Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Our video interview with Luke Daniels

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Luke Daniels on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series. I fell in love with Luke while listening to Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles. He does an amazing job of telling a story to his listeners. I have to tell you that I had a little bit of a fan girl moment when Luke agreed to do an video interview. EEEEKkkk.

Please let me introduce you to Luke:

Luke Daniels was born into a family of actors. Both his father and mother have been performing and teaching for almost five decades. It is because of their influence that, from a very young age, Luke and his two brothers often found themselves in rehearsal halls at repertory theatres all over the country; watching innumerable productions of Much Ado, Julius Caesar, and Midsummer’s.

Luke’s first theatrical role came at the age of 5 as Fleance in a production of Macbeth. He immediately loved the creativity and camaraderie of the theatre. (It also didn’t hurt that he was allowed to miss school for certain performances.)

Over the years Luke has performed at many repertory theatres across the country, including the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Connecticut Rep., and Hope Summer Rep. in Holland, Michigan. Luke has his Bachelor’s from Western Michigan University and his MFA in performance from the University of Connecticut.

Luke has worked professionally as a director, teacher, audiobook narrator, voice-over, commercial, and industrial actor.

But he maintains that the greatest role he has ever played is that of a Father to his kids.

Learn more about Luke and his bodies of work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*****
Here is our amazing video interview with the super awesomely talented Luke Daniels

Here is a small snippet from Kevin Hearne’s Two Tales of the Iron Druid Chronicles

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

June 14, 2015June 15, 2015

Kissin’ the week of June 8th-13th Goodbye

06.08.15

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Dani Harper & Justine Eyre + a giveaway

Natasha reviews Spiraled by Kendra Elliot

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Collared For Murder by Annie Knox

06.09.15

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s Top 5 reason to love Audiobook

Kimberly reviews Kiss The Bride by Rachael Johns

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Truffled To Death by Kathy Aarons

06.10.15

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: A Gift idea’s for the Book Lover: Featuring Donna’s Dragons

Kelly reviews Adored by Lexi Blake

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Death of A Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike

06.11.15

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Johanna Parker

Kelly reviews Protective Instinct by Katie Reus

06.12.15

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Angela Dawe

Kelly reviews Retribution by Katie Reus

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Sea Glass Sunrise by Donna Kauffman

06.13.15

SINsational Saturday Series

Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series

June 13, 2015June 12, 2015

SINsational Saturday Series: Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Millennium #1

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there’s always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson’s novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don’t want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

*****

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Millennium #2

byStieg Larsson, Reg Keeland(Translator)

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.

*****

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Millennium #3

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)

The stunning third and final novel in Stieg Larsson’s internationally best-selling trilogy.

Lisbeth Salander – the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels – lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Angela Dawe + a giveaway

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Angela Dawe our Audio Book Lovin’ Series today.

Angela Dawe is an audiobook narrator and actress living and working in Chicago, Illinois. Winner of several Earphones Awards from Audiofile Magazine and narrator of two Audie-nominated audiobooks, Angela is also an accomplished improviser/sketch comedian, and has worked with such theaters as Second City, iO (formerly improvOlympic), and The Annoyance. You can reach Angela at angela.dawe.voice@gmail.com or learn more about Angela and her body of work here: Website | Goodreads | Tantor | Audible

Kelly: Now that we know a little about Angela let get to the good stuff. Angela, Welcome to our Audio Book Lovin’ series. I have to tell you that I am totally in love with you being the narrator of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. So I hope you don’t mind if we talk about how amazing you are 🙂

Wow, thank you! I love doing that series.

For those of you who have not listened to or know about this series, this is one of my top 5 all time favorite series. Here is a little sample from Slave to Sensation narrator by Angela.

Kelly: Can you tell us how does an author/narrator relationship begin?

In my years of narrating, there have only been a couple of times when I actually communicated directly with an author. Usually that only happens when there’s a pronunciation question, generally when the word has been made up by the author. If we do have to bother the author, we try to do it unobtrusively and politely, of course.

Kelly: Angela, what sort of information does Nalini provide to you prior to starting the narrating process of her book(s)?

Prior to starting the narration, I read the book in its entirety, but beyond that, I’m on my own.

Kelly: How do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?

Characters tend to jump off the page and into my imagination with a voice unto themselves. I hear it in my head and then do my best to bring it to the microphone. And of course things like gender, age, background, etc. come into play, too. But with authors like Nalini, the characters are so well developed that the vocal choice seems obvious to me after I’ve read the book. I’m not creating Hawke’s voice, for example, becuse Nalini’s wonderful writing did it for me – I’m just doing my best impression of the Hawke I see and hear in my imagination.

Kelly: Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remember what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?

Some characters are so memorable to me that it’s easy remember how to voice them from book to book. I’ve already mentioned Hawke, whose voice is very distinct in my mind (and one of my favorites to do). But I am only human, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, so I keep files of previous recordings on my computer and will occasionally go and listen back to how I voiced a particular character to make sure I’m staying consistent.

Let’s take a moment to bask in all things Hawke for a moment. Here is a clip from Kiss of Snow.

Kelly: Angela, tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)

Different narrators have very different processes, so I can only speak for myself here. I do read the books ahead of narrating them. For me, that helps me get a handle on the tone the author is going for in the narrative sections, and of course it helps me decide how to voice different characters. Does one character have an accent? Is a character the shy, quiet type, or more brash and bold? How will the characters relate to each other based on their history?

