Author guestblog and giveaway: Sharla Lovelalace and Before and Ever Since

Today I have author Sharla Lovelace over for a guestblog, and there is also a chance to win her new book.

Welcome!

Happy Halloween!!   I hope you are all having a wonderful spooky day!

Since this blog is all about books, I thought I’d talk about some of the stories that inspired and influenced me over the years.  Because they mold and define us, books do.  As a writer, they carved me out of jello and made me the author I am today.

And while it’s easy to wax on about recent reads, let’s go back a ways.  Like deep in a dusty library with old carpet and old librarian ladies and those ‘ka-chug-a’ machines to punch the check-out cards.  (That’s what I called them when I was little.)

I read from the time I could turn pages, and to this day I still remember a little yellowish brown book called GOOD TIMES WITH OUR FRIENDS that had all the wonderful adventures with Dick, Jane, and Sally.  

   I still have that book—found it at my mom’s in a box after she died.  I don’t have to look at it—the photos are still in my memory from reading it so much.  Then I went through every single Little House book, wanting more than anything in the world to live on a prairie and be wild like Laura but have Mary’s hair.

                                                                  (Come on, you did, too!)

I read every one of those red hardcover books that told of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, James Bowie, Pocahontas, and every other historical figure.  I particularly went for the ones who lived in the woods and wore moccasins, for some reason, and remember getting my mom to buy me moccasins so I could practice my stealthiness.

Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys made their appearances, although I always preferred Nancy’s adventures to the Boys.  That strong woman idea, making its impression, I guess.

                                                           

Later on, I went through a horror stage with Dean Koontz and Stephen King.  I couldn’t get enough of it.  And then I was reading one about sacrificing infants right after I had a baby—and I was done with that.  LOL.

And then I discovered romance books.  

Danielle Steele’s HEARTBEAT hit me at a particular time in my life where that story resonated with me, then Sidney Sheldon’s IF TOMORROW COMES made me fall in love with romantic suspense.  I found Nora Roberts’ THREE SISTERS trilogy, and discovered a love for magical realism in what I was reading…

And then I found humor. 

I was enamored.  The first to hook me on the humor train and make me want to write just like her….was Jennifer Weiner.  I read GOOD IN BED in one night, and decided right then and there that I wanted to write just like that.  I soaked up everything she wrote, and moved on to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series….loving every word.  Mixing it up with some Southern Women’s Fiction was Dorothea Benton Frank’s books like PLANTATION and SULLIVAN’S ISLAND.  (Wanted to move to Sullivan’s Island so badly, I actually researched the possibilities for two weeks. Lol.)  Karen White, Kathryn Magendie, and then Sarah Addison Allen were my inspirations as I discovered my own style of romantic women’s fiction with snarky humor and magical mystical touches.  

So I’m a mish-mash.  A blend, a smorgasbord, a virtual stew of many influences.

What are your favorite authors and influences….going as far back as you dare!

Thanks for having me!

Sharla

Thanks!

Giveaway Details:

Each stop: A random commenter will receive one of Sharla’s customized tote bags, some bookmarks and swag, and a random bestselling author’s book from her collection she accumulated at the RWA Writer’s Conference in Anaheim! (Authors include Larissa Ione, Terry Spear, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt, Stephanie Laurens, Barbara Freethy, and Robyn Carr.)

1. Please make sure that you leave your broken up email addy in your  comment in order to be entered into the drawing!

2. Ends check rafflecopter

3. Just Enter

4. Open to everyone

Rafflecopter is at the end of this post!!!!!!!

Grand Prize giveaway tour wide: A random commenter chosen from the entire tour will receive an e-basket: E-book of THE REASON IS YOU, E-book of JUST ONE DAY, $25 e-gift card from Amazon or B&N, $10 Starbucks e-gift card.

Tour Stops:

http://events.litconnect.com/contemporary-romance-before-ever-since-by-sharla-lovelace

The more stops readers comment on, the greater their chances of winning.

Back Cover Blurb: 

Emily Lockwood, your past is showing. 

Emily Lockwood has been sitting on a secret for so long, and buried so deep that she really doesn’t even think of it anymore. Why should she? She has a successful career, an ex-husband who rarely tests her pa­tience, a mother who usually does, and a stubbornly independent grown daughter. Everything is fine, just another crazy kind of normal. 

Until Ben Landry comes back to town. The one person that could change it all. From best friends growing up, to young adults who realize their love in a night of crazy passion, Ben and Emily had an unbreakable bond. Or so she thought. When he then disappeared without explanation for over twenty years, she’d had to pick herself up and accept otherwise. Seeing Ben back again now triggers more than mere memories and a tug at her heart. It rips the cover off an old secret that could hurt the people she loves the most. 

While Emily works to keep her secret safe and her heart safer, her sanity gets a reality check. She’s been seeing things—her past played out like home movies unreeling before her eyes, visions that are making Emily see herself, her family, everyone she knew, and every choice she made, in a revealing new light and a startling new angle. For Emily, seeing her life in rewind makes her realize she has hard choices to make for her future. Choices that may redefine everyone else’s future as well. 

Purchase Links: 

Amazon.com: 

Barnes & Noble: .

Author Bio: 

Sharla Lovelace is the author of THE REASON IS YOU, JUST ONE DAY, and BEFORE AND EVER SINCE. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her family, an old lady dog, and an aviary full of cockatiels. 

Sharla is available by Skype for book club meetings and chats, and loves connecting with her read­ers! See her website www.sharlalovelace.com for book discussion questions, events, and to sign up for her monthly newsletter. 

Connect with Sharla: 

Website: www.sharlalovelace.com 

Twitter: 

Facebook:

Goodreads:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author interview and Contest: Macy Beckett - Sultry with a twist

Today I have an interview with author Macy Beckett and you can win her new book Sultry with a Twist (open to everyone in the world).

Welcome

1. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

MB:  Of course! I taught middle school for almost a decade before taking a “short break” to stay home with my babies. But in between feedings and diaper changes, I discovered a love for writing, so now I’m a full-time romance and YA author.

2. You have a new book out, Sultry with a twist. What is it about?

MB: In a nutshell, it’s about an Austin bar owner who’s forced to return to her tiny hometown for a month of community service under the supervision of her first love.

