Determinant by A.M Hargrove Blog Tour & Giveaway

Series : The Guardians of Vesturon
Genre : Young Adult Paranormal Romance (with a sci-fi element) 

January St. Davis, on her own since the age of sixteen and struggling to stay in college, thinks she’s scored in a major way when she lands a paid summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. One evening, after working an especially long shift, a chance encounter with a group of mysterious men alters the course of her life.

Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death. When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.

Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?

My Review:

Determinant (The Guardians of Vesturon #3) by A.M. Hargrove - My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A.M. Hargrove has given us a third book in this series The Guardians of Vesturon, this book is by far one of the best books in this series and I expect the series is only going to get better. A.M’s writing is easy to read, her words flowed well, and character and plot are also well written. Determinant can be read as a standalone but I do suggest you read Survival and Resurrection to get to know everyone.
This book has everything a good book should include, romance, suspense, action and did I mention hot aliens. Now I have never been a big science fiction books, but A.M has be rethinking this.

We meet January who is working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the summer on an internship. One night she witness some men walk in and take vials out of the Centre. Then we meet Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon, who is one of those hot aliens I mentioned previously. Rykerian saves January and takes her home. The romance of course is well written and you women reading this will want a man like Rykerian. When January is kidnapped Rykerian will do anything to get her back. Mean while a disease is being spread around the earth and people are sick and dying. The Guardians must save January and our world.

Now I have to talk about Jurik I won’t say how is comes about into this story as I don’t want to give away anything and have to write spoiler alerts. But after reading this book I want A.M. Hargrove to write an entire book on him because he is so drool worthy.

A.M Hargrove has definitely become one of my favorite authors, and I will follow her around until I get Jurcs story oh and Rayn’s and Rykerian have some brothers and one sister so I would expect there to be some more books to be published on all of them.
I would recommend Determinant to all my friends and anyone who follows my reviews or blog.

A.M Hargrove is a fantastic, creative and wonderful person and I hope you take the time to pick up a copy of Determinant.


I'd Like to Welcome A.M. Hargrove to my Blog .....

Now, enjoy the interview!

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

Yes!  It had always been in the back of my mind, but you know how life can get in the way of things.  I was busy in my career and didn’t have the time.  But then fate intervened when the company I worked for was bought out by another larger firm and my job was eliminated.  The door to writing was opened and at first, I was hesitant about walking through the darn thing because I had been away from it for so long.  But after I received a giant shove from a few important people in my life, here I am!

2. How would you describe The Guardians of Vesturon series?

The series is really a merging of genres.  When I created it, I wanted something unique that didn’t involve vampires or the run of the mill shapeshifter.  But I also wanted to pull in paranormal elements, such as supernatural powers, mystical elements and the like.  I wanted the guys to be ultra hawt, unlike what you could find on Earth so I decided to look outside of our world.  I’ve always loved sci-fi, but I also knew it can be a turn off for some people.  I didn’t want it to be to high tech because you can get too bogged down into the technicalities and lose the romanticism...so that’s why I decided to bridge the two genres.  As for the Yarrister family, I pulled that from my own personal experiences.  I came from a family of four--three girls and one boy.  My dad was an identical twin and my uncle’s family lived a block away and they had six kids--four boys and two girls.  We all grew up together, like brothers and sisters.  It was one crazy unbringing with never a dull moment.  We were teased by each other constantly, and dished it out as well.  Consequently, I drew on all of that for the large family setting for the series.

3.  Which character you had most fun writing?

Sharra is probably the most fun to write.  She has such a funny side to her, tries so hard to fit into Maddie’s world, but fails miserably every time.  She will get her day though...*wink*

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

For each book, I have all these ideas that spill out of my head so fast it’s difficult to capture them sometimes.  When I get to the point that I hit a wall, I put on my iPod and go for a run.  Somehow, it triggers creativity.  Don’t ask my why or how, but it seems stimulate creative brain activity.  There is a green space a block from my home with miles of wooded trails, and that’s where my plots have been developed.

