when the world lost a little of itself.

This is not a story for everyone-there are no romantic overtures; no graphic sex or sexual situations. It is a story about a woman looking for love but in doing so, finds out more about herself than she could have ever imagined. Some readers may take issue with the premise.

My only concern is that the storyline has been promoted as a wildly comic look at a 20 something woman with a sexual uniqueness but to me, there was very little to laugh about. Duet is a woman lost in a world where one is judged by their normalcy and not their ‘uniqueness’. She struggles with heartbreak, depression, rejection and her duplicitous ‘oneness’ realizing that what she is isn’t exactly normal.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview-Gold

TRC: Hi Gay and welcome to The Reading Café.

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

Follow: Website /

Gay Walley Gay: I live in New York – make an insecure living teaching writing – write books but lately have ventured a bit into plays and film. Fate drew me into that but I have enjoyed it. DUET is my 4th novel out. A film is being made of one of my other novels, THE EROTIC FIRE OF THE UNATTAINABLE.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Gay: I always knew I was a writer. When I was a young girl, one afternoon I was hurt by my mother and what did I do? Go into the basement and write a short story about her. From then on, it seemed there was never a pen (or laptop) out of my hand.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of your latest release -DUET?

Gay: Duet is about a young woman who has a particular body configuration that no one else has. It could excite men or it could frighten them. Her life is about how she deals with being “different.” She has many adventures, and learns she has to accept herself and be with a man who does the same.

Duet TRC: Which genre do you believe best fits the premise of DUET?

Gay: Literary comedy.

TRC: What made you choose this particular topic for the premise? Do you think some people will find the topic controversial?

Gay: My co-author, Kurt Haber, chose the topic. He found it controversial and exciting. I found making the story work exciting! Yes I think men will find it provocative as a story – what would they do if they met Duet? And women will identify with having to come to terms with one’s body. The good and the bad.

TRC: What should be the role of sex or sexuality in society?

Gay: Sex is intimate and something that is to each of our own taste. It’s a connection and that is very important. It’s not about society, it’s about the person. I believe society has no say in it,and sex is how each of us expresses our imagination, drive and desire.

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

Gay: Well, I had to make it believable (Duet’s body) and her response to it believable. It’s a novel so I did not feel it necessary to “research” but, more, I enjoyed the process of imagining. She has her feelings…and her experiences are those, like most of us. Wanting love, finding love, losing love, finding it where she doesn’t expect it. Getting her work out.

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

Gay: Great question. I would say the characters direct the writing. They have their own lives and their desires and strengths and weaknesses drive the story.

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?

Gay: I think new writers are often afraid to take chances, to delve in and reveal themselves through the characters. I think you have to FEEL the character yourself, admit to those feelings inside YOURSELF, and then write from that place. You have to make sure the dialogue and every detail you give really shows the emotion of the story. That way the reader will FEEL the story.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Gay: I have been working on a film script about a jazz pianist who is sort of frozen sexually… (from being too long with a cold boyfriend) and how she unlocks. Don’t know if it works…may end up throwing it out but right now playing with it!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite TV Show: FAWLTY TOWERS

Last Movie You Saw: BEGIN AGAIN

Favorite Musical Group: Vienna Philharmonic!

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush: John Cleese

Last Vacation Destination: Gloucester, Massachusetts

Do you have any pets? No

Pet Peeve: Sitting next to women who scream in a bar or a restaurant

TRC: Thank you Gay for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of DUET.

giveaway

Gay and her publisher are offering a paper copy of DUET to TWO (2) commenters at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) 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. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Follow us on Goodreads

6. Giveaway: Paper copy to USA and Canada only: ebook to INTERNATIONAL

7. Giveaway runs from August 14 to 18, 2014

Love and Let Spy by Shana Galen-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Sandy

Love and Let Spy by Shana Galen-Review, Interview and Giveaway

Love and Let Spy
Lord and Lady Spy #3
by Shana Galen
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Genre: adult, historical, romance, mystery

Love and Let Spy

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 5, 2014

Her name is Bonde, Jane Bonde . . .

A beautiful and eligible member of the ton, Jane has more than a few secrets: she’s one of the Crown’s most elite agents. She may be deadly, but she doesn’t know a thing about fashion, flirtation, or love . . . until Dominic Griffyn shakes up her carefully stirred world and asks her to be his bride. He’s exactly the kind of man she’s not looking for. And he’s dangerous, because falling into his arms is so much more satisfying than saving England from her enemies.

He’s an improper gentleman who needs a wife. . .

Tall, dark, and tortured, Dominic Griffyn is haunted by demons from his past. When his stepfather insists that he marry, Dominic allows himself to hope that the beautiful but mysterious Miss Bonde might help him forget his troubles. As they grow closer, it’s clear that there’s more to Jane than danger. She might be just what his neglected heart needs.

