Tanya Contois's Blog, page 19

Interview with Jennifer B. Fields, author

My website: http://jenniferbfields.weebly.com/


My Publisher: http://bradleypublishings.com/Jennifer_B.php


1. If someone looked at your browsing history right now, what kind of things would we find?   Hmm, probably a lot of marketing and research sites as well as Facebook and Goodreads. I fancy myself a workaholic, but you’d probably find some game sites on there as well. *snicker* I’m hopelessly hooked on Zuma!
2. If you could write about any subject that is near and dear to your heart, what would it be and why?  I wish I knew more about travel and archeology. I’ve always wanted to be an archeologist. I think the history of humankind is fascinating. Finding broken pottery in the sand would be as exciting to me as finding a pirate’s buried booty. Travel goes hand in hand with archeology. I’d get to see all kinds of interesting places rich in history. Besides, the world needs a female Indiana Jones, don’t you think?
3. Do you have a favorite song, album, or playlist to write to?  I’m a jazz fiend! No matter what I’m writing, jazz fits the bill. But for an adventurous scene, I like to switch over to Trans-Siberian Orchestra. For magical themes, I listen to Owl City. The song “Fireflies” rejuvenates my childhood sense of wonder.
4. What was the first thing you did after the debut of the first book you wrote?  Tee-hee. We celebrated at Red Lobster. Cliché, I know. But my husband and I just love our seafood. We splurged shamefully, and made a point to tell everyone we came in contact with about my book. Aside from a few raised eyebrows, those strangers were genuinely excited for me.


Optional questions :)


Favorite Meal:  That would have to be pasta and alfredo sauce. If you throw shrimp or scallops in there, I’ll never leave.
Favorite Drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic)  I don’t drink alcohol, but I’m a coffee junkie. I don’t care what kind, just keep it comin’!
Sweet or Salty snacks?  I don’t care for sweets that often. I’d have to say salty potato chips.
All time favorite movie  You mean I have to pick just one?? Okay, how about genre specific? Romance: “Somewhere in Time.” I named my daughter after the main character. Action: “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Comedy: “Robin Hood-Men in Tights.” I don’t care for scary movies. They give me nightmares.
Best book to movie adaption  “Forest Gump.” But “Eat, Pray, Love” was pretty awesome too.
Worst book to movie adaption  I hate to say it, but “The Hunger Games” really let me down. I think I just loved the books too much, my standards for the movie were impossibly high.

Review of Secrets by Dawn Kirby

Secrets by Dawn Kirby starts at a good pace which quickly picks up. While I found the plot to be enjoyable, I felt that there was too much happening which made it hard for me to keep up. Each character played an equally important role which I liked a lot. The relationship between Leah and Drew was written perfectly and how the two characters interacted with one another felt very real to me. There are several scenes in Secrets that I did not see coming so when they happened I was completely surprised which for me is just one of the things that makes for a great read.

my review of Whimsical whatnots and whodidits (Maddie Maze, #2) by Rue Volley

Ebook: Whimsical whatnots and whodidits (Maddie Maze, #2)
Author: Rue Volley
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was lucky enough to get this from the author for an honest review,
Summary: Join Maddie Maze once again as she navigates this new world of magik and tries to figure which way is up and which way is down. Maddie wakes on the Isle of Ely as she is greeted by magical creatures and a boy named Addison who is more than what he seems. Addison escorts Maddie on the next leg of her incredible adventure that is sure to entertain and delight you. Mysteries unfold and new ones are created as book two dives deeper into the mystical world of Maddie Maze.
The ReviewMaddie’s baaaaaack, Woo Hoo, I loved the first one and this one was so much better, in parts it reminded me of the way Roald Dahl wrote his books, I love Roald Dahl, he is a genius, Rue is definitely following in his footsteps, whether she likes it or not, pure genius, she weaves you in to her magical world, I love all the characters in this book especially Addison, he was a strong character on the Isle of Ely, I was a little upset with the ending, Why Rue? I need more, that was just too much of an ending, we all love cliff hangers, but Please how long before we see book 3, gonna get it for my daughter, she loved the first and she will love this, 6/5  
buy links
http://www.amazon.com/Maddie-Maze-Whimsical-Whodidits-ebook/dp/B0095BXJI0/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1346681673&sr=8-23&keywords=rue+volley

Review of Dr. Duffy's Close Encounter by Maggie Shayne

The woman he found in the woods out back was....not from around here....

