Pre-Release Party:Bold As Love #3 by Lindsay Paige

Since this is a Pre-Release Party: Bold As Love #3, it is only fair that I get you caught up with Lindsay Paige - Bold of Love Series:

Sweetness (Bold As Love #1)                                                   

Emily wished she was invisible. But after moving to a new town with her dad, a charming boy makes it impossible for her to disappear. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, Emily soon finds herself drawn to the safety of Jake's world.

Good looking and the star of the hockey team, Jake has a lot going for him. What most people don't see is the difficult life he has at home. When quiet Emily steals his heart, Jake vows to help her discover she is worthy of love.

Just when the two of them realize the sweetness of their relationship, they are put to the test. Only together can they overcome their haunted pasts to fight for a future together.

My Review:

Lindsay Paige has written a terrific young adult romance novel, the characters are well developed and the storyline is excellent and Lindsay Paige is on her way to be one fantastic author.

This is a story of two young adults Emily and Jake, Emily is quite and hardly say’s a word to anyone, she can’t even bring herself to look people in the eye. Emily has suffered and has very low self esteem due to abuse from her mother. Jake is good looking, play’s hockey and takes care of his little brother. He has become a parent way to early but knows his father is still grieving the loss of his wife. In class Jake and Emily are assigned partners for a class project. Jake figures this is a perfect way to get to know Emily and help bring her out of her shell. When Jake and Drake go over to Emily’s to work on their project Jake cannot get over the how different Emily is when talking to Drake. Drake and Emily instantly form a friendship....Jake sees her smile and laugh for the very first time, he even is a bit envious of his little brother.

Jake and Emily continue to work on their friendship and realize they both have feeling for each other but nothing is easy and face a few struggles...can they trust each other and be there for one another?

This is a fantastic read, even though is a fast read, the author brings to light some very important topics, you fall in love with Emily, Jake and especially little brother Drake.

This is an excellent story and I would recommend anyone who loves YA Romance Novels you I suggest you purchase this entire series.

I'm Yours (Bold As Love #2)

After the incident with Claire, Emily encounters more problems. Conrad is back with explanations and hope. Emily wants to give him a chance to explain himself. She can't help but wonder why he left. However, Jake isn't comfortable with Emily going out to eat with an old lover.

Will things be too much for Emily to handle? Will Emily do the one thing she knows best and withdraw? Will Emily and Jake's love for one another keep them from shattering?

My Review:

I’m Yours by Lindsay Paige is the second book in the Bold as Love Series, this book continues about six month after Sweetness ends.

I found this story to be more about Emily and Jake relationship which I thoroughly enjoyed. The relationship is going along great and like any great romance novel they do hit a few bumps along the road. They are faced with some challenges and have a huge decision make, and then on top of that Emily’s old love pop’s up and wants to talk to Emily over dinner.

You have to wonder if Emily and Jake can make it through these tough times.

The romance and love in I’m Yours feels very realistic and Lindsay once again has written a fantastic romance novel. I gave I’m Yours another 4 star rating. This is a great YA romance novel and I think anyone who loves this genre should go buy it .........you will not be disappointed.

 

Whatever It Takes (Bold As Love #3)

Book Description will not be display as it contains spoiler to those who haven't read Sweetness and I'm Yours. Whatever It Takes will be released June 18th.....

My Review:

I couldn’t wait to get started on the third installment in the Bold as Love series.

This book has a few more challenges for Jake and Emily to tackle and there are times when you are not sure this relationship withstand it.

I will say Lindsay Paige did not disappoint me and I was thrilled with Whatever It Takes.  Lindsay’s writing is great and I will say for a young woman herself she is doing a fantastic job and she should be so proud of herself. 

I cannot say too much about this story as it hasn’t been released and I don’t want to give anything away.  But take my word for it if you enjoyed Book one and two you know you have to read Book 3 – Whatever it Takes.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Lindsay Web Page

Twitter

WHERE TO BUY

Sweetness On Amazon

Sweetness on Smashwords

I'm Yours on Amazon

I'm Yours on Smashwords

Worth The Risk - Interview & Giveaway

Title: Worth the Risk
Author: Robin Bielman
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 160 pages
Release Date: April 2012
Imprint: Ever Afters

Their love was ancient history...until their paths crossed again.

