Category: Review

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The Exemeus Blog Tour and Giveaway

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I’m so excited to be a part of The Exemeus blog tour and introduce this new fantasy series.  I hope everyone will check this series out and I have these wonderful authors here today for an interview.

1. Tell me about your new release.
Firstly, thank you so much for having us on your wonderful blog. We greatly appreciate it. Our latest release is entitled The Exemeus and its about a boy who’s mere heritage makes him a threat to the government. In order to save his life and the life of his family he has to enlist the aid of the world’s most powerful warrior. There’s only one small problem-she’s dead.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Exemeus ?
Honestly, I, Folami, was on an exit interview from a job and we were rehashing all of my accomplishments and I thought it would be a great idea to have a book that contained all of a person’s thoughts from the beginning to the end of time. The book that emerged in my head at that time is not quite like what we produced, but that was the start.

3. Did you have any actors in mind when you were writing your characters? The only person in our mind was Virginia should be played by Selena Gomez. She’s probably too old now,  but she was who we envisioned. Each of the cast of characters have unique abilities that make it hard for us to pick one person who can embody each person’s varying description.

4. What are you working on now?
We’re working on The Azemeon and the Gem of Jamaalya now, it’s the sequel. Clearly the title is a work in progress. Were debating about just leaving it as The Azemeon or adding the Gem of Jamaalya to the end. Anyone out there can feel free to chime in their title ideas or thoughts. Writing the second one is soooo much harder than writing the first, we hope all of our fans love it. The book was supposed to be finished by now, but we’ve had a ton of problems with production.

 

5. Are there any authors that you feel influence you?
Folami: We are very different in our reading choices. I love J.K Rowling, A &E Kirk, and Jennifer L. Armentrout.  J.K. Rowling has probably influenced me the most with her focus on planning. I love how characters and thoughts she mentioned in book one appeared in book three and so when you’re rereading the series you notice how much forethought she put into everything.
Abeni: I would have to say Jane Heller. She taught me that a book doesn’t have to fit into one genre. It can be funny, mysterious, adventurous, and riddled with romance. I love that aspect of her writing and I hope that we capture that in our writing.

 

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?
Abeni: Keep trying because it is all worth it when you finally have the finished product.
Folami: Find joy in the process or this business will suck you dry.
Abeni: Isn’t she inspirational?

 

About the Authors:

Folami and Abeni Morris are a sister-sister writing team. Together they wrote (and rewrote) The Exemeus, somehow managing to accomplish it without murdering one another. Despite their facial similarities, tendency to finish each other’s thoughts and stick up for each other constantly, no, they’re not twins and thus deserve their own individual bio.
Folami Morris:
Folami grew up in the tiny city of San Mateo Ca, where nothing ever happens and no one ever leaves. She went to Xavier University for undergraduate, getting her B.A in physics and her B.S in Biology. After graduation she returned to California, to live in an even smaller city, where even less happens, Antioch Ca. During this time she escaped the monotony by hanging out with her imaginary friends Hyalee and Dephon, and by writing the Exemeus. She finally escaped to Queens NY and now realizes that quiet and tiny aren’t so bad.
Abeni Morris:
As luck (and logic) would have it, Abeni grew up in the same tiny little town as her sister, then she too escaped to the tinier town of Antioch. She has yet to leave. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood development from Cal State East Bay. She is the mom of two amazing kids, who swear that they deserve a percentage of the book proceeds and a ton of the credit. At least she raised dreamers.
Find the book: Amazon | GoodReads
Find the authors: Website

 

Jennifer’s Review of The Exemeus

The Exemeus CoverTITLE:  The Exemeus

CHARACTERS: Dephon, Hyalee and Singleton

AUTHOR:  Folami and Abeni Morris

PUBLICATION DATE:  12/27/12

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

 BOOK SYNOPSIS: Her short life was devoted to love and to hate.  Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world.  Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she’s been given another chance to make it right.  But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen–unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.

In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.

His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple.  Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule.  And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated.  When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back.  His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known.  The only problem is, she’s been dead for 13 years.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I was pleasantly surprised with this book because it had an interesting premise and I am usually not a big fan of dystopian fantasy. Dephon Johnson was a lonely kid who feels that there is nothing special about him.  He doesn’t have many friends and has been bullied mercilessly by the football team at his school.  Then, he comes home to a father who doesn’t seem to care and hasn’t taken an active interest in anything that Dephon seems to do.  On top of all that, he has been plagued by dreams of a beautiful woman with blue hair that is fighting to save the world with magic. He soon finds out that this mystery woman is actually his mother who died in battle and it is now up to Dephon to pick up where she left off.

I really liked The Exemeus because it was a very different dystopian adventure than what I’ve read previously and the story captured my attention so much that I stayed up reading it until the end.  I liked Dephon but my favorite character was Hyalee, Dephon’s mom, and we learn about her life through Dephon’s eyes as he reads her story called The Exemeus.  Hyalee’s life as a teenager, obtaining her powers and meeting Dephon’s dad, Singleton, play out in this story and I couldn’t help but like her. She was chosen to help defend this planet against evil and she died shortly after Dephon was born but we never really learn what happened to her in this book.  This book ends with a cliffhanger and I desperately want to read The Azemeon, which is the next book in the series to learn what really happened to Hyalee.

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Interview with Maisey Yates

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Today I have Maisey Yates here to discuss her new release, Unexpected, which is the second release in her Silver Creek series.  I love this series because it is based here in Oregon and I have already told Maisey, I want to live on Cole’s Elk Haven ranch.  I hope everyone checks out this delightful series.

1. Tell me about your new release

Unexpected is a story about two people who have never met before…having a baby together. When Cole finds out that a clinic mix-up has resulted in a total stranger conceiving his child, he knows he can’t walk away. But figuring out how to deal with the stubborn – and sexy, mother of his baby is another issue entirely.

2. Where did you come with the idea for this series?
I love the idea of the IVF mix-up, because it takes the classic idea of the accidental pregnancy to a whole new place. These are two people who have NEVER met, having a baby together. But it was actually a picture of a cowboy that inspired this series. From there, I thought of Cole Mitchell, and his brother and sister. After that it was a matter of figuring out just who the perfect woman for him was…
 
3. Were there any kind of challenges to writing a small-town romance and what type of research did you have to do?
I am small town, so for me there was a level of comfort and familiarity to the small-town world that is absent from the category romance I write, which tend to be glamorous and urban. I love writing small town because it’s what I know.
4. What are you working on now?

I’m working on book 3 in the Silver Creek series, which is titled Unbroken and is scheduled for an August 2014 release. This is Cade’s story. You’ll meet Cade in Unexpected. 

5. Which actors do you envision playing your characters?

That’s a tough one! Maybe…Henry Cavill and Cameron Diaz? 

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?
Yes! Keep trying…and keep writing. Always write. If you submit something? Write something new. Writing is the best way to learn HOW to write, at least in my experience. 😉 
7. What food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?

Coffee and marshmallows. 😀 Everyone on my twitter knows that!

About the Author:
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USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances  set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

 
Jennifer’s Review of Unexpected

unexpected2TITLE: Unexpected

SERIES #: Silver Creek #2

CHARACTERS: Kelsey Noble and Cole Mitchell

AUTHOR:  Maisey Yates

PUBLICATION DATE:  08/20/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: After spending another family wedding fielding questions about her non-existent love life, Kelsey Noble decides she’s tired of waiting around for things she could go out and get herself.  What Kelsey wants is a baby, and she doesn’t see any point waiting for a husband she’s not even sure she wants.  But a mix-up at the fertility clinic lands her with a hassle she didn’t count on.  A big, muscular hassle in a Stetson and cowboy boots.

