Effrosyni Moschoudi's Blog, page 54

Book review: Accursed Women by Luciana Cavallaro

Being a Greek, I’ve been raised with the enchanting myths of my country, including the ones portrayed in this book. They’ve always fascinated me so when I was presented with the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review, I jumped at the chance, yet didn’t expect any novelties in the content. Little did I know though, what the author had in store: Greek heroes and heroines I thought I knew so well paraded before my eyes as I read the book but for the first time, they had flesh and bones, and they seemed incredibly real as if walking the earth today.

And how can it not be so when the author choses to portray some of these protagonists as living in the modern world? Who would have thought to present Goddess Hera as a guest in a live TV show for example? And as for novelty, how about hearing the real cause behind the Trojan War from the mouth of Helen herself? What if it has all been a lie and she never ran away with Paris?

Cavallaro fleshes out her characters with pumping hearts and weeping eyes as they recount the curses put upon them and their tragic downfalls. The book is a testament from five tragic women: Phaedra, Helen of Troy, Goddess Hera, Pandora, and Medousa.

In a nutshell, Luciana Cavallaro has created a gem, even though she’s used ingredients that have been overly used before and seem as plain as common stones! Don’t fool yourselves like I did that this is your run of the mill book of Greek myths. Far from it, these tales ring true at the heart, as if referring to people living next door. Their stories have been told and retold over the millennia but Cavallaro has managed the impossible: to breathe in these heroines new life and to render their pain and regret utterly believable.

Definitely looking forward to more books from this author.

 

My rating:

A fresh interpretation of ancient Greek myths with unique astuteness and vivid imagination!

 

 

 

 

Do you love Greek myths or drama? Then this book is for you.

Check this little gem now on Amazon!

Shattered Imperfections by Nicole Dunlap

Today, I am presenting another post by Fabulosity Reads. This time, the lovely Wendy brings you an intriguing family saga by Nicole Dunlap.

 

 

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Nobody is perfect. Through the scandalous family lies that bind them all together the Shaw women have survived. Four generations of women have tackled ups and downs: now, Annette is perfectly comfortable with her life. Charlene has tasted the bittersweet notes of success. Raven is preparing for the wedding of a century, and a life rich in love afterward. Beautiful, young Royael has all the pleasures of a princess…

While Dallas is in uproar over a gruesome rape-homicide, a lead Detective transforms into the ultimate stalker. A hitman lurks nearby. And death will surely come. The list of those wanting vengeance has reached its peak, but the Bible says that “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

Take one last roller coaster ride with the Shaw and Devereux families. Will there be rest for these souls?

Character Interview RAVEN

Raven (image provided by author)

What is your name?

Raven Shaw.

What book are you in? Is it part of a series.

I am one of the main characters in The Shaw Family Saga.

Tell us about you:

I am a raven, hence my name. From the time I was a child, I had an ability to show people fragments of myself. Growing up not knowing my parents has taught me to keep unwanted feelings of neglect just beneath the surface. I’ve showed so many different shades of myself to people, I often don’t know who I am. But there is one thing I live for. The man I love. In essence that is the greatest make up of me. All of the things I would go through to keep him in my life. I am strong and courageous. I will murder for love. Though loving hard is my fault, I am a loyalist to family and friends. Once you’ve got me in your corner, don’t worry–I’m down.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Being seen less than perfect to attempt to present myself without faults. That is a difficult feat since my closet is stuffed with skeletons–family or otherwise. In my attempts to be perceived as perfect around the only family I care about, my life, my inner turmoil crumbles beneath me. But I must continue on the quest of modeling perfection, if only to keep from being abandoned, yet again.

If you could tell us one thing about yourself you would love to change, what is it, and why?

I would change my search for my mother, Charlene, as a teen. I found her. It ruined my life.

Who is your best friend?

Jon Dubois, we’ve been friends since we were toddlers. I saved him, really. At the age of three in Sunday School, another girl stole his snack. Him being such a fat child, I knew he’d miss the meal so I slapped her silly and it commenced a lifelong friendship.

If your house was on fire, what would you try to save?:

Been there, done that. My home caught fire in Miss Scandalous. To others I wasn’t in my right mind. But to me, I could only think about my five-year-old daughter’s pictures and drawings. When you grow up poor, you come to realize the greatest possessions come from the heart. Unfortunately, my frenzy to save her items was thwarted.

What is your favorite quote?

Love hard.

If your story was made into a movie which actor/actress would best play you?

Lauren London. She’s almost as pretty and as feisty as I have seen.

Thank you for dropping in Raven, it was very enlightening having you. Now let’s see what you have for us with your other tour stops.

