Tag Archives: Stephanie Rowe

A Real Cowboy Always Come Home by Stephanie Rowe-Review Tour

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A Real Cowboy Always Come Home (Wyoming Rebels 10) by Stephanie Rowe-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May24, 2022

Caleb Stockton has been missing for more than ten years…and he’s about to come home.

But his homecoming isn’t going to be what anyone expects.

Not his brothers.

Not him.

And definitely not her.

••••••

REVIEW:A REAL COWBOY ALWAYS COMES HOME is the tenth and final instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult WYOMING REBELS romance series focusing on the Stockton siblings. This is twenty-seven year old Caleb Stockton and thirty-five year old single mother Jenna Ward’s story line. A REAL COWBOY can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion I recommend reading the series in order.

Told from third person perspective A REAL COWBOY ALWAYS COMES HOME follows Caleb Stockton in the wake of an explosion and fire that has left our hero without any memory of who, how or why but for a young baby placed in arms as the world around him spiralled out of control. Having no idea as to what happened, Caleb ran, hiding in out of the way places, until arriving at a small cabin where he will meet and fall in love with single mother Jenna Ward, a woman whose own life has stalled without moving forward. When the local sheriff Dane Wilson ( A Real Cowboy for Christmas), begins an investigation into the discovery of two vehicles on the side of the road, does Caleb’s life begin to take shape and order. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Caleb and Jenna, and the potential fall-out as the past returns hoping to finish the job.

Jenna Ward is a widow; a single mother with a thirteen year old daughter who will quickly fall in love with the stranger in her cabin but Caleb has amnesia; doesn’t remember what happened or why, and with it comes the probability that someone is on the hunt for our hero and the baby he has been tasked for survival. Caleb’s life imploded at fourteen years of age, and by the time he turned seventeen Caleb ran from his family in an effort to survive but ten years would pass, and Caleb’s family has never stopped looking until a stranger gives shelter to their missing sibling.

The relationship between Caleb and Jenna is one of immediate attraction but Caleb’s amnesia is a threat to Jenna and her daughter, having no idea about what happened or why. Caleb suspects someones is trying to kill him and the baby, but without his memories, Caleb will be spending his life on the run. Jenna Ward and her daughter Gracie have been alone for close to two years but Jenna never thought she would meet her future in the guise of a stranger, a stranger with a baby he knows nothing about. From the outset, Jenna’s thirteen year old daughter Gracie sees Caleb as a promise for the future, a future that may be spent on the run. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several of Caleb’s siblings (Chase, Steen, Zane, Travis, Logan, Quintin) and their significant others as well as Brody Hart and Dane Wilson, as well as the introduced of Jenna’s daughter Gracie.

A REAL COWBOY ALWAYS COME FIRST is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; betrayal and vengeance, hope and loss. The premise is captivating; the romance is impassioned; the characters are charismatic and charming. My only problem is the quick resolution /revelation about the fire and explosion; the author barely alludes to the build up ,and the horrific past of the Stockton siblings is glossed over although fans and readers of the Wyoming Rebels will be well aware of what happened and why- I think an author should always include some background information as new readers may be at a loss as to what is happening and why. The WYOMING REBELS is a wonderful, heart breaking, emotional and satisfying series.

Previous Reviews

A Rogue Cowboy’s Second Chance
A Real Cowboy for the Holidays

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads/ Instagram /Bookbub / Pinterest / TikTok

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than forty-five novels, and she’s a four-time nominee for the RITA® award, the highest award in romance fiction. As an award-winning author, Stephanie has been touching readers’ hearts and keeping them spellbound for more than a decade with her contemporary romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, and YA contemporary romances.

A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn’t realize it was her dream until she was an adult.

Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind “work” as the world defines it and went to “work” as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.

Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.

Stephanie currently lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, her dogs, and her amazing family.

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Double Twist (Mia Murphy 1) by Stephanie Rowe-Review tour

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Double Twist (Mia Murphy Mystery 1) by Stephanie Rowe-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /Apple /

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3JXqgGm

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 3, 2022

In this new mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Rowe, the irreverent, underappreciated, and alarmingly talented Mia Murphy risks it all to do the right thing…even if it means doing the wrong thing.

A high-octane, feel-good romp starring women you’ll wish were your best friends, an inconveniently attractive cop, a posse of gray-haired quilters with a fondness for margaritas, and an eccentric town with more secrets than Mia’s con artist mom.

All Mia Murphy wants is an ordinary, law-abiding life.

Accidentally marrying a drug kingpin? Easily fixed with an anonymous tip to the FBI…which resulted in a not-so-voluntary, surprisingly stressful stint as an undercover spy against him.

But with her ex finally in prison and assassins in her rearview mirror, Mia is off to Diamond Lake in Bass Derby, Maine with King Tut, her rescue (aka purloined) cat, to start over.

Upon arrival, Mia quickly finds a couple of soulmates in a blue-haired “I’ll show you what old is” café owner and a baton-twirling mail carrier. Life is headed in the right direction…until the trio stumbles across a dead body during a slightly illegal but well-intentioned home invasion.

When one of her new besties is arrested for the murder, Mia is the only one with the skills to ferret out the real killer…but she can’t afford to resurrect her morally flexible past. Can Mia keep her life on the straight and narrow with so much at stake? Or will a homicidal, jet-skiing moose, a dead Mr. January firefighter, and an overzealous mayor take them all down?

Mia has to step up, or she’ll lose her chance for the life she’s always wanted and the friends she’s never had. Even worse, she might wind up dead…

•••••

REVIEW:DOUBLE TWIST is the first instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult MIA MURPHY cozy mystery series set in Bass Derby, Maine focusing on twenty-nine year old Mia Murphy.

