Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 500

November 25, 2012

Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz Falling Angels Saga





E Van Lowe Cyber Monday Giveaway- 
win a YA theme Christmas them Gift Basket containing a plush bear, Santa hat,  fuzzy socks and gloves set, Christmas socks, sparkly Christmas tree decoration, snowman snowglobe, and a Bath and Body Works holiday gift set trio
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Heaven SentFalling Angels Saga Book ThreeBy E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
What Does It All Mean?
Readers who devoured Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel will be captivated by the third book in the Falling Angels Saga.
As summer break for Glendale Union high begins, heartsick Megan awaits Guy's return while struggling to control her emerging abilities.  Love is in the air, but can the new loves in Megan, Maudrina, Suze and Aunt' Jaz's life be trusted? Nothing is what it seems.  Meanwhile, the Satanists are set to hatch their most diabolical scheme ever, and if it comes to pass, Satan may finally win out.
Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL.
Excerpt : http://evanlowe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Sneak_Peek_-_Heaven_Sent2.pdf


Earth Angel
Falling Angels Saga Book Two
By E Van Lowe


Genre: Paranormal YA


Heaven Can Wait!

Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.

In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.

Megan Barnett has recently defeated Satan, found a fantastic new best friend, and has won the heart of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson. But that doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize that she is in possession of a powerful paranormal weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels, demons and everything in between.

In E. Van Lowe’s romantic yet thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan finds herself in a gripping life or death battle to save the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.

Paperback   Kindle 


Boyfriend from Hell
Falling Angels Saga Book One
By E Van Lowe


Genre: Paranormal YA


Aww, Hell No!
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.
“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
Boyfriend From Hell is the first book in the Falling Angels Saga from the author of the gruesomely hilarious, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie
Paperback     Kindle
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/39hI9rmwI5A
Excerpt http://evanlowe.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/BOYFRIEND_4_Chapters.pdf
About The Author
E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screen-writer, playwright and producer who has worked on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show," "Even Stevens," and "Homeboys In Outer Space." He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. 
His first YA Paranormal novel, "Never Slow Dance With A Zombie," was a selection of The Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an American Library Association Award.  His Best Selling novels, “Boyfriend From Hell” and “Earth Angel,” are the first two books in the Falling Angels Saga.  “The Zombie Always Knocks Twice” is the first book in his Hollyweird series.
E lives in Beverly Hills California with his spouse, a werewolf, several zombies and a fairy godmother who grants him wishes from time-to-time.
www.evanlowe.com
http://vanlowe.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Van-Lowe/152364748167154

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Published on November 25, 2012 21:00

