Brenda Sparks's Blog, page 57

Book Blitz: Destiny Unveiled by Laura DeLuca (with giveaway)

Title: Destiny Unveiled (Destiny Series, 2)
Author: Laura DeLuca
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Book Blurb:

Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.

 Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.  

Excerpt:

Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.

There was an altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.

Four of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's both because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness the destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its master, not in the magick that was wielded.

A fifth cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of the circle with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no more than a few feet away from Darron.

"Brother and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."

"So mote it be!"

The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.

The leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their leader, palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean line down the centers of the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.

After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.

"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.

As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.

"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."
a Rafflecopter giveaway Excerpt from Destiny (Book 1)

Her eyes scanned the room, from the pale blue sofa to the bloody dent in the wall. But she didn’t need her eyes to know Darron was there. Her heart sensed his presence before her eyes saw him lying in a heap on the ground. His body shuttered with occasional spasms, and even though he wasn’t fully conscious, his lips were twisted in a grimace of pain.

     Uttering a gasp of surprise, Gabriella flew to his side. She knelt beside him, and choked back a sob as she took his hand in her own. She saw his chest rise and fall and was glad to know was alive, but she felt helpless as she watched his face contort in pain. She noticed something wet and sticky on her fingertips. She gently titled his head and saw a large gash that looked like it needed medical attention.  The skin around the gash was so deeply bruised it looked almost black.

     “Darron, what happened to you?”

      He didn’t move or reply. Gabriella moved her hand from the cut on his forehead, and her fingers dripped with blood. She bit her lower lip with fear. She knew enough about head injuries to know that the wound could be serious. She grabbed a few tissues from a box on the coffee table, and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was useless. The tissues were soaked through in seconds.

     “Darron?” She squeezed his hand, and fought back tears of fear and frustration.  “Darron, please open your eyes. Please be all right!”

     He squirmed and groaned a little in response. Looking at his contorted features, Gabriella felt incompetent and useless. She didn’t know what to do to help him. The cut must need stitches. The blood was gushing through her fingertips, and she was sure his life was slipping away just as quickly.

     More than anything, Gabriella wanted to help Darron, to end his suffering. Her thoughts, her desperation, caused something deep inside of her to stir. Something that had long been napping was awoken. The power she had fought so hard to deny was forcing its way to the surface. This time she didn’t struggle against that power. Her instinct to hide from it was finally overcome by the thought of losing someone else she cared about.

     Gabriella was pulling strength and warmth from the earth, as though her legs were tree roots taking nourishment from the element. A tingling sensation began in the tips of her toes and spread slowly though her body as she breathed in the essence of the element of air.  Her blood flowed and grew warm, the element of water, bringing the power to the surface. She was overcome by a vigorous strength as she envisioned her spirit encircled by the element of fire. She felt so powerful that she thought she could stop the world from churning if that was what she wished. Gabriella focused the power, remembering for a moment her mother’s lessons. She looked down at her battered friend. She willed him to open his eyes and look at her. She demanded it of him.

     Gabriella would have thought it was impossible, but she felt herself grow warmer. Her face dripped with perspiration. The power within her reached a climax. Then finally, when she thought she might burst, she felt the energy release. It seeped through her fingers, and shined with an illumination that only she could see. She heard herself chanting unfamiliar words, and scarcely recognized her own voice.

             “By the power of earth, water, fire and air,

              Heal this man who’s in my care.

              Goddess, hear your daughter’s plea.

              As I will it, so mote it be!”

     Gabriella repeated the words three times. Three was the number of power. Then she watched as the wound on Darron’s forehead healed before her eyes, becoming smaller and smaller, until finally it was gone. The blood was still warm and sticky, but beneath the blood, the skin was smooth and unmarred. Even the horrible bruise had vanished. Gabriella stared in open astonishment, marveling at the work she had done.


Author Bio:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.

Links:
Follow the author 
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Book Blitz: Summer of Frost by LP Dover

Title: Summer of Frost (Forever Fae 3)
Author: LP Dover      
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Synopsis:

The Land of the Fae is strong with all four courts banded as one, but uncertainty still remains as they all work together to end the dark sorcerer’s evil reign. Sorcha—the one and only Winter Court princess—has a secret, a secret that she has enjoyed keeping for the past six months. When a much awaited announcement brings her to the Spring Court, and face to face with the man in her dreams, will she be strong enough to keep up the façade of her icy exterior, or will she melt into his arms like she does in her dreams?

After formally meeting Sorcha at the Winter Ball, Drake—Summer Court prince and army leader—knew there was a fiery passion underneath her winter skin, a passion he wanted desperately to ignite with his own. However, with her frigid responses toward him he’s decided to keep his distance, except how can he when his dreams feel real? Seeing her again only ignites his interest, and this time he’s not going to let his arrogance or her frosty heart stand in his way.

Through unexpected tragedy, Sorcha discovers the one thing the dark sorcerer has spent his whole existence trying to protect, but what makes it more difficult is that only one of the Four is strong enough to retrieve it. The tides have now changed. With Drake’s help, will Sorcha find what she’s searching for? Or will the dark sorcerer beat them to it, shattering all hope of finding out the one thing that could save the Land of the Fae … how to destroy him?


Excerpt:

My heart began its erratic beating again, and when I slowly turned around to face Alston, I was astounded to see that it wasn’t him standing there, but someone else. The man before me was not only lethal and sexy, but he happened to be the Summer Court prince, Drake. His bright, red hair reminded me of the sun on a hot summer day, or better yet, the fire of the dragon inside of him, but I didn’t let his charm sway me. His smoky, gray eyes bore into mine, and when he noticed I didn’t melt under his gaze, he tilted his lip up in an arrogant smirk, clearly amused. Cocky bastard.

“Good evening, Princess Sorcha. I don’t think we’ve actually been formally introduced,” he expressed regally, bowing slightly. “I’m Drake.”

“I know who you are,” I replied blandly. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

He beamed. “Good things, I hope.”

“Not really,” I teased dryly.

Indeed, I’d heard many things about him. He was an arrogant ass that liked to show off his skills anytime he could, not to mention he probably had a million Summer fae women lined up to enjoy him in his bed. I didn’t know that for certain, but I could only imagine. His life was very secret when it came to women, so needless to say, it drew many speculations. He was ridiculously good-looking, and the longer he was in front of me the more I felt a pull to fall into his arms. What the hell was wrong with me?

Laughing, he tilted his head and held out his hand. “How about we dance, and you can tell me all about what you heard. I guarantee most of it isn’t true.”

I glared at his hand, and then back up to his face, contemplating on if I should accept. Before I could take his hand, Alston pushed his way between us, anger emanating off of him in strong waves. “How about you find someone else? Sorcha is with me. I’m sure you’ll find another Winter fae that would be happy to cool your bed.”

For a second, I stood there frozen and speechless. In a way, I wanted to see what Drake would do, but I also didn’t want to see them fight. It would cause unwanted problems that we didn’t need. Slow and with determination, Drake took a step closer to Alston, standing almost nose to nose with him. “So … she’s with you, huh?”

“That’s right,” Alston growled.

A wolfish grin spread across Drake’s face. He raked his heated gaze down my body quickly, before laying his deadly gray eyes back on Alston. “Keep telling yourself that,” he retorted back.

Alston clenched his fists, ready to strike, when Drake gracefully backed up and bowed his head slightly at me, never swaying his eyes from mine. “Maybe next time, Princess Sorcha,” he murmured to me, his voice low and seductive.

Out of all my years of always having something witty or smart ass comeback to throw out, that moment was one of the times I couldn’t form words. Alston snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me close, and for that second in time I didn’t care. Nothing existed except me and Drake as he backed up slowly, both of our gazes never wavering from each other’s. He winked at me before leaving the ballroom, and once he was out of sight, everything immediately returned to normal. My heart beat normally while everyone came back into focus, and that meant Alston and Sarette’s angry glares.

I knew then that everything was going to change after that night. Drake had captured my attention, and I was determined to find out more.
Author Bio:

I am an avid reader that loves my collection of books. Writing has always been a passion of mine and now I am glad that I get to share my passion with the world. I live in North Carolina and I absolutely love being a southern girl. I spent several years in college starting out with a major in Psychology and then switching to dental. I worked in the dental field for eight years and then decided to stay home with my two beautiful girls. I spent the beginning of my reading years reading suspense thrillers, but now I can't get away from the paranormal/fantasy books. I knew ever since then that if I wrote anything it would be in a paranormal aspect. Now that I have started on my passion and began writing, you will not see me go anywhere without a notebook and pen.



Links:
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6526309.L_P_Dover
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LP-Dover/318455714919114
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/L.P.-Dover/e/B0...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LPDover
Blog: http://www.releasethepages.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for stopping by today to share your story and for agreeing to do an interview so we can get to know you better. Let’s jump right in…

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I had always been a writer growing up. I tried writing my first book when I was a teenager and didn’t get very far … lol. My writing mainly consisted of poems that I would write for my family. I would write them down and wrap them up for my parents for Christmas. Yes, that was lame but I did it anyway. J I also wrote some special vows that were used in my sister’s wedding. I was terrified when they were read aloud in front of all the guests.