Cole Mitchell is shocked to discover that a grand gesture for years past has come back to haunt him.  Now, thanks to a clerical error, a woman he’s never met is having his baby–and there’s no way he’s going to walk away and forget he has a child.

Trying to make nice with the unexpected father of her baby lands Kelsey in Silver Creek, Oregon, dealing with the kind of small town life she left behind years ago.  Even worse is dealing with the burning attraction she feels for Cole.  She knows adding sex to the mix is a very bad idea, but she’s not sure how long she can resist falling for the last man she ever expected.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I liked Kelsey right away because she had a lot of spunk and determination by making a decision to have a child on her own. She had the means to support a child and felt that she didn’t need a man to make her life complete.  I understood her surprise to find that her anonymous donor wasn’t so anonymous when Cole Mitchell showed up on her doorstep. I liked that even though it was a mistake at the clinic, Cole and Kelsey were determined to get to know each other for the sake of the child.  They both were hoping that this could turn into something more so they could both be involved in the child’s life.

Cole Mitchell was a handsome cowboy who had his hands full with the responsibility of handling his family’s ranch. Meeting Kelsey wasn’t what he had planned especially when he was still reeling from the mess that was his previous marriage.  He was sweet and bound to make sure that Kelsey was taken care of during her pregnancy.  I liked how when Kelsey practically threw herself at him that he wanted to take things slow and not rush things because he wanted to have a relationship with her.  You don’t see that very often in books where the guy is slowing things down instead of the girl. Cole was exactly what Kelsey was looking for and it took a clerical error to bring two special people into her life instead of just one.

I adored Unexpected because it was a sweet romance in a small town setting.  I really enjoyed Maisey’s first one, Unbuttoned and this new one is definitely a winner.  I can’t wait to read more about Cole’s sister, Lark, in the next book, Untouched, because she is due for a happy ending as well.

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Do or Diner Blog Tour Review & Giveaway

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I am very excited to introduce everyone to a new mystery series by Christine Wenger.  I recently finished Do or Diner and loved the characters of this cozy little mystery.  I hope everyone has a chance to check out this new series.

About the Author:

CHRIS WENGERI have worked in the criminal justice field for more years than I care to remember! It seems like I was forever going to school while I was working full time, but in the end, I received a dual master’s degree in Probation and Parole Studies and Sociology from Fordham University.

Unfortunately, the knowledge gained from way too many years in night school, didn’t prepare me for what I love to do the most – writing romances and cozy mysteries.

MY FIRST BOOK My very first book, THE LADY AND THE COWBOY, a short, western historical, was written for beginning adult readers, and I sold it to Laubach Literacy. In 1998, it was chosen by the Publishers Liaison Committee of the Public Library Association’s Adult Lifelong Learning Section as one of the “Top Titles for Adult New Readers.” Yes!

“THE CALL FROM HARLEQUIN” One of my biggest thrills in life was receiving “the call” from Susan Litman at Harlequin (then Silhouette) Special Edition in January of 2004. She wanted to publish THE COWBOY WAY. Yeee-haw!

THE COWBOY WAY was released in January of 2005—a year later. Such a looong time to wait. Since then, I’ve written eight books (and counting!) for Harlequin. I love writing about cowboys out west and the southwest, far away from New York State where I live! These are my GOLD BUCKLE COWBOYS (You’ll fall in love with them in eight seconds!) I’ve also written two books set in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, The Hawkins Legacy.

COZY MYSTERIES A new venture for me (in 2013) is a series of “comfort food” cozy mysteries which I set in a small-town 1950’s diner, THE SILVER BULLET.

The first book, DO OR DINER, from Penguin/Obsidian books is scheduled for release on August 6, 2013. A second book will follow, A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER, in 2014, and a third, yet untitled, book will be scheduled after that.

JUST FOR FUN I enjoy watching professional bull riding and rodeo with my favorite cowboy, my husband Jim. We put on our cowboy regalia (I look horrible in a cowboy hat!) and have traveled to events in Las Vegas, Florida, Connecticut, and other states. As a result of our travels, I have met many genuine, personable and polite cowboys, and that’s how I get my inspiration for my westerns! Of course I have to do research for my comfort food diner series. That takes me to diners all over the U.S. and Canada (and maybe Europe and Asia!) for meals. It’s a tough job, but I just have to do it!

Online links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinewengerauthor?fref=ts

Website: www.christinewenger.com

Jennifer’s Review of Do or Diner

 DO OR DINER COVER 2TITLE:  Do or Diner

SERIES #: A Comfort Food Mystery #1

CHARACTERS: Trixie Matkowski and Ty Brisco

AUTHOR:  Christine Wenger

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/06/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Trixie Matkowski agrees to take over her aunt’s diner, she pictures lakeside views and delicious comfort food in the small town where she spent summers as a child.  But the sweet scene turns sour when someone puts murder on the menu….

Trixie is in need of a fresh start away from her cheating ex-husband, but she may be biting off more than she can chew when she moves up to upstate New York to run her family’s famed Silver Bullet Diner. Not only is she caught off guard by the small town’s resident heartthrob, Deputy Ty Brisco, but her first health inspection turns into a nightmare…when the inspector keels over into his blue plate special.

Someone made a deadly addition to an old family recipe, and Trixie is determined to find out whodunit.  But between serving up orders and sniffing out clues, she’d better watch her back–or her next meal might be her last.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I am a huge fan of culinary mysteries and I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to read this book.  I liked Trixie right from the very beginning because she came home to run her aunt’s restaurant after divorcing her cheating husband.  She was smart, hard-working and wasn’t afraid to jump into the middle of a crazy dinner shift.  As soon as she arrives in Sandy Harbor, Trixie finds herself  involved in the murder of a health inspector who just happened to be found dead at her new restaurant. Everyone believes that Trixie is to blame and her dream of a successful diner may go up in smoke if the real murderer isn’t found.

I loved the characters and the little picturesque town of Sandy Harbor.  Christine Wenger created a humorous and delightful mystery that was very entertaining and a great start to a new series.  I loved the recipes in the back of the book which reminded me of sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen while she cooked on a Sunday afternoon.  I’m looking forward to reading A Second Helping of Murder which is the second book in the series that is due out sometime next year.

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Interview and Giveaway with Heather Lyons

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I recently read Heather’s books, A Matter of Fate and A Matter of Heart, in just a few days.  I was so fascinated with her characters and story line that I couldn’t stop reading until I devoured them both.  I am very lucky to have her here today to discuss her new book, A Matter of Heart, which just recently came out.

1. Tell me about your new release, A Matter of Heart.

I recently released the second book in my Fate series, A Matter of Heart (the first is A Matter of Fate). The series, which starts as Young Adult and transitions to New Adult in this second book, follows the journey of Chloe Lilywhite, a powerful Creator who is not only partially responsible for all of the worlds she and the rest of the Magicals oversee, but is also entrenched in a truly messy love triangle between twin brothers.  In A Matter of Heart, Chloe settles into her role on the Council while having to deal with all of the complicated emotions stemming from being in love with two people.

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

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated with various mythologies from around the world.  It was always fun to wonder what it would be like if there WERE people who oversaw our world, from the crops we grow to the weather to how people acquire knowledge.  So when I sat down to write the Fate series, I knew I wanted to explore what these beings would be like and how they work; having one of the most powerful (and conflicted) being a teenage girl seemed almost too fun to pass up.