November 21, 2012

Interview with Shane KP O’Neill Author of The Dracula Chronicles Bound By Blood



Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
My name is Shane O’Neill. I am originally from Ireland, but live now in Norway.  My project is The Dracula Chronicles, an epic new angle on the Dracula legend.  Remembering back to when I was a teenager, my friends and I were always reading and passing around books written in the horror genre.  This would include works by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert, John Saul, Shaun Hutson etc.  It followed then that this was the genre I wanted to write in as well.  The horror genre has always captured people’s imagination, be it in book form or on the big screen.  Girls like to be scared and have a reason to lean into their guys.  Their guys like the chance to be there to protect and comfort them, as well as being scared themselves.  There will always be a market and a great interest in this genre, and I love it.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
Of all the different elements in the horror genre, vampires are easily the most exciting.  I am certain the majority of us that love this genre are all equally turned on by the vampire.  For me personally, I was captivated by Christopher Lee’s Dracula, mesmerized by Gary Oldman’s portrayal, I was terrified by Stephen King’s vampires and Anne Rice’s vampires left me breathless.  I am not so excited by some of the modern trends directed more towards the YA audience, but it leaves me hoping something better will come along again.  While I wait for that to happen I give you The Dracula Chronicles.
What inspired you to write this book?
I have been interested in and loved Dracula for as long as I can remember. When I used to baby-sit my kid sisters and was not restricted by my parents as to what I could watch on TV, I got to see quite a few of the old Hammer horror movies, and loved those with Christopher Lee as Dracula. Then in my late teens I discovered the real historical Vlad Dracula.  I always felt it had been my destiny to write, and therefore I wanted to write about him.  But I did not want to write anything that resembled the known images of Dracula and opted to do something more grandiose and epic in scale.  That is the goal I set myself with The Dracula Chronicles series.
Please tell us about your latest release.
I am releasing Book 3 first so that I can give my reader the vampire from the very start.  The story begins with Dracula’s final triumph on the battlefield.  He is mortally wounded and as he lays dying in the nearby monastery, Lucifer comes to claim him, but instead of harvesting his soul he creates the first vampire.  So Dracula gains his immortality through having Lucifer’s own blood coursing through his veins.  Lucifer sets him the task of turning man against God by destroying the institution of the Catholic Church.  This leads Dracula on an epic journey through the ages and sees him involved in every situation throughout the 16thcentury where the Vatican’s influence is harmed.  Therefore, he propagates the Reformation in 1517, ensures a Spanish victory over France in the Italian Wars of the 1520’s, the split between Henry VIII and Rome, and so on.  But this is just the vaguest of outlines.  The book involves so much more.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
Actually, most of the characters in my book are real people, and people known to many of you who will read the book.  Only a few are fictitious, and with those I give them names to correlate with their location or country of birth.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
They were all challenging to a degree, especially the real historical characters, as I had to give them all personalities and have them interact with each other and the vampires, and be believable.  The fictional characters were the easiest to build.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
In the first two books I, of course, most enjoyed creating Dracula the man and giving my readers a true picture of the man I believed him to be. In Bound By Blood the two characters I enjoyed the most were Varkal and Ruxandra.  Varkal is a fictional illegitimate son of Dracula’s.  He is absolutely despicable in every way and I enjoyed working on him, and building a character I expect my readers will loathe.  Ruxandra is Dracula’s real granddaughter and I convey her to be the exact opposite.  Despite still being a monster created from Darkness, she is sensitive, loving, sensual…essentially everything that Varkal is not.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I have a picture of many of my characters in my mind before I even start, from various historical texts I’ve read and, of course, from the big screen.  Naturally, I try to impose my own stamp on them.  Wherever possible, I try to let them develop as I write yes.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Sure, I would love to though I will cut it off before the best part.  The scene comes from Chapter 58 – It is 1528 and Dracula has sent his granddaughter to meet with Anne Boleyn at her residence outside London, to convince her to warm to the advances of Henry.
Ruxandra arrived at the house where she saw just the one guard outside.  From within she picked up only the thoughts of a young woman.  It let her know there was nobody else in there.
When the guard sloped off to relieve himself she stole inside.  She closed the door quietly and walked into the house.  Anne had just stepped out of a bathtub.  The two of them froze.  It was an awkward moment.  Ruxandra found herself staring at the naked girl.
Anne stood there without a care in the world.  Suds dropped from her breasts and onto her stomach.  She did not speak, but looked the stranger in the eye.  The look on her face betrayed her thoughts.  Her expression said, “What are you looking at?”
Ruxandra fell victim to a fit of laughter.  It prompted Anne to do the same.  She answered the younger woman’s thought.  “I was looking at you.”
Anne looked puzzled.  “Did I say that out loud?”
“I can see why the King is so taken by you.  Who would not be?  You are a dish.”
“Why, thank you,” Anne smiled.  “I am glad I meet with your approval.”
“I am only telling you what I see.”
“Are you looking to have your way with me as well?” she teased.  “Do you want to do all manner of wicked things to me, just like the King?”
Anne waited, curious as to the response her question would yield.  Ruxandra just blushed.  She dismissed it with a smile.
“That is a yes then, is it?” asked Anne, not letting go.
“It was not,” Ruxandra assured her.  “I was a little surprised.  That is all.”
“Surprised?  Why?”
“No woman has ever tried to flirt with me before.”
“Really?  I find that hard to believe.”
Ruxandra laughed again, though this was more of a nervous one.  “Why do you say that?”
“Well, you really are quite the beauty.  I am not sure if I have ever seen a woman as beautiful before.  Not in this country at least.”
She blushed even harder.  “Oh stop.  That is silly talk.”
Anne shrugged her shoulders.  “Fine.  But if you think I look good, you should take a look at yourself.”
She toyed with one of her nipples, as she spoke.  Ruxandra watched her for a moment and then turned her head away again.  Anne showed no desire to conceal her nakedness or to dry herself off with a towel.  “Why did you turn your head?”
Ruxandra found it hard to breathe for a moment.  “So I cannot see what it is you are doing.”“Does it excite you?” Anne probed.  “Knowing that another woman finds you desirable?  An attractive one such as myself no less.”
The truth was that it did excite her.  It embarrassed her that the advances of another woman could make her feel like this.  She sighed and turned to face Anne again.  This was not why she was here.
It annoyed Anne that the woman did not respond to her question.  She began to wonder why she was there at all.  Who is she?  She stepped back into the tub.  How did she even get in here?  Where is the guard?  The bubbles reached up to her neck as she lay back.  “So why are you here?”
Anne sat and waited for her to answer.  She began to wonder if her visitor was prepared to satisfy any of her curiosities.
Ruxandra walked up to the tub.  She leant against it with both hands.  “I have come here to talk to you about your future.”
“Why do you have an interest in my future?”
“There are many that do.”
“And that includes you too?”
“Yes it does.”
Anne grinned at her.  “Then you had better climb in,” she said.  She indicated with a nod of her head to the spot in front of her.
“You want me to climb in there with you?”
She nodded with a smile.  “That is if you want me to talk to you.”
Her visitor looked down at her.  Anne sat there with her knees together and a smile still etched across her face.  Ruxandra paused and wondered what to do.  She looked down at Anne a second time, fighting the temptation to get involved with her.  But at the same time she felt aroused.  The first traces of moisture leaked from between her legs.
She took a deep breath.  Biting her lower lip, she undressed slowly.  Anne gasped when she saw her naked.  The woman had the most perfect body she had ever seen.  Her smile changed to a look of wonder, as her lips parted.  There and then she knew she wanted her.
This was not lost on Ruxandra.  She held Anne’s eyes with her own and placed one foot into the tub.  The water still felt warm.  She pulled her other leg over and then sat down opposite the English girl.