•••••••••••••••••••••

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

BONDE … Jane Bonde .. shaken not stirred!

Man this was one FANTASTIC book. The third book in Shana Galen’s Lord and Lady Spy series, Love and Let Spy was by far my fave (and I adored the previous books too). If you are a James Bond fan you will appreciate the parallels you will find in this book and likely chuckle at the backassward ways Shana portrays them. I am a huge Bond fan and was already a fan of this series, so this was a super fun book, full of action, loving/hot moments and a mystery left to be solved.

Jane Bonde is spy lady extraordinaire. Beyond dedicated to her job, she is completely shocked when her aunt and uncle (also the head of this spy organization) tell her she MUST marry. Frustrated already after an elusive enemy once again escapes her clutches, she is ready to refuse her uncle’s decision and dig her heels in … then she meets her betrothed.

Dominic Griffyn is one hot mess. As the step-son to a Marquess (his mother was an actress who married well when he was younger) he has been told that he must marry or be disowned. Seeing as he loves being the family horse breeder he is resentful when he is ordered to change his lifestyle. Dominic comes with a horrific past that haunts him and refuses to allow him to have a proper “society” marriage, so the prospect of marriage is a NO GO … until he meets his betrothed.

These two are so much similar in ways they can never know. Dominic knows there is something different about Jane (I mean how many ladies scale walls, sneak out at night and wear a daggers in their corsets) and decides to assist her ventures. Jane is quite peeved that this man seems to feel the need to protect her. HER .. an ELITE SPY! That and the stolen kisses, chemistry filled attraction .. really she has more important things to do … like save England!

We are brought on quite the adventure in this story. These two characters were incredible together and bit by bit the layers are peeled back. Jane shows Dominic just how different she truely is when he finally reveals his past, and she never treats him with a pitied word or too kind of hand. Many secrets are revealed, truths surface and dangers occur, but this all just adds to the anticipation and thrill I felt reading this story!

Looking for a great regency spy book with a touch of yummy! Check out the series by Shana Galen for sure!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reading Order
1. Lord and Lady Spy
1.5 The Spy Wore Blue
2 True Spies
3 Love and Let Spy

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Rachel T

Interview

TRC: Hi Shana and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of LOVE AND LET SPY.

Shana Galen Shana: Thanks so much for having me.

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

Follow Shana: Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Shana: I’m a wife, a mom, and a former English teacher. I’ve been writing fulltime for the last 5 years, and I’ve published almost twenty books.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Shana: I’d have to say my grandmother was a big influence. She was always writing poetry and she self-published a devotional book back in the days when no one was self-publishing yet. She died in May of this year at age 95, and just a week or so before she passed away, she wrote a new poem. The love of words and writing is in my blood.

TRC: What was the factor on your decision to write historical romance?

Shana: I’ve also written two contemporaries, but I tend to gravitate toward historical romances because I’ve been told over and over that’s where my voice fits best. I also enjoy escaping this world into the world of the past. I do enjoy reading contemporary romances, but I don’t know that I’d like to live in one for 4 months while I wrote it. It might seem too much like my real life.

TRC: Which time period would you describe as the most ‘romantic’ as it pertains to historical romance?

Shana: This might seem strange considering I write Regency-set books, but I think the medieval period is the most romantic. I love the knights and the castles and the simplicity of that period. I mean, I know romance novels romanticize every period, and there wasn’t anything romantic about the plague, but in some ways the past seems simpler to me—no cell phones, racing to soccer practice, or trying to decide which of ten choices of apple to buy in the store.

Love and Let Spy TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax?

Shana: I love to read. I wish I had more time to read. My daughter is getting a little older now, and I can actually read chapter books to her. When I get desperate, I pull out Pinkey Pie and the Ponypalooza Party, and at least I’m reading something.

TRC: LOVE AND LET SPY is the third instalment and August 2014 release in your Lord and Lady Spy series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Shana: It’s basically James Bond, except James is Jane. She’s the best spy the Crown has to offer, and she’s single-minded when it comes to completing missions. But she doesn’t count on meeting Dominic Griffyn. He’s not the typical Bond love interest. He’s dark and complex, and I think he’s as interesting a character as Jane.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Shana: This is the last. I won’t say I’ll never do another, but I don’t have any more planned at this moment.

Lord and Lady Spy Series

TRC: Do you believe an author should stay true to the time period when writing historical fiction?

Shana: It depends how you define “true to the time period.” If you mean that the characters should dress as the people then dressed and use the same conveyances, etc., yes. If you mean that women can’t play the part of a pirate or a spy in historical fiction, then no. It’s fiction, and while I do try to be as accurate as possible, I want to make my books accessible to the modern reader.

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

Shana: I’d say the hero was the toughest to get right. He has a dark background, and without giving any spoilers, I wanted to treat that in a dignified way but still be true to the time period. He also has an affinity for horses, and I found myself researching a lot about horses and colic.

