{Bees Knees} Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule - “Favorite Character Moments”

“Favorite Character Moments”

Bestselling author, Sherry Soule has provided today’s entertaining post. If you like supernatural suspense mingled with a healthy dose of paranormal romance, then this is the book for you! Sherry is sharing two of her favorite moments from her paranormal romance novel, IMMORTAL ECLIPSE.

Enjoy the teasers from IMMORTAL ECLIPSE!

Passage 1

Dorian pulls me to my feet and I find myself pressed against the tree. I raise my hands to push him away, but his strong fingers imprison mine above my head. I stare into those hypnotic eyes. My knees tremble. Blood springs from my heart and pounds in my brain. Desire flares in his bold stare, and I’m lost. I can’t move. I can’t think. The world has vanished. Nothing exists outside of this thrilling moment. Dorian leans in close, and a spark of response leaps between us. His fingers tighten on my wrists.

“I should do what’s right”—he inclines his head and places his mouth near my ear—”and leave you alone.”

Oh, I hope he does what’s wrong.

I’m unsure whether to step away or invade his personal space. After a moment’s hesitation, I lean into him and his hold loosens. The heat of his body enters mine, and his vibrant masculine presence overwhelms and robs me of breath. Things like that will do something funny to a girl’s head. They must. Because after swallowing twice, I say huskily, “Oh, Dorian…Dorian.” Kiss me…

Passage 2

Victor Pratt steps even closer, almost invading my space, eyeing the amulet resting between my breasts for a long second, before his gaze lingers on my boobs. His stare is downright creepy. There’s no way Victor thinks I’m a hottie—we can’t be less each other’s type. And the guy makes my skin crawl. But while I might not know how to handle the spooky stuff, I do know how to handle lecherous men.

“Y’know, being stalked isn’t really a big turn-on for most women.”

He doesn’t answer, just stares at my lady lumps.

“My eyes are up here, Victor.” I put a finger under his chin and tilt his head upward.

Victor looks down again and licks his lips.

Ewww! Annoyed, I flick his forehead with my index finger and thumb, making him blink sharply.

He rubs the red spot. “Hey!”

I glare. “Stop it then!”

His expression turns wolfish. “Why? Is it affecting you?”

I cross my arms. “Of course not. You’re being a pig.”

“Am I? So sorry.” He doesn’t even have the decency to act regretful. He has that air about him that says he knows who he is and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks of him. I envy that.

Thank you so much for letting me chat up my paranormal romance novel with all of you. It’s been an honor to share my favorite moments. If you haven’t seized your copy of IMMORTAL ECLIPSE yet, please do so. I hope everyone enjoyed this post, now go feed your mind and read a book! Preferably one of mine. ;-)

Places you can cyberstalk Sherry Soule:

Official website | Twitter @SherrySoule | Goodreads | Author Amazon

IMMORTAL ECLIPSE

Inheriting a haunted California estate is one thing. Getting hot and bothered by its sexy caretaker is another. But Skylar Blackwell draws the line at voodoo and murder...

Skylar would rather dive into the latest fashion magazine than a murder mystery. But when her last remaining relative is crudely sliced up with a mosaic of eerie symbols on his chest, Skylar's on a mission to find answers.

Not only are the inhabitants less than welcoming, but Summerwind's gorgeous caretaker, Dorian Delacroix—a man broken and tormented by his past—instantly ignites fiery sensations within her. And romance was definitely not on the agenda.

As she begins questioning the staff, they start dying under mysterious circumstances, and although Skylar's determined to unravel the dark history of the mansion, nothing about this place—or this enigmatic man—is what it seems.

From the moment Skylar steps foot inside Summerwind, she's plunged into a strange world of doppelgangers, voodoo rituals, haunting nightmares, and a body count that's piling up faster than her collection of Jimmy Choos. Despite her simmering desire for Dorian and their rising passion for each other, Skylar realizes that she can't really trust anyone. The only thing she knows for certain is that she needs to gather enough courage to fight the darker forces she never believed existed.

Read an excerpt

BUY IMMORTAL ECLIPSE:

Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle

{Book Tours: Author Post + Giveaway} of COMPULSION by Martina Boone

Author Guest Post  - Martina Boone

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today! It’s great to be here with you.

1: Where did you get your inspiration on a haunted ghost plantation? 

I love huge, old houses with lots of character, and the plantations like Boone Hall around the Charleston area have always fascinated me. It forms the basis for a lot of the physical structure of Watson’s Landing plantation. The inspiration for Watson Island is really Edisto Island, which is just beautiful. The history is largely based on snipers of actual history in the area, that I’ve woven around bits of made-up mythology. As for the spirits, there really is Fire Carrier legend in Native American lore, and there are little people, yunwi, but I’ve twisted them and shaped them in ways that serve the story.

2: What did you enjoy most about writing/creating the character Barrie?

I adore Barrie. Don’t get me wrong, she drives me nuts. She’s been so sheltered that she has no clue about how to read people, and she’s so desperate for family and connection that she’s willing to risk just about anything to prove that she correctly sees the good in people. Obviously, certain people let her down. But what I loved writing about her was just letting her go and watching what happened. She’s so gallant and strong, in a non-sword-weilding way, that she always kept me on my toes.