5.   What should readers expect from Determinant?

Surprises!  First off, it’s a stand alone novel.  Anyone can pick it up and get the story line without reading Survival and Resurrection.  There are some nuances the reader may miss, but they are minor and don’t affect the overall plot.  Some readers may also be disappointed to find Determinant’s not about Maddie and Rayn.  I wanted the series to evolve around all the Guardians and not just the two of them.  Though Maddie and Rayn play a small part, Determinant is about Rykerian and January, and their story of love, separation and how they find their way back together.  It should come as no surprise to my readers that I am a huge believer in HEAs so you can pretty much fugure you that the MCs will have that.  But they do face a mass of trials and tribulations before they get there.  One other thing...I introduce a new character that will play a prominent role in Determinant.  He will also be in a spin off adult series called The Prasetani Series, that I’m currently writing.

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

*Spoiler Alert* In biology, determinant refers to a gene that determines the development of a cell in an organism.  January has identity issues because she doesn’t know who her biological father is.  I thought Determinant would be a great title since it would reflect the truth of her genetic origins. 

7.   What are your current projects?

I have several things going on.  I’m getting Survival, Resurrection and Determinant ready for print publication.  I’ve also begun working on Dark Waltz, Book 1 of the Praestani series, which is about Jurek, whom you met in Determinant.

8.   Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, I honestly have never worked harder or have been busier.  I used to be in management for a large pharmaceutical company (Wyeth, now Pfizer) and I work harder now than I did then...but I’m have so much more fun!

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

I think when I was a little kid and would daydream and make up all kinds of crazy stuff in my head.  It was so wild, I was afraid to tell anyone because I knew they’d laugh at me.  I’m sure they would have, but I should have written it all down!

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

Oh, the usual, a doctor, a fireman, you know...

11.  When and why did you begin writing?

 Whenever I had any kind of writing assignments in elementary and high school, all my friends would moan and groan about it, but I never minded it.  I would moan along with them, to be cool of course, but I loved doing it.  I would get little notes on my papers from the teachers telling me how great my work was and so forth, but I also had this knack for science and math.  I never could decide on what I wanted to do, so I decided on accounting.  My mom kept telling me she didn’t think that was a good idea but you know how kids are...they don’t like to listen to their moms.  Well, I ended up changing my major. (Yeah, Mom was right!) I ended up in Public Relations/Marketing with a minor in Journalism (but only one class short of a double major).  I wrote and wrote and wrote in college and loved every minute of it. 

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

Yes, my readers are awesome.  I hear from them on email, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, on my blog (but admittedly, I’m not a very good blogger-I get overwhelmed with everything else that I oftentimes forget about it!) and I get the most wonderful messages from them.  If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have kept writing!

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

I want to write Dark Waltz, and then return to Book 4 of the Guardians of Vesturon, reEmergent, to tell Xarrid and Saylan’s story.  I see the Guardians as having two more books after that--one for Sharra and one for Tesslar.  As for the Praestani Series, right now I’m envisioning a trilogy, but you never know...*wink* Jurek has a mind of his own!

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

It was hard to believe the whole thing was happening.  When I wrote Survival, I sort of did it as a lark, and never really knew if I’d publish it or not.  That’s why the first edition was so rough and why it’s now in the 3rd edition *laughs*  I was so green at all of this and I did everything absolutely ass-backward!  I published the darn book and then joined Goodreads!  Can you imagine?  Who does that?  I wasn’t even on Twitter!  I was so ignorant of the whole process.  I feel like I’ve learned the equivalent of four years of college in six months--LOL!  Seriously!  I’m still learning things every day.  Creative writing for instance.  Like I said above, I was trained as a journalist.  Journalists are trained to be concise and succinct, as in who, what, where, when, etc.  In other words, tell, tell, tell!  Journalism doesn’t want any show because there isn’t room or place for it.  That has been a gigantic learning process for me, but it’s also been fun and rewarding. 

15.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?

That I can write for eighteen hours straight as long as caffeine is around!

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

There are only a few things in life that are necessary... family (that includes pets!), spirituality, health, great friends, books, dreams, ice cream (with chocolate), wine and coffee!

17.  Who designed the covers?

Matthew Riggenbach at Shaed Studios

18.  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Stopping.  When I write, my characters want to take over the whole book.  They argue with each other and vie for attention.  Then they argue with me and I have to put them in their place.  Jurek was especially pesky in Determinant.  He wanted to boot Rykerian out and take the whole damn book over at one point.  I finally had to make some concessions and promise him his own book, filled with lots of raunchiness (can you imagine?) and the ability to swear when he wants.  He also insisted that he will be the lead male and gets to end up with the hottest girl.  Boy, talk about demanding and egotistical!  I feel sorry for the lead female in Dark Waltz--she’s going to have her hands full with him.