3.  What makes Luke the hero for the reader to fall for?

MB: Ooh, I love Luke. He’s surly and stubborn, but he’s got a heart of gold—he’s a hero in every sense of the word. It doesn’t hurt that he’s smokin’ hot, too. :-)

4.  These two have a history ( Luke and June), do you think the book was easier to write then?

MB: More fun to write? YES. Easier to write? NO! Because June and Luke had grown up together in the same house, they had a metric ton of back story, and it was a challenge to layer that in without slowing the pace. (It was worth the effort, though. I have a soft spot for reunited lovers.)

5. I see that more books are coming, could you tell me about those too?

MB: Definitely! Readers who’ve had a sneak peek of SULTRY WITH A TWIST tell me they love Trey and they hope his book is next. Well, it is—A SHOT OF SULTRY—and it’s now available for pre-order! http://www.amazon.com/A-Shot-Sultry-Springs/dp/1402270399/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_12

A SHOT OF SULTRY pairs Trey with Luke’s long-lost little sister, Bobbi. Let me tell you, they’re an explosive couple! Then in the fall of 2013, the third book pairs Colton Bea (you’ll meet him in book 2) with Leah McMahon, the pastor’s daughter, in another case of reunited lovers. ::dreamy sigh::

6. What is the best thing about writing?

MB: It’s the ultimate form of escapism, even more so than reading. I get paid to do something I love…it doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks!

Giveaway

1 copy of Sultry with a twist

1. Ends Nov 13

2. Open to everyone in the world

3. Just enter

SULTRY WITH A TWIST BY MACY BECKETT – IN STORES OCTOBER 2012

Welcome to Sultry Springs, Texas: where first loves find second chances...

Nine years after June Augustine hightailed it out of Sultry Springs with her heart in pieces, one thing stands between her and her dream of opening an upscale martini bar: a bogus warrant from her tiny Texas hometown. Now she's stuck in the sticks for a month of community service under the supervision of the devilishly sexy Luke Gallagher, her first love and ex-best friend.

If Texas wasn't already hot enough, working side-by-side with June would make any man melt. Luke wants nothing more than to strip her down and throw her in the lake—the same lake where they were found buck naked and guilty as sin all those years ago. In their heads, they're older and wise. But their hearts tell a different story...

Praise for Sultry with a Twist

“Beckett’s delightful debut is a sweet mix of lighthearted romance and down-home charm.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Heaping doses of heart, passion and laughter. The well-drawn characters and setting give this story a depth that makes it pop off the page.”

—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Beckett’s clever book is full of both humor and pathos...”

—Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Macy Beckett has lived in two countries and eleven different states, but she abandoned her nomadic lifestyle and now resides in Loveland, “The Sweetheart of Ohio,” with her husband and three spirited children. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas State University and resigned after nine years of teaching to stay home and pen romance novels full-time. When she’s not writing, Macy is an active participant in the Ohio Valley chapter of the RWA. For more information, please visit http://macybeckett.com, follow her on Twitter @MacyBeckett, or check out her Facebook Page!

Review: Flutter - Gina Linko

All Emery Land wants is to be like any other 17-year-old—to go to school, hang out with her friends, and just be normal. But for as long as she can remember, she’s suffered from seizures. And in recent years they’ve consumed her life. To Emery they’re much more than seizures, she calls them loops—moments when she travels through wormholes back and forth in time and to a mysterious town. The loops are taking their toll on her physically. So she practically lives in the hospital where her scientist father and an ever-growing team of doctors monitor her every move. They’re extremely interested in the data they collect when Emery seizes. It appears that she’s tapping into parts of the brain typically left untouched by normal human beings.

Escaping from the hospital, Emery travels to Esperanza, the town from her loops on the upper peninsula of Michigan, where she meets Asher Clarke. Ash’s life is governed by his single-minded pursuit of performing good Samaritan acts to atone for the death of a loved one. His journey is very much entwined with Emery’s loops. 

Drawn together they must unravel their complicated connection before it’s too late.

My thoughts:

This book was light and easy to read, and one thing kept me reading and reading. What on earth is going on in this book?

Emery is not your average girl. She suffers from seizures and have to sleep in the hospital. And these seizures are killing her. While in them she sees things and comes to the conclusion that she is time-travelling. And this was the thing that pushed me forward. Is she really? How will she stop it from killing her? The mystery around her and her disease was good.

She travels to another town and meets Ash. He has secrets of his own, slowly I learn more and feel that their story is as doomed as they come.

The book is such a mystery. Time-travel, a strange disease, a mystery little boy that tells her to go to this town...making it into a good book that I had a hard time putting down.

And the end, wow, the end..that is all I am saying. I did not see it coming.

Conclusion
A twist, a turn, and there you have this book.

Cover.

Eh

Genre: YA
Pages: 352
Published: October 23rd 2012 by Random House Books for young readers
Source: For review

Interview and Contest: James Forrester - Sacred Treason

This Sunday I have Ian Mortimer/James Forrester over for an interview and you can win his new book Sacred Treason.

Welcome!

1. Could you tell me a little about yourself?

I write history as ‘Ian Mortimer’ and  fiction as ‘James Forrester’ – the latter being my middle names. I have written eight history books and three novels to date. I am forty-five, talk a lot – mainly but not only about history – don’t have much hair, make up for lack of hair by wearing hats, have three public appointments, three children, four university degrees and seven guitars; hardly ever sit down in front of the TV but work hard, very long hours, and get out as much as I can, whether that be to a bar or friend’s house, or to speak about history publicly, which I love doing.

2. Your new book, Sacred Treason is out now, what is it about?

It’s a story set in 1563 about William Harley, called 'Clarenceux King of Arms', an officer in Elizabeth I’s household. He is a herald – which means he is in charge of who has the right to bear coats of arms. He is also a Catholic – and 1563 is not a good time to be a Catholic, especially not if you are a royal servant. One night he is given a book by an old friend and asked to guard it with his life. Very soon he realises it’s not just an ordinary book. All the said old friend tells Clarenceux is that the fate of two queens depends upon it. The story unfolds around him - as he soon becomes aware people will kill him to get their hands on the book.

3. Have you always been interested in history?

Yes, more than anyone else I have ever met. It comes from sharing a surname with some of the most powerful individuals in English medieval history. I was a history enthusiast by the age of six.

