Victoria Danann's Blog, page 17

Six Days to Release!!

Only six days to release of Black Swan Collected Tales 1-6, INCLUDING A Tale of Two Kingdoms!

 

RSVP TO ATTEND THE RELEASE PARTY ON FACEBOOK ON THE 9TH.

 

Yule Gift the ENTIRE Saga for less than a dollar…

Yule Gift the ENTIRE Saga for less than a dollar….

Yule Gift the ENTIRE Saga for less than a dollar…

 

This Yule, share the adventure with everybody you know. Gift the entire saga for less than a dollar.

Six books – $.99 – for Six days.

Dec. 9th- 14th.

RSVP for the Release Party on Facebook. December 9th.

Be sure you’re on the mail list. Subscribers will have an opportunity to get a FREE paperback of A Tale of Two Kingdoms when it releases as a single title January 6th.

Boy in a Band REVIEW

Boy in a Band: A Morgan Mallory Story by Lisa Loomis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WARNING! IF YOU HAVE A HEART, YOU’RE NOT GETTING OUT UNSCATHED.

I was looking for a light, entertaining rock romance. I happened to notice the comment of an acquaintance that said, “This book gutted me.” Perhaps a less masochistic person would run the other way, but I had to investigate what might inspire such a forceful statement. I read a few of the reviews and decided that I wanted to know why this book was getting such an emotional reaction. I suppose I proved that I will stick my hand into the fire to find out for myself if it is hot.

The book is beautifully and lovingly written. It also does what books are supposed to do – engage the reader. My initial reaction was to wonder why this novel has received so little attention when many others so much less worthy have made their authors rich and famous. The answer is that first, while most of the book takes place in young and new adulthood, this is a story that must be viewed through a filter of maturity to be appreciated and understood and, second, the book’s raison d’etre is not a feel-good ending.

On the subject of feel-good ending, it has now been a day since I finished the book. I did not sleep well and have just wiped a fresh round of tears from my face. GREAT HEAVENLY DAYS! I’m a somewhat sensitive and somewhat emotional person, but no book in memory has EVER taken me completely apart. Ever. Am I glad I read this? Still not entirely sure. Do I feel alive in a profound, if not ecstatic, way? Oh yeah. Does it deserve five stars? Absolutely.

SPOILER ALERT! THE REST OF THIS REVIEW IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THE BOOK.

So, as a writer and a woman, I have to ask, “Why?” Why the huge emotional response? I came up with two possibilities.

[1.) We don't need to have had a literal Matthew in our lives to form a powerful connection to this story. Perhaps many women of an age, that's code for over forty, have a Peter Pan archetype on the edge of consciousness. He lures us and seduces us and makes us wonder what might have been if we'd either made different choices or refused to grow up. When I finished this book, I went back and read the Prologue again. And cried, and cried, and cried. For Matthew? Not really I don't think. Maybe for that moment in an entire life that defines perfection, that flits by unnoticed at the time, but will for the rest of our lives be the sustained note of joy, frozen in time, by which all other moments are judged and found substandard.

2.) Halfway through the book my intuition started niggling. Is this a true (or mostly true) story? The telling felt too real to be pure fiction. Based on a note in the beginning and the author’s biography, my conclusion is that yes. It is. If I’m right, then pleas for alternate endings are probably painful for the author. I’m sure she wishes more than any of us, that there was a happy ending to write

View all my reviews

Lovely Letters

Friends of Black Swan, Mark and JoBeth Harris, shared the series with a friend. What a nice surprise to have that friend post this comment on Facebook.

As most of you know I am an avid reader…I love my books and that is how I relax.  I read psychological thrillers, mysteries, espionage some horror and some fantasy/scifi…I am a *huge*snob when it comes to ‘romance’ books…hate them…look down my nose at them…etc.  Which is why I’m writing this little note to everyone…. Mark Harris and JoBeth Sexton-Harris recommended a series of books by… Victoria Danann..they are considered ‘paranormal romance’…so being the snob that I am…I figured I wouldn’t like them but I’d give it a try since none of my regular authors had anything new out….

WOW…was I surprised….

while there is romance in them and would not be recommended for under 17…these are some of the best books I’ve read…I started the first one about a week ago…and am starting the 4th in the series now…the characters are well written, there is mystery, twists, turns…I’ve become ‘friends’ with the characters…can ‘see’ the places described in my head….it is a great series…It’s called The Order of the Black Swan series…well worth the time…the characters are wonderful…I love discovering new authors….thanks Mark and Beth!!!!

Thank you, Tina Talkington.