How long did it take you to write your book? My first book was Forever Fae and it took me just one month to write it. I worked on it constantly, every day and every night.


What genre is your book? What made you choose to write in that category? The genre of Summer of Frost is considered to be New Adult Fantasy Romance. I love anything romance and I thought I’d put the twist in there and add in the faeries and magic.


What was your work schedule like when you were writing? I’m a stay at home mother for the time being so scheduling my writing time had to be split up between mommy times. When my youngest daughter would take her naps I would immediately immerse myself in the zone and get to writing. I wouldn’t get too much done in that time, but it was a start. My main writing time is at night when everyone’s in bed. It’s hard only writing at all hours of the night.


What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I have to sit in my favorite recliner to get my best ideas. I don’t know why, but I feel more comfortable in that chair and for some reason my mind opens up more when I’m sitting in it. If it’s raining I’ll open the window and listen to the rain. I also like to write everything out free handed before I sit at my laptop and type it out.


Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? Everything gives me ideas. Movies, other books, songs, pictures, my own experiences in life, and just basically anything really. It’s fun to twist around certain ideas and completely make them your own.


How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I’ve written five books so far and I’d have to say that they are all my favorites. Each time I worked on them they were my favorite for the time being. I love them all and they are all special to me in so many different ways.


Are you currently working on another book? If so, is it part of a series or something different? I just finished my new book, Love, Lies, and Deception just recently. It’ll be published at the end of August. It’s a new one for me considering it’s a romantic suspense. I enjoyed writing it and I hope it does well. It is not part of a series, but I left it kind of open at the end where it could be considered ended or I could always come in with a sequel to wrap it up. If the readers want more I can give them more or I can leave it the way it is and let the readers come up with their own conclusions.


What do you like to do when you're not writing? Reading of course, and also watching movies. My kids get so frustrated with me when I’m writing because I get so wrapped up in the zone, but when I take my breaks I try to do everything fun with them that I can. Especially, in the summer, we’re always at Carowinds and playing in the water park.


What does your family think of your writing? At first, my family was like “Are you serious?” But then when I published my first book and actually had sales their whole demeanor changed. It was more like “Wow, you actually did it.” I was a little disheartened at first with some of the people in my family thinking that my writing was just a joke, but over time and with the more books I’ve published it’s steadily gotten to wear I’ve had nothing but the most amazing support from my family. My husband has helped fund my writing career and I’m thankful that he’s been supportive in my endeavors and allowed me to take a chance on my passion.


What was one of the most surprising things you learned about yourself in creating your books? That I have a really messed up mind … lol. It’s amazing the kinds of things I think up in my head.


Do you have any suggestions to help others become a better writer? If so, what are they? Just write what’s in your heart, and to always know that you’re not going to please everyone. It took me a while to realize that I need to write for myself and what I enjoy writing.


Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? I get some messages every now and again from my readers on how much they liked my books. It’s mainly … “so when’s the next one coming out.” I love receiving messages because it makes me feel like I did something right.


What do you think makes a good story? A good story is one that comes from your heart.


As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? Wow, what didn’t I want to do … lol. I wanted to cut hair at first, but then when I got older had an obsession for stars. I would’ve loved to work at NASA and study the stars and planets.


Are you self published or do you have a publisher? If self published, what made you decide to go that route? I’m a self-published author and I chose to go that route because I like having the control of my books. I make my own deadlines, chose my own editor and graphic artist, and I can publish them any time I want. I don’t have to be on a schedule.


Do you have a website, fan page, blog or twitter we can pass on to your fans? Of course, and feel free to follow me. J I love new followers.

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LP-Dover/318455714919114

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/L.P.-Dover/e/B00AFVV8TG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1373082769&sr=8-2-ent

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LPDover

Blog: http://www.releasethepages.blogspot.com/

Website: http://authorlpdoverbooks.com/

Email: authorlpdover@gmail.com, lpdover@lpdoverbooks.com

Where can your books be found? Please list Your author page from amazon and links to your books anywhere else they can be purchased. thank you

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/L.P.-Dover/e/B00AFVV8TG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1373082769&sr=8-2-ent

All of my books can be found at the amazon link above.

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/l.-p.-dover

All of my books can be found at the B&N link above. They can also be found on Sony, Kobo, Diesel, and IBooks.

Book Blitz: Destined by Jenna Pizzi

Title: Destined (The Destined Series)
Author: Jenna Pizzi
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal Romance

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Synopsis:
Destined (the Destined Series) YA/NA Paranormal Romance about Angels and Demons.
Lilly has always been plagued by dreams; she dreams of another place and time, a place of pure beauty and light that suddenly erupts into fire and destruction. Then, there is a man with the haunting blue eyes that seem to look right through her very soul. In one fateful afternoon Lilly learns that the dreams are more real than she could’ve ever imagined. They are a link to who she really is; the Gatekeeper to the realms. Born from both light and dark, with her memories bound, she learns that it is her destiny to gather the relics of the flower of life. Lilly must do this in order to close the gates before the under realm destroys them all, but there are those who will stop at nothing to keep her from fulfilling her destiny. There are those who will try to sway her into the dark. She is torn between the love of two brothers; one, her loyal warrior, who has loved her since the beginning, and the other with the enthralling blue eyes that speak to her soul. One brother fights for the light, while the other fell into the darkness. Will she choose the brother that her soul longs for, or the brother that her heart calls out to?


Buy Links:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Destined-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00BEKP15O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369596286&sr=8-2&keywords=jenna+pizzi

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destined-jenna-pizzi/1112819708?ean=2940044311626&itm=1&usri=jenna+pizzi

smashwords.com: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/282818

Excerpt:
Samil ran his fingers through Lilly’s hair. They were sitting in front of the fireplace.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this, for just a moment alone with you again.” He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. She felt a tingle on her hand. She thought she was just caught up in the moment. Samil noticed her palm glowing blue and backed up. “No, not already, you just got here.”

She looked down and noticed what he was talking about. The palm of her hand that the compass had branded was glowing blue. She jumped up in shock and started shaking her hand.

“What’s happening? Why is it doing that?” She asked him.

Samil stood and grabbed her hand.

“Don’t be afraid. It means it is time. It will lead you to the first relic. I thought we’d be able to have more time together.”

Lilly couldn’t stop herself; she grabbed him and kissed him.

“If this ends up being our last moment alone together, then I just need to feel you, here in the flesh.”

Samil looked at her questioningly.

“Are you sure, Lilly? It will only complicate things even more.”

“I have never been so sure of anything.”

He lowered her down in front of the roaring fire. She smiled up at him. He noticed the way the fire reflected in her eyes. He swept the hair to the side and lowered his lips to her neck and tenderly kissed her. Lilly trembled at his touch. He ran his hands down the length of her body. Just his simple touch made her moan in pleasure and anticipation. When his lips brushed hers, she lost herself to him.

The door to the room blew open. Usha stormed in. Samil broke his hold on Lilly as Usha hurled a statue at them. Samil pulled Lilly to her feet and stood in front of her to block Usha from her outburst.

“What do you think you are doing, Usha? This is my chamber and you do not come barging in here.”

She strode over to them until she was only feet away.

“I will do whatever I want. I am the princess. How dare you have your hands all over her? I can smell her on you. It makes me sick.” She started spinning around staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know why you don’t get it, Samil; you can never be with her. Ugh! I am so sick of everyone buckling down to this stupid girl. She’s nothing.” She ran her fingers down the front of Samil’s chest. “She won’t touch you the way I can. She can’t offer you a whole kingdom like I can. So what is the appeal of some little insipid half breed? She doesn’t even belong anywhere. She’ll be dead in the end anyway. Caleb won’t die for her this time.”

Samil could feel Lilly flinch at the last sentence. She didn’t understand what it had meant. Usha sensed her shock because she laughed.

“Oh my goodness, no one told you. How delicious. One of you lives and one of you dies, Lilly. One of you must choose but only one walks away.”

Lilly couldn’t contain herself.

“I don’t understand.”

Usha laughed.

“Of course not, that’s why you are stupid. One of you must die in order to seal the gate. Somehow you have always convinced Caleb to do it, this time he won’t allow himself to be near you until it is time for the choice. He will be claimed dark and kill you to seal it. Oh this is just tasty. No one bothered to even tell her about this. I’m glad I got the privilege.” She was gloating in her little victory when Seth appeared in the doorway. Tangela stood by his side.

“Samil,” Seth yelled out. “I should have known you’d lead a council member astray. How could you do this?”

Samil closed his eyes and Lilly could feel his hand squeeze hers.

“Go Lilly, go with Seth. I will see you when I can.” He covered her palm with a red velvet napkin so no one would see that it was glowing blue. Seth lunged at Samil and the two fell to the floor. Lilly could see Usha pull a sharp object from her leg and she jumped toward Lilly. Tangela rushed between Usha and Lilly and blocked the knife. She punched Usha square in her chest. She fell backward and grabbed her chest.

“You bitch, I will kill you,” she screamed at Tangela.

“Bring it, bitch. I’ll see you on the battlefield.” Tangela laughed.

Tangela grabbed Seth and rushed them out the door. Lilly didn’t want to stay, but she didn’t want to leave Samil. She wanted to find a way to be with him again. She looked behind her as she left the room. His hair was all disheveled and his eyes gave way to his sorrow. Seth pushed her through the door, grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her out the door. She watched it close behind her.

