Lauren Dawes's Blog, page 29

4 weeks to go! #DarkDeceit

Review: 'Promised' by Michelle Turner

 Linc knows Wyn is the girl for him.Wyn knows that Linc is the guy for her.
But she is promised to another.
Wyn has to decide whether she can turn her back on her family and their traditions or walk away from her chance at real love.




   Michelle Turner’s second published book Promiseddoesn’t disappoint. I had the opportunity to read and review it, and I jumped at the chance. I reviewed Turner’s debut novel Reviving Bloom back in February this year (see it here), and I have to say her writing style has developed and grown since then. So, here’s what I thought…
Promised is about a girl and a boy and a whole lot of obstacles in between them. It’s a classic plotline, but Turner has managed to make it unique.

At the very beginning, we’re introduced to Linc “The Great Lincoln Tatman”. His popularity at school means he can have any girl he wants. But he doesn’t want any girl. Once he sets his sights on Wyn, he knows he’s found the girl he never wants to let go. Slightly cocky and arrogant, you can’t help but like Linc from the beginning as his fixation on Wyn grows into something more than just lust.

  Wyn is unlike any other young woman I’ve seen gracing the pages of YA. She’s one of the Romani—a gypsy. Due to the strict family traditions, she is a girl who is never alone with a boy who she isn’t related to, and can only date a gypsy boy as long as she has a chaperone—not that that would ever happen. Wyn’s involvement with the gypsy way of life stops there. She does not want to become someone’s wife at 18. She does not want to be stuck at home raising children. Wyn’s dreams are so much bigger than that, but she doesn’t realize they are possible until a fateful meeting with Linc.
Turner takes us on a journey through Wyn and Linc’s sweet beginnings where they send flirty little text messages to each other. From the very start, these two are irrevocably connected to each other. As the story progresses, the biggest obstacle to their blossoming love is revealed: Wyn is on the verge of getting engaged to a boy she’s known since she was a kid, but who she’s never thought of as anything more than a friend. Against her will, the date is set for the marriage and Wyn is left with the heartbreaking task of telling Linc.
As the Big Day grows nearer and the wedding plans are ramped up, Wyn’s resistance to the idea eventually drives a wedge between her and her mother, and Wyn knows that if she walks away from her life with her family to be with Linc, she’ll never be allowed back again. She’d lose contact with her brothers, her mother, her father and the most important person in her life—her best friend. She’d never get to meet her unborn niece and that’s what hurts her the most.
Even though she knows it’s wrong, she finds herself unable to stay away from Linc. She knows it’s wrong to lead him on. He knows she’s promised to another. But they both want to spend what little time they have together.
I loved Linc and Wyn, and together they made an even more adorable couple. The exhilarating flutters of first love are so beautifully described in this book, and their first kiss had me thinking about my own. Turner has done a great job of building Linc and Wyn’s world, of building their love. I really enjoyed reading Promised. It was a love story that had me hooked from the beginning.  I’d highly recommend Michelle Turner’s Promisedif you like love stories where seemingly impossible obstacles are overcome, that have you rooting for the couple, sharing their smiles and their tears, yelling at the pages when they don’t and cheering them on when they finallymake the right decision.
Favourite scene: Wyn and Linc dancing to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love.
Favourite line: “You do realize I look like a stripper’s closet threw up on me, right?” ~ Wyn

 About Michelle:
Michelle is a 28 year old native Ohioan. Go Buckeyes! Who now lives with her husband and son in West Virginia. When she isn't spending time with her family you can find her with her nose stuck in a good book. She released her first book (Reviving Bloom) as an independent author in October 2012 and plans to release two new books (Promised & Enlightening Bloom) in 2013. 
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A Cautionary Tale: Indie Authors Beware

