Friday, December 26, 2014

[Blog Tour] Spotlight: Dark Prophecy (Soul Storm #1) by Ann Gimpel

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Dark Prophecy
Soul Storm
Book 1
Ann Gimpel

Publisher: Dream Shadow Press

Release Date: 12/11/14
Available for pre-order early December

Genre: Urban Fantasy

When the dream world spills its murky contents, everyone’s worst nightmares run free.

Book Description:

Dr. Lara McInnis reads auras and flirts with an elusive ability to foretell the future. Ambivalent about the magic within her, she’s done a fine job ignoring other aspects of her power—until now. After several patients—and a student or two—describe the same cataclysmic dream, she uncovers ancient evil intent on draining her power. Lara knows next to nothing about her psychic side, but it will destroy her if she can’t come to terms with it.

Trevor Denoble has secrets, but he shields them well with a stunning body and a boatload of British charm. The airline he works for folds because there’s no fuel for the planes, and Lara’s changing into someone he barely recognizes. Though he doesn’t know it yet, the rest of his carefully crafted life is about to come crashing down too. 

Living in a world teetering on the edge of anarchy, Trevor and Lara are faced with a series of painful decisions. Is the love between them enough for Trevor to swallow his distrust of Lara’s burgeoning paranormal ability? Will their personal demons tear them apart in a world gone mad, as shortages of everything from electricity to food escalate? 


Excerpt:

…Hours later, Lara let herself out of her office, reached back in to activate the alarm, and then locked the door behind her. Arabel had gone home at six. Normally her receptionist left a note if there was something she needed to communicate. Tonight there hadn’t been any notes because there weren’t any patients she needed to call. But there had been a few zucchinis from Arabel’s lovingly-tended garden. Lara was grateful, both for the organic produce and for the lack of patient-related affairs to attend to. She was tired and hoped nobody had a crisis that evening.
She double-checked the pager that lived clipped to her belt. As she moved away from the front door of her building, she stumbled. The outside light was out—when had that happened?—and it was very dark in the shadows of the cavernous front porch. She made a grab for the railing to steady herself and took a tentative step toward the street.
“Stop right there,” a familiar harsh voice boomed from behind her.
“Mr. Beauchamp. That is you, isn’t it?” Alarm ricocheted through her, but she knew intuitively it was important to hide her fear. “What do you want?” Though she aimed for nonchalance, her voice sounded thin and shaky. Is it Ken? Aw, Jesus, who else could it be? She closed her eyes, gathering data from an unseen realm she knew well. Once her energies were focused, she discerned his twisted energy field throbbing against the darkness. Better the devil you know flashed through her mind. Not necessarily came close on its heels, as she realized, with a sinking feeling, that Ken Beauchamp really was dangerous. She’d known it the first time he walked into her office, but drawn in by his wife’s soft helplessness, she’d ignored her concerns, compassion overriding common sense.
“I want to talk. No, don’t turn around.” The man’s voice held menace as it sliced into her tumbling thoughts.
“What do you want to talk about, Mr. Beauchamp?” With effort, she kept her voice steady. “Surely whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. You really do need to call my office and make an appointment.” There, that seems like about the right amount of bravado.
“What did you tell my wife today? When you were in the bathroom. You’d better tell me the truth.”
“Are you threatening me? Because if you are, I’ll call the cops and have you thrown off my property.” Anger was rapidly displacing her fear—or at least coexisting with it. She reached a hand into her bag in search of her phone.
“That wouldn’t be smart, Doc, not very smart at all. Take your hand out of that purse.”
Ken Beauchamp’s voice was mild, but an ominous undertone chilled her. Sweat gathered in her armpits and dripped down her sides. Think! she commanded herself. There’s got to be a way out of this.
“Well, Doctor?” Ken’s voice oozed sarcasm, with undercurrents of something darker and far more primal. “I asked you a simple question. Answer it and we can both go home.”
What was he doing? Lara dug deeper with her hyper-honed senses. His breathing seemed…uneven. Was he getting off by intimidating her?
Something clicked ominously. The snick of a gun’s safety mechanism? What else could that cold metallic snapping sound possibly be? Fighting fear that threatened to paralyze her, Lara asked, “How’s Bethany, Mr. Beauchamp? She’s all right isn’t she?” Despite her concerns for herself, Lara was suddenly frantic about Bethany.
“That’s none of your business anymore. We won’t be back. I just want to know what you told her today.”
“Why is that important to you?”
“I ask the questions around here.” Yes, Lara thought as she listened intently, he was practically panting. Oh shit, this guy’s a pervert on top of all his other less-than-stellar attributes. She flirted with flying down the porch steps and trying to outrun him, except she had dress shoes on and her heavy shoulder bag. What if he really did have a gun? She hadn’t heard the metal click again.
A car pulled to the curb in front of her building and she started, heart beating like a mad thing. Christ, is it one of his henchmen come to help out? Practically moaning aloud, she wondered what Ken Beauchamp had in mind for her…