They ran down a series of long hallways. Tangela led the way and Lilly and Seth followed. Seth stood behind her to make sure no one grabbed her. She could hear Usha scream at the top of her lungs. She was calling her minions to find and attack them. Seth pushed Lilly even faster, but she was barefoot and wearing a thin dress.

They rounded a corner to the next hallway when Tangela stopped short. There were five minions blocking their way. They were all smiling with their jagged teeth. They seemed larger than the ones she had come across out in Plymouth. One of them took a step forward and swung at Tangela. She got slammed against the wall. He laughed as she curled into a ball in pain. Seth jumped in front of Lilly and pulled a sword off of the wall. He pitched forward and slit the minion’s chest open. The minion crumpled to the floor in shock. Seth rushed forward to fight off another one. Lilly ran to Tangela’s side and helped her up. Someone grabbed her from behind and lifted her off of the ground. She screamed and it got Seth’s attention. He ran back to her and stabbed the minion. The minion dropped her, and she fell to the ground. Seth lifted the sword and swung. He took the minion’s head clear off of its shoulders. Tangela saw Lilly’s hand and grabbed hold of it as she yelled for her to run.

“Run, Lilly. We need to get you out of here. Let Seth fight them. It is what he was trained for.”

Lilly followed behind her and they ran up a staircase and down another long dark hallway. Tangela stopped in front of a large steel door. She opened it and pushed her through. Lilly found herself back in the tunnels. This one was different from the ones that lead to Maidstone. She didn’t like the way it felt so she ran as fast as her feet would take her. She could feel something around her. She could hear laughing, but she couldn’t see anything. She felt something scratching at her arms. She flinched and kept running. Something was taunting her. She neared the end of the tunnel and she could see a dim light ahead of her.

As she reached for the door, she felt a burning sensation across her stomach. She grabbed her stomach and kicked open the door. She made it to the other side and collapsed on the ground. Keith and Amy rushed to her side.

“Oh Lilly, you’re bleeding all over the place,” Amy cried out.

Lilly looked down at the dress, it was slit open across her stomach. She could feel a sticky liquid but because the dress was so red, she couldn’t tell how bad it really was. Keith ripped off his coat and wrapped it around her.

Tangela ran through the realm door. She saw Lilly on the ground and Lilly could see the concerned look on her face. She ripped pieces of her shirt and held it to her stomach to try to stop the bleeding.

“I hope Seth’s close behind, this isn’t good. We have to get her help.”

Keith picked her up in his arms.

“Forget about Seth then, we have to get her help now. Just tell us where to go.”

Tangela looked torn.

“I can’t heal this. This needs special attention. Seth won’t know why we weren’t here, but you cannot get her the help she needs unless one of us is with you.” She thought about it.

Lilly could feel her world turning black. She was getting sick of passing out. She couldn’t even count how many times she nearly died in the last few days. Tangela ushered them to the end of the alleyway. Just as they were rounding the corner to Court Street they heard Seth call out to wait. He saw how badly Lilly was wounded and had a look of panic on his face.

“We need to get her help now.”

He led them to a boutique on Court Street named Laughing Moon Boutique. To the outsiders and tourists it looked like a new age store, but to the other world it was a place of healing. It was after hours so Tangela knocked hard on the door. Her knock seemed to be a sort of code. The door crept open and a woman’s head popped out.

“Yes! Can I help you?”

Tangela spoke in a different language and the woman quickly opened the door and rushed them inside. Once they were in, the woman bolted the door and lowered a brass bar across it. She led them into a back room and down a flight of stairs. She pointed to a cot and told Keith to place Lilly on it. Lilly could hear talking and then the pain took over. She was sweating and couldn’t stop writhing in pain. Amy kept wiping her forehead and Lilly could see her crying.

The woman spoke to Tangela.

“What did this? Do you know? How long ago did it happen?”

Tangela immediately answered her.

“It was the Akki-Oni, the dark spirits in the Hyvania tunnels. We were almost through when they struck out and scratched her.”

The woman, whose name was Batya, quickly rushed about her room grabbing different herbs. She mixed Skull Cap, Mugwort, Perilla and Feverfew. She turned it into a paste and rubbed it on the claw marks. Lilly could immediately feel the burning stop. She lit a candle made of Mullein. She told them it was to ward off evil spirits. She crushed berries of a Pokeweed plant and held Lilly’s head up and forced her to drink it.

“I’m sorry for this, Lilly. This will not be pretty, but if it does its job you will vomit out all the toxins from the Akki-Oni’s toxin.”

Within seconds of swallowing Lilly felt nauseous. Like a true friend, Amy held her hair as Lilly retched into a trash barrel. Keith sat by her side and kept a damp cloth on her forehead. She honestly didn’t think she was going make it. She had never experienced that level of pain. She wasn’t sure if she had any fight left in her. Her mind wondered, what is the point? When she felt there was nothing more to throw up, she closed her eyes. That was all she remembered of that night.


Author Bio:

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Jenna settled into America's hometown where she proudly calls home with her family. She is an avid book reader and collector with an entire room dedicated to her passion. At the age of twelve years old Jenna began writing, determined to be just like Stephen King or Dean Koontz.
For her it all starts with the flick of an image. From there a story is born. Being an eternal romantic, Jenna is a true believer in happy endings. It's the rest of the story that anything is possible. Writing is her passion. It is something that helps her unwind at the end of the day. She likes to tell stories that will pull at your heartstrings, or simply whisk you away even for just a little while. So grab your favorite blanket, and a hot cup of coffee and settle in for the ride.

Links:

Amazon Author Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Pizzi/e/B00B4ELVYU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Pizzi/501878039840087
Website: Jennapizzi.com
Twitter: @jaderayne

Book Blitz: Lost in Thought by Cara Bertrand

Title: Lost In Thought
Author: Cara Bertrand        
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance (psychic abilities)…with a contemporary flair

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Synopsis:

Lainey Young has a secret: she’s going crazy. Everyone else thinks she has severe migraines from stress and exhaustion. What she really has are visions of how people died—or are going to die. Not that she tells anyone that. At age sixteen, she prefers keeping her crazy to herself. When doctors insist she needs a new and stable environment to recover, Lainey’s game to spend two years at a private New England boarding school. She doesn’t really think it will cure her problem, and she’s half right. There is no cure, but as she discovers, she’s not actually crazy.

Almost everyone at Northbrook Academy has a secret too. Half the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted. A vision of another student’s impending death confirms Lainey is one of them. She’d like to return the crappy gift of divining deaths with only a touch, but enjoys spending time with Carter Penrose—recent Academy graduate and resident school crush—while learning to control it. Lainey’s finally getting comfortable with her ability, and with Carter, when they uncover her true Sententia heritage. Now she has a real secret.

Once it’s spilled, she’ll be forced to forget protecting secrets and start protecting herself.

Excerpt:

Prologue

It started innocently, but isn’t that always how things start? My Aunt Tessa and I were shopping at a local antique store, pretty much my favorite way to spend free time. I picked up a heavy candlestick that looked classic, expensive, and at least a hundred years old. As I turned it over to check, I suddenly felt dizzy. I set it down, so I wouldn’t drop it, and sat on an antique bench I probably shouldn’t have. The dizziness passed, as quickly as it came, and I reached for the candlestick again.

This time I did drop it. When my fingers touched the tarnished silver, I had the oddest vision. In my mind, I saw a crying woman in an old-fashioned dress, complete with petticoats and a corset, looking down at a man in a similarly old-fashioned suit lying on the floor.

And bleeding from his temple.

I knew instantly that the man was dead and the woman, with the help of this candlestick, had killed him. I blinked and found myself right where I’d been, on the bench I shouldn’t have sat on, with the murdering candlestick dented on the floor. We bought the candle-stick, and its match, and I told my aunt that I got dizzy and needed to have some lunch. By the time I’d finished my sandwich, I believed it too. But that wasn’t the truth.

The truth was far stranger.

 Buy Links 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B9YEQ4C
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-thought-cara-bertrand
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lost-in-thought/

Author Bio:

Cara is a former middle school literacy teacher who now lives in the woods outside Boston with: one awesome husband, two large dogs, one small daughter, and lots of words. LOST IN THOUGHT is her first novel and was one of three finalists for the 2011 Amazon/Penguin Breakthrough Novel Award in the Young Adult category.

 Author Links
http://www.carabertrand.com
http://twitter.com/carabertrand
http://www.goodreads.com/carabertrand

Thank you for dropping by today to share your story with my readers and agreeing to do an interview. Let's jump right in...
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?


Dreamed of it? Since I was kid. Realized I could do it? Here’s how it happened: One day during a car ride to somewhere, after I finished telling him about something I’d been reading, my husband said to me, “I’m surprised you never wrote a book.” I immediately responded, “I don’t think I could finish one.” I’ve always been great at not finishing things. But later I got mad at myself. I’d never actually tried to write a book. How did I know I couldn’t do it? So, I set out to prove myself wrong. And I did.

How long did it take you to write your book?



