Tuesday 30 June 2015

The Perfect Wife by Amber Lake: Interview + Giveaway



The Perfect Wife
by Amber Lake


Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Ice House Publisher
Number of pages: 130
Cover Artist: Borja Puig


A society full of rules, but when it comes to love, there is no written rule.

Charlotte Wilcox, an unfortunate baronet’s daughter, has been living with her father in a small village since her mother died when she was still a kid. Although she is happy at home and the fact of remaining single at 23 is not a worry for her, her relatives put pressure on her to find a husband who provides for her.

With that purpose, she travels to Bath, where her aunt Margaret is responsible for educating her so that she can get a proper marriage proposal.

Charlotte thinks that the strict norms that govern aristocratic members of society are ridiculous and old-fashioned. Thus, she is afraid that she will never become the perfect wife that her aunt expects and that every gentleman wishes.

At the first ball she goes to, she meets Edward Holne, viscount of Eversley, and all the rules that her aunt had taught her will be useless before the attraction between them.

Find it on Amazon


Amber was born in a village by the seashore in Murcia (Spain) a long time ago and now she is living in Cartagena with her husband and children. She has a B.A. in History and she also has a degree in Teaching. She works in the university in the same city where she lives.

Since she was a little girl she has been passionate for literature. She lapped up everything she could get her hands on and very soon she began to create in her mind her own stories, tales, short stories and drafts of ambitious young novels.

Her studies, her work and her family were the reasons why she put on hold those literary dreams for several years, although she kept on embodying on paper some ideas that she wished her own novels would talk about. Fifteen years ago she resumed her old dream and she started to write regularly. She sent her stories to some competitions, where she won a few prizes, and also to different publishing houses.

In 2008 she saw how her dream came true with the publication of her first novel. Other novels followed that first one, such as El escolta in 2010, Buscando a la esposa perfecta, in 2012, El escolta (new version) in 2014 and some others. Thanks to all these novels, she has been very lucky to see how her readers have warmly welcomed them and this fact has made her very proud.

Blog: http://amber-lake.blogspot.com.es/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amber.lake
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/amberlakewriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825560.Amber_Lake

Q & A with Amber Lake

Q:  Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
The main characters of the novel are:

Charlotte Wilcox has spent her 23 years of life in a small village and has devoted herself to the study of Botany and the medieval classics until the day her family convinces her to look for a husband. Although she looks shy and clumsy, she’s a woman with very clear ideas and a great personality. As she was raised up in a liberal background, she finds it difficult to obey the rules that govern the aristocratic society.

I wanted to endow the feminine character with a certain dose of rebelliousness or non-conformism regarding the rules that society imposed on women. She’s a potential feminist – forerunner of those women who, years later, would fight for emancipation, the equality before the law, and also the professional and social equality in respect of men.

Edward Holne, viscount of Eversley, is a young entrepreneur who isn’t 30 yet. He knows that he has to marry but he keeps on putting off that moment because he hasn’t found any woman whom he can take that step. In the same way as every gentleman of his time, he looks for a perfect woman according to the established standards –an excellent host, a good manager of her home, elegant, polite, obedient, modest…

Q:  Describe your ideal writing spot.
My working desk, from where I can see the sea –a view that always inspires me.

Q:  Who designed the covers for your book and what was that process like for you as the author?
It was a cover created by the designers from the publishing house that released the Spanish version of the novel. They did a great job because from the first time I saw it, I thought that was the image that defined the essence of the book.

Q:  What is the best advice you have been given?
Never stop fighting for your dreams no matter how impossible they may seem.

Q:  How do you keep busy when you're not writing?
I’m a librarian and I take care of my family too. Both things keep me quite busy so I can’t devote all the time I wished to writing.

Q:  If you could have any superhuman ability, what would you choose and why?
I’d like to put an end to injustice and cruelty in the world.

Q:  Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
I prefer hard/paperbacks. Holding a book in my hands is something that creates a special bond with the reader. However, ebooks have their perks too such as their easy storage, transport, purchase…

Q:  What book are you reading now?
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende.