Tour Stop Schedule



Adrienne Thompson Writes
http://adriennethompsonwrites.webs.com/apps/blog/


Musings of a Writer
http://musingsofawriter1.blogspot.com/


Our-Wolves-Den
http://our-wolves-den.com/


LILLY MAC’S BLOG
http://www.lillianmackenzierhine.com


Nana Prah
http://www.nanaprah.blogspot.com


a good book can change your view for life…
http://twinkle-sugandha.blogspot.in/


Effrosyni’s Blog
http://www.effrosinimoss.wordpress.com


Deal Sharing Aunt
http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/


Victorous Reviews and Promotions
http://bit.ly/1npLefG


You Are Victorious
http://uarevictorious.com


lisaday on the web
http://lisaday.weebly.com/


Dormaine G.
http://dormainegblog.blogspot.com/


Nana Prah
http://nanaprah.blogspot.com/


JGR Writer
http://jgrwriter.wordpress.com/


My Cultural Cocktails
http://myculturalcocktails.wordpress.com/


Words Words Words
http://margobondcollins.com/


Kinky Vanilla Romance
http://kinkyvanillaromance.blogspot.com/


V Mirror
http://vmirror.wordpress.com/


Michelle Lewis
http://michelle808205.blogspot.com/


Sue’s Reveals and Promotions
http://suesrevealsandpromotions.blogspot.com/


Author Mark Shearman
http://www.shermdonor.blogspot.com/


PRMK Sales
https://prmktgsales.wordpress.com/


Xhosa Chick On A Budget
http://xhosachickonabudget.blogspot.com/


Books With Steam
http://bookswithsteam.wordpress.com/


Wendy Ewurum Blogs
http://fabulosityreads.blogspot.com/


Blazing Sword Faith Based Promotions
http://blazingswordpromotions.blogspot.com/


Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
http://cheekypeereadsandreviews.blogspot.co.uk/


Kenyan Poet
http://owenhabel.blogspot.com/


2 Friends Pimp Your Books
https://m.facebook.com/2friendsPimpYourbooks


2 Friends Promote Your Books
https://www.facebook.com/groups/301139446688226/

Interview with Teresa Carlson, author of Creatures of Snow

Recently, a dear friend emailed me with a strong recommendation. “You gotta read the book from this new fantasy writer! She’s a natural and writes in deep POV!” she said. Seeing that my friend is a bit of a bookworm and also a reviewer, I couldn’t possibly ignore her enthusiasm about the book she’d stumbled upon. And just like that, I got introduced to Teresa Carlson, American author of the fantasy treat in question, Creatures of Snow. The book is now on my TBR list and I’ll be reviewing it on this blog when I read it. For now, I thought I’d introduce Teresa to you all, seeing that she’s a sweetie and quite a special lady. I think she has an exceptional way of expressing herself even in her speech, which if anything, brims with energy and creativity – but you be the judge! Without further ado, I give you Teresa Carlson and her awesome book!

Beware the place where soul meets sky, where furies lurk and brave men die… 

There is a space that bridges the gap between this reality and the next, this place is the Snow. Legends of the Snow and the lost, twisted, creatures that dwell within it, are a well-known way to keep children in their beds at night. It’s a place Skyden Reagan never thought he had to worry about – not until he is chosen for a program that plans to send him right into its heart for the sake of scientific exploration.

If that were his only problem, he would be a happy kid, but, between shadow assassins, galactic upheaval, ancient prophecies, mind control, girls, and finding out he’s a son of Chaos…he’s got a little more to worry about then just surviving the torment of the Snow.

 

Hello Teresa and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros! Thank you for inviting me.

What has inspired you to write this book?

Inspiration is a funny thing. For me, I guess the inspiration for this book came from watching Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. Not that Creatures of Snow has singing or silly shenanigans, or literally anything in common with that movie, but I’ve always had an abnormal amount of empathy for bad guys since, you know, they have a story too. I thought it was a neat idea to take a look behind the scenes at what goes into making a villain, so I took one of my antagonists from an unfinished story and began writing about him. As the story grew and took on a life of its own I can honestly say that it is not even remotely close the original idea. It turned into a book about self-discovery and realizing what you are made for isn’t necessarily what you were meant to do.

What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

My mom still has a copy of a “Jack and the Beanstalk” retelling I did in second grade. I think I was more interested in drawing the pictures. The best part was the last line – “They lived happily ever after…as best they could.”

 What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

Writing was always like my dirty little secret. For some reason I always felt embarrassed about it, since, you know, it’s showing people what’s really going on inside your head. So, I’ve always written stories for myself, for creative writing classes, but never sought to get it ‘out there’ until recently when it occurred to me how much I really enjoy it.