About the Author:

Ann Gimpel is a national bestselling author. She’s also a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent.  Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing.  A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. She’s published over 20 books to date, with several more contracted for 2014 and beyond.

A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.





@AnnGimpel 


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Promo: Meet Collins Drake - Filthy Beautiful Forever By Kendall Ryan

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 SYNOPSIS:
Collins Drake exercises control over all facets of his life. From his business, to satisfying his physical needs … it all happens on his command.
So when a woman shows up at his door and reminds him of a promise they made each other when they were just ten years old, it shouldn’t have the ability to rock his entire world.
Yet it does.
Because Mia Monroe wasn't just his childhood best friend, she wasn't just the girl he lost his virginity to and hasn't seen since, she's the one exception to his perfect control. And piece by piece, she's about to tear apart his carefully laid plans.

THE SERIES:
Filthy Beautiful Lies
**Warning: this book contains an addictively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.** 

Meet Colton Drake...

I have no idea why she auctioned off her virginity for a cool mill. Regardless, I’m now the proud new owner of a perfectly intact hymen. A lot of good that will do me. I have certain tastes, certain sexual proclivities. My cock is a bit more discriminatory than most. And training a virgin takes finesse and patience – both of which I lack.

Sophie Evans has been backed into a corner. With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, the only choice is to claw her way out, even if that means selling her virginity to the highest bidder at an exclusive erotic club. When Colton Drake takes her home, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems with this beautifully troubled man. Being with him poses challenges she never expected, and pushes her to want things she never anticipated. 

A sinfully seductive erotic romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan

Filthy Beautiful Love
Filthy Beautiful Love:
Synopsis:
**Warning: this book contains an additively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.**

Book 2 in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series.
I never expected to watch Sophie walk away. She was mine. I would own her. She just didn’t know it yet. New goal: Seal the deal and rock her world so thoroughly she never wanted to leave again.
Highly sexual and emotionally charged, Filthy Beautiful Love is the provocative conclusion to Filthy Beautiful Lies.
BUY LINKS:
 
Filthy Beautiful Lust
From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan, comes the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series.
Pace Drake loves sex. He knows where get it, what to say, what to do, and he makes no apologies for satisfying his needs. But when he meets single mom, Kylie Sloan, he's enthralled by her, and begins to question his standard operating procedure. After all, there's no chase, no mystery when banging a woman in a nightclub bathroom. Kylie's depth and determination make the sloppy, drunken hookups that fill his weekends seem empty and shallow. She's the opposite of the desperate, clingy women he's used to. She doesn’t want or need anyone to take care of her and that only makes him want to care for her more.
Kylie's trust in men has vanished. The last guy she was with played ding-dong-ditch-it with her uterus and left her with a baby to raise. Now her infant son is the only man she has time for, even if she misses sex and intimacy more than she'd ever admit. Opening her heart up to a younger man who's best known for no-strings-attached sex and his casual lifestyle is probably the worst idea she's ever had. But Pace wants to prove to her there are still a few good guys left, and watching the sweet way he interacts with her baby makes her want to try…but she can really trust that his days of hitting it and quitting it are in his past?
Filthy Beautiful Lust is the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series, however it can be read as a standalone novel (no cliffhanger). To understand the full growth and development of the characters, it is recommended that you begin with book 1, Filthy Beautiful Lies.