3: What are some quirks you do to get yourself in the mind set to write a story. Listen to a certain band, watch television, draw?

I drink a ton of chocolate tea, and I keep my laptop on my lap. It’s weird, but i can’t work with it on a table. Then I go back and read the past chapter, and make any revisions that I notice are needed. Once I’ve done that, I’m back in the groove and I can keep working. : )

Title: COMPULSION (Heirs of Watson Island #1)

Author: Martina Boone

Pub. Date: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 448

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Beautiful Creatures meets The Body Finder in this spellbinding new trilogy.

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

"Darkly romantic and steeped in Southern Gothic charm, you'll be compelled to get lost in the Heirs of Watson Island series." -- #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

About Martina:

Martina Boone writes contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she would love to visit. She is the founder of YASeriesInsiders.com and AdventuresinYAPublishing.com, a two-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers blog. If you like romance steeped in mystery, mayhem, Spanish moss, and a bit of magic, she hopes you'll look forward to meeting Barrie, Eight, Cassie, Pru, Seven and the other characters of Watson Island.

Website | Tumblr | Twitter |Facebook | Pinterest AdventuresInYAPublishing.com  | YASeriesInsiders.com 

Giveaway Details:

(1)  $100 Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Book Depository Gift Card.  International.

(10) Prize packs with igned Copies of Compulsion. US Only.

(3) Swag packs containing a Compulsion necklace, key bookmark, signed bookplate, and “I have a Compulsion for reading” temporary tattoos. International.

Heather Hildenbrand's Hotshot of the Week Interview

Hello! I have an exciting post for today, one that I havent done in quite a while! As a member of one heck of a cool street team for Heather Hildenbrand, I've been chosen as the the hotshot of the week! So here I am posting my interview! If you havent read Heather Hildenbrands series such as Dirty Blood, its a must to add to your TBR list asap! 

1) Name: Kristen and I own Seeing Night Reviews

2) What are your 3 favorite books of ALL TIME? Explain.

First! Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, this was my first addictive werewolf/shifter series that I can never get enough of! I adore Mercy Thompson and her kick butt attitude and the interesting world the patricia briggs created with werewolves, fae and vampire is freaking amazing!

Second! Is the phenomenal Keri Arthur and her best character Riley Jensen who has a little bit of both awesomeness of vampire and werewolf. I like this series because Riley is a super sleuth in a paranormal world working only her equally cool brother and a seriously hot vampire. Each book always has some seriously intense twist and was great from beginning to end.

Lastly is the YA/Adult novel and still going series Poison Study by Maria V Snyder. While working at borders I discovered her books in the YA section but she wrote the series also in adult. The world building in this series in incredible and the female leads are always kick butt with a heck of a lot of magic behind their already strong personas. I love it!

3) Give 5 random or weird/personal facts about yourself. Explanations optional.

1. I'm a HUGE comic book nerd, I love them! Since I was little I grew up with a dad who owned a comic book store so I always read them. When I got older my dad and I started going to comic con every year and now this year will be our 17th year going! My dad is the coolest person!

2. I love Korean dramas! I dont know how old I was but I started getting addicted to anime and then started watching korean dramas  (of course with subtitles) not long after. The best part about them is that they last about 16 episode and there done so I dont have to wait forever to see what happens. One of my favorites is You're Beautiful. Also.... I married a korean haha!

3. I love old movies, classics like Roman Holiday, Dial M for Murder and the Original Sabrina. Pretty much anything with Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and Humphrey Bogart. One of my all time favorite classic movies

4. I love rainy days! I live in sunny California so we don't get much of those if any. Especially now that we are in a drought. But I was luck enough to get married on the last big rain storm we had here almost four years ago! So it was a lucky day to get married in the rain!

5. I'm extremely terrified of clowns and doll...so of course Im having a huge issue watching the new American Horror story freak show and could not even watch the commercials for the movie Annabelle. CREEPY!!

4) Current Book Boyfriend? Do give details! ;)

OMG!!! Such a hard question because I love so many!! Haha!!

But I will go with my dark and broody bad boy and leader of the Dark Hunters! Archeron!! Sherrilyn Kenyon's best dark hero!

 

5) This or that (explanations optional!)?

1. Werewolf or Vampire? Werewolves!! Love those alpha males!

2. Harry Potter or Twilight? Harry Potter!

3. Katniss or Tris? Katniss because I own a bow and love shooting!

4. Icecream or Brownie? Ice-cream

5. Damon or Stefan? Damon, bad boys with pretty eyes...umm yes!!

6. Middle Earth or Hogwarts? Hogwarts

7. Gandalf or Dumbledore? Dumbledore

8. Tattoos or Piercings? Tattoos, since I have some and so does my hubby :)

9. Blue or Red? Red my fav!

10. Diamonds or Gems? Diamonds are a girls best friend!

6) Name a few of your hobbies (besides reading).

I love playing volleyball, designing book covers for authors, and shooting at the gun range with my hubby!

7) Now post this and a 2-3 (or more) fun/funny/favorite pictures of yourself!

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. Since 2011, she’s published more than eight YA & NA novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She splits her time between coastal Virginia and the island of Guam and loves having a mobile career and outrageous lifestyle of living in two places. 