The fateful car conversation was probably in July. This was 2010. In August, I wrote a character sketch that would become the scene of Lainey and Carter’s first meeting. In September, I started writing a book in earnest. By about November I thought maybe I was writing something at least readable. By the end of December, I believed I would finish the book. That’s when I finally told my husband I was writing it. Around then, I made it my firm goal to enter the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and that was a fortuitous choice. I cut it close, finishing the draft less than a week before the entry deadline the first week of February, and had one friend read through it before I had to enter. So, all that is to say about six months. (Many months of editing came after that.)


What genre is your book? What made you choose to write in that category?



YA Paranormal Romance (though I’ve always considered it not heavy on the paranormal). Why did I choose it? Because it was the idea that came to me, but that’s probably because I adore YA PNR and read it with great passion :) In this case, I wrote what I loved.

What was your work schedule like when you were writing?



Ah, that blissful time. It so happened that when I wrote Lost in Thought, my only real job was gestating my daughter. I learned I was pregnant shortly after I started writing and had some health concerns. Never enough for strict bed rest, but I was on pretty light duty during the majority of my pregnancy. I had vast amounts of time to sit with my laptop.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?



I don’t know how interesting this is, but anyway :) Before, I’d always play music from my computer, rotating between a small selection of albums I’d put on repeat. It’s shifted since my daughter was born, probably because in the early months she’d be sleeping nearby and I had to learn to work in quiet. Now I absolutely cannot tolerate music coming from the computer, even when I’m alone…But if it’s from further away from me, it’s okay. It’s weird.


Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?



Anywhere and everywhere. Lost in Thought started with a handsome kid who was a cashier in my liquor store and grew from there. Dropping down rabbit holes on the internet to see where they go. Dreams. Life.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?



Complete books, two. Actively in-process books, three. Additional book ideas with a few hundred to thousand words, five or six. Maybe more. None of them is a favorite—they’re my kids, and I love them all for different reasons :) My second book is a YA SciFi featuring a male protagonist, which was so much fun to write, and I expect to release it later this summer or early fall.

Are you currently working on another book? If so, is it part of a series or something different?



Oops. See above. I’m currently working on three, maybe four books. The sequel to Lost in Thought is nearly complete, and Book 3 is also underway. The third is a completely separate YA Contemporary that’s about a quarter complete. And I’m pretending not to write a fourth book, but it won’t leave me alone.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?



Read. That is and always has been my hobby. Books inhabit me. If I want to write, I don’t get a lot of free time, but I make time for books.  Other than that, you can find me at the race track with my husband, cheering on our drivers (www.facebook.com/bertrandmotorsports).


What does your family think of your writing?
 

They are supremely supportive, for which I’m so grateful and also incredibly lucky. Without my husband’s encouragement, I’d never have started at all. It took me a long time after that to share my writing with anyone, family/friends/loved ones being the most difficult to show it to, because at the end of the day, you are deeply affected by their reactions. So far, they’ve been nothing but huge fans and I couldn’t ask for more!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned about yourself in creating your books?



Honestly, the most surprising thing was that I could do it at all. The next most surprising was that maybe I wasn’t half bad at it either. More recently, I’ve been surprised by the sheer number of ideas I collect and the different directions I’ve taken my work.

Do you have any suggestions to help others become a better writer? If so, what are they?



Yes! Everyone writes differently and comes to writing by her or his own path, but there are three things I firmly believe will improve any writer’s work: 1) READ. Widely and often. (And by this I mean BOOKS, just books, not books ABOUT writing.) 2) WRITE. As much as possible. And a very distant 3) LEARN to take criticism and, where appropriate, apply it to your work.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say



I do sometimes! Most frequent comments are about wanting to know what happens next :) Readers tell me how they love Lainey and Carter, and Amy too. Amy’s very popular.

What do you think makes a good story?

Oh, boy. “Good story” is such a complex concept, but for me every good story has: characters I love and a need to know what happens to them.


As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?



A dog breeder. No, really. :) When I outgrew that, a teacher. Now, a writer. I did the second one for a while and am on to the third. Also, I think “growing up” never really ends.

Are you self published or do you have a publisher? If self published, what made you decide to go that route?



Funny you should ask… I’m very excited to announce officially TODAY that the entire Sententia Series, including a reissue in hardcover of Lost in Thought, has been signed by Luminis Books! They are a small, independent publisher founded in 2008 and are an author’s dream in terms of personal support and enthusiasm—they’re as excited about bringing Lainey and Carter’s journey to readers as I am! And while this new venture is the future of the series, the really good news is Lost in Thought will remain available online until the re-release in the spring! I’m so excited to share this news with readers for the first time today. You can follow up on my blog for continued news about release dates, promotions, and all the good stuff.



Do you have a website, fan page, blog or twitter we can pass on to your fans?



Yes! I can be found online at: www.carabertrand.com, @carabertrand, and carabertrand.tumblr.com and LOVE to interact in these places. (I don’t have an author Facebook page, sorry.)


Where can your books be found? Please list Your author page from amazon and links to your books anywhere else they can be purchased. thank you

Purchase links!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B9YEQ4C

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-thought-cara-bertrand

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lost-in-thought/

Author pages:

http://amzn.com/e/B009NK4OLO

http://www.goodreads.com/carabertrand

Setting: It's more than a backdrop to your story

Hunger Moon by Melissa Snark

A Victoria Storm novel
#2 Norse Werewolves Urban Fantasy series
Genre:  Paranormal/urban fantasy 
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today, Melissa, to share your wonderful book and writing advice. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Author BIO

A friend asked me once how I chose my pen name. I told her the following: "Melissa, because when people mix up my first name, it's the most common goof up. Snark, because it amuses me. A) I love the word 'snarky' and B) I love Lewis Carroll."

As an individual, I'm sarcastic, stubborn and blunt to a fault. I have a strange sense of humor and I like to laugh (usually at my husband or children), but also at myself. I'm not particularly extroverted, although I do enjoy time with my family and close friends a great deal.

At the moment, I'm a stay at home mom who writes in my spare time. I've got a B.S. from Arizona State University in Business, and I've worked a variety of different jobs, including as a medical device documentation specialist, a technical writer, and an auto liability adjuster.

I live in the San Francisco East Bay of Northern California with my husband, three kids, and three cats. My hobbies include roleplaying, cooking and reading.

I maintain a blog, which I update regularly at http://melissasnark.blogspot.com/

I enjoy hearing from my readers, so please drop me a line at MelissaSnark@gmail.com.

Where to find Melissa on the Internet:

Website http://www.melissasnark.com/

Blog http://www.melissasnark.blogspot.com/

Email melissasnark@gmail.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MelissaSnark

Twitter https://twitter.com/MelissaSnark

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/MelissaSnark

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0076EEQIU

Now for a little writing advice from the amazing Melissa Snark Setting the Scene by Melissa Snark

Do you recall doing a book report in elementary school? One of the questions was always: "When and where was the story set?"

For years, I wrote in short, succinct answers like: "The Present. New York City, New York."

Honestly, I never gave setting much thought. It was the fast, easy answer on the book report. Many years later when I became a writer, I realized that setting is so much more than a quick answer. So what is setting really?

Setting can be one of the most easily overlooked aspects of storytelling, but with a touch too much enthusiasm, it can also become completely overdone. Setting is more than the backdrop to set your story against. It is the time, the place and the circumstances in which events occur or develop.

When setting is described appropriately, it sets the stage in the reader's mind, creating a complete sensory environment where your drama unfolds and characters come to life. Well executed, it is intense, memorable and remarkable. More aspects of the reader's brain are engaged than just the visual cortex. Your reader will also hear, smell, taste and touch the vivid setting.

He unrolled the double sleeping bag on the bed as she stared at the fire, listening to a brief shower beat off the tin roof. The dry wood smelled almost like perfume and she asked him to bring the foam rubber cushion and sleeping bag to the hearth. He turned the kerosene lamp down low and thought of the morning walk he would take her on to where a small mountain creek made a clear green pool in the rock. They made love slowly and he marled at the way the flickering light of the fire ran moving shadows up and down her body."   ~Revenge by Jim Harrison

In the above excerpt from "Revenge" by Jim Harrison, the reader easily envisions the rustic mountain cabin where the man and his lover embrace one another before a roaring fire. All five of the senses are engaged. The setting becomes more than a mere backdrop for the story. Instead, the romance of lovemaking is found within the details of their surroundings.

However, when setting is overdone, the term "purple prose" springs immediately to the reader's mind. So how does an author create a compelling and absorbing setting without drowning their audience in detail overload?

1. Describe places you've actually visited and are familiar with.

Authenticity adds to the believability of your setting. In storytelling, nothing can substitute for honesty so strive to retain truth in your writing.  If you desire the freedom of altering certain key details in order to better serve your plot, then feel free to do so. Only, be sure to make up a new name for the town or the establishment. If your reader happens to live in the place you're describing and you get it wrong, they will call you on it.

2. Research online when real life experience is unavailable.

When it comes to research, the Internet and libraries are your friend. Many strange, obscure and remote locations have Wikipedia entries. It is not uncommon for towns, cities, states and countries to maintain official websites or promotion brochures. Often, there is a wealth of detail to be had for the taking, including photographs of the geographical area and important buildings. Google Earth can be used to allow the author to take a virtual stroll through a town's main street, frame by frame.