"Why in hell can't you try, just a little bit, to get along with the people here? Can you tell me that? Are you deliberately trying to make Rosa hate you?"
She closed her eyes, shook her head. "Men do not understand these things. I will explain for you. That receptionist wants you. She cannot claim you because I am in her way. That is the only reason she dislikes me, Thomas."
"Claim me?"
Janella sighed hard, pushing one hand through her long dark hair. "Oh, I know it does not work that way here. She has to make you want her first. But do you not see, that is what she was trying to do. She does not dare to defy me or challenge me for you, so she resorts to this underhanded manner of trying to lure you to her with gifts of food and face paint and scanty clothing."
Thomas chewed his lower lip for a moment. Then he nodded thoughtfully. "So you figure Rosa thinks that you plan to...uh...claim me for yourself. Is that it?"
She sighed, seemingly relieved that he'd finally caught on. "Yes."
"And do you? Plan to claim me, I mean?"
She tilted her head to one side, looking him up and down. "I might. I have not decided."
"I see." Thomas paced across the kitchen, picked up his cup from the table and carried it to the sink. As he rinsed it he spoke slowly, evenly. "Well, before you make any plans, Janella, I ought to tell you one thing."
"Yes?"
He turned slowly, slung the cup into the sink and faced her. "No one is going to claim me. Not you. Not Rosa. Nobody. Understand?"
She frowned. "Oh, Thomas, do not be foolish. I did not say I wanted you forever. Only for sex."

Dr. Duffy's Close Encounter by Maggie Shayne is a blend of sweet romance and a little science fiction. Although I usually am not a fan of anything science fiction, I found that I enjoyed reading this book far more than I expected to. The pace at which the story was set was perfect and I think any female who reads Dr. Duffy's Close Encounter will really identify with the character of Janella because she wanted what we all want - love. The other thing I really liked about this book was how the character of Thomas Duffy who was so closed off to any emotions, finally let the walls he built to keep others out crumble.

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Duffys-Close-Encounter-ebook/dp/B007NOLF8M/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&al_rs=&keywords=Dr.%20Duffy%27s%20Close%20Encounter&qid=1346597378&sr=8-1#al_rp

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dr-duffys-close-encounter-maggie-shayne/1109679136?ean=2940014264921

Review of Seduced by Blood by Laurie London

Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two vampire coalitions:  Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors…Hot-blooded and hard-edged, Tristan Santiago has an uncanny ability to see beneath the surface—a skill that serves him well as the Guardians' region commander. But when a deadly plot against his fellow vampires is uncovered, he must turn to the one woman he can't read: the beautiful yet mysterious Roxanne Reynolds, whose sensual presence soothes his tormented memories. Roxy had put love before duty once before, with devastating results. But to root out a dangerous traitor in their midst, she must put her faith in Santiago, the one man skilled enough to break through her defenses. Posing as lovers, Santiago and Roxy work side by side—and discover a powerful craving that threatens to consume them both….Show More Show Less

Seduced by Blood by Laurie London is the first book I have read by her and it certainly will not be the last. Although this book is a part of a series, it can also be read as a stand alone novel. I loved the character Roxanne because of the calming effect she had on Santiago, they balanced each other out nicely. The pace of Seduced by Blood was just how I like books to be - not too fast but not slow either. All of the characters from Laurie London's Sweetblood series had a role in this book which was helpful to me and it helped me get to know each character - some more than others. Laurie London has earned herself another fan.


http://www.amazon.com/Seduced-Blood-Hqn-Laurie-London/dp/0373776691/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346584464&sr=8-1&keywords=seduced+by+blood+by+laurie+london

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduced-by-blood-laurie-london/1108266744

my review of The Chosen One by Gladys Quintal

Ebook: The Chosen One (The Dream Series)
Author: Gladys Quintal
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this by the author for an honest review
Summary: Trying to exist undetected in a human world, with a human family is hard enough when you are a Vampire - but finding out your son is also the fabled Chosen One, makes things even more difficult. Will Alexi's love be enough to protect his precious child from the powers that be and prevent fate from dealing him yet another cruel blow? Or is he condemned to live out eternity alone......
The ReviewWell this is the best one of the 3 in the series, this series can only get better, there has to be another one, we need to know, Would love to know what Satan thought about what happens with Elizabeth as he had such an input in her life, I  was hooked by the action in this one, there was so much going on, I am glad that Alexi and Cassie’s friends stood by them and that Chloe is now a member of their family, she deserves to be, she is the star of this book for me, she certainly came out of her shell, I could not put this one down, I was hooked with the first in the series, they have just gotten better as I have gone through them, it is extremely well written, you won’t want to put it down, I couldn’t.  I loved that AJ was The Chosen One, at least the focus was off Alexi for a short while, I don’t want to say too much, but I am so happy with the beginning of this book after the cliffhanger with book 2, That had me crying, such a great ending to this one, I love how they all came together, I would highly recommend this book to all my friends, 5.5/5
All of Gladys's books can be found here on Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=gladys+quintal