Heather is also a publishing and success coach bent on equipping and educating artists who call themselves authors. She loves teaching fellow writers how to create the same freedom-based lifestyle she enjoys. For more information visitwww.phoenixauthorink.com and find out how to create your own OutRAGEous Life. 

She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.Stalk Heather on her website, twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. 

Thanks so much to Shana from A Book Vacation Reviews for the nominations.

{Blitz Tour: Interview + Giveaway} of Bending the Rules by L.K. Lewis

Bending the Rules by L.K. Lewis
Publication date: April 1st 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

BLURB:

“Drake isn’t just someone I love, he’s the one I love the most in this world. He’s my best friend, my breath, my everything. I realize in this moment that the true reason I’m on this journey to find Drake is not just because I miss him and want him back, I’m also missing a huge part of me. Until we’re together again, my life isn’t complete. Without him I’m not whole.”-Morgan

“… I’m so sorry I couldn’t go to you. It was nearly impossible not to but Morgan we wouldn’t be standing here right now if I had. You found me Baby. When you met me on your first day at Baylor what seems like a lifetime ago you found me. Only this time I’m not letting you go.”-Drake

Struggling to get her life back on track after being left suddenly and inexplicably by (secret) boyfriend –not- boyfriend and boss Drake Baylor Jr., Morgan Lane searches the globe to find Drake knowing that the only way to truly live the life she’s worked so hard for is with him by her side.

Banished to Zurich, Switzerland by his father after being caught Breaking the Rules, Drake has nine months to get the European Division of Baylor Industries back on track. Again, he must obey the rules so that he can hopefully return to his life with Morgan and take the helm of Baylor Industries.

Everything is going according to plan as usual for Adrian Thompson who has just gotten Drake banished to Switzerland as part of his plan to get Morgan (his college sweetheart and hopefully future trophy wife) back in his life for good. With a little help from Lana Lane, Morgan’s mother, Adrian is hoping to have Morgan wearing his ring by New Year’s Eve.

After a few months of being wooed by old flame and now boss Adrian, and without so much as a word from Drake, Morgan hesitantly accepts Adrian’s invitation to join him for New Year’s Eve in St.Moritz Switzerland. Foiling Adrian’s plan, a “chance encounter” finds Morgan back in Drake’s arms.

Will Drake and Morgan be able to overcome the distance and time that is now between them along with a few of the hurdles that life has thrown their way? Morgan and Drake are once again faced with figuring out how to start their new future together- this time not Breaking the Rules, only Bending them.

Goodreads | Purchase: Amazon

AUTHOR BIO
LK Lewis lives in Northern Michigan with her Husband and 3 year old son.

Born and raised in Michigan, LK spent her early twenties chasing the man of her dreams (now husband of 8 years) around the country, residing in both New York, and Portland, Oregon. While living in Portland, LK attended East West College of the Healing Arts, and is now a Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, and Spa/ Boutique Owner.

When LK isn’t working, writing, or chasing her son around, she enjoys boat days, playing in the sunshine, and giggling with her husband. You may also find her on twitter most days, especially live tweeting when The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Sons of Anarchy or The Walking Dead is on. Check her out, you may enjoy her colorful commentary!

Author links: Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

INTERVIEW: Interviewing Drake and Morgan

I recently sat down with Drake Baylor Jr. and the love of his life, Morgan Lane for a candid interview discussing love, loss, and the risks they’ve taken while bending or sometimes even breaking the rules.

Morgan, after his departure you searched the globe for Drake, hoping to find him and bring him home. What made you so determined that you would find him?

From the moment we met, Drake and I have had a connection; as cliché as that sounds. We tried to stay away from each other knowing what would happen if we were caught breaking the stupid rules Drake’s dad set for him. We were careless and we got caught by Adrian in Vegas. Within a matter of days my world had crumbled around me. I no longer had the job and career I had worked so hard for. Drake had dropped out of my life and I felt hopeless. Drake Sr.’s words tore right through me as he said Drake would already be off in the arms of someone else, but even as I heard them, I knew something wasn’t right. Drake Sr. tried to tell me that he had dissolved his son’s position and that Drake wanted nothing to do with me, but I still felt our connection. I knew he had been sent somewhere as a punishment, I just had to figure out where. Having nothing but time on my hands, I set out to find Drake and bring him home. It wasn’t so much that I was determined I’d be able to find him, more like I didn’t know how to move on with my life without him.

But you weren’t able to find him…

Sadly no. And I was able to find a way to continue living my life without him in it but I was devastated. I never gave up on him though, and now that I have Drake back, I never have to.

Drake, you were understandably miserable in Zurich. What kept you going during that time, and how did you manage not to repeat past behavior with women, drugs, and alcohol?

It’s not what kept me going, but who…this beautiful woman sitting right next to me. I made the selfish mistake of flying Morgan out to Vegas for the weekend. I missed her, and wanted her out there with me. If I would have kept my head down, and returned home to her when the weekend was over we wouldn’t have missed that time together. I am a big believer that what happens always happens for a reason though. Perhaps the time we spent apart reaffirmed what we already knew, which was that we wanted to be together forever. Knowing that if I stayed the course and did my job in Zurich I could be together with Morgan again kept me together and focused. Being with Morgan was all I needed to push through every day. As far as past behavior, I don’t need anything or anyone to make me feel complete. Using drugs and women in the past was my way of filling the hole in my heart left by my mother’s death and my father’s absence. Morgan makes me feel whole. She’s the only one I see. The way I dealt with things in the past is no longer on my radar.

