Seducing Samantha Review

  Seducing Samantha by R.E Butler

Synopsis

Elementary school music teacher Samantha Thomas moved to Ashland to start her life over. What she didn’t expect was for her ex-husband to follow her to Ashland to take over the vacant principal job at her school. After some clever plotting by one of her students, she meets the gorgeous Grant Fallon and accepts a date with him. On the way home, her car gets stuck and she finds herself face to face with another gorgeous man asking her for a date – Grant’s brother, Aaron. How will Sam decide between Grant and Aaron, when both men fill her with desire?

Mountain lions Grant and Aaron Fallon grew up believing that love was not meant for their kind. When their pride left their former home in Pennsylvania and settled in Ashland, Indiana, they were suddenly able to live their lives however they wanted, without the threat of the female lions holding them back. When they realize that they both want Samantha, they decide to follow their instincts and share her. Can two brothers share a mate? Will Samantha want to be shared?

Lisa's Review - 2 out of 5 stars

I went into reading Seducing Samantha with open eyes, I wasn't aware of the authors previous books, I only quickly skimmed the synopsis, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I thought it might be an interesting take from the paranormal side of things, instead of werewolves, we had these mountain lions instead. By the end of the book I wished the writing had concentrated more on the mountain lions, than on the se side of things!

The title is Seducing Samantha - except there was very little seducing going on. As much as a book is very rarely written based on true events, there needs to be an element of realisticness to a story, even if it is paranormal and based on 'mythical' or paranormal creatures. This book could have intertwined the realness of Samantha, with the paranormal side of the mountain lions, but it failed to do so, leading me to sit shaking my head at the fact that some of the happenings in the book were so far fetched it put me off reading.

But, I did finish the book, although I have to say it did take some effort. There are quite a few sex scenes in the book, a few of them are rather hot and steamy, but a lot of them are rather repetitive and have no 'oomph' to them.

I know that R.E Butler has called this book 1 in the Ashland Pride series, so I guess there is more of the story to come, but it did get quite good when it came to an altercation that saw one of the female lions come on for a chapter or so, and I thought ok, this is it, it will get good now. Unfortunately, that kind of tailed off to nowhere, and led to a rather dull ending. I would have much rather seen the female lion bit carried on in this book than wait for another one or have the ending this one did.

Sorry to say, but Seducing Samantha didnt get my inner cat going.

The Calling Review by Chloe

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Book Synopsis

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.



Chloe's Review - 5 out of 5 stars

I really like this book because it actually links to her first set of books, The Darkest Powers Trilogy. It is quiet clever how she links it all together. You will struggle to put it down. I thought after the first book this is as good it gets, but I was really wrong. It gets a lot better. I think this is the best book I've ever read. It was that good.

When I started reading, it took a while to understand what was going on, but the longer you read the more you get it. When it finishes you beg for more. When you read she makes you feel like you're in the book. It is really hard to explain.

I just can't wait to read the next one. I am really getting impatient. This is literally the best book I have read.

Links

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11765920-the-calling

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Calling-Darkness-Rising-Book/dp/1907410473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369905732&sr=8-1&keywords=the+calling+kelley+armstrong

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-calling-kelley-armstrong/1103167935?ean=9780061797064

Back to You Blog tour

Back to You

By: Natalie-Nicole Bates

Blurb

On the surface, Lynsey Reznor seems to have it all. She is beautiful, brilliant, and a successful true-crime writer who has been living the past decade in Miami. But what Lynsey lacks is what she needs the most—a family.

After the death of her mother, and yet another failed relationship, Lynsey makes an impulsive decision to return to her hometown of Unity. But Unity will present its own bittersweet memories, most notably, her first love, Nick Lincoln.

Twenty years ago, Nick broke teenager Lynsey’s heart when he decided to marry another. He had his own private reasons—reasons he never explained to Lynsey. Now she is back, along with a chance to reclaim her love. But Lynsey wants answers from him that he may never be able to give out of duty and guilt.

Excerpt

When he heard her, he came to her, took her into his arms, and kissed her. It was a comfort that he wasn’t regretting their lovemaking. She didn’t think she could handle being rejected by him twice in her lifetime.

     “Do you have to leave soon?” she asked.

     “I’m sorry. I don’t want to, but I have to.” He went to the stove and prepared her a cup of coffee. “I think we should start planning our wedding. We could be married at Christmas.”

     She was taken aback. Is this his proposal ?  This was supposed to be so romantic and memorable, not talk about planning a Christmas wedding while he stirred a cup of coffee.

     “Do you even want to get married?” She took the coffee mug he offered. “I mean, it wasn’t that long ago that you told me you weren’t sure you ever wanted to be married again. You said you didn’t see fatherhood in your future, and Nick, I want a baby…more than one. I grew up as an only child and I was so alone. I don’t want my child to have to experience that.”

     “Well, I didn’t use a condom last night. You could be pregnant right now,” was his reply.

     Heaviness descended upon her heart. This was so not how she wanted this morning to be, and certainly not the marriage proposal she had dreamed of. “I’m on the Pill—I won’t get pregnant if that’s all you’re worried about.”

      “I’m sorry, that’s not the only reason we should get married.”

     “Then why?” she asked suspiciously.

     He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Lynsey, I don’t have time to get into this with you right now. What do you want me to say in the five minutes I have before I leave for work?”

     She couldn’t believe his glib attitude.  “How about saying something to me like…‘I love you, Lynsey, and I made a tremendous mistake by not marrying you twenty years ago?’ That would take you less than thirty seconds to say, and you could have easily gotten to your precious job on time.”

     Suddenly his jaw set and his eyes narrowed. “I didn’t make a mistake by not marrying you twenty years ago! I let you go to become a success in life—and you did. I can’t regret that!”

     “So, what I thought all these years was correct. I was nothing to you but a quick and easy way to shed your virginity.” Just saying the words was devastating.

     “That’s not it at all,” he vehemently insisted. “You were always so intelligent. I mean, you were a sixteen-year-old senior in high school! Just how many grades did you skip over, anyway?”

    “Two,” she answered in a low voice.

    “Do you know what would have happened if I hadn’t married Kelly?” He didn’t wait for her reply. “I’ll tell you what. You and I would have been ostracized by everyone in this town! We would have had to be married right away, and we would have had to live with your mother, because I had no money.”

     “My mother loved you. She would have been happy to have us live with her,” she interjected.

     “And we were so naïve, Lynsey. You would have graduated high school with either a big belly, or a baby in your arms…if you had graduated at all.”

     She crossed her arms over her breasts and looked at the floor. She was too afraid that if she looked at him she would break down. “Some of the girls in school were married. A few of them had babies.”

     He lifted her chin and forced her to make eye contact with him. “And you were too smart to be stuck in this town, and just another housewife. You would have become bored and resentful.”

     “I wouldn’t have known the difference,” she countered.

     “I had serious doubts then. I still have doubts now,” he admitted.