I do have another self-published work out there, a comedy novella Zombies – Hard Workers or Hardly Worth It? (Volume 1 of Dr. Doctur’s Scientific Science Logs) that I pretty much just did for fun (it’s free over on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble). Someday I’ll fix it up and give it the attention that it needs, and maybe write the sequels I always planned on writing.

The free book sounds like fun! What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

Currently I’ve got the outline and a few rough scenes penned for the next book in the Snow series – Legends of Snow. I love this part of writing; just spewing out ideas, seeing what works and what doesn’t. At this point it’s so free and invigorating.

I’ve also started a web comic, Pirate Cats!, aimed at a middle grade audience, or maybe just anyone who loves adorable, adventurous cats who are pirates. I’ve got quite a few roughs done, but only one inked and up on the site (Snow’s release has been eating up a lot of time lately), but plan on getting more up very, very soon.

Pirate cats? How delightful! Being a cat lover, this is now a must for me. What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

If I look at my bookshelf it’s a whole slew of Steven King, Anne Rice, J.K Rowling, George R.R. Martin and Neil Gaiman, volumes upon volumes of all sorts of manga and graphic novels, and every Star Wars book in existence. Honestly though, my collection is almost ten years out of date since most of my books purchased as of late have been ebooks.

Recently I’ve been into indie publishing (obviously) and have been devouring as many books as I can. Authors like Patricia Reding, Nicholas C. Rossis, Edward W. Robertson, Kasper Beaumont, and of course, you! There are tons more on my ‘to read’ list, and it just keeps on growing.

Very kind to include me, thank you. Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?

I find music to be very inspiring and influential when writing. I ran across the band Cloud Cult about halfway through writing Creatures of Snow, and let me say, their music started a revolution in my head. I went back and started rewriting everything, and I mean everything, to fit this new frame of mind. I loosened up my writing, gave it a lighter mood, and left the underlying tones of darkness and desperation lurking just below the surface. I think their music, especially their album, Light Chasers, changed the way I wrote and approached this story.

I’ll have to check out Cloud Cult! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

Right now my blog is sort of a hot mess. I haven’t really found my ‘voice’ in it yet, but can only imagine it’s a matter of time. I started out focusing out a lot more on my illustration, then created a separate site for that so I could focus it more on writing. I have a lot of information to share; I just need to find a good way to do it. I was thinking of starting my own interviews and reviews, marketing tips and focus less on me and more on this great community I have surrounding me.

I think a problem with it too is I just haven’t committed time to it. Currently it’s just a free WordPress site, which is nice in that I don’t really have to think about it, but as a front end developer and designer by trade, seeing my cookie cutter site makes my heart sad. I just don’t have the time right now to spare, but it’s on the list to create an awesome site/blog.

Well, I wish you good luck with everything Teresa! Thank you for being here with us today.

Thank you so much Fros for this opportunity to share with you!

BIO

Raised on a healthy diet of Star Wars, The Neverending Story, The Goonies with a dash of Blade Runner, the fascination with other worlds, high adventure, magic and friendship was deeply ingrained in her from early on. When reading and watching stories unfold just wasn’t enough, she began to write…and never stopped.

In a town that is more lake than land, she settled down to raise her two amazing children alongside her wonderful and supportive husband. Although the ingredients have changed slightly, she still consumes a massive amount of science fiction, fantasy, and other nerd-based dishes on a regular basis.

 

CONNECT WITH TERESA

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/WITeresa

Blog: https://worldreece.wordpress.com

Blog (webcomic): http://piratecatscomic.wordpress.com/

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/30547134-teresa-carlson

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00LC5EB4I

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WITeresa

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TeresaCarlsonHere

Find “Creatures of Snow” on Amazon

Sharing my private thoughts about my new, published book

Today, is an incredibly fine day for me. What’s happened today seems to me like a bit of a miracle. You see, the road to publication for my second novel, The Lady of the Pier-The Ebb, has been a particularly rough one.

Last March I was diagnosed with frozen shoulder and since then, my life has become hell to say the least. I used medicinal creams and took pills by the loads but nothing seemed to numb the excruciating pains as the shoulder started to freeze all the more. I underwent physio for 3 months which provided very little relief and all this time, my writing and promotion work went out the window. I tried all I could to keep to my schedules but on most days it was a feat to manage to type even a short email as I could only use one hand. On other days, I got severe neck pain at the same time too, which meant I had to take breaks in order to relieve my discomfort by lying down every other hour. Last, the sleepless nights that have been the norm for me since February meant that even on better days when I could type more comfortably as to make headway, my mind was so muddled from the exhaustion that it was hard to edit a book, let alone write anything new.