Morgan, do you ever worry that the mistakes Drake has made in his past will come back to hurt him?

No, I’ve never worried about that. Drake has been completely open and honest with me about his past. There isn’t anything that could surface about him that I’m not already aware of. We’ve all made mistakes before and I’m so proud of Drake for turning his life around and not repeating that cycle of behavior. He lives his life determined to make each day better than the last. If any part of his past should try hurt his future I’ll be right by his side supporting him.

Drake, how did it feel reading Morgan’s emails, knowing you couldn’t answer them?

Morgan’s emails were heartbreaking. Knowing I was the one causing the pain and with just a quick email or phone call I could explain everything and put us back on the right path was soul crushing. Morgan knows what she means to me, and to see her so heartbroken that she was questioning whether or not I would come back to her was really hard to read. I appreciated her honesty though. Each email she wrote me, however hard it was to read, still renewed my focus to return to her without further breaking any rules because by writing to me, it meant she still cared.

Drake, how hard was it not to turn around when you heard Morgan calling your name in the airport in Paris?

I took that trip to Paris to get away from Zurich for the weekend and clear my head. I was missing my girl and needed to feel close to her without screwing up in any way. That is why I chose to go to Paris. Morgan loves it there and we’ve talked about spending time there together so many times that I thought a weekend in Paris would renew my focus in doing my job so I could go home to her. When I saw Morgan in the airport I felt completely gutted. I was twenty feet away from her as she walked around that mom tying her kid’s shoes. I wanted so badly to call her name, or run up to her and throw my arms around her and just hold on forever but I knew I couldn’t. Morgan knows I trust her completely. I knew she wouldn’t have told a soul that we saw each other, but even so, I couldn’t risk it. My dad was a very connected man, and it would have only taken one person to recognize me with Morgan and report back to him and it would have been over. I think it was even harder for me not to turn around that day when Morgan called my name than it was to leave for Zurich in the first place. I could hear the excitement and the sadness in her voice as she called to me. Watching her collecting her bag then hailing a cab completely defeated and heartbroken is a feeling I never want to have again.

Morgan, how did it feel to learn that Adrian lied to you and really was responsible for Drake being sent to Zurich?

Because of our history, it was a really crappy to learn Adrian had lied to me. I knew in my heart that we would never be together and that Drake has always been the one for me, but knowing that all of Adrian’s motives to get me back weren’t pure was disappointing because he’s always been a better person than that. I could go on and on about how Adrian is responsible for my separation from Drake, and how that makes him such an a-hole, but the truth is, Drake and I broke the rules. We knew the risks and we took them anyway because we love each other so much that any risk is worth it if it means we are together. Drake didn’t have to fly me out there and take such a risk, and I didn’t have to go. If we hadn’t broken the rules, we wouldn’t have been caught and it was our penance to pay. It was the worst time I’ve ever had in my life, but it brought us here today, so it was worth it in the end.

Drake, what is it that you love so much about Morgan?

You’ve been in this room the past twenty minutes right? (laughing)  First of all, my girl here is a complete knockout. I get lost in her eyes daily. I have to ask her to repeat herself all the time and she thinks I’m not listening to her but the truth is, I’m so mesmorized by her beauty I completely zone out. Besides her undeniable beauty, Morgan is so bright, and determined, and she loves so fiercely. She doesn’t judge me and my faults, she loves me despite them. She has a smart mouth the fires me up like no other too. She’s the total package and I thank my lucky stars every day that she loves me just as much as I love her.

Morgan, now that you and Drake can be together as a couple out in the open, what are you looking forward to?

I’m just ready to start our life together. I’m excited to go on double dates with Amanda and Garrett, and to start crossing things off our bucket list. Drake and I both dream big, and have already started to see some of our dreams coming true and I can’t wait to live the rest of our lives as we want to. The only rules we want to live by are the ones we make for ourselves.

Drake, any final thoughts?

No, I think my girl summed it up pretty well. We have the world at our finger tips, and couldn’t be more excited to go explore. (Turns to Morgan,) By the way Babe, speaking of Amanda and Garrett, we have lunch plans with them…something tells me ours isn’t the only one we’ll be planning in the near future…

{Blitz Tour: Interview + Giveaway} of Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters

Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters
(Monsters in the Dark #2)
Publication date: December 15th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

BLURB:

“All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… fucked up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs make a right.”

Tess is Q’s completely. Q is Tess’s irrevocably. But now, they must learn the boundaries of their unconventional relationship, while Tess seeks vengeance on the men who sold her. Q made a blood-oath to deliver their corpses at Tess’s feet, and that’s just what he’ll do.

He may be a monster, but he’s Tess’s monster..

Goodreads | Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

Writer, reader, sometimes wife.

An avid devourer of sexy romance and angsty New Adult.

Nothing beats lolling in a bubble bath with her array of book boyfriends.

Her two titles: Tears of Tess and Broken Chance are coming soon.

