Lara Nance-DRACULAVILLE Blog Tour and Giveaway

Lara Nance-Draculaville BLOG TOUR and GIVEAWAY

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Why do we love Dracula?

I have to admit, when I was young and watched Dracula movies, I always pulled for him. I wanted him to escape with his female victim and beat the good guys.

Strange?

Maybe so, but I’m not the only person fascinated with the vampire legend. It’s been going on for years, and will likely continue. People keep saying vampires are old news, but personally, I don’t see the loss of interest just yet.

So, what is it that makes us love this monster? These are my opinions, but they make sense to me.

First, of all the monsters we’ve built over the years, he’s the best looking as a monster. No one wants a date with Frankenstein or the Mummy. And the Werewolf is only hot when he’s in his human form. Creature from the Black Lagoon? Damp and Yech. But Drac is dark and mysterious and ahem, rich. Definitely the best bachelor of the lot.

Second, he has something to offer his female victim. That bite on the neck is supposed to be the next best thing to orgasm. Then there’s the whole turning into a vampire and living forever with your lover thing, too. Hey, it’s gotta be cool being able to fly and crawl on the ceiling, not to mention commanding some of the darker creatures of the night to do your bidding. All the other monsters just want to kill you…

Third, Clothes. Yep, Drac’s wardrobe rocks. A tuxedo with a black cape? Almost as good as a military uniform to attract the fairer sex.

Fourth, He the tortured male we all want to save by our love. We don’t want to be the female he kills just for a snack. We want to be the one he bites so we can live with him forever, because he loves us so much.

So, those are my theories. What do you guys think? Why do you love Dracula?

I hope you’ll also check out my latest release, DraculaVille – New York, for a new twist on the vampire story. It’s available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in both E-book and print. And stop by my website to let me know how you liked it! www.laranance.com

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

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DRACULAVILLE by Lara Nance

DraculaVille

Super Ad/Publicity Agent, Talia Quinton, is poised at the top of her career to receive a much coveted job representing the world’s largest advertiser. She’s shocked and humiliated when the account is given to a rival agent with much less experience. Instead, Talia is ordered to come up with a publicity plan to bring tourists to Romania. An account not worth a tenth of the one she’d hoped for.

But she’s not called Talia the Tiger by the New York ad world for nothing. When she discovers a newly made and abandoned vampire named Drake, she takes on the job of healing and grooming him into the face of her new campaign.

Instead of touting the ancient country’s rolling hills and historic castles, she turns the advertising world on its head by bringing Romania’s dark past to the center of the presentation. She proposes they build a fantasy themed amusement park/resort for adults called, DraculaVille, right in the heart of Transylvania. And Drake will pose as Dracula, their spokesperson. A vampire pretending to be an actor, pretending to be a vampire.

Talia’s disturbing attraction to Drake is only one obstacle in her path. She soon discovers New York fairly swarms with warring vampire communities and she and Drake have landed right in the middle of their biggest conflict. On top of that, the odd members of the Romanian National Publicity Committee begin making strange demands that keep Talia constantly on the edge of losing the account and her reputation as New York’s most formidable Account Executive.

As a last straw, Talia and Drake are kidnapped by a ruthless vampire gang and forced to fight for their lives as the clock ticks on completing the assignment necessary to retain the DraculaVille account. Their only hope of gaining freedom is to consent to an ancient vampire bonding ceremony. There’s one problem. To complete the ceremony, Drake must kill Talia and turn her into a vampire. But despite her unavoidable attraction to the hunky vampire she saved, Talia’s not ready to die

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lara Nance Pic

Lara Nance grew up and lived in many cites throughout the South. She loves to write in a variety of genres, but the basis of all of her stories is a great tale of entertaining women’s fiction that will take you on an adventure of imagination. Smart stories that make you wonder, and live the romances you dream about.

If you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you’ve come to the right place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and steampunk tales to paranormal romance and adventure, she’s willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, along with a touch of romance.

Having been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However, due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories. Lara loves to weave interesting true historical tidbits into her fiction which invite the reader to explore further after the novel is finished.

Currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie, Rio.

