Saturday 30 November 2013

Q & A with Author Jason T. Graves

Blood Roses 
(The Noctivagas Chronicle #1)
by Jason T. Graves 


Paperback, Second, 324 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Book Description:  

Vampires aren’t real… right? If they were, Madeline and Marissa Owen would certainly be suspects: bone-white and night-loving—with a proclivity for super-rare steaks—the identical twins are poster-girls for the undead.

As if looking like teen-aged vampires didn’t cause enough drama, trouble erupts into their lives following a disastrous street fight and a brush with the law by Madeline's sister. The girls are forced to move from the diverse city of Austin, Texas to the quaint township of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania—a move clearly designed to bore the aggressive, MMA-fighter Marissa into an early grave. 


However, their new lives prove to be anything but boring, as a series of shocking upheavals, unearthed lies, and outright dangers keep them thinking... and running for their lives. Ancient books, coded manuscripts, and evil enemies emerge, challenging the unique skills and inner-strengths of the girls—but can even all of this chaos prepare them for the arrival of real vampires?

Facing threats from multiple quarters, the girls must rely on each other to keep ahead of the rising storm … or be swept away by it.  


 


Q & A with Jason T. Graves

Q:  Tell us a little bit about your main characters, Madeline and Marissa.
A: 
M&M are identical twin sisters who are nothing alike. Madeline is studious, conscientious, and pleasant, while Marissa is combative, competitive, and snarky. Despite their differences, they have an intangible bond and deep love for each other—they are like two sides of the same coin. Marissa sees her sister as physically vulnerable, and has spent a considerable amount of time learning to fight mixed martial arts in order to defend her, whereas Madeline intuitively recognizes Marissa’s emotional vulnerability and seeks to alleviate that burden as best she can.

They are smart, self-sufficient girls who aren’t sitting around pining for some hunky boy. That’s not to say that there isn’t romance in the story—there is—but it is atypical, and in some ways, not to be trusted. Before the book concludes, the girls find themselves in strange and threatening places, so their reactions cannot be entirely predicted. They do manage to remain true to themselves (mostly) through it all.

Q:  What is your favorite part about writing?
A: 
The release and the creation of something beautiful and meaningful. I am one of those writers who hears the voices in their head, so letting these voices out to tell their story is good for me. I also enjoy the worlds I build and the people who populate them. I love hearing readers talk about how the characters in my books affect them and make them feel—good and bad. The fact that these people are having an emotional response and interest in something that I have created is both moving and humbling to me.

Q:  Are there more books planned for the Noctivagas Chronicle series? How will you know when it is finished (or do you already know how it is going to end)?
A: 
Yes! The second book, MORNING STARS, was released in October of this year, while the third book, MARS RISING, is scheduled to be released next year in early summer. The Noctivagas Chronicle, as the name implies, is a story arc, divided into several books. The arc will take several years (in book) to tell, allowing the girls time to grow and mature. I know exactly how many books will comprise the arc and how it will end.

Q:  Why did you decide to write a story about vampires? What is your favorite vampire story (besides your own, of course!)?
A: 
This story is multifaceted, so there is so much more to the characters than simply calling them vampires would suggest. I wrote it because the characters were compelling, and I wrote specifically about vampires because I had some equally compelling ideas about how vampirism could be biologically plausible. In that respect, the science behind my story is solid even though it is fantasy. I have a master’s degree in molecular genetics and I teach biology, so it was important to me to get the science right, while still telling an entertaining story.

My guilty pleasure for vampire stories is anything from Anne Rice. She is the doyenne of the modern vampire tale, and we lovers of the undead owe her a debt of gratitude for that. However, as much as I admire her vampires, I wanted to break new ground with my own story, so there isn’t much overlap between her vision of vampires and mine. As the arc proceeds, though, astute readers will notice an homage of sorts, simply because I love Anne’s work so much.

Q:  What is the best advice you have been given?
A: 
Aside from the advice to always wear clean underwear, the best advice I’ve ever gotten was to write and write and write and write, and then write some more! And to read… everything, good and bad, so that you recognize what each looks like. 

Q:  As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: 
An astronaut, which never happened. But then, I haven’t grown up yet, so there’s still hope.

Q:  If you could be on one reality TV show, what would it be?
A: 
Well, I don’t watch TV, so I have no idea what is even on these days. If “America’s Next Famous Author” is on some network then sign me up!