TRC: What is next for your JEWELS OF THE TON series?

Jewels of the Ton

Shana: I don’t have any further plans for that series either. This has been quite a year of endings for me. I wrapped up Jewels of the Ton, Lord and Lady Spy, and my Misadventures in Matrimony series.

TRC: What are your thoughts on writing a series and ending an instalment with a major cliff hanger?

Shana: I’m okay with it. I don’t do it because I always like for a new reader to pick up any of my books and be able to jump in without having read any other books in the series. But I do read books with cliffhangers, and I enjoy them. They sure make me buy the next in the series!

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

Shana: At the beginning, I tend to direct the characters, and then at some point, they usually take over and direct me. Often I look back at the beginning of the book and see that my characters are not very much like I’d envisioned them on those early pages. I have to do a lot of revision. I have written books where the characters didn’t “come to life” for me until very late in the book. Those books are always tough to write and often frustrating because by the time I finally “get” the character, the book is almost done. Then I have to go back and fix it.

Shana: If an author wants a reader to experience the same emotions as the character, the reader must identify with that character. She has to see something of herself in the hero or heroine. That’s why it’s so important for authors who write strong characters to make them vulnerable too. Writers fail to touch readers when the characters aren’t either sympathetic or relatable.

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

Shana: I don’t have writer’s block so much as a lack of time to write. Lately I’ve been overwhelmed with the sheer amount of work on my plate, and I’ve actually just avoided it. This isn’t like me at all. Normally, I make a list and just go down it, methodically checking things off. But I think it’s a mark of how overwhelmed I’ve been that I just kind of gave up for a few days. Now I’m back to my trusty to-do list.

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

Shana: I like to brainstorm with other authors. I have a brainstorming group with Robyn DeHart, Margo Maguire, Anne Mallory, and Emily McKay. I also brainstorm with my friends Sophie Jordan and Tera Lynn Childs.

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

Shana: I’d love to make the USA Today or NYT list. I’ve been published almost a decade, and that’s always been a goal of mine. I’d also like to go to Hawaii. I’ve never been. Finally, I’d love to spend about a month in the UK with my husband and daughter in about 10 years, so I want to start saving for that so it can become a reality.

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

Shana: I’ve been a vegetarian for 28 years.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Shana: I’m working on a new series, The Covent Garden Cubs. It’s about a gang of thieves and how their lives intersect with a noble family, the Derrings. The first book is Earls Just Want to Have Fun, and it’s about the Earl of Dane and a female thief, Marlowe, who disrupts his life and all his preconceived notions.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Shana: I’m also working on an anthology that will be out in October with Miranda Neville, Carolyn Jewel, and Grace Burrowes. It’s titled Christmas in The Duke’s Arms and my novella features characters from Love and Let Spy.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food chocolate chip cookies

Favorite Dessert milkduds

Favorite TV Show Downton Abbey

Last Movie You Saw thinking…Rio 2 maybe?

Favorite Musical Group the Newsboys

Dark or Milk Chocolate milk

Secret Celebrity Crush Flynn Ryder

Last Vacation Destination Disneyworld

Pet Peeve interruptions

TRC: Thank you Shana for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success.

Shana: Thanks again for hosting me!

giveaway

Shana and her publicist are offering a paper copy of LOVE AND LET SPY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) 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. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Like Shana Galen on Facebook

6. Giveaway is open to USA/Canada only.

7. Giveaway runs from August 11 to August 15, 2014

Echo Lake by Letitia Trent-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Sandy

Echo Lake by Letitia Trent-Review and Interview with the Author

Echo Lake

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 15, 2014

Thirty-something Emily Collins inherits her recently murdered aunt’s house, deciding to move to Heartshorne, Oklahoma, to claim it and confront her family’s dark past after her dead mother begins speaking to her in dreams, propelling this gothic, neo-noir thriller toward terrifying revelations of murderous small-town justice when a horrible community secret is revealed through the supernatural pull of Echo Lake.

*****************

REVIEW: Echo Lake is an interesting look at the evil people do in their lives and where it lives. The evil is present in the lake and sporadically effects the behavior of those who frequent it. It’s a man-made lake with a small village and cemetery at the bottom.
Emily is a lonely and misused thirty year old woman who has inherited a house and property on the lake from her Aunt Fran. At a place in her life where this gives her a change of scenery and a new start, she packs up, quits her job and moves to Heartshorne (the town near Echo Lake). Her mother was born and raised in Heartshorne until she was a teenager, and then the whole family (except Fran) left the area and never returned. Emily grew up with stories of how much her mother (Connie) hated this place and would never return, but also never really explained why.

Several murders and kidnappings are happening at the same time. Emily also finds out that her Aunt was murdered in the house, probably in her sleep. It appears to the police to have been a random act of violence.