Told from first person perspective (Mia) DOUBLE TWIST follows the former wife of a Boston drug kingpin as she embarks on a new life in Bass Derby Maine. For two years Mia Murphy was forced to work undercover for the FBI in an effort to take down the man she thought she had loved. Fast forward to present day wherein Mia, refusing to go into protective custody in the wake of her husband’s guilty conviction, heads to the small seaside town of Bass Derby where she buys an old Marina, anticipating a life of leisure on Diamond Lake, Maine but all does not go well from the outset for our heroine when she is befriended by two local women, who eventually find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, and all three are considered prime suspects. When a large group of jet-ski riding moose threaten our story line heroine, Mia goes into overdrive in an attempt to protect her new investment, as well as the people in Bass Derby , Maine.

DOUBLE TWIST is a fast paced and captivating story of intrigue and mystery, betrayal and vengeance, drugs and power, murder and mayhem. Stephanie Rowe pulls the reader into an entertaining story with moments of humor and sorrow, acceptance and friendships. We are introduced to FBI Agent Rob ‘Hawk’ Strauss, Officer Devlin Hunt, as well as real estate agent Ruby Lee Hanrahan, Mayor Eloise Stone, police chief Stone, and local cafe owner Hattie Lawless, and mail carrier Lucy Grande. The requisite evil has many faces. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, DOUBLE TWIST is a wonderful start to a new series.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads/ Instagram /Bookbub / Pinterest / TikTok

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than forty-five novels, and she’s a four-time nominee for the RITA® award, the highest award in romance fiction. As an award-winning author, Stephanie has been touching readers’ hearts and keeping them spellbound for more than a decade with her contemporary romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, and YA contemporary romances.

A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn’t realize it was her dream until she was an adult.

Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind “work” as the world defines it and went to “work” as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.

Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.

Stephanie currently lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, her dogs, and her amazing family.

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A Real Cowboy for the Holidays by Stephanie Rowe-Review Tour

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A Real Cowboy for the Holidays (Wyoming Rebels 9) by Stephanie Rowe-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /Apple/

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3qmf9zv

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 16, 2021.

After a shattering divorce, former NYC ad exec Emma Rollins moved back home to Wyoming to give her son a better life. But with her family Christmas tree farm on the brink, she needs help fast, or the three-generation business will be gone forever…and all the memories with it.

Sidelined from Smokejumping with a devastating injury, Quintin Stockton is struggling to deal with the fact his career might be over. But when a family situation drags the former cowboy home for Christmas, he finds himself haunted by the shadows he’s never been able to escape.

When a desperate single mom barters for his help hauling Christmas trees around, it’s the distraction Logan needs. But when the loner cowboy discovers it comes with her parents and a brave little boy, suddenly he has a chance to for the Christmas love he didn’t even know he wanted.

Can Christmas magic bring love to two hearts that were once closed forever?

•••••••

REVIEW:A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS is the ninth instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult WYOMING REBELS romance series-a cross over with the author’s HART FAMILY BILLIONAIRES. This is firejumper Quintin Stockton, and former NYC ad executive/single mother Emma Rollins’ story line. A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS follows in the wake of a potential career ending injury for Quintin Stockton. Six months earlier a jump when all to h*ll leaving Quintin struggling with pain and a the possibility of never jumping again. Returning home to brother’s Wyoming ranch for the Christmas holidays, Quintin would come face to face with Emma Rollins, his childhood friend, whose own life was no longer under her control but as Quintin reconsidered his future as a Smokejumper, Emma begins to suspect not all was right with her parents at home. As Quintin calls in some help from the Stockton and Hart families, Emma reveals the truth about her past, a past that continues to control her life. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Quintin and Emma, and the potential fall-out as Emma and Quintin’s time together comes to a close, as Emma is unable to move forward without harming her son in the process.

Emma Rollins knows betrayal and loss, and struggles in the years since her marriage and divorce but Emma never thought she would again fall in love, something that would threaten the future of her son. Falling for Quintin was never under consideration, but the heart wants the man with whom she had fallen in love. Quintin Stockton and his siblings’ earlier years were fraught with neglect and abuse, and in this, Quintin never did relationship, and refused to fall in love but rekindling his friendship with his childhood friend gave Quintin thoughts for a future, a future that may or may not include his fire jumping career.

The relationship between Quintin and Emma is a friends to lovers, one in which our couple had not seen one another for close to ten years. Life went on, as Quintin watched his siblings fall in love, but Quintin knew that love would never be in his future because of the ghosts of his past. Emma Rollins was only in town for the Christmas holidays but falling for Quintin meant facing another heart break when they were forced to go their separate ways. The $ex scenes are limited and mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most of Quintin’s siblings, their significant others, and growing families-the love and camaraderie between the siblings is emotional and touching. We are introduced to Emma’s mother and father, a couple who are struggling with their own future plans.

A REAL COWBOY FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a story of second chances, of betrayal and control, of love, loss and moving forward. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are charismatic but battling between head and heart for a direction in life.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads/ Instagram /Bookbub / Pinterest / TikTok

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than forty-five novels, and she’s a four-time nominee for the RITA® award, the highest award in romance fiction. As an award-winning author, Stephanie has been touching readers’ hearts and keeping them spellbound for more than a decade with her contemporary romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, and YA contemporary romances.

A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn’t realize it was her dream until she was an adult.

Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind “work” as the world defines it and went to “work” as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.

Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.

Stephanie currently lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, her dogs, and her amazing family.

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To Kiss a Demon (Immortally Sexy 4) by Stephanie Rowe-Review tour

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To Kiss a Demon (Immortally Sexy 4) by Stephanie Rowe-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /Apple /

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ELO0ej

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 19, 2021

When Paige quit her job as Satan’s minion, she thought she was finally free. But when she accidentally incinerates an angel, she discovers she’s on the fast-track to becoming a soulless, evil wraith. The only way to save herself? Enlist the help of the deliciously sexy shadow warrior sent to push her over the edge.

To save his brother, Jed Buchanan sold his soul to Satan Jr. for all eternity. But when the immortal assassin winds up in Paige’s bedroom during a botched mission, the sassy temptress offers a possible way out if he’ll team up with her.

Everyone from heaven to hell wants to get their hands on the weapon Paige is becoming, and time is running out. Can the tormented assassin find the peace and love he’s always desired with an irreverent wraith who refuses to give in to her dark side?