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

INTERVIEW:

Would you tell something to us about your book?
Tears of Tess is my debut and I like to think it’s a story about redemption and finding the perfect other, even if fate sometimes seems to have a sick way of bringing you together. Tess is a very strong heroine, and Q, well I don’t know how to describe Q. He’s delicious, he’s dark, he isn’t quite human in his desires.

How did you come up with the story?
Tess came to me very strongly. I just went along with the ride. I didn’t really come up with it. Q evolved from a horrid anti-hero with no redeeming qualities to someone who is deserving of a women like Tess. I like to think they belong together.

When did you start writing?
I started writing Tess in July 2013, but I started writing a bunch of other stories which completely sucked four years ago. I can still remember the moment I woke up one morning and turned to hubby and said, I’m going to write a book. It was random, but I’m so glad I chased my dream.

Who or what inspires you?
Everything inspires me. Travel. Food. Music. Watching people. I have a notepad with me at all times and jot things down. I’ve just come back from a trip away in Thailand and I came away with a perfect story line for a new book I’m working on called Last Shadow.

Which is your favourite book series or book?Why?
I don’t really have a favourite as I have such diverse tastes. But I would probably have to say my favourite writer would be Laini Taylor and her series Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Her writing is gorgeous.

Which is your favorite movie?
Princess bride is an all time love, and I also really like classics like Jurassic Park and Matrix. Plus rom coms of course.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish a book?
Write and write and write some more. Don’t publish your first draft. Get critique partners. Hire an editor. Never scrimp on your cover. ☺

What kind of music do you like?
All depends on the scene I’m writing. Sometimes depressing to get into the headspace of my character, sometime passionate, sometimes upbeat. I go with the flow ☺

Did you ever want to be a mystical creature?
Yes. I would love to have wings so I could fly and no longer have to pay for airplanes to go on holiday ☺

13.How and when did you decide that you’d like to publish your book?
I wrote Tess knowing I would publish it. I started the first draft on the 2 July 2013 and pressed publish on the 28th August 2013. I was only able to do that from spending years learning my craft and working 14 hour days to get it done. Not to mention a super supportive husband

Do you have a message for my blog’s followers?
Just a message of huge thanks for liking my work, for sharing my words, for the messages, and love they send my way. I love each and everyone of them and I’m honoured to share some space on their kindles and bookshelves.

{Blitz Tour: Interview + Giveaway} of Destiny by P.T. Michelle

Seeing Night Reviews is the happy to spread some book love for DESTINY by P.T. Michelle the 3rd book in the Brightest Kind of Darkness series.

Destiny by P.T. Michelle
(Brightest Kind of Darkness #3)
Publication date: October, 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

BLURB:
When destiny is on the line, will love be enough to light the way?

In order to save Ethan, Nara gets pulled deeper into his dark world, where everything she thought she knew about Ethan and herself turns on its head. Ethan and Nara turn up the heat with bone-melting seduction and heart-rending moments, but surprising revelations, lies, treachery, betrayal, and unimaginable evil will challenge their relationship and their future together. As the stakes rise, encompassing more than just her relationship with Ethan, will Nara make the ultimate sacrifice?

Goodreads

DESTINY BUY LINKS:
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo

Interview with P.T. Michelle

Q: As a writer, how do you come up with your ideas for stories?

PT: Writers by nature are very observant people. We absorb what we see, hear, smell and touch everyday, so everything inspires us from movies to music to people. One thing that has always inspired when forming a new story idea is I always ask myself the question, "What if…." and then I fill in the blank. :)

Q: A story about a girl dreaming her entire next day (and ONLY her next day) the night before is unusual. How did you come up with the concept for BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS?

PT: The idea behind the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series started off as one of those "What if" questions. I ask myself, "What if a girl dreamed her entire next day?" Then I think through all the possible scenarios: How would that impact her? Would she act upon what she saw? And if not, why? What if she didn't have a choice? And from there…the story starts flowing.

Q: DESTINY is the 3rd book in the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series. Did you know how many books it would be when you first wrote BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS?

PT: I didn't know how many books the series would be, but I definitely knew the story was far bigger than just a couple of books. I'm what you call a hybrid-pantser writer. A pantser is someone who sits down and just writes…no planning, no plotting involved. The story just flows out. My stories are intricately weaved, so I have to do a bit of planning before I start writing. I write a very high-level outline and give myself TONS of permission to veer off course as the story unfolds while I write. But at least the outline keeps me reminded of what my goals were for the story.  When you have mystery elements like I do in the BKoD series, knowing where you're going is pretty important. :) So as the stories have unfolded, they took on a life of their own. And then I've had to plan each book as I go and also dovetail back into the previous books I've written in the series.

Q: Ravens feature dominantly in the BKoD series, which is definitely different from vampires, werewolves and the like we've seen in a lot of popular paranormal books. What made you choose to write about ravens?

PT: I've always been fascinated by ravens. The lore about them is so interesting. Ravens have been on many of my previous book covers and are mentioned in passing or are part of the storyline in past books. They just weren't the main storyline. In BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS, ravens finally take front and center. :)

Q: How many books do you plan for the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series? 