She has visions of her mother helping her at times, telling her what she needs to do to fix this. Then Emily also meets an interesting and good-looking man (Jonathan) who owns a shop outside the near town of Keno, who reads Tarot cards. He does a reading for her which is interesting and also gives her his card and tells her he’d like to show her around the area. He’s kind and very interesting and a relationship begins to build, as he helps her to see the area and much more.

She also gets a visit on her first day moving in from Levi Richardson, pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church and he invited her to a town meeting about the violence happening in their town. He and others begin to shed light on her family for her (a family she has never known since her mother grew up).

Ok, that’s pretty much the scary set up; the details of the story should be left for reading.

I found the writing actually good, the storyline interesting. Here are a couple of issues I had:

This copy was provided, but was not denoted as an ARC, or unedited version. There were no quotation marks in the story, making conversations difficult to keep track of; I found several words and spelling issues; toward the end of the story left a few things hanging. The storytelling was very good, but the characters lacked life, a few good feelings would have broken up some of the intense sorrow. All in all, it was a good story as a first novel.

Copy supplied by the publicist

Reviewed by Georgianna

Interview orange:black

TRC: Hi Letitia and welcome to The Reading CafÈ. Congratulations on the release of ECHO LAKE. We would like to start with some background information.

Would you please tell us something about yourself?

You can find Letitia: Goodreads / Twitter/ Facebook

Letitia Trent Letitia: Sure! I’m currently living in Colorado, where I’m pursuing a graduate degree in counseling psychology. I received my MFA in poetry from Ohio State University. I live with my husband, my two-month old son, and three cats. I spent my early years in Vermont and Oklahoma, where I traveled around with my parents to flea markets.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Letitia: I think the support that I got both in undergrad and in graduate school from teachers and fellow writers has been the most influential. Early on, just reading, reading, reading was my biggest influence. I read books that made me feel less alone in the world or that excited me and I wanted to create that feeling for other people, too.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise your latest release-ECHO LAKE?

Letitia: Echo Lake is about a woman whose life is going nowhere: she realizes she is living in a city she doesn’t love with a person she doesn’t love. Fortunately, she gets word of an inheritance from her last living family member and gets an opportunity to start again in the town where her mother grew up. This town, though, refuses to deal with the crimes of its past. The story is her journey to understand her mother’s history and how she fits into this place that should feel like home.

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

Letitia: I didn’t do much research for this book, so there were few challenges in that regard. I think the biggest challenge was figuring out how the whole thing came to a head: I’ve never been interested in stories in which “evil” is defeated by “good”. That narrative simply doesn’t interest me. I wanted an ending in which ambiguity is embraced and the characters integrate what they’ve learned about the darker or “shadow” parts of themselves. It took me a while to figure out how to dramtize that process in a way that made sense for the characters.

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

Letitia: The characters definitely direct the storyline. I think that story comes from choices characters make in reaction to their environment, so it’s important to know a character well enough to know what they would realistically do or say in a situation. Once it feels like I’m speaking and moving the story forward from the character’s perspective, then I know the story is really moving.

Letitia: I think it’s essential that the characters are interesting, that the language is precise, and that the reader is in a place that they can really feel and experience viscerally. Ultimately, I think there are many, many ways to engage a reader, and some things that engage some readers don’t engage others, so it’s all about finding your personal style and figuring out what you really care about as a writer. You can’t please all readers, but you can stay true to your own personal vision, so that’s what I aim for.

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

Letitia: I’ve liked to write another book, complete another poetry collection, and perhaps finish a nonfiction collection. I also have a true crime novel I’d like to write, though that will probably take several years of research.

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

Letitia: My first crushes were Dudley Moore and Lance Henriksen.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Letitia: Not much right now, since I have a newborn, but when I have the time, I hope to complete a novel about yet another mysterious town, this one far more overtly supernatural than Heartshorne. I also hope to complete another poetry collection.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Letitia: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the book!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite TV Show: Twin Peaks

Last Movie You Saw: Maleficent

Favorite Musical Group: The Smiths

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk

Secret Celebrity Crush: Gabriel Byrne

Last Vacation Destination: Oklahoma

Do you have any pets?: Three cats: Doombot, Cheeto, and Nina Simone

Pet Peeve: People who say something unkind and then say “just kidding” immediately afterward

TRC: Thank you Letitia for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the birth of your baby. We wish you much success and happiness.

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

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Sandy

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

Poison Promise Aug 14

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

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…

••••••••••••••••••••••••

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

Interview

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

Jennifer Estep 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.

Poison Promise Aug 14 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?

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?

Mythos Academy

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.

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

giveaway

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

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) 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. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Like Jennifer Estep on Facebook for an additional entry.

6. Giveaway is open to USA only.

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

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