4. What made you chose this period in time to write about?

 My PhD is in 16th and 17th social history. But really it is because this was a period of such uncertainty. At a deeper level my book is really about loyalty and betrayal. It is about disloyalty to one’s wife (or infidelity), disloyalty to the state (or treason) and disloyalty to one’s religion (against conscience, heresy or both). To write about these things today, in a modern setting, is hardly earth-shattering. But in the sixteenth century you could be publicly flogged and humiliated for adultery, hanged or beheaded for treason and burnt alive for heresy. That backdrop makes this story just so much more dangerous and challenging.

5. If you could go back to any period in time, which one and why would you chose that place in time?

I don’t have a preferred time. I’d like to meet Shakespeare and see Francis Drake, so I would not complain if someone sent me back to the late 16th century; but I’d also like to meet Byron and Jane Austen (early 19th) and Edward III, Henry IV and Geoffrey Chaucer (14th). Send me back in time and I’ll find someone interesting to talk to!

6. What’s coming next from you?

The full Clarenceux trilogy (of which Sacred Treason is the first) is now complete. The second volume - The Roots of Betrayal - with by published by Sourcebooks in the States next spring. Right now I’m back in Ian Mortimer mode and working on a three-hour-long TV series for the BBC based on my non-fiction book, The Time Traveler’s Guide to Elizabethan England, which has been a hardback bestseller in the UK. I’m also about to start a history book about change in the western world over the last ten centuries. As for my fourth novel – I'm not sure when I will begin it, but I have a theme in mind, and, sorry, it’s remaining a secret!

Thanks!

And I certainly look forward to the BBC series

Giveaway

1 copy of Sacred Treason

1. Open to US and Canada

2. Ends Nov 11

3. Just go ahead and enter :)

Rameau Reviews: Dine and Dash - Abigail Roux

After the fourth book in the Cut & Run series, Abigail Roux continues to write Ty Grady and Zane Garrett alone. I don’t know why this is, but I do like how it shows in the writing. The content is still nonexistent plot and characterization wise, but the text that delivers the somewhat detached scenes is smoother. 

Although, I could never pinpoint the exact moments when another author had taken the scene over from the other, I could tell that two minds were working on the scenes because there were logic gaps and action irregularities in the early books. Now, with one author, those remain absent but the repetition is still there. Armed & Dangerous was basically a long list of moments when Ty and Zane told they loved each other. 

Dine & Dash is a porny outtake for the series that I didn't find particularly arousing. Oh, well, that comes with reading too much quality fanfiction porn. I’m guessing the author looked at how Armed & Dangerous and decided to mollify her readers with a plotless fuck between plotless books. I’m guessing this works for the die hard fans, but it didn’t for me.

2 stars

Series: Cut & Run #5.5

Pages: 10 

Publisher:       Abigail Roux

Published:  May 18th 2012

Source: http://abiroux.tumblr.com/post/26789688331/dine-dash

Interview and Contest: Julie Ann Walker - Rev it Up

Today Julie Ann Walker is stopping by for an interview, and there is a contest to win her new book Rev it up and it's open to all.

1. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

JW:  I'd be happy to!  :-D  My name is Julie Ann Walker.  I grew up in rural Oklahoma, tipping cows, catching crawdads, and riding around in the back of pick-up trucks.  After obtaining a degree in advanced mathematics, I married my college sweetheart and set about making my life as a mathematics teacher.  Alas, fate intervened.  My husband lost his job, forcing us to move away from the rolling wheat fields and vast cattle ranches of Oklahoma to the gritty, bustling city of Chicago where teaching positions were scarce.  And though the move was difficult on many levels, it ended up being a blessing in disguise.  Because, though I never knew it, I'm a city girl at heart.  I LOVE the hustle, the culture, the excitement of living in Chicago.  Additionally, the time off afforded me the opportunity to return to my first passion, which is writing.  I entered a contest, secured an agent, signed a publishing contract, published three novels back-to-back-to-back and voila!  Here I am!  LOL!  

2. You have a new book out, Rev It Up. What is it about?

JW:  It's a second-chance love story, which I absolutely love since a past history means there's lots of angst to go around, baggage, if you will, that must be dealt with. 

REV IT UP picks up where IN RIDES TROUBLE leaves off.  Jake "the Snake" Sommers returns to Black Knights Inc. after four long years with one and only one goal in mind: to win back the only woman he loves.  He knows it won't be easy, but he's overcome the demons that held him back years ago and is finally ready to settle down.  Unfortunately, Shell is wounded and wary and refuses to give him the time of day.  Until a psychotic mobster forces her to seek Jake's protection, that is.  

Bullets fly, hearts race, secrets are revealed...  You know, all the good stuff.  :-) 

3.  “Love her and leave her…” Was it hard to write this book, when Michelle had to forgive Jake so that they could get a happily ever after?

JW:  You have no idea.  I had to write, rewrite, and then delete and write Michelle's character again and again.  I find it extremely difficult to construct a heroine who's suspicious and hurt without making her come across as a total bee-yotch.  The line between guarded and cold is very fine.  But I think I finally got it right.  You'll have to let me know, readers!  ;-)

4. Who is your favorite member of the Black Knights, the man you would choose?

JW:  Oh, that's not fair.  I love all my guys.  And I have a soft spot for qualities in each of them.  I adore Ghost's steadiness and loyalty.  I'm in awe of Frank's ability to lead by example.  Jake's humility and willingness to lay it all on the line for the woman he loves is absolutely delish!  I could go on and on, but I'll let the readers decide for themselves which of the Black Knights is the sexiest.   

5. What made romantic suspense the genre for you to write?

JW:  First, I love to read romantic suspense.  All the action and adventure appeals to me.  Second, I volunteer at the USO - the United Service Organization - which is a non-profit support group for active-duty soldiers.  So, I'm around men in uniform all the time, which gives me a ton of material for my books.  Score!

6. What is the best thing about writing?

JW:  Are you kidding?  I get to live in a fantasy world everyday while managing to simultaneously avoid a commitment to the loony bin.  What better job could there be?  LOL!

Thanks!