Book Links

The Guardians of Vesturon is available from the following retailers:

Amazon - ebook
 Amazon UK
 Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Smashwords

Where You Can Find Me

My Blog
My Website
Facebook
Facebook Guardians of Vesturon
Twitter
Goodreads
Goodreads Fan Club

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Boxer Falls: A Gaytime Drama & Interview with Poppy Dennison

Boxer Falls is a weekly homoerotic soap opera being posted at the M/M Romance Group at Goodreads. Penned by a group of fan favorites and new voices, a roster of unparalleled talent brings this "gaytime drama" to life with high camp, low blows, and intense sexiness.
Our writers produce episodes as interconnected short stories about the ongoing adventures of the residents of a tightknit Berkshires resort town with a queer reputation as it gains a reputation as a homo hot spot for the discerning traveler. You should expect sex, scandal, secrets, and happy endings that come at a high price.
Every week a new guest star will take up the pen. Join Ellis Carrington, Poppy Dennison, and Damon Suede along with a host of your favorite gay romance scribes as they cut loose with suds and studs in abundance. And since Brita Addams has joined the team, Boxer Falls has been churning like never before. 

What goes up always comes down.

Peek behind the fly of Boxer Falls, and see what mischief lurks in its quiet streets and secluded spots of a small New England town with a queer reputation. Around here, the family closets hold more than skeletons and the fights are strictly gloves-off. With folks this gorgeous, the feuds are bound to get ugly.

When the wealthy Cotten family decides to turn their country estate into a luxurious resort, the residents of Boxer Falls face an influx of affluent tourists who rub their sleepy little town in the worst ways. Lust, greed, betrayal, and ambition might just yank the town to its knees.

Tune in each week to get the latest on scorching affairs, family dysfunction, and secret desire.

Excerpt: 

Grady ran his fingers through his shower-damp hair as he headed for the kitchen. He’d left Phil snoring in the bed, still passed out from their wild bout of sex the night before. With a grin, Grady tightened his robe and gave himself a pat on the back for a job well done.

Zach stood in the kitchen, hips swinging to music blaring from the headset of his iPod. A loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly were spread out on the counter in front of him. 

Grady gave his son’s back a quick rub as he went by and headed straight for the coffee pot. 

Zach jumped a bit and spun around. “Morning,” he said as he pulled the ear buds from his ears. 

“Hey. What are you up to?”

Zach’s cheeks turned a bit pink as he turned back to the sandwich fixings. “Taking Adam on a picnic. We both have the day off.”

Young love. Grady remembered those days well. Phil used to do romantic things like that for him, and now that they’d pieced their nearly broken relationship back together, that side of his husband was slowly emerging again. 

Grady selected his coffee and popped the choice in the machine. While he waited for it to brew, he went to the pantry and stretched to the highest shelf. He’d stuck the small cooler Phil had used for years as a lunch box up there a while back. 

“Will this help?”

Zach grinned at the beat up red and white container. “You kept that old thing?”

Grady shrugged and sat it in the sink. “It wasn’t broken or anything.”

“Uh huh. Sure. Kind of like how I still have my G.I. Joe one up in the attic, huh?”

Grady bumped his shoulder into Zach’s. “Don’t pick on me. I’m sentimental.”

Now, enjoy the interview with Poppy Dennison!

1. What inspired you to write Boxer Falls?

After meeting Damon Suede and Ellis Carrington at the 2011 GayRomLit Retreat in New Orleans, Damon approached me about an idea he’d come up with for an online serial fiction. We wanted a dynamic world, populated by characters authors and readers alike would want to know more about.

Boxer Falls, A Gaytime Drama developed out of that initial idea. The soap format provided us lots of juicy friction with a no holds barred approach to the storylines. Our writers could have fun and play in our sandbox, leaving fun messes for the next author to clean up.

We premiered in January 2012 on the M/M Romance Group at Goodreads. This week, we’re posting our thirtieth episode and have had many of the bestselling authors in the M/M genre pen episodes for us!

2. How would you describe Boxer Falls?

Boxer Falls is a web serial, updated weekly. It’s fun and campy, just like the daytime soap operas that inspired us. I think our blurb says it best:

What goes up always comes down.