Interview with Stalkson Grey 10/31/13

THIS IS A COPY OF THE INTERVIEW DONE BY REQUEST FOR PARANORMAL CRAVINGS.

 

Victoria: First, thank you for agreeing to the interview. I know this is not your favorite sort of thing. Let me take just a moment to make sure your readers are on the same page, so to speak. Stalkson Grey, is a werewolf who first appeared in The Order of the Black Swan serial saga in Book Two, The Witch’s Dream. His character, as king of the Elk Mountain, Idaho werewolf tribe, was arrogant and more or less insufferable.

 

Grey: Now just a minute!

 

Victoria: He turns up again in Book Four, Moonlight, and gives a rousing performance as my somewhat loosely associated version of Red Riding Hood’s big bad wolf. Now then. Grey, I understand congratulations are in order. The elders named you king of the new northern werewolf colony in Lunark dimension.

 

Grey: (nods)

 

Victoria: Forgive me for being blunt, but I thought you didn’t want to be king, too much responsibility and all that.

 

Grey: I didn’t. I don’t. It just turns out that I hate being told what to do more than I hate having the responsibility for everybody’s welfare.

 

Victoria: I see. So how is it going? I see you’re looking rather casual.

 

Grey: (Glances down at his pants and smiles. He was shirtless and wearing the same soft doeskin pants that Deliverance favors.) Yes. We don’t have many functions that require waistcoats.

 

Victoria: Waistcoats. No. I suppose not. Those pants look a lot like what Deliverance wears. And didn’t I hear that you named the new colony Deliverance?

 

Grey: Yes.

 

Victoria: Yes? Just yes?

 

Grey: The demon hooked me up with the pants. The new colony is named Deliverance.

 

Victoria: Okay. Shall we assume the colony was named for the demon?

 

Grey: Assume whatever you like.

Victoria: Come on. Work with me a little here.

 

Grey: All right. I named it Deliverance partly because the demon brought us here, partly because we were delivered from years of worry and misconception about extinction of our species, partly because of the reality of being delivered from the cancerous, avaricious behavior of the humans, and partly because the migration was my delivery into a new life. Like being born again.

 

Victoria: (It took me a minute to absorb all that.) Wow.

 

Grey: (He rolled one shoulder in a graceful, athletic shrug.)

 

Victoria: So how’s Luna? It can’t be easy to be a new wife and adjust to life on a frontier at the same time.

 

Grey: (He blinded me with a boyish grin that made him look like he was in his early twenties.) Happy. Pregnant. With twins! (He chuckled.) She tells everybody that Lunark Dimension was named after her. She’s well-liked by the other human mates and her skills as healer, well, we needed them. She’s teaching the others.

 

Victoria: (I couldn’t help but smile at that.) That’s nice, Grey. I’m glad it’s working out for both of you. When are the babies due?

 

Grey: Mid-winter. We’ll make it work.

 

Victoria: Do you want girls or boys?

 

Grey: (He grinned again.) Girls.

Hot Halloween Heroes Giveaway Hop

HOP PRIZE: Signed limited edition cover of the upcoming release A Tale of Two Kingdoms. Leave a comment for a chance to win!

BIG NEWS FROM BLACK SWAN…

On December 8th, the Black Swan box set INCLUDING THE NEVER BEFORE RELEASED Book Six, A Tale of Two Kingdoms, will be available for one week only for $0.99. PREORDER at Smashwords, B&N and Apple starting mid-November. Look for it under Black Swan Collected Tales. Be sure you don’t miss out.

 


If you don’t already belong to our mailing list, sign up now and we’ll let you know when it’s available for order  

Click here to VISIT THE NEXT STOP ON THE HOP Sponsored by http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

Yes, Victoria. Real men DO like Black Swan.

Almost missed this write up by this ex-military spouse of a Black Swan fan. It was left as a post on the Facebook fan page and obscured under “posts by others”. I’m so proud of this. Take a look.

By Mark Harris…

I have been a huge science fiction/fantasy/adventure book fan since I was a little boy and I never thought I would say this about a “romance” novel but, I really, really like the Order of the Black Swan series!  I think that what makes these books a better read than any romance novel I’ve ever seen is that they are books of a paranormal nature with romance strategically placed within the storyline.  The reader is not inundated with a person’s fantasy of how love should be; we are simply made privy to the characters world and that world just happens to have love and romance in it. 

What has really drawn me to Victoria Danann’s series is that each character is brought to life in an enrapturing way.  You can’t help but want to read more about each of their lives!  And the masterful storyteller that she is, Victoria doles out each helping of their history in perfect portion.  The first book hooks you, and the rest of them expand your knowledge, understanding, and love of each character.  And because each character is well thought out and fully developed, they support each other in a harmony that can only be described as perfect.