There was not much room in the tub with the two of them inside it.  Ruxandra had the much longer legs.  For her it was even more awkward.  To be able to relax properly she knew she would have to place her legs over Anne’s.  She did this.  The action brought the two women much closer together.
For a time the women looked into each other’s eyes.  They did not speak.  Both of them just sat and enjoyed the moment.  A great excitement raced through them.  Eventually Anne picked up a cloth from beneath her legs.  She squeezed the warm soapy water over Ruxandra’s breasts.  Ruxandra found the sensation electrifying.  She closed her eyes and groaned.  The warm water washed over her nipples, making them tender, but erect.
She trembled slightly.  Her every instinct told her Anne was going to kiss her.  But she wanted her to.  She waited with expectation until Anne brushed against her lips with her own.  When the moment came it touched every delicate nerve in her body.  She responded hungrily, pulling Anne close in the most intimate embrace.  Their lips melted into one longing kiss.
Their tongues touched.  It triggered the same ache in both women.  Without a word they left the tub and rolled onto the bed nearby.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
Yes, absolutely.  The book/s needed extensive research to maintain full historical accuracy even though I was already well versed in much of it.  I discovered many legends throughout the course of my research, which I am not sure how much of relate to true historical fact.  Some examples of these would be Old Mother Shipton and her prophecies about Cardinal Wolsey, the soothsayer Dracula’s father met prior to the Battle of Varna, Dracul Litovoi and the feared Vlach tribe that fought on the side of Dracula’s father, and even the way his father met his death.  Another one might be the account given by the old boatman from the Schiavone who is said to have witnessed the dumping of the body of Giovanni Borgia, and some of the events I write about concerning the death of his father, Pope Alexander VI.  It all makes for good reading though.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
The world I create begins with the world in which Vlad Dracula lived, the 15th Century Balkans.  I was meticulous in my approach so I could convey, to the best of my abilities, what that world was like in its truest sense.  But it was a brutal age where the value placed on life is not what it is today.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
I would like to say these books can be read as stand alones.  The first book I wrote is now Book 6 in the series and could stand on its own, the same as my first release could, and that is Book 3 in the series.  To aid this process I sometimes use a prologue.  Whereas many people in the industry frown on prologues, I feel they are a necessity at times, especially for a series such as mine.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
In all honesty, no I don’t.  In 2006 I wrote The Gates Of Babylon and Bound By Blood, which together, total over a half a million words.  Any time I have sat down to write, I can write.  But then again, I have taken extended breaks from writing by choice… and breaks for as long as 3 or 4 years.  I have read recently that some surveys conducted believe that 80% of writers suffer or have suffered from depression and that science has identified a direct link between a depressive state and a creative state of mind, that our brains focus more on creative aspects when we are depressed.  I believe this to be true.  When I have had my happiest times in life I have written very little.  When I have been miserable I write volumes.  But I have never sat down to write and not been able to do so.
Do you write in different genres?
That is one of the best things about The Dracula Chronicles.  On the surface my series appears to be a dark Gothic horror.  I have to tell you it is much more than that and much more than just another vampire series.  My books cross over into several other genres such as historical adventure, paranormal fantasy, romantic tragedy and erotica.  There is something here to appeal to most tastes, so most importantly it is a fusion of many genres that come together in one lengthy, but fast and exciting novel.  It may appear to be a man’s book, but is definitely a woman’s book too.
In other projects away from The Dracula Chronicles I will stick with the horror genre.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
You are a writer from the very first time you put pen to paper, whatever the quality of the piece.  Many people have varying ideas on this, but to me it begins the moment you write something.  I started writing stories and poems around the age of 8 or 9, long before computers or laptops and even when a typewriter might have been considered a luxury item.  So for me it was my first musings with a pen and paper as a kid.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
The older I get, the more I have grown to appreciate my family and I love time with them whatever we are doing.  They are my real passion in life and that which I love the most.  I did play scrabble on the international stage for a few years, but gave that up after participating in the 2007 World Championships.  Mainly now I love to read, cook, visit places with an historical significance or even just take a break somewhere hot with my family.  I love various sports and follow my teams religiously and with the greatest of passion.
What was the last amazing book you read?
Actually it was a book called The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  It fell into my hands in a time of great crisis in my life and helped me really understand myself, and also the person I love.  Such an insight is priceless and for that reason I would definitely call it an amazing book.
What can readers expect next from you?
Following the release of Bound By Blood there will be a series of horror shorts and then an anthology called Tales Of The Black Sabbath, which will have variant endings from the originals.
The next volume from The Dracula Chronicles – The Gates Of Babylon – will surface in 2013.
Where can readers find you on the web?
In many places actually…..Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/Shane-KP-ONeill/e/B00A75SM4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shane-KP-ONeill/e/B00A75SM4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1Website & Blog -  www.draculachronicles.co.ukTwitter - @ShaneKPONeillYoutube - http://www.youtube.com/user/DraculaChroniclesFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/ShaneONeillsDraculaChroniclesGoodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12341417-shane-o-neill
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Sure, I would love to.  Thank you, Roxanne, so much for having me and for asking me so many great questions.  I’ll leave you with the moment Lucifer bites into Dracula’s neck.                                                                           *Before Dracula could respond Lucifer lifted him up by both his arms.  He raised his protégé high into the air.  The pain was intolerable, but paled in comparison to that when the Devil bit hard into his neck.
The pain was more concentrated than the blade or arrowheads that had left him near death.  Lucifer’s breath was like fire upon his skin.  His eyes bulged from their sockets and he fought hard to breathe.  As his throat muscles spasmed he felt like his face was about to melt.
He managed one loud scream.  Inside his body he felt the little blood he had left emptying from his veins.  The sound alerted the boyars.  Their efforts to force open the door of the chapel finally paid dividends.  They burst into the chapel and made for the altar to see what ailed their master so.
The sight that met their eyes left them both horrified and stunned.  They saw Dracula suspended two feet above the ground.  A vicious wound showed on his neck.  They could see blood there, but it did not trickle down.
The boyars ran up to him.  They drew their swords and cried out to him for direction, not knowing what to do.  Lucifer continued to drink.  At the same time he absorbed the fear of the men around him.  When he had drunk enough he discarded Dracula on the steps below the altar.
He licked his lips.  The taste satisfied him.  He took a moment to savour it, and the smell.  It was good.  He smiled, having wanted to do this for such a long time.
The boyars felt a presence as he walked among them.  They tried to put it out of their minds.  The sight of their master on the floor concerned them more.  They attempted to resuscitate him.  But there was no need.  He was not yet dead.
Dracula clutched at his stomach with both hands.  The movement was so sudden it scared the men half out of their minds.  He emitted a cry that was almost inhuman.  His men stepped away.  The presence amongst them grew more apparent.  They turned their focus to it and scanned the empty air around them in an attempt to locate it.
Their master’s body shook violently on the steps.  His arms and legs flailed wildly.  Foam and vomit streamed from the corners of his mouth and his eyes rolled up inside his head.  They watched until only the whites of the orbs showed.
A second animal-like cry filled the chapel.  It echoed off the walls around them.  Outside the abbot dropped to his knees in prayer.  Every other man and woman that had not done so, did so now.  Lightning raged across the darkening skies.  The thunder bellowed after it, as a prelude to the downpour that followed.