My daily routine depends on whether I’m in a publisher’s studio, such as the Brilliance Audio studio in Michigan, where I’ve recorded some great series (a favorite: the Kathleen Turner series by Tiffany Snow). When I go into a studio like Brilliance, I work with an engineer and director, and we work from about 8:30 to 5 like most folks do. Most books on that schedule take an average of three days to record, roughly. However, for some publishers I record from my home studio, and my schedule is more flexible on those projects because I’m not messing with anyone else’s schedule – I’m flying solo. So I might record for a few hours in the morning, then do some recording in the evening, rather than putting in eight hours straight.

When I’m recording, I make a LOT of mistakes! What I do in those cases is I go back a few lines in the recording and press play, and at a pause before where I messed up the first take, I “punch in” and re record it, going on from there. So if the line is, “She reached out to him, only to discover he’d already left,” and I mess up that second clause, I will go back, play my original take of the first clause, and then begin recording again with, “only to discover he’d already left.” And on from there (until I make another mistake).

Kelly: Authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?

Yes, they’re called booths! Booths are very cave-like, usually. Dark and quiet and sort of removed from the rest of the world because of the soundproofing. At home I have a prefabricated booth that’s three feet by three feet by seven feet, with a narrow door on one side. It’s where my equipment is and where I do the bulk of my work.

But I do my prepping everywhere I can bring my tablet. That’s one of the best things about my job – I can work on a book virtually anywhere as far as everything I need to do before getting into the booth. I love working at little coffee shops, or on my back porch in the summertime.

Kelly: Here’s a fun question for you Angela that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often? Me personally I would want you to talk to me as Judd. Judd is my favorite.

Hahaha, what a great question! You know, I have never been asked to do a specific character, but a lot of people ask me to talk in accents when they learn what I do for a living. “Say something with a Scottish accent!” “Do Australian!” Come on, guys – I’m not your dancing monkey! (Just kidding, I’m always flattered and happy to oblige. I will talk like Judd to you whenever you please.)

And speaking of my man Judd (LOVE Judd) I have have pins to prove my love

Kelly: Speaking of favorite do you have a favorite Character that you have narrated from this series?

Here’s what just happened in my brain:

Hawke. Oh, but what about Sienna… Oh Krychek, Krychek, Krychek! Oh but Ming LeBon is so fun… Who’s cooler than Mercy, though? Nikita Duncan, maybe…

So I guess my answer is: I have too many favorites!

Kelly: I totally understand. So many amazing characters… But I defer back to what I said before Judd is my favorite.

*sigh* Judd

Kelly: Sorry, was distracted for a minute… Angela, of all of Nalini’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?

I thought about this question for a long time, and I have to say Kiss of Snow. The love story is sizzling, the action is incredible, it’s by turns sweet and terrifying. And I just love Hawke and Sienna!

Kelly: Angela, it was so great to have you on the blog. And if I meet you person please just talk like Judd the whole time. So one last questions before I let you go. If someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?

You’re missing out! Believe me, if they’re half as fun to listen to as they are to record, you’re missing out big-time. And I’d be happy to make recommendations. 🙂

Make sure to enter our giveaway today

a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Sea Glass Sunrise by Donna Kauffman

In seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, friends are just another word for family, and big-city politics take a backseat to local pride. But the real treasure on these shores is always love…

When D.C. lawyer Hannah McCrae heads home for her brother’s wedding, she’s dragging a lot of baggage along with her—and she doesn’t mean suitcases. Betrayed personally, and humiliated professionally, the last thing she wants is a new man. That’s fine with square-jawed, rugged contractor Calder Blue. He and Hannah may be wildly attracted to one another, but all he wants is to build the town’s hotly contested new yacht club and mend a centuries-old family feud. Yet thanks to resentments old and new, day after day the pair wind up tangled in each other’s business—and maybe soon in each other’s arms.

Every bride needs something “blue”…

Amazon/B&N

She was taller than he’d initially thought when she’d been in the car. Somewhere around five-nine, maybe five-ten. He didn’t know what kind of heels she had on, but, regardless, she wasn’t much shorter than he was, and he came in at six-one. Lithe and lean, not much in the curves department, either. That much he’d accurately ascertained from his blouse assessment earlier.

She paused as she noted the sign on the side of his truck.

“Blue Harbor Farm.” She looked back at him. “I thought you said you were a contractor.”

“I am. Family business. Fourth generation.”

“And the farm?”

“First generation,” he said with a smile.

“You?”

He nodded.

“Sounds like a lot to juggle.”

“If you ask my father, it’s a waste of time and money. If you ask my brothers, a hobby that got a little out of control.”

“And if I asked you?”

He kept his smile in place, but his answer was serious and heartfelt. “The thing that kept me sane through a hellacious divorce.” His smile grew slightly. “Continues to keep me sane working with family.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “About the . . . hellacious part.”

She waved a hand briefly, but said no more. She held his gaze, then looked at the sign again, more, he thought, for somewhere else to look. Other than at him. He wasn’t sure what she’d seen in his expression, but banged up or not, she seemed a pretty sharp sort. So probably . . . too much.

He saw her eyebrows lift. “Calais?” she said. “You’re a long way from home.”

“Not that far. Hour and fifteen to the company office, hour-forty-five to the farm.”

“Unique town, Calais. Sort of umbilically attached to Saint Stephen across the border in New Brunswick, right? Interesting blend of cultures.”

“Mais oui, bien sur.”

She smiled a little at that. “I guess you grew up speaking French and English, living so close.”

“It’s predominantly English on both sides of the border. I speak French because my mother is French Canadian. I grew up with both languages.” He opened the passenger door to his truck.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she said, as he helped her up to the passenger seat.

She levered herself into the truck with a natural, graceful ease, making him wonder if she was a dancer, or some other thing that elegant women did with elegant bodies like the one she had. She required only a little assistance from him, which was just as well, he thought. Putting his hands on any more of that elegant body wouldn’t be wise. She was the kind of distraction he never needed in general, and definitely didn’t need right now.