••••••

REVIEW:TO KISS A DEMON is the fourth instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult IMMORTALLY SEXY paranormal/fantasy dystopian romance series. This is Satan’s former Rivka Paige Darlington, and immortal assassin Jed Buchanan’s story line. TO KISS A DEMON can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

NOTE: TO KISS A DEMON is the re-release of the author’s 2007 S&X AND THE IMMORTAL BAD BOY.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jed and Paige) TO KISS A DEMON follows immortal assassin Jed Buchanan as he is assigned by Satan to take down his top minion Becca Gibbs (Devil’s Curse #3). Several months earlier, Satan created Paige Darlington to be his next soul harvester but having helped saved the life of Becca Gibbs, Paige started to like the feeling of harvesting black souls. Fast forward to present day wherein Satan has now tasked Jed Buchanan to take the life of Becca Gibbs but along the way our hero falls for Satan’s latest creation, the soon to be Wraith, Paige Darlington. What ensues is the building relationship between Paige and Jed, as our couple must come to terms with several life altering decisions wherein one or both must sacrifice their life.

Paige Darlington is changing; she is a weaponized immortal whose touch is deadly, and in this Paige is a wanted immortal but the more Paige kills, the more she continues to change. In an effort to save the world, Paige must forfeit her life, or be allowed to destroy humankind. Jed Buchanan is torn between his love for his brother, and his love for a woman who is soon to be the ultimate evil. Jed’s brother Raphael has found himself a prisoner of Satan Jr, and Jed is hoping to free Rafi from a future as another immortal assassin.

The relationship between Jed and Paige is one of immediate attraction but Paige’s power to kill is deadly to every living creature except for our story line hero, and herein lies a problem, as Paige needs Jed to protect mankind, but Jed needs to destroy Paige to save the brother he loves. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters that have been previously introduced throughout the series including Satan and Satan Jr, as well as Jed’s brother Raphael.

TO KISS A DEMON is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and revenge. Because the previous book in the series was released fourteen years ago, I highly recommend reading the series in order as there is too much ‘missing information’ to get a complete picture of what has happened in the past to illicit the problems in the current timeline.  The fast paced premise is detailed, complex and intriguing; the romance is captivating; the characters are desperate, broken, charismatic and dynamic.

The first instalment in the series TO DATE AN IMMORTAL was originally released fifteen years ago but is currently available for FREE at most ebook retailers.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Haven’t started the series? TO DATE AN IMMORTAL book one  is currently FREE at most ebook retailers

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Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads/ Instagram /Bookbub / Pinterest / TikTok

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than forty-five novels, and she’s a four-time nominee for the RITA® award, the highest award in romance fiction. As an award-winning author, Stephanie has been touching readers’ hearts and keeping them spellbound for more than a decade with her contemporary romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, and YA contemporary romances.

A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn’t realize it was her dream until she was an adult.

Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind “work” as the world defines it and went to “work” as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.

Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.

Stephanie currently lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, her dogs, and her amazing family.

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A Rogue Cowboy’s Second Chance by Stephanie Rowe-review tour

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A Rogue Cowboy’s Second Chance (Hart Ranch Billionaires 1) by Stephanie Rowe-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3eaDUHR

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 14, 2021

Fifteen years ago, he shattered her heart. Now she needs to trust him with her life. First in a new billionaire cowboy series by New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Rowe.

Billionaire rancher Brody Hart protects others…no matter the cost to himself. When the woman he lost a decade ago needs his help, he has a second chance with the sassy country music star he never stopped loving.

Tatum Crosby lives for her music, but when a stalker targets her, there’s only one man she trusts to keep her alive. But Brody wants a second chance with her heart, too. Can she trust him with both?

When Brody takes Tatum to his ranch to keep her safe, attraction burns hot and bright, while betrayal, passion, and danger close in. Can the loyal, protective cowboy heal the scars on Tatum’s heart before she returns to her life and leaves him behind…again?

••••••

REVIEW:A ROGUE COWBOY’S SECOND CHANCE is the first instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult HART RANCH BILLIONAIRES romance series. This is billionaire rancher Brody Hart, and country music star Tatum Crosby’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Tatum and Brody) A ROGUE COWBOY’S SECOND CHANCE follows the rekindling romance and relationship between thirty-three year old, billionaire rancher Brody Hart, and thirty-two year old country music start Tatum Crosby. Brody and Tatum grew up in the foster care system but abuse and neglect found our couple one of many teens living under bridge, they had come to call home. But after profession his love for Tatum, Brody married someone else, pushing our heroine out of his life. Fast forward to present day wherein Tatum Crosby is a country music star but a star whose life is quickly spiralling out of control. From an unknown stalker to an ex who refuses to back down, Tatum finds herself on the run, into the arms of the man she once loved. Enter billionaire rancher Brody Hart. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Brody and Tatum, and the potential fall-out as Tatum’s past demands everything, and a stalker reveals a story of unrequited love.

Brody Hart is a fixer, a protector but a man who knows he screwed up fifteen years earlier. Having never stopped loving our story line heroine, Brody finds himself rescuing Tatum when everything spirals out of control, a spiral that comes with a threat against her life, and the possibility of never having the chance to say he’s sorry. Tatum Crosby’s heart was destroyed the day Brody pushed her out of his life but it was the push that forced Tatum on the road to stardom, a road that was lonely in more ways than one. Reconnecting with her past gave Tatum the reassurance of protection and love, and with it, the determination to change her path going forward.

The relationship between Tatum and Brody is one of second chances; a rekindling romance and relationship between two people destroyed by one man’s need to protect those unable to protect themselves. Believing Tatum has always been his happily ever after, Brody is determined to prove she is worthy of his love The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Tatum’s band mates, ex-husband and manager Donny; and all eight of Brody’s foster siblings. The requisite evil has many familiar faces.

A ROGUE COWBOY’S SECOND CHANCE is a story of family, betrayal, jealousy and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, determined, and charismatic.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than forty-five novels, and she’s a four-time nominee for the RITA® award, the highest award in romance fiction. As an award-winning author, Stephanie has been touching readers’ hearts and keeping them spellbound for more than a decade with her contemporary romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, and YA contemporary romances.