Connect with Lara:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule-yellow

01/05 – Under the Covers

01/21 – Over the Edge

01/23 – Book Monster Reviews

01/25 – The Reading Café – Draculaville promo

01/26 – The Reading Café – Steampunk promo

01/28 – Books-n-Kisses

01/29 – Cocktails and Books

RedandBlackgiveaway

Lara is offering an ebook or paper copy of DRACULAVILLE to ONE lucky winner at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

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

3. The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

4. The giveaway runs from January 25-January 30, 2013

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Draculaville by Lara Nance – a Review

Draculaville by Lara Nance – a Review

DraculaVille

Perspective.  When life kicks you, refuses you your golden opportunity to shine (because your glow would mirror that of a beacon!), the alternative…the “road less traveled”, could be more fulfilling than you ever dreamed.  Lara Nance shares just such perspective in DraculaVille.  Talia “the Tiger” rises to the occasion and begrudgingly accepts the less than glamorous Romania ad campaign project.  She might become the laughing stock of her industry, but after passing out in an alley, post-drunken pity party of one with a broken Louboutin heel and vomit stains on her “victory” jacket, bottom looks bad.  Nowhere to go, but up, right?

How about we start with her down and out partner (with amber eyes that squint in the light) sharing the gutter alongside her?  How did she sink so low?!  And yiiikes…is that blood on his white shirt?  No matter.

She couldn’t explain the strange sense of camaraderie she felt for this stranger who’d shared her garbage humiliation.  Even here in the car, she experienced the undeniable tug to be next to him, to protect him.  She could also catch a hint of his pain and weakness.  What sort of strange connection ran between them?

Turns out, Drake Edwards had just been turned into a vampire!  Perspective?  And then some, but more importantly:  INSPIRATION!  Talia literally takes the show on the road.  Research into Romania tells her the vampire myth isn’t being “utilized” (polite term for exploited) as in North America.  Wait till they get a load of Dracula!

I know what you’re thinking:  Cheesy.  How is that remotely possible?  Of course tourism is steady for the macabre history in that region.  The discussions and conclusions leading up to labeling Drake a vampire were so matter of fact, if not handled/written well, it would have been preposterous, if not laughable.  Kudos to Ms. Nance for making the characters come to life with interesting plots and delivered with worthy dialogue.  I couldn’t get enough!

A supporting cast of characters added thoughtfulness and a conscience; something Talia lacked when tackling the project with such ferocity (hence the nickname).  When Talia began to treat Drake like a “job” and not a person who was struggling to recall the events that led up to his transformation (he did have a life, Talia!), her assistant, Felix and BFF, Gerri, supplied her with reality and kept her in line.  

On a respite from learning about himself from Google, Drake agrees to the demands of the ad campaign and visits a bar to begin/gain exposure of Talia’s promotion.  Dressed to impress in all black — you know my vampires!!!  Swoon-worthy for sure.  Lo and behold…could it be?  Yes, of course:  Another vampire!  Drake is hurled into the middle of territorial vampire politics and he has to decide which faction to support — sooner than later.

The build-up of the romance was slow, but steady.  I was ready waaaay before Talia, but that won’t surprise anyone.  Talia had to move past her own walls to recognize Drake as a man and not simply a product.  Even though Talia was promoting his role of Dracula, she belittled his lack of knowledge and even hindered his vampire instincts.  When Drake took in a young vampire named Pip (a recovering pick-pocket, tee hee!) and insisted he could help guide him, Talia undermined his efforts:

“I’ll teach him.”  Drake met her gaze squarely.

She stepped closer.  “And who’s going to teach him about being a vampire?  You?  You’re like a child yourself in that matter”

Ouch (I literally wrote that in my Kindle notes).  I was also quite puzzled by the absence of Drake’s “maker”.  The issue is mentioned by the Matron of a vampire flock trying to recruit Drake; that leaving a new vampire to die went against old laws, but the reveal was never made.  

Talia and Drake shared three extremely pleasurable kisses (cannot wait to reach THE moment!), professed feelings and discovered the meaning behind their pull to each other:  Armantor.    When I was reaching the conclusion of the book, and Drake and Talia still hadn’t made love, I was near desperate – there BETTER be a sequel or I was going to write a strongly-worded email.  Much to my utter relief, there is in fact not only a sequel, but it’s a trilogy! 

Consider me a huge fan of Lara Nance!  I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and delve further into an interrupted love story that is begging to be consummated!  Everyone’s thinking it; I’m just saying it out loud.  All it takes is this one book and you’ll be reading alongside me for the duration…I promise! 😉

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

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

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