Author Interview and Giveaway: Kate Johnson

Today's guest is Kate Johnson. Welcome! :)

1. Tell me 3 fun things about yourself...or weird things, lol.

I have a huge shoe collection. Some of them are unwearable, but I just like looking at them.

I have three cats; not that many but if it were up to me I'd have dozens!

I haven't eaten meat since 1988. Perfectly normal to me, but apparently weird to some people!

2. How would you explain your new book, Impossible Things, to someone if you only had 10 seconds?

It's about a warlord, a blind slave, and a dog called Brutus. 

3. I really enjoyed this one (and I did already ask) but...will there be more fantasy romance books?

Quite probably! I don't have any definite plans to write one soon but I do love fantasy, so I'd say it's quite likely. 

4. Now who does not love a good warlord, so tell me, what or who was your inspiration behind Kael?

I honestly had this really frightening dream where the devil strode into the room and pointed at me and said, "Her, send her to me." So that's how he started! He does, of course, look just like my beloved Richard Armitage. 

5. And you made poor Isthear suffer so much. Was it hard to write her history?

It was in places, yes. At times I wondered if I was going too far, but I didn't want to soft-soap her story. And having made her suffer so much I wanted to do her rehabilitation properly, which took a lot of thought. And I wanted to get justice for her too, and punish the people who treated her so badly. That doesn't happen often enough in real life, so it was satisfying to do it in fiction. 

6. Last question, if you could live in this fantasy world...where would you live?

Ooh...well, I had great fun creating the city of Ilanium, and the luxurious Draxan villa towards the end if the book, but I think I'd prefer to live in Krulland actually. I like cold weather and spectacular scenery, and I created Kael's home to be cosy, warm and quirky. It's also secretive, with lots of places to hide, and there's always pepparkakor on offer!

thanks!

Giveaway

1 copy of Impossible things

1. Open to all!

2. Ends Feb 19

3. Just go ahead and enter :D

And as always ask questions if you want :D

PS. If I can't find your email in your profile then leave it here (or twitter name) I will not hunt anyone down. and you will have 3 days to respond.

Must Love Dukes - Elizabeth Michels

Lillian Phillips could not imagine how her quiet, simple life had come to this. Blackmailed by the Mad Duke of Thornwood into accepting one wild dare after another...all because of a pocket watch. Desperate to recover her beloved father's pawned timepiece, Lily did something reckless and dangerous and delicious—something that led to a night she'd never forget.

When Devon Grey, Duke of Thornwood, runs into a mesmerizing, intoxicating, thieving woman who literally stole from his bedchamber—with his new pocket watch—Devon plots his revenge. If the daring wench likes to play games, he's happy to oblige. After all, what's the use of being the Mad Duke if you can't have some fun? But the last laugh might just be on him...

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this one, oh that Duke! It was silly and fun.

I was a bit surprised how things happened in this book. I know that all have their ways of causing scandal but Lily, she sure does something else. And one year later she meets Devon again. I can't say he is happy and that leads to one fun book. He blackmails her into doing things .... get your minds out of the gutter. Not that! Other kind of games. But things will get serious as her idiot brother wants to marry her away, to a man of his choosing.

Lily was a breath of fresh air, mostly cos of the thing she did a year before. Sure she was lucky, but she took a chance. She is brave.

Devon is called the mad duke because his father was mad. And Devon does say and do outrageous things when he is annoyed at everyone. It was funny, because it's not things you say. But I got him, I would not want everyone calling me mad either.

Conclusion:

Fun, sassy, a bit mad and cute too. I want to read more.

cover thoughts...hurry!
His face, omg his face

Mass Market, 352 pages
Published February 4th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Tricks of the Ton #1
Historical romance
For review

The Heart of Valour - Tanya Huff

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is a Confederation Marine's marine. Sidelined since her last mission, she jumped at the chance to go to Cruciblethe Marine Corps training planet. While the exercise is underway, the drones begin acting aggressively, without regard to fail-safes or their programming. Kerr finds herself caught in a desperate fight to keep a platoon of Marine recruits alive...