3. Do you have any actors that you envision when you are writing your characters?

For some, right away yes, for some no.  There are a lot of characters that I have trouble matching up to actors/models/etc.  But for the three main characters in my Fate series, I do have a pair of actors that I feel look fairly close to how they do in my head.  For Chloe Lilywhite, Imogene Poots is pretty spot on.  For Jonah and Kellan, who are identical twins, I see Ben Barnes (when he was younger) in the role.

4. What are you currently working on ?

I am currently wrapping up a story that has its roots in Greek mythology.  See?  I love me some mythologies!

5. What is your favorite book that you’ve read at the moment?

Oh, wow.  This is like picking a favorite child.  Hmm….I’m going to have to go with Persuasion by Jane Austen.  I’ve only read it a zillion times! If we’re talking recent releases, I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  Ooh-la-la!

6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write.  Write some more.  And then keep on writing!

Thank you so much for answering my questions.  It is a pleasure to have you here today.

Thank you so much for having me!

About the Author:

HeatherBW2

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Links:

Website  /Author Goodreads / Twitter /Facebook

 

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Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn’t a normal teenage girl. She’s a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she’s a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she’s to be guarded against a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course. 

That’s nothing compared to the boy trouble she’s gotten herself into. Because a guy she’s literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to. 

Chloe’s once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble /Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of A Matter of Heart

AMOH+CoverTITLE: A Matter of Heart

SERIES #: Fate Series #2

CHARACTERS: Chloe Lilywhite, Jonah and Kellan Whitecomb

AUTHOR:  Heather Lyons

PUBLICATION DATE:  06/25/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar.  Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man of her dreams, not to mention her Connection.  While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.

After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what she’s capable of as a Creator.  And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before.  Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from another.

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer            NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I devoured A Matter of Fate in a couple of days and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on A Matter of Heart.  Chloe Lilywhite has taken her place as Creator on the council and is immediately assigned challenging missions right out of the gate.  Being put in a powerful yet stressful position at such a young age provides Chloe with so many conflicted emotions that it was hard to watch at times as she struggled with these difficult decisions.  She has a terrible burden placed on her shoulders and I was impressed with her character because I know that I never would have been able to handle that level of stress at her age. With these changes, Chloe also has to deal with the fact that the threat from the Elders is escalating and is now putting everyone that she loves in harm’s way.

Her relationship with Jonah has taken a more serious turn now that they have moved to Annar and live next to each other.  They are engaged to be married but Chloe still feels conflicted because of her feelings for his twin, Kellan.  In the first book, I absolutely adored Kellan because I just felt that he was a better match for Chloe, even though she was Connected and destined to be with Jonah.  In this book, she still has to work with Kellan, which is awkward and confusing at times because they are both unsure about what to say to each other. The feelings are still there and I just find myself liking Kellan more and more. The love triangle between the three intensifies in this book and it was such an gut-wrenching emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end.

I loved A Matter of Heart and Heather’s writing captured my attention from the very start.  I can’t wait to read A Matter of Truth which is due out in December because I can’t wait to see what happens to Chloe next after the events in A Matter of Heart.

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Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea Interview with April Genevieve Tucholke

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I am so excited to have April Genevieve Tucholke here today to discuss her new novel, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.  This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I definitely enjoyed this Gothic thriller.

1. Tell me about your new release Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.

It comes out Aug. 15  from Penguin/Dial. It’s a Gothic horror. It’s 368 pages. The characters cook a lot of good food, in between scenes of dread and terror. There is some kissing, and some blood. It’s rated PG-13 for violence and some sexuality.

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

I read this article while living in Scotland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8574484.stm The entire book spun off from this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction news story. I wondered about the kid who started the rumor about the vampire in the cemetery–no doubt it all came down to one charismatic little liar of a kid. This is where I got the idea for River…

3. What attracted you to the YA genre?

I like writing teenage characters. I remember being a teen. Vividly. I think it’s a complex, fascinating, action-packed stretch of time. Or at least I can make it seem that way, fictionally.

4. Did you have any actors in mind when you were writing your characters?

You know, I didn’t. I was worried I would unconsciously alter the original characters, if I imagined actors playing the role. I still haven’t thought about it, I guess. Maybe I’ll have to leave it up to the readers 🙂

 5. What are you working on now?

I’m doing the final revisions on the DEVIL sequel, BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN. Then I go back to working on my post-apocalypse book THE SCARECROW.

6. Are there any authors that you feel influence you?

Completely. Meg Rosoff. Susanna Clarke. The Brontes. Daphne du Maurier. Stephen King. Lovecraft.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Write, sure, that’s important…but also read. Read, read, read. All genres. Not just the one you’re writing in. Read the classics and read poetry and read science fiction and travel memoirs. Read it all.

Thank you so much for being here today and I hope that everyone reads your book because I know they will love it.

Thanks for this opportunity.

About the Author:

Shadow Girl High Res

 

April Genevieve Tucholke digs classic movies, red-headed villains, big kitchens, and discussing murder at the dinner table. She and her husband Nate Pedersen live in Oregon at the edge of a forest.

 

 

Jennifer’s Review of Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

 devil&deepblueTITLE:  Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

CHARACTERS: Violet White and River West

AUTHOR:  April Genevieve Tucholke

PUBLICATION DATE:  08/15/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

 BOOK SYNOPSIS: You stop fearing the Devil when you’re holding his hand………..

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along.  River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.  Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past?  Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back.  Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight.  And that’s just how River likes it.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

This was a hauntingly romantic story with dramatic characters and a rich atmosphere that just adds to its Gothic storyline.  Violet and her brother, Luke, are living on their own ever since their parents left to study art in Paris.  To make ends meet, Violet rents out the cottage behind their home to the mysterious and charming River West.  Violet and River start spending a lot of time with one another and Violet soon begins to develop feelings for this handsome young man.  Around the time of River’s arrival in town, strange events occur around Violet and her friends, which leads her to believe that River may have ulterior motives for being there.  Is River a victim of circumstance or is he behind all the mysterious occurrences?

River was definitely a bad boy, someone who you know will break your heart but you can’t help falling in love with him anyways.  He was so charming, smart and everyone automatically liked him on sight.  But that was his downfall.  If someone seems to be too good to be true, they usually are and I always felt that River was hiding something from Violet throughout the course of the book.

Violet was such a sweet girl and I connected with her from the very beginning.  She was trying to keep everything together with her parents and her beloved grandmother gone, and she had this inner strength that you usually don’t see with girls that age.  Even though she was a smart young girl, she still had this innocence about her, especially when it came to boys and relationships.  Watching Violet fall in love for the first time brought back memories because that first love is always bittersweet and even though she believes that River may be responsible for the mysterious events plaguing the town, she can’t help falling for him.

Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea is a great novel that is bound to become a classic.  With its timeless characters and darkly rich scenery, April Genevieve Tucholke is a master storyteller and I can’t wait to see what she creates next.

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Lily Everett Interview and Giveaway

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I’m so excited to have one of my favorite authors, Lily Everett aka Louisa Edwards, with us on Books-n-Kisses today.  I have been waiting for her new series since I finished The Rising Star Chef series and I’m proud to introduce her new book, Sanctuary Island, as well as interview this fabulous author.

1. Tell me about your new release Sanctuary Island.

Sanctuary Island introduces readers to this beautiful, windswept small town off the coast of Virginia, where the close-knit community grew up in and around a wild horse sanctuary. In the first book, Ella Preston escorts her flighty, pregnant younger sister to Sanctuary Island to reconnect with the mother they haven’t seen in more than a decade–even though Ella’s not sure that’s a good idea. But when she gets to the island, she begins to see that the only way to move forward in her life is to let go of the past, and if she can do that…she’ll have a chance at true love and lasting happiness with Grady Wilkes, a local handyman with scars of his own.