June 29 Interview
Sophia Tallon
http://sophiatallon.blogspot.com/

June 30 Interview
'Living Life With Joy'
http://www.livinglifewithjoy.com

July 1 Interview
Shut Up and Read
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/

July 1 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and, Sissy, Too!
http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/

July 2 Spotlight
Mythical Books
http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

July 2 Spotlight
Shyla Wolff
http://shylawolff.blogspot.com

July 3 Spotlight
Roxanne's Realm
www.roxannerhoads.com

July 6 Interview
Deals Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

July 7 Spotlight and review
Boundless Book Reviews
www.boundlessbookreviews.com

July 8 Spotlight
Around the World in Books 
http://www.aroundtheworldinbooks.ca/

July 9 Spotlight
Books and Authors
http://bookreviewsandauthors.blogspot.com/

July 9 Spotlight and review
Ramblings of a Quilter
http://tricia-ramblingsofaquilter.blogspot.com/

July 10 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

July 10 Spotlight
Fang-tastic Books
www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

July 13 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com

July 13 Review
Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
www.pratr.wordpress.com

Monday 29 June 2015

Q & A with Nicola S. Dorrington

The Last Knight
Pendragon #1
by Nicola S. Dorrington


Like any teenage girl, Cara Page dreams of the future, the difference is, every day those dreams come true.

Now she's dreaming of a boy, and a future that can't be real. Because if it is, then everything she thought was myth and legend is actually true, and there is an evil coming that will tear the country apart.

Lance Filwer is a boy with secrets of his own, and a past full of mistakes he can't undo. Cara is his second chance, his chance to succeed where he failed before - if only she'll trust him enough to let him help her.

Cara needs to know what's happening, but the answer lies in a long forgotten past, and an ancient legend. To find it Cara will have to travel into the depths of Wales, and the heart of ancient Britain.

With Wraiths, creatures from the darkest of myths, dogging her every move, Cara knows it's only a matter of time before they catch up with her. And myth or not, they will kill her.

Her only hope is Lance, and the birth right she must claim, if she is to prevent the future she has foreseen.

Find it on Goodreads
Amazon

Read It & Reap:  January 26, 2016



Nicola S. Dorrington is a 30 year-old writer from England, currently living in the Cayman Islands,
where she procrastinates by staring at the ocean.

THE LAST KNIGHT was her first novel, set in a wet and mythical version of the country she left behind.

CHASING FREEDOM, her second novel shows a slightly different, but still mythical, side to her old home.

She fully expects to one day be a crazy old cat lady - only with dogs.



                           Q & A with Nicola S. Dorrington

Q:  Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

Cara, the lead character in The Pendragon series is kick-ass. At least, I hope she is. I like strong, female characters in what I write, and what I read. At the beginning of the series she's being bullied, struggling a lot with being 'different' but once she comes to accept who she is, she takes on this incredible strength and sense of purpose.

As for Lance. He has issues. But who doesn't. Being the reincarnation of a rather famous legendary figure doesn't help!


Q: 
Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?

My first book actually had two designs. The first I still love, but I wanted to update it and actually someone who had read the book helped to redesign it. Since then I've actually designed my own covers for my books. Partly because I enjoy the creative aspect, and partly because I'm a control freak. Every cover I make teaches me a little more so I like to think they're getting better as I go. I'm not sure I could give up that creative control.


Q: 
Describe your ideal writing spot.

I live down in the Caribbean so everyone always expects me to say the beach, but I actually write best surrounded by people, so I do a lot of my writing in one of the beach bars on the island. I have a spot at the bar where I always sit where I can see most of bar and down to the ocean. For some reason having noise and people around me makes the words flow better!


Q: 
What is the best advice you have been given?

To just keep writing. That the more you write the more you learn about writing. With writing it really is a case of practice makes perfect.


Q: 
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut. In fact I still want to be an astronaut. The first stories I wrote were all sci-fi because space and the universe just fascinates me. My biggest dream is that they'll introduce commercial trips to the moon in my life time.


Q: 
Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?

I do love a proper book, there is something very comforting about a paper and ink book. However, my kindle is just so practical and accessible. I read a lot, and very quickly, so if I go on a long plane journey I would need about 4 books for a 13 hour flight. It gets a bit much. With my kindle I have my whole library with me all the time!


Q:  If you could have any supernatural ability what would you choose and why?
I think I'd want Cara's ability in The Last Knight - to be able to see the future. I think I'd like to know what's coming.