The Dracula Chronicles: Bound By Blood
Shane KP O’Neill

Genre: Gothic Horror
ISBN:  978-0-9556701-0-7Word Count:   261,281
Cover Artist:  David Evans – GraphicStudio4
Book Description: 
The Dracula Chronicles is the brilliant and terrifying new concept of Dracula. It is an epic journey through the ages where the forces of Light and Darkness struggle for supremacy until the Second Great War, as foretold in the Book of Revelations. This bitter feud began after the creation of mankind. Lucifer’s jealousy leads to the First Great War of the angels. Hundreds of thousands of years on the feud simmers beneath the surface. It plots the course of history as we know it today. Both sides manipulate the major players through the centuries to seek an advantage over the other.  
On a cold night in December 1431 in Sighisoara an old gypsy woman delivers a prophecy to the great Vlad Dracul. She tells him he is about to sire two sons, one an angel and the other a devil. He returns to his fortress just as his wife bears him a son, whom he names Vlad. In the very same moment across the country on the border between Transylvania and Hungary a gypsy girl gives birth to another son, Andrei. The die is cast. The twin souls are born. The young Vlad Dracula becomes the instrument of the forces of Darkness. To balance this, the baby Andrei is blessed by the angels and bestowed with awesome powers. These chronicles are their story.
Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/MxL9XzO7x28


 About the Author: 
The author developed a fascination with Dracula from an early age.  Like many others he was enthralled by Christopher Lee’s portrayal of him on the big screen.  It was in his late teens that he discovered Dracula the man and the love affair began from there.  An avid historian, he studied the period in which the real historical Vlad Dracula lived, 15th Century Balkan, for many years.  It followed from there then that with his love of writing he would always choose Dracula as his subject.
Away from writing, the author has a wide range of interests.  He has lived and travelled all over the world.  He has a love for all things historical, with a particular fascination for medieval Europe.  Anywhere he travels he likes to search out locations with an historical interest.  He is well read and in recent times has a preference for the work of James Patterson, Carlos Luis Zafon, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Stephen King.  He also keeps his library well stocked with historical texts. 
For a time he played scrabble on the international stage and represented Wales at the 2007 World Championship in Mumbai, India.  He has a real love of sport, most notably football, rugby union, cricket and boxing.  His great loves in the football world are Manchester United, Glasgow Celtic, Internazionale and lowly Luton Town.  His sporting heroes include George Best, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ian Botham and Muhammad Ali.  His only other activities away from these are long country walks and time spent with friends and family.
www.draculachronicles.co.uk  website
www.draculachronicles.co.uk/blog blog
@ShaneKPONeill   Twitter
http://www.facebook.com/ShaneONeillsDraculaChronicles  FB author page
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12341417-shane-o-neill  Goodreads
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Published on November 21, 2012 03:00