Q:  What book are you reading now?
A: 
Books, actually… 

Pax in the Land of Women by Monica La Porta

Reaper’s Rhythm by Clare Davidson

Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet

Blue on the Horizon by Rebecca Porter

I have a thing for women authors at the moment, apparently! I usually read multiple books, just as I always have several books underway in the writing process. That allows me to change books as my mood shifts.

Thanks for interviewing me!


About the Author:  

Jason T. Graves lives in North Carolina with his family and a menagerie of small, domestic animals. He takes his coffee black, and, when he is not conducting mysterious, mad-scientist experiments with his students, he writes mysterious and beautiful fiction.








Website:  http://jasontgraves.com/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6857367.Jason_T_Graves

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/JasonTGraves


Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was so anxious to read this book because of all the hype surrounding it. I get people don't like how it ended, but I thought it was pretty good still. Personally, I have no problem with the ending, even if it is not what I was expecting. This book was a lot slower than the first two – not nearly the action and a lot more time spent explaining things – though it had its good points as well.

I actually went into this thinking I was going to be disappointed with the explanations given, but I wasn't. There was a lot of conflict even inside those explanations – and as vague as that is I can't say more without giving away too much. I think the thing I liked the best about the book, and really the whole story overall, is that there was no clear-cut black and white right or wrong. There was no real antagonist – yes there were bad people making bad choices, but they thought their choices were the right ones for the right reasons. So what it comes down to is when all you have is bad options, pick the ones you can live with.

Though this was my least favorite book of the three, I did enjoy the series overall and am glad it ended when it did.


View all my reviews

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, #2)The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, #2)The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Immortal Rules was my first Julie Kagawa book, and I immediately fell in love with the characters, the writing, the story, everything! I had been looking forward to this second book for what seems like forever. The only thing I don't like about it is the cover (the blue one with the lungs or roots whatever they are on the front). I am very disappointed to have gotten this cover on the hardcover I purchased. Oh well, what are you going to do?

In this second book in The Blood of Eden series, our much loved heroine street girl-turned-vampire is still struggling with how to keep her humanity in a world where humanity is no longer valued. She is trying to do what she knows is right, even if it is not always the easiest. She makes some new friends along the way as well as crosses paths with some old ones we thought were lost. There comes a point where Allie has to decide who to trust, and she finds sometimes it is not the most obvious people.

The romance in the story, like the first book, is nicely paced and does not take over the story. While I want Allie to be happy and in love, the world she lives in is a rough and dismal place. There are many things that must be overcome before she gets her happily ever after…if she gets it at all.

Once again Ms. Kagawa's writing had me pulled into the story. The descriptive writing is beautiful and detailed. I am now anxiously looking forward to book three and will be re-reading the first two before it comes out!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Fueled by K. Bromberg

Fueled (The Driven Trilogy, #2)Fueled by K. Bromberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Angst: "A feeling of anxiety, hopelessness and misery, especially when regarded as unwarranted and melodramatic" (urbandictionary.com – italics mine). For further definition, read Fueled.

I loved Fueled. I love the characters and the storyline. I love how it started, and I loved how it ended, and I am looking forward to the last book in the trilogy to see how everything plays out. Colton is incredibly sexy and enigmatic, and brooding and incredibly impossible. While I love reading about him, I would never want to meet him in person, and I would never, ever date someone like him (okay, maybe one date, but that's about all of him I could handle!). His back and forth over what he wants (or doesn't want) was too much. Sweet one minute, and raging the next. My head was spinning.

My opinion flip-flopped a lot over Rylee. At times I was proud of her for being strong, willing to stand up for herself and what she wants/needs. Other times, I felt she gave in way too easily, and her rationale for doing so was not always sound. She let things go that I thought she should have spoken her mind about.

The entire book was a whirlwind of emotions, and I never knew from one page to the next what the next fight was going to be about – and there was going to be a next fight, of that you could be sure. Rylee and Colton were both very childish at times, like to the point where you just want someone to shut the hell up or get over it already, but I guess in the end it was all for love. I am looking forward to the last book to see how their story plays out.


View all my reviews

Thursday 28 November 2013

Bishop's Angel by Tory Richards + Giveaway


 Description:

After ten years of sacrificing everything for his country as a Navy SEAL, Bishop is looking for salvation, and something more permanent in his life, something good.