     Her dark lashes flew upward. “What is that supposed to mean?”

    “I believe that you will become bored and restless in Unity and will want to go back to Florida or maybe California. I have a job and a family here, Lynsey. I don’t ever want to give that up. I’m afraid that we’ll have a child, and you’ll take my baby and leave. I can not allow that to happen.”

     She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Nothing was further from the truth. “Do you think I would have sunk so much of my savings into that house just to abandon it? I would never, ever do what you’re saying. But if circumstances changed, I would expect you to support what was best for our family. Couples who are committed make sacrifices for each other!”

     It was becoming clearer and clearer that things were rapidly falling apart between them.

     “Lynsey, didn’t what happened between us last night mean anything to you?” he asked.

     She chuckled unpleasantly. “I suppose that with us living in such close proximity, last night was inevitable. But don’t worry about it happening again, Nick. When you get home this evening, I won’t be here.”

    “Where are you going to be?”

She wanted to hurt Nick like she was now hurting. “I’m sure that Caleb wouldn’t mind me bunking down at his house for a week or two.”

    “Over my dead body,” he seethed. “I will drag you away from him kicking and screaming if it comes to it. I’ll handcuff you to my bed if need be. Believe me, Lynsey, I’ll do it!” He flopped down into a kitchen chair and buried his face in his hands.

     “I have to go now, Nick. I’m meeting your sister for breakfast. Listen to me. You need to pull yourself together. In your line of work, bad things happen when you lose your concentration.”

     When he didn’t reply, she let out a sigh of resignation and headed for the door. At the last minute she turned to him. “Thanks for almost making it happen between us.”

Ten Quick Things I Love About My Characters by Natalie-Nicole Bates

1. Every one of my characters is a little bit of me. How can you not love something that carries just a little part of you?

2. Strong, successful heroine who got what they have on their own. They take no guff from anyone!

3. Heroes who not only look great, but have strong morals and ethics.

4. My characters aren’t afraid to speak their minds or ruffle feathers.

5. My characters in SEE ME will live forever, AND have the power to raise the dead. How can you not love that?

6. My characters have the ability to keep me up half the night, driving me to write their stories.

7. They’re not perfect. They have their own problems and foibles that make them real and relatable.

8. They are delightfully weird! For anyone who knows me and knows my writing, you know what I’m talking about J

9. In the end, I know my characters will never let me down.

10.Without them, I would never have been able to become     a  published author and share my stories with all of you!

Buy Link

Amazon

Author Info

Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.

Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Author Links

Author Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway

There is a Tour wide commenter giveaway. To be entered to win a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card simply leave a comment on this post and include a VALID email address. If the organisers can't contact you they cant issue you with the prize.

The Melody in Our Hearts

The Melody in our Hearts by Roberta Capizzi

Book Synopsis

Doctor Valerie Fogarty studied hard to become a competent surgeon, but losing a patient during an operation made her throw everything out the window and now she can't set foot into an operating room anymore. Until her best friend Ryan is brought into the ER on a stretcher, fighting for his life after a terrible car accident and she’s the only one who can save him. Meeting him as a teenager in their hometown in Ireland was the turning point in her life and she knows she will never be able to live without him. Will her determination and skills be enough to save Ryan's life?
Jazz Star Ryan Wyler grew up in Dublin, with a dream of becoming a professional pianist and continuing the legacy of his musical hero, Frank Sinatra. When opportunity knocks and he's offered the chance to pursue a real music career, he's happy to accept it, unaware that what he's actually accepting is a package deal he will have no control over. But when success keeps him away from Valerie, his best friend since adolescence, Ryan will have to question his choices.
A story about the value of true friendship, the power of dreams, and the unpredictability of love.

Shona's review 3 of 5 stars

I was expecting more 'in the now' story, but instead was thrown into their past and the story focuses on this too much. I got the impression I was going to be introduced to an epic friendship, instead I was irritated by Valerie's insecurities, why is she so insecure in her relationship with Ryan? She spends so much time worrying that Ryan wont want to spend time with her, wont want her to be in Boston, she worries that her room-mate may like him and is annoyed by this. If this is supposed to be a platonic relationship, where she see's him as like her older brother (oh how many times does she say this?) why is she getting annoyed when another girl shows an interest in him.

Valerie and Ryan's story is a sweet love story and is one for those who long for a best friend/lover scenario. Overall its well written and enjoyable and is great for escaping from the world for a bit.

Welcome to Booky Ramblings, thank you for joining us today. What was the first book you remember reading as a child/teen/adult?

The first book I remember reading as a child, and which was also the first book I read twice, was The Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbit. I loved it so much I recently looked for it on Amazon and bought it, because I wanted to read it again and have it on my bookshelf.

What do you listen to whilst writing?
Well, it depends on what I’m writing, and what emotions I want to convey to the reader. For my début novel, The Melody In Our Hearts, I listened mainly to Michael Bublé and Frank Sinatra. But I also enjoy listening to piano music, I find it very relaxing and inspirational. And I like Irish music, too.

Do you think your writing style is affected by the type of music/background noise you listen to?
Sometimes it is. I write in my free time and my room doesn’t have a door, so if the TV is blaring downstairs or there are people talking or making noise, I find it hard to concentrate on a scene, and I might end up writing it over and over. But if the right kind of music is playing, then it’s easier for me to write. I love music, I always need to have some music playing whenever I’m at home, in the car or even in bed relaxing.

If you could master any other art form what would it be?
Well, I’m a very creative person. I love experiencing new art forms and techniques, so over the years I’ve started knitting, decorating ceramic, creating jewellery with beads, anything involving art and creativity is my thing, although since I took up writing seriously, I had to use all of my free time for my novels and I had to put all other creative activities aside. But if I could master any of those things, I’d love to be very good at knitting, so I could make my own sweaters and clothes. So far I’ve only knitted scarves and hats, but I’d love to be able to do more.


Do you have any superstitions when writing?
Not really. The only superstition I had, was when I decided to wait until January 1^st 2013 to publish my book, even though it was ready before Christmas, because someone on TV had said that 2013 would be a year full of success for Gemini, so I thought I might give it a try to see if the man was right. But I’m not superstitious and I don’t really believe in horoscope, it was just a game.


Do you read all your reviews? How do you react to a negative review?
I love reading reviews and know what people think of my writing and my stories. I’ve always been very shy and introverted, and I never wanted anyone to read my stories, which were always kept well hidden in my drawers or, later on, in my computer. But since I decided to share my novel with the world, I’ve had to toughen up a bit and brace myself for bad reviews because, at the end of the day, not everyone can like what I write or what I think. So far I haven’t had any nasty reviews, and even the not so positive one (which was a 2.5 stars on Goodreads) came with very honest and quite constructive criticism, so I appreciated it. What I don’t really like is when people rate it and don’t write a reason for their rating, or they’re just nasty to the author-I’ve read some of those for other books and they made me cringe. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but nasty comments are not so easy to handle. However,  I love hearing from readers, whether it’s a good or a bad review, because it gives me the chance to improve my writing. My mission as a writer is to give readers the chance to daydream for a while, and forget their everyday worries and trouble; I don’t need a hundred 5 star reviews. If I can make even just one reader happy, then I know my efforts were all worth it.