Peek behind the fly of Boxer Falls, and see what mischief lurks in the quiet streets and secluded spots of a small New England town with a queer reputation. Around here, the family closets hold more than skeletons and the fights are strictly gloves-off. With folks this gorgeous, the feuds are bound to get ugly.

When the wealthy Cotten family decides to turn their country estate into a luxurious resort, the residents of Boxer Falls face an influx of affluent tourists who rub their sleepy little town in the worst ways. Lust, greed, betrayal, and ambition might just yank the town to its knees.

Tune in each week to get the latest on scorching affairs, family dysfunction, and secret desire.
Boxer Falls: The bigger they are…

3. Which character have you had most fun writing?

Oh, that’s a hard question! Boxer Falls has a cast of twelve core characters. I think the most fun for me is taking any one of those characters and pushing him into an unexpected direction.

One of our older characters is Grady Boxer. Grady’s in quite the fix. His husband Phil is a philanderer and his ex-love Conrad Cotten has returned to town ready to pick up where they left off. The Grady/Phil/Conrad love triangle is fun for me to write because they’re older, more mature characters who have a lot of life experience under their belt—yet they’re still affected by love as much as their younger counter parts.

Grady has a tough decision to make. Does he stick with his husband of twenty odd years, for better or for worse, or does he give in to the allure of his first love, the one that got away?

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

 Boxer Falls developed from a brainstorming session between Damon, Ellis, and myself. We wanted a title that gave an idea of the setting—waterfalls was an element of the northeast we liked. Romantic, with a hint of danger. Then we wanted a hint of the soapiness the show would inspire. We came up with a list of sexy words that would suit a town, and Boxer won our votes by a landslide. It captures the sexy elements of conservative underwear, while also showing the ongoing dramatic side of the town. Who better than a professional fist fighter to give a hint of the give and take between the characters?

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

 Our readers contact us through the discussion thread over at the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads as well as through our website (http://www.boxerfalls.com/). There’s always a debate each week as our episodes are posted with readers wondering what will happen next!

We quote some of our reader’s responses in our weekly newsletter, The Boxer Brief. (You can subscribe here: http://boxerfalls.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5ed8de295112ae1bb33fd7e5e&id=c9331e09f8)
Some of our favourite quotes are:

Pixie-It’s a soap opera. There are no endings, only new beginnings!!
G-I hope that it will still go on and on and on…
Eden-Now that was satisfying!

6.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing this serial?

Boxer Falls is a surprise every week. The fun of being a serial project, with a different author every week, is that you never know where the story is going to go. Each author brings their unique voice, and passion for their favorite characters. One week, our dynamic duo of Oz, the sexy silver fox, and his bartender lover Quinn will be at the forefront. The next week, star-crossed lovers Zach and Adam may come together. And there’s always our sheriff, the sexy sub Vic who is looking for a man who can meet his every need!

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

One of our favorite aspects of Boxer Falls is our plans for the future. Season one will be anthologized into a paperback at the end of the year. All proceeds from the sale of volume one will go to support GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation http://www.glaad.org/) We’re excited to support this wonderful cause and to give our writers a chance to give back to the community that does so much for us.

Links:

Boxer Falls: http://www.boxerfalls.com/

Goodreads M/M Romance Group (must be a member): http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/20149-m-m-romance

Bio:

A sassy southern lady, Poppy Dennison developed an obsession with things that go bump in the night in her early years after a barn door flew off its hinges and nearly squashed her. Convinced it was a ghost trying to get her attention, she started looking for other strange and mysterious happenings around her. Not satisfied with what she found, Poppy has traveled to Greece, Malaysia and England to find inspiration for the burly bears and silver foxes that melt her butter. Her love of paranormal continues to flourish nearly thirty years later, and she writes steamy love stories about the very things that used to keep her up all night. If her childhood ghost is lucky, maybe one day she’ll give him his own happily ever after.

Visit her on her web site: http://www.poppydennison.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poppydennison

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PoppyDennison

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108648.Poppy_Dennison

Awakening the Nightmare Blog Tour!

In a world filled with preternatural beings, Corinne DeLacy stands alone. For centuries she has hidden her heritage and powers from the rest of the world. Then Nick is forced into her life, turning it upside down. Standing in her way at every turn, he watches her suspiciously. Circumstances landed them together and now they must fight to save all that they hold dear.

