Review – Page 10 – Books-n-Kisses

October 4, 2013October 3, 2013

Strangled by Silk Blog Tour and Review

Darlings! Here’s the scoop on my latest mystery STRANGLED BY SILK. It’s all about Daphne and Margot––two independent young California women in 1957––own their own dress shop called Poppy Cove.

When one of their top clients––Constance Stearns-Montgomery––is strangled to death with her own silk scarf at the opening ceremonies for her new girls’ academy, Daphne and Margot are shocked. They can’t believe that such a horrid crime could take place in their sleepy little oceanside village of Santa Lucia. Worse, they’ve lost one of their best clients. The two women quickly become embroiled in solving the crime. After all, if anyone can track down the killer, it should be them. Margot’s long-time beau is the town’s top cop, and Daphne is a master at using her flirtatious wiles to extract information from unsuspecting men.

Of course, neither girl will let their snooping get in the way of more urgent tasks such as choosing new textiles and accessories for Poppy Cove or planning their fall fashion show or––most important––selecting the appropriate ensemble to wear for each and every occasion. But these two fashion detectives are on the case, and the murderer––and the poorly attired––had better watch out!

Amazon/B&N

About the Authors:

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. STRANGLED BY SILK is her first novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.

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Jennifer’s Review of Strangled By Silk

NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

Review: This was a very cute mystery for me. I loved the characters, Margot and Daphne, two women who run a clothing shop in the 195o’s and it was such a delight to read about that time period. I enjoyed the descriptions in regards to the clothing that were popular at the time and it just reminded me how things have changed over the years. The mystery was very interesting because the ladies knew the victim and were trying to piece together who could have possibly wanted her dead. So many suspects and I liked trying to figure out the clues with Margot and Daphne. Strangled by Silk was an enjoyable read and I would love to read more in the Poppy Cove Mystery series.

October 3, 2013October 2, 2013

Lauren Dane Interview and Giveaway

The Brown series has a special place in my heart because when I read about Erin, I was hooked. We had a child about the same age and I remember being in tears when I read what had happened to her. Now, her best friend, Raven, has her own book and I am so excited that Raven finally gets her chance for a happy ending. Lauren is here today to discuss her new book, Drawn Together, and I am very excited to have this fabulous author here on Books-n-Kisses.

1. Tell me about your new release Drawn Together.

Drawn Together is the story of Raven Smith and Jonah Warner. Over the Brown Family series we’ve seen lots of prickly behavior from her and had a few glimpses of her softer side but she’s always had this backstory– this reason she acts the way she does and I didn’t want to tell her story until I had the right match for her.

As it happens, Jonah Warner, uber alpha, came along at just the right time and I was so excited to write this book and give her the HEA she needed.

She doesn’t totally change because of love. She’s still Raven. But Jonah gets her and he’s worth opening up for. And he’s sort of pushy and bossy and so totally patient she can’t resist. She finds herself breaking all her personal rules for him and sort of liking it too.

It’s a love story on a few levels, not just between Raven and Jonah, but also between these characters and their friends and family too, which is the heart of this series. Oh and smoking hot sexytimes too 😉

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Brown Family series?

Erin was the heart of it from the very start. I had this scene come to me and it ended up being the opening scene for Laid Bare – a woman on stage, boots, dreds, tats and piercings. I wanted her to be bold and strong and vivid but also to have this darkness. Laid Bare was born and at the start it was just a one book sale to fill a slot in the Berkley schedule. I knew I wanted to do books for Brody and Adrian but as I was about halfway through Coming Undone, I realized I wanted a book for Cope and that he needed to be with Ella.

Eventually, I wanted to write Raven’s book but she needed a few years to be ready for her HEA. She’s a fitting close for this generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands and friends.

I love this tight knit group of friends and intentional family. I love how colorful and artistic they are. I love how much they love and support each other while retaining their edges. I’m happy I wrote them all!

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Mostly fun stuff. I watched a lot of videos of people playing instruments – Erin is a bass player, Adrian a guitarist so lots of that. Concert videos. Tattooing stuff for Brody and Raven (piercings too).

The criminal justice stuff I knew (I’ve got a law degree). I did domestic violence advocacy work post law school so I knew all the protection order stuff really well (for Ella’s situation in Laid Bare and Inside Out). I did ask my dad some stuff about sentencing in California (he was a parole office before he retired several years back).

I live in the Northwest so many of the places they go are my favorites (Zeek’s Pizza, Red Mill, The Dahlia Lounge, etc.) and I know the neighborhoods I set parts of the story in. Written On the Body doesn’t exist, but that neighborhood does, for instance.

Other stuff is made up totally like Happy Bend – although I hear there is an actual town in Arkansas called Happy Bend, it’s not the one from the book! I promise you real citizens of Happy Bend I would not insult your town that way, LOL.

4. I love the Browns, especially Erin, and I was wondering if you are planning any more books for them?

This part of the series is over. I’ve written books for everyone and I don’t want to drag it out and have readers thinking, “She should have ended this three books ago.” But there’s a whole new generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands coming up as well as Jonah’s brothers so we haven’t seen the last of these characters.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished a novella called All That Remains that will be in the Marked anthology out in February. It’s an earth set futuristic erotic romance menage (say that ten times fast!) and the start of a new self published series I’ll be doing.

Now I’m working on Fool’s Gold, which is book one in my HURLEY BOYS series and features Paddy Hurley (Damien’s brother from LUSH).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The only real takeaway that I think applies to everyone is that you can’t be a writer unless you write. Don’t talk about it. Do it. If that’s 100 words a day, or 45 minutes a night or at your lunch break, or every other day or weekend, whatever. Put your butt in that chair (or wherever you work) and get working. You can fix whatever you get on the page, but it has to be there to fix.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and I just want to say that I love all your book and am looking forward to everyone learning more about Raven.

Thank you and thank you so much for having me. 🙂

About the Author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Though she no longer has to deal with Polly Pocket and getting those tiny outfits on and off, she still has trouble blocking out the sound of iCarly so she can write a love scene.