3. Layer in sensory detail.

Pick and choose the information you choose to provide without going overboard. A few key details are more valuable for creating a memorable setting than an information dump.

Rolling her eyes heavenward, Victoria exhaled through her nostrils so her breath formed a cloud of vapor. Born and raised in Arizona, she found the extreme winter temperatures of the high desert to be familiar, but the thin air left her lightheaded. ~The Child Thief by Melissa Snark

A reader once remarked on the authenticity of my description of Albuquerque's dry, thin winter air.  The brief description was drawn from my memories of visiting New Mexico as a teenager, and matched the reader's experience with the climate. Without going into excessive detail, my portrayal brought realism to the scene.

4. Don't overdo it.

Developing a sense of restraint is often the most difficult task facing an author. Sometimes new writers go overboard, describing the setting in painful minutiae down to the exact (myriad) tones of the sunset or the rolling foothills to the tiniest bump. Too much detail becomes excruciating.  Stick to key details instead, and spare your readers sensory overload.

A carefully crafted setting is an asset to any story, adding synergy to each individual scene to create an overall sense of time, place and circumstances. Brevity and relevant details resonate within the reader's mind, creating an immersive experience that engages all five of the senses.

And now for a little about Melissa's Book, Hunger Moon. 
Check it out... Hunger Moon by Melissa Snark
A Victoria Storm novel
#2 Norse Werewolves Urban Fantasy series

ISBN 9781301758692
Amazon ASBN B00CJ1D1BI

Blurb:

Valkyrie Victoria Storm desires nothing more than to provide her wolf pack with a safe haven, but her position as priestess to the Goddess Freya also brings with it certain… obligations. Not to mention complications.

War with the Barrett family resulted in the deaths of her parents and most of her pack. Now, hunters are hot on the trail of the remaining pack members. Sawyer Barrett, a human hunter hell bent on revenge, is convinced that Victoria murdered his brother. He will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Victoria must defend the survivors and somehow lead them to safety.  Months on the run has weakened the pack, and there are newborn pups to protect, making swift travel impossible.  Ahead, the promise of refuge beckons.

Their best chance for survival lies in Sierra Pines, California: Arik Koenig, a powerful, dominant male wolf. He promises to protect and provide for the pack, something Victoria knows the pack needs for survival. His mysterious past is riddled with violence and death, including the slaughter of his entire family twenty years before. His wife died under mysterious circumstances and his son, Logan, is rumored to be her killer.

What is truth? Who can she trust? The desperate spirit of Arik’s murdered wife calls out for help, and Logan begs for assistance in clearing his name. Victoria must solve a murder that has pitted father against son, rooted in a mystery reaching back two decades. Her quest starts her on a journey from the human world to Odin’s Valhalla and back again.

Victoria will find salvation or face destruction beneath the Hunger Moon…

Excerpt 1:

"You killed my brother, bitch."

"Worry about your own life, Sawyer. Daniel is dead."

Victoria held the blade of her dagger even with his jawline, against the strong column of his throat. Cold steel kissed flesh, but she lacked the will to make the final thrust to sever his carotid artery.

"Because of you." His brown eyes blazed with hatred, more intense and consuming than the inferno raging around them.

Every part of the warehouse was on fire, and there was no way to know how much longer the structure would stand. Cinder and smoke swirled everywhere.

Red-hot embers dusted the bare skin of her face and arms faster than her enhanced healing could repair the damage, but she didn't feel the burn. Fury consumed her heart and protected her from the wrath of flames, but the pain of her loss, the weight of her guilt, crippled her.

"Yes, because of me," she said. She blinked back tears. She should kill him. There was no other choice, because the survival of her pack depended upon stopping the hunters who pursued them, the hunters he led. Doubt stilled her hand. The man's life hung in fragile balance between her desire for revenge and uncertainty.

"Do it," Sawyer said with a sneer, as if he sensed her hesitation. She straddled his chest, keeping one of his arms pinned against his side with her knee. His free hand groped for the shotgun on the ground, just out of reach.

"Has your death wish gotten so strong you're committed to joining him?" She sniffed, attempting to scent his fear, but inhaled a lungful of thick smoke that scalded her throat. Tears filled her eyes and a cough racked her chest.

"I'm going to rip you to shreds." Teeth bared, Sawyer's upper body heaved while he attempted to unseat her. The hunter had plenty of fight in him. Her wolf's strength far exceeded that of any human, even a skilled hunter such as a Barrett man.  He gave up obtaining the shotgun and grabbed for her throat with his free hand.

Victoria placed her palm flat on his breastbone and shoved him back.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before, and yet I'm still here. I'm starting to think you're incompetent, Sawyer."

"Give me a knife. I'll show you incompetent!"

"Now, why would I do something stupid like that?" Despite her taunting tone, doubt twisted her gut into knots. Her hand remained rock steady. The dagger never wavered; the fine edge of the blade bit into his flesh and drew a thin line of blood across the side of his throat.

He's Daniel's brother.

He was also the man who had helped murder her parents and most of her packmates.

The pain of the cut caused Sawyer to grunt; his throat worked while he swallowed, a convulsive clench that betrayed his fear, though his features remained set in a stoic mask.

A hand brushed her wrist, confident and intimate, cool to the touch. Victoria glanced up to stare into a face she knew by heart, every plane and angle committed to memory, although he was far more handsome than her imperfect recollection.

She stiffened.

Impossible! It can't be.

She gazed into the man's familiar face, and the entire world beyond his warm brown eyes ceased to exist: the fire, her pack, the man at the business end of her knife—all of it simply stopped.

She blinked, and her surprise faded. Her mind made the logical leap: it was possible.

He's a ghost.

A strangled snarl emerged from Sawyer's throat, but Victoria did not look at him. The hunter shouldn't have been able to see his brother's ghost. He lacked her gift of spirit sight. She kept a steady grip on the hilt, discouraging him from moving lest he slit his own throat on the blade.

"Daniel?" she whispered. The roar of the inferno engulfed her voice.

A faint smile fluttered across his lips but the expression remained deadly serious. His hand locked tightly about her wrist. Daniel leaned forward. His lips feathered a soft kiss upon the shell of her ear. His honeyed voice murmured as sweet as her memories, causing her excruciating pain, soul deep. She missed him so damned much.

"Not my brother, lover. You can't kill Sawyer."

Victoria's fingers relaxed. The knife fell from her hand. "I won't, for you."

Daniel turned his head and looked his brother in the eye. "There's been enough killing."

Sawyer's features contorted in agony and his hand rose, reaching for his brother. "Danny, I—"

Before Sawyer's hand touched his brother's face, Daniel's body lost substance. Energy crackled in the air, and his form shimmered about the edges. His firm grip grew weaker with each passing second until his hand opened, and he released her wrist.

Her eyes filled with tears. "Please, don't go."

Daniel looked at her; a sad smile touched his lips. "I've got to go, baby."

She closed her eyes, and tears slid down her cheeks. The hot air of the burning warehouse sucked moisture from her skin. Her aching heart pounded, full and heavy, ready to burst. She opened her eyes and forced a brave smile. She extended her arm and brushed his fingertips. "I miss you."

His hand closed on her fingers, and he squeezed. A smiled played on his lips.

"I miss you, too," he said. Then he was gone.

Excerpt 2:

Victoria felt him before she saw him. His power washed over her with the force of an incoming tide, as dark, mysterious and unstoppable as the ocean. Her wolf rose to answer his in instinctive response, defiant and determined. She challenged his power and altered the irresistible flow so it passed around rather than over her. Before she reached the office entrance, the male werewolf responded to her presence and surged to his feet. He rounded the desk, demonstrating extraordinary grace and strength, and she braced for a physical confrontation. He dwarfed her in both height and weight.

As soon as their gazes met, they locked in a dominance contest. His narrowed eyes pierced hers; the light-pigmented brown irises were the color of honey and eclipsed the whites and round black pupils. Wolf eyes.

Victoria did not approach with her head low or avert her gaze. Instead, she challenged him outright, radiating defiance, posture stiff and erect. While they faced off, she regretted the tactical error, but it was too late to rescind. Her stubborn pride permitted no retreat, and it went against her nature to submit.

"Let's take this outside where there are no humans to bear witness," he said in a deep, resonant voice she found appealing.

Aroused, her wolf took an immediate interest in him as a fine, fit male animal. For the first time, Victoria noticed his physical appearance, and her wolf found him more than acceptable. She estimated his age as being in his late thirties. He in no way suffered for the smattering of silver hairs that peppered his dark head. He was a perfect specimen of a man.

Distracted, Victoria broke eye contact, but not to submit. She ran her gaze over his body with blatant approval, lingering on his broad shoulders and chest, muscular arms and legs. He wore a tailored navy suit with a light shirt and dark blue tie. From the way his clothing fit, there was not an ounce of spare fat anywhere on him.

His features possessed splendid symmetry, though a silver scar on his right cheek marred his perfection. The shape of his brow, nose, and lower face hinted at a distant Roman heritage. High cheekbones alluded to his Nordic blood. He cleared his throat, and Victoria scented both his arousal and amusement.

"Did you come to challenge me, or do you have something else in mind?"

His devilish smile hinted at a sense of humor, and Victoria seized on the opening. A ballsy gamble carried inherent risk, but her initial inept blundering had left her with no other graceful out. Her eyes rose to meet his once again.

"I am Victoria, daughter of Adair and Katherine, High Priestess of Freya, Lady Valkyrie, shaman, and healer," she said, making her boast. "I am also the Alpha of my pack, and I am seeking a mate. I have come to assess whether you would make an acceptable suitor."

"You're kidding." He registered surprise and disbelief.

Victoria arched her brow. "I am not."

Buy links:
Amazon Kindle    Barnes & Noble     Smashwords     
                      All Romance ebooks 

Book Blitz: Forged By Magic by Angela Orlowski-Peart

Title: Forged By Magic (Forged Series .5)
Author: Angela Orlowski-Peart      
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Expected Release Date: May 31st 2013

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Book Blurb:

Forged by Magic. Origins is a collection of short stories, featuring the characters from the Forged series. This is the first out of two prequels to the series. Each story is told from a different character point-of-view. 

Find out the details about how the Amulet and the Dasht-e Kavir have been created, and how the powers of the Universe opened the gates to other dimensions, letting some terrifying supernatural creatures into the Human World. 

Bio:

Angela Orlowski-Peart was born and raised in Poland. She describes herself as European born, American by choice. She was just seven-years-old when she decided to learn English and translate her favorite Polish fairytales. 

Angela is the author of the Young Adult and New Adult fiction novels, including YA paranormal/urban fantasy series, The Forged. First book in series, Forged by Greed, was published on September 20, 2012. There are two anthologies of short stories, serving as the prequels to the series. First of them, Forged by Magic. Origins is scheduled for publishing on May 31st, 2013. The second anthology (still untitled) will be out at the end of June 2013. Next three full size novels, including Forged by Coalescence, will be released in 2013 and 2014.

Angela writes in multiple genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fiction, sci-fi, and short stories. She loves reading good books almost as much as writing them. She speaks with Polish accent, but loves listening to the Southern drawl. 

She is passionate about watercolor painting, fashion—especially stilettos, rock climbing, environment, and organic food and gardening. She lives in the Seattle area with her family and a chronically curious cat. 

Author Links:

Forged by Greed - Book One in The Forged Series - Amazon US

Amazon UK

Author Page:

Website: http://www.angelapeart.com

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Facebook Author Page

Goodreads Page

Twitter handle @Angela_Peart

Pinterest Page

Book Blitz: Our Souls to Keep by Gary Caruso

Title: Our Souls to Keep
Author: Gary Caruso  
Genre: Dark YA, Romantic Thriller 15+

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Synopsis: 

After seventeen-year-old Wake Reynolds agrees to sacrifice his soul to protect his suicidal mother from the fiery tortures of Hell, Satan strips him of his humanity and forces him to become a demonic collector of souls. With no memory of his human existence, Wake spends years in loyal service—but something within him is changing. His stolen human emotions are beginning to return.

As Wake struggles to keep his new sensations hidden, Satan orders him to corrupt the soul of a pregnant girl, Annemarie. Beautiful, gentle Annemarie. From the moment Wake sees her, she brings lightness to his blackened heart, dampening his loneliness, fueling his passion. If he chooses to defy Satan and spare the lives of Annemarie and her unborn child, his mother’s soul will writhe in Hell’s deepest pit for eternity. Annemarie or his mother? It’s a choice no one should have to make.

Excerpt: 
The crowd thins, eventually leaving Annemarie and me alone in the hallway. She gathers her books and turns, quicker than I expect. I can’t maneuver out of her way. Our collision is mild, but jarring enough to dislodge the books from her hands.

“I’m so sorry,” she says as she kneels to pick up her scattered books.

I should be helping her, but my eyes are fixed on her graceful movements. Her long brown hair has fallen to the side, exposing the back of her softly curved neck, and every reach for a stray book lengthens her back and shoulders, inviting my touch. From the lowest point, just above the waist of her jeans, the tip of my finger would snake upward, navigating the gentle ridge of her spine until my hand laces through the richness of her flowing hair.

She tilts her head upward and grins at me. “Are you okay?”

Her voice snaps me from my fantasy. “Me? Yeah, I’m…fine. Oh, god. I’m so sorry. I should be picking up your books. You’re…you know.” I point feeble-mindedly at her extended stomach.

“Pregnant,” she says as she stands and straightens her blouse. “It’s all right to say it. I already know.”

The tip of her tongue unknowingly caresses her lower lip and the gentle arc of her full upper lip stretches, the smallest amount, as a smile slowly radiates across her flushed cheeks. These emotions, human, raw and…hormonal, forgotten for so long, now my only hope for clear thought is to suppress them. This has to be one of Satan’s sadistic jokes.

I laugh from embarrassment, but it’s the first time, in too long, that the sound of untempered, unrestrained joy bubbles from my heart. How can she have this warming effect on me? I want to say something cute and funny, but my mind is a hornet’s nest of scrambled thoughts.

“You look familiar,” she says. “Do we have a class together?”

I gaze into her hazel eyes. I must appear flustered because she tilts her head and grins. 

“No. I mean, I don’t know. Today is my first day at this school.”

“Great. Welcome to Roosevelt High School. My name is Annemarie.”

“I’m Wake.”

“Wake? That’s an interesting name.”

“Yeah, I know. It sounds like a funeral.”

“I like it. But I have to go. My little guy keeps pushing on my bladder. Lately, I have to use the restroom between every class.” She covers her mouth as if she gave too much information to someone she just met, but her joyful eyes can’t hide the smile hidden behind her hand.

“I can’t believe I just told you that.” She starts to hurry away, but looks over her shoulder. “See you later, Wake.”

I wave like an embarrassed adolescent. What a lousy first impression. I sounded like a bumbling, immature little boy.

I watch as she continues down the hall. I’ve seen other pregnant women before. They were clumsy, out of balance from carrying extra weight in front. But not Annemarie. Her steps are graceful and refined, like she’s gliding on a frozen pond. The gentle curves of her hips have remained slender, and sway hypnotically side-to-side in a rhythm that matches the drumming of my heart.

What am I thinking? Mooning about like a lovesick teenager. I can’t let my physical attraction for Annemarie erode the resolve I’ll need to complete this assignment. Yet, she’s the most beautiful… Does she even know how she makes me feel…how human? I’m stuck in a moment reserved for young love. There’s nothing merciful about denying the uninhibited excitement coursing through every inch of my body, but my plan is already in motion. The fate of my mother’s soul is in my hands. As much as I hate myself for thinking it, Annemarie’s beauty has to be extinguished. I have to collect her. I know Satan is convinced these human emotions will help, but right now, I wish I was a stone-cold demon. It would make it a lot easier to incinerate her goodness from the earth.

Buy Links:
GR link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17608363-our-souls-to-keep

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Our-Souls-to-Keep-ebook/dp/B00CBPPML4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1367683787&sr=1-1

B&N link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/our-souls-to-keep-gary-caruso/1115147101?ean=2940016431963





Author Bio:

Gary Caruso lives in northern Virginia with his wife Jill, but their favorite place is in Ohio with their three beautiful grandchildren. Although Gary is exhilarated when he sits down to write, teaching middle school science is his first love. He’s passionate about empowering students to make thoughtful decisions and positive choices in life. Gary enjoys reading, especially fiction that blurs the line between what’s real and what’s fantasy. He never imagined becoming a writer until an ordinary car ride on a spring day jolted an unlikely thought into his head. Gary’s early experience writing is a reminder that no matter how intimidating the challenge, action and determination are the foundations for fulfilling any dream. Gary has an insatiable love for writing, a blessing he’s excited to share with his readers.


My Interview with Gary:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was driving home from work, stuck in traffic. My mind was wandering because I had an urge to do something different with my spare time. Then it just popped into my head, “Why not write?” It was really a radical thought. I watch football, but it doesn’t mean I can run onto the field and play pro football. I read books, and I considered becoming a professional writer. It was a leap of faith. I had no writing experience—none! But I decided it would an adventure. That was three years ago. It took me a year to write and edit my first novel, Benjamin Drake and the Stones of Oberon. It was a fun story with lively characters, but I was a terrible writer. Thankfully, I enjoy writing more than I ever thought I would, so I was able to stick with it through the ugly times. I pushed that novel aside, burying it deep in some unknown place so no one would ever find it. I worked very hard to improve as quickly as possible so I could share my work without being too embarrassed. Now, I can’t imagine my life without writing.

How long did it take you to write your book?

The process for Our Souls to Keep wasn’t a straight path. I wrote the first couple chapters and sent it to my editor. She warned me that it was too dark, and the YA market wasn’t ready for difficult topics. So I started writing a YA murder mystery called The Dark Side of Truth which is due for release in September, 2013. After a year and 25 revisions, I was ready to let it rest for a while. My friends had been urging me to continue writing Our Souls to Keep. Nine months later it was finished, but had been rolling around in my head for about two years.

What genre is your book? What made you choose to write in that category?

Our Souls to Keep is a romantic paranormal thriller. The first book I wrote was a cross-worlds medieval fantasy. Even though I wasn’t happy with the final product, it felt natural to continue with that path. I just don’t think real growth happens within too much comfort. So I took away the safety net and wrote a genre that I’d read, but feared writing. Actually, my biggest fear was the romantic content, especially between two seventeen year-olds. That age is filled with desire and uncertainty. Because of the risk, my skill as a writer improved substantially.

What was your work schedule like when you were writing?

I teach science full time, so finding time to write takes planning and less sleep than I’d like. After school, I’d come home, do my teacher homework, say hello to my wife, and write for 4-5 hours. On weekends, I write 10 -12 hours a day unless I have other activities planned. The summer is the same 10-12 hour writing schedule. It’s a lot, but I love writing so it doesn’t usually feel like work.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I think any good quirk is one you don’t know you have because it seems perfectly normal. For example, I walk lap after lap around the inside of my house. I talk to myself, groan, even yell at my characters for not cooperating, but there’s nothing quirky about that, is there?

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I have to know the very end of a story before I start writing it. If it isn’t a powerful ending then there doesn’t seem to be a good reason to continue. In the case of Our Souls to Keep, I knew the ending first. Soon after, a clear understanding of Wake and Annemarie followed. Then the challenge was crafting a story around them. It took quite a few laps around my house, but I had a rough plot in a weekend. It changed quite a bit in the writing process, but the ending and the core characters remained true.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Our Souls to Keep is my first published novel, but my second novel, The Dark Side of Truth will release in September. My favorite between the two? Each book has its distinct appeal for me. I don’t think I can choose. Our Souls to Keep is my first. Like a first kiss, it gets placed in its own category. But I am extremely excited to share The Dark Side of Truth with readers!

Are you currently working on another book? If so, is it part of a series or something different?

Like I mentioned earlier, The Dark Side of Truth will release in September. It’s the first book in a YA murder mystery series. But very soon, I’ll start an outline to the sequel to Our Souls to Keep, called Souls on Fire.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

During the day, I teach 8th grade science. I love teaching kids. That takes a lot of my time, but I enjoy developing positive relationships and helping students reach their potential. As much as I love writing and teaching, my favorite time is being with my family. It really doesn’t matter what we do. I’m always happiest when I’m with them.

What does your family think of your writing?

I would have never had a book published without the support of my family and friends. To say they are happy and proud of me is an understatement. Mostly, I’m blessed to have a warm and caring wife. It makes all the difference in the world!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned about yourself in creating your books?

The honest answer is that I’m surprised that I could write a book that people enjoy as much as they do. I remember reading my first review from someone I didn’t know. I was floored by all the positive comments. Since then, the reviews have been fantastic. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.

The other thing that surprised me was how my words struck an emotional chord with many of my readers. I’ve had readers tell me that there were moments when they cried or screamed at their book. I never thought my words would invoke that kind of emotion in others.

Do you have any suggestions to help others become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Know that it’s hard to be a good writer. It requires many, many hours alone at your computer, so make sure you love doing it—a lot. Otherwise, writing will feel like work. Write as much as you can, even when you feel uninspired. You may not always like what ends up on your screen, but sometimes you’ll get ideas you never expected. Just let your mind roam. Learn from your mistakes so that you don’t spend too much time correcting the same ones over and over. You’ll improve at a faster rate. Don’t take shortcuts at the expense of producing the best quality work. That means edit, edit, edit. Be very open to advice, but remember that the person responsible for your work is you. I believe the only way to right well, is to accept that you’ll write poorly when you start. Once you understand that, you’ll allow yourself to get better. Treat yourself and your work with respect or no one else will. Write uncomfortably. I hear people suggest that you should write what you know. Good advice for beginning writers. But I believe growth happens faster, the farther you are out of your comfort zone. That’s why good actors take on a variety of roles. It pushes the edge of their creative potential. The same thing is true for writers. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

It’s really one of my favorite things. I love hearing from readers. Everyone one of them has been excited and positive. They often have questions about the characters, but mostly they ask about the ending and when the sequel will be released.

What do you think makes a good story?

Engaging characters that show growth as the story progresses. A fast-paced plot, with complex and relatable themes. If you don’t shake your head at a character because you don’t understand why they did something so stupid, or illogical, then the book took a short cut. You should want to stop and question their motivations. What are they thinking that they aren’t saying?

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Definitely a pro football player!

Are you self published or do you have a publisher? If self published, what made you decide to go that route?

I decided to self publish through my own publishing company very early in the process. The biggest reasons were time and creativity. The time required to publish through an agent and traditional publisher is about two years. I couldn’t wait that long to share my work. I also didn’t want to be in a situation where a publisher wanted me to alter the book so that it fit into someone else’s creative vision instead of my own.

Do you have a website, fan page, blog or twitter we can pass on to your fans?

Sure, my web page is www.garycarusobooks.com. My Facebook fan page is www.facebook.com/GaryCarusoBooks, and my Goodreads page is www.Goodreads.com/GaryACaruso

Where can your books be found? Please list Your author page from Amazon and links to your books anywhere else they can be purchased. Thank you

It’s available in print and e-book on Amazon and an e-book on Barnes & Noble and iTunes.

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Souls-to-Keep-ebook/dp/B00CBPPML4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/our-souls-to-keep-gary-caruso/1115147101?ean=2940016431963

Book Blitz: Shadow of Hope by Elizabeth Rose and Tina Pollick

Shadow of Hope
By
Elizabeth Rose & Tina Pollick


A secret passed from generation to generation. A line of heirs destined to protect those they once persecuted. One god who seeks to destroy humanity's last Hope...

Zoe is an ordinary woman who talks to her spirit, was raised by her coven, and doesn’t speak to her father. Until one day she finds out that the necklace left to her by her mom, holds humanities last hope

Evan is her reluctant protector, the last of the Templar Knights, who's watched her from the shadows since she was a teenage girl. When an assailant from the past emerges and steals the key to keeping the rest of the world safe, Evan and Zoe must form a tenuous alliance to get it back.

Up against a mysterious enemy older than time, and a really pissed off God of War, Zoe and Evan have the odds stacked against them as they try to reclaim the Hope of all humanity. That's if they can avoid killing each other.


Excerpt:
There wasn’t any way she was going to eat anything he had to offer again.

“I figured you were hungry. You were out for a bit.”

Zoe glared daggers at him. “Good guess. Now you know why I won’t eat your food.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He flopped down on his chair, lifted the footrest and kicked back.

“Are you serious?”

His face remained blank.

“You know what. Thanks for the water and the couch to crash on. Nice meeting you, but I hope we never meet again.” She stood, grabbed her purse and went to the door. She turned the handle, but it didn’t move. Her stomach tightened, but not from nausea this time. Without turning, she asked the question she wasn’t sure she wanted an answer to. “Why is the door locked?”

“Because I locked it.”

“Why would you do that?” She stalked toward him, stopping inches from the chair.

He turned and smiled. “Because you were being chased remember?”

“Ummm, you thought I was crazy yesterday. What’s changed?” She folded her arm and tapped her foot. When he didn’t answer, she kicked the chair. “Answer me!”

“Nothing has changed. I still think you’re crazy. I called someone to come and get you as soon as they arrive, you’re free to go.”

“You don’t know anyone I do.”

“I don’t?” He glanced down at her purse.

“You went into my purse?”

“It’s not like you could talk.” He closed his eyes.

“Because you drugged me!” She kicked the chair again. “I’m talking to you. Don’t close your eyes like I’m not here.”

“If only I were that lucky,” he muttered.

“You have me here against my will…open the door and you’re problems are solved.”

His eyes remained shut. “He’ll be here within the next few hours. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

 She threw the bag at him and he caught it, setting it to the side of the chair. Her stomach let out a rumble in protest. “Where’s the bathroom?”

He opened one eye. “Through that door.” He motioned to the left with his head. “And if you’re thinking about trying to get out…don’t. You’ll never fit through the window, and if you do manage to get part of the way out and get stuck, I’m going to leave you there until your ride comes.” A smile slid across his lips. “On the other hand it’ll be quiet in here, so go ahead and try.”

She stomped out of the room and slammed the bathroom door shut behind her. She glanced around.  A stand up shower stall, a sink and toilet. She looked up and saw the small window near the ceiling. She sucked in her gut and let it out with disgust. There was no way she was going to fit through it. She reached under her shirt and rubbed the mirror that hung from the chain. A nervous habit, but that one piece of jewelry always brought her comfort. She called out to her other source of reassurance.

“Gran? Gran are you here?” she whispered.

A silhouette of a young woman appeared before her, just as it had every day since her grandmother passed away. “Merry meet my darling.”

“Merry meet Gran.” Zoe watched as her grandmother’s spirit floated around the room. “Do you notice anything different?”

Gran’s spirit continued to roam the small space as if she were in a mansion. She turned and faced Zoe. “You remodeled your bathroom…it’s very nice dear.”

Zoe sighed. “I didn’t remodel. A man named Evan is keeping me here.”

“You have a man! That’s great news indeed.”

“He’s not my man.”

“Oh, well that’s too bad.” Her spirit floated up to the window. The morning light streamed through her nearly transparent form.

“I met him last night. Someone was chasing me and Evan grabbed me and pulled me inside.” Zoe paced the small area, still trying to sort out what happened. It was easier now that the fog from her brain had lifted.