She pulled on her own seat belt, wincing a little as she did, then immediately leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “But I’m very grateful you did.”

“Not a problem,” he said, palming the door, intending to close it.

“Hannah,” she said, quietly now, so he knew she was in more pain than she’d been showing, making him pause.

“I’m Hannah. McCrae.”

“Calder Blue,” he responded.

“Ah. Blue Harbor Farm,” she added, as if recalling the sign on his door. “Any relation to Jonah Blue?” she asked through barely moving bruised lips, eyes still closed.

“Great-nephew.”

“I thought I’d met all the Blues.”

“Different branch of the family.”

She opened her eyes then, and turned all that dark blue on him. Despite whatever pain she was in, and whatever worries she might have, her eyes were still surprisingly sharp, and quickly assessing. “You mean—as in Jedediah Blue’s branch?”

“The very same.”

“Your branches don’t talk to each other. For like . . . a hundred years.”

“A little longer, but that is true, yes.”

“How long have you been in Blueberry?”

“Just heading in, actually

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes again, but her lips curved upward just a hair and stayed that way, even when she winced at the pain.

“Something amusing about that?”

“Not at all. It’s . . . I just realized that your bombshell is going to be a lot bigger than mine.”

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author of the Cupcake Club Romance series, Donna Kauffman has seen her books reviewed in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives just outside of DC in the lovely Virginia countryside, where she is presently trying to makeover her newly empty nest into something that doesn’t have to accommodate piles of sports equipment falling out of her coat closet (okay, out of every closet…and under every bed….), size 13 cleats and sweaty uniforms cluttering her foyer (and stairwell, and laundry room, and…), and a kitchen that should have come with a traffic light. And a pantry monitor. (Anyone with a clever idea on how to repurpose lacrosse sticks into matching reading lamps, she’s all ears!) When she’s not stripping paint, varnishing an old auction house find, or trying to avoid bodily injury with her latest power tool purchase, she loves to hear from readers!

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Sea Glass Sunrise

Review (4 Stars): Hannah and Calder were a great couple together and you could see the instant chemistry between the two characters even when they tried to pretend that they didn’t. They seemed as though they would be exact opposites and would have nothing in common but sometimes exact opposites make the best couples. Sea Glass Sunrise is a smart, charming, small-town romance that will keep readers coming back for more in this delightful new series. I enjoyed every moment of Hannah and Calder’s love story and I can’t wait to see what couple finds love next in the second book of the series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June 11, 2015June 11, 2015

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Johanna Parker

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have the wonderful Johanna Parker our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.

Please let me introduce you to Johanna.

Johanna Parker is an Audie Award Winning, Earphone Award Winning actress living and working in San Francisco. Since narrating her first audiobook for Recorded Books in 2002, Johanna has received high praise for her work in all genres, including the young adult Mediator series by Meg Cabot, Earlene Fowler’s Bennie Harper Mysteries, and her portrayal of Sookie Stackhouse in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire books of which Audiofile has said, “Parker personifies Harris’s perky Southern heroine, Sookie Stackhouse. Her splendid pacing allows listeners time to absorb the action and emotions…listeners will be enthralled.”

Johanna received her BFA in Acting from Boston University and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. She has performed on stages in

London, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York and has numerous film and television credits. Now a sought after voiceover actress, Johanna has voiced commercials, video games, documentaries and web sites.

Johanna writes: “I love books. I loved them long before I could read them myself and I will love them long past the time I can only listen to them. Telling stories, in whatever way, has always been my passion, and audiobook narration has become the unexpected niche where my love of books and my love of storytelling come together in an incredible, inevitable fusion. I get to play all the parts. I get to truly utilize my training. And my hair can look like #@$%&!”

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads.

So now that we know a little about Johanna what do you say we get started?

Johanna, Thank you so much for joining us on our Audio Book Lovin’ series *looks down and realized I forgot to hit record.OOPS!!! Hits record really quick*

Here is a look at Maplecroft

Make sure to watch for my post with Roger Wayne on June 25th to find out what he has to say narrating Maplecroft with Johanna and listen to another clip narrated by Roger.

Another popular novel narrated by Johanna: Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Death of A Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike

Nine Reasons Why Chocolate is Better than Romance…
By Penny Pike AKA Penny Warner

Darcy Burnett, the amateur sleuth in my new mystery, DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER, has had her share of unhappy romances. After breaking up with her cheating boyfriend.losing her position as a restaurant critic at the San Francisco Chronicle, and taking a job working in a food truck for her Aunt Abby, Darcy thinks life is pretty much doomed.
So when she meets Jake Miller, the dream puff from the nearby cream puff food truck, she’s reluctant to get involved too quickly, not wanting to get burned, chewed up, and spit out again. And like many women, she’s finding chocolate almost as satisfying as relationship.
Here are nine reasons Darcy claims chocolate is better than romance—that is, until Jake Miller melts her heart and turns her insides into liquid chocolate.

You don’t have to wait for chocolate to call. It’s always there for you.

Chocolate doesn’t care if you haven’t washed your hair or shaved your legs – it will still melt in your mouth.
You don’t have to be exclusive with chocolate. Feel free to shop around.

You don’t have to brush your teeth before you eat chocolate. (But you probably should afterward to avoid cavities.)
You can eat two pieces of chocolate at the same time and not worry about your reputation.

No matter how many wrinkles you have or gray hair you’re hiding, you never age-out of chocolate.
With chocolate, size doesn’t matter (although most agree, more is better.)

Chocolate doesn’t make you pregnant. (You can diet those extra pounds away, if absolutely necessary.)