What snacks/drinks do you keep on hand when writing?
I love chocolate. I can easily say that I’m a chocoholic. But I try not to eat anything while I write, because otherwise I’d end up having to buy new clothes every other month J But I try to drink a lot (water, obviously) and when it’s cold outside, also tea and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is definitely a good cure for writer’s block.


What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
I’m not such an experienced writer yet, so I don’t have that much advice to give. All I can say is to always stay true to yourselves and to your writing style and beliefs. Never try to emulate someone else’s style just because “it’s what sells”. Write what you want to read, write what you have inside your heart and soul, and never let anyone discourage you or make you feel it’s just a dream that will never come true. Believe in yourselves and in your stories. Not everyone will like them, but as long as you’re happy with them, nothing else really matters.


Have you always wanted to be an author?
I’ve always liked writing, ever since I was a child, but I never thought that I could become an author. I always thought only people who were already famous got their stories published. That was until I started realizing that all famous writers were normal people before they became famous, and thanks to the self-publishing opportunities for everyone, I’ve finally convinced myself that I could get my stories out there and see if maybe one day I’d be able to pay the bills and be a full-time writer. That would be a dream come true, because writing is my life.

If you have enough time I would love for you to answer some of our random questions.


What song do you sing at the top of your voice every time you hear it?
I guess it would be something from Queen or something from Michael Bublé. But I also love singing out loud songs by Train.


What’s your go-to movie?
Any romantic comedy. I love movies, and I love buying DVDs and watching them over and over. I know all the lines of the Dirty Dancing movie, I can say them before the actors do.

What book are you currently reading?
I’m a real bookworm and I love reading. At the time of answering these questions I haven’t been able to read anything because I’ve been busy finishing the first draft of my second novel, so I dedicated all of my free time to that. But I’ve read quite a few good books recently, mainly by self-published authors. I’m surprised they didn’t get an agent or a traditional contract, because the stories were really good and very well crafted.

Where did you last go on holiday?
Ireland. The land of my dreams. I’m an Irelandholic

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think it would be called?
The wonderful world of a daydreamer. 

What’s in your fridge right now?
Lots of yogurt and lots of cheese. And ice cream, too.

Whats your favourite take away food?
I don’t really like takeaway, I’m not a big fan of McDonald’s or junk food. I guess I could say pizza.

Roberta will be donating all proceeds from the sale of this book until May 31st to the MS Society, for World MS Day, and she has written a post about it in her blog. Why not pop over and check it out   http://robertasdreamworld.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/world-ms-day/ 

Feeling Death release blitz

Feeling Death #1

Expected publication: May 27th 2013 by Dragonfairy Press

***Genre - New Adult Paranormal Romance.

Book Synopsis

Samantha Bevans is having the best sex of her life—but it's not with her husband. Fortunately for her marriage, the affair is all in her mind. Isn't it? As an empath, she senses other people's emotions. But her connection to the man with the chiseled face and haunting eyes seems so real.

There's no time for fantasies with a serial killer loose in Pittsburgh. The killer is targeting dancers at a strip club where Samantha used to bartend, back when drugs were the only cure for the torment of her abilities. As a member of a special task force, Samantha uses her talents to sense the victims’ final thoughts. Just when she thought the case was complex enough, she discovers one of the victims was thinking about her fantasy man when she died.

Who can Samantha trust when she can’t trust her own mind? An empath feels the emotional environment around her…and Samantha is surrounded by death.

Shona's review 5 of 5 stars

I need to be really clear with you all here... I loved D.T Dyllins The PJ Stone Gates Trilogy (I was lucky enough to Beta read the series for her) so when she asked if I would like to read Feeling Death I think I died and went to fangirl heaven. Then I started thinking well what if I don't like it. Well thankfully I didn't have to worry because Dyllin has done it again! She has written another book that grabs the reader, sinks its claws into you and refuses to let you go until you devour the entire story. I couldn't step away from this, I tried, but I failed miserably. As a busy mom of four young kids I do have periods of time where I'm incredibly busy, the weekend is one of them. My list of chores that need doing is as long as my arm but every time I leave the book to go do a job it calls to me. My head never really leaves the book, I'm always wondering what's going to happen with Sam. Which means I'm never gone for too long.

This is such an easy read to fall into, and fall into it you do. We begin right in the middle of the story with events unfolding before our eyes much like they do for Sam. There is no awkward 3 chapters worth of back story to fight your way through before the action begins. Sam's story is a fairly complicated one, and in the beginning when things start to unravel she is overwhelmed, not fully able to process what's going on, and as the reader being dragged along for the ride you kinda feel the same way. But soon enough though it all becomes clear.

Sam's world is very much like ours except some people in her world have special abilities. Some people use their abilities for good and others not so much. This isn't your everyday average paranormal, this is something more. It is dark and gritty in places, and helluva sexy in others. With the detailed sexy scenes this book is most definitely adult!

I honestly cannot wait until I can get my hands on the next instalment in this series.. I know, I know I'm incredibly impatient, but it really isn't that often that I find a writer that draws me into their books so completely but there were bits in this book that were only hinted at and I need to see how they develop.

Buy Links

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Death-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CNVOJ10/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1369283854&sr=8-3&keywords=d.t.+dyllin

Publisher

http://www.dragonfairypress.com/dtdyllin/feelingdeath

About the Author

Cynical-Optimist. Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer…are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two very spoiled GSDs.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Promise Me This

Promise Me This by Sarah Ashley Jones

Book Synopsis

Welcome to the South - where the tea is sweet and the accents are sweeter. This Southern way of life is all Charlie has ever known. It’s not until she loses the only person who pushed her to break free of the Southern Belle mold that she starts living the life she needs and not the life her parents forced on her.

Jhett has lived on the edge for as long as he could remember - constantly teetering back and forth between being a rock star and living a normal life. His rebellious and sometimes arrogant attitude is known to get him into trouble, especially with the girls who hang on his every move.

Charlie never thought that a trip to pack up her brother’s apartment would leave her feeling even more unsettled about the grainy details of her brother’s death. Her quest for information leads her straight to his old hangout and into arms of Jhett, who suspiciously knows more about her situation than he ever should.

Only a few questions remain - Can you trust someone based on their word alone? And if you make a promise, how far will you go to keep it?

Shona's review 5 of 5 stars

I read this as a Beta reader for the author so I cant mention specific events as  they may change before the final edition.

OK I have just finished Promise Me This and I loved it!
Charlie and Jhett's relationship was great. From the very first moment they met I loved the way they interacted with each other, even when they weren't getting along...