Awakening the Nightmare Book Trailer

Wife, mother, student, domestic goddess, blogger, author, animal lover, avid reader, tomboy... the labels and titles go on and on. But I don't want to be labelled any one thing. I am all of these things and they are all a part of who I am. So the end result is just me, something of a mess, with interests all over the place. But also with the ability to adapt when necessary.

Writing for me is, essentially, a purge. Not to sound like a spiritual nut, because I'm not, but it allows me to take all of the negative energy within me and focus it on something positive. To pour out from my soul, all the things that make me crazy, a process that leaves me feeling refreshed and revitalized. My writing isn't necessarily deep, there are things in it that people who know me well, could make the connections, and figure out exactly what part of my history I am referencing, if only to draw on it for authenticity. But it is still, all, just little pieces of me. Or more accurately, little things that are a reflection of me and although there is something of a darker element to some of it, it is meant only to be entertaining. I have no desire to have my work analyzed by college professors and students. I don't need my books to become classics or even fads. I just want average people like myself, to enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

I love to talk, so talk to me.

Symmetria Website

Awakening the Nightmare on Amazon

Check out the rest of the

Awakening the Nightmare Blog Tour!

Friday, July 20th Book Addict

Saturday, July 21st Tana Rae Reads

Sunday, July 22nd My Book Boyfriend

Monday, July 23rd Random Jen

Tuesday, July 24th Some Like It Paranormal

Wednesday, July 25th Share-A-Read

The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski - Blog Tour

The Mayfair Moon –
Darkwoods Trilogy #1
By J.A. Redmerski 

Genre: Paranormal YA

After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.

My Review:

The Mayfair Moon (The Darkwoods Trilogy) by J.A. Redmerski - My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mayfair Moon written by J.A. Redmerski is a fantastic read; the author has done a terrific job giving us a different type of story around werewolves. I absolutely loved the fresh spin in this genre. I found the authors writing refreshing, and I can say without a doubt that this trilogy is going to be a great one. I have given the author and The Mayfair Moon a 5 star rating as her writing is great, plot and character description are done extremely well and I never once put this book down. J.A. Redmerski is definitely one of my new favorite authors.

We are introduced to Adria and Alex, sisters living with their mother and alcoholic/abusive stepfather. Adria and Alex are different in many ways Adria more the quite type and Alex more outgoing but always make sure her sister is safe and happy. One evening on their way home they come across a two werewolves fighting in the woods and end up right in the middle of things, barely making it out of the woods alive they return home battered and bruised but alive. Adria knows her sister took the brunt of the attack trying to protect her from being hurt. Adria cannot believe what she saw and knows deep down that she can tell no one as they may think she is crazy. The neighbours sees the sister’s banged up and call in Child Protective Services believing the stepfather has hurt them. Next thing you know Adria and Alex are being sent away to live with their Aunt and Uncle in Maine.

Things change for the sister’s in Maine, Alex is no longer the same person, seems cold and withdrawn, while Adria finds herself rather happy living in a home where it’s safe and feels for the first time in her life that her aunt and uncle truly care about them. Adria cannot figure out what is going on with her sister, she stays locked in her room she is horrible to her aunt and uncle who are only trying to provide the girls with a good home. One evening Adria follows her sister Alex through the woods and see’s Alex meet up with some young men, Adria doesn’t understand what is going on with Alex, and to make matters worse Alex doesn’t return home and finds out Alex is living with the Vargas brothers.

Adria makes some new friends herself and for the first time in her life she knows she is pretty happy besides all the drama her sister is causing. Getting to know her friends she meets Issac Mayfair who she is instantly attracted too and cannot for the life of her figure out the Mayfair’s family situation. Her friends take her out one evening so she can see her sister and find out what is going on with Alex. Adria realizes at this point that there is something definitely going on with her sister and way more then she can fathom. It appears that the Vargas and Mayfair’s have some kind of family feud going on and Alex and Adria are now in the middle of it.

This novel is a fantastic read, I cannot say anymore as I would have to add spoiler alerts, but I will promise anyone who loves paranormal mystery/romance novels this is a number one read. I will recommend this book to all of my friends and anyone who reads my reviews should absolutely go purchase The Mayfair Moon.

-THE MAYFAIR MOON Dream Cast – J.A. Redmerski-

 I admit that while writing THE MAYFAIR MOON, I never had anyone in particular in mind for any of the characters, but later I did start to think about who might resemble the characters the best.  It was difficult to place them, but I think those that I chose come really close!