About The Author:
Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels, including Hard to Love, Unravel Me, Resisting Her and When I Break.
She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and reading.
Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Links:


Monday, December 22, 2014

[Release Day Launch] Giveaway: Seductive Nights Box Set by Lauren Blakely

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SN RDL Banner

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Lauren Blakely's SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS Box Set! The SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS Box Set is a compilation of the novella and all three full-length novels from her first Erotic Romance Series, The Seductive Nights Series! Grab this box set now and stay warm through those cold winter nights ahead.

SN Box Collection

Amazon US ** AMAZON UK ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks

The Seductive Nights Box Set will be at it’s lowest price ever as an introductory rate for the holidays at just $2.99, but this price will go up over the weekend following its release!
Message from Lauren:

I'm so thrilled that so many readers have fallen in love with Juliaand Clay and the Seductive Nights series. I originally only intendedto write one book, Night After Night, and then it became two withAfter This Night. As soon as I published that book last May, readersasked for even more! So I wrote One More Night, and it was such a joyto spend more time with this couple. I hope more readers have a chanceto get to know their sexy love story, and that's why I have packagedall three full-length novels starring Julia and Clay in one box setfor the first time ever! Happy Holidays and may your nights be filledwith pleasure!
Box Set Deal Graphic

ABOUT SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS BOX SET:

Seductive Nights: The Complete Julia and Clay Collection is a box set of all the books starring Julia and Clay in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series. This box set includes First Night, Night After Night, After This Night, and One More Night. This is the ONLY Seductive Nights box set that includes the final Julia and Clay novel, ONE MORE NIGHT.

-FIRST NIGHT
When the sinfully handsome Clay Nichols walks into her bar in San Francisco, Julia Bell simply wants a break from the troubles that keep chasing her. They share one scorchingly hot night together, but discover a connection that runs deeper than mere chemistry....

-NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
With a dirty mind and a mouth to match, Clay Nichols is everything Julia never knew she wanted and exactly what she cannot have. He walked into her life one night and unlocked pleasure in her that she never knew was possible. Possessing her body, captivating her every thought. Which makes him way too dangerous for Julia to risk her heart, given that she has a price tag on her head. She ran after one mind-blowing week with him, but now he's back, and determined to make her his own.

-AFTER THIS NIGHT
Clay Nichols can’t get the gorgeous and fiery Julia Bell out of his mind. He’s so drawn to her, and to the nights they shared, that she's all he can focus on. But she's playing hot and cold, and he wants all of her. When he finds her again at her sister's wedding, they have a second chance but she'll have to let him all the way in. And they'll learn just how much more there is to the intense chemistry they share, and whether love can carry them well past the danger of her past and into a new future, after this night...

-ONE MORE NIGHT
Sexy bartender Julia Bell and hot-as-hell entertainment lawyer Clay thought their future was clear sailing. But life doesn't work that way and the fiery lovers run into a slew of new challenges. Trouble looms in every corner on their trip to the city of sin. Can Clay save Julia from danger one more time? Or will he be too late for the woman he adores?

SN Box Set 3D


Author Photo
About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in her novel, Far Too Tempting, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He's Mine, Playing With Her Heart, Trophy Husband, Far Too Tempting, The Thrill of It, Every Second With You, Burn For Me, Melt for Him, Night After Night, After This Night and One More Night. She recently released Stars In Their Eyes, the first book in her new adult series Wrapped Up in Love, spun off from the bestselling Caught Up in Love series. In November she'll release Nights With Him, a standalone novel in her New York Times Bestselling Seductive Nights series. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Lauren Blakely Goodreads


Pearls


Saturday, December 20, 2014

[Book Blitz] Excerpt & Giveaway: Lessons in Love (Lessons in Love #1) by Clarissa Carlyle

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Lessons in Love (Lessons in Love
#1)
Release Date: 02/24/14
New Adult
183 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Book 1 in the Lessons in Love New Adult Romance
series

The Lessons in Love series follows the story of high school cheerleader Alex
Heron. She's pretty, blonde and popular. Alex seems to have it all, but she's
hiding a dark secret from her past that threatens to destroy her future. Only
the handsome new math teacher, Mark Simmons, can see past Alex's façade to the
real girl hiding inside. He wants to help Alex overcome her past, but will
their developing feelings for each other get in the way?