My thoughts:

Torin is in a hot mess as usual. In this book she escorts a major and his doctor to a marine training planet, and of course there are a bunch of recruits too that will finish their training. And then boom the planet turns on them. But Torin can sure handle herself, and see to that people around her stays alive. She is so very kick-ass.

But what I liked the most was that Torin started to question things, and I never questioned things either but now I did that too. Humans and other beings help The Elder races fight The others. But, here is the but, why are the fighting? I realized that I did not know, cos yes Torin did not know. And only The Elder races has ever been in peace talk. Sure I wondered about The Others before but now I really wonder. And because of that I want more, because I need to know now.

Of course there are other things going on that I can't get into, why the planet turned on them. Things that has to do with book 2 and of course the whole aspect of Torin wondering what the hell is going on.

Conclusion:

Kick-ass action, a few dilemmas on the way ;) trust me on that. And did I say action? Lots of action and shooting.

Cover

eh

Paperback, 400 pages
Published February 7th 2014 by Titan Books (first published June 5th 2007)
Confederation #3Sci-fi
For Review

Carole Reviews: The Winter Siege - DW Bradbridge

Author: DW Bradbridge

Title: The Winter Siege

Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery

Pages: 488

First Published: September 2013

Where I Got It: Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion

"1643. The armies of King Charles I and Parliament clash in the streets and fields of England, threatening to tear the country apart, as winter closes in around the parliamentary stronghold of Nantwich. The royalists have pillaged the town before, and now, they are returning. But even with weeks to prepare before the Civil War is once more at its gates, that doesn’t mean the people of Nantwich are safe.

While the garrison of soldiers commanded by Colonel George Booth stand guard, the town’s residents wait, eyeing the outside world with unease, unaware that they face a deadly threat from within. Townspeople are being murdered – the red sashes of the royalists left on the bodies marking them as traitors to the parliamentary cause.

When the first dead man is found, his skull caved in with a rock, fingers start being pointed, and old hatreds rise to the surface. It falls to Constable Daniel Cheswis to contain the bloodshed, deputising his friend, Alexander Clowes, to help him in his investigations, carried out with the eyes of both armies on his back. And they are not the only ones watching him.

He is surrounded by enemies, and between preparing for the imminent battle, watching over his family, being reunited with his long-lost sweetheart, and trying, somehow, to stay in business, he barely has time to solve a murder.

With few clues and the constant distraction of war, can Cheswis protect the people of Nantwich? And which among them need protecting? Whether they are old friends or troubled family, in these treacherous times, everyone’s a traitor, in war, law, or love.

When the Winter Siege is through, who will be among the bodies?"

Like earlier stated I was given this book from the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was the first book I've read that was set in the middle of the English revolution during the 1640s. My knowledge on this Civil War is limited. Only small bits and pieces of information here and there. This was book gave me a nice taste of the war. Chaotic time indeed. 

I really appreciate that the author did a different POV. Normally the POVs are in soldiers or dukes or someone of pretend or real historic importance. The main POV of this book is a man named Daniel who is a constable, but he also sells cheese and salt. It was interesting and I liked it. Well, it was interesting when the author went over some historical facts about everyday life and the businesses of the day. It was nice and all that...but it slowed down the book at some points. 

The mystery mixed in was a nice twist too. At first, I was unsure about how it was going to all mix together. I was worried it was going to be cheesy and seem out of place. This worked nicely and it flowed nicely with the historical fiction and war aspect of the novel. Nicely done. Kuddos to the author on that! It's not an easy feat mixing genres, but this was done well. I do have mixed feelings on HOW it ended. Gah...I don't know how to explain it without giving away major spoilers....but I was glad it ended with a sorta a HEA, but I didn't like how Daniel got the answers to the mystery. That's as much as I can say about that...

All-in-all, this was an okay book. I liked it. It was a nice look at a war I have limited knowledge about. Not only did I learn some interesting facts about the war, but about everyday life in 1640s as well. Some points seemed slow, but the characters were interesting and the mystery was certainly a mystery. I wish the how on the ending was a little different, but I'm glad it ended the way it did. I recommend this to those that like historical fiction. I shall stamp this with 3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Daniel, Elizabeth, and Alexander

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Alice