Q: 
What book are you reading now?

I have just started re-reading Game of Thrones, the first A Song of Ice and Fire book.




Thursday 25 June 2015

Into the Mist by Judith Ingram

Into the Mist
Moonseed Trilogy Book 3
by Judith Ingram

Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Vinspire Publishing, LLC
Cover Artist:  Elaina Lee/For the Muse Designs

For the past six months, time-traveler Victoria Ashton has been living life as Katherine Kamarov on a ranch in rural California, circa 1890. A contrast to Katherine’s brash personality, shy and gentle Victoria has won the hearts of Katherine’s family and particularly her cousin Michael. Despite her deepening love for Michael, she has rejected his offer of marriage and sent him away, knowing that she must return to her own time on the night of the new spring moon.

In this third and final book of the series, sinister forces threaten Victoria’s new family, her property, and even her life, testing her for courage and ingenuity. A confident new self emerges, and when Michael unexpectedly walks back into her life, she questions whether she must remain a victim of fate or can find a way to determine her own future.

Meanwhile, Katherine has been living a parallel year of exchange in Victoria’s modern-day life, married to the handsome but remote Ryan Ashton. Hardened by her past, Katherine nevertheless falls for Ryan and, like Victoria, begins to search for a way to defy fate and keep the life she has come to cherish.

As the night of the new spring moon approaches, both women must search their hearts to discover how to hold onto what matters most, even if they should be forced back through the barrier of time.

Judith Ingram weaves together her love of romance and mystery as well as her training as a counselor to create stories and characters for her novels. She is also the author of a Christian guide to forgiving and posts weekly devotionals on the role of forgiveness in healing relationships. She lives with her husband in the San Francisco East Bay and makes frequent trips to beautiful Sonoma County, where many of her fiction characters reside. She confesses a love for chocolate, cheesecake, romantic suspense novels, movies that require three hankies, and all things feline.

Website, blog and free weekly devotional: http://JudithIngram.com

                                                                     Excerpt

               He didn’t hear her slide the door open and step out behind him. Her arms circled his waist, and the faint scent of ginger spice shot twin arrows of joy and pain through his body. Wordlessly, he turned and brought his mouth down on hers. Enveloped in the soft twilight hush, they shared a kiss that was deep and long and achingly sweet. When they pulled reluctantly apart, Ryan let his eyes linger over her, already naming the vision being etched in his memory. This is how my love looked in twilight.

She was wearing her white robe, and her blond hair curled softly, just brushing her shoulders. It’s gotten longer, Ryan thought. He suddenly wanted her to cut it again, as if keeping her hair short would somehow help her to keep her claim on this body—on this life—and prevent Vicki from coming back.

Tori moved to the rail and stared out over the city deepening into dusk. “It’s started, Ryan,” she said quietly.

He moved to stand beside her. “What’s started?”

She turned and leaned an elbow on the rail, holding him with a steady gaze. “What we’ve dreaded. I dreamed about the bridge.” She lifted a shoulder. “It’s only a week away. I should have expected it.” She drew in a breath that trembled. “She was already there, standing on the bridge. Waiting for me.”

At his look, she put out her hand and covered his. “Don’t hate her, Ryan. She didn’t ask for this to happen any more than I did.” She smiled faintly. “I would have, though, if I’d known you would be here. I wouldn’t have missed this time with you for anything. No matter what happens, I’ll carry you in my heart until the day I die.”

Ryan couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. He could do nothing but stare at her in mute despair.

She turned her back on the glittering city and leaned both elbows on the rail, staring through the glass doors into their living room. The soft light of the table lamps was growing imperceptibly brighter as the dusk surrendered to night.

“Do you ever wonder, Ryan, what Victoria will be like when she comes back?”

“She’s not coming back.” His voice cracked.

“She’s had a whole year, Ryan, just like me. A lot can happen in a year. She may surprise you.”

“She won’t get the chance.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not letting you go, Tori. I can’t. Vicki doesn’t belong here anymore. This is your home, with Christina and me.” He covered the crack in his voice with harshness. “How can you stand there and calmly talk about Vicki coming back while you just up and vanish from our lives? Like it’s already decided, like it’s so easy for you—”