And so, I stand today, feeling quite amazed as  I think back at what I’ve been through. As awful as it’s been, somehow I kept returning to my desk every day, seven days a week. It’s now been five months since the first signs of discomfort which means I can now hope to reach the ‘thawing’ stage soon. And indeed, I’ve recently found adequate relief from a series of exercises I now do daily at home and I’m finally able to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to my amazing beta readers and the generous formatting assistance I’ve also received  from fellow author and friend, Nicholas Rossis, it seems to me I managed today the seemingly impossible. Despite all the bumps and dips along the way, I’ve just hit ‘publish’  on Amazon for The Ebb! There were times that I’d feared it would still be in my drawer till Xmas so you can imagine my enthusiasm for releasing it this summer as was my initial plan.

This whole experience reminds me of the signficance of PERSEVERANCE for anyone wishing to succeed in anything in life. Believe it or not, despite the hairy experience I’ve had, I now see clearly that it’s been a beneficial lesson as well as a trial. if I could go through all this and still come out an author on the other end, there has to be nothing that life can ever throw at me to thwart my determination as I pursue my writing dream.

They say that God tests us. Others may want to replace the word ‘God’ with ‘Life’ or ‘The Universe’ and all of these would be equally correct. The fact remains that there are only rewards to be had by anyone who jumps blindly into the fire and comes out unscathed.There’s actually a great quote about this that I particularly love and it goes like this:

“Miracles happen by hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed.”

Please forgive my endless chatter. I don’t often do this, but I’m certain that had you been through this turmoil too, you’d be standing here just as amazed as I am about the outcome. It is such an impossibly overwhelming feeling that being an author, I just felt compelled to write about it. I hope you won’t take it as arrogance or conceit on my part. I’m not patting my self in the back here; I’m merely saying that life is amazing and that a steel determination will get you far, far more than you could ever imagine. The lesson has been great and humbling to me, and I believe it’s just changed me forever.

So thank you God, thank you Life, thank you Universe for showing me the abysmal depths of strength that I have inside me. Thank you for showing me that nothing can stop someone who has decided to carry on to the end of the road, regardless of any hardship or shortcoming.

The Lady of the Pier-The Ebb is now live on Amazon. As a special offer to anyone wishing to secure a copy before its formal launch date this coming Monday, it is now available at a special price till then, only $2.99.

Enjoy my new book and thank you for sharing my enthusiasm and amazement today! God bless!

 

 

Chicken and bacon roast with tzatziki

Okay, today I’m in a cooking mood. Sundays in the summer time are great for BBQ’s as we all know, yet today I went for a meal in the oven. Wish I could serve you all a plate but here’s the next best thing: grab the recipe and give it a try in the comfort of your own home!

 

CHICKEN & BACON ROAST WITH TZATZIKI

(serves 2)

Ingredients for the roast

Half a chicken breast cut in 6-8 square chunks

3-4 rashers of bacon

3-4 medium potatoes cut in about 5-6 chunks each.

Extra virgin olive oil

salt, pepper, oregano

1 clove of garlic

1 cup of hot water

The juice of half a lemon

 

Ingredients for the tzatziki

200 gr of Greek yoghourt

Half a large cucumber

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon wine vinegar (preferably white)

1 clove of garlic

Dill

Spearmint

salt

Preparation

Prepare the tzatziki at least 3 hours in advance as it needs time in the oven to chill (at least 2 hours).

Grate the cucumber with its skin, sprinkle a lot of salt on it, mix well and leave it in a sieve to drain for half an hour.

In a bowl, chop the garlic clove and sprinkle some salt on it, then use a garlic crusher. Place the crushed garlic in the bowl. Squeeze the cucumber in your hand a little at a time to extract any remaining liquid, then place in the bowl. Add the yoghourt, the olive oil, vinegar and herbs. Mix well with a spoon until smooth. Cover with cling film and leave in fridge to chill at least for 2 hours (it remains fresh to eat for hours on end there, even days).

To make the roast:

Preheat the oven at 195 degrees, to cook with grill and air.

Cut the rashers of bacon in half. Wrap one piece around each chunk of chicken, tucking the edges underneath as you place them on the oven dish.  Sprinkle with pepper and oregano.

Place the potato chunks in a bowl, sprinkle pepper and oregano and mix well. Scatter them between the chicken pieces in the oven dish.

Chop the garlic clove coarsely and scatter the pieces in the oven dish.

Drizzle the food with olive oil (about 3-4 tablespoons).

Throw in the hot water at the side of the dish so that it doesnt fall upon the food, then gently rock the oven dish in your hands for the water to be evenly distributed. The food should be submerged about half way.

