Come, The Dark by Rebecca Hamilton – Review & Giveaway

Come, The Dark by Rebecca Hamilton – Review & Giveaway

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Come The Dark

Amazon

Description:
Rose desperately wants to escape the abuse of the father who impregnated her and the dark spirits that haunt her life. Being thrust from Georgia 1961 into the era of Salem’s infamous witch trials isn’t what she had in mind, and now her daughter is left hopelessly out of reach.

The only way to return to her daughter is by facing certain death to banish the dark spirits that plague Salem. If she doesn’t eliminate these dark spirits in time, they will destroy civilization and trap her in this strange new place, ages away from her daughter.

Even if she can complete the task in time to return home to save her daughter, there’s still one problem: she’s falling in love with a man who can’t return with her. Achieving her goals will force her to choose between the only man who has never betrayed her and a daughter she can’t quite remember but will never forget.

A heart-wrenching tale of a mother’s love for her daughter, this romantic paranormal fantasy underlines the depravity of both historical and modern society while capturing the essence of sacrifice and devotion.

 

Review:

Come, The Dark by Rebecca Hamilton is the 2nd book in her Forever Girl series. This can be read as a standalone, since it goes back into the past to learn more about Forever Girls. The story starts in 1961, and goes back to 1691 during the days of witchcraft and Salem.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure I would like this book, especially after I read the heroine, Rose had a child by her father. This was a different situation, as the father was possessed by the shadows of the dark, beings we learned a bit about in the first book. Rose, wants to escape her family, especially her father, and protect her child, Anna. Before long, she is whisked away to the past, where everything looks familiar. Rose is now Abilgail, and living alone in Salem is dangerous, as single women are usually suspected to be witches.

As much as this take place in Salem, it is not really a story about witches, but more like the different elementals that are either good or evil. With the evil ones possessing the humans, including those involved in the witch hunting; but it is more of a war between the different elementals; Ankou, Stigori, Cruor, Ferrum, and Malatorins. When Abigail meets William and Tess, who are the good Ankou’s, she discovers that she is Cordovae, who is now living in Abigail’s body. Cord wants to go home to find Anna, but she was sent to 1691 to help fight this war. She eventually allows William and Tess to teach her how to use her ability as an Ankou, and knows she must help them if she wants to return home.

The first third of the book was a bit difficult for me to follow, as there were too many different types of elementals, which became confusing at times. The story did get better later in, but it is also a dark twisted storyline.   The last half of the book was exciting, as it raced to a wild action packed climax. I did find the ending interesting, totally took me by surprise, but also a bit not believable. However, this is paranormal and reality is not the norm.   Rebecca Hamilton writes very well, and has a very nice imagination. Once I got past my confusion the story kept me interested all the way through to the end.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

Giveaway pink

Rebecca is graciously offering an Amazon Gift $5.00 Card 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. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE us on TSU for an additional entry.

7. Follow Rebecca Hamilton  on Facebook.

8. Giveaway is open Internationally

9. Giveaway runs from March 13 -17, 2015

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Rebecca Hamilton-Her Sweetest Downfall Blog Tour

Rebecca Hamilton-Her Sweetest Downfall Blog Tour

Her Sweetest Downfall Tour

Guest Post Black and Yellow

The Water Elementals from The Forever Girl are known as the Strigoi, similar to shapeshifters. They can be killed in the same way as a human or animal, and if they are killed in their animal form, they remain as an animal—this is to protect the secret of their existence. They are faster than the Cruor, though not as strong, and can go out in direct sunlight. Water Elementals can see auras, which is their way of detecting whether another supernatural is a threat.

The Universe intended the Strigoi to be hunters of the darker Cruor, but, unfortunately, this turned into more of a battle between the elemental races. You could call the Cruor and the Strigoi im-mortal enemies, though Strigoi are only immortal so long as they don’t shift. When they are born, they age the way a human would, but once they reach adulthood, they stop aging so long as they shift regularly. If they don’t shift for prolonged periods, they can age. This also makes them able to carry and birth children (so long as they don’t shift while pregnant).

The first chosen Strigoi were the first born male and female of tribes and early settlements across the world, dating back to 8000 BC. They first appeared in Franchthi Cave in Peloponnese. More yet appeared in Nevali Cori and Sagalassos in Turkey, and the settlements at Akure in Nigeria. Across the world—Øvre Eiker and Nedre Eiker in Buskerud, Norway; Ærø, Denmar; settlments in Sctotland, Anatolia, Jericho, and so on—new Strigois were being born, one male and one female for each tribe. Some discovered, some celebrated, some murdered.