November 19, 2012

Top 10 Paranormal Series with Jessica Gibson




Thanks so much for having me on your blog today 

Here’s my top 10 paranormal books/series

Night Huntress series~ This series has everything that I love all rolled into one amazing series. Vampires, magic, and an awesome love story. I love Cat and Bones, and with the spin-off books I’ve gotten to know the side characters better too.

Harry Potter~ Thank goodness for Harry Potter!! I think I’ve read the whole series at least 4 times. I love all the magic, and all the action.

The Vampire Diaries~ I really love this series, especially Damon. I never expect what’s going to happen.

Sookie Stackhouse~ This is another series that I’ve read multiple times. I love all things vampire, and this series has only fueled that love.

Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles~ This was the first vampire series I ever read, and I’m so glad it was my entree into the world of vampires. These are not warm and fuzzy vampires, and I love that.

Gwen Sparks series~ I was immediately hooked. I love all the magic....the hot vampires and shifters don’t hurt either. I adore Stephanie Nelson

Bend, Bite, Shift series~ This series is so different from any other vampire/witch series I’ve read. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I can’t get enough Olivia Hardin!

Twilight series~ Yes, I’m going there. I know this series gets a lot of flack, but it’s such a sweet love story. I’ve read all the books a few times, and seen all the movies. I’m not a fanatic about them, but I do enjoy them.

Blue Bloods series~ This was a very different type of vampire series by Melissa De La Cruz. I was hooked from the start and burned through all the books quickly. She has a real talent.

Vampire Academy series~ Love, Love, Loved this series!!! I jumped into this series after almost all the books were out already. I think it took me like a week to read them all. I could not get enough.

Thanks again for having me on your blog! Hope you all enjoyed my favorite series. 

What books or series do you love??





Mark of the WitchBoston Witches Book 1
Jessica Gibson

Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 10: 1475119836ASIN: B0087GFJ9Q
Number of pages: 192Word Count: 51,520
Cover Artist: Russ Turner Photography
Barnes and NobleAmazonPaperback
Book Description:
Magic flows through Jillian Proctor's veins as surely as blood, but so far her life outside Boston has been peaceful. William Morgan blows into Jilly's life like a hurricane, unleashing her magic and sending her out of control.
Unknowingly, William brings an enemy who only wants to posses the power of the witch. Jilly must learn to harness her magic before she loses it - and everything in her life is destroyed.
About the Author:
Jessica lives in California with her husband and young son. She loves to read, and that love helped her to branch out into writing. Aside from writing, she runs an online event planning business called the Release Day Diva. In addition to novels, Jessica writes and maintains the blog Book on the Bright Side. Keep up with Jessica and her latest releases and events on her blog.
Website: www.releasedaydiva.weebly.com
Blog: www.thisauthorslife.blogspot.com
Book Blog : www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Gibson/120212814747940
Twitter: jessicajgibson
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Published on November 19, 2012 03:00

Mark of the WitchBoston Witches Book 1Jessica GibsonGenre...





Mark of the WitchBoston Witches Book 1
Jessica Gibson

Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 10: 1475119836ASIN: B0087GFJ9Q
Number of pages: 192Word Count: 51,520
Cover Artist: Russ Turner Photography
Barnes and NobleAmazonPaperback
Book Description:
Magic flows through Jillian Proctor's veins as surely as blood, but so far her life outside Boston has been peaceful. William Morgan blows into Jilly's life like a hurricane, unleashing her magic and sending her out of control.
Unknowingly, William brings an enemy who only wants to posses the power of the witch. Jilly must learn to harness her magic before she loses it - and everything in her life is destroyed.
About the Author:
Jessica lives in California with her husband and young son. She loves to read, and that love helped her to branch out into writing. Aside from writing, she runs an online event planning business called the Release Day Diva. In addition to novels, Jessica writes and maintains the blog Book on the Bright Side. Keep up with Jessica and her latest releases and events on her blog.
Website: www.releasedaydiva.weebly.com
Blog: www.thisauthorslife.blogspot.com
Book Blog : www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Gibson/120212814747940
Twitter: jessicajgibson
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Published on November 19, 2012 03:00

November 18, 2012

Guest blog with DL Richardson





 Thank you to Roxanne at Fang-tastic Books for hosting me on my virtual book tour. I hope your readers will enjoy sinking their teeth into these tasty treats. When I’m not writing
I usually wake up early and get stuck into writing guest posts, interviews, updating the website, and adding posts to Facebook. Other mornings I’m working on the next novel. Whatever it is I’m working on, by midday I’m ready to take a break. One of the things I like to do to give my mind a rest is to bake. My husband and I then sit out on the back deck and enjoy something yummy. My favorite recipe is lime meringue pie. This is traditionally made with lemons but I have a lime tree growing in the backyard and each year it grows about 200 limes. So I simply replace lemon for lime in all my recipes.