Cook for 40 minutes, then take out of the oven, use two forks to turn over the meat and the potato pieces gently. Sprikle salt and put it back in the oven for another 20 minutes.

Pour the lemon juice over the food,  switch off the oven and leave it in for another couple of minutes before serving.

Serve with the tzatziki and a green salad.

 

Good appetite! Kali Orexi!

Notes:

On the pictured meal, I dared a couple of variations that worked quite well:  a) chopped fresh rosemary instead of oregano, b) added a few sticks of carrot.

A note on the tzatziki: It is equally delicious without herbs, just with dill, just with spearmint or with both. It’s up to you what to go for. I love using both herbs but don’t feel like you have to!

 

 

Ten Brides for ten heroes

Today, I have another awesome boxset presented to you by Fabulosity Reads. This time, the genre is wedding romance, hence the title. In this satin white amalgam of wedding bliss, you’ll find both steamy and sweet romances,  adventure, and even comedy. So head downwards and see what’s there to enjoy from this wonderful bunch of USA Today, New York times, and National bestselling authors!

 

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Ten Brides for Ten Heroes spans the gamut of the ever-popular wedding romance genre—from heart-warming laughter to thrilling adventure, from sweet to steamy. This 10-book bundle features novels by New York Times, USA Today, and National bestselling authors. So get ready to toss the bouquet and say, “I do!” as ten brides risk it all to find their happy ever after.

————————————————–

Here Comes the Bride by Theresa Ragan—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Return of the Runaway Bride by Donna Fasano—USA Today bestselling author

Wedding Fever (Serendipity Falls Series) by Patrice Wilton—National bestselling author.

Destination Wedding (The Decorah Security Series) by Rebecca York—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

The Army Doctor’s Wedding (The Army Doctor’s Series) by Helen Scott Taylor—Award-winning and national bestselling author

Single & Searching by Rita Herron—National bestselling author

Wedding Surprise (Holiday Babies Series) by Mona Risk—Award-winning and national bestselling author

Summer of Love by Annie Jones—Award-winning and national bestselling author

Tomboy Bride(The Dance ‘n’ Luv Series)by Alicia Street—Award-winning and national bestselling author

Love Me Tender (The “Elvis” Series) by Mimi Barbour—National bestselling author.

BUY LINKS

Kindle US: http://amzn.to/TN78kp

Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/UvCpJj

Kindle CA: http://amzn.to/1mLpSrC

iTunes US: http://ow.ly/xURXz

iTunes UK: http://ow.ly/xUS90

iTunes CA: http://ow.ly/xUSQn

iTunesAustralia: http://ow.ly/xUSVV

Our launch party will take place 24-28:

https://www.facebook.com/tenbrides

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.

They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

 

 

Book Review: Things can only get feta by Marjory McGinn

I absolutely loved this book! It’s a delightful, humorous account of life in rural Greece, as it’s perceived through the eyes of two Scots who decide to spend a year in a Peloponesian village. I got to love all the quaint characters described in this book. My personal favourite was Foteini who’s been portrayed with such tremendous sensitivity that it was impossible not to love her like a family member by the end of the book.

What can I say about Wallace, the dog? The author recounts so many hilarious antics that it seems that a great part of the merit in this book is owed to this adorable pet alone. I laughed outloud to read about his infamous bathroom trick and also his obsession with eating chicken. I don’t think I’ll ever see a backpack again without thinking of chicken sandwiches!

Marjory McGinn has written a book that brims over with love for Greece and the Greek language. It is evident in so many ways, like the way she sides with the locals when the British expats attempt to trash them, the way she allows for the quirkiness of the Greeks, the respect with which she regards unfathomable local customs and acts, and last but not least, in the way she keeps quoting the equivalent Greek word, so often, quite needlessly. But she obviously does this not in an attempt to show off her rich Greek vocabulary. It is crystal clear that she does it only with love, extending to the reader an invitation to share in her affinity for the language itself. This particular point made me choke with appreciation. I found it so incredibly sweet. Also, I found all the examples of her mistakes in Greek terribly hilarious. It made me think how many Greek words can sound almost the same to the untrained, foreign ear. I cringed to think how embarrassing it must have been for her to be teased so much by the locals!

I’ve read numerous books by British authors who’ve recorded their experiences with fixing up the odd dilapidated house in various parts of Greece. All the accounts managed to irritate me, both with their arrogance and intolerance towards the Greek way of life, as well as with the many inaccuracies their stories included. Thankfully, this book was a breath of fresh air. It caused in me zero offence and zero annoyance. Being the competent, talented journalist that she is, Marjory McGinn sticks to the facts and gives objectively a delightful account of the locals and their antics without passing judgment or even implying that they are less civilized or knowledgable than herself.