My Familiar Stranger introduces you to the “main characters” of the Black Swan world.  You realize early on that these people will have a bond that transcends time (much like the bond created by military personnel that have served in combat together).  And that bond becomes the center of the storyline.  With all the ups and downs, twists and turns that are a part of any true relationship, these characters take you on a ride that is both fantastic and yet, somehow, familiar (at least to me).  Action, drama, and romance, all seamlessly blended to tell a tale that is so captivating that you can’t help but feel like you are a part of it as it unfolds before you.

Flowing into the second book, The Witch’s Dream, our beloved characters take on a somewhat supporting role as new characters are brought to the limelight.  Just like in the first book, you are at once enthralled by these characters and can’t wait to hear their stories.  And once again, Victoria delivers!  Fantasy becomes reality; the impossible becomes the possible, and all the while, the reader is led through this magical, yet plausible, world with the anticipation of a child waiting to open their Yule presents.

This then leads to A Summoner’s Tale, the third book in the series.  Right from the start you know that this will be yet another adrenaline laced adventure sure to captivate and entertain.  The storyline continues to unfold and in the process we are allowed to explore the history of yet another character, while still being enthralled by the lives of the original characters. 

You cannot have made it this far in the series without, at least once, having said, “That’s what I would have done!”, or “I can so see myself saying that!”

No, I am not a romance novel reader.  But I am a lover of a good story, with wonderful character development, that is able to keep me interested and wanting more.  And, in this respect, Victoria Danann delivers!  Do yourself a favor and pick up the first book…you won’t be disappointed.

As for me, I can’t wait to read the rest of the Order of the Black Swan series!

CABAL of HOTNESS Giveaway Hop

BIG NEWS FROM BLACK SWAN…
On December 8th, the Black Swan box set INCLUDING THE NEVER BEFORE RELEASED  Book Six, A Tale of Two Kingdoms , will be available for one week only for $0.99. PREORDER at Smashwords, B&N and Apple starting mid-November. Look for it under Black Swan Collected Tales. Be sure you don’t miss out.

If you don’t already belong to our mailing list, sign up now and we’ll let you know when it’s available for order 




SITE PRIZE…
Leave a comment to tell me why you’d love to win a print of my Black Swan covers signed by me. – Victoria

HOP PRIZE…

Grandprize: Choice of Amazon or B&N $100 gift card.

Second place:  Choice of Amazon or B&N $50 gift card.

3rd place:  Choice of Amazon or B&N $25 gift card.

CLICK “HOP PRIZE” to go to RAFFLECOPTER for entry.

Thank you for stopping by. Please hop to the next stop.

Review Spotlight by Jenna “Between The Bind”

From Amazon.com

Just a little bit of magic…, May 25, 2013 By Jenna “Between The Bind”

This review is from: Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf (Black Swan 4) (Kindle Edition)

As a huge fan of Victoria Danann’s work, I was so excited to read Moonlight and review it for release day. I’ve come to expect perfectly intricate stories woven for the reader to seamlessly dive into while being carried away into hot romance, unique paranormal moments, high-impact action, great characterization, and more. Moonlight epitomizes what I love about Victoria Danann’s work and is an AMAZING FANTASTIC INCREDIBLE addition to a series that is one of my all-time favorites.

There isn’t much that I can’t say without spoiling this incredible series for you, but I will do my best to only reveal what I must. All of our most favorite characters are back for another meet up of B-Team crazyness, but this time, there are pregnancies, retirees, and some big changes on the horizon.

Glendennon Catch makes a larger appearance in this novel as well as our favorite Fae/Elf couple (whom I was SO excited to catch up with!), and there is a litter of puppies to boot! Also, seeing another facet to Stalkson Grey’s winning alpha personality kept me on my toes page after page.

Victoria writes a novel filled with dynamic relationships, each full of love and romance, but she doesn’t skimp on the hilariously awkward moments that make each seem honest and real. Demon-dads and romps with wolves, drunk vampires and star-crossed lovers collide in this fourth addition to The Order Of The Black Swan series. I cannot WAIT to sink my teeth into book number five and savor the next creation from Ms. Danann. This is one of those put-it-to-the-top-of-your-to-read-list books and a must buy for every paranormal fan.

From this book forth, I am *officially* a Victoria Danann fan-girl… squeals and all! Join me, won’t you?!

Thank you for the review Jenna! We appreciate it! – Sarah