There was so much emotion poured into this book that it was impossible to stay detached. I literally fell into this book and got carried away with its emotions, to the point there was crying; proper heart ache, throat hurts, voice hitching, tears falling, crying at several points.. And I wont tell you where because I hate spoilers.

This is Jones' first book and all I can say is wow!

Baby Driver (Once Upon A Set Of Wheels #1) Review and Author Interview

Baby Driver (Once Upon A Set Of Wheels #1) By L.M. Steel

Book Synopsis

On the seventeenth of May 1982, an infant girl of only a few hours old was found in an abandoned stolen car, on the bridge of a dam. Abandoned for no one, for no one came to claim her as their child, no one came to say that they were responsible for this babe, no one came to love her. This was how it was to be, always. 

The police called her ‘Lotus’ after the Lotus Esprit her life was discovered in. ‘Ogden’ after the dam the car rested over on that day. Lotus Ogden was named and a person.

Lotus tells us the story of her short life, from the abuse at the hands of her adoptive father, to the several foster families, children's homes and detentions. She finds unlikely allies in car thieves and drug dealers but her life of crime extends so much further than any of them ever realise.

So very young, she takes her first life and realises how easy it was, and how no-one would ever suspect the poor, timid, shy little girl who nobody calls their own.

Claire's Review 4 of 5 Stars

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

This is one of the hardest reviews I have had to write so far, and I found myself changing my thoughts on what to write a few times. Part of me loved Baby Driver, it was exceptionally well written in a first person narrative and the story was incredibly emotional and gripping. It had a very emotional beginning and I wasn't expecting such a roller coaster of emotions so early on, but it also got me hooked even more and at times felt more like a real life memoir than fiction with the emotions it made your feel for Becky and her situation.

Now to the part that made this a difficult review for me. As a mum of 2 girls ages 8 and 4 (ages we see Becky at in the book) I found parts of Becky's story very unrealistic. Situations I struggled to believe a child at that age would be physically and emotionally capable of. It's hard to believe the general public as well would never have questioned her or reported her for example driving and fixing cars at such a young age, but I think the most unbelievable part for me was Becky racing cars for money when I believe at that age reaching the pedals would be a huge struggle let alone controlling a high-powered car and beating an adult street racer.

However despite the imperfections of the story, I still found myself hooked to Becky's story and the high level of writing made it a very addictive read, and I have already got a copy of the next book to see where Becky's story continues.

I would have loved to have given this the full 5 stars but due to my reservations over the storyline in places, I just couldn't push myself. I would however still recommend others to try this book for themselves and to make their own opinions.

L.M Steel Interview

Author Bio

L.M.Steel on paper is a scientist, but since the age of seven when she first had a poem read out on children's radio, she has had a passion for writing.

Through junior School she concentrated on poetry, then in high school she moved onto songs, short stories and plays.

Once she left high school she moved onto writing novels and scripts.
The novels are now becoming available to read and one day, the scripts will be directed and filmed for you to see.

Lee was born in 1982 in Rochford, Essex and lived on the outskirts of the village of Canewdon.

At the age of six she moved to West Yorkshire with her parents, elder sister and younger brother, where they owned and ran a dairy farm. Due to the egg crisis of 1991 the farm and business was lost and Lee, with her family, was housed in Sowerby Village, with other ex-farmers, redundant miners and former military families.

She attended Newlands Junior School, and then moved up to Ryburn Valley High School, where she gained 9 GCSE’s

At 17 Lee began a legal apprenticeship course and earned an NVQ Level III in Business Administration

Lee graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2011 with a 1st Class Msci Degree with honours in Forensic and Analytical Science.
She moved to Hampshire to begin work as a Laboratory Technician in 2011.

Lee is a keen rower, enjoying refreshing mornings and evenings out on the Solent. She is also a green tag in Taekwondo, although it's a sport she hasn't quite got back into for a while.

Lee now lives in Southampton with her partner Alexandra Steel who serves in the Royal Navy, and Lee’s Patterdale terrier Cracker

The couple have plans to have a Civil Union in August 2013

Writing
It was at Newland Junior School, that Hazel Hellowell first spotted Lee had a talent for creative writing and encourage her poetry, resulting in the local paper publishing her first poem: Weeping Willow at the age of 10.

Moving onto Ryburn Valley High School Lee continued to write, but it wasn’t until Year 10, where she took up Expressive Arts, that her teachers, Amanda Glover and Jackie Newman also noted Lee had a talent and desire to write and encouraged her to do so. At 14 her second poem was published Heartbreaker.

In 2002 Lee went to Washington DC after being nominated by the International Society of Poetry for the Poet of the Year Award 2002. Although Lee didn’t win, she did win a Poet of Merit Award. for her Poem Hopless Shadow

Lee's first book was published in october 2012: Judged by Your Peers

1.     What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book is once Upon A Set of Wheels and to be honest it was a whole mixture of things that inspired in this first venture.

It actually started out as about six different stories, mainly for Star Trek believe it or not, (I am a massive sci-fi geek) As I grew up I started combining the tales, and inspired by a lot of song lyrics, (as you’ll note all the chapter titles are song titles.) The story began to form on its own. Only then i had an incredibly long story and so had to make it a two-part tale and divide it up.

I did write a blog about it when I first released it, with Simon and Garfunkel songs being the main inspirational music and a British soap called Emmerdale as I like the idea of one of the characters (Debbie Dingle) as a stand alone character with a story of her own, and then she got a lot darker and a lot more dangerous as the story developed.

 2.     How did you come up with the title?

Again this is music, the main title is a lyric from Simon and Garfunkels Baby Driver, (Once Upon A Pair of Wheels) and once I split the story into two and edited it, I decided the song title itself was absolutely perfect for the first part.

3.     How much of the book is realistic?

The places are very real, it is all based in West Yorkshire where I grew up and the areas around there are all real places. The characters are completely fictional as is the main flow of the story. I have put some real events in there (such as the death of Princess Diana) just to keep up with the realistic timeline, however the main story is complete fiction.

4.     Are your novels based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Once Upon A Set of Wheels is complete fiction as I said, however I have another novel: Judged By Your Peers, which again is fiction, but was heavily inspired by several people and instances over the last ten years or so and I combined them all and then rewrite them as a fictional group of friends dealing with several different extreme situations. Some people have asked if it is a true story, but no it’s not, it is all fictional, but the inspiration definitely came from real life situations.

5.     What book are you reading now?

I am currently reading Tony Breeden’s ‘Johnny came Home’ so far it’s proving a very interesting read. I am really enjoying it.

 6.     What are your current projects?

I am currently working on a parallel tale to Once upon a Set Of Wheels, called Birds of Prey about a family on the other side of town with a twisted tale of their own. They do have a link to Once Upon A Set of Wheels though as they are the nephews and nieces of the infamous Miss Astin.

 7.     Do you see your writing as a career?

I would very much love to and that is what I am aiming for. At the moment though I am also a lab tech to pay the bills, I am hoping the greater the exposure I get, I will soon be able to dedicate all my working hours to my writing.