But it wasn’t just life in the village that was a pleasure to read about. There were also numerous historical references that I found utterly interesting. Whichever part of Greece the author mentions traveling to with her husband and adorable pet, she offers a thorough account of the local history, myths or legends. Unlike all the other books of the sort that I’ve read, again, this book stands out for this fact too, showing that the author had to research heavily for the book. Her trouble to do that betrays her love for my country and its history, which again I found myself appreciating immensely.

All in all, this is the best book of its kind that I’ve ever read. It had it all:  humour, wit, interesting facts, and a good measure of sentiment. Marjory McGinn is a truly talented author and I’m really looking forward to a sequel!

My rating:

“A delightful, quaint portrayal of rural life in Greece”

 

 

 

 

Visit Amazon to check out this wonderful travel book about Greece!

 

Interview with Lilian Roberts, author of the Immortal Rapture Series

Today, I have a special treat for you all: a chat with US-based, Greek author Lilian Roberts. She”s written the paranormal series  ‘Immortal Rapture’ that is published by the innovative and highly successful hybrid publisher, Booktrope. Join me as I ask Lilian some questions to find out more about her and her writing, but first, here’s a list of the four published  (out of  eight) books in the series. I’m sure you’ll agree that the covers are truly stunning!

 

BLURB FOR BOOK 1:  IMMORTAL AWAKENING

A mortal soul…

From the time college co-ed Arielle Lloyd had been young, she had been able to hear the thoughts and feel the pain of certain others, and those she comes to think of as her special group. One friend’s dabbling with spells and magic showed her the power of love that can endure beyond the grave. But another friend’s terrifying encounter with a warlock left Arielle wary of those who claim otherworldly powers. On holiday in the south of France, a chance encounter could change her mind. Or could cost her life.

An Immortal man…

Sebastian Gaulle is the wealthy, handsome owner of an international company. He is also an Immortal. For five centuries he has sought the one soul who can fulfill his dreams of everlasting love. Then he meets Arielle, whose heart calls out to him like no other.

A timeless love…

Sebastian has made his choice clear. But jealous Immortals from his past threaten retaliation. They have vowed to destroy any woman who becomes involved with him. In spite of the powerful protection amulet Sebastian gives Arielle, death stalks their newfound love. Their love may be eternal, but they may be running out of time.

AMAZON US   AMAZON UK  BARNES & NOBLE

 

BLURB FOR BOOK 2:  SEDUCTION

A time of waiting…

Arielle Lloyd has found the love of her life, but his business as the owner of an international company calls him away. She longs for Sebastian, but stays busy with school, and finds comfort in spending time with her best friends, Gabby and Eva. It is during Sebastian’s absence that a stranger enters Arielle’s life at the university and threatens to shatter her joy with a vicious assault.

A time of renewal…

The return of Sebastian Gaulle, Arielle’s Immortal love, brings a return of joy. Her terrifying experience has her rethinking her vow of remaining chaste until marriage. Arielle already knows Sebastian is the one man she will love for eternity. Sebastian has longed for Arielle, like no other. He has carried a ring in his pocket for her almost from the first moment they met. He’s only waiting for the right moment to pledge his eternal love for her.

A time of danger…

But Sebastian’s past still threatens their future. A trio of jealous Immortal women has vowed Sebastian will belong to no other woman for centuries to come. Arielle, Sebastian, and their friends must join together to fight off the Immortals bent on utter destruction, if they are ever to find their eternal happiness.

AMAZON US   AMAZON UK  BARNES & NOBLE

BLURB FOR BOOK 3: PASSION

An interlude in paradise… 

St. Jean De Luz, in the south of France, is the setting of one of Sebastian Gaulle’s family estates. It is to this gorgeous place that the Immortal takes his love, Arielle Lloyd, and her friends, to relax and spend a holiday exploring the surroundings and learning about his family’s history.

A snake in the garden… 

There is no safety in this paradise, however, as Sebastian’s past continues to haunt him. The Immortal Annabel still lusts for vengeance and seeks to destroy Sebastian’s new love. While exploring, Arielle’s life is endangered when she discovers dangerous dark places and hidden strangers occupying the house.



Evil that will not die… 

Trapped, threatened, and nearing her last breath, Arielle must call on the powerful magic of her friend, Eva, for help. Sebastian must rally his Immortal friends and family to protect his love and expel the evil before his coveted paradise is forever lost.

AMAZON US  AMAZON UK   BARNES & NOBLE

BLURB FOR BOOK 4: QUICKENING

A fatal night….