A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn’t realize it was her dream until she was an adult.

Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind “work” as the world defines it and went to “work” as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.

Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.

Stephanie currently lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, her dogs, and her amazing family.

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BURN / ICE (Alaska Heat ) by Stephanie Rowe-a review

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BURN / ICE (Alaska Heat ) by Stephanie Rowe-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Nook /  iBooks / Kobo / GooglePlay/ Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 21, 2020

Five years ago, Charlotte Murphy’s brother tracked down her family through a DNA ancestry test. Charlotte was the only one he left alive. And now he’s back to finish the deadly game he started.

When reclusive Mack Connor is summoned to Alaska by his best friend, he’s not prepared to play bodyguard to a spunky, sexy bartender fighting to reclaim her life from the stalker who killed her family. But when Mack falls hard for the sassy Alaskan, the stakes suddenly become much higher than he can afford.

Charlotte’s scared. She’s in danger. She’s afraid to trust. Until Mack walks into her life, with shadows in his eyes, a gun at his hip, and a heart he keeps under lockdown.

When the serial arsonist heats up his game, can Charlotte and Mack find a way to survive, or will her death be the final victory for the brother no one would ever want?

••••••••••

REVIEW: BURN is the fourth instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult ALASKA HEAT romantic, suspense series set in the wilderness of Alaska. This is cyber security specialist Mack Connor, and waitress Charlotte Murphy’s story line. BURN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Mack and Charlotte’s story begins in book three GHOST. Mack is Ben Forsett’s childhood best friend, and Charlotte is Mari Walsh’s co-worker at the local bar.

NOTE: For fans of the series, there is a six year gap for the author in writing the series, and a continuity error as it pertains to Charlotte’s family.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Mack and Charlotte) BURN follows in the aftermath of Charlotte and Mari’s abduction by Charlotte’s former boyfriend Joseph. Struggling to move on with her life, Mari is determined to pack up and leave Alaska until Ben Forsett introduces Charlotte to the man with whom she will fall in love. Enter security specialist Mack Connor. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Mack and Charlotte, and the potential fall out as Charlotte’s past has returned in an effort to take down Charlotte and everyone connected to our heroine’s past.

Charlotte Murphy lost everything five years earlier when her step-brother Dexter took the lives of her mother and father. Swearing to return to finish the job and kill the ‘sister’ he never knew, Charlotte has been hyper aware and in seclusion fearing Dexter will make good on the promise. Mack Connor’s last mission went all to h*ll, and in the ensuing months Mack has come to believe he is unworthy of love, relationships, friendships or help. Meeting Charlotte gave Mack a hope for the future but Charlotte’s issues of trust, may be something Mack is unable to overcome.

The relationship between Mack and Charlotte is one of immediate attraction but Charlotte’s confidence is shattered, and she waffles between trusting our hero and the uncertainty of his ability to protect her life. Both Mack and Charlotte are a little bit broken and struggle with their demons both day and night. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many who have been introduced in the previous instalments: Cort and Kaylie (Ice #1), Luke and Isabella (Chill #2), Ben and Mari (Ghost #3) ; local Haas Carter; bar manager David Hampton; and Trooper Trey Hooper.

BURN is a story of betrayal and vengeance; trust and uncertainty; relationships, friendships and love. The premise is intriguing and dramatic; the romance is captivating, tender and emotional; the characters are energetic and impassioned. BURN is an engaging and intense story of jealousy, retribution, hatred and hostility.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

•••••••••

ICE
(Alaska Heat #1)
by Stephanie Rowe
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. UK / B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2009

Most people find beauty in Alaska’s austere mountains. To Kaylie Fletcher, there is only death – her whole family gone after a disatrous climbing expedition. Then again, maybe not. A raspy call in the middle of the night leads Kaylie to believe her mother might still be alive. For now…

A strange message in a bar. A bloody knife. A fiery explosion. There’s a killer inching closer, but Kaylie has nowhere to run. Except straight into the arms of Cort McClaine. The rugged bush pilot is too much of an adrenaline junkie to be considered safe, but Kaylie can’t resist the heat of his touch amid the bitter cold.

Caught in a high-stakes race against a murderous madman, Kaylie and Cort know that with one wrong step they’ll be…iced.’

•••••••••

REVIEW: ICE is the first instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult ALASKA HEAT romantic suspense series set in the wilderness of Alaska. This is pilot Cort McClaine, and Kaylie Fletcher’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the graphic nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers

Told from several third person perspectives including Cort and Kaylie ICE focuses on Kaylie Fletcher’s search for her family. Mountain climbing was her parents’ passion but a phone call telling Kaylie her mother survived a fatal climbing expedition on Mount McKinley forced our heroine to venture into the wilds of Alaska, something she promised herself she would never do. Hoping to stay with her friend Sara and her husband Jackson, Kaylie found herself facing pilot Cort McClaine, a man who stirred something within our story line heroine but all was not well when Cort and Kaylie arrived, and in the ensuing melee our couple will discover that death was awaiting them upon their return. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Cort and Kaylie, and the potential fall out as Kaylie becomes the target of an obsessed stalker, someone who knows too much about Kaylie, and the family she lost.

The relationship between Kaylie and Cort is one of immediate attraction but Kaylie is a city girl and wants nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the Alaska wilderness. Cort’s life is in the air, and the surrounding greenery of the state of Alaska but falling in love with Kaylie brought too many memories of another woman from his past, another woman who wanted nothing to do with Cort’s lifestyle or the land upon which he lived. The back and forth, up and down, constant push and pull between our leading couple is filled with anxiety, stress, sexual tension and the arrogance of two people who refuse to accept the other for who they are, and what they represent. Saying that, Cort and Kaylie had nothing in common but the sexual tension that ran tight and strong-at every opportunity Kaylie was pushing Cort away, and Cort’s demons from the past continue to push him over the edge. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Kaylie’s brother Mason; Cort’s friend Luke Webber; Charity Simms; Old Tom; Troopers Bill Man, and Richie Parker.