Giveaway

1 copy of Rev it Up

1. Open to everyone in the world

2. Ends Nov 8th

3. Just enter :)

REV IT UP BY JULIE ANN WALKER – IN STORES OCTOBER 2012

He Never Misses A Target…

Jake "the Snake" Sommers earned his SEAL code name by striking quickly and quietly-and with lethal force. That's also how he broke Michelle Carter's heart. It was the only way to keep her safe-from himself. Four long years later, Jake is determined to get a second chance. But to steal back into Michelle's loving arms, Jake is going to have to prove he can take things slow. Real slow...

She Aims To Make Him Beg…

Michelle Carter has never forgiven Jake for being so cliché as to "love her and leave her." But when her brother, head of the Black Knights elite ops agency, ticks off the wrong mobster, she must do the unimaginable: place her life in Jake's hands. No matter what they call him, this man is far from cold-blooded. And once he's wrapped around her heat, he'll never let her go...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Ann Walker is the USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She'll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. Look for the first two books in her fast-paced series: Hell On Wheels (August 2012) and In Rides Trouble (September 2012). For more information, please visit www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor and/or Twitter @JAWalkerAuthor. 

Review: Season for Surrender - Theresa Romain

Honor Among Rogues

Alexander Edgeware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas house party—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…

Mischief Among Misses

Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends about daring.

My thoughts:

Are you getting a sense of Deja vu? Well then you are correct cos I have already posted a review of this one on my blog. Rameau's review, but then Anachronist asked if I would write one too? And I thought about it and thought why not. It will be fun to compare.

I am glancing at Rameau's review while writing this ;)

I did think the smexing came to fast in this book, suddenly there it was and I was all lime wow, slow down people. Seems Rameu found a way of approving this while I am not too happy about it. Just too fast.

The heroine loves books, and that means I loved the heroine and it really showed what a booklover she was.

The whole rogue aspect around Xavier I did not get, I would have wished for him to be explored, or explained more.

Seems Rameau liked the discussions the couple had, I fear I found those part the most dull. Nothing happened (of course then smack! smexing).

She wonders about Lockwood, well I sure hope he does not get a book, but yes Jane should get one. She is a cousin of Xavier and a sweet thing.

Conclusion:

All in all, bluestocking meets Rogue and soon it all starts. Of course he means to seduce her to win a wager and she, well she wants to live for once.

For Rameu's more excellent review go here

Series: Seasons #2
Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 368
Published: 2012 by Zebra
Source: From rameau

Review: Feast of Souls - Celia Friedman

At the end of her bestselling Coldfire Trilogy, C.S. Friedman challenged readers to imagine what a world would be like if sorcery required the ultimate sacrifice–that of life itself. Now, in a groundbreaking new fantasy novel, FEAST OF SOULS, she introduces us to a terrifying new world in which the cost of magic is just that–a world in which the fuel for sorcery is the very fire of the human spirit, and those who hunger for magical power must pay for it with their lives. In this epic tale of terrifying shadows and desperate hope, the greatest threat of all may not be that of ancient enemies returned, or ancient wars resumed, but of the darkness that lies within the hearts of men.

My thoughts:

I love a good fantasy book and this was just that. I could not put it down.

I did want a map though, I always need a map in fantasy. But ok, on to the story. We meet a king and queen and one son is dying. Those who are the masters of magic in the world has been sent for (the Magisters). They know what's wrong, I am not gonna say it, but it was such a good twist. And I so want to talk about it as it's one big part of this book, and the whole series. But just know that..it's good.

We follow a few people as the story progress, and again I just can't tell you what they all are doing. There is Kamila, who wants to do more in life than the hard life of a poor woman without choices. She wants to be a Magister, but only men can become Magisters. Women lacks something and does not make it through the training. They become witches, but not all men can become Magisters either, so they are also witches. I did enjoy the magic system. But did I like her? Not really. Dunno why either. Sure she was cold, but her life had been hard.

There is Prince Andovan who is dying, I liked him. Colivar, a magister, he is a mystery, I liked him too. Queen Gwynofar, a princess from the North and of a people who guard the rest of the world against a dark evil. An evil that is said to return one day. All in all a great cast.

A great story, there is a quest of finding answers, a quest of becoming bigger than you are, and then the story takes a darker turn too. A turn that made me want to read the rest of this trilogy at once. It looks to be a great series indeed.

Conclusion:

What is the price of magic? What's too big to pay? That you will learn.

Series. The Magisters Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 582
Published: 2008 by Orbit
Source Library

Interview and Contest: Mary Wine and The Trouble with Highlanders

Today I am having Mary Wine over for an interview and at the end of the interview there is a chance to win her new book The trouble with Highlanders.

Welcome!

Good Morning! Thank you so much for having me over to chat!

1. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

Hummm, I am a full time writer and part time tae kwon do instructor. The parrot is my office manager and boy is she strict. I started writing about ten years ago. It was just something that  popped into my head although my Mother claims I was always a story teller. As for the tae kwon do, it’s the Korean form of martial arts. I began classes twelve years ago with my sons. I certainly never thought it would become a third degree black belt or that I would put my hand through a brick. But I did.

2. You have a new book out, Trouble with Highlanders. What is it about?

This book follows ‘The Highlander’s Prize’. At the end of that book, Daphne Macleod had allowed Norris Sutherland to seduce her so Broen MacNicols might wed the woman he loved instead of her. Daphne goes home but Norris can’t seem to forget her.

3. Was it hard to write this book, when they already had a past?

All my books are a challenge. My charters tend to have their own opinions on where they think the story is headed but I often introduce elements that make it hard for them to achieve their goals. In Norris’s case, he went after Daphne without knowing why…silly boy had never been in love before. But love is often not enough in these times. Marriage is a business first. Love is still considered a form of insanity.

4. Describe the hero, Norris with a few words.

Dutiful. Loyal, Playful.

5. What made highlander romance a genre for you to write?

I’ll confess, I’ve spent a good chunk of time at renaissance fairs. I think the most expensive clothing I own is hundreds of years out of fashion. I do own knickers and chemises. The UPS man has gotten used to catching me in a corset because I’m working on some new dress. The time period has always fascinated me. Setting a story into it wasn’t a large step. Romance as a genre has been my favorite. Putting the two together is like…cake with frosting.

6. What is the best thing about writing?

Several things. There is that call from an editor who somehow found your submission in her piles of waiting hopefuls. The phone rings, she asks if you know who she is…oh yeah I know! But you try to not sound like a lunatic as you answer her. Cordless phones come in really handy at times like these. Wink.  There is the moment you open an email telling you the book has gone to the printer. That moment when the UPS man delivers you a box of them and you end up cradling a copy like a baby. But the best part, is when someone takes a moment to send me an email, telling me they loved one of my babies and can’t wait for the next one. I like to think I help folks escape for a few hours and that is golden.