I had a blogger approach me back in February to review my books. Being an indie author, I jumped at the chance to have my books reviewed. Believing in honesty and just plain common decency in people, I offered the blogger copies of the books for her to review. Her preferred method of reading was (of course) paperbacks, but she could read them on kindle if needed. 
I’m not sure if bloggers realize that giving away paperbacks is an expensive and lengthy process. Perhaps they don’t, but I have to tell you that it is. If someone wanted a signed copy, I have to order it from the States, pay for shipping which gets more expensive the faster you want it, receive it, sign it then pay for yet more packaging and postage to send it back to the States for someone’s reading pleasure.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love being able to make a fans day by providing them with a signed copy of one of my books, but I will not be sending a paperback to a blogger to do a review. The investment does not always pay off.
I emailed the blogger copies of all three books for review (at their request) as soon as she asked to review them. I have no issues with sending mobi. copies of my books to bloggers IF they actually do as they said they would.
After 2 months of waiting, I messaged the blogger again to ask what the ETA of the review would be. I understand that review bloggers are busy with a lot of different things, and was willing to wait a little longer, but she said “Reviews should be ready the first week of May!” I thought, “Great!” and waited the couple of weeks until the beginning of May.
On May 16th, I messaged her again to see what the progress was since it was two weeks after the first week of May. Not that I’m surprised, but I’ve not heard back from this blogger since. Am I expecting reviews now? No, of course not. In fact, I’ll probably get terrible reviews because book review bloggers have that power.
Do I care? No. What I care about is the fact that someone has asked to review my books. I sent them copies of my books in the good faith that they will hold up their end of the bargain and review the books as they said they would.
Indie authors don’t sit around drinking coffee  or swimming around in giant vats of money Uncle-Scrooge-style. They get up and they work damn hard to bring you stories you love to read. Giving away swag and copies of our books costs us money. This blogger just cost me $8.97 which may not sound like a lot, but that was three sales I never got. So I’m out of pocket and thoroughly pissed off that some people can’t keep their word and deliver what was promised.
That’s my rant over. If I can protect one other indie author from being used like this, my job is done. If you want the name of the blogger, email me at authorlaurendawes[at]gmail[dot]com and I’d be happy to name and shame them for you.

An update

Hello fellow Junkies,

It's been too long since I've written a post that wasn't a book review or cover reveal. I have a good excuse though. It has been a very busy time for me, not that I'm complaining that is. I guess the thing that has been consuming me the most has been the upcoming release of Dark Deceit including the cover reveal which happened on May 3rd. I'm so excited to have it out there and being seen by everyone. I've had some really good feedback about it, and a lot of potential new readers telling me they're looking forward to read it when it comes out July 1st.



Dark Deceit is like nothing I've ever written before. It required a lot of research and hours spent looking at images and trying to unravel a lot of the stories out there revolving around Norse mythology. If you haven't already guessed, Dark Deceit revolves around not only the Norse gods, but also the other creatures that belong to their world.

I've always been fascinated by Norse mythology, and if you know anything about it and have read my first series Half Blood, you'll see that I've named my wolf packs after some Norse places and people.

The lead up to its release will be pretty full-on, too. Author Anna Zaires will have me as a guest blogger over at her website where I'll be giving a very rough: Norse Mythology 101 lecture as an information gap before people read Dark Deceit. I also have a blog tour happening. As it stands, I have 8 wonderful bloggers willing to review for me, and hopefully they'll have good things to say, too. If you're a book blogger and keen to join in, click the link above and put in for a date.

Even though I've just finished writing a 90+ thousand word novel, my brain simply wouldn't shut down. On April 23rd, I began writing the 4th book in the Half Blood series which is Alex and Saskia's story. Planning didn't take very long at all with all the characters vying for my attention to tell their individual stories. Nine chapters down, I already have 20,000 words under my belt, roughly working on a 3000 word a day habit.

In other news, I finally got a job! It's full-time, but at the moment that's okay. It does mean a potential slow down in writing the 4th Half Blood book. Never fear though, I shall tuck myself up in my writing caves after dinner and do a couple of solid hours every night or every other night to get it written.

I'm also redoing the Half Blood covers for all three books in order to match them to the 4th book. This means hours looking through stock images that haven't been used to death on other romance novel covers. I refuse to have the same two models on my book covers...you know the ones I'm talking about right??