ICE is a story of family, friendships, obsession and betrayal. The action packed premise is dramatic and intense; the romance struggles in the face of preconceived notions; the characters are animated, compelling but vulnerable. This one was a bit of a struggle -perhaps a little less friction between our leading couple would have made for a more believable happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

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Darkness Possessed by Stephanie Rowe-Review and Blog tour

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Darkness Possessed (Order of the Blade ) by Stephanie Rowe-Review and Blog Tour

 

DARKNESS POSSESSED
Order of the Blade, #9
by Stephanie Rowe
RELEASE DATE: 7/28/14

 

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

DARKNESS POSSESSED (Order of the Blade #9) by Stephanie Rowe

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2014

A fatal mistake stripped Zach Roderick of the powers that define him, leaving him a tormented shadow of the warrior he once was. Now, his teammate’s life depends on Zach resurrecting the fire that once burned within him. As he undertakes a battle he has no way to win, he is derailed by a tempestuous beauty that awakens in him the dark desires that destroyed him once before.

The scars etched on Rhiannon Diaz’s soul are so deep that she will never again be free. The once-powerful guardian is facing her last and greatest battle, and failure means a return to a sexual enslavement that is far worse than death. Her intense and passionate need for the powerful warrior who has vowed to protect her threatens the very foundation of her survival, but his refusal to abandon her drags them both into a world where wild, untamed passion rages, and surrender is their only chance.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DARKNESS POSSESSED is the ninth instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s Order of the Blade adult, paranormal romance series focusing on a group of supernatural warriors. As members of the Order of the Blade, these Calydons are tasked with destroying their own who have gone rogue after finding and mating their ‘sheva’ (soulmate). Although some male Calydons have found ways to avoid the inevitable-going rogue-others are too far gone and must be destroyed before they destroy everyone else. This is Calydon and Order of the Blade warrior Zach Roderick and Calydon female Rhiannon Diaz’s storyline.

I will point out from the outset that many readers of this series believe that each storyline can be read as a stand alone but I would strongly suggest reading in order from the beginning. Case in point is the reference to Zach’s former Order of the Blade mentor (and leader) Dante whose declaration in a previous storyline fuels the premise of DARKNESS POSSESSED. Saying that, Stephanie Rowe does provide some background information that gives the reader a bit of cohesive history.

The focus of this storyline finds Zach on the hunt for a mysterious ‘fire god’ who is in possession of a weapon that will reverse the effects of ‘going rogue’. When Order of the Blade warrior Rohan orders Zach to retrieve the magical staff, Zach finds himself accidentally partnered with a woman who is hoping to destroy the very person Zach is desperate to find. Rhiannon’s former soul mate demands she return as his sex slave but Zach is hoping to make Rhiannon his own.

The call to mate is reluctant due to the potential for going rogue and in this the Calydon males avoid finding their ‘shevas’ at all costs. When true love sparks something within the heart and the soul, there is nothing that can stop the roller coaster of emotions. It is the fear of the inevitable that forces many Calydon males in another direction.

The relationship between Zach and Rhiannon is one born out of necessity. Each has lost a little of themselves-their individual powers have remained dormant through guilt and loss. Zach’s power calls to the element of fire and Rhiannon’s calls to the element of earth. Zach is a man possessed to save his friend and fellow warrior; Rhiannon is a woman whose need for revenge outweighs everything else in her life.

DARKNESS POSSESSED is a dark, imaginative and violent storyline. There are scenes of abusive control, deadly battles, murder and destruction; and there are scenes of sensuality and love. Stephanie Rowe pulls the reader into a passionate and suspense filled story where the past controls the present; where power and control destroy any chance for love; and where two people will find in one another what they never found (before).

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Guest Post

YOUR ALPHA HERO

Broad shoulders, silhouetted against a dark night.

Dark hair.

Chiseled jaw with shadowed whiskers.

The steely gaze of a man who feels no pain, who still stop at nothing to protect those he has sworn to safeguard…until his head turns and he see you. Then, his face softens, and he smiles, a smile just for you, that no one else will ever receive from him, because you are the woman who has broken through the iron shields around his heart and saved his soul.

That, my friends, is your alpha hero. Ruggedly handsome, powerful, and unapproachable by all. A man so strong that you could put the fate of the world in his hands, and not worry about whether he’ll be able to step up. As women, we love our men to be strong enough to protect us from any and all threats, not just those to our physical being, but we also want his big, strong hands to cradle our hearts so gently and protectively that nothing can ever hurt us again.

The beauty of the alpha hero in a paranormal romance is that he can be so much stronger, darker, and so much dangerous than in a contemporary novel. A man who has been tortured in hell for seven hundred years has a lot of weight to his soul, and a man who can defeat an army of demons is just that much tougher. The darker and more damaged a man is, the greater the leap he has to make to find the softness in his heart for a woman. As women, we want to be that special one who can bring light into his soul, and we want to be the one to save him. Snagging the alpha paranormal hero is like saving the ultimate bad boy, a fantasy that so many carry deep in their hearts.

 ~~Stephanie~~

Excerpt

 

The jungle smelled rich with the dampness of fertile soil. The trees were alive with the chatter of birds and the rustle of animals. Rhiannon closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she let the power of her birthplace roll over her and seep into her body. The freshness of the air seemed to cleanse her of all the grime and pollution that had accumulated during her years of living in civilization. She could almost feel her cells coming back to life and embracing the deep nourishment of the land she was meant to live in.

She went down on one knee and crumbled some dirt between her fingers, watching the rich, brown loam fall back to the ground from which it had come. To her surprise, she felt her throat tighten, and tears burned in her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being home. It had been two days since she had left Boston. After much hard traveling, she’d almost reached the region that had once given her life…and then betrayed her.

A sudden sound broke through her focus and she went utterly still, listening intently. Another sound, quiet yet heavy, came from her right, and she recognized it instantly as the footstep of a creature that was too big to be a human, but could easily be a heavily armed Calydon. Without taking time to stand, she pivoted on her knee as she swept an arrow out of her quiver and pulled her crossbow off her shoulder. In less than a millisecond she nocked an arrow and had it pointing at the cluster of bushes from which the sound had come.

