Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs – Review, Interview & Giveaway
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Description:
For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way…
Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.
Review:
Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs is the 4th book in her Alpha & Omega series. The Alpha & Omega series is another fascinating werewolf storyline that takes place in the world of Mercy Thompson. Only this series revolves around Charles Cornick, who is the enforcer for his Alpha father, Bran. His cohort in this series is his wife Anna, who is an Omega wolf. Together they are usually sent to enforce or resolve pack crimes throughout the country. I love Charles and Anna together, and it was great to spend time with them again in Dead Heat.
Charles decides to visit a dying old friend, with Anna, as they travel to Arizona. It is there that Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday, as his old friend’s family, run by a wolf pack, trains and sells Arabian horses. But best laid plans, do not always work out. Charles and Anna become involved in a mission to stop a dangerous Fae, who kidnaps children. When the wife of his friend’s son is effected by the Fae magic, it is Charles who will save her life. The fae magic on Chelsea (the wife) was an attempt to have her kill her children, but her hidden witch strength enabled her to hurt herself instead.
It becomes a race to find the young girl who was taken by the Fae, and discover how many more over a time were affected by this magic. The FBI becomes involved to work with Charles and Anna in this thrilling adventure. This is an action packed exciting story that keeps us engrossed totally throughout, especially with the surprising twists.
It is also a beautiful story of a friendship that remained strong over the years, and the family that has its own issues, not to mention the expected upcoming death of the patriarch. But most of all, it is the love that keeps Charles sane in Anna, and her ability as an Omega to be able to calm wolves, including the new born wolves. They make such a great couple, working together to solve any crimes within the pack range, not to mention very hot. The last 1/3 of the book was a pulse pounding, action filled climax that had us holding our breath. I totally recommend you to read this series, especially if you enjoy wolf stories, and a great couple. I want more of Charles and Anna.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
Hi Patricia. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.
TRC: For anyone who does not know Patricia Briggs, would you please tell us about yourself?
Patricia: I am a fantasy writer who is currently writing urban fantasy. The good luck publishing fairy hit me on the head about twelve years after I published my first book, and the Mercy Thompson series started hitting the New York Times list. Now I can tattoo #1 New York Times bestselling author on my arm (not that I would) and no one could call me a liar. Right now I have two related series I’m working on, the Alpha and Omega series and the Mercy Thompson series.
TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing? Have you always liked to write?
Patricia: I’ve always been a reader. When I was a kid I used to draw a lot. Horses, dragons and girls with swords—and then I’d write a bit about them until I got bored with it and drew another picture. A friend of mine in college had written a number of books and I decided see if I could write one. I did—and it was better than my artwork (which is still confined to horses, dragons and girls with swords).
TRC: What is your writing process? Do you have a favorite time, or place to work? What is the most difficult process in creating your stories?
Patricia: Hmm. I got to my office or somewhere away from people, turn on music really loud and write. The first pass through a story is the hardest—editing is the most rewarding. I work best at night, but the real world doesn’t allow that. I have gotten less finicky about where and how and when I work over the years. Quiet is important, but time of day is much less so.
TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax?
Patricia: I read—and play with the horses. I raise Arabian horses. They get me outside and moving—no one needs Gold’s Gym when they have nineteen horses to feed and care for.
TRC: Can you please tell our readers who are new to your Alpha and Omega series, something about the premise?
Patricia: In a world where the monsters are real, the werewolves have recently admitted their existence. It is the job of werewolves Anna and Charles Cornick to keep the peace between the werewolves and the humans, however they can.
TRC: Dead Heat is the 4th book of this series. Can you please give us a brief description of the book? How many books do you plan for this series?
Patricia: A visit to an old friend turns into a race against time as Anna and Charles hunt down something that is preying upon children. Plan is such a strong word. I don’t foresee an end in the near future. Right now I’m having fun with these books—and readers seem to be doing the same. As long as both are true, I’ll keep writing them.
TRC: Your heroes in your Alpha and Omega series are Charles Cornnick and Anna Latham, who originated in Mercy Thompson. What made you decide to create a new series using Charles and Anna?
Patricia: I wrote a novella about Charles and Anna, “Alpha and Omega”. My editor liked it, the critics liked it and readers liked it. I had fun writing it. So when my editor asked if I’d do a spin-off series, I jumped at the chance.
TRC: What is next for Mercy Thompson?
Patricia: I’m working on Fire Touched, the next Mercy novel right now. Mercy and the pack acquire something the fae want very much. The question is if the fae are willing to go to war with the werewolves over it.
TRC: What are the challenges or difficulties (research), do you have writing this world of Werewolves, Coyote, Fae, and Mythology?
Patricia: I recently had this discussion with Anne Bishop. I don’t find research a challenge or difficult—though sometimes finding information can be . . . Interesting. You should have heard the responses when we (my husband does most of the phone calls because he can get people to talk) called people and asked if they knew how you’d cast a silver bullet. Awesomely funny.
TRC: You write many different genres, such as Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, and Paranormal. Do you have any desire to try another genre?
Patricia: I always say I write fantasy—so I don’t need to move into another genre. My fantasy can also be romances, mysteries, spy novels, thrillers—and still be fantasy.
If you want to learn more about Patricia, you can find her at the following links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
LIGHTNINIG ROUND
Favorite Food: huckleberry
Favorite Dessert: cinnamon roll (mine—more bread than sweet)
Favorite TV Show: Castle (of course)
Last book that you read: Reread Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison.
Favorite Character from books you have read (not your own): Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files.
Dog or Cat: Cat—but we have both.
TRC: Thank you, Patricia for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Dead Heat. We look forward to talking with you again in the future.
Patricia: Thank you for letting me visit!
Patricia and her publisher have graciously offered a paper copy of DEAD HEAT to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe
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