*cough-these ones-cough*


 Anyways, that's what I've been doing. Busy busy! And now I must get back to it. There's a book to be written and some more covers to be redesigned. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or shoot me an email at authorlaurendawes[at]gmail[dot]com

Cover Reveal: Dark Deceit by Lauren Dawes

  The time of the Aesir gods is over. Now they live among the humans in their bustling modern cities. Their brutal dominion over the gods and humans may have ended, but their actions have not been forgotten.
Korvain is feared like no other. His ruthlessness and cold heart are legendary, but when he is given the task of killing one of the most fabled goddesses of all time, he is left with an undeniable desire to make her his own. Failure in his task means only one thing: death. Will he follow his orders, or will he follow his heart?  
Bryn’s whole world crumbled when she left Odin’s service to protect the other Valkyries. Now living with the humans, she is the only thing standing between them and total destruction. But her beliefs are about to be shaken to the core when she meets Korvain—a completely irresistible Mare who threatens to take away more than just her innocence.

Dark Deceit Excerpt/Teaser: Stepping past one of the only humans she actually liked, Bryn opened up her office door and stopped dead when all the air came rushing out of her lungs. Korvain was sitting on the edge of her desk, his black eyes glittering in the overhead lights. Although he was sitting down, she could tell he was taller than her by more than just a few inches. His skull-trimmed hair was black, matching his eyes and the dark slashes of his eyebrows.He was bigger than any other male she had ever seen. His arms were as big as her thighs, crossed tightly across a stomach so well defined the muscles of his abdominals threw their own shadows from under the material of his shirt.Her eyes took in the breadth of his shoulders, the size of his chest. Bryn swayed suddenly, her hand shooting out to catch the door jamb to keep her balance. Gods, the scent of the male was intoxicating. She had a sudden vision of having his body on hers, pressing into her. She gasped to hide the groan that wanted to push its way free from her throat.She watched as his eyes seemed to grow darker, his luscious mouth parting in the most seductive way. Bryn shook her head and cleared her throat. ‘Korvain?’After a long, hot, lingering look, he nodded.Her eyes slid shut as another flash of them touching intimately assaulted her. Letting out a breath, she pinned him with a look that usually sent most men into hiding. ‘Mind getting your ass off my desk?’ she snapped, stalking past him to sit in her huge leather chair.
 Check out the book trailer!
With the release date set for July 1st, be sure to enter the giveaway below to get yourself in the running for some awesome Dark Deceit swag!
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About Lauren:
Lauren Dawes is an urban fantasy/paranormal romance writer and the author of the Half Blood Trilogy. You won’t find any friendly vampires in between the pages of her books; just blood, teeth and violence. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or teaching. She currently lives in Victoria, Australia with her husband and cat.FacebookTwitter BlogWebsite

Blog Tour for Dark Deceit

Review: Prescription for Love by Brandi Kennedy

 I’ve been watching author Brandi Kennedy’s writing career very carefully since she wrote To Love a Selkie. Her second book Fat Chancecemented her firmly in place as my favourite contemporary romance writer. And now she has done it again. Prescription for Love is the second book in her Kingsley Series. The Kingsley’s are a large family with Eva and Adam heading the family. They have five children ranging in age from 30-19. The eldest of these children is Cameron Kingsley, and Prescription for Love is her story. 
We’re introduced to the beautiful yet cynical Cameron—a thirty-year-old wedding planner who doesn’t believe in love. Hard to believe, right? Cameron is still suffering with the trauma she endured when she was in college. Mentally and physically scarred from the ordeal, she finds it hard to trust people—especially men. 
Asked to plan her little brother Drew’s wedding to Cassaundra, Cameron is more than happy to help until Cass asks her to invite one final person, insisting she hand deliver the invitation herself. Unable to say no to the request, Cameron finds herself facing perhaps the only man who can break through her hard, guarded exterior. 
Mackenzie Caswell is a widower with one young son to raise on his own. Not a stranger to the dating scene, he is overly cautious about mentioning his son or his dead wife to his dates as they tend to pick up and run at the mention of either. But Cameron is different. Somehow on their first date, she makes him open up about both of those topics, even challenging him to call her the next day to see if she was still interested in him. I loved the flirtatious banter and easy conversation between these two characters. It seems so natural for both of them, but their journey is not always a happy one.
We follow Cameron and Mac through their relationship where Mac finds out about Cameron’s dark past, and helps her find closure. We see Cameron opening up and learning to trust again, learning to love. Prescription for Love is a story about getting hurt, but still having the guts to keep going. It’s about betrayal and grief, love and trust. It’s about finding out who you really are and what you really want and going for it even if it terrifies you.
I look forward to reading future books from Brandi Kennedy.
About the author: Brandi Kennedy is a freelance writer, novelist and poet. A woman of varied interests, she loves photography, music of all kinds, knitting, crochet, and of course, mothering her two young daughters. Currently, she finds her home in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, among the mountains and the members of her extended family.
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Review: Close Obsession by Anna Zaires