She knew she was in the open more than she wanted to be, but relocating into the trees would attract more attention than staying completely still. Her mottled brown and green cargo pants and jacket would help her blend into her surroundings. Even her crossbow still retained the colors of the jungle that had once been her home.

There was silence. No movement followed the steps that she had heard, which made her tension rise even further. Whatever it was had become aware of her, and it was waiting for her to move in the same way she was anticipating its next step.

Penetrating silence prevailed, each trying to outwait the other. The muscles in her arms began to tremble, and she realized how out of shape she was. There had been a time when she had been able to hold her bow at the ready for hours, outwaiting even the most patient of enemies. Now, it had been less than a minute and already her arms were shaking. Her hamstring was cramping from the uncomfortable position she’d frozen in. A trickle of sweat was slithering down her brow, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before it went into her eye. It wasn’t even hot compared to what the jungle often was, but she could feel the steam rising off her body, curling her hair, and dampening her clothes.

With grim trepidation, she realized she had gone soft. She was in no condition to take on José and think she could walk away. She’d lost to him even when she’d been fit and in her prime. Now? She couldn’t even hold an arrow ready for more than a minute. Her pulse began to hammer in her throat, and she willed it to quiet, knowing that José would be able to hear her heart pounding if he was the one in the bushes.

Please don’t let it be José. She wasn’t ready to face him yet. If she met him now, she would have no chance. A cold fear gripped her, and her fingers tightened involuntarily around the arrow, even as she fought to stay relaxed. Physical tension would throw off her aim. She had to stay loose.

Then she caught a scent, drifting to her over the complex smells of the jungle. It was the scent of a man. Not José. A stranger. He smelled of sweat, adrenaline, and something else. A deeper scent that seemed to reach inside her and unfurl in her belly. She instantly recognized her response as attraction. Desire. Lust. Dear God, she wanted this man. Fear gripped her with sudden cruelty, freezing her muscles and obliterating all thought from her mind except for a raw terror that screamed at her to run. Run. Run!

Her instincts knew she had to stay utterly still, but the fear of her attraction to a man was so deep that she could not make herself stay. Attraction was a trap. Desire could be twisted to hurt her. Lust was a cruel lie. Wanting a man was doom, torture, and a hell she’d never survive.

Instead of staying still and hidden as she should have, panic forced her to act. She leapt to her feet, spun around, and ran blindly through the forest, her boots thudding noisily on the ground. Branches tripped her and plants seemed to spring up out of the earth to grab her ankles. She couldn’t even focus enough to ask them to help her instead of hurting her. Her mind was a swirling miasma of terror and memories, screaming at her to run and escape while she still had the chance.

“Hey!” The man shouted at her, his deep voice booming through the jungle.

The rich bass of his voice plunged through her flesh and ignited a fire inside her. A fire of want, longing, and the urge to turn and charge right toward him instead of away from him. “Oh, God, no. Not again.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sprinted through the jungle, not even paying attention to where she was going. She couldn’t remember the layout exactly. Her mind was fragmented with fear and terror, just as it had been so long ago when she had run for her life through these very woods. She stumbled over a root and tumbled to the earth, barely getting her hands out in time to cushion her fall. Her crossbow jammed into her jawbone and she gasped as the pain shot through her.

She hadn’t even finished falling when she was already back up on her feet, stumbling as she tried to keep going. Trees loomed above her on all sides, but the branches were too high for her to reach, and she couldn’t focus enough to ask the trees to help her. Everything she had as a weapon was gone, disintegrated by the fear ripping through her.

Then she realized there were heavy footsteps thundering after her, getting closer and closer. He was chasing her! She put on another burst of speed, her breath burning her lungs as she fought for air. Her legs were trembling, shaking with exhaustion as she asked her body to do things it hadn’t done in so long.

She frantically tried to focus enough to take in her surroundings and understand where she was. She couldn’t keep this up. She had to find a way out. She had to—

A hand closed on her shoulder, and fingers dug into her flesh, pulling her to a stop.

With his touch, all conscious thought fled from her mind. She grabbed the dagger from where it sat on her hip and spun around, striking as she turned. Her blade hit flesh, plunging deep inside thick muscle before she’d even finished her turn to see who was after her.

The dark brands on his forearms told her all she needed to know. It was a Calydon, and her dagger was in his heart. She spun the rest of the way around, facing him as he fell.

“Shit!” The warrior’s dark eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled and went down to his knees.

Rhiannon ripped her dagger out of his chest and went still, bracing her legs in a ready position as she held the dagger ready. She knew she had to keep moving, but she couldn’t run anymore. Not yet. She needed time to recover. She had nothing left. Her breath heaved in her chest as she desperately tried to get air.

She saw the blood pouring from his chest, and realized she’d struck a clean blow into the heart. Instinct had shown her where to find a heart on a Calydon, taking into account his height when she’d made her blind strike. Maybe she wasn’t a total loss. Maybe she still had some of her old skills. Maybe she still had a chance to survive.

She took another deep breath, trying to recover from her run. She knew the respite from his injury wouldn’t last long, but the heart had been a good place to hit.

He looked up at her as he pressed his palm to the wound on his chest. “Why the hell did you do that?” His voice had the same effect on her as before. It slithered through her body like a warm, seductive caress of pure temptation. And now that she could see what he looked like, it was even stronger.

His eyes were dark brown, flecked with bits of gold. His stare was intense, sinking deep into her very soul as he gazed at her. She felt herself flush under his stare, her body pulsing in response to the heat of his attention. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze, and she was caught in his spell, in his raw masculinity and strength. His cheekbones were sculpted, giving him a regal appearance, despite the heavy growth of whiskers and the disheveled dark hair, which gave him an aura of danger and lethalness that should have terrified her…but she found herself riveted by him instead.