Giveaway

1 copy of The trouble with Highlanders

1. Open to US and Canada

2. Ends Nov 5th

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Excerpt from ‘The Trouble With Highlanders.’-

“Well, it matters naught. Yer father will likely be well on his way to selecting another bride for ye and I do nae need any rumors linking us.”

“I rather enjoy the memory of the facts linking us.” His voice had dipped low and deep, just as it had the night they…

“Ye should nae voice such things,” she sputtered.

He was amused by her, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. “And why nae? Ye enjoyed making those memories—a great deal.” Now there was a hint of pride in his tone.

Daphne fought the urge to shiver. Emotion wanted to wash away her sense and leave her helpless in front of him.

“Enough, Norris. The priest is already threatening to write to the bishop about me transgressions.” She bit her lip, stunned by how easily she was sharing personal information with him. “I have enough to worry about.”

“I see…” he muttered in a tone she recalled instantly from their more intimate moments. “Ye mean the man is threatening to write about our transgressions, do ye nae, lass?”

“No,” she snapped and side-stepped once more to avoid him. “Father Peter would never accuse ye.”

He paused for a moment, his expression turning pensive. “In that case, the man is a hypocrite. I recall being deeply involved in your transgressions. In fact, I’m very tempted to add to the list. If the man is going to carry tales to his superior, I believe we should make sure he has something unique to report. I know a few positions he’s likely never heard of.”

Her eyes widened. “Ye’re going to end up locked in the stocks for saying things such as that.”

Norris grinned, flashing his teeth at her. He shook his head, irritating her. She couldn’t seem to shake the urge to argue with him. She stepped forward, pointing her finger at his wide chest.

“Don’t think being the son of an earl will save you. The church will no doubt double their efforts to make ye repent so ye set a good example. Mind yer words and do nae be grinning at me like that.”

“I’m grinning because I assure ye, lass, if I get locked in the stocks for impious behavior, it will be for me actions, not just me words. Which means, I would nae be alone.” He caught her up against him in a motion that was almost too fast to see. One moment she was pointing at him and the next moment his arms bound her against him. She had only a moment to inhale the warm scent of his skin and notice just how solid his body was before his mouth claimed hers.

His kiss was demanding. His lips pressed hers apart while he cupped her nape and angled her face upwards for the assault. She struggled against him, trying to push him away but he held her prisoner. It was a desperate attempt to maintain her sanity. A moment later her discipline crumbled beneath the teasing motions of his lips. He wanted her mouth to open and she had lost the will to deny him. What was worse was the fact that she wanted his kiss, needed it to be harder. She curled her hands into his doublet, holding him close as she kissed him back.

The kiss changed instantly. He became more demanding and it fanned the flames smoldering inside her. Passion leapt to life between them, as though they hadn’t parted for weeks. It twisted and bit into her, unleashing a potent poison.  But she wasn’t the only victim, Norris growled softly, the savage sound one she recalled from the darkest hours of the night they’d spent together. He trailed his lips along her jaw line and onto her neck where he bit her gently. She shivered, the reaction instant and uncontrollable. His grip held her in place as he raised his head and locked stares with her. For a moment, he let her see what the darkness had prevented her from gazing upon the night they shared his bed. Hunger glittered in his green eyes making them glow. She was mesmerized by the sight because it echoed her own longings so closely.

“Since ye kissed me back so passionately, ye’ll be in the stocks beside me.” 

His words were arrogant. She tried to shove him away and would have bitten the beast if he hadn’t released her. Her skirt got caught beneath her feet and she stumbled further away.

“Ye insufferable marauder.”

He tipped his head back and roared with amusement. Her temper sizzled, turning her cheeks scarlet.

“Take yer demands somewhere else, Norris Southerland, for I do nae care whose son ye be or what title ye’re set to inherit.”

He smirked at her but it was a very personal expression, one that reminded her that he knew her… intimately.

“Since yer father is dead and yer brother has yet to show his face, ye’ll face me demands, Daphne MacLeod, as a vassal should. I’m here to see what condition yer land is in.” He closed the gap between them, gripping a handful of her skirt to keep her near so his last words could be shared only between them. “But if ye’d like me to run ye to ground, I will be happy to do so. So turn yer back on me lass… I dare ye.”

Sad Desk Salad - Jessica Grose

As a writer for Chick Habit, an increasingly popular women's website, Alex Lyons gets paid to be a bitch. She's churning out several posts a day, and she saves her juiciest ones for blog prime time, when working women eat their sad desk salads in their offices. Alex tells herself she's fulfilling her dream of being a professional writer; so what if it means being glued to her couch and her laptop from six a.m. to six p.m., scouring the web in search of the next big celebrity scandal? Since Chick Habit's parent company keeps close tabs on page views, Alex knows her job is always at risk.

So when an anonymous tipster sends her the year's most salacious story—a politico's squeaky-clean Ivy League daughter caught in a very R-rated activity—it's a no-brainer. But is Alex really willing to ruin the girl's life by igniting the next Internet feeding frenzy? And what she doesn't yet realize is how this big scoop is about to send her own life spiraling out of control.

My thoughts:

I needed something light and funny and this was the perfect book for that. Though it was not just happiness and sunshine, no this book did look at the internet a bit more closely too.

Alex the heroine gets up around 6 am and then works for almost 12 hours. She does not dress, take a shower and often forget to eat. She is obsessed with her work as the tempo is high and she needs to find and write several pieces a day and get a lot of traffic for the website. Is she happy? I think she is too busy to consider this. But I did like that she wanted more.

The book takes place during a hectic week as she gets an email with a video. Do post or not to post? Where does one draw the line? She already has angry comments on some post and this, this could be really bad, but also really good for the site. There is pressure and figuring out what really is the right thing to do. Not to mention, getting out of that disgusting muumuu she is wearing.

I liked the light was it was written, and there was a lightness in the air too. But it did not get too light thanks to the drama going on. And as a blogger I knew the situations that came up, I have seen the drama.

As for the title, when everyone is at lunch then is the best time for a good post. As women sit around their desks eating a salad.

