Christine Rains's Blog, page 63

Shout Out to Author R. Mac Wheeler

Three cheers for Mac! A fellow writer and blogger-friend, he recently reached a monumental milestone: publishing his 24th novel. I hope you'll visit his blog where he posts his photography and give him a congratulations or visit his home page and peruse his titles, read an excerpt, and help him celebrate. Message him and he’ll send you a mobi copy of book 1 of the series. 


About #24
This volume of the NEW ORDER APOCALYPSE series continues thirty-three years after an engineered plague shredded Earth's population.
Chloe and Ginna Lee must decide whether to continue Jason's dream to unite survivors, or concentrate on surviving. Chloe hasn't the tact to play ambassador, and Ginna Lee is more likely to take heads than spread good will. Promises little hope they can build an alliance, especially if peace hinges on a cure for Jihad. Meanwhile, the landscape they must cross still writhes with roamers and desperate clans.
Mac spins tales around rich, gritty characters with a lot of baggage, and puts them through a bit more grief than they can handle. His tone leans toward the sarcastic, passive aggressive. He writes speculative fiction, fantasy, SF, suspense, and paranormal with a twist.
Please visit Mac at:http://rmacwheeler.com/http://rmacwheeler.blogspot.com/ Contact Mac…Kindle…Nook…GoodReads…Sunday Safaris…Mac’s Photos

Reborn is here!

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.
On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.
Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.
Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.
Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Now Available in Print and Ebook!
Print: Amazon /Barnes and Noble / Createspace
Ebook: Amazon / Google Play / Kobo / Nook / OmniLit / Scribd / Smashwords / Wattpad

Wicked Wednesday - new PNR couples

I've been hearing a lot of readers getting bored with the kick-butt heroines and Alpha males in paranormal romances. All the characters from various books blur together. The heroine and hero are becoming caricatures of themselves.

I still love a good PNR even when it has these same types of heroes, but I perk up when I find something new. I don't see these characters disappearing any time soon. Many readers still love the fantasy of a super possessive and domineering man and the beautiful warrior woman with a wit sharper than her blade. Yet there's room for different power couples out there.

Here are four trends that I'm seeing.*

1) The Alpha male beneath the surface of the "every day"** guy. You have the nice guy, usually smart and successful. He doesn't stand out in the heroine's eyes until he falls for her. He becomes driven to make her his. He might be smooth and savvy, but he gets arrogant and possessive.

2) The Alpha female and the Beta male. Many say this is the perfect match. Some women do fantasize about being in control. Just remember that the Alpha female isn't necessarily bossy and the Beta male isn't weak.

3) Geeky heroes. The girls who idolized Hermione Granger have grown up, and they prefer brains over brawn. A smart hero is better than one who muscles his way through life.

4) The "every day" woman emerges as the heroine. A woman with a crappy job, bad fashion sense, social anxieties, and/or obnoxious family members. The supernatural hero sees something special in her and falls in love.

Have you seen any new trends lately?

*I'm looking for new stories in PNR with different heroes, and I dig around all over the internet to find them. Are these books going to become the new big thing? I don't know, but I love seeing how romance novels evolve over the decades. (Check out this article on the evolution of the romance novel.)

**We are told these characters are every day folks, but it is fiction. Their lives have to be much more entertaining than ours!

Review for What Kills Me

Blurb:An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.

How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals? My review:Axelia wants a summer of fun in beautiful Rome. When a gorgeous boy asks her to sneak out at night, this sweet 17-year-old decides to be daring and have a romance. The perfect night takes a turn for the very worst. Axelia falls into an ancient well filled with vampire blood and emerges a vampire without a sire. The vampire Monarchy wants her dead and places a bounty on her head. Axelia must fight to survive and finds help in a vampire bladesmith, Lucas. But can the two of them take on a whole army of immortals?

The YA paranormal romance drew me in with the beautiful cover, but the amazing story kept me reading, gobbling up every word. It started off slow for me. After Axelia (a.k.a. Zee) becomes a vampire and the Monarchy becomes involved, the plot picks up. I love the vampire history, the lore, the mystery, and the politics. There are several fascinating layers to the world Channing has created, and it holds many possibilities for what might come.