Close Obsession is the second book in the Krinar Chronicles by Anna Zaires. The story picks up where the first one left off: Mia has been taken to the major K centre, Lenkarda, in Costa Rica by her two-thousand-year-old alien lover, Korum. (Take that for an age difference Edward and Bella!) Apprehensive about being away from New York, Mia begins to wonder whether Korum will ever take her back to NYU and her former quiet life as a psychology student.
As with the first book, I loved the use of alien technology and the idea of vegetarianism as a normal way of life. Zaires also gives us a peek into the incredibly long history of the Krinar in regards to their origins, building on the unbelievably detailed accounts of how humans came into being in the first volume, Close Liaisons. I love how tangled our history was with theirs especially in regards to the Romans and gladiatorial events. 
I loved Korum in Close Liaisons, and learning more about him Close Obsession made me love him even more. There’s something so sexy about a dominating male that I can’t resist, and although his methods and reasons may seem ruthless and unnecessary, he was really wrestling with his own demons, making him a ‘real’ person to me. I think people who are so arrogant and dominating find it hard to accept perceived ‘weaknesses’ in their personalities, so I liked seeing him struggle with his own feelings for Mia.
Their relationship, one-sided in the first book, has developed into something more than just sex for Korum. He’s left reeling as he realises the strength of his feelings for Mia. Although she cannot understand it, he does everything in his power to make her see just how beautiful and perfect she is to him. He goes out of his way to make a good impression with her parents and sister, he cares for her tenderly, feeds her, clothes her. Although sometimes misguided, it’s ultimately his love for her driving his world. 
For Mia, real emotions developed in the first book, leaving her feeling conflicted for she both hated him and loved him at the same time. Korum has become even more possessive of Mia, and although she struggles with his feeling of entitlement, she eventually accepts it for the way it is: The Krinar are simply possessive, protective and predatory. When they consider something is theirs, they make damn sure everyone else knows about it. 
Just quietly, I’d let Korum possess me any day. ;)
A lot of other reviews have talked about everything I have above, but have forgotten one element of the book that needs to be recognised: the intriguing sections at the end of some chapters by a mysterious K whose identity doesn’t get revealed—even at the end when you think you’ve figured it all out. All the way through, I thought about who it could possibly be. I think I have it figured, but now just have to wait until the next book to see if I’m right.
A wonderfully creative imagination coming together with a vivid writing style creates a believable world I loved reading about. I can’t wait to get another fix of Mia and Korum’s story when I read the third installment: Close Remembrance.
About the author: Anna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in New York City, Anna is happily married to the man of her dreams and closely collaborates with him in the writing of the Krinar Chronicles.


You can learn more about the Krinar Chronicles and get news on upcoming releases at:

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Kingsley Kraze!

Welcome to the Prescription For Love Kingsley Kraze!



*****There's a new Brandi Kennedy book coming! Prescription For Love is an adult contemporary romance and is the second book in the Kingsley Series, featuring the story of Cameron Kingsley!

***** About the Book:  Cameron is the Kingsley's oldest child and first girl. Her
romantic nature led her to a career as a wedding planner, but her troubled past
keeps her cynical, fearful and alone. Mackenzie Caswell is a widower with a young son to raise on
his own. Mac is still healing from the loss of his wife, but his marriage was a
happy one, which gives him a solid belief in the possibility and the power of
love. If only he can convince Cameron to see things his way.