2. Where did you come up with the idea?

I’ve loved horses since I was a little girl, and I grew up not far from Assateague Island, one of several real-life East Coast islands that are home to bands of wild horses. Assateague is a nature preserve, kept completely for the horses, but I thought…what if there were a cute, quirky town there, full of sexy men and smart women who all need to find love? 

3. Do you plan to make this into a series?

Sanctuary Island is the first full-length novel of the series, but we’ve already released a trilogy of digital-only novellas set on the island, to welcome readers to the series! The novellas are not prequels to the book, they’re a self-contained trio of short romances with only a few cameos here and there. The next full-length book in the series will be Shoreline Drive, and it will be the story of Ella’s younger sister, new mom Merry Preston and the local veterinarian (and resident grump) Ben Fairfax. Shoreline Drive will be out on January 28, 2014, and it’ll be followed by Heartbreak Cove next summer!

4. Were there any challenges in writing a small-town romance compared to writing your Recipe for Love series?  What kind of research did you have to do for Sanctuary Island?

I actually grew up in a small town in Virginia, so in some ways, there was even less research for me to get that setting, the pace and feel of it, to be authentic! And for the horse details, I have my sister and mother-in-law to thank. Both are dedicated, talented horsewomen, and were a great source of information and fun facts. My mother-in-law is an active volunteer with the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Center, and I was very inspired by taking tours, watching classes, and interviewing the other volunteers, clients, and employees there.

5. Did you have any particular actors in mind when writing your characters?

I always have actors in mind! If anyone made a movie of Sanctuary Island, I’d love for Emily Blunt to play Ella. And for Grady Wilkes, my rough and tumble handyman with the troubled past, I pictured a scruffy Chris Hemsworth every single day as I wrote. I know, poor little me, right? 

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 6. What is the one thing that you have to when you are writing (food, drink, work space)?

I’ve actually tried to cultivate an ability to work anywhere, anytime, even if I only have a twenty minutes or so–but what that requires is focus. When all else fails, I use Write or Die, an amazing program that keeps track of time and how fast you produce words, and if you pause for too long, the screen flashes red and jerks you back into line! It sounds scary, but it’s been amazing to me how productive I can be if I just focus.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

My biggest advice is to write through to The End without a ton of self-editing along the way, at least until you get a couple of completed manuscripts under your belt. What I wish I’d known when I first started is that every single book (at least for me) hits a snag somewhere in the middle where I hate it, am convinced it’s terrible, and want to throw it aside and start something else. But whatever new thing you start will have its own problems! So push through the hard part and get to The End. The first time you finish a manuscript is a huge accomplishment and a major step forward. I don’t want to lie and say every manuscript after that first one will be easier (that hasn’t been true for me!) but you’ll have more tools and skills at your disposal.

8. What are you working on next?

 The follow-up to Sanctuary Island, Shoreline Drive, is already revised, so now I’m writing Heartbreak Cove! It’s early days so I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but I know the hero is Sam Brennan, a man who empathizes with, rescues, and rehabilitates abused and neglected horses. I’m already crushing on him pretty hard!

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses today and I just want to say how much I love your books!!!

Thank you for having me! I loved doing this interview.

About the Author:

LEred-300Lily Everett grew up in a small town in central Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although she’s lived many other places since, from college in Philadelphia to her first publishing job in New York City and her current home in Austin, Texas, she never forgot the beauty and warmth of her little hometown. She is thrilled to be writing the Sanctuary Island series full time because it allows her to combine her longstanding love of romance with the memories of her childhood home.

Lily’s alter ego is Louisa Edwards. Under that name, she is the author of the Recipe for Love series, sexy contemporary romances with hot chef heroes set in the high-stakes, fast-paced world of professional restaurants.

  Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a signed copy of Sanctuary Island. This giveaway is for US Residents only.  To be entered in the drawing by August 1st, answer me this question in the comments:

If you could visit any island in the world, where would you travel to?

Jennifer’s Review of Sanctuary Island

image001TITLE:  Sanctuary Island

CHARACTERS: Ella Preston and Grady Wilkes

AUTHOR: Lily Everett

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/30/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

 BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Ella’s sister decides to reunite with their estranged mother, Ella goes along for the ride–it’s always been the two Preston girls against the world.  But Sanctuary Island, a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast, is more inviting than she ever imagined.  And it holds more than one last opportunity to repair her broken family–if Ella can open her carefully guarded heart, there is also the chance for new beginnings.

Grady Wilkes is a handyman who can fix anything…except the scars of his own past. When he accepts the task of showing Ella the simple beauties of the island that healed him, he discovers a deep sense of comfort he thought he’d lost.  But now he must convince the woman who never intended to stay that on Sanctuary Island, anything is possible–forgiving past mistakes, rediscovering the simple joys of life, and maybe even falling in love.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I thought Sanctuary Island was a tender-hearted love story between two people that were plagued with emotional baggage and heartbreak, that worked together to slowly repair the emotional damage in their lives.  Ella was such a strong character in this book, who came to Sanctuary Island with her sister, Merry, for emotional support to visit their estranged mother.  She hid behind an personal wall to protect herself from feeling anything in regards to her mother after she abandoned them due to alcoholism when they were young. This emotional wall also protected her from romantic relationships and as a result, she became a workaholic on the verge of a nervous breakdown before arriving to Sanctuary Island.

Grady Wilkes was a handyman on Sanctuary Island who did odd jobs around the island and met Ella on her mother’s ranch.  Grady had seen how much Jo Ellen had changed after battling alcoholism years ago and was afraid that Ella was only here to get Jo’s money.  Grady was once a hot shot member of a search and rescue team that was hiding out after a mission left him physically and emotionally scarred.  Meeting Ella was the first light of hope that had entered his dark world in a long time and he approached his relationship with her carefully, afraid that she would be frightened away from his physical scars.  Ella wasn’t afraid of anything and being with Grady made her finally realize that she needed to try to make amends with her mother and start to build a relationship based on the present and not the mistakes of the past.

I loved Lily’s style of writing and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Sanctuary Island and want to move there myself.  This was a enchanting romance that swept me away with its story and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Shoreline Drive.

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Cathy Ace Blog Tour and Interview

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I’m excited today for Books-n-Kisses to be having the wonderful Cathy Ace with us, promoting her new mystery, The Corpse With The Golden Nose. I hope that everyone will check out this great mystery series.

1. Tell me about your new release The Corpse With The Golden Nose.

Cait’s a bit of a foodie, so she cannot resist the chance to attend an exclusive, invitation only, event she’s heard about, in Kelowna, BC – the heart of BC’s biggest wine region. The fact that there’s a possible murder to investigate doesn’t worry her – she’s used to dealing with “academic” cases, because she’s a professor of criminology. The titular corpse is that of a vintner whose “nose” has won many gold awards, and Cait finds out she needs to apply her skills to a greater level than she’d thought to solve the mystery surrounding the woman’s death. A closed circle of suspects, some of them with slightly whacky lifestyles, plenty of delectable food, and a fair few glasses of local wines to wash it all down – Cait’s in heaven…until there’s a hellish turn of events. This book is very much in the traditional vein – as all Cait’s mysteries will be. We also meet the corpse in question on the first page – something I’ll be doing in every one of Cait’s books…I like my corpses to be up front!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this book and how did this series come about?