Zee is a chatterbox and a bit annoying in that aspect, but she has a compassionate heart and brave soul. She grows as things snowball into a mountain of trouble and becomes an admirable heroine. Lucas is a great complement to Zee. He's quiet, loyal, and steadfast. He's a modern vampire knight without the shining armor! He's the type of hero I love to see in YA books.

I can't wait to read the next one in Wynne Channing's What Kills Me series. Get the book for FREE here:Amazon or Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes Find Wynne Channing here!

Friday Five for May 16, 2014

1. I've been working hard on more revisions for WIP #1. I might have it done in time to query before the end of the month. My goal day to send out queries is the 28th. It's my son's last day of school. If I don't make the deadline, I'm going to attempt not to be too hard on myself. It's important to send out the best story I can, so if it takes a little more time ... I'll likely scream a bit and pout. Maybe eat chocolate and pout some more. Then I'll get right back to work and finish it.

2. I have a busy weekend ahead. A local writer's group meeting, a 5 year old's birthday party, and a school board end of the year party that involves wine and salad. Neither of which I like. I will go and smile and try not to look too awkward.

3. I've gotten a few great reviews these past few weeks for The 13th Floor Complete Collection and FEARLESS. It's wonderful to hear from my readers, and reviews like those can make a crappy day into a good one. A big thank you to everyone who has left me a review and who reviews other books. You are awesome!

4. Still waiting to hear back on some short stories and my geeky novella submissions. Waiting never gets easier, no matter how many years you've been writing.

5. Finally, here are the winners from my giveaway from the My Book Boyfriend Blog Hop! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who entered. Have a great weekend!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadow Warrior cover reveal

The agony of a failed quest haunts Kanze Zenjiro, but the betrayal by those he once trusted has turned his world upside down. With a heart full of hatred and defeat, Zen is desperate to return home and demand the truth from his father.

Meanwhile, the Iberian Empire sends their soaring airships and steam-powered giants into the Orient. They threaten to upset the balance of power, hoping to exploit the faraway land in their greed for the resources needed to power their machines. Zen and his companions must fight to keep the world from plunging into total destruction.

And at the center of it all is a nine year old boy with the power of a god.

Release date: August 4, 2014
 
Find Jay on his site or blog!

My Book Boyfriend Blog Hop

The awesome hosts: Harper A. Brooks & TF Walsh My Book Boyfriend Blog Hop
Because boys in books are just better.
They can be hot-headed, dominant, reckless, or damaged—oh, and let’s not forget SEXY. They know all your deepest desires and fantasies. Vampires, shifters, rock stars, ultimate fighters, young billionaires, military men, or business tycoons—they even have the best occupations! You never have to worry about them leaving dirty clothes on the floor or skipping out on date-night to hang out with the guys. A perfect match! Now if only they were real… My Book Boyfriend Blog Hop celebrates the relationships we create while reading! We all have our favorite fictional boyfriends. Introduce us to yours and meet your next obsession!

Check out the other participants' posts by clicking on the lists on Harper's and Tania's sites!

My most recent book boyfriend is sexy, adventurous, and has a lot of wood. He does have his own ship being a pirate, after all! Captain Joren Steele is the hero in Decadent Kane's Steele Your Soul , the third book in The Trouble With Elves series. Would I take him home to meet the parents? No way. He'd be my dirty secret, very dirty, and I wouldn't have him any other way.



As part of this blog hop, I'm to offer up something to tantalize readers. Enter for a chance to win one of 3 digital copies of The 13th Floor Complete Collection , one of Night Owl Reviews top picks. Six novellas with several gorgeous men (and werewolves, demons, vampires, and ghosts) that might become your next book boyfriends! a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also enter to win a Grand Prize package from Tania and Harper!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Champion in Flight cover reveal

A year after she won the battle for Septily, Clara feels trapped in Skycliff by the Allied Council. As the last pieces of information about the Healing Caves fall into place, Clara is attacked by an assassin. Covert Drinaii mercenaries and the Council aren’t going to stop Clara from her quest to heal her broken blade. As Champion of Aramatir, she must act.