For lime meringue pie you’ll need:
Base
A store bought pie base or shortcrust pastry. Sometimes I cut small circles of shortcrust pastry and line a muffin tray with these little circles of pastry to make mini meringue pies.
Lime filling
1 cup of white sugar1/2 cup of cornflour1 cup of water3/4 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice60g butter, chopped3 egg yolks
Meringue
3 egg whites1/2 cup castor sugar
To make the pie you’ll need to:
Combine sugar and cornflour in a saucepan. Blend in water and lime juice. Stir until smooth.Stir over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until mixture boils and thickens.
Add chopped butter, stir over heat for 1 minute or until butter is melted.
Remove from heat and quickly add the egg yolks. Whisk until combined.
Cool then pour into pastry casing/s.
Place egg whites in a small bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
Slowly add sugar.
Beat until sugar has dissolved.
Pour over lime filling.
Bake for 5 minutes to brown off the tips of the meringue.
Cool then serve.
FeedbackD L Richardson
Genre: YA Sci-fi/FantasyPublisher:    Etopia Press
ISBN: 978-1-937976-77-4ASIN: B009LKHUQM
Number of pages:  208Word Count: 69,263
Cover Artist: Eithne Ni Anluaine  
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/vEluhYM8WNw       
Amazon   Barnes and Noble  OmniLit
Book Description:
Listening to your inner voice can get you killed.

Ethan James, Florida Bowman, and Jake Inala are three teenagers who receive much-needed organ transplants. Two weeks later they are inadvertently recruited by the CIA when a spy dies halfway through his mission. Three bacteria bombs are set to detonate, spreading illness and death across the planet, and it’s up to Ethan, Florida, and Jake to deactivate them.

Except that they have no idea where the bombs are located.

Kidnapped for information they can’t possibly know, and fuelled by the spirit of a dead CIA agent, Ethan, Florida, and Jake must look deep inside themselves if they are to finish the mission and save millions of lives. But they’re being held captive in a strange place by a man who believes in Feedback, the theory that information is retained in the memory of organs–in this case those of a certain dead CIA agent donor. And their captor will stop at nothing to get the information retained in their newly transplanted organs.
 About the Author:
D L Richardson was born in Ireland and came to Australia with her parents as a baby. She went to a public school in Sydney's western suburbs and the books she read were given to her or borrowed from the library. However it was music that first captured her creative interest.
​She joined the school choir at age eight and got her first acoustic guitar at age ten, although she really wanted a piano. In high school she took up lead vocals after the girl she was to sing a duet with failed to show up. After that she told her stage fright to get lost and took up singing with the school band where she performed in many concerts. When she left school she helped form her own rock band where she sang lead vocals, played bass guitar, and wrote all the lyrics. At age 26 she realized she wanted to write novels for the rest of her life or die trying so she sold her equipment, quit pursuing a music career and began writing instead.
​She has two young adult novels published, "The Bird With The Broken Wing" and "Feedback" and is currently writing her third novel "Little Red Gem".
​She lives in Australia on the NSW South Coast with her husband and dog. When she's not writing or reading she can be found playing her piano or guitars, renovating the house, or walking the dog.
Website:       www.dlrichardson.com
Blog:  dlrichardsonwrites.blogspot.com
Facebook:    facebook.com/dlrichardsonbooks
Twitter:        twitter.com/#!/DLRichardson1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15910702-feedback

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Published on November 18, 2012 03:00

November 15, 2012

Is the vampire craze really over? Guest blog by Rhiannon Paille



Is the vampire craze really over?
The last twilight movie is out today, or tomorrow for some of you, and with it the end of an interesting if not, controversial empire. Stephenie Meyer began as most authors do with an idea in her head and a lot of hope in her heart. The first Twilight movie was meant as an indie film, but it captivated teenage audiences everywhere and made them fall in love with vampires-- sparkly vampires. 
Of course, older generations had already been in love with vampires and preferred the deeper affections of Lestat, Blade, and Angel. We fondly remember The Bronze, and Spike. And keeping with any vampire tradition you can't have vampires without werewolves, witches, and demons. Oz and Willow were by far, awesome members of the "scooby gang."
Twilight redefined vampire culture, attempting to be classic while also being romantic. The books succeeded in pulling us into Bella's shoes and making us contemplate the idea of becoming a vampire. I don't think that the idea of becoming something demonic and misunderstood is going to leave society. 
Just because Twilight is ending doesn't mean we're done with vampires. 
In fact, it means we have more choice. Vampire books have become a craze in the book world since Twilight took off, spawning a number of series with many different takes on vampires. I'm listing my top 5 series. 1. Jeanine Frost, Night Huntress Series2. Laurel K. Hamilton, Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series3. Kristin Cast / P.C. Cast, House of Night Series4. Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy5. Rachel Caine, The Morganville Vampires
All of these series have something unique and different, along with plenty of books in the series to catch onto. If you're quite finished with the Twilight craze, but not done with vampires, look around, there's a lot more out there that can bite you.
Cheers,Rhi