Conclusion

A fun book that you can read in a heartbeat.

Cover thoughts:

It's both funny and kind of meh

Genre. Chic-lit, fiction
Pages: 304
Published: October 2nd 2012 by William Morrow
Source: For review

Rameau Reviews: The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley

I’ve been actively reading and reviewing books for a year and a half now. In that time, my criteria for rating a book on the one to five stars scale has changed a couple of times. A few things still hold true. The book has to be exceptional and leave an indelible impression to get a five star rating from me. Three stars remains my meh-rating. It’s a book that I can objectively call a good one, something I might have even enjoyed reading, but it’s also something I can easily forget and move on.

My one star rating however, that’s changed the most. At first it was anything and everything I simply didn’t like. If the offences added up to a certain point I’d give it a one star rating no matter what redeemable qualities I’d find in it. But as I read more and actually started thinking about it, I realised there are books that aren’t even worthy of that single star, books that are, to me, beneath contempt. To compensate, I adjusted my personal rating scale and now one star is reserved to books that induce burning white rage in me.

I’ve given good ratings to books with characters I’ve hated when I enjoyed the story, and I’ve given good ratings to books with stories I’ve hated even when I loved a character or two. For me, the style matters little, but dammit, it matters.

And I’m not talking about the clunky language that in a way fits the subject and the legend, but takes a while to get used to.

Ms. Bradley set out to write a retelling of the Arthurian legend from the female perspective, and in that she succeeded. She managed to put together a logical and a somewhat coherent version of the events that put King Arthur on his throne in Camelot and brought him down from it, and she managed to tell it with female voices. Igraine, Viviane, Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, Morgause, all these women claw their way from the footnotes of myth and become three dimensional people—not just characters, but people—with worries and joys of their own.

Admittedly those joys were short-lived, but that’s partly why I loved the story. It’s why I love the legend as I do all things heart-rending.

However, as wonderfully flawed all these people were with their virtues and their unbridled ambitions, none of them really had a choice in the matter. Ms. Bradley didn’t write people, women or men, who made the best of their unfortunate circumstances. She wrote people thrown about by the fates and whims of their deities. Morgaine’s last defence is that she never had a choice and that she was merely the Goddess’ instrument.

And that’s why I hate this book.

All the characters, as Ms. Bradley paints them, are passive. None are active. None make choices and then take responsibility for their actions. They’re all thrown into untenable situations where something must break and either give them that what they most wish or take it all away from them.

Igraine marries because she doesn’t have a choice. She goes to convent, because she can’t bear to face the sister who forced her hand.

Gwenhwyfar also marries, because she doesn’t have a choice. She first surrenders to her lover because she doesn’t have a choice. The only stupid choice she makes is so that the author has an excuse to make the pious lady into an adulteress without making her choose it.

Morgaine, the worst offender, chooses nothing. The closest she comes to making up her own mind is when she flees Avalon, but after that she promptly becomes the meekest of them all. She, who should be the fearsome Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of the Goddess, how can she be a vehicle of her Goddess’ will when she does nothing but allows others act around her?

Catalyst, you say? This isn’t a chemical reaction where one substance remains unchanged. People change, people make choices that change them and others around them. Unless, of course, you’re a character in The Mists of Avalon.

But times were different then and women nothing but chattel, you say? There’s difference in being victimised and being a victim. All Morgaine and the others had to do to win me over, was not to see themselves as victims. All they had to do was to endure what was thrown at them and choose to make the best of it. All they had to do was to choose.

Only Morgause and Viviane come close to choosing anything, and how are their choices rewarded? Why of course, they are the great villainesses whose actions lead to a family tragedy after a family tragedy. Their actions bring an end to all those things they love and they don’t live to see the aftermath or acknowledge their responsibility.

Telling a story from the female perspective doesn’t make it feminist; writing capable women doing things, being active, and making choices does. This book is something worse; it’s a pretender.

There are many things I appreciate in this book, one thing I don’t is how it all was told. That matters. Dammit.

Series:  Avalon #1         

 Chronological order #7

Pages: 912

Publisher:                                        Del Rey

ISBN:                                              0345441184

Published:                                       2000 (orig. 1983)

Source:                                           Library

Review: Shadows at Stonewylde - Kit Berry

Thirteen years have passed since Yul fought for his life at the quarry, and Stonewylde has flourished in a new, golden age—but now the shadows are gathering. Wild and disobedient, Leveret is the bad girl who disappears at night and would rather roam the woods than sit in school. Only Clip recognizes the girl's magical sensitivity, and believes she may be the one to lead Stonewylde out of the approaching darkness. The shadows thicken as Yul and Sylvie find that something, or someone, is tearing their beautiful relationship apart. As Stonewylde starts to disintegrate, a sinister alliance is forming, but they have no idea what evil they are really up against.

My thoughts:

Oh Yul, I can't believe what a bastard you turned into. Ok so he is still "nice", but there are some things that just made me mad. First, after all he has been through one would think he would look at both sides of a story. No. Second, he is smothering Sylvie to death. Third, the outside world has taken over too much. Soon Stonewylde will be no more.

Yes this book, 13 years after the last book, the Magus may be gone but shadows are gathering. I wished Sylvie would stand up for herself more. I wished Yul would stop being so selfish and I wished people would see the bullying going on. It's not a happy book, but then these books have dealt with some serious stuff. Some real things for sure and life is tough.

But this is Leveret's book, Yul's little sister and again my heart is broken. That poor child! Bullied and brought to despair. And no one notice! I am so disappointed with Stonewylde. Look up and see around you. Shadows, and more shadows. Dark books.

And then it ends, one more book to come soon. But I fear utter destruction at the moment.

Conclusion:

This series sure brings out some emotions on me. I just wanted to scream and rage. I hate bullies! This author sure know how to create deep feelings for her characters. She is pretty evil (but in a good way as I get so attached to them and emotional.)

 Cover.