Angel, a pretty kindergarten teacher, thinks she's just what he needs. Their chemistry is instant, and explosive, only Bishop has trouble letting go of his commitment to his country. It's up to Angel to prove there's room for her in his life.












Excerpt:

“The police are on the way, ma’am. Where is the intruder now?” the operator asked.

Angel listened for a moment. “He’s still in the kitchen.”

“Is the intruder male?”

“No, no!” Angel said, and then quickly lowered her voice when she realized she’d spoken too loud. “I don’t know if it’s a woman or a man.” She’d been too afraid to look when she had the chance. Movement coming from the kitchen told her the intruder was still there, but for how long? She was crouched at the end of the couch, too afraid to turn around, frightened that at any moment she would be discovered. “Please hurry!”

“They’re on their way. Stay calm and—”

“I think he’s in the room with me!” Angel’s eyes rounded with fear when she sensed
someone moving up behind her.

“Ma’am stay on—”

Angel knew the intruder was behind her now. She stood up, whipped around, and slammed her phone into the side of his head with a piercing scream. All she could make out was a tall, dark outline.

“What the fuck—” a male voice boomed.

Angel let out another scream and slammed her hands against a massive chest, shoving him away from her as hard as she could. Her only thought was making it back upstairs to the safety of her room until the police arrived, but the second her palms landed on the man’s rock-hard chest she knew she was in trouble. He stumbled back but she had a feeling it was due more to her catching him by surprise than the force of her push.

She scooted around him but suddenly his hands were on her and for a moment they
struggled against each other. Angel was hyped up on adrenaline and a strong sense of survival, and she used her nails and teeth on the naked arms and powerful hands trying to subdue her. It gained her enough freedom to make it to the stairs but halfway up she found her ankle being grabbed, she fell, and then she was pinned beneath a heavy weight.

“No!” she cried out, struggling wildly against him. But she was no match for his superior
strength and the honed muscles she felt beneath her hands. In no time his hands had wrapped around her wrists, and she was pinned against the stairs.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his face too close to hers.

“Who the hell are you?” Angel demanded right back, twisting beneath him. It was then she felt cool air in places that she shouldn’t, reminding her that all she had on was a thin nightshirt and a pair of bikini panties. Judging by the super hard pecks she felt pressed against her breasts; her shirt had come undone, too. An insane thought crossed her mind, why wasn’t he wearing a shirt? She wiggled wildly, unintentionally scraping her nipples across his flesh.

“Stop before you get hurt!” he warned. In an effort to subdue her, he pressed his body against hers.

“Then get off me!” Angel hissed, arching her body in an effort to dislodge him. His muscled thighs and powerful legs flexed against hers, easily holding hers still.

“Not until you tell me who you are,” he grated in a rough voice.

His warm breath slapped her in the face. “I live here,” Angel said without hesitation, glaring up into his shadowed face. She was aware there was no way he could see her because it was too dark.

“The hell you do.”

How did he know that? “The police are on their way so I suggest you let me up and get out of here.” Her energy was beginning to wane. He was too strong and big, and the longer they remained like that, the more she began to feel uncomfortable with their intimate proximity.

“Good. Then we can get to the bottom of this.”

That wasn’t the kind of response an intruder would make if he were caught in someone
else’s house. Maybe he was delusional or something. Angel decided to switch tactics.

“These stairs are hurting me,” she said weakly. Things grew still between them and she sensed his silent contemplation, as if he were wondering if he should believe her. She whimpered a little for good measure.

“Okay, I’m going to let you up, but don’t try anything stupid,” he warned.

The second he released her and lifted off her body, Angel got to her feet and dashed the rest of the way up the stairs.

“Son of a bitch!” he cursed behind her.

Angel slammed and locked her bedroom door in his face. She didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish, except to get away from him until the police arrived. What was taking them so long? She ran to one of the windows and opened it. Maybe she could push out a screen and—

Without warning her bedroom door was kicked in. She screamed and made a beeline for her connecting bathroom.

“Oh, no, you don’t.”

A muscular arm wrapped around Angel’s waist and she was lifted off her feet. “Let me go!” She wiggled and kicked, very much aware that her butt was against a very intimate part of his body. Burning heat replaced the fear flowing through her blood because his cock wasn’t as flaccid as it should have been.

“Look,” he slammed her down onto the bed and for the second time she found herself
pinned beneath his superior strength. “Before this goes any further I think we need to talk.”