PT: Right now the plan is four books. Depending on how the last book unfolds, there may be a spin off. I'm leaving the possibilities open. :)

Q: BKoD is listed as a YA series, but DESTINY could definitely fall into the New Adult category. Tell us more about that; give us the scoop on the smexy stuff. :)

PT: My goal in writing the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series was to write a series that both upper teens and adults would enjoy equally. I've written the stories in the series based on Nara and Ethan's age and the progression of their relationship as it deepens. That's the reason things heat up as me move from book 1 to book 2 and then on to book 3.

Q: Any thing else you'd like to add?

PT: I just wanted to shout out a huge THANK YOU the readers and bloggers who've supported the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series from the beginning!

AUTHOR BIO:
P.T. Michelle is the author of the young adult series BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS. She keeps a spiral notepad with her at all times, even on her nightstand. When P.T. isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.
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 (1) ebook copy of Destiny

{Addicted to New Adult: Interview} with Megan Powell author of No Peace for the Damned

INTERVIEW

1. Is this book part of a series?
Yes. NO PEACE FOR THE DAMNED is the first in the Magnolia Kelch series.

2. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
Chapter 29 was definitely my favorite chapter to write. It was also the very first chapter I wrote. I had that scene with Magnolia and Theo on the couch long before I knew anything else about the characters or the story around them. All I knew was that this incredibly sexy young woman, who felt separate from everyone around her, suddenly felt a genuine, normal connection to someone else. The excitement of that moment overshadowed any other insecurities so that when she revealed her tattoo without thought of the consequences, she revealed an innocence that would otherwise be out of character. That moment shows that more than anything, all she really wanted was to have something – anything – in common with someone else.

3. Who’s your favorite character to write and why?
Definitely Magnolia. The book is told from her point of view so I really get to slip into her mind while I write. I love that she is strong and powerful, terrified and angry, whip-smart and completely naïve all at the same time. I remember very clearly being twenty-two and thinking I was the toughest person in the world with all these life experiences while at the same time feeling more vulnerable and uncertain than ever. It is a wonderful experience to be able to relive those feelings through a character with such unlimited potential.

4. Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is special?
Magnolia Kelch is a surprisingly well-adjusted young woman considering she spent the first twenty-two years of life in the torturous captivity of her father and uncle. That’s not to say that she isn’t incredibly suspicious of everyone and everything, likely to shoot first and ask questions never. She is the most powerful supernatural person in her extremely powerful family, but has been victimized her entire life leaving her unsure of what she can really do. More than anything, Magnolia is eager to finally experience a level of independence previously denied her – including feeling all of the emotions that only a truly free person can feel.

5. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
The setting is definitely reflective of my life as Hoosier. And as my father so aptly pointed out, every member of my immediate family has a first name that begins with the letter “M”… although that is where the similarities end between my real family and the Kelches. J

6. Did you always want to be a writer?
Not at all. In fact, it never even occurred to me to be a writer until the day I started writing NO PEACE FOR THE DAMNED. I was all about the business world and making my mark in corporate America. Life, however, had other plans. After years of my children being in day care twelve hours a day, having a husband I saw only on the weekends (if we were lucky), and parents with health problems, I decided it was time for some serious priority adjustments. I left my career to be a stay-at-home mom in 2006. By the end of 2008, I was pulling my hair out and seriously questioning my sanity. I needed an escape as much as I needed an outlet for all my frustrations. January 2009, I started writing about Magnolia Kelch. Now, in 2013, as a published writer, I’m still wondering about that sanity thing.

7. Leave us with a teaser/quote from your book?
“In that last moment of consciousness I had to chastise myself. I was not supposed to live in this world without violence and pain. And I was an idiot to have ever let myself think otherwise.”

{Spotlight of the Week} Q&A + Giveaway of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

This weeks spotlight of the week is Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness to celebrate the release of the paperback on may 28th. Check out the must read Q&A plus enter the giveaway!

A CONVERSATION WITH DEBORAH HARKNESS

Q: A Discovery of Witches debuted at # 2 on the New York Times bestseller list with publications following in 37 countries. What has been your reaction to the outpouring of love for A Discovery of Witches? Was it surprising how taken fans were with Diana and Matthew’s story?

A. It has been amazing—and a bit overwhelming. I was surprised by how quickly readers embraced two central characters who challenge our typical notion of what a heroine or hero should be. And I continue to be amazed whenever a new reader pops up, whether one in the US or somewhere like Finland or Japan—to tell me how much they enjoyed being caught up in Diana’s world.

Q: Last summer, Warner Brothers acquired screen rights to the trilogy, and David Auburn, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning writer of Proof, has been tapped to pen the screenplay. Are you looking forward to your novels being portrayed on the big screen? What are your favorite casting ideas that you’ve heard from friends and readers?

A. I was thrilled when Warner Brothers wanted to translate the All Souls trilogy from book to screen. At first I was reluctant about the whole idea of a movie, and it actually took me nearly two years to agree to let someone try. The team at Warner Brothers impressed me with their seriousness about the project and their commitment to the characters and story I was trying to tell. Their decision to go with David Auburn confirmed that my faith in them was not misplaced. As for the casting, I deliberately don’t say anything about that! I would hate for any actor or actress to be cast in one of these roles and feel that they didn’t have my total support. I will say, however, that many of my readers’ ideas involve actors who have already played a vampire and I would be very surprised if one of them were asked to be Matthew!