8.     Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As a very small child i loved to make up stories, and I loved to write poetry, I actually had my ‘publication’ when I was seven, having a poem read out on BBC Children’s radio. My primary school teacher noted I had a talent for poetry and encouraged me to write one for all the subjects we learned, from mining to the Drought in The Gambia. Into high school i had two amazing teachers, Ms Newman and Miss Glover who also realised I had a talent for writing and really encouraged me and guide me in how to structure poems and stories.

9.     Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Time, always time, especially at the moment as I am planning my wedding in August and every spare minute I have seems to go on that, sitting down to actually write almost seems like an impossible dream sometimes.

 10.  Who designed the covers?

I designed the covers for all my books, which I have been advised isn’t always the best idea, but so far I seem to have done ok.

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

Finishing it. It took four years to write Once Upon a set of wheels and as it actually chronicles Lotus’s lifetime, bringing it to an end was really hard as there was so much more I wanted to include. As I said though, it is already so long I had to turn it into a two-part story, and I think I finished it where it should’ve ended, and the reader has some closure at the end.

12.  Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t give up!

13.  Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Please continue to read, I love to write and as long as I have readers it makes it all worth it. For what is a storyteller, without someone to tell a story to?

Do Over release blog tour with giveaway

The Do Over Release Event

Title:  The Do Over

Author: A.L. Zaun

Release date: May 20, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group:  Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17381854-the-do-over

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OkkZLMIOZc

Trailer embed code: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OkkZLMIOZc&w=560&h=315]



Book Description: 

Life doesn’t look like it’s supposed to for Dani Ruiz, a hopeless romantic.  After a painful and sudden break-up with Rick Marin—who  she thought was the One—Dani hides away from reality, retreating to a world of fiction, preferring book boyfriends over the hassles of a relationship.

After almost two years of watching Dani in a holding pattern, her friends stage an intervention and force her back into the real world of dating.

Unexpectedly, Dani meets Liam Lucas, a down-to-earth firefighter. He might be the person to show her she’s still worth something. Dani’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man, but their instant and electric chemistry is something she can’t deny.

As Dani starts to believe that she’s found her real-life book boyfriend, Rick decides that he’ll go to any lengths to get her back. Seeing Rick as a changed man makes Dani question everything.

Can Dani trust her patched-up heart with Liam?

Or has Rick transformed into the man she’s always wanted?

Told from various points of views, The Do Over is a story of second chances and new beginnings.

 

About the Author

A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature a long time ago.  A degree she didn’t use at all in her professional endeavors.  She loves to read, write and take pictures.  She walks around with her camera, and most importantly she has her e-reader available at all times.  Healthcare Management by day, Mommy in the evening and most nights, you can find her sitting in front of her laptop with a bottle of Diet Pepsi, bringing the voices in her head to life on the pages of her debut novel, The Do Over.

Author social media links:

 https://facebook.com/alzaun01

https://twitter.com/AnaZ01

Https://alzaun@blogspot.com

Giveaway  

(1) eBook copy of The Do Over. eBooks will be gifted from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords. 

Excerpt #1

“What about my kiss?” She pouted with a hand on her hip.

My eyes were trained on her lips. They were begging for my attention, and I wanted to give it to them.

“Baby…” I took a deep breath. “If I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop.”

I wanted her. There was no doubt about it. She drove me insane and turned me on. There was nothing more that I wanted than to be with her. From the moment I saw her until probably the day I took my last breath, my desire would burn for her.

She moved toward me with an exotic look in her eyes, almost like a tiger about to catch her prey. “I want my hello kiss.”

My girl liked playing with fire. Good thing that was my specialty.

“I warned you,” I said, keeping my eyes focused on hers.

I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. I had to clear my head. I could just kiss her hello. I could do this. Although I couldn’t stop thinking about the other night, feeling her squirming under my touch, I reminded myself that she deserved our first time to be special.

Licking her lips, she smiled and let out a sexy laugh.

I was a goner.

Broken Gates release blitz

 (P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy #2)

Paperback

Expected publication:
May 24th 2013
by Dragonfairy Press

 ***Genre - New Adult Paranormal Romance.P.J. Stone is a Seer who saw too little, too late.

In
the past, her biggest worries were boys and school—but war has a way of
changing things. Now, the alien Riders are trying to overrun the world.
As the last of their kind, P.J. and her friends must find a way to save
humanity before there’s nothing left to save.

After choosing a
mate, P.J. hoped she'd have time to enjoy her love life. But with
everything changing so quickly and major secrets revealed, who knows
what the future will bring?

Buy Links

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Gates-Stone-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CNVOJ0Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1369277255&sr=8-4&keywords=broken+gates

Publisher

http://www.dragonfairypress.com/dtdyllin/brokengates

About the Author

Cynical-Optimist.
Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Romance Junkie.
Self Imposed Insomniac. Animal Lover. Writer.

Website  /  Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Finally cover reveal

Cover Reveal Hosted by: The Book Enthusiast

Blurb:

Lauren broke off an engagement with her old boyfriend because she caught him cheating on her.  She's ready to move on, but work has been keeping her too busy.

Marcus is a player, never settling down with one girl.  No one seems to meet his long list of requirements in a woman.

Marcus and Lauren have worked for the same company for years, but in locations across the country from each other.  They've been flirting for months, but Lauren was with Kyle.  Now that she's single and Marcus is coming to town for a few days, they finally hook-up, both assuming it's just a fling.  Once Marcus gets home, they both realize they want more.  Can they make a long distance relationship work?  And when Lauren's old boyfriend comes back to win her affection, can Marcus compete with their history?

Author Bio:

Scarlett lives in the Midwest with her family. When she's not busy writing steamy stories, she can be found with her nose in a book, camping, or geocaching with her family. She loves Diet Coke, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and 80's hair bands.

Social Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads Author

Love in Darkness release blog tour

Title: Love in Darkness (Shattered Castles, #2)

Author: E.M. Tippetts

Release date: May 21, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17202459-love-in-darkness

Book Description:

Alex had everything when he was with Madison. But the darkness within him wouldn't go away. After two years apart, he returns to Pelican Bluffs and to the girl he never wanted to leave.

Madison wants to give their love another chance, but Alex can't fight fate. He is what he is. Ruined. Crazy like his mother. And Madison deserves so much more. When his secrets spill out into their small town, Alex has a choice to make. Hide away in the darkness forever, or let love in.

About the Author

Emily Mah Tippetts writes romance under the name E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy under the name Emily Mah. Originally from New Mexico, she now lives in London with her family. Before she was a published author, she was an attorney who specialized in real estate, contracts, and estate planning, especially literary estate planning.