Often these chosen Strigoi would feel a magnetic-ism toward each other. Together they would protect the tribe from Cruor and other dangers, and often they would fall in love, feeling only understood by one another, and would go one to have Strigoi children of their own. When the wars began, packs were formed, though some remained with their societies, hiding their true nature, in hope of living a mortal life. Their curse, however, was their children, even if born of a human counterpart, would be born as Strigoi as well.

In the modern day, Strigoi are no longer chosen. Their population has grown so much through propagation that there are more than needed to hunt the evil Cruor. Some embrace their heritage as hunters, while others have chosen a path closer to humanity.

Soon, however—if the world is to survive—everyone must resign to their true nature … and fight.

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

HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL
Bonus Novella from The Forever Girl Series
By Rebecca Hamilton
Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 2012

her-sweetest-downfall

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Ophelia’s been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck—a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can’t be ignored.

When the mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She’s destined to don a new mask—to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.

What she doesn’t know—what she learns too late—is that her initiation won’t be complete until she kills the man she loves.

Set in an alternate Regency England, “”Her Sweetest Downfall”” is a standalone novella in the “”Forever Girl”” series, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series.

HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampire fiction.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebecca HamiltonRebecca Hamilton writes Paranormal Fantasy, Horror, and Literary Fiction. She lives in Florida with her husband and three kids, along with multiple writing personalities that range from morbid to literary. Having a child diagnosed with autism has inspired her to illuminate the world through the eyes of characters who see things differently

Her Sweetest Downfall on Goodreads
Rebecca Hamilton Website
Rebecca Hamilton Twitter
Rebecca Hamilton on Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule-yellow

March 14th

Romancing the Reader – Giveaway

Bookish Things & More – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

March 15th

From the Shadows – Guest Post & Giveaway

The Book Cafe – Review & Guest Post

March 16th

Sizzling Hot Books – Guest Post & Giveaway

Beth Allen Book Reviews – Review

March 17th

Romancing the Dark Side – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

The Reading Cafe – Guest Post & Giveaway

Giveaway-Black and Yellow

Rebecca is offering an ecopy of HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL to one lucky person at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment

3. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

4. Giveaway runs from March 17-19, 2013

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Rebecca Hamilton Interview & Giveaway

Rebecca Hamilton Interview

The Reading Café welcomes Rebecca Hamilton, who has published her first book…The Forever Girl.  Before we start the interview, here is a little about Rebecca.

Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1985

Hometown:  Not sure. I moved so much, that I’ve never really lived in any one place long enough to consider it a hometown. I guess Hamilton, N.J., since that is where I tell people I’m from (because that’s where I spent my most formative years).  Currently resides in Florida.

Favorite Authors of Fiction:  Nancy Pickard, Marisa de los Santos, Anne Rice

Writing Genre:  Paranormal, Fantasy and sometimes Horror and Literary Fiction.

Interview:

TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

R.H:  I have always enjoyed writing but I didn’t get serious about it until about four years ago.

TRC: What is the first piece of work that you have ever published?

 R.H.: The Forever Girl

TRC: How does it feel to see your work available for others to purchase? 

R.H.: It’s a bit exciting but also nerve-wracking. No matter how complimentary some reactions are to the novel, I tend to feel like the negative comments are what I need to pay attention to. And that’s probably true, in a sense, but I wish I had enough confidence to enjoy having my work published a little more.

TRC:  Tell us a little about the premise of The Forever Girl.   

R.H.: The Forever Girl is about a young Wiccan woman who’s cursed with a hissing noise in her head. Doctors couldn’t help, so she tries a ritual instead. The results are anything but what she expected. As Sophia digs deeper and deeper in her search to find silence, she uncovers a dark supernatural world, and her problems worsen. The only person who might be able to help her is a man she’s not sure she can trust.

TRC: Do you consider The Forever Girl as Urban Fantasy?  How did you come up with the idea of the story? 

R.H:  Eh, I guess some might say so, but I don’t think it fits neatly into the genre. It doesn’t take place in the city, Sophia isn’t some crime-fighting toughie, and there’s no one on the cover dressed in leather and sporting a navel ring.

As for the story idea, it sort of came to me with a “what if” question. Unfortunately, one of the characters took over and we don’t get to that question in book one. But the question had been: What if you had to kill the man you love in order to save him? And that should come into play the next time we see Sophia in this series.

TRC: Do you have plans for more books in The Forever Girl series, and if so how many? 

R.H: There will be seven books in total, along with some standalone-but-related novellas to hold readers over in between. Books 1, 4, and 7 feature Sophia, and books 2, 3, 5, and 6 are new characters.

TRC: What are you working on now?

R.H: I’m working on Her Sweetest Downfall (one of the Forever Girl Journals [ie: novellas]) and Come, the Dark (which is more formally book two in the series).

TRC: Are you interested in writing other genres?