Even if you’re allergic to chocolate, you can read a good mystery novel like DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER and get almost the same effects.
So take heart, if your heart has been broken, and get yourself a box of Sees dark chocolates, a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate squares or a pillowcase full of leftover Halloween chocolate, then curl up with a cat, a book, and a glass of red wine. As Darcy will tell you, chocolate fixes just about everything. Until a dream puff like Jake Miller enters your life….

About the Author:

Penny Warner, columnist for Bay Area News Group. Photographed in Pleasanton, Calif. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. (Jim Stevens/Bay Area News Group) — Penny Warner

Penny Pike aka Penny Warner is the author of the food truck mystery series, including DEATH OF A CRABBY BOOK and DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER, based in San Francisco, and featuring amateur sleuth and chocolate lover, Darcy Burnett. Coming soon: DEATH OF A BAD APPLE…

Website/Twitter/Facebook

At this year’s chocolate festival, Darcy and her Aunt Abby hope to win the $10,000 prize in the chocolate contest with Aunt Abby’s taste sensation: the chocolate raspberry whoopee pie. A little friendly competition from Darcy’s sometime-beau Jake Miller, who plans to enter with his chocolate cream puff delight, only sweetens the deal. But things get sticky when one of the judges, Polly Montgomery, is taken out of commission—permanently.

The suspects include every contestant with reason to believe Polly wasn’t too sweet on their sweets, including Aunt Abby’s high school friend. Now Darcy must pick through an assortment of secrets to catch a killer before someone else gets a bittersweet finish.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Death of A Chocolate Cheater

Review (4 Stars): What a yummy mystery! Death of a Chocolate Cheater has it all with a spunky heroine, delicious chocolate treats and a delightfully fun mystery that is sure to entertain. Darcy is just so adorable and you can instantly connect with this wonderful character as she navigates her way through another mystery. I love Aunt Abby’s comfort food recipes and I want so desperately to visit her food truck and sample some of these amazing culinary delights. This mystery was fast-paced and entertaining and I found myself lost in this story until the very end. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what trouble Darcy finds herself into next.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Death of A Chocolate Cheater. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by June 18th, please leave me a comment below:

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: A Gift idea’s for the Book Lover: Featuring Donna’s Dragons

Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I are celebrating AudioBook Month and hosting Audio Book Lovin! It’s the Second Wednesday of the month and that means we’re focusing all Gift Ideas on a Series we LOVE!! We thought you all would enjoy some Scots that happen to be Dragon Kings. What do you think? Yeah… we thought so.

Soul Scorched (Dark Kings #6) by Donna Grant is set to release on June 30, 2015 and we can’t wait!!!

*****

Temporary Tattoo Dragon Tribal Waterproof Ultra Thin Realistic Fake Tattoos

By UnrealInkShop

$10.95 (plus S&H)

Temporary Tattoo Dragon Spiral Fake Tattoo

You will receive 1 tattoo and full instructions.

Size: 6″ H x 4″ W

Unreal inks will last at least a week.

Ultra-Thin (25 microns), durable, quality waterslide tattoos.

All tattoos are printed with a LaserJet printer using top quality paper.

*****

4 welsh dragon pint glasses customized personalized wedding favors gift wales

By NavyBratGlass

$30.00 (plus S&H)

This listing is for a set of four 16 ounce pint glasses sandblasted with the Welsh dragon as shown.

The back of these can be personalized with a name/date for no additional cost. Use the as a question button if you have any questions if your personalization request will fit.

*****

Glow in the dark Dragon Surrounding the Moon

By Papillon9

$27.95 (plus S&H)

Legends of the Dragon

The myriad legends of the Chinese Dragon permeate ancient Chinese civilization and shaped their culture even today. Its benevolence signifies greatness, goodness and blessings. Instead of being feared and hated the Chinese dragons are highly respected creatures of good fortune that bring ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune. Chinese mythology says dragons control the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. Many Chinese cities have pagodas where people used to burn incense to ask the dragons to favor their crops or change the weather. Dragons are referred to as the divine mythical creature.

As an animal possessed of magical abilities the Chinese dragon is able to shrink to the size of a silk worm; and then swell up to fill the entire space between heaven and earth. It can make itself visible or invisible, as it so chooses. It can take on human form or that of another animal to carry out some secret mission.

*****

Celtic Dragon Brooch Pin – Celtic Jewelry in Fine Pewter by Treasure Cast Pewter

By treasurecast

$14.98 (plus S&H)

A Celtic Dragon brooch in fine pewter.

1 5/8 inches [44mm] wide 1 5/8 inches [44mm] high

Made with fine lead free pewter in Boise Idaho

*****

Snow Dragon, Fantastical All White Stuffed Dragon, Fantasy Plush, Handcrafted of Eco Felt, Stuffed Animals, Eco Friendly Toy, Kids Gift

By TheRoamingPeddlers

$38.00 (plus S&H)

Snow Dragon Fantasy Plush ~ Handmade to Order ~ Ships in 2 to 3 weeks via Priority Mail ~ PLEASE SEE THE SHIPPING TAB ON THIS PAGE TO FIND OUT WHEN THIS ITEM WILL SHIP!

This majestic snow dragon is all white and blends in beautifully with winter. He is soft and silent like the gentle cushion of a blanket of snow. He is magnificently simple.

Our dragons are are all friendly dragons. They like to look majestic, perched atop a shelf or dresser, but also like to be played with and snuggled!

This completely handcrafted stuffed dragon is made of Eco-felt. His wings are veined with silver thread, with a wingspan of 12 inches.

He stands about 10 inches tall from the top of the head to the feet, and is approximately 13 inches from snout to tail tip. His plush body weighs approximately 5 ounces. The eyes are sewn-on wool, so there are no choking hazards.