*****But you know what? Sometimes a book blurb just isn't enough. Sometimes, you just need to know more. Sometimes, you want more of a feel for the story. Sometimes, you want a glimpse at the hottie. In which, case, you'll want to check out the Prescription For Love book trailer!


*****And for those of you die-hard Fat Chance fans that are hoping with all your hearts for a little more of the Cass & Drew love story, you might like to know that Prescription For Love delivers, beginning with this ...


*****Set your calendars, Kingsley readers,Prescription For Love is coming to Amazon Kindle April 20, 2013!
Want to be the first to win brand new Prescription For Love swag?Enter below.a Rafflecopter giveaway


About Brandi:

Brandi Kennedy is a romance novelist whose work centers on the contemporary set, sometimes with a playful twist of this or that as she toys with bits and pieces of other genres. She is the author of To Love A Selkie, which is a tragic romance with a twist of the fantasy element. She is also the author of the Kingsley Series, which is entirely contemporary and focuses on the romantic happenings of the fictional Kingsley family.
A woman of varied interests, Brandi loves photography, music of all kinds, knitting, crochet, and of course, mothering her two young daughters. Currently, she finds her home in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, among the mountains and the members of her extended family.


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Review: Fat Chance by Brandi Kennedy

Meet Cassaundra Keaton, an adult orphan raised in the foster system. She's overweight and struggling to survive in a world that makes her feel like she can never fit in. Follow her journey as she learns to trust and love herself, and watch her grow as she finds love. But will an issue from her past rise up to ruin her new life?

I fell in love with Cass as soon as I read the first few lines of Fat Chance. Depicted on the pages was a young woman with a beautiful soul and rock bottom self-esteem. A little overweight, our first real insight into how her mind worked was with a trip to buy new clothes. I must admit I found myself laughing along with her running commentary on how her body looked as she tried on different pairs of pants and dresses. 
As the book unfolds, we’re introduced to the woman Cass has come to think of as her mother and her twin girls who had taken Cass under their wing as a sister. The relationship existing between these women is extraordinary and perhaps the only reason Cass hasn’t gone through with some of the dark thoughts she’s been having.
Of course the reason for a lot of that self-loathing comes from Rick—another foster kid emotionally damaged from going through the foster system like Cass has. The difference is, Rick let the knocks and rejections eat away into his soul so he nothing but a bitter and twisted character which I took an instant dislike to. 
Rick’s constant snide remarks finally push Cass to the limit. In an attempt to get her life back on track, she decides to see a psychiatrist to help push through all the issues she’s been having ever since she was a child. Things are going well—she’s learning to trust in herself a little more, and to use positive affirmations to improve her daily life.
But it was a chance meeting that really gave Cass a wake up call. Frustrated by a flat tire, she is rescued by Drew Kingsley who not only helps her out with her car, but also asks her out on a date. Cass baulks at the idea that a man might be interested in her, thinking back to her past experiences. But the old Cass is gone and the new Cass doesn’t listen to the little voices in the back of her head whispering things like she’s not worthy.
This is the turning point for Cass. With the help of Drew, she is finally able to shake off the demons of her past, grabbing control of her life with both hands and making the life she deserved to live come true. 
There were times in this book where I wanted to hold Cass’s hand. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her for not seeing what was in front of her. The moment I loved though was when Cass finally took a chance and let someone in. 
A story of empowerment.A story about a realwoman.A story about taking chances.A story about love in all its forms.
About the author: 
Brandi Kennedy is a romance novelist whose work centers on the contemporary set, sometimes with a playful twist of this or that as she toys with bits and pieces of other genres. She is the author of To Love A Selkie, which is a tragic romance with a twist of the fantasy element. She is also the author of the Kingsley Series, which is entirely contemporary and focuses on the romantic happenings of the fictional Kingsley family.
A woman of varied interests, Brandi loves photography, music of all kinds, knitting, crochet, and of course, mothering her two young daughters. Currently, she finds her home in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, among the mountains and the members of her extended family.


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