Cait appeared in three short stories and a novella before her debut novel appeared, and, by then, her trademark eidetic memory, her ability to read people, and her background in criminal psychology had all been put to the test. In general terms the series (always THE CORPSE WITH THE….something precious and some body part) will see Cait solve closed-circle mysteries using her Mensan brain, and her determination. She has a deeply engrained sense of justice – even if that ends up being delivered in unusual ways. Cait’s always on the move: I decided to have her travel to some of my favorite destinations, so I could, more reasonably, introduce new characters in each book. Having read my earlier two volumes (of short stories and novella) my publisher asked for a novel-length manuscript featuring Cait, as well as a proposal for a series. That proposal was for nine books in total – the third will be published in spring 2014, the fourth in the fall of the same year, and two more are planned for 2015…of course I’m hoping that Cait proves popular enough for her to continue to her ninth mystery – and maybe beyond!

3. This is the second book in the series and has there been any challenges that you’ve had to overcome when writing this series?

Because I’d planned the series before I started the first novel, THE CORPSE WITH THE SILVER TONGUE, I had already plotted Cait’s “arc”. The first four books take place over about eighteen months in Cait’s life, so she won’t be changing a great deal within that time…but she’s already facing a challenge she didn’t expect – a relationship that’s grown from respect to love…and responsibility. She might be middle-aged, but she’s had a previous relationship go bad on her, so she’s buried herself in her work. She’ll be developing, aging, dieting, and gaining it all back again, as the books come out, but she’ll still remain the feisty, bossy little Welsh Canadian that she is!

4. What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working with the copy editor at my publishing house on the final copy edits for Cait’s third adventure, THE CORPSE WITH THE EMERALD THUMB, which sees her on holiday, with her significant other, at a tequila-making resort on the Pacific coast of Mexico – it’s being published next spring, in 2014. I’m also writing Cait’s fourth mystery, the title of which is a bit of a secret for now, though, if people check out my Cathy Ace – Author page on Facebook, they’ll find some clues to its location. The manuscript needs to be finished by mid-August to be sent off to my publisher, and will see the light of day in the fall of 2014. Then she’s off to two other, very different parts of the world, for her fifth and sixth mysteries.

 5. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Read the genre you want to write, and write! Seriously. I know it’s tempting to read about writing, and to talk about writing, but reading what you’ll be up against in the marketplace (because that’s what it is) will help you hear the voices of others, and writing will help you find your own. If you’re taking the self-publishing route, or if you’re sending your work for consideration, if there’s any way you can afford to have your work professionally edited, by someone who has a wealth of experience that you can check out in your genre, then it will be the best investment you can make.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and it has been a pleasure having you on Books-n-Kisses.

You’re very welcome – thank you so much for having me.

About the Author:

2cathyWelsh Canadian mystery author Cathy Ace is the creator of the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which include The Corpse with the Silver Tongue and The Corpse with the Golden Nose. Born, raised, and educated in Wales, Cathy enjoyed a successful career in marketing and training across Europe, before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, where she taught on MBA and undergraduate marketing programs at various universities. Her eclectic tastes in art, music, food, and drink have been developed during her decades of extensive travel, which she continues whenever possible. Now a full-time author, Cathy’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, as well as on BBC Radio 4. She and her husband are keen gardeners, who enjoy being helped out around their acreage by their green-pawed Labradors.

Website: cathyace.com

Cathy Reads From Corpse With The Golden Nose.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.ace.author?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AceCathy

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3913679.Cathy_Ace

Purchase From Amazon   B&N    Book World   Powell’s Books   Book Depository

Jennifer’s Review of The Corpse With The Golden Nose

image004TITLE: The Corpse With The Golden Nose

SERIES #: Cait Morgan Series #2

CHARACTERS: Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson

AUTHOR:  Cathy Ace

PUBLICATION DATE:  03/12/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: A heartfelt plea to look into the death of a world-famous vintner goes hand in hand with the opportunity to attend an exclusive gourmet event in British Columbia’s stunning wine country.  How can overindulgent foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan resist?

Sure that the award-winning owner of a family-run vineyard was murdered, Cait shares her findings with Bud Anderson, a retired homicide cop. But he is convinced that the woman took her own life, whatever her grief-stricken sister might say. That is, until death strikes once again, in the neat rows of grapevines that clamber up the banks of magnificent Lake Okanagan. Uncovering obsessions that might have fueled murderous thoughts among the victim’s wacky neighbors is a start, but as Cait unravels the clues. She realizes that more lives are at stake.  Can she think, and act, quickly enough to thwart the killer?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: This was my first mystery from Cathy Ace and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Cait Morgan is a criminal psychologist that is invited to spend the weekend with her boyfriend, Bud Anderson, at a prestigious culinary event in British Columbia. Besides enjoying the wonderful food and atmosphere, they are on a mission to determine if a vintner’s untimely death is the result of suicide or murder.  What she finds there is not what she expected and each one of the invited guests are capable of murder.

I liked this book with its quirky characters and great descriptions of food and wine at the Moveable Feast that Cait was invited to.  Cait Morgan was a very interesting character and I’m looking forward to learning more about her in future books.  The murder mystery was intriguing and I had a difficult time putting together all the pieces of the murder before the great reveal of the true killer. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series, The Corpse With The Silver Tongue, because I have a difficult time reading books out of order and I want to experience another great mystery with Cait Morgan.

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The Entity Within Interview with Cat Devon and Giveaway

Entity Within, the

I am so excited to have Cat Devon here today to discuss her new release, The Entity Within.  I love vampires and witches, so if you love paranormal romance, this is definitely one to pick up.

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

SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY came out June 4th and it’s the story of the cupcake maker and…the vampire! Daniella Delaney is ready to open her shop, Heavenly Cupcakes, in one of Chicago’s sleepier districts. But she’s having a hard time convincing the local business association—namely Nick St. George—that she’s a good addition to the neighborhood. Daniella hopes that her famous red velvet cupcakes will be enough to melt any man’s heart. But Nick is no ordinary man. He’s got fangs.

THE ENTITY WITHIN is out July 2nd. Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston. With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown. The more vampire Damon Thornheart gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature. Vamps and witches have always been archrivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers. Is their desire worth the risk?

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Sleeping with the Entity and The Entity Within?

It started with the hero and heroine.  In SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY, I wanted the heroine to be the opposite of the dark and brooding vampire hero.  A cheerful and determined cupcake maker who is immune to vampire compelling seemed the answer.  Plus I enjoyed doing the research on cupcakes at the local cupcake shop in my area!  In THE ENTITY WITHIN, I wanted a heroine who had magic of her own, who knew what it’s like not to fit in the human world, and so I came up with a witch named Zoe.  Not only is she Damon’s opposite, but vampires and witches do not get along.

3.  Have you always wanted to write paranormal romance?

Yes, especially paranormal romance with heat and humor.  Readers have told me that my characters seem very real to them, which is wonderful!  I write a fast-paced book with a lot of dialogue.  The books have been getting great reviews so far.  SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was described as “Sinfully delicious! 4 Stars” by RT Book Reviews and received a highly-coveted Starred Review in Booklist.  Of THE ENTITY WITHIN, RT Book Reviews wrote, “Devon’s humor and offbeat scenarios give this paranormal pleaser a lighthearted feel that features just a touch of danger. Zoe and Damon’s sexy antagonism is pure delight!”

4.  What are you working on next?

I’m finishing up LOVE YOUR ENTITY which comes out Dec. 31st.  And a few days ago, I finished my Entity e-novella which is coming out this fall. It’s called THE ENTITY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS.