His shoulders were broad, but not as broad as José’s. Unlike José and his men, who wore camouflage pants, lean boots, and sported bare chests as if impersonating some ancient warrior, this Calydon was wearing the garb of civilization. His blue jeans were dirty and torn. His black T-shirt was loose and ragged. He was wearing hiking boots, but they appeared to be heavily insulated as if they were meant for trekking through snow and ice instead of the brutal heat of the jungle. He didn’t look like he belonged to this jungle or to José, but the twin dark brands on his forearms told her all she needed to know.

He was a Calydon, and that meant he was a threat, no matter how intense her reaction to him was. In fact, he was even more dangerous because of the way she wanted to fall under his spell. Men knew how to take advantage of a woman’s attraction to them. They preyed upon it, twisting it to their advantage. She knew better than to want a man, but her fingers actually twitched with the need to lay her hand over his wound and take away his pain, to feel his flesh beneath her palm, to move closer, and lose herself in the incredible strength and power of his being.

“Yeah…” he said softly, his gaze locked onto hers, as if he were having the same intense reaction to her that she was having to him. “Who are you?” he asked. “What’s your name?”

“Who am I?” The question jerked her back to the present, to the very real danger he presented. If he’d been sent to find her, his quest would have to end now. Even as she thought it, resistance pulsed through her, and she realized she didn’t want to kill him.

Grimly, she took a step back as she pulled another arrow out of her quiver. She set it in the bow and aimed it right between his eyes. “What do you want?”

She needed to know whether he had stumbled across her accidentally, or if José already knew she was here. Then, once she had her answers, she would do her best to kill the man kneeling before her.

She ignored the stab of regret at the notion of killing him. Sure, he smelled incredible and had eyes that had momentarily melted right through the fear of men that she kept wrapped so tightly around her. That didn’t mean she was going to make the same mistake that had once almost killed her. Never would she trust the wrong man, or any man, again.

Never.

He would have to die. There was simply no other option.

 


 

 

About The author

 

Follow Stephanie Rowe

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Four-time RITA® Award nominee and Golden Heart® Award winner Stephanie Rowe is the nationally bestselling author of more than twenty published novels with major New York publishers, including Warner/Grand Central, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dorchester & Sourcebooks. Stephanie has received starred reviews from Booklist and high praise from Publisher’s Weekly. Stephanie writes romance (paranormal, contemporary and suspense), teen fiction, middle grade fiction and motivational nonfiction, including her bestselling dark paranormal Order of the Blade series.

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Stephanie Rowe-Interview and Blog Tour with the Author

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Stephanie Rowe-Interview and Blog Tour with the Author

Interview blue:black

Follow Stephanie Rowe

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Four-time RITA® Award nominee and Golden Heart® Award winner Stephanie Rowe is the nationally bestselling author of more than twenty published novels with major New York publishers, including Warner/Grand Central, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dorchester & Sourcebooks. Stephanie has received starred reviews from Booklist and high praise from Publisher’s Weekly. Stephanie writes romance (paranormal, contemporary and suspense), teen fiction, middle grade fiction and motivational nonfiction, including her bestselling dark paranormal Order of the Blade series.

Stephanie RoweTRC: Hi Stephanie and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of Darkness Arisen.

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

Stephanie: On the writing side, I’m a lifelong reader who, as a child, won a blue ribbon at my town library for reading the most books over the summer. My love for books never faded, and I started telling stories to kids while I worked at day camp during college. Eventually that turned into writing the stories down, and everything evolved from there. I love to write, I love to read, and I love the magic that can happen when an author lets her passion and imagination run free. When I’m not writing, I’m a mom, I play tennis with my pals, and I am working hard training my new rescue dog, who is just the sweetest boy ever.

TRC: Many authors have faced challenges or difficulties getting their books to publication. What struggles have you encountered in your writing career?

Stephanie: Before I sold my first book, I wrote 18 complete novels and 9 partials. I had over 150 rejections as well. I have since sold more than 25 books to traditional publishers, and have loved the freedom of shifting over to indie publishing and using the training I received from the NY market to manage my own career and writing now. During the time I’ve been published, I’ve been rejected another 50 or so times. I’ve had four editors leave and been dumped by their successor. I’ve had four lines that I write for close. And I’ve had a publisher go bankrupt. I’ve had an agent who stripped me off all self-confidence and creative ability, and I’ve had a agent who was magic in her ability to uplift me on the tough days, and everything in between. So, it’s been a long, challenging road, but it’s what I love, so nothing has been able to knock me off track.

Darkness ArisenTRC: Darkness Arisen (Order of the Blade) is your latest release in your Dark Paranormal series. Would you please tell us something about the book?

ORDER LINKS: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Stephanie: Darkness Arisen (Order of the Blade, Book Six) is the story of Ian Fitzgerald, a warrior we met in the first book. His story was introduced in more depth in his novella, FOREVER IN DARKNESS, and we finally get his full story in DARKNESS ARISEN. It’s sexy, passionate, dangerous and wickedly intense. Readers will meet new characters and explore an entirely new world from what they’ve seen in previous Order of the Blade books, but will still get plenty of their hot, tormented warriors. Here is the official blurb for the book:

Darkness Hunts Him.
Calydon warrior Ian Fitzgerald refuses to die. Cursed by black magic, he has stayed alive through sheer force of will and unyielding commitment to a mission he is sworn to complete. There is only one thing that can defeat him…and she has just found him.

Desire Torments Her.
Ravaged by her own passions, tarnished angel Alice Shaw is fighting desperately for salvation before all she cares about is lost forever. Her sensual allure, and the forbidden power buried inside her, are outshone only by the burning need she awakens in Ian.

Fierce Passion Ignites.
Raging desire explodes between Ian and Alice, pushing them to the brink of destruction. They cannot afford to succumb, but the cord that binds them will never let them go…not until their most dreaded nightmares come true. Together, they are destined to fail. Together, they will fight to survive the impossible.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the lead characters, which actors or models would best represent your ideal image?

Stephanie: Hugh Jackman for Ian, and Natalie Portman for Alice.

TRC: Which do you find more difficult to write and why? Full length story lines or novellas?