College co-ed Arielle Lloyd is on vacation with her immortal love, Sebastian Gaulle, when they receive word of a dreadful accident. Her dear friend Gabrielle hovers near death. But it’s much worse for her beloved friends, Eva and Ian. In spite of Eva’s magical abilities, their lives have been cut tragically short.

An immortal choice…

Troy Vasser’s only love is Gabrielle, but on the night of the accident, his deepest concern is for their dying friends. While the life force within Ian and Eva flickered dangerously low, Troy had to make a hard choice. He could either let them die or lose their humanity and live as immortals. So he did the only thing he could: he gave them immortality. Now it is up to Arielle to break the news to Eva before the transformation is complete.

A quest for vengeance…

Danger continues to stalk Arielle’s life. Unknown to her, her new professor is an immortal, and he is furious when he discovers that Arielle is wearing an amulet, that should be owned by immortals only. Sebastian’s nemesis, Annabel, has also not given on up on her quest to destroy Arielle. What Annabel doesn’t realize is that Arielle’s circle of friends has drastically changed. There are two newly minted immortals that adore her and have vowed to protect her.

AMAZON US   AMAZON UK   BARNES & NOBLE

Hello Lilian, what a pleasure to have you in my blog today!

Thank you for inviting me Fros, I’m very excited to be here.

What has inspired you to write this book?

I started to write when I was very young. It was more like role-playing. I wrote stories and pretended that I was one of the characters. In my wildest dreams I never thought that one day I will become an actual author and see my books in print. It is the most extraordinary feeling in the world. I was fascinated with the possibility of human immortality. As an engineer I always wondered about the probability of longevity. What if? That is a big question that still keeps the scientist looking for answers. I am not going to see that possibility in my lifetime so I decided to make it happen in my books.

What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

I started to put down notes at age 21 while still in college, but I did not become a serious writer until later on in life. The first book I wrote was Arielle Immortal Awakening. It was not meant to be more than one book but when I started to write I could not stop. It ended up becoming a series. “THE IMMORTAL RAPTURE SERIES” with 8 books.

What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

I have 4 books published in the Immortal Rapture Series. Arielle Immortal Awakening, Arielle Immortal Seduction, Arielle Immortal Passion and Arielle Immortal Quickening. The 5th book in the series Arielle Immortal Journey will be published by the end of June this year. The last 3 books have been completed and they will be published quarterly starting July of this year.

Wow, you’ve been keeping busy! And how exciting this must be for you, having the remaining books published quarterly. Best of luck! Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I enjoy tennis, piano, reading, and writing.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

I have definitely put myself in my charactes because that is the only way I can write. I do wish I had some of their special gifts and most of all, immortality.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I don’t underestimate the readers. I try to write an interesting story and produce a book that will keep people engaged. I want to make fans out of my readers and to give them a book that will keep them coming back for more.

What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

I love a wide range of genres. I prefer Paranormal / romance, but I am an avid reader and will read anything I can get my hands on. Right now I am reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Oh, I’ve watched the TV adaptation of this, it was awesome! Choose a male and a female character from your book and tell us which actor/actress you’d wish to play them in a film adaptation.

I would like to see Ian Somerhalder play Sebastian Gaulle and Kristin Kreuk play Arielle Lloyd.

Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

My website is http://WWW.lilianroberts.com/

The readers can find details about my books and myself.

My blog is http://lilianroberts.blogspot.com/

In my blog, I present spotlights and interviews with other great authors. I read their books and I invite them to my blog. I have been very fortunate to have each and everyone accept my invitation.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Immortality.

Of course, what else would you say? (laughs)

Thank you Lilian for visiting us today & best of luck with your Immortal Rapture series!

Thank you Fros, and many thanks for this opportunity!

BIO

I am an engineer, a wife, a mother and an avid reader. I turned my love of reading into a passion for writing, and have published the first four volumes in the Immortal Rapture Series. Arielle Immortal Awakening (Volume I), which was released in November 2012, Arielle Immortal Seduction (Volume II), released in January of 2013, Arielle Immortal Passion(Volume III), released April 2013, and Arielle: Immortal Quickening (Volume IV), released July 8th 2013. I was to release Arielle Immortal Journey (Volume V) in December of 2013 but Booktrope a publishing company out of Seattle has picked the series and has already re-released the first 4 books under their stamp.

I have completed all eight books in the Immortal Rapture Series. Booktrope will be releasing the other 4 quarterly. All four published novels have appeared on Amazon’s top 100 list three times and held their place for 4 weeks. I was very proud when I found out that I became a finalist in MARsocial Author of the year competition. This was the biggest Author/book/film competition of its kind worldwide. Arielle Immortal Awakening also made the shortlist for the 50 Self-published Books Worth Reading 2013/2014 from Indie Author Land in the paranormal category.