Creepy and good

Series: Stonewylde #4
Genre: YA, paranormal'ish
Pages: 426
Published: OCtober 2012 by Gollancz (first 2011)
Source: For review

Review: Solstice at Stonewylde - Kit Berry

Poisoned at the festival of the dead, Yul's life now hangs by a thread, and it's his fellow Stonewylders who must save him. But will they, when the Magus has done so much to undermine Yul? Yet there are cracks in the Magus' following. When he confesses a secret that shocks the community, the Stonewylde folk begin to understand his true nature. The Magus' spiral into obsession and darkness continues, his kindness and charm now vanished. The cruelty that lies beneath is becoming clear, as is the deadly web of deceit and betrayal in which Yul and Sylvie are trapped. The Winter Solstice approaches and Yul and Sylvie refuse to give up hope. But Sylvie is unaware of the Magus' real plans for her and she's horrified when he finally shows his hand. Can this really be why she was brought to Stonewylde? As the darkness draws in around them, the wise woman on the hill makes a chilling prophecy. There is no escape and no compromise when death comes knocking: five will die at Stonewylde. The only question is who.

My thoughts:

If you thought I hated the Magus before then that is nothing compared to now. No, strike that. I do not hate him, he disgust me now. If he was on fire I would not spit on him, I would not even think about it. He is slowly rotting inside in this one, and finally, people start to notice.

But I will go back a step. This book was just so emotional. I did not want to stop because I had to know! Could this sorry excuse for a human being be stopped?! 

The magus has tried to kill Yul or break him more than once. And Yul is his own son, but there is a prophecy...Sylvie is being used for her moon magic and he drains her until she is an empty shell. Then he yells at her when she is being lazy. So when I started reading this book I was dreading it all, especially since Yul lay at death's door in book 2 and Sylvie. Poor Sylvie. When I started reading my hate (we all know about that now) turned to disgust. Yes things gets even worse. Things will happen, but there will not only be darkness, there is some light and I kept rooting for that light as I raced toward the end of the book.

Conclusion:

nothing else then this book will keep you on your toes, and rooting for the good guys, while swearing over the bad guys. 

Cover:

Fitting

Series: Stonewylde #3
Genre. YA, paranormal
Pages: 393
Published: 2011 by Gollancz
Source: For review

Review: Becoming Clementine - Jennifer Niven

After delivering a B-17 Flying Fortress to Britain, an American volunteers to copilot a plane carrying special agents to their drop spot over Normandy. Her personal mission: to find her brother, who is missing in action. Their plane is shot down, and only she and five agents survive. Now they are on the run for their lives.

As they head to Paris, the beautiful aviatrix Velva Jean Hart becomes Clementine Roux, a daring woman on an epic adventure with her team to capture an operative known only as "Swan." Once settled on Rue de la Néva, Clementine works as a spy with the Resistance and finds herself falling in love with her fellow agent, Émile, a handsome and mysterious Frenchman with secrets of his own. When Clementine ends up in the most brutal prison in Paris, trying to help Émile and the team rescue Swan, she discovers the depths of human cruelty, the triumph of her own spirit, and the bravery of her team, who will stop at nothing to carry out their mission.

My thoughts:

I do love fiction books. I might love other genres more, but fiction is the genre that gives me the most. Good writing, good stories and well just a good genre. I do love a good voice.

This is actually book 3, but that does not show. It's a perfectly good standalone novel that shows us the life of Velva Jean as she in 1944 flies over the Atlantic. She is a Wasp, one of the forgotten ones from WWII. The book shows what women did in the war. Velva Jean is brave and wonderful. She goes to France to find her brother. She goes into a war zone cos of family, and to be a tool of war.

I have heard about the Wasps, the women pilots of the war. But I never knew much and how they struggled. The men were not happy, no one was really happy. Not that there is much flying here, no, instead there is spying, and danger.

The book is well written and there is this tone over the book that I liked. Velva thinks, feels, and well it just have to be read.

Conclusion:

A great book about forgotten heroines.

Series: Velva Jean #3
Genre. Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Published: September 2012 by Plume
Source: For review

Review: Deadlock - Moira Rogers

Abandoned by her wolf shifter father and raised by her human psychic mother, Carmen Mendoza can’t deny she’s different. She craves things most women shy away from—and she has a trail of shapeshifting ex-boyfriends to prove it.

Working at a clinic for supernatural creatures, she’s escaped the notice of her father’s legacy-obsessed family. Until they need a pawn in their bid for power. Snared by a vicious spell designed to wake her inner wolf, Carmen’s only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Alec Jacobson was once the heir apparent to the wolves’ ruling elite, until he walked away to marry the woman he loved. She paid with her life. Now he lives as a rebel, a black-sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from the wolves’ barbaric class system. Too bad he can’t protect himself from his need for Carmen.

Yet staking his claim on his enemy’s niece will turn his city into a battleground. Unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules—and start making them.

My thoughts:

Ever since I first met Alec I wanted this story, and now I finally got it. He was just so alpha, wounded and all that jazz. I am gonna make this into a quickie (will try at least).

Alec is being his usual self, taking care of New Orleans and at the same time not taking part in politics. In comes Carmen, sparks fly and she is the one to soothe his soul. Sparks fly, in and out of bed (when they get there).

And there is politics. Her family is making a play for a seat, and they are real bastards. Alec has some figuring out to do.

And we meet everyone from before. Now, I do want Kat's book.

There you have it, a sort of quickie review. A nice series that is not really pnr, and not really uf either.

Cover
works

Series: Southern Arcana #3
Genre. UF/PNR
Pages: 264
Published: 2011 by Samhain
Source: Own

Review: Moondance of Stonewylde - Kit Berry

The cracks are beginning to show in the idyllic Stonewylde community. As Yul and Sylvie's forbidden friendship grows into something deeper, Magus' true nature starts to emerge through his charming facade. Ever since Yul defied him at the Summer Solstice, his power has been waning, and his mood darkening. Yul is the problem - and Magus is going to deal with him. Nobody challenges his authority and survives.

Sylvie is in danger too. Magus has discovered her secret and now, for all its beauty, her magical gift and Magus' desire to possess it is putting her life at risk. As each full moon rises Sylvie is made to suffer more, and the agony she endures as her magic is stolen leaves her increasingly exhausted, sapping her will to fight back. Unless Magus can be stopped, every full moon could be Sylvie's last. Are Yul and Sylvie the only ones who see the truth behind Magus' mask of kindness? Why is everyone so deceived by his charm - and why is Mother Heggy, the mysterious wise-woman the only one who will help them? 

My thoughts:

That glimmer of hope I spoke of in my previous review, well that did not turn out well. There will be spoilers here as I have to talk about book 1.