Author social media links:
www.emtippetts.com
http://twitter.com/emtippetts
http://facebook.com/emtippetts

Event Giveaway: The author is hosting a Release Giveaway (5) Signed copies of Love in Darkness

Excerpt

My first memory of my mom’s schizophrenia is of her, locked in the bathroom of our home back in California, shrieking that “they” were coming in the windows. I was maybe four years old, and the only one able to talk to her because she always lapses into Japanese when she gets scared. I didn’t know how to call the police. I wasn’t even in kindergarten yet. I just sat outside the bathroom door and begged her to let me in. Maternal instinct won out and she opened the door, then told me to call for help. She showed me how to use the phone.

After that, I became Mom’s protector. I was the one who made sure she took her medication by begging her to open the childproof bottles and dumping the pills into a pill sorter that put a dose in each compartment. I was the one who warded off the social workers who wanted to take her away or me away or both, by playing games and refusing to speak if they separated us. I was the one who became her legal guardian when I turned eighteen. I’ll be the one to look after her for the rest of her colorful and tortured life. Assuming I can hold it together.

My life isn’t one I’d wish on my worst enemy. I love my mother, but her condition destroyed my childhood. Whoever ends up responsible for me is in for a similar catastrophe. There’s not much I can control about losing my mind, but I can control this: The person responsible for me will never be Madison Lukas. She deserves better than that. Even if I have to break my own heart a thousand times over to give her freedom, I’ll do it, because I love her more than she could ever imagine. She’s everything to me.

Purchase links

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Darkness-Shattered-Castles-ebook/dp/B00CWN8NB6/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369124110&sr=1-6&keywords=E.M+Tippetts

Amazon US http://www.amazon.com/Love-Darkness-Shattered-Castles-ebook/dp/B00CWN8NB6/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369124110&sr=1-6&keywords=E.M+Tippetts

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-in-darkness-em-tippetts/1115375631?ean=2940016471211

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Love-in-Darkness/book-S2WaB0bNBUaT50Tgrkzszw/page1.html

Horse Charmer Blog Tour

Horse Charmer
By: Angelia Almos

*Horse Charmer is on sale for $.99 (e-book) to celebrate the two-year anniversary*

Blurb

A gifted princess. A special horse. A quest for the truth.

At sixteen years old, Cassia would rather spend her days in the royal stables than in the royal court. But as the eldest child of King Robet and Queen Sarahann she obediently performs her duties as the Princess of Karah.

Her safe world changes forever when her father is murdered in the neighboring kingdom of Vespera. Cassia grapples with his loss as her mother prepares her for her new role as queen. Her first task - she must travel to Vespera to marry a prince she barely knows to fulfill the treaty her father signed just before his death.

Nothing is as simple as it seems with political intrigues and unusual powers shadowing Cassia on her search to find out who killed her father and why.

Shona's review 5 of 5 stars The Horse Charmer is such an easy read, in just a few short hours I had read the entire book. The world is so beautifully written and the story unfolds in such a way that it is difficult to step away from Cassia's world. From almost the first page you are drawn into this coming of age, fairytale adventure.

Cassia starts out as a relatively naïve young Princess but by the end of the book she has grown up a lot and becoming more comfortable with who she is and what she can do. She believes in herself and her abilities and she wants to be the queen her kingdom deserves.

I will admit to being more than a little disappointed by the ending but anyone who follows my reviews will know it isn't because the author rushed something, or missed something out, it is simply that there were two little words that made me sad. The End. I don't want this to be the end of Cassia's story there is more story out there, there has to be. I NEED to know what happens next,  not just what happens with Cassia, Kali and Luki... but what happens between Karah and Vespera.

Author bio:

Angelia Almos' love affair with horses began when she was five years old and talked her parents into her first riding lesson. Horses have always been a huge part of her life. The initial idea behind Horse Charmer came to her when she was fourteen. The image of a teenage girl riding her horse through a meadow appeared. Who was this girl? Where was she going? What was she running from? Those questions led to the creation of Horse Charmer.

My Top 10 Movies and TV Shows

Movies and television shows are often a huge inspiration to me and my writing so it isn't too hard to think of some of my favorite movies and television shows.

Big Bang Theory -  What's not to love about a show that came up with the song Soft Kitty? This show always makes me laugh and I love that it is about super smart people and they often cast super smart actresses as both regulars and guests (Mayim Bialik and Danica McKellar).

The Bourne Legacy - My latest favorite movie. I missed seeing this one in the theater even though it stars Rachel Weisz (who I love), but caught it as soon as it was on DVD. I was uncertain if I would like it since I love the original Bourne, but I have to say, I love this one more than the original Bourne trilogy. Jeremy Renner is fabulous as Aaron Cross and I can't get enough of the dynamic between Aaron and Marta (Rachel). Another plus is how the two of them work together and need each other to survive (an equal partnership with different abilities).

Clue - One of my favorite comedies of all time. I've seen it so many times that I can say every line of dialogue along with every single character. Sad, but true as my children roll their eyes whenever I put it on. Great performances and witty dialogue keep this murder-mystery plot moving forward.

Clueless - One of my favorite teen comedies and the adorable Alicia Silverstone made this movie as Cher. Clever dialogue and commentaries on youth and popular culture with lots of talented actors to bring it all to life. Plus, the outfits, and who wouldn't want Cher's closet and computer program to help you decide what to wear.

The Moon-Spinners - I love Hayley Mills movies and have since I was a young teen. My favorite of her movies has to be Moon-Spinners. Nikki (Hayley) learns all is not as it appears to be while on vacation in Greece with her aunt, especially the handsome stranger she quickly forms a crush on.

The Mummy - 1999 version starring Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser is probably my number one movie. It does so many things right, but in particular the slow building romance between Evie (Rachel) and Rick (Fraser). When someone asks me about an action-adventure which does a romance "right" as in "not forced," I always point to this particular relationship. You believe them falling in love because each step in their relationship feels perfectly natural through the course of the movie and the adventure.

Murder, She Wrote - What's not to love about a TV show featuring a woman mystery writer? Angela Lansbury is an incredible actress who keeps you tuning in episode after episode for twelve seasons and 4 TV movies. The keen observation and intelligence of Jessica Fletcher is what brings every murderer to justice.

Pride & Prejudice - A&E Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth version. Jane Austen is a master at drama and romance in the everyday life. The battle of wits between Darcy and Elizabeth is legendary and shown to its full measure in this version of P&P.

Tangled - My favorite Disney Princess movie. Great character interactions and a horse any horse crazy girl would want. I especially love Rapunzel's spunky attitude as well as her self-doubt in heading off on her adventure.

Veronica Mars - One of the best teen mystery TV shows which ever aired and thankfully for Veronica Mars fans everywhere a new feature film is in the works. Wonderful acting, snappy dialogue, and intriguing mysteries kept me tuning in week after week. The romance between Veronica and Logan was both sweet and heartbreaking at various times.

