Dariel Raye's Blog, page 19

Dariel Raye’s Upcoming Friday Guest: Author Wenona Hulsey

How about I tell you a bit about me first, the person behind the pen? I’m Wenona Hulsey, mother of two and blue collar worker by day.  But at night I turn into Wenona Hulsey, master of words and worlds.  I’ve always written for as long as I can remember. I kept journals off and on from the age of nine but I really got into writing about a year and a half ago. I was searching for a creative outlet at a time in my life when I felt like I was living in a rut.  I sing terrible, I dance like I’m having seizures and my art looks like stick figures so I turned to what came easiest to me —writing.  I started working on my first novel, Burden of Blood, and it moved along remarkably fast.  I guess that could be contributed to my recent binge reading of all books labeled paranormal romances but I had an idea of what I wanted and I put it to paper.

As I was nearing the end of my writing frenzy on Burden of Blood a fascinating novelette idea popped into my head and Blood Awakening was born.  It works as a back story to two of the main characters in Burden of Blood, giving you more detail and insight into who Nicole Keenan and her best friend Kat were before their world was turned on its head.  I would consider Blood Awakening more of a thriller, suspense with a dash of paranormal and comedy thrown in.  But Burden of Blood is full on Paranormal Romance with hot warriors and gothic fairies in leading roles.

Now that I’ve sent Blood Awakening, Burden of Blood and the final book in the series, Blood of Fire, out into the world, I’m working on the 3rd draft of my still untitled mystery thriller and I’ve started another project that will fall into the young adult genre.

I hope you all will give my books a read and I’m always glad to connect with readers in the internet world so be sure to reach out to me on me website, Facebook page, or Twitter.  Thanks so much for letting me join you today!

Buy Links:

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/wenon...

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Wenona-Hulsey/e...

Contact me Links:

http://www.wenonahulsey.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/wenonahulsey

http://www.facebook.com/WenonaHulseyA...

Join my email list for the latest on all my books, contest and much more! http://www.wenonahulsey.com/p/contact...

 

Dariel Raye’s Upcoming Friday Feature: Meet Christina McKnight!

 

 

Christina McKnight

 Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.

In college, Christina took many courses to help develop and enhance her writing skills. She completed a seventy-page dissertation on the need for community policing in American society. Now, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.

Christina lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, two boxers, two cats, and a Beta fish named Marmaduke.  If she’s not behind a computer screen or book, she’s busy leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She is very active in several writing groups and a local book group.

Christina’s Writing Journey:
My early childhood was rife with educational setbacks. I was finally able to master reading by learning braille in the 5th grade, from their I’ve never stopped growing as a student. As a young adult I enjoyed reading RL Stine, Little House on the Prairie, and Anne of Green Gables. From their I moved on to Historical Romance, often discussing books with my mom. She encouraged me for years to tell MY stories. And so started my passion for writing. I spent many years learning the craft and networking with other writers before getting serious about my own dreams for publishing my novels. A little over a year ago I set out to polish Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book 1 an Urban Fantasy novel. I’m proud to announce that as of September 1, 2012 I achieved my dream of being a published author.

Please join us tomorrow at my blogger site for an excerpt of  Christina’s new release, “Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi, Bk. One.”

Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/CMcKnightWriter

My blog: www.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com

Email: christinamcknight.author@yahoo.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/christinavell...

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Only-Dreams-One...

 

Dariel Raye’s Sunday Review: “Soul Weaver” by Hailey Edwards

Soul Weaver

“Soul Weaver” is a paranormal romance with the belief in soul mates at its core. The love  story between a heroine nearly disabled by fear, and a fallen angel indentured to serve hell through eternity sounds impossible, but constant, innate conflict builds as the relationship between the unlikely couple develops.

In addition to the plot twists and world building, the hero and heroine were genuinely likable. Chloe, the heroine, is agoraphobic, thus fearful of going outside. Nathaniel, the hero, fell from heaven for lying in an attempt to protect his brother. Simply put, they both have major baggage.

Nathaniel is literally a weaver of souls, and an assassin for hell. In Edwards’ world, the wings of fallen angels become frayed over time. Certain souls have committed acts that make them vulnerable to hell. These souls are taken, then woven together by Nathaniel and given to other fallen angels to replace worn wings.

When Nathaniel witnesses a near fatal accident involving Chloe, he goes against every law and rule to save her, to the point of giving her a piece of his soul to ensure her life and recovery. This has never been done before, so he has no idea what to expect, but he soon finds out.

Nathaniel is drawn to Chloe, and finds himself protecting her from his brothers, particularly the brother he fell from heaven to save!  He keeps secrets from his angelic brothers, his boss, and Chloe. Chloe’s agoraphobia doesn’t help, either. Her lack of faith in herself, coupled with the inability to go outside, makes her an easier target, rife with nightmares and trust issues.

Edwards’ play on soulmates, development of a flawed, but very likable heroine, and unique take on the world of fallen angels makes this a story you won’t want to miss. The world building is thorough and intricate, and the plot twists kept me guessing. Personally, I like that. In addition, the love scenes are hot and emotionally intense. An easy 4.5 stars.

Dariel Raye Featuring Chantel Rhondeau’s New Release, “Always and Forever”

I’ve always been an avid reader.  Fantasy, mystery, horror. Reading takes you to a different world and you can be a different person. I always loved that. It was when I read Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series that the idea to write my own book struck me. I’d always been imaginative, daydreaming up all sorts of stories in my mind, I’d just never tried to write one down before. However, I wanted to read another book with intelligent dragons like Ms. McCaffrey had in her books.

That book didn’t really work out, but it was a good learning experience. Once I gave up on writing that story, I realized I needed a bit of instruction on how to write. I began searching the internet for any articles I could find on the process. I love Holly Lisle’s website for this; she has a lot of free articles. I started buying her programs, took her How To Think Sideways writing boot camp. I even took a few classes through my local college.

Four fizzled plots later, I picked up a book by Jayne Ann Krentz. I thought it was a mystery, as I picked it up off a markdown table, and it didn’t say the genre. However, it was romantic suspense, which instantly captivated me. I’ve always loved my stories to have a romantic theme to them, but I’d never read romance. This genre, however, is perfect for me. A love story, a bit of mystery, some horror thrown in, and I’m always guaranteed they will live ‘happily ever after.’ Suddenly, I couldn’t stop the story ideas from coming. Romantic suspense is MY genre.

I wrote Always & Forever in a few months, joined an on-line critique group so I could hear the truth about my work, and after many, many edits, Always & Forever is ready for the public’s reading pleasure.

“Always and Forever” is author Chantel Rhondeau’s exciting new contemporary romance! Read about it below and stop by my blogger site tomorrow for an interview with her sexy hero, Zac

A suspected murderess flees her former life in search of tranquility, but ghosts she left behind refuse to die, threatening to destroy her happiness.

Lilly Price is desperate to escape public scrutiny once released from her incarceration. She moves to a lakeside community in hopes of remaining anonymous while rebuilding her tattered life.

Widowed Zach Woodbridge is in no hurry to find a new bride. He longs for a peaceful summer, writing at his lakeside cottage. Things change after an introduction to his grandmother’s new assistant, Lilly.

When Lilly’s secrets are revealed, can their fragile relationship weather the storm?  And when a man from the past returns to reclaim Lilly, using any force necessary, can she and Zach protect the people they love?

ONTENT WARNING: Violence, mild language, sizzling love scenes. 

Review: The Eagle’s Woman by Miriam Newman

Son of an impoverished, dying Norse chieftain, Ari raids for booty and slaves so he can feed his people. Pagan himself, still he spares priests though he sells them. He’s a heathen, a murderer, and it is a sin for any Christian woman to love him. Yet when he abducts Maeve from her peaceful Irish fishing village, he may have found the one woman who can.

“The Eagle’s Woman” is a novella set in Viking times. Ari is a “heathen” Viking, and Maeve is a “God-fearing” young maiden. Vikings live by taking from the land of others. As the Vikings continue on their way, raping, killing, and pillaging, they seek the greatest prizes to sell and replenish their riches – women, particularly young women.

Ari is the younger of two male children, so his older brother, Soren,  stands to inherit their land, and Ari will have to leave and make a home elsewhere.

Maeve is betrothed to another man, but he is rough and inconsiderate with her, and overly eager to bed her with just his own pleasure in mind. When one of Ari’s men captures and attempts to rape Maeve,  Ari saves her – not because he’s against her being raped for moral reasons, but because she is worth much more as an untouched virgin.

Ari takes measures to keep her alive because she will bring him a good price at the market, and although he won’t admit it, he is attracted to her. Unfortunately, as soon as his jealous-hearted older brother sees her, he wants her for himself.

I was impressed by Newman’s ability to weave such strong characters and believable conflict into this short historical novella. Ari has some less than ideal complications in his life, and the romantic in me would have preferred a more open expression of his feelings, but the book held my attention because of the three-dimensional characters.

“The Eagle’s Woman” is a quick, action -packed, well-written story, but a little light on the romance for my taste. 3.5 stars.

Meet @Tweetthebooks Jeff Bennington! Husband, Father, Author, Seeker

Hi! Author Jeff Bennington is one of my wonderful twitter friends! He writes scary stuff like “Creepy,” “Twisted,” and “Reunion.” Jeff will be featured at my blogger spot tomorrow! Come sit a spell with us and find out more about him

Meet Christopher C. Starr! Learn About His Controversial New Book

Author Christopher C. Starr has a new release entitled “The Road to Hell.” Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Here’s a bit about Christopher to whet your appetite. I have a full spread tomorrow on my blogger site – more about the author and his fascinating book. Make sure you stop by tomorrow!

Join this Mega Blog Hop! Romancing the Hop Starts Tomorrow!

Hi there! Don’t miss this mega blog hop! “Romancing the Hop” starts tomorrow, bright and early. What’s that pic above? That’s one of the grand prizes – a mega swag pack! The more blogs you visit, leaving a comment with your e-mail address, the greater your chance of winning prizes! How cool is that? Stop by my blog, leave a comment with your e-mail address, scroll to the bottom of the page and there’s a list of all the participants in this mega blog hop with links for your convenience! I’m like number 146, and there are over 200 bloggers participating, each with prizes, plus there are three grand prizes! The grand prizes and individual prizes will be listed at each site, so happy hopping, and good luck

Great Reads and a Character Interview!

Hi Everyone! Rachelle Ayala, author of the five star epic historical romance, “Michal’s Window,” is interviewing Sable, my “Dark Sentinels” hero from book one!  Also, check out my finds and features for “Book Talk Wednesdays” at my blog site today! You’ll find the link to the interview there, too

Mark Your Calendars! “Book Talk Wednesdays” Tomorrow!

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“Book Talk Wednesdays” is on my blogger site tomorrow with all paranormal romance books! My featured guests are my tribe mates,  Laura (L.J.) Kentowski and Sky Purington, and a new Blog Hops author, Yazmin Subha! Come hang out with us for magic, curses, and the battle between good and evil! Fantastic people and great reads. Look at those smiles. Wouldn’t you just love to know what’s going on in those minds:-) Click here to find out!