Michelle Trachtenberg comes closest to casting Adria Dawson, hands down. She’s complete with Adria’s dark hair, freckles (though her tons of freckles are covered by make-up in this picture) and pale skin.

Harry I think can best be compared to Landon Liboiron. Grow out his hair a tad and give him a skateboard and he’s pretty spot-on! Landon actually played a werewolf in a movie called The Howling: Reborn (and he did a great job!), so hey, he’s already in the werewolf club!

I thought Zia would be the most difficult to place, but I found Jessica Stam to fit her character really well. Just give her a short, spiky hairdo and dress her sort of like a rocker chick and Jessica could easily pull Zia’s character off (appearance-wise, anyway).

Lastly, Isaac Mayfair was the one character I had the toughest time figuring out. Ultimately, I chose Kevin Zegers, - wow  those eyes!

Lastly, I have to say that the models I chose for the new cover of THE MAYFAIR MOON, also really depict Adria and Isaac as well!

To Purchase on Amazon

Jessica's Web Site

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Description:

Her whole life, it had just been the two of them. Before her mother’s last breath, she gave Camille the information she had craved her entire life: the identity of her father. Daring to contact him, Camille was welcomed by an entire family she never knew existed. But nothing comes without a price, as she discovers when her family claims a legendary heritage tracing back to a centaur touched by Zeus.

As she learns the secrets of her Centaur bloodline, she is drawn into a forbidden love with Drake. Her life may be the blood debt required to pay for her mother’s transgressions. The same person who once held her mother captive, and forced her into decades of hiding, now controls Camille. Her only chance is to seek a piece of her mother’s past that will win her freedom and the life she desperately wants.


My Review:

Nancy Straight has written a fantastic and unique YA Paranormal Romance novel called Blood Debt, it’s the first in her new series (Touched #1). Nancy writing is easy to read, character descriptions are well written and the story held my attention right till the end. There are times when I felt so bad for Camille that your eye’s water up. My god this was a fantastic read.

We meet Camille who has just lost her mother to cancer, her moms last words to her is her father’s name and where he lives. Camille doesn’t want to be all alone and never knowing who her father was she decides she should call him. In a instant Camille’s life is about to change, travelling to meet him she finds out not only does she have 5 brothers and a step mother but she is not entirely human.

Camille learns that she is of Centaur blood, and how extremely powerful she will be coming from very strong bloodlines. But she also learning that her mother had ran away and has been in hiding for years. When Camille learns the Centaur women need to marry and keep their blood lines growing she struggles and her defenses go up as she is not going to be told what to do. I loved this part of the story Camille stands up for herself and tries to explain to her brothers that dating can be fun. Camille wants to learn about her ancestry and her none existing powers. Camille also meets the man whom her mother was betrothed too and that there is a blood debt that she may have to pay.

Struggling with all this new information and her new family she also meets Drake, who is already betrothed or shall I say engaged to be married. But instantly these two know that there is something between them. Feeling horrible for having a crush on her new friend’s fiancé, and still trying to figure out why she has no power and her blood debt how could this story get any better. Oh yes did I mention she gets kidnapped by her grandmother…….

As I cannot say anymore without using spoilers, THIS is a MUST read, Nancy Straight has written a fantastic first novel in this new series Touched. I am now going to have to figure out how to bribe Nancy to let me know when book 2 is going to be released and maybe I should you know read it to test out the flow and make sure there are no errors. (haha)

This new series is fantastic, and as I said earlier it is a must read. Thank you Nancy for posting your book in Making Connections YA Edition for our members to read and review, I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

To Purchase Go To:

Amazon

The Macabre Masterpiece by Justin Bienvenue - Blog Tour

Have you ever wanted a tour of the infamous underground we know as Hell? To experience different angles of blood? To meet some of horrors most morbid and fearsome creatures? Or maybe you wish to get totally creeped out and be left in utter shock and suspense to the point where your heart is beating so fast but you can’t get enough!?

If this is you, then check out “The Macabre Masterpiece: Poems of Horror and Gore”
-Five chapters
-Fifty in-depth poems
-Gruesome tales

The best taste of horror and gore starts and ends here...

EXCERPT: The Spirit of the dead is near, they’ve asked me to bring you all here, I can see it in your eyes, you all look despaired..

The need for bloodshed is done in the back of the shed in the back of the head until the back is red..