Author Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AngeliaAlmosAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AngeliaAlmos
Blog: http://angeliaalmos.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.angeliaalmos.com
Google+: https://plus.google.com/109925456863894987370
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1027877.Angelia_Almos

Book Links

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468801-horse-charmer
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051BOAMC
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/horse-charmer-angelia-almos/1101976975
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/horse-charmer/id442235188?mt=11

Giveaway

($20.00 Amazon/B&N Gift Card) Rafflecopter

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/03/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for_9067.html

Smash into You cover reveal

Title: Smash Into You

Author: Shelly Crane

Expected release date: Summer 2013

Genre: Contemporary

Age Group: Young Adult

Cover Designed by: Okay Creations

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Jude has spent the whole twenty three years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being.

Never stop running…

Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more.

Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.

About the Author

Shelly is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. They currently reside in everywhere USA as they happily travel all over with her husband's job. She loves to spend time with her family, binge on candy corn, go out to eat at new restaurants, buy paperbacks at little bookstores, site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music everywhere and also LOVES to read.
Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.

Shelly Crane | Facebook | Twitter

Iron & Wine Review plus Interview with Candace Osmond

  Iron & Wine by Candace Osmond

Synopsis

Iron & Wine is an Urban Fantasy novel set in world full of hidden magical places and secret societies cloaked by modern-day. In the first instalment of the Iron World Series, young artist Avery Quinn reluctantly leaves behind her quiet and comfortable home in the country and moves to the city with her best friend Julie Ryan. With the expectation that college will be the most exciting part of her life, Avery hopes that her little world remains quiet and simple. But after a troublesome blue sprite looking for help appears in her bedroom one night, her boss turns out to be a three hundred year old vampire, and her best friend accidentally reveals herself as an orphaned pixie, school quickly becomes the least of her worries. Every aspect of Avery’s life explodes with mythical beings and legendary creatures who all play a very important role in her existence. Some are friends, some are guardians, while others quickly become life threatening and deadly enemies. Avery must learn to juggle living in both her world and theirs. But, in this magical tale of strange love, strong bonds and scary beings; what once was nothing more than mere fairy tales told to her by her Aunt Tess are now a scary reality and Avery has somehow landed deep in the middle with little or no way out except death or worse…the loss of her humanity.

Lisa's Review - 4 out of 5 stars

The last few years I have devoured pretty much every paranormal type book I could - vampires, werewolves, witches and so on. One of the reasons I wanted to read Iron & Wine after reading the synopsis was because I had yet to read a book that involved a lot of my favourite mythical beings, as well as adding to the mix an array of fairies, pixies and sprites! It's like a mix of fairytale/paranormal! I was also rather intrigued by the name, but Iron & Wine soon becomes very clear as you read and fits the story well.

I loved the way Candace Osmond writes the story of a normal teenage girl, then fits this whole other world filled with magical creatures, painting a beautiful image for the mind to capture, and it doesn't get 'awkward' or dull. I admit that some of the characters were slightly predictable, although it doesn't stop the fun of reading on to see if you guessed right. I think I have worked out another of the characters which will hopefully be revealed in the next book - but again, I now NEED to read the next book to see if I got it right!

I did enjoy the story, and the characters were great. I do admit that I did feel slightly too old as I read it, I am sure if this book had been around when I was in my late teens/early 20's I would have enjoyed it a lot more, but still it was very good anyway. Saying that I am rather young at heart so will be very much looking forward to the next part of the Iron & Wine Series!

Candace Osmond

 Born in 1985 as Candace Osmond in North York Ontario, I began to travel with my parents at the very young age of four years old. I had lived all over Canada and seen everything my country has to offer, from the enchanting shores of Newfoundland to the gigantic snow-capped mountains of British Columbia all by the time I was ten. I did, however, spend most of my life in Eastern Canada where I was surrounded by folklore and legends, not knowing how they would shape my personality and imagination for the rest of my life.
Being the only girl of my age in a small group of kids, in an even smaller town, left me spending most of my time by myself and, in result, letting my imagination take over. I would sit by the shore and dream up stories of mermaids and other fantastic creatures to pass the time. Coming from a family with writers and artists dispersed throughout, it was only natural that I spend my time writing, drawing and reading. I dreamed of becoming nothing more than an artist, a creator of any kind. By the age of eleven, I spent most of my waking hours scribbling down short stories, poems and anything else I could think of, while adding my own personal illustrations. By the age of fourteen, I had won numerous local and minor arts and writing competitions.
I excelled at anything art and literature related so, naturally, I planned to attend university for nothing more or less than that. In 2003 I planned to attend university for Creative Writing and Literary Studies. But, with the fear that I would spend all my time and money on an education and end up in a field that I may very well struggle to succeed in, I backed out and attended school for Design instead. Now, a successful Designer specializing in interiors, I met a man and fell in love. His passion and talent for art far exceeds my own, but he motivated me and awakened my old habits of staying up late and waking up early to scribble down dreams and ideas before I had forgotten them and they disappeared forever.

I am very happy to share this great interview with Candace to the Booky Ramblings readers! And Candace has kindly shared an excerpt from her next book in The Iron World Series, Blood & Bone!

Thankyou, Candace, for joining us today!

1.       What inspired you to write your first book?

A few years back, I had this idea for a book.  Just rough ideas at first, then I started to dream up the characters and from there it sort of fell together. I became obsessed and I didn’t stop until it was done. I was inspired from a number of things; the folklore that surrounded me as a child in Eastern Canada, my tastes in TV and movies, and just plain imagination. I created a magical world that I wanted to live in.

 2.       Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes, I call it drink-a-lot-of-coffee-and-hope-for-the-best! Just kidding!  I actually have a strange writing style. First, I dream up the idea. Then, I spend months writing notes on anything I can find until I have enough to compile a rough draft. Then, I piece it all together like a movie.

3.       How did you come up with the title?

Oh, that’s a fun one. The title Iron & Wine was inspired by many things. It represents the struggle that Avery faces when juggling both the real world, full of iron objects, and the magical world of Faerie. It also represents the two most important people in her life; Jack, the vampire she often refers to as an iron cage, and her fairy friends.

4.       Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, especially to young girls. Value yourself, value your innocence and your humanity. Don’t waste your life wishing and wanting to be someone else. Oh, and stay in school!

5.       How much of the book is realistic?

Not much, really. It seems realistic because some of it is set in the real world that we all know. But it’s really all fictional. The only “real” things you can find are my own habits that I instilled into Avery like coffee, junk food, and being a sucker for blue eyes.

6.       Are your novels based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

No, not really. I mean, I used a lot of characteristics of friends and family to create my characters, but that’s about it. The rest all come from up here *taps head*

7.       Which of your projects have influenced your life the most?

The Iron World Series, hands down. It was my very first real writing project that went to publication. It inspired me to make the decision to become a full-time writer, and gave me the confidence to do it.

8.       If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I know it seems cliché, but I have to say Stephenie Meyer. Not because I love her books, which I do, but for the fact that her whole experience with writing Twilight was just like mine. I had never published anything before, and wasn’t sure how my friends and family would accept it. So I wrote the whole book in secret, even hiding it from my fiancé. I was terrified of rejection, that someone would tell me I was wasting my time. But, I did it anyway, and now look! The Iron World Series will wrap up this year, I have a thriller series in the works, and I’m co-authoring a handful of projects. Plus, her books became movies. How cool is that?