“You can talk to the police,” she panted, twisting beneath him.

“I intend to,” he said without hesitation. There was a confidence in his tone that surprised her.

Without warning, he reached up and turned on the reading light at the head of the bed. How did he know that was there? Meeting eyes the color of blue topaz, everything in Angel froze, including her breath. Oh God, I know those eyes! She didn’t know the man personally, but she knew of him from the pictures on the fireplace mantle downstairs. He was Diana’s older brother, and Navy SEAL Bishop Strong. Suddenly everything made perfect sense.

After six years, he’d finally come home!




Anyone who signs up for my newsletter on the day this is posted will receive a free download of one of my books. Sign-up link is located on my website/blog, right hand side. After you sign up leave a comment on the sign-up post with your email addy. Thanks!






About the Author:  
Tory Richards is a grandma who likes to read and write smut. Born in Maine, she's spent most of her life in Florida. She's been a writer since the dawn of ages,(1965),and did it for many years before getting discovered by her daughter and niece. They encouraged Tory to submit to a publisher, and that book, Cupid's Arrow written under her real name, was on the publisher's best sellers list for two months!

Tory retired from Disney, and today she resides with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, where she spends her time between family, four cats, and writing.



 Social Links:  
Website  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads  Amazon 

Buy Links:
Amazon B&N  Smashwords  Kobo  

Tour Coordinator:
I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

Please check out the other stops on this tour today:

I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews  I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews 

This Holiday Party Blog tour is being run in conjunction with the 
Check out the entire schedule of the 18 Holiday Party Blog Tour stops & participating bloggers HERE.



Join the party and win from a prize pool of over 1,500 books and prizes by these generous authors!

This post contains Affiliate Links.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Letters From Home by Bethanne Strasser + Giveaway

Letters From Home
by Bethanne Strasser

 

Published November 25, 2013 by Entangled: Flirt

ebook, 80 pages  

Book Description:
 

An Army doctor, Lena Rodriguez has always been too busy with school or the Army for romance. But the letters she received during deployment have captured her heart. Back home for the holidays, she awaits Christmas morning to meet the man who has turned her life upside down.
 

When Zack Benson watched his best friend's sister Lena leave for Afghanistan, he knew he had to tell her he loved her. So he sent her anonymous love letters. Now that she’s home, he realizes he's made a tactical error. Lena has fallen for the man in those letters but still thinks of him as a brother. He has to convince her otherwise because if he succeeds, he’ll get the best Christmas present ever. But if he fails, he could lose her for good.


Or Buy it now on  Amazon or B&N!

 

 



 
About the Author:  

I strive to live my dreams.
A couple of years ago, my husband took that step and joined the Army. An accountant by trade and finally fed up with a life that aggravated and frustrated...always reaching for the almighty dollar, he came to me and said, what if I join the Army?   
Sure! Please, join the Army. I want my happy husband back. :D I took my cue from him. Though writing has been a part of my life for a long time, my drive had settled in to an easy-going 55 mph. Not too fast, not too slow, with an occasional burst of speed to thrill me.  
I write romance--suspense, contemporary, and an occasional paranormal. My stories are full of life, family, and love. I write a lot. I have a lot to share. I love stories that encompass the world. You can find me reading just about any genre of romance, but my favorites are fast-paced suspense, where life is on the line and love is the only saving grace. I want a book that makes my heart pound and my pulse race.

Website: http://www.bethannestrasser.blogspot.com 

Blog: http://www.throughheartshapedglasses.com  

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Bethanne_writes  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bstrasser35  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094582.Bethanne_Strasser


 

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Lady Thief (Scarlet, #2) by A.C. Gaughen

Lady Thief (Scarlet, #2)Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received ARC copy from Netgalley.

One of my favorite Disney movies is Robin Hood. I knew when I read the premise of Lady Thief that I had to give it a try. This is one of those books that you will stay up till 2 in the morning reading just so you can finish it. I could not put it down.

Scarlet(Marion) continues to make sacrifices for Rob, who she loves, but also the people she feels she needs to protect. Rob is struggling with his tortured past, and that could hinder his relationship with Scarlet. Will they be able to work together to save Nottingham from the evil Prince John?

This book is the second book in the Scarlet series. Even though I didn't read the first book, I was quickly drawn into the story through its descriptive details. I fell in love with the characters and went on an emotional journey with them. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what will happen to Scarlet.


View all my reviews