My review of Be Careful what you wish for by Gladys Quintal

Ebook: Be Careful What You Wish For (The Dream Series)
Author:Gladys Quintal
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
Summary: Alexi is a Vampire trying to live a human existence; he even has a human wife. The Vampire secret is paramount and cohabiting with humans - unless you intend on turning them, just isn't done. Can Alexi protect his beloved Cassandra from the would-be enforcers of this law or will he lose her forever?
The ReviewThis is the second in the Dream Series, I loved that Alexi was her dream man, I really enjoyed this one, the fact that Alexi was getting rid of all the rapists and child molesters in the city was a good thing, I am so glad that Cassie got her dream wish to stay with her dream man and little AJ too, It was nice that Alexi could then walk around with humans as himself, not as the monster that takes him over with the bloodlust that he has, I am loving this series so far, Sebastian makes an appearance again in this book, he is a nasty piece of work, but really only created because of Elizabeth, he thinks he is protecting the vampire nation, I adored that Alexi finally could spend time with his mum, after just watching and protecting her for the last 20 years, I cried, I will admit it, the ending had me crying, you had better get some tissues at the ready when you get to the end, Can’t wait for book 3 I am off to read it now, 5/5

my review of The Man of my Dreams by Gladys Quintal

Ebook: The Man of my Dreams (The Dream series)
Author: Gladys Quintal
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this for an honest review by the author
Summary: Ever since the death of her parents at the age of 17, Cassie has been dreaming about a dark haired man. He always comes to her in times of trouble to comfort her and help her through the toughest of days. But now after the devastating break up with her boyfriend, Cassie struggles with separating reality from her dreams. During a trip to her family beach house, her dream man becomes her lover and Cassie finds herself longing for this man to be in her life. But trying to find out the truth about him leaves her questioning her very existence and sanity. She is convinced her dream man is real and connected to a string of macabre murders over the last 20 years. Fearing for her life, Cassie prays she is right about him and that he can save her before it is too late. Note from author: WARNING : This book mentions an episode of sexual abuse. There are 2 attempted rape scenes as well as a depraved serial killer.
The ReviewWell this was Dark but Oh so awesome, OK straight off, there are some disturbing scenes, so not suitable for those that don’t like that in a story, I thought it added a lot to the story and without it, you would never understand the background and Why they behaved like they did in the book, Right so onto the review, I loved Cassie’s dream man, he sounds like the man of my dreams, I have loved Vampire Stories for a while now, but her dream man differs from most, as he does give in to his bloodlust, but in a very different way, won’t say anymore, try not to give too much of a spoiler in my reviews.  I felt the author did an excellent job with the storyline, it was very well written, I am really looking forward to the next in the series, I want to see if Alexi the Dr is the man in Cassie’s dreams, I would recommend this book to anyone after a really good vampire book, 5/5

my review of Kallos by Khelsey Jackson

Ebook: Kallos (Kallos Series #1)
Author: Khelsey Jackson
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this book from the author for an honest review
Summary: Kallos is a shy sixteen year old girl unready to face the world, but when she meets Ian and Sean Hunter the world will open up for her. Secrets revealed are to much to bear and her past life as a goddess, unimaginable. A visit from the goddess Aphrodite, Kallos is told her soul mate must be found or her life will be forfeit. Kallos desperate to find her one true match has discovered she may have two possibilities. Kallos has a choice to make and her decisions may have life ending consequences.
The ReviewOMG, I couldn’t put this book down, I really loved the short novella and was really looking forward to this one so much, it did not fail to impress me, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea as there are God’s and Goddess’s in it, but I love me some Greek God’s, yum yum, anyway back to the review, I got so engrossed in this one, from start to finish and whoa, what an ending, does this mean she found her true soul mate, or is there more, Please say there is more, I want to keep reading this series, Come on Khelsey, she has 3 years until graduation, there has to be more , Please, Don’t let her give up on him, I loved the storyline, re-incarnation, you can’t go wrong with it in my mind, I loved that Dalia was mentioned, it made me reminisce to the short novella, which made me get all choked up, which then made me feel Sorry for the boys again, until Ian started going off the rails abit, I thought she ended up with some great powers, which really came in handy, I adore a good love story and this is a great triangle, Thankyou, I will 100% be recommending this to everyone I know, I may even give it to my daughter to read as I would say this could be a YA novel, she will love it, 5.5/5 

my review of Acidalia, The beginning of Kallos by Khelsey Jackson

Ebook: Acidalia The Beginning of Kallos
Author: Khelsey Jackson
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this novella for an honest review from the author
Summary: When Acidalia knows her end is near, she is forced to say goodbye to her life as well as Sean and Ian Hunter. Her final wish is they be there for one another after she is gone..
The ReviewI was so moved by this short novella, I balled for ages afterwards, I Love a story to have a happy ending normally but I am so in awe of how Khelsey has written this novella, that it is one of my favourites for this year, it may be short but it sure did pack a lot in, I am really looking forward to reading Kallos, it is next on my list, I bumped it up as I need to read how the boys get on after such a traumatic loss and whether they find their true soul mate, I love how Khelsey has written the characters in this novella, she made me feel really sorry for them, yet have hope in my heart that everything would turn out OK, I will be recommending this one to all my friends, 5/5