SURRENDERThe Ferryman and The Flame Book 1
Rhiannon Paille

Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1480029859
Number of pages: 402Word Count: 100k
Cover Artist: Marc Wolfe www.marcwolfeart.com
Review copies available on Netgalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/21259
Book Description:
How far would you go to save everything you ever loved? 

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16049030-surrender
 About the Author:
Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She’s married to a chef/comic book shop owner and she has a fondness for architecture. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.yafantasyauthor.com

http://www.yafantasyauthor.com
http://www.twitter.com/rhiannonpaille
http://www.facebook.com/rhiannonpaille
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4653530.Rhiannon_Paille



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Published on November 15, 2012 11:00

Giveaway: Daughter of Light by VC Andrews

“Bestselling author V.C. Andrews lures readers into the passionate world of vampires in this breathtaking new saga of blood ties and longings as powerful—and forbidden—as those of Flowers in the Attic.”



Daughter of Light  

YOUNG, INNOCENT LORELEI . . . HAUNTED BY FAMILY SECRETS . . . HUNGRY FOR A TASTE OF LIFE . . . DETERMINED TO LEAVE BEHIND THE DARK DESIRES OF HER PAST. 

Bestselling author V.C. Andrews lures readers into the passionate world of vampires in this breathtaking new saga of blood ties and longings as powerful—and forbidden—as those of Flowers in the Attic

“NEVER BE AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS,” DADDY ALWAYS TOLD ME. “DARKNESS IS OUR FRIEND. THE SHADOWS PROTECT US.” 

In this enthralling sequel to Daughter of Darkness, V.C. Andrews returns to the story of a beautiful girl desperate to escape her secret family legacy—bred to be a lure for unwitting victims of her father’s blood appetites. Determined to break free and embrace a life outside the shadows, Lorelei runs away from the only world she’s ever known. In a quiet rooming house, she finds refuge among the tenants of elderly Mrs. Winston, and the beginnings of a new love with Liam, her landlady’s handsome grandnephew. But Lorelei soon discovers that burying her past is not so easy: sinister nightmares torment her, and even her waking hours are plagued with the fear that at any moment, Daddy could destroy all she holds dear. Can a child of darkness ever truly feel safe in the light? 

This seductive sequel to V.C. Andrews’s Daughter of Darkness will hold readers captive in its irresistible spell.


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Published on November 15, 2012 03:00

November 13, 2012

Review of The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone

The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sexy, steamy, and enthralling.

From the first page I knew this was going to be a naughty frolic I was going to enjoy.

Phaeton is a lovable rogue and a pain in the ass. Gorgeous, charming, intelligent...a member of Scotland Yard...and he sees things no one else does. He is connected to the other realm- he uses this ability to solve crimes that a little different from the norm. Crimes that some of his colleagues think are total crap.

We learn a tad bit about the hows and whys of Phaeton's abilities but not enough, I'm guessing as the series continues we'll discover more about Phaeton's history.

He's currently on a case of what appears to be a vampire draining victims...but is it? Twists and turns abound.

Then there's America Jones. Beautiful, young independent woman, daughter of a Cajun witch- trying to take care of her father's business and have what is rightfully hers, but pirates have taken everything away. She needs Phaeton's help to get it back. And she gets his attention in a most unconventional way. Which draws the two of them together in ways they never imagined. The harder they try to distance themselves from each other the closer they get.

What a fabulous first book in a new series. The Moonstone and Miss Jones is book two and available now, it's at the top of my shopping list for my next book buying spree.

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Published on November 13, 2012 22:00

Review of Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

Grave Memory (Alex Craft, #3) Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kalayna Price never disappoints. I was hooked from the first page and did not want to put this book down until I finished it. There were a couple very late nights with this book. But only a couple because I finished it in three days :-)

In Grave Memory Alex is still trying to accept that she's more Fae than human and deal with the fact that both men in her life and unattainable.

Falin is bound to the Winter Queen and no matter how he actually feels for her, the Queen comes first and he has to do what she says.

Death, is...well...Death and therefore unable to be with a living person. His first loyalty is to the souls he takes.

We see a bit of interaction with both men in this book and it's still hard to decide who to root for. Sometimes I pick Falin, sometimes Death (will we ever get his name?).

The plot in Grave Memory follows a series of what appear to be suicides but turn into something much more deadly and complicated. And of course Alex is right in the middle of it. Which leads to all manner of craziness, deadly dealings and a couple healings.