Her grandmother’s spirit turned to Zoe, her expression grave. “Someone was chasing you?”

“Yes.” She went on to tell her grandmother what happened and how she became Evan’s guest.

“Where is he now?”

Zoe pointed to the door and her grandmother went through it. She returned a few minutes later.

“Listen to me Zoe. If there is one person in this world you can trust, it’s the man sitting on the other side of that door.”


Shadow of Hope is a fast paced, thrilling paranormal romance novella.

Author Elizabeth Rose grew up in a household where reading was a favorite pastime. Having been encouraged by her parents as a young child to pursue the greats (Dr. Seuss and Amilia Bedilla) she quickly found herself wanting more than to just read stories of Charming Princes in far off lands; she wanted to write them as well.

Having been a follower of Gabriel, Elizabeth found a strong bond of friendship with author Tina Pollick. Having many common interests, Tina and Elizabeth decided to attempt co-writing a novel together. The end process was both enjoyable and enlightening.

Elizabeth currently resides in Wyoming with her two dogs, Bard and Blade. She is graciously allowed to attend the needs of her tomcat Tinker. Shadow of Hope is her first book. Stop by and say hi!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.rose.58323431?fref=ts

When Tina Pollick isn’t writing paranormal romance about Heavenly hunks, and smart, sassy women, this RN enjoys a quiet home life with her husband, children, two horses, two dogs, cat, chickens, guineas, well sort of quiet.

Tina’s first paranormal romance novel, GABRIEL, A Kematian Hunter Series was published in January 2013 by Evernight Publishing. The first in a three novella series, SOUL BROKER, will be published by Moon Rose Publishing in August 2013. Stop by and say hello!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinapollickauthor

www.tinapollick.com

Twitter: @Tinapollick

GABRIEL is available on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and Evernight publishing.

Book Blitz: Broken Prince by Jen Wylie

Interview with Jen Wyler
So Jen, when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I never wanted to be a writer, I just wrote. Eventually my family harassed me into trying to get my first book published…after spending too long looking for an agent, I found a small publisher and things took off from there. I love writing, having others to be able to read my stories is amazing J

How long did it take you to write your book?
Broken Prince took me about five months, but I didn’t work on it constantly as I had a number of other projects on the go too.

What genre is your book? What made you choose to write in that category?
Picking a genre is so hard. Broken Prince is fantasy, with adventure, and some romance. It’s a bit epic and a bit dark…hmm Let’s stick with fantasy.

What was your work schedule like when you were writing?
I go in spurts. I’ll get a lot done and then make almost no progress. Rinse and repeat. Having kids, most of my writing gets done when they are at school or after they go to bed.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to chew gum, or eat candy, and need to be undisturbed.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I get a lot of ideas from music (but I can’t listen to music while I write). Otherwise things come to me while driving, or napping, or sleeping or cleaning or… As for more technical things, I do research online about old societies, medieval times etc, psychology, whatever I need.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve finished writing 7 books. 3 are published. Sweet Light was a Fantasy Romance and my first published novel. I have 4 books in that world written and haven’t gotten around to cleaning them up and making them presentable yet. In The Broken Ones series I have Broken Aro and Broken Prince finished. My favorite would be Broken Prince, it was fun to write and to read.
I also have 2 anthologies out, a YA fantasy novella series, and a few short stories/novellas.

Are you currently working on another book? If so, is it part of a series or something different?
I’m currently working on the 3rd book in The Broken Ones. I haven’t picked out a title for it yet, but it will start with ‘Broken” J


What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I enjoy the marketing aspect of writing. I spend a lot of times in edits, but you asked what I enjoy doing. I love to hang out with my kids and sweetheart, and to read whenever I can.

What does your family think of your writing?
All of my family (except my ex) is very supportive of my writing. My kids think it is very cool and love to tell everyone their mom is an author.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned about yourself in creating your books?
I have a very vivid imagination. I don’t even know where I come up with this stuff sometimes.

Do you have any suggestions to help others become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Google is your friend. Research writing, editing, techniques, common errors writer’s make. Your story could be awesome, but if it is full of punctuation and grammatical errors publishers/agents won’t read much of it.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I love to hear from my readers! They have all been super nice. Occasionally they yell at me for making them cry. Quite often it’s ‘when is the next book coming out?”

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I had an ever-changing list which included being a vet, and I don’t remember what else. (I have a very bad memory) In highschool I wanted to be a geneticist. I ended up getting a degree in physical geography, only because I couldn’t pass Calculus to save my life, otherwise I’d have a degree in geology.

Are you self published or do you have a publisher? If self published, what made you decide to go that route?
Sweet Light is published by Echelon Press, along with some of my shorts and my novella series. My anthologies and The Broken Ones series is published by Untold Press.

Do you have a website, fan page, blog or twitter we can pass on to your fans?

My website: www.jenwylie.com

My blog: http://jlwylie.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @jen_wylie

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4499919.Jen_Wylie

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wylie/151266004895266



Where can your books be found? 

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jen-Wylie/e/B004HQ9XD8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Broken Aro and Broken Prince are currently in Amazon Select.

Everything else I’ve written can be found in most major online stores.

Shelter from the Winter Series by D W Adler (reviews included)

Book Blurb: 
Brijit McRaith has been on the run for centuries. Pursued by her mad creator for most of her years as a vampire, she has finally found peace and sanctuary in her native Ireland. But a modern world on the brink of war has caught up with her and after decades of quiet, Brijit finds herself on the run again. To add to her personal chaos, she becomes smitten with mortal Kelly O'Donnell, and Brijit and her initial plans to lay low fall by the wayside. With an uncertain future ahead of her, can Brijit protect her newfound love from a world on the edge of destroying itself? 



My Review:
The Spring of Seduction grabbed me from the start with a very interesting premise...what if you were the last being on earth? (Of yeah, and you happen to be a 1,000 year old vampire.) Just as I was wondering what Brijit would do to survive, DW Alder pulled me into the past to start the journey that would explain how she found herself in such a predicament.

The Spring of Seduction is part of a trilogy and the ending of this story made me want to read the next. Brijit was not easy to love at first, but by the end of the story I came to understand her and the reasons for those walls she put between herself and others. The characters are exciting, the story action-packed, and the plot well-developed. This is a must read for all vampire erotica lovers.

Buy Links:
http://www.extasybooks.com/spring-of-seduction
http://viewbook.at/B00BD8P2ME 






Book Blurb:
Brijit and Kelly are comfortable in their new lives as a couple even as the world becomes more unsettled. When a spectre from the past comes back to haunt the vampire, her life is turned upside down with the realization that the future will be anything but peaceful. Faced with the imminent destruction of the world, Brijit lays out a plan for what she needs to do in order to safeguard herself and the love of her life. 




My Review:
This is the second book in the Shelter from the Winter series and it doesn't disappoint. In this story Brijit and her human mate, Kelly, are preparing for the end of the world. As if that wasn't keeping them busy enough, Eochaid, Brijit's maker, shows up to complicate things.

The story is intriguing, and the love scenes are steamy. This author certainly knows seduction, passion, and how to fulfill desires. This books will leave you feeling satisfied in many ways. Alder's descriptions are vivid and draw you into the story. My only complaint was that I wanted more when I reached the end. Luckily, book three has been released, so I got exactly what I wanted from this author--more.

Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/B00BR49F9K
http://www.extasybooks.com/autumn-of-desire/


Book Blurb:
The third book of the Shelter from the Winter series brings the story full circle. The bombs have dropped, turning the Earth into a wasteland of black snow and burned forests. Brijit and Kelly huddle in their underground shelter, safe from the nuclear winter that darkens the Earth. Life is easy underground but they must face the reality of a new and hostile world. Radioactive ruins and hostile survivalists are the least of their worries when the land starts to empty of warm bodies for Brijit to feed from. When there are no more humans or animals, where can Brijit turn to feed herself and keep her sanity? 


My Review:
D W Alder is a recent discovery for me, but I love his work. It's titillating and exciting while being full of emotion and rich characters. Winter of Passion is no exception. A well-developed plot drives this story and his amazing descriptions of the post-apocalyptic world draw the reader into the story. 


As the last book in the trilogy, this book brings the story to a satisfying conclusion and Mr. Adler does a great job of wrapping up the storylines for the characters we've come to love.
I heard a rumor that there may be a prequel coming. Oh, please, let that be more fact than fiction! I want more!!

Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/B00CH67SBE
http://www.extasybooks.com/winter-of-passion-2/

Author Bio:
DW Adler ("Call me Don") was born and raised in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada. After receiving a degree in psychology and an almost-minor in Irish Studies, he learned how to fix computers. He now sweats profusely in Florida where he does IT support for a living when he's not writing.

Don counts such authors as Anne Rice, JRR Tolkien, and Edgar Allan Poe, as well as a love for Irish/Celtic myth and folklore as his influences. He loves to read sci-fi, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and anything having to do with vampires.

Other than sipping tea and writing, Don dabbles in computer animation and graphic design, goes on long walks with his wife, and enjoys the company of his two children. He is constantly plotting how to get back home to Nova Scotia and flees there whenever the sight of snow becomes a necessity.

Author Links:
http://www.dw-adler.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdlerDW
https://twitter.com/adlerdw
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915616.D_W_Adler