Arghhhhhhhh I hate the Magus, hate hate hate hate him! Honestly it has been a while since I hated with such a passion. They is all smiles and sleeps with everyone, yes blesses the women *roll eyes*. He hates poor Yul and torments him. And Sylvie, well I shall not talk about it further since that would be spoilers for this book. But he is horrible. He is one of those evil characters that act all good and is loved by many. Hate! But he makes it worthwhile when reading, I keep hoping he will fall!

As you can get the book gets pretty emotional at times (me hating Magus mostly). There is some real darkness in this one, all cos of Magus. There is heartache, planning and hopelessness in this. Hopelessness would be the theme. I feel so sorry for them all and I wish people would see the sinister depth he has.

A good book that kept me on my toes. The end here, well, there is no glimmer of hope this time. I need more.

Cover

Fitting

Series. Stonewylde #2
Genre: YA /paranormal fantasy
Pages: 352
Published: 2011 by Gollancz (first 2006)Source: Review

Review: Magus of Stonewylde - Kit Berry

Sylvie is dying. A victim of crippling allergies, poisoned by the pollution and chemicals of modern life, Sylvie is trapped in a hospital bed while her mother and doctors watch her life slipping away. But one of them offers her a chance. There's an alternative community - Stonewylde - hidden away behind high boundary walls in a corner of Dorset. If their leader, the charismatic Magus, would let Sylvie visit then perhaps the clean air and green lifestyle may restore her vitality. Or at least give her some measure of peace before she dies. It's a chance, and when Sylvie and her mother take it, they find themselves in a haven of tranquillity and beauty. 

But it's not all idyllic. The Magus sends a moody, secretive Village boy to work in their garden as a punishment. He warns them to stay away from him - he's rebellious and in deep trouble. But Sylvie is curious about Yul and, as their forbidden friendship grows, she sees that all is not quite as it seems at Stonewylde. Why was she told to keep away from Yul - and why are she and her mother so drawn to the Magus? Is the crone on the hill really a powerful wise-woman, or just a crazed old hag bent on destroying the peace with her wild prophecies? And what exactly is the magical secret at the heart of this seemingly perfect community?

My thoughts:

There is a hidden place within England, a place of magic where people follow the old ways. And that's where this story takes place.

Sylvie is poisoned by modern society and comes to Stonewylde. She is weak, but she slowly finds strength and her way. Still at one time I did fear her going tstl on me as she become friends with someone she had seen do something bad. But then again she is just that nice. 

Yul, is a village boy who I felt sorry for. This is not a nice society. I quickly saw the faults through his eyes. The Magus who is in charge can say whatever he wants to but this is a feudal society where some reap the benefits of the sweat of others backs. Poor Yul, he is just so broken.

Yes this may seem like the perfect place, but there is a darkness over it all too. I also felt like some are pushed too much when it comes to a certain ritual. But I shall say no more. It's the old ways and it makes it to one good story. Darkness and light.

The book may end with a glimmer of hope but it's far from over and it made me want to jump at the next one at once.

Conclusion:

A YA fantasy/paranormal story that will bring you friendship, injustice and budding romance.

Cover

works

Series: Stonewylde #1
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 352
Published: 2011 by Gollancz (first pub 2005)
Source: Review

Mini Interview and giveaway: Sarah-Jane Lehoux - Thief

Please help me welcome Sarah Jane Lehoux to my blog today. There will be a giveaway at the end, and it will be open to all :) Good luck!

Welcome!

Who is Sarah-Jane?

1. Sarah is an introvert with a love of animals, the paranormal, and pretty much anything weird or macabre. She is gradually becoming a hermit thanks to an anxiety disorder, and her general inability to figure out social etiquette. She gets her inspiration from a sleep disorder which produces some wacked out waking dreams and hallucinations, and strives for originality and quirkiness in everything she writes. Growing up, she wanted to be a pirate, then an archeologist, then a primatologist, and finally decided that she’s not cut out for anything other than telling stories. Her greatest ambitions are to explore the catacombs of Paris and convince her husband to take a Hippo Tour in Toronto with her. If she ever becomes a successful author, she’ll buy a Queen Anne style house in the middle of nowhere, zombie proof it, and install a hidden door that leads to a turret room, where she can sit on rainy days and freak out anyone who happens upon her estate. Plus she’d get her cats a puppy. Because puppies are cute, and she thinks her cats would appreciate the gesture.

Why is this the series to read?

2. Reason 1: No one sparkles, and the female characters don’t put up with douchey, abusive behaviour from so called Alpha males. There are consequences, and there is more at stake than just getting two characters together.

    Reason 2: A sexy dark elf named Revik will rock your world.

    Reason 3: This ain’t your daddy’s fantasy. It’s a new spin on the genre. Gritty, realistic, unpredictable, and emotionally involving.

3. Why fantasy?

 I’m a big fan of hyperbole. I love using over the top expressions to get my point across. It’s the same with crafting a story. I take average, everyday characters and plunk them down in the middle of extraordinary circumstances to see how they will react. By doing so, I believe I can better examine human nature and the human condition. Strip away the magic and monsters, and at its heart the Sevy series is about people trying to do the best they can with their lot in life.

Thanks!

Giveaway!!

3 winners with receive both books, Thief and Shades of War

1. Open to ALL

2. Ends Oct 24th

3. Just enter :D

For review of the Thief go to:  and Shades of War: 

"Sarah-Jane Lehoux has brought a rainbow of emotions through me with these reads; surprise, tears, and worry."

If you are curious about Sarah-Jane Lehoux and her works, she can be found:
On her site: Sarah-Jane Lehoux ~ http://www.sarah-janelehoux.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SarahJaneLehoux
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/26083976275/

The Blurb for Thief:

In the crumbling city of Eloria, there is one indisputable fact: everyone has a price. Protestations of morality and better judgment have little meaning when confronted with the chance to obtain the unobtainable. The only question remaining is just how much a person is willing to sacrifice in order to win their heart’s desire.

Sevy has always been a quick study in the wicked ways of Eloria. She has no qualms about taking what she wants, and when the love of her life is mysteriously murdered, Sevy will stop at nothing to get him back. Elvish black magic, necromancy and demonic pacts are of little consequence if it means she can once again have her beloved at her side. But is she willing to murder her only friend to get the job done?