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Jennifer’s Review of Drawn Together

TITLE: Drawn Together

SERIES #: Brown Family Series #6

CHARACTERS: Raven Smith and Jonah Warner

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Beauty is more than skin-deep…..Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually–but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all the rules–including her no-monogamy rule. But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: 4.5 Stars

REVIEW: Raven has always been such a mystery to me throughout the series. A tough free-spirit, who lived by her own rules and at first, I didn’t like her because she just seemed like a mean person. Slowly, she started to grow on me, especially because of her interactions with Erin and Erin’s son, Alexander. I had loved Erin from the very beginning and if Erin loved Raven with such an intensity and protectiveness, I knew there had to be more to her than meets the eye and I was glad that we got to see that side of her in Drawn Together.

Raven is a beautiful, smart, artistic and strong woman that most people don’t cross because of the image that she portrays. She had such a hard life growing up and that life has made her who she was an adult. Jonah was exactly what she needed. He was an alpha in his own world and he was able to break down her walls with his love and devotion and at points in this story, those walls are made up of pretty strong raw emotion. She needed someone that she could finally trust to help her lose a little bit of the tight control in her life and the fact that she was able to do that with Jonah was a huge step for her. She didn’t feel the need to run like she had in the past, she just felt that being with him was the right thing and he proved to her that he was in it for the long haul. The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I will warn people that Raven and Jonah’s sexual relationship was perfect for them but may not be for everyone.

Everyone knows that Lauren Dane is one of my absolute favorite authors and I purchase every book that she has ever written. The Brown Family series is one of the best series out there and Drawn Together is a perfect addition to these great books. I am so happy for Raven to finally get her happy ending and I can’t wait to read what happens to the next generation of these great characters.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a ARC copy of Drawn Together. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 6th, leave a meaningful comment for Lauren below:

September 30, 2013September 29, 2013

Cold Blooded Blog Tour and Giveaway

I love the Jessica McClain series and I have the talented Amanda Carlson here to discuss her third book in the series, Cold Blooded.

1. Tell me about your new release Cold Blooded.

It’s full of non-stop action and adventure. If you’re waiting to see what happens to Jess & Rourke you won’t be disappointed! It picks up right were HOT BLOODED left off.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Jessica and her family?

The first scene of the book played out like a movie clip in my head. It all went from there. Once she was done shifting, I knew she had a family who loved her. Those family ties were really important to me. Jessica is not a dark twisted heroine, she’s well rooted and it helps her navigate the major changes in her life.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

I do minimal research, except for the mythological beings in the book. I love bringing true myth and history in when I can. Eudoxia was actually the name of Ivan the Terrible’s daughter in history. Selene is the real name of the Lunar Goddess in myth. Lots of my beasties are from myth as well. Try googling some of them!

4. Do you have any influence over choosing the covers of your books? The cover model for Jessica is perfect.

I gave them physical descriptions, but I didn’t have any say. They did a great job with the covers. I feel very lucky.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m working on more books in the series, as well as some “sekrit” projects! Stay tuned. The best place for updates and info on the “up and coming” from me is my author facebook page.

6. Do you envision any actors playing your characters while you are writing?

No, in fact I’m super bad at that game when anyone asks! Each character is really a conglomeration of looks, characteristics and voice all melded into one. Honestly, I like it better that way. Each reader should be able to substitute their favorites in for any of the characters.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep going! This business is all about hard work and persistence. You have to finish the book first. After that you keep editing and querying. Then, while you’re querying, start something new. Don’t put all your eggs into one basket and keep writing. Always keep writing.

Thanks for having me on the blog! Super excited for COLD BLOODED to release next week.

About the Author:

I’m a Minnesota girl, born and bred. I started writing stories about teenage girls and their social missteps when I was in high school. I still have the handwritten spiral notebooks to prove it.

I started writing in earnest after my second child was born. After purchasing our first computer, I thought to myself, what better way to spend my time than e-mailing unsuspecting family members super cute stories about my exceptionally darling children? Isn’t that what computers were made for anyway?

The writer in me stretched and gave a defiant shove. I was hooked.

I jumped into writing classes, joined local writing chapters, organized author book signings, joined critique groups and participated in conferences. I had a blast writing a column in a local food & wine publication, and eventually tied together all my parenting stories into one full compilation.

My first fiction attempt was a contemporary romance, but I couldn’t seem to find the story. After my kids starting bringing home YA urban fantasy, I suddenly knew where my passion for fiction writing had been hiding. It was inside the action packed pages of an Urban Fantasy novel. Reading each new series was so much fun, I quickly realized this genre brought something to the storyline I hadn’t really seen before. It brought a hefty shot of adrenaline combined with a side of female kickass, all combined with that element of “other” I found so intriguing.

After reading YA, I picked up every adult UF I could get my hands on and I’ve been fully immersed in this genre ever since. On occasion I still pick up a “regular” book. But for the most part I find them lacking in superpowers and the excitement of the unexpected.

I started FULL BLOODED because kickass heroines rock and I love shifters of all kinds. There aren’t enough warm-blooded girls to go around, in my opinion. I fell into Jessica’s story and had such a great time writing it. I couldn’t imagine writing anything other than urban fantasy now.

When you’re creating a story in this fantastic genre, it can contain almost any elements you can dream up. Creatively, for me, there’s nothing better.

Now I think it’s about time to share it with all of you.

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Jennifer’s Review of Cold Blooded

TITLE: Cold Blooded

SERIES #: Jessica McClain #3

CHARACTERS: Jessica, Rourke, Tyler

AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/8/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jessica McClain is on the run…again. Finally reunited with Rourke, Jessica arrives home to find that her best friend has been kidnapped, her father has vanished, and the supernatural Sects–witches, demons, and sorcerers–don’t even have the courtesy to wait until she is unpacked to attack.