Meanwhile, in the joint kingdoms of Rrysorria and Wylandria, the youngest and still cursed swan prince despairs of ever being whole again. In a moment of anger and desperation, Liam discovers a blood link between him and a dark sorceress.

Clara won the battle for Septily, but her battle isn’t over.

Champion in Flight is the second book in The Champion Trilogy.
Author Bio:Tyrean Martinson lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest. Dragonfold and Other Adventures, and Light Reflections showcase her short stories and poetry. She is currently at work on the third novel of The Champion Trilogy: Champion’s Destiny. Blog * Twitter * Facebook

A Dragon's Lament, Ocean of Dust, Reborn, and Backworlds

Here is some exciting news from four of the talented authors from Untethered Realms!
A DRAGON'S LAMENT is now available!
Magic is real. So is betrayal.

David enters the Fire Kingdom and events shift from bad to worse. He learns a shocking truth about the dragons, a truth destined to block his efforts to retrieve the lost magic of Shaylar from the ruling Council. After a cave-in and injuries force a rescue, David finds himself more isolated than before as personal concerns scatter his trusted advisors and the wizard who led him there abandons him.

The head of the dragon Council negotiates separate deals with both David and his father, sowing further discord between them. David's close friend, Lothan, disappears into the caves and doesn't return. A group of dissidents kidnap Wilks, the child empath David is sworn to protect. With no options left, he accepts the Council's demands to help them in their centuries-old conflict, risking a war which might kill them all.

Even if David manages to win, there's no guarantee the dragons will let him leave the region alive. They don't want the Kingdom of Shaylar to rise again and will stop at nothing to see it remain a pile of dust.


Available here:AmazonUS / AmazonUK / AmazonAU / AmazonCA / AmazonBR / AmazonFR / AmazonDE  / AmazonIT / AmazonES / AmazonIN / AmazonJP / AmazonMX / SmashWords / Barnes & Noble / Apple Store / Kobo /

Paperback - Amazon**********************  About the author:River Fairchild is somewhat odd, brandishes a dry sense of humor, owned by several cats. Lives in a fantasy world. A fabricator of magic. Makes stuff up and spins tales about it. Believes in Faerie crossings and never staying in one place for very long. Speculative Fiction wordsmith. The secret to her stories? Spread lies, blend in truths, add a pinch of snark and a dash of tears. Escape into her world. She left the porch light on so you can find your way down the rabbit hole.Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon / 


OCEAN OF DUST is now an audiobook!



Fourteen-year old Lissa is snatched from her home and finds herself a slave on a trading ship traveling on a waterless ocean of nothing but gray dust. A feisty, curious and intelligent girl, her desire to explore the ship earns her the hatred of the cruel first officer, Farq.
Fascinated by the ocean of dust, Lissa becomes embroiled in its mysteries, sensing things that the crew cannot, while cryptic whispers in her head are leading her toward a destiny linked to the dust itself. Only one man aboard can help her make sense of her new talent, but can she trust him? All is not as it seems, and she must unravel the clues before it's too late.
When a sinister plot casts her adrift on the barren ocean, her best friend is left in the hands of the treacherous crew. Everything hinges upon her courage, quick wits, and her ability to master her new talent.
Available here: Audiobook: Audible, Amazon
 
Find Graeme Ing on his site here!

REBORN on Wattpad!

Every first and third Wednesday through to December 2015, Cherie Reich will be posting a chapter of her new fantasy novel, REBORN on Wattpad. You can already read the Prologue and a quote from Part I.
 
Backworlds Extras!Mary Pax has some exciting new extras for fans of her Backworlds series. Visit Pardeep Station and take part in her What Backworlds Character Are You? quiz or find out what your Backworlds name would be.

IWSG for May 2014

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

I'll be querying very soon. As if that isn't terrifying in itself, I've now developed a new worry.

I have a list of publishers I want to query. But what if they aren't the right publishers for me? I've done all my research. These are the ones that I consider the best for this particular manuscript. Yet I could be wrong.

I won't know until it's done. That's the risk we have to take as writers. I've already had one bad experience with a publisher. Maybe old fears are surfacing from that.

I'm curious about those of you who have queried and found a happy home with a press. How did you know they were the right publisher for you? Or how about those bad experiences? Please share those too.