Samantha Bennett put Dean Malloy out of her mind five years ago, when he broke her heart after a summer fling. But now he's back in her life, and ready to steal a heritage protection contract that could make or break her career--if he doesn't steal her heart first. Samantha's vowed to hate him, but it's more than anger heating the competition between them.

With sparks flying across the conference table and sizzling in every touch, Dean proposes a weekend liaison. Anything to have Sam again; anything to get her out of his system. But the unresolved feelings between them complicate both their personal and professional lives, and one wild weekend could turn into a disaster that would destroy the one job that means more to Samantha than anything. For a shot at love...is it worth the risk?

My Review:

Robin Bielman has given us a contemporary romance novel, this is what I call my Sunday afternoon reading, and it was a romance novel with a happy ending.  I enjoyed Robin Bielman writing, her characters felt real, the plot was good and if you’re a fan of romance this is a book for you to read.

 

We meet Samantha Bennett who is trying to follow her dream and if she doesn’t win this contract she knows she may be out of a job.  Her father has pretty much disowned her, she is lonely and still in love with a man who broke her heart 5 years ago and today she just wants to secure the job. On her way to the interview she sees him in the elevator Dean Malloy the one who broke her heart.  All she can do at this moment is pray he doesn’t see her.   But of course like any great romance novel they are destined to bump into each other and to make matters worse they both are trying to secure the same contract. 

 

They talk….they agree to meet for a drink………can she do this? What if she loses the contract and end’s up jobless…? Will he break her heart again? Will she lose everything?

 

The answers to these questions can only be found by going out and picking up this book.  Worth the Risk is a fantastic romance novel, it is well written and I enjoyed it immensely.  Robin Bielman made the characters come to life and I loved the romance,  she add  a bit of suspense and I didn’t put the book down praying I was going to get my happy ever after ending. If you love a good romance novel this is the one to read!

I have rated it 4 stars and would recommend it to any of my friends who love a great romance story.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You can read the first two chapters of Worth the Risk here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/worth-the-risk/

 Buy the Book:

Amazon

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Books on Board

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California, a bike ride away from the ocean if she’s feeling really adventurous. She loves books and baking and running on the treadmill while watching her favorite TV shows. When she’s not reading or writing her next story, she’s spending time with her high school sweetheart husband and two sons, most likely watching, playing, or discussing baseball. She drives too fast, drinks too much caffeine, and if every day were Cupcake Day, she’d be a happy camper! She loves to connect with readers. You can find her online here:

Robin's Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Interview with Robin Bielman

Now, enjoy the interview!

       Thanks so much for having me here today, Tana!

1. Did you always want to be a writer? And what inspired you to write?

I’ve always loved writing, but didn’t actually think about being a writer until I was in my twenties. My first job out of college was with a film company and I read scripts and wrote synopses. That led to a job with a local production company where I wrote commercials, infomercials, corporate videos and cable television shows. And during all of this, I never actually considered myself a “writer.” If people asked what I did, I said, “I work for a production company.” When I had my children, I turned to freelance writing and still didn’t call myself a writer. It wasn’t until I started writing romantic fiction in pursuit of publication that I finally let myself believe I was indeed, a writer! Inspiration originally came from a fellow freelance writer who encouraged me to write romance. Now, so many amazing authors inspire me to write and improve my craft.

2. How would you describe Worth the Risk?

Worth the Risk is a reunion story. Dean Malloy and Samantha Bennett spent a summer together after college, fell in love, and then went their separate ways. Five years later, they’re face to face again competing for the same job. When Dean proposes they spend the weekend together, they struggle with their unresolved feelings and have to decide if love is worth the risk.

3. Which character did you have the most fun writing?

I loved writing both characters. Dean is loyal, protective, approachable and stubborn. He’s an outdoor junkie, incredibly passionate about the environment, and a guy I hope readers will fall in love with. With Samantha, I wanted to write someone who was smart and competent, but who was also vulnerable with the same uncertainties we all have. She’s a bit of a klutz too, which I hope makes her someone readers can quickly relate to.

4. What was your main source of inspiration for the story?

I’m a big fan of Outside magazine, and I was reading an article about the Best Jobs when one on heritage protection really resonated with me. I decided right then I was going to write a story about a guy with that job, and who loved the environment more than anything else. Then I came up with the girl from his past that he’s never stopped loving, and who makes him rethink his bachelor status.