9.       What book are you reading now?

The Hobbit, when I find time.

10.   What are your current projects?

I’m currently getting the second book in The Iron World Series, Blood & Bone, ready for publication. I’m also about three-quarters of the way done with writing the third and final book in the series. I’m working on a thriller based on a secret society of organ harvesters. Plus, I’m co-authoring a few erotic fiction projects as well as a new YA series about a group of young boys who survive a vicious werewolf attack. Phew! It’s even tiring to talk about it!

11.   Do you see your writing as a career?

Absolutely, it’s what sets me apart from that scared young girl who wrote a novel in secret. If you want to be taken seriously in this industry you have to be professional about it and treat it like a career. But, at the same time, don’t forget that it’s what you love to do. The day I stop loving it is the day I should stop writing.

12.   If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Yes and no. Now that the whole vampire hype is over, I wish that there weren’t any in my books. But, I keep telling myself that the series isn’t about vampires, it just happens to have some appearances. All three books are based on the magical world of Faerie and the creatures that come from it. And, as the series progresses, it’s focused more and more on those creatures and less on the vampires.

13.   Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Yes, it all came from reading. I was never into sports as a kid. I was obsessed with books. My parents enrolled me in the Scholastic Book Club and I counted down the days to every new flyer. Then, as I got older, I found myself reading stories and making my own notes on how to improve them or what I would have done instead. And from there came my passion for writing.

14.       Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Oh my gosh, yes! Time is my enemy. There’s not enough of it in a day. Take an authors average day and throw in some freelance writing projects, a toddler, a fiancé, and a thousand loads of laundry and that’s my life in a nutshell. I swear it’s a miracle that I get any writing done at all.

15.       Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Not yet, but I will in the near future. After this online book tour I’m going to plan a local tour with a few locations in Alberta. Plus, I hope to be at RT Con 2014 in New Orléans!

16.    Who designed the covers?

My wonderful, talented, and amazing fiancé designed my book covers and all of the graphics you can find related to my work. I lucked out and ended up with a graphic designer. It was sort of fate. 

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

In a recent interview I answered this same question and said that finishing the story was the hardest part. But now I think that going through the editing phase is the hardest. It has its ups and downs and can be very challenging.

18.       Do you have any advice for other writers?

Pick an editor that’s right for you and your style of writing. And, yes, you will need an editor. Don’t think you’re too good for one. I had that mind-set, once upon a time, and I totally regret it. Yes, your spelling and grammar might be perfect but an editor will see things that you won’t. They will enhance the story and make you a better writer. I love my editor. Without her, my stories would be a flop and so would I.

19.       Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Always keep reading. If it’s what you love then don’t stop because someone else thinks it’s not cool. Don’t be afraid to try new books, they will expand your mind and introduce you to worlds you never knew existed.

And here it is, a sneak peek excerpt into Blood & Bone, Candace's second book in The Iron World Series!

20.       Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Oh, I dunno…SURE! Here is an excerpt from the second book in The Iron World Series. It’s called Blood & Bone and ill be released soon, I promise! Oh, and SPOILER ALERT!

“No, don’t back out now!” I took my jacket off and threw it on the floor. I reached up and nearly ripped my shirt as I hauled on the collar to expose my naked neck. “Come on! Do it! You said you’re not accepting no for an answer, and my answer will always be no, so just do it Jack!”

A deep and fierce growl erupted from his throat. He lunged toward me. I braced myself for the pain I knew was coming. But, instead of the expected sensation of my throat being ripped out, Jack grabbed my arms and held them tightly at my sides.

“Stop it,” he warned. I’d seen him angry before, but not like this. “I would never do that. Do you think I want to spend an eternity with two females hating the sight of me?”

It took me a second to gather myself and play back what he’d said in my head.

“What do you mean? Who else are you talking about?”

“My sister.”

“Why would she be mad? Wouldn’t she be relieved that I could defend myself too?”

“Yes and no,” he replied. “Celadine wants you to be able to protect yourself, but she doesn’t want me to…she doesn’t want you to be a vampire.”

I felt something unexpected; disappointment and rejection. My beloved Celadine didn’t want me forever.

“Oh, I see.”

Jack rolled his eyes and huffed a deep sigh in annoyance. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh, what is it like then?”

“I can’t really explain it.”

“Here’s an idea; try,” I quickly reply.

“That’s not something I’m willing share with you.”

I gasped. “You want me to live forever with you but you plan to keep secrets from me?” I let out a guffaw. “Nice, real nice, that’s a sure-fire way to convince me.”

“Damn it, Avery! Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Me? I’m not the stubborn one, mister!”

He let out a loud growl this time and pounded his fist into the wall next to him, caving in the concrete like it was baby powder.

“I can’t force you to change because you will hate me for an eternity and I’ll lose my sister in the process. I almost lost her once; I won’t make the same mistake again.”

The same mistake? What had he done? Geez, why was it always a brain puzzle trying to talk to these people? I quickly scanned over what I knew and what he’d just said. Changing me against my will would be considered the same mistake, and he would lose Celadine by doing so. Celadine would be destroyed because of her bond to me. Like the bond she’d had with Derek, the human she loved so long ago and lost when he had given up his humanity to a vampire. Then I realized what he meant by the same mistake.

I began to back away from Jack. He looked like a monster to me right now, the very thing I didn’t want to become. My classroom was in shambles once more, as were my nerves. He noticed me putting distance between us and quickly figured out that I’d pieced it together.

“Avery, wait!” he begged and came toward me.

I threw up my arms. “No! You stay away from me!” I was crying now. “I can’t believe it, after everything, neither one of you told me.”

“Avery…we didn’t want to scare you. We wanted you to trust us,” Jack paused until he could make eye contact with me. “Which you can, I swear.”

“That’s sounds ridiculous,” I reply. “You want me to trust you when all you’ve done lately is pressure me to become a vampire, letting me think that I have a shred of a choice in the matter. But I don’t, you say it’s only a matter of time before Evaine finds me, well now I think it’s only a matter of time until you can’t stand it anymore.”

He just stared at me, unable to deny what I was saying.

“You were the vampire who changed Derek, weren’t you?”

He blinked twice and swallowed nervously. “Yes.”

“How could you do that to Celadine, your own sister?”

“You could never begin to understand my reasoning,” Jack replied hastily.

“Good, because I don’t want to,” I grabbed my jacket from the floor and stormed out of my classroom, leaving him behind.

Thankyou so much Candace for your time! I hope our readers enjoyed the interview as much as I did! Have a look at the links below to find out more about Candace, and her books!

Links

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094575.Candace_Osmond

http://www.ironworldseries.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Wine-World-ebook/dp/B007W6SZCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368265510&sr=8-1&keywords=candace+osmond

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/iron-wine-candace-osmond/1110498571?ean=2940033156573