Stephanie: Honestly, they both take about the same amount time to prepare. My stories are character-driven, which means the plot derives from who the characters are and the choices that they would make. This means that regardless of whether I am writing a 30k novella or a 100k novel, I still have to know each main character in great depth. Once the writing begins, the novella takes less time to write because it is shorter, so from that perspective, it is easier, but before I start writing, it’s the same amount of work.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?

Stephanie: Hmm… that is a tough one. I don’t know what people are thinking about me! I am one of those sensitive people that internalizes it when people don’t like me, so I honestly try to simply focus on my writing and doing the best job I can, and not letting myself be affected by other people’s perceptions.

TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?

Stephanie: I wish I could stress less! I’ve actually been working very hard on this, and making some progress. It’s not an easy habit to shake, but it’s a very destructive thing to do to yourself, so I’m doing my best to learn to let it all go…

TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?

Stephanie: Personally, it would have to be my mother. We have always been very close. She is an amazing woman, and I admire her greatly.

TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?

Stephanie: When I am stressing about my writing deadlines, the person I need to call is my brother. As a creative type, he understands about the difficulties of that lifestyle, and he always strikes the right balance of empathy, and telling me to get over it, stop worrying about it, and get writing.

TRC: Is there a question that you would like to be asked in an interview, but nobody has asked? If so, ask away!

Stephanie: Hmm… that is another tough one. I have no idea. Maybe when the wedding date is for me and Hugh Jackman?

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

Stephanie:
1) I would like to reduce all stress from my life (realizing that stress comes from the pressure I put on myself and my reaction to things, as opposed to the events themselves).
2) I would like to become injury-free so I can get fit and healthy.
3) I would like to move to a house with a nice, fenced in yard and lovely neighbors.
4) I would like to be a great mom and continue to have a special relationship with my daughter.
5) I would like my writing career to be steady and reliable.

TRC: What are your thoughts on book reviews-good or bad?

Stephanie: I think book reviews are a wonderful way for readers to express themselves and for potential readers to get a sense of whether the book is something they would be interested in. I do feel sad when readers trash books for personal reasons, like when they give a 1 star review to a book that hasn’t even been released yet, so there is no way they could have read it. But for each reviewer that uses that forum to put bad energy out into the world, there are far more who are sharing valuable thoughts and responses. The positive, glowing reviews are wonderful to read on tough days, but the critical reviews can sometimes provide good insight for an author about how she can keep improving her craft.

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

Stephanie: I generally work solo, but recently my cover artist and I have created a new process in which he makes the book cover first, in any way he wants, and then I write to the cover. It gives him creative freedom on the covers, and it often pulls me into directions I wouldn’t have thought about on my own. For example, with the Darkness Arisen cover, when he sent it to me, I had the entire story plotted out as happening in the woods. Once I got the cover, and there was the ocean and these misty, ghost-like women on the cover, I completely changed the story and ended up with a really fun and new direction for the series.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Stephanie:
Today I’m actually doing my taxes, but once I get that done, I will be working on three projects:
1) PRINCE CHARMING CAN WAIT, which is the next EVER AFTER book,
2) GUARDIAN OF THE HIDDEN, which is the launch book for my new dark paranormal series, THE RUINED LORDS, and
3) DARKNESS UNLEASED, which is Ryland’s book, the seventh in the Order of the Blade series.

I am currently brainstorming all three of them, and whichever one comes together first will be the next one that I start writing.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Stephanie: Thank you very much for having me! It’s great to be here!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Homemade chocolate fudge sauce

Favorite Dessert
See above, or key lime pie

Favorite TV Show
Currently getting excited for the next season of Dancing with the Stars. There is always a story of triumph over tragedy on that show, and I find it very inspiring.

Last Movie You Saw
The last Harry Potter movie (yes, I’m a little behind the times!)

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate, all the way.

Favorite Flower
Hyacinth. The scent is simply magical.

Do you have any pets?
I have a dear, dear rescue dog named Muskie (aka Musketeer from Barbie & the Three Musketeers, as named by my daughter).

TRC: Thank you Stephanie for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best. Congratulations on the release of Darkness Arisen.

Stephanie: Thank you so much!

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

DARKNESS ARISEN:  The Order of the Blade #6

Darkness Arisen

ORDER LINKS: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO/

DARKNESS ARISEN

The Order of the Blade Series, Book Six

Available March 25, 2013

Darkness Hunts Him.
Calydon warrior Ian Fitzgerald refuses to die. Cursed by black magic, he has stayed alive through sheer force of will and unyielding commitment to a mission he is sworn to complete. There is only one thing that can defeat him…and she has just found him.

Desire Torments Her.
Ravaged by her own passions, tarnished angel Alice Shaw is fighting desperately for salvation before all she cares about is lost forever. Her sensual allure, and the forbidden power buried inside her, are outshone only by the burning need she awakens in Ian.

Fierce Passion Ignites.
Raging desire explodes between Ian and Alice, pushing them to the brink of destruction. They cannot afford to succumb, but the cord that binds them will never let them go…not until their most dreaded nightmares come true. Together, they are destined to fail. Together, they will fight to survive the impossible.

Order of the Blade 2

READING ORDER: THE ORDER OF THE BLADE series
Darkness Awakened
Darkness Seduced
Darkness Surrendered
Forever in Darkness
Darkness Reborn
Darkness Arisen

Blog Tour Black and Blue

3/25 – The Reading Café
3/26 – Reading Between The Wines
3/28 – United by Books
3/29 – Book Monster Reviews & Literal Addiction
3/30 – Ramblings From This Chick
3/31 – Redheaded Bookworm
4/01 – Wicked Readings
4/02 – Beach Bum Reads
4/03 – Books-n-Kisses
4/04 – Riverina Romantics
4/05 – Close Encounters With The Night Kind
4/06 – Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway
4/07 – GraveTells
4/10 – Romancing The Book
4/11 – Cocktails and Books
4/12 – I Smell Sheep
4/13 – Jeep Diva

Giveaway-Blue:Black

 

Stephanie is giving away winners choice of eBook from either the ORDER OF THE BLADE, EVER AFTER or ALASKA HEAT series to ONE winner at EVERY Tour Stop.

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 runs from March 25-April 14, 2013

4. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

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