Q: SHADOW OF NIGHT opens on a scene in 1590s Elizabethan England featuring the famous School of Night, a group of historical figures believed to be friends, including Sir Walter Raleigh and playwright Christopher Marlowe. Why did you choose to feature these individuals, and can we expect Diana and Matthew to meet other famous figures from the past?

A. I wrote my master’s thesis on the imagery surrounding Elizabeth I during the last two decades of her reign. One of my main sources was the poem The Shadow of Night by George Chapman—a member of this circle of fascinating men—and that work is dedicated to a mysterious poet named Matthew Roydon about whom we know very little. When I was first thinking about how vampires moved in the world (and this was way back in the autumn of 2008 when I was just beginning A Discovery of Witches) I remembered Roydon and thought “that is the kind of identity a vampire would have, surrounded by interesting people but not the center of the action.” From that moment on I knew the second part of Diana and Matthew’s story would take place among the School of Night. And from a character standpoint, Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe, George Chapman, and the other men associated with the group are irresistible. They were such significant, colorful presences in Elizabethan England.

Q: In SHADOW OF NIGHT, we learn more about the alchemical bonds between Diana and Matthew. In your day job, you are a professor of history and science at the University of Southern California and have focused on alchemy in your research. What aspects of this intersection between science and magic do you hope readers will pick up on while reading SHADOW OF NIGHT?

A. Whereas A Discovery of Witches focused on the literature and symbolism of alchemy, in Shadow of Night I’m able to explore some of the hands-on aspects of this ancient tradition. There is still plenty of symbolism for Diana to think about, but in this volume we go from abstractions and ideals to real transformation and change—which was always my intention with the series. Just as we get to know more about how Elizabethan men and women undertook alchemical experiments, we also get to see Matthew and Diana’s relationship undergo the metamorphosis from new love to something more.


Q: SHADOW OF NIGHT spans the globe, with London, France, and Prague as some of the locales. Did you travel to these destinations for your research?

A. I did. My historical research has been based in London for some time now, so I’ve spent long stretches of time living in the City of London—the oldest part of the metropolis—but I had never been to the Auvergne or Prague. I visited both places while writing the book, and in both cases it was a bit like traveling in time to walk village lanes, old pilgrim roads, and twisting city streets while imagining Diana and Matthew at my side.

Q: Did you have an idea or an outline for SHADOW OF NIGHT when you were writing A Discovery of Witches? Did the direction change once you sat down to write it?

A. I didn’t outline either book in the traditional sense. In both cases I knew what some of the high points were and how the plot moved towards the conclusion, but there were some significant changes during the revision process. This was especially true for SHADOW OF NIGHT, although most of those changes involved moving specific pieces of the plot forward or back to improve the momentum and flow.

Q: A Discovery of Witches begins with Diana Bishop stumbling across a lost, enchanted manuscript called Ashmole 782 in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, whose secrets Diana and Matthew are still trying to uncover in SHADOW OF NIGHT. You had a similar experience while you were completing your dissertation. What was the story behind your discovery? And how did it inspire the creation of these novels?

A. I did discover a manuscript—not an enchanted one, alas—in the Bodleian Library. It was a manuscript owned by Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer, the mathematician and alchemist John Dee. In the 1570s and 1580s he became interested in using a crystal ball to talk to angels. The angels gave him all kinds of instructions on how to manage his life at home, his work—they even told him to pack up his family and belongings and go to far-away Poland and Prague. In the conversations, Dee asked the angels about a mysterious book in his library called “the Book of Soyga” or “Aldaraia.” No one had ever been able to find it, even though many of Dee’s other books survive in libraries throughout the world. In the summer of 1994 I was spending time in Oxford between finishing my doctorate and starting my first job. It was a wonderfully creative time, since I had no deadlines to worry about and my dissertation on Dee’s angel conversations was complete. As with most discoveries, this discovery of a “lost” manuscript was entirely accidental. I was looking for something else in the Bodleian’s catalogue and in the upper corner of the page was a reference to a book called “Aldaraia.” I knew it couldn’t be Dee’s book, but I called it up anyway. And it turned out it WAS the book (or at least a copy of it). With the help of the Bodleian’s Keeper of Rare Books, I located another copy in the British Library.

Q: Are there other lost books like this in the world?

A. Absolutely! Entire books have been written about famous lost volumes—including works by Plato, Aristotle, and Shakespeare to name just a few. Libraries are full of such treasures, some of them unrecognized and others simply misfiled or mislabeled. And we find lost books outside of libraries, too. In January 2006, a completely unknown manuscript belonging to one of the 17th century’s most prominent scientists, Robert Hooke, was discovered when someone was having the contents of their house valued for auction. The manuscript included minutes of early Royal Society meetings that we presumed were lost forever.

Q: Unlike Twilight’s Bella and Edward—hormonal teenagers who meet in the halls of a high school—your leading characters Matthew and Diana are established academics who meet in the library of one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. This is a world where vampires and witches drink wine together, practice yoga and discuss philosophy. Are these characters based on something you found missing in the fantasy genre?