The dragon pictured is an example of the dragon you will receive when purchasing. We will make your dragon with the exact color scheme described in this listing.

*****

Fantasy Dragon Motorcycle Pocket Knife

By yankytreasure

$25.00 (plus S&H)

Very cool dragon motorcycle pocket knife. New old stock, has never been used. Has a dragon on it with lots of character. Knife is all metal with a stainless blade. Total length of knife with blade is 7 1/4″ long. Length of blade itself is 3 1/4″ long. It is a locking blade. This is a very nice knife, does have a little weight to it. Pewter in color. Great collectible gift. I am not responsible for any accidents that may occur with this knife. Very Sharp and blade is tight!!!!!!

*****

Blue Wing Dragon Necklace Dragon Pendant Necklace or Dragon Keyring Dragon Jewelry Dragon Pendant Dragon Necklace

By RiverwalkDesigns

$7.95 (plus S&H)

Blue Wing Dragon pendant necklace.

This listing is for a handmade pendant necklace! Orders ship within 1 to 3 business days.

Art print size is 1″ inch (about the size of a quarter coin), chain length is 24″ inches long. The art print is sealed under a clear glass cover. The glass gives the image a 3D look although it is flat. The image is printed on premium matte photo paper for the best clarity and color.

When you purchase this listing you will receive 1 pendant, 1 matching necklace (or key ring) and 1 organza bag.

There are many color finish choices for the pendant tray and matching necklace. All necklaces are 24″ in length. Lead free / nickel free / cadmium free.

*****

Wedding Cake Topper – Two Dragons in Love Silhouette Cake Topper

By Plasticsmith

$19.80 (plus S&H)

Two Dragons in Love Silhouette Wedding Cake Topper is made of 1/8″ black plastic

with non reflecting pebbled surface on the front and smooth back.

ABS silhouette looks delicate and fragile but the material is very strong.

Size; 5.5″W x4″H

Topper is lightweight so it will not sink into your cake, yet sturdy, the perfect combination.

It has a stake at the bottom so that it can be placed securely into the cake, the stake measure approx 1.75″, the sticks are non removable.

*****

ORIGINAL FANTASY hair clip – Dragon Hair Barrette/Pin

Byaishavoya

$30.00 (plus S&H)

Why put a bow in your hair when you can have a friend among your follicles? Who would want a normal pin their jacket?

These dragons were hand sculpted, cast in resin, air brushed, hand-painted , and sealed.

Don’t see a color you’d like? Message me, and I can paint you a one-of-a-kind dragon.

Each dragon is made to order and takes about 2 weeks to make and ship out. Rush orders are possible, please message me for details.

If items are no longer available, please contact the seller to request further information.

We hope you liked this week’s gift ideas!

Make sure to grab Donna’s Soul Scorched (Dark Kings #6) which releases June 30, 2015! You still have time to catch up on the series if you haven’t read them all!

Now enter the giveaway!

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Time to go visit Kelly & Viviana!!!

Click here to see more gift ideas!!

Visit us every Wednesdays for more awesome gift/present ideas for you or the

Book Lover in your life!!!

June 9, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Truffled To Death by Kathy Aarons

5 Things I Won’t Leave Home Without

by Kathy Aarons

My critique partner recommended this as a blog topic and my first thought was, “But I have only three.” And then I got it: I’m supposed to go a little deeper than “my purse, my keys and my cell phone. So here goes:

My family – Not my actual family. The idea of my family. My love of my family, both immediate and extended. My husband is most likely at work when I’m leaving the house, and my girls are away at college. I’m an empty nester who takes advantage of Skype, Facebook, and email to keep in touch with her kids. All of which I can do from my phone. Which is with me at all times. Just ask my family.
My friends – Living away from my family means I had to create my own little local family. My friends are very supportive of my writing, but they’d be supportive if I decided to take up knitting kitten-themed coasters and selling them on Etsy. They listen to my frustrations and then remind me that I’m living my dream, so knock off the whining. We text way too much, especially right before movies for some reason. Using my phone.
My music – I love listening to music when I walk and when I drive. I like to say that my music tastes stopped maturing in middle school. I love most of what’s on popular music stations and rarely listen to music from “back in the day.” And just like a preteen, I sometimes fall out of love with my music a few days after I buy it on iTunes. My music? Also on my phone.
Paper for observations – Whenever I get out of the house, I people watch. And 99% of the time, I have paper to write it down. I keep little notebooks in my purse, and larger ones in my car. If I get stuck somewhere, I notice things and write them down. In the rare times I’m stuck without paper, I type my notes into my phone.
Purse/keys/phone – I’m very particular about my purses, but probably not in the way you’d expect. They have to be crossover with a very long strap and must have easy access to my phone. I buy them cheap – usually under $20 at Target. My above-mentioned friends keep buying me “real” purses, which I grudgingly use for nice dinner or special events, but the next day I’m back to my cheapo casual purse, which holds my keys. And my phone.
Coffee – Or at least the buzz from it. I grind almost a cup of beans to make my French press coffee, and drink the whole thing before most people are awake. I made the mistake of trying Yemen pour-over coffee at Bird Rock Roasters – it brings coffee to a whole ‘nother level, like sipping expensive wine. The coffee is so smooth and non-bitter that you can taste the notes of berry and chocolate inside. It’s way too expensive, so I can only have it as a special reward. I have artistic photos of it on my phone.

So I guess I have more than five things!
Truffled to Death

Two best friends sell books and bonbons—and solve crimes—in this mystery from the author of Death Is Like a Box of Chocolates…

Hoping to sweeten sales for their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, Michelle and Erica host a reception highlighting a new museum display of ancient Mayan pottery curated by Erica’s former mentor, Professor Addison Moody. The evening has a few hiccups, but the ladies soon smooth things over with ample servings of wine and chocolate.