5. How many books are you planning for the series? 

There are three so far, but there could be more.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I have 3 steps for those who want to write.   1) Just Do It  2) Do It Anyway  3) Yes, I Mean Now.  Also if you are interested in writing romance, then join Romance Writers of America at rwanational.org, where you will find a lot of information for aspiring writers.

7. Do you have specific actors in mind for each of the characters in your book?

For all of the vampire heroes – yes!  Nick in SLEEPING WITH THE ENTITY was inspired by actor Alex O’Laughlin.  Damon in THE ENTITY WITHIN was inspired by Ian Somerhalder.  And Ronan in LOVE YOUR ENTITY by Joe Manganiello.

8. Favorite type of pizza? 

Giordano’s Chicago deep-dish style with extra mushrooms – yummm!!  Pizza seems to show up in several of my books! 

pizza

About the Author:

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Cat Devon is a pseudonym for an award-winning author. A former librarian and confessed bookaholic, she has a weakness for wickedly sexy vampires, imported dark chocolate and decadent cupcakes. She and her family live in the Chicago area.  For more info please visit my website www.catdevon.com or Like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/catdevonauthor or follow me on Twitter @catdevonauthor.

Jennifer’s Review of The Entity Within

TITLE: The Entity Within

CHARACTERS: Zoe Adams and Damon Thornheart

AUTHOR:  Cat Devon

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Is Love Something……

Zoe Adams and her grandmother Irma are witches who have been banished from Boston.  With nowhere to go, they accept an invitation to come to Chicago…but what they don’t realize is that their new space puts them right in the heart of the most dangerous spot of all: Vamptown.

You Can Sink Your Teeth Into?

Damon Thornheart is just that–virtually untouchable when it comes to love.  As Vamptown’s highest-ranking demon hunter, he sees red flags when he meets Zoe and Irma, who unwittingly unleashed a brutal evil upon the community. But the more Damon gets to know the stunning, spirited Zoe, the less he understands about his own true nature.  Vamps and witches have always been arch-rivals in the entity world; surrendering to their passion could mean losing their immortal powers.  Is their desire worth the risk?  Only one thing is for certain: Damon will make it his mission to find out…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer            NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Zoe is a witch that is afraid of using her powers because her mother died while using black magic and Zoe believes that the same thing may happen to her.  When Zoe and her grandmother, Irma, relocate to Chicago, it is a chance for a fresh start but some of the local vampires are concerned that the witches may be in Vamptown to cause trouble.  Especially, the new vampire in town and resident demon hunter, Damon.  He is very skeptical of Zoe and isn’t about to trust this sexy witch to keep out of trouble, especially when Zoe accidentally unleashes sinister forces in Vamptown.  The two of them together seems like a disaster waiting to happen but they find that they just can’t keep their hands off each other.  So now, Damon must deal with sending these demons back to hell while fighting the sexual attraction he has for Zoe.

Zoe was so adorable in this book and I just loved her personality.  She was torn between living up to her magical heritage while trying to protect herself from any type of black magic.  She just wants to lead a normal life but that is hard to do when she accidentally helps to release demons into the city and she is one of the few people that can send them back where they belong.

Damon is one sexy vampire.  With his smoldering eyes and nonchalant attitude, I can understand why he is so popular with the ladies.  He has never gotten over his past betrayal at the hands of a witch and chooses to believe that all witches are evil. Both Damon and Zoe are strong-willed and opinionated and are the perfect match for each other, even though they fight it at every turn.  They also definitely know how to turn up the heat in the sexual chemistry department which makes this book fun to read.

One of the best things about this book is the humor.  Putting Zoe and Damon in the same room together brought out some of the best one-liners that I have read in a while. Cat Devon is an extremely talented author who has created a paranormal world that will not only have you laughing out loud but wanting a sexy vampire of your own. This is one of my favorite books at the moment and I can’t wait to get my hands on Love Your Entity which is out in December.

Giveaway

I have a copy of Cat’s new release, The Entity Within, to give one lucky reader. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Laced With Poison Interview with Meg London

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Today I have the lovely Meg London here to discuss her new release, Laced With Poison, the second title in her Sweet Nothings Lingerie series.  If you love mysteries, then you definitely need to pick up this great series.

1.  Tell me about your new release Laced With Poison.
Laced with Poison is the second in my Sweet Nothings Lingerie Series writing as Meg London (I write the Gourmet De-Lite series under my own name, Peg Cochran.)  Once again we follow the adventures of Emma Taylor, her aunt Arabella, their friend Sylvia Brodsky and, of course, Pierre Louis Auguste, Arabella’s French bulldog.  Sweet Nothings is holding a trunk show at the home of socialite Deirdre Porter when one of the women takes ill and subsequently dies.  Tests reveal she was killed by a poison flower used to decorate cupcakes served at the event.  It’s a mystery where the past ends up affecting the present!  I’ve always wanted to write a story like that.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
I can’t take the credit.  The idea comes from my brilliant editor at Berkley Prime Crime.  I was hired to write the series based on her concept.  She had a big hand in plotting the first book in the series, but this one is all my own as are a lot of the characters.

3. Have you always loved mysteries?
Yes!  Ever since I discovered Nancy Drew as a kid.  I started plotting out my first mystery when I was seven years old.  I even found the perfect place to bury a body.

4. Are any of your characters based on people that you know?

No.  Although my mother is convinced she’s in every book I write!

5. What are you working on now?
I’m taking a bit of a break after writing six books in less than three years!  I’m waiting for revisions for books #3 in the Gourmet series and the Lingerie series.  I’m also waiting to find out if either series is going to be continued.  Meanwhile, I have another  proposal in the works, and I’m thinking about a short story to bridge the gap between Gourmet books #2 and #3.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up!  If you really, really want it, don’t quit!  I had 400 rejections on three projects that I was circulating within a two year period (mostly agents) and then finally I go a break.  But I had two other agents before this, and I’ve been really serious about getting published (as opposed to “dreaming” about it) for 15 years.

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses. 🙂
Thank you for having me here today at Books-n-Kisses!  I love hearing from readers so stop by my web site www.pegcochran.com and/or www.meglondon.com.  

About the Author:

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Peg grew up in a New Jersey suburb about 25 miles outside of New York City. After college, she moved to the city where she managed an art gallery owned by the son of the artist Henri Matisse. When her first daughter, Francesca, arrive, the new family moved back to the New Jersey suburbs where her second daughter, Annabelle, was born.

After her husband died, Peg remarried and her new husband took a job in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they now live (on exile from New Jersey, she likes to joke). Peg managed to segue from the art world to marketing and is now the manager of marketing communications for a company that provides services to seniors.

Her greatest love though as always been writing – particularly mysteries! She has two cozy mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime: The Gourmet De-Lite series set in Connecticut and featuring Gigi Fitzgerald, who provides gourmet diet meals to a select group of clients, and the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series, written as Meg London, set in Paris, Tennessee with Emma Taylor who finds murder and mayhem in this quiet country town.

As for pets – she has a schizophrenic cat (really!) named Frazzle and a Westhighland White Terrier, Reggie, who is desperately in need of losing a few pounds. But you know what they say: If your dog is overweight, it means YOU aren’t getting enough exercise!

When she’s not writing, Peg can usually be found cooking, which she loves. When asked to bring a dish to a potluck she invariably opts to bring dessert – partly because she loves making sweet dishes and partly because she and her husband always manage to be late so there’s no point in putting them in charge of appetizers.

 

Jennifer’s Review of Laced With Poison

lacedwithpoison

TITLE: Laced With Poison

SERIES #: Sweet Nothings Lingerie #2

CHARACTERS: Emma Taylor, Arabella & Sylvia Brodsky

AUTHOR:  Meg London

PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: You’re invited to the Sweet Nothings trunk show. See what the shop has to offer, taste some wonderful food, catch up with friends, and solve a murder….

Emma Taylor is happy to be drawing in customers at her aunt Arabella’s lingerie shop, Sweet Nothings, but replacing the store’s broken window is going to cost a small fortune.  Hoping to hoist up their sagging profits, Arabella arranges to have a trunk show at the home of a local socialite who will invite all of her friends and take care of the catering.  All Emma and Arabella have to do is show up and show off their wares.  Seems simple enough….

A gorgeous spread is prepared for the event, including delicious cupcakes topped with edible flowers.  But after one of the partygoers takes a bite and winds up dead, the guest list becomes a suspect list.  Now Emma must separate facts from idle gossip before the killer gives the cops the slip.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: Laced With Poison is the second novel in the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series and this was a very enjoyable mystery for me.  Things are starting to look up for Emma Taylor when Sweet Nothings is scheduled to present a trunk lingerie show at Deirdre Porter’s house, which could open up more opportunities for the store.  During the festivities, a prominent guest, Jessica Scott, is killed after eating a delicious cupcake that was brought to help cater the event. Now, Emma must use her sleuthing skills to help clear her friend’s name or her cupcake business will be destroyed because of the accusations.

I’m happy to say that this book was a fast-paced mystery with a quirky cast of characters and the right amount of suspense that is bound to entertain any mystery lover.  I really enjoyed learning more about Emma and her aunt Arabella, who each have love interests in this story.  But my favorite character has to be the snarky yet lovable Sylvia Brodsky, who has more spunk than any other character that I have seen before. The mystery was intriguing and well-written and I had a difficult time figuring out the murderer until their identity was revealed at the very end.  I think that this is a great series and I can’t wait to read the next one in the Sweet Nothings series.

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Review of Shadow Hunter by Kait Ballenger

AfterDarkJPEGTITLE: Shadow Hunter (a novella found in After Dark )

SERIES #: .5 in the Execution Underground

CHARACTERS: Damon Brock & Tiffany Solow

AUTHOR: Kait Ballenger

PUBLICATION DATE: June 25, 2013

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Shadow Hunter:

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer so desirable when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. As they work to massacre the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they are forced to decide between their lifelong beliefs… and their newfound hearts.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly

NUMBER OF STARS: 4

REVIEW:

**WARNING**

This novella is a prequel to the Execution Underground series and it does not contain a Happily Ever After. But instead leaves you with a major cliffhanger

You have been warned, be even with that I have see some pretty mean reviews which I do NOT think are fair. Kait does explain at the beginning of her story that this will be a cliffhanger that there is not HEA in this story. Because Damon & Tiffany will be getting a full length book.

That being said. I really enjoyed Shadow Hunter. I had the great pleasure of reading Twilight Hunter (book 1) first and then reading Shadow Hunter (book .5) and I will let you know that you do not have to read them in order. Although Shadow Hunter does give you a good insight as to why Damon is such an ass in Twilight Hunter. But with the ending of Shadow Hunter and the long wait we have until Damon & Tiffany get their book (which I will let you know is the last book in the series) left me yelling at my kindle. “No, No, NO!!!!” I will admit I tried turning pages that weren’t there. But at last Kait leaves us with a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of this book. It left me with a million questions and like any evil good author she told me to just keep reading. I am really looking forward to the next 6 books in this series. I hope that we get to see glimpses of Tiffany and Damon during the journey.

Disclaimer:

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Into The Fire Blog Tour with Amanda Usen

Into_the_Fire_TB

Today I am so excited to have Amanda Usen on Books-n-Kisses with us today.  I have absolutely loved her previous books Scrumptious and Luscious and she now has a brand new series that will definitely turn up the heat!

1. Tell me a little bit about your new release?
It’s a story about a hot, unforgettable one-night-stand that ends in double betrayal. The story picks up six months later with Jack opening a restaurant and needing Lila’s help to make it the best menu in New York. Add in revenge, passion, more betrayal, and a whole lot of Jack fantasizing about Lila naked and Lila dreaming about Jack…naked…lots of mouthwatering food and a twist at the end, and you’ve got it in a nutshell. I had a ton of fun writing this book, and readers seem to be enjoying it. They also want to shake some sense into Jack and Lila, but that makes for fun reading, too!

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
A couple of years ago, I jotted down this line: “Personal Chef, at your service. What are you hungry for?” I intended to write an erotic romance, because, seriously, how could anyone say that line without irony? When I started brainstorming ideas for an Indulgence series, I used it as a jumping off point. Since I wanted to write three books, I gave Lila two culinary schools BFFs with whom she keeps in touch. They chat via cell phone and texting, and their stories began to develop as I wrote INTO THE FIRE.

3. Since your books are usually set in a culinary world, what attracted you to writing these books and do you have a culinary background?
Since I’m a pastry chef and I met my husband in culinary school at the CIA, food and romance go hand-in-hand for me. I love setting my stories in the restaurant world because that is where I spent my wildest years. *giggle* And writing about food certainly cuts down on the research for me!

4. What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Hot Nights series, Betsy’s story! It’s set in New Orleans, where my husband and I lived after culinary school. I’m still working out the details, but I have a feeling the three culinary school BFFs will find themselves staggering through the French Quarter together at some point. I’ve been looking for an excuse to develop a chargrilled oyster recipe, a beignet recipe, and, of course, a perfect hurricane! Maybe a mango daiquiri, too…

5. What book from another author are you looking forward to reading?
I’m currently in the middle of Macy Beckett’s second Sultry Springs book, A Shot of Sultry, and loving it. I want to write sexy, funny, and quirky like Macy when I grow up! I’m also looking forward to reading Darynda Jones’s Fifth Grave Past The Light. I got to hang out with Darynda at Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together a few weeks ago, and she’s such a doll. I loved her books before, but now I love them more! And I can’t wait for Turn Up The Heat, Kimberly Kincaid’s first Pine Mountain novel, coming out from Kensington in March. She writes sweet foodie heat! Oh, and I’m also impatient for Robin Covington’s third The Boys Are Back In Town novel. Bring on Teague! RAWR! Sorry, that’s four, but I was a reader long before I learned to write, and nothing makes me happier than a pile of new books.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Finish the darn book! If you’ve got the moxie to get all the way through a story then you’ve got the resilience to keep learning until you figure out how to sell it. That’s the first step. I have different advice for the next stage of the journey, but finishing the book always comes first.

7. What food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?
Coffee. Then water. Then coffee. Then water…

8. Favorite type of pizza?
The kind with cheese! 😉 Lately I’ve been craving a Greek pizza from LaPorta’s. It’s covered in spinach, feta, and tomatoes. Soaked with herbs and garlic butter. Great bubbly crust! I also wouldn’t turn down a spinach-pesto pizza from Just Pizza…but I also saw this intriguing fresh fig pizza on a blog the other day. I have to make that…can you tell I LOVE pizza?! Nom, nom, nom…

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions.  I can’t wait to read more from the series.
Thanks so much for having me. I’m dying for pizza now!

Readers, what is your favorite pizza combo?

About the Author:

AmandaUsen

Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast, and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. She married him after graduation in a lovely French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans, and they spent a few years enjoying the food and the fun in the Big Easy. Now they live in Western New York with their three children, one hamster, two guinea pigs, a tortoise, and a new-to-them beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found chasing the kids around the yard with her very own hot chef husband.

Want chimichurri, chocolate cake or Chicken Alighieri? Visit Amanda at http://www.amandausen.com, where you can find recipes for many of the yummy dishes in her books. She can also be found on Facebook  and  Twitter,  if you want to chat about romance, writing, or recipes.

Jennifer’s Review of Into The Fire

Into-the-Fire-AU-500TITLE: Into the Fire

SERIES #: Hot Nights #1

CHARACTERS: Lila Grant and Jackson Calabrese

AUTHOR: Amanda Usen

PUBLICATION DATE: 06/10/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jackson Calabrese has a lot of nerve.  He beat Lila Grant in the Culinary Academy competition using her recipes.  Now, he’s opening a restaurant and wants her help? Fine, she’ll fix his menu, but it’s going to cost him.

Heir to the Calabrese restaurant empire, Jackson can buy anything he wants, except creativity, so he buys Lila’s instead.  He can craft perfect paella, but to take New York by storm he needs her innovative spark.

Skillets aren’t the only things hot in the kitchen, and an uneasy truce ignites into passion.  They’re great in bed, but Jackson doesn’t trust her, and Lila is contemplating revenge.  The restaurant opening approaches, the menu is completed, and the tables are set for one final act of betrayal.  How can love bloom in the midst of such a hot mess?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book and I was so disappointed when this charming book came to an end.  I have enjoyed every single one of Amanda’s books and Into the Fire is a fabulous start to her brand new series about three best friends who just happen to be chefs.  Romances in the culinary world are my absolute favorite and Amanda’s style of writing is flawless and will keep you entertained until the very end of Lila’s and Jackson’s story.

We first meet Lila and Jack just before their Culinary Academy competition and the sparks definitely fly between these two.  After a night of passion and sharing intimate details of their lives with one another, they enter the competition second-guessing their dishes and are under the distinct impression that the other will ultimately win the competition.  Lila changes her strategy right before the competition and Jack changes his dish believing that Lila had originally lied to him about what she would be cooking. Both parties are wrong in their assumptions but the damage is done and Jackson wins the competition using Lila’s special menu.

I loved both of these characters and the interesting thing about them was that they were both plagued by their own self-doubt. These two smart, extremely talented chefs, believed that they couldn’t succeed on their own and that is what brought Jack back to Lila after the Culinary Academy competition. He was trying to find out what went wrong that day and to enlist her help to revitalize his menu for his new restaurant opening.  Lila was the type of person who was afraid that she couldn’t finish what she started and then ran away when things got too tough.  Jack was also living in his father’s shadow because he felt that he couldn’t live up to the great Calabrese name and receive the approval from his father that he desperately wanted.

The relationship between Lila and Jack could have went so much smoother if they both just communicated with each other.  I understand that they both believed that the other person was out to sabotage them but a lot of the misunderstandings could have been prevented by being honest with each other.  They would have found out a little bit earlier that they were perfect for each other and made a culinary team that no one could match.  Lila’s creativity in regards to food and Jack’s culinary skills were magical and there was absolutely no way that Jack’s restaurant could fail.

The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I’m not surprised that Lila and Jack couldn’t keep their hands off one another in this book.  The ending was perfect for these two characters to show them that they just needed a little trust and love to make things right between them to fix their jaded relationship.  Into the Fire was a wonderful book and I am definitely looking forward to Amanda’s next book in the Hot Nights series.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Amanda Usen is offering winners a chance to at some wonderful prizes during the Into the Fire Blog Tour.

Grand prize: $25 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and gets to name Betsy’s hero in Book 3 of the Hot Nights series & give him 1 author-approved trait”.

Runner Up: $15 gift card (Amazon, B&N, or The Book Despository) and the chance to pick a dish to go into book three of the Hot Night series (Amanda will also share the recipe on her website).

Consolation Prizes: 5 random winners will get Amanda’s favorite kitchen tool: a mini offset spatula

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form provided below for your chance to be entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour Review of Read and Buried by Erika Chase

Read & Buried

I’m happy to be hosting Erika Chase today to review her new book in the Ashton Corners Book Club series, Read and Buried.  Her first book, A Killer Read, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel last year.

akillerread

 A Killer Read, is the first in the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime.

Reading specialist and mystery book lover Lizzie Turner was excited for the first meeting of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society hosted in Molly Mathew’s old Southern mansion. But she didn’t expect the gathering to become the scene of an actual murder.  A stranger has been shot–and nobody knows who the victim is, or how Molly’s antique gun came to be used as the murder weapon.

As the plot becomes all too real, the police chief–Lizzie’s former high school crush–steps in to investigate.  Then Lizzie begins finding mysterious manuscript chapters in her mailbox, and Molly surfaces as the next name on the killer’s list.

 

About the Author:

Erika Chase

Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime.  In a parallel life Erika Chase is also known as Linda Wiken. A former mystery bookstore owner (Prime Crime Books in Ottawa, ON, Canada), Linda is also a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies’ Killing Circle.

Her short stories have appeared in the seven Ladies’ Killing Circle anthologies (three of which she co-edited), and in the magazines Mysterious Intent and Over My Dead Body. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.

Before life in the world of mystery, she worked as an advertising copywriter, radio producer, journalist and community education worker.  Besides writing and reading mysteries, her other passion is choral singing and she is a member of two choirs.

She shares her house with Keesha and Mojo, her two Siamese cats. Actually, they allow her to live there.

Connect with Erika Chase: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Jennifer’s Review of Read and Buried

Read & Buried

 TITLE: Read and Buried

SERIES #: Ashton Corners Book Club #2

CHARACTERS: Lizzie Turner, Molly Mathews

AUTHOR: Erika Chase

PUBLICATION DATE:  12/4/12

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Hosting an award-winning novelist is quite a Christmas coup for the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society.  But when he’s murdered in Lizzie Turner’s house, she’s got a holiday homicide on her hands.

For their very first guest author event, most of the book club members can’t wait to pull out all the stops in Southern hospitality. But for Lizzie, Derek Alton is nothing but trouble–from his massive ego to his smarmy moves.  When he’s found murdered in her living room, it seems someone decided that this womanizing writer would be better off dead than read.

After suspicion falls on Lizzie’s friend, she and her fellow book club members discover that Derek wasn’t who he pretended to be. Cracking this case means going up against Lizzie’s boyfriend, police chief Mark Dreyfus, and unearthing a novel’s worth of nasty secrets. And as they get closer to uncovering Derek’s scandalous final manuscript, someone hiding in plain sight is out to write finis to Lizzie’s sleuthing for good….

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I was very impressed with Erika’s first book, A Killer Read, and I’m glad to say that her new novel is more entertaining than her first. The book starts out with Lizzie going to the local bookstore and meeting author, Derek Alton, whom she invites to speak at the next book club meeting. Derek is a very charming guy at first but that quickly changes as he becomes an egotistical jerk who makes one too many romantic passes at Lizzie.  The next day, he turns up at Lizzie’s house unannounced and ends up being shot in the middle of her living room. Lizzie and the other members of her book club start investigating Derek’s death and find that things aren’t what they seem while there is a killer still out on the loose, looking to stop anyone from finding out the truth about Derek Alton.

One of the things that I love about this book is the characters, especially Lizzie Turner. She is a very sweet character with a good heart and a love of mystery books.  I felt that I really connected with her in this book and I loved how she was always helping others as a reading specialist. The mystery was well-written and I had trouble figuring out the killer until the very end.  There is also a list of mystery books that each character recommends at the end of the book that has me wanting to make a run to my local bookstore.  Read and Buried is a charming mystery that will keep you entertained and wanting to read more from this fabulous author.