R.H: Oh, yes! I have written a literary fiction novel and have another one planned, but haven’t have a chance to get back to them yet. I’m also co-writing a couple horror novels with my writing partner, R.P. Kraul.

TRC: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers, about what you have planned for the future?

R.H: I think my books are sort of genre mash-ups in some way, so I’m counting on an audience that won’t mind that. For example, some books in the Forever Girl Series are more paranormal fantasy while others are more historical paranormal romance and yet others might fall under a difference variation of paranormal. My plans for the future are to put my work out there and try to find the right readers for my books, despite my genre-bending and mash-up tendencies.

TRC: When you write, do you use a computer or first put pen to paper?  Who is your muse? Do you bounce your ideas off anyone in particular?

R.H.: I use a computer. My muse … it’s usually a combination of my writing buddy, R.P. Kraul, and whatever character I’m writing at the time.

 

 LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Song: Rolling in the Deep, by Adele

Favorite Music Group: I don’t have a favorite!

 Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk

Favorite Food: Tacos, usually. Or anything sweet.

Favorite Dessert: There is no way I could pick one.

Last Vacation Destination: Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite TV Show: Make it or Break it, Dexter, or True Blood

Favorite Movie: Becoming Jane

Favorite Actor/Actress: Emma Stone or Natalie Portman

 Favorite Fictional Book Character: Cornelia Brown, from Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos or Jody from The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

Thank You, Rebecca for being our guest on The Reading Café.  We enjoying having you and wish you luck with The Forever Girl.  We look forward to seeing you again soon.

~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~

Rebecca has graciously offered to give a lucky member of The Reading Café a free e-book of The Forever Girl.  You must be a member of The Reading Café to be part of the giveaway.  A winner will be chosen at random, and Rebecca will send the e-book to the winner via email.  Good Luck to all.

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The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton – a review

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton – a Review

The Forever Girl is Rebecca Hamilton’s first novel.  The theme is considered urban fantasy, with paranormal tones. 

Official Excerpt:
Sophia Parsons’ family has skeletons, but they aren’t in their graves…

Solving the mystery of an ancestor’s hanging might silence the clashing whispers in Sophia’s mind, but the cult in her town and the supernaturals who secretly reside there are determined to silence her first.

As Sophia unknowingly crosses the line into an elemental world full of vampire-like creatures, shapeshifters, and supernatural grim reapers, she meets Charles, a man who becomes both lover and ally.

But can she trust him?

It’s not until someone nearly kills Sophia that she realizes the only way to unveil the source of her family’s curse: abandon her faith or abandon her humanity. If she wants to survive, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

Review:

The heroine in this book is a young girl named Sophia, whom you meet immediately and see that she is tortured by an incessant buzzing in her mind.  Sophia, who is wiccan, cannot control the buzzing, nor does she understand what it means. She discovers there are skeletons in her closet, as one of her ancestors was a witch that was burned in the Salem witch hunts.  

The interesting thing about The Forever Girl, is the new types of supernaturals that Rebecca introduces to us early on in the book, which includes vampires, ghosts, and mainly different types of elementals.  At first, when I started reading about the different creatures (elementals), I had a hard time keeping up and understanding.  But as the story continues, Rebecca successfully pulls me into this interesting modern world she has created. 

You can’t help but like Sophia, and feel her fears and pain.  Who can she trust, as even her closest friends would turn away from her, if they found out about her problem?   Sophia comes across as intelligent, strong, and once she meets Charles, she becomes more determined to find what she really is.  Even in this grave world, Sophia did have a sense of humor, which was a nice touch. 

Charles, who is a shape shifter, is one of the elemental creatures that Sophia meets.  But in time Sophia and Charles fall in love, and together they must fight the evil that pursues them.  The Queen of the elemental faction wants Sophia, to turn her into a vampire (Crucor), and they also want to kill Charles.  Together, with help from some of Charles supernatural friends, they learn all they can about Sophia’s history.  It is Sophia, who must accept her destiny, and embrace her powers, that will save them all. 

After a bit of slow start trying to grasp this world, and its characters, I was totally hooked.  The story became very exciting, as you are pulled into this thrilling tale of survival against a powerful adversary.  You will care about Sophia, and Charles, as they face insurmountable odds. The romance between Sophia and Charles was slow to begin, but you end up caring very much for them.  I thought the end was excellently done, and the addition of the two young children is a great way to lead into the next book in this series. 

Rebecca Hamilton has done a great job writing her first book, and making it her own, with the different types of supernaturals.  I look forward to the next book in this series, as I am adding Rebecca to my list of authors that are on my preorder list.  The Forever Girl is definitely worth it for you to pick up to read.

Reviewed by Barb

Tune in tomorrow, when The Reading Cafe interviews Rebecca.

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