Taming the Country Star by Margo Bond Collins

Today, I’m pleased to present the latest book by Margo Bond Collins. Far from paranormal fantasy and the usual vampires, Margo intends to wow us this time with a contemporary romance set in Texas. Enjoy!

 

 

Blurb:

He’ll do anything to win her heart. She’ll do anything to keep him away.

 

Country star Cole Grayson is in town, and Kylie Andrews is less than thrilled. As if months of changing the radio station and tearing down his posters weren’t bad enough, now she has to deal with a town of fans swarming toward the man who deceived her the year before. But when Kylie’s eyes meet Cole’s again, she can’t deny the electric chemistry that drew her to him the first time around.

 

Cole Grayson is on a mission. Ever since Kylie left him, he hasn’t been able to forget her sweet country smile. After writing a song just for her, he sets off for her hometown to prove he’s not the player she thinks he is. But as much as Cole can’t forget her, Kylie wonders if she can forgive him…

 

______________________________

 

Excerpt:

 

Kylie Andrews’s Texas-themed gift shop, Cowbelles, sat on the very outer edge of Fort Worth’s Stockyards District, not far from Jimmy’s Honky Tonk. And much to her dismay, no matter how often she cleared it, the wall adjacent to her store remained covered with announcements for local events.

Like, for example, concerts.

She stared at the latest layer of advertisements.

From the topmost poster, Cole Grayson stared out at her, leaning against the edge of an old barn door, guitar at his feet. One booted foot was kicked up against the wooden wall behind him. His dark-blond hair curled around behind one ear and fell down across his eye on the other side. A cowboy hat rested on the ground next to the guitar.

Her hand drifted up toward the image, hovering several inches from the picture of his face. She glanced around. None of the other shopkeepers were outside. No one was watching.

“Bastard,” she whispered to herself, and ripped the poster off the wall.

At least, she tried to. It was thicker than she had expected, attached more firmly, and it resisted her pull.

Chewing on her lip, she took another look around, dropped her bag to the ground, and reached up to grasp the edge with both fists, jerking at it in opposite directions. A tiny tear opened up along the side, and she yanked harder. Finally, the poster ripped—right across Cole Grayson’s lying eyes.

She tugged at the image some more, glancing around surreptitiously every few moments and dropping ragged pieces of paper on the ground at her feet, until there was nothing left on the wall but a few fluttering strips.

Gathering the mutilated shreds together, she opened her bag and shoved them inside until they overflowed, bright ribbons of color in the morning light.

______________________________

About the Author

Margo Bond Collins is the author of contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them. She currently writes for Entangled’s Red-Hot Bliss line.

 

______________________________

Connect with Margo

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins

Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net

Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin

Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

A tiny setback and a load of gratitude re: The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb

Those among you who follow my blog and keep up with my writing, will know that I’d submitted my upcoming novel, The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb, to this year’s ABNA contest (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award). I’d heard about the competition at a time when the novel hadn’t even reached my beta readers as yet, and generally needing still a lot of editing work. Still, egged on by friends, I submitted it, thinking I had nothing to lose.

Never in a million years did I expect to make it to the quarter-finals! This success was a wonderful surprise, and an asset, that I’ll be able to display proudly on the book cover when I finally publish the book in July (fingers crossed).

Yesterday, ABNA announced the semi-finalists, and the book didn’t make it. Friends naturally attempted to console me with the typical comments like ‘better luck next time’, ‘what were they thinking?’, ‘how unfair’, and other, thoughtful stuff like that that friends will say. However, I find that I really don’t mind this particular ‘defeat’, and thus don’t feel disheartened at all.  As I said, I’m well aware at what stage of the editing process I’d submitted the novel so, today I leave this ‘battle’ feeling like I did quite well for myself.

Since submitting it, the novel has underwent major changes, thanks to the loving care of my wonderful beta readers, whom I wish to publicly thank today, by the way. Good beta readers are those gifted, rare creatures who can find the right balance between diplomacy and directness, honesty and subtlety, while having a solid understanding of character development, story flow and proofreading/grammar. I’ve been blessed with no less than five gems of the sort, and they are: MM Jaye, Nicholas Rossis, Kerry Hall, Danica Cornell and Jenny Twist. They took a piece of coal from my hands, and gave me the awesome feedback that turned it into a shiny diamond. Thank you, guys!

Thanks to you, soon, I’ll finally be able to see a dream of many years become a reality. I’ll finally be able to tell this story about my favourite pier and bring it back to life again, if only for a while.