Buy Links:
(CURRENTLY FREE)
Amazon
US
Apple iTunesBarns
& Noble
Kobo


~ EXCERPT ~


Alexandra Heron gave her brightest smile as she pivoted around in her red and white cheerleading outfit. With the sun shining and her blonde halo of hair bouncing around in a ponytail, she looked every inch the American teen dream. But no one watching knew of the anguish she was feeling inside. Alex had gotten good at keeping her past well hidden.
“W.” she exuberantly yelled out the letter with the other girls, using her arms to make the “W” shape.
Out in the afternoon sun, the cheerleaders of Woodsdale High practiced hard. They spun, jumped, and kicked around in a small corner of the football field. A handful of male admirers seated themselves nearby, enjoying the show. The team was renowned throughout the state for its high energy and perfectly choreographed performances.
After an hour of practice, the girls disbanded, clapping their sign-off chant in happy unison. They fanned out, each going their own way.
“Alex, that routine was great,” Claire Taylor complimented after the rehearsal.
“Thanks.” Alex smiled modestly, picking up her water bottle from the side of the field and taking a long, refreshing drink.
“I like the new direction you are taking the team. You make a great captain,” Claire continued.
“Thanks.” Alex blushed.
“We still need to work on the pyramid, and there are a few girls out of step,” Sophie Walker said with her arms folded as she sat down on the nearby bleachers.
“Yes, I know.” Alex forced a smile.
“Well, as captain, that’s the sort of thing you need to figure out,” Sophie said as her dark eyes bore into Alex’s blue ones.
“As vice-captain you could always help out more,” Claire suggested, raising an angered, perfectly shaped eyebrow at Sophie.
“I wouldn’t want to step on any toes,” Sophie replied coolly. She finished her drink and headed away from the field, loosening her ponytail, so that her dark hair cascaded down her back.
“She’s still sore about not making captain,” Claire apologized to Alex.
“It’s okay. I can handle Sophie Walker.” Alex shrugged.
“You never sweat the small stuff, do you?” Claire noted.
“Life’s too short.” Alex smiled.

Books in the Lessons in Love series:
Lessons in Love
http://bit.ly/LessonsinLove
Letters of Love
http://bit.ly/LettersofLove


Living with Love
http://bit.ly/LivingwithLove

About the Author
I have been an avid reader and and writer since my
earliest school days. Reading was my first and earliest passions, often seeking
the safe sanctuary of my room or the library to read everything I could. My
favorite has been romance. I penned some romantic poetry in high school and was
winning school awards for my short stories when I was just 16. In college I
would hibernate in the library for days at a time, consuming every short story
and novel I could find. My diploma says Bachelors in English Lit. which I'm
very proud of.
I probably drink too much coffee and eat too much junk food, but to compensate
do like running when the weather is nice. I love shopping in the mall even if I
never find what I'm looking for. I'm a hopeful romantic who prefers novels with
a happy ending.
Author Links:
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GIVEAWAY:

Book Blitz Organized by:

Friday, December 19, 2014

[Book Tour] Review & Giveaway: Reason and Romance by Jenn Young

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Reason and Romance
Release Date: 12/09/14
Book Summary:
Being stuck in the godforsaken desert is Adrian Blake’s worst nightmare come true. Senior year is all about making fun memories. It’s not about starting over at a new school and navigating a new Brady Bunch family. It’s really not about living with a sexy, arrogant would-be stepbrother who knows how to push her buttons.
Alex Montgomery is the very definition of a player. The only thing he commits to is a one night stand. He’s exactly the kind of guy she hates­. When she sleeps with him, it’s the biggest mistake of her life. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Not at school. Not at home.

Sometimes the best mistakes are the ones that you make over and over again…

~ REVIEW ~
5 STARS

How do I start? As I was reading Reason and Romance, let's just say there's too much cliche and drama going on. I'm not a fan of cliches but it fitted this book. I loved and hated it but the story got really interesting to the point I couldn't stop reading it till the end. 