Now, mastering her powers as the sole female werewolf might not be enough to save them. Thrown together in a shaky truce with the Vampire Queen, Jessica must show all the different Sects what the true meaning of “the enemy of my enemy” is or her father will die.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: This book is the third in the Jessica McClain series and each book keeps getting better and better. Cold Blooded picks up right after the events of Hot Blooded and Jessica finds herself on the run from demons and sorcerers while looking for her missing best friend, Marcy. Jessica and Rourke are now finally together and looking forward to spending some quality time with one another. But all that has to be put on hold when Jessica is summoned to the Vampire Queen’s home in New Orleans to serve a debt that they owe her and along the way bring an all-out war among paranormal beings to her doorstep. Jessica has to then side with the Vampire Queen to protect the people that she cares about before it is too late.

I have to say that this is one of my favorite series and I look forward to reading every book when it comes out. Jessica is such a great kick-ass heroine who is still coming to terms with her new supernatural powers and has finally been reunited with her mate, Rourke. There is non-stop action from the very first page and the story is so well-written that you feel like you’re watching a movie instead of reading a book. I absolutely love this series and all of its characters and I can’t wait to see what Amanda Carlson comes up with next.

Giveaway

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September 28, 2013

Interview and Review with Gretchen McNeil

A year ago, my friend Stacee from Adventures of a Book Junkie, sent a book from a new author that she absolutely loved. That book was Ten by Gretchen McNeil. I stayed up all night reading it because it was complex, thrilling and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Once I knew Gretchen was coming out with a new book, I jumped at the chance to interview her. Thankfully, she said yes to answer some of my questions here on Books-n-Kisses today.

1. Tell me about your new release 3:59.

3:59 sci-fi doppelganger horror (that’s a genre, right?) about two girls who are the same girl in parallel universes, who discover that their worlds connect every twelve hours for exactly one minute at 3:59. When they decide to switch places, all hell breaks loose. Literally.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this book?

This sounds so cliche’, but I was driving home from work one day, and there was a traffic light turning red. I had a split second to decide: gun it or slam on the brakes. I braked, because I’m ever so responsible like that, then spend the rest of the time at the stop light wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped. The idea grew in my head as I drove home, the idea that there would be two girls who are the same girl but in parallel universes, living out similar but different lives. While I was waking the dog, I started asking myself questions: What happens if these two girls meet? What happens if they switch places? The moment I got home, I emailed my agent.

3. I loved your book, Ten, and I was wondering what got you into writing suspense/horror YA?

I wanted to write the kind of books I loved to read as a teen. I wasn’t exactly a Sweet Valley High kind of girl. I read Victorian ghost stories, gothic novels, mysteries and of course, Christopher Pike. Kind of jumble all that together, and I think that is my writing style!

4. When you write your characters, do you envision a particular actor for each character?

No. In fact, personality comes first for me, and the physical characterization grows from that. Once the book is done, it’s very rare that I picture an actual actor playing one of my roles. For example, the only actor I pictured for TEN was Elle Fanning as Minnie.

5. As a writer, who has had the biggest influence on you?

Agatha Christie

6. What are you working on now?

Next up is GET EVEN, the first book in the Don’t Get Mad series, due out in Fall 2014. I pitched this book as “John Hughes with a body count” which meant I got to write a lot of funny dialogue, but still murder people.

GET EVEN is about four girls at a private school who come from totally different social strata: the student leader, the A student, the drama queen, the loner punk. Publicly, they aren’t friends. Privately, they’ve formed a secret society (Don’t Get Mad, or DGM for short) where they execute revenge missions against bullies, mean girls, and teachers who have wronged their classmates. It goes well until one of their targets turns up dead and DGM is implicated in the murder. The girls don’t know if one of them is the killer, or if someone else knows their secret, and they have to find out what which before someone else turns up dead.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Finish the damn book.

I know that sounds trite, but too often, I hear about authors who just jump from project to project, never finishing a novel. You have to finish it. HAVE TO. That’s the only way you can improve, and the only way you can move forward in publishing!

About the Author:

Author of YA horror novels POSSESS, TEN and 3:59 (Fall 2013) as well as the upcoming YA mystery/suspense series Don’t Get Mad, beginning in 2014 with GET EVEN and continuing in 2015 with GET DIRTY. Gretchen also contributed an essay to the Dear Teen Me anthology from Zest Books.

Gretchen is a former coloratura soprano, the voice of Mary on G4’s Code Monkeys and she sings with the LA-based circus troupe Cirque Berzerk. Gretchen blogs with The Enchanted Inkpot and is a founding member of the vlog group the YARebels where she can be seen as “Monday.” She is repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

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Jennifer’s Review of 3:59

TITLE: 3:59

CHARACTERS: Josie Byrne, Nick and Madison

AUTHOR: Gretchen McNeil

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/17/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Josie Byrne’s life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend, Nick, has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. Just when Josie thinks things can’t get worse, she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time–3:59 a.m.

Jo’s life is everything Josie wants, but Josie knows it’s just a dream…until she wakes to an image of herself in the bedroom mirror. It’s Jo.

The two girls are doppelgangers whose universes overlap every twelve hours at 3:59. Fascinated by Jo’s perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to pass through the portal and switch places for a day. But Jo’s world is far from perfect…In fact, it’s more dangerous than Josie could ever imagine.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I am always amazed at how Gretchen McNeil comes up with these brilliant ideas for books that leave me spellbound for hours. Her new novel, 3:59, tells the story of Josie Byrne, whose life is falling apart after discovering that her boyfriend, Nick, cheated on her with her own best friend. In the middle of all this, strange occurrences seem to be happening to her at home, where she is experiencing dreams of a girl that is exactly like her. Same name, same life except to Josie everything seems perfect for her other self. These glimpses into this alternate world happen every 12 hours at 3:59 and Josie makes plans to trade lives for just one day to experience how things would be if they were perfect. Once Josie gets her wish, she is faced with a deadly reality and her hopes for returning home are smashed with the ultimate act of betrayal.

I liked Josie because I felt for her when she discovered that Nick was cheating on her and she seemed to be the last person in her school to know. That heartbreak and embarrassment is horrible as a teenager and I could see her wanting a break even if it was just for 24 hours. Once, she changes worlds, she learns that everything that looked so wonderful on the outside was in fact, a living nightmare. Nick wasn’t her boyfriend and never was here, her alternate self was a manipulating bully and there was something dangerous hunting people at night. Then she finds that she can’t return home and may be trapped there forever with no one that she is able to trust.