5.   What should readers expect from Worth the Risk?

Readers can expect lots of romance, wanderlust, adventure, a big first kiss, and I hope enough fun to keep them quickly turning the pages.

6.   How did you come up with the title of your book?

I have a pretty easy time coming up with titles. And I have to have a title before I start writing! I’m not one of those authors who can work with “Untitled Project.” I came up with Worth the Risk in hopes of capturing the feeling of wanderlust and forever love and how the best things in life are always worth the risk.

7.   As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Growing up I wanted to be either a professional tennis player or a marine biologist. I lived and breathed tennis, traveling all over for tournaments until I got to high school. During my school years, science, specifically biology, was my favourite subject. That combined with my love for the ocean and I thought marine biology would be awesome. Once I got to college, though, and realized all the other classes—chemistry and math? ack!—that I’d have to take, I majored in communications, minored in biology and visited Sea World a lot.

8.   Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Oh my gosh! Hearing from readers is the BEST! I’ve gotten some amazing reviews from the nicest readers/reviewers and I can’t tell you how much their kind words have meant to me. They’ve put huge smiles on my face, and I am so happy and grateful that my story has meant something to them. (And just today, I got an email from a reader who said she LOVED my book!)

9.   Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I hope to make a career out of writing! I couldn’t imagine ever not writing and want to continue to tell stories for a long, long time.

10.   What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

Worth the Risk is my debut, and I was over the moon! I’m still over the moon! It’s surreal sometimes, seeing my book for sale and knowing people are reading it. I’ve had the best experience with Entangled Publishing and couldn’t have asked for a better start than with them.

11.   Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?

I recently finished a second novella that features McCall, a character I introduced in Worth the Risk. I’ve paired him with the perfect girl to mess up his life – the widow of his best friend – and had a great time writing it! I’m also finishing up revisions on a YA.

12.   Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?

I’d just like to say thank you so much for your support! And I love hearing from you, so please feel free to contact me.

13.   Who designed the cover?

The amazing Adrien-Luc Sanders designed my cover. He is super talented in so many fields! He captured Samantha perfectly.

Any last thoughts or words of wisdom you would like to share with the readers?

Happy reading!

Thanks again, Tana! I’ve enjoyed visiting with you!

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Changing My Wardrobe Blog Tour & Giveaway

Changing My Wardrobe by Deb Hanrahan
Book Description

Lindsey, a high school freshman, views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery, reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults, the main character and her friends struggle to manage the bullying. Despite their efforts, tensions rise, and people get hurt. The ending of this book will leave the reader shocked and heartbroken.

Changing My Wardrobe is a cautionary tale about the immutable problem of bullying. This story not only looks at bullying from the victim's point of view but also explores the motives behind the aggressors’ actions. Changing My Wardrobe demonstrates the fluid and complex nature of bullying by shining a light on the contributing factor of social media.

My Review:

Changing My Wardrobe by Deb Hanrahan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Deb Hanrahan debut novel, I really enjoyed Deb's writing, and the plot was great, loved the characters and it ended up being on of those books you just don't put down. This is a tragic story and one I would say ever high school youth should read. Deb Hanrahan has written a story of a young woman who just wanted to fit in and make her high school years better then what she dealt with in middle school.

We meet Lindsey who is a smart young woman, who maybe in middle school didn’t have the best fashion sense but received good grades. Teeny her best friend who has always been there for no matter what she wore. The first day of high school is the next day and Lindsey wants to make a fresh start. Teeny is right there to help her. Lindsey meets Marco on the first day of school and he is cute and seems to like Lindsey. Then we get to meet Avery the one who tormented Lindsey all through middle school and to make matters worse Avery has a boyfriend named Cal who is just as mean .......

Put all these great character’s together and you end up with a fantastic read. This story makes you feel and remember what high school was like good and bad.

Deb Hanrahan has written a terrific/realistic novel and the ending shocked me to my core.

I have to give Changing My Wardrobe 4 stars; the writing was great, the issue of bullying is so important, All Young Adults and parents should read this novel to remember and to keep your eyes open.

Fantastic Read!

Interview With Deb Hanrahan

Welcome to my Blog Deb!

Did you always want to be a writer? And what inspired you to write?