Crouching in position posing in perfect posture, on the rooftop of a gothic cathedral sits a monster..

Tears of Blood

With anguish no thoughts and traits of despair

The shadows of sadness fill and plague the air

An unsettling feeling which cannot be escaped

As darkness takes over like a curtain which has been draped

No need to run and waste ones energy

Whatever is expected is not what’s expected to be

The taste of ash and smell of burning embers

Takes over and consumes until you can no longer remember

Why you feared what you feared in the first place

Time is now still no feelings of being chased

Just calmness and utter confusion

In the distance a figure, is it an illusion?

Suddenly it presents itself and you soon feel a flood

You’ve been scared out of your mind and now cry tears of blood

About Me:  My name is Justin Bienvenue. I am 24 years old and live in Attleboro, MA. I like to consider myself a creative thinker and brainstormer. I enjoy writing because it gives me a way to put my creative ideas into perspective and down on paper. I get inspiration from just about anything, whether it be real or fiction, I always try to do something innovative and different. Poetry is something I have enjoyed reading and writing for some time now. I find it to be a great way of self-expression, putting your feelings down and a sweet sounding piece of work with all of its rhythm and other literary devices. I decided to write a book because I wanted more people to read and appreciate my work and I believe it to be really good and worth being made into a book. Whether you like poetry, horror or just like to read all together I believe you will enjoy reading my book. It's got a little bit of everything and has a good mix of different types of the horror genre. My writing always has either meaning or takes the readers imagination into a whole new perspective. This is what I as a writer, creator and author try to do, this is why I write, to bring out expression and to make my work enjoyable not just for me, but for all who will enjoy and appreciate it as well.

BOOK LINK:

http://www.publishamerica.net/sc/productsearch.cgi?storeid=*24adc608a4d4335a1575c341fbaf7811634e6084

 Goodreads Author Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4572127.Justin_Bienvenue

Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The‑Macabre‑Masterpiece/147564182007781

Amazon Author Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Justin‑Bienvenue/e/B00851MBK8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1339004781&sr=8‑1

Website: http://jbienvenue.webs.com/

E-Mail- AmadeusAnubis@netzero.net

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer Blog Tour - Review/Interview & Giveaway

That day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge, mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing beats as I tried to remember to breathe.

I finally knew what the glow meant.

I was a freak and Joshua was going to die.

Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.

The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.

Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?

MY REVIEW:

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer - 4 Stars

Dead Radiance is a Mythology adventure, this is something I don’t normally read but to be honest I loved the cover and decided I should read it. T.G. Ayer writing is good, the story flowed well, character descriptions were well written well and I felt like I got to know and understand the main characters.

We meet Bryn Halbrook, her mother deserted her and when her father died she was placed into foster care. Bryn knows she is different and feels as she has never really fit in. Figuring out that she sees a person’s aura and when it lights up they usually end up dying. She of course tells no one. When a young man comes to live in her foster home things start to unravel for her. Finding out more about her father work and where she came from is very confusing, trying to piece everything together and realizing she is in danger she must leave her home to keep her foster family safe. The next part of this story then takes place Asgard, the city of Odin. Bryn learns she is a Valkyrie and a very powerful one. We meet some new characters and some old ones return. This story is faced paced, has some mystery/suspense and if full of some very interesting Mythology.

This book takes you on a Mythology ride and I quite enjoyed it.

I have rated Dead Radiance 4 stars and I cannot wait to read Dead Embers (Valkyrie, #2).

 

INTERVIEW:

 

Now, enjoy the interview!

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

I think the answer to that would be a categorical Yes! I've always wanted to be a writer but sometimes life demands you do other things in the interim, but even when you take a different path in life the dream never dies.

The actual step to taking writing seriously was something that happened gradually. After spending years in an industry, and a job that, quite frankly, was uninspiring if not emotionally draining and unsatisfying, I realised it was now or never. I changed jobs to one that was less challenging and very near my home, and began to write every day (including weekends). And every chapter I completed just inspired me to write more because I realised I was capable, and it was possible for me to write a book and fulfil my dream!

2.     How would you describe DEAD RADIANCE?

Bryn Halbrook is a misfit who discovers she really doesn’t fit in with human society because she isn't human, she is a Valkyrie – a warrior of Asgard who serves the God Odin by retrieving the souls of the brave and courageous dead, collecting warriors who will train and serve Odin in the biggest, baddest battle of them all, Ragnarok – the end of the world.