Yet with the sweet comes the bitter. The very next day, the antiquities from the reception are discovered missing. The professor accuses Erica of having sticky fingers, claiming she wants revenge on him. And she’s only in more trouble after he’s found stabbed to death with one of the artifacts. Now Michelle must help Erica track down the real killer before someone else finds themselves in less than mint condition…

About the Author:

Kathy Aarons is the author of Truffled to Death, second in the CHOCOLATE COVERED MYSTERY series by Berkley Prime Crime. Her first book, Death Is Like a Box of Chocolates, was a national bestseller.

Research for the series was a hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.

Kathy lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters where she wakes up far too early and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.

You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Truffled To Death

Review (3.5 Stars): This is the second book in the Chocolate Covered Mystery series and I enjoyed every minute of it. Michelle and Erica are hosting their first event which highlights a new museum display of ancient Mayan pottery. There are minor issues at the reception but is considered a success until the next day when the Mayan antiquities are discovered missing and Erica is blamed by her former mentor. Things go from bad to worse when her mentor is found dead and everything points back at Erica as the killer. It is up to Michelle to find the clues that will lead to the true killer before Erica is put away for a crime that she didn’t commit.

Truffled To Death is the perfect mixture of murder, books and chocolates that is sure to delight cozy readers. I love Michelle and Erica’s relationship and how they will do anything to protect one another. The mystery in this one was fun and entertaining and definitely a quick read. Looking forward to book number three in the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Truffled To Death. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by June 16th, please leave me a comment below:

June 9, 2015June 6, 2015

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s Top 5 reason to love Audiobook

Did you know that June is Audio book month?

If you didn’t now you do!!!

And I just love audiobooks so much.

I will say that I was on the fence for a long time about audiobooks. I can remember back in high school (way back when) we had books on tape. Yes, for all you youngins cassette tapes.

Then books moved to CD’s (which you can still order) and then on to the amazing download apps.

Here are my top 5 reasons…..

#1-Audiobooks: Takes a novel to a whole different level for me. There is nothing better then a well written story and you have an amazing narrator. Here is a great example. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstren, narrated by Jim Dale took me back to when I was a kid and my dad would read me stories. I was totally engrossed and did what to stop listening.

https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/the-night-circus-by-erin#2 Portable: With the invent of Smartphones audiobooks are always at the read. Yes, I do carry my kindle with me at all times, but the police frown on me reading and driving. With audiobooks on my phone I can listen while I am commenting to and from work. You can also take your audiobook with you to the gym, listen while you are doing housework, yard work or those relaxing moments of zin when we forgot our kindle and have a few extra minutes waiting for the kid to get out of school or while waiting at the doctor’s office. (I would recommend headphones if you are in public, never know what is going to be next in a book)

#3 More details: I don’t know about you. But when I read I tend to skip over a word, a sentence and sometimes a whole paragraph. With Audiobooks you are forced to listen to every word of the book.

#4 Impairment: I love that audiobooks can give someone who may not be able to see or read for long periods of time a way to experience the world of books. Audiobooks are also great for people who may have problems with actual reading. I know a lot of people who don’t read because they are dyslexia. Once the find audiobooks a whole new world is open to them. And I have found that they are more willing to pick up a book and try to read. Audiobooks are very powerful tools.

#5 Excessablity: As with portable, it is so easy for people to get audio books now. You can buy them through Amazon, Audible, Tantor Media, Brilliance Audio, Recorded Books and so many other amazing places. And for those who say “Audiobooks are to expenses” did you know that many of your local libraries have audiobooks? And a lot have ways to download them to your smart device. OH and if they don’t have the book you are looking for request it, because you can’t be the only one who wants to listen to that story.

So those are just a few of the reasons why I love audio books. If you want to know more reason make sure to stop by each day the rest of this month, because every post features an author/narrator duo that I am totally and utterly in love with.

But a word of caution: Listen to audio clips before you buy your books. Make sure you enjoy the narrator’s voice. Because while I totally love my audio books and will never give them up. There have been a few narrators that didn’t do it for me. I ended up reading the book the old fashion way.
So I want to wet your appetite a little more. I shared above Mr. Jim Dale reading part of Ms. Morgenstern’s The Night Circus , which I would HIGHLY recommend you listen too!!! Below is another one of my favorite series on audio (and yes I think I am sharing all my favorites with you this month).

Diana Rowland’s White Trash Zombie series is so amazingly, funny and I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. So please enjoy Ms. Rowland’s White Trash Zombie clips narrated by Allison McLemore

Book one My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Book Two: Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues

Books Three: White Trash Zombie Apocalypse

Book Four: How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

June 8, 2015June 8, 2015

Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Dani Harper & Justine Eyre + a giveaway

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Dani Harper and the awesome Justine Eyre our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.

Today I am talking to the ladies about Dani’s Grim series. I have had the pleasure of listening to Justine narrate Dani’s amazing story and as always Justine blows me away with her amazing talents. But enough about me and my love of all thing audiobooks (I will be talking more about this tomorrow). Let me introduce you to the ladies.

Dani Harper is a former newspaper editor whose passion for all things supernatural led her to a second career writing paranormal fantasy. There isn’t anything she likes better than exploring myths and legends from many cultures, which serve to inspire her stories.

Love fairies? Dani’s new Grim Series is bringing Celtic faery legends into modern-day America: Storm Warrior, Storm Bound and Storm Warned. (Storm Warrior earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly.)