Yes, I always wanted to be a writer, but my parents did not encourage a career in the arts. So, although I dreamt about writing, I never thought that I would actually do it. As advised, I picked a practical career that paid well but soon learned that my choice was a mistake. So when I had children, the decision to stay at home with them was a no-brainer. Eventually, my children grew-up, and it was time for me to move on from my full-time role as “mommy.” That’s when I started writing. At first, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I had no intentions of letting anyone see my manuscript, but one thing led to another and after two years of work, Changing My Wardrobe became a published novel.

How would you describe Changing My Wardrobe?

On the surface, Changing My Wardrobe is a story about bullying. Lindsey, a high school freshman, views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults, the main character and her friends struggle to handle the bullying, but tensions rise and people get hurt. This story also touches on the topics of grief, loss, family relationships, and friendship.

Which character you had most fun writing?

I had a lot of fun with Jocelyn. I’ve always admired the oddball who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. Jocelyn is definitely that person. I tried to make her as outrageous as I could. I wanted her to be the person Lindsey was too afraid to be.

What was your main source of inspiration for the story?

Bullying is so pervasive. In grammar school, I suffered through it, and as a parent, I’ve watched my kids deal with it. The adult community pays a lot of lip service to this issue, but many demonstrate this undesirable behavior themselves. It is a cancer. The reasons behind bullying are complex with many contributing factors, I’m not sure that there is a cure. Sadly, as long as some people feel superior and others feel inferior, bullying will persist.

What should readers expect from Changing My Wardrobe?

I tried to make CMW as real as possible. Living with three teens, I had a lot of help with the dialogue. I also wanted this story to have a hard but meaningful ending. Don’t get me wrong, I like a happy ending, but sometimes real life doesn’t give you that. As a young adult, I faced a life-altering event that had a profound effect on the trajectory of my life in both good and bad ways. I wanted to capture those feeling in this book, and that’s why I ended the book as I did.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

Coming up with Changing My Wardrobe was tough. The first title I wanted to use was already a published title, so I needed to find something else. I spent several hours lying on my couch in the dark thinking, and when Changing My Wardrobe popped into my head, I was happy. It’s the perfect metaphor for what the book is really about.   

What books have influenced your life most?

Most of the books that have influenced me are works of non-fiction. Some of my favorites are Why Him, Why Her by Helen Fisher; The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman; Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollen, The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. I’m a sucker for self-help books and books about health.

What are your current projects?

I’m finishing my second book titled Vestige, a supernatural horror story about two teenagers surviving the apocalypse. It will be available mid-June.

Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to write for a living, but it is a tough road. Vestige will have a sequel, so after I’m done with that, I will need to reevaluate my goals.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was in grade school, maybe fourth grade, when I realized that I liked to write. Throughout my school career, I excelled at writing over other subjects. But it wasn’t until recently that I worked up the nerve to seriously pursue writing.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

As a child, I wanted to be many things, but the ones that stand out in my memory are mom, nurse, scientist, astronaut, writer, and an actress.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do hear from readers. Most feel strongly about the ending of Changing My Wardrobe. They either love it or hate it.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I have many story ideas, but after I’m done with Vestige and its sequel, I will have to reevaluate my goals. Writing is rewarding, but it takes a lot of time away from my family. Even when I’m not actually writing, I’m thinking about my current project, and I’m not always living in the moment. And of course, there is the financial end of it. This is a difficult way to make a living; there is a lot of uncertainty as far as income. Right now, I can afford to look at it as more of a hobby. That may not be the case in the future.

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?

I’m finishing my second book titled Vestige, supernatural horror story about two teenagers surviving the apocalypse. It will be available mid-June.

Who designed the covers? Allen Chiu

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part of writing is maintaining a positive attitude. There were many times during the process when I thought that I couldn’t do it. I had to continually give myself pep talks in order to finish. I thought the self-doubt would be easier to deal with the second time around, but I was wrong. In fact, it might have been worse.

Contact Author

Blog

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Links to Buy

Amazon

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AND THE WINNER IS........

 

The Winner is

Lamecia @lameciacreviews@gmail.com

Chasing McCree Book Tour & Giveaway

Young Adult Romance

Title: Chasing McCree

Author: J.C. Isabella

Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.

That was the night she met Chase McCree.

Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.

Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.
The cowboy wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. The cheerleader wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. Apart their lives didn’t seem to make sense, but together, they were chasing forever.