3:59 is an amazing sci-fi fantasy with a complex storyline that provides such an array of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Gretchen McNeil has provided an exciting well-written story that I know will have Hollywood knocking. To me, everything that she writes is magnificent and 3:59 has risen to the top of the list.

September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

Book Spotlight: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates–brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveal an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find–aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch nemeses have set a course for revenge–but who will be left alive at the end?

Goodreads/Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

V.E. Schwab is the author of The Near Witch, a YA fantasy from Disney Hyperion, as well as The Archived, the first book in a YA supernatural series, also from Disney Hyperion. The product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a Southern upbringing, Victoria has a penchant for tea and BBC shows, and a serious and well-documented case of wanderlust. Vicious is her first adult book.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Vicious

TITLE: Vicious

CHARACTERS: Victor, Eli and Sydney

AUTHOR: V.E. Schwab

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

I was waiting patiently to get my hands on Vicious because everything that this author writes is amazing. Vicious tells the story of Victor and Eli, two intelligent, yet arrogant, college students who believe that they have the ability to become Extra-Ordinary individuals if they carefully create and experience near-death events. By coming back from the brink of death, they would develop supernatural abilities that would not only prove their thesis but put them in a higher class than those around them. Victor and Eli play with the delicate balance of their own lives and these events lead to tragedy and betrayal that will haunt them for years.

Vicious was such a great book for me because it reminded me so much of another novel, Frankenstein, that I still love after reading it so many years ago. Victor and Eli believed that by creating their own near-death experiences that they would achieve unbelievable power and used death to create a new life. By playing God, each of them had to deal with the tragic events that resulted, destroying a friendship and sending one character into the slow descent of madness. By becoming Extra-Ordinary, Eli believed that he had to right to get rid of others who had their own near-death experiences. Instead of becoming the hero he wanted to be, he in a way became a monster who had to be stopped before he harmed others. Now, Victor is on the hunt for his old friend and with each step that leads Victor to Eli, their story slowly unfolds in front of our eyes.

Vicious is an emotional thrill-ride about the consequences of life and death that is destined to become a literary classic. V.E. Schwab weaves a captivating tale that will haunt you well after you have finished reading the last page and I was sorry that we had to say goodbye to these characters. If Ms. Schwab isn’t on your list of authors to watch, she should be because every book is more amazing and thought-provoking than her last.

September 23, 2013September 22, 2013

Death of a Schoolgirl Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Why Jane Eyre Owned a Pencil. Probably Just One….

By Joanna Campbell Slan

Author of Death of a Schoolgirl

My most recent book, Death of a Schoolgirl, picks up where Charlotte Bronte’s original classic, Jane Eyre, left off. Readers who know that I also write two contemporary mystery series, often ask me, “Doesn’t that take a lot of research?”

The short answer is yes.

Although Bronte’s book was published in 1847, the story of the orphaned governess is actually set in the years 1818-1820. In the two centuries that have passed, people haven’t changed much. We still get up in the morning, get dressed, eat breakfast, and go about the business of loving, hating, and tolerating each other. But the world around us, the theatre in which we perform our lives, has changed dramtically, in large part because we enjoy such abundance.

Items we use every day, and discard without a second thought, were precious and hard to come by back in the Regency era. Take, for example, the ubiquitous lead pencil. Since Jane was an amateur artist with some talent for drawing and sketching, we might presume she owned one.

Yes, one.

Instead of buying pencils by the dozen, people in the early 1800s bought them one at a time. Unlike today’s pencils, these writing instruments of the past were neither bright yellow nor hexagonal. Both are modern enhancements. Today’s iconic yellow shaft was a nod to China, home of the best graphite in the world. And it was an American named Ebenezer Wood who crafted the first hexagonal and octagonal shapes to keep pencils from rolling off of desks.

Back then, a pencil didn’t automatically come with an eraser. Up until the year 1770, an author wishing to erase an errant mark grabbed bread crumbs and rubbed them onto her paper, hoping that they would remove the unwanted graphite. As with many inventions, the rubber eraser came about by accident. In this case, a British engineer named Edward Nairne grabbed a wodge of rubber gum and scrubbed away at this paper. Perhaps his sandwich was out of reach.

Some might find delving into ancient history tedious. Indeed, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know, and so the process of writing can get terribly bogged down. But each exploration into the past leaves me feeling grateful for the many conveniences I enjoy every day. Conveniences I use, but too often take for granted.

About the Author:

Award-winning and National Bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan is the creator of three mystery series, including the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and a new series featuring Cara Mia Delgatto, a young woman who runs a recycling/repurposing shop.

The first book in Joanna’s historical romance mystery series, The Jane Eyre Chronicles, is Death of a Schoolgirl, winner of the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter.

Visit Joanna’s website at www.JoannaSlan.com. See all her books at http://tinyurl.com/JoannaSlan. Follow her on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com/JoannaSlan) Join the conversation at http://tinyurl.com/JCSlan Or communicate directly with her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com

Jennifer’s Review of Death of a Schoolgirl

TITLE: Death of a Schoolgirl

SERIES #: The Jane Eyre Chronicles

AUTHOR: Joanna Campbell Slan

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/07/12

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: In her classic tale, Charlotte Bronte introduced readers to the strong-willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. Picking up where Bronte left off, Jane’s life has settled into a comfortable pattern: She and her beloved Edward Rochester are married and have an infant son. But Jane soon finds herself in the midst of new challenges and threats to those she loves…

Jane can’t help but fret when a letter arrives from Adele Varens–Rochester’s ward, currently at boarding school–warning that the girl’s life is in jeopardy. Although it means leaving her young son and invalid husband, and despite never having been to a city of any size, Jane feels strongly compelled to go to London to ensure Adele’s safety.

But almost from the beginning, Jane’s travels don’t go as planned–she is knocked about and robbed, and no one believes that the plain, unassuming Jane could indeed by the wife of a gentleman; even the school superintendent takes her for an errant new teacher. But most shocking to Jane is the discovery that Adele’s schoolmate has recently passed away under very suspicious circumstances, yet no one appears overtly concerned. Taking advantage of the situation, Jane decides to pose as the missing instructor—and soon uncovers several unsavory secrets, which may very well make her the killer’s next target…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: Jane Eyre has always been a wonderful book to me and one that I have read, time and time again. Death of a Schoolgirl picks up right after Jane Eyre left off and I was amazed how this book reminded me of visiting an old friend. The story starts with Jane finally settling down with Edward after the traumatic events of Jane Eyre. Edward is recuperating after losing his eye and Jane has been blessed with the birth of their young son, Ned. Adele is off at boarding school and her letters have been very succinct and worrisome since she has made no mention of the new addition to their family. When Adele’s recent letter uncovers a hidden message, Jane and Edward realize that something is wrong with her at school and Jane soon sets off to find answers. Along the way, Jane is robbed and mistaken for the new German teacher at the school which helps Jane to determine exactly what is happening at the school. She soon learns that Adele’s schoolmate has died under suspicious circumstances and Jane must find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt.

I loved this book and I really didn’t want it to end. I loved seeing what happened to Jane and Edward after the events of Jane Eyre and see how much her life has changed after she got married. Jane was always a great character to me and she just has grown into such a strong determined woman after everything that she had been through. I enjoyed the mystery in this book and I’m so glad that this is a start to a new series because I can’t wait to read more about these characters in future books.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Death of a Schoolgirl. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

Which book do you consider to be a classic?

September 22, 2013September 21, 2013

Chili Con Carnage Blog Tour Interview and Giveaway

Today I have Kylie Logan here with us to discuss her new book, Chili Con Carnage, which is the first in a brand new series. Kylie Logan also writes as Casey Daniels for the Pepper Martin series, which is one of my favorite characters. I enjoyed her new character, Maxie, and I know this is a great start to the series.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Chili Con Carnage is book #1 of the new Chili Cook-Off mysteries. It features heroine Maxie Pierce who (thanks to a no-good, two-timin’ creep of a rock guitarist boyfriend) decides that she’s done, done, done with relationships. Besides, Maxie has more important things to think about. Her dad, famous chili spice purveyor Texas Jack Pierce, is missing, and Maxie and her half-sister, Sylvia, have been called in to run his Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace as it makes the rounds on the chili cook-off circuit.

In a perfect world and a perfect family, that might not be a bad thing. But Maxie and Sylvia have hated each other since the day Maxie’s mother stole Jack from Sylvia’s mom. Now, Sylvia handles the day-to-day business of the Palace while Maxie dons a gigantic red chili pepper costume and dances out front as the Chili Chick.

Things get even more complicated when Maxie finds the body of a roadie and Sylvia is arrested for murder. Truth? Maxie actually thinks about letting her half-sister languish in prison. That is, until her better self kicks in and she decides to investigate and find the real killer. Then she can get back to finding her father.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

I credit my agent, Gail Fortune, for sparking this idea. We were talking and I mentioned to her that my husband had just won a chili cook-off (he’s a great chili cook!). Gail’s reaction was immediate. “Chili?’ she said. “That would be a great idea for a mystery series!”

3. Did you have to do any research for this compared to your other books?

No matter how easy any idea looks to me from the outside, I always have to do plenty of research once I’m writing a book. Chili Con Carnage is set in Taos, New Mexico and I’ve been there so that part was simple. But of course, there’s the whole cooking part of the book and how real chili cook-offs work figured into it, too. A celebrity chef makes an appearance…and I needed to know how cable cooking shows work. And then there are RVs. Maxie and Sylvia have one so they can travel from cook-off to cook-off and I’ll tell you what, I didn’t know a thing about RVs!

4. Which authors do you feel have been a big influence on you as a writer?

There are so many! I’ve always loved the writing of the late, great Elizabeth Peters (and her alter-ego Barbara Michaels). I also enjoy the books of Alan Bradley who writes the Flavia de Luce mysteries. The first-person voice of those books is astonishing and always reminds me how important characterization is to any book. Then, of course, there is the influence of so many writing friends who’ve shared their time and their talents discussing ideas and brainstorming plots. Too many to name!

5. What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m finishing up book #2 in the Chili Cook-Off series. It’s called “Death by Devil’s Breath” and is about a contest for the world’s hottest chili. That sounds easy but of course in Maxie’s world, nothing is, especially when the cook-off is in Las Vegas and the suspects in a murder are a cast of characters that include a magician, a jazz musician, a diva and a wedding chapel owner!

That’s what I’m working on, but there are other books coming out. In December, “Buttoned Up,” book #4 of my Button Box mystery series and in February, “A Tale of Two Biddies,” book #2 of my League of Literary Ladies mysteries.

6. What was the first book you ever wrote?

I started my career writing historical romance and my first book was “Twilight Secrets,” written under the name of Constance Laux. It’s out of print, but readers can find it on Kindle along with 7 others of my historical romance.

Lightning Round:

Favorite Food?

You know, I actually had to stop and think! I love couscous and veggies of all kinds and really good ribs. Ice cream…yum!

Morning person or Night Owl?

In between! I don’t stay up really late, but I don’t jump out of bed at dawn, either!

Favorite Candy?

Snickers

The one TV show you have to watch every week?

Have to? Not a one! But I do DVR a few and try to keep up: “Bones,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Downton Abbey” of course!

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer! Let me also mention that readers can check out both my websites: www.kylielogan.com and www.caseydaniels.com

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (Mayhem at the Orient Express) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Jennifer’s Review of Chili Con Carnage

TITLE: Chili Con Carnage

SERIES #: A Chili Cook-Off Mystery

CHARACTERS: Maxie Pierce, Sylvia and Nick

AUTHOR: Kylie Logan

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships–well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto. Besides, she has more important things to worry about. Her daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks now. In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia, to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown, to be judged by celebrity chef Carter Donnelly.

But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in the chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him while wearing a giant red chili pepper costume–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father……

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I’m a big fan of Kylie’s other series, the Pepper Martin mysteries and Chili Con Carnage is off to a great start. Maxie Pierce is a cute heroine with a lot of attitude and has had her share of bad relationships. She is working on the chili cook-off circuit with her half-sister, Sylvia, when she discovers the body of Roberto who just happened to fall out of the celebrity chef’s RV. Maxie had one miserable date with Roberto but now she is determined to find the killer because her sister, Sylvia, has been arrested for his murder.

I thought this was a great little mystery and I enjoyed learning about the chili cook-off circuit. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like to Maxie in the beginning but she definitely started to grow on me and I can’t wait to read more about her in future books. There is a possible love interest for Maxie with Nick, the security guard for the chili cook-off so it will be fun to see where that goes. Fun mystery and a great start to the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Chili Con Carnage. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite spicy food?

September 11, 2013September 10, 2013

Resilient by Patricia Vanasse Blog Tour and Giveaway

Book Description:

Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier.

Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone.

Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart.

Resilient, told in alternating point of views, is a gripping story of survival and romance, in which two teenagers face the consequences of being anything but normal.

Goodreads

About the Author:

Patricia Vanasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now she lives on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two adorable children, and two crazy dogs. She has been trough Culinary Arts, Psychology, Law School, and now has finally found her passion in creative writing. She also loves traveling, cooking, and is an avid reader. Her strength – believes that everything is possible.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook / Blog

TITLE: Resilient

CHARACTERS: Livia and Adam

AUTHOR: Patricia Vanasse

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/02/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier. Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone. Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart. Resilient, told in alternating point of views, is a gripping story of survival and romance, in which two teenagers face the consequences of being anything but normal.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I was very impressed with this book since I recently learned that it was Ms. Vanasse’s debut novel. I thought that it was very entertaining and had an interesting storyline about two teenagers that learn they have some not so normal abilities. I liked Livia because she was a very sweet girl that was able to feel every emotion of the people around her which prevented her from having any close relationships. This all changed when she met Adam, who was the very first person whose emotions she couldn’t feel. The more time that they spend together, the closer they become and they both learn that they have special abilities that neither of them can explain.

I didn’t like Adam in the beginning of the book because he seemed like a jerk but I liked how he was with Livia and he definitely started to grow on me by the end. The mystery in regards to their backgrounds was very intriguing and had me spellbound until the very end. Patricia Vanasse has created a great fantasy world with Resilient that I couldn’t help but enjoy. I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Vanasse because I’m sure it will be just as entertaining as Resilient.

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September 9, 2013September 8, 2013

Book Spotlight: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Scorched is the first book in the amazing new trilogy by Mari Mancusi and I made the mistake of starting this book right before bedtime. I got so wrapped up in its storyline that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Foxx is used to her grandfather’s crazy stories, so she never believed the latest treasure he brought home was a real dragon’s egg. Not until their home is invaded by soldiers trying to steal it and a strange boy who tells her the world as she knows it will be wiped out in a fiery dragon war—unless they work together to stop it.

Meantime, there’s a different voice whispering to Trinity, calling to her, telling her what to do…the dragon inside her egg is not ready to give up without a fight.

About the Author:

Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small–so she chose to write about them instead. Today she works as an award-winning young adult author and freelance television producer, for which she has won two Emmys.

When not writing about fanciful creatures of myth and legend, Mari enjoys goth clubbing, cosplay, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and her favorite guilty pleasure—playing videogames. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jacob, daughter Avalon, and their dog Mesquite.

Website/ Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Scorched

TITLE: Scorched

CHARACTERS: Trinity Foxx, Connor and Caleb

AUTHOR: Mari Mancusi

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Trinity–Don’t leave me here… It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it…

Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Scorched was an amazing thrill-ride in an exciting new world where dragons are the way of the future. Trinity Foxx is trying to hold everything together since her mother’s death two years ago and has been living with her grandfather while working at his roadside museum. Money is tight and Trinity can’t wait until Christmas when she can open her beloved video game that is sitting under the tree. Her grandfather comes home on Christmas Eve with a new exhibit for the failing museum. A beautiful dragon egg from Antarctica that her grandfather had purchased with the last remaining money that was supposed to pay the property taxes on their house. Trinity’s life is about to change with this beautiful new object, a destiny that will change the world and only she and a handsome young man from the future can stop the end of days.

I loved this book and I can’t tell you how much I loved this story! I made the mistake of starting this book right before bed and I couldn’t stop reading until midnight. The story is action-packed with enough twists and turns that will make you read one more chapter to see what happens next. Trinity was a great character who seemed so much older than her teenage years. She was trying desperately to hold everything together by managing the money for her flighty grandfather and being one step away from being homeless. When Connor came into her life, I liked that even though she was presented with all this information about the future, HER future, she didn’t freak out. It showed what a strong person she was and she would do anything to prevent this destructive future from happening.

I really liked Connor. He came from the future to the past to prevent Trinity and her new dragon from creating an apocalyptic future. He reminded me a lot of Kyle from Terminator. A man coming from the future to change the past and falling in love with the girl with the power to make it right. That was what endeared me to this book because of some of the similarities and the fantasy aspect of a world with dragons. This was a great read for me and I can’t wait to read Shattered, the second book in the trilogy, out next year.

September 4, 2013September 3, 2013

Bran New Death Blog Tour & Giveaway with Victoria Hamilton

I’m so glad to have Victoria Hamilton here today to talk about her new book, Bran New Death, which is the first in her new series. Victoria writes the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, which is one of my favorite mystery series at the moment. I hope everyone will check out this new book.

Merry’s Romance

By: Victoria Hamilton

As a mystery writer I often wonder whether readers really want to see romance in a mystery. The answer appears to be mixed, but I’ve always wanted my books to reflect real life, and a significant part of life is relationships. So my protagonist should have friends, enemies and…well, lovers.

In the case of Merry Wynter, I started with the premise that she was a widow of seven years, and still in love with her late husband. But when I wrote the first chapter, it turned out that there was (surprise, surprise!) a hunky sheriff in Autumn Vale, New York. I know, as most writers do, that it is a bit of a cliche’ to have a handsome and available cop in a mystery. However….why not indulge Merry a little and give her a romance to bring her out of her seven year funk.

Or will that happen? A lot of the fun – and agony! – of romance is the unknown stage, where it’s uncertain how the other person feels and so the dance of flirtation and doubt takes place. In my Vintage Kitchen Mystery series my heroine has a geeky millionaire after her, but she, too, is drawn to the good-looking cop. Even I’m not sure how that one is going to turn out!

But I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret of mystery writing. I don’t know about other writers, but I put a cop in there as a romantic lead (sometimes) because….it makes it so much easier to have him involved with the heroine, and have her bounce her mystery-solving ideas off of him! Also, it adds tension to the relationship, and makes her wary of telling him too much…or too little.

And I’ll say it right up front, I’ll never let the romance overtake the mystery. So, readers, what do you say? Do you enjoy a little romance in your mystery, or does it put you off?

Merry Muffin Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/MerrysMuffinsMysterySeries

About the Author:

Victoria Hamilton, nationally bestselling author of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, is the pseudonym of Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of romance and historical mystery novels.

Victoria started reading mystery novels at the age of 12 and devoured Agatha Christie mysteries, as well as those of Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh. She still adores mysteries, especially the cozy mysteries of Janet Bolin, Krista Davis, and others.

She loves to cook, and collects teapots and teacups, as well as vintage kitchen utensils and bowls. She also enjoys crafts, especially cross-stitching and crocheting, and spends summer days in the garden, drinking tea or wine. Besides the Merry Muffin Mystery series (Bran New Death – September 3rd). Victoria writes two other mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, the Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series (Book 3, Freezer I’ll shoot debuts November 5th) and the Teapot Collector Mystery series which debuts with Tempest in a Teapot, out June 3rd, 2014.

Website /Facebook / Twitter

Jennifer’s Review of Bran New Death

TITLE: Bran New Death

SERIES #: Merry Muffin Mystery Series #1

CHARACTERS: Merry Wynter, Virgil Grace

AUTHOR: Victoria Hamilton

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Merry Wynter discovered that she inherited a genuine American Castle in the “wilds” of upstate New York, her first reaction was to contact a real estate agent to sell it, sight unseen. Things were a little complicated, what with a lunatic employer making her life miserable. But after losing her job and with the castle not sold, Merry decides to trek to Wynter Castle to see what the problem is.

One barrier to selling is immediately evident; someone is digging giant holes on the property! Merry accuses local Tom Turner of being her late night gopher and warns him to stay off her property, or else, but it happens again. Merry storms out to confront whomever is doing the damage, but doesn’t count on finding a dead man at the bottom of the hole.

What is going on at Wynter Castle and in Autumn Vale? How can Merry convince hunky sheriff Virgil Grace that she is not the one who bashed the victim over the head?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: Merry moved to upstate New York to make a fresh start after the death of her husband and the loss of her career as a plus-size model/assistant. When she moves into Wynter Castle, she finds that the property is in desperate need of a renovation and has large-sized gopher holes in the front yard. She also finds that the townspeople are avoiding her and one of the locals, Tom Turner, believes that her deceased uncle killed his father and buried the body in the front yard of Wynter Castle. Merry catches Tom in the act of digging up holes in her yard and threatens him in front of a crowd of people. The next night, Tom, is found dead in Merry’s front yard and everyone believes that she is the culprit. Now, Merry has to find the real killer and convince the town that she isn’t to blame or her vision for Wynter Castle will go up in smoke.

This book was very cute and charming and a great start to a new series. I liked Merry instantly because she was the type of person that didn’t let anything stand in her way and was determined to make a new start in Autumn Vale with her inheritance from her estranged uncle. The mystery kept me guessing and there were so many suspects that wanted Tom dead. Shilo was great as Merry’s best friend and held many secrets of her own. The townspeople of Autumn Vale were a very quirky cast of characters and it will be fun learning more about them in future books. I thought that Bran New Death was an enjoyable mystery and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Giveaway

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September 2, 2013September 2, 2013

Interview with Cassie Alexander

I have been a big fan of Cassie Alexander for a while because her books are great supernatural thrillers that are set in an environment that I know all too well. Her new release, Shapeshifted, is out and is one of my favorite books at the moment. I’m very glad that she took time out of her busy schedule to be with us here today.

1. Tell me about your new release Shapeshifted.

Shapeshifted is Edie Spence’s third adventure. Edie’s a nurse for the supernatural community in her home town, on a secret floor at the county hospital. At the end of Moonshifted she was shunned by the supernatural community, which she thought was a good thing–she’s human, and hanging out with vampires and werewolves wasn’t very safe for her. But in hanging out with vampires and werewolves wasn’t very safe for her. But in Shapeshifted she discovers that her mother’s ill. The only thing that can save her is vampire blood, and so Edie finds herself desperate to get back in with old “friends.”

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the series?

The idea for Nightshifted came to me in my first few months working as a new nurse on nightshift. Work was terrifying, I spent a lot of my time freaking out that I was going to kill someone on accident or piss of an important coworker or doctor. Nightshifted was born out of my efforts to stay sane during the transition, from panicked newbie to, well, whatever it is that I am now, five years in.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Not much, really! All the hospital/medical stuff is kinda-sorta pulled from my own life (waves HIPPA invisibility wand, although it’s not like I’ve ever treated vampire servants anyhow…that I know of! ;)) and everything else flows from there.

4. Do you still work the night shift and how do you find time to write with such a busy schedule?

I do still work nights, but I’m only part-time, so it’s only three nights a week–there’s no way I could work full-time nights and write two books a year. It’s hard though, there’s still a lot of juggling to make everything work out.

5. What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on a proposal for books 6 & 7, and also unpacking, since I just moved 😉

6. Which authors have inspired you?

Argh, all my books are in boxes right now, so I can’t cheat and look at a bookshelf! Early inspirations were Frank Herbert and Alfred Bester. More recent ones are Seanan McGuire and Diana Rowland and Kat Richardson 😀

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep at it! Nightshifted was the tenth book that I’d written, it took a long time (longer than I’d have liked! ;)) to get good. Try to find what works for you, writing-schedule-wise, and do what you can do but don’t beat yourself up – if you have a bad day, or a no word day, keep pressing on and don’t look back.

About the Author:

Cassie Alexander is a registered nurse and the author of the Edie Spence urban fantasy series. Nightshifted, Moonshifted, Shapeshifted — out now! — and Deadshifted, and Bloodshifted are forthcoming.

Website /Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Shapeshifted

TITLE: Shapeshifted

SERIES #: Edie Spence #3

CHARACTERS: Edie Spence

AUTHOR: Cassie Alexander

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/04/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Nurse Edie Spence is once again called upon to save a life…and this time, it’s personal. Can her new community of zombies, vampires, and shapeshifters come to her rescue when she needs them most?

When Edie was fired from her paranormal nursing job at County Hospital, her whole world came crashing down. Now she’s once again shaken to her core. Her mother is deathly ill and there’s only one thing that will save her: vampire’s blood. But with the paranormal community shunning Edie, where can she obtain it…without losing her own life in the process?

Edie hopes to procure it at her new job at the clinic across town, where the forces of evil loom large. Vampire gang wars are rampant. Old underground enemies are rising to the surface. And Edie’s zombie ex-boyfriend has arrived at the scene–but is he the same man he used to be? And what should she make of the enigmatic doctor with whom she shares an unexpected connection? She’ll have to figure it out soon, because all hell is about to break loose–literally–and time is running out…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: This is the third novel in the Edie Spence series and I liked how Edie was struggling to find her identity since she was no longer employed by the Shadows and was shunned by the paranormal community. Edie finds that being “normal” wasn’t exactly what she was hoping for and takes a job at a health clinic in the seedy part of town. With gang members threatening the clinic at every turn and her own desperate search for vampire’s blood to save her mother looking dismal, Edie doesn’t know where to go. But Edie soon learns that being shunned doesn’t protect her from old enemies and her new position has put her in more danger than she bargained for.

After reading Moonshifted, I wasn’t sure what was next for Edie and I’m glad to see that she had decided to change a few things since we last saw her. She has a brand new job and a new apartment that was far away from the paranormal community but instead of feeling safe, Edie was just feeling that her life was boring since leaving the hospital. She soon finds out that her mother is sick with cancer and Edie has no way to help since she isn’t working for the Shadows anymore. I liked seeing this side of Edie where she was vulnerable with no one to really fall back on. She seemed to grow more as a character in this one and I was very impressed. The story was well-written with a dark sense of humor that is a great addition to the series. I liked learning more about past characters that made a guest appearance in Shapeshifted and can’t wait to read more about Edie in the next book, Deadshifted.

August 30, 2013August 29, 2013

Interview with Victoria Scott

I have been raving about The Collector to anyone who will listen and I recently got the opportunity to interview the fantastic author, Victoria Scott. I finished The Liberator in about a day and I have to say I will always be a fan of the bad boys. 🙂

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release The Liberator.

THE LIBERATOR focuses on Dante’s journey as someone who now works for the good guys, and how hard that is for someone who believes they’re bone-deep bad. It also introduces a new character that will force Dante to confront his past.

2. Was it difficult writing about Dante and Charlie or did their characters come easy for you?

Dante was much easier to write than Charlie, oddly enough. Sometimes I’d lose Dante’s voice, but then I’d think of a guy I once knew and it would snap back.

3. Are you planning to write more in the series or just have these two books?

There will be one final book after THE LIBERATOR.

4. Which actors do you see playing your characters and has there been any talk from Hollywood about making this into a movie or series?

Oh, definitely Zac Efron for Dante and Emma Watson as Charlie. No talk from Hollywood yet, but my agent is busy shopping it to studios.

5. What are you working on next?

Right now I’m working on my newest series, FIRE & FLOOD, coming out from Scholastic next February. It’s kind of Hunger Games (brutal competition) meets the Golden Compass (animal companions) set in today’s world.

6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I’d say to ask yourself four questions before you begin any book: 1) Am I passionate about the story? 2) Would the general public find it appealing? 3) Is it truly original? 4) Is there a ton of opportunity for conflict? I hadn’t asked myself these questions before beginning the Dante Walker series, but I did for Fire & Flood, and what a world of difference it made.

About the Author:

I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.

My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.

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Jennifer’s Review of The Liberator

TITLE: The Liberator

SERIES #: Dante Walker #2

CHARACTERS: Dante Walker, Charlie Cooper

AUTHOR: Victoria Scott

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/27/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn’t like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved The Collector and I was thrilled to learn that I didn’t have to wait a year before The Liberator was released. In this book, Dante is now working for the good guys and has a new assignment to liberate a young girl’s soul while trying to protect Charlie from the clutches of the evil collectors. He quickly finds that his new assignment is more difficult than he imagined because Aspen reminds him so much of himself and he becomes tempted to fall back into his old bad habits. On top of this, Dante learns that being a liberator holds its share of secrets and one of these secrets may put Charlie directly into harm’s way.

I love Dante because he is such a bad boy that has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to the adorable Charlie Cooper. He made a deal to save Charlie’s life in The Collector and he is now coming to terms with those actions. I was happy to see Dante start to grow emotionally because of his past decisions but it isn’t an easy road that he has to follow. His new assignment challenges him to go back to his old ways and he doesn’t want to disappoint Charlie or ruin his new gig. I liked seeing that internal moral struggle with Dante because it showed that everything wasn’t going to be easy for him even though he had changed and his love for Charlie helped him to do the right thing.

Charlie is still the sweet, lovable girl that wants to change the world and you can see why Dante has fallen head over heels for her. My other favorite character is Aspen, the kick-ass, no-holds barred assignment that puts Dante’s world into a little bit of tailspin. She doesn’t care about anything and just seems to live for the moment until she meets Dante. Together, they are able to learn how to put their past mistakes behind them and I just liked their interaction with one another.

Victoria has created another wonderful installment in this series that is filled with non-stop action and great character-building that will keep you guessing. I loved The Liberator and I am looking forward to reading more about Dante and Charlie in the next book.