Fabulous book, can't wait for book 4.

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Published on November 13, 2012 21:30

An American Werewolf in Scandinavia by Coral Moore




As long as storytellers have been inventing tales, werewolves have been growling and scratching their way into our imaginations. The history of lycanthropes in our folklore is vast and diverse, covering the entire globe in disturbing stories detailing the animal side of human nature. Nowhere did shapeshifters leave toothmarks more viciously than in the wilds of northern Europe.
The Norse stories of men who transformed into animals were most probably based on the barbarians wearing the pelts of animals for warmth. Men literally dressed in the skins of animals are common in the Skaldic sagas. While they were sometimes said to fight with unusual ferocity, for the most part there is no mention of supernatural forces being involved. It’s easy to see where along the way these stories may have changed from fierce men wearing the skins of animals to men who became animals. A brutal battle where the enemy was covered in a bear skin with only their eyes exposed might easily spawn such exaggerations.
The were-beasts of northern Europe took the forms of bears, wolves, and boars. These animals were symbolic to the people of these lands beyond simple sustenance and warmth. The words for all three animals had multiple meanings in the Norse language, making the associations between animal and man difficult to isolate. The word vargr (wolf) was used to indicate a godless or heathen man as often as it was used for the animal. Jöfur, the word for boar, became associated with kings, perhaps because royal headpieces often had a ruff of boar fur atop them. Bears were revered for their strength and hunting prowess, and were invoked in spirit form on the nights of hunts and battles. Once again, it’s not a very long leap from a man with animalistic traits to one who can transform into said animal.
I’ve twisted the lore of the northern werewolves to suit my needs, but have tried to remain true to their roots in my own way. I speculate that the stories of savage men who could change into wolves began with a separate race that was enslaved by the barbarians of the northern lands. Over the centuries, the werewolves were woven into the tapestry of Norse mythology so profoundly that they don’t remember their true origins. The world of Broods of Fenrir shows what such beings might be like if they were brought forward into our modern world.
The information in this post is a partial summary of my research into werewolves. By far, the most comprehensive source I found was The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould posted on Sacred Texts, definitely worth the time for a thorough history of werewolves. If you’d like to have a more in-depth discussion of werewolves or Norse mythology, I’m always interested. You can find me on Twitter, Goodreadsor my blog.



Marked by OdinBroods of Fenrir Book 2
Coral Moore

Genre:Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Bared Teeth Publishing
Number of pages: 205Word Count: 58,000
Cover Artist: Amanda Kelseyhttp://razzdazzdesign.com
Book Description:

After killing his sadistic brother, Brand inherits the responsibility for his brother’s brood. Now, he must convince the brood that their barbaric way of life belongs in the past and demand change in order to secure their future.

Crushed by the death of his mate, Gunni believes it’s only a matter of time before he succumbs to the loneliness that plagues his life. He follows Brand out of loyalty, but he secretly craves the peace that death will bring—until he is confronted with the most infuriating human he’s ever met.

Leo is a throwback who has never quite fit in with human society. Drawn into the savage world of the werewolves, not entirely against his will, he discovers that the Broods of Fenrir don’t fear much… except him.

These three conflicting personalities unite in pursuit of an unscrupulous trapper who has taken a member of Brand’s brood captive. They must track him down before he uncovers what they are and their secret is revealed.

Contains Strong Language, Violence, and Sexual Situations.




Title: Broods of Fenrir
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 60k words, 230ish pages

Availability: Amazon, Nook, Smashwords

Blurb:
Shapeshifter Brand Geirson was raised to rule the Broods of Fenrir, but he refused his birthright. Instead, he killed their brutal leader–his own father–and walked away.

For hundreds of years he’s avoided brood society, until a werewolf kills an innocent human woman and Brand finds himself dragged back into the violent politics of the shapeshifters. When the two brood women who mean the most to him come under threat, he must take up the throne and risk becoming the kind of vicious bastard his father was, or let the broods descend further into chaos–taking the friend he swore to protect and his lover with them.

Relevant Warnings: There is significant violence. One on-screen sex scene, though I wouldn't describe it as particularly graphic.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Broods-of-Fenrir-ebook/dp/B006AKQVR0/
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106624
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/2940013500624Amazon Paperback




About the Author:
Coral Moore has always been the kind of girl who makes up stories. Fortunately, she never quite grew out of that. She writes because she loves to invent characters and the desire to find out what happens to her creations drives the tales she tells.
Prompted by a general interest in how life works, her undergraduate schooling was in biology. She follows science news and enjoys conversations about genetics and microbiology as much as those about vampires and werewolves. Coral writes speculative fiction and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing at Albertus Magnus College.
Currently she lives in Connecticut with the love of her life, who offers both encouragement and kicks in the tail when necessary. Also in residence are two mammals of the families Canidae and Felidae.
Blog: http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coralm
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5341919.Coral_Moore
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCoralMoore
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Published on November 13, 2012 04:00