Die-hard werewolf fans will want to meet Dani’s unique take on shapeshifters: the Macleod clan in Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream, and Changeling Dawn. (Book 1, Changeling Moon, was a 2012 RITA finalist.) Need more shapeshifters? Try First Bite, a Dark Wolf story. Learn more at here Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Justine Eyre is a classically trained actress who has narrated over three hundred audiobooks. With a prestigious Audie Award and five AudioFile Earphones Awards under her belt, Justine is multilingual and is known for her great facility with accents. She has appeared on stage in leading roles in King Lear and The Crucible, and has starring roles in four films on the indie circuit. Her recent television credits include Two and a Half Men and Mad Men. Learn more about Justine here: Goodreads | Brilliance Audio | Tantor | Audible

Dani/Justine can you tell us how the author/narrator relationship begin?

Dani: Montlake let me know that Justine Eyre would be voicing the first book of my Grim Series, Storm Warrior. I didn’t have the opportunity of meeting her or speaking with her, but I immediately sought out samples of her narration work – and she was wonderful! I was so happy (and honored) to have such an accomplished actress reading my story.

Even though I was certain it would be good, actually hearing the finished audiobook of Storm Warrior brought tears to my eyes. I was in awe! Justine did an amazing job of bringing my characters vividly to life (in fact, I remember wondering if she was part Fae herself!). Even better, she handled the intricate Welsh and Faery languages with an ease and a fluency that few people could have matched (certainly not me, LOL!).

My readers adore Justine’s narration of the stories too. So naturally, I’ve requested her as the narrator of each Grim novel since, and counted myself very fortunate that she’s graciously said “yes” each time. I just can’t imagine anyone else reading them aloud!

Justine: Ms. Harper’s first title in her Grim Series was entrusted to me by Brilliance Audio and after reading the first few pages, I knew I was in for a treat! I felt that not only was it a story that I would love being in the studio with, it was a tale that I’d want as part of my personal bedside reading. The Holy Grail, for a narrator!

Brilliance Audio was kind enough to share an audio clip of Storm Warrior for us to share with you. Enjoy.

Dani, what sort of information do you provide Justine with prior to her starting the narrating process of one of your book(s)?

Dani: I do fill out some very basic forms and bare-bones questionnaires about characters and such, which I believe are shared with her. Mostly, I just want Justine to “read it as she feels it” – I’d never want to interfere with her creative process. Speaking of which, I’m dying to know just how she works her magic!

Justine, how do you go about selecting how each of the characters are going to sound like?

Justine: Dani writes in a very visual and beautifully descriptive way so coming up with voices for her characters was a completely organic process, I felt like I could kind of sidle into the shoes of each person and start using their voice. They read very much as three-dimensional, breathing beings. I tried to stay true to the text and then vocalized how these characters appeared to me, as the reader.

Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remembering what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?

Justine: I am a nerd! I always take copious notes when prepping a title and looking back at those notes helps jog my memory. There are characters that never need that prompt so when I read that Ranyon made a reappearance, I had the biggest grin on my face, he is definitely a memorable personality. I wouldn’t mind having him live in my own garden!

Justine, tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)

Justine: I always read a book first, paying strict attention to any clues the author has written, from dress (does this character always appear in jeans) to personality tics (is this one constantly flipping her hair, suffering from allergies, etc). Even though it is solely my voice that is fleshing out the words, I feel more prepared if I can envision the person, from flashing, twinkly eyes, down to scuffed boots.

My studio time varies for each title…per finished hour is always the go-to expression. For every hour that you listen to a completed audiobook, it has taken me anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours in studio to obtain. Yes, mistakes are made! Sometimes I flub a line and have to go back in and redo it, sometimes I will say something in a character’s voice and go, yikes, that didn’t sound right at all! I am both actor and director when in the studio and that director, whew, she is a task-master, let me tell you!

Justine, authors have writer’s caves, do narrators have something similar?

Justine: I love the image of the author’s writing cave! Yes, my working environment is similar though thanks to my builder hubby, my studio has a large, sound-proofed window out to the garden. So, I don’t lead a troglodytic existence, hurrah. Psychologically and physically, I love having natural light pouring in during daylight hours and knowing that night has fallen outside. Funny enough, I don’t get distracted by the window…we have had major weather changes, sudden rain squalls, huge wind gusts, and I am so wrapped up in the story that I remain completely unaware. I did know when we had a mini earthquake as my studio actually shook but apart from that, it is a world unto itself.

Dani: I have a question that I’ve been dying to ask Justine myself – is there something in your background or experience that has helped you to speak the Welsh and Fae languages so beautifully? My gramma was from northern Wales, but I didn’t get to hear her speak much of the language.

Justine: Dani, thank you for the huge compliment!!! I had an Irish grandmother with a very pronounced, lilting accent and I do have somewhat pointy ears so I’d like to claim Fae blood, ha! I grew up overseas and would hear so many different accents and languages, they always seemed like the passport to enter into a secret world. I was inspired to then study and learn as many languages as I could…though Welsh was an exciting new realm for me.

Here’s a fun question for Justine, that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?

Justine: Occasionally at dinner parties, I will be asked to do a voice…usually it comes down to broad accents, ‘oh, can you do the young Pakistani girl’ or ‘how do the Welsh Fae creatures sound?’ So, I then continue our conversation in that particular voice for awhile. See, invite me to a dinner and you aren’t getting just me, a whole coterie of Other World creatures are coming along too!

Dani, once the audiobook has been recorded, do you then listen to it or have final approval, or is it automatically done when it’s done recording?

Dani: When the audiobook is done, it’s done. I’m definitely anxious to listen to the finished product at the first opportunity, but it’s as a fan of Justine.

Dani, what do you love about having your novels in audiobook format?