But really speaking, Dead Radiance is a story about a girl who doesn’t believe she matters much. Everyone in her life has abandoned her, she doesn't make friends easily, and is a social outcast. Her self-esteem is low, and she is slowly becoming emotionally detached. Dead Radiance is a story about a girl who realises that even when she always thought herself weak, that deep within herself is a strength that will sustain her during the worse times and the best times. And that you look first to yourself for strength because no matter what life throws at you, you can handle it.

3.     Which character you had most fun writing?

Definitely Bryn, the main character. It was special to see her grow and realise her strengths. I loved when she came into her own and was able to stand up to herself, despite her misgivings. Bryn is granted her wish to be strong, and it was interesting to watch her accept her new self, to believe that Asgard and all it entails, actually exists. I also especially love her romance- she fell hard and fast for Aidan – I think I love the idea of love at first sight ;)

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

I've always loved mythology, and always been fascinated by the intricacies of Norse Mythology which has such a interesting pantheon of gods and creatures.

And Valkyries! I'm a sucker for any mythology that deals with winged creatures, and Valkyries are not all that common in Young Adult Paranormal.

5.     What should readers expect from DEAD RADIANCE?

A fast paced story packing an emotional punch J

Dead Radiance is filled with interesting characters like the gorgeous Fenrir the wolf son of Loki, and Freya the goddess of passion who is sometimes just a chick who loved her bling. There are twists and turns, betrayals and friendships, courage and trickery.

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

The title refers to the Warriors. The warriors are dead, and the Valkyries recognize the warriors by the golden glow of their skin, so Dead Radiance it was.

7.     What are your current projects?

At the moment I am working on the sequel Dead Embers which follows Bryn in her adventures through new realms, and performing new quests, and hopefully saving Aidan this time ;) Dead Embers releases 15th August 2012.

I'm also working on what was the first novel I'd ever written- it’s a shapershifter Urban Fantasy called Second Skin and is scheduled for release late September/October 2012.

8.     Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. Writing is a career for me. You hear it a lot, in advice given to writers 'Don't give up you day job.' Fortunately, I was in a position to take the bull by the horns and tackle my writing with both hands. Plus I'd written two books before I started writing full time. I also think it's important that if you want to make writing your career you do need to treat it like a job, as opposed to a hobby. It's serious stuff.

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

A writer, a journalist, a lawyer, even a doctor, but then, always a writer J

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

I'm very honored to say that I hear from readers all the time. They have such wonderful things to say about Dead Radiance that sometimes I have to read it over and over just to believe it. Most readers love Bryn, and Aidan. Some readers want to see more of Fen, and some readers think Joshua's way better for Bryn. I simply love that readers feel the characters and the writing enough to totally love the story. The best part of reader feedback is the kind that says 'where the h*ll is the next book, I'm dying here...' Love it!

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

I aim to write as many books as I can, to try and write all those stories fighting for space in my head. I'm really aiming to have a catalogue of books produced over the next  few years to satisfy current fans, and a good solid range available for new readers as they hear about my books and come looking for more.

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

Surreal, and in fact it is still surreal sometimes. There are times when I have to grab and hold the paperback just to confirm this is all really happening. And the cover is sensational. I simply loved working on the cover and the finished product just blew me away.  Still does, in fact.

13.    Who designed the covers?

My covers were created by an amazing artist – Eduardo Priego. He is an extremely talented young Mexican artist that was such a pleasure to work with. He brought my design and idea to fruition and I can honestly say there is nothing I don't like about the final product. It's just perfection.

14.   What was the hardest part of writing your book?

There was so much in my head as I wrote so many scenes, so many twists and turns that it was difficult trying to keep them all in order. I always thought I was a pantser- writing off the cuff, and indeed I think I am most of the time but I've slowly developed a strategy of putting ideas onto paper or writing them up in Scrivener, the writing program I use. I think in the long run, it pays to be organized, to have a plan.

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

I just hope that Bryn is able to inspire readers who are looking for inspiration and to give hope to those who need it. In the end it's all about courage. So many people don't realize how much courage it takes to put one foot in front of the other during our dark times. I think the first step in believing in yourself is to acknowledge that every step you take is a step of courage and that everyone has something within themselves that they can be proud of.

AUTHORS BIO:

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

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