The characters, let's just say despite cliche personalities, I loved them even Quentin. Each of their personalities clicked with one another and they so they made an interesting group of people. 

There's a lot of drama going on Adrian's life. Living her home, friends, and the life she knew back then to go to Arizona since her father met someone. Of course, her soon to be stepmother has three sons. I won't bore you with details but there's instant chemistry between Adrian and Alex. And like the summary stated she couldn't stop thinking about him once she slept with him. With all the drama going on there's a love/hate relationship between the two and I actually felt for Alex because I had a feeling Adrian jumped to the wrong conclusion on what he really wanted to convey to her but with Adrian's past haunting her she made the wrong decision in return Alex retaliated with the way he only knows best. Of course, Adrian realizing her mistake, made another decision which kind of made the situation worst between them even with the help of Alex's friends on her side. 

I was looking forward to how the ending would go. I was like a few pages left and imagine my surprise when it ended in a cliffhanger and the sequel would be coming out in 2015. I don't mind reading cliffhangers but I wished that there was a warning that it won't end in an HEA. 2015 can't get here soon enough. Well, I'll be watching out for the next book in this series. I also hope the other characters get their own story. They are an interesting bunch.

If you want to read a fast pace young adult romance without minding the typical cliches and dramas. This is the book for you.

But be warned the ending is a cliffhanger. Read at your own peril especially if you enjoyed reading it like I did.
About the Author
Jenn Young writes primarily Young Adult and New Adult. She used to write contemporary teen drama and romance under the pen name Myrika at Fictionpress. She also used to write under the pen name Moreta. Jenn is an unabashed lover of romance, soap operas, and paranormal/supernatural stories.
When Jenn's not working at her day job, she drinks too much coffee and buys too many books. She loves to hear from readers. Contact her via her website, jennyoung.com, or follow her on Twitter at myrikami. She can be found on Facebook too. 
Author Links:
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Book Tour Organized by:
http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com



Thursday, December 18, 2014

[Blog Tour] Excerpt + Review + Guest Post: Winter Wolf (Witch and Wolf #2) by RJ Blain

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Winter Wolf
Witch and Wolf
Book 2
RJ Blain

Publisher: Pen & Page Publishing
Release Date: November 24, 2014

ASIN: B00N1BXDMW

Book Description:

The Hunted Wizard

When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.

The savage murder of a bookstore employee throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could kill the entire werewolf race.

Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted.

Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls.

But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish…

Available at   Amazon   iTunes   BN   Kobo


~ Excerpt ~

I slammed my car’s door, spun on a heel, and swore I would have a perfectly normal visit to the mall. All I needed was one little book. Even I could walk into a bookstore, pick up a novel, and leave without causing any trouble.

This time, I wouldn’t blow out the lights. There wouldn’t be a single power surge. I wouldn’t turn on every unplugged device in the electronics store on my way across the mall. In the ten minutes it would take me to get in and out, the only thing anyone would notice about me was the fact that I wore a high-collared sweater in late summer. I had a mission, and I would complete it without fail. The novel my agent insisted I read would be mine.

For a long moment, I considered turning around and getting back into my car. Dominic would forgive me if I didn’t start reading the book until tomorrow. I could call in a favor and ask someone to pick up a copy for me. Then I definitely wouldn’t run any risk of blowing anything up. If I had been smart, I would’ve just ordered the damned thing on the internet, but I had waited too long.

Fishing my cell out of my pocket, I unlocked the screen with a swipe of my finger. The charging icon mocked me. Despite running every battery-draining app I could find, the battery held a full charge. I opened another app, a devilish program capable of killing the battery in ten minutes. It wouldn’t, not with me around, but if I was too busy keeping my phone topped up, maybe my mall shopping trip would prove to be mundane.

I shook my head, laughing at my foolishness.

No one would notice my phone. No one would notice me for more than a second. They’d notice my clothes, and then they’d file me away as yet another weirdo wearing something strange to catch attention. L.A. was full of people like that.

I had no reason to worry. Even if I managed to embarrass myself yet again by losing control of my powers, no one would know I was the cause of unplugged electronics turning on or unusual power surges.