MY REVIEW:

Chasing McCree by J.C. Isabella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by J.C. Isabella I really enjoyed her writing, clear and concise and easy to read. The plot and character descriptions were written extremely well and as I said I really enjoyed her writing.

We are introduced to Briar Thompson, who comes from a well off family, has everything she wants and needs. One night at a party her drink is spiked and she wonders off...well chased off. She ends up bumping into a young man named Chase. Chase is a real cowboy, growing up in Montana he has recently just moved to the city to live with his mom.

Briar and Chase become friends and Briar realizes she is not that happy..her parents are not interested in her life, her friends are a bit superficial. The only one who keeps her sane is her grandmother. Who you will love while reading this book.

Briar decides to take a risk and heads to Montana with Chase for the summer. This is a light fun romance novel for young adults probably more geared to high school youths. But saying that it is a cute romantic novel.

I have rated Chasing McCree 4 stars and I enjoyed J.C. Isabella writing and the story was cute.

Author Bio
J.C. Isabella is the author of The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club and a romance novel junkie. Ever since she discovered the genera in high school, she has been a self-proclaimed fan. This led to penning her first YA romance. When she isn't thinking up new recipes for the cookbook she hopes to one day write, she is brainstorming a new novel and listening to country music. She lives in the tropics of Florida, with her big fat Italian family, and ornery feline companion.

Authors Website

LINKS TO BUY

Amazon

Barnes and Noble - Author Page

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Estella, Vampire Queen of the Rejected,

royally invites you to join herself and her zombie lover for a fix of dark erotic tales sure to tickle your fancy and give you the shivers. But mind your manners, because she bites.

 

TALES FROM THE COFFIN official blog

ABOUT:

Estella  is better known as the Vampire  Queen of the Rejected due to her major Haversham complex; dumped at the altar, she's Dracula's rejected bride. And boy does she harp on it--still wears her Victorian wedding dress, moth holes and all.
Lucy Rot  was a  sweet girl who had a rather bad experience with magic. Now she's a zombie and Estella's lover and lacky.
Together, they lure the unsuspecting into their dark basement for a fix of darkly erotic twisted tales...and dinner!

Think story within a story. Great expectations mashed with Tales from the Crypt and Red Shoe Diaries.

TALES FRO THE  COFFIN BOOK ONE,  STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL, RELEASES 22nd MAY 2012 . Book two, All the Pretty Faces releases June/July 2012

EXCERPT

 (c) JoAnne Kenrick, Decadent Publishing. All rights reserved.

“Fancy bursting into my boudoir and expecting me to entertain on demand. The cheek of it. You people have no manners.” Estella puffed her raspberry-red hair into something that resembled an up-do and readjusted her breasts, shovingher plump flesh back into her once-upon-a-time-white corset. “I know. The wordis out. I give great story. I do understand. You’re excited, who wouldn’t be? I amrather marvelous, if I do say so myself.“In my day, though, the men held doors open for ladies, and the ladies tiltedtheir necks to offer supper. Oh, no need to wrap that sweater farther up yourjugular, dear, I’ve already eaten, so I’m not hungry…at the moment.” Estellastretched her arms out, licked her canines, and hoisted her moth-hole-riddenskirt to expose her alabaster thighs decorated with stockings laddered at theknees and splattered with fresh blood. “I can’t vouch for Lucy, though. She’salways hungry, aren’t you my little Deady Bear.”

BLURB:

Estella, Vampire Queen of the Rejected, is sick of men. Or so she would have you think. Ditched at the altar by Dracula himself, she'd rather spend her days with what she now believes to be the more faithful gender. Plagued by a Haversham complex, she gets her kicks by luring prey into her decrepit house with promises of erotic tales...but mind your manners, and fingers, because she bites.

 Lucy Rotterdayne—a zombie better known as Lucy Rot—is Estella's sometimes-faithful subject and lover. Although why she hangs around to be ridiculed and taunted by a bitter vampire, she has no idea. Perhaps the answer is rooted the story of how she was zombified by a doctor who is simply masterful with his hands?

WARNING.  For adult audiences only.

BUY LINKS

Get your kindle books signed by the author here:

Trailer Widget -- for trailer in full screen, hit the yellow movie box in the widget.

Also by JoAnne Kenrick

www.joannekenrick.com

International Day Against Homophobia - Blog Hop

Welcome!

Homophobic discrimination is a serious issue in every single country on this planet, no matter how big or small. Some countries are more advanced in GLBTQ rights, while in some countries the penalty for being a GLBTQ person is death. All over the world, GLBTQ people are shunned by society, beat up, tortured, raped, and stripped of human rights in various ways. What makes people believe that they have the right to strip someone of their human rights is beyond us.

The Hop Against Homophobia is an attempt by over 250 m/m authors, reviewers and publishers to stand together and create awareness of homophobia. Each participating blog will feature a message on homophobic discrimination in its various forms. The date, May 17th, was chosen in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia and we're hoping to get people more involved with this day by inviting them to our blogs, where the visitors have a chance to win prizes.  

Now here is your chance to win one of they 3 great books I am giving away on my blog to promote International Day Against Homophobia

 

 

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Over 250 blogs participating in the International Day Against Homophobia Blog Hop check them out!

International Day Against Homophobia - Blog Hop

Væmpires: Revolution Tour & Giveaway

Book Decription: It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event. Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution. Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet. The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before. What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?


Thomas Winship was born in Middletown, NY (USA) and still resides in Orange County. He holds an MBA in Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he serves as an adjunct professor of courses in English Composition, Communications, and Business. He also spent fifteen years working for a global pharmaceutical company, specializing in organizational development, talent management, and training. Tom writes in his spare time. His first novel, a mystery/legal thriller entitled Temporary Insanity (a.k.a. Case Closed), was a 2008 finalist in a national contest but failed to garner industry attention. His second novel, Væmpires: Revolution, was published in October and a follow-up novella, Væmpires: White Christmas, was published in December. He is an avid collector of books, comic books, music, and movies. His interests are diverse: on any given day, Tom is likely to be found watching a horror movie, attending a hard rock concert, or enjoying a Broadway show. He is currently working on the next installment of the “Væmpires” series, which is scheduled for a 2012 release.

The World of Væmpires

Hello everyone. I’m Thomas Winship, author of Væmpires: Revolution and Væmpires: White Christmas. Both books are part of a new, ongoing vampire series that explores the question: what if vampires evolved?

I’m so excited to be today’s guest blogger at Tana Rae Reads! In fact, since this is one of the earliest blogs of my Dark Mind Book Tour, I thought it would be the perfect time to cast aside my typical, thinly-veiled attempts to plug Væmpires—within a semi-creative framework, of course—and let loose with a shameless, no-holds-barred, thousand-plus word advertisement for Væmpires!

Plus, I’d wager that few, if any, of you have ever heard of Væmpires.

I’d ask for a show of hands to prove my point, but that would be: a) foolish, since I have no way of seeing you; b) unproductive, because my mind is made up, and once my mind is made up about something, getting me to change it is like trying to get me to ask for directions; and c) disastrous, because my fragile psyche is barely holding on as is, and the last thing I need is further proof of my literary anonymity.

With that said, let me guide the conversation back to safer ground—my world of væmpires.

The story of væmpires (pronounced “vempires”) takes place several thousand years in the future. Sometime in the late twenty-ninth or early thirtieth centuries, humans triggered WWIII. The resultant nuclear winter lasted for hundreds of years and wiped out the vast majority of the population. Water levels rose. The face of the world changed.

When the world recovered from the Great Devastation (as it’s called), the Atlantic Ocean was gone, creating one immense continent surrounded by water. Antarctica and Australia were uninhabited. The few island groups that existed were in constant danger of being swallowed by the remaining oceans, so efforts to inhabit them were quickly abandoned. The peoples of earth spread throughout the continent and grew roots. The calendar was reset at 1 AD (After Devastation).

The new world recovered at an exponential rate. Scientific and medical advancements eradicated most sickness and disease. In less than a thousand years, the human population soared to an estimated thirty or forty billion people.

But the geography wasn’t the only thing that had changed. Vampires, beautiful beings with an inescapable need for human blood, crawled out of the radioactive miasma to settle in dark places. For years, they hid by day and hunted by night, feeding at the fringes of civilization.

NOTE: My vampires have some similarities to “traditional” vampires in that they are undead creatures with enhanced abilities and senses, they require human blood for sustenance, and sunlight kills them. However, they differ from traditional vampires in that their origins appear to be related to radiation, new vampires are born (not made), and they age naturally (although they are immortal).

The discovery of vampires, delayed yet inevitable, sparked the H-V (Human-Vampire) Wars. For hundreds of years, neither side gained a decided advantage—vampires were physically superior, but were greatly outnumbered and had difficulty reproducing.

In 1000 AD, the creation of synth-blood (synthetic human blood) changed the world once again. Vampires were no longer slaves to their hunger [they were no longer susceptible to the effects of sunlight, as well] and humans no longer needed to fear their genetically-superior brethren. Vampires emerged from the shadows and the underworld, cautiously at first, but with increasing enthusiasm as humans welcomed them with open arms.

Understanding that their time as the dominant species was ending, human leaders suggested a series of agreements designed to broker a lasting peace between the two races. Earth was rechristened Tarados (Earth Two) and carved into seven provinces—North & South America, North & South Atlantica, North & South Africa, and Aurasia. Four provinces were placed under vampire rule, a bold concession that nevertheless ushered in a true golden age of peace and prosperity. 

The first væmpires appeared around 1500 AD. The creatures—warm-blooded with a hunger for cold vampire blood—were quickly dismissed as anomalies; poor, unfortunate victims of some horrible new mutagen or, perhaps, lingering atomic contamination. As the situation not only persisted, but grew, world leaders stubbornly refused to acknowledge that any problem existed.

Eventually, the truth became clear: væmpires were former vampires. And each væmpire was a bigger, stronger, faster version of its former self—with a second thumb on each hand and an altered physical appearance, to boot.

No one could determine why the mutations occurred or how to avoid them. There was no rhyme or reason as to who morphed—male or female, old or young, from one end of the world to another—no vampire was safe. New synth-blood variants failed to quell væmpire hunger.

Væmpires themselves decided upon the term “væmpire,” because the extra “e” represented the something extra that made them different from vampires. Their population grew to a point where they demanded rights and representation on a par with humans and vampires. Instead, their leaders were summarily ignored, discredited, or otherwise rendered impotent. Væmpire gangs formed, menacing neighborhoods in major cities.

The gangs became increasingly violent as diplomatic endeavors proved ineffective. It didn’t take long for væmpires to decide that they weren’t just different from vampires, but that they were, in fact, superior to them. Arguing that the “e” represented evolution, væmpire radicals called for radical change. With all three races at odds, the largest gangs evolved into terrorist cells intent on fulfilling a new agenda: the eradication of humanity; the enslavement of vampires; and the ascension of væmpires as the new world leaders.

This is where Væmpires: Revolution begins.

Væmpires: Revolution

It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event.

Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution. Væmpires have launched coordinated attacks across the globe.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?

Væmpires: White Christmas is set six months prior to the events described above, but was designed to be read after Væmpires: Revolution.

Væmpires: White Christmas

It’s almost Christmas. With the global holiday days away, the people of the world should be turning their attention toward celebrating peace and goodwill, but tension between humans, vampires, and væmpires is at an all-time high. Desperate for solutions, King Brant schedules a secret summit deep in North America’s Northern Forest. Along with Queen Anne, Princess Cassandra, Daniel’s family, and the human president and First Lady, the vampire leader seeks to reaffirm the ties between humans and vampires, while brainstorming ways to respond to the growing hostility among væmpires.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Cassie’s relationship is at an all-time low. The princess is still reeling from her breakup with Vielyn, and Daniel doesn’t know what he should or shouldn’t do to help. Little does he know that the summit will be flooded with surprises—guests, allegations, accusations, proposals, and even Christmas Eve revelations—but not all of the surprises will be pleasant.

So, there you have it—the Væmpires saga in a one-thousand-word nutshell. It’s an urban fantasy/dystopian series, combining fantasy, sci-fi, horror, action, and romance in bite-sized chunks for your enjoyment. There’s even a guest appearance by zombies!

I’d like to thank all of you for stopping in and offer a very special “thank you” to Tana for hosting my Dark Mind Book Tour and for inviting me to be a guest blogger at Tana Rae Reads. I hope you enjoyed my guest blog. I’d love to hear what you think of it. Please comment here, but also feel free to stop by my website and reach out. Additionally, I’d love to hear from you if you check out Vaempires.

Below are links where you can find me.

Take care,

Thomas Winship

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