A. There are a lot of adults reading young adult books, and for good reason. Authors who specialize in the young adult market are writing original, compelling stories that can make even the most cynical grownups believe in magic. In writing A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, I wanted to give adult readers a world no less magical, no less surprising and delightful, but one that included grown-up concerns and activities. These are not your children’s vampires and witches.

SHADOW OF NIGHT picks up exactly where A Discovery of Witches left off: Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont, a witch historian and vampire geneticist respectively, have timewalked to Elizabethan England on their hunt for a magical alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782—its sudden appearance and sudden disappearance have upended the delicately ordered world of magical creatures (witches, vampires, and daemons), threatening to unleash unprecedented metaphysical chaos.

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{Blog Tour} Interview + Giveaway of Hell's Hollow by Summer Ston

Seeing Night Review is spreading the word about Hell's Hallow by Summer Stone that just released in March. It's a Young Adult Paranormal novel that you'll want to add to you must read list!

What inspired you to write Hell's Hollow?
It was really the name of the town that inspired me. For years, my family and I have gone up to the Sierra Foothills and there's a big street sign in a rural area, much bigger than most street signs, that says Hell's Hollow. Every time we would pass that sign, I would think, Someday I'm going to write a book about a town called Hell's Hollow. I didn't know what it would be about until I started writing it. I started with the name of the town and then with the protagonist and just let them lead me into the story.

What is your writing process like?
I need quiet to really be able to get to the sweet spot where the writing flows. So I don't listen to music and I prefer not to be at a noisy café. My best writing comes when I let the character tell me the story. With Hell's Hollow I was surprised by many elements of the storyline, none of which would have happened if I'd really tried to guess at what would come next. So listening for the voice of the characters and the voice of the story are key for me.

What were your favorite elements of Hell's Hollow to write?
I really enjoyed writing the growing relationship between Seraphina and Zach. I loved the build up from strangers to friends to something more. And because she isn't sure if he's real or a figment of her potential loss of sanity, there's an element of mystery that was fun to play with.

Also, the crazy parts! I loved writing her psychotic grandmother and also the scenes where Seraphina's own sanity begins to waver. I actually did quite a bit of research on different types of psychosis and based much of her aunt and grandmother's behavior on videos I watched of schizophrenic patients.

Were there parts of the story you didn't enjoy writing?
I always struggle a bit with writing the parts when everything is going wrong. I'm impatient to get to the places where things are working out. So I really have to push myself to hold out and let things be bad for a while. It makes the payoff of the happy parts so much richer.

Did you do much research for Hell's Hollow?
I did! I actually really enjoyed my research for this book. First, I spent time in the area of the Sierra Nevada foothills where the story takes place and even went to Big Trees State Park to get a feel for the giant trees that live in the Hollow. I spent quite a bit of time online researching psychosis and schizophrenia. I also did a lot of research on the history of the area — both of the Native American tribes that lived there and on the Gold Rush history. Other areas of research included the serpent-handling religion of West Virginia, alternative forms of healing, mythology about Hell, diseases caused by wild animals, baking and a few others I won't mention so as not to give anything away.

In Hell's Hollow, Seraphina has the ability to heal. Her grandmother hears people's thoughts. And her aunt sees the future. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Ooh. That is a tough question! I have secretly always wanted Seraphina's power. But there are others that would be super cool too. I'd say flying, but I'd probably get motion sickness :)

Why does Seraphina, who has always obeyed her mom's rule about not using her special ability, decide to start trying?
Partly, it's because the tugs from the Hollow have begun to keep her awake at night and bother her all day. And partly, it's because of Zach. She wants to help him. There's also one more piece, which is that she's sixteen and her mom's rule feels wrong to her, and she's getting brave enough to make up her own mind.

Trivia about Hell's Hollow:

Sera's favorite baked good is an ooey gooey sticky bun.

Zach's favorite candy is a Mars bar.

Sera has 3 older brothers. They were inspired by the 3 brothers of my best friend from kindergarten. That friend never hesitated to tell people that her middle brother was her favorite. It's very clear that Sera's middle brother is her favorite too. And he's her favorite for the same reason — he's sweet to her.

The Tale of Hell's Hollow, which Sera tells Zach in the novel, was partly inspired by actual events that took place in that part of the state during the Gold Rush.

Hell's Hollow by Summer Stone
Publication date: March 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis:
When Seraphina was younger, she healed her best friend's injured hand. Terrified by the inexplicable cure, the girl shunned her. From that day on, Seraphina found herself without friends, a freak and an oddity. And so she obeyed her mother’s rule to refrain from using her innate ability, heeded her mother's warning that its use could land her in the local mental health facility alongside her aunt and grandmother.

But when sixteen-year-old Seraphina finds a mysterious, wounded boy hiding in the hollow in the woods behind her house, she can't hold out against the overpowering urge to help him. She is drawn to him each night, and as they come to know one another, their irresistible attraction blooms.

She longs to uncover his secrets — where he comes from and why he's hiding and how he came to be so wounded — and to share her own, though she knows it's forbidden. And while her healing touch seems to be helping him, it's hurting her. When the symptoms of psychosis — experienced by the women in her bloodline who used their powers — begin to plague Seraphina, she is faced with the unbearable choice of saving her sanity or the boy she’s come to love.

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(1) ebook copy of Hell's Hollow
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