Straightening my shoulders, I fixed my eyes on the line of glass doors and marched my way across the parking lot.

In and out. No blown lights. No power surges. No feeding power to unplugged electrical devices. No charging batteries for strangers. I was in control, and I would charge only my phone.

Making my way to the entry, I paused long enough to hold the door for a little old lady who insisted on making her way through the regular doors despite her walker. I couldn’t blame her. If I lived to be her age, I wouldn’t want to rely on automatic doors either.

She thanked me with a pat on the arm. Flashing her my best smile, I slipped inside.

Nothing happened.

Perfect.

I could handle ten minutes in the crowded corridors. Maybe if I told myself that enough times, I’d believe it.


~ REVIEW ~
4 STARS

I actually enjoyed reading this book despite the beginning of the story. It seemed slow and I kind of disliked Nicole. Let's just say self esteem and how she view things made me angry and I couldn't appreciate her. But somewhere in the middle of the story throughout the ending the plot got better including the character if Nicole.

The romance was none existent if there was, it wasn't much. The story was more focus on Nicole, the plague, and how Nicole is the key to save them with the help of the other characters.

I never expected the mysteries that were revealed near the ending. At the same time I was laughing especially the secret about Nicole's memories. I enjoyed those parts more. It was kind of funny when Nicole learned about her past. I won't mention anything because it would spoil one the best or most likely the best parts of the story. Nicole's character improved especially with her time with Amber. I liked Amber. Both her and Nicole formed a bond quickly that they would protect each other.

There were some details that I found boring but overall the rest was okay. I didn't realize that this was the second book of the series. Luckily, you can read it as a stand alone but I want to read book one as well. I wished there was more to the ending though. It ended abruptly. When I was at the last part of the book, I thought, "that's it"?. I wished there was a more satisfying ending especially when Blain revealed those twists in the end.


~ GUEST POST ~

On Writing Winter Wolf

Every novel has a story behind the story. Winter Wolf is no exception; most authors will talk about the inspirations behind the book, but I’m going to take a walk off the beaten track to talk about some of the challenges I faced while making this book a reality.

Winter Wolf, I sometimes think, was cursed from the very beginning. When I first started the novel several years ago, I had a great deal of fun with it; I wrote several drafts, playing with Nicole’s character in different ways until I found out who she really was—and all of the things she was capable of doing.

It wasn’t until I decided to pursue the novel for publication seriously that disaster happened. Or, should I say, a string of disasters happened.

It began with a flood. Of what, in my basement, you really do not want to know. It involved hazard suits, a great deal of disgust, and an emergency cleaning service. (Sewer systems are not impervious to damage, in case you were curious.)

While I’m trying not to fall behind schedule writing the novel, the contractors come and destroy my basement. Apparently, floods of this nature require a great deal of the structure of the house to be smashed to bits, carted away, and replaced. For the record, my house still hasn’t been repaired, although it’s clean.

I figured after that much bad luck, things had to get better, right?

It didn’t. If anything, my luck soured and spread to my editorial staff. Writing a novel is really hard work, and I couldn’t do it without the help of my editors. They poke me, prod me, keep me adhering (mostly) to my deadlines, and generally help keep me sane during the crush of deadlines. My one editor had to move unexpectedly. The other had really good fortune, although it meant I lost her as an editor as she got to pursue her dream job. My replacement editor had real life happen, so I had to find another person to fill her shoes.

At the end, Winter Wolf was finished! But it was a long, difficult journey. I’ve learned something very important from writing this book: inspiration and desire is only a mere facet of writing a book and finishing it. Sometimes, it takes brute willpower and strength of personality to finish what was started.

Winter Wolf was a painful novel to finish, but I’m so glad I stuck with it despite everything going on in my life.

Should you read it, I hope you walk away with even a fraction of the satisfaction I experienced when I could finally say, “I finished it!”

About the Author:

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.


RJ’s Favorite Books & Series in no particular order:

Anne McCaffrey's Pern

Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar & Gryphon Series

Jim Butcher's Codex Alera & The Dresden Files

Brandon Sanderson's Elantris

Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega, Dragon Bones, & The Mercy Thompson series

Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time