Dani: I have a growing number of readers who have discovered just how convenient it is to be able to listen to a story while driving or performing other activities. (My personal favorites are listening to books while I exercise, and also at night when my eyes are too tired from writing to read anymore.) So I’m thrilled that my novels are available in audio format, and I hope they reach a wider audience because of it.

What I find especially interesting is that I experience the story differently when I hear someone narrate it rather than read it myself. This is even true with my very own novels! There are always nuances and details to be discovered through someone else’s interpretation. So I’m not surprised when readers tell me that they’ve read one of my books AND gotten an audio version to enjoy as well.

Justine, of all of Dani’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why? Do you have any favorite characters so far?

Justine: I have had the pleasure of narrating the three (so far) titles in the Grim series so that is a tough question, to pick a favorite. I do know that I was very giddy after reading the first book and I told my husband how much I loved being in this romantic, magical world. STORM BOUND had some of my favorite characters, I felt as though Brooke could have been a friend of mine and her rapport with her best friend, George, had me in stitches. I’d pause between takes so I could stop laughing and get my voice under control. So, George completely rocked my world, I will forever have a soft spot for the witticisms of Ranyon and as for Lurien, he embodies the haunting, alluring darkness of the fae kingdom. I am an ardent believer in both true love and the possibility of there being a faery kingdom out there so for me to inhabit that world, three times, was a gift. Now I am waiting with the rest of Dani’s fans for book 4!!

Dani/Justine, if someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?

Dani: I’d definitely encourage them to give audiobooks a try. Not only for the convenience, as I mentioned before, but for the sheer pleasure. I think there’s a child in all of us who still enjoys being read to. There’s simply nothing like it!

Justine: I love Dani’s answer! For a first-time audiobook listener, I would tell them to pick a story they are eager to read and then sit back and get ready to be transported. I am a voracious reader and I think audiobooks now make reading more accessible in so many ways – I have friends who spend even more time in their car because of audiobooks, they will drive around the block until the chapter finishes or pull up to their house and wait, breathless, for a moment when they can pause the tale. I think the combination of a great author/narrator bringing the story to life is magic indeed, ‘dontcha know’!

Ladies, it has been a pleasure and honor to have you on the blog today. And as a special treat to our readers here is a sample from Dani’s Storm Warned narrated by Justine Eyre.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Dani is giving away a set of all three audiobooks in the Grim Series.

Open to USA, Canada, and the UK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

June 8, 2015June 7, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Collared For Murder by Annie Knox

Disaster Cat

by Annie Knox

We recently welcomed a new member to our household: a shelter cat named Tiberius. We weren’t in the market for another cat; we were happy with just two. But I went to PetCo to buy some litter, gave in to the impulse to look at the adoptable cats, and fell immediately in love with this beefy, thick-necked fellow.

At PetCo, Tiberius was super chill. I mean, a really mellow dude. In retrospect, he might have been depressed, or maybe just exhausted by the endless parade of people past his kennel. Whatever the case, he fell asleep in my arms the first time I picked him up, and I expected that he would be the ultimate lap cat.

When we got him home, though, Tibby—as he quickly became known—perked up considerably. Perked up, and wigged out. It turns out Tibby is a hot mess of a cat.

In the few weeks we’ve had him, he’s gotten his head stuck in a bag (which held tantalizing tortilla chips), pulled our George Foreman grill off the counter, broken every cat toy in the house, and developed a problem with flatulence.

That’s right. We adopted a gassy cat. It’s just . . . wow. He’s a really, really gassy cat.

This wee beastie we brought into our lives is a walking disaster, but somehow that’s made us love him even more.

Tibby’s endearing flaws have led me to think about the appeal of imperfection, in humans as well as animals. Perfect people, like perfect pets, inspire admiration. But there’s something about goofy, dorky, silly, wounded, fragile, damaged people that inspires something deeper. I’m reminded of a song from The King and I called “Something Wonderful”:

This is a man who thinks with his heart,
and his heart is not always wise.
This is a man who stumbles and falls,
But this is a man who tries.
This is a man you’ll forgive and forgive,
And help and protect, as long as you live . . .

As an author, this is an important lesson. Creating characters that readers will love, characters they’ll connect with, is a challenge, and one of the keys to that challenge is creating characters who have their share of flaws.

What do you think? Who are your favorite characters and what are their flaws?

About the Author:

Annie Knox doesn’t commit–or solve–murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true. She’s also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states “home,” she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone’s throw from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

The Midwestern Cat Fanciers’ Organization is bringing its annual weeklong retreat to Merryville, Minnesota. While that’s perfect for Izzy’s business, it unleashes headaches for everyone else. The event has lots of workshops on the care and breeding of cats, and it culminates in a cat show with a fabulous prize—a platinum collar dangle worth some big bucks.

Cattiness, of course, ensues. But the claws really come out after the prize disappears, and the wealthy director, Phillip Denford, is done in with a pair of grooming shears. Now Izzy and her furry friends, Packer and Jinx, can’t waste time pussyfooting around. They have to solve this case before a killer pounces again.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Collared For Murder

Review (3.75 Stars): Izzy has her hands full with this mystery because she stumbles on another dead body during the Midwestern Cat Fanciers’ retreat and her competition, Pris, is the number one suspect. Izzy is such a likeable character that you will enjoy spending time with and I love her quirky aunt, Dolly. It was fun seeing the politics involved in putting together a cat show and the mishaps that happen along the way. Collared For Murder is a charming, well-written mystery that is a purrfect addition to an already entertaining series. Can’t wait to see what is next for Izzy and the gang in the next installment of the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Collared For Murder. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by June 16th, please leave me a comment answering Annie’s question above: